About St. Vincent de Paul · Newport News, Virginia
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a historic parish in downtown Newport News, Virginia, founded in 1881 as a mission of St. Mary's Star of the Sea at Old Point Comfort. Now part of the Peninsula Cluster of parishes (with St. Joseph in Hampton and St. Mary Star of the Sea at Fort Monroe) within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, the parish worships in a 1916–1917 Classical Revival–style church designed by German-trained Richmond architect Carl Ruehrmund and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the parish is pastored by Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F., and is recognized as the oldest Catholic congregation in Newport News and a historically significant inner-city community that became the first racially integrated church in the downtown historic district.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Saint Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 4)
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is the oldest Catholic parish in Newport News, worshipping in a stunning 1917 Classical Revival sanctuary that is on the National Register of Historic Places, with a daily 12:05 PM midweek Mass, a livestreamed Saturday Vigil, a Sunday morning Mass, and Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration paired with Confession. The parish is also deeply outward-facing, running a daily Backdoor Meals Ministry (Mon–Fri 11:00–11:30 AM), a Food Pantry (Wed & Fri 10:30 AM–noon), a Clothing Closet, PORT, and a Downtown Christmas outreach, plus OCIA and K–12 faith formation. As a historically integrated downtown parish with a mission "to CELEBRATE our diversity as children of God, to GATHER as a faith-filled community, and to WITNESS as Disciples of Christ," it is a welcoming place for anyone seeking both reverent liturgy and tangible service.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday — immediately following the 12:05 PM Daily Mass (approximately 12:40 PM)
- Saturday — 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following the 12:05 PM Daily Mass (approximately 12:40 PM), continuing until all confessions have been heard
Parish History
Founded in 1881 as a downtown mission of St. Mary's Star of the Sea at Old Point Comfort, St. Vincent de Paul is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Newport News. The parish grew with the city as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and the Newport News Shipyard brought workers and families. After an 1891 frame church and 1902–1903 schools, the parish built its present Classical Revival church and rectory on 33rd Street in 1916–1917. Father Lloyd Stephenson became the parish's first African American pastor in the late 1990s, and in 2005 the church was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1881 — Mission established by the Lohmanns and about thirty other Catholics
- April 1890 — Rev. Richard A. Drake assigned; traveled twice monthly from Richmond
- November 1890 — Rev. Charles E. Donahoe becomes first resident pastor
- 1891 — First church built on Washington Avenue, dedicated July 19, 1891
- 1902 — Boys' school opened by the Xaverian Brothers
- 1903 — Convent and girls' school donated by Thomas Fortune and Ida Mary Berry Ryan
- May 1916 — Ground broken for the new 33rd Street church and rectory
- May 27, 1917 — First Mass offered in the new church
- June 3, 1917 — Formal dedication (Bishop O'Connell, Richmond Choir)
- 1944 — St. Alphonsus Apostolate established for African American families
- Fall 1970 — St. Alphonsus merged into St. Vincent de Paul (first racially integrated historic downtown church)
- 1976 — Social Action Center begins
- 1980 — Lloyd Franklin Stephenson ordained
- 1997 — Father Stephenson returns as the first African American priest in Newport News
- 2004 — Father Stephenson dies (March 10); Liturgy of the Resurrection celebrated March 15 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond
- 2005 — Added to the Virginia Landmarks Register (March 16) and the National Register of Historic Places (June 2)
- 2006 — 125th anniversary of the parish celebrated
- 2017 — 100th anniversary of the present church building celebrated
Architecture & Historic Significance
The present St. Vincent de Paul church is a 1½-story, brick, Classical Revival–style, longitudinal-plan building designed by the German-trained Richmond architect Carl Ruehrmund (1855–1927) and completed in 1916–1917. The front facade is dominated by a pedimented portico with four fluted Corinthian columns, and the surrounding complex includes the 1917 contributing rectory, a 1917 contributing brick garage, a landscaped prayer garden and a non-contributing picnic shelter. The nomination narrative notes that the church is significant under National Register criterion A as Newport News' earliest Roman Catholic congregation, for the establishment of two parochial schools in downtown, for its patronage by Thomas Fortune and Ida Mary Berry Ryan, and for its association with Father Lloyd Stephenson — the parish's first African American pastor.
