St. James Catholic Church (Diocese of Arlington)
| Saint James Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Saint James the Greater |
| Type/Classification: | Territorial Parish |
| Non-Parochial: | No |
| Operated By: | Diocesan clergy |
| Venerated Saints: | Our Lady of Fatima, Saint Joseph |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 1 |
| Address: | 905 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046 |
| City: | Falls Church, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Fairfax County |
| Website: | Website |
| Founded: | 1909 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@stjamescatholic.org |
| AI Confidence: | Not rated |
| Review Level: | 0/5 (unreviewed) |
Saint James Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Falls Church, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint James the Greater, the Apostle and first martyred among the Twelve, son of Zebedee, brother of Saint John, and patron of pilgrims and Spain—the parish serves a suburban community in the City of Falls Church. It operates Saint James Catholic School (K-8).
Established in 1909 as a mission and elevated to parish status in 1913, Saint James grew with the area, dedicating its current Romanesque Revival church in 1955. As of December 20, 2025, the parish offers daily Masses, strong faith formation, and ministries including outreach to the needy.
The parish community honors its patron through reflection on apostolic zeal and pilgrimage.
History
Saint James Parish began as a mission in 1909 under the Diocese of Richmond, with Masses initially in private homes and halls.[1]
It was elevated to parish status in 1913. The current Romanesque Revival church was dedicated in 1955.[2]
The parish joined the Diocese of Arlington in 1974. Growth has included school expansions and diverse ministries.
School
Saint James Catholic School serves kindergarten through grade 8, providing Catholic education integrated with academics.
The school supports the parish mission of faith formation.[3]
Special features
- Devotions to Our Lady of Fatima and Saint Joseph
- Active ministries in faith formation and community service
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.
Architecture
The church, dedicated in 1955, features Romanesque Revival style.
Art and devotional features
The parish includes devotional elements honoring Our Lady of Fatima and Saint Joseph.
Specific details on stained glass windows or other artwork are limited in publicly available sources.
Related parishes
References
- ↑ "History". Saint James Catholic Church. https://stjamescatholic.org/history.
- ↑ "Saint James". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-james/.
- ↑ "School". Saint James Catholic Church. https://stjamescatholic.org/school.