About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Newton Grove, North Carolina
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a historic Catholic parish in the small rural community of Newton Grove, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Raleigh. The church was consecrated on August 11, 1874 by Bishop James Gibbons on land donated by Dr. John Carr Monk, a local physician who founded the Catholic presence in the area. Today the parish is staffed by Redemptorist Fathers (C.Ss.R.) and serves a bilingual community with Masses in both English and Spanish, reflecting more than fifty years of ministry to Latin American immigrants in southeastern North Carolina.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Reverend Alvaro Riquelme, C.Ss.R.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a rare combination: a 150-year-old Catholic heritage rooted in rural southeastern North Carolina, a bilingual worship life that welcomes both longtime local families and newer Latin American immigrants, and a Redemptorist charism known for preaching and missionary zeal. Parishioners can take part in RCIA, adult faith formation, children's CCD (K–8), a vibrant music ministry with cantors and directors for each Mass, Adoration on Thursdays, and longstanding outreach through ministries and a 120-page shared history. It is a place where the sacrifices of founders like Dr. John Carr Monk and saints like Katherine Drexel still shape daily parish life.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM in the church (or by appointment / por cita)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Rectory Chapel), with Benediction at 7:00 PM
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament also on Thursdays after the celebration of daily Mass in the church sanctuary
History of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe traces its origins to the faith and courage of one man — Dr. John Carr Monk, a Methodist physician in Newton Grove. Disillusioned after his Methodist church expelled its newly freed African American members during Reconstruction, Monk began a correspondence with Bishop James Gibbons of Wilmington that led to his reception into the Catholic Church on October 27, 1871. He donated land, and on August 11, 1874 Bishop Gibbons consecrated a new church — the seed of what would become a regional Catholic presence stretching into Clinton, Dunn, Benson, and Goldsboro.
- Dr. John Carr Monk (1827) — founder, local physician
- 1871 — Monk and family received into the Catholic Church
- 1874 — Church consecrated by Bishop James Gibbons
- 1889–1895 — Father Thomas F. Price served as pastor (later founder of Maryknoll)
- 1899 — First resident pastor, Father Edward Meyer, O.S.B.
- 1904–1928 — Father Michael A. Irwin, period of growth (Irwin Drive named for him)
- 1928–1953 — Redemptorist Fathers served; parish named Holy Redeemer
- January 1954 — Bishop Vincent Waters renamed the parish Our Lady of Guadalupe
- 1987 — Restored church dedicated by Bishop Gossman (April 26)
- 1989 — Saint Katherine Drexel Hall blessed by Father James F. Garneau (November 18)
- 2006 — Divine Mercy Center blessed by Bishop Gossman
Saintly Connections
Two of the Catholic Church's most remarkable modern holy men and women are part of Our Lady of Guadalupe's story. Father Thomas F. Price, pastor from 1889 to 1895, went on to found the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll) and has a cause for canonization open in the Diocese of Raleigh. Saint Katherine Drexel, the Philadelphia heiress who gave away her fortune to serve Native Americans and African Americans, was a longtime financial benefactor and visited the parish in person in 1910.
- Father Thomas F. Price, pastor 1889–1895, co-founder of Maryknoll
- Saint Katherine Drexel, benefactor who visited in 1910
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently staffed by the Redemptorist Fathers (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, C.Ss.R.), who serve alongside a deacon and a dedicated lay team. Day-to-day parish life is supported by the Director of Catechesis, an administrative assistant, and a part-time receptionist and office assistant. Music ministry is staffed for each Mass by separate cantors, musicians, and a Spanish-language Director of Music.
- Pastor: Reverend Alvaro Riquelme, C.Ss.R.
- Parochial Vicar: Reverend Fabio Marin Morales, C.Ss.R.
- Priest in Residence / Sacramental Ministry: Reverend Michael Koncik, C.Ss.R.
- Deacon: Louis Vincent (Vince) Parente
- Director of Catechesis: Kim McLean ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Barbara Godwin ([email protected])
- Part-Time Receptionist: Laura Beltran
- Musicians: Elaine Butler and Angela Page (9 AM English Mass)
- Director of Music: Patricia Aguilar (11:30 AM Spanish Mass)
- Cantor: Michael Mozingo (5 PM Saturday Mass)
- Bulletin Editor: Angela Page
- Website/Social Media: JoAnna Parente
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of Guadalupe spans every age and stage. Adults can take part in RCIA / Inquiry Classes or ongoing Adult Faith Formation sessions, while children and teens are served by a parish CCD program for grades K–5 (with preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation), continuing formation for grades 6–8 and high school, and a team of volunteer teachers, substitutes, aides, and office assistants.
- RCIA / Inquiry Classes for adults
- Adult Faith Formation Committee and Adult Faith Formation Class
- Children's Faith Formation / CCD (Grades K–5)
- Continuing Faith Formation for Grades 6–8 and high school
- CCD Teacher, Substitute Teacher, Classroom Aide, Office Assistant roles
- Director of Catechesis: Kim McLean
Music and Liturgy
Music is a hallmark of the parish's liturgical life, with dedicated musicians for each of the weekend Masses — including a separate Director of Music for the Spanish-language Mass — and a cantor for the Saturday Vigil.
- 9:00 AM Sunday Mass — Elaine Butler and Angela Page
- 11:30 AM Sunday Mass — Patricia Aguilar, Director of Music
- 5:00 PM Saturday Mass — Michael Mozingo, Cantor
Parish Buildings and Facilities
Over more than a century, the parish has accumulated a remarkable cluster of buildings around the original 1874 church. The current rectory dates to the early 1930s. St. Mark's Hall, acquired from the U.S. Army in 1948 and renovated in 1991, continues to host parish gatherings. Saint Katherine Drexel Hall, blessed in 1989, and the Divine Mercy Center, blessed in 2006, round out the parish campus.
- Original church, consecrated 1874; restored and rededicated by Bishop Gossman, April 26, 1987
- Rectory, built early 1930s
- St. Mark's Hall, acquired 1948, renovated 1991
- Saint Katherine Drexel Hall, blessed November 18, 1989
- Divine Mercy Center, blessed 2006
- Rectory Chapel (used for daily Mass and Thursday Adoration)
History Book — 'Road to the Cross'
The parish published a 120-page keepsake history, 'Road to the Cross,' to mark its 152-year anniversary. The book traces how this rural Catholic church helped spread the faith across southeastern North Carolina, with reminiscences and photos of the first church families (many still represented in the parish today), the priests and religious who served, and the parish's many current ministries. Copies are available for $25 at the parish office (Mon.–Fri. 8 AM – 1 PM) or by mail for $29.50 per book.
- Title: Road to the Cross
- 120 pages covering 152 years (1874–2026)
- Available $25 in person or $29.50 by mail
- Order inquiries: [email protected]
Outreach and Community
The parish has long served as a regional Catholic hub. Its mission chapels once extended Catholic worship into Clinton, Dunn, Benson, and Goldsboro; the chapels at Clinton and Dunn have since grown into separate parishes. For more than fifty years, Our Lady of Guadalupe has also been a center of ministry to Latin American immigrants in southeastern North Carolina, reflected today in its bilingual liturgy. A Knights of Columbus council is attached to the parish.
- Regional Catholic hub for southeastern North Carolina
- Pastoral ministry to Latin American immigrants (50+ years)
- Knights of Columbus — Parish Council 70 (kofcnc.org)
- Inter-racial history documented in parish commemorations
Contact, Office Hours, and Emergencies
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Phone messages may be left at (910) 594-0287 or sent to [email protected] at any time. For sacramental emergencies (such as Anointing of the Sick) outside office hours, an emergency line is provided.
- Parish Office: (910) 594-0287
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (910) 594-1749
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Emergency Line: (704) 425-5887
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 100, Newton Grove, NC 28366-0100
- Physical Address: 211 Irwin Drive, Newton Grove, NC 28366
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Mark Gross1874 (first regular visitor, monthly from Wilmington)
The parish was first named St. Mark's in his honor.
- Father Edward Meyer, O.S.B.1899
First resident pastor; Benedictine.
- Father Patrick Quinn1901
Vicariate Apostolic priest who replaced the Benedictines.
- Father Michael A. Irwin1904–1928
Long pastorate of growth and mission expansion; later transferred to New Bern. The parish street is named Irwin Drive in his honor.
- Redemptorist Fathers (collective)1928–1953
Renamed the parish Holy Redeemer during their tenure.
- Father Thomas F. Price1889–1895
Later founder of the Maryknoll Mission Society.