November 5, 2026
IN THIS EMAIL
PARISH/SCHOOL NEWS & EVENTS
• An Invitation from Chanticleer NEW
• Wanted - Saint Nicholas & Santa Claus NEW
• The Advent Spirit Session NEW
• Thanksgiving Sharing
• Advent Study - Joy to the World
• Share Your Christmas Story - We are still in need of more participants!
AROUND TOWN
• Annual Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum
PARISH/SCHOOL NEWS
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!
Do you have a special figurine of Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus that you would be willing to share with the parish this Advent and Christmas season? We are looking for unique statues, carvings, or figurines of Saint Nick & Santa for our parish Display Case. These can be up to18 inches in height.
If you would like to share an item, please contact Kathleen Hogan at the parish office (khogan@stmarysrichmond.org) and bring your item to the parish office no later than November 24.
Items will remain in the display case through Epiphany. Please be sure to attach your name and phone number to each figure.
If you would like to share an item, please contact Kathleen Hogan at the parish office (khogan@stmarysrichmond.org) and bring your item to the parish office no later than November 24.
Items will remain in the display case through Epiphany. Please be sure to attach your name and phone number to each figure.
You are invited to come experience Ghost Stories During Advent! Did you know the original title of Charles Dicken’s classic was, A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas?
You are invited to come and explore what Charles Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol can teach and inspire us about the themes of Advent! Come to learn, come for fellowship, and come for relaxation during the hectic Advent and Christmas Season!
(The Advent Spirit Session will be facilitated by Teresa Tivenan, LCSW. Teresa is a Catholic licensed counselor, workshop presenter, and retreat leader. Teresa has also enjoyed getting to know the parishioners of Saint Mary’s through facilitating numerous talks and retreats, as well as the Summer and Fall Spirit Series.)
Please feel free to email Teresa at t2Lcsw@gmail.com if you have any questions about the Advent Spirit Session.
You are invited to come and explore what Charles Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol can teach and inspire us about the themes of Advent! Come to learn, come for fellowship, and come for relaxation during the hectic Advent and Christmas Season!
The Advent Spirit Session will be held on – Thursday, December 3, 2026,
from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Bishop Sullivan Room.
YOU CAN REGISTER BELOW
(The Advent Spirit Session will be facilitated by Teresa Tivenan, LCSW. Teresa is a Catholic licensed counselor, workshop presenter, and retreat leader. Teresa has also enjoyed getting to know the parishioners of Saint Mary’s through facilitating numerous talks and retreats, as well as the Summer and Fall Spirit Series.)
Please feel free to email Teresa at t2Lcsw@gmail.com if you have any questions about the Advent Spirit Session.
This year, we will again provide Thanksgiving for those we serve locally. In 2025, through your generosity we provided over 425 Kroger gift cards to the organizations and families we serve. With the rising cost of food, utilities and other household expenses, we expect this year’s need to be even greater.
We are asking parishioners to donate $25 Kroger cards for this outreach. Boxes to receive gift cards are available on the WMIO table in the upper commons and lower hallway.
We need all cards returned by Monday, November 16th so that we can count them and prepare them for delivery to the nonprofits and families we partner with.
Thank you for your support of this vital outreach! Your generosity enables the families we serve to purchase food they will enjoy for Thanksgiving! For questions, contact Marie in the parish office 804-740-4044.
We are asking parishioners to donate $25 Kroger cards for this outreach. Boxes to receive gift cards are available on the WMIO table in the upper commons and lower hallway.
We need all cards returned by Monday, November 16th so that we can count them and prepare them for delivery to the nonprofits and families we partner with.
Thank you for your support of this vital outreach! Your generosity enables the families we serve to purchase food they will enjoy for Thanksgiving! For questions, contact Marie in the parish office 804-740-4044.
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.
AROUND TOWN
Mass in memory of All Saints and Souls
The annual memorial Mass in memory of All Saints and Souls will be celebrated in the Mount Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel on Saturday November 7th, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. Please join us in remembrance of past loved ones. Call Shell Hulcher at 355-5271 for more information.
The address of the cemetery is 1400 S. Randolph St., Richmond, Va. 23220.