Priests
Rev. William Saunders, Pastor
Father William P. Saunders was ordained a priest for the diocese of Arlington in 1984. He holds a bachelor of business administration in accounting from the College of William and Mary and a master of arts in sacred theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also has a doctor of philosophy in education administration from the Catholic University of America.
After being ordained in 1984, Fr. Saunders served at St. Mary Church in Alexandria, then as chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington, and then at Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria. In 2000, he was appointed the founding pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. He was also dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College in Alexandria from 1997 to 2001.
Rev. Peter McShurley, Parochial Vicar
Father Peter McShurley grew up in Linden Virginia, number 5 of ten kids. He attended freshman year of college at University of Dallas before graduating from Christendom College with a degree in Philosophy.
Fr. McShurley entered seminary right after college where he studied for two years of Pre-Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. After Pre-Theology he was sent to Rome to complete 4 years of seminary formation before being ordained a priest on June 6, 2020 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Fr. McShurley very much enjoys hiking, running, and golf, among other sports. He also enjoys reading, especially classic literature and other novels. He continues to play classical piano as a past time and is an avid listener to classical music. St. Agnes Parish is his first assignment as a priest.
Rev. Anthony Pinizzotto, Priest in Residence
Father Anthony J. Pinizzotto received a BA in English from Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (De Sales University), an MA in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, an MA in Theology from De Sales Graduate School of Theology, a PhD in psychology from Georgetown University, a post-doctoral MS in clinical psychopharmacology from Alliant University. He completed a year-long post-doctoral institute on the psychology of trauma at the Maryland Psychological Association/Foundation. He also completed post-doctoral training and certification in biofeedback. He retired from the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit as a clinical forensic psychologist and senior scientist after 20 years. Ordained in 1978 in the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, he was incardinated in the Diocese of Arlington in 2014.
He is retired from active ministry but works with the Arlington Diocesan Tribunal conducting psychological assessments. Fr. Pinizzotto is in residence at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Prior to coming to St. Agnes, Father was assigned at St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean, VA for seven years. Prior to that, Father was assigned to St. Timothy Catholic Church in Chantilly, VA. Before his assignment at St. Timothy Catholic Church, he resided at St. William of York Catholic Church in Stafford, VA, for thirteen years. Fr. Pinizzotto will often be seen walking his faithful companion, Mia, an English Labrador retriever.
Rev. Steven Oetjen, Priest in Residence
Fr. Steven Oetjen grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, where he and his family were parishioners of St. Lawrence Parish. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation he entered seminary and was sent to St. Charles Borromeo semi-nary in Philadelphia for his philosophy studies.
After completing his two years of philosophy, Steven was asked to go to Rome for his theology studies which he completed at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, while in formation at the North American College.
He was ordained a deacon in 2016 and a priest on June 10, 2017.
He has spent the last four years as Parochial Vicar at St. James Parish in Falls Church. Fr. Oetjen will be living at St. Agnes while he pursues a degree in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America. On most weekends he will be helping out at St. Jude’s Parish in Fredericksburg.
Parish Office Staff
Vitoria Vargas, Business Manager
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703-525-1166 x225
Ligia Santos, Accountant
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703-525-1166 x203
Armelle Tallec, Administrative Assistant
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703-525-1166 x201
Joan Biehler, Coordinator for the Protection of Children
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703-525-1166 x227
Brian Sherry, Operations and Maintenance Manager
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703-525-1166 x202
John Dolata, Maintenance Technician
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703-525-1166 x230
Michael Sirotniak, Coordinator of Adoration, Security & Logistics
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703-525-1166 x229
Religious Education Office Staff
Lisa Orosa, Director of Religious Education
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703-527-1129
Bernadette Michael, Religious Education Assistant
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703-525-1166 x134
Music Ministry Staff
Katrina Keat, Director of Sacred Music
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703-525-1166 x231
