Infrastructure plans paused, pastor focuses on meeting spiritual needs
More than 450 parishioners of St. Gabriel, Chesterfield, and Good Samaritan, Amelia, attended the former parish’s 25th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Barry C. Knestout on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Cosby High School in Midlothian.
The Mass and the reception that followed capped a year-long celebration that included a theme, a jubilee prayer, an anthem and monthly spotlighting of its groups and robust ministries program.
In his homily at the jubilee Mass, Bishop Knestout spoke of St. Gabriel as “the strength of God,” named, like the other archangels, for his mission. He explained that Mary and Joseph experienced the strength of God through St. Gabriel, who called them to courage in responding to God. The bishop called Mass attendees to courage and said that it is a necessary virtue for all. He explained that they must cultivate it in order to proclaim the Good News.
Father Felix Amofa, pastor since 2017, said involvement by parishioners throughout the jubilee year made them feel part of the celebration.
“They all knew they were a part of it,” he said, adding that he and his parishioners were happy with how the anniversary celebration unfolded.
“Everyone said they had never experienced such a cheerful celebration,” he recalled.
St. Gabriel grew out of a need for a Catholic church to serve the western part of Chesterfield County.
Before St. Gabriel was established, a large number of families in the area attended Mass in neighboring parishes. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan met with parishioners from St. Edward the Confessor, North Chesterfield, and Church of the Epiphany, Richmond, who expressed a desire for a church in their own community.
The diocese responded to the need for a new parish in 1997. Bishop Sullivan wanted to name the parish after one of the three archangels, and parishioners chose St. Gabriel.
On Aug. 2 of that year, the parish opened with about 400 families attending Mass at Clover Hill Elementary School. The growth that had engendered the establishment of the parish continued. At its peak, the parish had 1,100 families.
St. Gabriel moved to its permanent location on Winterpock Road in 2001 and nine years later clustered with Good Samaritan, Amelia, founded in 1980.
Post-anniversary celebration, Father Amofa said he is focusing on providing parishioners with the resources needed to live out their mission.
He said infrastructure presents a significant challenge.
Dr. Jim Haug, chair of the pastoral council and jubilee committee, agreed.
“We need better facilities for youth, especially teens,” he said.
Father Amofa and parish leadership have been planning to address facilities issues. Plans to improve worship, classroom and administrative spaces are in place but are paused due to financial constraints.
While he is facing a setback on the physical improvements to the parish, Father Amofa said he can fully focus on the parish’s prayer life, sacramental needs, faith formation and outreach, and on finding new ways to connect with people.
The priest said that making the surrounding community aware of St. Gabriel and what it does in a more personal way is important to him.
Haug said that St. Gabriel is “down somewhat in population right now” with 1,000 families attending Mass.
“The recent synod process revealed that we have more than 2,500 adults registered in the parish,” he said.
“There is a lot of growth in western Chesterfield,” Haug added. He hopes building improvements will benefit St. Gabriel by attracting parishioners from the more than 5,000 new homes in the area.
“It’s a very active parish,” Father Amofa said.
“What makes the parish unique are parishioners’ warm hearts and welcoming demeanor,” Father Amofa said. “There is a sign in the church commons that reads, ‘All are welcome.’ They really mean it. They make you feel at home and that you belong.”