Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church
Encyclopedia
Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church is a parish church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
located in Boone
, North Carolina
. Its canonical territory includes all of Watauga County
. Father David Brzoska is the pastor.
The parish had its beginnings in the 1940s for the few Catholic
families and students at Appalachian State University
. Early celebrations of Mass
took place in the homes of residents before a new church was built in 1958.
Priests from St. John Baptiste deLasalle in North Wilkesboro served the people in this new parish. In 1964 Glenmary Home Missioners served the parish until it was returned to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1973. The first Glenmary pastor was Fr. Ed Smith. The first diocesan pastor was Fr. George Kloster. The first church structure was gutted by a fire in 1984. New property was found and a second structure was built in 1988. Fr. Frank Connolly was the pastor during the building of this church. Additional space for education was built in 1993 under pastor Fr. H. Cornell Bradley, S.J.
Worship services, the celebration of the Mass, are at 12:15 p.m. on weekdays in English, 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays in English, 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays in Spanish, and 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays in English.
In addition to the parish church, a mission
church, Church of the Epiphany, is located in nearby Blowing Rock
. The church does not have its own priest and operates seasonally, with Sunday Mass liturgies
offered in English at 9:30 a.m.
The parish clergy also serve the sacramental needs of the Appalachian State Catholic Campus Ministry, a vicarial organization for college students within the parish. The CCM is financially divorced from the parish, however, it is funded by the Diocese of Charlotte.
The parish is noted for its well-developed catechetical
programs and, in 1993, received the Mustard Seed Award from the National Catholic Education Association in recognition of their high level of involvement and participation.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, formally in Latin Dioecesis Carolinana, is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the counties of western North Carolina divided into ten vicariates named for and administered from Albemarle, Asheville, Boone,...
located in Boone
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Its canonical territory includes all of Watauga County
Watauga County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
. Father David Brzoska is the pastor.
The parish had its beginnings in the 1940s for the few Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
families and students at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
. Early celebrations of Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
took place in the homes of residents before a new church was built in 1958.
Priests from St. John Baptiste deLasalle in North Wilkesboro served the people in this new parish. In 1964 Glenmary Home Missioners served the parish until it was returned to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1973. The first Glenmary pastor was Fr. Ed Smith. The first diocesan pastor was Fr. George Kloster. The first church structure was gutted by a fire in 1984. New property was found and a second structure was built in 1988. Fr. Frank Connolly was the pastor during the building of this church. Additional space for education was built in 1993 under pastor Fr. H. Cornell Bradley, S.J.
Worship services, the celebration of the Mass, are at 12:15 p.m. on weekdays in English, 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays in English, 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays in Spanish, and 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays in English.
In addition to the parish church, a mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
church, Church of the Epiphany, is located in nearby Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...
. The church does not have its own priest and operates seasonally, with Sunday Mass liturgies
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
offered in English at 9:30 a.m.
The parish clergy also serve the sacramental needs of the Appalachian State Catholic Campus Ministry, a vicarial organization for college students within the parish. The CCM is financially divorced from the parish, however, it is funded by the Diocese of Charlotte.
The parish is noted for its well-developed catechetical
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
programs and, in 1993, received the Mustard Seed Award from the National Catholic Education Association in recognition of their high level of involvement and participation.
External links
- Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church - Church website
- Appalachian State Catholic Campus Ministry - Ministry website
- Diocese of Charlotte - Diocese website
- Roman Catholic Diocese of CharlotteRoman Catholic Diocese of CharlotteThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, formally in Latin Dioecesis Carolinana, is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the counties of western North Carolina divided into ten vicariates named for and administered from Albemarle, Asheville, Boone,...
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte - Wikipedia Diocese website