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St Francis of Assisi History

The church building on East Main Street in Jefferson was built in 1899 as a Presbyterian church.
The Catholic community in Ashe County actually had its origins in 1954 when a dozen-or-so people gathered regularly in Lloyd Bullet’s living room to join Father Conlan in the celebration of the Mass.
In subsequent years, priests of the Diocese of Raleigh travelled from North Wilkesboro to celebrate Mass in a room at Tugman’s Inn in West Jefferson, at the Courthouse and in Mr. Bullet’s remodeled basement.
In 1962 Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh saw the need for a church building and the Presbyterian church was purchased for $12,000.
St. Francis of Assisi Church came into being at a formal dedication ceremony August 27, 1963 and was a mission of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Boone.
From the mid-1960’s until 1999 the priests at St. Francis have been members of Glenmary Home Missioners who have also served our mission church of St. Frances of Rome in nearby Sparta, NC.
On March 15, 1973, St. Francis of Assisi became a parish.
In April 1973 Father Robert “Bob” Cameron became the pastor. Physical improvements that included a basement apartment where Father Bob lived were made in the church.
The Diocese of Charlotte was established January 12, 1972, with the Most Reverend Michael Joseph Begley, a priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, being ordained and installed as first Bishop of Charlotte in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
As pastor, Father Cameron was followed by Fathers Les Schmidt, Cal DeLeuil, Fidelis Levri and Tony Jablonoski, the last of whom was assisted by Glenmary Brothers Curt Kedley and John Benish. Father Richard Kreimer followed.
On February 5, 1976 St. Francis of Assisi assumed pastoral care of St. Frances of Rome, Sparta.
To keep up with the growing number of parishioners, Father Richard Kreimer, initiated plans for expansion of the church building. His successor Father John Otterbacher oversaw the completion of expansion plans that included an addition on the basement level that included offices, a social hall, meeting rooms, a kitchen and restrooms.
The Most Reverend John Francis Donoghue, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, was appointed Bishop of Charlotte by the Holy See on November 6, 1984, succeeding Bishop Begley. Bishop Donoghue was ordained and installed as the second Bishop of Charlotte on December 18, 1984.
Bishop Donoghue dedicated the new hall on September 29, 1985.
Father Roland “Rollie” Hautz became pastor in September 1988 and stayed for 10 years. Arriving at the same time were the Glenmary Lay Missioners Libby Colville and Doris Keller, and Marilyn Riehle to minister to the growing Hispanic community. Father Joseph Waters, then pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Taylorsville, began celebrating Mass in Spanish twice monthly at St. Francis.
In 1990 the parish purchased the home of Mr. Lopp located next to the church and converted it in to a rectory.
In March 1992, under the leadership of Father Rollie, a "Church Renovation Committee" was formed.
After more than two years of discussions and planning, construction began in July 1994. Parishioners made the stained glass windows, all eleven of them.
On April 13, 1994, Bishop William G. Curlin was installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte.
In September 1994, renovation work was completed with a new main altar and Blessed Sacrament table, both made of oak by Zeke Zimmerman and his brother, Burt.
In June 1998 Father Ron Marecki became the first Diocese of Charlotte priest to pastor the church. He left after 6 months to return to Florida to take care of his father.
Father Wilbur Thomas served as the administrator until July of 1999 when Father Mark Lawlor took over.
After serving 1 year as the administrator Father Lawlor became pastor in July 2000. Father Lawlor saw the need and with the Diocese’s approval began a weekly Spanish Mass on Sunday for the Hispanic community.
In 2003 Father C. Morris Boyd became administrator. Father Boyd served one year at which time the Hispanic community was more involved in the parish than in the past.
Bishop Curlin retired as Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte in 2002. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte received its fourth bishop on October 24, 2003 when the Most Reverend Peter Joseph Jugis was ordained to the episcopate at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church celebrated forty years of worship in August 2003 with a Bilingual Mass. Bishop-Elect Peter Jugis led the Mass, attended by Father Morris Boyd, who was the pastor at that time and former St. Francis pastors Father Mark Lawlor, Father Rollie Hautz, Father John Ottenbacher and Father Joe Waters.
Father Patrick Winslow served the church from July 2004 until July 2006. He initiated the Scripture Study International in two churches and also held sessions on Our Lady of Fatima.
In early 2006 mold was found in the church and rectory. Mass was celebrated at the Civic Center on Sunday mornings until June 2006. Repairs and cleaning were made to the church and Mass again was celebrated at 326 East Main Street. It was during this time that Kathy Porter McIntosh requested from her brother’s foundation funds to build a new church because of the mold problem. Mrs. McIntosh’s brother approved the request and in November 2006 the foundation made a stock gift of $1.3 million and the Porter Trust Fund was established for the construction of a new church. This enabled the parish to begin to look for land and believe that a new church possible.

Father Joseph Dinh served as pastor from July 2006 until July 2010.
In December 2007, 15 acres of land was purchased on Luther Road to build a bigger church.
On August 16, 2009 Father Joseph dedicated the new prayer garden located on the Luther Road property.
Father James Stuhrenberg was installed as pastor in July 2010.
Since the dedication in 1963 St. Francis of Assisi has grown in numbers and has steadily outgrown the humble little church on East Main Street.
Appalachian Architects from Boone, NC was selected in May 2011 to design a new church building.
On September 29, 2012 Bishop Jugis broke the ground for the new St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Construction began in January 2013.
The 50th Anniversary of the parish of St. Francis of Assisi was celebrated on October 3rd, 2013 at the E. Main St church. In attendance were former pastors Reverend Rollie Hautz, Reverend Joseph Dinh and Reverend Wilbur Thomas along with Deacon Lee Levenson.
Construction was completed and the Mass of Dedication led by Bishop Peter J. Jugis was celebrated on August 16, 2014. Previous pastor Reverend Joseph Dinh, and Deacons Lee Levenson and Carlos Medina also were in attendance.
As of February 2019 the number of registered families is 275.
On July 21, 2020 Father Cory Catron became pastor.
On July 9, 2024 Father Jacob Mlakar became our pastor.

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