About St. Theresa · Farmville, Virginia
St. Theresa is a Roman Catholic parish in Farmville, Virginia, in the Diocese of Richmond, serving a rural five-county area together with the other parishes of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster under Very Rev. Christopher Hess, V.F. Established in 1939 by the Fathers of the Precious Blood from Carthagena, Ohio, as a mission for roughly twenty Catholics meeting in a hotel room, it has grown to more than 300 families with strong campus ministries serving students at Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College. The parish is also active in prison ministry, extending the sacraments to Dillwyn Correctional Center, Piedmont Regional Jail and Lunenburg Correctional Center, and operates a parish food pantry, religious education program, Knights of Columbus council, Boy Scout troop, and Hospitality Committee.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Christopher Hess, V.F.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Theresa is the spiritual home of more than 300 families across five rural counties and welcomes Catholic students from neighboring Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College through an active Catholic Campus Ministry. The parish combines the historic rhythm of a country Catholic parish — daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and Fridays, Saturday Reconciliation, and a flourishing Knights of Columbus council — with active outreach: a parish food pantry, Religious Education, Boy Scouts, the Hospitality Committee, and prison ministry to three correctional facilities. The Central Virginia Catholic Cluster offices, along with the recently expanded St. Theresa Parish Center, sit right on Buffalo Street, making it easy to plug into parish life.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Wednesday 5:00 PM at Catholic Campus Ministry (114 Midtown Ave)
- Saturdays 4:30 PM or by appointment (per CCM schedule)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM (with Mass)
- Friday 9:00 AM (following 9:00 AM Mass)
Parish History
St. Theresa traces its origins to 1939, when the Fathers of the Precious Blood (C.Pp.S.) from Carthagena, Ohio, established the parish as a mission alongside Crewe, Blackstone and Meherrin. The first Masses were celebrated in a room at the Hotel Prince Edward for a community of roughly twenty Catholics. Sunday Mass later moved to French Auditorium on the Longwood campus, and on May 25, 1951, the Rt. Reverend Michael J. Cannon dedicated the present Buffalo Street church. The parish lost mission status in the 1970s and grew steadily, building the parish center in 1988 and dedicating the current worship-area addition in June 1998. St. Theresa is now the anchor parish of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster, which serves more than 400 families across five counties.
- 1939 — Founded by the C.Pp.S. Fathers from Carthagena, Ohio
- 1939–1940 — Father Marcellus Fortman, first mission priest
- May 25, 1951 — Buffalo Street church dedicated by Rt. Rev. Michael J. Cannon
- 1988 — Parish center completed under Father Robert Spencer
- June 1998 — Worship-area addition dedicated under Father Joseph Metzger III
- 2001 — 50th anniversary on Buffalo Street celebrated under Father Richard Mooney
- 2007 — Central Virginia Catholic Cluster formed under Father James M. Glass, OSB
- 2023 — Father Christopher Hess becomes current pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Christopher Hess, V.F., pastor, with Rev. Ronnie Dolosa serving as parochial vicar. Two permanent deacons assist: Rev. Dr. Emmett R. McLane III, D.D.S., and Rev. Peter Menting. Tammy Hinchey is the parish business manager. Together they serve St. Theresa and the other parishes of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Very Rev. Christopher Hess, V.F. — Pastor
- Rev. Ronnie Dolosa — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Dr. Emmett R. McLane III, D.D.S. — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Peter Menting — Permanent Deacon
- Mrs. Tammy Hinchey — Business Manager
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the parish, with preparation programs coordinated by the cluster office. Baptisms take place the first weekend of each month after parents attend a Baptism class and register as parishioners. Adult sacraments of initiation are celebrated at the Easter Vigil through the RCIA process. Engaged couples must contact the office at least six months before the wedding to begin Pre-Cana classes, and the priests and Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick to the homebound.
- Baptism — first weekend of the month; Baptism class required
- Confirmation (adult) — at the Easter Vigil through RCIA
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Masses; Adoration twice weekly
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00 PM and Wednesdays 5:00 PM
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the cluster office
- Matrimony — Pre-Cana classes begin at least 6 months before the wedding
- Holy Orders — vocations promoted through parish life
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) program, which begins each September in the Parish Center. Catechumens and candidates progress through the rites of the Catechumenate and the Liturgy of the Elect and celebrate the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil.
- RCIA classes begin annually in September
- Classes meet in the Parish Center
- Sacraments of initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil
- Inquiries handled through the cluster office
Catholic Campus Ministry
St. Theresa is the home parish of the Farmville Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM), a Christ-centered community serving students at Hampden-Sydney College and Longwood University. Through sacraments, prayer, religious formation, and service, CCM aims to deepen students' relationship with Jesus Christ and to share the Gospel. CCM is located at 114 Midtown Avenue, Farmville, and offers a Wednesday evening Mass and additional opportunities for faith formation, fellowship and service alongside the parish schedule.
