About St. William · Murphy, North Carolina
St. William Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Murphy, North Carolina — the county seat of Cherokee County in the far western corner of the state. It is one of the most rural parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte and traces its origins to missionary preaching on the Cherokee County Courthouse steps in 1937. Today the parish gathers for Mass on Sunday at 11:00 AM, with a Saturday Vigil and weekday celebrations on Tuesday and Thursday, and offers faith formation for children and adults. The parish continues its long tradition of welcoming Catholics across Cherokee, Clay, and Graham counties, including several historic mission stations.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. William of Vercelli (12th century Italian abbot and spiritual reformer)
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine O. Ogar, M.S.P. (Parochial Administrator, Missionaries of St. Paul)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. William is the spiritual home of Catholics in Cherokee County and the surrounding western North Carolina mountains — a small, mission-rooted parish where the faithful have worshipped continuously since 1952. Members can join a community with weekly Mass in English, sacramental preparation for children, adult OCIA (formerly RCIA), an ongoing Bible Study, and Flocknote announcements that keep parishioners connected. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic in Murphy or a newcomer to the mountains, you'll find a welcoming parish family grounded in more than seventy years of faith in these hills.
Mass times at St. William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:40 PM – 5:55 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday: 10:40 AM – 10:55 AM (before 11:00 AM Mass)
Our History
Catholic life in Murphy began in 1937 when a priest named Father Lane preached a series of lectures on the Cherokee County Courthouse steps. Priests from the Raleigh diocese then traveled in to celebrate Mass every fifth Sunday in homes, a theater, a funeral parlor, and even the dining room of the old Hotel Regal. The original St. William Church was built in 1952 by Father Lawrence Newman and dedicated by Bishop Vincent S. Waters; it seated seventy but the parish had just five permanent Catholic families. The Glenmary Home Missioners took responsibility for the tri-county mission in 1954, established multiple outstations, and invited the Sisters of Providence to run the local hospital. The present church was built in 1984–1985 and dedicated in 1986 by Bishop John F. Donoghue.
- 1937 — Father Lane preaches on the Cherokee County Courthouse steps
- 1952 — Original red-brick St. William Church built and dedicated by Bishop Vincent S. Waters
- 1954 — Glenmary Home Missioners arrive; Father Joseph Dean becomes first resident priest
- 1956 — Sisters of Providence (Holyoke, Mass.) arrive to staff Providence Hospital
- 1984 — Groundbreaking for new church under Father Healy's direction
- 1985 — First Mass in new church, Christmas Eve
- April 24, 1986 — Bishop John F. Donoghue dedicates the new church
Faith Formation
Faith Formation is described by the parish as 'the backbone of faith,' citing Romans 10:15–17. The parish serves the lifelong spiritual and catechetical needs of its members — from children through adults. The current coordinator for Religious Education is Debbie Breckenridge; Linda Ammerman coordinates OCIA; Pete Jermann leads Bible Study.
- Baptismal Preparation for Parents and Godparents (required before Baptism of babies and young children)
- Children's Faith Formation — Grades 1–9 with Sacrament preparation; Sundays 12:30–1:30 PM; 2025–26 classes begin Sunday, September 14, 2025
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) — for ages 17+; Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation); contact Linda Ammerman
- Bible Study — Tuesdays 2:00 PM in the Sieglie Center kitchen, led by Pete Jermann; no sign-up required
- Reading Together (adult reading group)
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for the seven sacraments. Preparation for Baptism of infants and young children requires parents and godparents to complete Baptismal Preparation first. Older children and adults seeking Baptism, First Eucharist, or Confirmation typically journey through the OCIA process. Couples preparing for Matrimony should contact the parish office.
- Baptism (with required Baptismal Preparation)
- First Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (Marriage)
Stay Connected — Flocknote
Parishioners can sign up for Flocknote — the parish's church messaging system — to receive important announcements and prayer requests. To enroll, send your name and email address to [email protected]. The parish mascot, 'Uno the Flocknote Sheep,' features on the homepage to encourage sign-ups.
- Email [email protected] with name and email to enroll
- Receive announcements and prayer requests
- Parish mascot: Uno the Flocknote Sheep
Pastoral Council & New Ministries
Anyone considering starting a new ministry at St. William is invited to complete the Pastoral Council Ministry Request Form by the 3rd Monday of the month. The Pastoral Council will then invite the proposer to their meeting on the 4th Tuesday to present the proposal. This structured process keeps parish leadership aware of, and supportive of, new initiatives.
- Submit PC Ministry Request Form by the 3rd Monday
- Present proposal at the Pastoral Council meeting on the 4th Tuesday
Bulletin
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, archived on the website. Recent bulletins available in 2026 include April 5, April 12, April 19, April 26, and May 3. The bulletin carries the parish schedule, ministry news, and weekly announcements.
- Weekly bulletins archived on st-william.net
- Current bulletin link on the homepage
- Bulletins include Mass schedule, announcements, and ministry information
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is supported by a small but dedicated staff. Anne Maliborski serves as Parish Secretary and is the main point of contact by phone or email. Victoria 'Vickie' Ware handles website updates and communications. Debbie Breckenridge is the Religious Education Coordinator; Pete Jermann leads Bible Study; Linda Ammerman is the OCIA contact.
- Anne Maliborski — Parish Secretary — (828) 837-2000 — [email protected]
- Victoria 'Vickie' Ware — website and communications
- Pete Jermann — Bible Study Leader
- Linda Ammerman — OCIA
- Debbie Breckenridge — Religious Education Coordinator
Contact & Visit
St. William Catholic Church is located at 765 Andrews Road, Murphy, NC 28906. The parish office can be reached at (828) 837-2000 or by email at [email protected]. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and is listed on the diocesan directory at charlottediocese.org.
- Address: 765 Andrews Road, Murphy, NC 28906
- Phone: (828) 837-2000
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.st-william.net/
- Diocese: Diocese of Charlotte — charlottediocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Dean1954–1960
First pastor of St. William parish; first resident priest in the county. Established mission stations in Hayesville, Lance Cove, Tusquittee, Texana, Robbinsville, and Andrews. Invited the Sisters of Providence to staff Providence Hospital.
- Father Raymond Dahan1960–1965
- Father Jack McNearney1965–1967
- Father Roland Hautz1967–1970
- Father Robert Rademacher1970–1976
- Father Robert Healy1978–1984
Directed by Bishop Michael J. Begley to begin plans for the new church.
- Father T. J. Meehan1985–1987
- Father Alex Keenan1987–1988
- Father Bernard Manley1988–1991
- Father Edmund Kirsch1991–1998
- Father George Kloster1998–2013
Longest recent tenure; oversaw consolidation of parish after the new church building was dedicated.
- Father H. Alex Ayala2013–
Listed as pastor on the parish's history page.