About Saint Mary Help of Christians · Aiken, South Carolina
Saint Mary Help of Christians is a thriving Roman Catholic parish in Aiken, South Carolina, serving roughly 2,823 households from the historic downtown parish on Park Avenue SE. Founded in 1853 as a mission of the Diocese of Charleston, the parish is the spiritual mother church of several Aiken-area parishes and missions, and its current pastor is Very Reverend Richard Wilson, VF. A bilingual (English/Spanish) community with a parish school, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, a cemetery, and roughly 80 ministries, St. Mary's forms disciples through daily Mass, sacraments, religious education, youth ministry, and outreach to the poor and homebound.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Help of Christians
- Rector
- Very Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
St. Mary Help of Christians is a large, historic, and bilingual parish that has formed generations of Aiken Catholics for more than a century. Daily Mass, an always-available Ste. Clare Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, confessions six days a week, and a vibrant K-8 Catholic school and STEM Center make it a true spiritual home. A roster of roughly 80 ministries — from Knights of Columbus, Secular Franciscans, and Legion of Mary, to St. Vincent de Paul, Stephen Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, prison ministry, and parish-wide OCIA (RCIA) — gives every member a way to serve, belong, and grow.
Mass times at Saint Mary Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:45–5:15 p.m.
- Tuesday 4:45–5:15 p.m.
- Wednesday 6:15–6:45 p.m.
- Thursday 4:45–5:15 p.m.
- Friday 4:45–5:15 p.m.
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Ste. Clare Chapel, daily 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. open for personal silent prayer
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (year-round except the Easter Triduum); sign up for a weekly holy hour (daytime or nighttime)
Parish History
Catholic life in Aiken began in 1853 when Bishop Ignatius Reynolds of Charleston bought property here. Bishop Ignacio Persico built the first Catholic church on what is now the Old St. Mary Help of Christians site in 1867; it was destroyed in the 1875 hurricane and replaced by the brick St. Claire Church (still in use as the Adoration chapel). The 1905 Park Avenue church served as the main parish church for a century before Bishop Gugliemone dedicated the new St. Mary Help of Christians Church on Fairfield Street on February 2, 2015.
- 1853 — Bishop Ignatius Reynolds purchases property in Aiken
- 1867 — Bishop Ignacio Persico (later Cardinal) builds the first Catholic church here
- 1875 — church destroyed in a hurricane; rebuilt as St. Claire, supported by the Aiken Winter Colony
- 1905 — St. Mary Help of Christians Church on Park Avenue dedicated
- 1940 — Msgr. George Lewis Smith founds the Horse Creek Valley Handicrafts & Recreation Center
- 2011 — Fr. Gregory Wilson appointed pastor and redirects expansion plans
- February 2, 2015 — Bishop Gugliemone dedicates the new Fairfield Street church
Pastor and Parochial Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor (appointed March 9, 2023, having served as pastor of Our Lady of Peace in North Augusta). He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Michael Boshra Ghattas, five deacons (Dcn. Alejandro Leguizamon, Dcn. Al Matousek, Dcn. Bob Pierce, and Dcn. Steve Platte), and a lay staff including Patrick Wray (Director of Administration), Kimberly Gaynor (Administrative Assistant to the Pastor), Kara Keenan (Parish Secretary), Colleen Wittenborn (Business Manager), Adriana Galván (Hispanic Secretary), Agi Working (Baptism Coordinator), Derrick Huestis (Director of Religious Education), Hannah Dickason (Director of Youth Ministry), and Frank Deese (Parish Musician).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Michael Boshra Ghattas
- Deacons: Leguizamon, Matousek, Pierce, Platte
- Director of Administration: Patrick Wray
Church Buildings and Campus
The parish worships across three historic buildings. The current main church on Fairfield Street, dedicated in 2015 by Bishop Gugliemone, has seating for about 900, is described by the parish as 'somewhat like a Roman Basilica,' and features a large baldacchino over the main altar, statuary, stained glass, and an elevated rear choir loft with organ. Old St. Mary Help of Christians on Park Avenue (1905) is a brick church seating about 300, with Stations of the Cross, Mary-themed stained glass, the Apostles' symbols on the apse vault, confessionals, baptismal font, and choir loft; it is used for daily Mass, confessions, weddings and funerals. The 1875 St. Claire brick church is the home of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Ste. Clare Chapel.
- New Church (2015) — Fairfield Street — Roman-basilica style, ~900 seats, bishop-dedicated Feb 2, 2015
- Old St. Mary Help of Christians (1905) — Park Avenue SE — ~300 seats; daily Mass, confessions, weddings, funerals
- St. Claire (1875) — Ste. Clare Chapel for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
- Ste. Clare Chapel: open daily 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. for personal silent prayer
Parish School (K-8) and STEM Center
St. Mary Help of Christians has educated generations of local children for over 100 years. The school traces its roots to Saint Angela Academy, opened by the Ursuline Nuns in 1901 and transferred to the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in 1906. During the parish's 1953 centennial, the parish purchased the grade-school building (on York Street) and assumed operation; a separate high school continued under the St. Angela Academy name. Today the parish school serves grades K-8, and the parish is building a new Saint Mary Help of Christians STEM Center to give students a leading-edge science, engineering, and math facility; 3K and 4K preschool programs are also being added for the 2025-2026 year. Enrollment information and tours can be scheduled through the school office.
