What’s distinctive about your parish?
St. Rita Church has a long history of meeting the spiritual needs of its parishioners through many diverse programs and liturgies, including English, Latin and Spanish Masses. Since the early 1940s, the parish has observed the Miraculous Medal novena every Monday evening. St. Rita also has a thriving homeschool group, which supports families in the parish and surrounding area and includes the opportunity for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and a weekly children’s holy hour.
What’s the one unique thing visitors to your parish should do or see while there?
A visitor should stop by the grave of St. Rita’s “little saints,” Everett and Maria Therese, buried in a special grave in the churchyard, following the time-honored church tradition of venerating baptized children who die sinless before the age of reason. Around their grave, St. Rita has offered parishioners a place to bury miscarried children. Another distinctive feature of St. Rita’s is its unique statuary and stained-glass windows. Of particular interest is the statue of Christ: priest, prophet and king. This statue — also a representation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — is located to the left of the St. Joseph altar. Christ wears the stole of priesthood, the cloak of prophecy (cf. 2 Kgs 2:14), and the crown of kingship.
What is a new ministry that you’ve started? Or, alternatively, share some recent activities of longstanding ministries.
For the past several years, St. Rita’s has been using the Witness to Love program as part of its marriage preparation process. This unique program involves married couples mentoring engaged couples as they prepare for marriage. A similar program supports engaged couples in the Hispanic community.
Is there a special way your parish encourages and supports faith formation? Perhaps it’s related to sacramental preparation and RCIA.
Since 2011, St. Rita has offered Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the children at St. Rita School and the homeschool community. Based on the Montessori method, the hands-on approach utilizes unique materials concerning the most essential and age-appropriate aspects of the Catholic faith. St. Rita also has a Patrician’s Society, sponsored by the Legion of Mary, that meets monthly and offers opportunities for parishioners to build up their religious knowledge, learn how to defend the Catholic faith and become more faithful apostles of Christ. The Young Adult community gathers monthly for faith, formation, and friendly fellowship, which includes the rosary and a spiritual discussion led by one of the priests.
How are you supporting the faith journey of particular cultures represented in your parish?
The Hispanic community at St. Rita provides a rich contribution to the life of the parish and supports many apostolates, including an active Legion of Mary group, a young adult group and a group that meets weekly in the church to pray and worship God through music. The Hispanic community also organizes a celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe every December, complete with a Mariachi band and hot chocolate after Mass. This annual celebration brings together both the Hispanic and English-speaking communities.
What would a visitor say about your parish, and how do new parishioners get involved?
A visitor would notice how beautiful the parish is. A visitor might also notice the large number of young people and young families that attend the parish. St. Rita is a vibrant community with men’s and women’s groups, an active Knights of Columbus council and Legion of Mary, a thriving Young Adult group, and many others involved and volunteering. For the youths of the parish, we also have an active Junior Legion of Mary, an American Heritage Girls Troop and Troops of St. George.
What’s something we should know about your clergy?
Many comment on how young our priests are and that they take the faith and spiritual life seriously, which is evident in the Mass schedule and frequent opportunities for confession and adoration. Our priests also have a great love for the liturgy, scheduling processions quarterly to bring the faith out to the streets and to draw more people to the Blessed Sacrament.
They also can be found on the deck grilling and smoking meat. Our permanent deacon, Deacon Stephen J. Dixon has been a parishioner of St. Rita his whole life, and attended St. Rita’s School as part of one of the inaugural classes.
Is there a standout or longtime staff member or volunteer you’d like to tell us about?
Susanne Arnold is a longtime parishioner and volunteer who has handled all the parish social outreach for many years. We receive numerous requests each week for financial and other assistance, and Arnold coordinates our efforts to assist more than 500 people a year with rent, utilities, food, clothing and other needs. She is an advocate for those in need and is a wonderful example of the corporal works of mercy in action.
Would you like to share anything else about your parish?
St. Rita will celebrate 100 years as a parish in 2024. The original church was built in Mount Ida, but generous parishioners donated land for the current site in the 1940s. The school opened in 1952, and initially was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph, who continued to have a presence in the school until 2019. The preschool opened in 2011 and has become very popular among parish families.
Quick Facts:
St. Rita Catholic Church
3815 Russell Rd.
Alexandria
703/836-1640
stritaalexandria.com
Pastor: Fr. Christopher P. Christensen
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Nicholas J. Schierer
In Residence: Fr. Lukasz Duda
Deacon: Deacon Stephen J. Dixon
Mass times:
Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m. (Traditional Latin Mass), 11 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish)
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 7:30 p.m. (Traditional Latin Mass)
Saturday: 8 a.m.
Confession times:
Monday – Friday: 7 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Adoration:
Monday-Thursday 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday 8 p.m. – Saturday 8 a.m.
School: St. Rita School
3801 Russell Rd.
Alexandria
703/548-1888
saintrita-school.org
Prekindergarten 2-eighth grade
Total students: 260
Principal: Bethany Hamm
Year established: 1924
Total parishioners: 3,814
Social media accounts: facebook.com/stritaalexandria
