About Good Shepherd · McCormick, South Carolina
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish located in McCormick, South Carolina, a quiet lakeside town near the Georgia border. Founded in 1964 and belonging to the Aiken Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the parish serves about 212 households from its church on Greenwood Highway. Currently pastored by Fr. Jacob Joseph, CMI and served by Deacon Jeff DeFrehn, Good Shepherd offers weekend and weekday Masses, regular confession times, livestreamed services, and a close-knit community life that includes a Women's Club and Men's Club. The parish marked its 60th anniversary in March 2024 with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- Good Shepherd (Christ the Good Shepherd)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Jacob Joseph, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston (Aiken Deanery)
Why belong here
Good Shepherd is a warm, family-sized Catholic community where most parishioners know one another by name. Fr. Jacob Joseph, CMI and Deacon Jeff DeFrehn offer daily and weekend Masses, regular confession times before every Mass, livestreamed services for the homebound, and active parish groups like the Women's Club and Men's Club. Tucked along Greenwood Highway in McCormick, the parish is the spiritual home for Catholics across McCormick County who want to live the Gospel, grow in holiness, and support one another through prayer, fellowship, and service.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 8:15 – 8:45 am
- Friday: 8:15 – 8:45 am
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:45 pm
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Holy Thursday: Eucharistic Adoration following the 6 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper until 8:30 pm
About Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a small, family-oriented parish located in McCormick, South Carolina, on Greenwood Highway just north of downtown. The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Charleston and is part of the Aiken Deanery. Seating for 299 and a roll of approximately 212 households reflect the close-knit character of a parish where members know one another personally. The parish embraces its patron — Christ the Good Shepherd — as both the name and the spiritual model for its work in McCormick County.
- Founded 1964
- Diocese of Charleston, Aiken Deanery
- 299 seats / ~212 households
- Located at 1401 Greenwood Highway, McCormick, SC 29835
60th Anniversary
On March 3, 2024, Good Shepherd Catholic Church marked the 60th anniversary of its founding. The Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, Bishop of Charleston, celebrated a special anniversary Mass at the parish, joined by the congregation and honored guests. The milestone was documented by parishioner Rodney Wurst in a commemorative anniversary book, which is available to view on the parish website alongside photo albums from the celebration and from parish life across the decades.
- Anniversary Mass celebrated March 3, 2024 by Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune
- 60th Anniversary Book compiled by Rodney Wurst
- Photo albums of the celebration posted on the parish website
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a priest of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and by a permanent deacon. Fr. Jacob Joseph, CMI is the current pastor; Deacon Jeff DeFrehn is a Certified Spiritual Director assisting with liturgy and pastoral care. Debbie Dreslinski serves as Office Manager and is the primary point of contact for parish administrative needs. The current bishop of the diocese, Jacques Fabre-Jeune, is regularly mentioned in parish communications.
- Rev. Fr. Jacob Joseph, CMI — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Jeffrey DeFrehn — Deacon, Certified Spiritual Director ([email protected])
- Debbie Dreslinski — Office Manager
- Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune — Bishop of Charleston
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
Good Shepherd offers a regular weekly schedule of weekend and weekday Masses in English. The Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday morning Mass form the backbone of parish worship, while Wednesday and Friday morning Masses provide opportunities for weekday devotion. Holy Day schedules are announced as they approach, and parishioners are asked to call the office for times.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:00 pm
- Sunday Mass — 11:00 am
- Wednesday Mass — 9:00 am
- Friday Mass — 9:00 am
- Holy Day Mass — Call the parish office for times
Holy Week & Easter Triduum
Good Shepherd observes the full Holy Week and Easter Triduum liturgies with the wider Church, including the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Passion, the Great Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Mass. The parish also maintains beloved local customs such as the Blessing of the Easter Baskets and the Easter morning decorating of the church.
- Holy Thursday — 6 pm Mass with Washing of the Feet, Eucharistic Adoration until 8:30 pm
- Good Friday — 9 am Stations of the Cross; 3 pm The Lord's Passion and Veneration of the Cross
- Holy Saturday — 9 am Blessing of Easter Baskets; 9:30 am Decorating the Church; 8:30 pm The Great Easter Vigil (no 4 pm Vigil Mass)
- Easter Sunday — 11 am Mass
Livestream & Online Worship
Weekend and weekday Masses are livestreamed for parishioners who are traveling, homebound, or otherwise unable to attend in person. Streams are accessible via the parish's official Facebook page and YouTube channel under the name 'Good Shepherd Catholic Church McCormick.'
- Livestream Mass on Facebook — Good Shepherd Catholic Church McCormick
- Livestream Mass on YouTube — Good Shepherd Catholic Church McCormick
Parish Ministries & Fellowship
Despite its small size, Good Shepherd has an active parish life built around lay-led groups and ministries. The Women's Club and Men's Club are longtime pillars of fellowship and service, frequently remembered in the parish bulletin through the prayers of the faithful. A Parish Communications & Social Media Coordinator supports ministry groups with graphics, flyers, and social media outreach through a dedicated request form.
- Good Shepherd Women's Club
- Good Shepherd Men's Club
- Parish Communications & Social Media
- Livestream / Media Ministry
- Diocesan Annual Catholic Appeal
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to noon. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed; for pastoral emergencies outside of office hours, an after-hours emergency line is provided.
- Parish Office Phone: (864) 852-4722
- Pastoral Emergency Line: (843) 329-3030
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1468, McCormick, SC 29835
- Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon