Saint Mary’s Catholic Church
Mailing Address: PO Box 1724
Coeburn, VA 24230
E-mail: [email protected]
Tuesday Mass: 5:00 PM
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
Last Tuesday of Month: Adoration following Mass
ST. MARY’S HISTORY
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Coeburn, VA had a very unique beginning. In the mid 1940’s through part of 1955 a small group of parishioners held Mass first at the Women’s Club House, then in a beauty shop belonging to one of the parishioner’s, Mattie Payne, then to individual parishioners’ homes such as Alton, Sr. and Rose Lawson and Bill and Gen Hunsaker. Finally, in a common community effort, the present church building was erected and dedicated in 1955. Parishioners donated equipment for excavation as well as their precious time and energy to make the dream of a Catholic Church in Coeburn a reality.
Land needed to be purchased in Coeburn, but the neighbors near a selected site were reportedly leery of selling land to the Catholic Church. So Alton Lawson, Sr. bought some land outright for the church to use. He also provided a bulldozer and, along with several other future parishioners, helped blast rock out of the side of a hill to prepare the site for construction.
Reverend Roland Hautz, a Glenmary priest, was instrumental in the direction of the building operations as St. Mary’s was put under construction. He actually drew the plans for the new church. Before completion of the building, Rev. Hautz was transferred to another parish. Rev. Frank Gardner and Rev. Robert Berson, both Glenmary priests, were Rev. Hautz’s successors and directed the final phases of construction.
The efforts of the parishioners, Glenmary priests, and benefactors were rewarded when the St. Mary’s Catholic Church building was dedicated on August 7, 1955, by Rev. Thomas J. McDonnell, Coajutor of the Wheeling Diocese. Following the celebration of the Mass, the sacrament of confirmation was received by several parishioners.
The Glenmary Home Missioners continued to serve the Christian community of St. Mary’s for 24 years until its acquisition by the diocese of Richmond in September of 1979. Under the direction of diocesan priests, St. Mary’s celebrated its 25th Anniversary on October 26, 1980, with Bishop Walter F. Sullivan as celebrant.
On October 8, 2005, St. Mary’s celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church continues to serve the needs of the people of Coeburn with weekly Saturday evening Vigil Mass.