- Architect: Carl Ruehrmund of Richmond, Virginia (German-trained)
- Style: Classical Revival (American Renaissance)
- Built: 1916–1917
- NRHP reference number: 05000525
- Virginia Landmarks Register number: 121-0032
- Contributing resources: church (1916–17), rectory (1917), garage (1917), prayer garden (site)
- Non-contributing: picnic shelter
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The parish is pastored as part of the Peninsula Cluster of parishes (together with St. Joseph in Hampton and St. Mary Star of the Sea at Fort Monroe). Office hours for the St. Vincent de Paul parish office are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
- Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F. — Pastor, Cluster Parishes (757-851-8800)
- Rev. Patrick Boadu — Parochial Vicar, Cluster Parishes (757-851-8800)
- Rev. Mr. David A. Reaves — Permanent Deacon, Saint Vincent de Paul (757-245-4234)
- Steven James — Music Minister, Saint Vincent de Paul (757-245-4234)
- Jeannie Klump — Administrative Assistant, Saint Vincent de Paul (757-245-4234)
- Sharon Taylor — Coordinator of Family & Youth Formation, Cluster Parishes
- Dominique Seraphin — Director of Religious Formation & Evangelization, Cluster Parishes
- Judith McKenna — Cluster Bookkeeper
- Alan Cole — Cluster Manager
- David Jennings — Handyman, St. Joseph & St. Vincent de Paul
- Melanie Plue — Pastoral Missionary
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Parish Ministries
The parish organizes its ministries into four families — Social Action, Liturgical, Christian Formation, and Other — embodying its mission to "Celebrate our diversity as children of God, Gather as a faith-filled community, and Witness as Disciples of Christ." Multiple opportunities are available for parishioners to use their gifts in service (cf. James 1:17–18, 21b–22, 27).
- Social Action: Backdoor Meals, Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, PORT, Downtown Christmas
- Liturgical: Music, Lector, Holy Eucharist, Altar Server, Liturgy Planning, Usher
- Christian Formation: K–5, 6–12, OCIA
- Other: Bereavement, Parish Office, Building & Grounds, Social Events, Decorating
Social Action & Outreach
St. Vincent de Paul runs five ongoing outreach ministries that anchor the parish's inner-city service to downtown Newport News. Since 1976 the parish has provided assistance through what is now called the Social Action Center.
- Backdoor Meals — Mon–Fri, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM (hot lunch served)
- Food Pantry — Wed & Fri, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Clothing Closet — clothing assistance for those in need
- PORT — parish outreach / social support ministry
- Downtown Christmas — seasonal Christmas outreach to the downtown community
Christian Formation & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and youth is offered in two grade bands, and adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their sacraments of initiation are served through OCIA (the restored name for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Christian Formation, Grades K–5
- Christian Formation, Grades 6–12
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Coordinator: Sharon Taylor (Coordinator of Family & Youth Formation, Cluster Parishes)
- Director: Dominique Seraphin (Director of Religious Formation & Evangelization, Cluster Parishes)
Peninsula Cluster of Parishes
St. Vincent de Paul is one of three parishes in the Peninsula Cluster of the Diocese of Richmond, sharing one pastor (Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F.) and a parochial vicar (Rev. Patrick Boadu) with St. Joseph in Hampton and St. Mary Star of the Sea at Fort Monroe. Many cluster staff — including the music ministers, formation coordinators, and business manager — serve all three parishes together.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Newport News, VA (230 33rd Street)
- St. Joseph — Hampton, VA
- St. Mary Star of the Sea — Fort Monroe, VA
Visiting St. Vincent de Paul
The parish sits at 230 33rd Street in the Newport News Downtown Historic District, with the parish office open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The phone number for the parish office is (757) 245-4234, and general parish email is [email protected]. Pastoral emails include [email protected]. The Saturday Vigil Mass is livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
- Address: 230 33rd Street, Newport News, VA 23607
- Mailing: P.O. Box 258, Newport News, VA 23607
- Phone: (757) 245-4234
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Saturday Vigil Mass livestreamed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard A. DrakeApril 1890 – November 1890
Assigned by Bishop Van de Vyver; traveled twice monthly from Richmond as the parish's first priest.
- Rev. Charles E. DonahoeNovember 1890 –
Succeeded Fr. Drake as the first resident pastor.
- Fr. Coleman1917
Celebrated the first Mass in the new 33rd Street church on May 27, 1917.
- Rev. Lloyd Franklin StephensonOrdained 1980; served as pastor; died 2004
Born 1954 in Newport News; native son and member of St. Alphonsus; first African American priest assigned to St. Vincent de Paul; noted for his fondness for youth and music.
- Rev. Romeo D. Jazmin, V.F.current
Current Pastor of the Peninsula Cluster Parishes.