About Epiphany · Richmond, Virginia
Church of the Epiphany is a Roman Catholic parish in North Chesterfield, Virginia, in the Diocese of Richmond, founded in 1979 to serve the growing southwestern suburbs of Richmond. The parish community lives out its mission through four foundational 'planks' — Liturgy, Formation, Outreach, and Fellowship — and is known for its daily Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and the regional Catholic school it shares with nearby St. Edward parish. Current pastor is Very Rev. John C. Kazibwe, originally of the Diocese of Masaka in Uganda, who has served the parish since July 2013.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- The Epiphany of the Lord
- Rector
- Very Rev. John C. Kazibwe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Richmond (Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Virginia)
Why belong here
Church of the Epiphany is a suburban Catholic parish that has anchored the Chesterfield County Catholic community for more than four decades, offering daily Mass on weekdays and a livestreamed Sunday liturgy alongside year-round faith formation for every age — elementary Christian Formation, Edge middle-school ministry, Life Teen high-school ministry, an OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults, and a separate young-adults group. Parishioners live the parish's four 'planks' through prison ministry at Central Virginia Correctional Unit #13, youth outreach with Housing Families First, Vacation Bible School, Music Camp, and a Music Camp for grades K–12, as well as a thriving fellowship life on the Smoketree Drive campus. Families with children benefit from the parish's partnership with Saint Edward-Epiphany Catholic School (PreK–8), and the parish maintains its own columbarium on site.
Mass times at Epiphany
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Minor Worship Chapel)
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Identity & Four Planks
Church of the Epiphany describes itself as a vibrant Roman Catholic parish community located in North Chesterfield, Virginia, organized around four foundational 'planks' on which the parish was built: Liturgy, Formation, Outreach, and Fellowship. The parish's mission statement invites newcomers to join the community as it strives to live the message of the Gospel through these four commitments. Newcomers can register at the Welcome Desk in the Commons after weekend Masses or in the parish office during normal business hours; a fillable online registration form is also available.
- Four parish planks: Liturgy, Formation, Outreach, Fellowship
- Parish registration available at the Welcome Desk or via online form
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Very Rev. John C. Kazibwe as pastor, together with two permanent deacons, Rev. Mr. Stephen Haut and Rev. Mr. Victor Valle. Father Kazibwe is a priest of the Diocese of Masaka in Uganda, ordained on August 2, 2003; he came to the Diocese of Richmond in April 2008 at the invitation of the late Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo. After a year as parochial vicar of a three-parish cluster in Southside Virginia and four years as pastor of the same cluster (St. Catherine of Siena in Clarksville, St. Paschal Baylón in South Boston, and Church of the Good Shepherd in South Hill), he was transferred to Church of the Epiphany in July 2013. Before entering the seminary in Uganda, he served for nine months as a parochial vicar in his home diocese and for four years as private secretary to the retired Bishop of Masaka.
- Very Rev. John C. Kazibwe — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Stephen Haut — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Victor Valle — Permanent Deacon
Christian Formation
Epiphany's Christian Formation program supports the lifelong formation of parishioners into witnesses to Christ, opening their hearts to the spiritual transformation given by the Holy Spirit. The parish offers comprehensive religious formation for children, middle and high-school youth, and adults, including regular classroom sessions for children and youth, large and small study groups for adults, and sacrament preparation at every age. Seasonal offerings include a Lenten parish retreat and Vacation Bible School. Parishioners and guests are invited to participate in programs and to volunteer as catechists, facilitators, or hospitality ministers.
- Elementary Christian Formation for children
- Middle and High School Youth Formation
- Adult Formation: small groups, ARISE series, Prayer/Meditation/Song series
- Sacrament Preparation and OCIA for adults and children
- Seasonal Lenten parish retreat and Vacation Bible School
Youth Ministry Programs (Edge & Life Teen)
For middle-schoolers, the parish runs Edge — a Catholic middle-school youth ministry program that provides a safe, fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, get answers about their faith, and experience Jesus personally. For high-schoolers, the parish hosts Life Teen, a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church that leads teens and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church, with the Blessed Virgin Mary as intercessor and guide. Both programs rely on adult and young-adult Core Team volunteers. The parish also offers 'Come Follow Me' evenings of Word, Worship, and Witness open to older teens, young adults, and adults interested in the Catholic faith.
- Edge Middle School Youth Ministry (Mondays 6:00–7:30 PM)
- Life Teen High School Youth Ministry (Sundays 6:00–7:30 PM)
- Confirmation Preparation (10th–12th grade candidates)
- Come Follow Me evenings of Word, Worship, and Witness
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
Epiphany's Adult Formation committee curates events and activities to bring adults into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, including small-group leadership for the ARISE series and witness/readers roles in the Prayer, Meditation, and Song music series. The parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets once a month and welcomes anyone curious about the Catholic faith, those preparing to become Catholic, and those seeking to receive sacraments they may have missed earlier in life. Deacon Jim Eckert is the parish contact for OCIA inquiries.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — monthly meetings
- ARISE small-group series
- Prayer, Meditation, and Song series
- Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–35)
Outreach & Prison Ministry
Outreach is one of the parish's four foundational planks. Epiphany maintains an ongoing prison ministry at Central Virginia Correctional Unit #13, and the parish's youth ministry partners with Housing Families First for outreach projects. Vacation Bible School and Music Camp offer seasonal intergenerational formation opportunities, and the parish's Welcome Desk serves as the entry point for new members to register and learn how to get involved.
- Prison Ministry at Central Virginia Correctional Unit #13
- Housing Families First youth outreach
- Vacation Bible School (week-long summer program)
- Music Camp (children and youth)
Saint Edward-Epiphany Catholic School
The parish is co-sponsor of Saint Edward-Epiphany Catholic School, a regional PreK–8 Catholic school that serves both Church of the Epiphany and the neighboring St. Edward parish. In September 1979, the same year Church of the Epiphany was founded as a new parish, St. Edward's School was reorganized as a regional school and renamed Saint Edward-Epiphany Catholic School. The school is located at 10701 W. Huguenot Rd, Richmond, VA 23235, with its own phone line (804-272-2881) and website (seeschool.com).
- Regional Catholic school serving PreK through 8th grade
- Renamed Saint Edward-Epiphany in September 1979 when Epiphany parish was founded
- Address: 10701 W. Huguenot Rd, Richmond, VA 23235
- Phone: (804) 272-2881
Church of the Epiphany Columbarium
On the parish campus at 11000 Smoketree Drive, the parish operates its own columbarium for the inurnment of cremated remains of parishioners and their family members. The columbarium is listed by the Diocese of Richmond as an active cemetery facility offered by the parish, with inquiries handled through the parish office at 804-794-0222, extension 16.
- On-site columbarium at 11000 Smoketree Drive, Midlothian, VA 23236
- Active cemetery facility listed by the Diocese of Richmond
- Inquiries: 804-794-0222, ext. 16
Plan Your Visit
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at Church of the Epiphany. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and sacramental emergencies after hours are handled by calling 804-794-0222 and following the prompts. Visitors are invited to worship at any of the parish's weekday or Sunday Masses, to sign up for Christian Formation programs for their children or themselves, and to register as parishioners either online or in person at the Welcome Desk in the Commons after weekend Masses.
- Parish office: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- After-hours priest emergency line: 804-794-0222
- Registration: at the Welcome Desk in the Commons or via the fillable online form
- Sunday 11:00 AM Mass available via livestream
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. John C. KazibweJuly 2013–present
Priest of the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda; ordained August 2, 2003; served as parochial vicar then pastor of the South Hill/Clarksville/South Boston cluster before transfer to Epiphany.