About St. Andrew's at Clemson University · Clemson, South Carolina
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston located in downtown Clemson, South Carolina, just steps from Clemson University. The parish describes itself as 'a grateful and giving parish living the kingdom of God for the sake of the university community and our neighbors.' It serves both a permanent local congregation (around 800 households) and the large Catholic student population at Clemson, and it is one of only two campus ministries in the diocese with two full-time campus ministers. The parish operates today from a church built in 1979 on Sloan Street and oversees the Cadden Chapel project honoring a fallen Clemson student.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. S. Matthew Gray (Administrator / Campus Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Greenville Deanery)
Why belong here
Saint Andrew is intentionally woven into Clemson University life — the parish identifies itself as living the kingdom of God 'for the sake of the university community and our neighbors.' Students encounter a robust Catholic Student Association with small groups, Breaking Open the Word, Praise and Worship, Pillars of the Church, free home-cooked Tuesday dinners, and retreats; the parish is one of only two in the diocese with two full-time campus ministers. Permanent parishioners are served through Faith Formation for children (ages 4–5th grade, with First Eucharist and Reconciliation preparation), a vibrant music ministry under Director Alex Armstrong, the Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat ministry (held at St. Andrew since 2008), prison and homebound ministry, marriage prep, and other sacramental preparation — all under the long-standing motto 'Come Visit Us!'
Mass times at St. Andrew's at Clemson University
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM (school year)
- Wednesday 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (in the main church cry room)
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (in the main church cry room)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM in the Church
About Saint Andrew Catholic Church
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston in the Greenville Deanery, located in downtown Clemson, South Carolina. The parish describes itself as a 'grateful and giving parish' serving the Clemson University community and surrounding neighbors. It maintains around 801 registered households and is one of only two campus ministries in the diocese with two full-time campus ministers.
History
Catholic worship in Clemson traces to Mass said for cadets in the president's office of the then-military Clemson College. In 1935, the Gothic Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle was built thanks to James Gallivan's gift and dedicated by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh. In 1940 the chapel became the center of a sprawling new parish; Bishop Walsh invited Paulist priests to serve, and they remained until 2006. Bishop Unterkoefler dedicated a larger church in 1979. In 2015, the Cadden family's $1.5M gift launched plans for an on-campus chapel, and in October 2020 a new $4.5M, 350-seat church was begun.
- 1935 — Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle dedicated by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
- 1940 — Becomes head of a new multi-county parish; Paulists arrive
- 1979 — Larger church dedicated by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler
- 2015 — Cadden family gift funds planned on-campus chapel
- 2020 — Ground broken on new $4.5M church under Father Dan McLellan
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation is offered Sunday mornings for ages 4 through 5th grade, with sessions held in Day Hall, accessible from the parish parking lot. Classes meet from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. Second grade is the year of preparation for the Rite of Reconciliation and First Eucharist (celebrated in May). Coordinator Laura Witt oversees the program and can be reached at 864-643-2587 or [email protected].
- Children's Religious Education (ages 4 – 5th grade)
- Rite of Reconciliation preparation (Grade 2)
- First Eucharist (celebrated in May)
- Adult faith formation opportunities
Campus Ministry
Known as the 'Catholic Tigers,' Saint Andrew's campus ministry works closely with Clemson University and is supported by the Diocese of Charleston. Father Matthew Gray serves as Administrator and Campus Chaplain; Michelle West is Campus Minister, and Christopher Kerfoot is Associate Campus Minister. Student life centers on the Catholic Student Association, with small groups, Breaking Open the Word, Praise and Worship, Pillars of the Church, weekly free dinners, retreats, and Bible studies.
- Father Matthew Gray — Administrator / Campus Chaplain
- Michelle West — Campus Minister ([email protected])
- Christopher Kerfoot — Associate Campus Minister ([email protected])
- Catholic Student Association small groups
- Breaking Open the Word, Praise and Worship, Pillars of the Church
- Free weekly home-cooked dinners
- Retreats and Bible studies
Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP)
Saint Andrew hosts the Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) renewal weekends, having participated since 2008 with 10–20 new attendees per weekend. Separate men's and women's weekends include prayer, personal reflection, Scripture, witness talks, Reconciliation, and Mass. Teams of lay men and women prepare each weekend under the guidance of the pastor. The 2025 women's weekend was held February 15–16, and the men's weekend February 22–23, 2025.
