About Blessed Sacrament · South Charleston, West Virginia
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 305 E Street in South Charleston, West Virginia, part of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The parish describes itself as "a Christ-Centered Community, Committed to Worship the Father, Committed to Respond to the Spirit's Gifts, Committed to Loving Service to All God's People." It serves the South Charleston community and the greater Kanawha Valley with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and two Sunday mornings, a robust music program, and a long-standing tradition of outreach to neighboring rural communities.
- Established
- mid-20th century (parish established under the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston with Rev. Matthias O'Reilly as first pastor; church and facilities later dedicated at South Charleston)
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament (the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul J. Wharton
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament offers a close-knit, Christ-centered parish family with daily and weekend Masses, a robust music ministry (adult choir, bell choir, children's choir), active liturgical ministries for lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters/ushers, altar servers and sacristans, and deep outreach partnerships that put stewardship into action. Families are drawn to its faith formation programs for students, the decades-old Camp Leon summer experience for ages 7–14, and the parish's long covenant with Good Shepherd Chapel in Coalburg and the Morton Juvenile Center. Visitors will find a welcoming community that explicitly invites them to belong and grow in faith.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
About Blessed Sacrament Parish
Blessed Sacrament is a Christ-centered Roman Catholic parish in South Charleston, West Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The parish's stated mission is to be a community committed to worship of the Father, response to the Spirit's gifts, and loving service to all God's people. Mass is offered on Saturday at 5:00 PM and on Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM, with weekday and Holy Day Masses as posted in the bulletin.
- Christ-centered community committed to worship, spiritual response, and loving service
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM
- Weekday and Holy Day Masses as posted in the bulletin
- Reconciliation Saturday 4:00 PM or by appointment
History and Heritage
Blessed Sacrament Parish was established under the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston with Rev. Matthias O'Reilly as its first pastor; the church and parish facilities were later dedicated at South Charleston. Over the decades the parish has become known for its stewardship-driven outreach, particularly its covenant with Good Shepherd Chapel in rural Coalburg that has spanned more than 25 years of food collection, home repair, and Christmas assistance.
- Parish established with Rev. Matthias O'Reilly as first pastor
- Church and parish facilities dedicated at South Charleston
- 25+ year partnership with Good Shepherd Chapel, Coalburg
- Stewardship philosophy: 'God always gives us what God knows we need'
Parish Staff and Leadership
Rev. Paul J. Wharton serves as the current pastor. The parish is supported by an Office Manager (Natalie Zellers), a Director of Music & Youth Ministries (Mary Odin), and a Director of Religious Education (Mike Granata). The Pastoral Council includes Chip Counsil (facilitator), Jackson Davis, Anne Dever, Jack Dever, Christine Fernandes, David Lewia, Molly Linehan-Belcher, Philip Maramba, Terry Mathias, Katie Smithberger, and Charlie Wilson.
- Pastor: Rev. Paul J. Wharton
- Office Manager: Natalie Zellers ([email protected], 304-744-5523)
- Director of Music & Youth Ministries: Mary Odin ([email protected], 304-767-9479)
- Director of Religious Education: Mike Granata ([email protected], 304-561-8063)
- Pastoral Council: Chip Counsil (facilitator), Jackson Davis, Anne Dever, Jack Dever, Christine Fernandes, David Lewia, Molly Linehan-Belcher, Philip Maramba, Terry Mathias, Katie Smithberger, Charlie Wilson
Liturgy and Sacraments
Blessed Sacrament offers a full schedule of liturgical and sacramental ministries. The parish website describes the role of Altar Servers, Sacristans, Greeters/Ushers, Lectors, and three forms of Eucharistic Ministry: the Principal Minister at the Altar, the Minister of the Cup, and Communion Ministers to the Sick and Shut-in. Altar Linen Care volunteers launder and iron the altar cloths, purificators, and other liturgical fabrics.
- Mass: Saturday 5:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM & 11:30 AM; weekdays/Holy Days per bulletin
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 PM or by appointment
- Communion to the Sick and Shut-in available on request
- Active Liturgical Ministries: Altar Servers, Altar Linen Care, Greeters/Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans
Music Ministry
Under Director Mary Odin, the Music Ministry is one of the most visible programs at Blessed Sacrament. It includes an Adult Choir of mixed SATB voices, a 5-octave Bell Choir of 13 ringers that plays monthly at Mass and at concerts and community events, a Children's Choir for students in grades 2–8 who sing for various liturgies and concerts, and opportunities for instrumentalists (guitar, keyboard, percussion, etc.).
