About St. Vincent De Paul · Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the small historic spa town of Berkeley Springs (also known as Bath), in Morgan County, West Virginia. Established in 1931, it is one of five parishes brought into the Diocese of Wheeling when the eastern panhandle of West Virginia was transferred from the Diocese of Richmond, with Rev. James McConnell as its founding pastor. The parish sits on Liberty Street in a red-brick church that seats about 425 people, draws an average of roughly 218 worshippers across its weekend and weekday Masses, and serves about 31 students in its Parish School of Religion. Its mission is to faithfully proclaim, live, and share the Gospel through worship, sacraments, spiritual formation, evangelization, and Christian service.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a small, welcoming mountain-town parish where parishioners know one another by name, anchored by daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a strong Rosary devotion (with a monthly Rosary for America prayed at the parish Grotto). It offers cradle-to-adult faith formation through a free K–12 Parish School of Religion and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and it lives out the patron's charism of service through its local St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus council, Altar & Rosary Society, Prayer Chain, and Ministry to the Sick & Homebound. If you are looking for a faithful Catholic community in the Berkeley Springs / Morgan County area that takes both the liturgy and outreach seriously, this is it.
Mass times at St. Vincent De Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
- Or by appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About St. Vincent de Paul Parish
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston located at 67 Liberty Street in Berkeley Springs, WV (also known as Bath), the historic spa town that is the seat of Morgan County. According to the parish's own published fast facts, the church was established in 1931, seats 425 people, draws an average total Mass attendance of 218, and serves 31 students in its Parish School of Religion. The parish's stated mission is 'to faithfully proclaim, live, and share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ through worship, sacraments, spiritual formation, evangelization, and Christian services,' within the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and in filial obedience to the Holy Father and the diocesan bishop.
- Established: 1931
- Seating capacity: 425
- Average total Mass attendance: 218
- Parish School of Religion enrollment: 31 students
- Diocese: Wheeling-Charleston
- Bishop: Mark Brennan
History
St. Vincent de Paul Parish was established in 1931 as part of a major diocesan realignment. When the eastern panhandle of West Virginia was transferred from the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, into the Diocese of Wheeling, five new diocesan parishes were created at once, and St. Vincent de Paul in Berkeley Springs was one of them. The first pastor was Rev. James McConnell. The Diocese of Wheeling was simultaneously renamed Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, with Sacred Heart Parish in Charleston designated as co-cathedral. The parish has continued to serve the small Berkeley Springs / Morgan County community ever since, today under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga.
- 1930: Eastern panhandle of WV transferred from Diocese of Richmond to Diocese of Wheeling
- 1931: St. Vincent de Paul Parish established; Rev. James McConnell, first pastor
- Sister parishes founded same year: St. James (Charles Town), Assumption (Keyser), St. Joseph (Martinsburg), St. Anthony (Ridgeley)
- Diocese renamed Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Devotions
The parish places a strong emphasis on the Holy Rosary. The Rosary is prayed Sundays at 8:30 AM in the church before the 9:00 AM Mass, and 30 minutes before each Saturday Vigil Mass. On the First Saturday of every month, the parish gathers one hour before the Vigil Mass for the Rosary for America, prayed in front of the outdoor Grotto (moved indoors to the church during winter months).
- Sunday Rosary: 8:30 AM in the church
- Saturday Rosary: 30 minutes before Mass in the church
- Rosary for America: First Saturday, 1 hour before Vigil Mass, at the Grotto (in church in winter)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are arranged through the parish office (the parish asks families to have concrete plans before speaking with the pastor). Penance / Reconciliation is offered before every weekend Mass and by appointment. First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared through a two-year Parish School of Religion program. Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion for the Sick / homebound are arranged through the parish office, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion regularly bring Communion to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound. The Bereavement Ministry assists parishioners with funeral arrangements.
