About St. Patrick · Phenix City, Alabama
St. Patrick Catholic Church in Phenix City, Alabama is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish serving Catholics in Russell County and the greater Columbus, Georgia–Phenix City area. Founded in 1911 by the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission) at the invitation of the Bishop of Mobile, it was the first Catholic church established in Russell County. The parish runs a parish school (currently housed in the former Cenacle residence after a 2010 fire destroyed the school building), a CCD Religious Education program, and the Lazarus Outreach Center, a food and assistance ministry at 607 16th Street. Weekly Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish shares pastoral care of nearby Mother Mary Catholic Church in Phenix City.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Jose J. Paillacho
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is the spiritual home for a bilingual Catholic community in Phenix City — a long-established Vincentian parish (since 1911) that offers weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, weekday Mass with extended Adoration on Wednesdays, the Sacraments of Initiation for children through CCD, RCIA/RICA for adults, and a robust roster of ministries. The parish runs the Lazarus Outreach Center to help neighbors in need, maintains an active Religious Education program, and welcomes volunteers as catechists, choir members, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, and council members. Worshippers looking for an historic parish with deep local roots and a living Hispanic ministry will find a warm, multigenerational home here.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday following the 12:05 PM Mass until 6:30 PM
Our Church History / Historia de Nuestra Parroquia
Before 1911, Catholics in Phenix City were ministered from Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus, Georgia. The history of St. Patrick's begins with the 1910 invitation from the Bishop of Mobile to the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission) to serve central-east Alabama, and with Rev. Thomas McDonald, C.M., who was inspired to found the parish while giving a mission in Columbus. Construction began July 25, 1911, on a lot donated by Rev. P. McKenna, C.M., and Bishop Allen dedicated the completed church on November 5, 1911. The parish has weathered 1918–19 Spanish flu relief work, a 17-year pastorate under Rev. James Salway, C.M. (1936–1954), the building of two Parish Halls (the second dedicated January 9, 1982, by Rev. Michael Kennedy, C.M.), and most recently the reopening of the school by Rev. Thomas D. Weise (arrived June 8, 1997) and the destruction of the school by fire on January 15, 2010 — followed by a four-day relaunch in the Cenacle.
- Construction of original church: July 25 – November 5, 1911
- First Catholic School in Phenix City opened July 1916 (later St. Patrick's Academy)
- First Parish Hall and first Virgin Mary shrine in the region, under Rev. James Salway, C.M. (1936–1954)
- New Parish Hall built 1981; dedicated January 9, 1982, by Rev. Michael Kennedy, C.M.
- Rev. Thomas D. Weise arrived June 8, 1997; reopened the school in 1999
- School destroyed by fire January 15, 2010; reopened in the Cenacle on January 19, 2010
- Centennial Memory Book available from the parish for fuller historical detail
Sacraments and Sacramentals
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments, with preparation programs for children and adults in both English and Spanish. Reconciliation and First Eucharist are typically received in 2nd grade through the CCD program; Confirmation is celebrated every two years for students in 11th grade, per Archdiocese of Mobile policy. Spanish-language baptism classes meet the first Sunday of each month at 11:00 AM in the parish hall.
- Baptism — pre-baptism class required (Spanish class first Sunday of the month, 11 AM, parish hall)
- Reconciliation / Confession — Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM or by appointment
- First Eucharist — preparation in CCD, usually 2nd grade
- Confirmation — every 2 years, 11th grade (Archdiocese of Mobile requirement)
- Anointing of the Sick — available on request; Communion brought to the homebound by Eucharistic ministers
- Matrimony — at least 6 months of preparation required by diocesan regulation
- RCIA / RICA — adult initiation; meet with a priest to begin
- Quinceañeras and Presentations — at least 6 months' notice; First Communion and Confirmation/sacramental prep required
Lazarus Outreach Center / Centro de Outreach San Lázaro
The parish's flagship social ministry is the Lazarus Outreach Center — 'Helping others help themselves.' Housed at 607 16th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867, it operates as the parish's food and assistance hub for neighbors in need. Volunteers can call (706) 315-7689 to get involved.
