About St. Eugene · Wendell, North Carolina
St. Eugene Catholic Church (San Eugenio) is a multicultural Catholic parish in Wendell, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Raleigh. The parish traces its roots to 1916, when the first Catholic family settled in Wendell, and was formally established with the dedication of its first church in 1948. Since 2002 it has been served by Missionhurst-CICM missionaries and today worships in both English and Spanish, with about 930 registered families calling it their spiritual home.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop of Marseille, founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries, Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Rector
- Reverend Frederic M. Mizengo, CICM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Eugene is a warm, multicultural Catholic community in Wendell where English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners worship side by side and share one faith and one liturgy. With more than twenty active ministries — from the Brown Bag Ministry that feeds nearly 1,000 lunches each week to the Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, Prayer Blanket Ministry, Community Garden, Peer Ministry/Life Teen, and Respect Life — there are abundant ways to grow spiritually and serve neighbors. Faith Formation for children and adults, daily Mass in two languages, Thursday Adoration, and the annual International Food & Music Festival (a Triangle East 'Best Local Festival' nominee) all make St. Eugene a true spiritual home for families in eastern Wake County.
Mass times at St. Eugene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Seasonal Reconciliation Services (e.g., Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Parish History
St. Eugene Catholic Church traces its origins to 1916, when the Kannon family — Lebanese immigrants who had come to the U.S. in 1905 — became the first Catholics in Wendell. After the Joseph family opened their living room for Mass in 1918, Bishop Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh sent a series of priests, and the community grew from a living-room congregation to the Wendell Women's Club in 1946 and finally to a dedicated church in 1947, which was consecrated on August 1, 1948, with 51 parishioners and Fr. Frederick A. Koch as the first resident priest. Membership remained small through 1975, then surged after Fr. Michael Shugrue and parishioner Ed Kannon purchased 20 acres for a new church; the current church on Lions Club Road was dedicated on November 18, 1990, with 584 families. The arrival of the Missionhurst-CICM missionaries in 2002 transformed parish life, giving birth to the now-famous International Food & Music Festival in 2003.
- 1916: First Catholics — Isaac & Zahiya Kannon — settle in Wendell
- 1918: Namy & Julia Joseph offer their living room for Mass
- 1947: First Mass in the new church on U.S. Highway 64
- August 1, 1948: Church dedicated; Fr. Frederick A. Koch, first resident priest
- 1975: 20 acres purchased for a new church
- November 18, 1990: New church dedicated under Fr. Joe Gaul
- 1998: Old Highway 64 church converted into the White Dove Wedding Chapel by Fr. Scott Carpenter
- 2002: Missionhurst-CICM missionary team arrives
- September 2003: First International Food & Music Festival
- 2011: Festival named a 'Best Local Festival' nominee by Triangle East magazine
- 2021: ~930 registered families
St. Eugene de Mazenod — Our Patron
St. Eugene, Our Parish Patron, is St. Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop of Marseille and founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries, Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He died on May 21, 1861, at the age of 79, and was declared a saint on December 3, 1995. He is venerated as a patron saint for families in difficulty — a fitting patron for a parish that was founded by immigrant families far from home and remains today a community of cultural and linguistic diversity.
- Bishop of Marseille
- Founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Died May 21, 1861
- Canonized December 3, 1995
- Feast day: May 21
- Patron of families in difficulty
Clergy & Staff
St. Eugene is currently pastored by Reverend Frederic M. Mizengo, CICM, with Reverend Ange Masuta Mafuta, CICM, serving as Parochial Vicar. The parish is served by Missionhurst-CICM missionaries. A dedicated pastoral and administrative staff supports the day-to-day life of the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Frederic M. Mizengo, CICM
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Ange Masuta Mafuta, CICM
- Office Manager: Belkys Ramirez — (919) 365-7114 Ext. 200
- Finance & Accounting Manager: Alexander Owen — [email protected] — Ext. 202
- Director of Religious Education: Xenia Del Cid — Ext. 203
- Director of Music: Tom Dwight
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation, directed by Xenia Del Cid, offers Children's Faith Formation in both English and Spanish, preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for older students and adults seeking the sacraments. Sessions meet weekly during the academic year, and all parish volunteers who work with children must complete safe-environment training and a background check per diocesan guidelines.
