About St. Matthew · Ravenswood, West Virginia
St. Matthew Catholic Church is a parish in Ravenswood, West Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston within the Parkersburg Vicariate. Established in 1957 as a mission of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Parkersburg and originally named Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, the parish grew rapidly with workers and families drawn to the area by Kaiser Aluminum. Today the parish worships in a distinctive fan-shaped church completed in 1981, when the community took the name St. Matthew. It also includes Sacred Heart Mission in Point Pleasant as a worship site under its pastoral care, and serves around 115 registered parishioners in Jackson County with daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and a small but active community of ministries.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Matthew (the Evangelist/Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakula (Diocese of Guntur); installed December 20, 2025
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (Parkersburg Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Matthew is a close-knit parish in Ravenswood with a clear Catholic identity grounded in the Eucharist — daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, Adoration on Thursday mornings, and 1st Friday evening Mass — and a real community life beyond the liturgy. Parishioners serve through the St. Matthew Ladies Guild (which prepares bereavement dinners and cares for parishioners in need) and Knights of Columbus Council No. 12634, with religious education for children under DRE Tammy Spangler. The parish also reaches beyond Ravenswood, caring for Sacred Heart Mission in Point Pleasant, so joining St. Matthew means joining a small but active Catholic family in Jackson County with room to participate and be known.
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 a.m. (followed by 9:00 a.m. Mass)
History of St. Matthew Parish
Before 1957, the Catholics of Jackson County, WV had to carpool to Parkersburg, Pomeroy, Marietta or Belpre to attend Mass. When Archbishop Swint visited the county in 1955 the need for a local church became clear; just two Sundays later the first Mass in the county was celebrated at Chambers Funeral Home with 53 people in attendance. A priest from Parkersburg continued to drive in every Sunday until property on WV Route 2 south of Ravenswood was purchased in 1956 and a 30-by-100-foot building was erected; the first Mass was held there on Easter Sunday 1957 and this first Catholic church in Jackson County — Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament — was dedicated on September 29, 1957. By 1958 the first Parish Council was formed, and within a few years a more central six-acre parcel was acquired on Elwood Avenue in North Ravenswood. Construction of a new church began in spring 1959; the cornerstone was laid Easter Sunday 1960 and the first Mass in the new building was a wedding. Saturday religion classes already enrolled more than 100 children under six laywomen and two sisters who traveled from Charleston. In 1964, on the advice of Fr. John McDonnell, Bishop Hodges purchased six acres at Kaiser and Crooks Avenues for a future rectory, church, and school; the rectory at 600 Crooks Avenue was completed in March 1971 and Father Joseph O'Reilly (pastor August 1966 – October 1971) was its first resident. In 1980, during the pastorate of Father Robert Park, the parish was renamed St. Matthew Catholic Church as construction advanced on a new, award-winning fan-shaped church, which was dedicated on September 20, 1981. Monsignor Staud served as pastor from 1982 until his retirement in 1995. The parish has since been shepherded by Fr. John Fahey, Fr. George Manjadi, Fr. John Finnell, Fr. Alfred Obiudu, Fr. Dan Pisano, Fr. Arok Sundar O.F.M. Cap., Fr. James DeViese, Fr. Penumaka Manikyalarao H.G.N., and most recently Fr. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakula, installed December 20, 2025.
- 1955 — Archbishop Swint visits Jackson County; first Mass at Chambers Funeral Home.
- 1956 — Property purchased on WV Route 2 south of Ravenswood.
- 1957 — First church dedicated September 29 as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
- 1959–1960 — Second church built on Elwood Avenue, North Ravenswood.
- 1964 — Six acres purchased at Kaiser & Crooks Avenues for future rectory/church/school.
- 1970–1971 — Rectory at 600 Crooks Ave. completed.
- 1980 — Parish renamed St. Matthew.
- 1981 — Current fan-shaped church dedicated September 20.
- 2017 — Sacred Heart, Point Pleasant merged in as a Mission; St. Joseph, Mason added then suppressed in 2022.
- 2018 — Fr. Pen installed as pastor and Parish Hall cornerstone laid (July 8).
- 2025 — Fr. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakula installed as pastor (December 20).
