About Our Lady of Lourdes · Greenwood, South Carolina
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Charleston, located at 915 Mathis Road in Greenwood, South Carolina. The parish, which today counts roughly 1,009 households and a 750-seat sanctuary, traces its roots to 1913 when Catholicism first took root in Greenwood in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Turner. Its present-day church, described as an echo of classicism in a contemporary style, was dedicated in 2004 under the direction of former pastor Msgr. Richard D. Harris. The parish is bilingual, with a vibrant Hispanic Ministry alongside its English-speaking life, offering daily and weekly Masses in both languages.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Francisco Javier Oñate-Vargas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston (South Carolina)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a mid-sized, family-friendly Catholic parish where long-tenured South Carolina Catholic heritage meets a flourishing bilingual community. Parishioners can attend Mass in English or Spanish several days a week, prepare their children for First Communion and Confirmation through the CCD program in St. Bernadette Hall, walk with teens through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and receive one-on-one confidential pastoral care through Stephen Ministry. With more than 1,000 households, traditional devotions like First Thursday Rosary for Life and First Friday Adoration and Benediction, and an active Hispanic ministry serving over a dozen prayer groups, it is a parish where newcomers and lifelong Catholics alike can find a place to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
- Tuesday: 5:45 PM – 6:15 PM
- Thursday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday (Lent/Advent): 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (English)
- Friday (Lent/Advent): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Spanish)
- First Friday Adoration and Benediction: 8:30 – 9:30 AM, following morning Mass
Parish History
Catholic life in Greenwood traces back to 1913, when Masses were first said in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Turner. In 1920 the Knights of Columbus (Fort Jackson) donated a small facility called Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and a Gothic-style church at Grace and Durst Avenue, dedicated November 1, 1926, was named Our Lady of Lourdes. The parish became an official parish in 1946 under Fr. William Doyle, moved to Laurel Avenue in 1963 (with a parish hall added by 1978), and reached its present home at 915 Mathis Road when the current church was dedicated in 2004.
- 1913 – First Masses in the Turner home
- 1920 – Knights of Columbus donate 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help' facility
- 1926 – Gothic church at Grace & Durst dedicated as 'Our Lady of Lourdes' (Nov 1)
- 1946 – Becomes an official parish; Fr. William Doyle first priest
- 1963 – Relocated to Laurel Avenue
- 1964 – Original Grace St. building moved to McCormick as Church of the Good Shepherd
- 1978 – Parish hall completed on Laurel Ave.
- 2004 – Current Mathis Road church dedicated under Msgr. Richard D. Harris
Devotions
The parish keeps several traditional devotions close to its liturgical life, with a particular focus on the protection of life. The Rosary for Life is prayed on the first Thursday of the month following the 5:30 PM evening Mass, asking for a renewal of the Culture of Life from conception to natural death. First Friday Adoration and Benediction follows the morning Mass from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.
- First Thursday Rosary for Life — following 5:30 PM evening Mass
- First Friday Adoration and Benediction — 8:30–9:30 AM
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration (see schedule)
Faith Formation: CCD, OCIA, and OCIC
Our Lady of Lourdes runs its religious-education programs out of the Education building in St. Bernadette Hall. CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes begin each year with registration in August. Grades 1–2 prepare baptized youth for First Confession and First Communion; Grades 7–8 prepare baptized candidates for Confirmation with the Bishop of Charleston. The Diocese of Charleston requires a two-year period of catechesis before Confirmation. Grades 3–6 are devoted to instruction in the faith and morals of the Church.
- CCD: Grades 1–8, classes held in St. Bernadette Hall
- First Communion / First Confession prep: Grades 1–2
- Confirmation prep: Grades 7–8 (with the Bishop of Charleston)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults): for unbaptized adults
- OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children): for unbaptized or uncatechized Catholic children, Grades 3–7
- Director of Christian Formation: Cindy Berry
Youth Ministry: Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) / Cornerstone Youth
Our Lady of Lourdes' youth ministry is rooted in its 2013 mission: 'The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church will help middle and high school students to own and defend their faith and grow as a community through fellowship and service.' Activities include the High School Youth Conference and the SC Rally for Life, along with parish events like the annual Mardi Gras gathering.
- CYO for middle and high school students
- High School Youth Conference
- SC Rally for Life participation
- Annual youth events such as Mardi Gras
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one, Christ-centered lay caring ministry. Trained Stephen Ministers meet weekly for about an hour with a parishioner going through a difficult time, offering confidential emotional and spiritual support. Initial training involves a once-a-week, 20-session commitment; Stephen Ministers also meet twice monthly for group supervision. Stephen Ministers do not see couples, families, or children, and do not provide professional counseling, transportation, or household help.
- Lay caring ministry with trained Stephen Ministers
- Weekly one-on-one meetings (~1 hour) with a care receiver
- 20-session initial training
- Twice-monthly group supervision
- Contact: Pat Mackin, 554-0884 (confidential)
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
The Hispanic Ministry is one of the most active arms of parish life at Our Lady of Lourdes, supporting Spanish-language Masses, sacraments, and a network of prayer and service groups. Office assistance in Spanish is offered Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, by Letisia Hernández. Group baptisms in Spanish are celebrated on the first Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM, and the parish holds pre-baptismal and pre-marriage classes in Spanish.
- Spanish-language Masses: Sunday 12:30 PM and Tuesday 6:30 PM
- Spanish-language confession times on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- Group baptisms: First Saturday of each month, 11:00 AM
- Pre-Baptismal and Pre-Marriage classes in Spanish
- Hispanic Ministry contact: Letisia Hernández, (864) 223-8410
- Cristo Renueva Su Parroquia (CRSP) – Men and Women
- Grupo Guadalupano
- Grupo de Oración Misioneros de María Inmaculada
- Grupo de Oración Verbum Dei
- Grupo de Limpieza
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers, and Choir (Spanish)
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation is a central part of parish life. Baptism for Spanish-speaking families is celebrated in group ceremonies on the first Saturday of each month, with required pre-baptismal classes. First Communion and First Reconciliation are received through the Grades 1–2 CCD track, while Confirmation is celebrated in the 8th grade year following the Diocese of Charleston's required two-year catechesis. Marriage preparation begins with a meeting with Fr. Francisco and the diocesan pre-marriage classes.
- Baptism (Spanish): first Saturday of the month, 11:00 AM, group ceremony
- First Communion / First Confession: Grades 1–2 CCD
- Confirmation: 8th grade year, with the Bishop of Charleston
- Marriage: meeting with Fr. Francisco plus pre-marriage classes
- OCIA (adults) and OCIC (children) for unbaptized or uncatechized
Parish Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes is led by Fr. Francisco Javier Oñate-Vargas with the assistance of Deacon Matthew Houle and a small lay staff. Cindy Berry serves as Director of Christian Formation and Safe Environment Coordinator; Letisia Hernández is Receptionist and Hispanic Ministry coordinator; Trinidad Lopez is Facilities Manager; and Jodi Leonardi handles Finance.
- Pastor: Rev. Francisco Javier Oñate-Vargas
- Deacon: Deacon Matthew Houle
- Director of Christian Formation / Safe Environment Coordinator: Cindy Berry
- Receptionist / Hispanic Ministry: Letisia Hernández
- Facilities Manager: Trinidad Lopez
- Finance: Jodi Leonardi
Office Hours and Practical Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and closed on Fridays. Spanish-language assistance is available those same days through Letisia Hernández. The parish alerts members that scam emails and text messages have been circulating impersonating Fr. Francisco and staff and asking for money or gift cards — these should be ignored.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Office closed Fridays
- Spanish-language assistance available Mon–Thu
- Scam alert: ignore texts/emails requesting money or gift cards in Fr. Francisco's name
- Address: 915 Mathis Road, Greenwood, SC 29646
- Phone: (864) 223-8410
- Website: https://olol.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Doyle1946–1949
First priest when the parish became official in 1946.
- Fr. Gerald Ernst1949–1955
- Fr. Nicholas R. Bayard1955–1961
- Fr. Henry J. Burke1961–1966
- Fr. John B. Adair1966–1968
- Fr. Frederick Suggs1968–1973
- Msgr. Donald C. Hamburger1973–1979
- Fr. David J. Shiller1979–1988
- Fr. Robert H. Fix1988–1990
- Fr. Charles J. Day1990
- Fr. Wells Folsom1990–1994
- Fr. Hayden J. Vaverek1994–1999
- Msgr. Richard D. Harris1999–2006
Directed the move to the present Mathis Road church, dedicated in 2004, designed as a classical-contemporary building.
- Fr. Timothy D. Tebalt2006–2008
- Fr. Jacob Joseph2008–2009
- Fr. James Crowley2009–2015
- Fr. Timothy D. Tebalt2015–2022
Returned for a second stint as pastor.
- Fr. Francisco Javier Oñate-Vargas2022–present
Current pastor.