A Parish on Culvern Street
St. Eugene Catholic Church sits on Culvern Street in north Asheville, a few blocks off Merrimon Avenue, serving Catholics across Buncombe County. The parish was established on June 21, 1959 by Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh, carved out of the membership of St. Lawrence parish for the growing Catholic community in north Asheville. Father John Brown served as founding pastor, and both the parish and the school were named in honor of the late Right Reverend Eugene McGuinness, with whom Father Brown had served. For the first ten years of its life, the congregation gathered for Mass in the parish school while the present church was constructed; the building was dedicated on April 27, 1969.
St. Eugene's mission statement sets the tone for everything the parish does. As Catholic Christians, the community gathers to form an intergenerational parish that is diverse, hospitable, and inclusive; that takes up its baptismal call to ministry and service within the parish and beyond its boundaries; that values music, art, and education; that embraces the teachings of Christ regarding peace, faith, hope, and love; and that respects the Eucharist as the source and summit of parish life. The parish is a member of the Diocese of Charlotte and supports the wider diocesan family through the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.
Weekend Mass, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration
The parish calendar revolves around the Eucharist. The Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:30 PM. Three Sunday Masses follow: the 7:30 AM Mass is celebrated in Spanish, the 9:15 AM Mass in English, and the 11:30 AM Mass is bilingual. Weekday Masses are held Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 AM, with Friday Mass at 9:00 AM. Tuesday morning is set aside for a Communion Service at 8:00 AM rather than a Mass.
Reconciliation is offered two ways each week. On Wednesday evening the confessors are available from 6:00 to about 7:00 PM alongside Eucharistic Adoration, and on Saturdays priests hear confessions from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Appointments can also be made by calling the parish office.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place at 44 Culvern Street, daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, giving parishioners an extended window for silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The parish also livestreams Mass on the parish livestream page and on its YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
The patron of the parish, Pope St. Eugene, was a Roman cleric noted for charity to the poor. He was consecrated Pope on August 10, 654 and died on June 2, 657. Many of the saints chosen as patrons of Catholic parishes in the South reflect the immigrant generation that founded them, and St. Eugene's name ties today's Asheville congregation to that broader Catholic story.
Becoming a Catholic: RCIA, Confirmation, and Full Initiation
Adults who wish to become Catholic or complete their sacraments begin with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Deacon Dr. Mike Zboyovski and the parish RCIA team welcome inquirers through an initial period of questions and exploration that can lead, for the unbaptized, to reception at the Easter Vigil, and for already-baptized Christians, to a profession of faith and the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
For youth, Confirmation is celebrated each year in the parish. Candidates must be in eighth grade or above, must have completed at least two years of formal catechesis, and must be baptized Catholics in good standing with a practicing sponsor who is at least sixteen. The immediate preparation is a year-long process built around three retreats, culminating in a personal interview with the pastor.
First Communion is prepared in second grade, after at least one prior year of faith formation. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and the Eucharist is offered jointly to children at Asheville Catholic School and in parish faith formation, with parents expected to attend meetings alongside their children.
Faith Formation from Preschool through High School
The faith formation program at St. Eugene runs from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in a deliberate progression. Amy Arias Cordova directs the program and walks alongside families through every stage.
Elementary faith formation for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade meets on Sundays from 10:20 to 11:20 AM at Asheville Catholic School, just across the parking lot from the church. The curriculum is lectionary-based, drawing on the upcoming Sunday's readings to foster faith sharing at home and in class. Confirmation preparation begins in eighth grade with two years of prior religious education as a prerequisite.
Middle school youth in grades six through eight are invited to EDGE, a Life Teen-affiliated middle school ministry that meets most Mondays from 6:30 to 7:45 PM in the parish social hall from September through early May. EDGE gathers to introduce young people to the saving love of Christ through catechesis, community, faithful adult mentors, and outreach, with snacks provided unless the evening is dedicated to a service project or social event.
High school students in grades nine through twelve are welcomed into Saint Eugene Youth, known as SEY, which meets on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM in the church. SEY's goal is to lead teens into a lifelong personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, community, service, leadership, and fun, including service projects, fundraisers, mission trips such as CHWC, and diocesan youth events. The CORE team of young adult leaders welcomes every high schooler in the parish.
