About Corpus Christi · Oneonta, Alabama
Corpus Christi Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Oneonta, Blount County, Alabama, belonging to the Diocese of Birmingham. It began as a handful of Catholics meeting in private homes in the 1970s and grew into a mission church in 1982, then a parish serving more than 700 registered families (nearly 900 by recent counts). The community is known for its strong Anglo and Hispanic (especially Guatemalan) identity, offering Masses in English, Spanish, and bilingual form, an active Pro-Life ministry, a Young Adult group, Stations of the Cross on the hill behind the church, and an annual Eucharistic procession through downtown Oneonta.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. James Hedderman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
Corpus Christi offers a vibrant bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Blount County with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, and bilingual form throughout the week, so families of every language background feel at home. The parish combines traditional devotions — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration after Saturday Mass, Pro-Life Rosary and Mass on Thursdays, and outdoor Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Eucharist on the hill behind the church — with active outreach to Hope House, Sav-A-Life, and the local Children's Center, plus a Young Adult group and sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- One hour before each Sunday Mass
- 30 minutes before each Weekday Mass
- Generally not given after Mass (no confessions after Mass on Thursdays)
Adoration times
- After the Saturday 4:30 pm (Spanish) Mass
Our Church History
The story of Corpus Christi begins in 1975, when the Catholics of Oneonta had no parish of their own and traveled to neighboring counties for Sunday Mass. Fr. Charles Bordenca of Holy Infant of Prague in Trussville began saying Mass in parishioners' homes, then in the Chamber of Commerce building and the Methodist Church. Successive priests from Trussville attempted to sustain the mission, but declining numbers forced the community to disperse. On October 3, 1982, six Catholics — Rita Porter, Gloria Cook, Steve Majerik, Ruth Miller, Rita Hawkins, and Anne Woods — asked Fr. James O'Reilly of Our Lady of the Lake in Pell City for help. With Bishop Joseph Vath's approval, he began Sunday Mass for 20 people in the 'Upper Room' of the Oneonta Public Library (now City Hall). On November 7, 1982, Bishop Vath formally declared the community a mission church; it moved to Valley Funeral Home Chapel for November and December before purchasing land with an old house that the men of the parish converted into a church. Bishop Vath celebrated the first Mass there on June 3, 1984 — the feast of Corpus Christi — giving the parish its name. Today the parish serves nearly 900 registered families.
- 1975 — Fr. Charles Bordenca begins Sunday Mass in Oneonta homes
- Pre-1982 — Fr. Joseph Kula and Fr. Inkel sustain mission work from Trussville
- October 3, 1982 — Six founding Catholics meet Fr. James O'Reilly
- October 1982 — First Mass in 'The Upper Room' of the Oneonta Public Library
- November 7, 1982 — Bishop Vath designates the community a mission church
- June 3, 1984 — Bishop Vath celebrates first Mass at the parish's own church on the feast of Corpus Christi
- 2003 — Fr. John Hartsfield assigned as pastor; parish becomes debt-free in five years
- July 2015 — Fr. James Hedderman arrives as current pastor
- Today — approaching 900 registered families; expansion plans underway
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and is closed Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The mailing address and parish church share the same location on State Highway 75 north of Oneonta's downtown.
- Address: 32015 State Highway 75, Oneonta, AL 35121
- Phone: (205) 625-6078
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.corpusc.com
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 10:00 am–2:00 pm (Mon, Sat, Sun closed)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Fr. James Hedderman, who arrived in July 2015. Before him, Fr. John Hartsfield served as the first resident pastor from 2003 to 2015 and celebrated the parish becoming debt-free. Earlier mission work was supported by priests from Holy Infant of Prague in Trussville and Our Lady of the Lake in Pell City under the direction of Bishop Joseph Vath.
