ANDREWS — Turn onto Aquone Road off U.S. 19 in the picturesque mountain town of Andrews, and you will find Holy Redeemer Church, a small, diverse congregation of people devoted to their faith and sharing God’s love.
Bishop Michael Martin made his first visit to the parish, the smallest in the diocese at about 77 households, for the 6 p.m. Bilingual Mass on Saturday, and shared worship, prayer, laughter, song and a delicious meal homemade by parishioners. Father Joseph Wasswa, parochial administrator, concelebrated the Mass.
The visit was a special event for members of the parish, which has a large Hispanic community and also serves Prince of Peace Mission in the small town of Robbinsville about 20 miles away. Bishop Martin offered prayers for both congregations during the service and as he said Grace before the meal.
Holy Redeemer started in 1958 when it was opened as a Catholic chapel in a rented store building, a station of St. William Church in Murphy run by the Glenmary Missioners, who served extensively in the North Carolina mountains. Masses were also held in the basement of the Andrews Public Library until plans for a dedicated building were begun in 1960.
Ground was broken for the new church in 1962 and it was completed in 1963. In 1972, Holy Redeemer – like all the churches in western North Carolina – became part of the Diocese of Charlotte, and in 1976 it became a parish.
The community regularly meets for worship, prayer and other activities, and the parish hosts a popular procession in downtown Andrews on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe each December. The small congregation is vibrant, with many young families.
Leticia Jaime, a member of Holy Redeemer for 20 years, attended Mass with her daughter Bryanna, 17, and was grateful to welcome and meet the bishop.
“It’s a blessing for us to have him because I know it’s a long drive out here,” she said. “I’m glad to have him visit us. This is a very friendly parish, a beautiful and faithful place to live in peace.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
