About Church of the Redeemer · Mechanicsville, Virginia
Church of the Redeemer is a Roman Catholic parish in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in the Diocese of Richmond. Founded in 1976 at the request of a small group of local Catholic families who previously had to travel into Richmond for Mass, the parish has grown to nearly 1,400 households and is located on Meadowbridge Road in Hanover County. It is currently led by Rev. James M. (Jim) Cowles and is supported by two permanent deacons, a Director of Parish Administration, and staff coordinators for religious education, youth ministry, music, and outreach. The parish celebrates weekend Masses in the church and brings daily Mass and other pastoral care to nearby facilities including Memorial Regional Medical Center, Covenant Woods, Bon Secours Richmond Hospital, and Hanover Health Care Nursing Home.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- The Redeemer (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. James M. (Jim) Cowles
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
Church of the Redeemer is a medium-sized, multi-generational Catholic community of roughly 1,400 families in the Mechanicsville/Hanover County area, with weekend and daily Masses, a livestreamed Saturday Vigil, and a full sacramental and faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults. The parish is known for its community spirit — its own founding pastor chose to 'build a community before we build a church' — and for active ministries such as the Knights of Columbus Council #11042, Catholic Daughters of the Americas Redeemer's Angels Court #2456, youth and young-adult ministry, adult faith formation, RCIA/OCIA, prison ministry at Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center, ecumenical prayer services with neighboring congregations, and outreach to local nursing homes, hospitals, and retirement communities.
Mass times at Church of the Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:00 PM
- By appointment
Our Story — A Parish Born from a Handful of Families
Before 1976 there were no Catholic churches in Mechanicsville, and Catholic residents had to commute into Richmond for Mass. That year a small group of local families petitioned Bishop Walter F. Sullivan to found a new parish. The diocese agreed, and Church of the Redeemer was born. Today the parish numbers nearly 1,400 families on Meadowbridge Road in Hanover County.
- Founded 1976
- Nearly 1,400 families today
- Located in Mechanicsville (Hanover County), Virginia
First Pastor and the 'Build a Community First' Vision
Founding pastor Father Robert Ruth famously declared, 'We're going to build a community before we build a church.' Area churches lent worship space while Ruth organized the territory into seven 'mini-parishes.' Each mini-parish met, shared religious education, and supported one another. The physical church on Meadowbridge Road was completed in 1980, four years after the parish's founding — by then the spiritual community had already been at work for years.
- Father Robert Ruth — founding pastor
- Seven 'mini-parishes' organized before a building existed
- Physical church built in 1980
50th Anniversary (2025–2026)
An anniversary committee formed in 2023 and was headed by Martha O'Keefe. Rather than a single day, parishioners chose a year of celebration divided into three streams: fundraising, 'fun-raising,' and service. Events included an ice cream party, international potluck, new directory photos, yard sale, casino night, and Oktoberfest. Service projects raised money for Haiti, packed meals for RISE Against Hunger, and made blankets for cancer patients.
- Golden-anniversary Mass celebrated May 17, 2026
- Presided over by Bishop Barry C. Knestout
- Father Jim Cowles honored on the 40th anniversary of his own ordination
Parish Clergy and Staff
Church of the Redeemer is led by Pastor Rev. James M. (Jim) Cowles, assisted by two permanent deacons. The parish staff includes coordinators for religious education, youth and young-adult ministry, music, outreach and pastoral care, and a director of parish administration.
- Rev. James M. (Jim) Cowles — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Dr. Chris Colville — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Ron Reger — Permanent Deacon
- Ms. Regina Watson-Fields — Director of Parish Administration
- Ms. Laurie Richman — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Ms. Renee Reisenweaver — Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Ms. Erin Woods — Secretary
- Ms. Diane Atkins — Music Minister
- Ms. Kate Chittum — Minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism requires a parent class; older children and adults enter through OCIA/RCIA; First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in 2nd grade; Confirmation is open to youth at least 15 and entering 10th grade; couples should contact Fr. Jim or a deacon at least six months before marriage.
