Our History

            The Catholic people of Toulminville, before the original church was built, were attended by Jesuit Fathers from Spring Hill College and priests from the Cathedral.
            Under the direction of Bishop John Quinlan, Father Edward Kirwan, founder of St. Bridget Church in 1867 at Whistler, ministered to the mission. On May 6, 1868, Rosalie and Louis Wagner sold property on St. Stephen’s Road to Bishop Quinlan for $100.00.
            The Mobile Daily Register dated May 27, 1868, noted “the cornerstone of a Catholic Church on the St. Stephens Road near Wagner’s was laid several days since.” A later article stated, “… St. Francis Xavier Church in Toulminville, now a part of the city of Mobile [was] founded in 1868 when the congregation consisted of about sixty members…”
            In 1869, a parish school was established and during most of its short span of five years had an average of twenty-five scholars. On July 13, 1875, additional land was purchased from the Wagners. The present rectory rests upon this property.
            Other priests from St. Bridget Parish and St. Mary Parish in Mobile assigned to the mission were Fathers Edward Lorigan, David O’Meara, Abram Ryan, Robert Fullerton, and Patrick O’Reilly.
            In 1888, Father John Cassidy was assigned to St. Bridget in Whistler which still served Toulminville. A decade later he was named Toulminville’s first resident pastor. A June 23, 1902, article in The Mobile Herald concerning Father Cassidy’s death noted, “…a short time ago the beautiful little church at Toulminville, a monument to Father Cassidy’s untiring efforts, was dedicated with all the ceremony of the Church. Right Reverend Bishop Allen officiating.”
            In early 1903, Father Phillip English was assigned as pastor. He also served a station at Magazine Point in Mobile County and the stations along the Mobile and Kansas City Railroad. He was followed by Father Edward Shea until October 30, 1915.
            Early the next year, Father I.J. Lauzon became pastor and was confronted with destruction of the historic little church by the July 5, 1916, hurricane. Father Lauzon and his parishioners rebuilt the church that same year. He continued as pastor until Father Paul Leonard was appointed on June 26, 1919.
            In 1927, Father Thomas Cassidy was named shepherd of the parish by Bishop Thomas Toolen. In 1938, Father Joseph Gahan arrived and served as pastor for over twenty years. During his pastorate, a new rectory was built in 1940. The parish hall was constructed in 1951.
            For the next twelve years the parish was served by Msgr. Anthony McDevitt (1961-1964), Father Thomas Lorigan, (1964-1965), Father Theodore Hay (1965-1968), and Msgr. William James (1968). During Father Kenneth Klepac’s pastorate (1971-1973), the parish council drafted its first Constitution and By-Laws.
            Father Coman Dalton was appointed the thirteenth pastor on July 15, 1973, followed by Father Francis Messing on February 1, 1977, and in 1980, Father Thomas Weise. 
            Father Thomas Usher arrived in 1986 and started the Gospel Mass, as well as the building of the present rectory, which was dedicated in June of 1993. The Youth Activity Center opened in 1994.
            In 1994, the Josephites took over the pastoral care of the church with Brother Ricardo Gourrier, S.S.J, Administrator; they remained until June 30, 2000.
            On January 1, 2000, Father Anietie Akama Ukanide, M.S.P., was named associate pastor to begin the process of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria taking charge of the parish. On July 1, 2000, Father Ukanide, M.S.P., became pastor. Father Paul Asih, M.S.P. was pastor from 2005 to 2007. Father Ukanide, M.S.P. returned in 2007. As of 2023, the current pastor is Father Victor Ingalls.