About Immaculate Conception · Wilmington, North Carolina
Immaculate Conception Church (ICC) is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Raleigh located at 6650 Carolina Beach Road on the south side of Wilmington, North Carolina. The community identifies with the Salesian spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, describing itself as 'A People, Not A Place, Learning to Live Jesus,' and operates as a stewardship parish with over 1,055 households, five commissions, and more than forty-five ministries. Weekend liturgies are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, with weekday Mass on Wednesday through Friday, perpetual-adoration-style devotions throughout the week, and ongoing faith formation for children, youth, and adults on the De Sales Faith Formation Center campus. The parish has been served by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.) since 1993, with Very Reverend John E. McGee, O.S.F.S. currently serving as pastor and as Dean of the Cape Fear Deanery.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Reverend John E. McGee, O.S.F.S., V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
ICC welcomes new parishioners through a three-step registration process that culminates in a Saturday Welcome/Orientation gathering in the De Sales Faith Formation Center — a deliberate, family-style introduction that reflects the parish's emphasis on community. Its 45+ ministries, organized under five commissions (Liturgical, Faith Formation, Inreach, Outreach, Plant & Operations), give members of every age and stage concrete ways to share Time, Talent, and Treasure, from Prison Ministry at the New Hanover County Correctional Center and the ecumenical Help Center of Federal Point, to Children's Faith Formation, Total Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, and Confirmation preparation. A daily rhythm of weekday Mass, rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Blessed Sacrament Chapel open Monday through Friday makes it a place where sacramental and devotional life is woven into the workweek, not just the weekend.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- First Friday 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration, following the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel available Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM for private Adoration after each weekday liturgy
Parish Identity & Salesian Spirituality
ICC identifies itself as a stewardship community shaped by the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. Its published vision is 'We will be the vibrant expression of the presence of the Risen Christ in sacred worship and through loving service. We are A People Not A Place, Learning to Live Jesus.' Its mission commits parishioners to living Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Eucharist, nourishing faith, and loving and serving all God's people 'in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales with compassion, humility and gentleness.' The parish's pastoral care for the area also extends to Cape Fear Deanery sacramental coverage, including area hospitals, hospices, and care facilities.
- Vision and Mission statement rooted in Salesian spirituality
- Motto: 'A People, Not A Place, Learning to Live Jesus'
- Stewardship model with five Commissions and 45+ ministries
History of Immaculate Conception Church
Catholic liturgies in the Carolina Beach area began in the 1920s with Sunday Mass in the homes of the Winner and Fox families. The parish was officially established on July 1, 1938, when Fr. Michael J. Begley (later Bishop of Charlotte) was named first pastor. A chapel and priests' residence on St. Joseph Street were dedicated by Bishop McGuinness in 1939; that chapel was replaced by a 120-seat church dedicated by Bishop Vincent S. Waters on April 4, 1954. The parish was led by a succession of ten pastors through the early 1980s, when, in 1982, Fr. Ernest A. Beck was appointed Administrator and introduced a full schedule of weekend and daily liturgies. Under Fr. Beck's leadership the parish co-founded the ecumenical Help Center of Federal Point (1986) and purchased twenty-two acres on Carolina Beach Road (1990).
- 1938: First pastor Fr. Michael J. Begley appointed (later Bishop of Charlotte)
- 1939: Chapel and priests' residence dedicated on St. Joseph Street, Carolina Beach
- 1954: New 120-seat church dedicated by Bishop Vincent S. Waters
- 1982: Fr. Ernest A. Beck appointed Administrator; full liturgical schedule begins
- 1986: Helps found the ecumenical Help Center of Federal Point
- 1990: Diocese purchases 22-acre site on Carolina Beach Road
- 1992: Wayside cross dedicated at the new property
Building the Current Campus (1993-2003)
In 1993, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales assumed pastoral leadership with Fr. James Behan, beginning a partnership that continues today. Services temporarily moved to a chapel on Myrtle Grove Road and to Carolina Beach Elementary School while the Carolina Beach Road campus was built; the new church was dedicated by Bishop F. Joseph Gossman on August 10, 1997, with the original altar, sanctuary lamp, and Marian statues moved to the new worship space. As faith-formation enrollment grew, a capital campaign funded the De Sales Faith Formation Center (Phase II), which Fr. Barry Strong, O.S.F.S. dedicated on July 27, 2003.
- 1995: Groundbreaking for the new parish building
- August 10, 1997: New church dedicated by Bishop Gossman (seating 425+)
- 2002: Work begins on the De Sales Faith Formation Center
- July 27, 2003: De Sales Faith Formation Center dedicated
Clergy & Parish Staff
Immaculate Conception is staffed by Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and a team of lay professionals. The pastor leads the parish and serves as Dean of the Cape Fear Deanery; a second O.S.F.S. priest assists as Priestly Minister. The staff includes a Director of Music, Director of Faith Formation, Youth Minister and Media/Graphic Designer, Office Manager, Business & Plant Manager, Secretary/Bulletin Editor, and Treasury Assistants. Pastoral and Finance Councils provide lay governance.
