About St. Charles Borromeo · Morganton, North Carolina
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Morganton, North Carolina, serving the foothills community of Burke County within the Diocese of Charlotte. The parish describes itself as a community of considerable ethnic and socio-economic diversity that finds joyful unity in the reverent celebration of the Holy Eucharist. With roots going back to a Mass in a private residence in 1929 and formal establishment in 1947, it has grown from a handful of Catholic families in the late 1940s to over 700 registered households today, with weekly worship in both English and Spanish and a notable Hmong Catholic presence that helped pioneer Hmong ministry in the Diocese of Charlotte.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Reverend Stephen M. Hoyt (Parochial Administrator, effective January 13, 2026, following the retirement of longtime pastor Father Kenneth L. Whittington)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a parish where three cultures — Anglo, Hispanic (primarily Guatemalan), and Hmong — worship side by side in a way that is rare in the Charlotte diocese. Sunday Masses are offered in English and Spanish, with additional Hmong liturgical life, and Father Whittington's 33-year pastorate cemented a culture where 'the poor are supported, the ailing are comforted, the dispossessed are welcomed, and the immigrant is embraced.' Active ministries include OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the PREP religious education program for public-school children in cooperation with neighboring parishes, a Hispanic Youth Group, faith formation for children and adults, and outreach through the Knights of Columbus Council 3414 and the parish's own Borromeo Academy. Visitors and newcomers are explicitly welcomed with the words, 'Our doors, as our hearts, are open to all.'
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- Fridays 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- By appointment
Parish History
Catholic life in Morganton goes back to the close of the Civil War, when Bishop (later Cardinal) James Gibbons preached at the Burke County courthouse. Sporadic visits from priests continued through the early 20th century; the first recorded Mass in town was celebrated in a private residence in November 1929 with eight people in attendance. By the mid-1940s, Mass was being said weekly in the courthouse and a private home. The Diocese of Raleigh purchased a tract of land on West Union Street in the fall of 1947, and the first Mass on the new property was offered in October 1947. Priests from St. Aloysius Church in Hickory traveled to Morganton for weekend liturgies until Father William T. McShea became the first resident pastor in October 1950. The present church was built in 1961, and a 1988 addition — now called Murray Hall in memory of Father John Murray — added a community hall, kitchen, faith formation classrooms and offices.
- First Mass in Morganton: November 1929, in a private home (8 attendees)
- Diocese of Raleigh purchases land: fall 1947
- First Mass on parish property: October 1947
- First resident pastor: Father William T. McShea, October 1950
- Present church built: 1961
- Murray Hall addition: 1988 (named for Father John Murray, d. 1997)
- First Hmong New Year Mass in Diocese of Charlotte: November 14, 1996
- 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary: September 24, 2022
Multicultural Parish Life
St. Charles Borromeo is widely known in the Diocese of Charlotte as a multicultural parish that brings together Anglo, Hispanic (primarily Guatemalan) and Hmong Catholic communities. Father Kenneth Whittington's 33-year pastorate was defined by this reality: he learned to read and celebrate parts of the Mass in Hmong, helped organize both the English and Hispanic choirs, and hosted the first Hmong New Year Mass in the diocese in 1996 with Hmong catechist and deacon Pe Lis. The parish's own statement of welcome emphasizes that 'the poor are supported, the ailing are comforted, the dispossessed are welcomed, and the immigrant is embraced.'
- Three Mass languages: English, Spanish and Hmong
- English Choir and Hispanic Choir organized under Father Whittington
- Pe Lis — first Hmong catechist for the Diocese of Charlotte, served as deacon at St. Charles
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Parochial Administrator Father Stephen M. Hoyt, who took over on January 13, 2026, following the retirement of longtime pastor Father Kenneth L. Whittington. Three deacons — Deacon Miguel Sebastian, Deacon Ed Konarski, and Deacon John Martino — assist with liturgical and pastoral ministry. The parish also maintains a faith formation team, music ministry, and operations staff.
- Father Stephen M. Hoyt — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Miguel Sebastian
- Deacon Ed Konarski
- Deacon John Martino
- Gail Watson — Faith Formation Director ([email protected])
- Rosa Velasquez — Spanish Faith Formation Coordinator and Hispanic Youth Coordinator (828-744-3084)
- Sarah Lynch — Organist / Choir Director
- Gayle Brown — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Mary Koontz — Receptionist ([email protected])
- Sakaria Jose — Facility Coordinator
- Santos Mejias Vicente and Silvestre Tecum Hernandez — Maintenance Assistants
Father Kenneth L. Whittington — Pastor Emeritus (1992–2026)
Father Kenneth L. Whittington, known to his parishioners as 'Father Ken,' is the pastor who defined modern St. Charles Borromeo. A former Episcopal organist who converted to Catholicism and was ordained at age 46 on May 21, 1988, he held a Fulbright Scholarship, studied at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt, and earned a master's in performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He was ordained in the Diocese of Charlotte, served four years as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Charlotte, and was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo in July 1992. Over the next 33 years he grew the parish from roughly 200 families to more than 700 households, helped establish the Hispanic choir, learned to read liturgical texts in Hmong, commissioned the Litany of the Saints mural by Matthew Good, and installed nearly 40 icons. He retired on January 13, 2026, at the age of 84.
