About Saint Andrew · Clemson, South Carolina
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Clemson, South Carolina, serving the city and Clemson University. The parish was established in 1940 by Bishop Emmet W. Walsh and entrusted to the Paulist Fathers, who ministered there until 2006; the parish is now administered by Franciscan priests. Originally founded to serve Catholic cadets at Clemson College, Saint Andrew remains a university-oriented parish with an active campus ministry, daily and weekend Masses, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and programs for children, youth, families, and the homebound. It belongs to the Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery) and supports the mission churches of St. Francis in Walhalla and St. Paul the Apostle in Seneca.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- Saint Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. S. Matthew Gray
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery)
Why belong here
Saint Andrew is a downtown parish with deep roots in the Clemson University community and a clear vocation to serve both students and longtime residents. Worshippers find a full liturgical life: a Vigil Mass on Saturday, three Sunday Masses during the school year (one livestreamed), daily Mass Monday through Thursday, Friday Communion Service, Eucharistic Adoration in the historic Gothic chapel, and Saturday Confession. Families with children can enroll in Sunday morning Faith Formation (ages 4 through 5th grade), while college students plug into Catholic Tigers campus ministry with Bible studies, weekly dinners, retreats, and adoration. Three deacons support marriage preparation, the homebound, and prison ministry, and the parish belongs to the Diocese of Charleston's Greenville Deanery alongside the mission communities of St. Francis in Walhalla and St. Paul the Apostle in Seneca.
Mass times at Saint Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (not on Saturdays with a Clemson home football game)
- Tuesday 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM (school year)
- By appointment
- Holy Days: call the parish office for times
Adoration times
- In the historic St. Andrew Chapel (daily exposition times listed on the parish website at saclemson.org)
History of Saint Andrew Parish
Saint Andrew Catholic Church grew out of a small Gothic chapel on Sloan Street that was dedicated on December 8, 1935, by Bishop Emmet W. Walsh. The chapel was built with a gift from James (John) Gallivan of Greenville, who wanted Catholic cadets at nearby Clemson College to have a regular place for Mass. In 1940 Bishop Walsh formally created the parish and entrusted it to the Paulist Fathers, who served the upstate mission territory for 66 years. After 2006 administration passed to Franciscan priests, and the parish has since committed to growing in place on its original downtown footprint, completing a new $4.5 million church in 2022.
- 1935 — Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle dedicated Dec. 8 by Bishop Emmet W. Walsh
- 1940 — Parish formally established; Paulist Fathers take pastoral care of western Pickens and all of Oconee Counties
- 1943 — Town of Calhoun renamed Clemson
- 1979 — Bishop Unterkoefler dedicates a new, larger church; 1935 chapel preserved for Adoration and small services
- 2006 — Paulist Fathers depart; Franciscan friars (OFM) take administration
- 2012 — Parish votes to 'expand in place' downtown near campus
- October 20, 2020 — Groundbreaking for new $4.5 million church
- 2022 — New 10,000 SF brick-and-stone church completed, seating about 480
Worship Schedule
Saint Andrew offers a full schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, with the Sunday 11:00 AM liturgy also livestreamed on the parish Facebook page. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Thursday at 5:15 PM, with a Friday Communion Service at the same hour. Saturday brings both Confession (10–11 AM) and the Vigil Mass at 5:15 PM (cancelled on Saturdays when Clemson has a home football game). Three Sunday Masses are offered during the school year.
- Monday–Thursday: 5:15 PM Daily Mass
- Friday: 5:15 PM Communion Service
- Saturday: 10:00–11:00 AM Confession; 5:15 PM Vigil Mass
- Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM (livestreamed), 5:15 PM (school year)
- Holy Days: call the parish office for the special schedule
Staff and Clergy
The parish is administered by Rev. S. Matthew Gray, who also serves as Campus Chaplain for Clemson University. Rev. Robert J. Menard, OFM, is in residence, and three deacons assist with Marriage Preparation, the Homebound, Prison Ministry, and Sacrament Preparation. A team of lay staff and ministry coordinators runs Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Music, Campus Ministry, and parish operations.
- Rev. S. Matthew Gray — Administrator and Campus Chaplain
- Rev. Robert J. Menard, OFM — Priest in Residence
- Deacon John Leininger — Homebound Ministry
- Deacon Rich Campana — Marriage Prep
- Deacon Gordon Snyder — Prison Ministry, Sacrament Prep
- Michelle West — Campus Minister
- Christopher Kerfoot — Associate Campus Minister
- Laura Witt — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Alex Armstrong — Director of Music
- Bob Schintzius — Youth Ministry
- Sylvia Kucinic — Youth Ministry Intern
- Anne Eldridge — Parish Director
- Andrea Ferraco — Bookkeeper
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Saint Andrew's Faith Formation program serves children from age 4 through 5th grade with Sunday morning Religious Education classes held on the parish campus in Day Hall. Second grade is the parish's sacrament-preparation year for First Reconciliation (when parents discern the child is ready) and First Eucharist, which is celebrated in May. Registration forms and information are available on the formation page of the parish website, and Coordinator of Faith Formation Laura Witt handles inquiries and volunteers.