- Pastor: Very Reverend John E. McGee, O.S.F.S., V.F. (Dean, Cape Fear Deanery)
- Priestly Minister: Reverend John W. Lyle, O.S.F.S.
- Director of Music: Andrea Reynolds (ext. 114)
- Director of Faith Formation: Gina Drost (ext. 112)
- Youth Minister & Media/Graphic Designer: Marie Marshall (ext. 110)
- Office Manager: Claudia Sing (ext. 100)
- Business & Plant Manager: Charlie DaVolio (ext. 105)
- Secretary, Parish Registration & Bulletin Editor: Tracey Kruger (ext. 102)
- Treasury Assistants: Chris Puritis (ext. 107)
- Pastoral Council Chair: Matt Simms; Finance Council Chair: Pete Bartel
Liturgy & Devotion Schedule
Weekend Liturgies of the Eucharist are celebrated on Saturday evening at 5:00 PM (Vigil) and on Sunday morning at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Weekday Liturgies of the Eucharist are offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:00 AM. The Rosary for the World and Novena are prayed on Monday at 9:30 AM; Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated on Tuesday at 9:30 AM and on First Fridays from approximately 9:30-11:00 AM. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open Monday through Friday until 3:30 PM for private adoration following weekday liturgies.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM
- Wednesday / Thursday / Friday: 9:00 AM
- Monday 9:30 AM: Novena and Rosary for the World
- Tuesday 9:30 AM: Eucharistic Adoration
- First Friday 9:30-11:00 AM: Eucharistic Adoration after Mass
Becoming a Parishioner
New members join ICC through a deliberate three-step process: (1) return a completed Interest Card (available in the Gathering Area or downloadable), (2) complete the Registration Form mailed back after step one, and (3) attend a Saturday-morning Welcome / Orientation / Registration Event in the De Sales Faith Formation Center (the building directly behind the church). These Saturday sessions run 9:00-10:45 AM with refreshments from 9:00 AM, and the entire family is welcome.
- Step 1: Submit a completed Interest Card
- Step 2: Complete the mailed Registration Form
- Step 3: Attend a Welcome/Orientation Event (Saturday mornings in the De Sales Faith Formation Center)
- Note: ICC does not register new parishioners online; in-person meetings are required.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at ICC takes a lifelong, intergenerational approach, organized under the Faith Formation Commission. Children's Faith Formation serves grades K-5, Junior Youth Ministry (JYM) serves grades 6-8, and Total Youth Ministry (TYM) serves grades 9-12. Sessions meet on alternate Sunday afternoons from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM in the De Sales Faith Formation Center, September through May. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist takes place in second grade; Confirmation is a two-year high-school process. Adult offerings include Bible studies, Reflection on Sacred Scriptures, Women's Faith Sharing, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
- Children's Faith Formation (K-5) — Gina Drost, Director
- Junior Youth Ministry (6-8) and Total Youth Ministry (9-12) — Marie Marshall
- Confirmation Prep: two-year process for high-school students
- OCIA (RCIA): Adults seeking Initiation into Full Communion
- Adult Bible Studies (Genesis, Chapter by Chapter, Presence: Mystery of the Eucharist)
- Baptismal Preparation Workshops and parent meetings for First Sacraments
Youth Ministry
Total Youth Ministry (TYM) for grades 9-12 and Junior Youth Ministry (JYM) for grades 6-8 aim at the total personal and spiritual growth of adolescents, addressing the eight components of youth ministry (Catechesis, Advocacy, Community Life, Evangelization, Justice/Service, Leadership Development, Pastoral Care, and Prayer and Worship). Sessions alternate Sunday afternoons from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM in the De Sales Faith Formation Center, with a focus on creating an environment where young people can encounter their faith in a positive, Catholic context. Volunteers serve as catechists, aides, receptionists, and special-project leaders.
- Junior Youth Ministry: grades 6-8
- Total Youth Ministry (TYM): grades 9-12
- Meet alternate Sundays, 12:00-2:00 PM, September through May
- Contact: Marie Marshall, [email protected], ext. 110
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministry at ICC is coordinated by the Director of Music and supports the parish's weekend Liturgies of the Eucharist, holy days, weddings, funerals, and devotional services. Liturgical ministries include altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and the lay faithful who keep the Blessed Sacrament Chapel open Monday through Friday afternoons for private adoration.
- Director of Music: Andrea Reynolds (910-791-1003, ext. 114; [email protected])
- Music supports weekend Masses, holy days, weddings, funerals
- Daily adoration supported by Liturgical Commission volunteers
Outreach Commission
The Outreach Commission promotes awareness of social-justice issues and provides food, clothing, educational materials, and other opportunities for service throughout the region. The Commission advises the pastor on the disbursement of Charity and Justice Funds.
