Basilica of St. Mary (Alexandria, Virginia)
Church in Virginia, United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Basilica of St. Mary (Alexandria, Virginia)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Basilica of Saint Mary in the Old Town Old and Historic District, of Alexandria, Virginia, (United States) and is a minor basilica and parish church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Virginia. The Basilica of Saint Mary is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the Commonwealth of Virginia.[1][2] It was founded in 1795 by the Very Reverend Francis Ignatius Neale, then the president of Georgetown University (then known as Georgetown College), in present-day western Washington, D.C.[1]
Basilica of Saint Mary | |
---|---|
38°48′6.7″N 77°2′38.5″W | |
Location | Alexandria, Virginia |
Country | United States |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | StMaryOldTown.org |
History | |
Founded | 1795 |
Founder(s) | Very Rev. Francis Ignatius Neale, SJ |
Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
Architecture | |
Architectural type | Neo-Gothic |
Completed | 1827 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Arlington |
Clergy | |
Bishop(s) | Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge |
Rector | Very Rev. Edward C. Hathaway |
Vicar(s) | Rev. Fr. Joseph Townsend; Rev. Fr. Peter Clem, YA |
On December 6, 2017, Pope Francis designated the parish church as a minor basilica. The decision was announced on January 15, 2018,[3] and the basilica held its inauguration Mass on September 8, 2018.