The clear light of June glowed in the stained-glass windows, illuminating a scene of white and gold. As the procession began toward the altar, the choir struck up the first measures of the opening hymn:
“Come and see the many wonders God has worked through many hands.”
The words are perfectly suited to the parish of Prince of Peace, Chesapeake – a parish with a history of resourcefulness and resilience, of fellowship and faith.
Prince of Peace celebrated its 50th anniversary Sunday, June 1, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Barry C. Knestout and concelebrated by its pastor, Father John Bosco Walugembe.
“A golden jubilee is a time of reflection,” Bishop Knestout said, during his homily. Yet, “it is also a time to look to the future, to potential, to hope for new life and joy before us.”
Prince of Peace, Bishop Knestout said, is a parish with a bright future ahead of it.
“A life of faith, beautiful music, and the beautiful worship that is offered here … all of these are causes of joy, thanksgiving and gratitude to God,” he said.
Welcoming community
“When I think back to when I first drove up to Prince of Peace, to interview with Father Romeo Jazmin, I remember how welcome I felt,” said the pastoral associate at Prince of Peace, Sister Dolores Sabisky of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “As soon as I walked in, I felt right at home. It’s a warm, welcoming community.”
“It’s a vibrant parish,” Father Walugembe said. “During my time here, I’ve seen that this is a fast-growing parish.”
Father Walugembe said the parishioners of Prince of Peace are ready to carry their mission into the 21st century.
“Fifty years have been completed, and now we look forward to the next fifty years to come,” he said.
Rooted in friendship
In celebration of the jubilee year, presentation boards filled with photographs and old newspaper clippings were set up in the church commons, telling the story of Prince of Peace.
The parish began in the summer of 1967, when a group of Catholic women from the parishes of Holy Angels, Portsmouth, and St. Matthew, Virginia Beach, began to meet in their homes in Great Bridge for fellowship.
Their friendship led to a mission.
On Sept. 15, 1969, Father Donfred Stockert, pastor of St. Matthew, asked Bishop John J. Russell to place the entire Great Bridge area under one jurisdiction. Bishop Russell granted the request, designating the new mission “Prince of Peace.”
Prince of Peace’s first Mass was celebrated by Father Stockert on Sept. 6, 1970, in the auditorium of Great Bridge Elementary School. More than 200 people gathered for the event.
Constance Unser Perry, whose parents were among the founding members, recalled the early days of the parish.
“As a child, I remember attending Mass at Great Bridge Elementary and meeting for CCD in people’s homes. We met wherever we could,” she said.
In 1971, the mission began to celebrate Mass at Great Bridge Congregational Christian Church. It was a temporary home until a fire on Easter night of 1975 destroyed the building.
The Prince of Peace community, ever resourceful, found other places to meet, Perry said. “We were trying to figure out where we would go next. We ended up at the Village Flick Movie Theater,” she recalled, laughing.
In May 1975, Bishop Walter Sullivan made Prince of Peace a parish, naming Father Timothy Drake its first pastor the following year.
On Dec. 18, 1977 – more than ten years after that first gathering in a sunny living room – Prince of Peace Church on Cedar Road was dedicated.
Perry said that she and her husband, Michael, were married at the original church in 1987.
“I’m feeling a lot of nostalgia today,” Perry said. “I’m so grateful to mom and dad and their friends for doing this.”
‘Christ calls us’
“Prince of Peace is a very service-oriented parish,” said Mary Riley, a parishioner of 35 years.
Currently, Riley is serving as chair of both the peace and justice ministry and the evangelization ministry.
“It’s my passion,” she said. “We have several groups who are willing to help those who are in need. It’s very easy to get involved.”
Among the parish’s volunteer programs is the Father Romeo D. Jazmin Food Pantry, named for a former pastor.
“We serve 50 to 100 people every week,” Riley said.
Agape Feast is an ecumenical outreach ministry in which Prince of Peace works with local churches, schools, and nonprofits to serve those who are experiencing homelessness.
At Christmas, the parish provides gifts for children through its Advent Tree program.
“That’s another favorite memory of mine – being able to take my child to buy gifts and then deliver the gifts to families,” Riley said. “It’s good for children to see how others live and how important it is in our faith to serve those in need. That’s what Christ calls us to do.”
“Prince of Peace is a loving and caring parish,” she continued. “I’ve never had a parishioner tell me ‘no.’ We always have our arms open to whoever needs us.”