About St. Elizabeth · Richmond, Virginia
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia, within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 6). Founded on July 3, 1923 by immigrant families from Italy, Germany, and Poland, the parish is named for St. Elizabeth of Hungary and is widely known by its Swahili motto, Umoja (Unity). After 100 years of ministry, St. Elizabeth is recognized for its racially and economically diverse community, its acclaimed Gospel Choir, and its pioneering role in the United States Catholic Church through Sr. Cora Marie Billings, the first African-American woman to serve as a parish Pastoral Coordinator. Current pastor Rev. James M. Arsenault leads the parish alongside Deacon Christopher Barrett and a lay staff that supports ministries in liturgy, faith formation, social outreach, and human concerns.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. James M. Arsenault
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 6)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth offers something rare in the Richmond area: a small, intentionally diverse urban Catholic parish where African, Latino, Asian, white and multiracial families worship side by side. The parish lives out its Umoja (Unity) motto through vibrant liturgical ministries, a celebrated Gospel Choir, weekly adult faith formation, RCIA, and a strong sacramental life. Members are invited into hands-on service through social outreach partnerships with All Saints Catholic School, New Jerusalem Orphanage (Haiti), and Overby-Shepard Elementary School — making St. Elizabeth both a rooted neighborhood parish and a community with global reach.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Following the Wednesday 12:00 Noon Mass, by appointment
- Following the Friday 12:00 Noon Mass, by appointment
- By appointment — call 804-221-1508
Parish History
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish was established on July 3, 1923, in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. The first Mass was celebrated in the converted first floor of the Sitterding residence at 925 Fourqurean Lane, with first pastor Rev. Louis A. Rowen living on the second floor. A new church designed by parishioner-architect William H. Rhodes was completed in time for the first Mass on Christmas Day, 1925. The parish has since welcomed successive waves of immigrants and refugees — Italian, German and Polish in the founding years, and Vietnamese, Cuban, Ethiopian, African, Latino, and Asian families in later decades — and remains an intentionally diverse urban Catholic community of the Diocese of Richmond.
- Founded July 3, 1923 by immigrant families from Italy, Germany, and Poland
- First pastor: Rev. Louis A. Rowen (1923-1937)
- New church cornerstone laid early 1925; first Mass Christmas Day 1925
- Adopted the Swahili motto 'Umoja' (Unity) in the late 1970s
- 2006-2007: major restoration after the sanctuary ceiling collapsed
- 2022-2023: centennial year launched by Bishop Barry C. Knestout on November 20, 2022
Parish Staff
The current St. Elizabeth team is led by pastor Fr. James M. Arsenault and permanent Deacon Christopher Barrett, supported by a small staff and several religious Sisters serving in human concerns, faith formation, and liturgy.
- Rev. James M. Arsenault — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Christopher Barrett — Permanent Deacon
- Eva Wiznerowicz — Office Manager
- Maureen Petruzella — Administrative Assistant
- Cheryl Rosser — Bookkeeper
- Ron Coleman — Maintenance
- Liz Wiznerowicz — Director of Religious Education
- Sr. Rose-Ange Woulaou, PSP — Faith Formation Assistant
- Sr. Anns James, CMS — Minister of Human Concerns
- Sr. Mary Mwangi, SJT — Social Concerns Advocate
- Connie Hom — Liturgy Ministry Coordinator (Volunteer)
- David Woodburn — VIRTUS Administrator and Coordinator for Offertory Envelopes (Volunteer)
Sacraments
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated at St. Elizabeth, with preparation programs for children, youth, and adults. Most preparations are coordinated through the parish office and the Director of Religious Education.
- Baptism — by appointment with Fr. Arsenault
- Reconciliation — after Wed/Fri Mass or by appointment
- First Communion — joint First Reconciliation / First Eucharist preparation (eight meetings) for children seven and older
- Confirmation — youth and adult preparation
- Marriage — contact the parish at least 6 months in advance
- RCIA — weekly meetings for those seeking to enter the Catholic Church
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound visits — coordinated through Deacon Chris Barrett
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Faith Formation program at St. Elizabeth serves children, youth, and adults. Weekend Faith Formation classes for elementary-age children meet during the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, while older children and adults are prepared for the sacraments of First Communion, Confirmation, and (for unbaptized adults) full initiation through RCIA. All volunteers working with minors must complete diocesan background checks and VIRTUS training.
