WELCOME TO
St. Mary's Catholic Church
As you read through this welcome booklet, you will discover that we are a community of faith that never sleeps. There is always something happening -
something for everyone.

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Parish Staff & Information, Our Parish History, Ministries of St. Mary's, Sacraments, Parish Facility, Registration

Our Parish History

St. Mary's Catholic Church was founded on May 25, 1962 under the leadership of the pastor, Father John W. Rea. The first parishioners came from the neighboring parish, St. Bridget. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Bishop John H. Russell stated that this new parish was the namesake of many of the other historic churches in the diocese. He named St. Mary's in Alexandria (1798), the first permanent Catholic Church in Virginia, St. Mary's in Norfolk (1858) and the old St. Mary's in Richmond, which was the city's second Catholic Church.

Bishop Russell dedicated the first church on July 18, 1964, along with a four-classroom education unit, which was first used for religious education and then became the parochial school. On September 16, 1966, St. Mary's School opened its doors to 190 students with Sister Michael Maria as its first principal. Almost immediately, it became necessary to increase the size of the school building. Construction began, and in December of 1967, Bishop Russell returned to dedicate the addition of six classrooms and a library.

During the ensuing years, the number of parishioners at St. Mary's continued to grow. Between 1983 and 1984 a new Church was designed and constructed to accommodate the growing parish family. On September 23, 1984, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan dedicated the new Church and Commons area. The original church building became the gymnasium and parish hall.

Ten years later, there was an obvious need for the parish to expand. There was an increase not just in the numbers of children enrolled in the Parish School and Christian Formation programs, but also in the number of people attending Mass on weekends. In addition to this there was the growth and expansion of parish ministries and an overall increase in the number of people using our facilities.

A building plan was presented to the parish in 1996. The plan is now one-third completed. The Worship Space conforms to the building design and enhances our Liturgical celebrations. Much needed educational/formation space was provided and the lower commons area is now enclosed, providing a place for meetings, hospitality and parish celebrations. As St. Mary's continues to grow, much of the space intended for parish meetings and celebrations has been, out of necessity, been converted to classroom use. Because of our continuing growth and ever increasing need for more space to accomplish our mission and serve our faith family, the parish is currently involved in a building campaign to complete our expansion project. Full details of this campaign can be found on our website: www.stmarysrichmond.org/building.

St. Mary's has always been a vibrant and active community. The spiritual growth and development of the parish is evident not only in the many church ministries, which serve the parishioners, but also in the countless outreach ministries, which serve the community. The presence of the school and the many formation programs for adults and children attest to our commitment to the importance of Catholic education and formation. The parish mission statement will continue to define St. Mary's Church as we enter into the new millennium, so that we can continue, by the grace of God, to grow and change for future generations of faith.

A Brief Glimpse into the Ministries of St. Mary's
(To see more details about a particular ministry, go to the appropriate page of our website using the links on the side.)

Adult Formation opportunities and events enrich, inform, and nurture our adult development, as well as our understanding and lived experience of the Christian faith. Some of these offerings center specifically on areas of spiritual growth and catechesis, while other offerings focus on areas of human and personal development. Throughout the year, many opportunities are offered and publicized through our bulletin and the annual Adult Formation Opportunities booklet.

Christian Formation encompasses all of our formal religious education programs, grades K-12. Led by the Christian Formation Board, our Christian Formation program offers formal religious education and Sacramental preparation classes to all parishioners, grades K-12. In addition to our Christian Formation classes, we offer a Vacation Bible School Week during the summer. Throughout the year, a variety of parent educational opportunities are offered as well as family events.

Our Community Life ministry provides opportunities throughout the year for our parish family to gather and know that we live in community. Some samples of past Community Life activities include: Karaoke nights, Parish Dinner Dance, Community Picnic, weekly hospitality after all Masses each weekend, receptions, and much more. All events are publicized in advance.

