About St. Dominic · Mobile, Alabama
St. Dominic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 4156 Burma Road in west Mobile, Alabama, one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Mobile with nearly 1,500 households and 5,000 members. Established in 1958 by Archbishop Thomas Toolen, the parish grew around St. Dominic Catholic School (Preschool–8), which was launched in 1961 by five Sisters of Mercy from Newry, Ireland, and at one point was the largest Catholic grade school in the diocese. Today the parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, two deacons, and a full lay staff running faith formation, youth ministry, music, and a development office, with weekend Masses celebrated Saturday evening and three times on Sunday.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Dominic de Guzmán
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick Driscoll
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Dominic is a thriving, mid-sized family parish on Mobile's west side with daily and weekend Masses, weekly Confession, monthly all-day Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust faith-formation program for both children (CRE) and adults (OCIA, 'Rediscovering Your Catholic Faith'). The parish is paired with St. Dominic Catholic School (Preschool–8), giving parish families a full K-8 Catholic education on the same campus, and it offers a deep bench of ministries — youth CYO, music ministry, altar servers, lectors, ushers, Scouts, Legion of Mary, Respect Life, Bereavement, the Vocations Cup, and Vacation Bible School — so there is a meaningful way for nearly anyone to get involved.
Mass times at St. Dominic
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of each month: 7:00 a.m. to Benediction at 6:10 p.m.
- Every Wednesday: 5:30 p.m. with repose at 6:20 p.m.
History of the Parish
St. Dominic traces its roots to a 19th-century Jesuit-run chapel and cemetery above Holly Springs serving Catholics in west Mobile. After that chapel burned near the end of World War I, a replacement dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude was built on Cottage Hill Road (1919) — it too later burned. Continued growth in the area prompted Archbishop Thomas Toolen to create a new parish in 1958, named St. Dominic, with Reverend Joseph Adams as founding pastor. The parish broke ground at its current Burma Road campus on February 7, 1959 and celebrated its first Mass there on July 5, 1959. The present church was dedicated October 28, 1975.
- Predecessor chapel: 19th-century Jesuit chapel above Holly Springs (cemetery remains on Cadiz Street)
- Saints Simon and Jude chapel on Cottage Hill Road, dedicated by Bishop Edward Allen in 1919
- 1958: Archbishop Thomas Toolen creates St. Dominic Parish
- Feb. 7, 1959: Ground broken at current site
- July 5, 1959: First Mass at the present campus
- Oct. 28, 1975: Present church dedicated
St. Dominic Catholic School
Building a parish school was an early priority: by 1961 a section of the convent and six classrooms were ready, and on August 15, 1961 five Sisters of Mercy arrived in Mobile from Newry, Ireland. School opened September 5, 1961 with 262 pupils in six grades. By 1971 enrollment hit 622 — making St. Dominic the largest Catholic grade school in the diocese. The school continues today as a Preschool through Grade 8 program serving about 560 students, sharing the parish campus.
- Founded 1961 with Sisters of Mercy from Newry, Ireland
- 622 students at peak in 1971 (largest in the diocese at the time)
- Today: ~560 students, Preschool through 8th grade
- Principal: Mrs. Laurie Michener
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults. Children's Religious Education (CRE) classes begin in August for PreK–8, and high-school students meet every other week on Sunday afternoons. Adult formation includes a long-running 'Rediscovering Your Catholic Faith' group and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) for those seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church — a four-stage process spanning Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, and Mystagogia, culminating at the Easter Vigil. Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Brenda Christian.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA): Tuesday evenings in September
- Children's Religious Education (CRE): Sundays at 9:15 a.m., PreK–8
- High School Religious Education: every other week, 3:15–5:15 p.m.
- Adult Faith Formation / Rediscovering Your Catholic Faith: Sundays 9:15 a.m. in Meeting Rooms 1 & 2
- Baptism Preparation Classes (two evenings, required)
Youth Ministry (High School CYO)
St. Dominic runs a High School Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for teens, currently led by Director of Youth Ministry Dylan Alidor — himself an alumnus of St. Dominic School (class of 2008) and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (class of 2012). The program continues the parish's longstanding tradition of youth ministry that many alumni credit as central to their faith formation. Junior CYO and Angels on a Mission serve younger parishioners.
