Bama Catholic

St. Francis of Assisi University Parish and Student Center - University of Alabama In September 1918 Fr. Thomas Lenahan came to Tuscaloosa as the pastor of St. John Catholic Church. In 1923 Fr. Lenahan established the first Newman Club for Catholic Students at the University of Alabama using his mother' s house as the first Catholic Student Center. In 1929 St. Francis Chapel was erected under the leadership of Fr. A.J. Hackett. A new student center was built in 1960. St. Sophie' s Chapel replaced St. Francis Chapel in 1974. Full parish status was granted to St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in January 1982. In 1985 the Mulvoy Education Building was added to the St. Francis campus. In 1993 the parish expanded the Social Hall and the Student Center added a Choir Room to the church and added a new wing of classrooms. A new playground area was added in 1995. A new rectory was acquired in 2007 and renovation of the Student Center and Parish Offices was completed in 2008. Ground breaking for a new church building was held in November 2011. At the completion of the new church the present church building will be renovated for a new student center.