About St. James · Memphis, Tennessee
St. James Catholic Church is a small, bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in the Binghampton/Berclair neighborhood of midtown Memphis, Tennessee, belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Founded in 1956 and named in honor of Monsignor James Whitfield, the parish serves roughly 450–500 parishioners from about 275–315 households across West Tennessee's Central Deanery. Under the current pastor, Reverend Gerald C. Azike (since 2017), St. James offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses (one in English, one in Spanish), weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and ongoing faith formation for children and adults.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. James (named in honor of Monsignor James Whitfield)
- Rector
- Reverend Gerald C. Azike
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Memphis
Why belong here
St. James offers a warm, bilingual worshipping community where English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics worship side by side — with a Saturday Vigil, an English Sunday Mass, and a Spanish Sunday Mass each week, plus weekday Masses and Eucharistic Adoration. The parish runs faith formation and Spanish PRE classes for children, has a choir under a dedicated organist/director, and welcomes roughly 500 parishioners from more than 300 households into a small, easy-to-join community in midtown Memphis. With regular Confession times, devotions, and outreach to the poor and vulnerable as part of its parish life, St. James is a genuinely intimate parish where parishioners can know their priest and each other.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:45 pm (or 3:00 pm per latest diocese directory listing)
- Sunday: 9:45 am and 12:15 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Spanish)
- Saturday: 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm (English, before the Vigil Mass)
About St. James Catholic Church
St. James Catholic Church is a small bilingual parish in midtown Memphis, Tennessee, in the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. The parish worships in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses throughout the week. Under the pastoral care of Reverend Gerald C. Azike — the parish's 14th pastor — the community is supported by an administrative assistant, a Director of Religious Education, a Spanish PRE coordinator, and an organist/choir director.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Memphis (Central Deanery)
- Approximately 500 parishioners / 315 households
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Pastor: Reverend Gerald C. Azike (2017–present)
Parish History
St. James was founded in 1956 and formally dedicated on April 3, 1956, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishop William Adrian concelebrating. The parish takes its name from Monsignor James Whitfield — a friend of Cardinal Stritch who was then pastor of St. Therese the Little Flower — rather than directly from the apostle. Over nearly seven decades the parish has been shaped by a long line of pastors, including a remarkable return engagement by Reverend William R. Kantner (1988–1991 and 2005–2013).
- Founded: 1956 (diocese directory lists 1954 as the established date)
- Dedicated: April 3, 1956 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and Bishop William Adrian
- Named for: Monsignor James Whitfield
- First pastor: Reverend Morris G. Stritch
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. James is served by a small, dedicated staff that supports the parish's daily operation, faith formation, music program, and outreach.
- Pastor: Reverend Gerald C. Azike (2017–present)
- Administrative Assistant: Estefania Naranjo ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Maria Salazar
- Spanish PRE-Classes: Maria Salazar
- Organist / Choir Director: Paul Dooley
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. James offers Parish Religious Education (PRE) classes in English and Spanish for children, along with adult and youth faith formation opportunities listed as part of the parish's United in Faith Campaign goals. Maria Salazar serves as both Director of Religious Education and coordinator of Spanish PRE classes.
- Parish Religious Education (PRE) — English and Spanish
- Spanish PRE Classes (Maria Salazar)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Faith Formation
- Sacrament preparation (First Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation) through PRE
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. James is led by organist and choir director Paul Dooley. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish each week, with a full Saturday Vigil, English and Spanish Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses.
- Organist / Choir Director: Paul Dooley
- Bilingual weekend liturgy (English Vigil + Sunday, Spanish Sunday)
- Weekday Masses Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Outreach & Parish Life
Outreach to the poor, needy, and vulnerable is highlighted as a core parish ministry, alongside parish maintenance, pastoral ministries and programs, and the broader United in Faith Campaign — a parish-wide effort supporting adult and youth faith formation, school tuition assistance, and reducing parish debt.
- Outreach to the poor, needy and vulnerable
- United in Faith Campaign (parish capital and ministry fund)
- Pastoral ministries and programs
- Parish maintenance and facility stewardship
Visit, Call, or Email
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. James Catholic Church by phone, fax, or email. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; the office is closed Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Address: 4180 Leroy Avenue, Memphis, TN 38108
- Phone: (901) 767-8672 | Fax: (901) 767-8576
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stjamesmemphis.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJamesCatholicMemphis
- Office hours: Mon / Wed / Fri (closed Tue & Thu)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Morris G. Stritch1956–1961
First pastor; nephew of Cardinal Samuel Stritch.
- Reverend John J. Schelly1961–1963
- Reverend James A. Kemper1963–1964
- Reverend William J. Kleiser1964–1966
- Reverend Herbert W. Prescott1966–1968
- Reverend James W. Murphy1968–1974
- Reverend James J. Driscoll1974–1978
- Reverend Patrick J. Lynch1978–1982
- Reverend Joseph L. Fisher1978–1988
- Reverend William R. Kantner1988–1991
Returned for a second term 2005–2013.
- Reverend Patrick F. Heenan1991–2005
- Reverend William R. Kantner2005–2013
Second term as pastor.
- Reverend Monsignor Victor P. Ciaramitaro2013–2017
- Reverend Gerald C. Azike2017–present
Current pastor.