About St. John the Apostle · Alexander City, Alabama
St. John the Apostle is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Alexander City, Alabama, part of the Diocese of Birmingham. The parish was founded in 1946, growing from 13 founding families on Easter Sunday 1945 to roughly 145 families today, serving the Tallapoosa and Coosa County region of east-central Alabama. Historically staffed by the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission), St. John the Apostle is known locally as the first church of any denomination in Alexander City to offer Mass and pastoral services in Spanish, and runs ministries including an active religious education program, RCIA, Bible study, Cursillo, the Brown Bag feeding program for elderly poor, and St. Vincent de Paul outreach.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle (the beloved disciple)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Joshua Altonji (Parochial Administrator, effective June 2, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle is the Catholic home for east-central Alabama — a Vincentian-rooted, bilingual parish that has served Tallapoosa and Coosa Counties since 1946 and is the first church in Alexander City to offer Spanish-language Mass and sacraments. Whether you are an established Catholic, a newcomer, a retiree on Lake Martin, or a Spanish-speaking member of the growing Hispanic community, you'll find a full weekly Mass schedule, Eucharistic Adoration, the Brown Bag feeding ministry for elderly poor, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, RCIA, and a religious education program for children that together make it easy to plug into parish life.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM (immediately before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Any time by appointment with the pastor
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (English)
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Spanish)
History of St. John the Apostle
The parish traces its foundation to Easter Sunday, 1945, when Vincentian priest Fr. Bartholomew O'Malley celebrated Mass in the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Tilton at Lake Hill in Alexander City. The Vincentians, headquartered in Opelika since 1910, soon purchased a home at the corner of North Central Avenue and Parks Street and opened St. Thomas Chapel, the seed of what became the official parish one year later. Mass was originally said in Latin and in borrowed spaces; the first English Mass was not celebrated here until November 29, 1964.
- Easter Sunday 1945: founding Mass at the Tilton home, Lake Hill
- 1946: parish officially established
- 1960: present church dedicated; renamed from St. Thomas Chapel to St. John the Apostle
- 1964: first English Mass (Fr. Tumelty)
- 1979–1997: Fr. John Nicholas, C.M.'s 18-year pastorate
- 1997: Fr. Robert Stone, C.M. arrives; Brown Bag feeding program started
- 2000: Deacon Paul Mark Sullivan ordained (Dec. 2, 2000)
- First church in Alexander City to offer Spanish Mass and pastoral services
The Vincentian Heritage
St. John the Apostle has been served for most of its history by the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission), the same religious order founded by St. Vincent de Paul that set up in Opelika in 1910 under Fr. John Hild, C.M. The Vincentian commitment to serving the materially poor — what Fr. John Nicholas called 'the new thrust back to their roots' — has shaped parish life from the Brown Bag feeding program to the stable Vincentian mission the Vincentians maintain in neighboring Clay County.
- Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) — founding order
- Fr. John Hild, C.M. — Opelika Superior who bought the chapel site
- Fr. Bartholomew O'Malley, C.M. — said the founding Mass
- Fr. John Nicholas, C.M. — Vincentian Superior east Alabama 1984–1996
- Fr. Robert Stone, C.M. — late-1990s pastor, started Brown Bag and Spanish Mass
Mass & Worship Schedule
Mass is offered in both English and Spanish throughout the week, reflecting the parish's bilingual pastoral identity. Sunday includes a 7:00 AM Spanish Mass and a 9:00 AM English Mass, with a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday at 5:30 PM, Tuesday at 9:00 AM, and Friday at 5:30 PM; a Spanish Mass is also celebrated Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. The Rosary is recited 30 minutes before every Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:00 AM (Spanish), 9:00 AM (English)
- Monday: 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM
- Thursday: 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Friday: 5:30 PM
- Rosary 30 minutes before every Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's religious education program — known as the Fr. Nicholas School of Religion in honor of the longtime pastor Fr. John Nicholas — serves about 36 children from Pre-K through Confirmation, with classes scheduled around Sunday Mass. RCIA is offered for adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church.
- Fr. Nicholas School of Religion (Pre-K through Confirmation)
- RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Visionaries – children's faith formation, Wednesdays 5:30 PM
- Adult Bible Study, Sunday 9:00 AM
Parish Ministries & Groups
Beyond worship and formation, the parish sustains a wide range of lay-led and outreach ministries that have shaped its identity for decades. Adult Bible Study, the Cursillo group, the Our Lady's Guild, and the Parish Council form the backbone of parish life, while the Brown Bag program and St. Vincent de Paul outreach extend parish care to the elderly poor of the wider community.
