Our Lady of Angels

Founding Pastor: Rev. George Ecker (in the Stigmatine Order)
Parish Founded: 1956
Church Dedication: 1958
Additional Dates of Importance:  A new church was built in 1985

What Makes This Parish Unique?

In 1970 and 1976, respectively, the Diocese established Holy Family Parish in Dale City and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge, both within what had been Our Lady of Angel's boundaries. Masses in Spanish began in 1982. Today, there are four Masses in Spanish every Sunday, plus a Mass and Holy Hour held every Thursday evening.

School Information:

Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School
Founded: 1977

The Diocese opened the Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School. The school, Pre-K-8 and fully accredited, was housed within Our Lady of Angel's Catholic Center and serves three parishes: Our Lady of Angels, Sacred Heart (Manassas) and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. 

Parish History:

In the mid-1950s, Woodbridge was a small town between Belvoir and Quantico, sitting on the Potomac River. Catholics in the area belonged All Saints in Manassas, a parish administered by priests of the Stigmatine Order  based in Massachusetts. In spring 1956, Rev. George Ecker, pastor of All Saints, arranged for the use of the Occoquan School auditorium to offer Sunday Mass for Catholics in the Woodbridge area. For the Masses, parishioners carried a portable altar in their car trunks from Sunday to Sunday. Father Ecker celebrated the first Mass in the school on May 22, 1956. The total congregation was 66. In fall 1958, the chapel was completed. Formal dedication was on October 27, 1958. Fortunately, after several meetings of diocesan and Stigmatine officials in 1959, boundaries had been drawn, and on September 26, 1959, Our Lady of Angels was formally declared a parish. Fr. James Shea was named the first pastor.

In 1970 and 1976, respectively, the Diocese established Holy Family Parish in Dale City and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge, both within what was Our Lady of Angels' boundaries. Masses and activities in Spanish were started for the Spanish-speaking community of the parish in 1982. In 1985, Our Lady of Angels Church was completed and dedicated. In 1994, the Stigmatine Order of priests and brothers turned over ministering of the parish to the Diocese. Perpetual adoration began in 1996. In June 2020, Bishop Burbidge invited the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a religious institute from Spain, to take over care of the parish. In the mid-1950s, there was no Catholic church in the Woodbridge area for its 66 Catholics. Now there are three Catholic parishes, including Our Lady of Angels, serving more than 42,000 Catholics.

To learn more about Our Lady of Angles, please visit ourladyofangelscatholicchurch.com/.