Social Ministry
The Social Ministry office is committed to leading the St. Edward parish community in the fulfillment of our Baptismal call to love God and neighbor, and to act justly and to love mercy through both word and deed. As missionary disciples we promote an awareness of Catholic Social Teaching through the ministries of Human Concerns and Justice & Peace in service of the common good. We promote legislative advocacy for a consistent ethic of life from conception to natural death. Our diverse ministries, guided by the Holy Spirit, amplifies the voices of our brothers and sisters in need.
Envelopes for Human Concerns are provided monthly to parishioners to support this ministry. This fund provides direct assistance to people in crisis situations for rent, utilities, food, and gas.
Ministries & Programs
Haiti Ministry
St. Edward has been in a twinning relationship with Holy Family Parish in Cerca Carvajal, Haiti since 1991. Holy Family has a parish school, a newly reconstructed church, and a medical clinic. Parishioners are invited to continue the support of Haiti through regular giving that goes towards the costs of the medical clinic and the parish. Visit the Haiti Ministry page for more information.
Food Pantry
Please remember people who aren’t able to purchase enough food to feed their families! It’s as simple as bringing a few canned goods with you to Mass on the weekend. All food donated to our food pantry is distributed three ways: to people seeking food assistance from the small pantry at the parish office; to the food pantry at Sacred Heart Center on Perry Street in Southside Richmond which serves the Latino community and other nearby residents; and to Bainbridge Community Ministry who has a pantry on Hull Street and which provides food for the elderly and the working poor. You can leave filled grocery bags near the Food Pantry storage closet in the Commons. Click here for a list of suggested items for our food pantry.
Homeless Shelter Meal Assistance
We have dedicated volunteers at St. Edward who prepare, serve, and deliver meals each month at different locations. Please feel free to contact Pam Harris to volunteer.
Friends of the Homeless: a team of parishioners prepare and deliver lunch on the 4th Friday of every month to Swansboro Baptist Church.
Liberation Veterans Shelter: We have 4 teams who prepare, deliver, and serve evening meals every month. 2nd Monday, 3rd Monday, 4th Wednesday and 4th Friday.
Meatloaves and Brownies program: All parishioners are invited to help feed hungry people who come to St. Peter’s downtown for an evening meal. Parishioners cook meatloaves and brownies throughout the month and drop them off (wrapped in freezer wrap or aluminum foil) in the freezers of the church kitchen on the weekends or at the parish center during the week. Our parish is responsible for providing food for about 50 people on the first Wednesday of every month.
Prison Ministry
There are currently 33,000 inmates in Virginia state prisons. There are 28,000 more inmates currently in city, county and regional jails. 95% of these 61,000 prisoners will be released at some time back into the general population. St. Edward Prison Ministry would like your help in responding to the gospel mandate from Jesus Christ to care for prisoners (MT. 25:39) and to help them reenter society as productive citizens. Currently, parishioners visit two prisons on a regular basis. A St. Edward/Epiphany group goes to Deep Meadow weekly. Contact Tom Petersik at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info. A group of women visit the Central Virginia Correctional Unit 13 (women’s prison) on Courthouse Road monthly. Contact Cheryl Sobolewski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info.
Appalachia Ministry
A team of parishioners visits far southwest Virginia, volunteering at the Remote Area Medical event in Wise County.
Habitat for Humanity
Our parish works with Powhatan Habitat for Humanity. Notice will be put in the bulletin when we need volunteers.
Shalom Farms
A non-profit farm and food justice organization that grows and distributes over 600,000 servings of Certified Naturally Grown produce each year. Opportunities to volunteer during the year will be made available in the bulletin.
Legislative Advocacy
The Virginia Catholic Conference represents the Diocese of Richmond and the Diocese of Arlington. The Conference engages in advocacy with state and federal lawmakers and with grassroots advocates throughout the Commonwealth. Please visit VCC and sign up to receive regular updates on current legislation, and to contact your state and federal legislators. Make your voice heard!
Catholic Social Teaching
The above ministries reflect the themes of Catholic Social Teaching that are the social justice dimensions of the gospel. Catholic Social Teaching allows us to move from education to transformation, which is an essential part of living the gospel. These core themes invites us to a prophetic and sacramental witness to the beauty of the Catholic faith through her human concerns and justice and peace ministries.
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