- Serves Hampden-Sydney College and Longwood University
- CCM Office: 114 Midtown Ave, Farmville, Virginia
- Wednesday 5:30 PM CCM Mass
- Wednesday 5:00 PM Confessions at CCM
- Sacramental, prayer, formation and service programming for students
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Parish Religious Education classes for children are coordinated through the cluster office. While regular classes were paused during the parish center renovation, faith formation remains a core ministry of the parish and works in conjunction with the parish's RCIA program for adults and the broader sacramental preparation process.
- Children's Religious Education program through the cluster
- RCIA for adult formation
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Parish Life & Community
Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Theresa Parish is shaped by a strong bench of lay-led groups. The Knights of Columbus council, Boy Scout troop, Hospitality Committee, Parish Events Committee, and parish food pantry keep the community connected and outward-facing. The Parish Council, chaired by Dottie Zimolong, meets roughly twelve times a year to advise the pastor, while the Finance Council, chaired by Michael Wolyniak, oversees the parish budget and reports annually.
- Parish Council — Chair: Dottie Zimolong; meets ~12 times a year
- Finance Council — Chair: Michael Wolyniak; meets ~6 times a year
- Knights of Columbus
- Boy Scouts
- Hospitality Committee
- Parish Events Committee
- Parish Food Pantry
Outreach & Prison Ministry
St. Theresa extends its ministry well beyond Farmville through active prison ministry to three facilities: Dillwyn Correctional Center, Piedmont Regional Jail, and Lunenburg Correctional Center. The parish also operates a food pantry for local neighbors in need, and the priests and deacons make pastoral visits to the sick and shut-ins for Holy Communion, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Dillwyn Correctional Center
- Piedmont Regional Jail
- Lunenburg Correctional Center
- Parish Food Pantry
- Visits to the sick and homebound
Alive in Christ Campaign & Parish Center
The parish undertook a major capital campaign called 'Alive in Christ' to expand the parish center on Buffalo Street and expand its property holdings. Two adjacent lots were acquired — one small piece of public road (purchased from the town for $9,426) and a larger lot across the street planned as the future parking lot (purchased for $69,253) — financed with a loan from the Diocese of Richmond. The expanded St. Theresa Parish Center now houses the cluster offices.
- Alive in Christ Capital Campaign
- Expanded St. Theresa Parish Center on Buffalo Street
- New lot purchased from the town for $9,426
- Future parking lot acquired for $69,253
- Diocese of Richmond financing for land purchases
Parish & Cluster Contacts
The St. Theresa Parish office is co-located with the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster offices in the expanded St. Theresa Parish Center at 700/709 Buffalo Street, Farmville, Virginia 23901. Office Voice: 434-392-3934; Emergencies Only: 434-414-1493. The business manager can be reached at [email protected], and the parish email is [email protected]. The Priests' Residence line in Farmville is 434-315-0311.
- Address: 709 Buffalo Street, Farmville, VA 23901
- Phone (office): (434) 392-3934
- Emergency line: (434) 414-1493
- Priests' Residence: (434) 315-0311
- Fax: (434) 392-6677
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Business Manager: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Marcellus Fortman, C.Pp.S.1939–1940
Founding pastor; first mission priest who came from Crewe to celebrate Mass at the Hotel Prince Edward.
- Father Isadore McCarthy, C.Pp.S.Late 1940s (as pastor)
Traveled to neighboring parishes to preach and raise funds for the permanent church building.
- Father Carl Reikowsky1964 (first resident pastor)
First resident pastor of St. Theresa.
- Rev. Cornelius Fenton, C.Pp.S.1967–1968
Precious Blood priest.
- Rev. Urban Dumminger, C.Pp.S.August 1968 – June 1978
Longest-serving resident pastor; oversaw move of the rectory to Oak Street; last C.Pp.S. priest at St. Theresa.
- Father Thomas Summers1978–1979
Among first diocesan priests to serve after the parish left mission status.
- Father Robert McEleneyJune 1979 – June 1987; November 1999 – June 2000
Served twice as pastor; oversaw building plans for the parish center.
- Father Robert SpencerCompleted in 1988
Directed completion of the parish center on Buffalo Street.
- Father James C. DittyEarly 1990s (interim)
Served as interim pastor.
- Father Joseph Metzger III1997 onward
Began the worship-area addition in January 1997; dedicated June 1998.
- Father Richard Mooney2001–2002
Celebrated the parish's 50th anniversary on Buffalo Street.
- Father Carl DeSouza2002–2007
Served until retirement.
- Father James M. Glass, OSB2007–May 2010
First pastor of the newly formed Central Virginia Catholic Cluster.
- Father Joseph Wamala2010 (interim)
Interim pastor; later reassigned to St. Francis Assisi in Staunton.
- Father Anthony W. MorrisSeptember 2010–2015
Served until reassignment to Portsmouth Catholic Cluster.
- Father Emmanel DeLeonUntil 2012
Parochial vicar during Father Morris's tenure.
- Father Paul A. Kkonde2012 onward
Assigned as parochial vicar.
- Father Stefan Migac2015–2021
Pastor of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster.
- Father Tochi Iwuji2021–2023
Pastor before current pastor.
- Father Christopher Hess2023–present
Current pastor; also Pastor of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster.