Father Francis J. Peffley was born March 16, 1963 in Norristown, Pennsylvania to William and Mary Peffley, who met in the Legion of Mary. He joined the Legion of Mary at the age of ten along with his sisters, Edel and Natia. He graduated from Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. Father Peffley attended Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland where he received his priestly formation and his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts Degrees. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia on May 19, 1990. Father Peffley served as founding pastor of Holy Trinity parish in Gainesville, Virginia from 2001 to 2011 as Spiritual Director to eight praesidia and pastor to over 4,000 families in a vibrant and rapidly growing community, with 65 other ministries and organizations. Father then went to serve as parochial vicar at Saint John the Apostle in Leesburg, Virginia until 2016 and currently serves as parochial vicar at St Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, Virginia.

In addition to his parish activities, Father Peffley is especially active with the parish young adult ministry, retreat work and pilgrimages, Catholic apologetics, and evangelization. He serves as Spiritual Director of the Arlington Regia. For the past twenty years he has also been a chaplain of the Knights of Columbus councils in each parish he has served. Father Peffley’s interests include juggling fire torches and machetes, golf, scuba diving, bowling, billiards, baseball card collecting, and traveling to pilgrimage sites and shrines.

Father Peffley has written numerous articles which have appeared in a variety of publications including a recent books: Inside the Legion of Mary and The Priest and the Legion of Mary; Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Queen of All Hearts Magazine, Maria Legionis magazine, Lay Witness, and the Arlington Catholic Herald. He has recorded over two hundred audio CDs on Spirituality, the Saints, Apologetics, Evangelization and the Family. His Sunday and weekday homilies and retreat talks appear online and are listened to worldwide.

"I believe my vocation was fostered in three ways:

• The example and inspiration which I received from my family,
• The spiritual and academic formation I received from Christendom College and Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary
• My involvement in the Legion of Mary.

I believe my work in the Legion of Mary has led me to an even deeper desire to serve God totally through the priesthood."