About St. Eugene · Asheville, North Carolina
St. Eugene Catholic Church is a diverse, bilingual Roman Catholic parish in North Asheville, North Carolina, belonging to the Diocese of Charlotte. Founded in 1959 to serve the growing Catholic population in north Buncombe County, the parish worships on a campus shared with Asheville Catholic School and is named for Pope St. Eugene I, a 7th-century bishop of Rome. Today St. Eugene offers Mass in English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic adoration, a robust faith-formation and youth program, and an active outreach network including a parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus Council #11911.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Eugene I (Pope)
- Rector
- Rev. Sabastian Alexis Umouyo, M.S.P.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Eugene is one of the largest and most diverse parishes in western North Carolina, with a strong bilingual character (English/Spanish Masses every Sunday) and a genuinely full sacramental life — daily Mass, 12-hour daily Eucharistic adoration, weekly confession, and a 24-hour adoration chapel at 44 Culvern Street. Parishioners benefit from cradle-to-teen faith formation, a lively high-school youth ministry (Saint Eugene Youth, SEY), an on-site preschool and Asheville Catholic School, an active Knights of Columbus council, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Respect Life and ecumenical ministries, and a parish tithe of 10% of annual income to local outreach. The community's stated mission emphasizes being intergenerational, hospitable, inclusive, and grounded in the Eucharist as the source and summit of parish life.
Mass times at St. Eugene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Daily 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel (44 Culvern Street), with Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction
History of St. Eugene Parish
The Parish of St. Eugene was canonically erected on June 21, 1959, by Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh, splitting off from the St. Lawrence parish to serve the Catholics of north Asheville. Founding pastor Father John Brown led the community for ten years, while the people worshipped in the school gymnasium and the dedicated church was constructed. The church was finally completed and dedicated on April 27, 1969. The parish was incorporated into the newly erected Diocese of Charlotte on January 12, 1972. Major building milestones include the 1986 Monsignor Brown wing (cry room, nursery, conference room) and the 2001–2002 $2.5 million expansion that added a day chapel, offices, kitchen, meeting rooms, a columbarium, and a larger narthex/social hall.
- Founded June 21, 1959
- Church dedicated April 27, 1969
- Joined Diocese of Charlotte, January 12, 1972
- Monsignor Brown wing added, 1986
- $2.5 million expansion completed April 2002
The Patron Saint: St. Eugene I, Pope
The parish is named for Pope St. Eugene I, a 7th-century pontiff renowned for his gentleness, holiness, and generosity. He became Bishop of Rome on August 10, 645 AD, and was buried in the Lateran Basilica on June 2, 657 AD. His feast day is June 2. The late Rev. Mr. Jos Vandermeer, a deacon, painted an icon of the patron saint that hangs in the church. The parish's 1959 dedication also honored the late Right Reverend Eugene McGuinness of the Diocese of Raleigh, with whom founding pastor Father John Brown had previously served.
- Patron: Pope St. Eugene I
- Feast day: June 2
- Pontificate began: August 10, 645 AD
- Died/buried: June 2, 657 AD (Lateran Basilica)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
St. Eugene runs a complete Faith Formation program for children from Pre-K through 8th grade, with First Communion typically in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 9th grade (each requiring at least two years of preparation). The Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC) is offered for school-aged children not yet baptized. High-school youth (grades 9–12) belong to Saint Eugene Youth (SEY), a Eucharist-centered movement with a dedicated CORE team of adult volunteers. SEY meets most Mondays from 6:30–7:45 PM from September through early May, and emphasizes prayer, community, service, leadership, and fun — including faith sharing, socials, service projects, fundraisers, mission trips (such as CHWC), and diocesan events. The youth are also active on Instagram @ste.youth and @SEYAsheville.
- Elementary Faith Formation: Pre-K–5th grade, Sundays 10:20–11:20 AM at Asheville Catholic School
- Middle School Faith Formation: 6th–8th grade, Mondays 6:30–7:45 PM in the social hall
- Saint Eugene Youth (SEY): 9th–12th grade, Sundays 4:00–5:30 PM in the church
- First Communion preparation: 2nd grade (2-year program)
- Confirmation preparation: 9th grade (2-year program)
- Director: Amy Arias-Cordova ([email protected], 828-254-7602 ext. 1007)
Asheville Catholic School & St. Eugene Preschool
The St. Eugene campus is home to two educational ministries. Asheville Catholic School is the inter-parochial K–8 school formed in 1980 by the merger of St. Eugene School (which had opened on Culvern Street in 1955 as St. Lawrence School) and St. Joan of Arc School (on Haywood Road). Today it serves the five parishes of the Asheville area. St. Eugene Preschool / Parent Morning Out, directed by Mrs. Jennie Arndt (M.Ed.), offers classes for toddlers (12 months – 3 years) and preschoolers (3- and 4-year-olds), Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, September through May, with curriculum that includes religion, basic Spanish, outdoor science, and a partnership with Asheville Catholic School for seamless transition into the ACS 4-year-old program.
