About Our Lady of Lourdes · Atlanta, Georgia
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood, founded in November 1912 as Atlanta's first African-American Catholic church. The parish was established with funding from Mother (now Saint) Katharine Drexel, heiress and founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and is recognized as the Mother Church of African-American Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Today the parish is pastored by Dominican Father Jeffery Ott, O.P., and is celebrated for its lively, gospel-infused liturgy that the community calls the 'Lourdes Experience.' The church sits on Boulevard NE directly across from the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and is a contributing property of that National Historic Site.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffery Ott, O.P.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (Ecclesiastical Province of Atlanta)
Why belong here
Worshippers come to Our Lady of Lourdes for what the parish affectionately calls the 'Lourdes Experience' — a joyful, expressive liturgy that blends gospel, spirituals, contemporary Christian music, and classic hymns with a choir and band at every Mass, including the Saturday vigil. The parish is a historic African-American Catholic community in the heart of the Sweet Auburn / Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, rooted in social-justice ministry through programs like Simon's Call AIDS Ministry and Lourdes Lunch, and offers formation for every age through RCIA, Children's Sunday School, Teen Ministry, and Bible Study. With Dominican preaching, three weekend Masses, livestreamed worship, and a 100-plus-year legacy as the Mother Church of African-American Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Lourdes welcomes everyone — Catholic, Christian, or otherwise — to clap, dance, and worship together.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the church (before the vigil Mass), or by appointment through the Church Office
Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes
The parish describes itself as the 'Mother Church of African-American Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta,' rooted in African-American Catholic history, celebrating the Living Word of God, embracing inclusiveness, and inspiring social action. The parish welcomes Catholics, Christians from other denominations, and non-Christians to its lively Masses, where — by the parish's own invitation — it's OK to shout 'Amen,' clap, dance, and stomp. Visitors can attend the Saturday vigil at 5:00 p.m. or one of two Sunday Masses (8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.), with the Sunday 10:30 a.m. liturgy livestreamed online for those joining from home.
- Founded in 1912 through the generosity of St. Katharine Drexel
- Part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta under Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM
- Pastored by Dominican (Order of Preachers) priests
- Affectionately known for the 'Lourdes Experience' — gospel, spirituals, contemporary Christian music, and classics at every Mass
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. ET
History of the Parish
Our Lady of Lourdes was founded in November 1912 by the Rev. Ignatius Lissner of the Society of African Missions, who obtained funding from Mother Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (SBS). The parish was built as a three-story combination church, school, and parish hall, named in memory of the late Archbishop Patrick Ryan of Philadelphia. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament staffed the school from its founding until 1974, and during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Lourdes parishioners — including SBS sisters — participated in protest activities as part of the Old Fourth Ward community. The school closed in 2001; the building is now the Katharine Drexel Community Center, which houses church offices, Sunday-school classrooms, a choir rehearsal hall, and the Drexel Institute for the Arts.
- Founded November 1912 by Rev. Ignatius Lissner, S.M.A.
- Funded by Mother (now Saint) Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
- Originally known as Our Lady of Lourdes Colored Mission
- Located in Sweet Auburn, an African-American neighborhood in Atlanta
- Three-story stone and brick building — church on the first floor, classrooms on the second, parish hall on the third
- School closed in 2001; reopened as the Katharine Drexel Community Center
Capital Campaign and Growth
In early 2008, the parish launched a Capital Stewardship Campaign, with over 600 households responding with pledges at the Easter kick-off. On June 11, 2008, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission approved Lourdes' conceptual master plan for a new sanctuary on the adjacent lot, which the parish purchased that July with combined funds from parishioners and the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish continues fundraising to 'build a new church that joyfully serves our growing community and continues our mission of faith and social justice.'
Historic and Cultural Significance
The church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1974, as a contributing property of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and a Georgia Historical Society marker was dedicated at the church in 2013. The young Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthplace sits on the same block, often played on the parish grounds as a child. The parish frames itself as 'a testament to Dr. King's civil rights dream fulfilled' and continues to put Catholic social teaching into action through its outreach ministries.
- Contributing property of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park (NRHP, May 2, 1974)
- Georgia Historical Society marker erected 2013
- On the same block as the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Dominican priests and a team of deacons, musicians, and lay staff who keep the church's worship, formation, and administration running. The pastor, Fr. Jeffery Ott, O.P., is a member of the Order of Preachers and is known for his sound teaching; he is assisted by Associate Pastor Fr. Thomas Jackson, O.P. Three deacons serve the community, and the staff includes a Director of Music (LeRell Ross), a Director of Religious Education (Theresa Bowen), a Teen Ministry Coordinator (Sheena White), a Pastoral Assistant (Cameron Chaney), and office personnel.
