About St. Patrick · Coalton, West Virginia
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a rural mission parish in Coalton, West Virginia, clustered with St. Brendan Parish in nearby Elkins under the pastoral care of Father James E. O'Connor. Located in Randolph County in the scenic Potomac Highlands, the church serves a small Irish-American community with roots stretching back to the 1850s and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. Weekly life centers on Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m., First Friday Adoration, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and a nationally known biannual Spaghetti Dinner hosted in the Parish Hall.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. James E. O'Connor (Father Jim)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers a close-knit Irish-Catholic heritage community in the scenic Potomac Highlands, with Sunday Mass, a warmly restored Parish Hall, and biannual spaghetti dinners that draw visitors from across the region. The parish shares pastoral staff, OCIA formation, First Friday Adoration, and Knights of Columbus activities with neighboring St. Brendan in Elkins, giving a small mission church real pastoral depth. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed by name, and the parish's 2022 accessibility upgrades to the Parish Hall signal a community that looks forward to its next hundred years.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 - 4:45 PM (at St. Brendan Church, Elkins) or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Family Chapel)
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick is a small rural Catholic mission in Coalton, West Virginia, clustered with St. Brendan Parish in Elkins and served by Father James E. O'Connor ('Father Jim'). Both churches sit in the scenic Potomac Highlands of Randolph County. The parish invites visitors, returning Catholics, and those exploring the Catholic faith to join its 'active and caring community of faith, hope, and love.' Worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach — including a nationally known spaghetti dinner — animate parish life.
- Clustered with St. Brendan Parish, Elkins, in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
- Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. anchors the weekly schedule
- Welcomes visitors, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the Catholic faith
Parish History
St. Patrick's roots run to 1858-59, when Irish Catholic settlers began arriving in what would become Kingsville, WV, and held the first Masses in Patrick Flanagan's log cabin. Father Michael Fitzpatrick built Randolph County's first Catholic church and launched the Coalton mission; Father William Sauer completed the building. The church was dedicated in 1903 by Bishop Donahue of Wheeling. Generations of priests followed, serving an Irish-heritage community that grew up with Italian immigrants in the coal country. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary on September 28, 2018.
- 1858-59: First Irish Catholic settlers arrive; Masses celebrated in Patrick Flanagan's log cabin by visiting Father Stack of Staunton, VA
- Father Michael Fitzpatrick: 28-year pastorate; built the first Catholic church in Randolph County and began the Coalton mission
- Father William Sauer: completed the building of St. Patrick's
- 1903: Church dedicated by Bishop Donahue of Wheeling
- 1917-1924: Father James Kennedy
- Father Davern: 25 years
- Father Rauth: accepted a Wurlitzer Organ donated by DeMotto Brothers Coal Company
- Father Joseph Amnesi: helped build the St. Patrick Parish Hall
- July 15, 1983 - Jan 18, 1996: Father James McCafferty remembered as 'much loved'
- Father Roy Schuster: Capuchin Franciscan Friar
- Sept 28, 2018: 100th Anniversary Mass concelebrated by Father Jim and five other priests
- 2022: Parish Hall renovation and expansion (new flooring, fixtures, bathrooms, handicapped accessibility)
Pastor and Staff
St. Patrick is pastored by Father James E. O'Connor ('Father Jim'), who also serves as pastor of the clustered St. Brendan Parish in Elkins. Father Jim was ordained on May 29, 1982, is a brother of the Sacred Heart Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi, and is known as a musician and Christian songwriter who shares his gift of song during homilies. He is the fourteenth pastor of St. Brendan; his appointment to lead the cluster took effect June 20, 2018.
- Pastor: Rev. James E. O'Connor (Father Jim)
- Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston: Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan (installed August 22, 2019)
- Parish Office phone: 304-636-0546
- Parish Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
St. Patrick offers Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. at the Coalton church. Reconciliation is heard Saturday evenings at St. Brendan in Elkins, and First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated monthly in the Holy Family Chapel. A Prayer Line, Liturgy Intentions, and Ministry of Care visits to the sick and homebound complete the devotional life of the parish.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM at St. Patrick, Coalton
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 - 4:45 PM at St. Brendan, Elkins, or by appointment
- First Friday Adoration: 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the Holy Family Chapel
- Baptism: parent sessions held before baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage: preparation required six months in advance
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults): contact Father Jim for those discerning the Catholic faith
- Prayer Line: contact Mary Nucilli (number in parish bulletin)
- Liturgy Intentions: use the 'Liturgy Intention' envelope on the bulletin table
- Ministry of Care: visits to the sick, homebound, and hospitalized — please call the parish office
Parish Ministries & Community Life
The parish runs or shares the ministries typical of a small, close-knit mission church, with the added flavor of a strong Knights of Columbus presence from Elkins Council 603. The signature event is the 'Nationally Acclaimed' Spaghetti Dinner, held biannually in the Parish Hall on the first Sunday of May and the third Sunday of October. The 2022 Parish Hall renovation made the building more accessible for parish and community gatherings.
