About Holy Spirit · Christiansburg, Virginia
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish in Christiansburg, Virginia, that has served the New River Valley community since 1995. What began as a small mission celebrated at a local Knights of Columbus hall has grown into a diverse, evangelizing and Eucharistic congregation of families, students, newcomers, and lifelong Catholics. The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and offers weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confession, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, religious education, and outreach to the poor, the incarcerated, and local families. Its mission is to be a place where people encounter Jesus Christ in the Sacred Liturgy and Sacraments, serve their neighbors generously, and share the Gospel with everyone they meet.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- The Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony Ferguson (Father Anthony Ferguson)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 13)
Why belong here
Holy Spirit offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in one place: bilingual weekend Masses (English and Spanish), a daily Mass schedule with Eucharistic Adoration several days a week, and Confession every Saturday afternoon. Families can enroll children in a religious education program led by a Director of Religious Education, teens can join a dedicated youth ministry, and adults have access to Bible studies, faith formation, and sacramental preparation. The parish extends its care beyond its walls through Prison Ministry at the Christiansburg City Jail and Montgomery County Jail, regular outreach to the poor and underprivileged, and bilingual feast-day and parish-wide gatherings that knit members together across cultures and generations.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (and by appointment)
- Tuesday: 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am – 8:30 am
- Friday: 8:30 am – 9:00 am
- Friday (First Fridays): 9:30 am – 10:30 am (continues until 12:00 pm)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 7:30 am – 8:30 am (following the 7:00 am Mass with Holy Hour)
- Friday (First Fridays): after the 9:00 am Mass until 12:00 pm
Welcome and Parish Identity
Holy Spirit Catholic Church describes itself as a community of Christ-centered disciples rooted in the unchanging, life-giving teachings of the Catholic faith. Its mission is to create a place where people encounter Jesus Christ in the richness of the Sacred Liturgy and Sacraments, serve neighbors generously, and share the Gospel. The parish lists the marks of its community life as reverent worship at Mass, frequent Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, devotion to Our Lady and the Saints, service to the poor, ongoing faith formation, intentional evangelization, fellowship, and appreciation of the cultures, languages and traditions of all members.
- Officially recognized as a Catholic parish in 1995
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish community
- Part of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond
History of Holy Spirit Catholic Church
The parish traces its origins to a 'test' Mass at the Knights of Columbus Hall on June 11, 1994, attended with Bishop William Sullivan's approval. The community soon received its first priest, Fr. Louis Benoit, and celebrated its first First Holy Communion in 1995, the year Bishop Sullivan formally named it Holy Spirit Catholic Church. After Fr. Benoit's departure in 1998, Fr. John Prinelli led the drive to purchase land and build a permanent home, culminating in a November 2002 groundbreaking and the August 2004 dedication of the first phase of the church by Bishop Francis DiLorenzo. Following Fr. Prinelli's death in 2012, the parish continued to expand its liturgical and formation life under a succession of pastors.
- 1994 — first 'test' Mass at Knights of Columbus Hall
- 1995 — official founding under Bishop Sullivan; first First Holy Communion
- 1998 — Fr. John Prinelli assigned; parish purchases land
- 2002 — groundbreaking ceremony
- 2004 — first church building dedicated by Bishop DiLorenzo
- 2012 — death of Fr. Prinelli; subsequent pastoral transitions
Parish Staff and Pastoral Council
Holy Spirit is led by its pastor, Fr. Anthony Ferguson, and served by Permanent Deacon Jose Melendez. The lay staff and ministry team include a Director of Religious Education (Marisol Vaughn), a Youth Minister (Jonathan Mundell), a Music Director (Joe Ball), an Office Assistant (Brenda Diaz), and an Accounts Clerk (Ana Sanchez). The Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Jason Vaughn, and the Finance Council, chaired by Jim Holt, share governance responsibilities with the pastor.
