About Saint Mary Help of Christians · Aiken, South Carolina
St. Mary Help of Christians is a Catholic parish in Aiken, South Carolina, founded in 1853 and currently serving 2,823 households within the Diocese of Charleston. The parish maintains two church buildings on its campus: a larger new church dedicated in 2015 that hosts Sunday and major holy day Masses, and the historic 1905 brick church now used for daily Masses, confessions, weddings, and funerals. The parish also operates St. Mary Help of Christians School, has been forming children for over 100 years, and offers a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, a Spanish-language Mass, and an active ministry roster for its growing community.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- Mary Help of Christians (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title 'Help of Christians')
- Rector
- Very Rev. Richard Charles Wilson, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston (Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina)
Why belong here
St. Mary Help of Christians is a vibrant, historic Aiken parish of nearly 2,823 households, served by a full priest team, four deacons, and dedicated lay staff for faith formation, youth ministry, music, and Hispanic ministry. Parishioners can worship in both English and Spanish, pray before the Blessed Sacrament in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Ste. Clare Chapel, send their children to St. Mary Help of Christians School, and serve in ministries ranging from the Knights of Columbus and Council of Catholic Women to youth, religious education, and outreach. It is a parish that combines deep roots in Aiken Catholic life since 1853 with a brand-new church building opened in 2015.
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 Ste. Clare Chapel (next to Old St. Mary's), open for personal silent prayer daily 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
- Parishioners can sign up for a weekly holy hour (daytime or nighttime)
History of St. Mary Help of Christians
Catholic worship in Aiken traces back to 1853. As the local Catholic population grew, the parish outgrew its original space and in 1905 dedicated the historic St. Mary Help of Christians Church, which served as the main parish church for more than a century. By the early 2000s even that church was too small, prompting Pastor Fr. James Leblanc to commission a study for a new, larger worship space. An initial concept to seat roughly 1,200 people would have extended the existing church along York Street to the railroad embankment; while approved by the City of Aiken and the Diocese, concerns over historic preservation ultimately sidelined it. When Fr. Gregory Wilson was appointed Pastor in 2011, he redirected the project, choosing to build a new church on Fairfield Street, on property the parish already owned, designed to seat about 900. That new church was dedicated by Bishop Gugliemone of Charleston on February 2, 2015, and remains the main parish church for Sunday and major holy day Masses, while the 1905 building — now known as Old St. Mary's — continues in active use for daily Mass, confessions, weddings, and funerals.
- Parish founded: 1853
- 1905 church dedicated as the main parish church
- Early-2000s building study under Fr. James Leblanc
- 2011: Fr. Gregory Wilson appointed Pastor and redirects project to Fairfield Street site
- February 2, 2015: New church dedicated by Bishop Gugliemone of Charleston
- 1905 building preserved and now known as Old St. Mary's
The Two Churches on Campus
St. Mary Help of Christians is unusual in maintaining two active church buildings side by side. The 2015 church, modeled somewhat on a Roman basilica, hosts Sunday Masses and major holy days, with a large structural baldacchino (canopy) over the main altar, multiple statues and stained glass windows, and a large choir loft with organ high above the narthex at the entrance, facing the altar. The 1905 brick church — Old St. Mary Help of Christians — seats about 300 and is used for daily Masses, confessions, weddings, and funerals. Its nave is lined with Stations of the Cross depicting Jesus' way from Pilate's judgment to His burial, stained glass represents events in the life of Mary, and the vault of the apse bears the symbols of the Apostles. Both churches are open during the day for private prayer.
