About St. Vincent de Paul · New Martinsville, West Virginia
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Latin-rite parish in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston, located at 21 Rosary Road in New Martinsville, West Virginia. Founded in 1901, the parish serves as the hub of a four-church cluster that includes Mater Dolorosa Parish in Paden City, Holy Rosary Mission in Sistersville, and St. Joseph Mission in Proctor, together ministering to Catholics across Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Its patron is St. Vincent de Paul, and the parish lives under the motto 'In all things, charity' — a fitting banner for a community that runs a food pantry, brings Holy Communion to the homebound, and gathers annually for a Corpus Christi procession and parish picnic at Holy Name Park.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Abraham, V.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a small, multigenerational country parish that takes its patron's motto — 'In all things, charity' — seriously. Daily and weekly Masses are offered across the cluster, with a robust Reconciliation schedule, sick and homebound visitation, a PSR program preparing children for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, a working parish food pantry staffed by volunteers, and signature community events like the Corpus Christi procession and Annual Parochial Picnic at Holy Name Park. Anyone walking in will find a place where the music ministry, parish councils, Women's Club, and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Rosary on Saturdays all keep the family of faith close-knit and active.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Vincent de Paul, New Martinsville — Thursday 5:00–6:00 pm (before the 6 pm Mass)
- Mater Dolorosa, Paden City — Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm; Wednesday 5:00–6:00 pm
- St. Joseph, Proctor — Tuesday 5:00–6:00 pm
- Or by appointment through the Cluster Office
Adoration times
- Sacrament of Adoration — schedule listed on parish website (specific times published on the svdpnm.org Adoration page)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in New Martinsville, West Virginia is a parish of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. Its homepage carries the bold motto 'In all things, charity,' drawn from the example of St. Vincent de Paul himself. The parish is the hub of a four-church cluster that includes Mater Dolorosa in Paden City, Holy Rosary in Sistersville, and St. Joseph Mission in Proctor — together serving Catholics across Wetzel and Tyler Counties.
- Motto: 'In all things, charity'
- Patron: St. Vincent de Paul (feast day September 27)
- Diocese: Wheeling–Charleston
- Cluster: St. Vincent de Paul (New Martinsville), Mater Dolorosa (Paden City), Holy Rosary (Sistersville), St. Joseph (Proctor)
History
St. Vincent de Paul Parish was established in 1901 under its first pastor, Rev. Marcellus Van Den Bussche — a Belgian missionary priest born in Merkem in 1878, ordained at the American Seminary in Leuven on July 14, 1901, and dispatched to New Martinsville on September 14, 1901. He built the church that still anchors the parish and died there on November 21, 1922, at age 44; he is buried in New Martinsville. Over the following century the parish spawned or adopted nearby worship sites: Mater Dolorosa in Paden City was a mission of New Martinsville from 1921 and became its own parish in 1981; Holy Rosary in Sistersville traces back to 1898; and St. Joseph Mission in Proctor is part of today's cluster. In June 2024 Bishop Mark Brennan appointed Fr. Joseph Abraham, V.C. (a Vincentian from Kerala, India) as cluster administrator, then named him pastor effective August 15, 2025, and appointed Deacon William Joseph Klug to the cluster the same year.
- 1901 — Parish founded; Rev. Marcellus Van Den Bussche, first pastor
- 1921 — Mater Dolorosa begins as a mission of New Martinsville
- 1981 — Mater Dolorosa becomes a parish
- June 7, 2024 — Deacon William Joseph Klug appointed to the cluster
- June 19, 2024 — Fr. Joseph Abraham, V.C. appointed administrator
- August 15, 2025 — Fr. Joseph Abraham appointed Pastor of the cluster
Clergy, Staff & Parish Councils
The parish is led by Fr. Joseph Abraham, V.C., and assisted by Deacon William Joseph Klug. Retired priest Fr. Ron Prechtl continues to serve the cluster and was publicly thanked in the bulletin for his ministry of celebrations, funerals, and faithful presence. The Cluster Office is staffed by Office Manager Miss Jennifer (Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm). Fred Emch handles maintenance at St. Vincent. Each of the four cluster churches has its own Parish Council and Finance Council.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Abraham, V.C.
