About Annunciation · Columbus, Mississippi
Annunciation Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Jackson in Columbus, Mississippi, and the oldest Catholic church in northeast Mississippi. Its cornerstone was laid on May 4, 1863, by French missionary Father Jean Baptiste Mouton, whose Gothic Revival design echoes the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Today the parish serves more than 400 families in the Golden Triangle area and East Alabama from its historic chapel and a newer 500-seat sanctuary dedicated in 2000, and it operates Annunciation Catholic School, the first parochial school in northeast Mississippi.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Reverend Jeffrey Waldrep, STL, JCL
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi)
Why belong here
Annunciation offers the rare combination of a 19th-century Gothic Revival chapel — now beautifully restored and used for daily Mass, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and small weddings — alongside a modern 500-seat sanctuary, a parish school, and a long list of lay-led ministries. With more than 400 families in the Golden Triangle, the parish is large enough to offer strong programs (CYO youth ministry, OCIA/RCIA, Loaves & Fishes, Respect Life, Homebound ministry, a thriving choir and music program, Bible study, and senior ministry) yet rooted in the warm, servant-leadership community described in its mission statement.
Mass times at Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:15-7:45 a.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration held on the 2nd Thursday of each month in the Chapel (church opened 8:00 a.m., closed 8:00 p.m.) — coordinated by Edith Baumann
History of Annunciation Parish
Annunciation Parish traces its roots to October 6, 1857, when Bishop Henry Elder baptized two Columbus infants in a private home. The first pastor, French missionary Father J. B. Mouton, broke ground on the Gothic Revival church — modeled on the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris — with the cornerstone laid on May 4, 1863. The Civil War and Reconstruction delayed completion for nearly fifteen years, and by 1878 the crumbling handmade-brick walls had to be stuccoed and painted gray. The parish grew to serve a 12,000-square-mile mission territory stretching from Corinth to Meridian.
- Oldest Catholic church in northeast Mississippi (cornerstone 1863)
- First Catholic presence in Columbus: Bishop Henry Elder baptism, October 6, 1857
- Original design by Father J. B. Mouton after Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
- Construction delayed ~15 years by Civil War and Reconstruction; stuccoed 1878
- Mission territory once covered 12,000 square miles (Corinth to Meridian)
- Designated a Mississippi Historic Landmark on April 16, 2010
- Contributing element of the South Columbus National Register Historic District
Architecture & The Historic Chapel
The original 1863 church is a Gothic Revival stuccoed-brick building with arches that rise 40 feet to a star-painted ceiling, a medallion cluster of angels and a dove of the Holy Spirit above the altar, and a wrought-iron altar rail. Stained-glass windows depicting events in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary were installed between 1908 and 1923; the first was donated by Father Sylvester Yoerg and made by the Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, with the remaining windows donated by parishioners by World War I. The building was raised off the original swampy ground level at some unknown point to protect against water damage.
- Gothic Revival, modeled after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris (1248)
- Arches rise 40 feet; ceiling painted with stars
- Medallion of angels and dove of the Holy Spirit above the altar
- Stained glass by Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis (first window donated by Father Sylvester Yoerg)
- Statue of St. Patrick gifted by the McNally, Sherlock and Gorman families (1954)
- Grotto on the east side dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, built by Father Damian Gusmus, OSB (1952-1961)
The 2014 Restoration
After applying in 2009 for Mississippi Historic Landmark status (granted in 2010) and forming the Friends of Annunciation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the parish undertook a full historic restoration funded in part by a Mississippi Department of Archives and History grant for drainage and a new roof. The restoration was completed in 2014 with a parish-wide celebration, a Mass, and a blessing by Bishop Joseph Kopacz. Today the restored historic church serves as the parish chapel for small weddings, baptisms, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Stations of the Cross during Lent.
- Historic Landmark status granted 2010
- Grant from Mississippi Department of Archives and History for drainage and roof
- Restoration completed in 2014 with Mass and blessing by Bishop Joseph Kopacz
- Now used as chapel for small weddings, baptisms, daily Mass, Adoration, and Stations of the Cross
The New Sanctuary (2000)
Planned under Father Gerard Hurley (arrived January 1993), a new sanctuary was built next to the historic church and dedicated in December 2000. It is also patterned after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and seats over 500 people, providing space for the parish that has grown to more than 400 families.
- Construction overseen by Father Gerard Hurley
- Dedicated December 2000
- Seats over 500 people
- Also patterned after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris
Annunciation Catholic School
Annunciation Catholic School is the first parochial school in northeast Mississippi. Originally opened as St. Mary's Elementary School as the parish's centennial gift, it has since been renamed Annunciation Catholic School. Under the leadership of Father Jeffrey Waldrep (assigned 2017), the school has begun Phase 1 Expansion, which includes construction of a new classroom facility with six classrooms, a library, technology lab, science lab, and an administrative area.
- First parochial school in northeast Mississippi
- Originally opened as St. Mary's Elementary School (centennial gift)
- Phase 1 Expansion under Fr. Jeffrey Waldrep: 6 classrooms, library, technology lab, science lab, admin area
- Lauren Young — Assistant Principal
- Website: annunciationcatholicschool.org
Clergy & Staff
Annunciation is led by Very Reverend Jeffrey Waldrep, STL, JCL, who also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Jackson and Spiritual Director of the Diocese of Jackson Engaged Encounter. A native of West Point, Mississippi, he earned a liberal arts degree from St. Joseph Seminary/College in Covington, Louisiana, a master's in theology and licentiate in systematic theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, and a licentiate in canon law from St. Paul University in Ottawa. He is supported by Deacon Dave Gruseck, a parish office team (Gina Phillips, Kazie Richardson, Joni House), and ministry leaders.
- Fr. Jeffrey Waldrep — Pastor (also Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Jackson)
- Deacon Dave Gruseck
- Gina Phillips — Office Manager
- Kazie Richardson — Event Coordinator
- Joni House
- Richard Hicks — maintenance of all church buildings
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish supports a wide range of lay-led ministries — from sacramental preparation to outreach, music, faith formation for children and youth, and care for seniors and the homebound.
- OCIA / RCIA — Maria Dunser
- Eucharistic Adoration — Edith Baumann
- Sacristan — Nancy Reeves
- Arts and Environment — Geraldine Coleman
- Music Ministry — Belinda Olsen
- Lector / Commentator — Mike Reeves
- Religious Education K-5th — Shannon Clapper
- Religious Education 6th-12th (CYO) — Ginny Clarke
- Children's Church
- Bereavement — Wanda Holley
- Homebound — Steve Greenough
- Respect Life — Cathy Van Asselt
- Seniors — Sarah McAnally
- Loaves & Fishes — Steve Greenough
- Natural Family Planning — Leah Corhern
- Finance Council — Davis Baker and Marcus Mallory
- Parish Council
Outreach & Devotions
Beyond the parish campus, Annunciation runs Loaves & Fishes — a community-sponsored lunch served Mondays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for those in need. The parish also participates in Respect Life events and Sundays, visits the homebound and hospitalized, and gathers for Stations of the Cross during Lent in the historic chapel. A Tuesday Bible Study meets weekly with Kathleen Gruseck.
- Loaves & Fishes community lunch — Mon & Fri, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Respect Life ministry
- Homebound visits and hospital communion calls
- Stations of the Cross during Lent in the historic chapel
- Tuesday Bible Study — Kathleen Gruseck
Visiting Annunciation
Office hours are Tuesday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The parish can be reached at (662) 328-2927 or [email protected]. Sunday Mass is offered at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and confessions are heard at 7:15-7:45 a.m. before the early Mass. Mass is live-streamed from the parish website for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 823 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701
- Phone: (662) 328-2927
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue-Thu 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Live-stream of Mass available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father J. B. (Jean Baptiste) Moutonfrom 1863
French missionary and architect who designed the church in the Gothic style of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris; laid the cornerstone May 4, 1863.
- Father Jeremiah Harnett
Met and hosted Italian traveling artist Joseph Kadich of Trieste, who painted the interior in umber, blue, and gold.
- Father Damian Gusmus, OSB1952-1961
Monk from St. Bernard Abbey, Cullman, Alabama; built the Blessed Virgin Mary grotto on the east side.
- Father Gerard Hurleyfrom January 1993
Supervised planning and construction of the new 500-seat sanctuary dedicated December 2000.
- Father Robert Dorefrom January 2005
Assigned as pastor of a growing parish serving more than 400 families; oversaw restoration work culminating in 2014.
- Father Jeffrey Waldrepfrom 2017
Current pastor; oversees school expansion Phase 1 and continues ministry as Judicial Vicar.