St. James

History of Saint James the Greater

Catholic worship in Hopewell began in 1887 when the Fifth Bishop of Richmond, Rt. Rev. John J. Keane, purchased a lot from the Eppes family and a chapel was built by 1888 for the seamen and families stationed at City Point. After the Navy withdrew in 1903, the chapel was sold; Catholic worship returned when Father Martin J. Haier reopened a small Broadway chapel as a mission of St. Joseph in Petersburg amid the World War I-era growth of the DuPont guncotton plant.

• 1887 – Bishop John J. Keane purchases lot from the Eppes family for a Catholic chapel.
• 1888 – First chapel built at City Point for seamen and their families.
• 1903 – U.S. Navy withdraws from City Point; chapel sold (later owned by Historic Hopewell Foundation).
• 1914 – WWI and DuPont guncotton plant bring rapid population growth to Hopewell.
• 1916 – Cornerstone laid at City Point Road and Sixth Avenue; church dedicated October 15, 1916.
• 1918 – St. James formally established as a parish; Father John J. Massey named first resident pastor.
• 1927 – Father James P. Gacquin arrives December 22 and shapes the parish for a generation.
• 1941 – Silver Jubilee celebrated October 10.
• 1950 – Storm damages original church; Masses move to the Beacon Theater.
• 1951 – New Saint James Church opened March 1; Father Gacquin transferred.
• 1970 & 1980 – Major renovations to church, rectory, convent, and school hall.
• October 22, 2016 – Parish marks 100 years of service to Hopewell.
• April 16, 2017 – Father Chris Hess celebrates first Mass in the newly renovated sanctuary.

Clergy & Parish Staff

The parish is led by an Administrator who also serves as the cluster's lead priest, supported by parochial vicars, a priest in residence, and lay staff who handle parish operations, faith formation, and outreach. Staff contact information is published through the Catholic Cluster website.

• Administrator: Very Rev. Shay W. Auerbach, S.J., V.F.
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Julio Ciriaco Barrameda Buena
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jose Chrisly B. Ereño, JCL
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph Balikuddembe Ssemmanda
• Priest in Residence: Rev. Robert J. Cole
• Office Manager & Bookkeeper: Penny Merhout (804-732-6385)
• Pastoral Associate / Justice & Peace: Janice Petet (804-458-9223)
• Director of Religious Education / Spanish Pastoral Associate: Marissa Ayala (804-895-0056)

Parish Mission Statement

The parish articulates its mission in response to a call to constantly praise God: to find God in all creation, to live lives that promote the spiritual enrichment of all God's people, to be witnesses of Christ's love and its place in our lives, and to share time, talent, and treasure with others.

• Find God in all creation.
• Live lives that promote the spiritual enrichment of all of God's people.
• Be witnesses of Christ's Love and its place in our lives.
• Share our time, talent and treasure with others.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The Catholic Cluster Religious Education Program, directed by Marissa Ayala, serves children from PK4 through 12th grade across St. James, St. John, and Sacred Heart. The program uses the diocesan Catholic Education Curriculum and is supported by volunteer catechists and aides. Sacramental preparation covers First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIA) for unbaptized children age 7 and older.

• St. James (Hopewell) Religious Education: Saturdays 5:00–6:00 PM, English, PK4–7th grade, in the parish school building / formation building.
• Confirmation (Grades 8–12): Sunday evenings 6:00–8:00 PM, alternating between Sacred Heart and St. James.
• First Holy Communion preparation for children 7 and older.
• OCIA for children 7 and older who are unbaptized.
• Confirmation preparation for teens 15 and older.
• Volunteer catechists and aides (Virtus training and background check required).

Sacraments

Parishioners can contact the parish office to begin the process for any of the seven sacraments. Schedules and preparation requirements are coordinated by the parish and cluster staff.

• Baptism
• First Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Marriage and Blessing of Marriage
• Anointing of the Sick
• Annulment assistance
• Reconciliation (Confession): Wednesday 5:30–6:15 PM

RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is offered through the parish for anyone over the age of 18 who is interested in learning more about the Catholic Church or in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Interested adults are invited to contact the parish office for more information.

Parish Ministries & Community Life

St. James offers a wide variety of parish groups and outreach ministries that draw parishioners into fellowship, formation, and service. Several of these ministries extend beyond the parish walls into local hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facilities.

• Book study group
• Adult education
• Parish choir
• Ministry to the homebound
• Hospitality Sunday — first Sunday of the month after Mass in the parish hall
• Spiritual Direction & Friendship ministry (contact: Dick & Jeannine Commander, 458-9223)
• Justice & Peace ministry (Pastoral Associate: Janice Petet)
• Prayer list ministry

Outreach & Special Ministries

St. James parishioners serve several institutions in and around Hopewell as part of the parish's mission of pastoral care to those in need. The Diocese of Richmond lists St. James as the parish responsible for ministry to a local correctional center and to several area health and elder-care facilities.

• Prison Ministry at Greensville Correctional Center
• Special Ministry at John Randolph Hospital
• Special Ministry at John Randolph Nursing Home
• Special Ministry at Hopewell Convalescent Center

St. Anne Cemetery, Claremont

St. James the Greater maintains St. Anne Cemetery in Claremont, Virginia, as a service to the parish community. Inquiries about the cemetery can be directed to the parish office at 804-458-9223.

The Catholic Cluster

St. James the Greater is one of three parishes in the 'Catholic Cluster,' a collaborative grouping of parishes in the Hopewell–Petersburg–Dinwiddie area of the Diocese of Richmond. The three parishes share priests, faith formation staff, and a common communications website at catholiccluster.com.

• St. James the Greater – Hopewell
• St. John – Dinwiddie
• Church of the Sacred Heart – Prince George County
• Cluster Administrator: Fr. Shay Auerbach, S.J.

Visit, Contact & Office Hours

The parish office is located at 510 W. Poythress Street, Hopewell, VA 23860. Office hours run Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Inquiries about Mass times, sacraments, faith formation, and ministries can be directed to the parish office by phone or email.

• Address: 510 W. Poythress Street, Hopewell, VA 23860
• Phone: 804-458-9223
• Fax: 804-458-1216
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM