About St. John Neumann · Charlotte, North Carolina
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a large, bilingual Roman Catholic parish located at 8451 Idlewild Road in southeast Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Charlotte. Founded in 1977 and named for St. John Neumann, the 19th-century Czech-born Redemptorist bishop of Philadelphia and the first American male citizen to be canonized, the parish has grown from its original 250 families into a vibrant community of roughly 1,800 households that worships in both English and Spanish. The parish offers seven Sunday Masses, daily Mass, Perpetual-style Adoration, a robust Faith Formation program, youth and young adult ministry, and outreach through the Piney Grove Elementary School partnership.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (1811–1860), Czech-born Redemptorist, fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, and the first American male citizen to be canonized (1977)
- Rector
- Very Reverend John F. Starczewski (since July 2017)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. John Neumann offers a rare combination in the Charlotte area: a large, well-established parish with deep historical roots (founded 1977) and the spiritual breadth to serve a genuinely bilingual English/Spanish community. Daily and Sunday Masses (including a Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish), Perpetual-style Adoration, weekly Reconciliation, a robust sacramental preparation program for children and OCIA for adults, a youth ministry with First Friday gatherings, a dedicated young adult/young family ministry, and outreach partnerships such as Piney Grove Elementary School give newcomers multiple entry points to participate, serve, and grow.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
- Saturdays from 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
- And by appointment (contact the Parish Office at 704.536.6520 or [email protected])
Adoration times
- Wednesday from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
- Friday from 7:00 AM to Saturday at 8:45 AM (overnight Adoration)
Parish Identity & Patron
St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina is a parish of the Diocese of Charlotte that bears the name of St. John Neumann, the 19th-century Czech-born Redemptorist missionary who served as the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. His feast day is January 5, and his canonization in 1977 by Pope Paul VI made him the first American male citizen to be declared a saint — the same year the Charlotte parish was founded, a coincidence the parish notes in its own history. The parish is located at 8451 Idlewild Road in southeast Charlotte, near the Mint Hill area.
- Patron: St. John Neumann (1811–1860)
- Feast Day: January 5
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
- Founded: 1977
- First Mass celebrated on the current site: June 17, 1979 (first building dedicated by Bishop Michael Begley)
Full Parish History
The parish was established in 1977 under Monsignor Lawrence Newman, who approached Bishop Michael Begley with the need for a Catholic presence in the rapidly growing southeast Charlotte/Mint Hill corridor. The 250 founding families came from Our Lady of the Assumption, and before permanent facilities were ready the community worshiped at Cokesbury Methodist Church, Idlewild Country Club, and the rectory. Bishop Begley dedicated the first structure on June 17, 1979; Bishop John Donoghue dedicated the larger expanded sanctuary on June 23, 1985. Over the decades the parish has grown from 250 to roughly 1,800 registered families and has been cared for by diocesan priests, the Conventual Franciscans (under Father Richard Bellow), and the Augustinians of Villanova (under Father Thomas Meehan, then Father Russell Ortega), before returning to diocesan administration in 2009.
- 1977 — Parish established; 250 families from Our Lady of the Assumption
- 1979 — First building dedicated by Bishop Michael Begley (June 17)
- 1981 — Death of founding pastor Msgr. Lawrence Newman
- 1985 — Expanded sanctuary dedicated by Bishop John Donoghue (June 23)
- 1997 — Mortgage retired; mortgage-burning Mass on June 8
- 1998 — Augustinians of Villanova arrive under Father Thomas Meehan
- 1999 — Parish website launched
- 2002 — 25th anniversary celebrated
- 2007 — Spanish Mass inaugurated; Father Russell Ortega installed as pastor by Bishop Peter Jugis
- 2007 — 30th anniversary Founders and Family Dinner Dance (Sept. 15)
- 2009 — Augustinians depart; Father Patrick Hoare becomes first diocesan pastor
- 2017 — Father John F. Starczewski appointed pastor (July)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. John Neumann is a traditional parish-based program that affirms parents as the primary catechists of their children. Classes meet once a week throughout the school year, with multiple session times to accommodate families, and are offered in both English and Spanish. The Faith Formation Office is staffed by an administrator, two assistants, a youth minister, a young adult/young family minister, and a sacramental coordinator. First Communion preparation is a two-year program typically beginning in 1st grade, and Confirmation preparation is a three-year program generally beginning in 6th grade.
- Sunday 9:15–10:30 AM (K–5, RCIC 1–2)
- Sunday 11:00 AM–12:15 PM (K–5, RCIP 1–2)
- Sunday 3:15–4:30 PM (Confirmation, RCIT 1–2)
- Tuesday 5:45–7:00 PM (Confirmation, RCIT 1–2)
- Wednesday 5:45–7:00 PM (Grades 1–5, RCIC, RCIP)
- FF Administrator: Manon Reiher ([email protected])
- Youth Minister: German Medina ([email protected])
- Young Adult/Young Family: Meg VanGoethem ([email protected])
- Sacramental Coordinator: Angel Medina ([email protected])
Youth, Young Adult & Family Ministry
The parish supports a Youth Ministry that meets the 1st Friday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall — no registration is required. A dedicated Young Adult/Young Family ministry, coordinated by Meg VanGoethem, supports parishioners in their 20s, 30s, and early-family stages. These ministries sit alongside the parish's ongoing sacramental preparation tracks for children and Confirmation candidates.
- Youth Ministry: 1st Friday of each month, 7:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Youth Minister: German Medina ([email protected])
- Young Adult/Young Family contact: Meg VanGoethem ([email protected])
Outreach & Social Ministry
St. John Neumann runs an ongoing outreach partnership with Piney Grove Elementary School, holding periodic drives for school supplies, Christmas presents, food, and other needs. The parish's broader ministry framework reflects its mission of responding to Christ's call in Matthew 25: 'whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
- Piney Grove Ministry — Maryanne Stasko, chair ([email protected])
- Adopted school: Piney Grove Elementary
- Ongoing drives for supplies, Christmas gifts, and food
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry supports the Sunday Mass schedule and welcomes volunteers of all levels of training. The parish also runs a Heritage ministry and welcomes liturgical volunteers across the various Sunday and weekday Masses.
- Sunday choirs and musicians across the five Sunday Masses
- Volunteers of all training levels welcome
Parish Staff & Office Information
The parish office handles all general inquiries, communications, sacramental records, and Faith Formation enrollment. The Faith Formation Office is in a separate wing with its own hours and phone line. Visitors and new parishioners are invited to call or stop by during office hours, Monday through Thursday.
- Parish Office: 704.536.6520 — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Office: 704.535.4197
- Fax: 704.837.8243
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Faith Formation Office Hours: Mon/Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Tue/Wed 1:30 PM – 7:30 PM (summer hours 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
- Communications: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/SJNCharlotte
Anniversaries & Parish Milestones
The parish has marked its 25th (2002), 30th (2007), and 40th (2017) anniversaries with parish-wide celebrations on or near the church grounds. The 40th anniversary was a bilingual outdoor Mass concelebrated by current pastor Father Starczewski with Father Peter Pham and former pastors Father Pat Hoare, Father Frank O'Rourke, and Monsignor Richard Bellow, followed by food, music, and games.
- 25th Anniversary — August 25, 2002 (Mass + picnic)
- 30th Anniversary — September 15, 2007 (Founders and Family Dinner Dance)
- 40th Anniversary — 2017 (Bilingual outdoor Mass with former pastors)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Lawrence Newman1977 – January 21, 1981
Founding pastor; previously Monsignor of Our Lady of the Assumption; conceived the parish and approached Bishop Begley. Died in office.
- Father Francis O'Rourke1981 – c. late 1980s
Grew the parish from ~300 to ~800 families; oversaw planning and construction of the expanded sanctuary dedicated June 23, 1985 by Bishop Donoghue.
- Father Richard Bellow (Conventual Franciscan)c. late 1980s – October 1997
First Conventual Franciscan pastor; parish grew to 1,400–1,500 families; mortgage retired June 8, 1997 with a Mass and mortgage-burning. Franciscans reassigned October 1997.
- Father Anthony MarcaccioOctober 1997 – March 1998
Interim pastor during the transition between the Franciscan and Augustinian orders.
- Father Thomas 'Thom' Meehan, O.S.A. (Augustinian)March 1, 1998 – 2006
First Augustinian pastor; five-year term (renewed in 2003 and 2008 — returned to Villanova 2006 after initial term). Parish grew to 1,700–1,800 families; website launched October 1999; 25th anniversary celebrated August 25, 2002.
- Father Russell Ortega (Parochial Vicar then Pastor)Parochial Vicar from May 2006; installed Pastor March 11, 2007
Installed as pastor by Bishop Peter Jugis on March 11, 2007; began a Spanish-language Mass for the community.
- Father Patrick Hoare2009 – July 2017
First diocesan pastor after the Augustinians departed in 2009; Father Peter Pham joined parish leadership during his tenure.
- Father Anthony TomasuloJoined March 2007
Served as Parochial Vicar under Father Russell Ortega.
- Father Arthur JohnsonLeft May 2006
Parochial Vicar; departed before Father Russell Ortega became pastor.
- Very Reverend John F. StarczewskiJuly 2017 – present
Current pastor; concelebrated the 40th anniversary bilingual outdoor Mass in 2017.
- Reverend Peter T. Pham2009 – present (in residence)
Currently listed as Priest in Residence; joined parish leadership under Father Patrick Hoare.