About St. Clare · Waveland, Mississippi
St. Clare Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Biloxi located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Waveland, Hancock County, Mississippi. The parish was canonically established in 1919 and today serves approximately 350 families from its site at 236 S. Beach Boulevard, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The current pastor is Father Charles K. Arthur, who joined the parish on June 27, 2024. The parish is known for its resilience, having been completely rebuilt after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and continues a worship and outreach tradition that on the Mississippi coast dates back to the 1880s.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Charles K. Arthur
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
St. Clare offers a warm, family-sized Catholic community right on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with seven Masses a week (including a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses), weekly Confession before the Vigil, and a dedicated Adoration Chapel. Parishioners can get involved in more than a dozen ministries — from the choir, lectors, and altar society to the Knights of Columbus #16433, St. Vincent de Paul food and utility assistance, Walking with Moms in Need, Grief Support, Cursillo, and Religious Education — making it easy to put faith into action close to home.
Mass times at St. Clare
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 pm (before Vigil Mass); by appointment, call the office at (228) 467-9275
Adoration times
- Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
- Weekdays 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
About St. Clare Catholic Church, Waveland
St. Clare Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Biloxi serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast community of Waveland in Hancock County. Founded as a parish in 1919 and rooted in Catholic mission life on Beach Road since 1881, the parish today ministers to approximately 350 families from its elevated Gulf-front campus at 236 S. Beach Blvd. Father Charles K. Arthur serves as pastor, having joined on June 27, 2024, supported by parish secretary Michelle Fleming.
- Parish founded: 1919
- Diocese: Biloxi
- Current pastor: Fr. Charles K. Arthur (since June 27, 2024)
- Parish secretary: Michelle Fleming
- Approximate membership: 350 families (2024)
History of St. Clare
Catholic worship in Waveland began with a small wooden mission church built in 1881 by Father LeDuc, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis. Bishop Janssens dedicated the church in 1882 and blessed its bell on July 15, 1883, when the local Catholic population numbered 176. Father Blanc introduced regular weekly Sunday Masses in 1898, and the building was enlarged in 1905 and again in 1938. St. Clare was canonically established as its own parish in 1919 under its first resident pastor, Rev. Michael J. Costello, who served for 43 years until his death in 1962. In 1957 he added a brick front wall and bell tower that survived Hurricane Camille in 1969; his successor, Fr. O'Brien, built a new brick church, a parochial school, and a residence for the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Mary of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the campus in 2005, Fr. Cuthbert 'Cuddy' O'Connell led a complete, elevated rebuild that was dedicated in 2010 with the help of the Old St. Patrick's 'Harbor of Hope' volunteer effort.
- 1881: First Catholic church in Waveland built on Beach Road by Fr. LeDuc
- 1882: Bishop Janssens dedicates the mission church
- 1883 (July 15): Church bell blessed
- 1898: Father Blanc begins regular weekly Sunday Mass
- 1905 & 1938: Enlargements of the original wooden structure
- 1919: St. Clare established as a parish; Fr. Michael J. Costello named first resident pastor
- 1957: Fr. Costello adds brick front wall and bell tower (survives Camille, 1969)
- 1962: Fr. O'Brien builds new brick church, school, and convent for the Dominican Sisters
- 2005: Hurricane Katrina devastates the campus
- 2010: Rebuilt, elevated church and community center dedicated
Sacraments
St. Clare prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and the other rites of Catholic life. Parents and godparents are required to attend a Baptism class before a child is baptized, and marriages must be scheduled at least six months in advance through the parish office. First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick are all offered, with Anointing available by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism: Baptism class required; call Parish Office
- First Holy Communion: through Religious Education
- Confirmation: through parish preparation
- Marriage: schedule at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: contact Parish Office
Church Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Clare is supported by a network of parish ministries led by lay coordinators. Cathy Allain directs the Music & Choir program, which rehearses on Thursday evenings and leads music at the 8:30 am Sunday Mass and at special Masses. Other liturgical roles include lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar linen cleaning, flowers and decorations, and the Altar Society.
- Music & Choir — Cathy Allain (rehearsal Thursday 6:00 pm)
- Lectors — Mary Ann Pucheu
- Altar Servers & Extraordinary Ministers — Charles Walden
- Altar Linen Cleaning — Suzan Cox
- Flowers / Decorations — Gayle Deidrich
- Altar Society — Judy Yarborough
- Gift Shop — Deb Bourgeois
- Religious Education — Suzan Cox
Social & Service Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Clare's parishioners serve the wider Waveland and Hancock County community through Knights of Columbus Council #16433 and its Ladies Auxiliary, the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul conference, Walking with Moms in Need, Home Bound visits, Bereavement and Grief Support, and the Cursillo Movement. These groups provide everything from food and utility assistance to spiritual accompaniment.
- Knights of Columbus #16433 — Ricky Manieri
- Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary — Janis Vezzoso
- St. Vincent de Paul — Jim Barrett, Jr. (President)
- Walking with Moms in Need — Linda Walden
- Home Bound Ministry — Charles Walden
- Cursillo Movement — Jim Barrett, Jr.
- Bereavement Ministry — contact Church Office
- Grief Support — Suzan Cox & Sherry Ponder
St. Vincent de Paul at St. Clare
The St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Clare ministers to local residents in need with utility assistance and a limited food pantry, with additional requests considered on a case-by-case basis. The office is located at the parish address on S. Beach Boulevard and is open on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, dependent on trained volunteer availability. Volunteers can contact Jim Barrett or the parish office to get involved.
- President: Jim Barrett
- Vice-President: Kim McCloskey
- Secretary: Terry Calhoun
- Treasurer: Mike Webb
- Spiritual Leader: Suzan Cox
- Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Office phone: 228-467-9275
- Email: [email protected]
Meet Our Staff
St. Clare is served by a small, dedicated staff led by the pastor and supported by the parish secretary in the rectory office.
- Fr. Charles K. Arthur — Pastor
- Michelle Fleming — Parish Secretary
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Clare by phone, email, or in person at the rectory on South Beach Boulevard. The parish also maintains an active Facebook page with news, bulletins, and Mass-time updates.
- Address: 236 S. Beach Blvd., Waveland, MS 39576
- Phone: (228) 467-9275
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stclarewaveland.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stclarecatholic/
Patron Saint: St. Clare of Assisi
St. Clare of Assisi (1194–1253) was the foundress of the Order of Poor Clares, the contemplative Franciscan women's community. A close disciple of St. Francis, she governed her sisters at San Damiano for forty-two years, living in radical poverty, and was canonized only two years after her death. She is the patron saint of television, embroiderers, eye disorders, and laundry and gold workers; her memorial is celebrated on August 11, the date of her death.
- Born: July 16, 1194, Assisi
- Died: August 11, 1253, Assisi
- Canonized: 1255 by Pope Alexander IV
- Founded: Order of Poor Clares
- Patronage: television, embroiderers, eye disorders, gold workers, needle workers
- Feast Day: August 11
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael J. Costello1919-1962
First resident pastor; served 43 years until his death in 1962. Added the brick front wall and bell tower in 1957 that survived Hurricane Camille (1969).
- Rev. O'Brien1962-
Built a new brick church, a parochial school, and a two-story residence for the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Mary, New Orleans.
- Fr. Cuthbert 'Cuddy' O'Connellpost-Katrina era (c. 2006-2010+)
Shepherded the parish through the complete post-Katrina rebuild, living in a FEMA trailer for nine months and guiding construction of the elevated church and community center dedicated in 2010.
- Fr. Charles K. Arthur2024-present
Joined as pastor on June 27, 2024.