- Founded 1901 as St. Angela Academy (Ursuline Nuns)
- 1906 — operations transferred to Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy
- 1953 — parish purchases the grade-school building on York Street
- 1955 — high school opens on Berrie Road under St. Angela Academy name
- New STEM Center under construction (reported 40% complete January 2024)
- Plans for 3K and 4K preschool programs for 2025-2026
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Director of Religious Education Derrick Huestis oversees the parish's catechetical ministries, including the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, CCD for K-5 public-school students, the Confirmation preparation program for middle and high schoolers, and sacramental preparation. Children normally receive Confirmation in 8th grade, and two full years of religious instruction are required for First Communion and Confirmation for students not enrolled in the Catholic school system. OCIA meets on Tuesdays from August through May in Mother Teresa Hall at 125 Union St SE, next to the new church.
- OCIA / RCIA — Tuesday evenings, Mother Teresa Hall (125 Union St SE), Aug 12 – May 12
- CCD (K-5) for public-school children
- Confirmation prep (Middle School — 6th, 7th-8th, 8th-9th grades) using CHOSEN by Ascension Press
- Director: Derrick Huestis, [email protected], 803.649.4777
Youth Ministry
Director of Youth Ministry Hannah Dickason leads year-round programs for every age, including high-school Sunday evenings (6:00–8:00 p.m.), middle-school Sunday evenings, and 3rd–5th grade Wednesday afternoons, plus retreats, camps, service projects, and social activities.
- High School — Sunday evenings 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- Middle School — Sunday evenings
- 3rd–5th Grade — Wednesday afternoons
- Contact: Hannah Dickason, 615-638-7137
Adult Faith Formation & Small Groups
Adults have many ways to grow in faith, including Secular Franciscans, retreats, Natural Family Planning, a Men's Prayer Group, the Lunch & Learn Book Club, Bible Studies and Small Groups, the Sunday Morning Café: Catholic Faith Exploration, and Lighthouse Media.
Parish Family Life
Befriending ministries bring the parish together across ages and stages of life. Programs include Young Adult Ministry, St. Mary's Campground, Single/Single Again, Scouts, Millions of Monicas, the K of C Ladies Auxiliary, the Knights of Columbus, Family Ministry, and the Catholic Women's Association.
Service & Outreach
St. Vincent de Paul, Rosary Makers, and ACTS serve the poor directly. Stephen Ministry, St. Paul Street Evangelization, Social Justice Interests, Sankofa Catholic Ministry, Respect Life, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Prison Ministry, the Legion of Mary, Homebound Ministries, Grief Support, Bereavement Ministry, and Addiction Help carry the parish out into the wider community.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Legion of Mary
- Stephen Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- Homebound / Bereavement / Grief Support
- St. Paul Street Evangelization
Liturgy & Worship Ministries
Parishioners serve at the altar and welcome the assembly through Mass Ministries Scheduling, the Wheelchair Express (helping those with mobility needs), Ushers/Greeters, the Music Ministry, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. A parish Nursery is available for Hospitality.
Hispanic Ministry
Spanish-speaking members of the parish community are served through a weekly Wednesday evening Spanish Mass at 7:00 p.m., a Sunday Spanish Mass at 1:00 p.m., and bilingual sacramental preparation. The parish also staffs a Hispanic Secretary, Adriana Galván (Ext. 100), to assist Spanish-speaking families.
- Wednesday Spanish Mass — 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday Spanish Mass — 1:00 p.m.
- Hispanic Secretary: Adriana Galván, Ext. 100
Getting Involved
The parish frames its ministries under the motto 'Feeding Disciples – Being Disciples – Forming Disciples' and invites every member to find a place to serve. New families are asked to register through the online form on the parish website. Online giving, sacramental registration, and ministry sign-ups are all available through stmarys-aiken.org.
- Parish registration: online form at stmarys-aiken.org
- Online giving available through the website
- Baptism inquiries: Agi Working
- Youth Ministry: Hannah Dickason
- OCIA / Religious Education: Derrick Huestis
Visit, Contact and Office Hours
The parish office is at 203 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00), and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with staff available by appointment after 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. A campus map is published on the parish website.
- Address: 203 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801
- Phone: 803-649-4777
- Mailing: 138 Fairfield St. SE, Aiken, SC
- Website: stmarys-aiken.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. P. J. Lanigan1915 (established mission)
Established the Mission Church of St. Joseph in Ward, SC (now St. William Parish)
- Msgr. George Lewis Smithlate 1930s–early 1950s
Founded the Horse Creek Valley Handicrafts & Recreation Center (1940), and the missions of Our Lady of the Valley, Our Lady of Peace (North Augusta), and St. Gerard's
- Fr. James Leblanc
Led the early study for a larger church on the existing Park Avenue site
- Fr. Gregory B. Wilson, VF2011–March 9, 2023
Redirected the new-church project to Fairfield Street; new church dedicated February 2, 2015. Departed March 9, 2023 to become rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston.