Saint Mary's Catholic Church sits on Gayton Road in Richmond's Short Pump area of western Henrico County, where it has anchored a growing Catholic community since 1962. Its parish mission is to facilitate the growth of the Catholic faith so that parishioners can Rejoice in the celebration of the Eucharist, Proclaim the Word of God, and Serve their neighbors in need wherever they may live. Today Saint Mary's is one of the larger parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, with a parish school that has served students for more than six decades, a church seating about a thousand worshippers, and a wide-reaching network of formation, liturgical, and outreach ministries.
A Parish Born in 1962
Saint Mary's Catholic Church was founded on May 25, 1962, under the leadership of its first pastor, Father John W. Rea. The original community was formed primarily by families from the neighboring parish of Saint Bridget. At the groundbreaking, Bishop John H. Russell noted that the 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.
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.
Parishioners soon became 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.
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.
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.
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 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 in September 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.
In 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.
In 2022, the Parish Hall/Gymnasium and kitchen were renovated. New flooring, HVAC, lighting, sound, and fire safety systems revitalized the 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.
Mass, Reconciliation, and the Livestream
Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment.
For those unable to attend in person, the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube, and recent Masses, homilies, and presentations remain available for later viewing. The parish also distributes a weekly bulletin and twice-weekly Flocknote emails so members can keep up with the schedule, scripture readings, and announcements.
The parish holds a regular Newcomers and Welcoming session in the Bishop Sullivan Room for those interested in registering. Each one-hour gathering introduces newcomers to the parish, offers an opportunity to meet the pastor and staff, and completes the registration paperwork, with refreshments and childcare provided.
A Sanctuary Built to Hold a Thousand
Built to seat approximately 1,000 worshippers, the new church is meant to be a house of prayer expressive of the presence of God, suited for the celebration of the sacrifice of Christ, and reflective of the community that celebrates there. Beneath it sits the Early Childhood Development Center, with classrooms for the parish's youngest learners, and the Bishop Sullivan Room, a flexible meeting space.
Adjoining the church, the Daily Mass Chapel seats 100 and opens onto the Consolation Garden and Columbarium. The columbarium, whose name comes from the Latin word columba - a dove and a symbol of God's Spirit and peace - offers single and double niches for the cremated remains of parishioners and their families. The Consolation Garden is anchored by a life-sized statue of the Blessed Mother created by Brother Joseph Aspell, depicting Mary gazing at the crown of thorns and opening her hands in acceptance of God's plan.
Children's Faith Formation
Children's Faith Formation, under the direction of Mona Bausone, Coordinator of Christian Formation, serves students from Kindergarten through Grade 6. Five program options are offered:
- Sundays from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
- Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Whole Family Formation for K-8 families, meeting one evening each month for dinner, age-appropriate student and adult sessions, and prayer
- A Home Study option for grades K-8, with materials and parent guides distributed quarterly
- Love and Faith Formation, an inclusive program designed to meet the needs of children and teens of all abilities, including those with disabilities and special needs
The $30 per-child Faith Formation fee is set so that no child is denied participation due to financial concerns.
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is open to all parish children in second grade and above. Parents participate actively through at-church retreats and at-home lessons, with a $50 preparation fee per child and the same commitment that no child will be turned away for financial reasons.
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered during the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday Masses throughout the school year. Children ages 4 through fourth grade are invited to process out of church after the Opening Prayer to hear the readings from the Children's Lectionary, share a reflection led by an adult leader, profess a simple Act of Faith, and offer their own prayers of intercession before returning to their families at the Presentation of the Gifts. Adult leaders and helpers, all of whom have completed VIRTUS training and background screening through the diocesan Safe Environment Program, are scheduled to serve once every four to six weeks.
A Sunday Nursery is also available during the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Masses for children who are walking up to age 4. Located in the Early Childhood Development Center beneath the church, the cooperative nursery is staffed by a paid coordinator and supported by parent volunteers who serve about once a month.
Becoming Catholic Through OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process by which adults become Catholic. It welcomes those who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian denomination who wish to enter the Church, and Catholics who were baptized but have not received the Sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist.
