About St. Francis of Assisi · Staunton, Virginia
St. Francis of Assisi is a Catholic parish in Staunton, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, serving the Staunton-Augusta County area as part of the Diocese of Richmond. Founded in 1844, it is the second-oldest Catholic parish in the Shenandoah Valley and grew from a Scots-Irish Catholic community first served by visiting priests. The parish is known for its well-attended weekend liturgy, strong social outreach (including a long-standing twin-parish relationship in Haiti), an active prolife apostolate, and a full slate of formation programs for adults and youth. Worship is centered in a 19th-century granite church that has been renovated and restored multiple times.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Matthias Lusembo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Francis offers the rhythm of a historic Catholic parish with the warmth of a small community: three well-attended Sunday Masses, daily Mass on weekdays, perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the side chapel, and a robust calendar of formation for every age. The parish is known for its strong social outreach — a 25-year twin-parish relationship with St. Louis, King of France, in LaGonave, Haiti; a respect-life apostolate that runs Mary's House for pregnant women in need; and prison ministry at the Augusta Correctional Center and local jail. Add in an active youth ministry, ongoing adult formation, OCIA, and a Director of Music committed to the Church's Gregorian and sacred-choral heritage, and St. Francis is a parish where newcomers can plug in easily.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:00–5:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered outside of Mass in the chapel (entrance on the right side of the church) — specific hours published on the parish website.
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi is a Catholic parish in Staunton, Virginia, in the Diocese of Richmond, serving the Staunton-Augusta County area. Founded in 1844 and built around a 19th-century granite church, the parish is known for its strong liturgy, robust formation programs, and a long-standing commitment to social outreach both locally and in Haiti. The parish describes itself as a community where 'the liturgy has always been a central focus,' and where social outreach, education, and prayer are interwoven into parish life.
Parish History
Catholic life in Staunton began in 1841 when the first Mass was celebrated in the home of Michael Quinlan. In 1844, Passionist Father Daniel Downey became the parish's first pastor, and the first church building was completed in 1850. The Daughters of Charity opened a parochial school in 1867 that served the parish until 1972. By 1895 the original structure was outgrown; Bishop Van De Vyver laid the cornerstone of the present church that year, and the solemn dedication followed in 1897. The parish celebrated its centennial in 1950, underwent a major interior renovation in 1988–89, and in 2015–16 had its crumbling exterior stone completely replaced with granite.
- 1841 — First Mass in the Quinlan home
- 1844 — Parish founded; Rev. Daniel Downey, C.P.P.S., first pastor
- 1850 — First church building completed
- 1867 — Daughters of Charity open parish school
- 1895 — Cornerstone of present church laid by Bishop Van De Vyver
- 1897 — Solemn dedication of the present St. Francis Church
- 1950 — Parish centennial
- 1972 — Parish school closes after 105 years
- 1988–89 — Major interior renovation
- 2015–16 — Exterior refaced in new granite
Pastor and Staff
The current pastor is the Rev. Matthias Lusembo, a Ugandan priest born in 1953 in Lugonza who was ordained in 1981, taught philosophy and social sciences for 21 years, served as Vice-Rector of Katigonda National Major Seminary, and pastored Christ the King Parish in Norfolk for eleven years before being named pastor of St. Francis in July 2021. The parish staff includes a Youth Minister (Hope Ogden), Office Administrator (Nancy Hanna), Business Manager (Ellen Markham), Facilities Manager (Michael Callihan), Librarian (Cindy Little), Director of Music (Daniel Kirkland), and Religious Education Leader (Amanda Hayes). The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Pastor — Rev. Matthias Lusembo
- Youth Minister — Hope Ogden
- Office Administrator — Nancy Hanna
- Business Manager — Ellen Markham
- Facilities Manager — Michael Callihan
- Librarian — Cindy Little
- Director of Music — Daniel Kirkland
- Religious Education Leader — Amanda Hayes
Formation: OCIA and Adult Faith
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's program for adults seeking baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church. The multi-stage formation culminates in baptism, confirmation, and first Communion at the Easter Vigil. Coordinators are Jeffrey and Karen Adams, with parish-office liaison Amanda Hayes.
- OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Ongoing adult faith classes
Youth and Religious Education
The parish offers a full range of faith formation for children and youth, including preparation for First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation; Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes on Sunday mornings; a summer Vacation Bible School; and a dedicated Youth Ministry led by Hope Ogden. The Religious Education Leader is Amanda Hayes; Confirmation ministry coordinator is Carol Long.
