About St. Paul · Weirton, West Virginia
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Weirton, West Virginia, part of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. The parish traces its origins to an 1880 mission organized for the Catholic families drawn to the area by the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company (later Weirton Steel), and was formally established on May 27, 1916 to serve the Catholics of Weirton, Holidays Cove, Wheeling Junction, Colliers, and New Cumberland. The parish operates St. Paul Catholic School (founded 1924), a parish cemetery, an active music ministry, and ongoing faith formation through its PSR program and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation). Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and three times on Sunday, with daily Masses Monday through Saturday, Saturday confessions, and monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Binu Sebastian (Fr. Binu Sebastian)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
St. Paul Parish welcomes newcomers with open arms and offers a full sacramental life — three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, daily weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. The parish operates its own K–8 Catholic school (since 1924), runs PSR faith formation and OCIA for those becoming Catholic, and supports an unusually rich music ministry led by a degreed Music Director and including children's and middle-school choirs plus a contemporary instrumental ensemble at the 11:00 a.m. liturgy. The 2006 parish mission statement commits the community to being "a beacon of hope in a dramatically changing city," especially for the elderly, the poor, and the disheartened — making it a parish where worship, formation, school, and outreach are tightly woven together.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (guardians/adorers needed in 30-minute slots)
- Saturday evening following the 6:00 p.m. Mass (per parish daily-Mass schedule)
Our Parish
St. Paul Parish describes itself as the Catholic parish family of Weirton, called by its 2006 Mission Statement to be "a beacon of hope in a dramatically changing city." Empowered by the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the Eucharist, the community commits to offering concrete signs of hope to the elderly, the poor, and the disheartened; to ministering through prayer, worship, and sacraments; and to living as a welcoming and nurturing community. The parish is led by Fr. Binu Sebastian and serves downtown Weirton and surrounding communities from its 140 Walnut Street campus, which it shares with St. Paul Catholic School.
- Mission Statement adopted by parish vote, May 2006
- Parish family led by Fr. Binu Sebastian, Pastor
- Campus shared with St. Paul Catholic School (PK, K–8)
- Maintains St. Paul Cemetery
Parish History
St. Paul Parish grew out of an 1880 Catholic mission organized for the workers and families — including many Polish immigrants — drawn to the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company, which became Weirton Steel. The first St. Paul Parish was organized in 1911 on land donated by Weirton Steel. In 1915 the Polish Catholic community formed its own parish, Sacred Heart of Mary, and on May 27, 1916 the remaining congregation was formally established as St. Paul Parish, serving Weirton, Holidays Cove, Wheeling Junction, Colliers, and New Cumberland. The first church was dedicated in 1918, the parish school opened in 1924 staffed by the Servants of Mary, and a further division in 1957 created St. Joseph the Worker Parish on Weirton Heights. The current white-brick church was built in 1972.
- 1880 — Catholic mission organized in Weirton
- 1911 — first Saint Paul Parish organized; land donated by Weirton Steel
- 1915 — Polish community forms Sacred Heart of Mary Parish
- May 27, 1916 — St. Paul Parish formally established
- 1918 — first church dedicated
- 1924 — first parish school built, staffed by the Servants of Mary
- 1957 — St. Joseph the Worker Parish formed on Weirton Heights
- 1972 — present-day modernistic white-brick church built
- May 2006 — current Mission Statement adopted by parish vote
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a small, dedicated staff under the leadership of Fr. Binu Sebastian, Pastor. Deacon Jason Miller assists with ministry. The parish office is managed by Christine Holmes. Carrie Oliver-Shultz serves as Director of Music Ministries and as Youth & Sacraments Coordinator. School Principal Jamie Lesho oversees St. Paul Catholic School, and Robert Wasson serves as Cemetery Manager. Liturgical and parish life is shaped by two lay councils — the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council — whose current members are listed on the parish website.
- Fr. Binu Sebastian — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Jason Miller — ([email protected])
- Mrs. Christine Holmes — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Mrs. Carrie Shultz — Director of Music Ministries / Youth & Sacraments Coordinator ([email protected])
- Mr. James (Jamie) Lesho — Principal, St. Paul Catholic School ([email protected])
- Mr. Robert Wasson — Cemetery Manager
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council works with the pastor in setting the pastoral direction of the parish community.
