About St. Francis Xavier · Brunswick, Georgia
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Brunswick, Georgia, serving about 600 families on Georgia's southeastern coast. Founded in 1868 and a member of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, the parish traces the Catholic presence in coastal Georgia back four centuries, before James Oglethorpe established himself at Frederica. Today the parish runs a preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school (founded 1900 by the Sisters of St. Joseph), offers weekend Masses in English and Spanish, and maintains an active Hispanic Ministry that serves the area's growing Latino community. Pastoral leadership is provided by Fr. Mark Van Alstine (Pastor) and Fr. Juan Carlos Castillo-Mayorga (Parochial Vicar), supported by two permanent deacons and a small lay staff.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Van Alstine
- Diocese
- Diocese of Savannah
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a 154-year-old coastal-Georgia parish of about 600 families with deep roots and a working Catholic school. Visitors and parishioners can worship in English or Spanish (a full Sunday evening Mass is celebrated in Spanish), bring children to a parish school rooted in 1900, sit with the Hispanic Ministry for Thursday evening adoration, or grow in faith through Children's Faith Formation (grades K–8) and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The parish also extends its reach with a Saturday vigil Mass on Jekyll Island, making it a true hub for Catholics from Brunswick to the Golden Isles.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:15 – 6:45 pm
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 pm
- Sunday 7:45 – 8:15 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (with the Hispanic Ministry)
- First Friday of each month, 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm, followed by Mass at 7:00 pm
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Francis Xavier is a parish in the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, with about 600 registered families on Georgia's southeastern coast. Its mission statement is: '…we are called through Baptism to accept the responsibility and challenge of proclaiming the message of Jesus through worship, education and service.' The parish identifies St. Francis Xavier — the 16th-century Jesuit missionary to the Far East — as its patron.
- About 600 families
- Founded 1868 (154-year parish)
- Diocese of Savannah
- Patron: St. Francis Xavier
History
Catholic life in coastal Georgia traces back around four centuries, before Oglethorpe himself arrived at Frederica. After 1844, Mass was offered at the du Bignon family home on Union Street for Brunswick's small Catholic community of largely French and Irish descent. The parish was formally established in 1868, built its first frame chapel (land donated by the Dart family), and on April 27, 1884, Bishop Gross dedicated the present church. A 1960s rebuilding replaced the original structure on the same site.
- Earliest Mass: du Bignon home, Union Street, after 1844
- Parish founded 1868
- First priest: Father Scollins
- Land donated by the Dart family
- Present church dedicated by Bishop Gross, April 27, 1884
Clergy & Staff
Pastoral leadership rests with Fr. Mark Van Alstine (Pastor), supported by Fr. Juan Carlos Castillo-Mayorga (Parochial Vicar) and two permanent deacons — Dr. Terry Mermann and Chris Sadowski. Deacon Sadowski also serves as Director of Faith Formation. The lay team includes Ann Buebel (Office Manager), Nalleli Garcia (Hispanic Ministry Director), and Annemarie Marr (Principal of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School). The parish is currently hosting seminarian Stephen Owusu Dwamena.
- Pastor: Fr. Mark Van Alstine
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Juan Carlos Castillo-Mayorga
- Deacons: Terry Mermann, Chris Sadowski
- Office Manager: Ann Buebel
- Hispanic Ministry Director: Nalleli Garcia
- Principal: Annemarie Marr
- Seminarian: Stephen Owusu Dwamena
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish offers a full weekly schedule, including a Saturday vigil Mass on Jekyll Island for island Catholics. Daily Mass is celebrated Tuesday–Friday at the parish, with a Wednesday morning School Mass during the academic year. A Sunday evening Mass in Spanish (6:00 pm) anchors the Hispanic Ministry's liturgical life.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm at St. Francis Xavier; 7:00 pm at Jekyll Island UMC
- Sunday: 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 6:00 pm (Spanish)
- Daily Mass Mon 12 pm; Tue 12 pm; Wed 8 am (school) / 7 pm; Thu 8 am; Fri 8 am
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry Office exists to accompany the growing Latino Catholic community on the Georgia coast. It supports both clergy and laity with formation and resources, and coordinates three active Spanish-language prayer groups alongside the parish's Spanish-language Mass and devotions.