- Adult Choir – mixed SATB voices
- 5-octave Bell Choir of 13 ringers – monthly at Mass, concerts, community events
- Children's Choir – grades 2–8
- Instrumentalists (guitar, keyboard, percussion, etc.) welcome
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for Students meets on Sundays at 10:15 AM, between the two Sunday Masses. The Director of Religious Education, Mike Granata, coordinates catechesis for parish children and families. Adult formation is supported through weekly Bible Study and Bible Sharing groups.
- Faith Formation for Students – Sundays 10:15 AM
- Director of Religious Education: Mike Granata (304-561-8063)
- Men's Bible Sharing – Saturdays 9:00 AM in Room 5
- Bible Study – Wednesdays 10:00–11:30 AM in Room 5
- Bible Sharing – Wednesdays 6:30 PM in Room 5 and via Zoom
Camp Leon – Summer Youth Camp
Camp Leon is a week-long summer camp sponsored by Blessed Sacrament Parish and in operation for over 50 years. Held at 225 Catholic Conference Center in Huttonsville, WV (formerly Camp Carlos/Bosco), about three hours south of Charleston, Camp Leon welcomes children ages 7–14 (and 9th-graders entering 10th grade as junior staff). Activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, zip line, rock wall climbing, horseback riding, campfires, carnival, skits, arts and crafts. In the spirit of stewardship, no fixed registration fee is charged; the actual cost per camper is about $375, and no child is excluded for inability to pay. Directors include Father Paul Wharton, Deacon Tony O'Leary, Paula Durst, and Bob Lilly.
- Over 50 years of continuous operation
- Held at Huttonsville, WV (Catholic Conference Center)
- Ages 7–14; 9th-graders entering 10th grade eligible as junior staff
- Directors: Fr. Paul Wharton, Deacon Tony O'Leary, Paula Durst, Bob Lilly
- Contact: Paula Durst, 304-545-4483, [email protected]
Outreach and Charity
Stewardship is a defining mark of Blessed Sacrament Parish. For more than 25 years the parish has supported Good Shepherd Chapel in Coalburg with seasonal food drives (spring and fall), roughly $15,000 a year in Christmas food baskets, and youth/adult service trips to winterize and repair homes. The parish Tithe Fund also supports Partners in Community Service (monthly grants to local agencies) and ad-hoc gifts, including four years of Christmas gift purchases for youth at the James H. 'Tiger' Morton Juvenile Center in Dunbar. In 2020 the parish gave away approximately $77,000 through its Tithe Fund—10% of the Sunday offertory plus other designated donations.
- Good Shepherd Chapel / Coalburg food pantry partnership (25+ years)
- Christmas food baskets – ~$15,000 annually
- Christmas gifts for youth at the Morton Juvenile Center in Dunbar
- Tithe Fund – ~10% of Sunday offertory for outreach
- Partners in Community Service – monthly grants to local agencies
Youth Group
Blessed Sacrament's youth ministry, led by Mary Odin, gathers middle- and high-school-age parishioners around service, fellowship, and faith. The youth group has been instrumental in collecting and packing food for the Coalburg outreach, leading the outdoor loading of the parish's 6' x 6' x 12' food trailer, and selecting age-appropriate Christmas gifts for residents of the Morton Juvenile Center.
- Director of Music & Youth Ministries: Mary Odin
- Youth participation in Coalburg food drives
- Youth involvement in Morton Juvenile Center Christmas gifts program
Visit, Contact, and Giving
The parish office is open Monday and Wednesday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The South entrance doors are unlocked during office hours; the North entrance doors are unlocked on days that Mass is celebrated. Online giving is available through the parish's givetrees collection platform. The weekly bulletin, annual financial report, and Pastoral Council minutes are linked from the parish homepage.
- Office: 305 E Street, South Charleston, WV 25303
- Phone: (304) 744-5523 — Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday & Wed–Fri, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Online giving: https://blessedsacramentwv.givetrees.online/
- Weekly bulletin, annual financial report, and Pastoral Council minutes posted online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthias O'Reilly
First pastor when the parish was established under the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
- Fr. Hilarion Cann
Pastor during whose tenure the parish's outreach to Good Shepherd Chapel in Coalburg began, at the request of Sister Clare Lill.
- Fr. Leon Alexander
Former pastor who gave tithe-fund money to purchase supplies for repairing houses in the Coalburg area.
- Rev. John H. Finnell
Pastor in 2020–2021; oversaw roughly $77,000 in tithe-funded charitable giving in 2020 and the parish's Christmas gifts program for youth at the James H. 'Tiger' Morton Juvenile Center in Dunbar.
- Rev. Paul J. Wharton
Current pastor, also a Director of Camp Leon.