About Incarnation · Charlottesville, Virginia
The Church of the Incarnation is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Diocese of Richmond. Founded in 1976 as the 'Branchlands Catholic community' that spun off from Holy Comforter Catholic Church, Incarnation today celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Filipino (Tagalog), reflecting the diverse population of central Virginia. The parish describes itself as an inviting, nurturing, and hospitable community whose mission is 'to know — love — serve and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ,' with an active youth ministry, adult faith formation (OCIA/OICA), a multilingual music program, an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, and outreach to immigrants, the homeless, and the local jail. Its worship center was deliberately designed in the post-Vatican II era around the gathered assembly and the Eucharistic table.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- The Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Timothy E. Keeney
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
Incarnation is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Richmond that intentionally welcomes people who worship in English, Spanish, or Filipino (Tagalog). With seven Masses each weekend (including a monthly Youth Mass and a monthly Filipino Mass), daily Mass five days a week, ample confession times, and a Thursday Eucharistic Adoration block, it makes Catholic life easy to fit into a busy schedule. Parishioners join a real community of faith formation (K–12 and OCIA), a thriving music ministry with choirs for children, youth, and adults, and a well-developed charity arm — a parish food pantry, a cooperative St. Vincent de Paul conference, immigrant outreach, PACEM homeless shelter weeks, and partnerships with Casa Alma — that serves Charlottesville with energy the diocese itself highlights.
Mass times at Incarnation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Friday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM
- Sunday 12:30–1:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 1:00–5:30 PM
- Thursday 6:15–8:00 PM
About the Parish: Mission and Vision
Incarnation's mission statement is simple: 'to know — love — serve and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ.' Its vision is to be an inviting, nurturing, hospitable, and multicultural parish where all are welcome as the community proclaims the Gospel and grows new disciples in the greater Charlottesville area. The parish seal depicts the Incarnation mystery as a heraldic reflection of Christ taking on human flesh, and the parish frames its multicultural ministry as a direct outgrowth of that mystery — that 'all that is authentically human is made holy in Him.'
- Mission: to know, love, serve, and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Vision: an inviting, nurturing, hospitable, multicultural parish in greater Charlottesville.
- Parish seal centers the Incarnation mystery.
History: From Branchlands to 50 Years
Incarnation was established in 1976 when Bishop Walter F. Sullivan separated the Branchlands-area Catholic community from downtown Holy Comforter Catholic Church. Before the canonical foundation, parishioners held town meetings and brought in liturgical consultant Father Frank Kacmarcik to walk them through post-Vatican II worship. Using Father Avery Dulles, SJ's models of church as a study guide and the U.S. bishops' architecture guidelines, the community chose a worship-center design that emphasized gathering around the Eucharistic table. The new church was funded in part by the $1 million sale of 70 acres at Branchlands by Holy Comforter, which used a portion of those funds for its own downtown expansion. As Incarnation approached its 50th anniversary in 2026, Deacon Mark De Rosch and others collected founding-era reflections from longtime parishioners like Herb Ely, and the parish launched a capital campaign to update infrastructure so the building could serve a new generation.
- Founded 1976 as a split from Holy Comforter Catholic Church, Charlottesville.
- First church built with proceeds of the Branchlands land sale.
- Architectural consultation led by Fr. Frank Kacmarcik, with help from Avery Dulles, SJ's church models.
- Capital Campaign launched for 50th anniversary (2026).
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Msgr. Timothy E. Keeney, with Parochial Vicar Rev. William Apprey. Permanent Deacons include Rev. Mr. Jose Juan Cuenca, Rev. Mr. Tom Healey, and Deacon Mark De Rosch, who has been instrumental in collecting the parish's oral history for its 50th anniversary. The staff team includes Jean DePiro (Director of Music for the English Masses), Juan Rodriguez (Spanish Masses music), Patrick Drury (Director of Youth Ministry), Marta Daley (Coordinator of Charity), Margarita Villacorta, and Vonne Hillman (Christian Formation). A 'Father Dan' associated with the adult RCIA (OCIA) ministry is also referenced in parish communications.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Timothy E. Keeney
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. William Apprey
- Permanent Deacons: Jose Juan Cuenca, Tom Healey, Mark De Rosch
- Director of Music: Jean DePiro (English), Juan Rodriguez (Spanish)
- Director of Youth Ministry: Patrick Drury
- Coordinator of Charity: Marta Daley
- Office staff: Margarita Villacorta, Vonne Hillman
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Incarnation runs Christian formation for children and youth through a children's program (Grades K–5) and a youth ministry for Grades 6–12. English Religious Education for grades K–5 meets Sunday 10:15–11:15 AM, and the Spanish track meets 12:15–1:15 PM. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is handled in coordination with the parish's formation program, and children from Charlottesville Catholic School register with the parish for sacraments per diocesan policy.
- Children's Religious Education K–5 — English Sun 10:15–11:15 AM; Spanish Sun 12:15–1:15 PM
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation / First Communion
- OCIA/OICA for unbaptized children age 7+ (preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion at the Easter Vigil)
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
Directed by Patrick Drury, the youth ministry is open to all 6th- through 12th-graders and runs separate weekly tracks in English and Spanish. Middle school youth group meets Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 PM; high school youth group meets Sundays 7:00–8:30 PM; the Spanish youth group (grades 6–12) meets Tuesdays 7:00–8:00 PM. There is also an English Sunday class for grades 9–12 focused specifically on sacrament preparation (12:40–1:25 PM). Confirmation preparation is a one-year curriculum beginning in 10th grade; the next Confirmation Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Incarnation.
