About St. Charles Borromeo · Ahoskie, North Carolina
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a small but vibrant bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish in Ahoskie, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Raleigh. The parish traces its roots to 1941, when Catholics in the area were first served by a priest who also cared for Tarboro and Scotland Neck; the first resident pastor arrived in 1943 and the original church was dedicated on October 15, 1944. The current church building was dedicated on September 11, 1980, after a groundbreaking on July 9, 1977. Today the parish is led by Rev. Robert L. Schmid, Jr., and it serves both an English-speaking and a growing Spanish-speaking community, offering daily and weekend Masses in both languages.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Robert L. Schmid, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a small, family-sized Catholic community where parishioners of English- and Spanish-speaking backgrounds worship side by side, with multiple weekend and daily Masses in both languages, plus Eucharistic Adoration and a regular confession schedule. Active ministries — including a Catechesis (religious education) program, a youth group, English and Spanish choirs, a Parish Council, and an Evangelical Catholic outreach — make it easy to get involved, while a dedicated Director of Religious Education (Axel Tavares) supports the formation of children and adults alike.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
- Tuesday 7:15 PM - 7:45 PM
- Friday 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
- Friday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Sunday 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
- Tuesday 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Friday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Charles Borromeo began in 1941 as a small Catholic congregation in Ahoskie, initially served by a priest who also cared for Tarboro and Scotland Neck. Early Masses were celebrated in a family home on Wednesday mornings. In 1943, with a grant from the Catholic Extension Society, property was purchased for a permanent church and named St. Charles to honor the donor. The first pastor took up residence in 1943, and the original church was dedicated on Sunday, October 15, 1944. By 1975 the parish had outgrown the original building; a new site was chosen, groundbreaking took place on July 9, 1977, and the present church was dedicated on September 11, 1980.
- 1941: First Masses offered in a family home in Ahoskie
- 1943: Catholic Extension Society grant funds purchase of property; first resident pastor arrives
- October 15, 1944: Original church dedicated
- July 9, 1977: Groundbreaking for the new church
- September 11, 1980: New church dedicated
- March 2023: Mission of St. Anne in Scotland Neck, served by St. Charles Borromeo, closed permanently
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Robert L. Schmid, Jr., who serves as pastor. Axel Tavares serves as the parish's Director of Religious Education, coordinating faith formation and the Catechesis Ministry for parishioners of all ages.
- Rev. Robert L. Schmid, Jr. — Pastor
- Axel Tavares — Director of Religious Education
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Charles Borromeo offers Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week, along with Eucharistic Adoration and a regular confession schedule. The parish is officially listed with the Diocese of Raleigh; the most current schedule is also published on the parish's own website and Facebook page.
- Weekend Mass: Sunday 10:00 AM (English), 1:00 PM (Spanish), 6:30 PM (Spanish); Saturday 10:00 AM (English)
- Weekday Mass: Tuesday 6:30 PM (Spanish), Wednesday 12:00 PM (English), Thursday 9:00 AM (English), Friday 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Adoration: Sunday 9:15–9:45 AM; Tuesday 7:00–8:00 PM; Friday 5:00–7:00 PM
- Confessions: Sunday 9:15–9:45 AM; Tuesday 7:15–7:45 PM; Friday 5:30–6:15 PM and 5:00–7:00 PM
Bilingual & Hispanic Ministry
A defining feature of St. Charles Borromeo today is its bilingual character. Spanish-language Masses are offered on Sunday afternoons and evenings, Tuesday evenings, and Friday evenings, supported by a Spanish Choir, a Hispanic youth group, and an Evangelical Catholic (kerygmatic) outreach led by Oscar Sanchez and Rachel Davison. The parish's website and Facebook page are described as carrying good information in both English and Spanish, and the Diocese of Raleigh notes that the parish is a hub for Hispanic Catholics in the Ahoskie area.
- Spanish Masses: Sunday 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM, Tuesday 6:30 PM, Friday 7:00 PM
- Spanish Choir led by Juan Olguin
- Youth Group (Veronica Olguin)
- Evangelical Catholic (Oscar Sanchez, Rachel Davison)
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at St. Charles Borromeo is coordinated by Director of Religious Education Axel Tavares, who also leads the Catechesis Ministry. The parish offers religious education for children and ongoing formation for adults, supporting both English- and Spanish-speaking families in growing in their Catholic faith.
- Director of Religious Education: Axel Tavares
- Catechesis Ministry
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Charles is shared between an English choir and a Spanish choir, supporting the parish's bilingual liturgical life at weekend and weekday Masses.
- English Choir — Rachel Davison
- Spanish Choir — Juan Olguin
Parish Life & Service
Beyond Mass and formation, parishioners are invited into community life through the Parish Council, youth ministry, and the practical work of Church Maintenance, all of which help sustain the parish as a small but active family-sized community.
- Parish Council — Veronica Olguin
- Youth Group — Veronica Olguin
- Church Maintenance — Bill Marrero
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Charles Borromeo is located on the west side of Ahoskie along NC Highway 561. From the town center, head west-northwest on 1st Street for about a mile; the church will be on the right shortly after Hertford County High School. The parish office can be reached by phone, and the most current Mass, confession, and adoration schedule — along with any changes — is also posted on the parish Facebook page.
- Address: 122 NC Hwy 561 West, Ahoskie, NC 27910
- Mailing Address: PO Box 605, Ahoskie, NC 27910
- Phone: (252) 332-2939
- Website: https://www.stcharlesahoskie.com/
- Parish Facebook page: Saint Charles Borromeo-Ahoskie
Pastors & rectors through the years
- First resident pastor1943
Took up residence in 1943; oversaw purchase of property via a Catholic Extension Society grant and dedication of the original church on October 15, 1944.