About St. Paul · Hague, Virginia
St. Paul's Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church located in Hague, Virginia, in the Northern Neck region of historic Westmoreland County. Established in 1890 to serve Austro-Hungarian ('Bohemian') immigrant tomato workers recruited from Baltimore, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Northern Neck and today ministers to a diverse congregation that is now nearly half Hispanic. The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington (Deanery VII), celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, and is presently planning a new church, office and rectory on land adjacent to its current worship site.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael T. Orlowsky (Pastor, resident at St. Frances de Sales, Kilmarnock)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Arlington (Deanery VII)
Why belong here
St. Paul's offers a warm, intimate mission community in Virginia's historic Northern Neck, with the beauty of a small country church that visibly remembers its roots — the original 1890 altar, Bohemian-era chandelier, and shrines honoring both the Austro-Hungarian founders and today's Hispanic faithful. Sunday worship is offered in English and Spanish, weekday Mass is celebrated four mornings a week, and the parish runs CCD religious education for grades 1–12 along with active prison, finance, and building committees. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed by a congregation that has weathered 135 years of change and is now planning a brand-new church on a beautiful piece of Northern Neck land.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
- Sunday: 8:15 am – 8:45 am
- Sunday (en Español): 11:30 am – 11:45 am, before the noon Spanish Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration & Rosary: immediately following the 8:30 am Mass on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- First Friday: Holy Hour with Exposition & Benediction following the 8:30 am First Friday Mass
Parish History
St. Paul's traces its origins to the Austro-Hungarian ('Bohemian') immigrant families recruited from Baltimore to harvest tomatoes, can fish, and pick blackberries in the Northern Neck in the 1880s and 1890s. Threatening to leave the area unless they could practice their faith, they inspired local merchant Francis Tubman to donate building materials and John K. R. and Annie C. Crabbe of Mt. Pleasant estate to donate a hilltop parcel of land. The little church was built and dedicated in 1890 by Father Deneen of Baltimore, with priests initially arriving once a month by ferry from Leonardtown, Maryland. After falling into disuse, the mission was revived in the 1920s by Paul and Jane Settle (with permission from Bishop O'Connell of the Diocese of Richmond), and by 1965 a new church had been built with the help of Reverend Leonard Bachman, S.T., pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Colonial Beach. In 2007 Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrated the parish's 125th anniversary, and today the mission is preparing for a brand-new church.
- 1890 – first church built and dedicated by Father Deneen of Baltimore
- Earliest priests came by ferry once a month from Leonardtown, MD
- 1920s – mission restored by Paul and Jane ('Aunty Jenny') Settle with Bishop O'Connell's permission
- 1965 – new church built next to the original with help from Rev. Leonard Bachman, S.T. of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Colonial Beach
- 2007 – 125th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul S. Loverde
- Original 1890 church later demolished due to termite damage; 1960s parish hall now used as event space
Devotions
In addition to weekday and Sunday Mass, St. Paul's keeps a steady devotional rhythm centered on the Eucharist and Our Lady. Adoration and the Rosary are prayed together immediately after the 8:30 am Mass on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the First Friday Mass is followed by a Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction.
- Eucharistic Adoration & Rosary — Mon/Wed/Fri after the 8:30 am Mass
- First Friday Holy Hour with Exposition & Benediction
- Side shrines in the sanctuary to the Infant of Prague / Blessed Karl of Austria and to Our Lady of Guadalupe / St. José Sánchez del Río
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education is offered for children in first through twelfth grade on Sundays during the school year from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the church. All catechists must complete the diocesan Child Protection background checks and training.
- Religious Education (CCD) for grades 1–12, Sundays 10:30–11:30 am
- Director: Deacon Robert Benyo ([email protected], 540-295-5573)
- Catechists: Christopher and Therese Johnson; Cindy Settlemyer
- Crusaders for Christ youth ministry
- Altar Server program (coordinator: Deacon Benyo)
Parish Life & Committees
St. Paul's is served by a small but active body of lay committees that keep the parish running and guide its future. A Building Committee is currently working with the resident priest and the Diocese of Arlington on plans for a new church, office and rectory, while the Finance Committee advises on the stewardship of parish resources.
- Building Committee (Chair: Russ Culver; members: Zeb Brundage, Lesha C. Williams; advisor: Rev. Andrew J. Heintz)
- Finance Committee (Chair: John Lawler; members: Craig Duehring, Stephen Madey, Lesha C. Williams; advisor: Rev. Andrew J. Heintz)
- Money Counters (contact Lesha C. Williams)
- Parish Bulletin and online giving through the parish website
Outreach & Charity
Beyond its liturgical life, St. Paul's carries out a Prison Ministry and partners with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington to extend its reach into the wider community. The parish mission statement for prison ministry reads: 'No life is beyond the reach of God's power.'
- St. Paul's Prison Ministry — coordinator: Rev. Andrew J. Heintz
- Catholic Charities liaison (parish liaison vacancy listed on the parish website)
- Sacramental care and pastoral outreach to prisoners in the region
Sacraments
Information about preparing for and celebrating the sacraments at St. Paul's can be obtained through the parish office during regular business hours. Baptisms and Quinceañeras are coordinated through a single parish contact.
- Baptism Coordinator: Martha Oceguera
- Quinceañera Coordinator: Martha Oceguera
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through the CCD Religious Education program
- Reconciliation: weekly schedule plus by appointment
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick: contact the parish office (804-472-3090)
Parish Staff & Clergy
As a Catholic mission, St. Paul's is cared for by clergy assigned through the Diocese of Arlington, with day-to-day ministry provided by a resident parochial vicar and supported by a deacon and a lay business manager. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
- Rev. Michael T. Orlowsky — Pastor (resident at St. Frances de Sales, Kilmarnock)
- Rev. Andrew J. Heintz — Parochial Vicar / Resident Priest
- Deacon Robert Benyo — Director of Religious Education
- Lesha C. Williams — Business Manager
- Parish Office: 804-472-3090 | Fax: 804-472-3091 | [email protected]
Visit, Directions & Contact
St. Paul's welcomes visitors to its historic Northern Neck campus. Because the church and the parish office/rectory sit on different sites a few miles apart, newcomers are encouraged to call ahead or check the parish website for directions and current holy-day schedules.
- Parish Office / Rectory: 7808 Cople Highway, Hague, VA 22469 (Mailing address: Saint Paul's Catholic Church, 7808 Cople Highway, Hague, VA 22469)
- Church: 7070 Nomini Hall Road, Hague, VA 22469 (intersection of Tavern Run Road and Nomini Hall Road)
- Phone: 804-472-3090 | Fax: 804-472-3091
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.saintpaulhague.com
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Deneen1890 (dedication)
Dedicated the original 1890 church; came from Baltimore, Maryland
- Priests from Leonardtown, MDearly 1890s onward
Traveled by ferry once a month to celebrate Mass for the Bohemian workers
- Reverend Leonard Bachman, S.T.circa 1965
Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Colonial Beach; helped the congregation build the new church on the same hilltop