About St. Philip Neri Parish · Theodore, Alabama
St. Philip Neri Parish is a Catholic parish located in the Belle Fontaine community of Theodore, Alabama, in the southern part of Mobile County. Officially founded in 1904, it traces its Catholic roots in the area back to the 1700s, when Mass was celebrated in local homes on makeshift altars, and to 1854, when Jesuit and diocesan priests began visiting the Belle Fontaine area regularly. The parish is served together with Saint Michael Mission in Heron Bay/Coden by one pastor and staff. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Mobile and sits along Dauphin Island Parkway, with easy access to the city of Mobile and to Dauphin Island.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- St. Philip Neri
- Rector
- Fr. Daniel Good, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Philip Neri is a welcoming parish rooted in more than a century of Catholic life in coastal Alabama, where 'hypocrites, sinners, saints, and normal people are always welcome.' Families find a full sacramental life — multiple Sunday Masses, daily Mass, Sunday confessions, RCIA, CCD and Confirmation preparation, and a youth group called Frassati Youth — alongside a strong service culture that includes an active Knights of Columbus council, a Blessing Box food ministry for the needy, and a daily-after-Mass fellowship called the Captivating Coffee Club. Being here means joining a tight-knit South Mobile County community that reaches from Belle Fontaine on Dauphin Island Parkway down to Heron Bay at St. Michael Mission.
Mass times at St. Philip Neri Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 3:00–4:00 PM at St. Philip
- At announced times (per parish)
- By appointment with Fr. Dan; drop-ins at the rectory are also welcome
Parish History
St. Philip Neri Parish traces its origins to the 1700s, when Mass was occasionally celebrated in local homes on makeshift altars in the Belle Fontaine community. In 1854, Jesuits and diocesan priests began visiting the area regularly, and throughout the late nineteenth century priests from the Cathedral in Mobile and from Bayou La Batre served the Belle Fontaine faithful. The parish was officially founded in 1904. Its sister community, Saint Michael Mission in Heron Bay, grew out of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (built 1895, destroyed by the 1906 hurricane), St. Timothy Church (1909), and finally the current St. Michael Church, whose first Mass was celebrated on the Epiphany, January 6, 1941, and which also served as a school and community hall.
- Catholic presence in Belle Fontaine dates to the 1700s
- Jesuits and diocesan priests began regular visits in 1854
- Parish officially founded in 1904
- St. Michael's first Mass: Epiphany (January 6), 1941
Our Parish Community
St. Philip Neri and St. Michael are two parishes of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile that share one pastor, one parish office, and one faith-formation team. They serve God's people along South Mobile County's Dauphin Island Parkway corridor, with easy access to the city of Mobile and to Dauphin Island. The parish's own mission statement is to provide the sacramental and spiritual life of the Catholic Church while building up the community of the faithful to evangelize with the Gospel of Jesus Christ — and explicitly welcomes 'hypocrites, sinners, saints, and normal people.'
- St. Philip Neri Parish (Belle Fontaine): 9101 Dauphin Island Parkway, Theodore, AL 36582
- St. Michael Mission (Heron Bay): 15872 Heron Bay Loop Road E., Coden, AL 36523
- Shared parish office and shared pastor
Parish Staff & Clergy
The pastoral team is intentionally small and close-knit. Fr. Daniel Good, JCL, serves as pastor of both St. Philip Neri and St. Michael and also manages the marriage section of the Archdiocesan Tribunal; he is the State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Deacon Sonny Scott assists with ministry, and Mary Kathryn Ladnier serves as Parish Catechetical Leader, overseeing CCD, Youth Ministry, RCIA, and Adult Faith Formation. The staff photo also includes Mr. Billy Cowart (Maintenance & Housekeeping), Mrs. Anita Cowart (Housekeeping), and Mrs. Sheila Lyons (Office Manager).
- Fr. Daniel Good, JCL — Pastor
- Deacon Sonny Scott — Deacon (Army Medic retiree, master electrician)
- Mary Kathryn Ladnier — Parish Catechetical Leader (Franciscan University of Steubenville '20)
- Mrs. Sheila Lyons — Office Manager
- Mr. Billy Cowart — Maintenance & Housekeeping
- Mrs. Anita Cowart — Housekeeping
- Leslie Shields — Parish Secretary
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation is coordinated by Parish Catechetical Leader Mary Kathryn Ladnier and covers every age and stage: Religious Education (CCD) for children, Confirmation in 11th grade, Frassati Youth for grades 7–12, Adult Faith Formation, and the parish's RCIA program for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, which meets on Monday nights at St. Philip in the Annex.
- RCIA — Monday nights, St. Philip Annex
- Confirmation — 11th grade (contact [email protected])
- Frassati Youth — grades 7–12
- Adult Faith Formation available
Baptism, Marriage & Pastoral Care
The parish welcomes the baptism of infants and children, encouraging families to contact the parish office to begin preparation, and notes that 'children are always welcome at our Masses.' Marriage preparation is handled by Fr. Daniel Good, who also manages the marriage section of the Archdiocesan Tribunal as part of his broader canonical work. Confession is offered at the scheduled Sunday hour, at announced times, by appointment with Fr. Dan, or simply by dropping by the rectory.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — coordinated through Fr. Daniel Good
- Confession — Sunday 3–4 PM, announced times, or by appointment
Parish Ministries & Organizations
A wide range of ministries serve the parish family and the wider South Mobile County community. The Blessing Box at St. Philip Neri is stocked daily with food for anyone in need, coordinated by Frank and Louise Gardner. St. Philip's Knights of Columbus Council is very active, meeting the third Monday of the month in the Parish Hall under Grand Knight William Brady. St. Michael's Altar Sodality cares for the cleaning of the church, the linens, and feast-day decorating. After every weekday Mass, the Captivating Coffee Club gathers for breakfast, fellowship, and what the parish describes as 'stimulating conversations.'
- Blessing Box (Frank & Louise Gardner)
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight William Brady
- St. Michael's Altar Sodality
- The Captivating Coffee Club (weekday mornings after Mass)
Outreach: The Blessing Box
Located on the grounds of St. Philip Neri, the Blessing Box is filled with food on a daily basis for needy families in the area. Parishioners are invited to leave a blessing when they can and take a blessing when they need one — a small, hands-on ministry of mercy that reflects the parish's broader commitment to serve the wider community beyond its walls.
- Daily restocked with food
- Open to anyone in need
- Coordinated by Frank and Louise Gardner
Visit, Contact & Get Involved
The parish office, located at St. Philip Neri (9101 Dauphin Island Parkway, Theodore, AL 36582), serves as the mailing address and point of contact for both parishes. The office can be reached at (251) 973-2096, with email [email protected]. Visitors are invited to come worship and join the journey to Jesus Christ, and newcomers looking to get involved can plug into RCIA, the Captivating Coffee Club, the Knights of Columbus, Frassati Youth, or one of the parish's other ministries.
- Parish Office: 9101 Dauphin Island Parkway, Theodore, AL 36582
- Phone: (251) 973-2096
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: stsphilipandmichael.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stphilipneriloweral