About St. Stanislaus · Castle Hayne, North Carolina
St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church is a parish in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, just outside Wilmington, in the Diocese of Raleigh. Founded in 1907 by three Polish immigrant families who settled the area as vegetable farmers, it has grown into a community of about 400 families. The parish is named for St. Stanislaus Kostka and is served today by Fr. Steven DiMassimo and Deacon John Charron, with the well-known St. Stans Polish Festival (held the first Saturday in November) as one of its signature events.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Rector
- Rev. Steven Thomas DiMassimo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh (Cape Fear Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus is a small but active Catholic parish in Castle Hayne with deep Polish roots dating to 1907 and about 400 families today. Daily and weekend Masses are offered in English, with a generous confession schedule four days a week and First Friday adoration. The parish supports a wide range of liturgical, outreach, social, and educational ministries — including a Ladies Guild, Knights of Columbus council, Faith Formation and Youth Group, OCIA, Bible Study, Helping Hands, and Meals on Wheels — and binds the community together with the well-loved St. Stans Polish Festival held the first Saturday in November.
Mass times at St. Stanislaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM (after 8:30 AM Mass)
- Thursday: 12:30 PM (after 12:00 noon Mass)
- Friday: 9:00 AM (after 8:30 AM Mass)
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
- Cape Fear Deanery Reconciliation Schedule also published for neighboring parishes
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, following the 8:30 AM Mass, 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Our Parish
St. Stanislaus describes itself as 'a growing, vibrant parish nestled in beautiful Castle Hayne, North Carolina, just outside Wilmington.' With deep Polish Catholic roots and roughly 400 families, the parish combines the wisdom of older generations with the energy of young families with children. The variety of gifts, talents, and time offered by parishioners keeps the Gospel message alive across the parish and the surrounding communities.
- About 400 families
- Castle Hayne, just north of Wilmington, NC
- English-language parish
- Diocese of Raleigh, Cape Fear Deanery
Our Heritage — A Parish Story
In January 1907 three Catholic families established themselves in Castle Hayne, a rural farming community north of Wilmington. Masses were originally celebrated in their homes by Monsignor Christopher Dennen, traveling from St. Mary in Wilmington. By spring 1914 the community numbered eighteen families, received a ten-acre land donation from the Hugh McRae Development Company of Wilmington, and secured funding through family donations and the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago. Builder Thomas Hayduke began construction in 1916 and Bishop Haid dedicated the church in June 1916 with Father Dennen offering the Mass.
- First Masses in homes celebrated by Msgr. Christopher Dennen
- 10 acres from Hugh McRae Development Company, 1914
- Catholic Extension Society of Chicago funded construction
- First church dedicated June 1916 by Bishop Haid
Heritage — Franciscans and Growth
St. Stanislaus remained a mission of St. Mary, Wilmington, until 1933, when Father Sheurich, pastor of St. Joseph in St. Helena, assumed support. By 1935 the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Immaculate Conception Province took pastoral care, with Father John Munane serving from St. Joseph and Franciscan Sisters from Syracuse, NY, assisting in children's education. Over the next three decades the Franciscans built up a rectory, parish hall, convent, and school; the school closed in 1962, but Franciscan friars continued as pastors for many years.
- Mission of St. Mary, Wilmington, until 1933
- Conventual Franciscan Friars of Immaculate Conception Province, from 1935
- Father John Munane, OFM Conv.
- Franciscan Sisters from Syracuse, NY
- Rectory, parish hall, convent, and school added
- School closed in 1962
Heritage — New Church and 100th Anniversary
By the mid-1990s the old church building was clearly inadequate and could not even be sold; in 1997 Fr. Douglas Reed held two final services before it was donated to the local fire department for a training exercise. Bishop F. Joseph Gossman dedicated the new church on December 13, 1998. Loans on the church and rectory were paid off five years early on June 25, 2009 (mortgage-burning ceremony October 4, 2009). A new Administration Building was blessed by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge on December 11, 2010, and the parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in November 2014 with a Mass and consecration of the parish cemetery.
