About St. Victoria · Hurt, Virginia
St. Victoria Catholic Church is a small, family-style parish tucked on a hill in Hurt, Virginia, in the south-central part of the state. Founded in 1964 and dedicated on September 13 of that year, the parish calls itself 'Our Little Church on the Hill' and serves Catholics in Hurt, Altavista, and the surrounding rural communities of Pittsylvania County. It is part of the Diocese of Richmond and is currently led by Father James (Jim) Gallagher, Jr., with Permanent Deacon John Allen Carey assisting. The parish is known for its warm, tight-knit congregation and its outreach to neighbors in need through the local food pantry and other charitable works.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Victoria
- Rector
- Rev. James (Jim) Gallagher, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. Victoria is a small but vibrant Catholic community in rural Virginia where, as the parish puts it, 'some of the finest and lovable people you will ever meet' walk through the doors. It offers the fullness of Catholic life — weekday and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Christian Formation for children and youth, and active lay ministries — in an intimate setting where everyone is known by name. The parish also reaches outward in concrete ways, running a food pantry, supporting Frannie's House for abused adults, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and serving the wider Altavista area through ecumenical and charitable work. For Catholics in Hurt, Altavista, and surrounding Pittsylvania County, it is a friendly, faithful, and easy-to-belong-to parish home.
Mass times at St. Victoria
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 9:30 a.m. (before 10:00 a.m. Mass)
- First Sunday of the month: after 11:00 a.m. Mass
- Monday after 10:00 a.m. Mass (per parish website listing)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (revived under the guidance of Father Jim Gallagher and Deacon John Carey); specific recurring times are scheduled in the parish bulletins.
Parish History
St. Victoria was established in the early 1960s as a mission of Holy Cross before being dedicated as an independent parish on September 13, 1964 by Bishop John J. Russell, with Fr. DePaul Landrigan, M.S.S.SS.T., as its founding pastor. The parish grew steadily over the next two decades, with the rectory completed in 1967, a parish hall dedicated in 1982, and an education building added in 1998. The community has marked each stage of its life with carefully recorded sacramental milestones, from its first Baptism in 1964 to its first Confirmation in 1971, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.
- April 1, 1962 — Ground broken for a Catholic church in Hurt (Bishop John J. Russell and Monsignor F. Harold Nott)
- September 29, 1962 — Dedicated as a Mission Church of Holy Cross; first Mass celebrated by Monsignor F. Harold Nott
- September 13, 1964 — Dedicated as a parish church; Fr. DePaul Landrigan appointed pastor
- 1967 — Rectory completed; Fr. Landrigan moves in
- 1982 — Parish Hall dedicated (July 25)
- 1998 — Education Building dedicated (September)
- 2014 — 50th anniversary of the parish
Founding Sacramental Milestones
The parish keeps a careful record of the first time each of the seven sacraments was celebrated within its walls, a tradition that gives St. Victoria a living sense of continuity with its founding generation.
- First Baptism — January 24, 1964: Theresa Lynn Jones (Fr. DePaul Landrigan)
- First Communion — November 22, 1964: Joanne Mari Blanchard (Fr. DePaul Landrigan)
- First Wedding — February 27, 1965: John Francis Lynch and Donna J. Arthur (Fr. DePaul Landrigan)
- First Funeral — March 19, 1965: Virginia Mays Lewis (Fr. DePaul Landrigan)
- First Confirmation — September 30, 1971: Michael Lewis (Bishop Walter F. Sullivan; sponsor Madeline Key)
Pastorate & Succession of Priests
St. Victoria has been served by a long line of priests, with Father Jim Gallagher the current pastor since March 2011. He first came to the parish as administrator in 2007 and shares his ministry with Our Lady of Peace in Appomattox. The parish's history page lists every assigned priest in order from its founding.
- Fr. DePaul Landrigan, M.S.S.SS.T. (1964–1977)
- Fr. Andrew G. Roy (1977–1981)
- Fr. Albert F. Pereira (1981–1983)
- Fr. Richard C. Kirch (1983–1985)
- Fr. Philip J. Higgins (1985–1994)
- Fr. Thomas D. Welch (1994–1995)
- Fr. Robert J. McEleney (1995–1998)
- Fr. Robert E. Dillon (1998–2002)
- Fr. David L. Nott (2003–2004)
- Fr. Robert J. McEleney, administrator (2004–2005)
- Msgr. J. Kenneth Rush (June 2005 – Feb. 2007)
- Fr. James (Jim) Gallagher, Jr. (Administrator 2007–2011; Pastor March 2011–present)
Parish Life, Fellowship, and Devotions
Beyond the sacraments, St. Victoria nurtures the everyday fabric of parish life through small-group fellowship, men's gatherings, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry that knits comfort for those who are sick or in need. The parish also offers an online weekly Mass recorded by Father Jim at Our Lady of Peace, extending its reach to homebound parishioners and those who cannot attend in person.
