About St. Pius X · Greensboro, North Carolina
St. Pius X (formally, St. Pius the Tenth) is a large Roman Catholic parish in Greensboro, North Carolina, within the Diocese of Charlotte. Located on North Elm Street near East Cornwallis Drive, it serves roughly 1,800 households and is one of the fastest-growing parishes in the diocese. The parish campus includes a 1,100-seat main church and chapel (dedicated 2010), the Simmons Parish Center, the Father Connolly Athletic Center, a bell tower and columbarium, and the adjacent St. Pius X Catholic School (Pre-K through 8). Known for its spirit of stewardship and broad ministry life, the parish has earned international recognition from the International Catholic Stewardship Council and was designated a diocesan pilgrimage site during the 2015 Holy Year of Divine Mercy.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Pope Saint Pius X (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, 1835–1914, canonized 1954)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. W. Christian (William Christian) Cook
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Pius X is a large, active parish that combines the resources of a major Catholic campus — a 1,100-seat church, a Pre-K–8 school, athletic facilities, a banquet-hall parish center, and a columbarium — with the warmth of a close-knit Catholic community. Its three Sunday Masses, daily Masses Monday through Friday, Saturday Reconciliation, and First Friday Adoration give plenty of room to worship, while ministries in youth, young adults, faith formation, music (including a handbell choir), seniors, healthcare, hospitality, and outreach (Mobile Meals, the Franciscan Center, the Peru mission, and Habitat for Humanity, among others) offer abundant ways to get involved. The parish is also recognized for its award-winning stewardship culture, and was named a diocesan pilgrimage site during the 2015 Holy Year of Divine Mercy.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (also by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About the Parish
St. Pius X (formally, St. Pius the Tenth) is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Charlotte located at 2210 North Elm Street in Greensboro, North Carolina. From its start as a 1955 mission school of St. Benedict's, it has grown into one of the diocese's largest and fastest-growing parishes, with approximately 1,800 registered households. The parish's mission statement is to 'Know the Lord, Love the Lord, and Serve the Lord' — through worship centered on the Eucharist, formation and evangelization, study of Sacred Scripture, and stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
- Parish mission: Know the Lord, Love the Lord, Serve the Lord
- Approximately 1,800 households
- One of the fastest-growing parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte
- International stewardship recognition (ICSC)
History of St. Pius X
The land for St. Pius X was purchased in 1954 by Monsignor Hugh A. Dolan and Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Raleigh Diocese. The school opened in 1955; the community became an independent parish on July 15, 1960. Over the decades, eight pastors have shaped the parish: Msgr. Hugh A. Dolan (founder, 1960–75), Msgr. Lawrence Newman (1975–77), Msgr. William Pharr (1977–79), Fr. George Kloster (1979–88), Fr. Frank Cintula (1988–90), Franciscan friars (1990–94), Fr. Frank Connolly (1994–2000), and Msgr. Anthony J. Marcaccio (2000–2024). The present pastor is Father W. Christian Cook, appointed September 6, 2024.
- 1954: Land purchased by Msgr. Dolan and Bishop Waters
- 1955: School opens as mission of St. Benedict's
- July 15, 1960: Becomes independent parish of the Diocese of Raleigh
- 1981: First freestanding church built
- 2006: Bell tower and columbarium constructed
- 2010: Current 1,100-seat church dedicated by Bishop Peter Jugis (April 17)
- 2015: Named diocesan pilgrimage site for the Holy Year of Divine Mercy
- 2016: Simmons Parish Center and DeJoy Primary Education Center dedicated
- 2023: Lem Pavilion completed and artificial turf field installed
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Pius X is led by Father W. Christian Cook, pastor since September 6, 2024. He is assisted by Deacons Jack Yarbrough, Robert Morris (retired), and Rich Pinto. The lay staff includes pastoral associates in Finance & Administration, Formation & Evangelization, Music & Liturgy, and Parish & Community Life, plus administrative assistants, a youth minister, a director of formation, a handbell director, a nursery coordinator, and a seniors minister.
- Fr. W. Christian Cook — Pastor
- Rev. Jack Yarbrough — Deacon
- Rev. Robert Morris — Retired Deacon
- Deacon Rich Pinto
- Al Abram — Pastoral Associate, Finance & Administration
- Lindsay Sartorio — Director of Formation & Evangelization
- Francine Britto — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Kat Manzella — Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Brian Otter — Assistant Music Ministry & Handbells Director
- Therese Chase (or 'Denese Brito') — Parish & Community Life / Philanthropy
- Alice Yorks — Seniors Ministry
- Liz Pendergrass — Executive Assistant to the Pastor
- Wendy Barber — Administrative Assistant to Faith Formation
- Sophie Patton / Toni Rieger — Parish Receptionist & Bulletin Editor
- Sheila Shearin — Nursery Coordinator
- Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio — Pastor 2000–2024 (In Loving Memory)
St. Pius X Catholic School
The parish school, St. Pius X Catholic School, serves grades Pre-K through 8 at the same North Elm Street campus. Its roots go back to 1926, when Bishop William Joseph Hafey invited the Daughters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to open St. Benedict School in Greensboro; in 1955 the school transitioned to the newly built St. Pius X campus. The Daughters of Charity led the school as educators and principals until 1998. The school celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025 with a record enrollment of 408 students. A 22,885-square-foot DeJoy Primary Education Center, opened in 2016, added a Pre-K program and state-of-the-art early-education classrooms.
