About Saint Brendan Catholic Church · Elkins, West Virginia
Saint Brendan Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston serving Elkins, the county seat of Randolph County in the Potomac Highlands of north-central West Virginia. Located just outside the city limits off Route 219/250 south (Beverly Five Lane), the parish works as a 'cluster' with nearby St. Patrick Church in Coalton, sharing one pastor and one parish office. Saint Brendan is led by Father James E. O'Connor (ordained 1982, pastor since June 20, 2018), who is assisted by Deacon Raymond Goodwin. The parish welcomes Catholics, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about joining the Church through OCIA (formerly RCIA).
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- Saint Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Rev. James E. O'Connor (Father Jim)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Bishop Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan, installed August 22, 2019)
Why belong here
Parishioners describe Saint Brendan as an 'active and caring community of faith, hope, and love' in the scenic Potomac Highlands, where members work to foster each other's spiritual growth and share their God-given gifts. The parish is rooted in 125+ years of Catholic life in Randolph County and combines strong traditional devotions (First Friday Adoration, Prayer Line, Liturgy Intentions) with active outreach to the local community, including support of the Elkins Catholic Charities WV office in the Tygart Valley Mall. Whether you are a long-time Catholic, returning after time away, or inquiring into the faith through OCIA, the parish welcomes you warmly and has generations of family tradition behind its welcome.
Mass times at Saint Brendan Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15-4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration (per parish bulletin; contact the parish office for current schedule)
Parish History
Founded in 1897 from a mission that had been served monthly from Thomas since 1893, Saint Brendan is the Catholic parish of Elkins, the county seat of Randolph County in north-central West Virginia. Bishop Patrick J. Donahue dedicated the first wooden church under the patronage of Saint Brendan on October 28, 1900 — the saint's name, meaning 'A Dweller in The Hills,' was considered fitting for a parish in such mountainous country. First pastor Father John J. Daly served for 27 years, building the rectory (1901), opening the grade school (1907), and purchasing two parish cemeteries before his death in 1926. The parish moved to its present granite church in 1928 under Father John H. Corcoran, who dedicated its two largest windows to Father Daly. The grade school closed in the modern era due to rising costs, and the current Saint Brendan Church was broken ground on September 25, 1995 and dedicated by Bishop Bernard Schmitt on October 3, 1999, with Father William A. Anderson overseeing the project.
- 1893 — Father Haimann begins monthly Masses in Elkins from Thomas parish
- 1896 — Land purchased for $300
- 1897 — First wooden church completed; parish elevated by Bishop Donahue
- 1900 — Bishop Donahue confirms first class and dedicates the church to Saint Brendan
- 1901 — Rectory built on Henry Street (now Park Street) for $5,000
- 1907 — Saint Brendan Grade School opens with 65 pupils
- 1918 — Dominican Sisters from Springfield, Kentucky take over the school
- 1928 — New granite church built under Father Corcoran
- 1968 — First Parish Pastoral Council established under Father Mark Kraus
- 1995 — Groundbreaking for the present church
- 1999 — Dedication of the present church on October 3
- 2020 — Pandemic-era online Mass videos begin
Sacraments
Saint Brendan celebrates the usual sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Baptisms require a parent preparation session (call the parish office or Father Jim to schedule). Marriage preparation is required at least six months in advance. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — formerly the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — is offered for those inquiring into the Catholic faith. The parish also provides a Ministry of Care for the sick, homebound, and hospitalized; please call the parish office to request a visit.
- Baptism — parent sessions required
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:15-4:45 PM
- First Communion — preparation through parish CCD program
- Marriage — 6 months of preparation
- OCIA / RCIA for adults entering the Church
- Anointing and visits to sick / homebound through Ministry of Care
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Religious education at Saint Brendan is directed by Rev. Mr. Raymond Goodwin, Permanent Deacon and Director of Religious Education for the parish. The parish CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program serves children and youth of the parish; during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic all CCD classes were suspended. Sister Mary Ella Morrison, OP, a Dominican Sister of Hope, served the parish as a pastoral associate from August 1985 until her death on September 1, 2020, and was much loved for her ministry. Saint Brendan also supports the Diocesan summer youth program C.A.M.P. W.A.D.E. held at the Diocesan Camp Property in Huttonsville, with Father Jim and Deacon Raymond helping to organize the June 7-13, 2026 session.
- CCD Religious Education classes (Deacon Raymond Goodwin, DRE)
- OCIA for adults
- Diocesan summer youth camp C.A.M.P. W.A.D.E.
