About the Cathedral Parish

Saint Thomas More is the Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. It is also a vibrant multi-cultural parish with over 1,400 parishioners.

Founded in 1938, parishioners initially attended Mass in what is today the St. Thomas More School gym. The original church was constructed in 1950 with Mass being celebrated in what is now Burke Hall. A larger, cruciform church was built and dedicated on December 9, 1961 by Bishop John Russell of the Diocese of Richmond.

The church was raised to the status of a cathedral in 1974 when the Diocese of Arlington was formed out of the Diocese of Richmond. The cathedral is the “Mother Church of the diocese” hosting many diocesan activities and Masses drawing people from around Northern Virginia. Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge was installed as the fourth Bishop in December 2016.

In 2023 renovations began on the existing church in conjunction with the diocese’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and were completed in August 2024. A Golden Jubilee Mass celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese of Arlington was celebrated on September 5, 2024. There, in the company of three Cardinals, including the Papal Nuncio Christophe Cardinal Pierre, 30 Bishops, several hundred priests, and 1,000 attendees, the new altar was dedicated by Bishop Burbidge.

All are welcome to our family of faith, fellowship, and service.

Take a Virtual Tour of the newly renovated Cathedral led by Father James Hudgins, pastor of Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia.