About St. Catherine of Siena · Tarboro, North Carolina
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic parish in Tarboro, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Raleigh, currently led by Reverend Eric M. Imbao, C.I.C.M. The parish traces its roots to the first Anglo-Catholic families who arrived in Tarboro from Virginia in 1844, and was formally erected as a parish on June 22, 1934. Today the community worships in a former funeral-home chapel that was rolled through the streets of Tarboro in 1979 to its present home at 1004 St. David Street, and it serves a faithful that includes both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families of eastern North Carolina.
- Established
- 1934
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena
- Rector
- Rev. Eric M. Imbao, C.I.C.M.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in eastern North Carolina, with Sunday Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish, weekday Mass on Wednesdays, and a weekly Wednesday Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the chapel. The parish is small enough that parishioners know one another, yet active enough to gather for community events like the annual Latino Fest at Braswell Park, regular faith formation for children, and seasonal devotions such as Lenten reconciliation services. It is a place where the historic Catholic faith of Tarboro — going back to 1844 — is lived out in a tight-knit, Spirit-guided community.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM (First Fridays only)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (in the chapel)
- Friday 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM (First Fridays only)
Parish History
Catholic life in Tarboro began in 1844, when the town's first Anglo-Catholic families came from Virginia. For decades they worshipped without a church of their own; the idea of building a Catholic church took shape in 1892, and construction of the first St. Catherine church began in the summer of 1897, with completion in the spring of 1898. That first church was used until 1925, when it was judged unfit for further use. A new church and rectory were built in 1929 (the rectory still serves as the parish office), and on June 22, 1934, St. Catherine was formally erected as a parish in the Diocese of Raleigh. By the late 1970s the 1929 church had become too small for the growing community. When the Carlisle funeral home prepared to demolish its chapel, the pastor of St. Catherine arranged for the building to be donated. On June 19, 1979, the chapel was physically moved from its original site through the streets of Tarboro to its present location at 1004 St. David Street, where townspeople watched as the building made its journey.
- 1844: First Anglo-Catholic families arrive in Tarboro from Virginia
- 1892: Planning for a Catholic church begins
- 1897–1898: First St. Catherine church built
- 1925: First church judged unfit for further use
- 1929: Second church and the present rectory built
- June 22, 1934: St. Catherine formally erected as a parish
- June 19, 1979: The former Carlisle funeral home chapel is moved through the streets of Tarboro to become the present church
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
St. Catherine of Siena celebrates Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, and offers a weekly Wednesday weekday Mass. The parish publishes its full schedule through the Diocese of Raleigh and on its own website.
- Sunday 8:30 AM — English
- Sunday 10:00 AM — Spanish
- Sunday 12:00 noon — Spanish
- Wednesday 9:00 AM — English
- Wednesday 7:00 PM — Spanish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Faith Formation program for the 2025-2026 program year, providing religious education for the children of the parish as part of its ongoing mission to pass on the Catholic faith to the next generation.
- Faith Formation classes for the 2025-2026 year
Hispanic / Latino Community
A significant part of parish life at St. Catherine of Siena is its Spanish-speaking community. Two of the three Sunday Masses are celebrated in Spanish, and there is also a Spanish Mass on Wednesday evenings. The parish hosts the annual Latino Fest at Braswell Park in Tarboro, bringing the wider community together for food, music, and fellowship.
- Sunday Spanish Masses at 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon
- Wednesday evening Spanish Mass at 7:00 PM
- Annual Latino Fest at Braswell Park, Tarboro, NC 27886
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Reverend Eric M. Imbao, C.I.C.M., a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionhurst), as Pastor. The parish office is housed in the 1929 rectory on the same property as the church.
- Rev. Eric M. Imbao, C.I.C.M. — Pastor
Parish Life & Volunteerism
St. Catherine of Siena is a small but active community, and parishioners regularly volunteer their time and talent to keep the parish running. Parishioners are involved in organizing and delivering food for those in need, providing pastoral care for the grieving, welcoming new families, maintaining the church grounds and decor, teaching the faith to children, serving in liturgical ministries at Mass, visiting the sick and homebound, and assisting in the parish office.
- Outreach to those in need (food collection and delivery)
- Pastoral care for the grieving and those in difficult circumstances
- Welcoming ministry for new parishioners
- Grounds, maintenance, and decor of the church
- Faith Formation teaching for youth
- Liturgical ministries at Mass (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, choir)
- Visits to the sick and homebound
Visit & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers. Mass is celebrated on Sundays in English and Spanish, confessions are heard on Wednesdays (and First Fridays), and Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the chapel on Wednesday evenings. Anyone wishing to learn more is encouraged to call the parish office or follow the parish's official Facebook page for announcements and events.
- Address: 1004 St. David Street, Tarboro, NC 27886-3035
- Phone: 252-563-4567
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stcatherinetarboro.org/
- Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sctarborocatholic