About St. Joseph the Worker · Warrenton, North Carolina
St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church is a small mission parish in Warrenton, North Carolina, belonging to the Diocese of Raleigh. It serves Warrenton, Warren County, and the greater Lake Gaston area, with Sunday Mass at 8:00 am and weekly bulletins available in both English and Spanish. The current pastor is Father William H. Rodriguez, with Deacon Felix Saez, Jr. assisting. Originally a faith community meeting in private homes and the Colonial Lodge, the parish now worships in a new church building dedicated in 2018, and is known for its welcoming, family-style atmosphere and active lay involvement in nearly every liturgical ministry.
- Established
- 1963 (officially blessed May 12, 1963; property purchased 1959; current building dedicated 2018)
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. William H. Rodriguez (Fr. Will Rodriguez)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Joseph the Worker is a small, welcoming mission parish where most parishioners serve in some liturgical ministry — as lectors, music ministers, Eucharistic ministers, or visitors to the sick and homebound — so newcomers quickly get to know others. The parish offers Sunday Mass, sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick), youth faith formation for ages 4–15, RCIA for adults, and active outreach through Habitat for Humanity, Loaves and Fishes, and meals for those in need. Its new church building, dedicated in 2018, gives the community a comfortable worship home while retaining the close-knit, family-style feel the parish has had since its founding.
Mass times at St. Joseph the Worker
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment at St. Joseph the Worker (contact parish office at 252-257-5605)
- Saturdays 4:00–4:30 pm at the partner parish, St. James in Henderson, NC
- Communal reconciliation celebrated during Advent and Lent (dates listed in the weekly parish bulletin)
About St. Joseph the Worker
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish is a Catholic faith community under the patronage of Saint Joseph, located in the town of Warrenton, North Carolina. It serves Warrenton, Warren County, and the greater Lake Gaston area, and describes itself as a welcoming faith community — whether a first-time visitor to Lake Gaston or a new resident. The parish community is small enough that most parishioners are engaged in some liturgical ministry (lectors, music ministers, Eucharistic ministers, visitors to the sick and homebound) and active in outreach such as Habitat for Humanity, Loaves and Fishes, and meals for those in need.
- Patron: Saint Joseph
- Feast day: May 1 (Saint Joseph the Worker)
- Diocese of Raleigh mission parish
- Serves Warrenton, Warren County, and the greater Lake Gaston area
- Parish Secretary: Ashleigh Trumbull (English & Spanish)
History
The Catholic community in Warren County began with the Vaughan family in the 1940s and '50s. A priest from Henderson would travel by train to celebrate Mass in private homes; as the community grew, worship moved to the Colonial Lodge in Warrenton, which served as the primary place of worship until 1962. The Diocese of Raleigh purchased the present property from D.E. & Mildred Mules on May 1, 1959, and Bishop Vincent Waters blessed the completed church on May 12, 1963. Through the decades the parish has grown from metal folding chairs to a new, dedicated church building.
- 1940s–50s: Vaughan, Riggan, Mustian, Pitchford, Lynch, Dore, and Wimbrow families are early members
- 1962: Final Masses held at the Colonial Lodge
- May 1, 1959: Diocese of Raleigh purchases the Warrenton property
- May 12, 1963: Bishop Vincent Waters blesses the completed church
- 1990s: Father Thomas Davis leads steeple construction and starts Habitat for Humanity
- 1999–2010: Sister Margaret Gallagher serves as Pastoral Administrator
- 2010–2013: Parish Plan produced under Father William Upah
- July 2014: Father John Gillespie becomes pastor
- 2017: Groundbreaking for the new church
- February 17, 2018: Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama dedicates the new building
Sacraments
St. Joseph the Worker accompanies parishioners in preparing for and receiving the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms are scheduled at least one month in advance. Reconciliation is offered by appointment at St. Joseph the Worker, with communal services in Advent and Lent, and is also available Saturdays 4:00–4:30 pm at the partner parish, St. James in Henderson. Marriage requires meeting with the priest at least six months before the desired date. The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone anticipating surgery, ill, injured, or weakened by illness or age. First Communion and Confirmation sign-up is open from age 5.
- Baptism — schedule at least one month in advance
- Reconciliation — by appointment, plus Advent/Lent communal services and Saturdays 4:00–4:30 pm at St. James, Henderson
- First Communion & Confirmation — sign-up from age 5
- Marriage — at least six months' notice to the priest
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- RCIA for adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Joseph the Worker serves both children and adults. Youth Faith Formation meets each Sunday after the 8:00 am Mass, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at the Parish House, September through May, for children ages 4 to 15 who have not yet made their First Communion or Confirmation. Adult Faith Formation is offered in spring and fall, with dates listed on the parish calendar, and the parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) for those inquiring about the Catholic faith and seeking full membership.
- Youth Faith Formation: ages 4–15, Sundays 9:00–10:00 am, Parish House (Sept–May)
- RCIA: For adults inquiring about the Catholic faith
- Adult Faith Formation: spring and fall sessions
- Contact: Faith Formation lead Heidi Hogan; parish secretary Ashleigh Trumbull
Parish Ministries
All parishioners are called to be the visible presence of Christ in the parish, and the community offers a wide range of ministries in liturgy, faith formation, outreach, and administration. Most parishioners serve in some liturgical role — altar server, choir, lector, Eucharistic minister, sacristan, hospitality/usher, or gift presenter.
- Liturgical: Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Ministers to the sick and homebound, Altar Servers, Sacristans, Gift Presenters, Hospitality/Ushers
- Pastoral Council — Megan Shepardson
- Finance Council — Pete Ortel
- Faith Formation — Heidi Hogan
- Scholarship Committee — Donna Klonne
- Saint Joseph Morning Star Altar Society / Morning Star Guild (barn-sale fundraising) — Maria Kline
- Building & Grounds — Jim Sabo
- Collection Counters — Alicia Whiting
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to the parish's identity. The community continues a Habitat for Humanity program started by Father Thomas Davis in the 1990s and supports Loaves and Fishes, meals for those in need, visiting the homebound, and an ecumenical outreach and prayer group. 'At St. Joseph the Worker we seek… to reach out to the materially and spiritually poor in our community' is a stated part of the parish mission.
- Habitat for Humanity (continuing program since the 1990s)
- Loaves and Fishes
- Meals for those in need
- Visiting the homebound
- Ecumenical outreach and prayer group
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor, supported by a deacon, a parish secretary, and lay council leadership. The Diocese of Raleigh Bishop referenced in parish materials is Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama.
- Pastor: Rev. William H. Rodriguez (Fr. Will Rodriguez)
- Deacon: Rev. Deacon Felix Saez, Jr.
- Parish Secretary: Ashleigh Trumbull (English & Spanish)
- Pastoral Council Chair: Megan Shepardson
- Finance Council Chair: Pete Ortel
- Bishop: Most Rev. Luis Rafael Zarama, Diocese of Raleigh
Visit, Contact & Accessibility
The parish welcomes visitors, new residents, and returning seasonal residents to the Lake Gaston area. The church and church bathroom are handicap / wheelchair accessible. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm (some bulletins list Mon–Thu). New parishioners may register online or by contacting the parish office.
- Address: 842 US Hwy 158 W Business, Warrenton, NC 27589
- Mailing: P.O. Box 934, Warrenton, NC 27589
- Phone: (252) 257-5605
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://st-joseph-church.com/
- Wheelchair accessible (church and bathroom)
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Parkerc. 1959
Pastor of the Henderson church; his family helped purchase the Warrenton property from D.E. & Mildred Mules on May 1, 1959.
- Fr. Thomas Davis1990s
Led parishioners in designing and building the parish steeple in the 1990s; initiated a Habitat for Humanity program that continues at the parish.
- Sr. Margaret Gallagher1999–2010
Pastoral Administrator; arrived 1999, lived in a rented duplex, then in the parish house after the Diocese purchased the adjacent property in 2002; retired July 2010.
- Fr. William Upahafter July 2010
Led the strategic planning effort that produced the Parish Plan for 2010–2013; identified worship-facility improvement as a top priority.
- Fr. Columba Nnoromthrough July 2014
Continued support for the facility improvement plan.
- Fr. John GillespieJuly 2014 – June 2018
Oversaw groundbreaking (2017) and dedication of the new church building on February 17, 2018; retired from active ministry in June 2018.
- Fr. Rafaelafter June 2018
Served as pastor of both St. Joseph the Worker in Warrenton and St. James Parish in Henderson.
- Fr. Will Rodriguezcurrent
Current pastor of St. Joseph the Worker.