About St. Raphael the Archangel · Raleigh, North Carolina
St. Raphael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic Jesuit parish in north Raleigh, North Carolina, located at 5801 Falls of Neuse Road. It is the only Jesuit-led parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh and serves a diverse, multilingual community with Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Brazilian Portuguese. The parish is home to Saint Raphael Catholic School (K–8) and Saint Raphael Catholic Preschool, and it grounds its life in the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus: showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth, and caring for our common home.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Reverend Thomas M. Simisky, S.J.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Raphael the Archangel is the only Jesuit parish in the Diocese of Raleigh, which gives it a distinctive Ignatian spirituality rooted in discernment, cura personalis (care for the whole person), and the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus. It is a multilingual, multicultural community — English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese Masses are celebrated, with the parish's Hispanic Ministry (begun in 1997) supporting the Centro para Familias Hispanas, which serves about 10,000 people a year. The parish also hosts Saint Raphael Catholic School (K–8) and a long-running preschool, plus an active roster of liturgical, faith formation, and outreach ministries grounded in the Jesuit call to walk with the excluded and care for our common home.
Mass times at St. Raphael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (English and Spanish, in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Americas)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (every week)
- Wednesday (fourth Wednesday of each month) 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
About the Parish
Saint Raphael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic Jesuit parish in north Raleigh, North Carolina, and the only Jesuit-led parish in the Diocese of Raleigh. The parish community is bilingual and multicultural, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Brazilian Portuguese, and it grounds its mission in the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus: Show the Way to God, Walk with the Excluded, Journey with Youth, and Care for Our Common Home. The parish campus at 5801 Falls of Neuse Road includes the church, the parish offices, Saint Raphael Catholic School, and Saint Raphael Catholic Preschool.
- Tagline: 'a welcoming and inclusive Catholic community of disciples in the Jesuit tradition'
- Located at 5801 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
- Phone: (919) 865-5700; Fax: (919) 865-5701
Jesuit Identity & Universal Apostolic Preferences
The Jesuits have served as pastor of St. Raphael since 1996, and the parish is part of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. In 2019, Jesuits worldwide discerned four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) to guide their shared mission, and St. Raphael uses these same four as the framework for its parish life and ministries.
- Show the Way to God
- Walk with the Excluded
- Journey with Youth
- Care for Our Common Home
History of the Parish
Saint Raphael the Archangel was dedicated in 1966 to serve a growing Catholic population in north Raleigh during the post-war suburban expansion of the Triangle. In 1996, the Society of Jesus accepted the pastorship of the parish, and the following year (1997) the parish launched its Hispanic Ministry, adding Spanish-language Masses and helping to found the Centro para Familias Hispanas with Catholic Charities of Raleigh. The preschool was founded in 1979 by Sister Frances Claure Ugast, CSC, and the K–8 school shares the campus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the parish quickly moved to livestream Masses in English and Spanish, beginning in March 2020 under Fr. Phil Hurley, S.J.
- 1966 — Parish dedicated under the Diocese of Raleigh (Bishop Vincent S. Waters)
- 1979 — Preschool founded by Sister Frances Claure Ugast, CSC
- 1996 — Society of Jesus (Jesuits) accepts pastorship
- 1997 — Hispanic Ministry launched; Centro para Familias Hispanas established
- 2020 — Livestreamed English and Spanish Masses begin during COVID-19; priests join the USA East Province
- 2023 — Prayer space with relic of St. Gianna Beretta Molla added
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a Jesuit pastor and two Jesuit parochial vicars, together with three deacons. Pastoral associates and bilingual administrative staff support the Catholic Life Team, youth ministry, and parish membership.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas M. Simisky, S.J.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Lawrence Philip Searles, S.J.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Kieran Halloran, S.J.
