St. Jerome Catholic Church stands on Denbigh Boulevard in the northern reaches of Newport News, Virginia, where it has served the surrounding neighborhoods since 1966. A Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Richmond, St. Jerome is a community built around the seven sacraments, lifelong faith formation, and a steady tradition of welcoming new members. Mass is offered daily, confessions are heard weekly, and the parish's reach extends well beyond the church walls through a food pantry, ESL programs, and an annual domestic mission trip.
Mass and Confession Schedule
The parish gathers for Mass throughout the week. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m., and two Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Daily Mass is celebrated Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 a.m., and on Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. The rosary is recited before the weekend Masses - Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Confessions are heard each Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and may also be arranged by appointment. During monthly Adoration Thursdays, reconciliation is offered from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The parish office, open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., can be reached at 757-877-5021. For sacramental emergencies requiring urgent attention from a priest, a separate line is available at 757-872-8166.
Parish History: From 135 Families to a Renovated Sanctuary
St. Jerome was established in May 1966 by Bishop John J. Russell with an initial congregation of 135 families. For its first year the parish celebrated Mass at R.O. Nelson School, then broke ground on its own property in the fall of 1967 under Father Hendrick. Bishop Russell dedicated the completed church on September 2, 1968; what is now the Fellowship Hall was the original worship space.
By the mid-1980s the parish had outgrown that space. Groundbreaking for a larger worship area took place April 6, 1986, and the new sanctuary was dedicated May 3, 1987. A decade later, the Faith and Life Center was constructed in 2000 to expand religious education programs, youth activities, and meeting space for parish and community groups.
In 2020 the parish launched a capital campaign called Abundant Grace, Unwavering Faith, originally aimed at replacing a leaking roof. The scope expanded into a full sanctuary renovation, and on June 28, 2024, Bishop Barry C. Knestout dedicated the newly refurbished worship space, a design intended to reflect the reverence and generosity that have marked the parish since its founding.
The Seven Sacraments
St. Jerome's sacramental ministry reflects the parish's stated belief that each sacrament is an outward sign that actually conveys the grace it signifies. The seven are presented as the central way the parish continues the mission of Jesus today.
Baptism is celebrated as soon as possible after birth, and the parish offers monthly classes for parents and godparents. Godparents must be at least 16, confirmed Catholics in good standing (an Eastern Orthodox Christian may serve alongside a Catholic), and living a faith-filled life; a pastor may grant an exception to the age requirement for a just cause.
First Communion is prepared through formation classes open to children in second grade or higher. Confirmation preparation sessions are available for Catholics who are at least 15 years old. Reconciliation (confession) is offered weekly and by appointment; the parish welcomes those who have not been to confession in years. Anointing of the Sick is available for any serious illness and may be repeated, and any baptized Catholic preparing for surgery is encouraged to request the sacrament.
Marriage preparation requires at least six months of work before the wedding, and the parish directs couples to additional resources through the diocesan office. Holy Orders is a vocation to be discerned. Funerals may be celebrated Tuesday through Friday, with the Funeral Preparation Ministry Chair assisting families with readings, music, and the rest of the arrangements.
Faith Formation for Every Age
The parish's faith formation programs are centered in the Faith and Life Center and run during the regular school year. Children's classes meet Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and are open to all children through fifth grade, with sacramental preparation for First Communion and First Reconciliation offered each year. Youth classes for middle and high schoolers meet at the same time in the main church classrooms, with confirmation preparation for tenth graders and older.
Adults have several options. Sunday morning formation runs from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the upstairs classrooms. Wednesday evenings offer a one-hour class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the downstairs classroom. A Thursday morning session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Main Hall. Preschool care is available for adults attending classes.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) meets Sundays at 9:15 a.m. for adults interested in joining the Catholic Church, returning after time away, or receiving missed sacraments. A parallel program, RCIC, is available for children and teens older than seven who have not yet received the sacraments of initiation. Margaret Curtis serves as the parish's Director of Faith Formation.
Two ongoing small groups also meet. The Men's Group gathers on the second Tuesday of each month for sharing and faith discussion. St. Monica's Group meets Mondays at 5:00 p.m. in the church to pray for those who have fallen away from the faith. A monthly Mom and Me gathering offers mothers and their young children a chance to share and play.
Eucharistic Adoration
On the first Thursday of each month, St. Jerome holds Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, beginning after the 8:00 a.m. daily Mass and continuing through 7:00 p.m. Children's Hour runs from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., when many young families come together in prayer, followed by a potluck dinner. The sacrament of reconciliation is offered during Adoration from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Knights of Columbus and Parish Councils
Walter Pollard Council 5480 of the Knights of Columbus is chartered at St. Jerome, offering Catholic men and their families a fraternal and faith-based service organization. The Grand Knight is Ted Mauch and the Faithful Navigator is Steve Taylor. Membership is open to practicing Catholic men at least 18 years old.
The parish is also guided by a Pastoral Council, chaired by David DiFiore with Stephen O'Grady as co-chair, and a Finance Council chaired by Joseph Petro. Both councils include the pastor, Father George Prado, and Deacon Eric Palm.
Community Outreach
St. Jerome operates a parish food pantry Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., distributing a bag of non-perishable goods each week to Newport News residents, with particular attention to ZIP codes 23602, 23603, 23606, and 23608. Donations come from parish supporters.
The church also provides space and support for ESL classes in partnership with Peninsula Education, and partners with the United Way Community Assistance Network for parishioners experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
Domestic Mission Trip
Each July, St. Jerome sends a mission team to Buckingham County, where for more than twenty years the parish has been helping neighbors in need. Rising sixth graders, teens, and adults are all welcome. The week begins with a Tuesday night pack-out at the church, followed by travel on Wednesday, four days of work, an evening at Dillwyn Dairy Freeze for ice cream and dancing, Saturday night Eucharistic Adoration with other churches, and Sunday Mass before heading home on Wednesday with a stop at a local lake.
Columbarium
St. Jerome maintains an on-site columbarium for the cremated remains of active and practicing members of the congregation. Niches can accommodate up to two urns each and are arranged in modules throughout the sacred space.
Worship and Music
Mass is celebrated in English and reflects the traditions of the Roman Rite. Parishioners can support the work of the parish through online giving via the parish's Give Central page or through the ongoing Abundant Grace, Unwavering Faith capital campaign pledges via Faith Direct. The parish maintains a YouTube channel with recordings and is active on Facebook.
St. Jerome, Scholar and Saint
The parish's patron, Saint Jerome, was a fourth-century priest best remembered for translating the Bible into Latin - the Vulgate - and for his fierce defense of Christian orthodoxy. Honored on September 30 as patron of archaeologists, biblical scholars, librarians, students, and translators, Jerome is invoked at St. Jerome as a model of learning and conversion. The parish's prayer to its patron asks for the grace to cherish Scripture, strive for wisdom, and live by the truth he defended.