Founded in 1795, the Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town Alexandria is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our parish is a vibrant community of Roman Catholics united in worshiping God through the celebration of the Eucharist. Our parish mission is to form a loving a welcoming community anchored in the truth of the Catholic teaching as taught by the magisterium of the Church and faithful to the Holy Father. With a friendly and welcoming outreach to the less fortunate, we share our faith and evangelize our community through worship, education, service and fellowship.
Building on the legacy of more than two centuries of faithful stewardship, we seek to proclaim Christ to our current generation in all that we live, say and do. As articulated by our motto, Omnes Cum Petro Ad Jesum Per Mariam (All With Peter To Jesus Through Mary), we seek to unite ourselves to Jesus through Mary guided by the Magisterial teaching of the Church. We believe in the universal call to holiness: that every human person is called to be a saint.