- High School CYO
- Junior CYO
- Angels on a Mission
- Vacation Bible School
- Scouts (Cub/Boy Scouts chartered through the parish)
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy is supported by a parish music ministry directed by organist Randy Bolden, along with a full team of lay liturgical volunteers. The parish encourages parishioners of all ages to serve as lectors, altar servers, gift bearers, ushers, choir members, and in altar care. Wheelchairs and Hearing Assistance Devices are available in the sacristy for those who need them.
- Music Ministry Director & Organist: Randy Bolden
- Liturgical roles: Lector, Altar Server, Gift Bearer, Usher, Choir, Altar Care
- Accessibility: wheelchair and hearing assistance devices available in the sacristy
Parish Outreach & Pastoral Ministries
St. Dominic runs a wide range of pastoral-outreach ministries that parishioners can join through the parish Stewardship form, including bereavement support, Legion of Mary, Respect Life, Virgin Pilgrim, the Vocations Cup, and seasonal appeals. The parish's response to Hurricane Katrina under Fr. Hyndman — nightly meals in the Murphy Center, supply drives, and direct delivery to coastal homeowners — remains a touchstone of the parish's outreach identity.
- Bereavement Ministry & Food for the Bereaved
- Legion of Mary
- Respect Life
- Virgin Pilgrim
- Vocations Cup
- Hurricane Relief / disaster response tradition (since 2005)
Sacraments
Information on each sacrament and its preparation is posted on the parish website. Couples must contact a priest or deacon at least six months before their wedding, in line with Archdiocese of Mobile policy. Families requesting Baptism attend a two-evening preparation class. The Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the parish office for any seriously ill or hospitalized parishioner.
- Baptism: two-evening preparation class required
- Confirmation: contact a priest
- Marriage: minimum six months' notice to a priest or deacon
- Anointing of the Sick: contact a priest or the parish office
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Patrick Driscoll, appointed in June 2018, and is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Domenic Thomas and Deacons Wiley Christian and Aldon Ward. A full lay staff runs religious education, youth ministry, music, development, and school operations. The pastor's office line and individual staff extensions are listed on the parish website.
- Pastor: Fr. Patrick Driscoll (since June 2018)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Domenic Thomas
- Deacons: Wiley Christian, Aldon Ward
- DRE: Mrs. Brenda Christian
- Development Director: Mrs. Michelle Wilson
- Music Director/Organist: Randy Bolden
- Youth Director: Dylan Alidor
- School Principal: Mrs. Laurie Michener
Visiting & Contact
St. Dominic is located at 4156 Burma Road in west Mobile. The main parish office number is (251) 661-5130; the school office is reached at (251) 661-5226. Weekend Masses are Saturday Vigil at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:00, 10:30, and 5:30 p.m., with daily morning Masses Monday through Saturday and a Wednesday evening Mass. Visitors needing a wheelchair or hearing assistance device should ask in the sacristy.
- Address: 4156 Burma Road, Mobile, AL 36693
- Parish Office: (251) 661-5130
- School Office: (251) 661-5226
- Website: https://www.stdominicmobile.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph (Monsignor) Adams1958–June 1977
Founding pastor appointed by Archbishop Thomas Toolen; first Mass Oct 5, 1958; oversaw the school from 1961 and groundbreaking/dedication of the present church (1974/1975); Adams Center named for him.
- Monsignor John O'HaraJune 1977–November 1983
Built and occupied the present parish office and rectory beginning March 1981.
- Monsignor Francis MurphyNovember 30, 1983–June 1996 (retired)
Built and dedicated the parish center (now Murphy Center) on April 1, 1990; oversaw many facility upgrades; led parish to debt-free status. Returned as temporary administrator in 2006 during which he celebrated his 60th ordination anniversary.
- Rev. William SkonekiJune 1996–June 2005
Purchased new convent (1998); opened parish/school gymnasium (Skoneki Center, 1998); refurbished church interior (1999); renovated Adams Center for school specialty classrooms and opened adjacent preschool (1999).
- Rev. Ernest HyndmanJune 2005–March 2006 (medical leave)
Parish native (his home parish); led the parish's Hurricane Katrina relief response.
- Rev. James CinkJune 2006–June 2018
Departed to establish a new parish in the diocese.
- Rev. Patrick DriscollJune 2018–present
Current pastor.