Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Tuesday evening sessions, beginning September 14 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Parish Hall

Responding to God's call... God works in many different ways. One part of the Catholic Church's mission is to help people respond to God as best they can. Through the RCIA process of becoming Catholic, we try to help people learn how to respond to the call of conversion. RCIA comes together as a community of faith on Tuesday evenings to learn about and experience the Catholic faith. Through prayer, Scripture, and a presentation each week, we share and grow in our relationship with God and others. Our Catholic faith is about relationships, which begins with our Lord and develops as we observe and encounter him in our lives.

Please pray and support those who are in the inquiry phase of RCIA.

We welcome you to participate in the RCIA process with your questions, insights, and faith story in a welcoming setting.

For more information, please contact Maria Thorsen (mthorsen@richmondcathedral.org).

Support RCIA by Providing Snacks

Our Cathedral parish is part of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit has led many RCIA inquirers to our parish in order to grow in their relationship with God by learning about the Catholic faith. Welcoming seekers into “the way of faith and conversion” is one of the most important ministries we have as a parish.

A simple, yet powerful way you can be involved in RCIA is to help provide snacks for the RCIA sessions; breaking bread together is the way we begin each week. Please sign up to provide snack items for one of the Tuesday night RCIA Sessions.

Sign up to provide snacks for RCIA

Please continue counting your steps! Help us support our twin parish in Carissade, Haiti where we’ve been educating and feeding 500 primary school children each year. St. Paul’s School provides education and faith formation which deepens their relationship with Christ, and provides foundational skills in subjects such as Haitian Creole, French, Mathematics, and Religion. High School is not available for most Haitians, and in Carissade, we are pleased to provide a scholarship program for students to attend St. Martin's Secondary School, located in a neighboring town. Sixteen students are provided tuition, meals, and lodging.

Step-by-Step for Haiti is providing us a way to continue our support for this vital ministry of supporting the school and the families in Carissade, and to address the challenges that our Haitian sisters and brothers are facing.

Join us for Step-by-Step by counting your steps, sponsoring the walk, and/or walking with us on Sunday, September 26 following the 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:15p.m. Masses. A $25 Cathedral Gift Shop gift card will be awarded to the person registering the most steps by October 3.

Cathedral Sacred Music

Program Updates

The Cathedral Choir looks forward to returning this season, beginning with rehearsal in the church from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, and serving at the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, September 19. (Due to budget constraints, the Cathedral Choir will alternate between serving at the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses each week.)

Updates regarding the Music for a Cathedral Space: The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Series can be found at www.richmondcathedral.org/concerts.

Click here to learn more on the Nursery

Children's Liturgy of the Word

Begins on September 12!

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is a program that invites children ages 3 – 7 to leave the larger parish assembly during Mass to celebrate a liturgy in the large Sacristy with trained catechists. CLOW is held during the school year at the 9:00am Mass. Masks are required for all adults and children participating in Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Click here to learn more about CLOW

Theology on Tap

Monday, September 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Bandito's

Come join us at Bandito's for an evening focused on Pope Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body! Natalie Shepherd, a Family Nurse Practitioner, will present on how Pope Saint John Paul II helps to answer two fundamental questions in Theology of the Body: 1. Who am I? and 2. Why am I here?. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Registration Deadline for All PREK–HS Programming: September 12

Register your child or youth for our weekly catechesis programs and preparation for First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Register Here.

Access Calendars Here

Preparation for

First Penance and

First Holy Communion

If you have a child that is a rising 2nd grader or older who would like to prepare for the Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion, please contact Joy Weir jweir@richmondcathedral.org

Confirmation

Do you have a rising sophomore who is seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation? Preparation starts in September. Please contact Joy Weir at jweir@richmondcathedral.org for more information.

Register for all Religious Education Here

PREK–HS Calendars

Staff Changes

There are two staffing changes at the Cathedral: Gabriel Ferreiro, a member of the facilities team, has stepped down to focus on his studies. Lauren Tompkins will be stepping down as the Cathedral’s communications and sacramental specialist as of September 16. Lauren will continue to be a cantor.

The parish thanks Gabriel and Lauren for their work and wishes them all the best. Their duties will be distributed among other staff members.

The parish’s next monthly holy hour will take place on Tuesday, September 21 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The format will be Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction, and will include the Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The holy hour will be dedicated to St. Peter Claver (1580–1654), whose feast day is observed on September 9. Peter Claver was a Jesuit missionary from Spain who tirelessly ministered to African slaves in Cartagena (present-day Colombia). At the time of his religious profession, he wrote, in blood, the purpose of his life: “Peter Claver, slave of the slaves forever.”

Virginia March for Life

The third annual Virginia March for Life will take place on Friday, September 17 at the Virginia State Capitol here in Richmond. The theme for this year is “Together Strong, Life Unites.” Fr. Tony invites interested parishioners to attend Mass at the Cathedral at 10:30 a.m., and then walk to the Capitol (about 30 minutes). The rally will begin at 12:00 N and the march at 1:00 p.m. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Fr. Tony (tmarques@richmonddiocese.org).

Sacristans

Sacristans are liturgical ministers whose service helps to ensure a worthy and reverent celebration of Mass (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 105b). Volunteers are needed to help set up for Mass and clean up afterwards. Duties include arranging the liturgical books, sacred vessels, and other items.

There would be two time slots for sacristans: 45 minutes before Mass for preparation, and 20 minutes afterward to put things away. Parishioners could volunteer for either or both time slots, choosing which weekends they would be available. Scheduling would take place through the parish’s online scheduler. Training for the ministry of sacristan is happily provided.

If you would like to serve the Cathedral as a sacristan, contact Fr. Tony (tmarques@richmonddiocese.org).