About St. Mark the Evangelist · Bartow, West Virginia
St. Mark the Evangelist is a Catholic mission church in Bartow, West Virginia, serving the Catholic faithful of the northern part of Pocahontas County in the Allegheny Highlands. Consecrated in 1977 in the facilities of the former local Methodist Church (which still sits next to its historic cemetery), the mission is cared for by St. John Neumann Parish in nearby Marlinton. The small but devoted community gathers for Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m. under the pastoral care of Father Arthur Bufogle Jr., pastor of both St. John Neumann Parish and this mission.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Arthur Bufogle Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
St. Mark the Evangelist is the closest Catholic Sunday Mass for Catholics living in the northern half of Pocahontas County, who would otherwise face a long drive over winding mountain roads to reach the mother church. Members value the intimate, small-mission setting, the visible care of a priest who also pastors the larger St. John Neumann Parish, and a parish community that is actively engaged in outreach — including the weekend backpack food program for low-income schoolchildren supported by the parish's Fund for the Poor. It is a faithful, hard-to-reach rural congregation where every household matters.
Mass times at St. Mark the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Sunday Mass (11:30 a.m.)
- By appointment
St. Mark the Evangelist Mission — Overview
St. Mark the Evangelist Mission in Bartow was consecrated in 1977, at the facilities of the former local Methodist Church and cemetery. This Mission of St. John Neumann Parish serves the people of the northern part of Pocahontas County. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:30 a.m., and the mission is pastored by Father Arthur Bufogle Jr., who also serves as pastor of the mother parish in Marlinton. (pocahontascatholic.org)
History of the Mission
The mission was consecrated in 1977 when the local Catholic community acquired the building and grounds of the former Methodist church on Catholic Church Road. From its founding it has served Catholics across the rural northern half of Pocahontas County, functioning as a satellite mission of St. John Neumann Parish in Marlinton. No public list of past pastors is published on the parish website.
- Consecrated 1977
- Established in the former local Methodist Church building
- Adjacent to the historic local cemetery
- A mission of St. John Neumann Parish, Marlinton
Pastor and Clergy
The mission is cared for by the pastor of St. John Neumann Parish, ensuring continuity of pastoral leadership between the mother parish and the Bartow mission. Father Bufogle is also publicly known for his hands-on outreach to families and schoolchildren throughout Pocahontas County.
- Rev. Arthur Bufogle Jr. — Pastor (also pastor of St. John Neumann Parish, Marlinton)
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
Sunday Mass is the mission's regular weekly celebration; weekday Masses, Solemnities, and Holy Day schedules are announced in the parish bulletin (published online at pocahontascatholic.org). Reconciliation is offered before Sunday Mass or by appointment, and the Anointing of the Sick is available any time upon request.
- Sunday Mass — 11:30 a.m. (English)
- Weekday Masses & Solemnities — as announced in bulletin
- Holy Days — as announced in bulletin
- Confession — before Sunday Mass or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — any time upon request
Outreach and Community Life
Although small — the pastor has described the parish as roughly 40 households — the mission community is actively engaged in outreach across Pocahontas County. Working with St. John Neumann Parish, area churches of different denominations, and the Family Resource Network (FRN), the Catholic community funds and packs weekend backpack meals for low-income students and supports families facing food insecurity, utility shutoffs, or rent crises. The parish's Fund for the Poor underwrites much of this work, including trips to Virginia to source food and supplies for the local food pantry and backpack program. Volunteers from the parish have also delivered supplies to local prisons.
- Weekend backpack food program for schoolchildren (Green Bank Elementary & Marlinton Elementary)
- Parish Fund for the Poor
- Ecumenical cooperation with local churches and the Family Resource Network
- Food pantry support, utility and rent assistance
- Prison ministry supply deliveries
Sacraments
The mission celebrates the Eucharist each Sunday and makes provisions for the other sacraments either on-site or through the mother parish. Baptisms, marriages, and other sacramental preparations are typically coordinated through St. John Neumann Parish in Marlinton.
- Eucharist — Sunday 11:30 a.m.; weekday/holy day Mass per bulletin
- Reconciliation — before Sunday Mass or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — any time upon request
- Baptism, Marriage, other sacraments — through St. John Neumann Parish, Marlinton
Visit and Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the mission by phone or email; the mailing address is directed care of St. John Neumann Parish in Marlinton. The physical church sits on Catholic Church Road at the intersection of U.S. Route 250 and State Route 92 in Bartow.
- Phone: 304-799-6778
- Email: [email protected]
- Physical: 92 Catholic Church Road, Bartow, WV 24920
- Mailing: c/o St. John Neumann Parish, 714 Tenth Avenue, Marlinton, WV 24954
- Website: pocahontascatholic.org/st-mark-the-evangelist-mission/