- New Church (2015) — main parish church for Sundays and major holy days; ~900 seats; Roman-basilica-inspired design
- Old St. Mary's (1905) — daily Mass, confessions, weddings, funerals; ~300 seats; Stations of the Cross, Mary-themed stained glass, Apostles symbols on the apse
- Baptismal font in Old St. Mary's
- Confessional booths near the rear of Old St. Mary's
- Holy water at the entrances of both churches
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and four deacons, alongside an experienced lay staff for administration, faith formation, youth ministry, music, sacraments, and Hispanic ministry. The pastor holds the title Very Reverend and the designation VF (Vicar Forane) for the Aiken Deanery of the Diocese of Charleston. The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00) and on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Richard Charles Wilson, VF
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Boshra Ghattas
- Deacons: Alejandro Leguizamon, Al Matousek, Bob Pierce, Steve Platte
- Director of Administration: Patrick Wray
- Pastoral Care Coordinator: Patrick Wray
- Administrative Assistant to the Pastor: Kimberly Gaynor
- Parish Secretary: Kara Keenan
- Director of Religious Education: Derrick Huestis
- Director of Youth Ministry: Hannah Dickason (615.638.7137)
- Business Manager: Colleen Wittenborn
- Baptism Coordinator: Agi Working
- Parish Musician: Frank Deese (706.550.5047)
- Hispanic Secretary: Adriana Galván
Faith Formation, Youth, and School
Faith formation for children and youth is a centerpiece of parish life. The parish operates St. Mary Help of Christians School, which has been forming generations of children for over 100 years and welcomes new families via an online registration form on the parish website. Derrick Huestis serves as Director of Religious Education, and Hannah Dickason leads the parish's Youth Ministry, with her own dedicated phone line for outreach.
- St. Mary Help of Christians School — over 100 years of Catholic education
- Online new-family registration form available on the parish website
- Religious Education program (Director: Derrick Huestis)
- Youth Ministry (Director: Hannah Dickason)
Hispanic Ministry and Spanish-Language Worship
St. Mary Help of Christians maintains an active Hispanic ministry supported by a dedicated Hispanic Secretary, Adriana Galván (Ext. 100). Spanish-language Masses are celebrated on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons at 1:00 p.m., and confession is offered in Spanish on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
- Wednesday 7:00 p.m. — Mass in Spanish
- Sunday 1:00 p.m. — Mass in Spanish
- Wednesday 6:15–6:45 p.m. — Confessions (Spanish-speaking priest/deacon available)
- Hispanic Secretary: Adriana Galván (Ext. 100)
Sacraments at the Parish
The parish celebrates the full range of regular Catholic sacraments. The Sunday vigil and Sunday morning Masses are celebrated in the new church; daily Mass and most confessions take place in Old St. Mary's, which also hosts weddings and funerals. The baptismal font is in Old St. Mary's, and baptism preparation is coordinated by Agi Working. Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is available year-round in Ste. Clare Chapel.
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Masses in English and Spanish
- Reconciliation — six weekly confession slots (Mon–Fri, Wed evening, Sat afternoon)
- Baptism — contact Agi Working, parish Baptism Coordinator
- Matrimony — weddings held in Old St. Mary's
- Funerals — held in Old St. Mary's
- Eucharistic Adoration — Perpetual, Ste. Clare Chapel
Parish Registration and Community Life
St. Mary Help of Christians serves 2,823 households in and around Aiken, and new families are warmly welcomed through the parish's online registration form. Parishioners are invited to participate in longstanding organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women, in the work of faith formation and youth ministry, in music ministry, in the Hispanic community, and in the Perpetual Adoration roster. A printable campus map is available at https://www.stmarys-aiken.org/campus-map.
- 2,823 registered households
- Online new-family registration form on the parish website
- Knights of Columbus
- Council of Catholic Women
- Music Ministry (Frank Deese, Parish Musician)
- Campus map at stmarys-aiken.org/campus-map
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
St. Mary Help of Christians is located at 203 Park Avenue SE in Aiken, SC 29801, with a mailing address of 138 Fairfield St. SE, Aiken, SC. The parish office phone is 803.649.4777, with staff extensions for administration, the pastor's assistant, the parish secretary, the business manager, and the Hispanic secretary. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00) and Wednesday 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., with Wednesday afternoon visits by appointment only.
- Address: 203 Park Ave SE, Aiken, SC 29801
- Mailing address: 138 Fairfield St. SE, Aiken, SC
- Phone: 803.649.4777
- Office hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00); Wed 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday afternoons by appointment only
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Leblanc
Pastored during the initial study and concept for a new, larger church (design for ~1,200 seats along York Street toward the railroad embankment).
- Fr. Gregory Wilson2011–
Appointed Pastor in 2011; redirected the building project to a new church on Fairfield Street seating about 900.
- Very Rev. Richard Wilson
Current Pastor; serves the parish under the title 'Very Reverend' and VF (Vicar Forane).