- First Penance preparation
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Sunday morning CCD classes
- Summer Vacation Bible School
- Youth Ministry (gradeschool through high school)
- Homeschool family support
Music and Liturgy
Director of Music Daniel Kirkland, a Staunton native and Secular Order Discalced Carmelite, leads the parish's liturgical music program with a focus on Gregorian chant and the Church's sacred musical heritage. He previously founded chant Scholas at St. Francis and served for nine years as Director of Music and Liturgy at Holy Comforter in Charlottesville.
- Parish Choir
- Gregorian chant Schola
- Director of Music — Daniel Kirkland
Social Action and Outreach
St. Francis maintains a wide-ranging social outreach program, with its flagship being the 25-plus-year twin-parish relationship with St. Louis, King of France, in Pointe-à-Raquette on the island of LaGonave, Haiti. Through Haiti Outreach, parishioners support Bob's Clinic (open Monday–Friday with emergency care available at all times), more than 200 community gardens, and Our Lady of Pointe-à-Raquette Catholic School (K–6) with sponsorships and the 'Honor with Books' program. Locally, the parish delivers Meals on Wheels / homebound meals, conducts Prison Ministry at the Augusta Correctional Center and Augusta County Jail, runs Mary's House (a pregnancy resource apostolate of the Culture of Life Committee), and supports Christmas Sharing and SACRA.
- Haiti Outreach (twin parish — LaGonave)
- Bob's Clinic support
- Our Lady of Pointe-à-Raquette Catholic School sponsorships
- Mary's House (pregnancy help: 540-213-HOPE / 877-213-2132)
- Meals on Wheels / Homebound Meals
- Prison Ministry (Augusta Correctional Center & Augusta County Jail)
- Culture of Life / Respect Life Committee
- Christmas Sharing
- SACRA
Respect Life and Mary's House
The parish's Respect Life / Culture of Life Committee is committed to defending the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Members commit to weekly private prayer, holy hours, and fasting; they participate in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and regular prayer vigils outside abortion facilities in Charlottesville. Since 2009, the committee's main outreach has been Mary's House, which provides free pregnancy tests, peer counseling, natural family planning information, maternity and baby supplies, temporary housing, transportation, and a mother-mentor program for women in the Shenandoah Valley.
- March for Life participation
- Charlottesville prayer vigils
- St. Gerard Ministry (prayer for expectant parents and couples)
- Mary's House — pregnancy resource center
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of Baptism (through OCIA for adults), First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Pastoral care to the sick and homebound extends throughout the community, with Communion and Anointing of the Sick visits to Augusta Health, Envoy Nursing Home, Emeritus of Staunton, Ritenour Rest Home, Baldwin Park, Birch Gardens Nursing Home, and The Legacy at North Augusta.
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors are invited to explore the parish website, attend any of the weekend or weekday Masses, and stop by the parish office (118 North New Street, Staunton) Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. The mailing address is 118 North New Street, Staunton, VA 24401-3636, while the church itself stands at 125 North Augusta Street.
- Address: 125 North Augusta St / 118 North New St, Staunton, VA 24401
- Phone: (540) 886-2262
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Daniel Downey, C.P.P.S.1844–1857
First pastor of the parish; Passionist.
- Rev. T. O. AI Sears1858–1859
- Rev. Joseph Bixio, S.J.1861–1866
Sent to California by his superiors in 1867.
- Rev. J. Ambler Weed1867–1871
- Rev. John McVerry1871–1900
Longest early pastorate; oversaw growth requiring a new church.
- Rev. Joseph Frioli1900–1906
- Rev. William A. McKeefry1906–1913
- Rev. Timothy J. Crowe1913–1916
- Rev. Emmett Gallagher1937–1947
- Rev. James P. Gacquin, V.F.1947–1951
- Rev. Francis J. Klemmer, V.F.1951–1953
- Rev. Donfred H. Stockert (Administrator)1953
Served five months following the death of Father Klemmer.
- Rev. James H. McConnell1953–1964
- Rev. William D. McGonigle1964–1966
- Rev. Paul T. Gaughan1966–1968
- Rev. R. Roy Cosby1968–1970
- Rev. John J. Munley1970–1971
- Rev. Anthony Justs1971–1973
- Rev. Thomas Summers1973–1976
- Rev. William S. O'Brien1976–1981
- Rev. Hollis Gregory Dean Dodge1981–1989
- Rev. John A. Abe1989–2005
Deacon James Kledzik served 2004–2017 under/around this pastorate.
- Rev. Gerald Przywara2005–2011 (on leave 2008–2011)
- Rev. Burt Sare2008–2011 (Administrator; Pastor Feb–July 2011)
- Rev. Joseph Wamala2011–2021
- Rev. Matthias Lusembo2021–present
Born 1953 in Lugonza, Uganda; ordained 1981; came to the U.S. in 2008.