- Children age 4 through 5th grade meet Sunday mornings 9:45–10:45 AM in Day Hall
- 2025–2026 classes begin Sunday, September 7, 2025
- Grade 2 — preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (May)
- Contact: Laura Witt, 864-643-2587, [email protected]
Catholic Tigers Campus Ministry
Rooted in the parish's founding mission to serve Catholic cadets at Clemson College, Saint Andrew's Catholic Tigers campus ministry welcomes current Clemson University students into the life of the parish. Students can join adoration, weekly free dinners, Bible studies, retreats, dances, and service opportunities, and find mentors who pray with them and walk with them through college. The campus ministry team is led by Campus Chaplain Fr. Matthew Gray, Campus Minister Michelle West, and Associate Campus Minister Christopher Kerfoot.
- Weekly free dinners
- Bible studies
- Adoration
- Retreats
- Dances and social events
- Service opportunities
- Contact: Michelle West, [email protected]; Christopher Kerfoot, [email protected]
Music and Liturgy
Music at Saint Andrew is directed by Alex Armstrong, the parish's Director of Music, who leads the liturgical music ministry that supports daily Mass, the Vigil Mass, and the three Sunday liturgies in the new church.
- Director of Music: Alex Armstrong
- Music supports daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday Masses during the school year
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
Beyond the Sunday and daily Mass schedule, Saint Andrew prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Matrimony, brings Communion to the homebound, and ministers to those in prison through Deacon Gordon Snyder. Adult initiation and Confirmation preparation are coordinated through the Diocese of Charleston in connection with the parish.
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (Grade 2)
- Marriage Preparation — Deacon Rich Campana
- Homebound Ministry — Deacon John Leininger
- Prison Ministry — Deacon Gordon Snyder
- Anointing of the Sick by request
Buildings, Grounds, and Expansion
After more than 80 years on the same downtown block, Saint Andrew chose to expand in place rather than relocate. In 2020 the parish broke ground on a new $4.5 million church designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, which was completed in 2022 by Hogan Construction Group as a 10,000-square-foot brick-and-stone building with heavy timber construction and a large wooden cross. The original 1935 Gothic chapel has been preserved and is still used for Adoration and special services. The two are linked to a new 5,770-square-foot Parish Hall (with kitchen, offices, conference room, and a multi-function community/dining space) by a covered breezeway and outdoor plaza.
- 1935 Gothic Chapel — preserved, used for Adoration and special services
- 2022 Church — 10,000 SF, brick and stone with heavy timber, ~480 seats
- Parish Hall — 5,770 SF, kitchen, offices, conference room, community/dining space
- Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
- Contractor: Hogan Construction Group
- Total campus: ~4.463 acres with ~120 surface parking spaces
Missions and Wider Catholic Community
Saint Andrew serves as the parish church for two mission communities in the surrounding upstate: St. Francis in Walhalla and St. Paul the Apostle in Seneca. Parishioners commonly refer to the three together as 'the Catholic community of Sts. Andrew, Francis and Paul.' Saint Andrew belongs to the Diocese of Charleston's Greenville Deanery and participates in diocesan efforts across South Carolina.
- St. Francis — Walhalla, SC
- St. Paul the Apostle — Seneca, SC
- Diocese of Charleston — Greenville Deanery
- 801 households on the diocesan directory listing
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Saint Andrew by phone at 864-654-1757 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office mailing address is 200 Edgewood Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631, and the street address is 209 Sloan Street in downtown Clemson. The parish posts weekly news, the bulletin, and the Sunday 11:00 AM livestream on its Facebook page.
- Phone: 864-654-1757
- Email: [email protected]
- Street: 209 Sloan Street, Clemson, SC 29631
- Mailing: 200 Edgewood Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631
- Website: https://saclemson.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saclemson/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (Paulist Fathers)1940-2006
Pastored the parish from its founding under Bishop Emmet Walsh until 2006.
- Franciscan friars (OFM)2006-present
Took over administration in 2006; included Father Dan McLellan, OFM (pastor who oversaw the 2020-2022 building campaign) and Father Bob Menard, OFM (campus ministry).
- Rev. S. Matthew Gray
Current Administrator and Campus Chaplain.