Five priests from the Diocese of Arlington have been named Chaplains to His Holiness by Pope Francis with the title ‘Monsignor,’ honoring their service and the local church, the diocese announced Sept. 12.
The new Monsignors are:
—Msgr. Robert C. Cilinski, pastor, Nativity Catholic Church in Burke and diocesan episcopal vicar for charitable works
—Msgr. Dennis W. Kleinmann, pastor, St. Veronica Church in Chantilly
—Msgr. Robert J. Rippy, diocesan judicial vicar and director of St. Rose of Lima Priests Retirement Villa.
—Msgr. Lee R. Roos, pastor, All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas and dean for Deanery V
—Msgr. William P. Saunders, pastor, St. Agnes Church in Arlington and diocesan episcopal vicar for faith formation
“I congratulate Monsignors Cilinski, Kleinmann, Rippy, Roos, and Saunders for the recognition they have received for their dedicated and faithful priestly ministry,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said. “Their pastoral service has been and remains a special gift to the Diocese of Arlington. Each has demonstrated the virtues of the priestly vocation, and their lives have inspired all who know them, especially their brother priests and those discerning a vocation to the priesthood. I ask all in the Diocese of Arlington to join me in congratulating our new Monsignors and to continue to pray for them and all our priests.”
“Monsignor” is the form of address for priests who receive from the pope certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignors have rendered valuable service to the church and provide some special function in church governance.
Pope Francis accepts recommendations from diocesan bishops for nominations for the title of Chaplain to His Holiness, with consideration only being given to priests 65 years or older.
“When the pope bestows the title of ‘Monsignor,’ it is both a wonderful reflection of a priest’s faithful and dedicated service and a tribute to the local church and the people they serve,” said Father Michael D. Weston, diocesan director of divine worship. “Our Holy Father has truly blessed and honored our diocese by naming five of our priests ‘Chaplains to His Holiness.’ ”
Msgr. Robert C. Cilinski
Msgr. Robert C. Cilinski was born in Alexandria June 25, 1953, to Edward and Catherine Cilinski. He was baptized at St. Louis Church in Alexandria and attended grade school there. He graduated from St. John Vianney High School Seminary in Richmond in 1971. He then attended St. Meinrad College in Meinrad, Ind., graduating with a bachelor’s in philosophy. After finishing college studies, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., where he received his master’s in divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood May 12, 1979, by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
After ordination, Father Cilinski served as parochial vicar of St. Thomas More (1979–82), parochial vicar of Holy Family Church, Dale City (1982–86), chaplain of George Mason University Catholic Campus Ministry (1986–2000), administrator of All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas (2000–02), pastor of All Saints (2002–14), and pastor of Nativity Church (2014–present).
In 2016, Father Cilinski was appointed diocesan episcopal vicar for charitable works, and as an ex-officio member of the board of diocesan Catholic Charities.
He has served as member of the board of directors of the Arlington Catholic Herald, member of the College of Consultors (2000–05), chair of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee (2002-08), vicar forane (2002–14), member of the diocesan Clergy Personnel Board (2014–17), chairman of the Peace and Justice Commission (2018–present), member of the diocesan Building Commission (2018–present) and serves as an ex-officio member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2016–present).
Msgr. Dennis W. Kleinmann
Msgr. Dennis William Kleinmann was born in Milwaukee, Wis., July 22, 1959. He graduated from Beaver Dam Senior High School in Beaver Dam, Wis., in 1977. In 1989, he graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio with a bachelor’s in philosophy. He entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg in 1989. Father Kleinmann was ordained to the priesthood May 15, 1993, by Bishop John R. Keating at St. Thomas More. In 1993, Father Kleinmann received a master’s in divinity from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
Since ordination, Father Kleinmann has served as parochial vicar of St. Michael Church, Annandale (1993–96), parochial vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Winchester (1996–2000), parochial vicar of St. Mary Church, Alexandria (2000–02), administrator of St. Mary (2002–04), pastor of St. Mary (2004–15) and pastor of St. Veronica (2015–present).
He has served on the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2000–02; 2008-12), diocesan Priests’ Retirement Committee (2003–09), and the College of Consultors (2012–17).
Msgr. Robert J. Rippy
Msgr. Robert Joseph Rippy was born in Cherry Point, N.C., March 12, 1958. His family moved to Alexandria in 1965. Father Rippy attended St. Rita School and Bishop Ireton High School, where he graduated in 1976. He then entered St. Charles Borromeo College Seminary in Philadelphia and graduated with a bachelor’s in philosophy in 1980 and earned a master’s in theology in 1984.
Father Rippy was ordained to the priesthood May 12, 1984, by Bishop Keating at St. Thomas More. After ordination, he studied Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome, 1986–88. He earned his licentiate in canon law in 1988.
