About St. Brigid · Memphis, Tennessee
St. Brigid Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish located at 7801 Lowrance Road in southeast Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee, within the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Canonically erected on July 1, 1992 by Bishop Daniel Buechilin to serve the rapidly growing southwest Shelby County area, it is a successor in name to an earlier 19th-century parish of the same name that once stood in Memphis's 'Pinch District.' Today St. Brigid is a thriving multicultural community of roughly 515+ families, offering a full schedule of daily, weekend, and Spanish-language Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a robust Religious Education program including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and RCIA, and active outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and a parish food pantry.
- Established
- 1992 (new parish); original parish founded 1870
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Kildare (Brigid of Ireland)
- Rector
- Rev. Cain Galicia Ramirez (Parochial Administrator, transitioning to Pastor effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Memphis (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Brigid is one of the most intentionally bilingual parishes in the Diocese of Memphis, with every Mass of the weekend and an entire daily Spanish Mass schedule celebrated alongside English liturgies, giving it a vibrant multicultural character rare in West Tennessee. A family-friendly rhythm of ministries — including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–12, the 'Chosen' Confirmation prep program for 7th–8th graders, RCIA, Boy Scouts, Knights of Columbus, a robust Music Ministry under Director Tyler Griffis, and a very active St. Vincent de Paul Society with food pantry and utility/rent assistance — provides concrete ways to plug in regardless of age, language, or stage of life. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Thursdays in Spanish, plus an overnight Spanish adoration on the third Friday of the month) and frequent reconciliation (Saturdays 3:00 pm, Thursdays 8:00 pm, and by appointment) make it unusually strong on the devotional side as well.
Mass times at St. Brigid
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays beginning at 3:00 PM (before 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Thursdays 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (English and Spanish, after 7:00 PM Spanish Mass)
- By appointment with a priest — call the parish office 901-758-0128
Adoration times
- Thursdays 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Spanish)
- 3rd Friday of each month 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM Midnight (Spanish)
History of St. Brigid
St. Brigid's history has two chapters. The original St. Brigid Parish was founded in 1870 in the 'Pinch District' of North Memphis at Overton and Third Streets, where its pastors — Fathers Martin and William Walsh — became local heroes during the 1870s Yellow Fever Epidemics. The parish operated a grade school for most of its history and was remodeled under Father James P. Whitfield in 1917. Closed in 1937–1938 when Monsignor Whitfield founded St. Therese the Little Flower, the old building served as a warehouse before it was razed and the site left vacant. The new St. Brigid was canonically erected on July 1, 1992 by Bishop Daniel Buechilin to serve southwest Shelby County from territory carved out of Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Germantown). Father Michael Stewart was founding pastor. Twelve acres were purchased on Lowrance Road, and St. Mark United Methodist Church generously served as the temporary worship site beginning November 22, 1992 (the Solemnity of Christ the King). A multipurpose building seating ~170 was dedicated by Bishop J. Terry Steib on November 20, 1993; the larger sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Steib on September 8, 2003, after rapid growth from 44 founding families to more than 515 by 2018.
- 1870 — original St. Brigid opens in the Pinch District (Overton & Third)
- 1870s — Yellow Fever Epidemic; Fathers Martin and William Walsh serve the sick
- 1917 — Father James P. Whitfield remodels the original church
- 1937–1938 — Original St. Brigid closes; records transferred to St. Mary (Third & Market)
- 1992 (July 1) — New St. Brigid canonically erected; Fr. Michael Stewart named first pastor
- 1992 (Nov 22) — First Mass at temporary site, St. Mark United Methodist
- 1993 (March 21) — Groundbreaking for multipurpose building
- 1993 (May 15) — Father Stewart moves into new rectory
- 1993 (Oct 23) — First Mass on the Lowrance Road property
- 1993 (Nov 20) — Multipurpose building dedicated by Bishop J. Terry Steib
- 2002 (August) — Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary
- 2003 (Aug 30) — First Mass in the new sanctuary
- 2003 (Sept 8) — Current sanctuary dedicated by Bishop J. Terry Steib
- 2018 — Parish reported 515 families
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Brigid's worship schedule is fully bilingual. Saturday Vigil Masses are offered at 4:00 PM in English and 6:00 PM in Spanish. Sundays include Masses at 7:30 AM (Spanish), 9:30 AM (English, livestreamed to St. Brigid's Facebook page), 11:30 AM (Spanish, livestreamed to Padre Cain's Facebook page), and 1:30 PM (Spanish). Weekdays include a 12:00 PM English Mass on Monday, an 8:15 AM English Mass Wednesday through Friday (with a Communion Service on Tuesdays), and a 7:00 PM Spanish Mass Monday through Friday (with a Spanish Communion Service on Wednesdays).