- Rev. Jeffery Ott, O.P. — Pastor
- Rev. Thomas Jackson, O.P. — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Chester Griffin — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Lennison Alexander — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Kenneth Bell — Deacon
- LeRell Ross — Director of Music
- Theresa Bowen — Director of Religious Education
- Sheena White — Teen Ministry Coordinator
- Cameron Chaney — Pastoral Assistant
- Carmen Rancifer Jenkins — Office Manager
- Carol Ann Pinard — Office Administrator
- Angela Massingale — Parish Secretary
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Our Lady of Lourdes offers formation for every age, framed as a lifelong process of deepening faith and knowledge of the Lord. Programs include weekly Bible Study, Children's Sunday School, the Teen Ministry, and the Journey of Faith RCIA for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church or preparing for the sacraments of initiation. The parish also partners with the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Safe Environment / VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training for any volunteer working with minors and vulnerable adults.
- Bible Study
- Children's Sunday School
- Teen Ministry — Coordinator: Sheena White
- Journey of Faith RCIA — Coordinator: Kimberly Parrish (404.247.6628, [email protected])
- RCIA Inquiry Classes — 1st & 3rd Sundays, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., RCIA room, 3rd floor
- Safe Environment / VIRTUS training for volunteers
Music Ministry
Our Lady of Lourdes' Music Ministry prepares and leads the congregation for worship, blending traditional hymns, contemporary Christian music, spirituals, gospel, and jazz through both adult and youth choirs. The Music Ministry is directed by LeRell Ross with Bryan Montemayor as Music Ministry Administrator. The parish choir has released a CD titled 'Reap a Harvest in Due Season: A Treasury of African-American Catholic Music,' available on CD and digitally via iTunes, CD Baby, and Google Play, with proceeds funding future recordings exploring African-American Catholic music traditions.
- Adult and youth choirs
- Director of Music: LeRell Ross
- Music Ministry Administrator: Bryan Montemayor
- Choir CD: 'Reap a Harvest in Due Season: A Treasury of African-American Catholic Music'
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries at Lourdes invite lay people of all backgrounds to assist the priest and deacon in the preparation and celebration of Mass. Roles include the Choir, Altar Servers, Lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers), along with other supporting ministries. The parish encourages every member to explore a liturgical role and get involved.
- Choir
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
Outreach Ministries
Carrying forward the parish's founding mission of social outreach, Our Lady of Lourdes' Outreach Ministries put Catholic social teaching into action in the Atlanta community. The flagship programs are Simon's Call AIDS Ministry, which reaches out to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, and Lourdes Lunch, which serves hot meals to those in need. The parish invites parishioners to 'give unto others as you would have them give to you' by joining one of these ministries.
- Simon's Call AIDS Ministry
- Lourdes Lunch (hot meals served to those in need)
- Health Promotions Ministry
- Parenting Ministry
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation and offers Reconciliation weekly. Catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized in another Christian denomination) journey through RCIA to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist in the Catholic Church; baptized Catholics who need Confirmation are asked to contact Deacon Chester Griffin or Kim Parrish at the Church Office. Baptized Catholics who have not received all sacraments are also directed to the RCIA team.
- Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion preparation via Religious Education and RCIA
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 4:30 p.m. or by appointment
- RCIA for catechumens, candidates from other Christian denominations, and Catholics needing Confirmation
Visit, Connect, and Give
Visitors can join Our Lady of Lourdes in person or via the Sunday 10:30 a.m. livestream on the parish website, the Resi stream archive (sites.resi.io/lourdes), or YouTube. The parish keeps in touch with parishioners and friends through Flocknote (text LOURDESATL to 84576), a weekly e-newsletter, a Facebook page (facebook.com/lourdesatlanta), Instagram (@LourdesAtlanta_ and @lourdesatlanta), X (@lourdesatlanta), and YouTube. Weekly bulletins are available for download, and donations can be made online, by text, or by mail to support the parish and its Capital Campaign to build a new church.
- Livestream Mass — Sunday 10:30 a.m. ET via lourdesatlanta.org, sites.resi.io/lourdes, or YouTube
- Flocknote — text LOURDESATL to 84576 for the weekly e-newsletter
- Facebook: facebook.com/lourdesatlanta
- Instagram: @LourdesAtlanta_ / @lourdesatlanta
- X (Twitter): @lourdesatlanta
- Weekly bulletin downloads on lourdesatlanta.org
- Give online, by text, or by mail
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ignatius Lissner (Society of African Missions)1912 – founding pastor
Founded the parish in November 1912 with funding from Mother Katharine Drexel and served as its first priest.