About St. Charles · Cape Charles, Virginia
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish serving the Eastern Shore of Virginia from Cape Charles, in Northampton County. Founded in 1886, it was the first and for sixty years the only Catholic church on the Eastern Shore, and it is one of the oldest continuous Catholic communities in the region. Today the parish serves approximately 150 families in a bilingual worship community (English and Spanish), with a parochial school history, an active Knights of Columbus council, a parish-run columbarium, and outreach to local farmworkers, the homebound, and hospital and nursing-home patients. It belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Imperial
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond (transferred from the Diocese of Wilmington in 1974)
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo offers a small, historic Catholic community in which nearly everyone knows one another — the parish covers all of Northampton County and gathers roughly 150 families for worship and service. Worship is bilingual, with Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, and the parish actively ministers to migrant farmworkers, the homebound, hospital patients at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, and residents of Heritage Hall Nursing Home. Its ministries — Knights of Columbus, Religious Education, Hispanic Ministry, RCIA, Helping Hands Social Ministry, and a parish-run columbarium — give parishioners many concrete ways to live their faith together.
Mass times at St. Charles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 4:00 PM (per current parish bulletin)
- By request
- Before First Fridays: Wednesday 5:30–6:00 PM and Thursday after the 9:30 AM Mass
Adoration times
- First Friday, after the 9:30 AM Mass
History of Saint Charles Borromeo
St. Charles Catholic Church was established in 1886, the first Catholic parish on Virginia's Eastern Shore and for sixty years the only one. The church was built in 1889 by its founder and first pastor, Father Edward Mickle, and the construction was made possible by a gift from the Abell family of Baltimore, owners and publishers of The Baltimore Sun, who were friends of Father Mickle. The parish grew from a tiny handful of Catholics in a region encompassing Accomack and Northampton counties (and parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore) into a stable community serving about 150 families across Northampton County today.
- Founded 1886; church built 1889
- Originally Diocese of Wilmington; joined the Diocese of Richmond in 1974
- First and only Catholic church on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for 60 years
- Original construction funded by the Abell family of Baltimore (The Baltimore Sun)
- Rectory added 1893–1894
- Convent and school added 1898; school closed 1935
Founder: Monsignor Edward Mickle
Father Edward Mickle founded St. Charles in 1886 and built the church in 1889, remaining pastor for forty years. In 1927 he was elevated to Monsignor in recognition of his decades of pastoral labor on what was then an overwhelmingly Protestant Shore. Upon his death on August 16, 1930, Monsignor Mickle — remembered as "The Apostle of the Eastern Shore" — was buried on the parish grounds at a spot between the church and the rectory where he had been accustomed to sit in late afternoon, reading his breviary or chatting with people coming home from work.
- Pastor 1886–1930
- Elevated to Monsignor 1927
- Died August 16, 1930
- Buried between the church and the rectory on parish grounds
The Patron: St. Charles Borromeo
The parish is named for St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), one of the towering figures of the Catholic Reformation. He was ordained a priest in 1563 and consecrated Bishop of Milan the same year. He died at Milan on the night of November 3–4, 1584, at the age of 46, and was canonized in 1610. A patron of learning and the arts, he used the great power of his position with humility, personal sanctity, and unselfishness to reform the Church of the evils and abuses of his era. His feast day is celebrated on November 4.
- St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584)
- Bishop of Milan; canonized 1610
- Patron of learning and the arts
- Feast day: November 4
Clergy and Parish Staff
Saint Charles Borromeo is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and a deacon, along with a small lay staff. The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Imperial
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen Ofori-Acheampong
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Donald (Don) Donovan
- Office Manager: Marta Rose
- Music Director: Michael Flanagan
- Organist: Alicia Brady
- Archivist: Marge Surran
- Bulletin Editor: Gail McCormick
- Finance Council Chair: Bob Panek
- Parish Office Hours: Tue–Thu, 10:00 AM–3:30 PM
Parish Ministries and Faith Formation
The parish runs a range of ministries that serve both its members and the wider Eastern Shore community. Religious Education assists parents in forming their children in the Catholic faith and prepares them for First Communion and Confirmation (September through May, with First Communion and Confirmation celebrated in May). The Knights of Columbus council meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall. Other ministries include Hispanic Ministry, Homebound Ministry, Migrant Ministry, Helping Hands Social Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, Parish Life Ministry, Fundraising Ministry, Ecumenical Ministry, and Facilities Management.
- Religious Education / Youth Christian Education (Sept–May)
- RCIA — coordinated by Deacon Don Donovan
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 7:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Hispanic Ministry
- Homebound Ministry
- Migrant Ministry
- Helping Hands Social Ministry
- Parish Life Ministry
- Fundraising Ministry
- Ecumenical Ministry
- Liturgical Ministry
- Facilities Management
Outreach: Hospital, Nursing Home, and Migrant Ministry
Carrying on the founder's pastoral tradition across the Eastern Shore, Saint Charles ministers to Catholics in local care facilities and to migrant workers in the region. The parish maintains special ministry to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and Heritage Hall Nursing Home, and a dedicated Migrant Ministry supports the seasonal farmworker population that the parish has served since its earliest days.
- Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital ministry
- Heritage Hall Nursing Home ministry
- Migrant Ministry — Karey Fallon
Sacraments
Baptism and Marriage are arranged by appointment through the parish office; weddings require at least six months' preparation. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education program. The RCIA process for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church is coordinated by Deacon Don Donovan. Reconciliation is available weekly (see schedule) and by request, and Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Masses are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment (6+ months preparation)
- First Communion & Confirmation — through Religious Education
- RCIA — Deacon Don Donovan (757-678-9019 / 757-999-1172)
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Funeral Masses — contact the parish office
St. Charles Columbarium and Cemetery
The parish operates St. Charles Columbarium at 545 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles (next to the church), providing a Catholic place for inurnment on the Eastern Shore. Inquiries are handled through the parish office at 757-331-2040.
- Name: St. Charles Columbarium
- Location: 545 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310
- Phone: (757) 331-2040
Parish Governance
Parish life is supported by a Parish Council and a Finance Council, with agendas and meeting minutes posted on the parish Events page. The Parish Council meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall.
- Parish Council Chair: Kevin Fallon
- Parish Council Vice Chair: David Scott
- Parish Council Secretary: Karen Leffel
- Finance Council Chair: Bob Panek
- Parish Council meetings: 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 PM, Parish Hall
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Saint Charles Borromeo by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The parish office is at 550 Tazewell Avenue (mailing), with the church itself at 549 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310.
- Parish Office: (757) 331-2040
- Email: [email protected]
- Bulletin email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 10:00 AM–3:30 PM
- Church Address: 549 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310
- Mailing Address: 550 Tazewell Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310
- Website: http://www.stcharlesbcc.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward Mickle1886–1930
Founder and first pastor of St. Charles; built the church in 1889 with a gift from the Abell family of Baltimore (The Baltimore Sun). Served 40 years, elevated to Monsignor in 1927, died August 16, 1930. Remembered as "The Apostle of the Eastern Shore" and buried between the church and the rectory.