- Old church donated to fire department for a training burn, 1997
- New church dedicated December 13, 1998, by Bishop Gossman
- Mortgage paid off June 25, 2009; ceremony October 4, 2009
- St. Jude (Hampstead) loan paid off February 2010
- Administration Building blessed December 11, 2010 by Bishop Burbidge
- 100th anniversary, November 16, 2014, with Bishop Burbidge
Dedication — A Century of Faith
The parish dedication page gathers the story of St. Stanislaus in a single arc: three Polish immigrant families settling in 1907 as vegetable farmers, Mass in their homes celebrated by a priest from Wilmington, the 1916 first church, Franciscan stewardship for decades, the 1951 Army-chapel church from Camp Davis in Holly Ridge, the 1962 school closing, the 1997 training burn, the 1998 dedication by Bishop Gossman, and continued growth as retirees and new businesses discovered Wilmington. Many of the founding families and their descendants rest in the small cemetery on the parish grounds.
- Three Polish immigrant families (vegetable farmers), 1907
- Mass in homes by priest from St. Mary, Wilmington
- 1951 church was Army chapel from Camp Davis, Holly Ridge
- School closed 1962
- 1997 training burn of old church
- 1998 dedication by Bishop F. Joseph Gossman
- Parish cemetery on site
Our Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by Fr. Steven DiMassimo, pastor of both St. Stanislaus and St. Joseph's in St. Helena, and Deacon John A. Charron. Fr. Steven, who grew up in Raleigh, has been a priest in the Diocese of Raleigh since 2021. He attended Franciscan University of Steubenville and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and enjoys the outdoors (hiking, camping, fishing), cycling, small woodworking projects, and Carolina Hurricanes hockey — but says he most loves 'being a priest, hearing confessions, and celebrating the Eucharist with his parish family.' Lissette Diaz serves as Parish Secretary and Bulletin Editor.
- Pastor: Rev. Steven Thomas DiMassimo (also pastor of St. Joseph's, St. Helena)
- Deacon: John A. Charron — [email protected]
- Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor: Lissette Diaz — [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Liturgical Ministries
The parish website lists a full set of liturgical ministries that serve the Masses and devotions at St. Stanislaus. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMs) are particularly highlighted, with training and commissioning required before active service; Deacon John Charron coordinates EM training, with sessions held jointly with St. Joseph.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Deacon John Charron, contact)
- Greeters
- Liturgical Decorators
- Music Ministry
- Readers (Lectors)
- Rosary
- Sacristans
- Ushers
Outreach & Social Ministries
Out of the sanctuary, St. Stanislaus parishioners serve neighbors through Helping Hands and Meals on Wheels, and the larger community through social and support ministries. The Ladies Guild and the parish's Knights of Columbus council provide fellowship, fundraisers, and service opportunities.
- Helping Hands
- Meals on Wheels
- The Ladies Guild
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Office Volunteers
- Collection Counters
Education & Faith Formation
Christian formation for all ages is a major part of parish life, including Faith Formation and a Youth Group for younger parishioners, with Adult Education and Bible Study for adults. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets on Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Parish Office; Catholics wishing to refresh their faith are also welcome. Participants must be 18 or older, and Deacon John Charron coordinates the process.
- Adult Education
- Bible Study
- Faith Formation
- Youth Group
- OCIA — Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Parish Office (Deacon John Charron)
Sacraments
The parish site lists all seven Catholic sacraments as top-level links, with preparation information presumably available on each sub-page. As with most parishes, marriage and baptism typically require an initial contact with the parish office.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Holy Orders
- Marriage
- Reconciliation (Confession)
Administration & Parish Councils
The Administration menu gathers the parish governance and planning bodies: the Safe Environment Program, the Bishop's Annual Appeal, Finance Council, Long Range Planning Committee, and Pastoral Council — along with the Parish Calendar and weekly bulletins.
