About St. Peter the Apostle · Onley, Virginia
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish in Onley, Virginia, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia's Accomack County. Founded in 1942 as the second Catholic church built on the Eastern Shore, it belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and serves a growing, multicultural community through daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education, RCIA, and a robust Hispanic ministry. The parish currently cares for the spiritual needs of locals, nursing-home residents, migrant workers, and the incarcerated, and continues the pioneer missionary legacy of the Eastern Shore's first Catholic priest.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Michael Imperial
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle is a warm, bilingual Catholic community on Virginia's Eastern Shore where newcomers, returning Catholics, and long-time parishioners are all welcomed. Worship is offered in English and Spanish at multiple daily and weekend Masses, with weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Tuesday-night Spanish Holy Hour, and a strong devotional life that includes Charismatic prayer groups, Quinceañera celebrations, Emmaus men's and women's groups, and a Migrant Ministry. With active RCIA, CCD/Religious Education for children, youth ministry, Knights of Columbus Council #6963, Ladies' Auxiliary, and outreach to local nursing homes and the Accomack County Jail, the parish offers many ways to put faith into practice through stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 4:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- Weekdays by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month: 9:45 AM – 7:00 PM
- Every Tuesday: 7:30 PM (Spanish Holy Hour, following the 6:30 PM Spanish Mass)
Parish History
The parish traces its origin to the pioneering missionary work of Rev. Edward "Ned" Mickle, who was sent in 1890 by Bishop Alfred A. Curtis to evangelize the peninsula south of Delaware and gather Catholics on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Known as the "Apostle of the Eastern Shore" and "The Great Destroyer" (for breaking down bigotry), Father Mickle served over 40 years and was followed by Father John J. Foley. In 1942, eighteen years after Fr. Mickle's passing, a second Catholic church was built on the Eastern Shore — St. Peter the Apostle in Onley — to serve the growing Catholic population. Major additions under Oblate pastor Father Rinaldi in 1977–1980 expanded the church with a vestibule, offices, meeting room, parish hall, fully equipped kitchen, and a new Mark Paranzino-designed rectory. The church was formally dedicated on June 24, 2018.
- 1890 – Fr. Edward "Ned" Mickle appointed to the Eastern Shore
- 1942 – Parish founded in Onley as the Eastern Shore's second Catholic church
- 1977 (Sept 1) – Construction begins on vestibule, parish hall, kitchen
- 1979 – Bishop Walter F. Sullivan commends the parish's spirit
- 1980 – Architect Mark Paranzino designs new rectory
- 2018 (June 24) – Church formally dedicated
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Peter the Apostle offers daily Mass in English and weekly Mass in Spanish, plus a bilingual Vigil Mass on Saturday evening. Three Sunday Masses accommodate the bilingual community, and the parish live-streams Mass on Facebook so homebound parishioners can worship with the community.
- Monday 9:00 AM (English)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM (English) and 6:30 PM (Spanish, with Holy Hour)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM (English)
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Sunday 7:00 AM (Spanish), 9:00 AM (English), 12:00 PM (Spanish)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a Pastor, Parochial Vicar, and a dedicated lay office staff that keep the parish running day to day.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Michael Imperial (email: [email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Stephen Ofori-Acheampong
- Office Manager/Business Manager: Consuelo Gonzalez
- Office Secretary: Giselle Reyes Hernandez
- Bookkeeper: Lucille Parker
Parish Councils & Key Ministry Leaders
Parishioners help guide the life of the parish through the Pastoral and Finance Councils and through coordinators for each ministry area, both English- and Spanish-language.
- Pastoral Council: Teri Scharf
- Finance Council: Teri Daley
- Religious Education: Amber Fisher
- Adult Faith Formation: Trish Harmon
- RCIA (English): Jane & Peter Regan
- RCIA (Spanish): Rudy Lopez & Angel Velasquez
- Hispanic Coordinator: Vinicio Diaz
- Migrant Ministry: Kathy Bredimus
- Justice and Peace: Christine Waldenmaier
- Knights of Columbus: Henry Glowiak
- Ladies' Auxiliary: Teri Scharf
- Bereavement Committee: Elaine Brehm
- Parish Community Life: Mary Wagner
- Decoration: Josephine Nardone
- Liturgical/Music: currently vacant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Peter the Apostle runs a parish-based religious-education program (CCD) for children, with First Eucharist preparation starting in 2nd grade and Confirmation preparation in 10th grade and up. Parents must be registered members and provide sacramental records. Amber Fisher directs the program and recruits volunteer catechists each year.
