The Basilica Welcomes Two Additions: A Parochial Vicar and a 2024 Summer Seminarian

Posted on May 16, 2024

Welcome, Father James Searby!

The following statement is by Father Hathaway, the Rector of the Basilica:

The priest assignments have been announced, and I’m happy to report that our two current parochial vicars, Father Joseph and Father Peter, have not been assigned elsewhere, which means we will continue to be blessed by their ministry here. I am also delighted to announce that Father James Searby will be our newest parochial vicar, starting on June 27, 2024. He is currently a parochial vicar at Saint Timothy in Chantilly. Before that, he was the chaplain and director of Catholic Campus Ministry at George Mason University; a parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo in Arlington; a parochial vicar at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge; and a parochial Vicar at Holy Spirit Parish, Annandale. He hosts a weekly podcast entitled Holiness for the Working Day.

I have known Father Searby for about 25 years, ever since he was a seminarian. He will be introducing himself soon in a letter to the parish, which will be shared in the bulletin, our parish website and in our e-newsletter, Flocknote. He is a wonderful priest, and we are certainly blessed at the Basilica by having priests who are men of God, men of the Church, with love for the Lord and those entrusted to their care. Please keep all of us in your prayers. And please pray for Father Searby and all the priests who have received their new assignments.

A NOTE OF GREETING FROM OUR NEW PAROCHIAL VICAR, WHO STARTS HIS ASSIGNMENT ON JUNE 27, 2024

My Dear Basilica of Saint Mary’s parishioners,

Some months ago, I went on a bike ride from Old Town to Mount Vernon and back. The beauty of Old Town, the peace of the river and the history of the area have long been one of my favorite day-off activities. After the ride, I sat down to rest and do my afternoon mental prayer on Jones Point. As I sat there, I mentioned to the Lord that, someday, if He would like, I would love to be assigned to Saint Mary’s. Then I asked my Blessed Mother, if she would like to, to help out with that one. Well, She has her ways. I am Hers and now, it appears, I am yours.

I look forward to being at the Basilica and serving you all. I’m particularly overjoyed to be working with such great priests there, Father Hathaway in particular. He has been like the big brother I never had (I’m the oldest of 7) for the last 26 years since I first began to discern the call to the priesthood. He has been a constant support since, and now I get to serve with him.

Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Queens, NY, till I was 8 years old. Our growing family then moved to Vienna, VA, when my father began to work for President Reagan. I’ve attended The Heights, Our Lady of Good Council (for junior high), and Bishop O’Connell for my first three years of high school. I finished high school at Northridge Preparatory School in Chicago, IL, and went on to attend my beloved University of Dallas, where I earned a BA in History in 1995.

After university, I worked in a variety of jobs in the tech world in marketing and sales in the DC area. Eventually, I ran away with the circus (literally) and worked for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (and Disney on Ice) in NYC. It was during that time I began to discern a call to the priesthood, and I returned to the Arlington Diocese to work, pray and continue to discern.

I entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia for the Diocese of Arlington in 1999 and was ordained a priest in 2005. In these incredible 19 years of priestly ministry, I have served at Holy Spirit in Annandale; Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lake Ridge; Saint Charles Borromeo in Clarendon; George Mason University (as chaplain); and Saint Timothy in Chantilly.

I honestly have more interests than I can count. I have a passion for the arts (fine and performing), travel, and all things cultural. I oil paint as a regular hobby. I also have a podcast called “Holiness for the Working Day” (available on all podcast platforms; click here to listen), where I broadcast homilies, talks and classes, as well as conversations on a variety of topics. I look forward to continuing and expanding that at the Basilica.

Please be assured of my prayers as I begin the process of packing, saying farewell and moving to Alexandria. I look forward to meeting you, serving you and walking with you on this adventurous pilgrimage of life. Please keep me and all the priests in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Father James Searby

Welcome, Teko Teko-Agbo!

Our newest summer seminarian is Teko (pronounced “Tay-koh”) Teko-Agbo. He will be staying at the Basilica from June 3-August 4. He is studying Theology II at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He used to work as a caseworker for Erie County (NY) DSS – Child and Adult protective Services. Before that, he was a seminarian for the Diocese of Buffalo and was also discerning with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His family, originally from Togo, now lives in the Diocese of Arlington. To learn more about him, click here.

A NOTE OF GREETING FROM OUR SUMMER SEMINARIAN, WHO STARTS HIS ASSIGNMENT ON JUNE 2, 2024

Hello, All,

I am Teko. I am 34 years old. I was born and grew up in Togo, Western Africa. I am the second of four boys. My family moved to Northern Virginia over a decade ago.

The desire to become a priest was born in my heart shortly after I was baptized, around the age of 14. It pleased God to give me this call freely; I do not deserve it. However, in my own understanding, I believe I was drawn to the call through the experiences I had with many good priests in Togo. Orthodox, hardworking, devoted and selfless priests. Men who could have had their own families and gave it up. I remember many of them got up early in the morning (I know because I served Mass frequently on my way to school), prayed their Divine Office, said Mass, and headed to hospitals, prisons, homes, etc. The priest was everything; he was the counselor, the mediator when couples hit hard-times, the relief for the poor… in short, it was in that environment that I aspired to the call. It is a gentle breeze that the Lord breathes into hearts of unworthy men, so that He could work through us. Before I was able to enter seminary in my home country, we immigrated to the United States.

I ended up joining a religious order called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a missionary order. I spent four years in the order, where I did my philosophical studies, in Buffalo, New York. After I completed my philosophy courses, I discerned out of the order. I remained in the city of Buffalo for the next five years, where I worked as a Child Protection Social Worker. Although the desire to become a priest never left my heart, I sought to experience regular life for a while, i.e. work. In any case, I have now just completed my second year of Theology at Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

I am looking forward to the summer assignment at the Basilica of Saint Mary. I am open to learning from the staff and the priests. I hope to grow in the areas where God wants to pour into me, through you, the parishioners also.

— Teko Teko-Agbo