- Safe Environment Program
- Bishop's Annual Appeal
- Finance Council
- Long Range Planning Committee
- Pastoral Council
- Parish Calendar
- Weekly Bulletins
The St. Stans Polish Festival
Held each year on the first Saturday in November on the parish grounds, the St. Stanislaus Polish Festival began in 1998 and has grown to draw thousands from across North Carolina and several neighboring states. Patrons enjoy authentic Polish foods and a wide assortment of desserts, live music (the Harbour Towne Fest Band), a craft sale, and a cash-prize raffle — 'something for everyone.' It is staffed entirely by volunteers. Next year's festival: November 7, 2026, 11 am – 5 pm.
- Held first Saturday in November (2026 date: Nov 7, 11 am–5 pm)
- Started in 1998 — rooted in the parish's Polish heritage
- Authentic Polish foods and desserts, live band, craft sale, raffle
- All-volunteer staffed
- Volunteer contacts: Debbie Cool or Marty Yakimovich, 910-675-2336
- More info: http://ststanspolishfestival.org/
Our Patron Saint — St. Stanislaus Kostka
St. Stanislaus Kostka (1550–1568) was a Polish Jesuit novice canonized in 1726. Born at the castle of Rostkovo, he was the second son of Margaret Kryska and John Kostka, a senator in the ruling house of Poland. At fourteen, Stanislaus attended the Jesuit college in Vienna with his elder brother Paul, where he was mistreated; he fell seriously ill but, unable to call for a priest in a Lutheran household, appealed to his patroness St. Barbara — who appeared with two angels and gave him Holy Communion — and was cured by Our Lady, who asked him to enter the Society of Jesus. He fled Vienna against his father's wishes, joined the Jesuits in Rome, met St. Peter Canisius, and lived ten months as a saintly novice. Famously devoted to the Blessed Virgin, he once said simply: 'She is my Mother! The Mother of God is my Mother.' He died on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1568, at seventeen — answering his prayer to die on that day.
- Born 1550 at castle of Rostkovo, Poland
- Entered Society of Jesus; met St. Peter Canisius in Rome
- Canonized 1726
- Died August 15, 1568 (feast of the Assumption), at age 17
- Honored with a painting in the parish's Gathering Area (acquired 2008)
100th Anniversary (November 16, 2014)
The parish community celebrated its centennial on Sunday, November 16, 2014, with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge concelebrating an 11:00 AM Mass, the consecration of the parish cemetery, and a reception in the parish hall. A 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book, Program, and Holy Card were produced and are referenced on the parish site.
- Sunday, November 16, 2014
- Bishop Michael F. Burbidge concelebrated at 11:00 AM Mass
- Consecration of parish cemetery
- Reception in parish hall
- 100th Anniversary Commemorative Holy Card published
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. New parishioners are welcomed via a downloadable registration form available on the site, and the parish is just off NC Highway 117 (Castle Hayne Road), north of Wilmington.
- Address: 4849 Castle Hayne Rd. (NC Hwy 117), Castle Hayne, NC 28429
- Phone: (910) 675-2336
- Fax: (910) 675-3116
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- New parishioner registration form available via the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Christopher Dennen1907–c.1933
Traveled from St. Mary, Wilmington to celebrate Mass in homes and in the first church (dedicated 1916).
- Father Sheurich1933–1935
Diocesan priest; pastor of St. Joseph, St. Helena, who also assumed support of St. Stanislaus.
- Father John Munane, OFM Conv.from 1935
First Conventual Franciscan assigned to St. Stanislaus from St. Joseph, St. Helena, after Franciscan friars took pastoral care.
- Fr. Douglas Reedmid-1990s
Pastored the 1997 demolition/training burn of the old church and oversaw construction of the present church (dedicated 1998 by Bishop Gossman).