Parish History
Although North Carolina became an Apostolic Vicariate, or mission, in 1868, it would be almost 100 years before the people of Garner had a church of their own. When Pope Pius X created the Diocese of Raleigh in 1924, it covered almost the entire state of North Carolina. Only 31 priests and 84 religious women served the 54,000-square mile area where 6,193 Catholics resided. The new Diocese contained 21 parishes, 40 missions with churches, and 60 stations or locations where priests celebrated Mass as often as they could, oftentimes in private homes.[1] St. Mary, Mother of the Church shared this humble beginning as well.
The first Mass for parishioners in Garner was celebrated in a rented former beauty shop on Garner Road in April, 1964. Recognizing the need for a permanent church, the Diocese of Raleigh purchased 12 acres on Vandora Road for $30,000 in July 1964. On August 29, 1965, the church building was dedicated by Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin, Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh. Our church was the first church in the United States given permission to have the title, “Mary, Mother of the Church.” A flock without a shepherd, St. Mary’s remained a mission without a pastor until the parish was established in 1967 and Father Charles Mulholland served as first pastor. Prior to the establishment of the parish, St. Mary’s was attended by Father Ralph Lawson, Monsignor James McSweeney, Father Ralph Monk and Father Ronald McLaughlin.
The first resident priest, Father Gerald Lewis (now Monsignor) moved from the rectory of Sacred Heart Cathedral to the apartment built for him within St. Mary’s in 1970. Monsignor Lewis recalls his apartment within the church, “We divided the choir area and original Sacristy into two rooms – the back one was the bedroom and the front one became the parish office. The original Sacristy became the sitting room. The lavatory was converted into a full bathroom with shower. Thus, we had a complete apartment without a kitchen. On the other side of the Altar was the cry room. We moved the wall out, even with the church wall and made this the parish hall with kitchen appliances. I made many visits to the Blessed Sacrament, going from the living space to the kitchen. I was certainly careful to genuflect at each crossing.”[2]
In 1970, when the Catholic population of North Carolina grew to 67,000, Bishop Vincent S. Waters split the Diocese in half, creating the Diocese of Charlotte. In a pastoral letter announcing the new Diocese in 1971, Bishop Waters wrote, “When the family of God grows and matures in any place, in the plan of God a new family is set up. Rejoice with me at this Good News.”[3]
The Sisters of Notre Dame served the parish in 1972. In late the 1970s, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd began serving the faith formation needs of the parish. In 1990, St. Joseph Hall was built and in 1992 the chapel as added to the church wing. In 1996, we added the outdoor Marian shrine. In 1999, we added meeting and classroom space to St. Joseph Hall. On May 31, 2003, we celebrated our first Misa en español. In 2018, a grotto shrine honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe was added.
In 1994 the Knights of Columbus (The Fr. James Keenan Council 11266) was issued its charter by the Supreme Council and continues to serve the Church and the Garner area faithfully. In 2014, a Circle of the Columbian Squires was chartered and in 2015, a Columbiette Auxiliary was granted.
St. Mary, Mother of the Church now has over 1,200 families and continues to grow yearly. Her faithful community of lay ministers, catechists and army of volunteers serve tirelessly and are physical signs of God’s enduring love.
Pastors, Administrators, Priests, and Deacons
1967 – 1968 Fr. Charles Mulholland
1968 – 1970 Fr. Gerald Lewis
1970 – 1970 Fr. Michael Shugrue
1970 – 1973 Fr. James Keenan
1973 – 1975 Fr. Robert Lawson
1975 – 1977 Fr. Raymond Donohue
1977 – 1978 Fr. Joseph Drane
1978 – 1984 Fr. James Waters
1984 – 1985 Fr. Jeffrey Ingham
1985 – 1987 Fr. Kenneth Parker
1987 – 1989 Fr. Albert Todd
1989 – 1996 Fr. Charles Mulholland
1992 – 2014 Deacon Leopold Tapler
1995 – 1996 Fr. J. William Long
1996 – 2000 Fr. Francis Maloney
2002 – 2012 Fr. Robert Schriber
2001 – 2005 Fr. Joseph Yaeger
2006 – 2007 Fr. Joseph Ntuwa
2007 – 2012 Fr. Roger Malonda
2010 – 2019 Deacon Ronald Soriano
2012 – 2023 Fr. David Chiantella
2012 – 2016 Fr. Chesco Garcia
2016 – 2017 Fr. Jaime Perez Restrepo
2017 – 2021 Fr. Amaro Vasquez
2022 - 2023 Fr. Agustin Donis
2023-Present Fr. Michael Marotta, CRM
2023-Present Fr. Boban Madathiparampil, CRM
[1] "Our Diocese at 90." Our Diocese at 90 | Diocese of Raleigh. Accessed July 22, 2017. http://dioceseofraleigh.org/90anniversary.
[2] "Interview with Monsignor Gerald Lewis." Interview by author. June 30, 2016.
[3] "Our Diocese at 90." Our Diocese at 90 | Diocese of Raleigh. Accessed July 22, 2017. http://dioceseofraleigh.org/90anniversary.
Revised August 2017