St. Edward the Confessor

About St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church

St. Edward the Confessor is a Roman Catholic parish established in 1959 in North Chesterfield, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond. The parish currently serves about 3,500 registered families within the Diocese of Richmond. Its stated mission is to embrace the mission of Jesus Christ by living and spreading His message of love through discipleship, liturgical celebration, faith formation, and outreach. The parish welcomes newcomers, visitors, those returning to the faith, and those exploring Catholicism through OCIA.

Parish History

Founded in 1959, St. Edward the Confessor grew rapidly enough that its associated school opened in September 1961. The school began in the convent of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and moved alongside the new church when it was dedicated in December 1961. The school expanded, became a regional Catholic school in 1979 when it added Epiphany parish, took on St. John Neumann, Powhatan in 1983, opened a new Activity Center in 2000, was named a 2012 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School, added its E3 exceptional education program in 2013, and completed a $1.2 million renovation of the Father Herbert Hall wing in summer 2021.

• 1959 — Parish established.
• 1961 — St. Edward's School opens in the convent of the R.S.H.M.; moves into new facilities when the church is dedicated in December.
• 1966 — First 8th-grade graduating class.
• 1979 — School becomes regional, renamed St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School to include the new Church of the Epiphany.
• 1983 — St. John Neumann, Powhatan joins the regional school.
• 1984 — Full Before and After School care program launched (7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.).
• 2000 — Activity Center opens.
• 2012 — National Blue Ribbon School (U.S. Department of Education).
• 2013 — E3 (Exceptional and Enrichment Education) program added.
• 2021 — Father Herbert Hall wing renovated ($1.2 million).
• 2024 — Fr. Donald Lemay retires; Fr. Joseph Wamala appointed pastor.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Edward spans early childhood through adulthood. K–5 religious education uses the Families of Faith model, with parents and children attending class together on Sundays from 12:30–1:30 p.m. for 18 classes per year. Middle and High School youth are served by an active youth ministry including the Edge middle-school program and a Confirmation preparation track. Adults grow through Bible studies, retreats, workshops, a book club, and an Adult Confirmation program, and unbaptized adults (and children of catechetical age) journey into the Church through OCIA.

• Families of Faith — K–5 Sunday program, 12:30–1:30pm, 18 classes per year.
• Youth Ministry — Middle School, High School, and Confirmation preparation.
• Edge — Middle school youth ministry (Coordinator: Rachael Mattio).
• OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults; 1st Thursday at 7:00pm.
• Adult Faith Formation — Bible studies, book club, retreats, workshops.
• Adult Confirmation — for baptized Catholics 18+ who have not yet been confirmed.

St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School

St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School (SEES) is the parish's Catholic school, located at 10701 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA 23235. It is a regional school founded in 1961, originally serving St. Edward's and now also serving the Church of the Epiphany (joined 1979) and St. John Neumann, Powhatan (joined 1983). SEES was named a 2012 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School and is accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA) and Cognia. The school offers Preschool through Grade 8, an E3 (Exceptional and Enrichment Education) program added in 2013, and full Before and After School care (7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.). A 1.2-million-dollar renovation of the Father Herbert Hall wing in summer 2021 added a new art and music room and a learning lab.

• Preschool (age 4) through Grade 8.
• Rolling admissions; sibling priority, then parishioners, then non-parishioners.
• VCEA and Cognia accredited.
• 2012 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School.
• E3 (Exceptional and Enrichment Education) program.
• Extended care 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Main office phone: 804-272-2881.

Sacraments

The parish prepares and celebrates each of the seven sacraments. Baptisms are offered twice per month except during Advent and Lent (during a regular weekend Mass about once per month, plus ten afternoon Baptism Services per year). Anointing of the Sick is available after weekend Mass and is recommended before hospital stays or procedures. Marriage requires at least three months of parish registration and contact with the parish at least six months before the wedding; couples must complete a Diocesan Christian Marriage Formation Program. OCIA welcomes adults and older children into the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation, and an Adult Confirmation program is available for baptized Catholics 18+ who have not yet been confirmed.

