About St. Francis of Assisi · Bessemer, Alabama
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Bessemer, Alabama, part of the Diocese of Birmingham, serving the southwestern Birmingham metropolitan area. Founded in 1940 in response to a papal request for ministry to Black Americans, it was staffed for decades by Conventual Franciscan Friars and Franciscan Sisters, and is now served by the Missionary Society of St. Paul. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM and is currently pastored by Father Paul Asih, M.S.P., who has led the community since 2007.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Asih, M.S.P.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a historic, faith-filled Catholic community in the heart of Bessemer with deep Franciscan roots and more than 80 years of ministry to the local area. Parishioners worship at a Sunday morning Mass with confession beforehand, and belong to a tight-knit family of ministries including the Secular Franciscans, the Altar Rosary Sodality, Vir Nobilis, and St. Francis Youth. The parish campus also partners with the wider community — most recently by hosting Empower Community School — continuing its long tradition of service to Bessemer and southwest Birmingham.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Parish Identity & Overview
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in Bessemer, Alabama, in the Diocese of Birmingham, named for the 13th-century Italian friar who founded the Franciscan Order. The parish's stated mission is to nurture a diverse and welcoming community, following fearlessly wherever God leads and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Bessemer and the world. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM, and the parish is pastored by Rev. Paul Asih, M.S.P.
History
The parish was founded in the summer of 1940 when Bishop Thomas J. Toolen of Mobile responded to Pope Pius XII's call for ministry to Black Americans by inviting Conventual Franciscan Friars to Bessemer. Fathers Francis L. Pikor and Oderic Palys began the work, first at a funeral chapel and then at a storefront on 19th Street. Construction on the present 7th Avenue North campus began in 1946 and the church was dedicated on January 29, 1950. The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in 1949 to open the parish school.
Franciscan & Diocesan Eras
For more than six decades, the parish was led by Conventual Franciscan Friars and staffed in its school by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. After a renovation in the early 2000s, Bishop David E. Foley rededicated the church, and on October 5, 2003, the parish celebrated its 63rd anniversary and bade farewell to the friars. From that point, it transitioned to diocesan administration with lay leadership and a non-resident sacramental priest.
Missionary Society of St. Paul Era
On May 2, 2005, St. Francis of Assisi was entrusted to the Missionary Society of St. Paul. Father Akama Ukanide Anietie, M.S.P., was appointed the first resident pastor from the society, and in 2007 he was succeeded by the current pastor, Father Paul Asih, M.S.P. Under Father Asih's leadership the parish has marked its 70th (2010) and 83rd (2023) anniversaries and hosted community events such as blessings of animals and a first family-and-friends picnic fundraiser.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by the Missionary Society of St. Paul, with Father Paul Asih, M.S.P., as pastor. Parish announcements and anniversary celebrations in 2023 were organized by parishioners including Malonese Dotson-Morris, Johnnie Mae Smith, Gwen Swain, Yolanda Sullivan, and Angela Wilson.
- Rev. Paul Asih, M.S.P. — Pastor
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Representatives of the parish's various ministries traditionally take part in the annual anniversary Mass procession. The parish is home to several lay and religious groups that keep the parish's Franciscan identity alive and serve the wider community.
- Secular Franciscans
- Altar Rosary Sodality
- Vir Nobilis
- St. Francis Youth
School & Community Outreach
From its earliest years, St. Francis of Assisi has operated a parish school, originally staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. The school has been reimagined over the decades to meet local needs: a school addition was dedicated in 1972, and in 2002 the campus was leased to the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity and renovated as a certified Head Start Center. Most recently, the campus has hosted Empower Community School, a charter school opened in collaboration with the Diocese of Birmingham, Empower, New Schools for Alabama, the State of Alabama, Jefferson County, and the City of Bessemer — a sign that the parish's tradition of service to the wider community continues.
- Parish school founded 1949 (Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph)
- School addition dedicated April 9, 1972
- 20-year lease with Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, 2002 (Head Start Center)
- Empower Community School charter school on parish campus
Parish Life & Devotions
The parish marks its patronal feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year with a special Mass. In 2023, the 83rd anniversary weekend included a Blessing of Animals on Friday and the parish's first-ever family and friends picnic fundraiser on Saturday, culminating in the Sunday Mass with a processional of the parish's ministries. Father Asih used the occasion to remind parishioners: "What you plant in God's house, He is planting in your house at the same time. God is protecting you every day."
- Annual patronal feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)
- Blessing of Animals
- Family and friends picnic fundraiser
Visit & Contact
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is located at 2400 7th Avenue North, Bessemer, Alabama 35020, in the southwestern Birmingham metropolitan area. The parish can be reached by phone at (205) 425-0984, and its official website is stfrancisbessemeral.com.
- Address: 2400 7th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020
- Phone: (205) 425-0984
- Website: http://www.stfrancisbessemeral.com
- Diocese: Diocese of Birmingham
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis L. Pikor, O.F.M. Conv.1940–1964
One of two Conventual Franciscan Friars (with Fr. Oderic Palys) sent by Bishop Toolen to establish the parish in Bessemer.
- Fr. Rayner Ziemski, O.F.M. Conv.1964–1966
Succeeded Fr. Pikor as pastor.
- Fr. Flavian Goral, O.F.M. Conv.1966–
Oversaw growth of parish and school; school addition dedicated April 9, 1972.
- Fr. Paschal Rys, O.F.M. Conv.
One of the next six Conventual Franciscan pastors (post-Goral).
- Fr. Herbert Obijiski, O.F.M. Conv.
Served as pastor in the Conventual Franciscan era.
- Fr. Eugene Kole, O.F.M. Conv.
Served as pastor in the Conventual Franciscan era.
- Fr. Callistus Juras, O.F.M. Conv.
Served as pastor in the Conventual Franciscan era.
- Fr. Larry Kubera, O.F.M. Conv.
Served as pastor in the Conventual Franciscan era.
- Fr. Noel Danielewicz, O.F.M. Conv.
Served as pastor in the Conventual Franciscan era.
- Fr. Ray Keiser2003–
Non-resident sacramental priest on the new diocesan pastoral team blessed by Bishop Foley on Oct. 5, 2003.
- Fr. Akama Ukanide Anietie, M.S.P.2005–2007
First pastor from the Missionary Society of St. Paul, appointed May 2, 2005.
- Rev. Paul Asih, M.S.P.2007–present
Current pastor; celebrated 70th (2010) and 83rd (2023) anniversaries.