- Men's Night — First Monday of each month, 5:15 p.m.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — 2nd and 4th Mondays, 1:00 p.m. (on summer break, resumes in September)
- Online Weekly Mass with Father Jim (linked from the parish website)
- Parish Pastoral Council — meets every other month on the second Monday
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
St. Victoria runs Christian Formation classes for children and a Youth Ministry program for teens from September through May, with classes meeting Sundays at 10:00 a.m. The parish frames its youth work as handing on the faith: 'The word Tradition comes from the Latin root Tradare, which means to hand on the faith.' Teens participate in service projects as well as socials and gatherings.
- Christian Formation classes (children) — Sundays, 10:00 a.m., September–May
- Youth Ministry — service projects, socials, and gatherings for teens
- SPARK Program (Youth Reading & Knowledge) — listed in the parish's outreach ministries
Outreach, Justice, and Ecumenical Service
The parish's Justice and Peace ministry is one of its strongest expressions of Catholic social teaching, with St. Victoria parishioners serving at the local food pantry, supporting a shelter for abused adults, and partnering with Habitat for Humanity. The parish also participates in the Altavista Area Clergy Association and the diocesan ecumenical life, building bridges with other Christians in the area.
- DAWN (local food pantry)
- STV Charity & Outreach Food Pantry and Assistance
- Frannie's House — shelter for abused adults
- Habitat for Humanity
- Appalachian Outreach
- Poverty Auction
- Haiti Outreach
- Ministry with the Sick
- Altavista Area Clergy Association (ecumenical)
- Liaison to Our Lady of Peace, Appomattox
Worship and Liturgical Ministries
St. Victoria's liturgical life is supported by lay parishioners who serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, and members of the Art & Environment committee. The parish's Worship and Liturgy ministry frames Sunday Mass as a celebration of Christ's presence in Word, Sacrament, and Fellowship — a fitting summary for a parish whose nickname is 'Our Little Church on the Hill.'
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Music Ministry
- Art and Environment (sanctuary decoration)
- Eucharistic Adoration (revived under Father Jim and Deacon Carey)
Contact, Location, and Office Hours
St. Victoria is located at 305 Victoria Drive in Hurt, Virginia (P.O. Box 640, Hurt, VA 24563-0640), and the parish office can be reached at (434) 324-4824 or [email protected]. The office is open Monday 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Wednesday 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m., and Thursday 6:00–9:00 p.m. (September–June). The parish is associated with Our Lady of Peace in Appomattox, with whom it shares its priest.
- Address: 305 Victoria Drive, Hurt, VA 24563
- Mailing: P.O. Box 640, Hurt, VA 24563-0640
- Phone: (434) 324-4824
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintvictoria.org
- Office hours: Mon 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Wed 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Thurs 6:00–9:00 p.m. (Sept.–June)
- Associated parish: Our Lady of Peace, Appomattox
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. DePaul Landrigan, M.S.S.SS.T.1964–1977
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of rectory (1967).
- Fr. Andrew G. Roy1977–1981
- Fr. Albert F. Pereira1981–1983
Parish Hall dedicated in his pastorate (July 25, 1982).
- Fr. Richard C. Kirch1983–1985
- Fr. Philip J. Higgins1985–1994
- Fr. Thomas D. Welch1994–1995
- Fr. Robert J. McEleney1995–1998
Education Building dedicated in his pastorate (Sept. 1998).
- Fr. Robert E. Dillon1998–2002
- Fr. David L. Nott2003–2004
- Fr. Robert J. McEleney (administrator)2004–2005
Returned as administrator.
- Msgr. J. Kenneth RushJune 2005 – Feb. 2007
- Fr. James (Jim) Gallagher, Jr.2007–2011 (administrator); March 2011–present (pastor)
Current pastor; shares ministry with Our Lady of Peace in Appomattox.