About St. Isidore the Farmer · Orange, Virginia
St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church is a small, tight-knit parish in Orange, Virginia, serving the Catholic faithful of Orange County as part of the Diocese of Arlington. Established in 2001 and dedicated in 2002 by Bishop Paul S. Loverde, the parish was formed by the merger of St. Mark Parish in Gordonsville and St. John Parish in Orange — and was aptly named after the patron saint of farmers and rural communities, a fitting tribute to the rolling farmland that surrounds it. Reverend Terrence R. "Terry" Staples has served as pastor since fall 2009, leading a stewardship community of roughly 370 registered families known for reverent liturgy, Friday Eucharistic adoration, and active outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 2001
- Patron
- St. Isidore the Farmer (patron saint of farmers and rural communities)
- Rector
- Rev. Terrence R. "Terry" Staples
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Isidore the Farmer offers the rare gift of a small, reverent Catholic community in which 'everybody knows everybody' — Father Staples often says visitors find themselves 'a name, not a number.' The parish faithfully celebrates the Sacraments and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, offers Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction from 1:00–9:00 PM, runs an active RCIA program, sponsors Epiphany Catholic School in Culpeper, and supports a deep bench of lay ministries — from the Knights of Columbus Council 13860 and Legion of Mary to the Women's Club, Altar Guild, Music Ministry, and youth Religious Education. Parishioners also live out stewardship through partnerships with the Paul Stefan Foundation, LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers, Coats for Kids, and KOVAR, making it an especially warm place to belong for Catholic families in Orange County.
Mass times at St. Isidore the Farmer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Friday: 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 – 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 7:15 – 7:45 AM
- Sunday: 10:15 – 10:45 AM
- Holy Day Vigil: 6:30 – 6:45 PM
- Holy Day: 12:00 – 12:10 PM
- Holy Day: 6:30 – 6:45 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration and Benediction: Most Fridays, 1:00 – 9:00 PM
History & Heritage of St. Isidore the Farmer
St. Isidore the Farmer was established in 2001 and dedicated in 2002 by Bishop Paul S. Loverde as a single new parish uniting the Catholic communities of Gordonsville and Orange. It was born from the suppression of two earlier parishes — St. Mark in Gordonsville (built in the late 1800s) and St. John in Orange (built in the 1940s) — both of which had been staffed by Missionhurst priests before diocesan priest Father David L. Martin was appointed pastor of both in 1995 by Bishop John R. Keating. The decision to name the new parish for St. Isidore the Farmer, an 11th-century Spanish farm laborer and patron of farmers and rural communities, was a deliberate tribute to the agricultural character of Orange County.
- Formed in 2001; dedicated in 2002 by Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
- Predecessor parishes: St. Mark (Gordonsville) and St. John (Orange).
- Missionhurst priests historically staffed both communities.
- Father David L. Martin oversaw the merger (1995–2003).
- Father Terry Staples named pastor in fall 2009.
Pastor & Staff
Reverend Terrence R. "Terry" Staples has served as pastor of St. Isidore the Farmer since fall 2009. Ordained by the late Bishop John R. Keating, his previous assignments in the Diocese of Arlington include parochial vicar roles at St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, St. Louis and St. Lawrence in Alexandria, and St. Luke in McLean; he also served as temporary administrator of St. Lawrence and as pastor of St. Louis. The parish is supported by an active group of lay staff and volunteers, including office manager, musician, sacristan and permanent-deacon-in-formation Tom Fursman, and the Knights of Columbus Council 13860.
- Pastor: Rev. Terrence R. "Terry" Staples
- Office: (540) 672-4933 · Fax: (540) 661-4204
- Email: [email protected]
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at St. Isidore. Families are encouraged to contact Father Staples as soon as a baby is expected to arrange Baptism, and as soon as a couple is engaged to begin Matrimony preparations (including verifying date availability with the parish office). Holy Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through Father Staples or the parish office, with Anointing of the Sick available "no matter what time."
- Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick
- Confession can be requested outside the published schedule by contacting the parish office.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program (CCD) with classes for Pre-K through rising 6th grade, meeting Sunday at 9:30 AM between the two Sunday Masses. A summer Vacation Bible School is also offered. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed into the parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process, and the parish sponsors Epiphany Catholic School in Culpeper as its parish school of choice.
- CCD / Religious Education: Sundays at 9:30 AM
- Vacation Bible School: Pre-K through rising 6th grade
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — ongoing
- Epiphany Catholic School (Culpeper) — parish-sponsored
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Isidore lives out its identity as a stewardship community through a broad bench of lay ministries. The parish website lists more than 18 active groups covering liturgy (Altar Guild, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Music Ministry), formation (RCIA, Religious Education, Vacation Bible School), fellowship and service (Women's Club, Social Committee, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Sisters of St. Maria, Gardeners, Flame of Love), and the practical upkeep of parish life (Cemetery Committee, Helping Hands Funeral Group, Lawn Maintenance Crew, Building Committee).
- Liturgical: Altar Guild, Altar Servers, EMHCs, Lectors, Music Ministry
- Formation: RCIA, Religious Education, VBS
- Service: Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Women's Club, Sisters of St. Maria, Flame of Love
- Practical: Cemetery Committee, Helping Hands Funeral Group, Lawn Maintenance, Building Committee
Knights of Columbus Council 13860
Council 13860 is an 83-man council jointly supporting St. Isidore the Farmer and Our Lady of the Blue Ridge Catholic Churches. The Knights serve individual parishioners in need, perform upkeep around both parishes, run breakfasts and dinners, and raise funds primarily through an annual car raffle and dues. They support LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers and the Paul Stefan House through volunteer labor and funding, and participate in Coats for Kids, KOVAR (support for the intellectually disabled), and the Keep Christ in Christmas card sales benefiting Arlington Diocese seminarians and postulants.
- Council 13860 — 83 members
- Major fundraisers: annual car raffle, dues, LifeSpring baby bottle campaign, KOVAR
- Charities: LifeSpring, Paul Stefan House, Coats for Kids, KOVAR, Keep Christ in Christmas
Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach to those in need is central to parish life. Parishioners volunteer and fundraise for the Paul Stefan Foundation, which serves women in crisis pregnancies; Father Staples has partnered with the foundation to help raise money for a new regional Paul Stefan House in Orange. The Knights partner with LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers, and the parish also supports Coats for Kids, KOVAR (for the intellectually disabled), and the Helping Hands Funeral Group, which ministers to grieving families. The Legion of Mary meets Wednesdays from 7:00–8:00 PM in Room 205 of the Ministry Center for visitation of families, the sick, and the homebound.
- Paul Stefan Foundation (crisis pregnancy) — parish-wide support
- LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers
- Helping Hands Funeral Group
- Legion of Mary — Wed 7:00–8:00 PM, Ministry Center Room 205
Pastoral Council & Stewardship
The Pastoral Council is an advisory body that supports the pastor in identifying pastoral needs, planning programs, improving services, and evaluating effectiveness. It follows Bishop Keating's 1984 pastoral letter on consultation. The parish also describes itself as "A Stewardship Community dedicated to the sharing of its time, talent, and treasure with all of God's people," and offers Online Giving through a secure giving portal, with "I GAVE ONLINE" cards available in the pews for those who give digitally.
- Pastoral Council — advisory body to the pastor
- Online Giving available via parish website
- Stewardship of time, talent and treasure
Epiphany Catholic School
St. Isidore the Farmer is a proud sponsor of Epiphany Catholic School in Culpeper, Virginia, its partner parish school.
- Epiphany Catholic School, Culpeper, VA (www.epiphanycatholicschool.org)
Visiting & Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Isidore. The parish sits in a quiet, peaceful rural setting off Route 15 on St. Isidore Way, and visitors commonly comment on the beauty of the church, the solemnity of the liturgy, and the friendly atmosphere. New parishioners can register by visiting the parish office and completing a registration form. Anyone interested in joining a ministry can review the 'Ways to Get Involved' page on the parish website or contact the parish office.
- Located off Route 15 on St. Isidore Way, Orange, VA
- New parishioners: complete a registration form at the parish office
- Volunteer opportunities listed under 'Ways to Get Involved'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. David L. Martin1995–2003
Diocesan priest appointed pastor of both St. Mark (Gordonsville) and St. John (Orange) by Bishop John R. Keating; oversaw the suppression of those parishes and the creation of St. Isidore the Farmer in 2001/2002; remained as first pastor until 2003, when he was sent to start St. Jude Mission in Fredericksburg.
- Rev. Terrence R. "Terry" Staples2009–present
Named pastor in fall 2009; ordained by Bishop John R. Keating; previously parochial vicar at St. Mary of Sorrows (Fairfax), St. Louis and St. Lawrence (Alexandria), and St. Luke (McLean); also served as temporary administrator of St. Lawrence and pastor of St. Louis.