About Our Lady of the Hills · Columbia, South Carolina
Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the St. Andrews/Irmo area of Columbia, South Carolina, belonging to the Diocese of Charleston. Founded in 1972 as a mission of St. Peter's Parish and seated in its own sanctuary since 1975, OLH serves roughly 2,526 households with a robust bilingual (English and Spanish) liturgical schedule, a large parish school of religious education, a vibrant youth ministry, and an extensive outreach and charity program. The parish identifies its mission as empowering families to live as the domestic Church, 'formed by the Lord in Word and in Sacrament, and then sent out on mission to the world.' Currently the parish is undertaking a major sanctuary renovation project led by its current pastor, Very Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, VF, JCL, with Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune participating in a Town Hall in 2024.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- Our Lady (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, VF, JCL
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Hills is one of the largest and most active parishes in the Midlands of South Carolina, with more than 2,500 registered households served by a sizable bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical schedule, weekday and perpetual-Thursday adoration, and a robust sacramental life. Families find a full Religious Education program (preschool through Confirmation, with two-year sacramental prep), a strong youth ministry that sends teens to the annual Steubenville Youth Conference, OCIA/RCIA for adults and a Spanish OCIA track, and extensive outreach and parish groups. The parish positions itself as a 'family-focused' community centered on the Eucharist, with the pastorate currently investing in major sanctuary renovations to accommodate continued growth.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Hills
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment — call (803) 772-7400 to schedule
Adoration times
- Thursday 12:45 PM – 9:00 PM
About Our Lady of the Hills
Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the St. Andrews / Irmo corridor of northwest Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1972 as a mission of St. Peter's Parish and seated in its own sanctuary since 1975, OLH belongs to the Diocese of Charleston and today serves about 2,526 households. The parish runs a fully bilingual (English and Spanish) liturgical schedule, weekday and Thursday adoration, a large Religious Education program, and an active youth ministry. Its mission statement emphasizes empowering families to live as the domestic Church: 'formed by the Lord in Word and in Sacrament, and then sent out on mission to the world.'
- Founded 1972; current sanctuary dedicated November 26, 1975
- Located at 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210
- Part of the Diocese of Charleston (Columbia Deanery)
- Approximately 2,526 registered households; seating capacity 425
- Bilingual parish: English and Spanish
Parish History
Our Lady of the Hills traces its roots to 1972, when Father William Croghan of St. Peter's Church, together with a 'committee of six' parishioners, sowed a new Catholic community in the Irmo–St. Andrew area. The mission first met in Lexington, at Irmo Elementary School, and at the Dutch Square Theater; with the gift of Miss Nellie Lynch's inheritance, four acres and a house were purchased on Nursery Road. In June 1973 Father Henry Burke became the first full-time pastor, a Parish Council was elected (George Holmes, first chairman), and Religious Education, CYO, Boy Scouts, and a 10% outreach tithe were organized. By the end of that year the community had voted to call itself Our Lady of the Hills and was meeting at Jamil Shrine Temple. Through the generosity of Mr. H. W. Hoefer a larger tract of land was secured, John Tabb Heyward was engaged as architect, and on a rainy February 1975 Sunday Bishop Unterkoefler broke ground for the $215,000 sanctuary. Father Michael Burton shepherded the project to completion, and Bishop Unterkoefler celebrated the formal dedication Mass on November 26, 1975, with parishioners donating every piece of furniture and furnishing inside.
- 1972 — mission founded by Fr. William Croghan & 'committee of six'
- 1973 — Fr. Henry Burke named first full-time pastor; Parish Council elected
- 1973 — name 'Our Lady of the Hills' chosen by popular vote
- 1975 Feb — ground broken by Bishop Unterkoefler
- 1975 Nov 26 — sanctuary formally dedicated
- Ongoing — major sanctuary renovation project, 2024 Town Hall with Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, VF, JCL, as Pastor and Rev. Jose P. Quilcate as Parochial Vicar. They are assisted by five deacons — Steve Burdick, Gerard Couture (who also directs OCIA), Mark Gray, Charles LaRosa, Thomas Souza, and Vince Williams — together with a sizable lay staff: Sr. Christina Murphy, SND (Pastoral Associate); Jackie Brace (Director of Religious Education); Elizabeth Hudacko (Youth Minister); Peggy Williams (Parish Engagement Coordinator); Alma Mendez (Parish Office Coordinator); Shakty Arrieta Lopez (Religious Education Secretary); Nicolas Cespe (Finance Manager); Sara Dakermanji (Finance Associate); Guillermo Ramis (Finance); Zurima Martinez (Director of Marketing & Communications); and maintenance staff Fred Miller, Nicolas Marmolejo, and Juan Marmolejo (Facilities & Property Manager).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, VF, JCL
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jose P. Quilcate
- Deacons: Steve Burdick, Gerard Couture, Mark Gray, Charles LaRosa, Thomas Souza, Vince Williams
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Christina Murphy, SND
- DRE: Jackie Brace
- Youth Minister: Elizabeth Hudacko
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The OLH Religious Education program nurtures students from preschool through Confirmation under Director of Religious Education Jackie Brace and bilingual secretary Shakty Arrieta Lopez. Children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion must complete two years of active participation, with the sacraments celebrated in the spring of the second year. Confirmation preparation likewise runs two years, generally requires prior reception of at least three years of formal religious education, and the sacrament is conferred in late winter or early spring. All families in the program must be active, registered, Mass-attending, and tithing members of OLH. For adults, Deacon Gerard Couture directs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA), with English sessions on Sundays 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM in the Ministry Room of the Family Life Center and a parallel Spanish OCIA track in the Parish Hall.
