About Good Shepherd · Russellville, Alabama
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving Russellville, Alabama, and the surrounding Franklin County area, where it is the only Catholic church in the county. Part of the Diocese of Birmingham, the parish is a primarily Hispanic congregation that grew rapidly in the 2010s and now hosts three weekend Spanish-language Masses alongside an English Mass, plus a vibrant faith-formation program for children and youth. The parish celebrated the October 2023 opening of a new 500-seat worship center built for $4.5 million to replace the cramped original 1991 building, and continues to be recognized in the diocese for its active sacramental life, youth ministry, and outreach to the area's growing Spanish-speaking community.
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Victor Salomon (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
Good Shepherd is the only Catholic parish in Franklin County and offers an unusually full sacramental life for a parish its size — with daily Mass opportunities in both English and Spanish, ongoing Eucharistic Adoration, weekend confession, and a bilingual Religious Education program that prepares children and youth for First Communion, Confirmation, baptism, marriage, and quinceañera. The parish welcomes lifelong Catholics, returning Catholics, and the simply curious into ministries ranging from youth groups to a food bank, set on a campus that just dedicated a brand-new 500-seat sanctuary alongside the renovated 1991 parish hall. If you live in or near Russellville — especially if Spanish is your heart language — Good Shepherd is built with you in mind.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday (per discovermass.com listing, time on site)
- Saturday (Vigil time, per discovermass.com listing)
Adoration times
- All-night vigil: Saturday Exposition at 9:00 PM, continuing overnight, with Benediction at 7:00 AM followed by Mass (per Catholic Church Directory listing)
- First Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (per CatholicChurchTimes.com listing)
Parish Identity & Welcome
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish describes itself as a vibrant, bilingual Catholic community in Russellville, Alabama — the only Catholic parish in Franklin County. The parish welcomes lifelong Catholics, returning Catholics, and the simply curious, framing its life around the sacraments, Scripture, and joyful service. The official site emphasizes that liturgies are 'reverent and alive,' ministries are 'active and inclusive,' and 'our doors are open to all who seek a deeper relationship with God.'
- Patron: The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ, referencing John 10)
- Diocese: Diocese of Birmingham (Bishop Steven Raica)
- Bilingual English / Spanish worship and ministry
- Located at 1700 North Jackson Ave., Russellville, AL 35653
History & Growth
The current building was constructed in 1991 as a 175-seat worship space. By the late 2010s, four Sunday Masses were drawing between 1,000 and 3,000 people every weekend. Groundbreaking for an expanded sanctuary took place in October 2019, with the project's cost rising from an initial $2 million target to roughly $4.5 million. Most of the funds were raised in about three months — a pace then-pastor Fr. Vincent Bresowar called a sign the project was 'blessed from above.' The new 500-seat sanctuary on roughly eight acres of land was dedicated in October 2023, and the 1991 building was repurposed as a parish hall. A new playground for children has also been added on campus in recent years.
- 1991: Original 175-seat church built
- 2015: Fr. Vincent Bresowar assigned as pastor
- October 2019: Groundbreaking on new sanctuary
- October 2023: New 500-seat sanctuary dedicated (Latin inscription: 'Behold, I am with you always')
- 2024: New children's playground completed; Fr. Bresowar begins sabbatical
Clergy & Staff
Father Victor Salomon, a priest of the Diocese of Birmingham ordained in 1998 in Caracas, Venezuela, currently serves as Administrator of Good Shepherd Parish. He is joined by a small lay staff that includes Marina A. Ramos (Parish Secretary and longtime catechist), Flor Solorzano (Director of Religious Education), Natalia Perez (Office Assistant and Young Adult Group coordinator), and Gregoria Ramirez (Janitor, Decoration Group coordinator, and 24-year parishioner). Father Vincent Bresowar, who led the parish from 2015 to 2024, began a six-month sabbatical in September 2024 for spiritual renewal at the request of Bishop Steven Raica.
- Fr. Victor Salomon — Parish Administrator (ordained 1998, Caracas)
- Fr. Vincent Bresowar — Pastor on Sabbatical (2015–2024)
- Marina A. Ramos — Parish Secretary (20-year catechist)
- Flor Solorzano — Director of Religious Education
- Natalia Perez — Office Assistant
- Gregoria Ramirez — Janitor / Decoration Group coordinator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education Office, led by Director Flor Solorzano, coordinates catechesis and sacramental preparation for children, youth, and adults in both English and Spanish. The office prepares candidates for First Communion, Confirmation, baptism, marriage, and quinceañera, and supports catechists in their ongoing formation. The office also registers and schedules sacramental classes and collaborates with the parish's Hispanic Committee and Liturgy Committee to integrate formation into parish life.
- Office Phone: 256.398.8199
- Email: [email protected]
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Quinceañera
- Parent catechesis and ongoing catechist formation
- Office hours: Mon 5–7 PM, Tue–Thu 10 AM–7 PM, Sat 5–7 PM, Sun 7 AM–3 PM (closed Fri)
Youth Ministry
Good Shepherd runs two organized youth groups. The High School Youth Group meets Sunday evenings during the school year from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM for prayer, catechesis, community building, and service. The Middle School Youth Group gathers bi-monthly for grades 6–8. A Young Adult Group is coordinated out of the parish office and supported by staff member Natalia Perez.
- High School Youth Group: Sunday 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Middle School Youth Group: bi-monthly events for grades 6–8
- Young Adult Group (parish-office coordinated)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Good Shepherd is supported by both an Adult Choir and a Children's Choir, giving parishioners of all ages a way to participate in the liturgy. A parish Liturgy Committee — coordinated alongside the Religious Education Office — supports the wider liturgical life of the parish.
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
- Liturgy Committee
Outreach & Community
Outreach is a major pillar of parish life. Good Shepherd maintains a parish food bank to serve local families in need and runs a Decoration Group, kept by Gregoria Ramirez, that tends the worship environment. The pastor and Hispanic Committee coordinate ongoing ministry to Spanish-speaking neighbors, and Father Victor Salomon's background in pro-life work (including defiendelavida.org and his EWTN series 'De 2 en 2') shapes the parish's outreach to those affected by abortion.
- Parish Food Bank
- Decoration Group
- Hispanic Committee
- Pro-life / post-abortion healing ministry
- Children's playground (recently built on campus)
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Good Shepherd by phone at (256) 332-4861 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Driving directions from US 43 are simple: west on Underwood 1/2 mile to Jackson Avenue, then north on Jackson another 1/2 mile; the church sits at 1700 North Jackson Avenue.
- Phone: (256) 332-4861
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Ed. Office: (256) 398-8199 / [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Directions: US 43 → west on Underwood 1/2 mi → north on Jackson 1/2 mi
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Vincent Bresowar2015 – 2024
Homewood native and Auburn graduate assigned in 2015; led parish through rapid Hispanic growth, the $4.5M new church campaign (dedicated October 2023), and the construction of a new playground; began a six-month sabbatical in September 2024.
- Rev. Fr. Victor Salomon2024 – present
Ordained in 1998 in Caracas, Venezuela; served in parish, family, and vocational ministry; known for pro-life work and EWTN's "De 2 en 2"; appointed Administrator of Good Shepherd Parish.