About Holy Comforter · Charlottesville, Virginia
Holy Comforter Catholic Church is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish located in Historic Downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, and is part of the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 10). It is the oldest Catholic congregation in the city, founded in 1880 and originally known as the Church of the Paraclete. The parish takes its present name from the early-twentieth-century rebuilding of the church and remains committed to worship, discipleship, outreach, and evangelization in the heart of Charlottesville, where it operates a well-known soup kitchen and food pantry.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Holy Comforter (the Holy Spirit as Comforter)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary Lukyamuzi, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 10)
Why belong here
Holy Comforter is the downtown Catholic parish in Charlottesville and one of the most active in outreach — its Soup Kitchen serves meals on Thursdays and its Food Pantry is open Monday through Wednesday, making the parish a daily presence in the city's social ministry. It also offers a full sacramental life (Mass seven days a week, daily confession, three weekly Eucharistic Adoration slots, and a complete RCIA program), a Pre-K through High School Christian Formation program, parish missions to Uganda and Haiti, and a deep bench of lay-led ministries from Knights of Columbus Council 3670 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Walking with Moms in Need, and the Regina Caeli Homeschool Coop.
Mass times at Holy Comforter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 PM
- Friday: 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM
- Or by appointment — call the parish office at (434) 295-7185
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (after 6:00 PM Mass)
- Friday: Immediately following 12:00 PM Mass until 3:00 PM
- Annual Pentecost Vigil of Adoration (three-day schedule with Lauds, Vespers, Compline, and Benediction)
About Holy Comforter Catholic Church
Holy Comforter Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Richmond located in Historic Downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1880, it is the oldest Catholic congregation in the city. The parish's stated mission is to be 'called to worship, discipleship, outreach, and evangelization within our parish and to the downtown community, consistent with the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.' Pastor Fr. Joseph Mary Lukyamuzi leads the parish from the 208 East Jefferson Street church, where a full schedule of Masses, Confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, and formation programs runs throughout the week.
- Parish Mission: worship, discipleship, outreach, and evangelization in downtown Charlottesville
- Pastor: Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary Lukyamuzi, V.F.
- Diocese: Richmond (Deanery 10)
- Address: 208 E. Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
History of Holy Comforter
Originally built in 1880 as the Church of the Paraclete — the first Catholic church in Charlottesville — Holy Comforter was renamed early in the 20th century after a renovation that added the rectory and an enchanting courtyard. The parish has grown from a once- or twice-monthly mission served by priests from Staunton into a full downtown parish with its own school legacy, a sister parish at the Church of the Incarnation, and a robust social ministry. The parish history page traces the parish from Martin Tracy's 1880 farm donation through the 1951 founding of the Holy Comforter School, the 1976 erection of the Incarnation, and the 2017 launch of the 'Holy Comforter 2020' renewal initiative.
- 1880 — Church of the Paraclete erected; cornerstone laid July 25, 1880 by Bishop John J. Keane
- 1896 — Rev. John Massey appointed as first resident pastor
- Early 1900s — Renovated, enlarged, renamed Holy Comforter; rectory and courtyard added
- 1906 — The Daily Progress describes the church as 'an ornament to the city'
- 1951 — Fr. J. Bernard Moore launches the Holy Comforter School at Branchlands (operated 10 years)
- 1976 — Diocese erects Church of the Incarnation as a sister parish
- 2017 — 'Holy Comforter 2020' initiative launched for the parish's 140th anniversary
- 2018 — Sanctuary restoration completed under Holy Comforter 2020
Holy Comforter 2020 Renewal Initiative
Launched in late 2017 as the parish approached its 140th anniversary and the Diocese of Richmond its bicentennial, 'Holy Comforter 2020' is a three-pronged effort to deepen parish life. Its stated goals are to physically enhance the church into a more prayerful, reverent, functional and distinctively Catholic space; deepen the spiritual lives of parishioners; and strengthen the social bonds between parishioners and between the parish and the wider Charlottesville community. The sanctuary restoration was completed in 2018.
- Physical: Improve the church structure for reverence and function
- Spiritual: Deepen prayer and evangelization
- Social: Strengthen parish community and outreach ties
- Sanctuary restoration completed 2018
Sacraments at Holy Comforter
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Families preparing for Baptism begin with the Director of Religious Education, Melinda Wells; adult baptism comes through the RCIA process. Marriage preparation includes an interview with Fr. Joseph Mary, diocesan paperwork at least two months before the wedding, and attendance at a Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter weekend. Sacramental preparation for children and youth is handled through the Christian Formation program.
- Baptism — Contact DRE Melinda Wells, (434) 295-6559
- Confirmation & First Eucharist — preparation through Christian Formation
- Matrimony — interview with pastor; Pre-Cana / Engaged Encounter required
- Weddings traditionally Saturdays 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
- RCIA (OCIA) — inquiry, weekly sessions, Sacraments of Initiation at Easter Vigil
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Christian Formation & Religious Education
Holy Comforter's Christian Formation program offers classes from Pre-K through High School, with seasonal family-based learning events. Classes for Pre-K through 8 take place on most Sundays during the school year from 9:15–10:15 AM between the Masses, beginning in September. Intergenerational catechesis and signature parish events include the All Saints Pageant, St. Nicholas Night, Children's Christmas Caroling and Play, Epiphany Party, Mardi Gras, Children's Stations of the Cross, and May Crowning.
