About Our Lady of Consolation · Charlotte, North Carolina
Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Charlotte, North Carolina, celebrated as the city's only historically Black Catholic parish. Founded in 1955 through the merger of two earlier Black Catholic mission congregations, it blends Roman Catholicism with rich African American liturgical and cultural traditions. The parish is part of the Diocese of Charlotte, currently pastored by Parochial Administrator Reverend Marcel Chinedu Amadi, and serves a notably multilingual community with regular English, French, and Cameroonian (bilingual) Masses.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of Consolation (Blessed Virgin Mary, Consolatrix Afflictorum)
- Rector
- Reverend Marcel Chinedu Amadi (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Our Lady of Consolation is Charlotte's only historically Black Catholic parish, blending Roman Catholic faith with African American liturgical and cultural traditions in a close-knit, multigenerational community. Visitors and parishioners consistently describe a 'sense of belonging' where 'everybody knows everybody' and where families return across generations. With regular English, French, and Cameroonian Masses, a robust food pantry, youth programs, multiple choirs, and a $6.7M partnership with the Diocese to renovate and expand the church, it offers an active spiritual home rooted in 70 years of faith and love.
Mass times at Our Lady of Consolation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After Daily Mass (Monday–Friday) and by appointment only
Adoration times
- 6:30 PM – L'adoration eucharistique (French language adoration), 2nd & 4th Fridays
Parish History & Heritage
Our Lady of Consolation was created on December 15, 1955, by the Most Reverend Bishop James J. Navagh, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh, through the merger of two earlier Black Catholic parishes in Charlotte. Its roots go back to 1941, when Bishop Eugene McGuinness invited the Redemptorist Fathers to minister to the African American community and thirteen Black Catholics began gathering with Father Petrach at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Oaklawn Avenue. The new parish was Charlotte's fifth Catholic parish, and by 1956 four buildings (church, rectory, school, and convent) were erected on Statesville Avenue, a site chosen specifically to serve the predominately Black congregation. The church, rectory, and convent were occupied in January 1957.
- 1941: First Black Catholic gatherings with Father Petrach at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Oaklawn Avenue.
- Early 1950s: A second Black Catholic parish, Saint Mary's, is established on McDowell Street.
- December 15, 1955: Bishop James J. Navagh merges the two congregations into Our Lady of Consolation, Charlotte's fifth Catholic parish.
- 1956: Construction begins on church, rectory, school, and convent on Statesville Avenue.
- January 1957: Church, rectory, and convent occupied; the Oblate Sisters of Providence open the parish school.
- 1988: Parish school closes when the Oblate Sisters of Providence leave the diocese.
- December 2025: Parish celebrates its 70th anniversary with a jubilee banquet and Mass.
Liturgical Ministries
The parish supports a full range of liturgical ministries to serve its Masses, which blend Roman Catholic tradition with African American cultural elements and include Gospel music.
- Altar Servers
- Art & Environment
- Choir (parish choirs, youth choir ages 5–17, Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir)
- Greeters
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
- Proclaimers of the Word
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA)
- Rosary Society
- Sacristans
- Ushers
Faith Formation & Education
Our Lady of Consolation offers formation for adults, youth, and children, including faith formation classes, a remote Adult Bible Study led by Ed Hood via conference call, and a Youth Sunday observed on the third Sunday of each month. The parish's Youth in Action (YIA) and Youth Advisory Council support teens, and a Young Adult Ministry serves the next generation of adults.
- Faith Formation / Children's Religious Education
- Adult Bible Study (Ed Hood, [email protected])
- Young Adult Ministry
- Youth Advisory Council
- Youth in Action (YIA)
- Youth Sunday – every 3rd Sunday of the month
Community Life & Outreach
Beyond the liturgy, the parish runs an active community life. The St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry addresses food insecurity in the surrounding neighborhood. Other groups include the Athletic Association, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Golden Wings (senior group), Ladies Guild, Men's Group, Knights of St. John, and Knights of St. John Ladies Auxiliary. A Health Ministry supports parishioners' wellbeing, and a Building Facilities Commission maintains parish property.
- St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry
- Athletic Association
- Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts
- Golden Wings (seniors)
- Ladies Guild / Men's Group
- Knights of St. John / Ladies Auxiliary
- Health Ministry
- Building Facilities Commission
- Stewardship
Black Culture & Heritage
The parish's Black Culture Commission, led in recent years by parishioner Toni Tupponce, coordinates celebrations of African American heritage including the parish's annual Black History Month Mass, at which the youth choir (ages 5–17) performs and young people process with posters representing important eras and personalities in Black history and values such as hope and character. Music with roots in African American tradition, including the refrain to 'Ella's Song' honoring civil rights activist Ella Baker, is part of the parish's musical life. The Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir has visited local Catholic high schools for Black History Month programs.
- Black Culture Commission (led by Toni Tupponce)
- Annual Black History Month Mass with youth choir
- Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir
- Music rooted in African American tradition (e.g., 'Ella's Song')
Sacraments
Parishioners may request information about receiving the sacraments through the parish office, including Baptism, Marriage, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, the adult initiation process), and First Communion through the children's Faith Formation program. Confession is available after Daily Mass and by appointment.
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Communion (through Faith Formation)
Renovation & Capital Partnership
The parish and the Diocese of Charlotte have established a special partnership to invest more than $6.7 million to renovate and expand the church on Statesville Avenue. During construction, all OLC Masses and parish-related events are being held in the Parish Life Center at 1235 Badger Court, Charlotte 28206.
- $6.7M+ renovation and expansion partnership with the Diocese of Charlotte
- Temporary Mass and event location: Parish Life Center, 1235 Badger Court, Charlotte, NC 28206
- Overflow parking: Dearborne Avenue gravel lot (pedestrian ramp at NE corner of lot)
Communication & Online Giving
The parish maintains a website, an email newsletter, a Facebook page, an Instagram account (@olccatholic), and uses RoboCall for parish-wide notifications. A Communications Request form allows ministries and groups to submit announcements, with bulletins, website posts, and social media posts typically requiring five days of turnaround. Online giving is also available through the parish website.
- Website: ourladyofconsolation.org
- Instagram: @olccatholic
- Facebook: Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church
- Email newsletter and RoboCall notifications
- Online Giving via parish website
St. Helen Mission Church
Our Lady of Consolation also ministers to a mission community at St. Helen Mission Church in Gastonia, North Carolina, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:30 AM.
- St. Helen Mission Church, 341 Dallas Spencer Mountain Rd., Gastonia, NC 28056
- Sunday Mass: 9:30 AM
Visit, Register & Get Involved
All are welcomed at Our Lady of Consolation. Newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners to be eligible for sponsor/godparent validation, to stay connected with parish updates, and to support the parish's mission. Bilingual volunteers are especially requested, with forms available on the website or by contacting the parish office.
- Parish registration available online via the parish website
- Sponsor/godparent validation available to registered active members
- Bilingual volunteers requested
- Office phone: (704) 375-4339
- Email: [email protected]