Welcome to the Portsmouth & Chesapeake Cluster of Parishes

Welcome to our Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth & Chesapeake website.  Please feel free to explore and learn more about each of our four parishes and our wide range of ministries.  Our Cluster provides a welcoming Christ-centered environment for everyone who desires to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ by offering the Sacraments and Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We want to welcome you not only to our website but also to our churches.

We want you to know we are here to support you and your loved ones through our prayer and action.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father David Cupps

No matter how long you have been away from the Catholic Church, you can always come home.   God is inviting you to dive into your faith in a deeper way than you ever have before.

You may already be feeling a strange inner pull to look into the Church again.  That spiritual longing you feel is God drawing you back to Himself.  God never forces; He only invites.  He leaves the decision to return to the Catholic Church up to you.

There are as many reasons for coming back to the Church as there are people who left.  While Christ is at the heart of the many reasons to come home to the Church, each individual’s experience in returning can be unique, depending upon whatever speaks to his or her heart.  Many people come back to the Catholic Church because they feel an intense longing for the Eucharist.  Sometimes it happens at a wedding, a funeral, a baptism, a First Communion or a Confirmation.   Sometimes it happens when people are alone or facing difficulties in life.  It's a deep hunger for the spiritual nourishment that comes when they receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  Others come back to the Catholic Church because they need healing or to forgive others.  Some of us carry deep spiritual wounds.  We struggle with anger at God over bad things that happen–a terminal illness, a debilitating injury, a broken relationship, mental or emotional problems, an act of violence against an innocent person, an unexplainable accident, some natural disaster, the death of a loved one or some other deep disappointment.  Sometimes we hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt us deeply.  But this anger and bitterness can eat at the heart of a person.  The Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God's help in the process of spiritual healing and help you get on with your life.

Awakening Faith, Reconnecting with Your Catholic Faith, is a small group process that helps inactive Catholics return to the Church.  The group meets once a week for six weeks of conversation and socializing.  The conversations are based on short, easy to read essays about spirituality, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God's mercy, the Mass and the Church.  The meetings foster reflection, prayer and honest sharing in a setting of hospitality and acceptance.  For a brief video overview of the program, please visit http://www.pemdc.org/programs/awakeningfaith.aspx.

Beginning in June, 2012, we will offer information sessions for anyone who wishes to explore their faith after having been away from regular Mass attendance.  In these sessions, you can discuss your questions and concerns with other returning Catholics.  If you would like to learn more about our faith community and today’s Catholic Church, please contact Marisa Beebe, Coordinator of Christian Formation, at 757.966.5461 or by email at christianformation@clusterparishes.com.

Matthew Kelly’s

Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality 

There are still opportunities to watch Matthew Kelly’s DVD on the Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality.  Matthew Kelly is an educator, best-selling author and speaker, whose passion is helping Catholics rediscover Catholicism.  The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality helps us appreciate the relevance of our faith in a world that understands it less with every passing day.  We all need our spirituality re-energized from time to time. 

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Marisa Beebe, Coordinator of Christian Formation at christianformation@clusterparishes.com or call 757.966.5461.

Video content may be found at http://vimeo.com/23160806

Roman Missal Changes

Changes to the Roman Missal are coming this Advent with the implementation of the English translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal.  Want to learn more about the changes?  Visit our Roman Missal page here.