About Saint Frederick and Saint Stephen · Edisto Island, South Carolina
St. Frederick & St. Stephen Catholic Church is a small mission parish on Edisto Island, South Carolina, in the Diocese of Charleston. Its story stretches back to the 1560s, when Spanish Dominican missionaries celebrated Mass among the Orista (Edisto) people — making the island one of the earliest sites of Catholic worship in what is now South Carolina. The modern parish was dedicated in 1979 and built its first permanent sanctuary in Low Country style in 2019. Today it is an all-volunteer community of roughly 50 registered families, many of them retired or semi-retired 'empty nesters,' plus a steady stream of seasonal visitors who keep a pew waiting year-round.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Saints Frederick (bishop) and Stephen (First Martyr of the Church); the names also honor early benefactors Stephen Flowers and Fred Herlihy
- Rector
- Rev. Jesuprathap 'JP' Narichetti
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
St. Frederick & St. Stephen is a warm, all-volunteer sea-island parish where roughly 30 active parishioners care for the buildings, grounds, liturgy, finances, outreach, and fellowship — meaning newcomers quickly become part of the family. Mass is celebrated in a brand-new Low Country sanctuary built in 2019, surrounded by a columbarium, prayer garden, and walking paths that reflect the island's peace and beauty. With strong lay-led ministries — from the Women's Guild and Holiday Choir to the inter-denominational Edisto Blanket Ministry — there's a place for anyone who wants to share their time, talents, or simply find a pew among friends.
Mass times at Saint Frederick and Saint Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesdays: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursdays: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome to Your Sea Island Church
Mass was first celebrated on Edisto Island in the 1560s — centuries before the modern parish was dedicated. After decades of worship in parishioners' homes, the Lions Club Hall, and a parish hall, the first purpose-built Catholic sanctuary on the island was dedicated in November 2019. The Low Country-style building was designed to capture the simple, classic lifestyle of Edisto. 'Our dream was to build a church that would exemplify the uniqueness of Edisto and the beauty, peace, and spirit that one can only experience here. Now, we have accomplished our goal and are thankful to have a pew waiting when you visit today and in the future.'
Parish History
The parish's roots stretch back to the Spanish Dominican mission to the Orista (Edisto) tribe in 1569. The modern Catholic community on Edisto was small and far from the nearest parish — a 70-mile round trip to St. Mary's over roads that were difficult even before the Dawhoo Drawbridge was out of commission. Bishop M.M. Walsh agreed during World War II to send a priest to celebrate Mass in islanders' homes, beginning the tradition that grew into today's mission parish.
- 1560s — Mass first celebrated on Edisto Island
- 1569 — Fr. Juan Rogel assigned to the Orista (Edisto) tribe
- 1940s — Bishop Walsh authorizes house Masses during WWII rationing
- 1954 — Stephen Flowers offers land; Lions Club clubhouse built with Fred Herlihy's $6,000 loan
- 1977 — Current Highway 174 lot acquired
- 1979 — Church of Saints Frederick and Stephen dedicated by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler
- 1993 — Planning Commission considers independence from St. Mary's
- 2008 — Fr. Anthony Benjamine launches Building Fund
- November 2018 — Capital Campaign launched for furnishings
- November 2019 — New sanctuary dedicated
The Sanctuary
The new sanctuary was dedicated in November 2019 after decades of planning and financial preparation. Designed in Low Country style, the building reflects the simple, classic lifestyle of Edisto Island. A stained-glass window depicting the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) honors Cecile and Louis C. Rasmussen Sr.
Columbarium & Prayer Garden
The columbarium is a sacred space for the repose of ashes from cremated remains, set in a garden with walking paths for quiet reflection. The current columbarium contains 80 niches (each holding two urns), arranged in two walls of four rows of ten, and is designed for easy expansion by another 80 niches when needed. Statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary, St. Michael, and angels adorn the grounds (the statue of Mary was donated by the Women's Guild). Niche cost is $3,975 through April 30, 2025, and $5,500 thereafter.
Parish Hall
The renovated parish hall served as the church itself from 1979 until 2019. In 2020, a small group of parishioners transformed the building back into a parish hall used today for meetings and social events.