- Infant Baptism — parent class required; immersion on designated weekends
- Christian Initiation of Children — ages 8+
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade and older
- Confirmation — youth 15+, entering 10th grade
- Matrimony — contact 6+ months in advance; premarital classes required
- OCIA/RCIA — adult initiation, contact Fr. Jim Cowles or Alec McGuire ([email protected])
Faith Formation for All Ages
Children's Faith Formation runs from Preschool/Kindergarten through Grade 12 with multiple program tracks: Sunday morning (8:30–9:45 AM) and Monday afternoon/evening (4:15–5:30 PM and 6:00–7:15 PM) classes for Grades K–5, family-based programs meeting twice a month, and a home-school option for parents who wish to teach their children at home. Adult Faith Formation is described by the parish as 'lifelong evangelization' — continuous learning essential to bringing the Gospel into every aspect of life. All volunteers working with children and youth must complete background screening and VIRTUS training.
- Preschool / Kindergarten — during the 10:00 Mass beginning in September
- Grades K–5 — Sunday 8:30–9:45 AM; Monday 4:15–5:30 PM and 6:00–7:15 PM
- Family-based programs — twice a month with other families
- Home-school track — supported through the diocesan Pathways catechist program
- Adult Faith Formation — lifelong evangelization
- Volunteers must be VIRTUS-trained and background-screened
Parish Organizations and Community Life
The parish hosts two large Catholic fraternal organizations. Knights of Columbus Council #11042 is open to Catholic men 18 and older and meets the first Monday of each month in Genesis Hall A; the council also awards two $1,500 scholarships to outstanding high-school seniors each year. Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Redeemer's Angels Court #2456 is open to Catholic women 18 and older and meets on the first Wednesday at 7:00 PM. The court's charitable work touches many local causes, including a Haiti teacher-sponsorship run through the parish.
- Knights of Columbus Council #11042 — meets 1st Monday, Genesis Hall A
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Redeemer's Angels Court #2456 — meets 1st Wednesday, 7:00 PM
- Annual $1,500 Outstanding Young Man / Young Woman scholarships (Knights of Columbus)
Outreach, Charity, and Pastoral Care
The parish maintains an active outreach and pastoral-care ministry. The Music Minister also serves as Minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care. Priests and deacons bring Mass and Communion to Bon Secours Richmond Hospital, Hanover Health Care Nursing Home, and Covenant Woods retirement community, and minister at the Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center. Recent and ongoing service projects include the Haiti teacher sponsorship, RISE Against Hunger meal-packing, blanket-making for cancer patients, and support of East End Pregnancy Center, Fisher House, Habitat for Humanity, March for Life, 40 Days for Life, Special Olympics Polar Plunge, and Vacation Bible School.
- Prison Ministry — Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center
- Pastoral care at Bon Secours Richmond Hospital, Hanover Health Care Nursing Home, Covenant Woods
- Haiti Ministry — sponsorship of a teacher
- RISE Against Hunger meal-packing
- Ecumenical prayer services with Messiah Lutheran Church and other neighbors
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
Adults interested in the Catholic Church are invited through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). The process begins with a Period of Inquiry — an unstructured time of questions and the beginnings of Christian faith — followed by formation, the Rite of Election (typically at the cathedral), the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and ongoing mystagogia. New inquiry groups are formed three times a year. Inquiries may be directed to Fr. Jim Cowles or to Alec McGuire ([email protected]).
- Period of Inquiry — entry point for seekers
- Rite of Election at the cathedral
- Initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Ongoing mystagogia after reception
- Contact: Fr. Jim Cowles or Alec McGuire
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
The parish office is at 8275 Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Phone: (804) 746-4911. Fax: (804) 746-8657. Office hours are Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM; the office is closed on Friday. The parish website is www.churchredeemer.org, the Saturday Vigil Mass is livestreamed on Facebook at facebook.com/churchredeemer, and the parish is parish #573 in the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 6).
- Address: 8275 Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116
- Phone: (804) 746-4911
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed Friday)
- Diocese of Richmond parish #573, Deanery 6
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Ruth1976–
First pastor of the parish. Famously stated 'We're going to build a community before we build a church.' Divided the area into seven 'mini-parishes' before the physical church was built in 1980.
- Father John J. Wagner
Listed in diocesan clergy-assignment announcements as being reassigned from Pastor of Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville, to Pastor of Holy Rosary, Richmond.
- Rev. James M. Cowles
Came to the parish from St. Therese, Gloucester. Celebrated the 40th anniversary of his own ordination at the parish's 50th anniversary Mass on May 17, 2026.