About St. Joseph · Martinsville, Virginia
St. Joseph Catholic Church (also known in the Spanish-speaking community as San José) is a bilingual Catholic parish serving Martinsville, Virginia and surrounding Henry County from its location at 2481 Spruce Street. Founded in 1949, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 15) and is currently twinned with Saint Francis of Assisi in Rocky Mount under a single pastor. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish on Sundays, runs a weekly religious education program for First Communion and Confirmation candidates, and extends its ministry beyond the parish walls through an active Prison Ministry serving four local correctional facilities.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 15)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is one of the few bilingual Catholic parishes in south-central Virginia, offering Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish along with weekday Mass on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A close-knit parish, it runs weekly religious education classes for First Communion and Confirmation candidates and reaches into the broader community through a Prison Ministry serving four correctional facilities (Henry County Jail, Martinsville City Jail, Martinsville Farm Jail, and Patrick Henry Correctional Unit 28). With daily Rosary before Mass and a history stretching back to 1949, it offers a stable, mission-focused home for Catholic families on both sides of the language divide.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM (following 12:00 PM Mass)
- Wednesday 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM (following 12:00 PM Mass)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (before 7:00 PM Spanish Mass)
Parish Identity and Diocese
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Richmond, assigned to Deanery 15, and is formally partnered with Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Rocky Mount under a single pastor. The Diocese of Richmond assigns the parish its designation number 572 and lists it on its parish directory as serving Martinsville and the surrounding area.
- Diocese of Richmond, Deanery 15
- Parish #572
- Cluster parish: Saint Francis of Assisi, Rocky Mount
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Joseph runs an ongoing Religious Education program to prepare children for the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. Registration forms for the 2026-2027 formation year were placed on the round table, with classes scheduled to begin Wednesday, August 19, 2025, meeting every Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM. Families with questions are directed to Sandra Ruiz at the parish office, extension 24.
- Classes every Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Coordinator: Sandra Ruiz (276-638-4779 ext. 24)
Outreach and Prison Ministry
The parish is well known locally for its Prison Ministry, which brings Catholic pastoral care to inmates at the Henry County Jail, the Martinsville City Jail, the Martinsville Farm Jail, and Patrick Henry Correctional Unit 28. The parish also participates in the Food Lion Community Rewards program, which returns a portion of qualifying purchases to the parish (enrollment #82116).
- Henry County Jail
- Martinsville City Jail
- Martinsville Farm Jail
- Patrick Henry Correctional Unit 28
- Food Lion Community Rewards – parish #82116
Contact and Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 2481 Spruce Street, Martinsville, VA 24112, by phone at (276) 638-4779, by fax at (276) 638-2218, or by email at [email protected]. The office is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish's official website is stjoechurch.org.
- Address: 2481 Spruce St., Martinsville, VA 24112
- Phone: (276) 638-4779
- Fax: (276) 638-2218
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue-Fri 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Carlos Lerma
Pastor of St. Joseph, Martinsville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Rocky Mount; placed on temporary leave of absence in 2024.
- Very Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, V.F.2024
Appointed temporary administrator of St. Joseph, Martinsville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Rocky Mount, while continuing as pastor of Holy Cross, Lynchburg.
- Rev. Santos Ramirez Chicas2024-present
Served as parochial vicar, then administrator (2024), then pastor of St. Joseph, Martinsville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Rocky Mount, effective 2025-2026.