About St. Peter the Apostle · Ebony, Virginia
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church is a small, welcoming Roman Catholic parish nestled on the south shore of Lake Gaston in Ebony, Virginia, right on the Virginia–North Carolina border. Founded in 1995 and canonically part of the Diocese of Richmond, the parish grew out of the dream of one layman in 1985 and a small group of part-time Lake Gaston residents who wanted Sunday Mass closer to home. Today it serves a mix of year-round residents, retirees, and weekend/week-season 'lake people,' and is paired as a twin parish with St. Richard's in Emporia under the same pastor.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Joker "Jong" R. Bayta
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle is a small, close-knit Catholic community where it's easy to be known by name — whether you're a year-round Brunswick County resident, a part-time Lake Gaston weekender, or just passing through. Weekend Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, plus Tuesday–Friday daily Mass, give the lake-area faithful a real parish home instead of a long drive. The parish lives out its mission through an active Knights of Columbus council (#9309), a Parish Community Life committee that organizes socials and bereavement hospitality, faith formation and RCIA for those coming into the Church, a food closet, Hannah's Place outreach, a prison ministry to Lawrenceville Correctional Center, and the on-site St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery & Columbarium. As the parish bulletin puts it: 'We are people of God under the patronage of Saint Peter the Apostle… we commit ourselves to each other in Faith, in Hope, and in Love.'
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM (During Daylight Saving Time)
- Saturday 4:00 PM (After DST ends, fall/winter)
Parish History on Lake Gaston
St. Peter the Apostle began in 1985 as the dream of one layman at Lake Gaston, took shape as a worship community in a renovated country store in Valentines in 1994, and was formally designated a Catholic community by the Diocese of Richmond in May 1995. Eight acres were purchased in Ebony; a volunteer-built Fellowship Hall was dedicated in March 1998; and a 250-seat church, dedicated by Bishop DiLorenzo on December 15, 2007, serves the parish today.
- 1985: Layman's dream shared with Fr. Louis Rouff of St. Richard's, Emporia
- 1993: Formal request for a weekly Mass at Lake Gaston
- April 1994: Country store in Valentines rented and renovated into a chapel
- May 28, 1994: First Mass celebrated
- Winter 1994: Bishop Sullivan authorizes purchase of 8 acres in Ebony
- May 1995: Officially designated St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Community at Lake Gaston
- May 1997: Building site blessed by Bishop Sullivan
- March 29, 1998: Fellowship Hall dedicated; first Mass at the new site
- March 10, 2007: Construction of the new 250-seat church begins
- October 2007: Construction completed
- December 15, 2007: Bishop DiLorenzo dedicates the new church
Pastor & Parish Staff
The parish is served by Father Joker 'Jong' R. Bayta, who also pastors the twin parish of St. Richard's in Emporia. A small staff and volunteer council leaders keep the parish running day to day.
- Pastor: Fr. Jong R. Bayta — [email protected] (Rectory: 434-636-7782)
- Business Manager: Elizabeth Martin — 434-636-6277
- Faith Formation & Communications: Jennifer Foran — [email protected]
- Pastoral Council Chair: Luis Medina — 757-692-5498
- Finance Council Chair: Jerry Beil — 252-586-0635
- Building & Grounds: Mark Foran — 315-256-3438
- Family Service Advisor: Linda Adamos — 434-774-9376
- Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus #9309: John Husson
Parish Mission
The parish's published mission statement, carried in the weekly bulletin, expresses the community's identity and purpose at the lake.
- We are people of God under the patronage of Saint Peter the Apostle and are called to be active followers of Jesus Christ.
- As members of the Body of Christ on earth, we gather for worship around the word of God and celebration of the Eucharist.
- We commit ourselves to each other in Faith, in Hope, and in Love.
- We, as an adult family of believers, are uniquely positioned in this time of our life with the time, talent and energy to bring the message of Jesus to our Community with the help of the Holy Spirit through testimony, example, hospitality and service.
Knights of Columbus Council #9309
The parish's Knights of Columbus council is chartered at St. Peter the Apostle with Father Jong as chaplain. Catholic men 18 and older may join; the council supports parish and broader community needs through the Order's principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.
