ARLINGTON, VA— Five priests from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington have been named by Pope Francis as Chaplains to His Holiness with the title Monsignor.
The new Monsignors are:
- Rev. Msgr. Robert C. Cilinski, Pastor, Nativity Parish in Burke and Episcopal Vicar for Charitable Works
- Rev. Msgr. Dennis W. Kleinmann, Pastor, Saint Veronica Parish in Chantilly
- Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Rippy, Judicial Vicar and Director of St. Rose of Lima Priests Retirement Villa
- Rev. Msgr. Lee R. Roos, Pastor, All Saints Parish in Manassas and Dean for Deanery V
- Rev. Msgr. William P. Saunders, Pastor, Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington and Episcopal Vicar for Faith Formation
In a statement, Bishop Burbidge said, “I congratulate Monsignors Cilinski, Kleinmann, Rippy, Roos, and Saunders for the recognition they have received for their dedicated and faithful priestly ministry. 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.
To learn more about Monsignors Cilinski, Kleinmann, Rippy, Roos, and Saunders, please read below.
Reverend Monsignor Robert C. Cilinski
After ordination, Father Cilinski served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Arlington (June 1979 – May 1982), parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish, Dale City (June 1982 – June 1986), chaplain for the George Mason University Catholic Campus Ministry (June 1986 – June 2000), Administrator at All Saints Parish, Manassas (June 2000 – January 2002), pastor of All Saints Parish, Manassas (January 2002 – June 2014), and pastor of Nativity Parish, Burke (June 2014 – present).
In December 2016, Father Cilinski was appointed as the Episcopal Vicar for Charitable Works, and as an ex-officio member of the Board of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Arlington.
He has served as member of the Board of Directors for the Arlington Catholic Herald, member of the College of Consultors (April 2000 – March 2005, and 2020-present), Chair of Priestly Life and Ministry Committee (2002-2008), Diocesan Review Board ( 2014-present), Vicar Forane (August 2002 – June 2014), member of the diocesan Clergy Personnel Board (February 2014 – December 2017), chairman of the Peace and Justice Commission (August 2018 – present), member of the diocesan Building Commission (February 2018 – present), and serves as member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council ex-officio (2016 – present).
He served as President of Gabriel Homes Board of Directors (1990-2023) which provide residential facilities for developmentally disable adults and serves as Spiritual Director for the Retreat for Persons Facing Serious Illness (2000-present).
Reverend Monsignor Dennis W. Kleinmann
Since ordination, Father Kleinmann has served as parochial vicar at Saint Michael Parish, Annandale (June 1993 – September 1996), parochial vicar at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Winchester (October 1996 – June 2000), parochial vicar at Saint Mary Parish, Alexandria (June 2000 – June 2002), administrator at Saint Mary Parish, Alexandria (June 2022 – June 2024), pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Alexandria (June 2004 – June 2015), and pastor of Saint Veronica Parish, Chantilly (June 2015 – present).
He has served as member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (March 2000 – September 2002), member of the diocesan Priests’ Retirement Committee (November 2003 – September 2006; December 2006 – December 2009), member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (October 2008 – September 2012), and member of the College of Consultors (June 2012 – June 2017).
Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Rippy
Father Rippy was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1984, by Most Reverend John R. Keating at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington. After ordination, he studied Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome, 1986 –1988. He earned his J.C.L. in 1988.
Father Rippy first served as parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Parish, Annandale (June 1984 – 1986). After, he was assigned to the diocesan Tribunal in 1988 while also serving at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington. He also served as Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate (1992 – 1997), then Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Arlington (1992 – 1999) and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (1997 – 2005). He was re-appointed as Chancellor for the Diocese of Arlington in 1999 while continuing as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish until 2005. He also served as Vicar Forane (1999 – 2015) and rector of the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington (2005 – 2019). He was appointed as Judicial Vicar in October 2015, while continuing as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More. In 2019, he was appointed full-time as Judicial Vicar. He was re-appointed as Chancellor, serving from 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 – 1996), Member of the diocesan College of Consultors (1995 – 2000; 2012 – present), member of the diocesan Pastoral Council (2004 – 2016), director of the board, ex-officio, for the Arlington Catholic Herald (2005), and member ex-officio of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2005 – 2013; 2016 – present). He currently serves as chaplain to the Arlington County Police Department, the diocesan Serra Club, and the Northern Virginia chapter of Legatus.
Reverend Monsignor Lee R. Roos
Rev. Msgr. Lee Raymond Roos was born in Pittsburgh, PA on March 1, 1953. Raised in Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Sebastian Catholic School and graduated from North Allegheny High School in June 1971. He then attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science in 1975. He worked in the computer industry until he entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1985 to study for the Diocese of Arlington and earned a M.Div. in Theology in 1989. Father Roos was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 1990, by Most Reverend John R. Keating at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington. After ordination, he studied canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. from 1993 – 1996 and received the Decree of Licentiate in Canon Law.
Father Roos served as parochial vicar at Saint Bernadette Parish, Springfield (June 1990 – 1993) and notary and auditor in the diocesan Tribunal (1990 – 1995). He was then assigned to study Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. (August 1993 – 1996). During that time, he served in residence at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, Arlington (1993 – 1995), then in residence at Saint Luke Parish, 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 Saint Michael Parish, Annandale, while working in the Tribunal (2000 – 2003), as administrator of Saint Agnes Parish, Arlington (2003), and pastor of Saint Agnes Parish, Arlington (2005). He has served as Promoter of Justice in the Diocesan Tribunal for three terms (2010 – 2025) and was re-appointed Adjutant Judicial Vicar in the Diocesan Tribunal (2015 – 2020).
He currently serves as pastor of All Saints Parish, Manassas (2014 – present) and Vicar Forane (2014 – present).
He has served as moderator of the Information Services office (2000 – 2004), member of the diocesan Technology Advisory Committee (2005 – 2008) member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council for five terms (2005 – 2023), member of the diocesan Review Board (2010 – present), member of the diocesan Education Advisory Committee, (2010 – 2016), 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).
Reverend Monsignor William P. Saunders
After graduating from West Springfield High School as the class valedictorian in 1975, he attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor 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 of Arlington, Virginia for admission into the seminary, and was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1984, Father Saunders graduated from St. Charles Seminary with a Master of Arts in Sacred Theology, summa cum laude, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1984.
Father Saunders has served as parochial vicar at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Alexandria, (1984 – 1988), the campus chaplain and adjunct professor of Theology for Marymount University, Arlington (1988 – 1993), parochial vicar (1993 – 1995) and subsequently pastor (1995 – 2000) at Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Alexandria. In summer 2000, he was assigned as the founding pastor of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Potomac Falls.
In September 2018, Bishop Burbidge appointed Father Saunders as the Episcopal Vicar for Faith Formation for the Diocese of Arlington, overseeing religious education programs. In 2020, he was appointed pastor of Saint Agnes Church in Arlington.
During this time, Father Saunders pursued studies at Catholic University, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education Administration in 1992. Thereupon, he was appointed as President of the Notre Dame Institute for Catechetics in 1992, a graduate school offering a Master of Arts in Catechetics, Sacred Scripture, and Spirituality. On February 1, 1997, the Notre Dame 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.