Throughout the summer, Vacation Bible School offers an interfaith, hands-on Catholic experience for children from age three through fifth grade, meeting for one week in the evening from Monday through Friday. VBS is also a primary place for adult and teen volunteers to serve.
Children's Church at the Eleven-Thirty Mass
At the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass, Children's Church offers an age-appropriate worship experience for five- and six-year-olds. Children are called forward after the opening prayer and return at the preparation of the gifts, and during their time they hear the Gospel, a simplified homily, the Prayer of the Faithful, the Creed, and the Our Father, alongside music, storytelling, puppetry, and activities that reflect the liturgical season. Adults are welcome to volunteer as homilists, activity coordinators, or rotating team members.
The St. Eugene Preschool and Parent Morning Out
The parish operates St. Eugene Preschool and Parent Morning Out, a half-day program that runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, September through May. The preschool follows the Asheville Catholic School calendar for spring break and holiday closures.
The program serves three age groups. A toddler classroom welcomes one- and two-year-olds. An Older 2s classroom is for children turning three in the fall. The preschool classroom is for children who are at least three years old and toilet trained; they learn through hands-on thematic units, morning meetings, circle time, and developmentally appropriate centers covering pre-literacy and early math skills. Daily religion introduces children to the basics of the Catholic faith, and basic Spanish vocabulary is woven through the curriculum. Outdoor science education takes place in a garden on site, and gross motor play is supported by a new playground and a large indoor movement room.
Tuition runs on a sliding scale: two days a week is $275 per month, three days is $325, four days is $410, and five days is $500. The preschool partners with Asheville Catholic School to make the eventual transition to the school's four-year-old program smooth for children and families. The director, Jennie Arndt, holds a Master's degree in education and brings nine years of preschool teaching experience to the role.
Worship Ministries behind the Mass
A large team of liturgical ministers supports each Mass at St. Eugene. The Music Ministry, directed by Allyson MacCauley, draws together cantors and a parish choir that welcomes singers of every ability. Prospective cantors audition and meet certain requirements, while the choir welcomes both professionally trained musicians and those who simply love to sing.
Lectors proclaim the Scripture readings at every weekend Mass, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the consecrated bread and wine, and Hospitality Ministers serve as greeters, ushers, collection retrievers, and vigilant observers. Altar servers assist the priest and deacon at the altar; the ministry is open to anyone who has received First Communion, with no upper age limit. Other liturgical support includes a team that launder linens weekly, a vestment-care ministry that cleans and repairs altar server garments, and an Arts and Environment ministry that sets the tone of the worship spaces for each liturgical season. Mentors known as Ministers to the Homebound bring Communion and visit parishioners who cannot attend Mass, coordinated by Deacon Mike Zboyovski.
Faith Sharing, Centering Prayer, and Sunday Conversations
Several ongoing small communities give parishioners ways to go deeper with each other and with the Sunday readings. Faith Sharing Groups meet regularly to reflect on the upcoming Sunday's Scripture in a small group setting, picking up the spirit of the RENEW program and RCIA sharing groups.
A Centering Prayer Group gathers for a brief twenty minutes of contemplative prayer, one or two short readings, and discussion every Wednesday morning. The St. Eugene Sunday Conversation Group meets twice a month for open discussion of issues affecting the Catholic Church and the parish, with a particular interest in the spirit of Vatican II. An online book study group reads Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ on the third Wednesday of each month from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. For those drawn to a more meditative worship, Taize Prayer gathers in All Saint's Chapel on the first Sunday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, mixing sung chant, silence, and Scripture.
Hispanic Ministries and a Bilingual Parish
St. Eugene's commitment to a bilingual community is among its distinguishing features. The Sunday 7:30 AM Mass is celebrated in Spanish, the 11:30 AM Mass is bilingual, Spanish-language Reconciliation preparation, baptism classes, and sacramental formation are offered year-round, and many parish communications, bulletins, and online resources are provided in both English and Spanish. Maria Valentina Rodriguez serves as the bilingual parish secretary and a primary point of contact for the Hispanic community.
Hispanic Base Community groups meet in the south, north, and west reaches of the parish, sharing the Word of God and providing fellowship modeled on the early Christian community in the Acts of the Apostles. The Hispanic Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group meets on Saturdays, with the Rosary at 6:30 PM and prayer from 7:00 to about 8:00 PM, in Spanish, with light refreshments afterwards. Cursillo offers three-day retreats for Hispanic men and women rooted in the Cursillo movement's tradition of deepening lay Christian leadership, while the Hispanic Marriage Enrichment Ministry hosts weekly meetings of about two hours for married couples from January through mid-April. A three-day Hispanic Evangelization Retreat is held in Arden or Sylva each February or March for about sixty to eighty adults.
The Latino Advocacy Committee circulates information by email about topics that affect local Hispanic families: tax preparation, the Affordable Care Act, medical and dental resources, the Department of Social Services, English as a Second Language classes at AB Tech and in the community, scholarships for Latino students, and help locating work. A Hispanic Translation and Interpretation Ministry makes Catholic documents and events accessible across both language communities, and the parish celebrates Quinceaneras as well as weddings, supporting each family with volunteer wedding and quinceanera coordinators.
Walking with Moms in Need and Respect Life
St. Eugene walks with mothers in need through the Walking with Moms in Need program, a nationwide initiative developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The ministry helps pregnant women and families connect with pregnancy centers, social service agencies, and parish volunteers, and St. Eugene collects diapers, wipes, hygiene items, and handmade baby blankets in a bin in the narthex. Donations can also be made through the parish.
The Respect Life Ministry prays for the parish and for a culture of life from conception to natural death. Members gather on the first and third Mondays at 7:00 PM to pray the rosary in the Day Chapel, and offer educational materials on topics including abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment. They lead parish prayer at the local abortion clinic as a peaceful, prayerful presence, and they partner with the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Charlotte to organize the annual March for Life in Charlotte each January. October is observed as Respect Life Month, with special parish-wide attention.
Singing with Sister Anita's Friends and Visiting the Homebound
Two ministries reach beyond parish walls to those who can no longer easily come to church. Singing with Sister Anita's Friends visits residents of Bear Mountain Health and Rehab Center on Beaverdam Road every other Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, sharing songs and Christian fellowship in the activities room. Musical talent is not required. Ministers to the Homebound and the Extraordinary Ministers to the Sick and Homebound meet quarterly for ongoing formation and then carry the Eucharist to parishioners who are homebound or in hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities, partnered with organizations such as Hospice and CarePartners Bereavement.
Sharing Sunday, Room in the Inn, and Feeding the Hungry
Every first weekend of the month, Sharing Sunday invites parishioners to drop off bags of nonperishable food in the narthex. Volunteers then deliver them to a network of partner agencies serving the poor and unhoused in Buncombe County: ABCCM (Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministry), the Western Carolina Rescue Mission, North Buncombe Samaritan Ministry, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army.
Until the pandemic, St. Eugene and Asbury United Methodist Church partnered to host Room in the Inn, a rotating shelter for up to twelve women in recovery from addiction or abusive situations. With churches no longer serving as rotating sites, the parish points volunteers to Homeward Bound, which is converting a motel on Tunnel Road into permanent supportive housing. St. Eugene also tithes ten percent of its annual income to outreach partners in the wider Asheville community, with parishioners invited to suggest new recipients each year.
Prison Ministry, Refugee Ministry, and the Knights of Columbus
Deacon Mike Zboyovski coordinates the parish Prison Ministry, which provides a weekly Communion Service at Craggy Correctional Center along with religious counseling, one-on-one mentoring, birthday celebrations, and programs including Alcoholics Anonymous and Prison Fellowship. An eighteen-week course prepares inmates nearing release for re-entry into community and family life.
The Refugee Ministry supports the resettlement of newly arrived refugees in Asheville by coordinating with designated agencies, posting lists of needed items, and collecting donations in the gathering space. Parishioners can also help families adjust by sharing household goods and welcoming new arrivals.
The St. Eugene Council 11911 of the Knights of Columbus was chartered on January 30, 1997 and now counts more than 110 members. The Council supports the parish, families, youth, and the community through free pancake breakfasts that raise funds for St. Eugene Youth Group, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte, Catholic Campus Ministry, Operation LAMB, Respect Life efforts, and other causes. Membership is open to any practicing Catholic man at least eighteen years of age. Each January the Council organizes a parish trip to the March for Life in Charlotte.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte maintains a Western Regional Office at 50 Orange Street in Asheville, offering English- and Spanish-language counseling for individuals, couples, and families; infancy and pregnancy support; international and domestic pregnancy and adoption services; refugee assistance; direct food and clothing assistance; limited financial assistance; and citizenship and immigration services.
Care of Creation: The Solar Panels and Going Green
St. Eugene has invested in care of the earth as a concrete expression of Catholic social teaching. In October 2015, parishioners funded the installation of 147 solar panels on the parish roofs, with the first panel placed on September 21, 2015, the day before Pope Francis arrived in the United States. Swiss TV was in the country to cover the papal visit and filmed the installation as a story on the new encyclical Laudato Si; the next day, news of St. Eugene's solar panels reached audiences throughout Europe.
In the years since, the parish panels have generated tens of thousands of dollars of free electricity and kept hundreds of thousands of pounds of CO2 out of the air. The parish has expanded the work to Asheville Catholic School, which installed 153 solar panels on its roof. Both systems are net-metered, returning unused electricity to Duke Energy's grid for credit.
The Care of Creation Ministry works to reduce the parish's use of polystyrene and paper products and provides reusable service-ware in the parish kitchen for groups preparing food and beverages. Going Green weekends bring together experts on plants, pollinators, weatherization, electric vehicles, and recycling to help parishioners care for the earth in practical ways.
Safety, Sound, and Accessibility
The Safety and Security Committee, made up of law enforcement professionals, retired military, and civilian parishioners, advises the pastor on exterior lighting, safety policies, and emergency preparedness. The Sound and Technology Ministry maintains a state-of-the-art sound system and the finest inductive loop system in Western North Carolina, transmitting audio directly to T-coil-enabled hearing aids, with wireless body packs available from Hospitality Ministers for those without T-coils.
To volunteer with minors or vulnerable adults at St. Eugene, every adult must complete a Volunteer Profile Form, a background check through CMG Connect, the Diocese of Charlotte's Code of Ethics, and a Protecting God's Children workshop. Volunteers sixteen and younger complete a simplified Volunteer Profile Form. Safe Environment records are renewed every five years.
Parish Councils, Finances, and Community Tithing
The Pastoral Council is the chief consultative body to the pastor. Twelve to fourteen members serve three-year terms selected by lot from active parishioners, with deliberate effort made to represent the Latino community. The Council guides commissions on Liturgy and Worship, Parish Life, Outreach and Ecumenism, Evangelization and Communication, Education and Formation, and Buildings and Facilities. Meeting minutes are archived by the parish.
The Finance Council advises the pastor on the parish's financial affairs. Four of the council's five current members are Certified Public Accountants. The Council meets quarterly or as needed and twice a year summarizes the parish's financial status in the weekly bulletin; a current financial report is available online.
Each year the parish disburses ten percent of its annual income as a community tithe to charitable organizations in greater Asheville, with parishioners invited to suggest new recipients. The parish also contributes to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal of the Diocese of Charlotte.
Weddings, Quinceaneras, Funerals, and Bereavement
Weddings at St. Eugene require at least six months of advance notice to the pastor and meet diocesan marriage preparation guidelines, with detailed Wedding Guidelines published by the parish. Wedding Coordinators assist couples before, during, and after the ceremony. The parish also celebrates Quinceaneras under the leadership of the Hispanic ministry.
When a parishioner dies, the Bereavement Ministry visits the family, attends the funeral, and stays in touch afterward; the Funeral Reception Ministry serves lunch in the narthex following the liturgy. Funeral Pall Stitchers stitch the names of recently deceased parishioners onto a pall displayed at most funeral Masses and throughout the month of November.
Becoming Part of St. Eugene
Anyone interested in joining the parish can drop a registration form (in English or Spanish) in the Sunday collection, mail it to 72 Culvern Street, or scan it to churcheugene@steugene.org. Registration forms are also available in the parish office, which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Newcomers are invited to Mass, encouraged to register, and welcomed into any of the parish's many ministries.
Online giving is available through the parish's partnership with Pushpay, allowing weekly, monthly, or one-time gifts from a checking account or credit card. Stock donations can also be made through a separate stock donation form. The parish supports the AmazonSmile program under the name Saint Eugene Parish, directing a portion of online purchases to its youth summer mission fund.
From its bilingual Sunday liturgy to its work in care of creation, from RCIA and Confirmation to the children's choir, and from the Walking with Moms ministry to the prison ministry at Craggy, St. Eugene carries a simple conviction at the center of all of it: that the Eucharist is the source and summit of parish life, and everything else flows from there.