About St. Louis · Tallahassee, Florida
St. Louis Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 3640 Fred George Road in Tallahassee, Florida, serving the northwest part of the city. It is a parish of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, named after Saint Louis IX, King of France (1226–1270), a devout monarch known for his judicial reforms and his leadership during the Seventh and Eighth Crusades. The parish community worships in English, Spanish, and Korean, offering Mass in all three languages each week, and hosts a broad network of faith formation programs, Bible studies, lay ministries, and parish organizations for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Saint Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Father Alberic Lazerna (current); previously served under Father Craig Smith
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Louis Catholic Church is a warm, mid-sized Tallahassee parish whose life is marked by an unusually wide range of lay-led ministries — multiple Bible study groups, English and Spanish Tracks of faith formation, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a music ministry, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Emmaus retreats, and youth and family programs. The parish is also notably multilingual, with regular Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, and Korean, so newcomers from those communities find a familiar liturgical home. Active outreach through service organizations and parish fundraisers, together with the 1985 sanctuary and 2009 Mack Shook Parish Hall, give the community both a settled campus and a steady rhythm of formation, prayer, and service.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (chapel, by ministry sign-up)
Parish History
St. Louis Catholic Church was founded in October 1979 by Bishop René Gracida of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, with Father Dave McCreanor named the first pastor. With no building of its own, the new community first gathered for Mass at Talquin Electric and then spent the next six years (until 1985) celebrating the liturgy at Capital Cinemas, a local movie theater. In 1985 the parish built its own church on Fred George Road as an all-purpose worship hall, and by the 2010s the sanctuary had been completed with permanent pews, Stations of the Cross, votive candles, and a crucifix portrait of Jesus with a stained-glass window above the altar. In 2009, growing membership required more space, and the Deacon Mack Shook Parish Hall was added and named after a deceased deacon of the parish.
- Founded October 1979 by Bishop René Gracida
- First pastor: Fr. Dave McCreanor
- Early worship sites: Talquin Electric offices, then Capital Cinemas (1979–1985)
- First permanent church built in 1985
- Deacon Mack Shook Parish Hall added in 2009
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs Religious Education classes (CCD) for grades 1 through 12 during the school year, built around four goals: proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ, building community, leading students to worship and prayer, and motivating them to serve others. The bilingual O.I.C.A. (Orden de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos) program prepares unbaptized adults, baptized non-Catholics, and Catholics seeking Communion or Confirmation for full initiation into the Church.
- Religious Education / CCD (1st–12th grade)
- Educación Religiosa para Niños (1.º a 12.º grado)
- O.I.C.A. — Spanish-language adult Christian initiation
- Volunteer catechists from the parish community
Bible Studies & Prayer Workshops
Scripture study is a major part of parish life. The Catholic Bible Fellowship offers Wednesday evening and Thursday morning sessions using materials written by Catholic scripture scholars, with childcare at the morning session. The Men's Monday Morning Bible Study — described as the oldest ministry at St. Louis — gathers about 25 men weekly to share reflections on the coming Sunday readings. The Talleres de Oración y Vida (Prayer and Life Workshops) run 15 sessions twice a year in both English and Spanish.
- Catholic Bible Fellowship — Wed evening & Thu morning
- Men's Monday Morning Bible Study (oldest ministry)
- Talleres de Oración y Vida (English & Spanish)
- Temas Bíblicos (Spanish Bible topics)
Liturgical Ministries
St. Louis relies on a strong corps of lay liturgical ministers: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers (ages 10 and up), Sunday Sacristans and holiday volunteers. The Music Ministry leads worship at all weekend liturgies, feast days, and special holy days and is recruiting drummers, guitarists, and bass players (music reading required).
