About Saint James · Magnolia, Mississippi
St. James Catholic Church (formally St. James the Greater) is a small but spirited Roman Catholic community in Magnolia, Mississippi, the county seat of Pike County in southwest Mississippi. Established as a rural mission in the 1860s and served by Redemptorist and diocesan priests for generations, the church sits in a small historic wooden building at 125 East Bay Street. On November 1, 2019 Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz elevated the long-time mission of St. Alphonsus Parish in McComb to parish status in recognition of its steady growth. Today St. James is pastored jointly with St. Alphonsus McComb by Father Suresh Reddy Thirumalareddy and offers Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and Wednesday Masses together with the Sacraments of Reconciliation and a pair of beloved outreach ministries: Food for the Soul and Hearts and Hands.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (Apostle)
- Rector
- Reverend Suresh Reddy Thirumalareddy (Father Suresh), pastor of both St. James, Magnolia and St. Alphonsus, McComb
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson (Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi)
Why belong here
St. James offers the steady rhythm of a small-town Catholic parish — Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday morning Mass, a midweek Wednesday noon Mass with a Healing Mass each third Wednesday, and weekly Confession — all in an intimate, historic wooden church in the heart of Magnolia. The parish's Food for the Soul Ministry serves a free community meal to anyone who comes through St. James Hall on the third Thursday of each month, and the Hearts and Hands Ministry visits the shut-in and gives rides to those who need them, so belonging here is woven directly into the life of southern Pike County. As Bishop Kopacz told the parish at its 150th anniversary: 'From the early days when the Redemptorists established this small mission church, you have grown into a beautiful expression of devoted, faith-filled followers of Christ sharing His Good News with one another and your neighbors in Pike County.'
Mass times at Saint James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sunday 8:00–8:25 AM
- By appointment on weekdays (call the parish office)
Parish History
St. James was born as a rural Catholic mission in the 1860s. The first resident pastor credited with celebrating Mass in local homes was Father Henry Picherit, and the first church — the small wooden building still in use today — was completed in 1874 and dedicated to St. James the Greater. Through the decades priests from Osyka, McComb, and Chatawa traveled to serve the mission, including Redemptorist fathers and clergy connected to the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the Chatawa motherhouse. St. James remained a mission of St. Alphonsus, McComb until November 1, 2019, when Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz elevated it to parish status.
- First Masses celebrated in private homes in the 1860s by Father Henry Picherit
- First church completed in 1874 and dedicated to St. James the Greater
- Long served by Redemptorists, diocesan priests from Osyka/McComb/Chatawa, and the School Sisters of Notre Dame
- Elevated from mission to parish on November 1, 2019 by Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz
- 150th anniversary (153 years) celebrated October 5, 2024 with outdoor Mass, mayoral proclamation, and community meal
Pastoral Leadership
St. James is pastored together with St. Alphonsus, McComb by Father Suresh Reddy Thirumalareddy, who came to Pike County in 2014 from the Guntur Diocese in southern India. Originally assigned to St. Teresa of Avila, Chatawa and to St. James Mission in Magnolia, Father Suresh became pastor of the linked parishes and, in June 2023, was naturalized as a United States citizen. He has said of his ministry, 'I am happy to work here and serve this church. My life is meant to serve people, and in doing that, I have found another family.'
- Father Suresh Reddy Thirumalareddy — Pastor (2014–present); became U.S. citizen in 2023
- Deacon Carlos Sola — Diocesan parish-finder listing
- Father Bill Henry — former pastor, concelebrated the 2024 anniversary Mass
- Father Brian Kaskie — former pastor who died in 2021, remembered at a graveside Mass in 2022
- Father P.J. Curley — formerly served in the region, concelebrated the 2024 anniversary Mass
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Two outreach ministries give St. James a visible presence in southern Pike County. Food for the Soul, hosted the third Thursday of every month at St. James Hall from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, serves a free meal to anyone in the community (take-out only). Hearts and Hands reaches those who cannot easily leave home, visiting the shut-ins, giving rides to local appointments, and helping those most in need — coordinated through parishioner Wanda Esponge. The parish also fields a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and a combined music ministry with St. Alphonsus, McComb led since 2019 by music minister Celena Johnson.
