About Saint Rafka [Maronite] · Greer, South Carolina
Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, in full communion with Rome, serving the Maronite faithful of upstate South Carolina from its location in Greer, just outside Greenville. Founded as a Mission of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (under Bishop Gregory John Mansour), the community built and dedicated its own church in 2010 and has since grown into the only Maronite parish in South Carolina. Worship is offered in the West Syro-Antiochene (Maronite) rite, with liturgies celebrated in both English and Arabic to serve the area's Lebanese-heritage faithful and newcomers alike. The parish is pastored by Abouna Bartholomew Leon, OSB, who has led the community since 2006.
- Established
- circa 1999–2000 (mission); church building dedicated 2010
- Patron
- Saint Rafka (Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès), Lebanese Maronite nun (1832–1914), canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 10, 2001
- Rector
- Rev. Bartholomew Leon, OSB ('Abouna Bartholomew Leon, OSB' / 'Father Bart')
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church); geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Saint Rafka is the only Maronite Catholic parish in South Carolina, so for Lebanese-heritage Catholics in the Upstate it is simply the local place to worship in the Syriac Maronite tradition. The community gathers around a full weekly schedule of Divine Liturgies in English and Arabic, weekly confession, a monthly Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction, active faith formation through the Maronite Religious Education (MRE) program, a Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) for high schoolers, and a Prayers and Squares quilting ministry that brings parishioners together in service. Add a pastor who has shepherded the same flock for nearly two decades and a parish hall named for the people who built it, and Saint Rafka offers the feel of a close-knit mission family with the stability of a permanent home.
Mass times at Saint Rafka [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:55 PM
- Sunday 10:15 AM – 10:55 AM
- Before weekday liturgies
- By appointment with Father
Adoration times
- First Sunday of each month — Holy Hour at 3:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Vespers in monastic format, meditation, Litany of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction)
Welcome to Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church
Saint Rafka is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, in full communion with the Bishop of Rome — currently Pope Leo XIV. The parish identifies itself with the words of Acts 11:26: 'Founded by the Apostle Peter, with roots in Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians.' From its home in Greer, just north of Greenville, Saint Rafka serves as the only Maronite Catholic parish in the state of South Carolina, making it the gathering place for Maronite faithful across the Upstate and beyond.
History of the Parish
The Maronite community in the Greenville area traces its beginnings to the late 1990s, when families began gathering for liturgy under the care of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. Father Bartholomew Leon, OSB — 'Father Bart' — was appointed pastor in 2006 and has shepherded the community ever since. After years in borrowed and rented spaces, the parish acquired its permanent home at 1215 South Highway 14; the property officially transferred to the Eparchy on January 7, 2010. Volunteers renovated two buildings on the site — a church and a parish hall — completing the work on March 26, 2010. On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, Father Bart celebrated the first liturgy in the new church before 204 people, a record crowd. That same day he dedicated the dining room as 'The Saad Room' (for Marlene Saad, longtime spearhead of the mission) and the hall in honor of the Wickett family, and he instituted the Wednesday evening and Sunday-evening liturgies — including the now-beloved 'last-chance Mass' — that still define the parish's weekly rhythm.
- Late 1990s — Maronite community begins gathering in the Greenville area
- 2006 — Father Bartholomew Leon, OSB appointed pastor
- January 7, 2010 — Property at 1215 S. Highway 14 transferred to the Eparchy
- March 26, 2010 — Renovation of church and hall completed
- April 4, 2010 (Easter Sunday) — First liturgy in the new church; 204 people attend the 11:00 AM Mass
- Present — Only Maronite Catholic parish in South Carolina
Our Pastor: Father Bartholomew Leon, OSB
'Abouna Bartholomew Leon, OSB' — known affectionately as 'Father Bart' — is a Benedictine priest and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He has served as pastor of Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church since 2006. Under his leadership the mission grew from a borrowed-space gathering into a parish with its own church, hall, and grounds. Father Bart continues to celebrate the weekly Divine Liturgies, hear confessions, preach, anoint the sick, prepare couples for marriage, and serve as the spiritual anchor of the Upstate Maronite community.
Schedule of Divine Liturgies
Saint Rafka offers a full week of Maronite Divine Liturgies in the West Syro-Antiochene rite. Weekday and Sunday morning liturgies are celebrated in English; the 11:00 AM Sunday liturgy is offered in Arabic and English, reflecting the parish's Lebanese heritage. Holy Days are observed on a schedule announced in the bulletin.
