About St. Nicholas · Virginia Beach, Virginia
St. Nicholas Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Little Neck area of Virginia Beach, Virginia, founded in 1963 and part of the Diocese of Richmond. The parish worships at 712 Little Neck Road, where it offers daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a range of ministries for children, youth, families, and the homebound. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Jun (Rev. Venancio R. Balarote), St. Nicholas has grown into a stewardship-focused community known for its Jubilee Year milestones, stained-glass Holy Spirit dove over the altar, Parish Twinning partnership in Haiti, and engagement with the diocesan Living Our Mission Capital Campaign.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- St. Nicholas
- Rector
- Rev. Venancio R. Balarote, Jr. (Fr. Jun)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Nicholas is a stewardship-oriented community parish in the Little Neck area of Virginia Beach, where weekly Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday and daily Mass Tuesday through Friday root a vibrant faith life. The parish offers formation for children and youth (K-5 Christian Formation and a dedicated Youth Ministry), a Music Ministry led by a Director of Music, Parish Life men's and women's clubs, and outreach through Social Ministries and a prison ministry at Virginia Beach City Jail. Its twinning relationship with St. Anne's Parish in Massiade, Haiti, gives parishioners a concrete way to live their faith beyond the parish borders.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (per Diocese of Richmond listing 3:45 – 4:45 PM Saturday)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Chapel, weekly Eucharistic Adoration)
- Tuesday morning moms' weekly adoration group for children
Welcome from the Pastor
In his Pastor's Welcome, Fr. Venancio R. Balarote ('Jun') introduces St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church as a community parish in the Little Neck area near downtown Virginia Beach where 'Stewardship is a way of life.' He invites visitors and parishioners to join a Catholic family strengthened by shared faith and participation in the Eucharistic celebration, and signs his message 'Sincerely yours on our journey together in Christ.'
- Fr. Venancio R. Balarote, 'Jun' — Pastor
- Located in the Little Neck area near downtown Virginia Beach
- Stewardship as a way of life
Parish History
St. Nicholas Catholic Church was founded in 1963 in Virginia Beach. The community marked its 50th anniversary with Jubilee Year liturgies, the installation of a stained-glass replica of the Holy Spirit dove from St. Peter's Basilica above the altar, and a pilgrimage. The parish later welcomed Fr. Jun, whose arrival brought weekly Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, Parish Life men's and women's clubs, the first outdoor parish Mass, and the moms' afternoon Adoration group for children.
- Founded 1963
- 50th Anniversary Jubilee Year with stained-glass Holy Spirit dove above the altar
- Welcome to Fr. Jun, an international priest born in the Philippines and raised in Malaysia
- Welcome reception for Msgr. Ray Barton, who celebrated his 71st birthday, 45th ordination anniversary, and retirement
Vision for the Future
The parish, under Fr. Jun, looks to the future with trust in the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, seeking to grow as disciples and to shine Christ's light to others. The community seeks to build disciples that foster families and revitalize reconstruction projects, with continued work by the Building Repair committee on wall repairs and vestibule renovations.
- Growth as disciples of Jesus Christ
- Foster families
- Revitalize reconstruction projects
Parish Staff
Pastor Fr. Jun leads a Servant Leadership team that includes directors of Christian Formation, Music, Youth Ministry, a Pastoral Associate/Business Manager, a Social Ministries Coordinator, a Maintenance Manager, and an Office Assistant.
- Rev. Fr. Venancio R. Balarote 'Jun' — Pastor
- Steve Branning — Director of Christian Formation and Evangelization
- Jason Brown — Director of Music Ministry
- Jeff Mingin — Director of Youth Ministry & Communications
- Lora DiNardo — Pastoral Associate/Business Manager; Social Ministries Coordinator (P.O.C.)
- James K. Throne — Maintenance Manager
- Charlene Brehl — Office Assistant
Faith Formation & Youth
Christian Formation for kindergarten through fifth grade is offered, alongside a dedicated Youth Ministry for middle school and high school students.
- K-5 Christian Formation
- Youth Ministry for middle school and high school students
Music Ministry
Liturgical music is coordinated by Jason Brown, Director of Music Ministry, with new risers for the choir funded through the Living Our Mission Capital Campaign.
- Jason Brown — Director of Music Ministry
- New choir risers funded by Living Our Mission Capital Campaign
Outreach & Social Ministries
Lora DiNardo serves as the parish's Social Ministries Coordinator, leading outreach including a prison ministry at Virginia Beach City Jail and a special ministry to Beacon Shores / Kings Grant House. A Haiti Committee, chaired with Pastor Fr. Jun and staff, maintains the parish's Twinning Covenant with St. Anne's Parish in Massiade, Haiti.
- Social Ministries Coordinator: Lora DiNardo
- Prison Ministry — Virginia Beach City Jail
- Special Ministry — Beacon Shores / Kings Grant House
- Haiti Committee and Parish Twinning with St. Anne's, Massiade, Haiti (pastor: Msgr. Jethro)
Parish Life & Stewardship
Stewardship is described by Fr. Jun as 'a way of life' at St. Nicholas. Parish Life activities include Men's Club and Women's Club gatherings, an annual Outdoor Mass followed by a parish picnic, and a moms' Tuesday afternoon adoration group for their children.
- Men's Club
- Women's Club
- First parish Outdoor Mass followed by parish picnic
- Moms' Tuesday afternoon weekly Adoration group for children
- Stewardship program
Capital Improvements & Facilities
Through the diocesan Living Our Mission Capital Campaign, the parish surpassed its $1,350,000 goal, funding urgent building wall repairs, a new church sign on Little Neck Road, a new crucifix in the Sanctuary, and new risers for the choir. The Building Repair committee continues to work with architects on wall repairs and vestibule renovations.
- Urgent building wall repairs
- New church sign on Little Neck Road
- New sanctuary crucifix
- New choir risers
- Saint Nicholas Columbarium (phone ext. 16)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Nicholas by phone at (757) 340-7231 or in person at 712 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Phone: (757) 340-7231
- Address: 712 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–noon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stnicholasvb/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Ray Barton
Retired pastor; celebrated his 71st birthday and 45th anniversary of ordination at a parish Mass and reception at the oceanfront Hilton before his successor arrived.
- Rev. Venancio R. Balarote Jr. (Fr. Jun)
Current pastor; international priest born in the Philippines and raised in Malaysia; led the Living Our Mission Capital Campaign and the Haiti Parish Twinning.