- Spanish Youth Group (6–12): Tuesdays 7:00–8:00 PM
- English Middle School (6–8): Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 PM
- English High School Sacramental Prep (9–12): Sundays 12:40–1:25 PM
- English High School Youth Group (9–12): Sundays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Confirmation begins in 10th grade; ceremony typically the following spring
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish offers the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for unbaptized adults preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church, and the children's parallel process OICA for unbaptized children age 7 and older. The program page notes the parish actively seeks sponsors to walk alongside catechumens and candidates through their journey.
- Adult OCIA (formerly RCIA)
- Children's OICA (age 7+) — preparation culminates at the Easter Vigil
Music Ministry
Inspired by St. Augustine's 'those who sing, pray twice,' Incarnation runs a robust music program led by Jean DePiro for the English Masses and Juan Rodriguez for the Spanish Masses. There are choirs and ensembles for nearly every age and Mass preference: a Children's Choir (2nd grade through middle school, Thursday rehearsals at 5:30 PM); a Youth Choir that leads the monthly 5:30 PM Youth Mass (rehearsals at 4:30 PM); the Saturday Night Choir at the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass (leaning contemporary); and two Sunday Mass Choirs (9 AM and 11:30 AM, blending traditional and praise music, rehearsing Thursday nights at 7:00 PM). Instruments and instrumentalists of any age are welcome.
- Children's Choir — Thursdays 5:30 PM
- Youth Choir — leads monthly Youth Mass (2nd Sunday, 5:30 PM)
- Saturday Night Choir — 5:30 PM Vigil Mass, rehearsals 4:30 PM
- Sunday Mass Choirs (9 AM & 11:30 AM) — rehearsals Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Spanish Mass music under Juan Rodriguez
Justice & Charity: Serving Charlottesville
Incarnation is widely recognized in Charlottesville for its charitable outreach. The parish coordinates a Sunday food pantry, shelters the homeless for two weeks each winter through PACEM, runs the Angelic Gifts Christmas giving program, and partners with Casa Alma (the local Catholic Worker community) and the immigrant-rights group Sin Barreras, which actually grew out of the parish. The local St. Vincent de Paul Society is organized as a joint 'Holy Trinity Conference' shared by all three Charlottesville Catholic parishes, currently led by parishioner Mark Ross. Other partnerships include the UVA Latino Health Initiative (blood-pressure screenings the third Sunday of the month after the Spanish Mass), LifeSpring (formerly Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia), the Alliance for Interfaith Ministries, the Haiti sister-parish of St. Michel, Saltadere, and the Regional Jail Ministry coordinated through the Diocese of Richmond.
- Parish Food Ministry (Sun 1:30–3:30 PM); Coordinator Marta Daley
- St. Vincent de Paul — Holy Trinity Conference (3-parish); president Mark Ross
- PACEM homeless shelter (two-week winter rotation)
- Angelic Gifts Christmas 'angel tree'
- Casa Alma, Sin Barreras, Alliance for Interfaith Ministries, LifeSpring partners
- Haiti Outreach — St. Michel, Saltadere
- Regional Jail Ministry
- Health Ministry with UVA Latino Health Initiative (3rd Sunday)
- Emergency financial assistance via the parish office
Capital Campaign & Facilities
As the parish approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026, leadership has launched a capital campaign titled to update the church's infrastructure, while preserving the building's original Vatican II-inspired design. The campaign emphasizes that the buildings and systems were 'lovingly designed 50 years ago' and are now being prepared to serve the next half-century of ministry. The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, and the church is equipped with a Hearing Loop.
- Active capital campaign ahead of the 50th anniversary in 2026
- Worship center retains its post-Vatican II design focused on gathered worship
- Hearing Loop in use for the hearing-impaired
Hispanic & Filipino Communities
A defining feature of Incarnation is the size and vitality of its Spanish-speaking community, which makes up a large share of the parish's sacramental life — Spanish Masses on Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, multiple weekday evenings, and a regular Spanish youth group. The parish also supports a Filipino Catholic community, with a monthly Mass on the fourth Sunday at 4:00 PM celebrated in Tagalog and English. Pastoral Council members like Elena Riestra-King ('Nene'), Leo Garcia, and Ofelia Alundio Alonso explicitly represent and bridge the English- and Spanish-speaking communities. Ofelia Alonso also serves as director of Labor Social and assists with the Ministry of Funerals and Pláticas Católicas.
- Spanish Masses: Sun 7:00 AM, 1:30 PM; Tue–Thu 5:30 PM; Fri 7:30 PM
- Spanish youth track (grades 6–12) Tues 7:00–8:00 PM
- Filipino/Tagalog Mass: 4th Sunday, 4:00 PM
- Pastoral Council representation for the Hispanic community
- Pláticas Católicas and Funeral Ministry offered in Spanish
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council includes members from across the parish's English- and Spanish-speaking communities. Recent terms include Elena Riestra-King ('Nene', 2023–2026), Leo Garcia (2024–2027), and Ofelia Alundio Alonso (2024–2027). Members help foster unity between cultures, support liturgical ministries like Eucharistic Ministry, and direct parish social-action initiatives such as Labor Social.
- Elena Riestra-King (Pastoral Council, 2023–2026)
- Leo Garcia (Pastoral Council, 2024–2027)
- Ofelia Alundio Alonso (Pastoral Council, 2024–2027; Labor Social; Funeral Ministry)
Connect with the Parish
Incarnation publishes its bulletin, livestreams Masses, and shares homilies on its website; visitors can register as parishioners online or by contacting the office. The Diocese of Richmond also lists Incarnation as parish #529 in Deanery 10. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, and the parish can be reached at (434) 973-4381.
- Address: 1465 Incarnation Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901
- Phone: (434) 973-4381
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Website: www.incarnationparish.org
- Diocese of Richmond parish listing (#529, Deanery 10)