About St. James the Apostle · Clarksburg, West Virginia
St. James the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in Clarksburg, West Virginia, located at the corner of Pride Avenue and North 21st Street in the city's North View neighborhood. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston and traces its origins to the early 1920s, when the Catholic community of North View first organized itself. Today the parish is served by Franciscan Father B.K. Akila Rodrigo (T.O.R.), a deacon, parish staff, and a large network of lay ministry leaders who care for liturgy, faith formation, music, hospitality, hospital visitation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. B.K. Akila Rodrigo, T.O.R.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
St. James the Apostle offers a full schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, regular Saturday confession, and a wide range of lay-led ministries — including a Parish Pastoral Council, Liturgy Committee, Finance Council, Music Ministry, Youth Group, Altar Rosary Society, Hospital Ministry, Prayer Network, Social Ministries, and a Director of Religious Education for faith formation. As a parish in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston with deep roots in North View since the 1920s, it combines a century of Catholic tradition with active parish life, music, and outreach to the wider Clarksburg community.
Mass times at St. James the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (some listings show 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM; please confirm with parish office)
Parish History
St. James the Apostle traces its roots to the early 1920s, when the Catholic community of North View organized itself under Fr. Joseph L. Quillien. A new English Gothic church was built in 1927 at a cost of $14,000 and dedicated by Bishop John J. Swint. Through the mid-twentieth century the parish expanded with a school (1950), a rectory (1956), and the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms brought by Fr. Frederick Swallow and Fr. Eugene Schmitt. A major 1974 renovation transformed the interior into a multifunctional space while preserving the original beamed ceiling, and a bequest from Mrs. Edmire 'Elma' Morel Rolland allowed the parish to retire its debt under Fr. Robert Perriello.
- Founded in the early 1920s by the North View Catholic community
- Church dedicated December 11, 1927 by Bishop John J. Swint
- St. James School dedicated in 1950 (Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling)
- Rectory built adjacent to the church in 1956
- Major interior renovation completed and dedicated June 14, 1974 by Bishop Joseph Hodges
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by a Franciscan pastor of the Third Order Regular, assisted by a deacon, a parish secretary, and lay coordinators for liturgy, faith formation, and community life.
- Rev. Fr. B.K. Akila Rodrigo, T.O.R. — Pastor (304-622-1668)
- Deacon Arnie Lipscomb (304-782-1779)
- Linda Insani — Parish Secretary, St. James (304-622-1668)
- Nancy Cain — Parish Secretary, Sacred Heart (304-782-2277)
Pastoral Succession
The parish website lists a continuous succession of pastors from its founding through the post-Vatican II era, each shaping the buildings, school, and liturgical life of the community.
- Rev. Joseph L. Quillien — organized the North View Catholic community
- Rev. Joseph R. Siever (from 1925) — built the 1927 church
- Rev. John S. Kelly (1934–1936)
- Rev. John B. Quinn
- Rev. George Walter (from 1948) — built St. James School
- Rev. Frederick Swallow (from 1963) — introduced Vatican II reforms
- Rev. Eugene Schmitt (from 1967) — implemented altar, communion rail, and parish council changes
- Rev. Bert W. Valdez (from 1972) — oversaw 1970s renovations
- Rev. Joseph Dene (1981–1990)
- Rev. Robert Perriello (from 1990) — retired the parish debt
Mass & Sacraments
St. James the Apostle celebrates daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil Mass, and two Sunday Masses. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM
- Weekday Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 12:00 PM; Wednesday at 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM
- Confession: Saturday afternoon (typically 4:00–4:30 PM)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Parish life at St. James is supported by a broad network of lay-led ministries, councils, and devotional groups, each coordinated by a parishioner contact.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Larry Woofter
- Finance Council
- Liturgy Committee — Gerald Somazze, Susan Satterfield, Nancy Cain
- Music Director — Gerald Somazze
- Organists — Mary K. Greer, Barbara J. Cale, April Seamone
- Parish Sacristan — Reta Gaston
- Ushers — Joe Nardelli
- Altar Rosary Society — Sheila Marra, Helena Kerns
- Hospital Ministry — Larry Woofter
- Prayer Network — Mary Jo Veltri, Sylvia Basile, Nancy Cain
- Social Ministries
- Youth Group, Evangelization & Safe Environment
- Sacred Heart Women's Club
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated through the parish's Director of Religious Education, who can be reached for enrollment, sacramental preparation, and program details.
- Director of Religious Education — Mike Spatafore (304-622-8270 or 304-641-5764)
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. James is coordinated by a Music Director and a team of organists who support the parish's weekend and weekday liturgies. The Liturgy Committee works with the pastor to plan celebrations.
- Music Director: Gerald Somazze
- Organists: Mary K. Greer, Barbara J. Cale, April Seamone
- Parish Sacristan: Reta Gaston
- Liturgy Committee contacts: Gerald Somazze, Susan Satterfield, Nancy Cain
Parish Facilities & Community Use
Beyond the church and the rectory built in 1956, the parish maintains a Parish Center that hosts community dinners and rentals for parish and neighborhood groups.
- Community Room, Rental & Dinners — Patty Gonzalez (304-623-4085); Parish Center (304-918-9447)
Outreach & Pastoral Care
St. James maintains active outreach and pastoral-care ministries to parishioners who are sick, homebound, or in need of prayer, as well as a Prayer Network that links parishioners praying for shared intentions.
- Hospital Ministry — Larry Woofter (304-622-0133)
- Prayer Network — Mary Jo Veltri, Sylvia Basile, Nancy Cain
- Social Ministries — parish-wide outreach efforts
- Altar Rosary Society — Sheila Marra, Helena Kerns
Building & Architecture
The current St. James church building was begun in 1927 in the English Gothic style, featuring a stained-wood beamed ceiling and stained-glass windows relocated from Sacred Heart Parish in Bluefield, WV. A 1974 renovation redesigned the interior as a multifunctional worship space while preserving the original beamed ceiling, and a bell from the Harrison County Courthouse was added in 1931.
- English Gothic style, dedicated December 11, 1927
- Stained-wood beamed ceiling (preserved through 1974 renovation)
- Stained-glass windows from Sacred Heart Parish, Bluefield, WV
- Bell from the Harrison County Courthouse installed 1931
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph L. Quillienearly 1920s
Organized the Catholic community of North View that formed the parish
- Rev. Joseph R. Siever1925–
Broke ground in 1927 for the new St. James church; Bishop Swint dedicated it December 11, 1927
- Rev. John S. Kelly1934–1936
- Rev. John B. Quinnafter 1936
- Rev. George Walterfrom 1948
Built St. James School at a cost of $92,700, dedicated in 1950
- Rev. Frederick Swallowfrom 1963
Introduced Vatican II liturgical changes to the parish
- Rev. Eugene Schmittfrom 1967, ~5 years
Implemented altar rearrangement, removal of communion rail, and creation of parish council
- Rev. Bert W. Valdezfrom 1972
Undertook the 1970s renovations; Bishop Hodges dedicated the renovated church June 14, 1974
- Rev. Joseph Dene1981–1990
- Rev. Robert Perriellofrom 1990
Retired the parish debt using a sizable bequest from Mrs. Edmire 'Elma' Morel Rolland