Father Mark Moretti was born on March 28, 1958 in Washington , DC . He is the first son of John and Jean Moretti. He has a younger brother, Scott, who is married and has 4 children. Scott and his wife Tamyra live in Manassas , Virginia . His sister Rosemary has two children and she lives in Stafford , Virginia . Father Moretti's parents have been married for 54 years and still live in the same residence in Alexandria , Virginia . Father Moretti attended Saint Rita's School and Bishop Ireton High School , both in Alexandria .

Father Moretti graduated from Bishop Ireton in 1976 and entered Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales in Center Valley , Pennsylvania . He majored in Politics and received a B.A. in 1980. During his first two years of college, he worked summers at the Central Intelligence Agency in the Directorate for Intelligence, Office of Geographic and Cartographic Research.

In 1980, Father Moretti joined the U.S. Department of State as a special agent in what is now called the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The DSS is the worldwide law enforcement branch of the Department of State. Its agents and personnel are responsible for investigations, physical and VIP protective security operations, counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, and security liaison with numerous foreign government law enforcement entities. In his ten years with the DSS, Father Moretti's career encompassed all of these areas and more. His assignments included the Washington Field Office, the Secretary of State Protective Detail, the Security Command Center , the Counterintelligence Staff, and the Regional Security Office at the American Embassy, Tunis , Tunisia .

In 1990, Father Moretti pursued a lifelong dream to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington and accepted a scholarship to Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg , Maryland . He graduated in 1995 with a Master of the Arts in Church History and a Masters in Divinity. During his five years of graduate study, Father Moretti continued to work in a “when actually employed” status with the DSS, handling various budget and management issues related to information technology and technical security countermeasures. Upon his ordination, Father Moretti became the first chaplain of the DSS, volunteering his time and talent to assist other agents with personal or spiritual problems and giving them an important non-departmental avenue of support.

In 1995, Father Moretti was appointed parochial vicar of Saint Mark's Church in Vienna , Virginia and served there for three years. In 1998, he returned to his home parish of Saint Rita in Alexandria , and served as parochial vicar and temporary administrator from 1998 to 2003. In 2003, he became the parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge , Virginia . In 2006, he was appointed administrator of the parish and served in that capacity until June of 2008. He is currently the pastor of Saint Thomas a Becket Parish in Reston , Virginia .

In addition to his normal pastoral duties, Fr. Moretti has served as the president of the World Apostolate of Fatima in Washington , New Jersey from 2003 to 2007, chaplain for the World Apostolate of Fatima Arlington Division from 1997 to present, and chaplain to the Catholic Business Network and the Prime Time Singles Catholics group. His hobbies include golf, swimming, movies and books. His favorite passage from the Sacred Scriptures is the hymn to Christ in St. Paul 's Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:1-11).

Fr. Mark E. Moretti is the sixth pastor of Saint Thomas à Becket Parish in Reston, Virginia.

From the Desk of Fr. Mark Moretti
Christmas Letter 2008	Lenten Commentary on The Commandments 2009