- Preschool through adult faith formation
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2-year prep)
- Confirmation (2-year prep; requires 3+ years prior catechesis)
- English OCIA — Sundays 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Family Life Center Ministry Room
- Spanish OCIA — Parish Hall, Family Life Center (downstairs)
Youth Ministry
OLH's youth ministry, led by Elizabeth Hudacko, gathers high-schoolers from multiple schools and cultural backgrounds. The program meets Wednesdays during the summer for Bible Study (6:00–7:00 PM) and Open Gym (7:00–8:00 PM), and the teens travel annually to the Steubenville Youth Conference — in 2025 the trip was to Ohio. Student reflections shared on the parish website describe Steubenville as 'life-changing,' with Adoration consistently singled out as a powerful moment of encounter with Christ.
- Bible Study & Open Gym — Wednesdays in summer
- Annual Steubenville Youth Conference (2025: Ohio)
- High-school youth group open across schools and cultures
- Director: Elizabeth Hudacko ([email protected])
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments on a regular schedule. Infant baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and OCIA/RCIA initiation are all coordinated through the parish office. Couples begin marriage prep by calling (803) 772-7400 to schedule an appointment with a priest. Sponsors for Baptism, Confirmation, and RCIA may request a letter of good standing through the parish office.
- Baptism — preparation required
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — spring of 2nd-year prep
- Confirmation — late winter/early spring of 2nd-year prep
- Marriage — schedule appointment with a priest
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- OCIA/RCIA for unbaptized, uncatechized, and catechized adults
- Sponsor letters of good standing
Parish Life, Outreach & Renovation
Since its founding, OLH has organized lay involvement around liturgical, educational, social, and outreach pillars. A Parish Council, Liturgy Committee, and Parish Engagement Coordinator connect members into ministries; the long-standing Mission Committee directs a tithe of the weekly offering to outside needs. The parish complex includes the church, the Family Life Center (with Ministry Room and Parish Hall), parish offices, and grounds, and is currently undergoing a major sanctuary renovation — the subject of a July 2024 Town Hall with Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS. Online giving, a parish bulletin, OLH LiveStream, and a Marketing & Communications office all support an active parish life.
- Parish Council and Liturgy Committee
- Mission/Outreach Committee (10% tithe)
- Family Life Center with Ministry Room and Parish Hall
- Major sanctuary renovation in progress (Town Hall July 2024)
- Online giving, online bulletin, OLH LiveStream
Visiting & Contact
Our Lady of the Hills welcomes visitors and new parishioners at 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The main phone line is (803) 772-7400; the general email is [email protected]. New members can register online via the Parish Registration page on olhcolumbia.org. Visitors are warmly invited to attend any Mass or weekday devotion and to introduce themselves after Mass.
- Address: 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210
- Phone: (803) 772-7400
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Mon–Thu 9–5 (closed 12–1), Fri 9–1
- Online parish registration available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Croghan1972–1973
Pastor of St. Peter's who, with a 'committee of six,' planted the mission in the Irmo–St. Andrew area in 1972; transferred June 1973.
- Father Henry Burke1973–1975
First full-time pastor of the newly-titled Irmo–Lexington Catholic Community; oversaw the move to Jamil Shrine Temple and the selection of the name 'Our Lady of the Hills' by popular vote.
- Father Michael Burton1975
Appointed pastor in summer 1975; oversaw the completion and dedication of the new sanctuary on November 26, 1975 by Bishop Unterkoefler.
- Father William (Building named in his honor)
Mentioned in the parish's published history as the priest for whom a building on campus was named.
- Very Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, VF, JCLpresent
Current pastor; leading major sanctuary renovations, including the July 2024 Town Hall with Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune.