A Parish Shaped by Welcome on West Union Street
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church sits along West Union Street in Morganton, North Carolina, and over more than seven decades it has become known for the breadth of cultures that gather within its walls. The parish describes itself as a community of considerable ethnic and socio-economic diversity, a place where "the poor are supported, the ailing are comforted, the dispossessed are welcomed, and the immigrant is embraced." Weekly Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish counts more than seven hundred registered households. Belonging to the Diocese of Charlotte, the parish anchors Catholic life in Burke County and serves as a gathering point for Hmong, Hispanic, and English-speaking families alike.
From a 1947 Land Purchase to Murray Hall
Catholic life in Morganton stretches back further than the parish itself. In the years following the Civil War, visiting priests and Bishop James Gibbons, vicar apostolic of North Carolina, preached at the county courthouse. The first recorded Mass in town was celebrated in a private residence in November 1929, with eight people present. By the mid-1940s, Mass was being offered weekly at the courthouse and in a private home.
The parish as it exists today was established in the fall of 1947, when the Diocese of Raleigh purchased a tract of land on West Union Street and the first Mass was offered on the new property that October. Weekend liturgies were celebrated by clergy assigned to St. Aloysius Church in Hickory until 1950, when Father William T. McShea was appointed the first resident pastor. The present church building was constructed in 1961, and by 1980 about two hundred families were registered. Under Father John Murray's leadership the parish added a community hall, kitchen, faith formation classrooms, and offices in 1988; the wing is now named Murray Hall in his memory.
Multicultural ministry has been a defining mark of the parish since the 1990s. On November 14, 1996, Hmong parishioners gathered with Father Kenneth Whittington to celebrate Hmong New Year and to welcome Pe Lis, the new Hmong catechist for the Diocese of Charlotte, who served as a deacon at St. Charles until his passing. Father Whittington, who has served as pastor since 1992, presided over the parish's seventy-fifth anniversary celebration in 2022.
Mass Times: English and Spanish Each Sunday
The Sunday schedule reflects the parish's bilingual character. Mass is offered at 8:30 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in Spanish, and 12:30 p.m. in English. A Saturday vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m. in English, and a weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 12:00 p.m. Reconciliation is heard on Mondays and Fridays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., or by appointment.
Worship is centered on the reverent celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and the parish finds its joyful unity there. Visitors are welcomed into a community that "strives to make space and to help each person discover and use his gifts for the uplifting of others."
The Seven Sacraments
As a Roman Catholic parish, St. Charles Borromeo celebrates all seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. Information on each is available through the parish office, and the sacraments page quotes St. Ambrose of Milan: "Who, then, is the author of the Sacraments if not the Lord Jesus? Those Sacraments came from Heaven; for every council is from Heaven." Couples preparing for marriage, families arranging baptisms, and individuals considering the call to Holy Orders or the catechumenate all begin by contacting the parish staff.
Adult Education on Sundays and Wednesday Evenings
Faith formation does not stop at childhood. An Adult Sunday Education series meets every Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., September through May, and is open to all adults. Wednesday evenings bring Father Ken's Adult Education Class at 7:00 p.m. in Murray Hall, a longstanding gathering for ongoing study. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is offered at the pastor's discretion for those preparing to enter the Church. A Ladies Bible Study has been part of the parish calendar, though it is currently on hold.
The Hispanic Youth Group
Open to students in grades nine through twelve, as well as college students when they are home, the Hispanic Youth Group gathers on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. under the guidance of coordinator Rosa Velasquez. The group works from a fourfold purpose: learning about the faith, service to the parish and the wider community, support for higher education, and social activities. Past activities have included leading a children's liturgy during Lent, preparing simple Lenten meals, participating in the St. Charles Borromeo Festival, visiting universities, taking trips to Carowinds, Washington, D.C., and Charleston, building the parish sign in front of the church, and organizing the purchase of permanent markers for the cemetery.
Music: Children's Choir and Youth Schola
Music is an established part of parish life. The Children's Choir and the Youth Schola lead the singing at Mass on a published performance schedule, and an adult choir under the direction of organist and choir director Sarah Lynch provides music for Sunday liturgies. A summer music camp, along with occasional offerings such as the Opera is Awesome Summer Camp, gives children and teens additional opportunities to develop their voices. Those interested in joining the choir are invited to reach out to the parish office.
Parish Life: Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, and a Festival
The parish is home to two long-standing lay organizations. The Knights of Columbus sponsor blood drives, baby bottle fundraisers for the local Pregnancy Care Center, a Keep Christ in Christmas sale, and a spring yard sale, and they support families through charitable giving. The Ladies Guild hosts an annual Cookie Walk each November, a Spring Luncheon and Raffle, and collects backpacks and school supplies for children in need at the start of the school year. The Ladies Guild also contributes a crib each year to the Pregnancy Care Center. Together the parish organizes an annual Food Festival, a Mom's Play Group for parents of young children, and a free Health Fair that draws community providers together on the parish grounds.
Seven Commissions Shape Parish Life
Parishioners find many ways to serve through the parish commissions. The Communications Commission keeps parishioners informed; the Liturgy and Worship Commission discerns, trains, and schedules lay participation in the Mass; the Education and Formation Commission oversees religious education, catechesis, youth ministry, young adult ministry, and RCIA. The Community Ministries Commission promotes outreach and cooperation with other churches and civic organizations. Evangelization and Ecumenism fosters interfaith dialogue; Parish Life builds the internal family spirit of the community; and the Buildings and Facilities Commission cares for the parish properties. The Parish Pastoral Council meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and works with the pastor on long-range planning.
Deacons and Their Ministries
Three deacons assist at the parish. Deacon Miguel Sebastian was ordained in 2014 for the Diocese of Charlotte and has preached in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Guatemala. He and his wife Ana Maria live in Morganton and have three children. Deacon Edward A. Konarski was ordained on June 10, 2006, was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo, and currently serves as director of candidate formation for the diocese. Deacon John A. Martino, also ordained on June 10, 2006, is active in prison ministry, nursing home and homebound ministry, and volunteers as a hospital chaplain three days a month. He was named Director of the Permanent Deaconate in 2016.
Art and Architecture: A Litany of Saints
A distinctive feature of the church building is a pentaptych entitled "Litany of Saints" by North Carolina artist Matthew Good, completed after years of study with fresco artists Roger Allen Nelson and Benjamin F. Long IV. The work is displayed on the west gallery rail and presents Christ as the central figure surrounded by thirty-four patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, evangelists, religious, bishops, popes, and laity arranged across five painted panels. Visitors familiar with the parish will recognize Fr. Ken and Father Bob Ferris among the figures.
Parish Office and Staying Connected
The parish office is open Monday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.). The office is closed on Wednesdays. Weekly bulletins, including a separate Kids Bulletin, are posted online, and a parish calendar and ministry schedule are kept current. Flocknote, the parish's free text-and-email communication system, sends messages in both English and Spanish; parishioners can sign up by texting StCharles3 to 84576, or by following the prompts on the parish's Flocknote page. Online giving is available through the parish's secure e-service payment portal.
Rooted in the Diocese of Charlotte
St. Charles Borromeo is part of the Diocese of Charlotte and shares in its wider life. The parish carries forward the Synod on Synodality called for by the Bishop of Charlotte, publishes synod letters in both English and Spanish, and supports the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. The parish's doors, as its welcome statement says, are open to all.