Father Rippy first served as parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Church, Annandale (1984–86). After, he was assigned to the diocesan tribunal in 1988 while also serving at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington. He also served as diocesan vicar for the permanent diaconate (1992–97), then diocesan vice chancellor, chancellor and moderator of the curia (1992–99) and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes (1997–2005). He was re-appointed chancellor in 1999 while continuing as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes until 2005. He also served as vicar forane (1999–2015) and rector of St. Thomas More (2005–19). He was appointed judicial vicar in 2015. In 2019, he was appointed full-time judicial vicar. He was re-appointed chancellor, serving 2020–2024.
He currently serves as director of the St. Rose of Lima Priests’ Retirement Home while continuing to serve as judicial vicar.
Father Rippy has served as member of the diocesan Clergy Personnel Board (1993–2009), member of the diocesan Finance Council (1994–2017), secretary of the board of directors, diocesan Catholic Charities (1995–96), member of the diocesan College of Consultors (1995–2000; 2012–present), member of the diocesan Pastoral Council (2004–16), director of the board, ex-officio, for the Arlington Catholic Herald (2005), and member ex-officio of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2005–13; 2016–present). He currently is chaplain of the Arlington County Police Department, Knights of Columbus Cathedral Council, the diocesan Serra Club and the Northern Virginia chapter of Legatus. He is a Knight Commander of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
Msgr. Lee R. Roos
Msgr. Lee Raymond Roos was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 1, 1953. Raised in Pennsylvania, he attended St. Sebastian School and graduated from North Allegheny High School in June 1971. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. and graduated with a bachelor’s in computer science in 1975. He worked in the computer industry until he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1985 and earned a master’s in divinity in 1989. Father Roos was ordained to the priesthood May 19, 1990, by Bishop Keating at St. Thomas More. After ordination, he studied canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington from 1993–96 and received the Decree of Licentiate in Canon Law.
Father Roos served as parochial vicar of St. Bernadette Church, Springfield (1990–93) and notary and auditor in the diocesan tribunal (1990–95). He was then assigned to study Canon Law at Catholic U. (1993–96). During that time, he served in residence at St. Thomas More (1993–95), then in residence at St. Luke Church, McLean (1996–2000). Father Roos served as defender of the bond in the diocesan tribunal (1996) before assuming full-time service in the tribunal that same year. He then served as adjutant judicial vicar in the diocesan tribunal, (1999). Later, he served in residence at St. Michael Church, Annandale, while working in the tribunal (2000–03), as administrator of St. Agnes Church, Arlington (2003) and pastor of St. Agnes (2005). He has served as promoter of justice in the diocesan tribunal for three terms (2010–25) and was re-appointed adjutant judicial vicar in the diocesan tribunal (2015–20). He currently serves as pastor of All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas (2014–present) and vicar forane (2014–present).
He has served as moderator of the information services office (2000–04), member of the diocesan Technology Advisory Committee (2005–08), member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council for five terms (2005–23), member of the diocesan Review Board (2010–present), member of the diocesan Education Advisory Committee, (2010–16), member of the diocesan Strategic Planning Committee (2020–present), judge at the tribunal (1998–present) and member of the diocesan College of Consultors (2022–present).
Msgr. William P. Saunders
Msgr. William P. Saunders was born March 9, 1957, in Washington, D.C. to Dr. Joseph F. and Pauline C. Saunders. In 1959, his family moved to Springfield. After graduating from West Springfield High School as class valedictorian in 1975, he attended William & Mary in Williamsburg. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s of business administration degree in accounting, with membership in Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
During the summer after college graduation, Father Saunders focused on the vocation to the priesthood, with which he had been wrestling since college. He applied to the diocese for admission into the seminary, and was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. In 1984, Father Saunders graduated from St. Charles Seminary with a master’s in sacred theology, summa cum laude, and was ordained to the priesthood May 12, 1984.
Father Saunders has served as parochial vicar of St. Mary Church, Alexandria, (1984–88), campus chaplain and adjunct professor of theology for Marymount University, Arlington (1988–93), parochial vicar (1993–95) and subsequently pastor (1995–2000) of Queen of Apostles Church, Alexandria. In 2000, he was assigned founding pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church, Potomac Falls.
In September 2018, Bishop Burbidge appointed Father Saunders diocesan episcopal vicar for faith formation, overseeing religious education programs. In 2020, he was appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in Arlington.
During this time, Father Saunders pursued studies at Catholic University, receiving a doctorate of philosophy in education administration in 1992. Thereupon, he was appointed president of the Notre Dame Institute for Catechetics in 1992, a graduate school offering a master’s in catechetics, sacred Scripture and spirituality. In 1997, the institute officially merged with Christendom College, Front Royal, becoming the Notre Dame Graduate School. At that time, Father Saunders was appointed dean of the graduate school until 2002.