- Tuesday — 10:00 AM
- Wednesday — 7:00 PM
- Thursday — 10:00 AM
- Friday — 10:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM
- Sunday — 8:30 AM
- Sunday — 11:00 AM (Arabic/English)
- Sunday — 7:00 PM ('last-chance Mass')
- Holy Days — As Announced
Sacramental Schedule
Confession (the Mystery of Penance) is offered every weekend before Liturgy and is also available by appointment. The parish encourages the faithful to arrive early for the scheduled confession times.
- Saturday — 3:15 PM to 3:55 PM
- Sunday — 10:15 AM to 10:55 AM
- Before weekday Liturgies
- By appointment with Father
Monthly Holy Hour (First Sunday)
On the first Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM, the parish gathers for a full Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. The hour combines Exposition, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Vespers prayed in the monastic format, a guided meditation, the Litany of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction — a rich devotion unique to Saint Rafka in the Upstate.
Rosary to End Abortion
Every Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, parishioners join the Rosary to End Abortion outside the Grove Road Women's Clinic, 1142 Grove Road, Greenville, SC 29605. This is one of the parish's signature outreach efforts and a concrete expression of its pro-life commitment.
Sacraments at Saint Rafka
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are available at Saint Rafka. Because Maronite sacramental theology and practice differ in some details from the Latin rite, Father Bart asks the faithful to contact him directly for guidance and preparation.
- Baptism & Chrismation — celebrated upon request outside the Liturgy; contact Father for details
- First Holy Communion — contact Father for details
- Penance — before Liturgy or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — notify Father when a family member is hospitalized or ill
- Matrimony — couple must contact Father personally at least six months before the anticipated wedding
- Holy Orders — contact Father for details
- Funeral Liturgies — contact Father as soon as possible after the death of a loved one
Parish Ministries
Saint Rafka runs a small but active set of ministries, each coordinated by a lay parishioner and supported by Father Bart. Together they cover youth, faith formation, fellowship, service, and outreach.
- MYO — Maronite Youth Organization (high school students); coordinator Lisa Advent — [email protected]
- MRE — Maronite Religious Education, including sacramental preparation, offered in person and online; coordinator Jessica Allen — [email protected]
- Prayers and Squares Quilting Ministry; coordinator Candice King Palgut — [email protected]
- Rosary to End Abortion (Saturday outreach at the Greenville women's clinic)
- Liturgical setup, hospitality, and grounds care (long-time volunteer Phil George)
Our Patroness: Saint Rafka
The parish is named for Saint Rafka (Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès, 1832–1914), a Lebanese Maronite nun who lived with the Lebanese Maronite Order at the Monastery of Saint Joseph in Jrabta, Batroun. She endured years of blindness and paralysis with extraordinary patience, and is venerated as a patron of lost parents and the sick. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 16, 1985 and canonized at Saint Peter's Basilica on June 10, 2001. Her feast day is celebrated on March 23.
Affiliation and Eparchy
Ecclesiastically, Saint Rafka belongs to the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and led by Eparch Gregory John Mansour since 2004). Geographically, the parish sits within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, Greenville Deanery — an arrangement that allows Saint Rafka to be listed in both the Maronite and the diocesan directories. As the only Maronite parish in South Carolina, Saint Rafka's pastoral jurisdiction effectively covers all Maronite Catholics across the state.
Visit, Contact, and Give
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 1215 South Highway 14, Greer, SC 29650. The parish office can be reached at 864.469.9119 or by email at [email protected]. A 'Donate' link is featured on the parish website, and the weekly bulletin is published online as well.
- Address — 1215 S. Highway 14, Greer, SC 29650
- Phone — 864.469.9119
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — http://www.saintrafka.org/
- Parish Secretary — Maria Rauch
- Donate — link on saintrafka.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter Boulosbefore 2006
Earlier served as Proto-presbyter of the Eparchy region that included the Saint Rafka Maronite Mission before Father Bartholomew Leon's appointment.
- Rev. Bartholomew Leon, OSB ('Father Bart')2006–present
Native of New Orleans, LA; led the move to the Greer property, oversaw the 2010 renovation, and celebrated the first liturgy in the new church on Easter Sunday 2010.