About St. Michael · Glen Allen, Virginia
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Glen Allen, Virginia, in the West End of the Richmond metropolitan area. Founded in 1992 under the leadership of Father John Leonard and appointed by Bishop Walter Sullivan, the parish has grown from a small worshipping community that met in borrowed spaces to a congregation of more than 3,000 families serving one of the fastest-growing areas of Henrico County. It belongs to the Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 7) and offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, with Tuesday daily Mass and the 9:15 AM Sunday Mass livestreamed on the parish's Facebook Page. The parish is notable for its distinctive round sanctuary with a centrally placed altar, built in 1996 and enlarged in 2002.
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel (Dan) Brady
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 7)
Why belong here
St. Michael offers a vibrant, diverse Catholic community in the West End of Richmond, with daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and active liturgical, faith formation, and outreach ministries. The parish is known for its warm welcome to a multicultural congregation, its signature round sanctuary that draws the assembly around a central altar, and its strong missionary outreach — including prison ministry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Haiti twinning partnership, and an Appalachian twinning program. With over 3,000 families and a long roster of parish ministries, newcomers of any background can find a place to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (in the Day Chapel)
- Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM by appointment (call the parish office)
- Thursday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, First Thursday of the Month (in the Church)
Adoration times
- Thursday 12:45 PM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament processed from the Worship space the 1st Thursday after the 12:15 PM Mass)
Parish History
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church was founded in 1992 when Bishop Walter Sullivan of the Diocese of Richmond appointed Father John Leonard in 1991 to lead the creation of a new faith community for the rapidly growing West End of Richmond and Henrico County. The inaugural Mass was celebrated in May 1992. Before the parish had its own home, the congregation gathered at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Short Pump Middle School, and Bennett Funeral Homes. The first parish building opened in 1996 and was significantly enlarged in 2002 with a larger worship space, an educational wing, a daily liturgy chapel, a Blessed Sacrament chapel, and a sacristy. The parish's pastorate has had three leaders. Father Leonard shepherded the founding years and retired in 2004. Monsignor Robert Perkins succeeded him and served until 2006, when Father Daniel (Dan) Brady became pastor — a role he continues to hold. By its 25th anniversary in 2017, the parish had grown from a few hundred families to over 3,000, a milestone marked with concerts, liturgies, an international festival, a gala, and a golf tournament, and formally recognized by the Virginia General Assembly in Senate Joint Resolution 164 (2018).
- Founded 1992 by Father John Leonard at Bishop Walter Sullivan's appointment
- Inaugural Mass: May 1992
- Pre-1996 worship sites: Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Short Pump Middle School, Bennett Funeral Homes
- Parish building opened 1996; enlarged in 2002
- 25th anniversary celebrated in 2017
- Recognized by Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 164 (2018)
Leadership & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor, Father Daniel (Dan) Brady, who has served since 2006 and is assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Julio Ciriaco Barrameda Buena. Four permanent deacons support the pastoral team: Rev. Mr. Andrew Cirmo, Rev. Mr. Andrew Ferguson, Rev. Mr. David Nemetz, and Rev. Mr. Gregory Moczygemba. Parish staff and the office can be reached at (804) 527-1037 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
- Pastor: Rev. Daniel (Dan) Brady
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Julio Ciriaco Barrameda Buena
- Permanent Deacons: Rev. Mr. Andrew Cirmo, Rev. Mr. Andrew Ferguson, Rev. Mr. David Nemetz, Rev. Mr. Gregory Moczygemba
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Michael offers a robust schedule of Masses in English every day of the week. The Sunday Vigil Mass is Saturday at 5:00 PM, followed by four Sunday Masses at 7:45 AM, 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, and 5:00 PM. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 12:15 PM, and Wednesday at 8:30 AM. Holy Day Masses are typically at 7:30 PM and 12:15 PM. Tuesday's 12:15 PM daily Mass and the Sunday 9:15 AM Mass are livestreamed on the parish Facebook Page and YouTube channel, with downloadable Worship Aids and a Spiritual Communion prayer available online for those joining remotely.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:45 AM, 9:15 AM (livestreamed), 11:15 AM, 5:00 PM
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:15 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM
- Holy Days: 7:30 PM and 12:15 PM
Liturgical Ministries
St. Michael's Liturgical Ministries reflect Vatican II's vision of active, engaged participation by both clergy and laity. Volunteers of all ages — including mature middle and high school youth — serve as Altar Servers, Sacristans, Thurifers (incense bearers), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Hospitality Ministers (adults and youth/families), Ushers, Art & Environment, and Livestream Ministers. Specialized teams assist with Weddings (Wedding Coordinators receive a stipend) and Funerals (Funeral Liturgical Team). Music ministers and choirs support the parish's liturgies, including Sunday Masses, First Communion, Confirmation, weddings, and funerals.
- Altar Servers (youth and adults)
- Art & Environment
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Hospitality (Adults | Youth & Families)
- Sacristans / Thurifers
- Livestream Ministry
- Wedding Coordinators
- Funeral Liturgical Team
- Music Ministry / Choirs
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish supports lifelong Catholic formation for children, youth, and adults. Programs include parish-based religious education and sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, as well as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those entering the Church. Adult faith formation, small groups, and parish life ministries round out the formation offerings. (Specific program names and schedules are published on the parish website at saint-mikes.org.)
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth ministry
- Adult faith formation and small groups
Pastoral Services & Respect Life Ministries
Pastoral Services at St. Michael extend the Church's care to the homebound, the sick, the elderly, and the most vulnerable — affirming 'the sanctity and beauty of life, from conception to natural death — from womb to tomb.' The Respect Life ministries coordinate parish involvement in pro-life work, foster care and adoption support, and visiting ministries at local nursing homes and care facilities.
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Caring Callers Ministry
- Foster Care & Adoption Ministry
- Elizabeth Adam Crump (nursing home) Ministry
- Homebound Ministry / Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion for the Sick
- Light Writers Ministry (cards and notes to parishioners in need)
- Our Lady of Hope Health Center Ministry (monthly bingo, annual Christmas party)
Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach is a hallmark of St. Michael's mission, with both local and international partnerships. Locally, parishioners support Meals on Wheels, CARITAS, the Richmond Entrepreneur's Assistance Program, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Virginia Home for Boys & Girls, Richmond Friends of the Homeless, the Coal Pit Learning Center, Boys to Men, and a Blood Drive. The parish also partners with St. Elizabeth Parish, and operates an Appalachian Twinning program with four Catholic churches in Western Virginia. Internationally, St. Michael has a twinning relationship with St. John Baptiste in Dos Palais, Haiti, including annual pilgrimage/service trips that Father Dan Brady has joined 13 times.
- Appalachian Twinning (four Catholic churches in Western Virginia)
- Haiti Twinning — St. John Baptiste, Dos Palais
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Prison Ministry — Virginia Correctional Center for Women; Henrico County West Jail
- Meals on Wheels / CARITAS / Richmond Entrepreneur's Assistance Program
- Virginia Home for Boys & Girls
- Richmond Friends of the Homeless
- Coal Pit Learning Center / Boys to Men / Blood Drive / Food Drive
Parish Governance
Two lay councils advise the pastor in leading the parish. The Parish Council acts in a consultative role, helping to articulate vision and direction; it comprises the pastor, the associate pastor, and 12 at-large members chosen by lot who serve three-year terms. The Finance Council serves as the pastor's fiscal management advisory board, providing oversight of the annual budget, monthly reporting, debt service, and fundraising policies; members are appointed by the pastor for two-year terms. Both councils meet monthly and incorporate prayer as an essential element of their work.
- Parish Council — 12 at-large members, three-year terms, chosen by lot
- Finance Council — appointed by pastor, two-year terms, monthly meetings
- Parish Council Chair: Greg Pitrone
Administrative Ministries & Parish Operations
Behind the scenes, a range of administrative ministries keep the parish running smoothly — opening and securing the buildings, staffing the front desk, processing mailings and the weekend offertory, supervising private events in the Parish Hall and Lake House, and selling gift cards that generate proceeds for the Building Mortgage Fund. The Gift Card Sales ministry gives parishioners the chance to buy gift cards to favorite retailers while earning a percentage back for the parish.
- Building Security
- Collections / Offertory / Sorting
- Events Management (Parish Hall & Lake House)
- Gift Card Sales & Reconciliation
- Grotto Ministry (candles by the pond)
- Office Assistants / Mailing
- Office Reception
Facilities: Architecture & Columbarium
St. Michael's signature sanctuary, completed in 1996, is notable for its round construction and centrally placed altar — a design that physically embodies the call for full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy. The 2002 expansion added an educational wing, a daily liturgy chapel, a Blessed Sacrament chapel, and a sacristy. The parish grounds also include the Saint Michael Columbarium, providing a sacred place for the inurnment of cremated remains of parishioners and their families.
- Round sanctuary with central altar (1996)
- Educational wing, daily chapel, Blessed Sacrament chapel, sacristy (2002)
- Saint Michael Columbarium on parish grounds
- Grotto by the pond
- Parish Hall and Lake House for events
Online Worship & Digital Outreach
St. Michael livestreams two Masses each week on the parish's Facebook Page and YouTube channel: Tuesday's 12:15 PM daily Mass and the Sunday 9:15 AM Mass. Online worshippers can download the Order of Worship and follow along at home. The parish publishes a Spiritual Communion Prayer for those unable to be physically present and notes that livestream imagery may be used on parish and diocesan digital platforms; parishioners who prefer not to be captured on camera are invited to attend a different Mass time.
- Livestream: Tuesday 12:15 PM and Sunday 9:15 AM
- Platforms: parish Facebook Page and YouTube channel
- Downloadable Worship Aids / Order of Worship
- Spiritual Communion Prayer available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Leonard1992–2004
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Walter Sullivan in 1991 to lead the formation of the new parish; led inaugural Mass in May 1992.
- Msgr. Robert Perkins2004–2006
Succeeded Father Leonard after his retirement in 2004.
- Rev. Daniel (Dan) Brady2006–present
Current pastor; came to St. Michael in 2006; has led the parish through its 25th anniversary and beyond.