history of saint mary's catholic church
Welcome to Saint Mary's Catholic Church! We are delighted that you have chosen to become part of our parish family. We hope you will find here a welcoming community where you can grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and encounter Christ through worship, service, and fellowship. We look forward to getting to know you and walking together in faith.
Saint Mary's Catholic Church was founded on May 25, 1962, under the leadership of its first pastor, Father John W. Rea. The original parish community was formed primarily by families from the neighboring parish of Saint Bridget. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Bishop John H. Russell noted that this new parish shared its name with several historic churches throughout the Diocese of Richmond, including Saint Mary's in Alexandria (1798), the first permanent Catholic church in Virginia; Saint Mary's in Norfolk (1858); and the original Saint Mary's in Richmond, the city's second Catholic church.
This video features parishioners who, through their own words, tell the story of the founding of Saint Mary's and the growth that it has experienced over the years.
On July 18, 1964, Bishop Russell dedicated the first church building along with a four-classroom education wing. Initially used for religious education, the building soon became the home of Saint Mary's Catholic School. On September 16, 1966, the school opened its doors to 190 students under the leadership of its first principal, Sister Michael Maria. As enrollment quickly grew, construction began on an expansion, and in December 1967 Bishop Russell returned to dedicate six additional classrooms and a library.
With the school expansion complete, the parish turned its attention to serving the wider community. Parishioners became actively involved in ministries such as Meals on Wheels and St. Peter's Lunch Ministry. During the 1970s, Saint Mary's also began sponsoring families through refugee resettlement programs. These outreach efforts laid the foundation for the parish's long-standing commitment to serving those in need through its Human Concerns ministries.
As the parish continued to grow, so did its ministries. Religious Education expanded, Youth Ministry was established, and parish outreach continued to flourish. Inspired by the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, participation in the liturgy also increased through the growth of Liturgical and Music Ministries, inviting more parishioners to share their gifts in worship.
To accommodate the rapidly growing parish family, a new church was designed and constructed between 1983 and 1984. On September 23, 1984, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan dedicated the new church and commons area. The original church building was transformed into the parish hall and gymnasium, continuing to serve the community in a new way.
Growth continued throughout the following decade. Increasing Mass attendance, school enrollment, religious education, and parish programs created the need for additional space. In August 1997, the middle school wing was completed, providing much-needed classrooms. At the same time, the area between the parish offices and the lower level of the school was enclosed to create what is now the Lower Commons, also known as the Msgr. Kelly Room.
Plans to further expand the church and educational facilities took shape in the early 2000s. Construction of the present church began in the fall of 2005 and was completed in 2007. Seating approximately 1,000 worshippers, the new church provides a beautiful and spacious home for the parish's liturgical celebrations. The former worship space was converted into the Commons, creating a welcoming gathering place for fellowship after Masses and large parish events. Beneath the church, the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) added six classrooms for the parish's youngest learners, along with the Bishop Sullivan Room, a versatile meeting space for parish ministries and events.
Following the dedication of the new church on September 13, 2007, parish leadership moved forward with plans for the Daily Mass Chapel. The 100-seat chapel, together with its Consolation Garden and Columbarium, provides a peaceful space for daily worship, prayer, and remembrance.
A decade later, during the summer of 2018, the parish undertook a major renovation of the elementary school. After faithfully serving students for more than fifty years, the building received new mechanical systems, windows, and lighting to create a more comfortable and energy-efficient learning environment. The renovation also transformed the former library into a state-of-the-art library and digital media learning center, expanded administrative offices, and created a new entrance to better welcome and safeguard the school community.
The parish's commitment to renewing its facilities continued in 2022 with the renovation of the Parish Hall/Gymnasium and kitchen. New flooring, HVAC, lighting, sound, and fire safety systems revitalized this well-loved space, allowing it to continue serving as a gymnasium, a venue for parish dinners and social events, and a worship space for Christmas and Easter liturgies.
Today, more than sixty years after those first families came together to form Saint Mary's Parish, we continue to witness the fruits of their faith, generosity, and vision. As members of this parish and school community, we inherit that same legacy of faith and are called to continue it through worship, service, and love of neighbor.
We believe, as we proclaim at every Mass, that it is right and just—our duty and our salvation—to give thanks to God and to serve one another with generous hearts.
Welcome to Saint Mary's. Welcome home.
