About St. Patrick · Frederiksted, Saint Croix Island
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Frederiksted, on the west end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, serving the Catholic community of that part of the island since the 1840s. It belongs to the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands and has been continuously staffed by the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers (C.Ss.R.) since February 28, 1918. The parish complex includes the 1846 coral-stone church, St. Patrick Catholic School, a parish cemetery, and active faith-formation, hospitality, and outreach ministries that have shaped Catholic life in Frederiksted for nearly two centuries.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignoua (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is the Catholic heart of Frederiksted — the parish that rang its bell for emancipation in 1848 and has been feeding, teaching, and forming the people of St. Croix's west end ever since. Mass is offered every day of the week, with confession before Mass and by appointment, and a full schedule of Marian and Eucharistic devotions (Wednesday Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena, First Friday Sacred Heart Novena, Lenten Stations of the Cross, May/October Rosary). The parish is also home to St. Patrick Catholic School, a thriving Religious Education program (Grades 1–8, First Communion/First Penance and Confirmation preparation, and High School Youth Ministry), a dedicated Ministry of Hospitality that welcomes every visitor, an RCIA process for newcomers, and a music ministry under Music Director Alvin Milligan.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Holy Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday — Holy Hour following the 8:00 AM Mass
Parish History
St. Patrick's history is the history of Catholicism on St. Croix's west end. It begins with Irish-Catholic sugar planter Nicholas Tuite's 1752 petition to Propaganda Fide and the unprecedented 1754 Danish decree granting freedom of Catholic worship. The present coral-stone church was built under Father Timothy O'Ryan (cornerstone 1844, consecrated June 15, 1846 by Bishop Richard Smith of Port of Spain). In 1848 the parish played a direct role in Emancipation: Father O'Ryan calmed the slave rebellion and the church bell rang when Governor Peter Von Scholten freed the enslaved people. Father Michael Naughten added the parish school in 1866. The I.C.M. Sisters arrived in 1914 and the Redemptorists in 1918, and the parish has weathered hurricanes (1867, 1876, 1989's Hugo), an 1867 earthquake and tidal wave, a 1935 fire, and major restorations in 1937 and 1972.
- 1752 — Nicholas Tuite petitions Propaganda Fide for missionaries
- 1754 — Danish royal decree grants freedom of Catholic worship on St. Croix
- 1844 — Cornerstone of the present church laid
- June 15, 1846 — Church consecrated by Bishop Richard Smith
- July 3, 1848 — Church bell rings for Emancipation
- 1866 — St. Patrick's School opens (Father Michael Naughten)
- 1914 — I.C.M. Sisters (Missionary Canonesses of St. Augustine) arrive
- Feb 28, 1918 — Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) begin staffing the parish
- 1935 — Devastating fire; 1937 total renovation
- 1972 — Coral-stone restoration, rededicated by Bishop Harper
- 1989 — Hurricane Hugo destroys roof; replaced by Fr. Thomas O'Connor
The Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers
Since their arrival at the parish on February 28, 1918 — almost exactly one year after the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark — the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers (C.Ss.R.) have been the continuous pastoral presence at St. Patrick's. They staff the parish alongside the diocesan deacons, parish secretary, accountant, religious education director, and music director listed on the parish website, and they administer St. Patrick Catholic School.
- Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) have staffed the parish since Feb 28, 1918
- Served by: Redemptorists (per GCatholic)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignoua (who also serves as Headmaster of the school), with Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. John Kennedy Mark. Two deacons, Rev. Mr. Emith Fludd and Rev. Mr. Tonny Murray, assist. The lay staff includes Parish Secretary Ms. Joyce Abrahamson, Parish Accountant Penrose Gardiner, Religious Education and SPYM Director Nereida Washington, and Music Director Alvin Milligan. The school's lay leadership is Principal Mrs. Lydia Davis and Office Manager Mrs. Deslin Simmons.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignoua
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. John Kennedy Mark
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Emith Fludd
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Tonny Murray
- Parish Secretary: Ms. Joyce Abrahamson
- Parish Accountant: Penrose Gardiner
- Religious Ed. & SPYM Director: Nereida Washington
- Music Director: Alvin Milligan
- School Principal: Mrs. Lydia Davis
- School Office Manager: Mrs. Deslin Simmons
Devotions
The parish maintains a rich devotional life rooted in Redemptorist and broader Catholic tradition. Marian devotion centers on the Wednesday Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena Mass (with Holy Hour following), Eucharistic devotion on First Fridays with the Sacred Heart Novena Mass, and the traditional Rosary recited before Mass during May and October. Lent is marked by the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 6:00 PM.
