About St. Michael · Vienna, West Virginia
St. Michael Parish is a Catholic parish located at the corner of 55th Street and Grand Central Avenue in Vienna, West Virginia. Established in 1956 as part of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston, the parish currently serves about 250 registered families on the west side of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area. The parish offers a weekend Mass schedule of Saturday evening and two Sunday morning Masses, complemented by daily Masses on most weekdays, and is staffed by a pastor and a small team of parish secretaries, a bookkeeper, a religious-education coordinator, and leaders of the Men's and Women's parish organizations.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Michael (the Archangel)
- Rector
- Rev. Shinu Lukose, C.S.T. (Administrator, appointed June 18, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
St. Michael offers a tight-knit Catholic community of about 250 registered families with a full weekend and daily Mass schedule, Saturday confessions, and a robust Parish School of Religion for grades K–8 plus OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) for adults seeking the faith. Active parish organizations — a Men's Organization, a Women's Group, separate Men's and Women's Bible studies, a Catholic Sharing Appeal that surpassed goal, and outreach to the Good Samaritan Center — give newcomers several easy ways to plug in and grow in faith together.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
About St. Michael Parish
St. Michael Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Vienna, West Virginia, established in 1956 within the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. The parish sits on the corner of 55th Street and Grand Central Avenue and today serves approximately 250 registered families with a full schedule of weekend and daily Masses, Saturday confessions, faith formation for children and adults, and parish organizations for men and women.
- 250 registered families
- Corner of 55th Street and Grand Central Avenue, Vienna, WV 26105
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
- Founded 1956
History
The parish was established in 1956 with Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald as first pastor, in an era of broad Catholic growth across West Virginia. By 1974 a new St. Michael Church had been dedicated. Father John Gallagher served as pastor and in May 2024 was additionally named designated pastor of Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School. In June 2025 Bishop Mark Brennan appointed Father Shinu Lukose, C.S.T., of the Little Flower Congregation in Kerala, India, as the parish's administrator.
- 1956 — Parish established with Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald, first pastor
- 1974 — New St. Michael Church dedicated
- May 2024 — Father John Gallagher named designated pastor of Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School
- June 18, 2025 — Father Shinu Lukose, C.S.T. appointed administrator
Parish Staff & Leadership
Parish operations are coordinated by a small staff alongside the pastor, including a secretary, bookkeeper, and coordinator of religious education. Lay leaders head the Men's Organization and Women's Group, the two principal parish fellowship bodies.
- Pastor/Administrator: Rev. Shinu Lukose, C.S.T.
- Secretary: Mrs. Brenda Rhodes
- Bookkeeper: Mrs. Mona Smith
- Religious Education: Ms. Jane Francis Hofbauer
- Men's Organization: Mr. Ed Borkowski
- Women's Group: Mrs. Pat Helmick
Faith Formation & OCIA
Children in grades K–8 are served by the Parish School of Religion, which begins each fall with a kick-off weekend. Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, as well as baptized Catholics who have not yet received the Eucharist or Confirmation, are invited into OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the parish's adult Catholic-education program (formerly RCIA), with new sessions typically beginning in the fall.
- Parish School of Religion (K–8)
- OCIA for unbaptized adults, baptized non-Catholics, and Catholics needing Eucharist/Confirmation
- Contact the parish office to enroll: 304-295-6109
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond the liturgy, the parish sustains a Men's Organization and a Women's Group that anchor fellowship and service, along with a Men's Tuesday-night Bible study during Lent and a Women's Friday-morning Bible study (Fridays at 9:00 a.m., after the 8:15 a.m. Mass) — the latter studying books like Acts and, in Lent, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Liturgical roles for laity include lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, greeters, and cantors, with the parish actively recruiting for the 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday Masses.
- Men's Organization
- Women's Group
- Men's Bible Study (Tuesday evenings)
- Women's Bible Study (Friday mornings, 9:00 a.m.)
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ushers, Greeters, Cantors
Outreach & Charity
St. Michael supports local and global Catholic outreach. The parish collects personal-hygiene items and donations for the Good Samaritan Center (3000 Grand Central Ave., Vienna, WV), which distributes items to local schools for preteens and teenagers in need. The parish participates in the annual Catholic Sharing Appeal (exceeding goal in recent years) and distributes CRS Rice Bowls during Lent for Catholic Relief Services.
- Good Samaritan Center — personal hygiene kit collection
- Catholic Sharing Appeal
- CRS Rice Bowl (Lent)
- Lenten Lunches hosted at St. Michael, sponsored by area congregations
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion — through its Parish School of Religion and OCIA programs. Couples should contact the office for marriage preparation; the Sacrament of the Sick is available on request; Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons or by appointment.
- Baptism
- First Communion (Parish School of Religion)
- Confirmation (parish class; 2025 Confirmation May 14, 7:00 p.m.)
- Marriage (contact parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick (by appointment)
- Reconciliation
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at 304-295-6109, the rectory at 304-295-6648, or by email at [email protected]. The mailing address is 213 – 55th Street, Vienna, WV 26105. Sunday bulletins and homilies are archived on the parish website, stmichaelvienna.com.
- Office: 304-295-6109
- Rectory: 304-295-6648
- Fax: 304-295-2303
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing: 213 – 55th Street, Vienna, WV 26105
- Web: https://stmichaelvienna.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald1956
First pastor at the parish's establishment.
- Father John Gallagher
Pastored the parish; in May 2024 was additionally appointed designated pastor of Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School for a one-year term.
- Rev. Shinu Lukose, C.S.T.effective June 18, 2025
Appointed administrator of St. Michael Parish by Bishop Mark Brennan, in consultation with the provincial superior of the St. Thomas Province of the Little Flower Congregation in Kerala, India.