February 2024

Jesse & Tricia Richman & family

Our family of the month exemplifies the meaning of Catholic service. Each family member dutifully and cheerfully serves the parish of Blessed Sacrament.

The wife coordinates the kindergarten to fifth grade formation program. She also teaches the second-grade class and sacramental preparation class along with her daughter. Three of the children are altar servers for the parish. Another two children help with religious education with the parish. Several of the children are involved with youth ministry and Old Dominion University’s Catholic Campus Ministry.

The entire family is always happy to help and exemplifies Catholic cheerful service as they support and coordinate various family formation events throughout the parish.

Congratulations to our January Family of the Month, the Richman family, Jesse, Tricia and their seven children ranging from 3 years old to college aged (David, Sarah, Leah, Miriam, Anna, Ray, Naomi).

December 2023

Raul, Aileen, Raul Jr, Lily, & Elizabeth Acevedo

This family exemplifies the meaning of serving God and Country. Each family member is active in the St Pius X parish community, serving in numerous ministries. The father serves as a lector; he is also a Commander in the US Navy, soon to be commanding a naval ship, a member of the Men’s Club and helps with the Tides baseball games.

His wife serves as a cantor on the weekends, and too, for funerals and weddings. She is also a substitute teacher at Saint Pius X Catholic School and a member of the Parish Synodality Team.

Their oldest son is a junior at Catholic High and serves as a lector and altar server. This past summer, he worked at the parish as part of the maintenance team and recently completed his Eagle Scout project for SPX, helping to beautify the gardens in front of and around the school, as well as parts of the parish. The project brought several parishioners and his family together to support the effort. He continues his work supporting our maintenance team from time to time during the school year. Their oldest daughter, a recent graduate of Saint Pius X Catholic School, is a freshman at Catholic High; she also serves as an altar server with the youngest daughter who is a 6th grader at St. Pius X school.

Congratulations to Raul, Aileen, Raul Jr, Lily, & Elizabeth Acevedo as our December Family of the Month.

November 2023

Jay & Mary Rubino

Our Family of the Month are parishioners at Sacred Heart. The wife has volunteered as an usher and Mass coordinator. She also sings in a contemporary music group. She utilizes her medical skills to volunteer at Hope’s Clinic, helping to provide free medical support to the surrounding community to those who otherwise couldn’t afford the care.

The husband has organized music for Sacred Heart for over 20 years! It all began with him being asked to bring his guitar to help and has blossomed from there over the years. He has also volunteered his musical talents to help with a young adult group with connections with Eastern Virginia Medical School campus ministry. He has also helped with being an usher at Mass for many years.

Together, they have also volunteered with the church soup kitchen, NEST ministry, and putting together Thanksgiving baskets.

Congratulations to our November family of the month, Jay and Mary Rubino and Mary’s father, Tom Clarey.

October 2023

Mark & Theresa Magyar

Our Family of the Month are parishioners at Christ the King. They are long-time members of the parish and have graciously given of their time, talent, and treasure over the years. They volunteer for the Christ the King school board, the Parent Teacher Organization, the Parish Council, the Hospitality Committee, and Faith Formation Committee. They also teach lessons for the Faith Formation!

They are strong singers and have been invaluable members of the music program for both Mass cantors, members of the folk group, and the Refuge Choir. They are always prepared and sing with great love for Christ and the Mass. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Congratulations to the Family of the month for October, Mark and Theresa Magyar and family. They truly epitomize a joyful and faith-based Catholic family!

September 2023

Lewis, Abbie, Sophie, & Simon Causey

Our Family of the Month are parishioners at St Mary’s Basilica. The wife is a lecturer at the Masses and is involved with the youth ministry at Holy Family and is a lecturer there also.

The husband also volunteers to help out in various activities around St Mary’s and is involved with various activities at Holy Family.

The daughter volunteers as an altar server during Mass at St Mary’s Basilica.

The family is known as a first-class group and very well thought of at St Mary’s. Congratulations to our Family of the Month for September, Lewis, Abbie, Sophie, & Simon Causey.