- CARE Ministry — Christmas Angel Request Extravaganza (New Hanover & Pender Counties)
- Help Center of Federal Point — food pantry, emergency aid, Christmas food baskets (Carolina Beach area)
- Meals on Wheels — 5th-Saturday weekend meal delivery (Monkey Junction to Kure Beach)
- Prison Ministry at the New Hanover County Correctional Center (Catholic services on the 1st Saturday and 3rd Sunday of each month)
Inreach, Plant/Operations & Stewardship
ICC's five-commission stewardship model organizes parish life around Liturgical, Faith Formation, Inreach, Outreach, and Plant & Operations teams, each chaired and supported by an assistant chair, with 45+ ministries underneath. Leadership terms run 2-3 years with clear position descriptions, and each Council, Commission, and ministry sets annual goals. New parishioners and visitors are oriented to this stewardship culture as part of the Welcome/Orientation process.
- Five Commissions with Chair and Assistant Chair roles
- 45+ ministries with Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator roles
- Pastoral Council (Matt Simms, Chair) and Finance Council (Pete Bartel, Chair)
- Annual Stewardship Opportunities publication (list of ministry service roles)
Sacraments at Immaculate Conception
ICC follows the Diocese of Raleigh's sacramental policies, supporting Infant Baptism (monthly, after a preparation workshop and registration of at least three months), First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in second grade (Grade 1 prerequisite; four parent meetings required), Confirmation as a two-year high-school process, Matrimony (six months' registered membership plus six months' notice), Anointing of the Sick, and funeral liturgy planning. Adult initiation is provided through OCIA.
- Infant Baptism: monthly after preparation workshop
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist: 2nd grade; four parent meetings required
- Confirmation: two-year high-school process
- Matrimony: 6 months registered + 6 months' preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and funerals by request through the Parish Office
Cape Fear Deanery & Sacramental Coverage
The Diocese of Raleigh is divided into eight deaneries; ICC belongs to the Cape Fear Deanery, which is led by its current pastor, Fr. John E. McGee, O.S.F.S., V.F. In order to provide sacramental ministry throughout the deanery, the various hospitals, hospices, and care facilities in Wilmington and surrounding areas are divided by proximity to the closest parish. ICC's pastor and a Priestly Minister (Fr. John W. Lyle, O.S.F.S.) provide Holy Communion calls and Anointing of the Sick for those in ICC's assigned facilities, with a dedicated sacramental emergency line via the parish phone number.
- Cape Fear Deanery parishes include All Saints (Hampstead), Basilica Shrine of St. Mary, Christ the King, ICC, Our Lady of the Snows, Sacred Heart (Southport and Whiteville), St. Brendan the Navigator, St. Joseph (Burgaw), St. Mark, St. Stanislaus, St. Therese, and the UNC-Wilmington campus ministry
- Dean: Very Reverend John McGee, O.S.F.S., V.F.
- Emergency sacramental line: 910-791-1003, then press '1'
Visit, Maps & Contact
ICC sits at 6650 Carolina Beach Road in southern Wilmington. Visitors are encouraged to use the drop-off lane at the front walkway to the Gathering Area, with parking in the front or side lots (and additional parking along the side of the church, which has a second entrance to the Gathering Area). Handicap parking is available in the front and side of the church. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and can be reached at (910) 791-1003 or fax (910) 791-0081.
- Address: 6650 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412-3004
- Phone: (910) 791-1003 — Fax: (910) 791-0081
- Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Handicap parking at front and side; side-lot overflow with rear Gathering Area entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Begley1938-1942
First pastor; later became Bishop of Charlotte.
- Fr. Thomas Colgan1942-1943
- Fr. Thomas Curran1943-1946
- Fr. Thomas Roche1946-1952
- Fr. Arthur Racette1952-1967
- Fr. John McGuirk1967-1973
- Fr. Ray Donohue1973-1976
- Fr. Louie Morton1976-1977
- Fr. Francis Moeslein1977-1982
- Fr. Joel Arnold, OFM Conv.
Listed among past pastors on the parish history page.
- Fr. Ernest A. Beck1982-1993
Appointed Administrator on July 4, 1982; later pastor. Oversaw growth, the founding of the Help Center of Federal Point (1986), and the design and dedication of the wayside cross (1992).
- Fr. James (Jim) Behan, O.S.F.S.1993-2002
First Oblate pastor; appointed September 8, 1993; led the move to the Carolina Beach Road campus and the 1997 dedication of the current church.
- Fr. Barry Strong, O.S.F.S.2002-2007
Dedicated the De Sales Faith Formation Center on July 27, 2003.
- Fr. Joseph T. Brennan, O.S.F.S.2007-2008
- Fr. John E. McGee, O.S.F.S.2008-present
Current pastor; also serves as Dean of the Cape Fear Deanery.