Brief History
of the Holy Infant Catholic Church

The Church of Holy Infant in Elkton traces its beginnings to May 19th of 1951 when two Redemptorist priests (CSsR) arrived to take charge of a mission area of some 1000 square miles. A thorough census of the area disclosed that there were 186 baptized Catholics. The priests, Rev. Raymond Govern (photo) and his assistant, Rev. Lawrence Murphy, made their headquarters at the Gables Hotel, Elkton, for two and one half years.

In May 1952 the Diocese of Richmond purchased a property where the church would be built. The ground breaking took place on February 22, 1953. The church, rectory and hall were constructed as a single unit according to the plans drawn up by the architect, Mr. Frank Martinelli and dedicated on 4 November 1953 by Bishop Peter Leo Ireton, who became the Bishop of Richmond on 14 April 1945. A generous benefactor, Mr. John Gaetano of Milford, Connecticut, who made the largest individual cash donation ($5,000.00), suggested the name "Holy Infant" in honor of the Infant of Prague. A large stained glass front window was designed for the church. The Catholic Extension Society also contributed generously toward the completion of the building.

Initially, Catholics in Luray and Stanley were served from this church. Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church was built in Luray and dedicated on October 31, 1954.

The Redemptorist fathers ceded administration of the parish in 1968 and it has since been staffed by priests of the Diocese of Richmond. In 1974 Page County, and with it the parish in Luray, was incorporated into the newly formed Diocese of Arlington.

In 1978 Bishop Walter Sullivan, D.D., who became the Bishop of Richmond on July 19, 1974, named Rev. Robert Warren pastor of Holy Infant, and shortly thereafter, of the newly formed Shepherd of the Hills Church in Greene County on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Major renovations to the sanctuary were completed in 1989 by Rev. Robert Dillon, and the foyer was added in 1992. The renovation consisted in, among other things, dismantling of the marble altar, placing of a wooden altar in the center aisle of the church, positioning of the pews across the aisle from each other, installation of a screen to separate the sanctuary from the church hall, and the removal of all stained glass windows from the sides of the church.

On 2 November 2003 the parish celebrated its 50th Anniversary with then pastor, Rev. Daniel Bain.

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, D.D., Ph.D, appointed as the 12th Bishop of Richmond on 31 March 2004 by the late Pope John Paul II, named Rev. Rolo Castillo as pastor of Holy Infant and Shepherd of the Hills in Greene County in June 2005. He was also in charge of the Campus Ministry at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. The church and the adjoining rectory got a new roofing and guttering.

Since June 13, 2006, the two parishes have been under the charge of Rev. Joy P. Credo, who was appointed by Bishop DiLorenzo as administrator.

In October of 2006 new windows were installed in the rectory, sacristy, and parish hall. April of 2007 saw the start of the extensive church renovation, mostly done by volunteer parishioners. It was to make the church more condusive to worship and prayer and to add more seating space for the growing number of parishioners and visitors from the Massanuten Resort. The wooden altar was moved into the sanctuary and the screen was placed behind the tabernacle. Trenches in the concrete floor were dug for electrical wires and the pews were repositioned to face the altar. A large platform was built to raise the altar and the wall between the sanctuary and the parish hall was reopened and folding doors were installed. The parish hall is used when there is an overflow of visitors. A new carpeting was installed in the church hall, and the parish hall and the sacristy got a new wood flooring. The three confessional cubicles were repaired and repainted and new lighting was installed in the sanctuary. The new ceiling was installed in the church foyer and the interior walls of the church and the parish hall were repainted. Stained glass windows of the four Evangelists--Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--were installed in the wall behind the tabernacle and beautiful stained glass windows were designed and put up on the sides of the church. The renovation work is still ongoing.