- Knights of Columbus — Elkins Council 603
- Father Mark T. Gallipeau Memorial Scholarship (K of C): $2,000 for a Catholic high school senior from Holy Rosary, St. Patrick, or St. Brendan's parishes
- St. Patrick Spaghetti Dinner — biannual, first Sunday of May and third Sunday of October
- Ministry of Care — visits to the sick and homebound
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for those becoming Catholic
- Parish Registration (visit the St. Brendan office or call 304-636-0546)
Sacraments
Information on each sacrament is published on the parish website, with simple instructions to contact Father Jim and the parish office for preparation.
- Baptism — parent sessions held before baptism
- Confirmation — via OCIA process
- Eucharist — Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:15-4:45 PM (St. Brendan) or by appointment
- Marriage — 6 months advance preparation
- Anointing / Ministry of Care — available on request
Devotions
The parish's devotional life centers on Eucharistic Adoration once a month, with the Prayer Line and Liturgy Intentions adding a year-round rhythm of prayer.
- First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — 5:00-6:00 PM, Holy Family Chapel
- Prayer Line (Mary Nucilli)
- Liturgy Intentions (masses offered for personal intentions)
Parish Hall & Facilities
The St. Patrick Parish Hall is the social heart of the mission and is the home of the nationally known Spaghetti Dinner. A 2022 renovation and expansion project added new flooring, fixtures, and bathrooms and improved handicapped accessibility to better serve the parish and Coalton community.
- Renovated and expanded in 2022
- New flooring, new fixtures, and new bathrooms
- Improved handicapped accessibility
- Hosts the biannual Spaghetti Dinner (May and October)
Visit, Register & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors, returning Catholics, and those discerning the Catholic faith. New parishioners are encouraged to register in person at the St. Brendan Parish Office in Elkins during office hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or by calling 304-636-0546.
- Parish Office: 304-636-0546
- Office hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
- Address: 200 Church Street, Coalton, WV 26257
- Cluster partner St. Brendan: 181 St. Brendan Way, Elkins, WV 26241
- Website: stbrendanwv.weebly.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stackpre-1860s
Visiting priest from Staunton, VA; first to celebrate Mass in the area, in Patrick Flanagan's log cabin.
- Father Dacey
First resident priest; died shortly after his arrival.
- Father Michael Fitzpatrick28-year pastorate
Built the first Catholic church in Randolph County (a log church at Kingsville) and oversaw construction of the Coalton/St. Patrick mission.
- Father William Sauerone year
Succeeded Fitzpatrick; completed the building of St. Patrick's.
- Father Hall
- Father John H. Corcoran
Used his fluency in Italian to minister to Italian immigrants in the area.
- Father James Kennedy1917-1924
- Father Davern25 years
- Father Rauth
Accepted a new Wurlitzer Organ donated by the DeMotto Brothers Coal Company.
- Father Patrick J. Keating
- Father Robert J. Rooney
- Father D.J. Donovan
- Father Benedict Mahon
- Father Joseph Amnesi
Helped build the St. Patrick Parish Hall, home of the Nationally Acclaimed Spaghetti Dinner.
- Father Raymond Rodzeita
- Father Leon Ruby
- Father Richard Shodatemporary administrator, 1979
Brief tenure as temporary administrator.
- Father Mark Krause
- Father William Anderson
- Father James McCaffertyJuly 15, 1983 - January 18, 1996
Remembered as a 'much loved' pastor.
- Father Albert Anselmibrief
Brief tenure immediately after McCafferty.
- Father Roy Schuster
A Capuchin Franciscan Friar.
- Father Giles LeVasuer
Described as a 'most loved pastor'.
- Father Tom Dagle
- Father Eric Antwi
- Father Don Higgs
- Father Mark Gallipeau
Died after a brief illness; buried in the Catholic Cemetery at St. Brendan in Elkins.
- Father John 'Chapin' Engler
Succeeded Father Gallipeau; reassigned June 20, 2018 to Christ the King Parish in Dunbar, Holy Trinity Parish in Nitro, and Saint Patrick Mission in Bancroft.
- Father James E. O'ConnorJune 20, 2018 - present
Current pastor; ordained May 29, 1982; brother of the Sacred Heart Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi; musician/Christian songwriter.