About St. John the Evangelist · New Castle, Virginia
St. John the Evangelist is a small Roman Catholic parish located at 99 Second Street in New Castle, Virginia, established in the year 2000 and belonging to the Diocese of Richmond. It is closely linked with the Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle, with which it shares a pastor and is administered as a paired parish. As one of the newer and smaller Catholic communities in Craig County, the parish serves the small town of New Castle and surrounding rural area, offering Mass and the sacraments in a modest setting. Office hours are limited to Thursday mornings, and the parish relies on its association with the neighboring Fincastle church for many of its ministries.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Naah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers Catholics in the rural New Castle area of Craig County a place to worship and receive the sacraments close to home, with the added strength of being paired with the larger Church of the Transfiguration community in Fincastle. The parish welcomes all people — for Mass, adoration, silent prayer, and spiritual direction — and is supported by visiting priests and active lay involvement typical of a small rural Catholic parish. For newcomers and visitors, it provides an intimate, family-style setting rooted in the Diocese of Richmond's commitment to serving Catholics throughout western Virginia.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in New Castle, Virginia, in Craig County, founded in 2000 and belonging to the Diocese of Richmond. It is a small parish that shares its pastor with the Church of the Transfiguration in nearby Fincastle. The mailing address is 99 Second Street, New Castle, VA 24127, and the parish office is open on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Established: 2000
- Deanery: 12 (Diocese of Richmond)
- Parish ID: 631
- Address: 99 Second Street, New Castle, VA 24127
- Phone: (540) 864-8686
- Fax: (540) 473-2193
- Email: [email protected]
Pastor and Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Peter Naah, who was appointed pastor in 2026. He succeeds Very Rev. Zaverio (Xavier) Banasula, VF, who served the paired parishes from 2024 until his 2026 reassignment to St. Nicholas, Virginia Beach. The parish secretary and office operations are handled part-time, with the office open only on Thursday mornings.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter Naah
- Immediate Past Pastor: Very Rev. Zaverio (Xavier) Banasula, VF
Office Hours and Contact
The parish office at 99 Second Street, New Castle, is open on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Outside those hours, messages can be left by phone at (540) 864-8686 or sent by email to [email protected]. Fax correspondence can be sent to (540) 473-2193.
- Office Hours: Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: (540) 864-8686
- Email: [email protected]
Associated Parish
St. John the Evangelist is officially listed as an 'associated parish' with the Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle, Botetourt County. The two parishes share a pastor and collaborate on sacramental, liturgical, and community life. Catholics in Craig County and western Botetourt County are served by this combined pastoral team.
- Associated Parish: Church of the Transfiguration, Fincastle, VA
Diocese of Richmond
St. John the Evangelist is part of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, which covers the central, southern, and western portions of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The parish sits in Deanery 12 of the diocese. The diocesan bishop at the time of the most recent pastoral assignments was Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout.
- Diocese: Richmond
- Deanery: 12
- Bishop (recent): Most Rev. Barry C. Knestout
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen J. McNally2009–2023
Served as pastor of Church of the Transfiguration and St. John the Evangelist from June 2009 until his unexpected death on January 4, 2023; also chaplain of the Fincastle Fire Department.
- Rev. Policarpio Lagco2023–2024
Served as parish administrator after Father McNally's death; returned to the Diocese of Sorsogon, Philippines, in late spring 2024.
- Very Rev. Zaverio (Xavier) Banasula, VF2024–2026
Appointed pastor of the paired parishes on July 1, 2024, by Bishop Barry Knestout; reassigned to St. Nicholas, Virginia Beach in 2026.
- Rev. Peter Naah2026–present
Appointed pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration and St. John the Evangelist in 2026, moving from St. Matthew, Virginia Beach.