About St. Patrick · Meridian, Mississippi
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in Meridian, Mississippi, within the Diocese of Jackson. Its landmark 1886 Gothic Revival church, designed by architect Alfred Zucker, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and houses some of the finest stained glass windows in east-central Mississippi. Since 1995, St. Patrick has shared pastoral and administrative staff with the historically African-American parish of St. Joseph and St. Joseph of Cupertino at Naval Air Station Meridian, forming the Catholic Community of Meridian. The parish serves Meridian, Lauderdale County, NAS Meridian, and surrounding counties, and is enriched by Hispanic, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and other faith communities.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Reverend Augustine Palimattam Poulose
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson
Why belong here
St. Patrick welcomes all to a deeply rooted, historic Catholic community that has worshipped in the same Meridian neighborhood since 1866. Parishioners gather around the Sacraments in a beautifully preserved 1886 Gothic Revival church, send their children to the parish's own St. Patrick Catholic School (founded 1873), and grow through a robust OCIA program, PSR K–8 faith formation, a CYO youth program, and weekly devotions like Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Vespers, and the Rosary. The parish extends Christ's presence beyond its walls through its Prison Ministry at the 1,500-inmate Lost Gap Correctional Facility and outreach to homebound and hospitalized parishioners.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- First Friday of the month, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Or by appointment (call the church office)
Adoration times
- Every Thursday, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, in the St. Aloysius Chapel in the St. Patrick Parish Center
History of St. Patrick Parish
Catholic missionaries from Paulding County arrived in the Meridian area in 1853, making them among the city's earliest settlers. The first church on the present site was built in 1866 by a community of just 12 families. Father Louis Vally, the parish's first resident priest, arrived in 1868 and quickly became one of Meridian's most beloved citizens — organizing the city's first firefighter's brigade, securing land for a convent in 1877, founding St. Patrick School in 1873, and shepherding the faithful through the devastating yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Under his leadership the parish grew to more than 200 members and built the present Gothic Revival church in 1886. Father Vally was granted the rare honor of being buried beside the church, the only grave in Meridian outside a cemetery. In 1995, under Rev. Elvin Sunds, St. Patrick joined with St. Joseph and St. Joseph of Cupertino NAS to form the Catholic Community of Meridian, sharing pastoral and administrative staff.
- Missionaries arrived in Meridian: 1853
- First church built on present site: 1866
- First resident pastor, Fr. Louis Vally, arrived: 1868
- Parish school opened: 1873
- Land acquired for convent: 1877
- Current Gothic Revival church built: 1886
- Father Vally died and was buried beside the church (only such grave in Meridian)
- Church added to the National Register of Historic Places: December 18, 1979
- Catholic Community of Meridian formed: 1995
The Church Building
The present St. Patrick church was designed in 1886 by German-American architect Alfred J.R.E. Zucker of Vicksburg, working with George S. Covert. It is a modified cruciform brick structure in the Gothic Revival style, with a striking four-story square entrance tower featuring a round-arch balustrade, lancet stained glass windows set in compound pointed arches in slightly recessed bays, and what many consider the finest collection of stained glass in east-central Mississippi — depicting various saints, events, and figures in the history of the Church. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
- Architect: Alfred J.R.E. Zucker (with George S. Covert)
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Material: brick; modified cruciform plan
- Four-story square entrance tower with round-arch balustrade
- Lancet stained glass windows in compound pointed arches
- NRHP reference No. 79003403 (added December 18, 1979)
- Cornerstone contains a rock from 9th-century St. Andreu's Church, Lavandieu, France
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
St. Patrick offers a full weekly Mass schedule in the church itself, with bilingual (English/Spanish) celebrations on Sundays and weekday Masses celebrated both in the church and in the St. Aloysius Chapel inside the St. Patrick Parish Center. The parish holds a First Friday Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick and offers generous opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Vespers, and the Rosary. Confessions are heard 30 minutes before every Mass, with additional times on First Fridays and Saturday afternoons, or by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM (English) and 3:00 PM (Spanish / Bi-Lingual)
- Weekday Masses: Wed 12:05 PM, Thu 8:30 AM, Fri 12:05 PM (church); Wed/Thu also in St. Aloysius Chapel
- First Friday Healing Mass: 12:05 PM in St. Patrick Church
- Adoration: Thursdays 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, St. Aloysius Chapel
- Divine Mercy Chaplet: Mon–Fri 3:00 PM (call-in 769-206-1927)
- Vespers and Rosary: Mon–Fri 4:45 PM (call-in 769-206-1927)
- Confession: 30 min before every Mass; First Friday 11 AM–12 PM; Sat 4:00–4:45 PM; or by appointment
- Children's Church during 11 AM Sunday Mass
Faith Formation & OCIA
The Catholic Community of Meridian offers a complete continuum of Catholic faith formation — from the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for newcomers and returning Catholics, through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children in K–8, to Confirmation preparation for teens in grades 9–12.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults): Sundays 9:00–10:30 AM, Father Vally Room, St. Patrick Parish Center; runs September through Pentecost. Coordinator: Ken Woodward, 601-693-1321 ext 5.
