About St. James Memorial · Alexandria, Louisiana
St. James Memorial Church is a historic Catholic parish in Alexandria, Louisiana, belonging to the Diocese of Alexandria and situated in the Central Deanery at 714 Winn Street. Established in 1911 as the first separate Black Catholic parish in Louisiana, its roots reach back to 1894, when the Sisters of Divine Providence began a school for Black children in the city. For 75 years (1911–1986) the parish was staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (Spiritans), and it grew from that small mission church into one of the four major Black Catholic high schools affiliated with Xavier University of New Orleans. Today St. James Memorial continues as a small but vibrant parish with a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, an active CCD program, and a youth ministry. Its current pastor, Very Rev. M. Craig Scott, also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Alexandria.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. James (the Greater, Apostle; the church was named in memory of James Smith, brother of benefactor Fr. Joseph Smith of Cleveland, Ohio, and after his patron saint)
- Rector
- Very Rev. M. Craig Scott, VG
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
St. James Memorial is a small, welcoming central-Alexandria parish with deep roots in the African American Catholic history of Louisiana and a strong tradition of Catholic education and family faith formation. Worship is offered at a Saturday Vigil Mass and a Sunday morning Mass, with Confession available before each, Stations of the Cross during Lent, and an active CCD/Religious Education program under Natalie Nelson plus a youth ministry led by Sheila McDaniel. It is also the home of one of the oldest Knights of St. Peter Claver 4th-degree assemblies in the area, and visitors can expect a tight-knit community grounded in over a century of service to the Winn Street neighborhood.
Mass times at St. James Memorial
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 pm (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 8:45 am (before 9:00 am Mass)
Parish History
St. James Memorial traces its origins to 1894, when Sister Mary Xavier, a Sister of Divine Providence, opened a one-room school for Black children on Watkins Avenue. The school, dedicated by Fr. Leonard Menard in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was formally established as a separate parish in May 1911 with the permission of Bishop Cornelius Van de Ven. The Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) took charge in November 1911 and would minister to the parish for the next 75 years — the first Spiritan mission in Louisiana. The present church, between 7th and 8th Streets on Winn Street, was built 1915–1917 by the LeGras Brothers Construction Company and dedicated in December 1917. A school, a high school, convents, and a mission (Holy Family in South Alexandria) followed over the decades. The school closed in 1967, and the Spiritans retired from the parish in 1986, after which diocesan priests took over. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2011.
- 1894: Sister Mary Xavier, CDP, opens a school for Black children on Watkins Avenue
- 1902: New school built between Fisk and Beauregard Streets, opens with 80 students
- May 1911: Bishop Van de Ven authorizes the separate parish
- November 1911: Fr. Anthony Schmodry, C.S.Sp., becomes first Spiritan pastor
- December 1917: Present church dedicated by Bishop Van de Ven
- 1919: First high school graduation
- 1956: Holy Family mission blessed in South Alexandria
- 1967: School closes
- 1971: Church and rectory renovated; large convent demolished
- 1983: Knights of St. Peter Claver 4th Degree Assembly formed
- 1986: Holy Ghost Fathers retire; Fr. Bruce Miller becomes first diocesan pastor
- 2011: Centennial celebrated
A Name with a Story
The parish is unusual in that the dedication 'St. James Memorial' honors both a saint and a specific person. According to the diocesan history, the construction money for the 1915–1917 church was donated by Fr. Joseph Smith of Cleveland, Ohio in memory of his brother, James, with the explicit condition that the church be named for his brother's patron saint. Hence the name St. James Memorial.
- Donor: Fr. Joseph Smith of Cleveland, Ohio
- In memory of: his brother James
- Condition: church named for his brother's patron saint
The Spiritan Years, 1911–1986
From November 1911 until 1986, the parish was continuously staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (Spiritans), making it the first Spiritan mission in Louisiana. Spiritan historians describe the Louisiana work — of which St. James Memorial was the 'crown jewel' — as the order's most significant African American ministry in the United States, eventually reaching more than forty parishes and missions along the Red River and across the state, including four major Black Catholic high schools affiliated with Xavier University of New Orleans: St. Edwards in New Iberia, Holy Ghost in Opelousas, Sacred Heart in Lake Charles, and St. James in Alexandria.
