About Maria, Reina de las Americas · Mount Olive, North Carolina
Maria, Reina de las Americas is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Olive, North Carolina, part of the Diocese of Raleigh's Newton Grove Deanery. The parish serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking community (with all listed Masses celebrated in Spanish), rooted in the farmworker and migrant Catholic population of eastern North Carolina. It is staffed by religious-order priests — historically by the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM, Missionaries of Scheut) and currently by a Passionist priest (C.P.) — and gathers the faithful for weekend Spanish Masses, weekday liturgy, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for children and adults, and a parish chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of the Americas (María, Reina de las Américas)
- Rector
- Reverend Peter Grace, C.P. (Passionist)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh (Newton Grove Deanery)
Why belong here
Parishioners of Maria, Reina de las Americas belong to a Spanish-speaking Catholic family that gathers around weekday and weekend Spanish Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday evenings followed by Reconciliation, and Sunday religious-education classes for children and adult catechism sessions that run in parallel with the 10:00 AM Mass. The community is supported by a local council of the Knights of Columbus and the Movimiento de Renovación Carismática, which sponsors annual Spanish retreats such as the Retiro de Vida en el Espíritu. For Catholics in Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Beulaville and the surrounding farming communities, this is a parish where liturgy, sacraments, faith formation and Hispanic devotional life come together under one roof.
Mass times at Maria, Reina de las Americas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the main church
About the Parish
Maria, Reina de las Americas is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Raleigh, serving the Mount Olive area of eastern North Carolina. It belongs to the Newton Grove Deanery and is identified as a Hispanic/Spanish-language parish — every listed Mass on the diocesan schedule is celebrated in Spanish. The parish has been priestly staffed by religious-order missionaries, most recently the CICM (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary / Missionaries of Scheut) and currently a Passionist priest, Fr. Peter Grace, C.P. The parish office mailing address is in Beulaville, NC, reflecting the multi-county reach of the parish in this rural, farming region.
- Diocese of Raleigh, Newton Grove Deanery
- Spanish-language liturgical life
- Religious-order clergy: CICM Missionaries (historical), currently Passionist (C.P.)
- Physical worship site: 636 Whitfield Road, Mount Olive
Parish History
The parish grew from the Catholic presence serving Spanish-speaking and migrant families in and around Mount Olive. In November 2011 Bishop Michael F. Burbidge joined the parishioners for a groundbreaking ceremony for the present church at 636 Whitfield Road; Fr. Martin Restrepo, then parochial vicar, was honored that same December at a bilingual silver-jubilee Mass at St. Thomas More, Chapel Hill. Through subsequent years the parish was administered by CICM missionaries (e.g., Fr. Bernard Kayimbw Mbay, C.I.C.M., as pastor; Fr. Eric Michael Cruz Imbao, C.I.C.M., as parochial vicar), with Fr. Jaime Pérez Restrepo later listed as administrator. The current pastor is Fr. Peter Grace, C.P. of the Passionist Congregation.
- Groundbreaking for new church: November 20, 2011 with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
- Fr. Martin Restrepo served as Parochial Vicar (2011 jubilee reference)
- Long-running CICM (Scheut Fathers) administration
- Current pastor Fr. Peter Grace, C.P. of the Passionists
Mass and Liturgy
The parish's principal liturgical rhythm is built around Spanish-language Masses. The Diocese of Raleigh parish listing shows a Saturday Vigil at 7:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM (Spanish). The parish newsletter and Knights of Columbus directory have at times listed an earlier Sunday Mass and an English Mass as well. The single weekday Mass is the Thursday evening Spanish Mass, which is preceded by Adoration and followed by opportunities for Confession.
- Saturday Vigil — 7:00 PM, Spanish
- Sunday — 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, Spanish
- Thursday — 7:00 PM, Spanish
Faith Formation & Catechesis
Faith formation is offered in parallel with the Sunday liturgy. Sunday-morning sessions of Religious Education Class and Adult Catechism (Catecismo para adultos) take place at 8:00 AM and again at 10:00 AM, allowing parents and children to attend before or between the parish's two Sunday Spanish Masses.
- Sunday Religious Education Class — 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Adult Catechism (Catecismo para adultos) — 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
Ministries and Groups
The parish's public ministries include a council of the Knights of Columbus (NC State Council parish listing #66) and the Movimiento de Renovación Carismática (Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement). The Charismatic group organizes the well-attended Retiro de Vida en el Espíritu, a two-day Spanish-language retreat held in the Mount Olive area.
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- Movimiento de Renovación Carismática (Charismatic Renewal Movement)
- Retiro de Vida en el Espíritu (annual Spanish retreat)
Clergy and Staff
The current pastor is Reverend Peter Grace, C.P. (Passionist). The parish office is led by Parish Secretary Maria Ramirez with Assistant Secretary Genesys Holguin. Through recent years the parish has been served by several CICM (Scheut) and other religious-order priests in both pastoral and parochial-vicar roles.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter Grace, C.P.
- Parish Secretary: Maria Ramirez
- Assistant Secretary: Genesys Holguin
- Past CICM clergy: Fr. Bernard Kayimbw Mbay, C.I.C.M.; Fr. Eric Michael Cruz Imbao, C.I.C.M.; Fr. Remy Kankolongo Kankolongo, C.I.C.M.; Fr. Emmanuel Mandona, C.I.C.M.; Fr. Edward Tembo
Contact, Office and Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at the phone number listed, and the office hours are typical weekday mornings. The mailing address is in Beulaville, NC, while the worship site is at 636 Whitfield Road, Mount Olive.
- Address: 636 Whitfield Road, Mount Olive, NC 28365
- Phone: 910-208-0058
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing: P.O. Box 978, Beulaville, NC 28518
- Office: 206 Cavenaugh Street, Beulaville, NC 28518
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Website: https://mrmocc.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariareina.delasamericas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Martin Restreposerving circa 2011
Parochial Vicar of the parish at the time of his silver jubilee of ordination (December 2011); celebrated with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge at St. Thomas More, Chapel Hill.
- Reverend Bernard Kayimbw Mbay, C.I.C.M.mid-2010s to early 2020s
Pastor (administrator) during the period the parish was administered by the CICM Missionaries of Scheut.
- Reverend Eric Michael Cruz Imbao, C.I.C.M.mid-2010s to early 2020s
Parochial Vicar alongside Fr. Mbay.
- Reverend Jaime Pérez Restrepomid-2020s
Listed as Administrator on independent parish directories.
- Reverend Peter Grace, C.P.current
Current Pastor (Passionist) per the Diocese of Raleigh parish listing.