About Saint Mary · Chesapeake, Virginia
Saint Mary Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish at 536 Homestead Road in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the Deep Creek area of the city. Founded in 1915, it is part of the Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, sharing pastoral leadership with the Church of the Holy Angels, the Church of the Resurrection, and Saint Paul Catholic Church. The parish is served by Rev. Anthony W. Morris, C.Ss.R. (pastor of the whole cluster) and parochial vicar Rev. Herminio Felipe, and worships at a single Sunday Mass each week with an additional Mass on the vigil of Holy Days.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony W. Morris, C.Ss.R.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
Saint Mary offers a small, intimate Sunday congregation in the Deep Creek/Homestead Road area of Chesapeake, ideal for parishioners who prefer a close-knit Catholic community. As one of the four Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, its members benefit from shared adult formation, RCIA, faith-formation programs, devotions, and the strong preaching and pastoral care of the Redemptorist Fathers. Confession is offered before Sunday Mass, and the parish is wired into the wider cluster life — Men of Saint Joseph, women's Bible study, weekly adult formation nights, Jubilee pilgrimages, and a Flock Notes communication system.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
Saint Mary Catholic Church at a Glance
Saint Mary Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish at 536 Homestead Road in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake, Virginia. Founded in 1915, it has worshiped on Homestead Road for more than a century and is today one of four parishes that make up the Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake. The parish offers a single Sunday Mass each week at 9:00 AM, with an additional Mass at 7:00 PM on Holy Day vigils, and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation each Sunday from 8:15 to 8:45 AM.
- Founded: 1915
- Address: 536 Homestead Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 3)
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Holy Day Mass: 7:00 PM (vigil)
- Reconciliation: Sundays 8:15–8:45 AM
Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake
Saint Mary is part of a four-parish cluster that allows each individual community to share clergy, formation programs, and pastoral leadership. The cluster is pastored by Rev. Anthony W. Morris, C.Ss.R., with parochial vicar Rev. Herminio Felipe, and a Cluster Pastoral Council made up of elected representatives from each parish.
- Church of the Holy Angels — Portsmouth
- Church of the Resurrection — Portsmouth
- Saint Paul Catholic Church — Portsmouth
- Saint Mary Catholic Church — Chesapeake
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is served by Redemptorist clergy who lead the entire cluster. The pastor, Fr. Anthony W. Morris, C.Ss.R., is also the cluster pastor for Holy Angels, Resurrection, and Saint Paul, while Fr. Herminio Felipe serves as parochial vicar for the cluster. The mailing address of 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703 is the location of the cluster's central parish office, which handles registration, sacramental paperwork, and day-to-day administration for all four communities.
- Pastor: Rev. Anthony W. Morris, C.Ss.R.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Herminio Felipe
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parish email: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Saint Mary is delivered through the cluster. The Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake recently posted a job listing for a Children's Faith Formation Coordinator — a full-time, benefitted position — reflecting the cluster's continued investment in catechesis. Adult formation, RCIA, and 'Returning Catholics' programming are organized cluster-wide and take place largely at the Church of the Resurrection parish hall (Caroluzza Hall).
- Children's Faith Formation (cluster-wide coordinator)
- RCIA for adults becoming Catholic
- Returning Catholics — one-on-one re-engagement
- Men of Saint Joseph (Saturdays 7:30 AM at Resurrection)
- Women's Bible Study (Thursdays 10 AM at Resurrection)
Adult Formation & Bible Study
Adult formation across the cluster features Wednesday-evening classes held at the Church of the Resurrection after a 6 PM Mass, plus a Thursday-morning women's Bible study. The 2025–2026 Wednesday series includes 'The Wild Goose,' 'Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls,' an Early Christian Art/Icons series, and a Parish Mission. The cluster also organizes pilgrimages, retreats, and the 'Angels Retreat.'
- Wednesday Night Adult Formation: 7:00–8:00 PM at Resurrection
- Women's Bible Study: Thursdays 10:00 AM at Resurrection
- 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimages to Norfolk basilica and Walsingham
- Angels Retreat (cluster-wide)
Pastoral Council & Parish Life
Saint Mary parishioners participate in cluster-wide governance through the Cluster Pastoral Council, which advises the pastor and includes elected representatives from each of the four parishes. Saint Mary's current representatives on the council are Tony Surace, Mike Kowalski, and Karen McDougall. The council meets to coordinate pastoral priorities across the cluster and provides a structured way for parishioners to bring ideas and concerns to the pastor.
- Saint Mary reps: Tony Surace, Mike Kowalski, Karen McDougall
- Cluster council also includes reps from Holy Angels, Resurrection, and St. Paul
Communication & Getting Involved
The cluster uses Flock Notes email for parish-wide updates and a 'Cluster App' mobile application. New parishioners are encouraged to register with a working email address and phone number so they can receive the weekly Flock Notes. To volunteer or get involved in a specific ministry, parishioners can reach the cluster office by phone at (757) 484-7335 or by emailing [email protected].
- Flock Notes email list
- Cluster App (mobile)
- Cluster office phone: (757) 484-7335
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703
Visiting Saint Mary
Visitors to Saint Mary will find a small, easy-to-navigate church on Homestead Road in western Chesapeake. The main Sunday worship is at 9:00 AM, with confessions starting at 8:15 AM — a convenient arrangement for those who want to go to confession before Mass. Because the parish office is administered from the cluster mailing address at 3501 Cedar Lane in Portsmouth, anyone needing certificates, registration forms, or sacramental paperwork should contact the cluster office by phone first.
- Church address: 536 Homestead Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321
- Mailing/office address: 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703
- Phone: (757) 484-7335
- Fax: (757) 484-5857