- Director: Nalleli Garcia
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 6:00 pm
- Grupo Guadalupano — weekly Rosary, fundraiser for Dec 12 feast
- Grupo de Oración Nuestra Señora de Lourdes — Mon 7:00 pm in San José Chapel
- Grupo de Apóstoles de la Palabra — Fri nights, prayer/apologetics/Scripture
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation (CFF) provides systematic catechesis for children from Kindergarten (age 5) through 8th grade on Sunday mornings during the school year, preparing them to receive the sacraments. All children of the parish — whether at the Catholic school or public schools — are welcome. Adults explore the Catholic faith — baptism, reception, or completing First Communion/Confirmation — through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
- CFF: Sundays 9:30–10:45 am (school year), grades K–8
- OCIA: Mondays 7:00–8:30 pm, September through Pentecost
- Confirmation prepared in 9th grade
- First Communion/First Reconciliation prepared in 2nd grade
- Contact: Deacon Chris Sadowski, (912) 265-3249 ext. 305
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School
Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1900 as St. Joseph's School, the parish school opened with 60 pupils in a former boarding house on the corner of Richmond and Howe streets. In 1955, the school was renamed St. Francis Xavier School in tribute to the parish's support. Today the school serves Preschool through 8th Grade, with the principal red-brick school building located at 1121 Union Street. A new convent (designed by C. M. McGarvey) was built in 1953, and a new, larger school building was completed in 1955 and dedicated February 9, 1958.
- Founded 1900 by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- Originally St. Joseph's School; renamed St. Francis Xavier in 1955
- Present school dedicated February 9, 1958
- Preschool through 8th Grade
- School address: 1121 Union Street, Brunswick, GA
- Website: sfxcs.org
Sacraments
The parish prepares children and adults for the three Sacraments of Initiation through its age-appropriate programs. Reception into Full Communion happens each Easter at the OCIA celebration, and Confirmation is conferred by the Bishop in the Spring, subject to his availability.
- First Communion & First Reconciliation (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (9th grade)
- Baptism / Reception into Full Communion (OCIA, celebrated at Easter)
- All preparation inquiries: Deacon Chris Sadowski
Locations, Contact & Newcomers
The parish campus is spread across several historic addresses in downtown Brunswick. The church itself sits on Newcastle Street; the parish office and registration materials are at 405 Howe Street; and faith formation classes meet at the Formation Center on Richmond Street.
- Church: 1120 Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA 31520
- Parish Office: 405 Howe Street, Brunswick, GA 31520 — (912) 265-3249 — [email protected]
- Formation Center: 1116 Richmond Street, Brunswick, GA 31520
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 am–4 pm; Fri 9 am–12 pm
- Jekyll Island outreach: Saturday Vigil 7:00 pm at Jekyll Island UMC, 503 Riverview Drive
- Register by visiting the office, emailing, mailing, or dropping the form in the collection basket
- Text-to-give: SFX150 to 84576
Devotions & Special Liturgies
Beyond the Sunday schedule, the parish builds Catholic life around Adoration and a dedicated First Friday observance, complemented by Spanish-language Marian and Charismatic prayer groups that animate the Hispanic Ministry.
- Thursday Holy Hour: 7:00–8:00 pm
- First Friday: 1:00 pm Adoration through 7:00 pm Mass
- Weekly Guadalupano Rosary (Spanish)
- Lourdes Charismatic Prayer Group — Mondays 7:00 pm, San José Chapel
- Apóstoles de la Palabra — Fridays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Scollins1868–
First priest of St. Francis Xavier parish