Welcome to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
A New Chapter in the Shenandoah Valley
Welcome to our new home on Sheppard Court, nestled on the western edge of the city of Waynesboro. While our physical structure is brand new, our roots in this community run deep. For 88 years, our parish family gathered at the corner of Maple Avenue and 11th Street in downtown Waynesboro—a church originally dedicated in 1932 as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi Church. In 1946, our parish was officially founded, and today, under the guidance of Fr. Francis Musolooza (our 17th pastor), we are thrilled to turn the page to an exciting new chapter in the story of the Roman Catholic community of Waynesboro and East Augusta County.
Our Sacred Space & Architecture
Named after St. John the Evangelist—the apostle, author of the fourth gospel, and the eagle who soared to spiritual heights—our new church building is designed to instruct, inform, and point us ultimately toward God.
Designed by principal architect Nicolas Charbonneau of Harrison Design, the church features a beautiful Romanesque style that balances medieval European elements with a sense of noble simplicity. Key highlights of our new home include:
· The Exterior Walls: Originally planned as brick, a generous anonymous donor enabled us to feature a stunning stone veneer of Tennessee Fieldstone, mirroring our previous downtown church. Just like the wide variety of unique, interlocking stones that give the wall its strength, our parish community is made complete by the unique diversity and gifts of each individual member.
· East-West Orientation: Built on a traditional liturgical axis, the rising Sunday morning sun streams through our front doors and down the center aisle to illuminate the altar, while the evening sun sets directly behind the sanctuary.
· Piazza San Giovanni: A grand, open Italian-style square greets those approaching the church, offering a formal space to gather, visit, and prepare our hearts before entering the massive, recessed main doors.
· The Narthex & Baptistry: Our spacious Narthex serves as a peaceful place of transition between the secular and the sacred. Directly entering the Nave, visitors meet the Baptism Font and a vibrant center rose window depicting Christ the King—lovingly brought over from our previous Maple Avenue sanctuary.
Community, Worship, and Future Growth
A church, however, is far more than its physical dimensions. It is the people of God, the community of believers, and the mystical Body of Christ.
Our main Nave comfortably seats 600 parishioners in contoured pews crafted by New Holland Church Furniture, featuring dedicated locations to seamlessly accommodate wheelchairs and assistive devices. At the heart of our worship space is the elevated Sanctuary, showcasing an
altar, ambo, and baptismal font beautifully sculpted from genuine Italian Carrara marble by Granda Liturgical Arts. Embedded within our altar are the sacred relics of eight beloved saints, connecting our modern worship to ancient church tradition.
As we look toward the future, we are actively focusing our fundraising and planning efforts on Phase 2: Our new Parrish Pastoral Center. This future addition will house our administrative, educational, social ministry, and community life spaces, allowing us to reclaim our temporary transept offices and add 300 more seats to our assembly.
Whether you are joining us in person, utilizing our step-free accessible walkways, or connecting with our community from home via our livestream services, you have a unique place here. We invite you to join us as we grow together in faith, diversity, and love for the Kingdom of God.