About St. Pius X · Norfolk, Virginia
St. Pius X Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Richmond located at 7800 Halprin Drive in Norfolk, Virginia, within the Hampton Roads region. Founded in 1955 by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, the parish is home to roughly 1,000 families from a diverse community that includes white, Filipino, Hispanic, Black, and a strong military-connected Catholic population. The parish campus also houses St. Pius X Catholic School (PreK-8), and offers more than 35 ministries spanning faith formation, liturgy, outreach, and family life. The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed, and the parish has long been a fixture in the Norview/neighborhood east of Naval Station Norfolk.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Pius X (Pope Pius X)
- Rector
- Rev. Sean M. Prince
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Pius X welcomes roughly 1,000 families into a diverse, multi-generational Catholic community that includes a particularly strong Filipino Catholic and military-family presence — and it backs that welcome with more than 35 active ministries for formation, outreach, and parish life. The parish runs a PreK-8 Catholic school recognized as a Purple Star School for military families, livestreams its 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, and offers year-round faith formation for adults, youth, and children including a dedicated RCIA team. With weekday Masses, monthly First Friday adoration, Saturday confession, and a robust parish school, it is a full-service Catholic home for the Norview/Hampton Roads area.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
- 1st Friday of the month: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Every Friday during Lent
Parish History
St. Pius X was founded in 1955 by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (S.T.). The community first built its school — groundbreaking on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1956, opening that September — and constructed the present church fifteen years later, with its December 1970 dedication. In 1982, pastoral responsibility passed from the founding religious order to priests of the Diocese of Richmond. The dove and red triangle, emblem of the founding order, remains a visible symbol in the sanctuary and baptistery gate.
- Founded 1955 by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
- School groundbreaking: Palm Sunday, March 25, 1956
- Current church dedicated: December 1970
- Pastoral care transferred to diocesan priests in 1982
St. Pius X Catholic School (PreK–8)
The parish school opened in September 1956 with three Trinitarian Sisters and one lay teacher and 189 students. Since March 16, 1958 it has been led by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.), whose influence remains central to the school's mission. Today the school serves roughly 200 students in Junior-Kindergarten through 8th grade, offers athletics (basketball, cross country, soccer, track, volleyball), afterschool clubs, weekly Mass, and is recognized as a Virginia-designated Purple Star School for its support of military families.
- Opened September 1956 with 189 children
- Classrooms added 1962–63 and 1995
- Recognized as a Virginia Purple Star School
- Athletics: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Track & Field, Volleyball
- CARES before- and after-school care program
- Website: spxschoolnorfolk.org
Clergy and Staff
The parish is shepherded by Pastor Rev. Sean M. Prince and Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Hoang Viet Le, with parish office staff and a Director of Evangelization (Cass Hooker) supporting formation and sacramental preparation.
- Pastor: Rev. Sean M. Prince
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Hoang Viet Le
- Director of Evangelization: Cass Hooker (757-381-7122)
- Parish office: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Devotions
Daily rosary and a First Friday Holy Hour complement the Mass schedule, giving parishioners regular opportunities for eucharistic devotion and Marian prayer.
- Rosary after Tue 12:15 PM Mass (1:00–1:25 PM)
- Rosary after Wed/Thu/Fri 8:30 AM Mass (9:00–9:25 AM)
- First Friday Holy Hour (9:00–9:25 AM)
- Rosary before Sun 11:00 AM Mass (10:30–10:55 AM)
Faith Formation for Adults
Adult faith is supported through ongoing formation opportunities — parish missions, evening group discussions, Sunday video-and-discussion gatherings, and the Christian Initiation Team (RCIA) for adults and children aged seven and older. The RCIA team meets every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM with dismissal catechesis during designated Masses.
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — Tuesdays 5:30–6:30 PM
- Parish missions and evening discussions
- Sunday video-and-discussion groups
- Contact: Cass Hooker, Director of Evangelization
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Children's faith formation is offered both through the parish school and parish religious education, with a full sacramental preparation pathway for Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist. Children's Liturgy of the Word ("Explorers") invites children ages 3–6 to hear the Gospel on their level during the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, and an annual Vacation Bible School brings the parish together each summer.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word / Explorers (ages 3–6, during 11:00 AM Mass)
- Sacramental Preparation for Children
- Catechists and Catechist Assistants
- Hall Monitors for safe-environment catechetical sessions
- Annual Vacation Bible School
Families with Young Children
St. Pius X welcomes families of every shape and size — single parents, military families, and families with both younger and older children. A cry room at the back of the church and a children's book cart help the youngest worshippers feel at home, while Children's Liturgy of the Word provides age-appropriate Scripture engagement during the 11:00 AM Mass.
- Cry room at the back of the church
- Children's book cart in the back of the church
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 11:00 AM Sunday Mass
Outreach and Pastoral Care
The parish lives its call to serve through ministries that bring the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass and that support families at the time of funeral. Trained, VIRTUS-compliant volunteers visit the homebound and hospitalized, help with funeral Masses, and provide funeral receptions.
- Homebound & Hospital Visitors (Eucharistic ministry to the sick)
- Funeral Mass Ministry
- Funeral Reception Ministers
- All pastoral-care volunteers are VIRTUS trained
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (S.T.)1955–1982
Founding religious order that established and shepherded the parish from 1955 until 1982, when pastoral responsibility was assumed by diocesan priests.
- Rev. Sean M. Prince2021–present
Serving as pastor by Easter 2022; reported fourfold post-pandemic attendance rebound.