About Us

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is a mission parish located adjacent to the beautiful grounds of The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. Also nearby are many vacation homes, Bed & Breakfasts, and two state parks that draw year-round visitors. There is a small, but faithful group of registered parishioners who loyally volunteer their time and talents to support the parish and its pastor. Consequently visitors often outnumber locals in the pews and tend to be generous to the church. Many of the visitors are vacation home owners who attend Mass at the Shrine multiple times a year and feel a sense of belonging to the parish.

In addition to its uniqueness as a mission parish within walking distance of a luxury resort, The Shrine is also distinct because of its remoteness. Although Covington is less than 20 miles from Hot Springs, the drive is a perilous 30 to 40 minutes down the Allegheny Mountains, complete with hairpin turns and switchbacks. The parishioners and visitors are committed to supporting the Shrine so that there is the opportunity to worship in this scenic, but isolated community.