About Church of the Infant Jesus Mission · Marion, South Carolina
The Church of the Infant Jesus Mission is a small Catholic mission church located in Marion, South Carolina, serving as the only Catholic parish in Marion County. It is a mission of St. Louis Parish in Dillon and falls within the Diocese of Charleston (the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston). The parish was formally dedicated on January 22, 1967, making Marion the last county in South Carolina to have a Catholic church, and it serves roughly 50 households with a 250-seat worship space. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, and the community maintains an active program of ministries, devotions, and outreach.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Infant Jesus of Prague
- Rector
- Rev. Sylvère Baloza-Baloza (Administrator; effective March 2, 2026)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Church of the Infant Jesus Mission is the only Catholic parish in Marion County, making it the natural spiritual home for any Catholic family in the area—and a uniquely intimate worship community of about 50 households. It offers the fullness of Catholic worship with Mass in both English and Spanish, weekday devotions including a Wednesday Mass with rosary and Thursday adoration, and a tight-knit roster of lay ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Legion of Mary, Catholic Women's Club, Choir, Altar Ministry, and more) where every member can play a real role. For Catholics in the Pee Dee region who want a smaller, family-sized parish with bilingual liturgy, sacramental access, and active community life, this mission offers a rare sense of belonging.
Mass times at Church of the Infant Jesus Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:30 PM (30 minutes before Vigil Mass, per parish publication)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM (30 minutes before Sunday Mass, per diocesan directory)
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (before 5:00 PM Thursday Mass)
History of the Mission
Catholic families in Marion County worshipped in private homes and traveled to neighboring parishes for decades before getting a church of their own. In the early 1900s the community was attached first to Sumter and then to Florence parishes. In 1943 Marion was designated a mission of St. Louis Church in Dillon. Land on North Highway 501 Business was purchased in 1964 from the Wiggins family, construction followed, and the Church of the Infant Jesus was formally dedicated on January 22, 1967—the first Catholic church in Marion County, making Marion the last South Carolina county to gain one. By the 10th anniversary, parishioners had retired the entire building debt.
- Early 1900s: Marion attached to Sumter, then Florence parishes
- 1943: Marion becomes a mission of St. Louis, Dillon
- 1964: 8.166-acre site purchased for $9,799.20 from Douglas Wiggins and the late E.J. Wiggins, by Bishop Francis F. Reh
- 1964–1967: Construction by Owens Construction Co.; design by James E. Cooney, architect, Myrtle Beach
- January 22, 1967: Formal dedication of the Church of the Infant Jesus
- 1977: Building debt fully retired on the 10th anniversary
Founding Pastor: Father Anthony A. Plikunas
Father Plikunas established the Church of the Infant Jesus as a mission of St. Louis Parish in Dillon, secured the land, oversaw the design and construction, and accomplished the bulk of the financing himself. He named the parish after the Infant Jesus of Prague out of his personal devotion, a name the parish still bears. The parish website describes the church, hall, and facilities as a tribute to this founding priest who served the spiritual needs of Marion Catholics and made the building possible.
Parish Staff and Leadership
Day-to-day parish operations are shared between the priest-administrator and a strong cadre of lay leaders. Rev. Sylvère Baloza-Baloza, originally from the Congo and a graduate of the Université Saint Augustin de Kinshasa with further study in Mexico, was named Administrator effective March 2, 2026, for both St. Louis Church in Dillon and Church of the Infant Jesus Mission. Retired Deacon Donald DeNitto continues in ministry. Stan Lovendoski serves as organist; Mary Frances McMillan as finance lead and bulletin/office volunteer; Rosa Kler as Hispanic Community Liaison and Legion of Mary contact; Lenore Crouse as Parish Pastoral Council Facilitator; and Richard Doughty as Parish Financial Council Facilitator.
