About Resurrection · Loris, South Carolina
The Catholic Church of the Resurrection is a small bilingual mission parish serving Loris and the surrounding rural communities of Horry County, South Carolina, about 25 miles inland from the Grand Strand. Founded in 1975 by eight Catholic families, it was originally a chapel of St. James Parish in Conway and is now a mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in North Myrtle Beach, all within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Tucked into a part of South Carolina where Catholics have always been few, the parish gathers a diverse flock of English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics who worship side by side, celebrate the sacraments, and carry out an unusually full range of ministries for a mission of just 176 households. The 350-seat church, dedicated by Bishop Robert Baker in 2005, and the parish hall completed in 2017 are the visible fruit of decades of steady, community-driven growth.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (church is named for the Resurrection)
- Rector
- Rev. John M. Zimmerman
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Deanery: Myrtle Beach); currently a mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, North Myrtle Beach
Why belong here
The Catholic Church of the Resurrection offers something rare in rural South Carolina: a small, close-knit bilingual Catholic community in a part of the state where Catholics are few, with a real pastor, two parochial vicars, and a retired deacon who know parishioners by name. Mass is offered in both English and Spanish every Sunday, with weekday Masses Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, weekly Confessions before Sunday Mass, and the full sacramental life — including a robust OCIA process for adults and a grades 1–9 Religious Education program on Sunday mornings. The parish's 176 households actively support Catholic Charities, Grand Strand Citizens For Life, North Strand Helping Hand, Open Hearts Community, a parish food pantry, and The Masters Table, giving newcomers immediate ways to put faith into action alongside longtime members.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:15 a.m. (before the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
- Or by appointment
Our Mission & Identity
The Catholic Church of the Resurrection describes itself as 'a diverse Christian Community of faith that is centered in the Eucharist and the Word of God, proclaims the Good News of Jesus, and seeks, welcomes, and serves all in His name.' Tucked into a rural part of Horry County where Catholics have long been few, the parish is officially a mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in North Myrtle Beach within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Myrtle Beach Deanery). The 176 registered households gather in two languages, English and Spanish, for Mass and the sacraments and for an unusually full slate of ministries.
- Mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, North Myrtle Beach
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston — Myrtle Beach Deanery
- Founded 1975
- 350-seat church dedicated 2005; parish hall completed April 2017
- 176 households
Parish History
Catholic life in Loris began with Betty King, an early-1940s newlywed, and grew to eight families by the time Father Henry Burke celebrated the first Loris Mass on Christmas Eve 1975. The mission met in a funeral home, a bank conference room, and a borrowed concrete-block building through the 1980s before being disbanded in November 1989. It was revived in October 1991 in private homes by Father Chet Moczydlowski, settled into a refurbished former Kingdom Hall by Mother's Day 1992, and was officially named 'Catholic Church of the Resurrection' and dedicated by Bishop David B. Thompson on July 13, 1996. Under Father 'Rick' LaBrecque (pastor from 1995) a Spanish Mass was added and a new 350-seat church — built through community fundraising led by Jim Treselt — was first used on Easter Sunday 2005 and dedicated in June 2005 by Bishop Robert Baker.
- 1975 – First Mass, Christmas Eve, celebrated by Fr. Henry (Emil) Burke
- 1989 – Mission disbanded after concrete-block building declared unfit
- 1991 – Mission revived in private homes by Fr. Chet Moczydlowski
- 1992 – Worship moves into a refurbished former Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall (Mother's Day)
- 1995 – Fr. 'Rick' LaBrecque becomes pastor; Spanish Mass added
- 1996, July 13 – Bishop David B. Thompson names and dedicates the church
- 2005, Easter Sunday – First Mass in the new 350-seat church
- 2005, June – Bishop Robert Baker dedicates the new church
- 2011, July – Fr. Rick retires; mission reassigned to Our Lady Star of the Sea under Fr. D. Anthony Droze
- 2017, April – Parish hall with classrooms and meeting space completed
- 2018, June – Fr. Ray Leonard welcomed
- 2025, July – Fr. John M. Zimmerman becomes current pastor after Fr. Leonard's retirement
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a retired deacon, supported by a small parish staff. The pastor's main phone line is shared with the parish office; Jean O'Rourke is the first point of contact for nearly every parish ministry and sacramental need, and Joe Allen handles maintenance.