- PSR K–8th Grade: John Harwell, 601-693-1321 ext 9
- PSR 9th–12th Grades and Confirmation: Angela Dove, 601-436-6025
- Open to unbaptized, Christians from other traditions, returning Catholics, and Catholics completing the Sacraments of Initiation
Youth & Scouting
Middle and high school youth gather through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), whose members and families are invited to a monthly Youth Mass on the 3rd Sunday at 11:00 AM in St. Patrick Church. The parish also sponsors scouting programs, with several older youth having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
- CYO (grades 6–12): monthly Youth Mass on the 3rd Sunday at the 11 AM Mass
- Cub Scouts (grades K–5, boys and girls) — being restarted after COVID dormancy
- Boy Scouts (boys grades 6–12) — several Eagle Scout alumni
- Contact: John Harwell, [email protected], 601-693-1321 ext 9
St. Patrick Catholic School
St. Patrick Catholic School has ministered to students of all faiths since 1873, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic schools in Mississippi. Originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, with separate boys' and girls' schools merged into a coeducational K–12 institution in 1924, it is today a preK–6 school rooted in the parish's longstanding Catholic tradition. The mission is to provide all children with a Catholic education grounded in high academic standards integrated with Christian values in a safe, diverse environment.
- Founded: 1873 (one of Mississippi's oldest Catholic schools)
- Staffed for much of its history by the Sisters of Mercy
- Boys' and girls' schools merged in 1924
- Current grades: preK–6
- Principal: Rob Calcote (601-482-6044, [email protected])
- Summer office hours: 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (Mon–Thu)
- Scrip gift-card program supports the school
- Website: www.stpatrickcatholicschool.org
Outreach: Prison, Hospital & Homebound
St. Patrick reaches beyond its walls through an active Prison Ministry that brings the Word of God and the Eucharist to inmates at the Lost Gap Correctional Facility, which houses 1,500 inmates. The parish also maintains a Hospital and Homebound Ministry, with trained ministers willing to pray with parishioners in hospitals, nursing facilities, and assisted living centers in accordance with each facility's guidelines.
- St. Patrick Prison Ministry — Lost Gap Correctional Facility (1,500 inmates); contact John Maloney (601-527-3493) or Ken Woodward (601-693-1321 ext 5)
- Hospital visits — notify the parish office so ministers can pray with parishioners
- Homebound, nursing-facility, and assisted-living visits available on request
- Parish emergency line for medical emergencies
Parish Staff & Clergy
The Catholic Community of Meridian is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, and a team of lay staff managing parish office, school, faith formation, youth, and OCIA ministries.
- Father Augustine Palimattam Poulose — Pastor (601-693-1321 ext 7)
- Father Carlisle Beggerly — Parochial Vicar (601-693-1321 ext 6)
- Kenneth Woodward — OCIA Coordinator (ext 5)
- Mary Davis — Accountant (ext 4)
- Adrian Viger (M&W) / Edna Blanks (T) / Debbie Routt (Th) / Frank & Carolyn Sharp (F) — Receptionist (ext 3)
- Angela Dove — Youth Director / PSR 9–12 / Confirmation (601-436-6025; ext 8)
- Rob Calcote — Principal, St. Patrick Catholic School (601-482-6044)
- John Harwell — Office Manager / PSR K–8 / POC Administrator (ext 9)
Giving & Parish Life
Parishioners can support the Catholic Community of Meridian and St. Patrick School by mail, online, or through Scrip gift cards. Contributions and gifts of any size to the school are welcomed and appreciated.
- Online giving link on catholicmeridian.org homepage
- Mail contributions to St. Patrick Church (PO Box 529, Meridian, MS 39302), St. Joseph Church (PO Box 532, Meridian, MS 39302), or the Parish Office (2601 Davis Street, Meridian, MS 39301)
- School donations online at stpatrickcatholicschool.org or by mail to St. Patrick School, 2700 Davis Street, Meridian, MS 39301
- Scrip gift cards available — school earns a percentage of each sale
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Parish bulletin by email: https://parishesonline.com/organization/st-patrick-church-39301
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Louis Vally1868–
First resident pastor (arrived 1868). Organized Meridian's first firefighter's brigade, obtained the convent land in 1877, opened St. Patrick School in 1873, built the present Gothic Revival church in 1886, and ministered through the 1878 yellow fever epidemic. Buried next to the church — the only grave in Meridian outside a cemetery.
- Rev. Elvin Sunds1995–
Appointed pastor in 1995; under his leadership St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and St. Joseph of Cupertino NAS formed the Catholic Community of Meridian.
- Rev. Matthew Simmons
Pastor at the time of a 2017 Meridian Star profile of the parish.