About Holy Trinity · Norfolk, Virginia
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish parish located in the Ocean View neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, founded in 1921 as a mission of St. Mary's Church downtown. The parish has long served the Ocean View community, military families stationed in Hampton Roads, and the growing local Hispanic population, and today offers Mass in both English and Spanish each Sunday. The current church building was dedicated on December 13, 1953, and the parish continues to operate a robust faith-formation program, youth ministry, music ministry, and Hispanic ministry. It is one of the oldest parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond in the Norfolk area.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Monsignor Charles Namugera
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a welcoming, bilingual parish rooted in more than a century of Catholic life in Norfolk's Ocean View neighborhood. With three Sunday Masses — including a 2:00 pm Mass in Spanish — daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full Reconciliation schedule, the parish makes the sacraments accessible to a diverse and growing community. Robust ministries in faith formation (RCIA, EDGE, CCD, Catholic Kids Camp), youth (Life Teen), music, and Hispanic outreach mean there are real ways for every age and stage to belong, while Saint Michael Park on the grounds honors the many military families who now call Holy Trinity home.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Spanish)
- Wednesday: 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
- Saturday: 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00 pm
- First Friday: 9:00 pm
History of Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Holy Trinity began in 1917 as a mission of St. Mary's Church in downtown Norfolk, when Fr. Robert B. Kealey and Fr. George Dunn started celebrating Mass in the Old Casino Theater and Ocean View Park dance hall for Catholic families in Ocean View. Fr. Kealey was appointed first pastor on August 28, 1919, and construction of the first church began on St. Patrick's Day, 1920. Bishop O'Connell dedicated the original church on June 5, 1921.
- Mission of St. Mary's Church, Norfolk — began 1917
- First pastor: Fr. Robert B. Kealey, appointed August 28, 1919
- Construction began St. Patrick's Day, 1920
- First Mass celebrated on Trinity Sunday, 1920 (before church was finished)
- Church formally dedicated June 5, 1921 by Bishop O'Connell
- Parish school opened September 3, 1924 with four Sisters of the Holy Cross and 103 students
- Parish high school opened 1927 with 30 students
- Gymnasium constructed 1939
- Present church and rectory blessed and dedicated December 13, 1953 under Fr. Martin J. Harrison
Mass and Worship Schedule
Holy Trinity offers daily Mass throughout the week, a Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday Masses, including one celebrated in Spanish. Saturday and Sunday Masses are also live streamed on the parish website, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered weekly.
- Tuesday – 8:30 am (English), 6:00 pm (Spanish)
- Wednesday – 6:30 pm
- Thursday – 8:30 am
- Friday – 8:30 am
- Saturday Vigil – 5:00 pm (live streamed)
- Sunday – 9:00 am (live streamed), 11:00 am (live streamed), 2:00 pm in Spanish
- Holy Days – 8:30 am and 6:30 pm (times may vary)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Holy Trinity's Religious Education program serves children, teens, and adults preparing for the sacraments. The Director of Religious Education, Eva Warner, oversees the parish's faith-formation offerings.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- EDGE (middle-school youth ministry)
- CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine)
- Catholic Kids Camp
- Baptism Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
Youth Ministry
High-school teens are served through Life Teen, the parish's youth ministry program led by Director of Youth Ministry Cara Nahra.
- Life Teen – high-school youth ministry
Hispanic Ministry
A vibrant Hispanic Ministry serves the growing Spanish-speaking community in the Ocean View area. The parish celebrates a Spanish Mass every Tuesday evening and Sunday afternoon, and offers Reconciliation in Spanish as well.
- Spanish Mass: Tuesday 6:00 pm
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 2:00 pm
- Spanish Reconciliation: Tuesday 5:00–6:00 pm
- Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Lilly Miranda
Music Ministry
Holy Trinity's Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy of Sunday and weekday Masses and ministers at significant life-events, providing music for funerals and weddings.
- Director of Music: Bryce Miller
- Music provided for Funerals and Weddings
Parish Staff and Leadership
Holy Trinity is led by Pastor Monsignor Charles Namugera and supported by a dedicated lay staff handling religious education, youth ministry, music, Hispanic outreach, and parish administration. The Welcome Desk at the Pastoral Center is open Monday through Friday.
- Monsignor Charles Namugera – Pastor (757-659-9281)
- Mrs. Eva Warner – Director of Religious Education (RCIA, EDGE, CCD, Baptism, Confirmation, Catholic Kids Camp) – 757-938-5815
- Ms. Cara Nahra – Director of Youth Ministry (Life Teen) – 757-998-8848
- Mr. Bryce Miller – Director of Music (Funerals, Weddings) – 757-742-9046
- Mrs. Lilly Miranda – Hispanic Ministry Coordinator – 757-742-9436
- Mr. Victor Ingram – Bookkeeper (VANCO, Donation Receipts, UTR) – 757-742-9544
- Welcome Desk: Monday–Thursday 9 am – 4 pm; Friday 9 am – 12 noon
- Pastoral Center Mailing Address: 154 W Government Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503
Saint Michael Park and Military Heritage
After Holy Trinity School closed, the parish razed the old parish house and gymnasium and built Saint Michael Park — a sprawling outdoor commons on the parish grounds dedicated to the memory of fallen military service members. The park reflects the strong presence of military families in the parish community.
- Saint Michael Park created on the site of the former parish house and gymnasium
- Dedicated to the memory of fallen military
- Reflects parish's strong military-family membership
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert B. Kealey1919–
First pastor; began Masses in Ocean View Casino Theater and dance hall; oversaw construction of first church dedicated 1921 and opening of school in 1924.
- Fr. Martin J. Harrison
Pastor at the time the present church and rectory were blessed and dedicated on December 13, 1953.
- Fr. Dan Beeman2008–2019
Shepherded the parish through the closure of Holy Trinity School and the building of Saint Michael Park honoring fallen military.
- Fr. James Glass2019–November 29, 2024
Led a large capital campaign for church and pastoral center repairs.
- Monsignor Charles Namugera2024–present
Current pastor.