About Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church · Spartanburg, South Carolina
Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church (often shortened to JORS) is a Catholic parish serving the west side of Spartanburg, South Carolina, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery). Founded in 1979 by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler and originally pastored by Monsignor E. Christopher Lathem, the parish today counts roughly 2,010 households / about 1,525 registered families and gathers a notably bilingual community — three English and two Spanish weekend Masses — drawn together under the leadership of Bishop Robert Guglielmone. Since 2009 the parish has been entrusted to the Adorno Fathers (Clerics Regular Minor, CRM), and the current pastor is Fr. Giovannie (Gio) B. Nuñez, CRM. The parish complex sits on Reidville Road and is known throughout the Upstate for its Perpetual Adoration chapel (named for St. Francis Caracciolo), its active Hispanic ministry, and its Religious Education program for children in grades K through 8.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Jesus, Our Risen Savior (the Risen Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Giovannie (Gio) B. Nuñez, CRM
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery)
Why belong here
Jesus, Our Risen Savior offers a deeply Catholic, bilingual home on the west side of Spartanburg where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side at five Sunday Masses. The parish runs the full sacramental life of the Church — daily Mass, Saturday confession, OCIA for adults in both languages, and a K–8 Religious Education program with sacramental preparation — and is one of the few parishes in the Upstate with a Perpetual Adoration chapel open 24 hours a day. A wide range of ministries (Youth Ministry 'Mustard Seeds', OCIA, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Pro-Life, Young Adult, Women's Bible Study, Parish Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and more) gives newcomers many ways to get involved, and a stable Adorno-Fathers clergy team provides consistent pastoral leadership.
Mass times at Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office)
- Seasonal Penance Services (announced)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — 24 hours a day, in the Adoration Chapel next to the church (St. Francis Caracciolo Adoration Chapel)
- Monthly Parish Adoration — 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM (followed by Healing Mass at 7:00 PM)
Parish Overview & Identity
Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church (JORS) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Charleston serving the west side of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1979 by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler and named after a parish-wide discernment that concluded on November 18, 1979, the community today includes roughly 2,010 households and worships in both English and Spanish. The parish's motto — 'Ad Maiorem Resurgentis Gloriam!' ('For the Greater Glory of the Risen Lord') — reflects its focus on the Risen Christ. Since 2009 the parish has been shepherded by the Adorno Fathers (Clerics Regular Minor, CRM).
- Founded: 1979 (first Mass July 15, 1979)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery)
- Address: 2575 Reidville Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301
- Phone: (864) 576-1164
- Households: ~2,010 (Diocese directory)
- Seating: 525
Our History
The parish was created in spring 1979 when Bishop Unterkoefler sent Father Christopher Lathem to form a new Catholic community in the fast-growing city of Spartanburg. The first Mass was celebrated on July 15, 1979 at the Spartanburg Methodist College chapel, and by the second Sunday three Masses were being offered. Sister Rose Vermette, RCD joined a month later to build a Religious Education program. In October 1980 the parish received the Reidville Road property from St. Paul's Parish in downtown Spartanburg, and by 1987 a multi-purpose building on the site provided a permanent home for Mass, offices, and parish life. Since 2009 the parish has been entrusted to the Adorno Fathers, with Father Frank Palmieri, CRM as the first CRM pastor.
- 1979 — Parish formed; first Mass July 15 at Spartanburg Methodist College chapel
- 1979 — Named 'Jesus, Our Risen Savior' on November 18
- 1980 — Reidville Road property received from St. Paul's Parish
- 1987 — Multi-purpose building completed in December
- 2009 — Adorno Fathers arrive; Father Frank Palmieri, CRM becomes pastor
- 2024 — Father Gio Nunez, CRM returns as pastor
Parish Staff & Offices
The parish staff supports the priests and deacons in ministry, faith formation, administration, communications, and safe-environment compliance. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM).
- Fr. Giovannie (Gio) Nuñez, CRM — Pastor
- Fr. Eric Paluku, CRM — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Jordan Valencia, CRM — Parochial Vicar
- Sandra Garcia — Director of Religious Education ([email protected], ext. 1101)
- Sr. Genalyn Sarento, MHJE — Parish Secretary
- Sharon Dobbins — Financial Secretary / Administrative Assistant
- Angeles Sanchez — Assistant, Religious Education
- Ebony Sanders — Bulletin Editor / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Parish Office: (864) 576-1164 · Fax: (864) 576-0860
Faith Formation — Religious Education & RCIC
Jesus, Our Risen Savior's Religious Education program guides children in forming a deeper relationship with God and community through Scripture, the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist. Classes run K through 8th grade, including First and Second Year Holy Communion preparation, First Year Confirmation, and RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children). Families must be registered, active parishioners for at least three months and provide a baptism certificate and a $55 registration fee.
- K–7 classes: Wednesdays 4:30–5:45 PM or 6:30–7:45 PM
- 2nd Year Confirmation: Sundays at 10:00 AM
- RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children)
- Required prayers tested at registration
- 1st & 2nd Year Confirmation and RCIC students also attend Youth Group on Fridays
- Director: Sandra Garcia — [email protected], 864-576-1164 ext. 1101
- Spanish-language Religious Education information published on the parish website
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly known as RCIA) is the parish's process for welcoming adults into the Catholic Church. Sessions meet on Sundays at 11:30 AM in both English and Spanish, with a 'Come and See' (John 1:39) invitation extended to anyone curious about the Catholic faith, including baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation. The parish website invites online registration.
