About St. Alphonsus Liguori · Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
St. Alphonsus Liguori is a Roman Catholic parish in Greenwell Springs, an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, between the Comite and Amite Rivers. Established as a standalone parish on September 29, 1962, it had earlier served as a mission church for decades under successive Redemptorist-staffed parishes and traces its roots back to a chapel first dedicated in 1898. Today it is the largest Catholic church in the central Baton Rouge area, with over 3,000 registered parishioners, an active school (pre-K through 8), faith-formation programs, a perpetual Adoration Chapel, and a broad ministry roster including the Knights of Columbus, a youth ministry, scouting troops, choirs and parish outreach. Mass is celebrated in English, with a school-affiliated Wednesday Mass during the academic year.
- Established
- 1898 (mission chapel first dedicated); 1962 (established as a parish in the Diocese of Baton Rouge)
- Patron
- St. Alphonsus Liguori (founder of the Redemptorists)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. (Rev.) Jason P. Palermo (per diocese listing); Fr. Michael J. Moroney listed as pastor in parish bulletins
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Alphonsus is the largest parish in the central Baton Rouge area, with deep roots stretching back to 1898 and a continued record of steady growth. A family-founded school (pre-K through 8), an Adoration Chapel, faith-formation tracks for every age, an active youth ministry, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Altar Society, Women of Faith, Men's Scripture, Grief Support and a mission-driven outreach program give parishioners of every season of life concrete ways to pray, serve and belong.
Mass times at St. Alphonsus Liguori
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (also by appointment, per 2024 parish bulletin)
Adoration times
- Family Adoration & Benediction — Saturday 8:30 AM (Church, first Saturday of the month; per 2024 bulletin)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel available as part of the 2003 facility
History
St. Alphonsus Liguori grew out of a mission chapel first dedicated as St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, 1898, in the area between the Comite and Amite Rivers. It served successively as a mission of St. Joseph, St. George, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Gerard Majella before Redemptorist priests took over staffing in the 1940s. On September 29, 1962 it became one of the first parishes of the newly created Diocese of Baton Rouge under Bishop Robert E. Tracy, and was re-named for the founder of the Redemptorists, St. Alphonsus Liguori. A larger church was dedicated on May 20, 1978, and on October 4, 1998 the parish celebrated its centennial by ringing the original 1898 church bell that still calls the faithful to worship.
- 1898 — Mission chapel dedicated as St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)
- 1940s — Redemptorist priests arrive and remain for over 40 years
- September 29, 1962 — Established as a parish of the new Diocese of Baton Rouge under Bishop Robert E. Tracy; renamed St. Alphonsus Liguori
- 1963 — Parish school opens, staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame until 1971
- May 20, 1978 — New church dedicated
- October 4, 1998 — Centennial celebrated with the original 1898 church bell
- 2003 — New facility under one roof with parish offices, meeting rooms, bridal room, Adoration Chapel and large gathering space
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored within the Diocese of Baton Rouge and is assisted by two permanent deacons and a full parish staff. Day-to-day parish operations are led by a Pastoral Associate, Business Manager, and office team, while faith formation has its own director, assistant director and secretary.
- Rev. Jason P. Palermo — Pastor (per diobr.org)
- Rev. Michael J. Moroney — Pastor (listed in parish bulletins)
- Deacon Robert J. Kusch
- Deacon Ronald J. Hebert
- Lisa Lively — Pastoral Associate
- Melissa LeSage — Business Manager
- Krystal Armand — Administrative Assistant
- Margaret Garza — Receptionist (Baptism & Funeral coordinator)
- Sara Puissegur — Communication Specialist (Marriage coordinator)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Weekend Masses include a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, with the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Weekday Masses are offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:30 AM, with a Communion Service on Wednesdays (a school Mass at 8:00 AM is celebrated during the academic year). Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM
- Sunday — 8:00, 10:00 (livestreamed) & 12:00 PM
- Weekday Masses — Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri at 8:30 AM
- Wednesday — 8:30 AM Communion Service; school Mass at 8 AM during school year
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00 PM and by appointment
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation serves children, youth and adults, including sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation/Communion and Confirmation. The parish operates a Family Catechesis model for K–11 grades, with a Sunday Morning track for K–5, a Sunday Evening track for grades 6–11, and a Wednesday-evening Family Program.
