About St. Francis of Assisi · Rocky Mount, Virginia
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving the Rocky Mount area of Franklin County, Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Founded in 1984 as part of the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 15), the parish is currently administered by Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas and shares ministry with the associated parish of St. Joseph in Martinsville. The community celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, offers First Communion catechesis for Hispanic and Anglo children, and reaches out through ministries to local hospitals, soup kitchens, and the broader Franklin County community.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a small, bilingual Catholic community in the Blue Ridge foothills that welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking families alike. A faithful priest (Father Santos) shepherds the parish, which offers weekday noon Mass on Thursday and Friday, a Saturday vigil in English and a Spanish evening Mass, weekly reconciliation in both languages, Eucharistic adoration, and active First Communion catechesis for children. The parish also reaches beyond its walls through ministries at local hospitals, Trinity Mission, a soup kitchen, and Habitat for Humanity — making it a good fit for Catholics in Rocky Mount, Ferrum, and Franklin County looking for an intimate, mission-oriented parish home.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
- Friday: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
- Friday: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
About Our Patron Saint — St. Francis of Assisi
The parish's 'About Our Patron Saint' page tells the story of St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226), known as 'the Poverello' or 'Poor Little Man.' Born Giovanni and renamed Francesco in Assisi, in the duchy of Spoleto, Italy, he founded the three Franciscan orders: the Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the women's Order of St. Clare (the Poor Clares), and the Secular Third Order. The page recounts how, while hearing Mass in the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels in 1208, Francis was moved by the day's Gospel on evangelical poverty and gave up his shoes, cloak, pilgrim staff, and wallet to begin preaching penance, brotherly love, and peace. He led a personal mission to preach to Muslims, established the Christmas crèche custom, and received the stigmata while praying. He died on October 3, 1226, was canonized on July 16, 1228, and was declared patron of Italy, merchants, and animals. In 1979 Pope John Paul II named him patron of Christian ecology, and in 2013 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took his name on becoming Pope Francis.
- Born 1181 in Assisi, duchy of Spoleto, Italy
- Founded the Friars Minor, the Poor Clares, and the Secular Franciscan Order
- Died October 3, 1226; canonized July 16, 1228
- Feast day: October 4
- Patron of Italy, merchants, and animals; patron of Christian ecology (1979)
- Inspiration for Pope Francis, who took his name in 2013
The San Damiano Crucifix in Our Parish
According to the parish website, the San Damiano crucifix above the altar at St. Francis of Assisi is a replica of the very crucifix that, in the church of San Damiano below Assisi, spoke to the young Francis with the words: 'Go, Francis, and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.' Francis took the words literally and began restoring that ruined chapel — the beginning of his vocation. The replica at the Rocky Mount parish connects the local community directly to the heart of the Franciscan story.
Parish History and Identity
St. Francis of Assisi was established in 1984 as a Catholic parish serving Rocky Mount and the surrounding Franklin County, Virginia, community. The parish falls within the Diocese of Richmond, in Deanery 15, and is paired as an associated parish with St. Joseph in Martinsville, reflecting the rural geography of southwestern Virginia and the tradition of sharing priestly ministry across neighboring counties. The parish's bilingual character — celebrated through a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish and parallel catechetical programs — gives it a distinctive identity among the small parishes of the Diocese of Richmond.
- Founded: 1984
- Deanery 15, Diocese of Richmond
- Associated parish: St. Joseph, Martinsville
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently led as Administrator by Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas ('Father Santos'), a Spanish-speaking priest. Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The parish also publishes a Pastoral Emergency number (276-207-8669) for after-hours sacramental needs.
- Administrator: Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas
- Office hours: Wednesday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Pastoral emergency line: 276-207-8669
- Office email: [email protected]
Faith Formation: First Holy Communion / Primera Comunión
The parish website featured a First Holy Communion Class 2025 section celebrating students who received their First Holy Communion that year. The parish explicitly thanks its dedicated catechists and supportive parents who 'with love and dedication accompanied these children in their preparation,' and notes that 'Father Santos is very proud of everyone.' The class is offered in both English and Spanish, reflecting the bilingual life of the parish.
- First Holy Communion catechesis for children (English)
- Clase de Primera Comunión for children (Spanish)
- Catechist and parent formation involved
Outreach and Charitable Ministries
According to the Diocese of Richmond's parish profile, St. Francis of Assisi carries out a wide range of outreach ministries in the Franklin County area. These include pastoral visits to local healthcare and care facilities and hands-on support for community aid organizations.
- Franklin Memorial Hospital — pastoral visits
- Trinity Mission — special ministry
- Franklin Health & Rehab Center — special ministry
- Stepping Stones Soup Kitchen
- Helping Hands of Franklin County
- Habitat for Humanity
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person. The website encourages visitors to enroll in Flocknote to receive parish notifications and announcements. The parish also maintains a pastoral emergency line for after-hours sacramental needs.
- Address: 15 Glennwood Drive, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
- Phone: (540) 483-9591
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastoral Emergency: 276-207-8669
- Office Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Flocknote enrollment available via the website