Recommend your Catholic Church/CCD program in Falls Church/McLean

[Anonymous]

DH and I moved to Falls Church 2 years ago, and we're in the St. James Catholic church boundary. Whenever we go there though, we're not really that thrilled with it- it seems even more formal and conservative than other churches in our old town and in my hometown.

We're looking for a church nearby with a good community of young families and preferably a children's mass where the kids who are old enough hear their own stories during mass. Also, DC is 5 and will be starting kindergarten this Fall, so want to get him started in CCD since he'll be in public school, not Catholic school.

On top of that, I'm a WOHM, so I'm wondering how I get DC to CCD if it's on Monday or Tues. afternoon at 4:30 like at St. James!

Any advice or constructive recommendations would be appreciated Also, really not looking for debates about Catholicism in general. (I know I might be asking alot from this forum though).

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Our lady queen of peace in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Check out St. Ann or St. Agnes - both in N. Arlington, not too far from the border of Falls Church. Family friendly parishes, although not a children's Mass, per se.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am pretty sure you have to join the church in your jurisdiction, check with the Arlington Diocese (which would dictate your area). I always question people joining their church out of their jurisdiction the few times it does happen. Very strange.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about St. Charles in Arlington and absolutely love St. Ann's (also in Arlington). I don't know first-hand whether you can go out of boundaries for CCD but I do know that St John in Mclean has evening CCD classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I am pretty sure you have to join the church in your jurisdiction, check with the Arlington Diocese (which would dictate your area). I always question people joining their church out of their jurisdiction the few times it does happen. Very strange.

NP and lifelong Catholic here. I've never heard of this "rule" or had it enforced until I moved to this area. Wonder if it's b/c there are so many Catholics here that everyone can't be crowded into one church?

My twin is my kids' godmother. She lives maybe 10 mins away from us and is in another church jurisdiction. She attends Mass with us at our church and was told she could seek a waiver from our priest to join our church. Otherwise, it's silly b/c she either goes to church at her own place and misses Mass with my kids or we go to hers and miss Mass at our place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I am pretty sure you have to join the church in your jurisdiction, check with the Arlington Diocese (which would dictate your area). I always question people joining their church out of their jurisdiction the few times it does happen. Very strange.

Explain how this is "very strange." I travel from Ffx county to Arlington because the church I go to has a great pastor, great feeling of community, and is more liberal than most other churches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I am pretty sure you have to join the church in your jurisdiction, check with the Arlington Diocese (which would dictate your area). I always question people joining their church out of their jurisdiction the few times it does happen. Very strange.

This is totally bogus. Where ever did you hear this nonsense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I am pretty sure you have to join the church in your jurisdiction, check with the Arlington Diocese (which would dictate your area). I always question people joining their church out of their jurisdiction the few times it does happen. Very strange.

The people in St. James parish are mostly NOT from the City of Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

I definitely think they strongly encourage you to attend your specific parish church. There may be some very valid reasons but I think it's because they don't want people church shopping and everyone attending one church thereby filling the coffers there and leaving the others high and dry. I think it would be a great idea b/c then maybe some of the highly conservative/unfriendly parishes would have to do something to lighten up and become more child friendly!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Look, I get this. I'm a "follow the rules" kinda girl. I know that if I want things to change, I should work on changing them myself. I know I should volunteer to teach CCD or suggest Sunday things that would be a little more young family friendly at St. James, but really, I don't have a lot of time for that, and if it's already at another Catholic church that's only 4-5 miles from my house, why shouldn't I go there if they already have those things in place? Do I really have to be the one that reinvents and fixes everything? I really feel like I have enough to do with working and taking care of my family--why do I have to go make this into a personal crusade?

Just letting people know, I know I "should" be the one who fixes it at St. James, but really? I feel a little pulled in every direction as it is and I thought church would be a respite from that to some extent.

[Anonymous]

I know several families in the St. James boundary who attend St. Ann's instead and like it much better.

[Anonymous]

You can join whatever church you want. We were accepted at St. Luke's in Mclean for school and not a parish boundary family--CCD for Kindergarten is Sunday--as is St. John's (our boundary) although St. John's is more conservative if you want to avoid that. Welcome!

[Anonymous]

But some churches are stricter, which is a turnoff for me. When I went to sign up for St. Leo's in Fairfax the woman said, "hunter road is the boundary, you must sign up for St. Ambrose." Refused to let me register. So much for choice.