About St. Mary Help of Christians · Shelby, North Carolina
St. Mary Help of Christians is a Roman Catholic parish in Shelby, North Carolina, that serves the Catholic faithful of Cleveland County from its location at 818 McGowan Road. It is part of the Diocese of Charlotte and shares ministry with Christ the King Mission in nearby Kings Mountain. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs regular faith formation programs, and supports local outreach such as Habitat for Humanity.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- Mary, Help of Christians
- Rector
- Rev. Elliott C. Suttle (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Mary Help of Christians offers a bilingual Catholic community — with Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish — and reaches beyond its own walls through outreach like Habitat for Humanity and connections to diocesan programs. The parish shares pastoral care with the smaller Christ the King Mission in Kings Mountain, giving parishioners a sense of missionary fellowship across Cleveland County. Regular faith formation, sacraments, Adoration, and Confession round out a full parish life grounded in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Mass times at St. Mary Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM (Christ the King)
- Sunday: 8:15 AM (St. Mary)
- Monday: 7:30 AM (St. Mary, only if Mass is celebrated)
- Wednesday: 5:15 PM (St. Mary, only if Mass is celebrated)
- Thursday: 7:30 AM (St. Mary, only if Mass is celebrated)
- Friday: 7:30 AM (St. Mary, only if Mass is celebrated); 7:30 PM (St. Mary, only if Mass is celebrated)
- Also available by appointment; schedule changes announced in the bulletin, on Flocknote, and on Facebook
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered at St. Mary (specific times posted in the parish bulletin, on Flocknote, and on the parish Facebook page)
About St. Mary Help of Christians Parish
St. Mary Help of Christians is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Charlotte located at 818 McGowan Road in Shelby, North Carolina. The parish worships in English and Spanish and shares pastoral care with Christ the King Mission in nearby Kings Mountain. Schedule changes are communicated through the parish bulletin, Flocknote, and the parish Facebook page.
- 818 McGowan Road, Shelby, NC 28150
- Christ the King Mission in Kings Mountain
- Diocese of Charlotte parish
History
Catholicism in Cleveland County was first served in 1939 when Father Gregory Eichenlaub, OSB — a Benedictine of Belmont Abbey — became the founding pastor of St. Mary's Church in Shelby. Decades later, Benedictine nuns buried a St. Joseph medal on a four-acre tract in Kings Mountain; that same land was purchased on March 19, 1981, and the resulting Christ the King Mission was dedicated on November 29, 1983, the feast of Christ the King.
- 1939: Father Gregory Eichenlaub, OSB, named first pastor of St. Mary's, Shelby
- Early 1960s: nuns bury a St. Joseph medal on future Christ the King site
- March 19, 1981: land in Kings Mountain purchased
- November 29, 1983: Christ the King Mission dedicated on the feast of Christ the King
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Rev. Elliott C. Suttle was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish and Christ the King Mission effective July 8, 2025. Father Suttle, a Shelby-area native, previously served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro before returning to his home region. He succeeds previous pastoral leadership as announced in the diocese's 2025 priest assignment changes.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Elliott C. Suttle
- Effective July 8, 2025
- Also serves Christ the King Mission, Kings Mountain
Christ the King Mission, Kings Mountain
Christ the King Mission shares pastoral care with St. Mary Help of Christians Parish and serves about 16 registered families — one of the smallest faith communities in the Diocese of Charlotte. The mission church sits at 714 Stone Street, Kings Mountain.
- Address: 714 Stone St., Kings Mountain
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM (English)
- Confession before Mass: 4:15 PM
- Dedicated November 29, 1983 (feast of Christ the King)
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. Mary Help of Christians supports faith formation, sacramental preparation, and outreach beyond the parish. The community participates in the annual Diocesan Support Appeal and supports local causes such as Habitat for Humanity.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- Diocesan Support Appeal
- Habitat for Humanity outreach
- Pilgrim Virgin Visitation program
- Flocknote parish communication
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gregory Eichenlaub, OSB1939–
First pastor of St. Mary's Church in Shelby; a Benedictine priest of Belmont Abbey who established the parish to serve Cleveland County Catholics in 1939.
- Rev. Elliott C. Suttle2025–
Appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish and Christ the King Mission effective July 8, 2025, having previously served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro.