About Our Lady of the Highways · Thomasville, North Carolina
Our Lady of the Highways Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish located at 943 Ball Park Road in Thomasville, North Carolina, serving the Piedmont Triad as a faith community of roughly 750 registered families. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Charlotte and is guided by its current pastor, Rev. Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, alongside Deacons Martin Sheehan and (retired) Wayne E. Adams. The community is rooted in a parish-based ministry of faith and service to the most vulnerable, with a particular outreach to the area's Hispanic population and local food banks.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Highways (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of patroness of travelers)
- Rector
- Rev. Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Highways is one of the few parishes in the greater Thomasville area offering a robust schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, with weekday liturgies, Friday Eucharistic Adoration from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekly Confession — making it a fitting spiritual home for bilingual families and the migrant community of the Piedmont. Membership here means joining a parish deeply committed to charity (including a long-running second-Sunday food drive supporting two local food banks), faithful Oblate spirituality under St. Francis de Sales, and a vibrant faith-formation program from age 3 through Confirmation with an active RCIA for adults.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Highways
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (or by appointment — call Fr. Gabriel at 336-476-2668)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish Identity & Mission
Our Lady of the Highways Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Charlotte, located at 943 Ball Park Road in Thomasville, North Carolina. Framed by the parish motto 'Nurture Each Other in Faith,' the community describes itself as a parish-based ministry of faith and service 'especially to the most vulnerable,' open to anyone who wishes to know, love, and serve God. The parish embraces wide cultural diversity — reflected in its bilingual (English and Spanish) liturgy — and grounds its mission in compassion, hospitality, respect, inspiration, service, and truth.
- Part of the Diocese of Charlotte
- Pastoral motto: 'Nurture Each Other in Faith'
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) parish community
- Six pillars: Compassion, Hospitality, Respect, Inspiration, Service, Truth
- Goal: Announce and Celebrate Christ through Spiritual Growth and Prayer, Study, Stewardship, Social Activities, and Service
History of Our Lady of the Highways
Before Our Lady of the Highways existed as a building, dedicated Catholics gathered for summer Masses in Thomasville at the J. C. Green & Sons Funeral Home and the Women's Club, celebrated by Fr. Robert MacMillan of Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point. The mission chapel at 15 College Street opened on June 6, 1951 and was named St. Thomas à Becket; under Fr. Lawrence J. Hill plans were drawn for a permanent building, the cornerstone was cut in 1953, and the first Mass in the new Our Lady of the Highways church was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954. The parish grew from 17 to 72 families in its first years, served successively as a mission of Our Lady of the Rosary (Lexington) and Immaculate Heart of Mary (High Point), and became an independent parish under the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales on July 2, 1970. Major milestones include the 1989 dedication of a parish hall and rectory by Bishop John Donahue, the addition of a Spanish Mass in 1984, and the 2000-era interior remodel that replaced most windows with stained glass and added a Cry Room, Sacristy, and restrooms. After forty-four years of Oblate leadership, Fr. Gabriel Carvajal Salazar became the parish's first diocesan pastor in December 2020 and was installed by Bishop Peter Jugis on July 13, 2021.
- 1951 — first Mass in Thomasville at 15 College Street
- 1954 — first Mass in the new church (Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954)
- June 27, 1954 — Bishop Waters dedicates the building
- 1970 — Becomes a full parish; Oblates of St. Francis de Sales arrive; Fr. William Stahl, O.S.F.S., first permanent pastor
- 1984 — First Spanish Mass added
- 1989 — Parish Hall and Rectory dedicated by Bishop John Donahue
- 2000 — Interior remodel with stained-glass windows
- December 2020 — Fr. Gabriel Carvajal Salazar arrives
- July 13, 2021 — Fr. Gabriel installed as pastor by Bishop Peter Jugis
Leadership & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Gabriel Carvajal Salazar, assisted by two deacons. The administrative team includes a Parish Administrative Assistant and a Communications Coordinator managing the parish bulletin. Faith Formation is coordinated by Kathy Laskis. Parish Office Hours are Monday–Friday, 2:00–5:00 PM; the office is closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Pastor: Rev. Gabriel Carvajal Salazar
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Martin Sheehan
- Deacon (Retired): Rev. Mr. Wayne E. Adams
- Parish Administrative Assistant: Rosa Guzman
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Kathy Laskis (336-471-2117)
- Parish Secretary email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Bulletin email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 2:00–5:00 PM
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares the faithful for every Catholic sacrament of initiation and healing. First Communion and Confirmation each require three years of Faith Formation (typically K–2 and 6–8 respectively); adults prepare through the RCIA, with reception of sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Baptism is offered to infants through age 6 (with monthly Spanish-language preparation), children ages 7–15 (quarterly classes), and youth 16–18 through the RCIC program. Marriage preparation requires nine months of formation for English-speaking couples. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request.
- First Communion — 3-year Faith Formation (K–2)
- Confirmation — 3-year Faith Formation (6–8)
- RCIA — adults, Easter Vigil reception
- Baptism (Spanish, 0–6) — first Saturday monthly, 9 AM–noon
- Baptism (English) — contact Deacon Martin Sheehan
- RCIC — ages 16–18, Friday evenings 7–8 PM, Sept–Easter
- Marriage — 9-month preparation (English); Spanish requirements available
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
The parish Faith Formation program, coordinated by Kathy Laskis, runs during the academic year (September through May) for children ages 5–18. Registration for the 2025–26 school year is held after all Masses on August 30/31, September 7, and September 13/14. The cost is $60 per student, plus a $35 final-year fee for First Communion and Confirmation preparation. No new students are accepted after September 14.
- Coordinator: Kathy Laskis (336-471-2117)
- Classes for ages 5–18
- Registration weekends: Aug 30/31, Sept 7, Sept 13/14
- Cost: $60/student + $35 final-year fee for First Communion and Confirmation
Charity, Outreach & Knights of Columbus
Charitable outreach is a defining mark of Our Lady of the Highways. The parish's longest-running initiative is the Second Sunday Food Collection (begun May 9, 2015) which alternately supplies the Cooperative Community Ministry and Fairgrove Family Resource Center food pantries in Thomasville. Our Lady's Council #9249 of the Knights of Columbus is chartered at the parish and welcomes any Catholic man 18 or older who wishes to serve the Church and the broader community.
- Second Sunday Food Collection (since May 9, 2015)
- Supports Cooperative Community Ministry and Fairgrove Family Resource Center
- Knights of Columbus — Our Lady's Council #9249
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) partner parish
Contact, Visit & Media
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (336) 475-2667 or by fax at 336-476-3337. Three email addresses are published for specific needs: the parish secretary, the pastor, and the bulletin/communications team. The parish also streams Masses and posts video content via its YouTube channel linked from the homepage. Mailing address: 943 Ball Park Road, Thomasville, NC 27360.
- 943 Ball Park Road, Thomasville, NC 27360
- Tel: (336) 475-2667 | Fax: (336) 476-3337
- Secretary: [email protected]
- Pastor: [email protected]
- Bulletin: [email protected]
- YouTube livestream and recorded videos linked from olhcatholicchurch.com
- Parish office: Mon–Fri 2:00–5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert MacMillan1951
Celebrated first Mass in the rental chapel at 15 College Street in Thomasville on June 6, 1951; pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, High Point.
- Fr. Hugh Kennedy1951–
Thomasville Catholic community's first pastor; named the mission chapel St. Thomas à Becket on December 27, 1951.
- Fr. Lawrence J. Hill1953
New pastor; assisted by twin brother Clarence Hill. Drew up plans for permanent church building; cornerstone cut 1953; first Mass in new church Easter Sunday 1954.
- Fr. Ron McLoughlinuntil June 30, 1970
Pastor while Our Lady of the Highways was a mission of Our Lady of the Rosary, Lexington.
- Fr. William Stahl, O.S.F.S.July 1970 – July 1975; June 1976 – August 1977
First permanent pastor after the parish became a full parish in its own right on July 2, 1970 (Oblates of St. Francis de Sales).
- Fr. William Lyman, O.S.F.S.July 1975 – 1977
Interim pastor.
- Fr. John Murphy, O.S.F.S.August 1977 – August 1977 succession
Built picnic shelter, mobile-home classrooms; grew parish to 95 families (40% converts).
- Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, O.S.F.S.August 1977 – c. 2007
Third permanent pastor; led interior remodel (stained glass, cry room, sacristy, expanded seating) and a major Spanish-language Mass expansion in 1984.
- Fr. James M. Turner, O.S.F.S.September 2007 – November 2020
Fourth permanent pastor; modernized facilities, computers, parish office; served ~750 families; retired due to illness.
- Fr. Gabriel Carvajal SalazarDecember 2020 – present
First diocesan priest to serve as pastor; installed by Bishop Peter Jugis on July 13, 2021.