About Holy Rosary · Richmond, Virginia
Holy Rosary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the Church Hill / northside area of Richmond, Virginia (3300 R Street). It was formally established in 1953 by Bishop Peter Ireton as the first African-American Catholic parish in the city, growing out of the Church Hill Catholic Mission started in the late 1940s by Redemptorist Fathers who had gathered with the Pollard family for prayer and worship. The parish is currently led by Rev. Fr. Tochi Iwuji, assisted by Permanent Deacons Francis Nelson Jr. and Melvin Dowdy. It belongs to the Diocese of Richmond and serves as both a worshipping community and a center for African-American Catholic life in the city, with active music, youth, social-justice, and sacramental ministries.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Magnus Tochi Iwuji
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
Holy Rosary is a historic African-American Catholic community with deep roots in Richmond — the parish's own description calls it 'Richmond's oldest existing African-American Roman Catholic Church.' It combines strong, music-filled liturgical worship with active faith formation for children and adults, an RCIA / OCIA process, a vibrant youth and young adult ministry, and a robust social-justice outreach (Society of St. Vincent de Paul, AIDS Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, CARITAS, Angel Tree, Liberation Veterans Services, RISC, and prison ministry at Richmond City Jail). A visitor will find a parish that explicitly centers Word, Worship, Community, and Service — and a campus that has been newly built and renewed for generations to come.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:15–7:40 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 10:00–10:30 AM (before 11:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM (before Daily Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration after Wednesday 9:00 AM Daily Mass (until 12 Noon)
- First Friday Mass / Adoration
- Legion of Mary Holy Hour — every 4th Sunday, immediately following 8:00 AM Mass
Parish Identity & Mission
Holy Rosary Catholic Church describes itself as 'Richmond's oldest existing, African-American Roman Catholic Church' and as 'a spirit-filled expression of Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition.' Its mission statement names the parish as a welcoming beacon of hope for parishioners and the surrounding community, called to blend the beliefs of the Roman Catholic faith with the characteristics of African-American culture, address social issues, and equip parishioners for evangelization. Core values are organized under four pillars — Word, Worship, Community, and Service — which structure everything from faith formation to outreach.
- Pillar 1 — The Word: Religious education for children and adults, Adult formation at parish and diocesan levels, Bible study, Vacation Bible School for children and youth.
- Pillar 2 — Worship: Sunday and Holy Day Mass; tithing 'in keeping with income' (1 Cor 16:2); Catholic faith and teaching; Catholic prayer devotions.
- Pillar 3 — Community: African-American Catholic presence in Richmond and the diocese; family opportunities for spiritual growth; fellowship; collaboration with other churches and organizations; growth in membership.
- Pillar 4 — Service: Stewardship of treasure, time, and talent; lay leadership through committees and ministries rooted in Catholic social teaching; outreach to the wider community.
History of Holy Rosary
The roots of the parish go back to the late 1940s, when Redemptorist Fathers began gathering at the home of George Pollard for prayer and worship, then established the Church Hill Catholic Mission on North 27th Street as an outgrowth of St. Augustine's in the Fulton neighborhood. Bishop Peter Ireton formally established Holy Rosary Parish in 1953. The first building on the current 33rd & R Street property served as church, office, and Child Care Center staffed by the Missionary Sisters of Verona (now Comboni Missionary Sisters). A second church was built in the early 1960s; a Child Care Center was added in the 1970s, and the earlier church was renamed the Bishop Russell Center and became the parish hall. A $2.5 million expansion in the early 2000s added the present Sanctuary and Chapel, new offices, and a renovated Parish Center and Commons. In 1969, when St. Joseph's of Richmond — the oldest parish for Black Catholics in the diocese — closed, its financial assets were transferred to Holy Rosary.
- Late 1940s: Redemptorist-led Church Hill Catholic Mission on North 27th Street begins at George Pollard's home.
- 1953: Bishop Peter Ireton formally establishes Holy Rosary Parish.
- Early 1960s: New church built on the 33rd & R Street campus.
- 1969: St. Joseph's of Richmond closes; assets transferred to Holy Rosary.
- 1970s: Child Care Center built; original church renovated as Bishop Russell Center parish hall.
- 1977: Msgr. Walter Barrett Jr., a Holy Rosary parishioner, becomes first Black pastor in the Diocese of Richmond (at St. Gerard, Roanoke).
- c. 2004: $2.5 million expansion completed — new Sanctuary, Chapel, offices, Parish Center and Commons.
Clergy & Parish Staff
Holy Rosary is led by Rev. Fr. Magnus Tochi Iwuji as pastor, with a team of two permanent deacons and lay staff. The parish is supported by a Director of Christian Formation (Sr. Tsega), a parish secretary (Joslyn B. Ford), a bookkeeper (Cheryl Rosser), a music director (Joseph Robinson), and a Children's/Youth Choir director (Kristina Patterson-Bolling). For priest emergencies, Fr. Tochi can be reached at 434-288-0184.
