About Sacred Heart Mission · Rainelle, West Virginia
Sacred Heart Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission parish located at 401 (also listed as 109) 13th Street in Rainelle, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It is a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church in nearby Hinton and falls under the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. The mission was established in 1953 with Rev. James Pietersma as its first pastor, and it continues to serve the faithful of Rainelle and surrounding communities in the Greenbrier Valley with weekly Sunday Mass.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Chinh Tran, S.V.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Mission brings the Sunday Eucharist to Catholics in Rainelle and the surrounding Greenbrier Valley, a rural part of southeastern West Virginia with limited Catholic presence. As a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, it offers the stability of an established parish family while maintaining the intimate, close-knit feel of a small country mission. Visitors and parishioners can expect a welcoming community centered on the celebration of the Mass, regular confession, and the traditional Catholic devotions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Friday — Benediction and Reconciliation at 6:00 PM (as part of the St. Patrick parish schedule)
Adoration times
- First Friday — Benediction at 6:00 PM (combined with Reconciliation)
Sacred Heart Mission — Rainelle, West Virginia
Sacred Heart Catholic Mission is a small Catholic mission parish serving the town of Rainelle in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. As a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, it shares pastoral leadership and liturgical resources with the parent parish while offering its own regular schedule of Masses for the local community. The parish is named in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a popular Catholic devotion emphasizing Christ's boundless love for humanity, and its feast day is celebrated in June each year.
- Mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Hinton, WV
- Part of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
- Located in Rainelle, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Parish History
According to the official history of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston, Sacred Heart Parish in Rainelle was established in 1953, with Rev. James Pietersma named as the mission's first pastor. The year 1953 was a period of significant Catholic expansion in West Virginia: in the same year, St. Mary Parish in Star City (Rev. Edward Griffin), St. John Parish in Belle (Rev. Paul Fahey), and St. Elizabeth Mission in Philippi were all established, and Rev. Robert Hickey was appointed the first full-time director of Catholic Charities for the diocese. Sacred Heart Mission continues to operate today as a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, the oldest Catholic parish in Summers County (founded 1874).
- Established: 1953
- First pastor: Rev. James Pietersma
- Listed in GCatholic directory (Church ID 25711)
Sacraments & Devotions
Because Sacred Heart Mission is served by the clergy of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, the sacraments of Reconciliation and devotions such as Benediction are coordinated with the parent parish schedule. First Friday devotions, including Benediction and the opportunity for Reconciliation, are celebrated together at 6:00 PM. Information about weddings, baptisms, and anointing of the sick can be obtained by contacting the parish office at St. Patrick.
- First Friday — Benediction and Reconciliation at 6:00 PM (via St. Patrick, Hinton)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Sacred Heart Mission is served by the pastor and pastoral staff of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton. The parish pastor is Rev. Fr. Joseph Chinh Tran, S.V.D., a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He is assisted by Rev. Mr. Peter Minogue, Deacon and Pastoral Associate. Together they provide sacramental ministry, homilies, and pastoral care for both St. Patrick's and its mission of the Sacred Heart in Rainelle.
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Chinh Tran, S.V.D. — Parish Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Peter Minogue — Deacon and Pastoral Associate
Connection to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Hinton
St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 309 2nd Avenue in Hinton, WV, is the parent parish of Sacred Heart Mission. Founded in 1874 by Reverend Father D.P. Walsh, St. Patrick was the first church built in Summers County and remains an important center of Catholic life in southeastern West Virginia. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in April 2024 and continues to serve surrounding communities, including Rainelle, through its mission church.
- St. Patrick address: 309 2nd Ave., Hinton, WV 25951
- St. Patrick phone: (304) 466-3966
- St. Patrick email: [email protected]
- St. Patrick founded: 1874, by Rev. Fr. D.P. Walsh
Visit & Contact Information
Sacred Heart Mission is located on 13th Street in Rainelle, West Virginia 25962. The mission shares its phone number with St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, and visitors are encouraged to contact the parish office there for any pastoral needs, sacramental inquiries, or to arrange Mass intentions. Mailing address listings show both 401 13th Street and 109 13th Street, Rainelle, WV 25962, reflecting different directory sources.
- Address: 401 13th Street (or 109 13th Street), Rainelle, WV 25962
- Phone: (304) 438-8687
- Diocese: Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Pietersma1953
First pastor of Sacred Heart Parish at its establishment in 1953, per the official Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston history.