About Our Lady of Lourdes · Birmingham, Alabama
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in eastern Birmingham, Alabama, located on Huffman Road in the Huffman community. Founded in 1958, the parish was established to serve the growing Catholic population in this part of Jefferson County and was built through the efforts of the faithful of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham (later the Diocese of Birmingham). Today the bilingual parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, a robust sacramental life, an active parish council revived in 2017, and beloved community traditions such as the annual Labor Day Festival. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Raphy Ambooken (Parochial Administrator, since July 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in eastern Birmingham with both English and Spanish Masses celebrated each week. Parishioners can grow in faith through faith formation programs, altar serving, lector and Eucharistic minister ministries, youth and young adult groups, the Knights of Columbus, and a prayer group, while serving the wider community through the annual Labor Day Festival and the PAWS across the Parkway community event. With more than six decades of history — from its 1959 groundbreaking to the 2017 re-establishment of its Parish Council and first International Dinner — it remains a close-knit parish where families, youth, and longtime members put down roots.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: half an hour before the 4:00 pm Mass (English)
- 1st Saturday of every month, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm (Spanish)
Parish History
Our Lady of Lourdes was created as a parish in 1958 to serve the growing Catholic population of eastern Birmingham. Ground was broken for the new church on January 13, 1959 with Archbishop Toolen presiding, and the first Midnight Mass was celebrated that Christmas. The church was formally dedicated on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 1960 by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Durick. Over the decades the parish grew to more than 900 families at its peak, expanded its campus with the Lewis Chase Memorial Youth Building (1979) and the Father Andrew Gavin Family Life Center (1985), and in 2017 rededicated itself by re-establishing the Parish Council after a 25-year hiatus and launching its first International Dinner.
- Parish created: 1958
- Groundbreaking: January 13, 1959 (with Archbishop Toolen)
- First Midnight Mass: Christmas 1959
- Dedication: Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 1960 (Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Durick)
- Lewis Chase Memorial Youth Building dedicated: October 7, 1979
- Father Andrew Gavin Family Life Center dedicated: December 1, 1985
- New electronic pipe organ dedicated: October 23, 1994
- Father Andrew Kennedy Sacristy dedicated: 2017 (by Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P.)
- Parish Council re-established and first International Dinner: 2017
Our Campus and Architecture
The parish sits on a 7½-acre site on Huffman Road in eastern Birmingham. The original church building was a modern-style sanctuary 50 by 120 feet, designed by architect Harry Hester and built by R. S. Harris Construction Company for $90,000. Tennessee sandstone veneer clads the exterior, and the altar slab was provided by Henry Garner of Garner Stone Company. A 150-seat parish hall with a full kitchen sits at the rear of the sanctuary.
- Modern-style sanctuary seating 400
- 150-seat parish hall with full kitchen
- Tennessee sandstone exterior and altar slab
- Designer: Harry Hester; Builder: R. S. Harris Construction Company
Liturgical Ministries
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a wide range of liturgical ministries in which parishioners can serve, from proclaiming the Word and distributing Holy Communion to keeping the sanctuary in order and leading congregational song.
- Lectors & Readers — proclaim the Word at all Masses, including holy days and daily Masses; fully trained and assigned on a rotating schedule
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute Holy Communion at Mass and to the sick/shut-ins; open to confirmed parishioners recommended by the pastor and approved by the bishop, commissioned for 3-year terms
- Altar Servers — assist at all Masses, weddings and funerals; open to boys and girls of the parish; trained and assigned on a rotating schedule
- Cantors — lead congregational singing; must read music and commit to at least one Mass per month plus rehearsals
- Sacristans — keep sanctuary items, linens, vestments, candles, carpets and confessionals polished, clean and in good repair; typically serve two Saturday mornings every six weeks
- Ushers & Greeters — seat worshippers, take up the collection, select gift-bearers, and assist before, during and after Mass; open to men and women 18+
Parish Life, Faith Formation and Youth
Beyond the liturgy, Our Lady of Lourdes is a community of families, youth and adults serving one another and the wider Huffman/Roebuck area. The parish supports youth and young adult ministry, faith formation / CCD classes, a parish-operated kindergarten, the Knights of Columbus council, and a prayer group. Parishioners are encouraged to get involved in ministries or to reach out via the bulletin and events pages.
- Youth and Young Adult ministry
- Faith Formation / CCD
- Parish-operated Kindergarten
- Knights of Columbus
- Prayer Group
- Annual Labor Day Festival (revived 1987)
- PAWS across the Parkway community festival (since 2006)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church, including daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, Reconciliation (Confession) before the Saturday Vigil and in Spanish on the first Saturday of each month, and the Holy Eucharist distributed by trained and commissioned Eucharistic Ministers — including ministry to the sick and shut-ins of the parish. The parish website lists a dedicated Sacraments page with information on Baptism, Marriage, and other sacraments.
- Eucharist (Mass, daily and weekend, English and Spanish)
- Reconciliation / Confession (Saturday before vigil; first Saturday in Spanish)
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick
- Baptism, Marriage (see parish Sacraments page)
Office, Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during posted office hours. The parish sits at 980 Huffman Road in eastern Birmingham, with on-site parking available around the church and parish buildings.
- Address: 980 Huffman Rd., Birmingham, AL 35215
- Phone: (205) 836-2274
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–2:00 pm
- Horas de Oficina: Lunes–Viernes, 8:00 am–2:00 pm
- Facebook: facebook.com/ollcbham
- Website: ollcbham.com
Pastor and Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently led by Rev. Jose Raphy Ambooken as Parochial Administrator (since July 2025). The parish's long pastoral history stretches back to its founding pastor Father Andrew Gavin in 1959, and includes the 24-year pastorate of Father Andrew J. Kennedy (1993–2017), for whom the parish's sacristy was named in 2017. Father Douglas Vu succeeded Father Kennedy in March 2017.
- Rev. Jose Raphy Ambooken — Parochial Administrator (since July 2025)
- Rev. Douglas Vu — Pastor (March 2017 onward)
- Rev. Andrew J. Kennedy — Pastor (July 1993–March 2017)
- Founding pastor: Father Andrew Gavin (December 1959–March 1966)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Jose Raphy AmbookenJuly 2025–
Parochial administrator
- Douglas VuMarch 2017–
Served as pastor until 2025
- Andrew J. KennedyJuly 1993–March 2017
Long-serving pastor; the 2017 sacristy was named the Father Andrew Kennedy Sacristy in his honor
- Henry ThorsenFebruary 1986–March 1993
- Patrick MurphySeptember 1981–February 1986
Led the parish during its peak membership of over 900 families
- Paul DonnellyApril 1981–August 1981
- Edward FosterOctober 1977–April 1981
Monsignor; oversaw sanctuary renovations including new altar, fonts, vestibule, aisle rugs, canopy, and outdoor loudspeakers
- Desmond ReganJune 1970–October 1977
Previously served March 1966–July 1969; left in 1969 to serve as principal of John Carroll Catholic High School, returning in 1970
- Roland InkelJuly 1969–June 1970
Under his leadership the parish became the first in the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham to commission lay leaders to administer communion, under a special indult from Pope Paul VI
- Andrew GavinDecember 1959–March 1966
Founding pastor; retired due to poor health. The parish's Family Life Center was later named the Father Andrew Gavin Family Life Center in his memory