- Food for the Soul Ministry — free community meal, 3rd Thursday, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM, St. James Hall
- Hearts and Hands Ministry — shut-in visits, rides to appointments (contact: Wanda Esponge)
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Combined parish choir with St. Alphonsus, McComb (music minister: Celena Johnson)
- Religious Education / Faith Formation for children from age 5 (joint with St. Alphonsus)
Faith Formation
Children's faith formation at St. James is offered through the joint St. Alphonsus Religious Education Program, which begins at age 5. Volunteer catechists teach grade-level concepts in Catholic doctrine, Scripture, and tradition, lead children in prayer, and design creative experiences so that what is learned can be lived. The program supplements classroom learning with enjoyable events throughout the year that help children build friendships and grow as disciples of Christ.
- Religious Education Program for children from age 5
- Volunteer catechists teaching doctrine, Scripture, and tradition
- Yearly events that build community among parish children
Sacraments
St. James celebrates the central sacraments of Catholic life at its church at 125 East Bay Street. The Eucharist is offered at the Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and Wednesday Masses listed above; Reconciliation is heard each weekend before Mass and by appointment on weekdays. The Anointing of the Sick is offered within the monthly Healing Mass on the third Wednesday. Baptisms, weddings, and other sacramental preparations are coordinated through the parish office shared with St. Alphonsus, McComb.
- Eucharist — Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and Wednesday
- Reconciliation — weekends before Mass, plus by appointment weekdays
- Anointing of the Sick — Healing Mass, 3rd Wednesday at noon
- Baptism, Marriage, and other sacraments — arranged through the parish office
Devotions and Healing
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, St. James keeps the devotion of Healing Mass on the third Wednesday of each month, celebrated at the regular noon Wednesday Mass time. The parish has also been a place of community celebration and renewal — most recently at the October 2024 150th-anniversary Mass, which combined an outdoor liturgy, a combined parish choir, a Southern meal, and a silent auction. The annual celebration of the parish's patron, St. James the Greater, falls on July 25.
- Healing Mass — 3rd Wednesday, 12:00 PM
- Annual Feast of St. James the Greater — July 25
- Parish anniversary celebrations with combined-choir Mass and community meal
Facilities and Location
St. James worships in its historic wooden church at 125 East Bay Street, Magnolia, Mississippi, with the entrance on MS-48 just half a block east of US-51. The adjacent St. James Hall hosts the parish's monthly Food for the Soul meal and other parish gatherings. The site is walkable from the center of Magnolia and easily reached by car; visitors are directed via Google Maps from the official parish website.
- Historic wooden church at 125 East Bay Street, Magnolia
- St. James Hall — site of Food for the Soul meal and parish gatherings
- On MS-48, half-block east of US-51
- Linked operationally with St. Alphonsus Parish, 509 Delaware Avenue, McComb
Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners alike are warmly welcomed at St. James. The parish website (under St. Alphonsus, McComb) provides Mass and Confession times, a printable bulletin, and directions. Anyone in need of a meal on the third Thursday of the month is invited to come to St. James Hall between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM for Food for the Soul. Those who want to help can volunteer for the Hearts and Hands Ministry (contact Wanda Esponge) or for Religious Education. As parishioner Vicki Todd put it at the anniversary Mass: 'It's small, but powerful … our little bitty church is just as beautiful as can be.'
- All are welcome to weekend and Wednesday Masses
- Anyone may come to the Food for the Soul meal on the 3rd Thursday of each month
- Volunteer opportunities through Hearts and Hands and Religious Education
- Contact the parish office at (601) 684-5648
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Henry Picherit1860s
Celebrated Mass in local homes before the first church was built; credited as founder of the parish.
- Rev. Father Schuttelbofer1873
Described in the Magnolia Gazette as 'Rector of St. James and other churches' in early mission days.
- Redemptorist FathersLate 19th–20th century
Order credited by Bishop Kopacz with having 'established this small mission church.'
- Father Bill HenryFormer pastor
Concelebrated the 2024 anniversary Mass with Bishop Kopacz and Father Suresh.
- Father Brian KaskieUntil 2021
Former pastor of St. Alphonsus / St. James who died in 2021; remembered at a graveside All Souls Day Mass in 2022.
- Father P.J. CurleyFormer
Once served in the Pike County region and concelebrated the 2024 anniversary Mass.
- Father Suresh Reddy Thirumalareddy2014–present
Came to Pike County in 2014 from a year in Meridian; assigned to St. Teresa, Chatawa and St. James Mission, Magnolia; now pastor of both St. Alphonsus McComb and St. James, Magnolia.