- Address: 607 16th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867
- Phone: (706) 315-7689
- Tagline: 'Helping others help themselves'
- Volunteers welcomed; listed under the parish's service opportunities
Parish School
St. Patrick's School is the parish's Catholic school, with roots in the original Catholic school that opened in Phenix City in July 1916 and later operated as St. Patrick's Academy. After the school building was destroyed by fire on January 15, 2010, classes resumed just four days later in the Cenacle (the former nuns' residence), a building next to the school still on parish property. A fund-raising campaign is active to rebuild the school and worship space with funds beyond what insurance provided for the total loss.
- Original school opened July 1916; later known as St. Patrick's Academy
- Closed 1994–1999; reopened under Rev. Thomas D. Weise
- School building destroyed by fire January 15, 2010
- Reopened in the Cenacle on January 19, 2010
- Active rebuild/worship-space campaign underway
Faith Formation / CCD and RCIA
Religious Education for children runs through the CCD program — preparation for Reconciliation and Eucharist typically begins in 2nd grade. Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church are served through RCIA (RICA in Spanish), with arrangements made directly with the pastor. Quinceañera and Presentation preparation is offered for youth with appropriate prior reception of the other sacraments.
- CCD — Religious Education Program (children)
- First Reconciliation/Eucharist preparation (2nd grade through CCD)
- Confirmation preparation (every 2 years; 11th grade)
- RCIA / RICA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Volunteer Opportunities and Parish Leadership
The parish offers a broad volunteer menu for adults and youth: liturgical roles (catechists, musicians and choir, acolytes/altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers/greeters), practical roles (cooks, maintenance helpers, church-cleaning), and governance roles (Parish Council, Parish Finance Committee). A Time and Talent Assessment is available for parishioners who want to discern where to serve.
- Catechists, musicians and choir members
- Acolytes / Altar servers
- Lectors, Eucharistic ministers
- Ushers / Greeters
- Cooks, maintenance helpers, church-cleaning volunteers
- Parish Council and Parish Finance Committee
- Time and Talent Assessment offered
Mass in Spanish / Ministerio Hispano
A central part of the parish's identity is its bilingual ministry. Spanish-language Masses are offered on Saturday evening (7:00 PM), Sunday morning (9:30 AM), and Wednesday evening (7:00 PM). Spanish-speaking sacramental preparation is offered — including pre-baptismal classes, matrimony preparation, quinceañera planning, and RICA — and the parish greets Spanish-speaking visitors with a warm bienvenuda on its homepage.
- Saturday 7:00 PM (Spanish Vigil)
- Sunday 9:30 AM (Spanish)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Pre-baptism class in Spanish: first Sunday of the month, 11 AM, parish hall
- Matrimony preparation in Spanish (6-month diocesan requirement)
- Quinceañera and Presentation ministry in Spanish
- RICA (Spanish RCIA)
Prayer Resources and Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and Confession schedule, the parish supports prayer life through weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration (after the 12:05 PM Mass until 6:30 PM) and a Prayer Resources page on the website for prayers, reflections, and spiritual reading.
- Wednesday Adoration: follows 12:05 PM Mass until 6:30 PM
- Prayer Resources page (prayers, reflections, spiritual reading)
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (334) 298-9025 or by email at [email protected]. The Lazarus Outreach Center has its own phone line, (706) 315-7689. The parish invites families to worship with them and to contact the office for sacramental needs, appointments, or to learn more about getting involved.
- Parish office: (334) 298-9025
- Email: [email protected]
- Lazarus Outreach: (706) 315-7689
- Address: 1502 Broad Street, Phenix City, AL 36867
- Website: https://stpatsphenixcity.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas McDonald, C.M.1911–
Vincentian founder of the parish; inspired to establish it while giving a parish mission at Holy Family, Columbus, GA.
- Rev. P. McKenna, C.M.1911
Donated the lot on which the original church was built.
- Father Judge, C.M.from 1915
Head of the East Alabama Mission; recruited lay women to staff the first Catholic School in Phenix City (opened July 1916).
- Rev. James Salway, C.M.1936–1954
Long-serving pastor (17 years); built the first Parish Hall and erected the first shrine to the Virgin Mary in this part of the South.
- Rev. Michael Kennedy, C.M.dedicated hall Jan 9, 1982
Dedicated the new (1981) Parish Hall on January 9, 1982.
- Rev. Thomas D. Weisesince June 8, 1997
Reopened St. Patrick's School (1999) after it had been closed since 1994; led the parish through the January 15, 2010 school fire and rapid relocation to the Cenacle.