Sessions are held Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. throughout the year, coordinated by Richard Mallory, Coordinator of Adult Formation. The process involves the whole parish, and the community plays an important role in the liturgical rites: at the Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Welcoming, the Rite of Election, the Lenten Scrutinies, and the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
An adapted OCIA process is also available for children in third grade or older who have never been baptized or who were baptized in another Christian denomination. Those who have not been confirmed as adults and are over 18 may contact the Parish Office for information on adult confirmation preparation.
Youth in Grades 7 Through 12
Saint Mary's Youth Ministry, led by Director of Youth Ministry Chris Jenkins, draws teens in grades 7 through 12 into the celebration of the Eucharist, the teachings of Christ and the Church, and an experience of being loved within the community. The parish's stated goal is to lead all teens closer to Jesus Christ by empowering young people to live as disciples, drawing them into responsible participation in the life of the Catholic faith community, and fostering their total personal and spiritual growth.
Sunday Night Youth Ministry runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., beginning in the Lower Commons with a shared dinner and continuing with formation, small group discussion, prayer, and fellowship. This gathered program serves as the regular faith formation option required for all high schoolers not attending Catholic high school. A separate Youth Leadership Team invites confirmed high school juniors and seniors to help lead their peers and serve on the team.
Adults 18 and older who would like to support the teens in their journey of faith are invited to join the Adult Core Team. VIRTUS training and background screening are required for all adults working with children and youth in the parish.
A Sunday High School Bible Study, hosted by parishioner and youth leader Anne-Marie Condlin, is open to grades 11 and 12. The home-based group meets at 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. for brunch or 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for dinner and discusses the Sunday Mass readings and how they apply to daily life.
Confirmation Preparation is open to students in grade 10 and above who are baptized Roman Catholic and have already celebrated Reconciliation and Eucharist. Preparation sessions are held on selected Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The parish hosts a Confirmation Retreat in February that includes lunch and ends with the 5:30 p.m. Mass and the Blessing of Candidates. The Confirmation Mass with the Bishop is set by the Diocese.
The parish also sends groups to the annual Diocesan Youth Conference at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and to Catholic Heart Work Camp, a week-long summer Catholic mission trip for teens in grades 8 through 12.
Music and Liturgical Ministry
Music Ministry at Saint Mary's is directed by Deacon Chris Morash. The Parish Choir is open to all adults and teens regardless of musical ability, with rehearsals on Tuesday evenings and singing at weekend Masses, feast days, and seasonal celebrations. A Liturgical Bell Choir of about fifteen ringers rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings using three-to-five octave performance and liturgical music. Instrumentalists - strings, brass, or woodwinds - are invited to share their talent with the assembly on an occasional or seasonal basis.
Liturgical Ministry, led by Director of Liturgy Heather Heishman, brings together the Altar Servers (youth in fifth grade and above), Lectors, Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, and the Altar Linen Care team. Training is provided for each ministry, and commitment is based on a rotational schedule. Ushers greet and assist the assembly, facilitate the offertory collection, and help with post-liturgy preparation.
Saint Mary's Catholic School
Saint Mary's School is a Catholic elementary school in Henrico County and part of the school system of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Virginia Catholic Education Association, and received the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award in 2004. Saint Mary's is also authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization (MYP-IB) to students in grades 6 through 8.
The school's mission is to provide an opportunity to grow in faith, wisdom, and knowledge in a challenging academic environment formed by Catholic tradition. Its philosophy emphasizes learning as the process of acquiring and applying knowledge, thinking critically to solve problems, and stimulating curiosity through inquiry and discovery, with a Christ-centered approach that encourages responsibility, accountability, respect, and compassion for one another.
The school's spiritual theme is anchored in the verse "Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14). The school's vision is to apply Christ's teaching by instilling the value of service to others while giving students the skills to pursue further education.
Human Concerns and Outreach
Human Concerns, coordinated by Marie Kolendo, organizes the parish's service to neighbors near and far. Long-standing partnerships include CARITAS, which Saint Mary's has supported for more than thirty years in its work to break the cycles of homelessness and substance use, St. Peter's Lunch Ministry, where parishioners prepare and serve lunch to at least 200 people on the third Tuesday of each month, and Meals on Wheels, with eight routes covered by Saint Mary's volunteers on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
Parishioners also support Liberation Veteran Services, where a hot meal is prepared and delivered to clients on the third Saturday of each month, and Marywood Apartments, where a monthly birthday party, a full Thanksgiving meal, and a Christmas party with gifts are provided. The Door Ministry prepares and serves lunch to homeless guests at St. Peter's, a downtown Catholic church.