- Pastor – Rev. John M. Zimmerman (since July 2025)
- Parochial Vicar – Rev. Francis Bakongo Mfesao
- Parochial Vicar – Rev. David F. Michael
- Deacon James Collins (retired; coordinates Baptism Prep, OCIA, and Altar Servers)
- Secretary / Director of Religious Education / Youth Ministry / Director of Senior Ministry – Jean O'Rourke (Office 843-756-6168; Cell 843-902-1310)
- Maintenance – Joe Allen (843-450-4942)
- Spanish-language sacramental coordination – Sra. Elizabeth Prieto (843-249-2356 ext. 18)
Mass & Sacraments
Sunday Mass is offered in English at 9:00 a.m. and in Spanish at 11:00 a.m., with weekday Masses on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. and on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Holy Day schedules are announced; callers are asked to phone the parish office. Confessions are heard Sundays at 8:15 a.m. and by appointment.
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. — English
- Sunday 11:00 a.m. — Spanish
- Tuesday 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday 6:00 p.m.
- Friday 6:00 p.m.
- Holy Day — call for times
- Confessions: Sunday 8:15 a.m. or by appointment
- Rosary: Sunday 9:45 a.m.
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, and welcomes adults through the OCIA process. Sacramental preparation for First Communion begins in 1st grade, with both Reconciliation and First Communion received in the spring of 2nd grade. Confirmation preparation is a two-year process beginning in the 8th grade. The Religious Education program is the formal classroom setting for these journeys.
- Baptismal Preparation — Deacon Jim Collins (843-902-4833)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — two-year process starting in 1st grade; sacraments received spring of 2nd grade
- Confirmation — two-year process beginning in 8th grade
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact Deacon Jim Collins
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at Resurrection centers on children's Religious Education for grades 1–9 and the OCIA process for adults. Both programs run September through May and are supported entirely by parish volunteers. The goal of the children's program is for God's Word 'to take root and live in the hearts and minds of our children,' supplementing parents' own work as first teachers of the faith.
- Children's Religious Education — Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall, grades 1–9
- Curriculum-based instruction with crafts, Church-holiday celebrations, and service projects
- Parental support and involvement required
- Catholic Kids Camp — weekend summer program with faith formation, storytelling, arts and crafts, and music
- OCIA for Adults — weekly gatherings September–May, open-ended pace; inquirers accepted year-round
- Bible Study for Adults
Parish Ministries & Service
For a parish of 176 households, Resurrection runs a long list of ministries — liturgical, formative, and charitable — and partners with several area organizations. Members are explicitly invited to share their time, talent, and treasure with Catholic Charities, Grand Strand Citizens For Life, North Strand Helping Hand, Open Hearts Community (OHCO), the Parish Food Pantry, the Parish Closet, and The Masters Table.
- Altar Servers (any Catholic in good standing who has received First Communion; contact Deacon Jim Collins)
- Ladies Guild (pot lucks and parish events)
- Cleaning ministry
- Building & Renovation Input Committee
- Building Repair / Maintenance
- Community Outreach partners: Catholic Charities; Grand Strand Citizens For Life; North Strand Helping Hand; Open Hearts Community (OHCO); Parish Food Pantry; Parish Closet; The Masters Table
Facilities, Location & Visiting
The parish worships and gathers at 204 Heritage Road in Loris, SC, in Horry County. The site includes the 350-seat church dedicated in 2005 and a separate parish hall/classroom/meeting building completed in April 2017. Office hours for visiting in person are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. — conveniently matching the pre-Mass window for Confessions.
- 204 Heritage Road, Loris, SC 29569
- Phone: 843-756-6168 | Fax: 843-756-4197
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 2:30–5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00–9:00 a.m.
- Private parking lot on site
- Horry County, about 25 miles inland from the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry (Emil) Burke1975
Pastor of St. James, Conway; celebrated the first Loris Mass on Christmas Eve 1975 for eight Catholic families.
- Fr. Chet Moczydlowski1991–mid-1990s
Assigned to St. James in 1991, he revived the Loris mission, restarting Mass in homes in October 1991 and then in a refurbished former Kingdom Hall by Mother's Day 1992.
- Fr. 'Rick' LaBrecque1995–July 2011
Began as pastor in 1995; added the Spanish Mass for the growing Hispanic population; oversaw construction of the new 350-seat church (Easter 2005) and paid off the mortgage early.
- Fr. D. Anthony Droze2011–2018
Took over after Father Rick's July 2011 retirement when the mission was reassigned from St. James (Conway) to Our Lady Star of the Sea (North Myrtle Beach); oversaw completion of the parish hall in April 2017; later named Vicar General for the Diocese.
- Fr. Ray LeonardJune 2018–July 2025
Welcomed to the parish in June 2018 following Father Droze's appointment as Vicar General; retired in July 2025.
- Fr. John M. ZimmermanJuly 2025–present
Current pastor, welcomed in July 2025 after Father Leonard's retirement.