For those who live in the Richmond, Va., area, or anyone who may visit here this weekend, I couldn’t resist a plug for the Saint Benedict Church Oktoberfest, which runs September 18-19. (In other words, a real Oktoberfest, held around the days of the actual Bavarian festival.) The hours on Friday are from 5-10 p.m. and from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday. It offers authentic German food, music, dancing and more. If you go, you will want to tour the historic church and see, among other things, its well known sanctuary mural, which the parish restored within the last two years.
The historic sanctuary mural at St. Benedict Church in Richmond, Va. The church is a thriving, growing urban parish that celebrates traditional Catholicism.
Only in its 5th year, this festival is a knock-your-socks off event from an urban parish that is growing because of its unapologetic upholding of traditional Catholicism. The coincidence of a German Pope also named Benedict probably has been a bit of a boon to the parish, but it’s no coincidence the Holy Father is popular there, for they truly practice what he — and the Church — teach, complete with outreach and introduction to the Faith by parishioners who canvass the neighborhood. So, while the festival is great fellowship among parishioners, it’s a reflection of Christ to non-Catholics as well. The festival also kicks off its 40 Days For Life campaign.
Founded by the Benedictines from Belmont Abbey in North Carolina in the early part of the last century, the church shares a square block area with an all-male military high school the monks still run. However, some years ago, the monks started their own (Mary, Mother of the Church) Abbey in the Virginia countryside and turned over the parish to the Diocese of Richmond. The parish runs a K-8 co-ed school two blocks away.