- Asheville Catholic School: K–8, formed 1980, on Culvern Street campus (828-252-7896, www.ashevillecatholic.org)
- St. Eugene Preschool/Parent Morning Out: ages 12 months – Pre-K, M–F 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Sept.–May)
- Preschool Director: Jennie Arndt ([email protected], 828-707-6595)
Outreach & Social Ministry
St. Eugene is heavily engaged in outreach, both within the parish and across greater Asheville. A formal Community Tithing Committee disburses 10% of the parish's annual income to local charities. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs a joint conference with St. Lawrence and St. Joan of Arc parishes, visiting and assisting needy families in Buncombe County. Sharing Sunday collects food on the first weekend of each month for ABCCM, Western Carolina Rescue Mission, North Buncombe Samaritan Ministry, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army. The Knights of Columbus Council #11911 supports Respect Life, SEY, Catholic Charities, Catholic Campus Ministry, Operation LAMB, and an annual March for Life trip to Charlotte. The Respect Life Ministry prays the rosary on the 1st and 3rd Mondays, supports local prayer presence at the abortion clinic, and partners with the Knights on diocesan pro-life efforts. The Refugee Ministry and Ecumenical Prayer Service Ministry round out the parish's wider social witness.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Eugene / St. Lawrence / St. Joan of Arc conference) — meets Mondays 6:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus Council #11911 — meets at the Social Hall; Planning 2nd Wed., Business 3rd Tues., 7:00 PM
- Sharing Sunday — first weekend of every month
- Respect Life Ministry — 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:00 PM, All Saints Chapel
- Refugee Ministry
- Ecumenical Prayer Service Ministry
- Community Tithing: 10% of annual parish income distributed to local outreach
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Sabastian Alexis Umouyo, M.S.P. (Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, joined July 2025), assisted by two deacons, Rev. Dr. Michael Zboyovski and Rev. Dr. John Langlois. The lay staff includes a Director of Music (Mechelle Sexton), Director of Religious Education (Amy Arias-Cordova), Preschool Director (Jennie Arndt), Parish Life Coordinator (MaryEllen Shephard), Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor (Denise Dobrolski), and Music Director Allyson MacCauley. A 12-14 member Parish Pastoral Council, with deliberate Latino representation, advises the pastor and oversees six commissions: Liturgy and Worship; Education and Formation; Parish Life; Outreach (Ecumenism); Evangelization and Communication; and Buildings and Facilities.
- Pastor: Rev. Sabastian Umouyo, M.S.P.
- Deacons: Rev. Dr. Michael Zboyovski, Rev. Dr. John Langlois
- Director of Music: Mechelle Sexton ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Amy Arias-Cordova ([email protected])
- Preschool Director: Jennie Arndt ([email protected])
- Parish Life Coordinator: MaryEllen Shephard ([email protected], ext. 1010)
- Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor: Denise Dobrolski
- Pastoral Council Chair: Buster Brown (828-231-0616, [email protected])
Ecumenical & Hispanic Ministry
St. Eugene maintains strong ecumenical ties with neighboring Christian congregations. Every Wednesday during Advent and Lent the parish joins with St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Mark's Lutheran, and St. Paul's Methodist churches for a light shared meal and prayer service; on Good Friday the four congregations gather at St. Mary's Episcopal Church for communal Stations of the Cross at 12:00 noon. On the Spanish-language side, the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal / Prayer Group meets every Saturday (Rosary at 6:30 PM, prayer hour at 7:00 PM) for meditation, worship, and prayer in Spanish — children are welcome — and there is a dedicated Hispanic outreach effort including a Spanish Mass every Sunday at 7:30 AM and a bilingual Mass at 11:30 AM.
- Advent/Lent joint prayer services with St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Mark's Lutheran, St. Paul's Methodist
- Good Friday Stations of the Cross, 12:00 noon, St. Mary's Episcopal Church
- Hispanic Charismatic Renewal / Prayer Group: Saturdays, Rosary 6:30 PM, prayer hour 7:00 PM
- Spanish-language sacramental preparation and outreach
Getting Involved & New Parishioners
St. Eugene welcomes new parishioners — registration forms are available in English and Spanish on the parish website. The parish's organizational structure offers multiple entry points: the six commissions (Liturgy and Worship, Education and Formation, Parish Life, Outreach/Ecumenism, Evangelization and Communication, Buildings and Facilities), the Parish Pastoral Council (with members drawn by lot for three-year terms), the Knights of Columbus (for Catholic men 18+), the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and numerous liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries. Visitors and newcomers are encouraged to introduce themselves at the parish office (M–F 9 AM – 4 PM) and to attend the 'I'm New Here' information page on the website.
- Parish office: 72 Culvern Street, M–F 9 AM – 4 PM, (828) 254-5193
- Parish registration available in English and Spanish on the website
- Pastoral Council: 12–14 members, 3-year terms, drawn by lot, with Latino representation
- Six commissions: Liturgy/Worship, Education/Formation, Parish Life, Outreach/Ecumenism, Evangelization/Communication, Buildings/Facilities
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Brown1959–1969
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the school (1957) and the church building (dedicated 1969).
- Msgr. John Manley1969–1970
Succeeded founding pastor one year after the church dedication.
- Msgr. Eugene Livelsberger1970–1971
- Father John Walsh1971–1977
- Father Ronald McLaughlin1977–1978
- Father Richard Hanson1978
Administrator.
- Father Felix Kelaher1978–1980
- Msgr. Joseph Showfety1980–1983
- Father James Solari1983–1993
- Father Frank Cancro1993–2005
Chaplain at the founding of Knights of Columbus Council #11911 in 1997.
- Father John Schneider2005–2009
- Father Edward Sheridan2009–2011
- Father Patrick Cahill2011–2025
- Father Sabastian Umouyo, M.S.P.2025–present
Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria; joined July 2025.