About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Raeford, North Carolina
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Raeford, North Carolina, located in Hoke County and part of the Diocese of Raleigh. The parish serves a growing, multicultural community with Masses celebrated in both English and Spanish, alongside a robust Faith Formation program and sacramental life. Currently pastored by Reverend Edisson Urrego, the parish is well known for its vibrant Hispanic ministry, Knights of Columbus Council 14632, sodality, and active outreach to the sick and homebound. The parish occupies a modern church complex on Fayetteville Road (US 401), northeast of the center of Raeford, across from First Health Moore Regional Hospital–Hoke.
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Reverend Edisson Urrego
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary offers a deeply bilingual Catholic home in Hoke County, with daily Mass, a full schedule of confessions, perpetual-style adoration/devotions, and sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and the Rites of Christian Initiation (RCIA in English, RICA in Spanish). Parishioners grow in faith through the Sodality of Mary, the Men's Spirituality Group, weekly Bible studies in both languages, the Knights of Columbus Council 14632, and regular outreach to the homebound and elderly at Autumn Care. It is a small but active parish where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship side-by-side and ministries are easy to join.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (First Fridays only)
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (all but First Friday)
- Friday: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (First Fridays only, Spanish)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (First Saturdays only)
- Also by appointment / o con cita previa
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Hour)
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (First Fridays only; Holy Hour following Mass)
- Friday: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (First Fridays only, Spanish; Hora Santa & Benediction)
- First Saturday: Holy Hour following the 9:00 AM Bilingual Mass (Sodality of Mary)
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish is named for St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a 13th-century Hungarian princess renowned for her charity to the poor and her deep life of prayer. Her feast day is November 17, and the parish takes her as a model of generous, hands-on service to those in need — a fitting patron for a parish whose ministries include the Knights of Columbus, Sodality of Mary, and regular outreach to the sick and elderly.
- Patron: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Feast day: November 17
History of the Parish
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Parish dedicated its current church in August 2008, an event that marked a turning point for the community — the congregation grew by roughly a third in the weeks after the dedication. In 2009 the parish was led by Sister Jeanne Morgan, SSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, who previously had a long ministry as a Director of Religious Education working with RCIA, adult faith formation, and spiritual guidance. The parish's growth closely tracked the broader Hispanic presence in Hoke County, and bilingual Mass and sacramental life became a hallmark of the parish under subsequent leadership, including today's pastor, Reverend Edisson Urrego.
- New church dedicated: August 2008
- Pastoral Administrator c. 2009: Sister Jeanne Morgan, SSJ
- Current pastor: Reverend Edisson Urrego
Pastor, Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Reverend Edisson Urrego. The staff team supporting parish life includes Sherry Godoy (Director of Faith Formation / Directora de formación de fe; [email protected]; (910) 249-9831), Verenice Moctezuma and Isabel Poland (R.C.I.A. Coordinators / Coordinadoras de R.C.I.A.), Maritza Grijalva (Liturgy Coordinator / Coordinadora de liturgia), Vilma Panas (Communication Coordinator / Coordinadora de comunicación), Melissa Mateo (Pastoral Care of the Sick / Pastoral de los enfermos), and TJ Freeman. Office hours are Tuesday 10 AM – 4 PM, Wednesday 8 AM – 2 PM, Thursday 8 AM – 4 PM, and Friday 8 AM – 2 PM.
- Reverend Edisson Urrego — Pastor
- Sherry Godoy — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], (910) 249-9831)
- Verenice Moctezuma — R.C.I.A. Coordinator
- Isabel Poland — R.C.I.A. Coordinator
- Maritza Grijalva — Liturgy Coordinator
- Vilma Panas — Communication Coordinator ([email protected])
- Melissa Mateo — Pastoral Care of the Sick
- TJ Freeman — staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Elizabeth of Hungary is bilingual and serves children, youth, and adults. The Director of Faith Formation is Sherry Godoy ([email protected], (910) 249-9831). Programs include Confirmation preparation (Confirmation I and II), First Communion preparation (Classroom 1 through Classroom 4), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA in English / RICA in Spanish) for catechumens and candidates. Confirmation II students are expected to be able to answer 92 standard questions, with the same expectation in Spanish.
