About Saint Joseph · Charleston, South Carolina
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a Latin-Rite Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Charleston, located in West Ashley (Charleston), South Carolina. The parish is an active, welcoming community of Catholic families and individuals centered on worship, faith formation, and service. It serves approximately 444 households from its home on Wallenberg Boulevard and is currently pastored by Rev. Patrick O. Eyinla, assisted by two deacons and a lay staff that includes a Director of Youth and Faith Formation, a Director of Liturgy & Music, and a Financial Secretary. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, weekly Confessions, an extensive ministry program (Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Respect for Life, youth ministry, choir, and more), and faith formation from first grade through Confirmation.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick O. Eyinla
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Saint Joseph is a mid-sized, family-friendly Catholic parish where members can comfortably know one another — about 444 households worship together at one West Ashley campus. With daily Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday Confession, a robust faith formation program (grades 1–8), a dedicated youth ministry, and a full choir, the parish supports the spiritual life of every age. Its many service ministries — St. Vincent de Paul, Respect for Life, Knights of Columbus, Bereavement Committee, Piecemakers, and a Garden Angels crew — give parishioners concrete ways to live the Gospel in the Charleston area.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m. (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m. (Eucharistic Adoration)
History of Saint Joseph Parish
The original Saint Joseph Church in Charleston was remembered as the 'Church of the Irish' and became the fourth Catholic Church in the city when it was dedicated on May 5, 1861 by Bishop Patrick N. Lynch. The building itself dated to 1852, when it was built for the Zion Presbyterian Congregation, and was later acquired at auction by the Diocese of Charleston. Reverend Patrick Ryan, an assistant at St. Mary's, is credited with urging its founding in 1860 to serve the poor Irish immigrants of the 'borough,' and Reverend Leon Fillion became the first rector. The present West Ashley parish community at 1695 Wallenberg Boulevard is recorded by the Diocese of Charleston as founded in 1966, with seating for 625.
- Original building constructed in 1852 (originally for Zion Presbyterian Congregation)
- Acquired at auction by the Diocese of Charleston
- Dedicated by Bishop Patrick N. Lynch, May 5, 1861
- Rev. Patrick Ryan advocated for the parish in 1860
- Rev. Leon Fillion served as first rector
- Current parish founded in 1966 (per Diocese of Charleston directory)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Patrick O. Eyinla and is supported by two deacons, a Director of Youth and Faith Formation, a Director of Liturgy & Music, an Operations Technician, a Facilities Manager, a Secretary, and a Financial Secretary.
- Rev. Patrick O. Eyinla — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 105/5)
- Rev. Mr. Kevin Seibert — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. John Robinson — Deacon
- Molly Pereda — Director of Youth and Faith Formation ([email protected], ext. 100/0)
- Rodney Pendell — Director of Liturgy & Music / Choir
- Candy Pucino — Financial Secretary ([email protected], ext. 107/7)
- Regina (Regi) Plichta — Secretary ([email protected], ext. 106/6)
- Anthony (Tony) Ellison — Operations Technician
- John Todd — Facilities Manager (ext. 102/2)
- Rita Schoene — Director of Religious Education (referenced in sacramental prep information)
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Religious education at Saint Joseph is run through the parish's Faith Formation program under Director of Religious Education Rita Schoene and Director of Youth and Faith Formation Molly Pereda. Sacramental preparation follows a two-year cycle for both First Communion and Confirmation, with separate tracks for children and adults.
- First Communion: two years of preparation starting in 1st grade and continuing through 2nd grade
- Confirmation: two years of preparation starting in 7th grade and continuing through 8th grade
- Registration for Religious Education classes for non-Catholic-school students takes place in August
- Catholic-school students in sacramental years are asked to contact Rita Schoene in September
- First day of class is the first Wednesday in September after Labor Day
- Adults seeking Confirmation should contact the Director of Religious Education
- Youth Ministry and Middle School group led by Molly Pereda
Liturgical Ministries
The Liturgical Committee, chaired by Fred Taccolini, brings together the leaders of the general liturgical ministries to plan the parish's liturgical life across the seasons of the Church year and to review sacramental and outreach feedback. The parish invites additional volunteers for nearly every liturgical role.