- Pastor: Fr. Anthony Ferguson
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Jose Melendez
- Director of Religious Education: Marisol Vaughn
- Youth Minister: Jonathan Mundell
- Music Director: Joe Ball
- Office Assistant: Brenda Diaz
- Accounts Clerk / Website: Ana Sanchez
- Pastoral Council Chair: Jason Vaughn; Vice-Chair: John Webb; Secretary: Tommy Susano
- Finance Council Chair: Jim Holt
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and administers the seven Catholic Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (First Holy Communion), Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Sacramental emergencies (such as last rites) can be arranged by calling Fr. Anthony directly at 540-268-0419. Adults preparing for Baptism typically enter the parish's faith formation process.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–4:30 pm and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment / sacramental emergency
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation: through parish preparation
- Marriage: contact the parish office
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Under the direction of Marisol Vaughn, the parish offers religious education programs for children, sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, and ongoing adult faith formation. The program has grown from its modest beginnings in 1995 (the year of the parish's first First Holy Communion) to serving nearly 100 children in recent years.
- Director of Religious Education: Marisol Vaughn
- Children's religious education
- Sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Adult faith formation, Bible studies, and teaching series
Youth Ministry
A dedicated Youth Minister coordinates programs for the parish's middle-school and high-school youth, including formation, fellowship, and service opportunities. Youth programs are supported in part through parish fundraisers such as craft fairs.
- Youth Minister: Jonathan Mundell
- Youth faith formation and fellowship
- Youth service and craft fair fundraisers
Bilingual Community and Hispanic Ministry
Holy Spirit serves a bilingual community, with a regular Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish and a Spanish-language email contact line. The growing Hispanic community is celebrated as a vital part of parish life, with bilingual feast-day gatherings and shared traditions that reflect the parish's commitment to the cultures and languages of all members.
- Sunday 1:15 pm Mass in Spanish
- Spanish email contact: [email protected]
- Bilingual feast-day gatherings and parish celebrations
Outreach and Prison Ministry
Active service to the poor and underprivileged is one of the defining marks of parish life at Holy Spirit. The parish runs a Prison Ministry that reaches the Christiansburg City Jail and the Montgomery County Jail, and members are encouraged to take part in ongoing outreach to those in need.
- Prison Ministry — Christiansburg City Jail
- Prison Ministry — Montgomery County Jail
- Outreach to the poor and underprivileged
Parish Community Life and Councils
Beyond the sanctuary, Holy Spirit is shaped by its Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and a number of parish committees. These bodies oversee worship and liturgy, justice and peace initiatives, marriage and family life, parish community life, and fundraising.
- Worship and Liturgy committee
- Justice and Peace committee
- Marriage, Family and Life committee
- Parish Community Life committee
- Fundraising committee
- Young At Heart senior ministry group
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during published office hours. Sacramental emergencies are handled directly by Fr. Anthony. The parish encourages visitors to confirm Mass and Confession times before attending.
- Address: 355 Independence Blvd., Christiansburg, VA 24073
- Phone: (540) 381-0299
- Sacramental emergencies: Fr. Anthony at (540) 268-0419
- Email: [email protected]; Spanish: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday — 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Louis Benoit1995–1998
Founding pastor of Holy Spirit; simultaneously served Holy Family in Pearisburg. Celebrated the parish's first First Holy Communion in 1995.
- Rev. John Prinelli1998–2012
Former Army chaplain in Vietnam, fluent in Vietnamese and other languages; fostered the Vietnamese and Hispanic communities and regular Spanish Mass; led the drive to build the first church; oversaw the 2002 groundbreaking and 2004 dedication. Died in service to the parish in September 2012.
- Rev. Jacinto 'Jet' Garcia2012–2013
Served as interim pastor after the death of Fr. Prinelli.
- Rev. Charles Breindel2013–2015
Worked to bring new families into both Holy Spirit and Holy Family parishes; took early retirement in May 2015 due to health concerns. Died in July 2022.
- Rev. Anthony O. Senyah2015–2021
Assigned July 2015 along with Deacon Jose Melendez; reassigned to Sacred Heart in Danville in July 2021.
- Rev. Patricio Alcantara2021–2024
Assigned July 2021 as parish administrator of both Holy Spirit and Holy Family (Pearisburg); later named pastor in 2022 by Bishop Barry Knestout. Returned to the Diocese of Sorsogon in the Philippines in 2024.
- Rev. Anthony Ferguson2024–present
Appointed administrator of Holy Spirit and Holy Family (Pearisburg) in July 2024; officially named pastor in spring 2025.