About St. Mary · Greensboro, North Carolina
St. Mary Catholic Church is one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte, serving the southeast Greensboro community since 1928. Originally founded by Josephite Father Charles Hannigan, S.S.J., to serve Black Catholic residents during the era of segregation, it has grown into a multicultural congregation whose parishioners come from twenty-one countries and every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The parish offers Masses in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and has been staffed by Vincentian priests since 1939. Today it worships across two adjoining buildings — the historic 1936 'Original Church' and a Parish Center dedicated in 2003 — at 812 Duke Street in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. John Patrick Timlin, C.M.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Mary's is one of the most ethnically diverse Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte, drawing worshippers from twenty-one countries on every continent except Australia and Antarctica, with Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese every Sunday. Its identity is rooted in a 1928 founding by a Josephite priest to serve Black Catholics during segregation, and it carries that legacy of welcoming the forgotten, the poor, and the unloved into active parish life today through multicultural ministries, a long-running Hispanic ministry, a Vietnamese faith community, faith formation for children and families, senior outreach, and a tradition of Eucharistic Adoration for vocations. Visitors are welcomed into two worship spaces — the historic 1936 'Original Church' and the 2003 Parish Center — staffed continuously by Vincentian priests since 1939.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fridays after the 6:15 PM Spanish Mass
- Saturdays at 4:30 PM (English) and by appointment — contact a priest directly
Adoration times
- Last Wednesday of the month, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, in the Original Church
- Every Thursday for Vocations, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, in the Original Church
Parish History
St. Mary's was established on September 16, 1928, by Josephite Father Charles Hannigan, S.S.J., to serve Black Catholics in southeast Greensboro during legal segregation. Land on the corner of Duke and Gorrell Streets was purchased from the Benbow estate through the efforts of Greensboro attorney Robert Douglas, and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul sent three sisters from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to staff a school for Black children that opened the day after the first Mass. The present church building was dedicated November 1, 1936, and the Vincentians (Congregation of the Mission) took over staffing in 1939. After years as Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish (1949–1972) the name reverted to St. Mary's, and in 1973 the parish became territorial — the first time Black and white Catholic families worshipped together as members of a single parish.
- Founded Sept. 16, 1928, by Fr. Charles Hannigan, S.S.J.
- Three Daughters of Charity arrived from Emmitsburg, MD to staff the school in 1928
- Present church building dedicated Nov. 1, 1936
- Vincentians began staffing the parish in 1939
- Renamed Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in January 1949; reverted to St. Mary's in 1972
- Became a territorial (integrated) parish in October 1973
- New Parish Center dedicated September 2003
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary's offers ongoing faith formation for children, youth, and families through weekly classroom sessions in the Parish Center, alongside periodic Family Life Education evenings.
- Faith Formation — Tuesdays, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, Parish Center classrooms 1–8
- Family Life Education — selected Mondays, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Parish Center classrooms 3 & 4
- Multilingual Rosary — Tuesdays, 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM, Original Church
Hispanic & Vietnamese Ministries
St. Mary's Hispanic ministry began in 1995 when Vincentian Father Vincent Finnerty, C.M., was appointed Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte and instituted a weekly Spanish Mass. The parish also hosts a vibrant Vietnamese faith community with its own Sunday Mass and faith-formation gatherings.
- Weekly Spanish Mass schedule (multiple Sunday and weekday Masses)
- Vietnamese Mass — Sundays at 8:30 AM (Parish Center)
- Annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration for Mexican parishioners
- Hispanic retreats and activities for the wider Greensboro Catholic Hispanic community
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School (historic)
From 1928 until June 1972, the parish operated a school for Black children in southeast Greensboro, originally staffed by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul from Emmitsburg, Maryland. The school provided 44 years of education rooted in sound pedagogy and solid religious training. Integration following the Supreme Court's 1954 decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 dramatically reduced enrollment, and the school closed in June 1972 with 72 students.
- Opened September 1928 with 12 students under three Daughters of Charity
- Renamed Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School alongside the parish in 1949
- Closed June 1972 due to integration-driven enrollment decline (72 students at closing)
Clergy & Vincentian Heritage
St. Mary's has been staffed by Vincentian (Congregation of the Mission, C.M.) priests since 1939, making it one of only two Vincentian parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte (alongside Our Lady of Guadalupe in Charlotte). The current pastoral team is led by Father John Patrick Timlin, C.M., who is serving his second tour at the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. John Patrick Timlin, C.M.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph Nguyen
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. José Alexander Palacios Reyes
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Phuong (Paul) Van Kim Pham
- Past Vincentian pastors include Frs. Gerard A. Murphy, C.M. (1939), Edward Sellman, C.M., Vincent Finnerty, C.M., Charles Strollo, C.M., and William Allegretto, C.M.
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM, and the parish can be reached by phone at (336) 272-8650 or by email at [email protected]. The church sits at 812 Duke Street in southeast Greensboro, near the corner of Duke and Gorrell Streets, with parking available on site.
- Address: 812 Duke Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 272-8650
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Website: https://stmarysgreensboro.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Hannigan, S.S.J.1928–1930
Josephite (Society of St. Joseph) pioneer missionary; founded the parish on Sept. 16, 1928, building the first church/school at Duke and Gorrell Streets and naming the mission St. Mary's.
- Rev. Patrick Darrah, C.P.after 1930–before 1939
Passionist priest; second pastor; under his leadership the congregation outgrew the original facility and the present church building was erected and dedicated on November 1, 1936.
- Rev. Gerard A. Murphy, C.M.1939–
First Vincentian (Congregation of the Mission) pastor; took over staffing of the parish in 1939 when the Vincentian order began serving St. Mary's.
- Rev. Edward Sellman, C.M.before 1949
Vincentian pastor; in January 1949 requested that Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh dedicate the parish to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and the name was officially changed.
- Rev. Vincent Finnerty, C.M.1995–
Vincentian priest; appointed Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte in 1995; resided at St. Mary's and instituted a weekly Spanish Mass that continues today.
- Rev. Charles Strollo, C.M.until September 2018
Outgoing Vincentian pastor celebrated at the 90th anniversary Mass on Sept. 23, 2018.
- Rev. William (Bill) Allegretto, C.M.Sept 2018–Aug 2022
Vincentian priest who succeeded Father Strollo; reassigned by the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission as of Aug. 2, 2022.
- Rev. John Patrick Timlin, C.M.2012–2016 (first term); Aug 16, 2022–present (second term)
Current pastor; appointed by Bishop Peter Jugis effective Aug. 16, 2022; this is a homecoming after serving at the parish 2012–2016.