October 22, 2026
IN THIS EMAIL
PARISH/SCHOOL NEWS & EVENTS
• Funeral Announcements NEW• Advent Study - Joy to the World NEW
• Share Your Christmas Story NEW
• All Souls' Day Mass of Remembrance
• Chanticleer Concert Tickets on sale now
• National Estate Planning Week
• Be an Informed Voter
• Winter Coat Collection
• First Reconciliation/Communion & Confirmation Preparation Registration
PARISH/SCHOOL NEWS
We offer prayers of consolation to the family and friends of Helen Lambert.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at
Saint Mary's on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at
Saint Mary's on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
We offer prayers of consolation to the family and friends of Helene Kopacz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at
Saint Mary's on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at
Saint Mary's on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
Joy to the World - An Advent Study
Joy is not a feeling we chase; it's a fruit that grows from trust. As Christians, we are called to say yes to God with full trust and surrender, like Mary did, not just in the big moments of life but again and again in the ordinary moments of our ordinary days.
This Advent, Joy to the World invites you to pause once a day to pray the Angelus and let it draw you deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation and prepare your heart to make your own personal fiat to the Lord.
A contribution of $4 per journal is appreciated to help towards covering the cost of the journal and shipping. Please sign up now so we can order additional journals if needed. Please use the link below to sign up for Waiting Well.
If you have any questions, please contact Anne-Marie Condlin at amcondlin@stmarysrichmond.org.
GENERAL INFORMATION/DATES:
(All meetings will be in person and on Zoom)
Book Pick Up & Intro:
Monday, November 23 - 10:30 a.m. & Tuesday, November 24 - 7:00 p.m.
(Book pick up can be arranged at other times)
Lesson 1:
Monday, November 30 - 10:30 a.m. & Tuesday, December 1 - 7:00 p.m.
Lesson 2:
Monday, December 7 - 10:30 a.m. & Tuesday, December 8 - 5:45 - 6:50 p.m.
NOTE: December 8th is a Holy Day - Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. in the Church.
Lesson 3:
Monday, December 14 - 10:30 a.m. & Tuesday, December 15 - 7:00 p.m.
Lesson 4:
Monday, December 21 - 10:30 a.m. & Tuesday, December 22 - 7:00 p.m.
Do you have a favorite Christmas ornament or decoration with a special story behind it? We’d love to hear about it!
We’re looking for families, couples, and individuals to share a favorite Christmas treasure and tell us the history, memory, tradition, or cultural connection that makes it meaningful to you.
Participation is simple: We would ask you to create a short video sharing your story. You can record it at home (vertical format) or, if you prefer, we can film you here at church. Your video will be featured on Saint Mary’s social media and website as part of our Countdown to Christmas Advent reflection series.
Share a little Christmas joy and let our parish family get to know the stories and traditions that make this season special! We hope to have 25 days of stories and memories to share.
Interested in participating?
Contact John Sweet at the parish office, 804-740-4044, or email jsweet@stmarysrichmond.org. More detailed information will be provided.
We’re looking for families, couples, and individuals to share a favorite Christmas treasure and tell us the history, memory, tradition, or cultural connection that makes it meaningful to you.
Participation is simple: We would ask you to create a short video sharing your story. You can record it at home (vertical format) or, if you prefer, we can film you here at church. Your video will be featured on Saint Mary’s social media and website as part of our Countdown to Christmas Advent reflection series.
Share a little Christmas joy and let our parish family get to know the stories and traditions that make this season special! We hope to have 25 days of stories and memories to share.
Interested in participating?
Contact John Sweet at the parish office, 804-740-4044, or email jsweet@stmarysrichmond.org. More detailed information will be provided.
You are invited to attend our annual All Souls' Day MASS OF REMEMBRANCE on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. At this special Mass, you will be have the opportunity to light a votive candle in memory of your deceased loved ones. We invite you to bring a small, framed photo of family members who have died. You can place this photo around our altar where they will remain and be remembered throughout the month of November.
As part of our sung prayer that evening, we will be joined by soprano Anne O'Byrne. After the liturgy, you are invited to remain for a reception in the Commons.
(Please do not bring the only copy of a precious photo and be sure to mark your name on the reverse side.)
As part of our sung prayer that evening, we will be joined by soprano Anne O'Byrne. After the liturgy, you are invited to remain for a reception in the Commons.
(Please do not bring the only copy of a precious photo and be sure to mark your name on the reverse side.)
Chanticleer is coming to Saint Mary's!
The GRAMMY® Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its wide-ranging repertoire and dazzling virtuosity.
On Monday, November 30th, Chanticleer will be at Saint Mary's performing their Christmas concert A Chanticleer Christmas.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Build Certainty Today
“Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock.” — Matthew 7:24
The faith we share at Saint Mary's Church was built by generations of parishioners who gave generously so that it would endure. During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, October 19–25, the Catholic Community Foundation – Serving the Diocese of Richmond is offering every parishioner free use of FreeWill, a secure online tool for writing a will.
In about 20 minutes, you can provide for your family and, if you wish, include a gift that sustains Saint Mary's for the next generation.
Learn more about what is on the ballot in Virginia at:
https://www.protectvirginia2026.org/
https://vacatholic.org/constitutionalamendments2026/
https://www.protectvirginia2026.org/
https://vacatholic.org/constitutionalamendments2026/
Virginia Family Services (VFS) is an accredited Substance Use and Behavioral Health Treatment Center dedicated to treating adults and children with substance use, mental health and/ or co-occurring disorders in Central Virginia. Their mission is to strengthen families by providing effective, supportive, and therapeutic services. VFS has requested winter coats for several of their clients.
Our Human Concerns Ministry & Knights of Columbus Council are working together to fulfill VFS’s request. Please help keep our neighbors warm during the coming winter, by selecting a person at VFS Winter Coats at https://bit.ly/4AqM0Vl and bring a new winter coat to any Mass on the weekend of October 31/November 1.
Please call or email Joe Colosi at 302-383-0117 or josephcolosi@yahoo.com with questions.
Our Human Concerns Ministry & Knights of Columbus Council are working together to fulfill VFS’s request. Please help keep our neighbors warm during the coming winter, by selecting a person at VFS Winter Coats at https://bit.ly/4AqM0Vl and bring a new winter coat to any Mass on the weekend of October 31/November 1.
Please call or email Joe Colosi at 302-383-0117 or josephcolosi@yahoo.com with questions.
Learn more about program offerings:
- Grades K-6 - https://www.stmarysrichmond.org/children
- Grade 7-12 - https://www.stmarysrichmond.org/youth
- Reconciliation & Eucharist - https://www.stmarysrichmond.org/Eucharist
- Confirmation - https://www.stmarysrichmond.org/confirmation