The Pre-history of SS. Mary & Edward Church, Roxboro, N.C. traces back to 1906. Father Thomas Price, operating from Raleigh where the Catholic Center is now located, traveled to Henderson, bought land and by 1908 built a church.
Father Price, called "The Tar-Heel Apostle" later went on to co-found the Maryknoll Fathers and ultimately died in China. There is talk of seeking his official canonization to Sainthood.
St. Paul's, Henderson, became a Parish in May, 1924. The Pastor, who lived in a back room of the Church and served the small congregation there, traveled over a wide region, including Roxboro, offering Mass in the homes of the few Catholics in the area.
Raleigh became a Diocese in December, 1924, with Bishop Hafey as its first Bishop. In 1934, Father Eugene Carroll, Pastor of St. Paul's, obtained an interest free $900 loan from Bishop Hafey to buy the land in Roxboro that is the present site of our Church.
Mr. George Kane, a Catholic contractor in Roxboro, donated the labor to build the present Church. Mrs. Mary Hyde, influenced by her brother Edward Kelly of Brooklyn, donated the $6000 cost of the materials. The Church was named in honor of the patron saints of these donors. His Excellency, the Most Reverend William J. Hafey, dedicated the Mission Church on May 23, 1935.
On April 5, 1936, the Bishop returned for the first conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the new Church. Robert "Bo" Currier remembers it well, for he was part of that Confirmation class.
The laymen of the Mission formed a special group to take care of the Church. Such involvement and dedication so impressed the Bishop that he allowed the Mission the special privilege of keeping the Eucharist in the Tabernacle even though no priest was in residence. The small Mission Church was served by various Priests from surrounding communities during these early years.
During World War II, the Church was often filled to capacity by soldiers of the 78th Infantry Division stationed at Camp Butner.
In 1968, Father John Pare of The Society of Saint Edmund was appointed the first resident pastor. In 1969, the parish purchased and renovated what use to be called the "old" house, which served as the Rectory until the present one was built.
Father Pare was succeeded by three additional Edmundite priests; Father William White, S.S.E., Father William LePage, S.S.E., and Father Robert J. Sheehey, S.S.E., who served as resident Pastors until 1982. At that time they had to withdraw from Roxboro due to a shortage of priests in the order. The meeting room in the basement of the present rectory was named Saint Edmund's Hall in their honor.
Father John Breunig was sent to Roxboro by Bishop Gossman in 1982 to serve as the first Diocesan Pastor, but ill health quickly ended his service. Father Ralph Monk, Durham area hospital chaplain, along with several visiting priests, filled in until Father Francis Maloney was appointed resident Pastor in July, 1983.
During the pastoral vacancy before Father Maloney arrived, the Parish Board gave leadership to the congregation. On weekends when there was no priest, Lay Ministers planned and conducted Eucharistic services and brought Holy Communion to the sick. Secretarial and administrative services were provided by Eileen Cramer.
In 1985, led by Father Maloney, the parish celebrated our 50th anniversary. The year was designated the "Golden Year" and several special events were scheduled including the burying of a time capsule under the sun dial, to be opened during the 75th anniversary in the year 2010.
In 1987, the lot on the south side of the church was purchased to expand parking capacity and for future growth.
Father James A. Mobbs succeeded Father Maloney in July, 1989 and served as pastor until 1993 when he died suddenly of a massive heart attack.
Pastor, Father Joe Yaegar, succeeded Father Mobbs in July 1993. Under Father Joe's leadership, a Knights of Columbus council (#11235) was formed in 1994 as part of the continuing growth of Parish life.
In 1995, the Lady's Guild celebrated its 30th anniversary. Their organization has been a very major contributing factor to Sts. Mary & Edwards Parish Life over the years, both socially and economically.
Pastor, Father Paul Milcetich, O.S.F.S. succeeded Father Yaegar in July 1996. Fr. Miletich served as an Air Force Chaplain from 1967 to 1995 before his retirement in 1995. Father Milcetich provided great leadership to our parish during his short pastorial assignment. Father Milcetich helped our parish move forward in growth, planning, and the building of a new parish hall and regelious learning center.
Father Milcetich retired and relocated to Denver, CO in July 1997 and was succeeded by current Pastor, Father Robert Staley. Father Staley comes to us from Saint Patrick's Fayetteville, NC. Father Staley earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Purdue University and a Master's in Economics from Duke University. He attended Chicago's Mundelein Seminary and was ordained inOctober, 1995.
There have been and continue to be many improvements made to the church and grounds by the combined efforts and cooperation of the congregation and its organizations. Included in these projects were the installation of stained glass windows, custom built walnut altar and lectern, new lightning, new heating and air conditioning as well as day to day maintenance. It is noteworthy that much of the financing of these improvements was made anonymously.
Presently, parishioners are moving forward in the building of our new Parish Hall and Educational Center. Donations and building fund pledges has made it possible for our parish to start this $275,000.00 plus project.
JULY 22, 2007 - Roxboro, NC
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh presides and celebrates the installation of Rev. William Rodriguez with the parish community of Saints Mary and Edward.
Fr. William Rodríguez was assigned to the Parish of Saints Mary and Edward in the year of 2006, in his fourth Anniversary of Ordination as a Priest. In the year 2007, Bishop Michael Burbidge celebrated the Mass of Installation of Fr. William as Pastor of the Parish with an attendance of more than 400 people. A reception followed the mass with the participation of the Hispanic choir and the youth group. After the Mass of Installation and before leaving Roxboro, Bishop Burbidge blessed the 15 acres of land that had been purchased to build the new Church of Saints Mary and Edward in the future.