- Children and Youth Ministries (K–5 Sunday Morning, grades 6–11 Sunday Evening)
- Family Program — Wednesday evenings, twice/month
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Confirmation (Year 2 candidates; mandatory retreat)
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Ministry
- Family Ministry & Volunteering
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Parish School
St. Alphonsus Catholic School, opened in 1963 within a year of the parish's founding, is a co-educational elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through grade eight. The school is accredited by the State of Louisiana, by Cognia (formerly AdvancED/SACS CASI), and is a member of NCEA. Its mission is to form students spiritually, academically, physically and culturally in an environment of academic excellence.
- Grades served: pre-K through 8
- Accredited by the State of Louisiana and Cognia (SACS/CASI); member of NCEA
- Address: 13940 Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs, LA 70739
- Main Office: 225-261-5299; Cafeteria: 225-261-4157
- Website: https://www.stalphonsusbr.org
- Motto: Forming Faith and Future
- Core Values — Service, Excellence, Faith, Compassion, Responsibility, Respect
Youth Ministry
The parish youth ministry provides ongoing formation and fellowship for middle- and high-school parishioners, led by Youth Minister Blaine Baker. Programming takes place through the Sunday Evening track, the Wednesday-evening Family Program and Lighthouse events such as Finals Night.
- Sunday Evening program grades 6–11 (twice/month, 6–7:30 PM)
- Wednesday Family Program evenings
- Lighthouse (Middle & High School Youth) events
- Vacation Bible School
- Scouting (Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts Parents)
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Alphonsus supports the liturgy through parish choirs that rehearse mid-week. A Principal Organist works alongside the Choir Director to coordinate music for weekend Masses, holy days, parish missions and other liturgical events.
- Chancel Choir (Wednesday evenings)
- Bell Choir (Wednesday afternoon)
- Principal Organist / Choir Director team coordinating music for Masses and devotions
Parish Organizations & Outreach
Adult parish life is supported by a range of spiritual, social and service organizations. The Knights of Columbus and Ladies Altar Society anchor the social and liturgical fabric of the parish, while groups like Women of Faith, Men's Scripture, King's Men, and Grief Support provide formation and pastoral care. A Community Outreach Assistant helps parishioners live the corporal works of mercy.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Altar Society
- Women of Faith
- Men's Scripture
- King's Men
- Grief Support
- Community Outreach (Donna Lambert)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and administers all seven sacraments. Initial contact is made through the parish office; sacramental preparation follows diocesan guidelines and includes formation milestones before each celebration.
- Baptism — contact Margaret Garza in early pregnancy for dates and prep
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3 PM and by appointment
- First Eucharist & First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — Year 2 Faith Formation with retreat
- Marriage — contact Sara Puissegur 6–12 months ahead
- Anointing of the Sick — for serious illness, before major surgery, or for spiritual/mental healing
- Funerals — contact Margaret Garza
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — call 225-261-4644
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners are encouraged to share their faith through catechist and mentor volunteer roles, choir and liturgical ministries, parish organizations, and community outreach. The parish communicates by weekly bulletin (emailed), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and livestreamed Sunday Masses.
- Catechists, aides and mentors — Faith Formation Office 225-261-4644
- FORMED — free online Catholic gateway at formed.org (search 'St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish')
- Bulletin by email — through the parish website
- Facebook: St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church; Twitter & Instagram: @StAlphonsus_BR
- Sunday 10:00 AM Mass livestreamed on Facebook & YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Redemptorist priests1940s – 1980s
Staffed the parish for over forty years after taking on the mission church.