• Baptism — offered twice/month (except Advent & Lent); parent preparation class required.
• Confirmation — Catholic school students via the school; others through parish formation.
• Eucharist — First Communion preparation through parish Religious Ed.
• Anointing of the Sick — after weekend Mass; for hospital stays and procedures.
• Marriage — registered 3+ months; 6-month notice; Diocesan formation program.
• Holy Orders — discernment encouraged.
• OCIA — adults and children preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
• Adult Confirmation — interview with pastor Fr. Joseph Wamala required.

Music & Liturgical Ministries

Music at St. Edward is organized through the parish Music Ministry and serves every weekend Mass as well as holy days and special celebrations. The director of music and associate director coordinate a large ensemble of volunteer and auditioned ensembles that span age groups and styles.

• Adult Choir
• Schola (traditional/chant ensemble)
• Morning Praise
• Youth Choir
• Belles & Beaux
• Cantors
• Instrumentalists and Handbells
• Director of Music: Alicia Romeo
• Associate Director of Music / Handbell Director: Katie Wooldridge Geisert

Pastoral Care & Outreach (Human Concerns)

Pastoral Care and the Human Concerns / Social Ministry embody the parish's outreach to those in need locally, regionally, and internationally. Pastoral Care volunteers bring Communion to the homebound, visit assisted-living and nursing-home residents, and provide prayer blankets. Human Concerns leads the parish's works of mercy, with a particular emphasis on respect for life from conception to natural death and on advocacy for the marginalized.

• Ministry to the Homebound
• Assisted Living / Nursing-home Ministry
• Prayer Blanket Ministry
• Habitat for Humanity
• Haiti Ministry
• Food Pantry
• Prison Ministry
• The Micah Initiative — mentoring at Westover Hills Elementary
• Legislative Advocacy (consistent ethic of life)
• Meatloaves and Brownies
• Homeless Shelter Assistance
• Refugee Resettlement
• Catholic Social Teaching

Parish Staff & Clergy

St. Edward the Confessor is led by Pastor Fr. Joseph Wamala, with Parochial Vicar Fr. Paul Kkonde and three permanent deacons. The staff also includes directors of Faith Formation, Evangelization, Music, Youth Ministry, Religious Education, Pastoral Care, Social Ministry, Facilities, and Administrative support.

• Fr. Joseph Wamala — Pastor
• Fr. Paul Kkonde — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Deacon Kevin Hogan — Pastoral Care Coordinator; Weddings, Funerals, Prayer Lists for Sick/Deceased (804.864.4701)
• Deacon Gregg Kelly Whisler
• Deacon Robert Ewan
• Sherri Gravins — Adult Faith Formation; Sacramental Record Requests (804.864.4706)
• Joan Nelson — Director of Evangelization & Pastoral Ministries (804.864.4708)
• Andrew McCarthy — Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Confirmation Prep (804.864.4715)
• Rachael Mattio — Edge Coordinator (Middle School Youth Ministry)
• Peggy Byers — Coordinator of Religious Education & Baptism Prep (804.864.4714)
• Candace Aud — Coordinator of Outreach in Love
• Alicia Romeo — Director of Music (804.864.4717)
• Katie Wooldridge Geisert — Associate Director of Music & Handbell Director (804.864.4710)
• Renee Mizell — Director of Social Ministry (804.864.4718)
• Caroline Dwyer — Business Manager
• Peggy Byers / Anita McCabe / Mary Beth Schutte — Reception / Administrative support
• Facilities Supervisor (on staff)

Visitor Information & FAQs

The parish publishes a thorough visitor FAQ on its website addressing Mass and confession times, the location, accessibility, the nursery, and how to get in touch. The Sunday 11:15am Mass is livestreamed on Facebook, weekend worship aids are posted as PDFs, and the church offers a hearing loop system for visitors with T-coil-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants.

• Where is St. Edward located? 2700 Dolfield Drive, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.
• When is Mass celebrated? See Mass Times section above.
• When is Confession? Saturday 4:00pm and Monday–Friday 9:30am.
• Is there a nursery? Yes — a self-serve nursery with a speaker is available.
• Is special assistance for the hearing-impaired available? Yes — a hearing loop system is installed.
• Office hours — Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.