- Children's Ministry Sundays at 10:30 AM
- First Eucharist preparation in the fall (2nd grade and up)
- Confirmation preparation in the fall (10th grade and up)
- Youth Group meetings (Thursday evenings)
- Quinceañera preparation and celebrations
- CCD registration July–August each year
RCIA – Becoming Catholic
Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church — through Baptism, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation — are welcomed through the parish RCIA program, offered in both English and Spanish.
- English RCIA contact: Jane & Peter Regan ([email protected] / 757-789-3620)
- Spanish RCIA contact: Rudy Lopez & Angel Velasquez
- RCIA Form available on the parish website
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry is one of the liveliest parts of parish life, led by General Coordinator Vinicio Diaz. It offers Spanish Masses, a Charismatic prayer group, men's and women's Emmaus groups, Quinceañera preparation, family and Marian groups, and devotional preaching (Predicadores) — all organized by lay coordinators.
- General Coordinator: Vinicio Diaz
- Baptism prep: Walter Bravo & Lilian Perez / Ozael Perez & Icenia Roblero
- Holy Hour: Angelica De Leon
- Eucharistic Ministers: Milania Gabriel & Arturo Morales
- Prayer Group: Eliza Soto & Juana Jose
- Hospitality: Vilma Mejia & Rigoberto Ventura
- Chorus: Fidel Chaves
- Lectors: Yuri Simon
- Youth: Yesenia Vazquez & Rudy Gomez
- Quinceañera: Juana Juarez & Ernestina Tinoco
- Family: Fidel & Basilia Martinez
- Marian: Estela Escalante
- Predicadores: Jose Berduo & Rosendo Ventura
- Men's Emmaus: Josue Lopez & Elfido Escalante
- Women's Emmaus: Rosa Sanchez
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with preparation programs for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and adult initiation through RCIA. Confession is available weekly; the Anointing of the Sick and funeral services are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism (3 months' notice, pre-Baptism form)
- Confirmation (10th grade+, pre-Confirmation form)
- First Communion (2nd grade+, pre-Communion form)
- Confession / Penance
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony (contact parish office)
- Funerals / Bereavement support
Outreach & Service
Following the missionary spirit of its founder Father Mickle, St. Peter the Apostle continues to reach beyond its walls to the elderly, the incarcerated, and migrant farmworkers on the Eastern Shore. The Migrant Ministry brings parish support to seasonal workers, while the Prison Ministry serves inmates at the Accomack County Jail. Volunteers also visit residents of Shore Life Care Nursing Home, Arcadia Nursing Home, the Hermitage, and Heritage Hall.
- Migrant Ministry
- Prison Ministry – Accomack County Jail
- Shore Life Care Nursing Home
- Arcadia Nursing Home
- Hermitage
- Heritage Hall
- Justice and Peace Committee
Parish Organizations
Two strong fraternal organizations anchor parish life and fundraise for parish and community causes.
- Knights of Columbus Eastern Shore Council #6963
- Ladies' Auxiliary #6963 (auctions, card parties, and other fundraisers)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday; staff can help with registration, sacramental preparation forms, Mass intentions, and general inquiries.
- Address: 25236 Coastal Blvd, P.O. Box 860, Onley, VA 23418
- Phone: (757) 787-4592
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stpetertheapostle.net
- Facebook (live-streamed Mass): facebook.com/stpeter.onleyva
- Office hours: Tue 8–3 & 6–8; Wed 8–3; Fri 8–3; Sun 10–2
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward "Ned" Mickle1890 – late 1920s/1930s
Apostle of the Eastern Shore; appointed by Bishop Curtis to evangelize south of Delaware; served St. Charles Borromeo in Cape Charles and the whole peninsula.
- Rev. John J. Foleyafter Fr. Mickle's death – 1948
Immediate successor to Fr. Mickle on the Eastern Shore.
- Father Rinaldi (Oblate)through the 1970s
Led the 1977 building campaign adding vestibule, offices, meeting room, parish hall and kitchen; praised by Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond in 1979.