- Music ministry (Craig Stihler, Hillary Barlow, Grace Roy)
Devotions and Prayer Life
The parish maintains a steady devotional life beyond Sunday Mass. A Prayer Line coordinated by Mary Nucilli lifts up intentions of parishioners; First Friday Adoration is offered in honor of the Sacred Heart (per the bulletin); and Liturgy Intentions (Mass intentions) may be requested by envelope, collection basket, telephone, or email. The church building is open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily unless the building is otherwise in use.
- First Friday Adoration
- Prayer Line (Mary Nucilli)
- Liturgy Intentions (Mass requests)
- Rosary and other devotions (per bulletin)
- Open church from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily
Parish Outreach and Community
Saint Brendan parishioners actively support the local Catholic Charities WV office located in the Tygart Valley Mall in Elkins, donating food, personal items, money, and volunteer hours. The parish also runs fundraisers such as the annual Parish Yard Sale (cancelled during 2020 due to COVID-19 but planned to return) and contributes to the diocesan Catholic Spirit newspaper and online ministries. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, Father Jim partnered with parishioner Dan Kelly to produce weekly recorded Masses published on YouTube and the parish website, allowing elderly and homebound parishioners to remain connected to the parish from the sixth weekend of Lent 2020 through Easter Sunday 2022.
- Catholic Charities WV — Elkins office at Tygart Valley Mall
- Annual Parish Yard Sale
- WV Catholic Spirit support and diocesan Faith in WV e-bulletin promotion
- Online Mass recordings during COVID-19 (2020-2022)
Parish Cluster
Saint Brendan serves as the hub of a parish cluster that has included St. Patrick (Coalton), Resurrection Mission (Belington), and St. John Bosco (Huttonsville). The pastor of Saint Brendan (currently Father James E. O'Connor) also provides pastoral care for St. Patrick in Coalton, which celebrates the 8:30 AM Sunday Mass in the cluster rotation. Additional cluster staffing over the years has included Rev. Mr. Louis Bellina (permanent deacon at St. John Bosco), Sister Teresa Reddington (administrator at Resurrection Mission), and Rev. Mr. John Sarraga (permanent deacon at St. Brendan).
- St. Patrick Catholic Church, Coalton
- Resurrection Mission, Belington
- St. John Bosco Parish, Huttonsville
- Rev. Mr. John Sarraga — permanent deacon at St. Brendan
Contact, Office, and Visiting
The parish office is staffed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Wednesdays). It can be reached by telephone at (304) 636-0546 or by mail at 181 St. Brendan Way, Elkins, WV 26241. New parishioners may register in person, by phone, or via email; current parishioners may update their contact information online through a link on the parish website. The official parish website is stbrendanwv.weebly.com and there is also a St. Brendan / St. Patrick Facebook page where the parish posts daily readings, announcements, and bulletin information.
- Parish Office — 181 St. Brendan Way, Elkins, WV 26241
- Phone — (304) 636-0546
- Office Hours — Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
- Website — stbrendanwv.weebly.com
- Facebook — St. Brendan / St. Patrick page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John J. Daly1897-1926
First pastor; native of Kerry, Ireland; built church, rectory, school and parish cemeteries.
- Father John H. Corcoran1926-1933
Completed the 1928 granite church; dedicated windows to Father Daly; died in the rectory March 12, 1933.
- Father Paul D. Othling1933-1942
Decorated the interior of the church; left due to failing health.
- Father Leo R. Fohl / Father Robert H. Hickey1942-1943
Fill-in priests during the interim after Father Othling's departure.
- Father Joseph Sieber1943-1950
Purchased oak pews and a Wicks organ; died in Elkins.
- Father Paul Helsley1950-1954
Hosted the ordination and First Mass of Father Patrick Gillooly (May 30, 1953).
- Father Edward Belanger1954-1956
Hoped to build a Catholic high school but could not raise funds.
- Father Eugene Jacobs1956-1959
Renovated the rectory.
- Father Charles Doyle1959-1965
Re-decorated the interior; renovated the Sisters' residence; retired during Vatican II era.
- Father Mark Kraus1968-1979
Ninth pastor; established first Parish Pastoral Council; had to close the grade school.
- Father William A. Anderson1979-2007
Tenth pastor; oversaw construction and 1999 dedication of the present church; retired to Jacobs Well near Salem.
- Father Donald X. Higgs2007-2016
Eleventh pastor.
- Father Mark T. Gallipeau2016-2017
Twelfth pastor.
- Father John 'Chapin' Engler2017-2018
Thirteenth pastor.
- Father James E. O'Connor2018-present
Fourteenth and current pastor.