- OCIA sessions — Sundays, 11:30 AM, English & Spanish
- English coordinator: Parren Sanders — 864-978-6825
- Spanish coordinator: Lucy Culbreth — [email protected]
- Online registration available via the parish website
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The parish challenges young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church through its Youth Ministry, which serves 9th–12th grade high-school students in the eight core areas of ministry recognized by the Church (Advocacy, Catechesis, Community Life, Evangelization, Justice and Service, Leadership Development, Pastoral Care, and Prayer and Worship). The high-school group, called the Mustard Seeds, meets Fridays at 6:30 PM in the Teen Center. A separate Young Adult Ministry exists for older youth and young adults.
- JORS Mustard Seeds (grades 9–12)
- Meets Fridays at 6:30 PM in the Teen Center
- Youth Minister: Julisa Centeno — [email protected]
- Young Adult Ministry listed under Family and Life Ministries
- 1st & 2nd Year Confirmation students also attend Youth Group on Fridays
Parish Ministries & Apostolates
JORS organizes its lay ministries into Family and Life Ministries and Apostolic Life Ministries, with additional groups for worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach. All volunteers are required by the Diocese of Charleston to complete background screening and online Safe Environment training before serving.
- Family and Life Ministries: Married Life Ministries, Pro-Life Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry
- Apostolic Life Ministries: Parish Food Pantry
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Faith & Fellowship
- Women's Bible Study
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (outreach)
- Parish Mission Store (parish mission outreach/gift shop)
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
JORS has a thriving Hispanic ministry that is woven into the full life of the parish. Two of the five Sunday Masses (2:00 PM and 4:00 PM) are celebrated in Spanish, and the parish website publishes a Spanish-language 'Ministerio Hispano' page with horarios de misa, adoración, confesiones y educación religiosa. Religious Education classes and OCIA sessions are offered in Spanish as well, and a Spanish-language RCIA coordinator (Lucy Culbreth) is available for those interested in becoming Catholic. Father Oscar B. Rojas served the Hispanic community from 2004 to 2010.
- Sunday Spanish Masses: 2:00 PM & 4:00 PM
- Spanish-language Religious Education (Kinder–8)
- Spanish-language OCIA — Sundays 11:30 AM
- Spanish RCIA Coordinator: Lucy Culbreth
- Father Oscar B. Rojas served as Hispanic Ministry priest 2004–2010
The Adorno Fathers (Clerics Regular Minor)
Since October 2009 Jesus, Our Risen Savior has been one of three parishes in the Diocese of Charleston served by the Adorno Fathers, formally known as the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor (CRM) and also called the Caracciolini. The order was founded in Italy in 1588 by Saint Francis Caracciolo, Venerable Augustine Adorno, and Fabrizio Caracciolo, and today its members serve in the Philippines, Germany, Africa, India, the United States, and Italy. The parish's Adoration Chapel honors St. Francis Caracciolo, the order's co-founder.
- Order founded 1588 in Italy by St. Francis Caracciolo and companions
- Also known as the Caracciolini
- Serving JORS continuously since October 2009
- Pastors: Fr. Frank Palmieri (2009–2015), Fr. Edgardo Enverga (2015–2021), Fr. Liam Panganiban (2021–2024), Fr. Giovannie Nuñez (2024–present)
- Motto: 'Ad Maiorem Resurgentis Gloriam!'
Getting Involved
Parishioners and newcomers are warmly invited to use their gifts in service to the parish community. The website describes this as 'an excellent opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call of service to one another' by utilizing the talents and gifts God has given to this community. All volunteers must complete Diocese of Charleston Safe Environment background screening and online training.
- Contact the parish office to join a ministry
- Safe Environment background screening and online training required of all volunteers
- Ways to serve: Religious Education, Youth Ministry, OCIA, Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, choir, liturgical ministries, and more
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father (now Monsignor) E. Christopher Lathem1979–1985
Founding pastor sent by Bishop Unterkoefler; celebrated the first Mass on July 15, 1979 at Spartanburg Methodist College chapel.
- Father Timothy J. Watters1985–1988
Launched capital campaign; oversaw construction of multi-purpose building (completed December 1987).
- Father William Burns1988 (interim)
Mid-1988 interim pastor between Watters and Leonard.
- Father Eugene A. Leonard1988–2001
Long-term pastor; retired December 2001.
- Father Basil P. Congro2002
Appointed pastor after Fr. Leonard's retirement but was called away shortly after.
- Father Charles J. Snopek2003–2006
Retired priest who came back as administrator; had earlier served as a transitional deacon under Father Lathem in 1986.
- Father Michael J. Polewczak2006–2009
Administrator; passed away from cancer in May 2009. His final request to Bishop Guglielmone was that the parish receive a permanent pastor.
- Father Frank Palmieri, CRM2009–2015
First Adorno-Fathers pastor; with Fr. Teodoro Kalaw, CRM as parochial vicar (Dec 2009). Italian-born, ordained 1962.
- Father Edgardo Enverga, CRM2015–2021
Pastor; vicars during his tenure included Fr. Gio Nunez, Fr. Binil Attapattu, Fr. Ryan Dela Pena, Fr. Rafael Padron, and Fr. Godefroid Paluku.
- Father Liam Panganiban, CRM2021–2024
Pastor; served with Fr. Rafael Padron and Fr. Godefroid Paluku as vicars.
- Father Giovannie (Gio) B. Nuñez, CRM2024–present
Returned as pastor with Fr. Godefroid Paluku as vicar; later joined by Fr. Eric Paluku, CRM and Fr. Jordan Valencia, CRM.