About St. Jude · Fredericksburg, Virginia
St. Jude Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Fredericksburg, Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Arlington. It was founded in 2003 as a mission of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, became a parish in 2007, and moved into its permanent, purpose-built cruciform church on 25 acres in southern Fredericksburg when it was dedicated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge on July 14, 2018. Today it serves roughly 2,600 registered parishioners with a robust offering of English and Spanish Masses, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation for all ages, and a strong social-outreach network through SHARE, the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul and the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- St. Jude (Thaddeus)
- Rector
- Rev. J. Kevin O'Keefe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Jude offers a newly-built cruciform church with one of the most distinctive altars in the Diocese of Arlington — containing first-class relics of all twelve Apostles — alongside 19th-century Belgian Stations of the Cross and a complete Beyer Studio stained-glass program. Parishioners enjoy a full sacramental life with daily Mass, a weekly Spanish Mass, weekly Confession, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a monthly holy hour with exposition on the third Sunday. A wide range of ministries (RCIA, Religious Education, Middle and High School Youth Ministry, Knights of Columbus Council 13599, Legion of Mary, Women's Guild, SHARE, St. Vincent de Paul, food pantry, Garden Club, Mother's Prayer Group, Divorce Support Group, and the choir) gives newcomers many ways to plug in, and the parish has been an active SHARE host site, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank partner, and Thurman Brisben Shelter volunteer for nearly two decades.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 7:00 PM (until the line ends)
- Saturday: 3:30–4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday following the 9:00 AM Mass
- Third Sunday of the month: 3:00–4:00 PM (Holy Hour with exposition of the Eucharist)
History of St. Jude Parish
St. Jude began in 2003 as a mission of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg, established by Bishop Paul S. Loverde to serve the growing Catholic population in the southern part of the city and Spotsylvania County. Father David Martin was named the founding Parochial Administrator and celebrated the first Mass in September 2003 in the chapel of Covenant Funeral Home. The community moved to 10800B Courthouse Road in November 2003 and was constituted as a parish in its own right in 2007. In 2010 the Diocese launched a capital campaign, and in June 2011 Bishop Loverde appointed Father James C. Hudgins as the second pastor. Father Hudgins worked with O'Brien and Keane Architects to design a cruciform church, broke ground on October 9, 2016, and oversaw construction by Whitener & Jackson Inc. for 21 months. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge dedicated the completed church on July 14, 2018, sealing the relics of the Twelve Apostles into the new marble altar. Father Hudgins was reassigned to St. Theresa in Ashburn that summer, and Father J. Kevin O'Keefe, transferring from Our Lady of Angels in Woodbridge during the COVID-19 lockdown, became the third pastor.
- 2003: Founded as a mission of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception; first Mass in Covenant Funeral Home chapel
- 2005: Diocese purchases 25 acres for a future church site
- 2007: Constituted as a parish
- 2010: Capital campaign launched; parish moves to 10725 Courthouse Road
- June 2011: Father James C. Hudgins named pastor
- October 9, 2016: Groundbreaking ceremony
- July 14, 2018: Church dedicated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge; relics of the Twelve Apostles entombed in the altar
- 2018: Father J. Kevin O'Keefe named third pastor
Architecture, Windows and Sacred Art
The cruciform design was chosen to symbolize the Church as the living Body of Christ. The marble altar is the spiritual and visual heart of the building: each of the Twelve Apostles is carved at the base, and a reliquary built into the altar contains first-class relics of all twelve — a gift the cloistered sisters of the Church of Santa Lucia in Selci entrusted to Father Hudgins roughly a decade before the dedication. The full stained-glass program was completed by Beyer Studio. The Stations of the Cross are 19th-century works that originally came from a church in Belgium. The parish publishes a dedicated 'Our Windows' page describing the symbolism of every stained-glass panel.
- Architect: O'Brien and Keane
- Builder: Whitener & Jackson Inc.
- Stained glass: Beyer Studio
- Stations of the Cross: 19th-century, from Belgium
- Altar: marble, with carved Twelve Apostles and reliquary of first-class relics
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and three deacons, supported by a full lay staff. The Catholic Herald parish profile and the parish bulletin both confirm the current roster. Father O'Keefe is the third pastor in the parish's history.