- Convert to Catholicism in the mid-1980s
- Sacred Heart Seminary, Hales Corners, Wisconsin, 1984–1988
- Ordained May 21, 1988, age 46
- Parochial vicar, Cathedral of St. Patrick, Charlotte, 1988–1992
- Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Morganton, July 1992 – January 13, 2026
- Retired at age 84 with 38 years of priestly ministry
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Charles Borromeo serves every age from kindergarten through adulthood. Adults grow through Adult Faith Formation sessions, Adult Bible Study, and OCIA for those inquiring into the Catholic faith or preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist. Public-school children in grades K–8 attend the regional PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) with neighboring parishes, meeting Monday evenings 6:30–7:50 p.m. at the Saint Andrew the Apostle New School Campus from September through May.
- Adult Faith Formation
- Adult Bible Study
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults, children and youth
- PREP (regional K–8 program, Monday evenings at St. Andrew the Apostle New School Campus)
Sacrament Preparation
Sacrament preparation at St. Charles is integrated into the parish's faith formation programs. Parents of baptismal candidates attend a Baptism Preparation Class and meet with a priest or deacon for an interview; baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation or Eucharist can prepare through OCIA; children typically prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through PREP.
- Baptism Preparation Class (contact the Rectory)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (typically through PREP)
- Confirmation (for youth and adults, through OCIA)
- Marriage (contact the Rectory)
Hispanic Ministry and Youth
Spanish-language ministry is led by Spanish Faith Formation Coordinator and Hispanic Youth Coordinator Rosa Velasquez. The Hispanic Youth Group meets on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. and is open to students in grades 9–12 as well as WPCC and university students. Its four-fold purpose is faith formation, parish and community service, supporting higher education, and offering social activities such as trips to Carowinds, Washington, D.C. and Charleston.
- Spanish Mass every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
- Hispanic Choir
- Hispanic Youth Group — Fridays at 6:00 p.m.
- Contact: Rosa Velasquez, (828) 744-3084
Music and Liturgical Art
Music ministry at St. Charles Borromeo is led by Organist and Choir Director Sarah Lynch and includes both an English Choir and a Hispanic Choir, both organized during Father Whittington's tenure. The church also houses a Litany of the Saints mural commissioned from artist Matthew Good and nearly 40 icons installed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Organist/Choir Director: Sarah Lynch
- English Choir
- Hispanic Choir
- Litany of the Saints mural by Matthew Good
- Nearly 40 icons throughout the church
Parish Outreach and Organizations
Outreach is a defining mark of the parish, which states that 'the poor are supported, the ailing are comforted, the dispossessed are welcomed, and the immigrant is embraced.' Parishioners support this work through organizations including Knights of Columbus Council 3414 and the St. Joseph Table Ministry, and through parish events such as the annual St. Charles Borromeo Festival.
- Knights of Columbus Council 3414
- St. Joseph Table Ministry
- St. Charles Borromeo Festival (annual)
- Borromeo Academy (parish-affiliated school)
Visiting and Contact
The parish offices and rectory are located at 728 West Union Street in Morganton, North Carolina, where visitors can call (828) 437-3108 or email [email protected]. In-person inquiries can also be directed to specific staff members by email: Faith Formation ([email protected]), Finance/Bookkeeper ([email protected]), and Receptionist ([email protected]). The parish maintains an active Facebook page at facebook.com/scbmorganton.
- Address: 728 West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655
- Phone: (828) 437-3108
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintcharlesborromeo.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/scbmorganton
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William T. McShea1950–(unknown)
First resident pastor of St. Charles Borromeo; previously served at St. Aloysius Church in Hickory.
- Father John Murrayserved through the 1980s; died 1997
Led construction of the 1988 addition now known as Murray Hall in his memory.
- Father Kenneth L. WhittingtonJuly 1992 – January 13, 2026
Longest-serving pastor; grew the parish from about 200 to over 700 households; celebrated Mass in English, Spanish and Hmong; commissioned the Litany of the Saints mural and nearly 40 icons; retired at age 84 after 33 years as pastor and 38 years of priestly ministry.
- Father Stephen M. HoytEffective January 13, 2026
Succeeded Father Whittington as temporary administrator following Whittington's retirement.