- Liturgical Committee — Chair: Fred Taccolini; meets at least five times a year
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Primary contact: Fred Taccolini ([email protected]); assist at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound and to those in nursing homes
- Music / Choir — Rodney Pendell and Barbara Bianchi
- Readers — Rita Schoene
- Altar Servers — Kevin Seibert
- Ushers — Mike Roper
- Greeters — Jean Gill
Parish Life and Organizations
Beyond the sanctuary, Saint Joseph sustains a broad network of parish organizations that welcome new members and accept volunteers of every skill level. The parish council, finance committee, and stewardship committee help guide parish operations and resources.
- Parish Council — Tom Wojslawowicz
- Finance Committee — Jerry Gray
- Stewardship — Jean Gill
- Welcome Committee — Linda Ward
- Knights of Columbus — GK Fred Taccolini
- Ladies Club
- FUNdraisers — Kathy O'Donald
- Piecemakers (quilting ministry)
- Gardening Angels — Ed Sclesky (843-729-5782)
- Building and Grounds Committee — Chris Constantine
- Adult Ministry — Tara Sheringer
- Young Adult Ministry — Susan Kuras
- Bereavement Committee — Kathy O'Donald and Areli Simmons
- Digital Media / Communications — Mary Jeanne Koval; Facebook — Chris Coghlan
- Incident Management & Preparedness Response Team — Lloyd Christopher
Outreach and Respect for Life
Saint Joseph's service to the wider Charleston community is led by its St. Vincent de Paul conference and by one of the Lowcountry's most active Respect for Life ministries. The parish's pro-life work is rooted in decades of prayerful witness at the local abortion clinic and in partnership with local pregnancy-resource centers.
- St. Vincent de Paul — primary contact Linda Ward; hotline (843) 901-SVDP
- Respect for Life — primary contact Stephen J. Boyle
- 40 Days for Life — St. Joseph Day of Prayer at the Planned Parenthood clinic within parish boundaries (parish has participated over 30 times since 2008)
- Priests for Life Monthly Rosary at the abortion clinic (joined since 2003)
- Keep Christ in Christmas magnets — proceeds benefit Birthright of Charleston and Dazz (Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, West Ashley)
- Birthright Baby Bottles for Life Advent fundraiser
- Stand Up for Life March & Rally in Columbia, SC — parishioners and Knights have participated since 1996
- Fr. Gabe Smith supported the Respect Life Ministry at St. Joseph for 27 years; Father Patrick has continued to support it
Sacraments at Saint Joseph
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and requires parishioners to be registered and active for at least six months before receiving Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, or Matrimony. Parents preparing for a child's Baptism take a class held in the Family Life Center on the first Tuesday of the month.
- Baptism — for registered, active members; not celebrated during Lent; parent class first Tuesday of the month in the Family Life Center
- First Communion — two-year preparation beginning in 1st grade
- Confirmation — two-year preparation beginning in 7th grade; adults by contacting the Director of Religious Education
- Marriage — couples must meet with the priest before signing contracts; formal preparation begins at least six months before the wedding
- Anointing of the Sick — celebrated individually upon request
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m. or by appointment
Becoming a Parishioner
Saint Joseph welcomes all newcomers and invites them to register. Registration forms are available in the parish office or at the back of the church by the front doors. The parish defines an 'active parishioner' through Time, Talent, and Treasure: weekly participation in Sunday and Holy Day Mass, regular volunteering, active involvement in a parish ministry, and the use of parish envelopes.
- Registration forms available in the parish office and at the back of the church
- Six-month registered membership required before receiving Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, or Matrimony
- Godparents and sponsors must be registered at least six months and fully initiated (Confirmed) Catholics
- Active parishioner criteria: weekly Sunday Mass, Holy Days, volunteer service, ministry involvement, and envelope use
- Online Giving available via the parish website
Contact and Visiting
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with reduced summer hours from June through August. Father Patrick can be reached directly at 843-303-8178, and the St. Vincent de Paul conference has its own hotline.
- Address: 1695 Wallenberg Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29407
- Phone: (843) 556-4611 — Fax: (843) 556-4612
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m.–noon
- Summer hours (June–August): Mon/Tues/Thurs 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Wed/Fri 9:00 a.m.–noon
- Fr. Patrick direct line: (843) 303-8178
- St. Vincent de Paul: (843) 901-SVDP