About St John Catholic Church · Ozark, Alabama
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a small, multi-cultural Roman Catholic parish in Ozark, Alabama, situated in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama and belonging to the Archdiocese of Mobile. Located at 475 Camilla Avenue, the parish traces its roots to occasional Sunday Masses celebrated by Fr. Cauley of St. Columba in Dothan in the early 1940s for the area's growing Catholic population tied to Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel). The present church was built and dedicated on April 20, 1958, and Ozark was formally established as a parish on November 14, 1963, with Fr. Patrick Maher as the first resident pastor. The community welcomes visitors, military families from nearby Fort Novosel, and travelers along the Gulf Coast corridor, and is pastored today by Fr. Chris Boutin, who also serves as pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Troy and campus minister at Troy University.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Chris Boutin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. John is a welcoming, multi-cultural parish that has historically opened its doors to soldiers and families from Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel) — a tradition that continues today — as well as Gulf Coast travelers passing through the Wiregrass. With active ministries like the Knights of Columbus, the St. John Ministry of Hope prison-and-youth outreach founded by the late Deacon John Ross, a long-running religious education program, weekly Divine Mercy devotions, and parish events like Stations of the Cross and seasonal rosaries, the parish offers a close-knit community where members can both worship and serve. Its small size means parishioners know one another by name, while its ties to the Archdiocese of Mobile keep it connected to the wider Church.
Mass times at St John Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
About St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a small but growing, multi-cultural Catholic parish in Ozark, Alabama, serving Dale County in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Mobile and welcomes both longtime residents, military families stationed at nearby Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), and travelers heading to or from the Gulf Coast. The parish's mission statement reads: 'We are called together by Jesus Christ to worship, proclaim and serve as a community of faith and to embrace one another in the love of Christ.'
- Mailing address: PO Box 1008, Ozark, AL 36361
- Street address: 475 Camilla Avenue, Ozark, AL 36360
- Phone: (334) 774-6826
- Pastor: Fr. Chris Boutin
- Office Hours: Tuesdays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Thursdays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Parish History
Catholic life in Ozark began with occasional Sunday Masses in the Community House, celebrated by Fr. Cauley of St. Columba in Dothan in the early 1940s, when most of the 200 Catholics in attendance were tied to Fort Rucker. After the war, Mass was held in a small house purchased by Fr. Cauley and attended by just seven couples. When Fort Rucker reactivated in 1954, the community outgrew the house and returned to the Community House. Fr. William Jones of St. Columba launched a building fund, bought the Camilla Avenue lot in 1956 for $2,100, secured a $10,000 Catholic Extension Society grant, broke ground in March 1957, and dedicated the completed church on April 20, 1958. A parish hall followed in 1960, and on November 14, 1963, Ozark was formally erected as a parish with Fr. Patrick Maher as its first resident pastor.
- 1956 – Camilla Avenue lot purchased for $2,100
- 1957 – Ground broken for the church
- 1958 – Church dedicated by Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen
- 1960 – Parish hall built ($18,000)
- 1963 – Ozark formally established as a parish
- 1967 – Rectory built ($40,000)
- 1968 – Enterprise becomes a separate parish
Buildings, Campus & Renovations
Over the decades, the parish's modest Camilla Avenue campus has been expanded and renewed by successive pastors. The original 1958 church was fitted with new carpet, front doors, and a marble sanctuary with a Risen Christ statue during Fr. Michael Kelly's 1982 restoration, and its stained glass windows were installed under Fr. Brendan Keller (1995–1999). The 1960 parish hall received a new roof under Fr. Fred Boni and was remodeled under Fr. Keller. The 1967 rectory was refurbished under Fr. Charles McCabe and renovated again under Fr. Babu Jesuraj (2020).
- 1982 – Sanctuary restored in marble; Risen Christ statue installed
- 1985 – Brick Religious Education Building dedicated ($70,000)
- 1995–1999 – Stained glass windows installed; parish hall remodeled
- 1999–2005 – Rectory refurbished, church repainted, new church sign
- 2006–2012 – New carpet and pew cushions; Grotto completed on rectory lawn
- 2012–2020 – Parish hall roof replaced
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sunday-morning religious education for kindergarten through 12th grade has been a fixture since classes began in September 1985 following the dedication of the brick Religious Education Building on August 18, 1985. The parish also runs a long-standing RCIA program instituted under Fr. David McGuinness in 1987 and a reorganized adult education program. Faith formation is the main use of the Religious Education Building and is supported by the Generations of Faith program (introduced under Fr. McCabe, repeated under Fr. Jesuraj).
- Religious Education Building dedicated August 18, 1985
- Sunday religious education, K–12, since September 1985
- RCIA — instituted 1987
- Generations of Faith program
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion), Christian Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick, with preparation typically through the Religious Education program or by appointment with the parish office. RCIA is the formal path for unbaptized and uncatechized adults seeking full initiation into the Church.
