About Holy Redeemer · Andrews, North Carolina
Holy Redeemer is a small Roman Catholic parish in the mountain town of Andrews, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Charlotte's far western reaches. Tucked along Aquone Road in Cherokee County, it serves a bilingual community with both English and Spanish Masses and is closely paired with Prince of Peace Mission in nearby Robbinsville. The parish offers weekday and weekend Mass, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and an annual Our Lady of Guadalupe procession each December that draws the wider community together.
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer
- Rector
- Reverend Joseph Wasswa (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer offers something rare: a small, personal Catholic community in the mountains of western North Carolina where parishioners genuinely know one another. With both English and Spanish Masses, a Friday-hour Eucharistic Adoration, and a beloved annual Our Lady of Guadalupe procession each December, it is a parish that visibly gathers its bilingual members and the broader Andrews Valley into one worshipping family. Worshippers who value an intimate, mission-style parish rooted in the Diocese of Charlotte will find a warm home here.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 20 minutes before Masses
Adoration times
- Fridays 9:30–10:30 AM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish — Andrews, North Carolina
Holy Redeemer is a small Roman Catholic parish at 214 Aquone Road in Andrews, North Carolina, listed by the Diocese of Charlotte as a mission-style community serving the far western mountains of the state. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish, and is pastorally twinned with Prince of Peace Mission in nearby Robbinsville. Its current priest in charge is parochial administrator Reverend Joseph Wasswa.
- Parish name: Holy Redeemer
- Location: 214 Aquone Road, Andrews, NC 28901
- Diocese: Charlotte
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Joseph Wasswa
Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession
Each year on December 12, Holy Redeemer hosts a public Feast Day Procession of Our Lady of Guadalupe through the Andrews Valley, one of the most visible expressions of the parish's Hispanic Catholic life. The procession draws parishioners from Holy Redeemer and beyond, with coordinator Everardo Diaz among those helping to organize the annual event.
- Annual procession on December 12 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- Public witness through the Andrews Valley
- Coordinator: Everardo Diaz
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently led by Parochial Administrator Reverend Joseph Wasswa, listed by the Diocese of Charlotte as the priest in charge of Holy Redeemer. He succeeded Father George D. Byers, CPM, who retired in February 2025 after leading Holy Redeemer and Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville together for many years.
- Rev. Joseph Wasswa — current Parochial Administrator
- Rev. George D. Byers, CPM — previous pastor (retired February 11, 2025)
Recent Pastor: Father George D. Byers, CPM
Father George David Byers was ordained for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania in 1992 and came to the Diocese of Charlotte in 2013. He served as pastor of both Holy Redeemer in Andrews and Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville, shuttling between the two mountain communities to celebrate Mass in English and Spanish, and to officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., accepted his retirement effective February 11, 2025.
- Ordained 1992 — Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
- Served Diocese of Charlotte since 2013
- Pastor of Holy Redeemer (Andrews) and Prince of Peace Mission (Robbinsville)
- Retired February 11, 2025
Diocese & Wider Church Context
Holy Redeemer belongs to the Diocese of Charlotte, the Roman Catholic diocese covering the western 46 counties of North Carolina. The diocese is led by Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv. Because of the parish's small size and remote mountain setting, Holy Redeemer is pastored together with Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville, NC, forming a single pastoral unit for the two communities.
- Diocese: Charlotte (Latin rite)
- Bishop: Most Rev. Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv.
- Paired parish: Prince of Peace Mission, Robbinsville, NC
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Redeemer by phone at the rectory at (828) 321-4463. The parish mailing address is 214 Aquone Road, Andrews, NC 28901-9776. The official online home of the parish is its page on the Diocese of Charlotte website.
- Address: 214 Aquone Road, Andrews, NC 28901-9776
- Phone: (828) 321-4463
- Website: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/holy-redeemer/
In the Path of Totality
Andrews, North Carolina lay directly within the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, and Holy Redeemer is listed by GCatholic.org as one of the 'Churches in the Path of Totality.' The event drew visitors from across the country to the normally quiet mountain town, putting the small parish briefly in the national spotlight.
- Within the path of totality for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse
- Listed by GCatholic.org among 'Churches in the Path of Totality'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend George D. Byers, CPMserved the Diocese of Charlotte from 2013; pastor of Holy Redeemer Andrews and Prince of Peace Mission Robbinsville until retirement on February 11, 2025
Ordained for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1992. Moved to the Diocese of Charlotte in 2013 and became pastor of both Holy Redeemer in Andrews and Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville, serving a bilingual, mountain-area flock.
- Reverend Joseph Wasswa2025–present (Parochial Administrator)
Assigned as parochial administrator following Father Byers' retirement; currently listed by the Diocese of Charlotte as the priest in charge of Holy Redeemer.