- Rev. J. Kevin O'Keefe — Pastor (since 2018)
- Rev. Mark Moretti — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Dick Cronican
- Deacon Bob Lyons
- Deacon Aaron Zaccagnino
- Courtney Leon — Business Manager
- Helen Huff — Bookkeeper
- Nancy Simms — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- David Brandao — Director of Sacred Music ([email protected])
- Cheryl Bornschein — Administrative Assistant
- Mark Williams — Facilities Manager
Faith Formation, Youth and Sacramental Preparation
St. Jude's faith-formation program covers grade-school Religious Education (with sacramental preparation), the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and separate Middle School and High School Youth Ministry tracks. Father O'Keefe has personally welcomed an uptick in inquirers from other faith traditions. The parish also offers the 'Porta Fidei — The Door of Faith' online course series, a digital companion for ongoing adult formation.
- Religious Education (K-8) — contact Nancy Simms
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Middle School Youth Ministry
- High School Youth Ministry (includes March for Life trips)
- Porta Fidei online faith courses (e.g. 'The Human Person' with Fr. Paul Scalia)
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Roughly two dozen active ministries serve the parish and the wider Fredericksburg community. Several are affiliated with national Catholic organizations, while others were started by parishioners — including the Mother's Prayer Group, the Garden Club, and the Divorce Support Group. The Catholic Herald and GuideStar both publish this roster.
- Knights of Columbus Council 13599
- Legion of Mary
- Women's Guild
- Mother's Prayer Group
- Garden Club (annual plant sale benefits landscaping and mortgage)
- Ushers (contact Keith Amburgey)
- Parish Choir (rehearsals Thursday 7:00–8:30 PM; contact David Brandao or Zach Short)
- Sacristans
- St. Vincent de Paul conference (540-898-8065)
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is central to parish life. St. Jude has been a SHARE host site for about 19 years, partnered with the Thurman Brisben Shelter since 2007, runs at least two food drives a year, and assists Spotsylvania County with gifts for at-risk children and adults. A monthly Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank truck now distributes food from the parish parking lot, supplementing the on-site St. Jude Food Pantry (founded by parishioner Sylvia Williams).
- SHARE food program (host site since ~2004)
- Thurman Brisben Shelter outreach (since 2007)
- St. Jude Food Pantry
- Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank monthly distribution
- Two annual food drives and Spotsylvania County at-risk gift drives
- Monthly rosary pilgrimage to an abortion clinic in Richmond
Parish Life and Events
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Jude has built a calendar of family-friendly and community events that intentionally welcome non-Catholics. Father O'Keefe introduced or expanded several of these after arriving during the pandemic to rebuild the social fabric of the parish.
- Oktoberfest
- Lenten Soup Suppers and Fish Fries
- Craft Fair and Corn Hole Tournament
- International Lenten Food Night (started 2022)
- St. Patrick's Feast (annual)
- Oktoberfest, Lenten Soup Suppers, Fish Fries, Craft Fair and Corn Hole Tournament — all open to neighbors
Grounds, Facilities and Parish Office
The 25-acre site is being developed incrementally, with Scout troops, local schools and parish groups contributing projects over time. Completed features include a rosary garden, outdoor Stations of the Cross, and a beehive. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed on federal holidays. The mailing address is 9600 Caritas St., Fredericksburg, VA 22408.
- Phone: 540-891-7350
- Fax: 540-891-1810
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Ed: [email protected]
- Parish Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- St. Vincent de Paul helpline: 540-898-8065
- Grounds features: rosary garden, outdoor Stations of the Cross, beehive (Scout projects)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. David Martin2003–2011
Founding Parochial Administrator and first pastor; established the community and began the fundraising process for a permanent church.
- Rev. James C. Hudgins2011–2018
Second pastor; designed the new cruciform church with O'Brien and Keane Architects, led the capital campaign, and received the gift of the relics of the Twelve Apostles placed in the altar at the 2018 dedication.
- Rev. J. Kevin O'Keefe2018–present
Transferred in during the COVID-19 lockdown from Our Lady of Angels in Woodbridge; has expanded adoration, added family-friendly parish events, and deepened food-insecurity outreach.