Clergy & Staff
Rev. Jesuprathap 'JP' Narichetti has served as pastor since 2022. Office Manager Alice Briese has been with the parish since 2018; a native of the Washington, DC area, she and her family vacationed at Edisto for years before moving there in 2011. She keeps parish records, partners with the diocese, manages bills and supplies, maintains the parish calendar, and is often the first parish friend newcomers and visitors meet.
- Rev. Jesuprathap 'JP' Narichetti — Pastor (2022-present)
- Deacon Charles LaRosa Jr.
- Alice Briese — Office Manager (since 2018)
Parish Ministries
St. Frederick & St. Stephen describes itself as dedicated to providing spiritual and community growth through a wide range of ministries, councils, and committees. Approximately 30 active parishioners care for the buildings and grounds, prepare the church, lector, count the collection, keep the books, hold social events, buy supplies, and engage in outreach — an all-volunteer model that defines parish life.
Parish Councils & Committees
Lay leadership provides the organizational backbone of the parish.
- Pastoral Council — advisory council to the pastor, representative of parish ministries
- Finance Committee — three lay persons and the pastor; budget, expenses over $10,000, financial advice
- Building Committee — larger projects such as the columbarium, parking, and a five-year plan
- Liturgy Committee — music, flowers, and Mass assistants with the pastor's direction
- Missalette Committee — swaps missalettes in the pews four times a year
Liturgical & Service Ministries
Hands-on ministries that shape the Mass and serve those in need.
- Altar Guild — care for altar cloths, linens, sacred vessels, brassware, glass globes, Holy Water fonts, and floral arrangements
- Holiday Choir — joins with St. Mary's Church in Meggett for holiday performances
- Women's Guild — spiritual support, fellowship, social events, and parish-committee support
- Fredistonian Service Club — fun-loving parishioners handling smaller projects, fundraising, and maintenance; meets 6 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month
- Edisto Blanket Ministry — inter-denominational; since 2007 has provided over 1,000 blankets to those who have lost loved ones or face life's challenges; meets the first Wednesday of each month during the school year
Faith Life & Traditions
Beyond the weekly schedule, the parish gathers for seasonal traditions that knit the community together. The Lenten Soup Suppers are a long-standing custom — the most recent gathering honored Music Director Mike Miller, who served the parish for 21 years before moving after Easter 2024. The inter-denominational Blanket Ministry, the joint Holiday Choir with St. Mary's, and the Hospitality of the Fredistonian Service Club all reflect the parish's small-but-active culture.
- Lenten Soup Suppers
- Holiday Choir concerts with St. Mary's, Meggett
- Edisto Blanket Ministry fellowship and prayer gatherings
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and seasonal residents are warmly welcomed. The parish hall and church sit along Highway 174 on Edisto Island, with the columbarium and prayer garden surrounding the property. To reach a priest or leave a message, call (843) 731-1162 or email [email protected].
- Address: 544 Hwy 174, P.O. Box 602, Edisto Island, SC 29438
- Parish Office: (843) 631-1459 — [email protected]
- Pastor's line: (843) 731-1162 — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mosier1969 (St. Mary's)
Served the Edisto community from St. Mary's
- Rev. Goodman1978
- Rev. Vincent Sikora1979
Dedication year of the parish at its current site
- Rev. W.C. Burn1980
- Rev. Sylvester F. Scotti1981-1983
- Rev. J. Donald Gorski1984-1989
- Rev. Theodore Celwick1990-1993
- Rev. Basil Congro1994-1996
- Rev. William C. Kinney1997-2004
- Rev. Stanley Smolenski2004-2006
- Rev. Anthony Batung2006-2008
- Rev. Anthony Benjamine2008-2014
Requested approval for the Building Fund and fundraising in November 2008
- Rev. Mark Good2014-2016
- Rev. Johnbosco Duraisamy2016-2019
Final years before the new sanctuary dedication
- Rev. Robert Sayer2019-2021
- Rev. Timothy Akanson2021-2022
- Rev. Jesuprathap 'JP' Narichetti2022-present
Current pastor