- Men's Weekend — Feb 22–23, 2025 (Terry Farris)
- Women's Weekend — Feb 15–16, 2025 (Kate Hallenbeck)
- Parish participation since 2008
- Founded in 1969; present in 95 U.S. dioceses and 1,263 parishes
Music & Liturgy
Alex Armstrong serves as Director of Music for the parish. The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page, allowing remote participation in the parish's principal liturgy.
- Director of Music: Alex Armstrong
- Sunday 11:00 AM Mass livestreamed on Facebook
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Administrator and Campus Chaplain Father S. Matthew Gray, with Franciscan Father Robert J. Menard, OFM, in residence. Three permanent deacons assist: Deacon John Leininger (Prison Ministry, Sacrament Prep), Deacon Gordon Snyder (Marriage Prep), and Deacon Rich Campana (Homebound Ministry). Anne Eldridge serves as Parish Director, and the staff also includes a Coordinator of Faith Formation, Youth Ministry Intern, Campus Ministers, Director of Music, Administrative Assistant, and Bookkeeper.
- Fr. S. Matthew Gray — Administrator, Campus Chaplain
- Rev. Robert J. Menard, OFM — In Residence
- Deacon John Leininger — Prison Ministry, Sacrament Prep
- Deacon Gordon Snyder — Marriage Prep
- Deacon Rich Campana — Homebound Ministry
- Anne Eldridge — Parish Director
- Laura Witt — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Sylvia Kucinic — Youth Ministry Intern
- Alex Armstrong — Director of Music
- Michelle West — Campus Minister
- Christopher Kerfoot — Associate Campus Minister
- Jessica Kay — Administrative Assistant
- Andréa Ferraco — Bookkeeper
Sacraments & Devotions
Reconciliation is offered Tuesday evenings during the school year and on Saturday mornings in the main church cry room, plus by appointment. Friday adoration runs 9 AM to 5 PM in the church. Holy Day schedules vary; Sunday 5:15 PM Mass is suspended over the summer and resumes in mid-August.
- First Eucharist & Reconciliation preparation (Grade 2)
- Marriage preparation with Deacon Gordon Snyder
- Homebound visits with Deacon Rich Campana
- Friday Eucharistic Adoration (9 AM – 5 PM)
- Prison ministry with Deacon John Leininger
Facilities & Building Project
The parish operates from 209 Sloan Street, with the mailing address 200 Edgewood Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631. The 1935 Gothic chapel still stands on the parish grounds and is used for adoration and special services. Ground was broken in October 2020 on a new $4.5M, 350-seat church, designed to share a site with a planned $1.7M parish center linked by a covered breezeway and an outdoor plaza. The Cadden family gift supports a separate on-campus chapel to be built between Cooper Library and the Brooks Center.
- 209 Sloan Street — main church
- 1935 Gothic chapel — preserved and used for adoration
- New $4.5M, 350-seat church begun October 2020
- Planned $1.7M parish center with breezeway/plaza
- Cadden on-campus chapel in planning
Getting Involved
Saint Andrew's website invites visitors to 'Come Visit Us!' The parish lists ways to engage as a parishioner or student: registering children for Faith Formation, attending CRHP weekends, joining campus ministry small groups, helping with Tuesday student dinners, or joining one of the sacramental-preparation or outreach ministries (prison, homebound, marriage prep). The parish bulletin, livestreamed Sunday Mass on Facebook, and diocesan Campus Ministry pages keep members connected.
- Faith Formation registration
- CRHP men's & women's weekends
- Campus ministry small groups and retreats
- Volunteer for Tuesday student dinners
- Prison, homebound, or marriage-prep ministries
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dan McLellan
Pastor at groundbreaking for the new $4.5M church in October 2020.
- Rev. Robert J. Menard, OFM
Franciscan campus chaplain; still listed 'In Residence' and was director of campus ministry during the 80th anniversary celebrations in 2015.