- Chaplain: Fr. Jong R. Bayta
- Grand Knight (2024-2025): Mark Fracassa
- Grand Knight (2025-2026): John Husson — 919-740-8405
- Deputy Grand Knight: Isaac Bette
- Chancellor: Dave Thomas
- Recorder: Bobby Berndt, PGK
- Treasurer: Jay Warfel, PGK
- Financial Secretary: Tom O'Neill, PGK — 252-308-0493
- Contact for membership: Tom O'Neill or current Grand Knight
Parish Community Life
The Parish Community Life committee promotes fellowship among parishioners, organizes social events throughout the year, and offers hospitality at times of bereavement — purchasing goods, setting up, serving, and cleaning up for parish social events.
- Organizes parish socials throughout the year
- Coordinates bereavement hospitality and meals
- Sets up and serves at parish gatherings
- Welcomes newcomers and visitors
Faith Formation & Christian Initiation
Faith formation is coordinated through the parish office by Jennifer Foran. The parish has a long history of walking new Catholics through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — its first RCIA class produced four new members in the early 2000s, followed by its first Confirmation class.
- Faith Formation & Communications coordinator: Jennifer Foran ([email protected])
- RCIA for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Resources for those married into a Catholic family learning about the faith
Outreach & Charity
St. Peter the Apostle supports several ongoing outreach efforts, which the bulletin highlights every week through Poor Box and canned-food reminders.
- Poor Box donations
- Canned-food collections for the parish food closet
- Hannah's Place — regular donations listed in the bulletin
- Prison Ministry to Lawrenceville Correctional Center
- Diocesan Annual Appeal participation (50% of funds collected return to the parish)
- Ecumenical Thanksgiving meal (first held in the early 2000s; fed over 300 families)
St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery & Columbarium
The parish maintains an on-site cemetery and columbarium, available to parishioners and their families. Pre-need planning assistance is offered through the parish's Family Service Advisor.
- Cemetery Name: St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery & Columbarium
- Contact: Parish office, (434) 636-6277
- Family Service Advisor: Linda Adamos — 434-774-9376
Lake Gaston Devotions & Traditions
A few distinctive traditions mark life at this Lake Gaston parish — a fitting blend of Catholic devotion and lakeside culture.
- Annual Blessing of the Boats on Lake Gaston
- Blessing of the Throats on the Feast of St. Blaise (February 3)
- Midnight Mass at Christmas
- Ecumenical Thanksgiving
Visiting, Directions & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and visitors are warmly welcomed. The church sits on Route 903 right at the Virginia–North Carolina state line, easily reached from I-85 via Bracey.
- Address: 31 Ebony Road, Ebony, VA 23845
- Office: (434) 636-6277 — [email protected]
- Rectory: (434) 636-7782
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- From I-85 toward Bracey, take Route 903; turn right at the Ebony intersection; church is on the right at the VA/NC line
- Twin parish: St. Richard Catholic Church, Emporia, VA
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Rouff1985 (origin)
Pastor of St. Richard's, Emporia; first priest approached with the idea of a Lake Gaston parish.
- Fr. Frank Wigginsthrough mid-1990s
Succeeded Fr. Rouff at St. Richard's; worked with Bishop Sullivan to establish a Mass for the lake community.
- Fr. Leo T. CervantesJune 1996 – March 2001
First Pastor of both St. Peter the Apostle and St. Richard's, Emporia; oversaw Fellowship Hall construction. Disabled by an automobile accident in March 2001.
- Fr. Steve CowanMay 2001 – April 2003
Parish administrator after Fr. Leo's accident.
- Fr. Dennis McAuliffe, Ph.D.April 2003 – c. 2007
Pastor during the growth that outgrew the Fellowship Hall; oversaw planning of the permanent church.
- Fr. Columba Nnorum, Ph.D.c. 2007 – c. 2012
Pastor at the December 15, 2007 dedication of the new church by Bishop DiLorenzo.
- Fr. Anthony MpunguJuly 2012 – 2015
From the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda; transferred to St. Mark, Virginia Beach.
- Fr. Patrick Baffour-AkotoSeptember 2015 – August 2016
Originally from Ghana (ordained July 12, 2008); known for visiting the sick and starting weekday Mass; transferred to St. Jerome, Newport News.
- Fr. Joker "Jong" R. BaytaAugust 2016 – present
Born Del Rosario, Baao, Camarines Sur, Philippines; ordained August 31, 1996; also pastor of St. Richard's, Emporia.