About Immaculate Conception · Laurel, Mississippi
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Laurel in Jones County, Mississippi. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Biloxi and ministers to a community that includes a significant Hispanic Catholic population, with multiple Spanish-language Masses each week. Located on West 6th Street, it offers a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, religious education for children, and a wide range of parish ministries including the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul. Its current pastor, Father Ignacio Jimenez, also serves nearby St. Bernadette Parish, with Father Tomasz Powroznik serving as parochial vicar.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Father Ignacio Jimenez (Fr. Ignacio Jiménez Morales)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a welcoming bilingual parish where Catholic life in Laurel is lived in both English and Spanish — every week includes multiple Masses in each language, plus Spanish CCD and bilingual social events organized by the Hispanic Ministry. Parishioners can grow in faith through adult RCIA, youth religious education, Vacation Bible School, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and a rich music program featuring the Laudem Dei choir, Men's Schola, Joyful Sound ensemble, and the youth choir Immaculate Voices. Outreach runs deep here, too: the parish life ministry coordinates hospitality, the Lazarus Ministry, family life, scouting, the Knights of Columbus, St. Matthew Ministries, and St. Vincent de Paul, while midweek Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays, noon to 5:45 p.m.) anchors the community in prayer.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
- Sunday 8:00–8:45 AM
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 12:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel)
Parish Identity & History
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church traces its origins to 1887 and to the early Laurel Catholic community gathered by Father Bernard O'Reilly in 1898. The first church building went up in 1900, and Father W.J. Finley served as the first resident pastor until 1907. The parish grew steadily through the 20th century and now serves a bilingual congregation under the Diocese of Biloxi.
- Mission/parish origin: 1887 (per GCatholic)
- Parish formally begun: 1898 (home of Andrew Flanagan)
- First church building: 1900
- First resident pastor: Father W.J. Finley (1900–1907)
- Located in the Diocese of Biloxi
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and two permanent deacons. Father Ignacio Jimenez also pastors St. Bernadette Parish in the area, while Father Tomasz Powroznik serves as parochial vicar. Deacons Rich Hollingsworth and Roy Leonard assist with liturgy and ministry.
- Pastor: Fr. Ignacio Jimenez — ordained Jan. 15, 2011; from Contepec, Mexico
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Tomasz Powroznik, S.T.L. — ordained Jan. 22, 2022; Notre Dame Seminary graduate
- Deacon Rich Hollingsworth — converted 1984; ordained July 6, 2002 by Bishop Thomas Rodi at the Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi
- Deacon Roy Leonard
Parish Ministries
Parish life is organized around a Pastoral Council structure with several standing ministries. From liturgy and music to education and outreach, the ministries coordinate both English- and Spanish-speaking activities, social events, and faith formation for all ages.
- Hispanic Ministry
- Sacred Music Ministry
- Liturgy Ministry
- Education Ministry
- Facilities Ministry
- Administration and Finance Ministry
- Parish Life Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Education Ministry oversees all the educational programs of the parish. Both English and Spanish tracks are available for children, and adults can journey toward full initiation through the RCIA. Father Tomasz is the parish contact for these programs.
- Adult RCIA
- Youth religious education (CCD), with classes offered in Spanish
- Sacramental instruction (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Vacation Bible School
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
Sacred Music & Liturgy
Music is a particular strength of Immaculate Conception, with both English and Latino ensembles supporting the parish's bilingual Mass schedule. The Liturgy Ministry, led by Deacon Rich Hollingsworth, trains the liturgical volunteers who make each Mass possible.
- Laudem Dei — regular Sunday choir
- Men's Schola
- Joyful Sound — adult ensemble led by Karen Deniakos
- Immaculate Voices — youth choir
- Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, lectors, and church decorators
Outreach, Fellowship & Social Justice
The Parish Life Ministry reaches out in three directions — fellowship, spiritual life, and social justice — knitting together the parish's many service activities. Nicholas Fields coordinates the ministry.
- Hospitality
- Lazarus Ministry
- Family life and scouting
- Knights of Columbus
- Ecumenical activities and evangelization
- Respect for life
- St. Matthew Ministries
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Civic activities
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry coordinates the Spanish-speaking community of Catholics with the other ministries of the Pastoral Council. It plans the Spanish Masses, provides CCD in Spanish, organizes Spanish and bilingual social events, and offers assistance to members of the Hispanic community in Laurel.
- Spanish Masses each week (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun)
- CCD in Spanish
- Bilingual and Spanish social events
- Assistance to the Hispanic community in Laurel
Sacraments
Beyond the Eucharist, the parish celebrates the other six sacraments. Reconciliation is offered weekly before weekend Masses, and Anointing of the Sick is available in either English or Spanish by contacting the church office. Sacramental preparation is offered for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage.
- Reconciliation: Sat 4:00–4:45 PM, Sun 8:00–8:45 AM, by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — for the seriously ill, infirm, elderly, or pre-surgical; in English or Spanish
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage preparation — contact parish office
Visit & Contact
Immaculate Conception sits on West 6th Street in Laurel, Mississippi. Visitors coming off I-59 at exit 95B head north on 16th Avenue to 6th Street, then travel seven blocks to reach the church past Daphne Park. The parish office can be reached at (601) 426-3473.
- Address: 833 W 6th St, Laurel, MS 39440
- Phone: (601) 426-3473
- Website: http://laurelcatholic.com/
- Diocese: Diocese of Biloxi
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bernard O'Reilly1898–
Traveled up from Paulding, MS to start the parish; celebrated first Mass in the home of Andrew Flanagan.
- Father W.J. Finley1900–1907
First resident pastor; oversaw construction of the first church building in 1900.
- Father J.E. Chemelafter 1907
Early successor mentioned in local parish history.
- Father John Robinsonapprox. mid-1960s–1972
Ordained 1949 at St. Patrick's College, Carlow, Ireland; served Immaculate Conception about 6½ years before becoming pastor of St. Michael's, Biloxi in 1973.