About Immaculate Conception · Durham, North Carolina
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in downtown Durham, North Carolina, led by Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor) of Holy Name Province. It is the oldest Catholic congregation in Durham and is twinned with Immaculata Catholic School, the city's first Catholic school. Today the parish worships in English and Spanish, broadcasts its major Masses on YouTube and Facebook Live, and runs faith formation for all ages alongside outreach and justice ministries.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Manuel Viera, OFM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh (Bishop Luis R. Zarama)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is Durham's oldest Catholic parish and one of its most diverse, with Mass celebrated every day in English and three Sundays in Spanish, plus a livestream on YouTube and Facebook Live for those who cannot attend in person. The parish invests deeply in forming the whole family — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–12, OCIA for adults and children, a Confirmation program for teens, a youth ministry for grades 6–12, and bilingual parent and couple seminars — and pairs that formation with concrete outreach through its Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministry. Worship is supported by a dedicated Music and Liturgy team and the parish runs regular Eucharistic Adoration, a children's Liturgy of the Word, a men's Bible study, and a women's retreat each February, giving newcomers multiple ways to plug in.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the church sanctuary
- By appointment — contact one of the Franciscan friars through the parish office
Adoration times
- 1st Monday of the month, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM — Exposition and Benediction in the main church
- 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM — Adoration hosted by the Young Adult Group (21+) in the chapel
- Every Friday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM — Silent Adoration in the main church after daily Mass
History of Immaculate Conception
Catholic life in Durham began in 1867 when a group of Catholics from Lockhaven, Pennsylvania settled in the area and were served by visiting priests from Raleigh and Newton Grove. For decades the community worshipped in homes — including the William T. O'Brien House and the James Lawrence home — and in rented rooms in J.R. Gooch's store on Corcoran Street and at the Durham YMCA, where Fr. Prendergast of Raleigh celebrated Mass in 1896. In 1901 the parish established its first real worship space, and on January 14, 1906, the community of 106 members consecrated a new white wooden church on West Chapel Hill Street, built on three lots donated by parishioner William T. O'Brien. A school, St. Mary's, opened in 1909 under Fr. Francis O'Brien and the Dominican Sisters from Newburgh, NY. The current church has been rebuilt and enlarged several times — most recently in 2002–2003 — and today the parish is a multicultural stewardship community led by Franciscan Friars.
- 1867 — first Catholic settlers from Lockhaven, PA
- 1901 — first dedicated Catholic worship space
- January 14, 1906 — church consecrated with 106 members
- 1909 — St. Mary's School founded by Fr. Francis O'Brien and the Sisters of St. Dominic
- 1951 — new school building; later renamed Immaculata
- 2002–2003 — most recent church renovation and enlargement
Parish Staff and Franciscan Friars
Immaculate Conception is led by three Franciscan Friars of the Order of Friars Minor (Holy Name Province) and one permanent deacon. The friars bring pastoral, sacramental and Hispanic-ministry experience to Durham and are supported by a sizable lay staff in faith formation, stewardship, music, communications, JPIC outreach, youth ministry, and parish operations.
- Pastor — Rev. Manuel Viera, OFM (appointed October 2023)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Hugh Macsherry, OFM
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Gonzalo de Jesús Torres-Acosta, OFM
- Deacon — Gerardo (Jerry) Chávez
- James Maxson — Pastoral Associate for Music and Liturgy
- Patrick Kurz — School Principal (Immaculata Catholic School)
- Tucker Owen — Director of Finance
- Margie Burton — Sr. Director of Stewardship & Faith Formation
- Olga Rodriguez — Coordinator of Stewardship
- Susanne Newman — Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Janeth Araiza — Coordinator of CGS
- Martha Ellis — Faith Formation Administrator
- Bobby Denne — Director of Youth Ministry
- Isis Castillo — Assistant Director of Youth Ministry
- Katushka Olave — Pastoral Associate (bilingual Parent Child Group)
- Jennie Giron — Baptism Coordinator
- Ken Chiha — Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
- Isabel Kovalik — JPIC Assistant
- Fabian Hernandez — Coordinator of Communications/Scheduling
- Johnny Acosta — Facilities Manager
- Carlos Nouel — Maintenance Technician
- Zumaira Johnson — Morning Receptionist
Mass and Sacramental Schedule
The parish offers a robust schedule of Masses every day of the week, with three Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish and the rest in English. The Saturday Vigil and the Sunday 9:30 AM English and 11:30 AM Spanish Masses are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook Live, with recordings posted afterwards. Confession is heard Saturday mornings in the sanctuary and by appointment with one of the friars.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM English (livestreamed)
- Sunday: 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM (English in church & outdoors), 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 5:00 PM (Spanish, 11:30 AM livestreamed)
- Weekday Mass: Mon/Tue 8:15 AM, Wed 12:00 PM, Thu 8:15 AM & 7:00 PM Spanish, Fri 8:15 AM, Sat 8:15 AM
- Confession: Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM, and by appointment
- Holy Days of Obligation: Mary Mother of God (Jan 1), Ascension, Assumption (Aug 15), All Saints (Nov 1), Immaculate Conception (Dec 8), Christmas (Dec 25)
Faith Formation for Children and Families
Faith formation at Immaculate Conception spans infancy through adulthood. The cornerstone for young children is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atrium, which welcomes children ages 3 through Grade 6, including children with special needs. Younger children also participate in Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, while older children preparing for the sacraments of initiation walk through the Order of Christian Initiation adapted for Children (OCIA for Children), culminating at the Easter Vigil.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — ages 3–Grade 6, including special needs
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — ages 3–6 at 9:30 AM Mass
- OCIA adapted for Children — two-year process for children 7 and older
- Bilingual Parent Child Group
- Vacation Bible School
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults who are unbaptized, baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist, or Christians from other traditions seeking full communion with Rome are welcomed into the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The process moves through inquiry, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy, with adults receiving Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Classes begin September 15, 2026; registrations close September 13.