The Human Concerns Food Pantry stocks non-perishable food, cleaning items, and paper products for those in the parish and the wider community. The What's Mine Is Ours collection gathers food donations two weekends each month for distribution to area locations and to the parish's own pantry. Children Helping Children collects Christmas gifts during Advent for children in need locally.
The Haiti Ministry is part of a Diocesan Twinning relationship with a rural parish in Angouman, Haiti, and serves in three main areas: education, medical and dental needs, and humanitarian needs such as providing potable running water.
Prison Ministry extends Saint Mary's outreach to those who are incarcerated. Parishioners visit the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland County each Saturday for liturgy, prayer, and sharing, and offer an RCIA experience for women seeking to learn about the Catholic faith and journey toward full communion with the Church. The parish also serves on a regional team at Henrico Jails East and West.
An ESL program offers instruction in English to students at basic through advanced levels, with a Tuesday morning in-person class at the parish offices and a Sunday evening virtual class via Zoom. Citizenship classes are offered each summer for two evenings a week over six weeks to help refugees and immigrants prepare for the United States citizenship test.
Hopeful Smiles is the parish's oral health community support program, providing financial resources to eligible low-income individuals for urgent dental needs and comprehensive oral health care. Fair Trade coffee, teas, cocoa, and candy are offered for sale at parish functions, supporting equitable long-term partnerships with producers in developing regions.
The parish's Social Justice efforts also include Legislative Advocacy, encouraging parishioners to be a voice for the voiceless, particularly during the legislative session, and an Endowment Fund that supports nonprofit groups working to promote justice.
Community Life and the Parish Nurse Ministry
Community Life, coordinated by Mary-Alice Whitlock, weaves the parish together socially and practically. Coffee Servers refresh the assembly after weekend liturgies. The Community Life Events Committee plans receptions, parish dinners, and social activities. Confection Connection bakers donate cookies, brownies, breads, and bars for parish gatherings. The Funeral Team Reception Preparer serves food and beverages following funeral liturgies and welcomes the family and guests. Nifty Needlers gather weekly to knit or crochet prayer shawls, lap robes, baby blankets, scarves, hats, and other handcrafted items, which are distributed to those in the community in need of a warm hug.
Parish Nurse Ministry is open to parish health professionals who understand the vital link between body, mind, and spirit. Coordinators Denise DiCicco and Donna Doherty walk with parishioners through life's transitions and serve as health educators, advocates, trainers, facilitators, and liaisons, enhancing the support available through home health, hospice, and other community services. The ministry also produces Health Notes, a regular series of informational documents on topics ranging from heart disease and diabetes to vaccination, mental health, safety, and spiritual care.
Becoming Part of Saint Mary's, Giving, and the Lumen Christi Legacy Society
Registered parishioners can manage their family information through My Own Church, the parish's online portal. The platform allows members to update contact information, review their giving history, download year-end tax statements, and manage privacy preferences.
The parish accepts regular and one-time contributions through online giving, with options for general giving and memorial gifts. The Saint Mary's Catholic Church and School Chapter of the Lumen Christi Legacy Society encourages and assists legacy giving through wills and living trusts, gifts of stock and appreciated assets, gifts from retirement plans, gifts of life insurance, and gifts of real estate, supporting the long-term financial future of the parish and offering end-of-life resources in keeping with the Catholic faith.
The Knights of Columbus Monsignor Charles A. Kelly, Jr. Council #14129 meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. and annually offers scholarships and an Outstanding Young Man and Young Woman of the Year Award.
For ongoing formation, Saint Mary's offers a subscription to FORMED, a digital platform with Catholic Bible studies, sacramental studies, adult faith formation, movies, books, podcasts, and a daily reflection by email. The content can be accessed on any computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV, and through the FORMED app on iOS and Android devices. Adult faith formation opportunities also include in-person and Zoom Bible studies such as the Biblical Prophets series, the Fall Spirit Series on temperament and the Enneagram, the Nicene Creed series, and reflections on the Seven Last Words of Christ.