ST. ELIZABETH PARISH HISTORY (Continued)

In 1982, the school closed and the students moved to the newly named All Saints School, formerly St. Paul's School.  The old convent was destroyed by fire in September of 1983 and a year later, the school building was sold.

St. Elizabeth was one of the first parishes in the Diocese of Richmond to be assigned a Pastoral Coordinator.  Sister Cora Marie Billings, RSM. who was also Director of the Office for Black Catholics at the time, served from June 1990 until December 2004.  Sr. Cora was the first African-American woman to serve as a Pastoral Coordinator in the United States Catholic Church.

In 2006 - 2007, the church again underwent major renovation and restoration after the ceiling in the sanctuary collapsed, destroying the altar and its surroundings.  With monetary help from all over the country and the encouragement and support from our parish family, we were able to overcome the challenges of these daunting repairs and by Holy Week of 2007, we were once more able to worship in our sanctuary.  As Scripture continually reminds us:  "With God, ALL things are possible."

January 2009

PASTORS & PASTORAL COORDINATOR OF ST. ELIZABETH CHURCH

Rev. Louis Rowen, 1923-1937
Rev. Michael J. Cannon, 1937-1947
Rev. Thomas A. Mitchell, 1947-1950
Rev. Leo J. Massei, 1950-1959
Rev. J. Louis Flaherty, 1959-1961
Rev. Joseph W. Hirsh, 1961-1966
Rev. Robert E. Nudd, 1966-1969
Rev. Rev. James L. Rizer, 1969-1972
Rev. Robert Howe, 1972-1977
Rev. Michael Schmied, 1977-1987
Rev. J. Stephen Hickman, 1987
Rev. Matthias Newell, 1987-1990
Sr. Cora Marie Billings, RSM, 1990-2004, Pastoral Coordinator
Rev. James Begley, 2004-2005
Rev. Robert Brownell, 2005-2006
Rev. Andrew Sagayam, 2006-2007
Msgr. Walter Barrett, 2007-2008
Rev. Andrew Sagayam, 2008-2010
Rev. Francois Babulu, 2010-