- Contact: Fr. Gonzalo Torres-Acosta, OFM — 919-281-0723
- Rite of Election at the beginning of Lent
- Sacraments of Initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil
- Mystagogy continues through the Easter season
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
Immaculate Conception's Youth Ministry supports teens in grades 6 through 12 with formation, retreats, service opportunities, a Youth Council, Vacation Bible School volunteering, and Confirmation preparation. Teens can also serve the parish through stewardship projects and chaperone roles at retreats and YM events, while adults are invited to lead, sit on the YM Committee, or chaperone.
- Director of Youth Ministry — Bobby Denne (ext. 250)
- Assistant Director of Youth Ministry — Isis Castillo
- Youth Council for teen leadership
- Confirmation preparation in 10th grade after a two-year program
- Stewardship and service opportunities for teens
- Instagram: @icymdurham
Adult Faith Formation and Small Groups
Adults at Immaculate Conception find multiple ways to grow in prayer and scripture, including a weekly men's Bible study, a long-standing Wednesday Morning Prayer Group, an annual Women's Retreat planned by a lay team, and seminars for parents and couples offered in Spanish. The parish also supports a People with Disabilities ministry and a bilingual Parent Child Group.
- Men's Bible Study 'Iron Sharpens Iron' — Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 AM (Neil McManus, 919-698-2624)
- Wednesday Morning Prayer Group (Kathy Straube, 919-383-2757)
- Women's Retreat Team — annual off-site retreat each February
- Seminars for Parents and Couples (Spanish) — Katushka Olave, 919-281-0731
- People with Disabilities ministry
Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage
The parish prepares members for the seven sacraments with clear guidelines. Infant Baptism is celebrated at a Sunday Mass on designated weekends (usually the 1st and 3rd weekends, excluding Lent), after parents complete a baptismal preparation session and submit the Godparent Testimony form. Confirmation for youth follows a two-year program in 10th grade; adult Confirmation is celebrated at Pentecost and Christ the King. Marriage preparation requires a six-month process that begins with the first meeting with a friar — no date can be set until that meeting has taken place.
- Baptism coordinator: Jennie Giron
- Confirmation youth director: Bobby Denne
- Adult Confirmation contact: Margie Burton
- Marriage: begin by calling the parish office at 919-682-3449 and asking for the friar on duty
- Funerals: contact the parish office; OCIA for children: Susanne Newman, 919-281-0720
Immaculata Catholic School
Immaculata Catholic School, located at 721 Burch Avenue next to the church, is the oldest Catholic school in Durham. It was founded in 1909 as St. Mary's School by Fr. Francis O'Brien and the Sisters of St. Dominic from Newburgh, New York, originally starting with nine students. A new school building was constructed in 1951; the school has been renamed over the years (St. William's, then Immaculata) and today continues the parish's commitment to academic and faith formation for Durham children.
- Address: 721 Burch Avenue, Durham, NC 27701
- Phone: 919-682-5847
- Principal: Patrick Kurz
- Originally St. Mary's School (1909), later Immaculata
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception's JPIC ministry lives out Catholic social teaching through local outreach and advocacy on behalf of migrants, the marginalized, and the environment. The friars and parishioners have publicly embraced Pope Francis's call to be a 'field hospital' for the broken — a vision that resonates with this majority-Hispanic parish's lived experience and its ministry to immigrants in the Durham community.
- Director — Ken Chiha (ext. 293)
- Assistant — Isabel Kovalik
- Outreach to migrants and the marginalized
- Stewardship of creation
Music and Liturgy
The parish's Music and Liturgy team, under Pastoral Associate James Maxson, supports sung worship at English and Spanish Masses, including the livestreamed services. Music ministry is a key point of involvement for parishioners who sing or play instruments.
- Pastoral Associate for Music and Liturgy — James Maxson (ext. 263)
- Music ministry for English and Spanish Masses
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 AM Mass
Media and Livestream
Immaculate Conception livestreams its daily Mass and the Sunday 9:30 AM (English) and 11:30 AM (Spanish) Masses on YouTube and Facebook Live so that the homebound and travelling parishioners can stay connected. Recordings of the broadcasts are posted to the parish website and to the parish's YouTube channel, where viewers can subscribe for notifications.
- Daily Mass livestream
- Sunday 9:30 AM English and 11:30 AM Spanish Masses livestreamed
- Recordings available on YouTube, Facebook, and icdurham.org
- Youth Ministry on Instagram: @icymdurham
Contact and Visiting
The parish office at 901-A W Chapel Hill Street is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, parishioners can call the dedicated sacramental emergency line. Visitors are welcome at any Mass, and a campus map is published on the parish website for first-time attendees and families with school-aged children at Immaculata.
- Parish Office: 901-A W Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
- Phone: 919-682-3449 (Financial Help ext. 333 / Sacramental Emergency 919-724-9056)
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday 9:30 AM Mass also celebrated outdoors on the playground — bring a lawn chair and umbrella
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Manuel Viera, OFMAppointed October 2023 — present
Born in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba; joined the Franciscan Friars in Detroit in 1973; solemn vows 1981; ordained priest 1982; licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America (1987); assignments in Roswell NM, Ciudad Juárez, Washington DC, Albuquerque, Peña Blanca NM, Cincinnati, and Tucson before Durham.