About Saint Andrew · Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 503 37th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston and serves a notably diverse congregation, offering Mass in English, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese each week. With seating for 763, the parish ministered to approximately 976 households (per the diocesan directory) and is the spiritual home of a robust Catholic school, a wide array of faith-formation and family-life ministries, an active music program under a Director of Music, and a Knights of Columbus council. The parish grew from a small mission in a young resort town into one of the largest Catholic congregations on the Grand Strand.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Saint Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Roger James Morgan
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Saint Andrew offers something rare for a parish church: a multicultural Catholic life in one location, with weekly Mass in English (including a Solemn Latin Mass with incense on Sundays), Spanish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese, plus four scheduled confession times and three weekly blocks of Eucharistic adoration. A vibrant sacred-music program (cantors and a Gregorian-proper choir), a parish school (K–8) with the beloved 'Taste of the Town' fundraiser, dedicated Faith Formation from K–12, Sacramental preparation (RCIA, Confirmation, First Communion), and a Family Life / Evangelization office make it a full-service parish hub for the Grand Strand — including its many seasonal visitors.
Mass times at Saint Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 8:00–8:45 AM
- Thursday 8:00–8:45 AM
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Saturday 2:30 PM
- No confessions on Holy Days of Obligation
- Diocesan directory also lists Saturdays 3:00 PM or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00–8:45 AM (Exposition)
- Thursday 8:00–8:45 AM (Exposition)
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 PM (Holy Hour)
- Friday 7:00–8:00 PM
History of St. Andrew Parish
Catholic presence in Myrtle Beach dates to 1929, when St. Mary's Parish in Georgetown founded St. Andrew's Mission. A small wooden church seating about 100–120 was built in the late 1930s on land at 29th Avenue North and Kings Highway. The parish was formally established in 1946 under Monsignor Richard C. Madden, who served until 1973. Under his leadership the parish expanded across all of Horry County and built the parish school (1956). By the early 1960s the small church could no longer contain the growing congregation, so the parishioners — organized in part through the Knights of Columbus — built the present church at 503 37th Avenue North, which opened for its first Mass at Christmas 1965.
- 1929: St. Andrew's Mission founded from St. Mary's, Georgetown
- Late 1930s: Small 120-seat wooden church built at 29th Avenue N & Kings Hwy
- 1946: Parish formally established; Msgr. Richard C. Madden appointed first resident pastor
- 1956: St. Andrew School opens with two classrooms and an auditorium
- 1962: School expanded with library and administrative offices (grades 1–8)
- 1965: Present-day church at 503 37th Avenue North opens for its first Mass at Christmas
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Roger James Morgan, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Cirilo Bailon Martinez and sacramental assistance for the Portuguese apostolate from Rev. Marco Antonio da Cruz. Five deacons assist: Deacon Scott Bowen, Deacon George Ferland, Deacon Fred LaPiana, Deacon Scott Ross, and Deacon Anthony Russo. Lay staff handle Music, Faith Formation, Family Life, Pastoral Care, Business, and Facilities.
- Pastor: Rev. Roger James Morgan
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Cirilo Bailon Martinez
- Sacramental Assistance (Portuguese): Rev. Marco Antonio da Cruz
- Deacons: Scott Bowen, George Ferland, Fred LaPiana, Scott Ross, Anthony Russo
- Pastoral Associate: Gregory Allen, M.A.
- Business Manager: Madeleine Elswick
- Director of Music: Joshua Gusman
- Faith Formation (K–12): Barbara Bowers, Jacklyn Brown, Laura Allison
- Family Life Director: Jennifer Diaz
- Youth Ministry / Evangelization Director: Deacon Scott Bowen
- Facilities Manager: Clark Slawecki
- Administrative Assistant (Bilingual): Cindy Velasquez
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation office serves students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and supports First Communion and Confirmation preparation. Adult formation is offered through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.). Natural Family Planning instruction is also offered. Confirmation for 8th graders includes Wednesday-evening religious-education classes, additional special sessions, and parent meetings; adult candidates prepare through RCIA and are typically confirmed at the Easter Vigil.