- Lectors / Lectores (auditioned, monthly readings)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (age 10+) and Sacristans
- Music Ministry — adult choir and instrumentalists
Parish Life & Service Organizations
Beyond formation and liturgy, the parish offers a large network of small groups and service organizations that meet weekly on campus — including the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Emmaus Retreats, Friends of Jesus and Mary, Caminando con María, the Cenáculo Contemplativo de la Divina Misericordia, Grupo de Oración Fe y Esperanza, Grupo Amen, CODA Nueva Amanecer, Abraham y Sarah Ministerio, La Divina Voluntad, Disciples in Motion, Marriages in Victory, and Rosario de la Aurora. The Camillus Casserole Project (a St. Vincent de Paul food initiative) is one of the parish's regular outreach efforts.
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary / Legión de María
- Emmaus Retreats / Retiros Emaús
- Friends of Jesus and Mary / Amigos de Jesús y María
- Camillus Casserole Project (St. Vincent de Paul food outreach)
- Life in the Spirit Seminar / Seminarios de Vida en el Espíritu
Youth & Family
Children, teens, and families have dedicated gathering points on campus, including the Youth Room and Youth Center used by Edge Middle School Ministry and the New Life Youth Group, and the Family Center used for Men's Prayer Muffin and women's Prayer Muffin Breakfasts. The parish also offers a Marriage Covenant ministry (Convenio y Alianza Matrimonial) and BYOB (Bring Your Own Burdens) for shared faith-sharing.
- Edge Youth Group (middle school)
- New Life Youth Group (high school)
- Prayer Muffin Breakfast — Men & Women
- Convenio y Alianza Matrimonial (marriage ministry)
- BYOB — Bring Your Own Burdens
Spiritual Life & Devotions
The parish's devotional life centers on Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, Centering Prayer, the Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and weekly devotions such as the Legion of Mary Rosary (Sunday 9:15 AM), Holy Hour for Life (Monday 7:00 PM), and the Spanish Hora Santa. A regular Life in the Spirit Seminar is offered as a multi-week retreat experience.
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (chapel)
- Centering Prayer Group
- Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Life in the Spirit Seminar / Seminarios de Vida en el Espíritu
- Rosary, Holy Hour for Life, Hora Santa
Campus & Facilities
The parish campus at 3640 Fred George Road consists of the 1985 all-purpose church (now finished with permanent pews, Stations of the Cross, candles, and a crucifix portrait beneath a stained-glass window), the 2009 Deacon Mack Shook Parish Hall with meeting and classroom space, and rooms that appear on the weekly bulletin as Hospitality A, B, C, the Assembly Hall, Lecture Hall, Youth Room, Family Center, Youth Center, and Main Sanctuary. The chapel on campus hosts Perpetual Adoration.
- 1985 main church (with pews, Stations of the Cross, stained glass)
- 2009 Deacon Mack Shook Parish Hall
- Adoration Chapel
- Meeting rooms: Hospitality A/B/C, Assembly Hall, Lecture Hall, Youth Room, Family Center
Visiting & Contact
St. Louis Catholic Church is at 3640 Fred George Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303, in the northwest part of the city. The parish office can be reached at (850) 562-5140. The community worships in English, Spanish, and Korean, and welcomes new parishioners and visitors to its weekend Masses and weekday devotions.
- Address: 3640 Fred George Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303
- Phone: (850) 562-5140
- Website: http://www.stlouiscatholicchurch.org/
- Diocese: Pensacola–Tallahassee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dave McCreanor1979–
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop René Gracida; led the parish from its start at Talquin Electric offices and then Capital Cinemas until the 1985 church was built.
- Rev. Paul Stewart
Second pastor of St. Louis.
- Rev. Kevin Johnson2000–2012
Third pastor; oversaw the 2009 construction of the Deacon Mack Shook Parish Hall.
- Rev. Craig Smith2012–
Fourth pastor; ordained 2005 for the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, formerly an Air Force crew chief on F-111 and F-15 aircraft, served at Good Shepherd and St. Mary (Ft. Walton Beach) before St. Louis. Currently pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church.