- Deacon Louis (Lou) Clark
- Deacon Arthur G. Powers
- Deacon John Wetsch
- Leo Moreda — Director of Catholic Life Team (Bilingual)
- Linda Lenzmeier — Pastoral Associate
- Christin Winn — Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry
- Manuela Aparicio — Administrative Associate for Catholic Life Team (Bilingual)
- Connie Reynolds — Funeral Ministry Leader
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish celebrates a full weekend schedule in English and Spanish, with a monthly Brazilian Portuguese Mass, plus daily Mass in English (Wed/Thu/Sat morning) and Spanish (Mon/Tue/Fri evening). The 10:30 AM English and 12:30 PM Spanish Sunday Masses are livestreamed on the parish website and YouTube channel.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Spanish
- Sunday: 8:30 AM English; 10:30 AM English (livestreamed); 12:30 PM Spanish (livestreamed); 4:30 PM Brazilian Portuguese (first Sunday only)
- Monday 6:00 PM Spanish; Tuesday 6:00 PM Spanish; Wednesday 7:00 AM English; Thursday 7:00 AM English; Friday 6:00 PM Spanish; Saturday 8:00 AM English
- Confession: Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, English and Spanish, in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Americas
- Adoration: Wednesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation office at St. Raphael offers year-round religious education for children, teens, and adults, with separate tracks for sacramental preparation, ongoing formation, and Ignatian spirituality. The parish also runs a Vacation Bible Camp and the AMDG youth program.
- Faith Formation for Children (K–5) and Teens
- AMDG Program (youth)
- Vacation Bible Camp
- I want to be Catholic (OCIA/RCIA)
- Women's Bible Studies
- Faith Formation and Youth Ministry registration
Ignatian Spirituality Programs
Reflecting its Jesuit identity, the parish offers programming rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, including a discernment series, the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, and a creative 'Spirituality Through Theater' offering.
- Ignatian Spirituality Series on Discernment
- Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life
- Spirituality Through Theater
Saint Raphael Catholic School & Preschool
The parish campus hosts Saint Raphael Catholic School (K–8) and Saint Raphael Catholic Preschool. The preschool, founded in 1979 by Sister Frances Claure Ugast, CSC, was one of the first Catholic early childhood centers in the Raleigh area and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019. The school feeds into Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School and is one of the only Jesuit-administered schools in North Carolina.
- Saint Raphael Catholic Preschool (founded 1979)
- Saint Raphael Catholic School, grades K–8
- Each preschool class is identified by an animal or character name
- Feeds into Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School
Hispanic Ministry & Centro para Familias Hispanas
St. Raphael's Hispanic Ministry was launched in 1997 — the same year Spanish-language Masses were added to the parish schedule. Working with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, the parish helped establish the Centro para Familias Hispanas (Hispanic Family Center), which today provides case management, early education, emergency assistance, and community referrals to approximately 10,000 individuals each year.
- Hispanic Ministry founded 1997
- Centro para Familias Hispanas — case management, early education, emergency assistance, referrals
- Serves roughly 10,000 individuals annually
- Spanish Masses daily and on weekends
Liturgical Ministries & Funerals
The parish runs a full complement of liturgical ministries serving Sunday and weekday Masses, the livestream team, and funeral services. A dedicated Funeral Ministry walks with bereaved families from mourning to joy and helps plan a funeral at the parish.
- Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Proclaimers (lectors), Welcome Ministers
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound
- Livestream Team and Art and Environment Team
- Funeral Ministry: Funeral Hosts, Liturgical Ministers & Choir, Livestream Team (led by Connie Reynolds)
Becoming a Parishioner
Newcomers are welcomed to register with the parish through the Parish Membership page on the parish website, where they can join an existing family, register as a new family, or update their information. Bilingual registration support is available through the Catholic Life Team.
- Register online via the Parish Membership page (saintraphael.org/parish-membership)
- Contact the parish office at (919) 865-5700
- Bilingual staff support through the Catholic Life Team
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis
Long-time pastor during the parish's growth years; was the pastor who, in 1981, purchased 22.5 acres on Bayleaf Church Road that would become the future site of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church. Mentioned by the parish in connection with the founding of the preschool in 1979.
- Fr. Phil Hurley, S.J.
Jesuit pastor who led St. Raphael's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, launching livestreamed Masses in English and Spanish, virtual discussion forums, and drive-thru Communion.
- Fr. Bruce Bavinger, S.J.
Jesuit priest previously associated with the parish.
- Fr. Peter Murray, S.J.
Jesuit priest previously associated with the parish.
- Reverend Thomas M. Simisky, S.J.
Current pastor.