About Saints Peter and Paul · Oak Hill, West Virginia
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Oak Hill, West Virginia, part of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The parish serves the Oak Hill / New River Gorge area and operates the parish school (Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School, founded 1913). According to the parish website, the church sits on Route 19, about ten minutes south of the New River Gorge Bridge, and welcomes visitors including bridge visitors, rafters, and other river enthusiasts. The parish offers weekend and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, religious education for children (K-8), adult faith formation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.).
- Established
- 1913 (school origins in Scarbro)
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Fr. Jojan Joseph, CST
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Why belong here
Saints Peter & Paul offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in a small, welcoming mountain community: daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, Saturday confessions, religious education for children K-8, adult faith formation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) for those exploring Catholicism. The parish also runs Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School, giving families an integrated parish-and-school experience. Its location near the New River Gorge Bridge, and its explicit welcome to bridge visitors, rafters, and river enthusiasts, make it a natural stopping point for Catholics visiting the Gorge.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15–5:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction: Every Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
About Saints Peter & Paul Parish
Saints Peter & Paul is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston serving Oak Hill and the surrounding New River Gorge region of southern West Virginia. According to the parish's own homepage, the church sits on Route 19 about ten minutes south of the New River Gorge Bridge, and the parish makes a point of welcoming bridge visitors, rafters, and river enthusiasts in addition to its regular parishioners. The parish website is available in Spanish, though availability of Spanish-language Masses and resources should be confirmed with the parish office.
Parish History
The parish traces its origins to the early 1900s in the community of Scarbro, West Virginia. According to the parish school's own history page, the school was started in 1913 when the parish organist began teaching children in the parish hall at Scarbro; a dedicated school building was added the following year. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston records that a new SS. Peter and Paul Church was dedicated at Oak Hill (formerly Scarbro) in 1979, and that a 1999 fire devastated the church, after which worship moved into the school gymnasium for the rest of that year. The parish rebuilt and today anchors Catholic life in Oak Hill alongside its parish school.
- 1913 — School begins in parish hall at Scarbro, WV
- 1914 — School building erected
- 1967 — New Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School completed in Oak Hill
- 1979 — New SS. Peter and Paul Church dedicated at Oak Hill (formerly Scarbro)
- 1999 — Fire destroys the church; Mass held in school gymnasium through the year
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish staff listed on the parish website includes the pastor, a deacon, parish office staff, faith-formation staff, and custodial staff. The current pastor is Fr. Jojan Joseph, CST. Deacon Rick Allen assists in ministry, and a full lay staff supports the parish office, school, religious education, adult faith formation, and church facilities.
- Fr. Jojan Joseph, CST — Pastor
- Deacon Rick Allen
- Ms. Amy Inghram — Office Manager
- Ms. Cynthia Everly — Pastoral Secretary
- Mrs. Natasha Mucho Seay — School Principal; Virtus Training
- Mr. Robert Littreal — Adult Education
- Mrs. Kathy Graham — Religious Education K–8
- Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell — Custodial (Church)
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the parish offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) for adults and children seeking baptism, and religious-education programs that prepare children for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation.
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction — Thursdays 6:00–7:00 PM
- Sacrament of Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:15–5:00 PM
- O.C.I.A. — process for unbaptized adults and children (7+) seeking full initiation
- First Eucharist, Confirmation, and First Reconciliation preparation through Religious Education
Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School
Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School is the parish's parish school, serving children in PreK through 6th grade. According to the school's own history page, the school was founded in 1913 when the parish organist began teaching children in the parish hall at Scarbro, West Virginia. A school building was erected in 1914 and served the parish until 1967, when changing economic conditions and the resulting population shift toward Oak Hill led the parish to build a new school, completed that same year. Since moving to Oak Hill, the school has served not only the Catholic community but the wider community, with non-Catholic enrollment growing over time.
- Year founded: 1913
- Grades: PreK–6
- Address: 123 Elmore Street, Oak Hill, WV 25901
- School phone: (304) 465-5045
- Principal: Mrs. Natasha Mucho Seay
- School email: [email protected]
Religious Education (K–8) & Adult Formation
Parish faith formation is anchored by Mrs. Kathy Graham (Religious Education K–8) and Mr. Robert Littreal (Adult Education). Children enrolled in the Religious Education program are prepared progressively for the sacraments of initiation, and adults seeking full reception into the Catholic Church go through the O.C.I.A. process.
- Religious Education K–8 (Director: Mrs. Kathy Graham)
- Adult Education / Adult Faith Formation (Director: Mr. Robert Littreal)
- O.C.I.A. for adults and for children over the age of reason (7+)
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation)
Parish Office & Ways to Give
The parish office handles day-to-day operations and donor stewardship. The 'Ways to Give' page explains that the parish participates in employer matching-gift programs (with reference partners such as Kroger, Lowe's, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Ford, and Chrysler), and directs donations through a 'My Own Giving' online portal. Matching gifts for Ss. Peter & Paul School can be sent to the Office of Advancement at 123 Elmore, Oak Hill, WV 25901. Questions about matching gifts can be directed to Kim Major at (304) 465-5445.
- Parish office phone: (304) 465-5445
- Office Manager: Ms. Amy Inghram
- Pastoral Secretary: Ms. Cynthia Everly
- Online giving via My Own Giving portal
- Employer matching-gift program (contact Kim Major at 304-465-5445)
- School advancement donations: Office of Advancement, 123 Elmore, Oak Hill, WV 25901
Visiting & the New River Gorge Connection
A distinctive feature of this parish is its location on Route 19, about ten minutes south of the New River Gorge Bridge. The parish explicitly welcomes bridge visitors, rafters, and other river enthusiasts, making it a convenient worship stop for Catholics traveling to or through the New River Gorge National Park area.
- On Route 19, ~10 minutes south of the New River Gorge Bridge
- Welcomes bridge visitors, rafters, and river enthusiasts
- Address: 129 Elmore Street, Oak Hill, WV 25901