- Director of Faith Formation: Sherry Godoy
- R.C.I.A. / R.I.C.A. Coordinators: Verenice Moctezuma and Isabel Poland
- Confirmation I and Confirmation II preparation
- First Communion: Classroom 1–4
- RCIA / RICA meeting schedules published annually
- Faith Formation Prayers and 92 Confirmation Questions available in English and Spanish
Sodality of Mary / Sodalidad
The Sodality of Mary (Sodalidad) meets on the First Saturday of each month. The gathering begins with the bilingual 9:00 AM Mass, followed by a Holy Hour and formation. It is a spiritual fellowship for women (and men, in some sodality traditions) devoted to Marian piety and growth in faith.
- First Saturday of the month
- Begins with 9:00 AM bilingual Mass
- Holy Hour and formation follow
Men's Spirituality Group
The Men's Spirituality Group meets every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 3:00 PM. The group is built on three pillars: contemplative prayer (opening up to a vulnerable relationship with God), asceticism (the strength to say 'no' to worldly distractions), and fraternity (mutual support, encouragement, and mercy among men striving after the same uncommon ideals).
- Meets 2nd and 4th Sunday at 3:00 PM
- Three pillars: contemplative prayer, asceticism, fraternity
Bible Study / Clase de Biblia
Bible Study is offered in both English and Spanish each week, giving parishioners a regular opportunity for scripture study and faith sharing in their preferred language.
- Bible Study in English: every Friday, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Estudio Bíblico en Español: every Thursday, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM
Knights of Columbus Council 14632
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is home to Knights of Columbus Council 14632, known as 'St. Elizabeth's of Hungary.' The council is in District 6, Region 7, Division I of the North Carolina Knights of Columbus. It hosts a Planning Meeting on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM and a Business Meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM, providing Catholic men of the parish a structured fraternal and charitable ministry.
- Council Name: St. Elizabeth's of Hungary
- Council Number: 14632
- District 6 / Region 7 / Division I
- Planning Meeting: 1st Thursday, 7:00 PM
- Business Meeting: 2nd Thursday, 7:00 PM
Pastoral Care of the Sick & Outreach
The parish takes seriously its call to visit and care for the sick and homebound. Anointing of the Sick is celebrated on the first Thursday of each month during Mass — parishioners are asked to sign up on the list near the parish office. Pastoral Care of the Sick is coordinated by Melissa Mateo. The parish also maintains a regular monthly Mass at Autumn Care in Raeford (last Wednesday of the month, 10:00 AM) to bring the Eucharist to elderly residents who cannot easily come to church.
- Anointing of the Sick: First Thursday of each month (sign up near the office)
- Pastoral Care of the Sick coordinator: Melissa Mateo
- Mass at Autumn Care, Raeford: last Wednesday of the month, 10:00 AM
Sacraments
St. Elizabeth of Hungary celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is done through the Faith Formation program. The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated monthly and offered individually as needed. Reconciliation (Confession) follows the weekly schedule and is also available by appointment. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Church are welcomed through the R.C.I.A. (English) and R.I.C.A. (Spanish) processes. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the parish office.
- Baptism — for infants (contact parish) and adults via RCIA/RICA
- First Eucharist / Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — Confirmation I and II
- Reconciliation (Confession) — weekly schedule and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — First Thursday of the month
- Holy Matrimony — contact the parish
- R.C.I.A. / R.I.C.A. — for unbaptized adults and catechumens
Visit, Location & Contact
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Parish is located at 6199 Fayetteville Road (US 401 East), Raeford, NC 28376, northeast of the center of Raeford, directly across from First Health Moore Regional Hospital–Hoke. The mailing address is P.O. Box 665, Raeford, NC 28376. The parish phone number is (910) 875-8803 and the general email is [email protected]. The parish website is https://stelizabethofhungaryraefordnc.org/, and the parish is listed by the Diocese of Raleigh at dioceseofraleigh.org. Office hours are Tuesday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Wednesday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
- Address: 6199 Fayetteville Road, Raeford, NC 28376
- Mailing: P.O. Box 665, Raeford, NC 28376
- Phone: (910) 875-8803
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stelizabethofhungaryraefordnc.org/
- On US 401 East, across from First Health Hospital
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sister Jeanne Morgan, SSJPastoral Administrator, c. 2009
Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill; led the parish in the months surrounding the 2008 dedication of the new church.