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PARISH PROFILE
 Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk: A Rich History of Firsts
By Sandy Grecco
of The Catholic Virginian
The 150th anniversary of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk on December 8 marked the church’s dedication as the first church to bear the name “Mary of the Immaculate Conception.” However, this was not its first first in history.
French Catholics had established St. Patrick Church in Norfolk, the first Catholic church in Hampton Roads, in 1791. This was 29 years before the Catholic Diocese of Richmond was created in 1820. The original structure of St. Mary’s, built in 1842, was destroyed by fire in 1856. The present church building was erected in 1858 and subsequently dedicated to Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
By 1886, African American Catholics began attending St. Mary’s “where a portion of the choir loft was reserved for them.”
By September 1889 the Josephite priests and brothers, who served the spiritual needs of the African American community following the Civil War, had come from Richmond and established St. Joseph’s Black
Catholic parish.
St. Joseph’s merged with St. Mary’s in 1961, and then in 1989 a newly renovated/restored edifice was rededicated. Today St. Joseph’s Chapel is still very much a part of the fabric of St. Mary’s and is where weekday Mass and devotionals are offered.
“St. Joseph’s is very, very special,” said St. Mary’s Deacon Calvin Bailey, “and has become a place of pilgrimage inside the church.”
 Deacon Bailey grew up “down the street,” converting to Catholicism with his grandmother more than 40 years ago. His faith in God’s plan led him to the Josephite House of Studies in New Orleans, and eventually back to his home parish.
The historic nature of St. Mary’s did not stop, however, with the merging of the two parishes. On December 8, 1991 — the 200th anniversary of the parish itself — the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception was named a Minor Basilica.
Naming a church a basilica acknowledges that the structure has particular religious or historical importance and has been accorded certain privileges by the Pope.
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is one of only 33 minor basilicas in the United States and the only one in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Yet its significance does not even end there.
 St. Mary’s is also the only predominantly African American basilica in Virginia and quite possibly the only one in the country. It is here, in this inimitable status that the real flavor of St. Mary’s parish can be felt.
“One of the first things I encountered at St. Mary’s,” said Father Ernest L. Bulinda, “was the warmth and welcome of the people here.”
Born and raised in Kenya, Father Bulinda came to St. Mary’s in 2002 from St. Bede in Williamsburg. He’d come to the U.S. on sabbatical, and had stopped in Virginia to visit friends when he met the Bishop.
“The rest is history,” he said.
For the close to 950 families that are members of today’s St. Mary’s, history is only a portion of the parish’s significance. People travel from as far away as North Carolina, Suffolk, and Newport News to be a part of this 99 percent African American parish.
 Its history may be the intrigue, but the church’s amazing music program, diverse ministry offerings, and tangible spirit of family and home are what keep people coming week after week.
“Even if I’ve had a bad day, I come in and then have to ask myself, ‘what was I thinking?’” said Oretha McInnis, pastoral assistant. “All I have to do is walk the building sometimes to feel more at ease.”
A number of ministries serve the needs of the church’s congregation as well as its urban surroundings.
A food pantry, a prison ministry and an AIDS ministry offer awareness, education, and resources to those most in need.
The Knights of St. Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, a service organization much like the Knights of Columbus but specific to an individual parish, help insure each ministry has the support and resources it needs.
 There are also a series of religious education programs focused on providing catechists and families spiritual guidance, as well as numerous opportunities to connect more directly with the Word of God.
“We also work hard to show the implications of the Word in everyday life,” said Director of Christian Formation Barbara Wright.
Probably most well known throughout the region for its music ministry, St. Mary’s is home to a host of incredible vocal and musical talent. Music Ministry Director Sammie Logan has overseen the ministry for the past eight years, and directs three of the choral groups.
“The Basilica Inspirational Choir (ages 13-plus) features the gifts of our younger members of the parish,” said Sammie. “It is ‘intergenerational’ in nature,
with mothers and daughters, nephews and nieces all offering praise and worship together.”
The Gospel Choir, directed by John Vann, is more traditional in sound and sings on alternating Sundays with the Inspirational Choir.
The George W. Jones Memorial Choir, directed by Verita Thompson, serves Sunday’s Noon Mass with more spiritually traditional music and hymns.
The full gift of this ministry is witnessed on Feast Days and during special events when members from each of the Choirs, as well as the Basilica Youth Choir (ages 6-12), come together as the Basilica Mass Choir.
Yet the music doesn’t stop with singing.
The Ladies of Covenant are a “praise and dance team that have come together to glorify God.”
 The group of more than 25 women and girls (ages 3 to 60) use a variety of dance techniques and performance art in a collaborative effort to express their love of God.
“It started in my living room 3 years ago,” said Ronda Frazier, “and now we perform not only here but at places like nursing homes as well.”
As a part of the offering to God during Feast Day Mass and other celebrations, the women bring a vibrant piece of their heritage to even the most traditional celebrations.
Father Bulinda and Deacon Bailey keep grounded in faith a community willing to go to great lengths to show their love and appreciation for God’s grace.
“There has been a revitalizing influence of many converts at this church,” Father Bulinda said, “and together we work to keep it in balance with the traditions and ways of our Catholic faith.”
With a newly installed parish pastoral council there are many working together to keep the future of the Basilica as vibrant as its past.
“We are working more closely with the other parishes in our cluster,” said Deborah Lamb, parish council vice chair and coordinator for St. Mary’s Gift Shop.
“We’ve met to share ideas and resources, and are looking for more ways to really bring it together.”
Under the leadership of Chair Tom Bomar, the parish pastoral council is also reviewing the church’s mission statement as well as the current offering of ministries to insure they are in line with the goals of the parish. One such goal is to assist Father Bulinda with his vision of St. Mary’s future.
“A basilica should be a place of pilgrimage,” said Father Bulinda. “Our prayer is that St. Mary’s continues to grow as an honored place for spiritual nourishment and become an archive for Catholic tradition.”
For more than 200 years, this Mother Church of Catholicism in Hampton Roads has been a beacon of light to this region, and continues to beckon people to respect the roots of their faith.
“We are so appreciative for all the people who brought us here so many years ago,” Ms. McInnis said, “and are honored to call it our home now.”
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Copyright © 2008 The Catholic Virginian Press. Articles from Catholic News Services, including Fr. Dietzen’s column, may not be reproduced due to copyright considerations.
The Catholic Virginian is a biweekly publication serving the people of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. This website includes some, but not all, of the articles from the print version of The Catholic Virginian.
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