- Reconciliation: Saturdays from 3:00 PM; Thursdays 8:00–9:00 PM (English and Spanish); by appointment 901-758-0128
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays 7:30–8:30 PM (Spanish); 3rd Friday of the month 8:00 PM – Midnight (Spanish)
- Holy Day schedule: Contact the parish office
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
St. Brigid is currently led by Rev. Cain Galicia Ramirez as Parochial Administrator, having been formally named Pastor by Bishop David P. Talley effective July 1, 2026. He is assisted by Rev. Scott Bahrke as Parochial Vicar (departing July 1, 2026 to become Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Camden / Holy Family Mission) and Deacon Henry (Hank) Babin. Rev. Cosmas Ebebe has been named the incoming Parochial Vicar effective July 1, 2026. Very Rev. Joey Kaump, V.F., who served as pastor through December 1, 2024, remains Dean of the Central Deanery and is now Pastor of Incarnation in Collierville.
- Rev. Cain Galicia Ramirez — Parochial Administrator → Pastor (July 2026)
- Rev. Scott Bahrke — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Henry (Hank) Babin
- Imelda Gutierrez — Pastor's Administrative Assistant
- Hugo Castro — Parish Secretary & Director of Communications
- Vianey Magaña — Director of Religious Education (and RCIA, 901-519-6464)
- Tyler Griffis — Music Director (livestreamed Masses)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Brigid's faith formation ministry is anchored by the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for children ages 3–12 — a Montessori-style 'Atrium' experience that emphasizes contemplation and enjoyment of God — alongside a multi-year Children's Religious Education program. Middle-schoolers preparing for Confirmation use the Ascension Press 'Chosen' curriculum across Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2. Adults seeking to enter or complete their initiation in the Catholic Church are welcomed through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), coordinated by DRE Vianey Magaña.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–12, Atrium)
- Children's Religious Education (general)
- Confirmation Year 1 & Year 2 — 'Chosen' (7th–8th grade)
- RCIA — Vianey Magaña, 901-519-6464, [email protected]
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a defining mark of St. Brigid. The parish conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs a monthly food pantry and provides emergency assistance with Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) bills and with mortgage or rent payments, in addition to referrals to Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. The separate St. Brigid Food Pantry assembles and distributes bags and boxes of groceries and is always looking for volunteers. The Ministry to the Sick extends the parish's care through hospital, homebound, and post-operative visits by lay volunteers and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society: food pantry, utility/rent assistance, emergency aid — call 901-758-0128 ext. 4
- Catholic Charities of West Tennessee referral partner
- St. Brigid Food Pantry — assembly and distribution volunteers (contact Hugo in the parish office)
- Ministry to the Sick — volunteers visit hospitals, the homebound, and the recently hospitalized (contact Cathleen Milford)
Parish Life & Community
Beyond its sacramental and outreach ministries, St. Brigid cultivates a rich lay community through the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts (den meetings on Thursdays in Stewart Hall), a Music Ministry directed by Tyler Griffis that produces the parish's livestreamed Sunday Masses, and a hands-on Minor Repairs & Maintenance volunteer team. 'Ministerio Hispano' (Hispanic Ministry) coordinates the Spanish-language Masses, devotions, food pantry, and formation, reflecting St. Brigid's identity as one of the most bilingual parishes in the Diocese of Memphis.
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic men's fraternity (church, family, community)
- Boy Scouts — den meetings in Stewart Hall on Thursdays
- Music Ministry — Tyler Griffis; Sunday 9:30 AM English and 11:30 AM Spanish Masses livestreamed
- Minor Repairs & Maintenance — fix-it volunteers (contact Jon Helen)
- Ministerio Hispano — Spanish-language Masses, devotions, formation, and outreach
Diocese of Memphis
St. Brigid is one of approximately 46 parishes and missions in the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, which was established in 1971 and serves more than 70,000 Catholics across 21 counties of West Tennessee. St. Brigid belongs to the Central Deanery, one of the diocese's four deaneries, currently led by Very Rev. Keith Stewart, V.G. The diocesan bishop is the Most Reverend David P. Talley, M.S.W., J.C.D. The diocese's administration is housed at The Catholic Center, 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis, TN 38134 (901-373-1200).
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Memphis (established 1971)
- Deanery: Central Deanery
- Bishop: Most Reverend David P. Talley, M.S.W., J.C.D.
- The Catholic Center: 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis TN 38134 — (901) 373-1200
- Diocese website: https://cdom.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Stewart1992–(foundational pastor)
Founding pastor of the new parish; oversaw land purchase, construction of rectory (occupied May 15, 1993), the multipurpose building, and dedication Nov. 20, 1993.
- Very Rev. Joey Kaump, V.F.through Dec 1, 2024 (Pastor); remains Dean of Central Deanery
Served as Pastor of St. Brigid and Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Central Deanery. Appointed Pastor of Incarnation (Collierville) effective December 1, 2024.
- Rev. Cain GaliciaDec 1, 2024 – present (as Parochial Administrator, to be Pastor July 1, 2026)
Served as Parochial Vicar under Fr. Kaump; became Parochial Administrator when Fr. Kaump moved to Incarnation; appointed Pastor by Bishop Talley effective July 1, 2026.
- Rev. Scott Bahrkethrough June 30, 2026
Parochial Vicar at St. Brigid; appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Camden / Holy Family Mission effective July 1, 2026.
- Rev. Cosmas Ebebeeffective July 1, 2026
Currently Parochial Vicar at St. Paul; appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Brigid effective July 1, 2026, where Fr. Cain Galicia is Pastor.