About St. Mary Star of the Sea · Fort Monroe, Virginia
St. Mary Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic parish at 7 Frank Lane on historic Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1860 as the only diocesan Catholic church built on an active U.S. military installation, it is the ninth-oldest parish in the Diocese of Richmond and the oldest Catholic parish on the Virginia Peninsula. The parish worships today in a sturdy 1903 stone church overlooking Hampton Roads, and since 2011 it has served its community as part of the Peninsula Cluster of parishes alongside St. Joseph in Hampton and St. Vincent de Paul in Newport News. Weekday, Saturday Vigil, and Sunday Masses are celebrated, along with Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a range of liturgical and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)
- Rector
- Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Mary Star of the Sea offers the rare experience of Catholic worship in the only diocesan church in the United States located on a military installation, in a 1903 stone church by the sea at Fort Monroe. A small, close-knit parish community celebrates Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and devotions around Marian feasts, while a robust slate of lay-led ministries — Liturgy Committee, Readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers and Greeters, Altar Servers, Liturgical Arts & Environment, Justice and Peace, and a Disability Advocate — invite every parishioner to share their gifts. As a founding member of the Peninsula Cluster with St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul, the parish combines the intimacy of a historic church with the resources of a three-parish collaborative.
Mass times at St. Mary Star of the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM (before the 9:30 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Immediately following 12:05 PM Mass on First Fridays
Parish Identity & History
St. Mary Star of the Sea is a 165-year-old parish whose story is inseparable from Fort Monroe and the Diocese of Richmond. Founded in 1860 and originally established for Catholic military personnel and workers on the post, it was later re-designated to serve all Catholics in the area. After the 2011 decommissioning of Fort Monroe, it joined St. Joseph (Hampton) and St. Vincent de Paul (Newport News) to form the Peninsula Cluster, continuing its mission in covenant with neighboring parishes.
- Founded 1860 by Bishop John McGill of Richmond, on land whose use was granted by President Lincoln
- Dedicated September 9, 1860; first pastor Rev. Joseph Plunkett, based in Portsmouth
- Oldest Catholic parish on the Virginia Peninsula; 9th oldest in the Diocese of Richmond
- Joined the Peninsula Cluster in 2011
The Stone Church by the Sea
The current church replaced the 1860 wooden chapel in 1903 under Rev. William A. Fallon. It was built with stones brought from Europe as ballast in ships and dedicated on June 9, 1903 at an estimated cost of $15,000. Its exterior remains largely as originally built, though the cathedral-like spires on its two towers had to be removed in 1966 due to chronic water leakage. The interior has been reworked several times, including a recent restoration of the confessionals and the return of the tabernacle to the sanctuary in celebration of the Eucharistic Revival.
- Current church dedicated June 9, 1903
- Construction cost approximately $15,000
- Spires removed 1966
- Confessionals restored and tabernacle returned to sanctuary in recent years
Civil War & Blessed Francis Seelos
During the Civil War, priests continued to serve Fort Monroe across dangerous waters. Rev. Matthew O'Keefe of Norfolk and his assistant Rev. Michael Ferrin crossed Hampton Roads under cannon fire to celebrate Mass. In December 1862, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a Redemptorist then assigned to minister to Union troops, made the sacristy of the original wooden church his residence while caring for wounded and sick soldiers at the nearby Union hospital — long hours of Mass, confessions, and Communion.
- Rev. Matthew O'Keefe and Rev. Michael Ferrin served Fort Monroe under fire
- Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos resided in the sacristy, December 1862
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastoral team shared with the wider Peninsula Cluster. The pastor leads all three parishes, supported by a parochial vicar, a permanent deacon assigned to St. Mary Star of the Sea, and cluster staff in music, faith formation, youth ministry, administration, and accounting.
- Pastor: Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F. (2022–present)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Patrick Boadu
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Michael Swisher
- Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor: Kimberly A. Primo
- Director of Music (St. Joseph & St. Mary Star of the Sea): Daniel Corneliussen
Worship Schedule
The parish offers a simple, contemplative rhythm of weekday and weekend Masses, with Sunday Reconciliation, monthly First Friday Adoration, and Marian-feast Liturgy of the Hours. Holy Day times are announced; Friday Daily Mass at 12:05 PM is held on Holy Days as well.