- Baptism
- Penance / Reconciliation
- First Eucharist & Confirmation (2-year preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Communion for the Sick & Homebound
- Marriage
- Funerals / Bereavement Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Vincent de Paul offers a comprehensive, free Parish Religious Education Program for children and youth in grades K through 12, including two years of sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) accompanies adults seeking to become Catholic, as well as adult baptized Catholics preparing to receive First Eucharist and/or Confirmation; the OCIA group meets on Sundays after the 9:00 AM Mass from September through May in the church, with accommodations made for inquirers' needs.
- Parish School of Religion (K–12, free of charge)
- Sacramental preparation: 2-year program for First Eucharist and Confirmation
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) – Sundays after 9 AM Mass, Sept–May
- Director of Religious Education: Amy Taylor (304-258-1311)
- OCIA coordinators: Bob and Eun Yea Williams
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish runs an unusually wide range of ministries for its size, with explicit invitations to volunteer. Outreach is led by the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul Society, in the spirit of its patron, providing necessities to those in need; the Society meets at 1:00 PM on the second Monday of each month at the Dorothy Day Social Ministries Building, 48 S. Mercer Street. The Knights of Columbus council, Altar & Rosary Society, Prayer Chain Ministry, Ministry to the Sick & Homebound, and Bereavement Ministry round out the service side of parish life. Liturgical ministries include altar server, usher / greeter, lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, sacristan, and Mass coordinator.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (Pam Hoffman, 304-258-9494)
- Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight: Patrick Narango, 304-258-8190)
- Altar & Rosary Society (Patricia Brooks, 304-258-1954)
- Prayer Chain Ministry (J. Curtis Perry, 304-676-6822)
- Ministry to the Sick & Homebound
- Bereavement Ministry
- Liturgical Ministries (altar server, usher/greeter, lector, EMHC, sacristan, Mass coordinator)
- Safety & Security; Facilities Maintenance
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led pastorally by Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga and supported by a small office staff and lay councils. The Parish Pastoral Council, with President Patrick Narango and Vice-President Judi McBee (OCDS), advises the pastor on parish life; a Finance Council handles temporal matters. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. All prospective liturgical volunteers must complete the diocesan Safe Environment (VIRTUS) requirements before serving.
- Pastor: Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga
- Parish Secretary: Gabriella (Gaby) Kucharski
- Bookkeeper: Charles (Skipper) Price, III
- Asst. Bookkeeper: Patrick M. McBee
- Director of Religious Education: Amy Taylor
- Parish Pastoral Council President: Patrick Narango
- Parish Pastoral Council Vice-President: Judi McBee, OCDS
- Parish Office hours: Mon–Fri, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Facilities & Campus
Beyond the main church at 67 Liberty Street, the parish maintains a small campus of buildings around Berkeley Springs. Paul Niner Hall serves as the parish hall (304-258-3936). The Rectory sits at 38 S. Mercer Street. The Dorothy Day Social Ministries Building at 48 S. Mercer Street houses the parish's social outreach — including the monthly St. Vincent de Paul Society meeting — and is named for Dorothy Day, the Catholic activist and Servant of God associated with the Catholic Worker movement. A parish Grotto is used for the monthly First Saturday Rosary for America.
- Church: 67 Liberty Street
- Rectory: 38 S. Mercer Street
- Dorothy Day Social Ministries Building: 48 S. Mercer Street
- Paul Niner Hall: 304-258-3936
- Parish Grotto (used for Rosary for America, First Saturdays)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone (304-258-1311), fax (304-258-3936), or email at [email protected]. The mailing address is P.O. Box 634, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411-0634. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The official Facebook page is at facebook.com/pages/Saint-Vincent-De-Paul-Catholic/155440697826214, and the full website is stvincentdepaulcatholicchurchbs.com.
- Phone: 304-258-1311
- Fax: 304-258-3936
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing: P.O. Box 634, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411-0634
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Website: stvincentdepaulcatholicchurchbs.com
- Facebook: Saint Vincent De Paul Catholic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James McConnell1931–
First pastor when St. Vincent de Paul Parish was established.