- Deacon: William Joseph Klug — (304) 596-1337 (emergencies)
- Retired assisting priest: Rev. Ron Prechtl
- Office Manager: Miss Jennifer
- Maintenance (SV): Fred Emch
- PSR Coordinator: Debra Freeland — (304) 455-1654 / (304) 771-1654
- Music Ministry: John Tomaszewski, Ben Nice, Carolyn Hizer, Becky Meckley
- Klug Hall: (304) 455-3555
- Emergency line: Fr. Joseph (304) 435-9709
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond Mass and Reconciliation, the parish ministers Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, First Holy Communion (with PSR preparation for second graders), and House Blessings. A Sick & Homebound Ministry keeps shut-ins connected through Communion calls and visits.
- Baptism — Pre-Baptism sessions with Fr. Joseph Abraham, arranged by the Office
- Marriage — meet with Fr. Joseph Abraham at least six months before the proposed date
- Anointing of the Sick — emergencies: Fr. Joseph (304) 435-9709
- First Reconciliation & Holy Communion prep for 2nd graders — Debra Freeland, register by June 15
- Sick & Homebound Ministry — Communion & Visitation list via the Cluster Office
- House Blessing — by appointment, (304) 455-4615
- Funeral arrangements — through the Cluster Office
Faith Formation: Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The cluster's Parish School of Religion prepares children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. Coordinator Debra Freeland can be reached at (304) 455-1654 or (304) 771-1654; parents register second graders for the upcoming year's classes by mid-June.
- PSR Coordinator: Debra Freeland
- Reconciliation & First Communion Prep for 2nd graders
- Registration deadline in mid-June each year
Music Ministry
Music at St. Vincent de Paul is shared by a small team of cantors and musicians who serve the weekend and weekday liturgies of the cluster.
- John Tomaszewski
- Ben Nice
- Carolyn Hizer
- Becky Meckley
Outreach: Food Pantry
The cluster operates a parish Food Pantry staffed by volunteers and supported by local donations. It is open two days a week and serves neighbors across Wetzel and Tyler Counties.
- Hours: Mondays & Tuesdays, 10:00 am–1:00 pm
- Phone: (304) 455-9740
- Volunteers: Carol Buck, Carolyn Hizer, Marlene Rodriguez, Theresa Schoolcraft
Devotions & Prayer Life
Devotional life includes the weekly Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Rosary before Mass at Mater Dolorosa, a published prayer list maintained by the Office, and the parish's signature Corpus Christi procession each year.
- Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Rosary — Saturdays 4:30 pm at Mater Dolorosa, Paden City
- Rosary pamphlets provided
- Active parish prayer list (names added/removed by request to the Office)
- Corpus Christi Procession and Annual Parochial Picnic at Holy Name Park
Parish Councils & Organizations
Each cluster church has its own Parish Council and Finance Council that meet regularly. Other lay organizations include the Holy Rosary Women's Club at St. Joseph Mission and the lectors/Eucharistic ministers/gift-bearer ministries that are scheduled weekly in the bulletin.
- St. Vincent de Paul Parish Council — Joe Herrick, John Piekarski, Patty Potts, Therese Schoolcraft, Don Tuttle, Marianne Balcerek, Pat Lilkendey
- St. Vincent de Paul Finance Council — Matt Herrick, Judy Grace, Debra Freeland
- Mater Dolorosa Parish Council — Rod Fagert, Carolyn Hizer, Dick Stender, Judy Yeager
- Mater Dolorosa Finance Council — Rod Fagert, Kay Pierpoint, Dick Stender, Judy Yeager
- St. Joseph Parish & Finance Councils
- Holy Rosary Parish & Finance Councils
- Holy Rosary Women's Club (St. Joseph, Proctor)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Marcellus Van Den Bussche (Vandenbussche)1901–1922
Belgian-born missionary priest, first pastor; ordained in Leuven July 14, 1901; sailed to America September 14, 1901; built the original St. Vincent de Paul Church; died November 21, 1922 and is buried in New Martinsville.
- Rev. Joseph Abraham, V.C.Administrator June 19, 2024; Pastor August 15, 2025–present
Vincentian priest from the province of Kerala, India; serves all four cluster churches with residence at the New Martinsville rectory.