During Father William’s pastoral stay at Saints Mary and Edward, our Parish had significant improvements including: A more complete bulletin, Masses of intention and new mass schedule, a choir with Hispanic children; the new name for the "All-purpose Building" now called "Fr. Thomas Price Building" in honor of the Apostle who does not give up "Tar Heel Apostol; " employment for the maintenance of the parish gardens. A private Pastoral Office for consultations that was adequate in the Price Building; also a platform in the Price Building Chapel in the worship area where the Blessed Sacrament will be kept all the time in the tabernacle. English Mass is celebrated Saturdays at 5pm in the Church and Sundays in the Price Building Chapel at 10am in English and at 12 pm in Spanish. Religious education for children, youth and adults will take place in the Price Building at 11am after the English Mass and before the Spanish Mass every Sunday. On weekdays mass is celebrated every day at 9:30am in the Church with the exception of Mondays; Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday of the month; Confessions from 4pm – 4:30pm every Saturday in the Church. Also Fr. William developed a Pastoral Plan with spiritual goals for our Parish; this Pastoral Plan is updated every year.
In the year of 2009 a website was created thanks to a generous donation. Through the internet our parishioners are updated every week with the bulletins, news from our Parish, news from the Diocese of Raleigh, mass schedules, server’s schedules and more.
In May of 2010 we commemorate our Parish 75th Anniversary. Bishop Burbidge, Fr. William and many other priests were present to celebrate the mass, a reception followed the mass. Bishop Burbidge received as a present the book of the History of Saints Mary and Edward.
On May 4, 2012, Fr. William received his Doctorate in Psychology and the Certification from the North Carolina Certification Board on September 13, 2014.
With the purpose of making the Chapel of the Price Building a better place for worship, a project of adding stained glass windows was presented. Also thanks to many families who donated each window this project could be completed, a New Crucifix was placed in the altar, the Stations of the Cross, and a window that divide the kitchen from the chapel to make the kitchen a crying room during the celebration of the mass. Also the sound system was updated; new microphones and a mixer were donated. The illumination of the Chapel of the Price building was changed completely creating a more spiritual atmosphere in the chapel. A parishioner donated a new piano for the choir. Fr. Nguyen from St Matthew donated new chairs for our Parish Building Chapel.
The roof of the Rectory was changed, the stairs that goes down to the basement of the Rectory were repaired; the Rectory floors as well as the floors from the porch were changed; a new computer and a new fax machine were installed in the Parish office.
On Sunday, April 17, 2016 we were blessed with the visit of Bishop Michael Burbidge. Bishop Burbidge celebrated the 10am English mass and the 12pm Spanish mass. A reception followed the 12pm mass; Fr. William and Bishop Burbidge visited the Faith Formation classes where Bishop Burbidge did spend some time with the students and the teachers.
In the month of December of 2016 the roof of the Church was repaired thanks to a grant received from the Diocese of Raleigh and to donations of our Parishioners. In January of 2017 we received the image of St. Joseph for the Chapel of the Price Building donated by a Hispanic family.
Financially, our land has been paid off; as well as our debt with the Diocese of Raleigh.
In the month of March, 2017, Saints Mary and Edward had the first retreat of Emmaus in Spanish for men and women. Saints Mary and Edward is a multicultural Parish devoted to answering the call of our Lord Jesus Christ, every parishioner is part of its History. The Knights of Columbus, a lay organization, is very important also in the life of our Parish; they serve the Church, the Community and the families. We also need to mention the good relationship between the Anglo and Hispanic Communities, their faith, loyalty and generous support has contributed to strengthen our spiritual and cultural growth, to respond to the needs of our Parish and to help us to reach our goals.
On June 1, 2017 all the faithful Community of Saints Mary and Edward celebrated Fr. William’s 15th Anniversary of Ordination. At the end of May, Fr. William started a very special new project in our Parish, restoring our Church. Mrs. Dolores Carr was the first volunteer to start this project with the help of Jose Mendoza, they initiated painting the interior of the Church, and then received the help of other parishioners from the Hispanic Community who continued the work fixing and painting the walls and the ceiling and also refinishing the entrance door. Fr. William with the help of some parishioners, selected flooring materials; tiles for the Congregation area, stained hardwood flooring in the entrance to the Altar and Sacristy and marble under the altar and Tabernacle. Volunteers from the Hispanic community offered their time and talents to work with the floors and to refinish the pews. Parishioners from both communities made donations to help with the costs and all prayed for the success of this project. The renovation of the Church was completed August 4, 2017; Fr. William invited all the faithful to come and see how beautiful our Church is now. Fr. William blessed the Church on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the 5pm mass with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, first mass in the renovated Church, and on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at the 10am and 12pm masses, both masses also with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Parish family of Saints Mary and Edward are very grateful with Fr. William and with those hardworking hands that worked day and night, with love, to fulfill their mission of beautifying the House of our Lord. Fr. William is also very thankful for the support and prayers received from his people.
The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a picnic Sunday, August 20, 2017, to celebrate the re-dedication of our refurbished Church and to thank all who worked in it. Fr. William celebrated the first mass in Caswell Correctional Prison on August 14, 2018. 13 inmates attended. The training for all members of the Prison Ministry will be held Wednesday, September 12 at 6:30pm at Caswell Correctional. Fr. William celebrated first hispanic mass during weekdays on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 7pm.