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Meet the clergy who serve the Catholic Cluster of Sacred Heart and St. James the Greater.
We are grateful for their ministry and pastoral care of our parish communities.
OUR PRIESTS
Our Pastor
Fr. Luis Zapata, I.V.E.
Our Pastor
Fr. Luis Zapata, I.V.E.
Email: lzapata@richmonddiocese.org
Fr. Luis Eduardo Zapata Fuenzalida, IVE, CIL, was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, on July 27, 1975. He is the son of Jose Pablo Zapata and Alma Liliana Fuenzalida, both of whom were teachers by profession. His father was a university professor of technical and automotive drafting, and his mother was an elementary school teacher.
The youngest of three siblings, his older sister is also a religious sister in the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word and is currently a missionary in Taiwan, while his brother is married with two children.
At the age of 13 y.o. in 1989, he entered the Minor Seminary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word in San Rafael, Argentina. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology in Argentina, he received the sacrament of the Holy Order on August 9, 2001. This year 2026, he is celebrating his 25th anniversary as a priest.
As a priest, Fr. Luis completed a two-year course in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. From there, he spent two years at a parish in Toronto, Canada, before serving for 21 years in the Philippines at Our Lady of Luján Parish in the Diocese of Kalookan, Manila.
There in the Philippines, he held various positions, including Local Superior, Parish Administrator, Parish Priest, Episcopal Vicar, and member of the College of Consultors and the Finance Council of the Diocese of Kalookan. In that same diocese, he served on the Ecclesiastical Tribunal as an Associate Judge, Attorney, Defender of the Bond, and Investigating Judge, among other roles.
He served as a professor of canon law at his congregation’s priestly formation house. In September 2025, he was assigned to his congregation’s formation house in Washington, D.C., where he has served as a professor of canon law to this day.
Now, as of September 1, 2026, he is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Prince George and St. James Parish in Hopewell. And he is as happy now as he has been throughout these 25 years as a priest and Catholic missionary.
He wholeheartedly entrusts himself to our prayers, that the Lord may grant him the grace and blessings necessary to be a good and holy shepherd, so that he may continue to guide many souls to Heaven. And may the presence of the men and women religious of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word be a source of abundant blessings for all our communities.
He also entrusts us to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word.
Our Parochial Vicar
Fr. Simón Magana, I.V.E.
Our Parochial Vicar
Fr. Simón Magana, I.V.E.
Email: simonmagana@ive.org
I am Father Simón Magana, it is with great joy and with God's help that I will be serving these beautiful communities of St. James and Sacred Heart.
I am originally from Mexico, but I lived in California for a few years. I am the youngest of twelve siblings. I belong to the congregation of the Missionaries of the Incarnate Word, and I completed my seminary formation in Maryland.
I have had the grace of doing missionary work for some time in Canada and later in California.
I ask for your prayers so that the Lord may help me serve each and every one of you well, and that the Virgin Mary may continue to accompany and protect these communities of St. James and Sacred Heart.
May St. James pray for us, and may the Sacred Heart of Jesus always be our strength and comfort!
Our Priests and the Institute of the Incarnate Word.
Our priests are members of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), a Catholic religious institute founded in Argentina in 1984. The Institute takes its name and spirituality from the great mystery of our faith: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Its priests and religious dedicate themselves to evangelization and missionary service, seeking to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into every aspect of human life and culture.
The Institute has a strong missionary character, with priests and religious serving the Church in countries throughout the world. Through parish ministry, education, works of charity, retreats, missions, and other forms of evangelization, members of the IVE seek to serve wherever the Church has need—bringing Christ to people and people to Christ.
We are blessed that the Institute of the Incarnate Word has entrusted priests to serve the communities of Sacred Heart and St. James the Greater, and we are grateful for their priestly ministry among us.
OUR PERMANENT DEACONS
Rev Mr Robert Straub
Permanent Deacon
Rev Mr Robert Straub
Permanent Deacon
Email: deaconbob@catholiccluster.org
Born and raised in Saint Marys, PA. Awarded a BBA in Accounting from Saint Bonaventure University, a MS in Systems Management from University of Southern California, and a MA in Pastoral Theology from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Deacon spent 20 years in the United States Army as an Aviation Maintenance Officer and an Operations research Analyst. He is an active member of the Missioners of Christ as well as a Spiritual Director and a CVCC Board Member for Cursillo. He was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Richmond 19 October, 2013. Among his current responsibilities, Deacon Bob assists in marriage preparations and processing annulments. He also has faculties with the Archdiocese of Military Services at Fort Lee, VA.
Rev. Mr. Esaud Feliciano
Permanent Deacon (Retired)
Rev. Mr. Esaud Feliciano
Permanent Deacon (Retired)
Email: palomaypalomo@verizon.net
Deacon Chao, as we all know him, was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 1966 I went to Waterbury Ct. In 1984 I lived the Cursillo of Christianity on April 22, I worked in 18 short courses in different services, I was the director of the Utrellas for three consecutive terms and then two more. I served as cup minister since mass began at the Church of the Sacred Heart. I am serving in it and by the grace of God, I was able to become a deacon on November 3, 2012. My children have given me ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and two twin great-granddaughters are on the way for God's blessing. I am thankful to the Hispanic community in which I serve in the name of the Lord, the priests and church employees, to my fellow deacons for their continued help in the Lord's way.
Rev. Mr. Edward G Hanzlik
Permanent Deacon (Retired)
Rev. Mr. Edward G Hanzlik
Permanent Deacon (Retired)
Email: Edwardh222@aol.com
Deacon Edward G. Hanzlik was born in and remains a member of Church of the Sacred Heart for over 80 years. He is married to his wife Evelyn (Skalsky) for over 50 years and they have four married children and eight grandchildren, all of whom live in Virginia. He was a Contract Administrator with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Transportation, retiring after having served there for 30 years. Deacon Ed has served the community of Sacred Heart as Coordinator of Christian Formation for 20 years and later as an ordained, Permanent Deacon for another 25+ years. He was instrumental in recording and preserving the history of both the parish and New Bohemia, resulting in Church of the Sacred Heart being recognized as a National Historic Site by the National Park Service.
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