About Saint Martin de Porres · Columbia, South Carolina
Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church is a multicultural Catholic parish in Columbia, South Carolina, founded in 1935 on the African American Catholic experience and seated in the Historic Waverly Community at 2229 Hampton Street. The parish was established at the request of local Black Catholics who approached Bishop Emmet Walsh, and was originally staffed by the Dominican Friars of New York. Today it serves as both an English-language parish led by Fr. Michael Okere and the home of the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Community, with regular Masses celebrated in English and Vietnamese.
- Established
- 1935
- Patron
- Saint Martin de Porres
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Okere
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Saint Martin de Porres welcomes all people regardless of race or economic status, living out the legacy of its patron — the Dominican lay brother from Lima known for charity and service. Parishioners find a rare combination of spiritual depth, active ministry (Legion of Mary, Knights of Peter Claver, Knights of Columbus, choir, lectors, eucharistic ministers, a soup kitchen, and a youth group for grades 6–12), and a bilingual worship life in English and Vietnamese. With an on-site Catholic school, faith formation for every age from kindergarten through post-Confirmation, and a mission rooted in the African American Catholic experience, the parish offers a full, family-centered faith life in the heart of Columbia's Historic Waverly Community.
Mass times at Saint Martin de Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. (and by appointment)
Parish Story & History
Saint Martin de Porres traces its origin to a 1935 request by African American Catholics in Columbia to Bishop Emmet Walsh of Charleston for a church where they could worship with dignity and educate their children. Bishop Walsh turned to the Dominican Friars of New York, who sent Father Thomas Weiland, OP, as the parish's first priest, dedicating the church on December 15, 1935. The community worshiped in a converted Antebellum house that doubled as school and rectory before expanding under Father O.T. Carl, OP, in the 1950s and again under Father Paul Williams, OFM, whose 2007 church building was dedicated by Bishop Robert Baker.
- Founded December 15, 1935, as Blessed Martin de Porres Mission for Colored Catholics
- Parish school established 1936, opened by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin
- Dominican friars served the parish until 1997 (last: Fr. Bruce Schultz, OP)
- Current church dedicated April 20, 2007, under Fr. Paul Williams, OFM
- Original church building was a three-story white Antebellum house at Hampton and Oak
Mission Statement & Identity
The parish describes itself as a multicultural community founded on the African American Catholic experience and committed to spiritual and academic development, financial stability, social justice, and shared leadership. Staff and parishioners frame their work in the spirit of Saint Martin de Porres, the Dominican lay brother who, though he could have lived a wealthy man's life, chose humility and service to others — and the parish commits to welcoming all people regardless of race or economic status.
- Multicultural, African-American rooted Catholic community in the Historic Waverly neighborhood of Columbia
- Welcomes all people regardless of race or economic status
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
Father Michael Okere currently serves as Pastor and Parish Administrator. He is assisted by a part-time Parochial Vicar for Vietnamese Ministry (Fr. Martin Pham, who also serves part-time as co-chaplain at Cardinal Newman High School) and two permanent deacons — Deacon Carl Johnson (ordained May 19, 2007) and Deacon Leland Cave (ordained January 30, 2016). Lay staff include Vern (Vernetta) Garcia as Parish Secretary / Youth Ministry contact, Emma Tollefsen in Music Ministry and Youth & Young Adults Ministry, Laurie Tollefsen as Director of Religious Education, and John Beu as Bookkeeper, alongside Finance Council members Cathy Chiles and Dr. el Arceneaux and the Vietnamese community's Khue Nguyen.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael (Micheal) Okere
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Martin (Khiet) Pham (Vietnamese Ministry; co-chaplain at Cardinal Newman HS)
- Deacon Carl Johnson (ordained 2007)
- Deacon Leland Cave (ordained 2016)
- Director of Religious Education: Laurie Tollefsen
- Music Ministry / Youth & Young Adults: Emma Tollefsen
- Parish Secretary: Vernetta (Vern) Garcia
- Bookkeeper: John Beu
Vietnamese (Holy Vietnamese Martyrs) Community
Saint Martin de Porres is shared with the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Community in Columbia, which celebrates Mass in Vietnamese on designated Saturdays and Sundays and maintains its own lay representative. The Vietnamese-language ministry is supported by a part-time Parochial Vicar (Fr. Martin Pham) and lay leaders such as community representative Khue Nguyen.
- Vietnamese Mass Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. (1st, 3rd & 5th)
- Vietnamese Mass Sundays at 6:00 / 6:30 p.m. (2nd & 4th)
- Part-time Parochial Vicar: Fr. Martin Pham
- Community Representative: Khue Nguyen
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Martin de Porres begins in the home in early childhood and is supported at every stage of parish life — including marriage preparation for adults, baptism preparation for parents, a K–post-Confirmation religious education program, a youth group for grades 6–12, and ongoing adult faith formation. The parish also uses the new OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for those entering the Church.
- Baptism preparation for parents
- Marriage preparation for adults
- K–post-Confirmation religious education
- Youth Group grades 6–12
- OCIA — Christian Initiation for adults
- Director of Religious Education: Laurie Tollefsen
Parish School
Saint Martin de Porres Catholic School has served the Historic Waverly Community since 1936, when it was opened by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. It provides a quality Catholic education to a diverse student body (only a small percentage Catholic; all attend weekly Mass), with extracurriculars including choir, soccer, tutoring, orchestra, Reading Club, and Vocation Club. Grade 6 was reopened in August 2007, and the school retains a small teacher-to-student ratio with an emphasis on spiritual growth; Mr. Don Doggett serves as current principal and Fr. Michael Okere as current church administrator.
- Opened September 14, 1936, by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
- Grade 6 reopened August 2007
- Principal: Mr. Don Doggett
- Extracurriculars: choir, soccer, orchestra, tutoring, Reading Club, Vocation Club
Parish Organizations & Ministries
The parish is served by a wide network of lay-led organizations that handle pastoral, spiritual, social, and administrative life. A partial list published by the parish includes: Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Legion of Mary, Rosary Altar Society, Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, Religious Education teachers, Ministers of Holy Communion, Mass Lectors, Choir Members, Ushers, Maintenance and Grounds Volunteers, and Soup Kitchen Volunteers.
- Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Council
- Legion of Mary and Rosary Altar Society
- Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver; Knights of Columbus
- Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Choir, Ushers
- Soup Kitchen volunteers and Maintenance & Grounds team
Contact & Visit
The parish offices are at 2229 Hampton Street in Columbia's Historic Waverly Community, with weekday office hours reachable by phone. Mail and visitors are welcomed at the church; the parish is accessible across both English and Vietnamese liturgical life.
- Address: 2229 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29204
- Office: 803-254-6862 | Rectory: 803-376-6027 | Fax: 803-799-4720
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Weiland, OP1935–
First priest; Dominican friar from New York, assigned by Bishop Walsh to the new mission.
- Father O.T. Carl, OPfrom 1953
Launched the major building boom — new church, convent, and school (1954).
- Father Bruce Schultz, OPthrough 1997
Last of the Dominican friars to serve the parish before the Order departed.
- Father Paul Williams, OFMAfter the Dominicans departed; included 2007
Diocesan pastor; assisted by Br. Henry Fulmer, OFM. Oversaw the construction and dedication of the current church (April 20, 2007) and the purchase of a new rectory.
- Brother Henry Fulmer, OFM
Franciscan of Holy Name Province (New York), assisted Fr. Paul Williams.
- Father Michael Okerecurrent
Current pastor / Parish Administrator.