The NOVA Story
The NOVA Community began in 1968 as an experimental worship and study group approved by the Diocese of Richmond to explore new approaches to the liturgy. The rumblings of change in the Catholic Church which culminated in the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) laid the groundwork for reform and renewal among clergy and laity alike. With the help of a group of priests, who have agreed to team with community members to plan liturgies, NOVA has developed a spirit-filled weekly Eucharistic celebration that continues to challenge and comfort all who attend. Our community is one of hundreds of Intentional Eucharistic Communities in the U.S. and throughout the world whose members seek a more personal, lay-run alternative to the traditional parish structure.
NOVA gathers every Sunday to worship together and share the Eucharist. We are blessed to have a group of 10-12 priests who form our Padre Cadre and have walked beside us for varying lengths of time on a mutually-shared faith journey. Over the years, over 400 priests have shared their lives with us – diocesans, Jesuits, Augustinians, Franciscans, Carmelites, etc. The Padre Cadre has taught us and counseled us in their areas of faith application, never dominating, always respectful of the lay experiment and experience that is NOVA. Almost every NOVA member plans 1-2 liturgies/year that are always active interactions between the people and the priest. A talented Music Group, shared homilies, and participation by all creates a memorable celebration each week.
Members planning a Sunday liturgy with the priest assigned for that week.
It is our desire to live as church with as little formal structure as possible. Thus, NOVA has neither buildings nor resident pastor. We rent space in the community and hold most of our meetings and social gatherings in member’s homes. Many have raised their families in NOVA, some have participated since the very beginning, and others have just arrived. Often a new person’s first statement is, “I have been looking so long for a community just like this."
Empowered by the Gospel, community members are committed to making Christ’s reign of justice and peace a reality in our lives and in the world. NOVA sponsors about 35 different social action projects each year. We give financial support, spiritual help, manual labor, planning expertise – whatever our time and resources will allow. Members are involved with projects dealing with feeding the poor, health care and education here and abroad, special ventures in the peace movement, ordaining women, environmental stewardship – and much more. Each one is encouraged to bring the Word of God to the world in whatever way best fits their personal time and talents.
Early on NOVA decided to govern itself by the consensus process. Decisions are made at open community meetings. Rotating chairs are selected each year at a “Calling Forth” meeting and others assume responsibility for specific functions. A treasurer keeps us fiscally on track and reminds us if we fall short of meeting our goal of 60% or more of our income going to social action projects. NOVA is a learning community where Adult and Children’s Religious Education are supported and encouraged. Community Life Ministers oversee the care and special needs of all members – tending to the sick, bringing Communion to the housebound, arranging a blessing for a new home, creating a “prayer wheel” to help someone get through a difficult time. We join together to look out for one another, much as an extended family would do. Each year the community goes away for a week-end retreat – to pray and play together, to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re heading, to learn and grow, and to stay alive to each other, to our commitments, and to our shared vision.
Early on NOVA decided to govern itself by the consensus process. Decisions are made at open community meetings. Rotating chairs are selected each year at a “Calling Forth” meeting and others assume responsibility for specific functions. A treasurer keeps us fiscally on track and reminds us if we fall short of meeting our goal of 60% or more of our income going to social action projects. NOVA is a learning community where Adult and Children’s Religious Education are supported and encouraged. Community Life Ministers oversee the care and special needs of all members – tending to the sick, bringing Communion to the housebound, arranging a blessing for a new home, creating a “prayer wheel” to help someone get through a difficult time. We join together to look out for one another, much as an extended family would do. Each year the community goes away for a week-end retreat – to pray and play together, to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re heading, to learn and grow, and to stay alive to each other, to our commitments, and to our shared vision.