- Director: Xenia Del Cid — [email protected] — (919) 404-9393
- English sessions: Sundays 10:15–11:40 AM; Tuesdays 6:30–8:00 PM
- Spanish sessions: Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM; Fridays 6:30–8:00 PM
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults and 12th-grade students
- Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2 preparation
- Safe-environment training and background checks required for volunteers
Adult Faith Studies
Adults can continue growing in faith through Breaking Open the Word (BOW), which meets most Sundays from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM and reflects on the Sunday Scriptures.
- Breaking Open the Word (BOW) — Sundays 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
- Contact: Beth Teel — (919) 325-6433
Parish Ministries
St. Eugene offers more than a dozen active ministries that serve the parish, the wider Wendell community, and people in need. Opportunities range from feeding the hungry and praying for the sick to supporting youth and respecting life. Newcomers are warmly invited to join any ministry that fits their gifts.
- Prayer Blanket Ministry (Sue Broderick, (919) 365-3479) — blankets, shawls, and rosaries for the sick
- Brown Bag Ministry (Tom Falvey, (919) 539-4579, [email protected]) — provides nearly 1,000 lunches weekly
- Community Garden — organically grown produce for the Wendell UMC food pantry
- Community Spirit Committee — monthly fellowship after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Knights of Columbus Council — 'Can-A-Week' food drive
- Peer Ministry / Life Teen — high-school youth faith and fellowship
- Ladies Guild — women of the parish, ages 18 and older
- Ministry of the Holy Rosary — monthly meetings in the Parish Hall
- Bereavement Ministry — funeral receptions for grieving families
- Respect Life and Birth-choice ministries
- Hispanic / Bilingual Ministries
International Food & Music Festival
Held annually since 2003, the St. Eugene International Food & Music Festival celebrates the diverse cultural backgrounds of the parish and was named a 'Best Local Festival' nominee by Triangle East magazine in 2011. The 23rd annual festival was held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at J. Ashley Wall Town Square in downtown Wendell, with live entertainment, authentic international cuisine, kids' activities, and a raffle.
- Founded 2003 at the suggestion of Fr. Charles Phukuta Khonde, CICM
- Free admission with food and beverages for purchase
- Live music and dance (Irish pipe band, Grupo de Danza San Eugenio, and more)
- Kids' games, silent auction, food drive, raffle
- Held at J. Ashley Wall Town Square, 99 W. Third Street, Wendell
Vocations from St. Eugene
As of 2021, two parishioners from St. Eugene have been called to religious life: Fr. Frank Seabo, currently serving the Diocese of Charlotte, and Chris Johnson, who is now a Brother with the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Philadelphia.
Visit & Contact
St. Eugene Catholic Church is located at 608 Lions Club Road in Wendell, North Carolina. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (with a lunch break from 1:30 to 2:30 PM) and by appointment at other times. Visitors are warmly welcomed to any Mass and to stop by the office to introduce themselves.
- Address: 608 Lions Club Road, Wendell, NC 27591
- Mailing: P.O. Box 188, Wendell, NC 27591
- Phone: (919) 365-7114
- Fax: (919) 365-9431
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch 1:30–2:30 PM), other times by appointment
- Office Manager: Belkys Ramirez — Ext. 200
- Faith Formation: Xenia Del Cid — Ext. 203
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert F. McMillan
One of four priests sent by Bishop Waters in the parish's early decades
- Fr. John A. Beschel
Early visiting priest sent by Bishop Waters
- Fr. Jerome Hickey
Proposed building a church in Wendell
- Fr. James H. Tevlin
Built the original St. Eugene's Church in 1947
- Fr. Frederick A. Koch1948–
First resident priest of St. Eugene
- Fr. Michael Shugrue1975–
Helped purchase 20 acres for the new church
- Fr. Joe Gaul1990
Completed the first phase of the 20-year building plan; current church dedicated Nov. 18, 1990
- Fr. Scott Carpenter1998
Converted the old Highway 64 church into the White Dove Wedding Chapel
- Fr. Charles Phukuta Khonde, CICM2002–
Arrived with the Missionhurst CICM missionary team; inspired the International Food & Music Festival
- Fr. Frederic M. Mizengo, CICM
Current pastor