- Weekend Faith Formation for elementary children
- Family Faith Formation option
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation for youth
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — weekly
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during 10:00 AM Mass
Parish Ministries
St. Elizabeth organizes its parish life around three families of ministry: Liturgical, Faith Formation, and Human Concerns / Social Outreach. Many ministry leaders recorded short videos for the parish's Virtual Volunteer Fair, accessible on the parish website.
- Liturgical Ministries: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Linens, Choir, Hospitality (Ushers)
- Zoom / Media Ministry — livestream Sunday Mass
- Children and Youth: Children's Liturgy of the Word, Weekend Faith Formation, Altar Servers
- Human Concerns: Homebound & Sick visits, Bereavement, Funeral Reception, Community Life, Justice Committee, Coffee and Doughnuts
The St. Elizabeth Gospel Choir
The St. Elizabeth Gospel Choir was started in September 1978 when then-pastor Fr. Michael Schmied encouraged parishioners Ed and Brenda Foster to form a gospel choir to enhance parish celebrations. Over more than four decades, the choir has become well known beyond the parish and remains a defining feature of Sunday worship at St. Elizabeth.
- Founded September 1978 by Ed and Brenda Foster under Fr. Michael Schmied
- Well known beyond parish boundaries
- Rehearses weekly and sings at Sunday Mass and special events
Social Outreach and Human Concerns
St. Elizabeth partners with a number of local, national, and international ministries, and its Social Concerns team is staffed by two religious Sisters. The parish has long been a resettlement community for refugees and is listed by the Diocese of Richmond among its Special Ministry sites.
- All Saints Catholic School
- New Jerusalem Orphanage, Haiti
- Overby-Shepard Elementary School
- Refugee resettlement support (since the early 1980s — Vietnamese, Cuban, Ethiopian, and African families)
- Justice Committee
- Bereavement Ministry (one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy)
- Homebound & Sick Ministry
Contact and Visit
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, with hours posted by the Diocese. The church sits at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Fourqurean Lane in Highland Park, and the parish welcomes visitors to attend Sunday Mass in person or via Zoom.
- Church address: 2712 2nd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222
- Postal address: 1301 Victor Street, Richmond, VA 23222
- Phone: (804) 329-4599
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue 12-4 PM; Wed 1-5 PM; Thu 9:30 AM-4 PM; Fri 1-5 PM
- Zoom: Meeting ID 331-794-018, Password 946232; phone 301-715-8592
- Facebook: facebook.com/StElizabethCatholicChurch
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Louis A. Rowen1923-1937
First pastor; celebrated first Mass on Christmas Day 1925 in the new church.
- Rev. Michael J. Cannon1937-1947
- Rev. Thomas A. Mitchell1947-1950
- Rev. Leo J. Massei1950-1959
- Rev. Robert E. Nudd1966-1969
- Rev. James L. Rizer1969-1972
- Rev. Robert Howe1972-1977
- Rev. Michael Schmied1977-1987
Led the 1978 Vatican II sanctuary renovation; parish adopted the Umoja motto; encouraged the founding of the Gospel Choir.
- Rev. J. Stephen Hickman1987
- Rev. Matthias Newell1987-1990
- Sister Cora Marie Billings, RSM (Pastoral Coordinator)1990-2004
First African-American woman to serve as a Pastoral Coordinator in the United States Catholic Church; also served as Director of the diocesan Office for Black Catholics.
- Rev. James Begley2004-2005
- Rev. Robert Brownell2005-2006
- Rev. Andrew Sagayam2006-2007
- Msgr. Walter Barrett2007-2008
- Rev. Andrew Sagayam2008-2010
Returned for a second term.
- Rev. Francois Babulu2010-2012
- Rev. James M. Arsenault2012-present
Current pastor; led the parish's centennial year beginning in 2022.