Saint Mary of the Angels

About St. Mary of the Angels

St. Mary of the Angels is a Catholic parish located on the East side of Anderson, South Carolina, at 1821 White Street. Founded in 1943 by the Franciscans of Holy Name Province (New York) to minister to the African American Catholic community, it is today a multicultural family of roughly 250+ households drawn from Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, Haitian, Filipino, and Chinese backgrounds. The parish proclaims that, in the spirit of Jesus Christ and St. Francis, it is called to minister with the African American community of Anderson County, to welcome all who seek a Christian family, and to live in Gospel relationship to the alienated and the poor.

Our History

Founded March 11, 1943, by Father Francis Anthony Gorman, OFM — sent by Holy Name Province (NY) because Anderson was the largest community in South Carolina without a parish for its Black population — the church began life in a rented house on Plain Street ($15/month from Mr. Bulie Vandiver), since segregation laws forced Father Gorman, a white Irish-American priest, to live at St. Joseph's priests' residence. Early parishioners included Annie Sue Johnson, Willa Mae Alexander (Peek), Virginia Groves, Lizzie Hamilton, and Isabelle (Queen) Burns. Father Gorman reached out to Black youth by organizing a baseball league with teams from the four sides of town, managed by Eddie Woolridge and sponsored by the parish; the league became an All-Star team playing adult teams across upper South Carolina and parts of Georgia, and grew into the St. Mary's Boys and Girls Club. A $27,000 bequest from the mother of Father Peter Botbst Duffee, OFM, enabled construction of a new church in 1951, dedicated December 2, 1951 in memory of the Duffie–O'Donnell families. A further expansion — a new sanctuary roughly doubling seating from 115 to 240 — saw its first Mass in 2008. After 75+ years of Franciscan pastoral care, the friars were withdrawn in July 2020 and the parish now sits within the Diocese of Charleston.

• Founded March 11, 1943, by Father Francis Anthony Gorman, OFM
• First Mass site: a rented house on Plain Street, 1943–1951
• 1951 church built with $27,000 Duffee bequest; dedicated December 2, 1951
• New sanctuary — first Mass celebrated 2008
• Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province served the parish for 75+ years
• Transferred to Diocese of Charleston care in July 2020

Mission Statement

Parishioners are called to minister, in the spirit of Jesus Christ and St. Francis, in and with the African American Catholic community and to reach out to the African Americans of Anderson County. All who come to St. Mary's — from whatever background or ethnicity and with a desire for Christian family — are regarded as brothers and sisters. The community also sees itself as called to live in Gospel relationship to the alienated and the poor of Anderson.

Clergy and Staff

The parish is currently administered by Rev. A. John De Britto, M.SS.CC, of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who succeeded the Franciscan Friars in 2020. He is assisted by Deacon Juan Borges. The parish secretary and Director of Religious Education is Alexandra Perez; Pat Binninger serves as Safe Environment Coordinator and Barbara Shipman as Finance. The parish is part of the Diocese of Charleston, whose bishop is Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS.

• Rev. A. John De Britto, M.SS.CC — Administrator/Pastor
• Deacon Juan Borges
• Alexandra Perez — Parish Secretary / Director of Religious Education
• Pat Binninger — Safe Environment Coordinator
• Barbara Shipman — Finance
• Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS — Bishop of Charleston

Sacraments

St. Mary of the Angels celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The parish draws on the Catechism of the Catholic Church in its teaching on each. As described on the parish's Sacraments page, Baptism is 'the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit,' Matrimony 'signifies the union of Christ and the Church,' and the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated with the liturgical prayer of the priest for the special grace of the sacrament. For preparation information, parishioners are directed to the Religious Education & Formation page.

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist
• Penance (Reconciliation)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders
• Matrimony

Community Life and Ministries

St. Mary of the Angels offers a range of parish groups — Knights of Columbus, Women's Council, Men's Club, and Secular Franciscans — that grow faith and build community. The community is rooted in its Franciscan heritage, and the parish welcomes everyone seeking Christian fellowship.

• Knights of Columbus — Fr. Francis Friend Council #8295 (family, fraternal, service organization serving Anderson County)
• Women's Council — ministry of service to the parish and wider community
• Men's Club — fellowship for the men of the parish
• Secular Franciscans (OFS) — a branch of the worldwide Franciscan Family; meets first Saturday of each month, 10:00 AM, in the Parish Hall

Faith and Parish Identity

Faith is at the center of life at St. Mary of the Angels. The community believes in the power of prayer, the importance of serving others, and the transformative grace of God, seeking to deepen relationship with God and grow together. Parishioners regularly gather for Mass in English and Spanish, weekly Holy Hour on Thursdays, and seasonal sacraments; many also live out their faith through parish ministries, the Secular Franciscans, and direct outreach to the poor.

Visit, Contact, and Location

St. Mary of the Angels is located at 1821 White Street, Anderson, SC 29624, on the East side of Anderson. The parish office can be reached at (864) 226-8621 and by email at [email protected]. Current diocesan data lists 633 households and sanctuary seating of 275. The parish is part of the Greenville Deanery of the Diocese of Charleston.

• Address: 1821 White Street, Anderson, SC 29624
• Phone: 864-226-8621
• Email: [email protected]
• Deanery: Greenville (Diocese of Charleston)
• Households: ~633
• Seating capacity: 275