- Rev. Fr. Magnus Tochi Iwuji — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Francis Nelson Jr. — Permanent Deacon (804-363-3373)
- Rev. Mr. Melvin Dowdy — Permanent Deacon
- Sr. Tsega — Director of Christian Formation ([email protected]; 804-222-1105 / 804-738-0966)
- Joslyn B. Ford — Parish Secretary
- Cheryl Rosser — Bookkeeper
- Joseph Robinson — Music Director
- Kristina Patterson-Bolling — Children's/Youth Choir Director
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Christian Formation at Holy Rosary spans children, youth, young adults, and adults, and is directed by Sr. Tsega. Religious Education classes for parish children meet on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays of the month. A separate Young Adult Ministry keeps post-high-school parishioners connected, and OCIA (formerly RCIA) walks catechumens and candidates through initiation into the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation teams exist for Baptism, First Eucharist and First Penance, Confirmation, and Marriage.
- Religious Education — 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays
- Young Adult Ministry — [email protected]
- Bible Study — Thursdays 10:00 AM (Joanna Haliday)
- Adult Bible Study via Zoom — Thursdays 6:30–8:00 PM (Mario Dance)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism Team; First Eucharist & First Penance Team; Confirmation Team; Marriage Team
Liturgy, Music & Worship
Worship is one of Holy Rosary's four pillars. The parish pledges an 'enthusiastic and music-filled worship experience' that equips parishioners for ministry, fellowship, and friendship. A full roster of liturgical ministers — lectors, greeters, ushers, altar servers, and Eucharistic Ministers — supports the Sunday and weekday Masses, alongside a Funeral Ministry and a Children's Liturgy of the Word.
- Music Ministry and Choirs
- Children's / Youth Choir — Director Kristina Patterson-Bolling
- Mass Choir Rehearsal — Tuesdays 6:30 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers
- Funeral Ministry
Parish Community Life
Beyond worship, Holy Rosary sustains a busy parish community life that brings generations together for service, fellowship, and care. The Ladies' Sodality and the local Knights of Columbus Council 6457 are long-standing fixtures, while the Prayer Shawl / Knitting Ministry and Pastoral Care Ministry reach out to those who are homebound, grieving, or in need.
- Ladies' Sodality
- Knights of Columbus, Council 6457
- Bishop's Cup Invitational Golf Tournament
- Legion of Mary — Holy Hour every 4th Sunday after 8:00 AM Mass
- Scholarship Committee
- Pastoral Care Ministry
- Prayer Shawl / Knitting Ministry
Social Justice & Outreach
Service is the fourth pillar of Holy Rosary's mission, and the parish operates one of the most extensive outreach rosters among Richmond-area parishes. Ministries reach into the city jail, AIDS community, veteran services, families of inmates, the unhoused, and the broader region through CARITAS, Habitat for Humanity, the Annual Angel Tree, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and RISC.
- AIDS Ministry
- Liberation Veterans Services
- Assisting Families of Inmates
- Prison Ministry at Richmond City Jail
- Habitat for Humanity
- CARITAS (The Healing Place / homeless services — donate link on parish site)
- Annual Angel Tree (Christmas giving for children of incarcerated parents)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- RISC (Richmond Interfaith Center)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Joseph Hart
Early Redemptorist-era priest; founding era
- Clem Tackeny
- John McCarthy
- John Keegan
- James O'Malley
- Francis Brennan
- Edward McDonough
- Charles Morawski
- Joseph Driscoll
- Thomas Grimmer
- James Gaffey
- A. Schauhart
- Charles O'Leary
- John Huston
- Robert J. Smith
- J. Terlinski
- J. Mollen
- Joseph T. Hemighaus
- Peter A. Washington
- T.J. Norton
- John Stevens
- G. A. Wickland
- J. McGonagle
- Alphonse Noll
- Charles Tehunbach
- Michael J. Spinella
- Alfred DeFazio
- Thomas Harte
- Luke Doheny
- Edward O'Dowd
- Joseph Driscoll
- L. Haver
- Thomas Radley
- John Schiminsky
- James Parke
- Vince Douglas
- George W. Hughes
- Robert Quirin
- Lester Silva
- Bishop John Joyce Russell
Later bishop; gave name to the parish hall
- Art Conrad
- Lou Ruoff
- Bob Brownell
- Raymond Schantz
- Pat Apuzzo
- Walter Barrett Jr.
Later Monsignor; Holy Rosary was his home parish before ordination in 1975 and first Black pastor in the diocese (1977, St. Gerard, Roanoke)
- Fr. David Stanfill
- Fr. Jay Wagner
Pastor immediately prior to current pastor
- Rev. Fr. Magnus Tochi Iwuji
Current pastor