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of a permanent deacon, a parish secretary, and a Director of Religious Education (DRE). The pastor is assisted by parish secretaries in handling the day-to-day operations of the rectory at 600 Crooks Avenue.
- Pastor — Rev. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakula (Diocese of Guntur)
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon John D. Butler
- Secretary — Mrs. Cathy Engle
- DRE — Ms. Tamara (Tammy) Spangler
Ministries, Groups, and Organizations
Parishioners are invited to live out their faith through several lay groups that combine service, fellowship, and formation. The Ladies Guild and the Knights of Columbus anchor the parish's charitable life, while religious education for children is coordinated by the DRE.
- St. Matthew Ladies Guild — prepares bereavement dinners for families of deceased parishioners and provides food for parishioners in need; meets second Sunday of the month after 9:00 a.m. Mass. 2025 officers: President Ina Morrell; Vice President Cathy Engle; Treasurer Sally Hildebrand; Secretary Cheryl Kobe.
- Knights of Columbus Council No. 12634 — founded on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity established by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1882; meets generally the 2nd Monday with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall. 2025 officers: Grand Knight W. Frank Nester; Deputy Grand Knight Neil Pierson Silva; Treasurer Chester A. McClellen; Financial Secretary Todd T. Roberts; Recorder Paul Kobe.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation — coordinated by DRE Tamara (Tammy) Spangler.
- Parish Council — lay leadership and pastoral planning.
Sacred Heart Mission, Point Pleasant
Sacred Heart Catholic Mission in Point Pleasant is incorporated into St. Matthew Parish, having been merged in effective November 26, 2017. It is cared for pastorally from Ravenswood and serves as a worship site for Catholics in Mason County under the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.
- Address: 2222 Jackson Ave., Point Pleasant, WV 25550.
- Effective November 26, 2017 — former Sacred Heart Parish became a Mission of St. Matthew Parish.
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory and parish office by phone or email during parish hours, and are invited to attend any of the regular Masses. The mailing address for the parish office is 600 Crooks Avenue, Ravenswood, WV 26164, while the church itself is located at 400 Kaiser Avenue.
- Rectory & Office: Fr. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakula, 600 Crooks Avenue, Ravenswood, WV 26164.
- Phone: (304) 273-2175.
- Email: [email protected].
- Church: 400 Kaiser Ave., Ravenswood, WV 26164.
- County: Jackson, West Virginia.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John McDonnellby 1964
Advised Bishop Hodges to purchase the six acres at Kaiser and Crooks Avenues.
- Fr. Joseph O'ReillyAugust 1966 – October 1971
First priest to live in the new rectory at 600 Crooks Ave; then transferred to Parkersburg.
- Fr. Joseph Mascioliafter October 1971
Transferred from Blacksburg, VA to serve as pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Fr. Robert Parkaround 1980
During his pastorate, the parish was renamed St. Matthew and the new fan-shaped church was built and dedicated in 1981.
- Msgr. Staud1982 – 1995
Served until retirement.
- Fr. John Faheyafter 1995
Shepherded the parish (also covering St. Monica in Lubeck) with assistance from Sr. Roseanne Fogarty, S.O.S.
- Fr. George Manjadiafter Fr. Fahey
Continued pastoring the parish.
- Fr. John Finnell2005 – November 2008
Transferred to Blessed Sacrament, Charleston.
- Fr. Alfred U. ObiuduNovember 2008 – June 2010
Transferred to St. Matthew from Inwood, WV.
- Fr. Dan Pisano2010 – 2011 (approx.)
Served as administrator; then left to administer St. John the Evangelist, Wellsburg.
- Fr. Arok Sundar, O.F.M. Cap.June 22, 2011 – 2013
Returned to India in 2013 for his congregation after completing studies.
- Fr. James DeViese2013/14 – 2014
Later assigned Priest-Secretary to the Bishop.
- Fr. Penumaka (P. Pen) Manikyalarao, H.G.N.2014 – 2025
Administrator from 2014, installed as pastor July 8, 2018; also administered Holy Redeemer/Spencer, St. Elizabeth of Hungary/Elizabeth (2015), and Sacred Heart/Point Pleasant and Lakin Correctional Center (2017).
- Rev. Rayappa (Roy) Kurakulainstalled December 20, 2025
Current pastor; of the Diocese of Guntur.