- Adult Bible Study (Sunday 9:00 AM)
- Cursillo Group Reunions (Tuesday 7:00 PM)
- Visionaries – children (Wednesday 5:30 PM)
- Our Lady's Guild (1st Wednesday: Rosary, Novena, Mass at 11:15 AM)
- Parish Council
- Brown Bag Program – feeding the elderly poor
- St. Vincent de Paul Society – pastoral and spiritual outreach
- Hispanic Ministry / Spanish-language pastoral services
Sacraments
Arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick are made through the pastor and the parish office. The parish bulletin directs families to speak with Fr. Bruce or Deacon Mark for sacramental preparation and scheduling.
- Baptism – by arrangement with the pastor
- Marriage – by arrangement with the pastor; couples should contact the parish office
- First Communion & Confirmation – through the Fr. Nicholas School of Religion
- Anointing of the Sick – by appointment
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 3:45 PM, Sundays 30 min before Mass, or by appointment
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Joshua Altonji as Parochial Administrator (named by Bishop Steven J. Raica effective June 2, 2025), who also has care of St. Mark Catholic Church in Ashland. He follows Fr. William Lucas (Parochial Administrator, Nov. 12, 2024 – June 2025) and Fr. Thomas Reddy, Gopu, who is listed as pastor in the parish directory. Permanent Deacon Paul Mark Sullivan, himself a parishioner, was ordained here on December 2, 2000.
- Rev. Fr. Joshua Altonji – Parochial Administrator (since June 2, 2025)
- Rev. Fr. William Lucas – Parochial Administrator (Nov. 2024 – 2025)
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Reddy, Gopu – Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Paul Mark Sullivan – Permanent Deacon (ordained Dec. 2, 2000)
Visit, Contact & Office
St. John the Apostle is located at 454 North Central Avenue in Alexander City, in the same North Central Avenue / Parks Street corner where the original Vincentian chapel once stood. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Address: 454 N Central Ave, Alexander City, AL 35010
- Phone: (256) 234-3631
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Diocese listing: bhmdiocese.org/parishes/detail/tallapoosa/59
- Facebook: facebook.com/St.JohnTheApostleCatholicChurch
Deanery & Diocese
St. John the Apostle is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, listed under Tallapoosa County and sharing pastoral care for the wider east-Alabama region through its affiliated mission to St. Mark Catholic Church in Ashland (Clay County).
- Diocese of Birmingham (Bishop Steven J. Raica)
- Located in Tallapoosa County
- Shared pastoral care with St. Mark, Ashland (Clay County)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bartholomew O'Malley, C.M.1945–c.1960
Celebrated the founding Easter Sunday 1945 Mass in the Tilton home at Lake Hill and travelled from Opelika to serve the mission.
- Fr. John Hild, C.M.
Pastor of St. Mary's Opelika and Superior of the Vincentians; purchased the home at North Central & Parks that became St. Thomas Chapel.
- Fr. Tumelty
Celebrated the first English-language Mass in Alexander City on November 29, 1964.
- Fr. John Nicholas, C.M.1979 – May 4, 1997
18-year pastorate; also Vincentian Superior in east Alabama (1984–1996); added a third Sunday Mass, acquired the building for the Fr. Nicholas School of Religion, and gave the parish its first parking lot.
- Fr. Robert Stone, C.M.July 1997 –
Moved the building project forward, began the weekly Spanish Mass, started the Brown Bag feeding program for the elderly poor, and ordained Paul Mark Sullivan as permanent deacon (Dec. 2, 2000).
- Fr. Bruce Krause
Continued outreach and lay-leadership development; brought experience in Lazarus Ministries in Opelika and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Fr. Thomas Reddy, Gopu
Listed as pastor in parish directory/Mass-time listings.
- Fr. William LucasNov. 12, 2024 – June 2025
Named Parochial Administrator of St. John the Apostle (Alexander City) and St. Mark (Ashland) by Bishop Raica.
- Fr. Joshua AltonjiJune 2, 2025 –
Named Parochial Administrator by Bishop Steven J. Raica; previously at Our Lady of the Valley, Fort Payne since 2023.