Our Human Concerns and Social Justice ministries seek to serve the community through outreach and the promotion of social justice. Led by the Human Concerns Committee, over 30 individual ministries are coordinated in the area of Human Concerns. The committee meets monthly to assess the current programs, plan parish-wide special events, and vision ways to lead the community in the ART (Act, Reflect, Transform) of justice and peace. Some of the Human Concerns activities are: BeFriender Ministry, ESL classes, Prison Outreach, Legislative Advocacy, a bi-monthly food collection. In addition, each year, St. Mary's participates in CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter). For one week each year, St. Mary's becomes home to families who have nowhere else to live. These are just a few of the ways our Human Concerns ministry serves the parish and wider community.

The goal of our Liturgical Ministries is to facilitate and enhance our communal prayer experiences at St. Mary's. This includes Art and Environment, Altar Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry, Lectors, Hospitality, and more. The involvement of our Liturgical Ministers is essential to the beautiful and powerful celebrations of Liturgy at St. Mary's. Our celebrations reflect who we are as a community of Catholic Christians.

"Among the many signs and symbols used by the Church to celebrate its faith, music is of preeminent importance." This quote from the document, Music in Catholic Worship, is lived at St. Mary's. Our community sings!! Our Music Ministry includes cantors, adult and children's choirs, adult and children's bell choirs, and instrumentalists. Our music enhances and supports our communal prayer experiences here at St. Mary's.

Our Pastoral Ministry provides comfort, companionship, and the Sacraments to those who are alone, hospitalized, homebound, etc. This ministry includes Eucharistic Outreach, Funeral Team Ministry, and Parish Nurse Ministry.

Our parish is blessed to have St. Mary's School as one of its ministries. The school is please to provide an educational environment where students can be challenged academically in a Christian setting. In this atmosphere, children are taught to respect the dignity of each human being, to recognize their own God-given gifts and to develop them to their highest potential. Our school provides classes for grades Pre-K - 8.

Our Youth Ministry offers a wide variety of activities throughout the year for teens in Middle and High School. These events range from outreach and workcamps with a variety of local agencies to white-water rafting, rock climbing, lock-ins, game nights, and much more. All events are always open to St. Mary's parishioners and their friends.

Sacraments: The Church Celebrates!!

The Baptismal Preparation program welcomes parents who want to have their children (Birth to age 6) baptized. This program provides an opportunity for parents to understand and grow in their own call as baptized Catholics and their responsibility as the primary catechists in their child's life. Families must be registered in the Parish for at least 3 months before attending the required preparation classes. Expectant parents are encouraged to attend classes before the birth of their child.

RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a year-round process of formation which welcomes and accompanies adults who are interested in joining the Catholic Church. The group meets on Wednesday evenings, and the celebration of Sacramental Initiation takes place at the Easter Vigil. Sponsors from the parish community journey with those who are seeking to join the Church.

CICCA - Christian Initiation of Children of Catechetical Age is the process that welcomes children of catechetical age who have not been baptized or were baptized in another Christian denomination and who want to join the Catholic Church. It helps them to learn about the Catholic faith, and prepares them to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (Grades 2 and 3): Before beginning this preparation process, a child must be attending Christian Formation sessions or Catholic school and families must be registered, active parishioners of St. Mary's. There are six Parent/Child. Reconciliation preparation MUST BE COMPLETED prior to preparation for Eucharist. Parents, as primary catechists, teach their child at home (lesson guides are provided) and are supplemented by the Parent/Child gatherings. Children and parents receive an educational component at each workshop, and work together for a portion of the workshop. A copy of your child's Baptismal Certificate is required at registration.

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (Grades 4 and up): The child must be attending Christian Formation or Catholic School. During the month of November, there are two sessions for the preparation of Reconciliation. During the month of March, there are three sessions for the preparation of Eucharist. Parents, as primary catechists, teach their child at home (lesson guides are provided).

Reconciliation is offered on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm - 7:30pm. Our Pastor will be available for individual celebration of this Sacrament in the Reconciliation room adjacent to the Commons area. During the seasons of Advent and Lent, consult the bulletin for the time of communal celebrations of this Sacrament.

Anointing of the Sick is offered at two communal celebrations during the year. Individual celebrations of this Sacrament can occur anytime by contacting the Pastor or Pastoral Associate.