- Rev. James Hedderman — Pastor (since July 2015)
- Rev. John Hartsfield — Pastor (2003–2015)
- Fr. James O'Reilly — Founding mission priest (1982)
- Fr. Charles Bordenca — Earliest mission celebrant (1975)
- Fr. Joseph Kula, Fr. Inkel — Sustained mission work pre-1982
Pro-Life Ministry
Corpus Christi is known throughout the Diocese of Birmingham for its active Pro-Life witness. The parish gathers every Thursday at 5:15 pm to pray the Pro-Life Rosary, immediately followed by a 6:00 pm English Mass. The parish partners with Blount County Sav-A-Life, a non-profit founded in 1996 to minister to women in crisis pregnancies, and shares the National Life Center hotline (1-800-712-4357) and a 24/7 toll-free helpline (800-848-LOVE) for pregnancy or post-abortion help. The parish also distributes a Resource List PDF for pregnancy or post-abortion assistance, including resources for those being coerced or forced, and has shown the film 'UNplanned' as part of its formation.
- Pro-Life Rosary and Mass every Thursday (5:15 pm Rosary, 6:00 pm Mass)
- Partnership with Blount County Sav-A-Life
- National Life Center hotline: 1-800-712-4357
- 24/7 helpline: 800-848-LOVE
- Resource List for pregnancy / post-abortion help
Young Adult Group — Los Jovenes Que Forman el Cuerpo de Cristo
Corpus Christi's Young Adult Group is a bilingual ministry of Catholic young adults and those of other faiths who gather every Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm to read the Bible, engage in fun activities, and explore their faith together. The group's patron saint is St. Joan of Arc.
- Meets every Monday, 7:00–9:00 pm
- Core Team: Jesus Vargas, Daniela Contreras, Cesar Serrano, Saul Hinojosa, Mauricio Chacon
- Open to Catholics and those of other faiths
- Patron Saint: St. Joan of Arc
Sacraments / Sacramentos
Corpus Christi prepares parishioners of all ages for the sacraments of initiation and the sacrament of Marriage in both English and Spanish.
- Baptism — Preparation for parents and godparents; the selection of suitable godparents is treated as essential to the child's faith development.
- First Communion — Two years of Religious Education required before reception.
- Confirmation — Two-year preparation program; considered the final Sacrament of Initiation.
- Reconciliation (Penance) — One hour before Sunday Mass, 30 minutes before weekday Mass.
- Marriage — A covenant with Christ and the Church; preparation equips spouses to love as Christ loves the Church.
Stations of the Cross & Eucharistic Procession
The parish hosts outdoor Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Eucharist on the hill behind the church — a distinctive devotional setting that draws parishioners and visitors into the public square of faith. Each year Corpus Christi also holds an annual Eucharistic Procession through downtown Oneonta, beginning at a designated starting point (such as Regions Bank on Railroad Boulevard) and ending at a town landmark (such as Angel's Wings), with parking coordinated at the Oneonta Public Library lot and near the Gazebo.
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Eucharist on the hill behind the church
- Annual Eucharistic Procession through downtown Oneonta
- Example procession route: Regions Bank on Railroad Boulevard → Angel's Wings
- Parking: Oneonta Public Library lot and Gazebo near Angel's Wings
Outreach & Community
Under Fr. Hedderman's leadership, Corpus Christi has expanded its outreach beyond the parish walls to serve the wider Blount County community, partnering with several local organizations that aid families, the homeless, and women in crisis pregnancies.
- Hope House — local outreach partner
- Blount County Sav-A-Life — crisis pregnancy support (founded 1996)
- Children's Center — community partner
- Spanish-language ministry to the Guatemalan Catholic community
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles Bordenca1975 (approx.)
Pastor of Holy Infant of Prague in Trussville; began saying Sunday Mass in Oneonta parishioners' homes, the Chamber of Commerce building, and the Methodist Church.
- Fr. Joseph Kulapre-1982
Appointed pastor of Holy Infant of Prague; celebrated Mass in the Oneonta Elementary School auditorium.
- Fr. Inkelpre-1982
Tried to maintain Mass in Oneonta at Rita Porter's home, but numbers declined.
- Fr. James O'Reilly1982–approx. 2003
Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake in Pell City; with Bishop Vath's approval, began Sunday Mass in the 'Upper Room' of the Oneonta Public Library on October 10, 1982.
- Rev. John Hartsfield2003–2015
First resident pastor; celebrated the parish becoming debt-free five years after his arrival.
- Rev. James Hedderman2015–present
Current pastor; arrived July 2015; has expanded outreach and is overseeing expansion of the church, parish hall, and parking.