About Saint Benedict · Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
St. Benedict Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, part of the Diocese of Charleston. Founded in 1999 as the East Cooper Catholic Community by Bishop David Thompson, it took the name St. Benedict in 2001, reflecting a Benedictine-inspired spirituality centered on communal prayer, hospitality, stewardship and faith formation. After more than a decade worshipping in borrowed spaces — a Dunes West clubhouse, Cario Middle School, All Saints Lutheran Church and even a double-wide in Awendaw affectionately called 'The Mansion' — the parish dedicated its permanent church home at 950 Darrell Creek Trail on March 18, 2011. Today it serves roughly 1,542 households in the East Cooper area with weekend and daily Mass, a chapel of Eucharistic Adoration, a Columbarium, religious education, youth ministry, and a strong lay-leadership tradition.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- St. Benedict (of Nursia)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark S. Good
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
St. Benedict is a community shaped by Benedictine values of prayer, hospitality and stewardship, where lay involvement runs deep — from its founding days of packing into borrowed school and clubhouse spaces to today's 1,542 registered households. Worshippers find a robust sacramental life with multiple weekend Masses, daily Mass four days a week, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel open roughly 41 hours each week, regular confession on Saturdays, and devotional devotions like the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Ministries for children, youth, families, and adult faith formation (including RCIA) make it a good fit for growing families and seekers, while the on-site Columbarium offers a sacred place for remembrance of loved ones.
Mass times at Saint Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 PM (or by appointment — call the parish office at (843) 216-0039)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 10:00 AM through Friday 3:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel)
- Friday 3:00 PM — Divine Mercy Chaplet in the Adoration Chapel
Parish History
East Cooper Catholic Community was founded by Bishop David Thompson in May 1999, celebrated its first Mass in September 1999, took the name St. Benedict in 2001, acquired its 54-acre campus in 2005, and dedicated its permanent church in 2011 under Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone. Three priests have led the parish: founding administrator Fr. Paul Brenninkmeijer, Monsignor Chet Moczydlowski (2008–2012), Fr. Daniel Papineau (from 2012), and current pastor Fr. Mark S. Good.
- 1999 — East Cooper Catholic Community established by Bishop David Thompson
- Aug 18, 1999 — first town-hall meeting
- Sept 5, 1999 — first Sunday Mass at Thomas Lynch Hall, Dunes West
- Feb 25, 2001 — parish named St. Benedict (Benedictine inspiration)
- 2005 — Diocese of Charleston acquires 54 acres at Darrell Creek Trail
- Jan 13, 2008 — Monsignor Chet Moczydlowski installed as second pastor
- March 18, 2011 — new church dedicated by Bishop Guglielmone
- Feb 20, 2012 — Fr. Daniel Papineau welcomed as third priest/administrator
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Mark S. Good and served by two deacons, a Director of Religious Education, a Coordinator of Family Ministry, a Youth Ministry leader, and administrative and maintenance staff.
- Rev. Mark S. Good — Pastor
- Deacon Ed Long
- Deacon Stan Aviles — RCIA contact ([email protected])
- Anne Welsh — Director of Religious Education
- Denise Hamilton — Coordinator of Family Ministry
- Louise Henesy — Pastoral Associate (Youth Ministry)
- Debbie Mixer — Pastoral Associate Assistant
- April Johnston — Office Administrator / Director of Business Administration
- Tom Libhardt — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Benedict runs from childhood through adulthood, rooted in the parish's Benedictine emphasis on lifelong learning. Programs are coordinated by Director of Religious Education Anne Welsh, with separate tracks for adults (RCIA) and children (graded religious education and sacramental prep).
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Sundays 12:40–2:00 PM
- RCIA also welcomes already-baptized Catholics 18+ who were never confirmed
- Children's religious education — grade-school faith formation
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Contact: [email protected] (Deacon Stan Aviles, RCIA)
Youth & Family Ministry
Youth Ministry at St. Benedict focuses on participation in parish life, total personal and spiritual growth, and empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Family Ministry coordinates programming for households at every stage.
- Youth Ministry led by Louise Henesy
- Family Ministry coordinated by Denise Hamilton
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- Service, community-building and prayer opportunities for youth
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish office, religious education office and RCIA team. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick are all served.
- Baptism — preparation required
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — family faith-formation track
- Confirmation — for teens and adults
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — including after-hours emergencies via (843) 216-0039 (press *)
Visiting, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, email, or in person during limited office hours. The office is open four days a week and closes Friday through Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.
- Address — 950 Darrell Creek Trail, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
- Phone — (843) 216-0039
- After-hours priest emergency — (843) 216-0039, press *
- Email — [email protected]
- Office Hours — Mon/Tue/Thu 9:30 AM–2:00 PM; Wed 11:00 AM–4:00 PM (closes for noon Mass); closed Fri–Sun and Holy Days
Identity, Benedictine Spirit & Community
The parish's Benedictine identity, adopted with its name in 2001, shapes its communal celebration of the Sacraments, its outreach and its deep commitment to stewardship. From its earliest days as the East Cooper Catholic Community, the parish has welcomed people of every age and background to 'be Christ for each other,' and that founding vision remains its mission today — serving more than 1,500 households in the Mt. Pleasant area of the Diocese of Charleston.
- Benedictine-inspired communal celebration of the Sacraments
- Founding emphasis on stewardship, ecumenism and community building
- Part of the Diocese of Charleston (Charleston Deanery)
- Approximately 1,542 registered households, 450-seat church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Brenninkmeijer1999 – c. 2008
Founding administrator; led the East Cooper Catholic Community from its first town hall meeting in August 1999, named the parish in 2001, and shepherded its growth in borrowed spaces including 'The Mansion' in Awendaw and Cario Middle School.
- Monsignor Chet Moczydlowski2008 – 2012
Installed January 13, 2008 as second pastor; led the capital campaign and construction of the permanent church campus at Darrell Creek Trail, dedicated March 18, 2011.
- Fr. Daniel Papineaufrom 2012
Welcomed February 20, 2012 as administrator and third priest of the parish; previously served at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville, SC.
- Rev. Mark S. Goodcurrent
Current pastor per official site and Charleston Diocese directory.