- Wednesday — OLPH Novena Mass, 8:00 AM, followed by Holy Hour
- First Fridays — Sacred Heart Novena Holy Mass, 8:00 AM
- Fridays during Lent — Way of the Cross, 6:00 PM
- May and October — Holy Rosary before Holy Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is at the center of parish life at St. Patrick's. The Religious Education program serves children in Grades 1–8, with dedicated tracks for First Communion and First Penance preparation, Confirmation preparation, and a High School Youth Ministry (SPYM). The RCIA process welcomes adults who are inquiring about or preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church. The parish's online presence includes a dedicated 'Our Faith' page for newcomers that points them toward the seven sacraments and parish life.
- Religious Education Classes — Grades 1–8
- Sacrament Preparation for First Communion & First Penance
- Confirmation Preparation
- High School Youth Ministry (SPYM) — directed by Nereida Washington
- RCIA for adults
- Our Faith / Newcomers resources on the parish website
St. Patrick Catholic School
St. Patrick Catholic School is one of the oldest continually operating Catholic schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands, tracing its origins to Father Michael Naughten, who opened the school to its first students on May 1, 1866. The present school building was erected in 1942 and stands on the parish grounds. It is led by Headmaster Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignoua, Principal Mrs. Lydia Davis, and Office Manager Mrs. Deslin Simmons, with the school reachable at (340) 772-5052 (fax 772-4488). The school is part of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands' Catholic schools network.
- Founded May 1, 1866 by Father Michael Naughten (original building cost: $1,993)
- Present school building erected 1942
- Headmaster: Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignoua
- Principal: Mrs. Lydia Davis
- Office Manager: Mrs. Deslin Simmons
- Tel: (340) 772-5052 / Fax: (340) 772-4488
Parish Ministries
The parish's lay ministries were initiated in 2015 under then-pastor Rev. Boniface-Blanchard M. Twaibu and have grown into an intergenerational corps of volunteers. The Ministry of Hospitality — the first face of the parish for every visitor — is led by Dorothea Cools-Lartigue and includes a proud youth contingent serving on every First Sunday. The Music Ministry, under Music Director Alvin Milligan, leads the parish's sung worship. The parish website also references active outreach to the homeless and a meals ministry.
- Ministry of Hospitality — led by Dorothea Cools-Lartigue; greeters, ushers, offertory, communion flow; monthly meetings
- Music Ministry — Music Director Alvin Milligan
- Outreach to the homeless
- Meals ministry
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (340) 772-0138 or by email at [email protected]. The church and offices are at 416 Custom House Street, Frederiksted, St. Croix, VI 00840. The parish also offers online giving through its website and has published a Saint Patrick Catholic Church Synthesis Report from the Synod 2021–2023, reflecting the parish's engagement with the diocesan and universal Church's synodal process.
- Address: 416 Custom House Street, Frederiksted, St. Croix, VI 00840
- Phone: (340) 772-0138
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.saintpatrickusvi.org/
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Saint Patrick Catholic Church Synthesis Report — Synod 2021–2023 published on the website
Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands
St. Patrick's is part of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Washington. The diocese was led by Bishop Herbert Bevard until a health emergency forced his retirement in 2020; on March 2, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Father Jerome Feudjio — a priest originally from Cameroon and long-serving in the islands — as the new Bishop. Bishop Feudjio was consecrated on April 17, 2021 at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Thomas, with Cardinal Wilton Gregory as principal consecrator and Cardinals Sean O'Malley and Donald Wuerl as co-consecrators. He is the first African-born Catholic bishop in the United States. His episcopal motto is 'Vivit Christus In Me' — 'Christ lives in me.'
- Diocese: Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Washington
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. Jerome Feudjio (appointed March 2, 2021; consecrated April 17, 2021)
- Cathedral: Saints Peter and Paul, St. Thomas
- Deanery: St. Croix
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Timothy (T. A.) O'Ryan1840s
Built the present church on part of the old cemetery; cornerstone 1844, consecrated June 15, 1846 by Bishop Richard Smith. Played prominent role in the 1848 Emancipation.
- Rev. Fr. Michael Naughten1862–
Ordained in Ireland 1858; assigned Sept 14, 1862. Built and opened St. Patrick's School on May 1, 1866 (cost $1,993). Later appointed Bishop's successor in 1878.
- Rev. Fr. Robert Gaugler, C.Ss.R.1970s
Directed the 1972 restoration that exposed the original 1846 coral-stone bricks.
- Rev. Fr. Lawrence Buckley1970s
Pastor during the 1972 restoration; rededicated by Bishop Harper on March 12, 1972.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas O'Connor, C.Ss.R.post-1989
Replaced the church roof destroyed by Hurricane Hugo (Sept 18, 1989) — the last major renovation of the church to date.
- Rev. Boniface-Blanchard M. Twaibu2015
Initiated the parish's various ministries in 2015; referenced as the parish priest who launched the Ministry of Hospitality and other groups.
- Rev. Fr. Touchard Goula Tignouacurrent
Parochial Administrator; also serves as Headmaster of St. Patrick Catholic School.