- Grades Pre-K through 8
- Principal: Antonette Aguilera
- Phone: (336) 273-9865
- Website: www.spxschool.com
- Daughters of Charity staffed the school 1955–1998
- 70th anniversary celebrated in 2025 with enrollment of 408 students
- DeJoy Primary Education Center opened 2016
Ministries & Get Involved
St. Pius X organizes parish life into four ministry areas: Parish & Community Life, Music & Liturgy, Formation & Evangelization, and Administration & Finance. Active groups include the Parish Council, Youth Council, Young Adult & Young Professional Ministry, the Handbell Choir and Funeral Choir, the Healthcare Ministry, Mobile Meals Delivery, the Knights of Columbus, and outreach partnerships with the Franciscan Center, Urban Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Anne's Manor retirement home. International mission work continues in Peru, and the parish uses Realm church-management software to help parishioners sign up for groups and events.
- Parish & Community Life
- Music & Liturgy (Choir, Handbells, Funeral Choir)
- Formation & Evangelization (RCIA, adult education)
- Administration & Finance / Parish Council
- Youth Council, Young Adults, Young Professionals
- Healthcare Ministry, Mobile Meals Delivery
- Knights of Columbus
- Franciscan Center, Urban Ministries, Habitat for Humanity partnerships
- Peru international mission partnership
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. The Eucharist is offered at weekend, daily, and First Saturday Masses; Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Baptisms are scheduled after parental preparation, and marriages require six months of preparation. First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA are coordinated through the Faith Formation office. The parish also provides Anointing of the Sick on request, funeral liturgies (with a funeral choir), and interment in the on-site columbarium.
- Eucharist (Mass)
- Reconciliation (Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM, or by appointment)
- Baptism (preparation required)
- Marriage (six months' preparation)
- First Communion & Confirmation (Faith Formation)
- RCIA / adult initiation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral Liturgy / funeral choir
- Columbarium interment
Music & Liturgy
Music is a vibrant part of parish life at St. Pius X, under the direction of Francine Britto (Director of Liturgy & Music) and Brian Otter (Assistant Music Ministry & Handbells Director). Volunteer and member choirs serve the regular weekend Masses, and the Handbell Choir and Funeral Choir provide music for special liturgies. The Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass for children ages 4–6, and the parish nursery is staffed at all weekend Masses except 7:30 AM.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Francine Britto
- Assistant Music Ministry & Handbells Director: Brian Otter
- Weekend choirs
- Handbell Choir
- Funeral Choir
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (9:00 AM Sunday Mass, ages 4–6)
Facilities & Campus
The St. Pius X campus on North Elm Street has grown through a series of capital campaigns into a unified Catholic complex. The current 1,100-seat church and chapel were dedicated in 2010; the 23,477-square-foot Simmons Parish Center (dedicated February 19, 2016) houses a banquet hall, commercial kitchen, meeting rooms, library, nursery, and parish offices. The Father Connolly Athletic Center is named for the pastor (1994–2000) under whom it was built, and the 22,885-square-foot DeJoy Primary Education Center serves the Pre-K–1st-grade wing of the school. The bell tower and columbarium were added in 2006, the Parr Amphitheater and DeJoy playground followed, and in 2023 the Lem Pavilion and an artificial turf athletic field were completed.
- Church (1,100 seats) and chapel, dedicated 2010
- Simmons Parish Center, 23,477 sq ft, dedicated Feb. 19, 2016
- DeJoy Primary Education Center, 22,885 sq ft, opened 2016
- Father Connolly Athletic Center
- Bell tower and columbarium (2006)
- Parr Amphitheater; playground renovations
- Lem Pavilion and artificial turf field (2023)
- On-site rectory on North Elm Street
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to all liturgies and devotions. The parish office is in the Simmons Parish Center at 2208 North Elm Street, and is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The main parish phone is (336) 272-4681; the general email is [email protected]. The school office can be reached at (336) 273-9865. Free parking is available on site.
- Address: 2210 N. Elm St. (church) / 2208 N. Elm St. (Simmons Parish Center)
- Phone: (336) 272-4681
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stpiusxnc.com
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Wed 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
- School phone: (336) 273-9865
- Free on-site parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Hugh A. Dolan1960–1975
Founding pastor; previously pastor of St. Benedict's, Greensboro. Purchased the 14.2-acre North Elm Street site in 1954 with Bishop Vincent S. Waters; oversaw the 1955 school opening and the parish's 1960 establishment. Active civic leader, early advocate of racial equality and ecumenism; died 1981.
- Msgr. Lawrence Newman1975–1977
Strong advocate of Catholic education; succeeded Msgr. Dolan.
- Msgr. William Pharr1977–1979
Led the effort to build the parish's first freestanding church so worship would no longer be held in the school chapel.
- Fr. George Kloster1979–1988
Launched the Jubilee parish spiritual-renewal program and the long-running international mission partnership in Peru.
- Fr. Frank Cintula1988–1990
Brief pastorate between Father Kloster and the Franciscan period.
- Franciscan friars (unnamed)1990–1994
Four-year period of Franciscan pastoral leadership; coincided with the founding of the Franciscan Center in downtown Greensboro.
- Fr. Frank Connolly1994–July 2000
Returned parish to diocesan clergy leadership. Added the parish center, the middle school wing, and the athletic center that now bears his name.
- Msgr. Anthony J. Marcaccio2000–2024
Longest-tenured pastor; led unprecedented growth. Established parish and school endowments, built bell tower and columbarium (2006), current church (dedicated 2010), Simmons Parish Center (2016), DeJoy Primary Education Center. Parish earned ICSC international stewardship honors. Named a Monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Died July 19, 2024, of appendiceal cancer at age 61.
- Rev. W. Christian (William Christian) Cook2024–present
Assigned by Bishop Michael T. Martin effective Sept. 6, 2024. Former attorney ordained in 2017; previously parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace (Greensboro) and pastor of Immaculate Conception (Hendersonville) and St. Margaret Mary (Swannanoa).