The funeral Mass for Father James E. Parke will be celebrated Thursday, May 2, at Church of the Ascension, Virginia Beach. Father Parke, 79, died Monday, April 22.

Father Parke was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1965 and incardinated into the Diocese of Richmond in 1977.

He moved to Richmond to serve as the director of the College Contact Program from 1975-1980.

Father Parke was pastor of Holy Rosary, Richmond (1978-1985); Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Salem (1985-1994); and Church of the Ascension, Virginia Beach (1994-2011). From 2004-2012 he served as pastor of the Catholic community at the Anglican/Roman Catholic Community of the Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach.

Father Parke was chair of the Diocese of Richmond’s retirement committee for 12 years and vice president of the Virginia Council of Churches.

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.