About St. Mary of the Presentation · Suffolk, Virginia
St. Mary of the Presentation is a Roman Catholic parish in Suffolk, Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 3). Its current pastor is Rev. Fr. Rogelio "Ongen" Largoza. The parish is located at 202 S. Broad Street and traces its Catholic presence in Suffolk back to at least 1873, with the first church building dedicated in 1909 and the parish formally established with its first resident pastor in 1927. Today it serves the Western Tidewater area of southeastern Virginia with daily and Sunday Masses, a religious education program, youth ministry, outreach, and a long tradition of prison and hospital ministry.
- Established
- 1927 (first resident pastor); church building dedicated 1909
- Patron
- The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Rogelio "Ongen" Largoza
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 3)
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Presentation is a welcoming parish family that offers a full schedule of Masses throughout the week, including weekday morning Masses on Tuesday through Friday and two Sunday Masses (8:00 AM and 10:00 AM). It runs a religious education program for children, a youth group, adult faith formation, and a music ministry led by a music director and assistant, plus parish groups such as the Knights of Columbus, Women's Club, Respect Life Ministry, and a Haiti Committee. Its outreach reaches well beyond parish walls — into the local prison, correctional center, hospitals, and retirement communities — making it a long-standing Catholic hub for Suffolk and the Western Tidewater region.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Presentation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
History of St. Mary of the Presentation
The Catholic presence in Suffolk dates to at least 1873, when Father Thomas J. Brady of St. Paul's in Portsmouth celebrated the earliest recorded Mass in the city at the home of Mrs. Elfrida Holland Lewis. For nearly a century, Suffolk Catholics were served by traveling priests from St. Paul's. In 1908 the St. Mary's Women's Club was founded and went door-to-door raising funds for a church. The lot at the corner of Smith and Broad Streets cost $500 and the building another $1,200; Bishop Van de Vyver of Richmond dedicated the new church on November 12, 1909. Father Joseph V. Brennan became the parish's first resident pastor in 1927, and St. Mary's has since planted missions in Franklin (becoming St. Jude's Parish in 1948) and Smithfield (becoming the Parish of the Good Shepherd in 1988). The present church was built in 1953–54 and dedicated September 12, 1954, with the original wooden structure moved to the rear of the lot; it was torn down in 1975 and replaced with the current two-story parish hall and education building.
- Earliest known Mass in Suffolk: 1873, at the home of Mrs. Elfrida Holland Lewis
- First church dedicated November 12, 1909 by Bishop Van de Vyver
- First resident pastor: Father Joseph V. Brennan, 1927
- Mission in Franklin → St. Jude's Parish (1929/1948)
- Mission in Smithfield → Parish of the Good Shepherd (1964/1988)
- Present church built 1953–54, dedicated September 12, 1954
- Original church torn down 1975; current parish hall/education building erected on site
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Fr. Rogelio "Ongen" Largoza, who recently marked his 40th Ordination Anniversary — an event recognized by The Catholic Virginian and the Suffolk News Herald. He is supported by a small lay staff who run the parish office, religious education, youth ministry, and music programs.
- Rev. Fr. Rogelio "Ongen" Largoza — Pastor ([email protected])
- Kim Holmes — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Julie Francis — Coordinator of Religious Education & Music Director ([email protected])
- Jordan Graf — Youth Director ([email protected])
- Tamara Simons — Assistant Music Director
Parish Mission & Vision
The parish describes itself as a welcoming family that "believes in Jesus Christ as our Risen Lord and Savior." The full Parish Mission & Vision statement is published on the parish website as a downloadable PDF. Father Ongen shares pastoral messages in the bulletin and in local news coverage.
- Welcoming parish family rooted in belief in Jesus Christ as Risen Lord and Savior
- Parish Mission & Vision statement available as a downloadable PDF on the website
- Pastor publishes Lenten and other seasonal messages in The Catholic Virginian and Suffolk News Herald
Parish Ministries
St. Mary's runs a wide range of lay ministries and councils to support worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach. Liturgical and parish-life work is done through the Liturgy Committee, Music Ministry, Parish Council, Finance Council, and Parish Community Life group. Faith formation is offered through Adult Faith Formation, the Religious Education program for children, and the Youth Group led by the Youth Director.
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Liturgy Committee
- Music Ministry
- Parish Community Life
- Adult Faith Formation
- Religious Education (CRE)
- Youth Group
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of St. Mary's. The parish maintains an active Prison Ministry and a Special Ministry that brings the Church to the sick and elderly of Western Tidewater. Fundraising efforts include the SCRIP gift-card program, through which parishioners earn year-round rebates for the parish while buying everyday goods at face value.
- Outreach Ministry
- Prison Ministry — Western Tidewater Regional Jail (Suffolk, VA)
- Prison Ministry — Greensville Correctional Center (Jarratt, VA)
- Special Ministry visits: Autumn Care of Suffolk; Hillhaven-Nansemond Rehabilitation & Nursing Center; Louise Obici Hospital / Sentara Louise Obici Hospital; Lake Prince Woods Retirement Community (Suffolk, VA)
- Haiti Committee — solidarity mission with Haiti
- SCRIP Gift Card Fundraising — passive year-round rebate program
Parish Life & Groups
Lay fellowship and service organizations give parishioners multiple ways to get involved. The Women's Club reaches back to the parish's earliest days (the original St. Mary's Women's Club was founded in 1908 to fund the first church), and the Knights of Columbus provides men's fraternity and service. The Respect Life Ministry promotes the Church's teaching on the dignity of life.
- Women's Club (lineage tracing to the 1908 founding group)
- Knights of Columbus
- Respect Life Ministry
- Haiti Committee
- Parish Community Life
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Mary's is directed by Music Director Julie Francis (who also serves as Coordinator of Religious Education) and Assistant Music Director Tamara Simons. Together they support the parish's Sunday liturgies and other feast-day celebrations in coordination with the Liturgy Committee.
- Music Director: Julie Francis
- Assistant Music Director: Tamara Simons
- Sunday Masses supported by the Music Ministry
- Sunday Mass live-streamed via Facebook
Sacraments & Faith Formation
Beyond Mass, the parish celebrates Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Religious Education for children is coordinated by Julie Francis; youth ministry is led by Jordan Graf; and Adult Faith Formation provides ongoing formation for adults. A Respect Life Ministry accompanies the parish's sacramental and moral life.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 PM or by appointment
- Religious Education for children (CRE: Julie Francis)
- Youth Group (Youth Director: Jordan Graf)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Respect Life Ministry
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary of the Presentation is located at 202 S. Broad Street, Suffolk, VA 23434, on the corner of Smith and Broad Streets — the same location chosen for the original 1909 church. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (the official Diocese of Richmond directory gives 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; the parish's own contact page lists office hours as 9:00 AM–3:30 PM). The office is closed Saturday and Sunday. The parish live-streams Sunday Mass on its Facebook page, and the latest bulletins are posted on the parish website.
- Address: 202 S. Broad Street, Suffolk, VA 23434
- Phone: (757) 539-5732; Fax: (757) 538-0103
- Office email: [email protected]; Pastor email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri (parish site: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM; diocese listing: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM); closed Sat–Sun
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass on Facebook
- Weekly bulletin posted at stmarysuffolk.org/bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas J. Brady1873 (celebrated the earliest known Mass in Suffolk)
Priest of St. Paul's, Portsmouth; celebrated Mass at the home of Mrs. Elfrida Holland Lewis.
- Father Joseph V. Brennan1927
First resident pastor assigned to St. Mary's.