About St. Francis of Assisi · Madison, Mississippi
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in Madison, Mississippi, founded in 1983 and growing from about 197 founding families to more than 1,300 households today. It belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and worships in a contemporary 700-seat church and Family Life Center dedicated in May 2000. The parish sponsors St. Anthony Catholic School (PK4–6), a full faith-formation program for children, youth and adults, an OCIA (RCIA) process, Eucharistic adoration, and a broad sacramental-preparation ministry.
- Established
- 1983
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Albeen Reddy Vatti
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life — daily and weekend Mass in English, Saturday confessions, Thursday Eucharistic adoration, a complete faith-formation track from PreK4 through 12th grade (including Life Teen and Edge), and a robust OCIA/RCIA process for adults. Members serve through a wide sacramental-preparation volunteer corps (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, RCIA), and the parish sponsors St. Anthony Catholic School as a ministry of the parish. It's a place where spiritual formation, charitable giving, evangelization and community service have grown in step with the parish itself.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM and upon request
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Daily Chapel) and upon request
Parish History & Heritage
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was founded in 1983 by Bishop Brunini of the Diocese of Jackson when the Catholic families of south Madison County outgrew St. Richard in Jackson and St. Joseph in Gluckstadt. The first permanent church was dedicated November 8, 1987; the current 700-seat church and Family Life Center followed on May 14, 2000, with the original building renamed St. Clare Hall. The parish's deeper story reaches back to the 1850s, when farmers from Georgia, German immigrants via Chicago, and railroad workers built enduring Catholic communities at Sulphur Springs/Camden and Gluckstadt — communities that survived church burnings, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights era to seed this parish.
- Founded 1983 by Bishop Brunini (Diocese of Jackson)
- 197 founding families, today more than 1,380 families
- First permanent church dedicated November 8, 1987
- Current 700-seat church and Family Life Center dedicated May 14, 2000
- Original church repurposed as St. Clare Hall
Our Pastor
St. Francis of Assisi is pastored by Rev. Albeen Reddy Vatti, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warangal, India, who has served the Diocese of Jackson on loan since October 2012. Ordained on March 6, 2000, Fr. Albeen also holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a post-graduate degree in Public Administration. He previously served as a parochial vicar at St. Richard's in Jackson, as pastor in New Albany, Mississippi, and — since February 1, 2016 — as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Ordained March 6, 2000 for the Diocese of Warangal
- Came on-loan to the Diocese of Jackson in October 2012
- Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi since February 1, 2016
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM in the Sanctuary, with Sunday Masses on Saturday evening at 5:00 PM and Sundays at 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM, all in English. Confessions are heard Saturday at 4:00 PM and upon request, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Thursdays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Daily Chapel.
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 7:00 AM
- Weekend Mass: Sat 5:00 PM; Sun 8:00, 10:30, 5:00
- Confession: Sat 4:00 PM and on request
- Adoration: Thu 5:00–7:00 PM (Daily Chapel)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full faith-formation track for every age. Children from PreK4 through 6th grade attend Sunday School on Sunday mornings during the school year, with volunteer catechists teaching Catholic doctrine, scripture and tradition and leading creative prayer experiences. Children's Church is offered during Mass for ages 3 through Kindergarten, and seasonal events such as the Advent Fair and Vacation Bible School round out the children's year.
- PreK4–6th grade Sunday School
- Children's Church during Mass (ages 3–Kindergarten)
- Advent Fair, Vacation Bible School and seasonal events
- Sacrament preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Volunteer catechists welcomed and trained
Youth Ministry: Life Teen & Edge
Middle and high school youth are served through Edge (7th–8th grade) and Life Teen (9th–12th grade), which meet on Sunday evenings. Programs include Life Teen Sunday Suppers, a Core Team leadership model for adult and young-adult volunteers, and Confirmation preparation for teens across the Jackson-area Catholic community.
- Edge: 7th–8th graders, Sunday evenings
- Life Teen: 9th–12th graders, Sunday evenings
- Life Teen Core Team and Sunday Suppers
- Confirmation preparation for youth
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, as well as already-baptized Christians seeking Communion and Confirmation, are served by the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) program. Participants meet weekly to discuss, discover and grow closer to Christ. The parish also recruits Team Members, Sponsors and Godparents to walk alongside catechumens and candidates throughout the journey.
- Weekly sessions for inquirers, catechumens and candidates
- Director of OCIA: Julie Clayton
- Volunteer Team Members, Sponsors and Godparents
Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs a coordinated Sacramental Preparation ministry with four streams — Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and RCIA — each supported by trained volunteer teams. Parents preparing for child Baptism meet every other month in one-hour classes led by adults who have previously had children baptized at St. Francis.
- Baptism Preparation volunteers (classes every other month)
- Confirmation Preparation volunteers (8–10 meetings/year)
- Marriage Preparation with volunteer married couples
- RCIA Team Members, Sponsors and Godparents
St. Anthony Catholic School
St. Anthony Catholic School is a parochial elementary school and a ministry of St. Francis of Assisi Church, serving families with children in PreK4 through sixth grade at 1585 Old Mannsdale Road in Madison. Its mission is to teach Christ's love and salvation by focusing on each child's individual strengths, needs and gifts, integrating body, mind and spirit. The current principal is Anne Cowger; Fr. Albeen Vatti serves as pastor.
- Parochial school, PreK4 through 6th grade
- 1585 Old Mannsdale Road, Madison, MS 39110
- Principal: Anne Cowger
- Pastor: Rev. Albeen Vatti
- Website: stanthonyeagles.org
Buildings & Campus
The campus includes the 700-seat contemporary church and Family Life Center (dedicated 2000), St. Clare Hall (the converted 1987 church), and Sister Clare Hogan Hall, a newer building that replaced the old St. Anthony Hall as a permanent part of the parish campus. The Daily Chapel on site hosts Thursday Eucharistic Adoration.
- 700-seat Church and Family Life Center (2000)
- St. Clare Hall (converted 1987 church)
- Sister Clare Hogan Hall (newer campus building)
- Daily Chapel (Thursday Adoration)
Contact & Visit
The parish office is located at 4000 West Tidewater Lane, Madison, MS 39110. Inquiries can be made by phone at (601) 856-5556 or by email at [email protected]. The office is staffed by Office Manager Sallie Ann Inman, and pastoral contact with Fr. Albeen Vatti is available at [email protected].
- Address: 4000 W Tidewater Ln, Madison, MS 39110
- Phone: 601-856-5556
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Manager: Sallie Ann Inman