About St. Kim Taegon · Richmond, Virginia
St. Kim Taegon Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Richmond, Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Richmond and serving the Korean Catholic community of central Virginia. Founded in 1986, it is named after St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), the first native Korean Catholic priest and patron saint of Korean clergy, who was martyred at age 25 during the Joseon persecutions. The parish celebrates all Masses in Korean and is located at 3100 Logandale Avenue in the city's south side. It is one of 139 parishes in the Diocese of Richmond and is part of Deanery 8.
- Established
- 1986
- Patron
- St. Andrew Kim Taegon (first Korean Catholic priest, martyred 1846)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Kim Taekmin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Kim Taegon Parish is the Korean Catholic personal parish of the Diocese of Richmond, making it the natural spiritual home for Korean Catholics and Korean-speaking faithful across central Virginia. All Masses are celebrated in Korean, and the parish operates as a tight-knit community where faith, language, and culture are kept together — especially meaningful for families wanting their children to pray in the language of their heritage. Confession is offered before the Sunday Mass, and the parish opens its office for an hour after each Mass for parish business and personal visits.
Mass times at St. Kim Taegon
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
About the Parish
St. Kim Taegon Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Richmond that serves the Korean Catholic community of central Virginia. Founded in 1986 and headquartered on Logandale Avenue in south Richmond, it is the diocesan Korean-language personal parish, with all Masses celebrated in Korean. The parish is listed in the diocese under parish number 817 and assigned to Deanery 8.
History of St. Kim Taegon Parish
The parish was founded in 1986 by the Diocese of Richmond in response to the growing Korean Catholic population in central Virginia. Its patron, St. Andrew Kim Taegon, had been canonized only two years earlier in 1984 by Pope John Paul II alongside 102 other Korean Martyrs. The parish is the spiritual home for Korean-speaking Catholics in the Richmond area, who previously gathered for liturgy in shared parish facilities before being given their own parish.
- Founded in 1986
- Named for St. Andrew Kim Taegon, canonized 1984
- Established to serve Korean Catholics of central Virginia
Patron Saint: St. Andrew Kim Taegon
St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846) was born into the aristocratic Gimhae Kim clan; his parents were converts and much of his extended family was martyred for the faith. Baptized at 15, he studied at the seminary in Macau and at Lolomboy in the Philippines, and was ordained in Shanghai in 1844 by Bishop Jean Joseph Jean-Baptiste Ferréol — becoming the first native Korean Catholic priest. He returned to Korea to evangelize covertly under persecution, was arrested in 1846, and was beheaded near Seoul on the Han River on September 16, 1846. He was beatified on September 11, 1925, and canonized on May 6, 1984. He is the patron saint of Korean clergy, and his feast (shared with Paul Chong Hasang and companions) is September 20.
- Born August 21, 1821, in Solmou, Dangjin, Joseon
- Ordained priest in Shanghai in 1844
- Martyred by beheading September 16, 1846, age 25
- Canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984
- Feast day: September 20
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by one priest as pastor, listed in the Diocese of Richmond clergy directory.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew Kim Taekmin
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office by phone or email, or visit in person during the hour after each Mass.
- Address: 3100 Logandale Avenue, Richmond, VA 23224
- Phone: (804) 232-0993
- Fax: (804) 232-0992
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Open for one hour following each Mass
Deanery & Diocesan Structure
St. Kim Taegon Parish is one of eight parishes in Deanery 8 of the Diocese of Richmond. Deaneries replaced Local Planning Areas (LPAs) effective September 27, 2018, by canonical decree of Bishop Barry C. Knestout. Deanery 8 is led by Very Rev. John C. Kazibwe, V.F., pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in Richmond.
- Deanery 8 parishes: Church of the Epiphany (Richmond), Good Samaritan (Amelia), Sacred Heart (Richmond), Saint Edward the Confessor (Richmond), Saint Gabriel (Chesterfield), Saint John Neumann (Powhatan), Saint Joseph (Richmond), Saint Kim Taegon (Richmond)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthew Kim Taekmin
Current pastor of St. Kim Taegon Parish, Richmond, per the Diocese of Richmond clergy directory.