| | Our Parish History - click on the green linksMany thanks to Albert and Eleanor Ruocchio, Paul Ruocchio, Msgr. Gerald Lewis, Gen Koeppl, Phyllis Zagrobelny,
Angie Wiley, Bob and Mickie Masini, and James Ondrako for historical information.
What knowledge do you have about our parish?
Call 865.5736, email, or write us if you want to add more details!  1964 Monsignor Michael A. Carey, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, purchased 35 acres for the future St. Raphael Church. The original plan was for a Saint Joseph Chapel to be built and Lourdes would send over a priest to say Sunday Mass. But in the spring of 1965 International Business Machines, IBM, built a development and manufacturing site in the Research Triangle, bringing enough Catholics to require a church instead of a chapel. The Catholic Church Extension Society awarded a $20,000 grant to our mission endeavor and asked that the parish be named in honor of St Raphael the Archangel. Our Lady of Lourdes parish paid for the purchase of the property and for renovation of the 1810 Beddingfield farmhouse for use as the priest’s home and parish office.
 1966 Most Reverend Vincent S. Waters, 3rd bishop of Raleigh, formally dedicated St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church on a two lane road dotted with farms. It was to serve the rapidly expanding Catholic population in Wake County. At the start there were 150 families. Years later the church building became Raphael Hall used for school and parish community activities. Father John L Richardson (1966-1973) was the Founding Pastor.
1973 Monsignor Francis J. Murphy JCD (1973-1978) was named 2nd pastor and assisted by Associate Pastors Father Phillip Stark, SJ (-1977) and Father E.S. John (1977-1978). Seton Hall was built as a place for social and educational settings. 1976 Growth continued as 600 families celebrated the 10th Anniversary of St. Raphael Catholic Church. Sister Shirley Simpson, CSC, came to St. Raphael as the 1st non-ordained member of the ministry team and as the 1st full-time paid Director of Religious Education in the Raleigh Diocese (1976-1987). 1978 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis (1978-1989) was named the 3rd pastor. With the growth of the parish came many wonderful Associate Pastors, Pastoral Associates, Deacons, and Sisters: | Father Terrance Collins (1981–1984) | Sister Patricia Cornell, CSC (1986-) | | Father Maury Cunningham, SJ | Sister Jean McMahon CSC | Father Joseph Gaul | Sister Shirley A Simpson, CSC Dir Religious Ed | | Father Frank Knott, SJ | Sister Loretta Soltis, MSBT Dir of Religious Ed | Father Girard M Sherba (1979-1981) | Sister Frances Clare Ugast, CSC Dir of Early Childhood Center | | Father Thomas Tully (1986-1990) | | | Father Frank Worner SJ | Rev Deacon Thomas Davis (now Father Davis of Jacksonville) | | Father Stephen Worsley (1984-1986) | |
1979 The Parish Community celebrated the groundbreaking for the Parish Center. Sister Frances Clare Ugast, CSC, joined us as the founding Director of the Early Childhood Center. St Raphael gained the 1st full-time paid Director of Music in the Diocese, Eugene Pipas (1979-1992)! 1980 The Parish Center was dedicated on Aug 3rd 1980 and the Early Childhood Center (ECC pre-school) was started.  1987 Bishop Gossman dedicated the new Sanctuary in a 9 day event. The Sanctuary accommodates 1,000 worshippers and allows for the continued growth of the parish. Click on the booklet→ 1989 Father J. Paul Byron (1989-1996) was named 4th pastor of St. Raphael Catholic church. During his tenure he was joined by: | Associate Pastor Father John Parish (1989-1996) | Rev Deacon Frank Barnes (1996-2002) | | | Rev Deacon John L Gillespie (1995-) now Father John! | | Pastoral Associate Sister Dolores Glick, MSHS | Rev Deacon Robert Madey (1994-2011) | | Pastoral Assoc. Sister Maria Goretti Weldon, RSM | Mary Lynn Whittaker, Director Religious Ed | | Parish Secretary Sister Donna Maria Daniels, SND | Agnes Penny, Director of Youth Ministry |
1994 St Raphael Catholic School opened its doors to the first kindergarten class of 26 children. Grades 1-8 are added, one per year, from 1995 to 2002. 1996 The Jesuits accepted the pastorship of St. Raphael parish. Father Robert Curry, SJ (1996-2002) became the 5th pastor of St. Raphael. His companions of Jesus included: | Father Shay Auerbach, SJ (1999-2005) | Father Bill Ryan, SJ (1998-2002) | | Father Mike Flynn (1996-1999) | | | Father Robert Hussey, SJ (2000-2001 teaching at Duke) | Rev Deacon Robert Madey (1994-2011) | | Father Greg Kalscheur, SJ (2001-2002) | | | Father Bill Kelley, SJ (1996-1998) | Mary Lynn Whittaker, Director Religious Ed | | Father Patrick Rogers, SJ (2002-2004) | Pat Foran, Director of Youth Ministry |
The Angel Fountain was dedicated in June. 1997 Father Michael Flynn launched the Hispanic Ministry program with parishioners Tom and Tencha Smith and Oliverio and Yolanda Phillips. 1998 In January, the Family Center opened its doors. St. Raphael also welcomed Spanish speaking Catholics by starting Spanish Masses on Sunday. 1999 The St. Raphael Columbarium was dedicated Columbarium Dedication 2001 The parish initiated our "Spreading Our Wings, Embracing All" campaign to build new facilities for the next generation. 2002 Father Francis Gillespie, SJ (2002-2008) was named 6th pastor. The new Mary Chapel, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, new Catholic School, and other renovations were completed and dedicated. Father Gillespie's companions of Jesus included: | Father Tom Clifford, SJ (2006) | Father Michael Proterra, SJ (2006-present) | | Father George Coyne, SJ (2006-2007) | Father Christian Sotomayor, SJ (2005-2006) | | Father Jaime Guzman, SJ (2005-2006) | Father Robert Wiesenbaugh, SJ (2006-2010) | | Father Salvador Jordan, SJ (2006, 2007-2009) | | | Msgr Gerald L Lewis (adjunct 2005-present) | Rev Deacon Robert Madey (1994-2011) | | Father Paul McCarren, SJ (2002-2005) | Rev Deacon Jorge Rodriguez (2005-present) |
2008 Father Robert Hussey, SJ (2008-present) was named the 7th pastor. Father Bob's companions of Jesus include: | Father Bruce Bavinger, SJ (2010-present) | Father Robert Wiesenbaugh, SJ (2006-2010) | | Father Chris Cullen, SJ (summer 2009) | | | Father Mark Fusco, SJ (summer 2011) | Rev Deacon Robert Madey (1994-2011) | | Father Salvador Jordan, SJ (2006, 2007-2009) | Rev Deacon Jorge Rodriguez (2005-present) | | Msgr Gerald L Lewis (adjunct 2005-present) | Rev Deacon Hector Velazco (2008-present) | | Father Bruce Maivelett (summer 2010) | | | Father Michael Proterra, SJ (2006-present) | Adam Rosinski, nSJ Jesuit novice (2011) |
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