Greeting Message from Fr. Burchell to Basilica Parishioners

Fr. Jason Burchell will start as the Basilica’s newest parochial vicar on June 25, 2026. He shared a message of welcome to our parishioners below:

Friends, I am thrilled to be back at the Basilica, where I spent a year during my formation as a seminarian in 2010-2011, celebrated my first diaconate (2012) and priestly (2013) Masses and, now, where I will continue on my journey working for the salvation of souls.

After beginning my priestly service as Parochial Vicar at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington (2013-2016), I now return to the Arlington Diocese this year after serving the last 10 years as a priest/chaplain in the United States Navy and Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4).

I deployed four times aboard the Forward Deployed Carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia and Oceania, followed by three years years as the Senior Catholic Chaplain at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. After returning stateside in 2021, I switched into USMC green and deployed twice as Battalion Chaplain for 3D Battalion 2D Marines (V32) out of Camp Lejeune, NC, until 2023 and then filled a critical need billet as a clinical chaplain at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, for the past three years. It was a challenging and transformative experience, and I could never replace the energy, the lessons, or even the traumas the past 10 years have afforded my vocation.

The priesthood has been the most precious gift I have ever received in life, and it comes with a tremendous responsibility — that of intentional prayer for the people of God and His Holy Church. While this is my first priority on a daily basis, I also love the outdoors, especially adventures with family in the Shenandoah Valley, exercise, and whipping up unique recipes passed on to me during my travels throughout the world.

It always feels good to come home, and the Basilica is a big part of that feeling. Although it has been many years, I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting many new ones. I also look forward to joining Fathers Hathaway, Searby and Meyerhofer in the amazing work of parish ministry, devotion to Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist, our Blessed Mother, beautiful liturgy, and the eduction and evangelization of those that the Lord puts in our path.

I look forward to being with you in the coming months. God’s Blessings to all of you.