- Administrator: Rev. Sylvère Baloza-Baloza (effective March 2, 2026)
- Retired Deacon: Donald DeNitto
- Organist: Stan Lovendoski
- Finance: Mary Frances McMillan
- Pastoral Council Facilitator: Lenore Crouse
- Finance Council Facilitator: Richard Doughty
- Hispanic Community Liaison: Rosa Kler
- Office Volunteer / Bulletin: Mary Frances McMillan
Sacramental Life
Reconciliation is offered 30 minutes before each weekend Mass—Saturday at 5:30 PM and Sunday at 8:30 AM—and by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is held Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Eucharistic Ministers regularly bring Communion to the sick and homebound, offering pastoral care and spiritual support.
- Confession: Saturday 5:30 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM, and by appointment
- Adoration: Thursday 4:00–5:00 PM
- Communion to the sick and homebound by Eucharistic Ministers
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick: by arrangement through the parish office
Parish Ministries
With about 50 households, the mission draws heavily on lay ministry. The parish organizes its work into Liturgical Ministries, Service Ministries, Social Outreach Ministries, and Prayer/Spiritual/Sacramental Ministries, covering everything from music and lector work to grounds maintenance and food pantry outreach.
- Religious Education (Beth Lett)
- Building & Grounds Maintenance (Tom Julian, chairman)
- Choir / Music Ministry (Stan Lovendoski)
- Catholic Women's Club (fellowship, coffee hours, Care & Share food pantry, fundraisers)
- Altar Ministry (Etelvina Doughty)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Legion of Mary (Rosa Kler) – active and auxiliary members, weekly meetings
- Sacristans (Phoebe Seals)
- Ushers (Jack Sutton)
- Church Cleaning teams (Mary Frances McMillan)
- Counters' Ministry
Catholic Women's Club
The Women's Club meets monthly after Sunday Mass and is the social heart of the parish. It hosts monthly coffee hours, organizes special parish meals, runs the Care & Share food pantry, and holds fundraising events to support church projects. All women of the parish are invited to join.
Legion of Mary
A lay organization under ecclesiastical guidance whose twofold purpose is the spiritual development of its members and advancing the reign of Christ through Mary. The group meets weekly and includes both active and auxiliary (praying) members; contact is through Rosa Kler.
Get Involved and Volunteer
The parish explicitly notes that 'Volunteers are essential in fulfilling our mission' and welcomes new volunteers through an online form on the parish website. Anyone who will work with minors in any capacity must complete VIRTUS Protecting God's Children's training before serving.
- Online volunteer interest form on infantjesusmarion.com/get-involved
- VIRTUS Protecting God's Children Training required for ministry with minors
- Open invitation to join any parish ministry listed above
Visit, Contact, and Location
The mission is located at 4534 N. Highway 501 Business, Marion, SC 29571. The parish office can be reached at 843-433-8239 or [email protected]. The official website is infantjesusmarion.com. As a mission of St. Louis Parish in Dillon, it falls under the pastoral care of the Administrator named for both communities.
- Address: 4534 N. Highway 501 Business, Marion, SC 29571
- Phone: 843-433-8239
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.infantjesusmarion.com
- Parent parish: St. Louis, Dillon, SC
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (charlestondiocese.org)
- Deanery: Myrtle Beach
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony A. Plikunasc. 1964–1967 founding era (and beyond)
Founding pastor of Church of the Infant Jesus Mission. Named the church for the Infant Jesus of Prague out of personal devotion. Led the land purchase (1964), design by James E. Cooney, construction by Owens Construction Co., and the financing of the building (~$65,000). Oversaw the formal dedication on January 22, 1967, making Marion the last South Carolina county to have a Catholic church. The church, hall, and facilities are described by the parish as 'a tribute to this priest who served the spiritual needs and accomplished the major financing of this church.'
- Rev. Sylvère Baloza-BalozaEffective March 2, 2026–present
Current Administrator of both St. Louis Catholic Church, Dillon, SC, and Church of the Infant Jesus Mission, Marion, SC. Originally from the Congo; studied at the Université Saint Augustin de Kinshasa and in Mexico.