About St. Francis of Assisi · Livingston, Alabama
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Livingston, Alabama is a small mission church serving the Catholic faithful of Sumter County in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt. It operates as a mission of St. Leo the Great Parish in nearby Demopolis, within the Diocese of Birmingham, and its ministry has a special focus on the students of the University of West Alabama. The mission shares its address with a modest worship site at 101 Meadow Brook Drive, just south of AL-28, where the community gathers for Sunday Mass and seasonal faith-formation programs.
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. George Maniangattu (Parish Administrator of parent parish St. Leo the Great, Demopolis)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a warm, close-knit Catholic community serving Livingston and the surrounding Black Belt of west Alabama, with a special mission to the students of the University of West Alabama through its campus ministry. As a mission of St. Leo the Great in Demopolis, it draws on the strength of a multi-site rural parish that offers Sunday Mass, sacramental preparation through CCD and OCIA, a youth group, and the annual Totus Tuus summer program. Parishioners find an unusually generous spirit here — a place where families, college students, and lifelong residents worship and serve side by side.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Approximately 30 minutes before Mass (per parish-published schedule)
Adoration times
- Friday at 7:00 a.m. (at St. Leo the Great, Demopolis — the parent parish serving the mission)
St. Francis of Assisi — A Mission of St. Leo the Great
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Livingston, Alabama functions as a mission church of St. Leo the Great Parish, whose main church is located at 309 S. Main Avenue in Demopolis. Both communities are part of the Diocese of Birmingham and share staff, a phone line, a website (www.stleo.info), and a combined religious-education program. St. Francis serves the Catholics of Sumter County and, in particular, the students of the University of West Alabama in Livingston, where the mission maintains an active Campus Ministry. The mission church is located at 101 Meadow Brook Drive, just south of AL-28 (Hwy 28 East / North Street).
- Parent parish: St. Leo the Great, 309 S. Main Ave., Demopolis, AL 36732
- Diocese: Birmingham (Roman-Latin Rite)
- Mailing/contact line: (334) 289-2767
Parish Staff
The mission shares its pastoral staff with St. Leo the Great in Demopolis. The Parish Administrator oversees both communities; a Director of Religious Education and Campus Ministry coordinates faith formation across the cluster; a Director of Music and Organist leads liturgical music; and a Parish Secretary handles office communications.
- Fr. George Maniangattu — Parish Administrator ([email protected])
- Jesse Rios — Director of Religious Education and Campus Ministry ([email protected])
- Manley Blackwell — Director of Music and Organist
- Olivia Ochiltree — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
Campus Ministry at the University of West Alabama
Because Livingston is home to the University of West Alabama, St. Francis of Assisi maintains a Campus Ministry dedicated to giving students a Catholic community in which to share their faith, grow socially, and deepen spiritually. The Campus Ministry is coordinated through the parish's Director of Religious Education and is listed by UWA among the university's recognized religious organizations, with a faculty/staff advisor available to students.
- St. Francis of Assisi Campus Ministry is recognized by the University of West Alabama
- Purpose: build a Catholic community for UWA students around shared faith, social life, and spiritual growth
- Coordinator: Jesse Rios, Director of Religious Education and Campus Ministry
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education is offered for children, youth, and adults across the St. Leo / St. Francis cluster. CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes for grades K–12 meet on Sunday mornings in the St. Leo Parish Hall, and a parish Youth Group gathers monthly. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) prepares adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation, with sessions held Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
- CCD (K–12) — Sundays at 9:00 a.m., St. Leo Parish Hall; classes resume September 7, 2025
- OCIA — Sundays at 11:30 a.m. (some schedule accommodations possible for work conflicts); contact Nikki Rios
- Youth Group — 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.; first meeting September 10, 2025
- First Communion Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- Vacation Bible School
- Adult Education / Faith Formation
- Bible Studies
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve in the liturgy in a variety of roles. From welcoming at the door to proclaiming the Word, distributing Holy Communion, or singing in the choir, the parish depends on the gifts of its members to make each Mass reverent and joyful.
- Choir
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Gift Bearers
- Ushers / Greeters
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Rosary Group
- Prayer Groups
Parish Life, Social Activities, and Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, the parish cultivates community through regular social events and service to those in need. Activities include a weekly coffee hour, a Lenten Fish Fry, an Annual Parish Picnic, and a monthly Family Night Out dinner and movie in the Parish Hall. A Volunteer Coordinator and Community Outreach committee organize help for the poor, elderly, sick, and homebound, while a Building and Grounds Committee keeps the parish facilities welcoming.
- Weekday Coffee Hour
- Lenten Fish Fry
- Annual Parish Picnic
- Family Night Out (FNO) — monthly dinner and movie in the Parish Hall
- Community Outreach to the poor, elderly, sick, and homebound
- Building and Grounds Committee (gardening, maintenance, facility upkeep)
- Totus Tuus — annual Catholic summer youth program
Volunteering and Getting Involved
As a small parish with multiple mission sites, St. Leo the Great and St. Francis of Assisi rely heavily on volunteers. The parish welcomes new members who wish to share time or talent, from gardening and building maintenance to liturgical and catechetical service. Those interested in helping can contact the parish office at (334) 289-2767 or by email.
- Volunteer Coordinator role on the parish staff
- Opportunities in gardening, building maintenance, social activities, and liturgical support
- Parish office hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Visiting St. Francis of Assisi
Travelers heading to the mission from Demopolis follow U.S. 80 east and turn north onto AL-28 (Hwy 28 East / North Street); the church sits just a few yards south of the highway on Meadow Brook Drive. Visitors should consult the parent parish at St. Leo the Great for weekday Masses, the Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, and parish office business, as the mission shares its staff and contact line with the Demopolis parish.
- Address: 101 Meadow Brook Drive, Livingston, AL 35470
- Phone: (334) 289-2767
- Website: www.stleo.info
- Office email: [email protected]
- Sunday Mass at the mission: 12:15 p.m.