About
St. Andrew Catholic Church has been serving the island of Chincoteague Virginia beginning with a mission in 1947.
St Andrew Catholic Church is one of 3 parishes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, as a part of the Diocese of Richmond.
the remainder of the Delmarva Peninsula / Eastern Shore (Maryland and Delaware) is in the Diocese of Wilmington.
The Diocese of Richmond is celebrating its bicentennial in 2020, marking 200 years of faith in the commonwealth of Virginia!
A Brief History of the Diocese of Richmond
St Andrew Catholic Church is one of 3 parishes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, as a part of the Diocese of Richmond.
the remainder of the Delmarva Peninsula / Eastern Shore (Maryland and Delaware) is in the Diocese of Wilmington.
The Diocese of Richmond is celebrating its bicentennial in 2020, marking 200 years of faith in the commonwealth of Virginia!
A Brief History of the Diocese of Richmond
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Parochial Administrator: Rev. Father G. "Sonny" Leoval Guadalupe
Business Manager: Jamie Grant
Admin. Assistant: Suzanne Dukes
Parochial Administrator: Rev. Father G. "Sonny" Leoval Guadalupe
Business Manager: Jamie Grant
Admin. Assistant: Suzanne Dukes
Our History
Starting in ~1949, Father Bennett McNulty of St. Peter's Parish in Onley, VA celebrated a mass on Sunday Mornings on Chincoteague.
In 1958, Father Rudolph Miller of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Pocomoke, MD, celebrated Mass for the island's Mission Congregation.
In 1975, the Virginia Eastern Shore transferred from the Diocese of Wilmington to the Diocese of Richmond. At that point the church became a mission of St. Peter's in Onley.
In September 1977, the congregation was established as its own Parish! Our first Pastor was Fr. John Murray. Our Church was formerly Baptist, and the parish went about the business of getting custom designed stained glass to transform the space.
In February 1982 we dedicated our newly acquired rectory.
In 1986 our Pastor became Fr. John Prinelli and he began migrant ministry to the shore's migrant agriculture workers.
The parish received new statues of the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph as well as a new steeple in 1990.
Father Paschal Kneip, OSB, arrived in June 2003 from St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. He oversaw the construction of our Parish Hall and our first columbarium for our cemetary. He returned to the archabbey in Dec 2010.
Father Richard Chirichiello, OSB then served as pastor until October 2014.
In October 2014, our Parish reverted to a mission Parish, and we were then led by Father Michael Imperial until August 2020. Father Michael was moved to St Peter's in Onley, and Father Gerard Leoval "Sonny" Guadalupe has led our flock since then. Father Sonny was finally "installed" by Bishop Barry Knestout on March 25, 2023.
In 1958, Father Rudolph Miller of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Pocomoke, MD, celebrated Mass for the island's Mission Congregation.
In 1975, the Virginia Eastern Shore transferred from the Diocese of Wilmington to the Diocese of Richmond. At that point the church became a mission of St. Peter's in Onley.
In September 1977, the congregation was established as its own Parish! Our first Pastor was Fr. John Murray. Our Church was formerly Baptist, and the parish went about the business of getting custom designed stained glass to transform the space.
In February 1982 we dedicated our newly acquired rectory.
In 1986 our Pastor became Fr. John Prinelli and he began migrant ministry to the shore's migrant agriculture workers.
The parish received new statues of the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph as well as a new steeple in 1990.
Father Paschal Kneip, OSB, arrived in June 2003 from St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. He oversaw the construction of our Parish Hall and our first columbarium for our cemetary. He returned to the archabbey in Dec 2010.
Father Richard Chirichiello, OSB then served as pastor until October 2014.
In October 2014, our Parish reverted to a mission Parish, and we were then led by Father Michael Imperial until August 2020. Father Michael was moved to St Peter's in Onley, and Father Gerard Leoval "Sonny" Guadalupe has led our flock since then. Father Sonny was finally "installed" by Bishop Barry Knestout on March 25, 2023.