- 75 years of continuous Spiritan pastorship
- Part of four Black high schools affiliated with Xavier University of New Orleans
- Holy Ghost Fathers retired in 1986
The Parish School
The school predates the parish. After the 1894 beginnings on Watkins Avenue, a new school opened in 1902 between Fisk and Beauregard Streets. A new school with a high school curriculum was built in 1916 on Winn and 7th Streets; the first high school graduation was in 1919. The Sisters of Divine Providence and other religious sisters staffed the school for decades. The school closed in 1967; the parish's 1971 attempt to save it is documented in a 2015 article in U.S. Catholic Historian.
- 1894 school on Watkins Avenue
- 1902 school between Fisk and Beauregard Streets
- 1916 school on Winn and 7th Streets with high school curriculum
- First high school graduation 1919
- School closed 1967
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. M. Craig Scott, VG, who serves both as pastor of St. James Memorial and as Vicar General of the Diocese of Alexandria and Moderator of the Curia. He was previously Dean of the Central Deanery and Vicar for Clergy. He is assisted by Deacon LG Deloach (Pastoral Administrator), Mary Metoyer Yancy (Secretary/Bookkeeper), Natalie Nelson (Director of Religious Education/CCD), and Sheila McDaniel (Youth Ministry).
- Very Rev. M. Craig Scott, VG — Pastor / Vicar General / Moderator of the Curia
- Deacon LG Deloach — Pastoral Administrator
- Mary Metoyer Yancy — Secretary / Bookkeeper
- Natalie Nelson — Director of Religious Education / CCD
- Sheila McDaniel — Youth Ministry
Devotions
Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays during Lent.
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious Education (CCD) for parish children is coordinated by Natalie Nelson, Director of Religious Education. Sheila McDaniel oversees Youth Ministry. Together these programs continue the parish's century-old tradition of accompanying young people in the Catholic faith — a tradition rooted in the parish school that educated generations of Black Catholic children from 1894 until 1967.
- CCD / Religious Education (Natalie Nelson, Director)
- Youth Ministry (Sheila McDaniel)
Parish Organizations & Community Life
The Knights of St. Peter Claver, the largest Black Catholic fraternal organization in the United States, has a 4th Degree Assembly based at St. James Memorial, formed in 1983. A Parish Council has long been part of parish governance, notably in 1971 when it proposed a plan to Bishop Charles P. Greco to save the closing parish school.
- Knights of St. Peter Claver — 4th Degree Assembly (since 1983)
- Parish Council
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is located at 714 Winn Street, Alexandria, LA 71301 (Mailing: 709 Winn Street, Alexandria, LA 71301), phone (318) 487-9512. The official page is the diocesan listing at the Diocese of Alexandria website. Office hours are Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am–5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am–12 noon. Confession is heard before each Mass.
- Address: 714 Winn Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
- Mailing: 709 Winn Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
- Phone: (318) 487-9512
- Website: http://www.diocesealex.org/church/st-james-memorial-church/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Marcos1911
Received permission from Bishop Van de Ven to establish the separate Black parish in May 1911; resigned because of poor health before the Spiritans arrived.
- Fr. Anthony Schmodry, C.S.Sp.November 1911 – April 1914
First Holy Ghost (Spiritan) pastor; began the parish's 75-year Spiritan tenure, the first Holy Ghost mission in Louisiana.
- Fr. Joseph Cornenberger (Spiritan)April 1914 onward
Replaced Fr. Schmodry; oversaw purchase of Winn Street lots, groundbreaking in May 1915 and the December 1917 dedication of the present church.
- Fr. Bruce Miller1986 onward
First diocesan pastor after the Holy Ghost Fathers retired from the parish in 1986.
- Very Rev. M. Craig Scott, VGAppointed pastor; current
Also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Alexandria and Moderator of the Curia; was previously Dean of the Central Deanery and Vicar for Clergy.