Confirmation in the Diocese of Richmond occurs in the 11th grade. Participation in a two-year preparation process (10th & 11th grade or 11th & 12th grade) is required, with the celebration of the Sacrament occurring at the end of the second year. See the Youth Ministry page on this site for more detailed information.

Adult Confirmation is a program available to adults who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The sessions meet weekly on Wednesday evenings during the Lenten season. Confirmation takes place at the Easter Vigil Service.

Marriage: At least one of the parties must be registered and participating in the Parish for at least 3 months prior to contacting the Pastor to begin pre-marital preparation. Couples must plan to begin pre-marital preparation 6 months prior to your proposed wedding date. Completion of a Christian Marriage Formation workshop is required.

A Quick Look at Our Parish Facility

Our Church/Worship Space, is the place where we, the People of God, gather to celebrate the source and summit of our Faith - the Eucharist, the Mass. Inside, the Altar is at the center of our celebration, with the Ambo and Presider's Chair prominently positioned. Above the Altar is a beautiful crucifix, with stained glass panels that change color with the liturgical seasons. As we enter, we pass the Baptismal Font, signing ourselves in remembrance of our own Baptism into this Church community. Here in this church is where our community gathers for all of the important Sacramental and Liturgical events in our parish family - Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, RCIA Rites and Funerals.

The Commons is our place to gather before and after Mass, funerals, and other liturgical services. It is a place of welcome. It serves as a place for receptions and socials. This entrance into our church is fully handicap accessible, with an electric door in the front and an elevator for those entering from the back.

In the Commons, one will find our Blessed Sacrament Chapel, our Reconciliation Room, and our Chapel. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel, adorned on either side with an icon, holds our tabernacle and is a quiet space for prayer and adoration. The Reconciliation Room is a peaceful space suited for experiencing this Sacrament of Healing. Our Daily Mass Chapel is now home to our School's religion classes, Christian Formation classes, and RCIA sessions. It is, unfortunately, too small to use for daily Mass.

Underneath the Church and Commons are our Lower Commons and Office area. The Lower Commons provides a place for gathering after Mass to share coffee and conversation. It is the place for receptions, small dinners, RCIA meetings, parenting meetings, youth activities, Boy Scout meetings, Christian Formation classes and Adult Formation sessions. The Parish Offices are located adjacent to the Lower Commons. The offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Also in this area are our Pre-kindergarten classrooms and our 2 & 3 year olds program, CASTLE. The CASTLE room serves as our nursery on Sunday mornings.

Our School/Education facility is home to St. Mary's School during the week. On afternoon and weeknights, it becomes the home to a number of meetings; Girl and Boy Scouts, Christian Formation classes, adult formation and education classes, and Children's Liturgy of the Word. It is also filled with enthusiasm and excitement as over 200 children come for a week of Vacation Bible School during the summer.

Our Parish Hall/Gym is the place where everything from sports, to after school care, to dances take place and it is always in use. At almost anytime during the week, you can enter and hear the bouncing of basketballs, see a gathering of Boy Scouts, hear the sounds of music from a parish dinner dance, school production, Mardi Gras or a teen dance, see the school children participating in physical education classes, over 100 middle school youth attending religion classes, or attend Mass on holidays. One week during the year, this space becomes home to homeless families as St. Mary's participates in CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter). And this is just some of the activity in this room.

REGISTERING AT ST. MARY'S

We offer new parishioners the opportunity to register one Sunday per month, at 2:00 pm in the Church. This is the only time one can register. We believe that becoming a parishioner is not just a "paperwork" process, but a decision to be a committed member of this community and the desire to make this parish their home. Because we are the Body of Christ it is important for all members to bring their gifts to the community. Through our Newcomer's Orientation, new parishioners are offered the opportunity to hear about St. Mary's, learn about the different ministries we support, meet some of our current parishioners, and be introduced to the staff. We conclude our orientation with the actual paperwork part of registration. Always check the bulletin or website for the dates of orientation. Generally it is held on the fourth Sunday of the month.

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