- Director of Religious Education: Melinda Wells, (434) 295-6559
- Classes Pre-K–8: most Sundays, 9:15–10:15 AM during school year
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation
- Signature events: All Saints Pageant, St. Nicholas Night, Christmas Play, Epiphany Party, Mardi Gras, Children's Stations of the Cross, May Crowning
Becoming Catholic — RCIA / OCIA
The parish's Christian Initiation program (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, now also called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes inquirers, the unbaptized, Christians from other denominations, and baptized but unconfirmed Catholics. An annual Orientation and Welcome Session is followed by weekly Sunday sessions from 12:30–1:45 PM, typically September through May, with the Sacraments of Initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil. No commitment is required to begin the inquiry phase.
- Inquiry Welcome Session each fall (e.g., August 24, 2025)
- Weekly sessions: most Sundays, 12:30–1:45 PM, September–May
- Open to unbaptized, other Christians, and uncatechized Catholics
- Culminates at Easter Vigil with Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Contact: Melinda Wells, DRE, (434) 295-6559
Liturgy & Worship Ministries
A large team of lay ministers supports the parish's liturgical life, from the Music Ministry that coordinates music for weekend and holy day Masses to the corps of Altar Servers, Lectors, Sacristans, Ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. The Homebound Eucharistic Ministry brings Communion to those who cannot attend Mass, while the Altar Flower Guild tends the sanctuary's seasonal displays.
- Music Ministry — Querida Hills (also Music Coordinator)
- Altar Servers — Jackson Kulick
- Lectors — Matt Freeman
- Sacristans — Suzanne Bailey
- Ushers — Dennis Dougherty
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist — Heather Burns
- Homebound Eucharistic Ministry
- Altar Flower Guild — Jeanne Mickiewicz
- Funerals / Works of Mercy Ministry
Parish Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach is central to Holy Comforter's identity as a downtown parish. The Soup Kitchen serves hot meals on Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, and the Food Pantry distributes food Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Three Outreach Coordinators (Bridget Davis, Jack Engler, and Heather Burns) staff this work. The parish also partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Holy Trinity Conference, the local Knights of Columbus Council 3670, and the Walking with Moms in Need initiative to walk alongside pregnant and parenting women in need.
- Soup Kitchen: Thursdays 12:00–1:00 PM
- Food Pantry: Mondays–Wednesdays 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Outreach phone: (434) 293-8989; email: [email protected]
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Trinity Conference
- Knights of Columbus Council 3670 (Nicholas Pierson)
- Walking with Moms in Need (Garrett Smith)
- Works of Mercy Ministry
Global Missions & Twinning
Beyond its downtown ministry, Holy Comforter maintains long-standing mission relationships in Uganda and Haiti, with designated lay coordinators stewarding those connections from the parish. The Regina Caeli Homeschool Coop also meets at the parish, making it a hub for Catholic homeschooling families in the Charlottesville area.
- Uganda Mission — Greg Lannon
- Haiti Mission — Robert O'Brien
- Regina Caeli Homeschool Coop
- That Man Is You men's faith program (Steven Sisman)
Staff, Councils & Ministry Chairs
Day-to-day operations are led by an Administrative Business Manager, a Receptionist/Office Assistant, a Liturgy Coordinator, a Director of Religious Education, a Music Coordinator, and three Outreach Coordinators. A Pastoral Council chaired by Maria-Andrea Gerling Ospina and a Finance Council provide lay governance, and every ministry has a designated chair listed on the parish website.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary Lukyamuzi, V.F. — (434) 295-7185, [email protected]
- Administrative Business Manager: Mary Frances Lilly
- Receptionist / Office Assistant: Mel Crews
- Liturgy Coordinator: Alicia Vinklarek
- Director of Religious Education: Melinda Wells — (434) 295-6559
- Music Coordinator: Querida Hills
- Outreach Coordinators: Bridget Davis, Jack Engler, Heather Burns — (434) 293-8989
- Pastoral Council Chair: Maria-Andrea Gerling Ospina
- Finance: Offertory Counters — Lee Faust
- High School Youth Ministry: Anna Sisman
- Adult Initiation / RCIA: Diane Auger Smith
Visit, Connect & Stay Informed
Newcomers and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed; the parish's Community page invites visitors to register and to explore the parish's many ministries. The parish communicates through a weekly bulletin (in print and by email), Flocknote text/email messaging, and an active Facebook page, where members and visitors can follow parish news, share moments, and stay up to date on events.
- Address: 208 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Phone: (434) 295-7185
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Parish registration: parish website Registration Page
- Weekly bulletin: in print and via Flocknote email
- Flocknote email/text sign-up via the parish website
- Facebook: facebook.com/holycomfortercville
- Submit photos/stories to [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Massey1896–
First resident pastor of the parish (then the Church of the Paraclete); priests before him had traveled from Staunton.
- Rev. J. Bernard Moore1951–
Pastor under whom formal Catholic education began at Holy Comforter with the Holy Comforter School at Branchlands.
- Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary Lukyamuzi, V.F.2017–present (as of 2026)
Launched the 'Holy Comforter 2020' renewal initiative; celebrated his 42nd anniversary of priestly ordination on May 10, 2023.