| Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Boone, North Carolina United States |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Atlanta |
| District | Diocese of Charlotte |
| Website | Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | David Moses |
| General contractor | Albert Olszewski |
| Completed | 1988 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 420 |
| Materials | wood, stone, brick |
Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church is a parish church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte located in Boone, North Carolina.[1] 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.[2] 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.[2]