Sacred Heart

Welcome to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is both a local parish and the principal church of the Diocese of Richmond. Like all cathedrals, it takes its name from the bishop's chair (the cathedra), which symbolizes his role as the shepherd and teacher of the Christian community. Here the main celebrations of the year take place, including the diocesan Chrism Mass and ordinations. The local parish draws people from all walks of life and is home to the Catholic Campus Ministry of Virginia Commonwealth University, one of the largest colleges in Virginia. Consecration on Thanksgiving Day, 1906, is the founding moment: since then, 'countless souls have given thanks to God inside its hallowed walls.'

History of the Cathedral

Sacred Heart was the second cathedral of the Diocese of Richmond, succeeding St. Peter's Cathedral of 1834. Bishop John McGill identified the Monroe Park property in 1867, but it took until 1901 for Bishop Augustin Van de Vyver to persuade Thomas Fortune Ryan and Ida Barry Ryan to underwrite a new cathedral. They contributed approximately $500,000 and engaged the New York architect Joseph Hubert McGuire. The cornerstone, with marble from the Garden of Gethsemane, was laid June 4, 1903; consecration followed on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1906, by the papal representative Archbishop Diomedio Falconio, with the former Bishop John J. Keane preaching. Originally the new cathedral was to inherit the title 'St. Peter's,' but Van de Vyver petitioned the Holy See to retain the parish name Sacred Heart, in honor of the parish absorbed and to promote devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

• First cathedral: St. Peter's (1834)
• Property in the Fan purchased in stages beginning 1867
• Cornerstone laid June 4, 1903 (Gethsemane marble)
• Consecrated November 29, 1906 (Thanksgiving Day)
• Sponsored by Thomas Fortune Ryan and Ida Mary Barry
• Architect Joseph Hubert McGuire of New York

Architecture and Sacred Art

McGuire's Italian Renaissance Revival design creates what the Virginia Department of Historic Resources calls 'the most majestic ecclesiastical space in the state.' The exterior — Virginia granite below and Indiana limestone above — is roofed in copper and unglazed green tile, with twin 90-foot bell towers and a copper-jacketed dome 118 feet across that lifts a cross to 144 feet above the ground. The hexastyle Corinthian portico carries the inscription 'If Ye Love Me Keep My Commandments' and a Guastavino fireproof-tile soffit. Inside, Renaissance-style architectural decoration, Italian marble, and richly hued 1950s stained glass create layered storytelling; the post-Vatican II reordering opened up the nave and moved the high altar to the crossing. A 2024 Opus 55 pipe organ of more than 4,330 pipes now accompanies the liturgy.

• Italian Renaissance Revival / Beaux-Arts tradition
• Dome 118 ft across; height 144 ft to top cross
• Bell towers 90 ft, copper-clad since 2017
• Fluted Corinthian portico, Guastavino tile soffit
• Italian marble and 1950s stained glass
• Crypt beneath the altar (bishops and Ryan family)
• 2024 Opus 55 pipe organ (>4,330 pipes)

Clergy and Staff

The parish is canonically pastored by the Bishop of Richmond, Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, and is led day-to-day by Rector Very Reverend Anthony E. Marques, V.F. Three permanent deacons — Rev. Mr. Christopher Malone, Rev. Mr. Mark Matte, Jr., and Deacon Michael Carlucci — assist with liturgy and ministry. The administrative team includes Office Manager Mary Praught, Business Manager Liz Shaw, Bookkeeper, Facilities Manager John Marike, Music Director Daniel Sáñez, and Finance Council liaison Rosie Sinclair. The staff directory also identifies key ministry contacts: Joy Weir (Baptisms and Youth Catechesis), Maria Thorsen (OCIA), and Joanie Price (Weddings). Chris Spilka serves as VCU Catholic Campus Minister.

• Bishop: Most Rev. Barry C. Knestout
• Rector: Very Rev. Anthony E. Marques, V.F.
• Deacons: Mark Matte Jr., Christopher Malone, Michael Carlucci
• Music: Daniel Sáñez
• Facilities: John Marike
• Business Manager: Liz Shaw
• Office Manager: Mary Praught
• Catechesis & Baptisms: Joy Weir
• OCIA: Maria Thorsen
• Weddings: Joanie Price
• Finance Council: Rosie Sinclair
• VCU CCM: Chris Spilka

Sacraments

The Cathedral prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments. Infants and young children are baptized year-round after a parent information session; youth in approximately tenth grade prepare for Confirmation September through May, while adults may prepare year-round; OCIA (formerly RCIA) accompanies the unbaptized, baptized Christians from other denominations, and uncatechized Catholics into full communion; weddings are coordinated through the parish office; the Bishop of Richmond celebrates ordinations and the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral; Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish or emergency line.