- Friday Mass: 12:05 PM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30 PM
- Sunday Mass: 9:30 AM
- Confessions: Sunday 8:45–9:15 AM
- Adoration: immediately after First Friday Mass
- Liturgy of the Hours: around Marian feasts (TBA)
Parish Ministries & Getting Involved
Parish life is shaped by lay-led ministries that touch every part of the liturgy and parish life. From the sanctuary to the parking lot, parishioners serve as ushers, greeters, readers, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ministers to the sick and homebound. Behind the scenes, the Liturgical Arts & Environment team tends to seasonal decoration, while Justice and Peace ministries reach outward to the poor and vulnerable, and a Parish Disability Advocate helps parishioners with temporary or permanent disabilities take full part in parish life.
- Liturgy Committee, Liturgical Arts & Environment
- Ushers/Greeters, Altar Servers, Readers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (and to the Sick)
- Justice and Peace Ministries
- Parish Disability Advocacy
- Cluster-wide Family & Youth Formation; Religious Formation & Evangelization
Sacraments
The Peninsula Cluster walks parishioners through the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Reconciliation is offered every Sunday morning before Mass; the sick and homebound are visited by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion under the coordination of Deacon Michael Swisher. Formation for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Matrimony is coordinated at the cluster level.
- Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick and visits to shut-ins, nursing homes, and hospitals
- Reconciliation Sundays 8:45–9:15 AM
Peninsula Cluster Partnership
Since 2011, St. Mary Star of the Sea has shared clergy and staff with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hampton (founded 1881) and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Newport News (founded 1968). Together they operate as the Peninsula Cluster, with one pastor, shared formation staff, and a cluster manager and bookkeeper. The arrangement preserves the historic character of the Fort Monroe church while pooling resources for faith formation, youth ministry, and evangelization across the lower Virginia Peninsula.
- Cluster formed 2011 after Fort Monroe decommissioning
- St. Joseph, Hampton (1881)
- St. Vincent de Paul, Newport News (1968)
- Shared pastor, parochial vicar, formation staff, music director, and operations
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
The parish office at 7 Frank Lane is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, with occasional alterations. Visitors should plan access through Fort Monroe's main gate. Holy Day Mass times are announced (TBA), so parishioners are encouraged to call ahead or check the parish bulletin.
- Address: 7 Frank Lane, Fort Monroe, VA 23651
- Phone: (757) 722-9855
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–1 PM; Fri 9 AM–12 PM
- Website: peninsulacluster.org/smss/ (smsschurch.com also referenced)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Romeo D. Jazmin2022–present
Current pastor of the Peninsula Cluster parishes.
- Rev. Monsignor Walter C. Barrett, Jr.2011–2022
First pastor of the unified Peninsula Cluster, formed in 2011 after Fort Monroe's decommissioning.
- Rev. Father Peter E. Sousa, CSsR (Redemptorist)2008–2011
- Rev. Father Anthony Morris, CSsR (Redemptorist)2006–2008
- Rev. Father Peter M. Creed2003–2006
Installed by Bishop Emeritus Walter Sullivan at the start of Advent 2003, just after Hurricane Isabel flooded the church and rectory.
- Rev. Father Joseph L. Clark1990–2003
- Rev. Father Charles W. Brickner, O. Praem. (Norbertine)1979–1990
- Rev. Father Eugene Daigle1977–1979
- Rev. Father (name partially illegible in source)1975–1977
Term partially obscured in the published parish history.
- Rev. Father William A. Fallonpre-1903–
Led the fundraising and construction of the present 1903 stone church.
- Rev. Joseph Plunkett1860
First pastor, headquartered in Portsmouth; traveled by boat to Fort Monroe.
- Rev. Matthew O'KeefeCivil War era
Pastor of St. Mary's in Norfolk; crossed Hampton Roads during cannon fire to celebrate Mass.
- Rev. Michael FerrinCivil War era
Assistant to Fr. O'Keefe; made the boat trip to Fort Monroe under fire.