- Katrina Mills — Chair
- Anthony Sessi
- Angela Reinard
- James Mazzone
- Sharon Higgins
- Jeff Yoder
Parish Finance Council
The Parish Finance Council assists the pastor in the fiscal and physical administration of the parish. Members have access to all parish financial records, approve the annual budget and any expenditure over $5,000, and report annually to the parish on its financial condition while helping to educate the community on stewardship.
- Gary Balint — Chair
- Carla Young
- Jason Miller
- John Porco
- Robert Marino
- Guy Holmes
- Mike Mastrantoni
- Nicole Serafine
- Nick Higgins
Music and Liturgical Ministries
St. Paul's Music Ministry, directed by Carrie Oliver-Shultz since 2003, is described on the parish website as "a vital part of the Liturgical and Communal life of the parish." Carrie is a 1998 graduate of Otterbein University (Bachelor's in Music Performance) and has participated in numerous National Pastoral Musicians Association conventions. The Music Ministry blends traditional and contemporary repertoire. Adult choir and instrumentalists support the parish liturgies, and at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass the music is led by acoustic guitarist Rick Witkowski, hand percussionist Pat Neeley, and Carrie on congas and djembe. The Youth Music Ministry includes a 30–40-member Children's Choir (Grades K–5) and the Voices of Hope middle-school choir. Cantors are needed for all weekend liturgies. In addition, the parish recruits liturgical ministers — Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Greeters, and Ushers — through FlockNote sign-ups and the parish office.
- Music Director: Carrie Oliver-Shultz (since 2003)
- Adult Choir / Instrumentalists
- Children's Choir (Grades K–5, 30–40 members)
- Voices of Hope Middle-School Choir
- 11:00 a.m. ensemble: Rick Witkowski (guitar), Pat Neeley (hand percussion), Carrie (congas/djembe)
- Liturgical roles: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Greeters, Ushers
- Cantors needed for all weekend liturgies
Faith Formation and Becoming Catholic
St. Paul's faith formation program, PSR (Parish School of Religion), is the parish's lifelong faith formation program and meets on Sunday mornings throughout the year for children in grades K–8 who do not attend Catholic school. Adults and older newcomers who wish to become Catholic participate in OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — beginning with an initial meeting with the pastor and continuing with a team of parish members who share the beliefs, customs, and worship of the Church. Initiation of new members is normally celebrated each year at the Great Easter Vigil with Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Those already baptized in another Christian tradition follow a different path of welcome into the Catholic community.
- PSR — Parish School of Religion (K–8, Sunday mornings)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
- Separate path of welcome for already-baptized Christians
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School, located at 140 Walnut Street directly behind St. Paul Church in downtown Weirton, has served the parish and broader community since 1924. The school offers programs from preschool through Grade 8 and partners with the parish for weekday Mass (the Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Mass is celebrated with the school). The school's mission is to "strengthen Catholic values by providing excellence in education while serving God and one another," and it describes itself as a family that "learns together, serves together, grows together, and worships together." The school is led by Principal Mr. Jamie Lesho.
- Founded 1924; originally staffed by the Servants of Mary
- Programs: Preschool (PK) through Grade 8
- Principal: Mr. Jamie Lesho
- School phone: (304) 748-5225
- School website: weirtonstpauls.org
- Tuesday 9:30 a.m. parish Mass celebrated with the school
Becoming a Parishioner / Visitors
The parish joyfully welcomes new parishioners. Those who have moved into the area are invited to worship at any of the weekend Masses (Saturday 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 6:00 p.m.), introduce themselves to the pastor and to the greeters, and call the parish office at (304) 748-6710 to complete a parish census form and be added to the parish mailing list. Individuals and families exploring Catholic community life may also contact the pastor directly through the parish office.
- Call the parish office: (304) 748-6710
- Weekend Masses open to visitors
- Parish census form on registration
- Pastor available for exploratory conversations
St. Paul Cemetery
The parish maintains St. Paul Cemetery as part of its ministry to the broader Weirton Catholic community. Cemetery Manager Robert Wasson oversees the grounds. A seasonal Saturday-morning Cemetery Mass (for example, 11:00 a.m. on scheduled Saturdays per the published ministry schedule) is offered, with liturgical roles filled by parish volunteers.
- Cemetery Manager: Mr. Robert Wasson
- Seasonal Saturday-morning Cemetery Mass
- Volunteer liturgical ministers assigned per quarterly ministry schedule