• Baptism (infants) — Joy Weir
• Confirmation (youth, ~10th grade) — Joy Weir
• Confirmation (adults) — Maria Thorsen
• OCIA (adults and children 7+) — Maria Thorsen
• Marriage — Joanie Price
• Anointing of the Sick — parish office / emergency line
• Holy Orders — celebrated by the Bishop at the Cathedral

Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

Faith formation at the Cathedral is organized into children's, youth, and adult tracks. Youth Catechesis meets for students in grades 6 through 12 between the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday Masses (10:05–10:55 am) from September through May. Adult catechesis offers Bible studies and presentations throughout the year, advertised in the parish bulletin. The parish also runs Vacation Bible School (in recent years a weeklong day camp in mid-June for ages 4 through rising 5th grade) and supports EPIC, the diocesan one-day middle-school event, sending rising 6th–8th graders from the Cathedral. The youth Confirmation cohort prepares for the sacrament in cooperation with the diocese.

• Youth Catechesis (grades 6–12), Sun 10:05–10:55 am
• Adult Catechesis / Bible studies (ongoing)
• Vacation Bible School (annual)
• EPIC diocesan middle-school event
• Youth Confirmation cohort

VCU Catholic Campus Ministry

The Cathedral parish hosts the Catholic Campus Ministry of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), one of the largest colleges in Virginia, with Chris Spilka serving as campus minister. The ministry runs weekly liturgies and faith formation on campus, an Alternative Spring Break in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and Doorways (housing for families of patients at VCU hospital), and was recently honored with the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Award for Excellence in Campus Ministry. Parking for parishioners and campus ministry events is available at the VCU West Main Deck (801 W. Main St.).

• Weekly VCU CCM liturgies and faith formation
• Alternative Spring Break with St. Vincent de Paul and Doorways
• Diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Award recipient

Music and Liturgy

Music at the Cathedral is directed by Daniel Sáñez and serves the Sunday 9:00 am (livestreamed), 11:00 am, and 5:00 pm liturgies, the Saturday Vigil, weekday noon Masses, and the major diocesan celebrations of the year. The newly installed 2024 Opus 55 pipe organ, with more than 4,330 pipes, anchors the music program in the renovated sanctuary.

• Music Director: Daniel Sáñez
• Opus 55 pipe organ installed 2024
• Sunday 9:00 am Mass livestreamed
• Accompanies diocesan Chrism Mass and ordinations

Outreach, Charity and the Cathedral Foundation

The Cathedral maintains an active social-justice grant program (applications through the Business Manager) that has funded partner organizations providing medical services, homeless assistance, pregnancy support, domestic-violence intervention, child-abuse prevention, and aid to elderly and disabled persons. The parish supports the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and Doorways through Alternative Spring Break. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3), stewards capital projects that protect the building: recent work includes Bell Tower Roof Renovation, Interior Painting and Art Restoration, Cove and LED uplighting, and the December 2024 blessing of the restored baptismal font that inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Hope.

• Social-justice grants to local partner organizations
• St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store partnership
• Doorways partnership (VCU hospital families)
• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Foundation capital projects
• Bell Tower Roof Renovation
• Interior painting, ceiling and art restoration
• LED cove and ledge uplighting for the new organ
• Baptismal font restored and blessed December 2024

Cemetery and the Crypt

The diocesan burial ministry of the Cathedral parish is centered at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Mausoleum (phone 804-359-5651). Beneath the high altar of the Cathedral itself, a crypt reached by a circular granite stair holds the remains of past Bishops of Richmond and members of the Ryan family, the original patrons of the building.

• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Mausoleum (parish cemetery ministry)
• Crypt beneath the high altar — bishops of Richmond and Ryan family

Special Ministries and Partner Institutions

Beyond its core parish life, the Cathedral parish is responsible for several special ministries that extend the diocese's pastoral reach in Richmond. These include ministry to the Virginia Home, support of Stuart Circle Ecumenical Parish, and The Museum of Virginia Catholic History, which is located on the Cathedral grounds and preserves the story of Catholicism in the Commonwealth.

• Virginia Home
• Stuart Circle Ecumenical Parish
• The Museum of Virginia Catholic History

Historic and Cultural Significance

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is a Virginia Historic Landmark (designated December 15, 1981), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (July 8, 1982, reference 82004584), and a contributing property of the Monroe Park Historic District (July 5, 1984, reference 84003572). Together with the Mosque and Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the Cathedral forms one of the visual and ceremonial anchors of the Fan District, a 'glorious celebration of Roman Catholic art and architecture' (Virginia DHR) that remains the most majestic ecclesiastical interior in the Commonwealth.

• Virginia Historic Landmark (since 1981)
• National Register of Historic Places (since 1982)
• Contributing property, Monroe Park Historic District (since 1984)
• Part of the historic religious spine of the Fan District