July 2023

Mark, Diana, Clare, & Stephen Henzel

The Family of the Month hails from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and is always looking for ways to serve our Lord, the Church, and the community.

The Father is an Engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding and the Mother works as a Medical Writer. In addition to their jobs, they homeschool both their children. Mom and Dad take care of the pick-up, preparation, and serving for the coffee and donuts hour after the 8:30 Mass. She also is a talented pianist who plays during services. Their daughter is a rising Junior who rows with the Norfolk Youth Rowing Club, is involved with an ODU group providing gardening services to a church on the Eastern Shore and is a talented pianist sometimes heard at church services. She also provided babysitting services to parents attending the RCIA classes. She also recently returned from the pilgrimage to Rome with the Parish Youth Ministry. Their son is a rising 8th grader who participates in Tae Kwon Do, is involved in the Church’s Edge program, occasionally plays piano at services as well as altar serves regularly at the 5:00 Saturday Mass and the 8:30 Sunday Mass.

Congratulations to the July Family of the Month, Mark, Diana, Clare, and Stephen Henzel.

June 2023

Robert, Laura, Victor, Thoreson, & Gwyneth Hulse

Our Family of the Month attends Our Lady of Victory Catholic Chapel located on the Norfolk Naval Base and are always looking for ways to serve our Lord, the Church, and the community. The Father coordinates group texts for the Tuesday morning Mass at the POW/MIA Chapel at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads as well as for the First Saturday men’s breakfast and Holy Hour prior to the Communion of Reparation Mass as requested at Fatima.

She is a registered nurse and currently works for CHKD as an organ transplant quality supervisor. She is also working toward her PhD in healthcare quality management.

The two sons are altar servers for each Sunday Mass, as well as those at 6am every Tuesday morning, and have become quite adept at preparing the sanctuary for the morning Mass. Additionally, their daughter serves as a lifeguard at the YMCA along with her older brother and both recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The family also supports the weekly Adoration of the Holy Eucharist through their flexibility and by actively seeking to fill any open hours each week; their actions have been instrumental in maintaining a continued 18 hour vigil each week for the past two years.

Congratulations to the June Family of the Month, Robert, Laura, Victor, Thoreson, & Gwyneth Hulse.

March 2023

James, Theresa, Kenny, Teddy, Maggie, Andrew, & Peter Clark

The Family of the Month for March hails from Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She teaches the High School Religious Education program to the teenagers and her expert knowledge of the Catechism of the Catholic Church has proven instrumental to the effective teaching of the sacraments to the children. She also organized an incredibly informative and highly attended First Friday evening dinner presentation series for the parishioners this year with over 60 attendees.

Sons Kenny and Teddy are both altar servers and both consistently participate in the Sacred Heart Youth Group activities and events. Kenny also has a leadership role on the Youth Council. Children Maggie and Andrew attend Religious Education classes while the youngest, Peter, tries to grasp the whole church thing.

He quickly became a model Knight and volunteered to assist with numerous fundraising events during the past months and is also an RCIA sponsor for a new Catechumen. In his spare time, he helps his sons with their Boy Scouts Troop.

This family exemplifies the highest traditions of the Holy Family and are to be commended for their service to the Catholic Church. Congratulations to Dr. James, Theresa, Kenny, Teddy, Maggie, Andrew, & Peter Clark.

January 2023

Godofredo (Fred) and Mercedes (Mercy) Martinez

The Family of the Month is from Blessed Sacrament parish as they attend and help at all three masses per weekend and all other prayer services that go on in our parish.
She is a Eucharistic Minister & Choir Member and has a ministry to the Children’s Nursery and makes sure that all toys are clean, and the nursery is ready for the weekend masses. She also sews linens for the church altar.

They are part of the Centennial Gardeners as she has several degrees in horticultural and knows what to plant, when to harvest, and understands how to keep pests at bay. Both tend to the garden year-round making sure the soil is ready for the next growing season.

They have dedicated themselves in making sure that the vegetables are ready for Food Pantry Tuesday & Thursday to make sure that they are helping low-income families with food insecurity.

Congratulations to Godofredo (Fred) and Mercedes