- Baptism – by appointment
- First Communion / First Reconciliation – via Religious Education
- Confirmation – via Religious Education
- Matrimony – by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick – by appointment
- RCIA for adults
Ministries & Organizations
St. John sustains a network of lay-led ministries and fraternal organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council #5 is the most visible, with meetings in the Knights Hall at 827 N. Daleville Avenue, Daleville, and active involvement in parish life. The St. John Ministry of Hope carries the legacy of Deacon John Ross, bringing parishioners into local prisons, Boys & Girls homes, and Diversion Centers. Pastoral and Finance Councils, along with a Strategic Planning Committee, provide governance, while the Men's Club has historically led hands-on projects like the storage building.
- Knights of Columbus Council #5 (3rd & 4th Degree meetings)
- St. John Ministry of Hope (prison / youth outreach)
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Strategic Planning Committee
- Men's Club
- Alpha evangelization program
Devotions & Seasonal Observances
Long-standing devotions at St. John include weekly Divine Mercy devotions and Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations (instituted under Fr. Paul Egbe), Wednesday-evening Benediction and the Rosary (long led by Deacon Ross), and a seasonal weekday rosary at the Knights Hall in Daleville during the months of October and May. Lenten Stations of the Cross are prayed Friday evenings, and Holy Week liturgies are shared with neighboring Our Lady of Loretto at Fort Novosel.
- Divine Mercy devotions (weekly) and Divine Mercy Sunday
- Wednesday Benediction and Rosary
- Rosary in May and October at Knights Hall, Daleville (5:30–6:30 PM)
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays of Lent, 6:00 PM
- Shared Holy Week services with Our Lady of Loretto, Fort Novosel
Visiting, Location & Getting Involved
Visitors — including Gulf Coast travelers and military families from Fort Novosel — are welcomed at all Masses and parish events. The parish publishes an 'I'm New Here' page on its website with directions, parking information, and answers to common questions about Mass and confession. Those wishing to become more involved can join the Knights of Columbus, the Pastoral or Finance Councils, the Ministry of Hope, religious education teams, or one of the parish's seasonal devotional groups.
- Address: 475 Camilla Avenue, Ozark, AL 36360
- Phone: (334) 774-6826
- Sunday Mass livestreamed on parish Facebook
- Parish website: https://www.sjccozark.com
- Office open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Cauleyearly 1940s–1950s
Pastor of St. Columba, Dothan; traveled to Ozark to celebrate Sunday Mass in the Community House, then bought a small house where Mass continued with seven couples after WWII; returned to the Community House after Fort Rucker reactivated in 1954.
- Rev. William (Williams) Jonespre-1958
Pastor of St. Columba, Dothan; spearheaded the Ozark building fund, purchased the Camilla Avenue lot for $2,100 in 1956, secured a $10,000 Catholic Extension Society grant, broke ground March 1957, dedicated the church April 20, 1958.
- Rev. Patrick MaherNovember 1963 – September 1969
First resident pastor of St. John when Ozark was made a parish; lived in the parish hall until the 1967 rectory was built ($40,000); served Dale, Coffee, and Geneva counties until Enterprise formed its own parish in 1968.
- Rev. Peter CunninghamSeptember 1969 – July 1973
Succeeded Fr. Maher at Ozark when Fr. Maher became pastor of the new Enterprise parish; served four years.
- Rev. Barry DesmondJuly 1973 – December 1980
Replaced Fr. Cunningham in 1972/73; during his tenure the rectory debt was paid in full; departed due to illness.
- Rev. Michael KellyDecember 1980 – July 1987
Began sanctuary restoration in marble in March 1982 (Risen Christ statue on rear wall); carpeted the church and replaced the front doors; began the Religious Education Building in 1985 ($70,000), dedicated August 18, 1985.
- Rev. David I. McGuinnessJuly 1987 – June 1995
Implemented RCIA and reorganized adult education; oversaw the retirement of the education-building mortgage in full.
- Rev. Brendan J. KellerJune 1995 – June 1999
Oversaw installation of the church's stained glass windows and remodeling of the parish hall.
- Rev. Charles J. McCabeJune 1999 – January 2005
Implemented Generations of Faith; refurbished rectory, repainted church, replaced church sign, oversaw storage-building construction directed by the Men's Club.
- Rev. Paul O. EgbeJune 2006 – June 2012
Nigerian priest; replaced carpet and pew cushions, organized Grotto volunteers, instituted weekly Divine Mercy devotions, novenas, and Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations.
- Rev. Fred BoniJune 2012 – June 2020
Replaced parish hall roof, established long-range plan with Parish Council and Strategic Planning Committee, initiated Alpha for evangelization.
- Rev. Babu JesurajJune 2020 – September 2021
Led the parish through COVID-19, led a Generations of Faith Campaign, oversaw rectory renovations, engaged parishioners more actively in parish life.
- Rev. Chris BoutinSeptember 2021 – present
Current pastor; also pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Troy and campus minister at Troy University; ordained 2016; previously parochial vicar at St. Dominic (Mobile) and chaplain at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.