About St. James Major · Prichard, Alabama
St. James Major Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Prichard, Alabama, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile, lovingly served for over a century by the Josephite Fathers (St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, SSJ). Founded in 1911 from a small liturgy celebrated in the Bernard family home, the parish grew into a thriving faith community of more than 340 families. Today it offers weekend and weekday Masses, First Friday Adoration, a food bank, youth religious education, choir practice, and outreach to the sick — a true 'beacon of light to the Prichard community,' as Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb called it when dedicating the present church in 2003.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (James Major)
- Rector
- Fr. Godwin Imoru
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. James Major is a close-knit Josephite parish where worship, formation, and service are woven together. Parishioners grow in faith through daily and weekend Mass, First Friday Adoration, and a Rosary prayed over the phone, while children gather for Sunday morning Youth Religious Education and the parish choir rehearses through the week. Outreach is part of daily life here — a Food Bank, visits to the sick, fish-and-chicken dinner fundraisers, and ministries that repurpose the former school building to serve the poor, homeless women, and those needing tutoring and health care in the Prichard community.
Mass times at St. James Major
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 3:55 PM
- And upon request — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (First Friday Adoration)
Parish History
From a 1911 house Mass in the Bernard home to the present church dedicated in 2003, St. James Major has been a Josephite parish for more than a century. The parish's first church was destroyed by the 1916 storm; its first resident pastor (Fr. Michael Neary, SSJ, 1926) built a school for converts that still stands; and successive pastors have guided the community through the Great Depression, a Golden Anniversary in 1975, the 75th Anniversary in 2000, and a new church dedication in 2003. Today the parish serves more than 340 families.
- 1911 — First Eucharist celebrated in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bernard by Fr. Conrad Rebescher, SSJ
- 1912 — First school built; taught initially by lay staff, then by the Holy Family Sisters of New Orleans
- April 27, 1913 — First church dedicated by Most Reverend Edward H. Allen
- 1916 — First church destroyed by storm
- 1926 — Fr. Michael Neary, SSJ becomes first resident pastor; builds the school for converts
- 1928–1936 — Fr. Joseph Schmutz leads the parish through the Great Depression
- 1930 — Holy Ghost Sisters arrive
- 1943–1954 — Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth staff the school
- 1975 — Golden Anniversary celebrated under Fr. Cornelius Sexton, SSJ
- 1982 — New rectory built under Fr. William Danahy, SSJ
- 1989 — Parish center built under Fr. William Danahy, SSJ
- 2000 — 75th Anniversary; campaign launched for a new church under Fr. Henry Dickson
- March 4, 2003 — New church dedicated by Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb
- 2004 — Parish school closes
- 2007 — Fr. Robert Kearns, SSJ appointed pastor; vision of the 'new evangelization'
Clergy & Staff
St. James Major is currently shepherded by Fr. Godwin Imoru as pastor, and supported by a small parish staff. The parish continues the long tradition of Josephite (SSJ) pastoral leadership that began in 1911.
- Fr. Godwin Imoru — Pastor
- Ms. Gatha Warnsley — Church Secretary
- Mr. Frank Andrea Forney — Church Musician/Organist
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith formation for the parish's young people centers on Sunday morning Youth Religious Education, which meets at 11:00 AM. The parish's homepage echoes James 1:22 — 'Be doers of the word and not hearers only' — and points visitors toward Faith Formation as a way to grow in the community.
- Youth Religious Education — Sundays, 11:00 AM
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. James Major is led by the parish's musician and organist, Mr. Frank Andrea Forney, and supported by a parish choir that rehearses weekly. The choir's practice is a regular feature on the parish calendar.
- Mr. Frank Andrea Forney — Church Musician/Organist
- Choir Practice — weekly (typically evenings)
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish calendar is filled with regular devotions and community events: a Rosary prayed together over the phone each week, First Friday Adoration, visits to the sick, choir rehearsal, and the parish food bank. Fish-and-chicken dinner fundraisers also bring the community together to support parish life.
- Rosary over the Phone — weekday evenings, 5:00 PM
- Visit to the Sick — weekly
- First Friday Adoration — 3:00–4:00 PM
- Food Bank — weekly
- Fish/Chicken Dinner Sales — periodic fundraisers
Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach to the wider Prichard community is at the heart of St. James Major's mission. Since the parish school closed in 2004, the former school building has been recycled to serve the poor, homeless women, and those needing tutoring and health care — a direct expression of the 'new evangelization' vision articulated by Fr. Robert Kearns, SSJ.
- Food Bank / Food Pantry — weekly distribution
- Outreach to the poor and homeless women
- Tutoring and health-care services (in the recycled school building)
- Visit to the Sick ministry
Contact & Visit
St. James Major is located at 714 N College St. in Prichard, Alabama, 36610. The Parish Office can be reached by phone at (251) 456-6842, and email inquiries go to [email protected]. The parish's official website is http://www.stjamesmajor.org/, and the most up-to-date schedule of Masses, devotions, and parish events is published on the parish Calendar page.
- Address: 714 N College St., Prichard, AL 36610
- Phone: (251) 456-6842
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjamesmajor.org/
Diocese & Religious Order
St. James Major Parish belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile. It has been served since its founding in 1911 by the Josephite Fathers — the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (SSJ) — a religious congregation devoted to evangelization within the African American community in the United States.
- Diocese: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile
- Religious order: St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (SSJ / Josephites)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Conrad Rebescher, SSJ1911–
Celebrated the first Eucharist in the Bernard home while pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary, Mobile.
- Fr. Michael Neary, SSJ1926–
First resident pastor; built a school for converts that still stands.
- Fr. Joseph Schmutz1928–1936
Led the parish through the Great Depression.
- Fr. Cornelius Sexton, SSJ
Put the parish Constitution and By-Laws in print; led the 1975 Golden Anniversary.
- Fr. William Danahy, SSJby 1982–1989
Oversaw construction of the new rectory (1982) and parish center (1989).
- Fr. Henry Dicksonthrough 2000
Led the 75th Anniversary and launched the new-church campaign.
- Fr. Robert Kearns, SSJ2007–
Focused on the 'new evangelization'; recycled the school building for outreach to the poor.