- Faith Formation K–12 (First Communion & Confirmation prep)
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
- Natural Family Planning Instruction
- Confirmation for 8th graders (Wednesday-night classes + parent meetings)
- Confirmation for Adults (through RCIA, usually at the Easter Vigil)
- Sponsor Certificates available through Pastoral Associate Greg Allen
Sacraments
St. Andrew offers preparation and celebration of the seven sacraments. The Pastoral Associate (Greg Allen) coordinates Baptisms, Marriages, and Funerals; Cindy Velasquez handles sacramental records and bilingual sacramental inquiries; an after-hours Anointing-of-the-Sick line is available for emergencies.
- Baptism — contact parish office; register early to schedule
- Confirmation — 8th graders (prep classes) or adults (RCIA)
- First Communion — via Faith Formation
- Marriage — Pastoral Associate Greg Allen; preparation required
- Anointing of the Sick — after-hours line 843-485-7616
- Funerals — coordinated through the Pastoral Associate
- Sponsor Certificates — registered parishioner ≥ 6 months (offertory envelope use)
Music Ministry
Directed by Joshua Gusman, the parish's sacred music program centers on a Cantor team and a Parish Choir. The cantors lead the Saturday Vigil Masses (4:30 PM and 6:00 PM) and the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass with Simple English Propers, classical English hymnody, and the English-language Mass Ordinary. The Parish Choir focuses on the Gregorian Propers of the Graduale Romanum, polyphonic motets, and choral settings of the Ordinary, and it sings at the Sunday 11:00 AM Solemn Mass (rehearsals follow at 12:30 PM), major Feast Day Vigils, and Christmas Midnight Mass.
- Director of Music: Joshua Gusman ([email protected])
- Cantor team — leads 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM Saturday Vigil and 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Parish Choir — Gregorian Propers, polyphonic motets; sings 11:00 AM Solemn Mass, Christmas Midnight, major Feast Day Vigils
- Choir rehearsal: Sundays 12:30 PM, 60–90 minutes
Family Life & Evangelization
Two complementary offices — Family Life and Evangelization — carry the parish's mission outside the sanctuary. Deacon Scott Bowen leads Evangelization and Youth Ministry, while Jennifer Diaz directs the Family Life apostolate. Together they support families, sacramental preparation, youth outreach, and welcoming new parishioners into the life of the parish.
- Evangelization Director: Deacon Scott Bowen ([email protected] / 843-467-9321)
- Family Life Director: Jennifer Diaz ([email protected] / 843-626-6353)
- Youth Ministry (Deacon Scott Bowen)
- New parishioner registration and welcome process
St. Andrew Catholic School & 'Taste of the Town'
Founded in 1956 under Msgr. Madden, St. Andrew Catholic School has grown from two classrooms to a K–8 program with multiple additions (1962, 1989, etc.). It has been staffed over the decades by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy and the Little Franciscan Sisters of Mary, alongside lay teachers. The school's signature fundraiser, the annual 'Taste of the Town' gala, has become a prominent Grand Strand social event and remains a major source of support for the school's operation and improvements.
- Founded 1956 — two classrooms and an auditorium
- 1962 expansion added library and administrative offices (grades 1–8)
- 1989 wing added Kindergarten, computer lab, science lab, expanded library
- Annual 'Taste of the Town' gala is the school's signature fundraiser
- St. Andrew feeds into St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School
Knights of Columbus Council #5086
Chartered in 1958 at Msgr. Madden's request, the Fr. Anthony Montesinos Council #5086 is the men's organization of St. Andrew Parish and one of the earliest K of C councils in South Carolina. Its history is intertwined with the building of the present church; members donated $200 a pew, ran bingos and card parties, and held an annual car raffle that drew on the parish's extensive tourist connections. Today the Council supports 'Taste of the Town' and assists parishioners needing rides to Anointing of the Sick.
- Chartered 1958 under Msgr. Madden
- Annual support for St. Andrew 'Taste of the Town'
- Rides for parishioners to Anointing of the Sick when needed
Visiting & Contact
The parish warmly welcomes visitors — many of whom are seasonal residents or tourists on the Grand Strand. The parish visitation side doors at the church (503 37th Ave N) are open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. Parish office: 3501 North Kings Highway, Suite 102, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; Monday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM and Friday 9 AM–12 noon.
- Church address: 503 37th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
- Parish office: 3501 North Kings Highway, Suite 102, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
- Phone: (843) 448-5930 • Email: [email protected]
- After-hours Anointing of the Sick: 843-485-7616
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–12
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Richard C. Madden1946–1973
First resident pastor of Myrtle Beach; oversaw founding of St. Andrew School (1956); led the campaign to build the present church.