About Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague · Wakefield, Virginia
The Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague is a small Roman Catholic mission shrine located on U.S. Route 460 East in Wakefield, Virginia, across the highway from the famous Virginia Diner. Administered jointly with the neighboring parish of St. Jude in Franklin, the shrine is one of the few churches in the United States dedicated specifically to the devotion of the Infant Jesus of Prague. It belongs to the Diocese of Richmond and, despite having roughly 17 registered families, sustains a robust Saturday vigil Mass schedule, monthly devotions such as First Saturday birthday/anniversary blessings and Anointing of the Sick, and is a beloved destination for Catholics who make pilgrimages to honor the Christ Child.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Infant Jesus of Prague
- Rector
- Rev. Emmanuel "Tabi" Mensah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
The Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague is one of those rare American Catholic communities where everyone truly knows everyone—parishioners describe it as a 'big family,' and if one member misses a weekend Mass they can expect a friendly check-in phone call. Despite its tiny size of about 17 registered families, the shrine offers a full devotional rhythm: Saturday Mass year-round, monthly Confession and Adoration on First Fridays, birthday and anniversary blessings each First Saturday, and Anointing of the Sick on the last weekend of the month. Its location directly across from the famous Virginia Diner makes it a memorable stop for travelers and pilgrims exploring the Diocese of Richmond's smaller missions, and its recent preservation efforts signal that it intends to remain a spiritual home for Catholics in Southampton County for years to come.
Mass times at Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Saturday of the Month after the 4 PM Mass (Shrine), or by appointment
- 1st Friday of the Month after the 10:00 AM Mass (Shrine, per bulletin)
- Saturdays 5:00 PM–6:00 PM or by appointment (at St. Jude)
- Last Sunday of the Month 9:00 AM–10:00 AM (at St. Jude)
Adoration times
- First Thursday of the Month, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM (at St. Jude)
- First Friday of the Month after the 10:00 AM Mass (Shrine, Wakefield)
History of the Shrine
The Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague originated with a vow. In 1942 Larry J. Monahan bought the Virginia Diner in Wakefield and promised to found a Catholic church if the restaurant prospered. It did. Together with his brother-in-law Charles W. Smith, Monahan acquired land across U.S. 460 from the diner, broke ground on October 19, 1952, and saw the church dedicated on October 28, 1953. Although Bishop Ireton placed the main St. Jude parish in Franklin rather than Wakefield, the Wakefield church was established as a mission from the beginning, bearing the name of the devotion that rekindled Monahan's vision: a statue of the Infant of Prague given to him by his wife Ginnie in 1950.
- Founded: 1948 (mission status; shrine building dedicated October 28, 1953)
- Founder: Larry J. Monahan, owner of the Virginia Diner
- Original inspiration: statue of the Infant of Prague received as a Christmas gift in 1950
- Land procured across U.S. 460 from the Virginia Diner
Devotions and Sacraments
A defining feature of the shrine is its calendar of monthly devotions tied to the Infant Jesus of Prague. Birthday and Anniversary Blessings are given each First Saturday after Mass, and Anointing of the Sick is offered on the last weekend of the month. Confession is heard monthly on First Fridays and First Saturdays (or by appointment), and Adoration follows the First Friday morning Mass at the shrine.
- First Saturday Birthday & Anniversary Blessings after Mass
- Anointing of the Sick on the last weekend of the month
- Confession: 1st Saturday after Mass, 1st Friday after Mass, or by appointment
- Adoration after First Friday morning Mass
Renovation and Preservation
Despite its tiny congregation of about 17 registered families, the shrine undertook more than $100,000 in preservation work coordinated by parishioner John Walters under pastor Father Emmanuel 'Tabi' Mensah. The project tackled chronic moisture in the masonry and rafters, replaced deteriorating exterior doorways, installed a French drain and high-efficiency HVAC system (cited in support of the Pope's environmental encyclical), regraded the parking lot, repaired marble altar steps, and refurbished the stained-glass window depicting the Infant of Prague. The improvements have made the building safer, drier, and more welcoming to returning pilgrims and visitors.
- $100,000+ improvements funded from parish savings
- New HVAC, French drain, sump pump, gutters, downspouts
- Three exterior doorways replaced and regraded parking lot
- Stained-glass Infant of Prague window refurbished
Connection to St. Jude Parish (Franklin)
The Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague shares its pastor, parish office, and bulletin with St. Jude Catholic Church in Franklin, the parish founded alongside the shrine. Both are administered from 1014 Clay Street, Franklin, with the same pastor and staff serving both Mass sites. St. Jude's own history begins with the April 25, 1948 cornerstone laid by Bishop Peter L. Ireton, its constitution as a parish on May 1, 1955, and a long series of building expansions including the 1986 religious education center, the 1987 commons, and the 1994 worship center.
- Shared pastor: Rev. Emmanuel 'Tabi' Mensah
- Shared office at 1014 Clay Street, Franklin, VA 23851
- Phone: (757) 569-9600
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–2 PM
Visiting the Shrine & The Virginia Diner
The shrine's most distinctive feature for visitors is its location directly across U.S. Route 460 from the Virginia Diner, one of the most famous diners in the southeastern United States. Travelers can enjoy a meal at the diner while looking across the road at the white shrine and its stained-glass window, then step across the highway to pray. Wakefield is a small town in Southampton County, Virginia, easily combined with a day trip in the historic Southside Virginia region.
- Located across the highway from the Virginia Diner on U.S. 460 East
- Address: 417 N. County Drive, Wakefield, VA 23888
- Office: 1014 Clay Street, Franklin, VA 23851
Giving and Legacy Gifts
The parish maintains a legacy giving program, documented in a 'Guide to Legacy Gifts' prepared for the Shrine, that commemorates the founders and supporters whose ongoing generosity sustains both Mass sites. During the recent restoration, the parish was able to draw on investment reserves accumulated through years of contributions exceeding expenses—an example of how a small but faithful community can care for a historic devotional site.
- Guide to Legacy Gifts available from the parish office
- Reserves funded multi-phase preservation work
- Donations link: Diocese of Richmond page for Shrine of the Infant of Prague
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Julius Schmidhauser1953
Pastor of St. Mary's (Suffolk) and first appointed pastor of St. Jude Mission on October 28, 1953 when the Wakefield shrine became a mission church.