The Early Years

For over a century, Catholic residents of Spring Hill gathered for Mass at the Spring Hill College chapel. Established in 1830, the college’s Jesuit priests served not only their students but also the growing Catholic community in the surrounding area.

The transition toward a formal parish began in earnest in 1937, when Father Andrew Fox, S.J., was assigned full-time to the "quasi-parish." A decade later, in 1947, Archbishop Toolen officially raised the community to a full parish under the continued care of the Jesuits. In honor of this heritage, the parish was named for St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order).

St. Augustine Mission

Between 1938 and 1940, Fr. Andrew Fox, S.J., expanded the parish’s reach by establishing the St. Augustine Mission at the corner of North McGregor Avenue and Spring Hill Extension. Specifically founded to minister to African American Catholics in the Spring Hill area, the mission featured a unique church constructed of logs. For nearly thirty years, St. Augustine served as a distinct center of faith and community. In 1967, Archbishop Toolen closed the mission, and its vibrant membership officially merged with St. Ignatius Parish, bringing the two communities together as one.

St. Ignatius School Established

The parish reached a significant milestone in 1952 with the purchase of the McConnell property, located at the corner of Spring Hill Avenue and Tuthill Lane. That same year, St. Ignatius School was officially established, beginning its first chapters within the walls of the old McConnell house.

The school’s early days were a model of resourceful growth: three classrooms occupied the first floor, while the second floor was converted into a convent for the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Mary Marcella, R.S.M., served as the school’s first principal, leading the institution through its inaugural year. The school's success was immediate; by 1953, the first unit of a dedicated classroom building was constructed, followed by further expansions in 1955, 1956, and 1966 to accommodate the growing student body.

The McConnell House was the first building on campus and housed the first school classrooms.

The Campus Grows

Parishioners continued to attend Mass at Spring Hill College until 1955 when they built a multi-purpose building (the current parish youth center) for use as a church, among other things. The building was enlarged in 1959 to provide seating capacity of 250. In 1958, a rectory was built which was later expanded to serve as a convent for the Sisters of Mercy, and even later, as a rectory and parish office.

A kindergarten (the current Marian Center) was built in 1965. In the same year, construction of the gymnasium was begun. After construction, Masses were moved from the all purpose building to the west end of the gym (the current cafeteria).

In 1977, Father Harry Crane, S.J., parish pastor, oversaw the construction of a new church building, which was dedicated in 1978, by Bishop John May. This church was expanded in 1986 during the pastorship of Msgr. Warren Wall. The school constructed a two-story educational building (the current middle school), also in 1986.
 

Transitions

The early 1980s brought significant changes to the leadership of both the school and the parish. In 1980, after nearly three decades of dedicated service, the Sisters of Mercy concluded their tenure at St. Ignatius School. This paved the way for a new era of lay leadership, as Jan Murray was appointed the school’s first lay principal, leading an entirely lay staff.

A similar transition occurred within the parish administration the following year. In July 1981, the Jesuits, who had shepherded the community since its founding, turned over the administration of the parish to the Archdiocese of Mobile. Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb subsequently appointed Msgr. Michael McGuiness as the first archdiocesan pastor of St. Ignatius, beginning a new chapter in the parish’s history.

Land Acquisition

Continuing its commitment to growth, the parish acquired property to the north during the 1990s. This land became the site of a two-story elementary school building, the Murray Building, which officially opened its doors in 2001.

The expansion of the campus also focused on community and athletic life. The parish purchased additional land bounded by Knowles Street to the west, which was developed into Loyola Lawn, a dedicated athletic field and green space for students and parishioners. Most recently, in 2018, the parish’s physical footprint grew again with the purchase of a residence on Knowles Street, which now serves as a parish rectory.

In addition, the parish acquired a five-acre tract of land west of Knowles Street. This significant addition is currently being envisioned as the future site of a parish cemetery, ensuring a sacred resting place for generations of St. Ignatius families to come.

A Re-envisioning: 

Beginning in 2016, our parish Master Plan set a course for significant renewal. This vision included the construction of a new church and the conversion of our former sanctuary into a parish hall. Following the 2019 demolition of aging classrooms from the 1950s and 60s, construction on the new sanctuary immediately commenced.

On April 25, 2021, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi dedicated the finished church. This neo-Gothic masterpiece was designed to house historic stained glass from the old St. Joseph parish in downtown Mobile, featuring traditional elements like a brick façade, buttresses, and a slate roof.

The campus transformation reached several major milestones in 2025 with the opening of the new Early Learning Center (ELC). As part of this expansion, the original PK house is currently being renovated to serve as a dedicated ELC Nursery, providing specialized care for our youngest parishioners. Further updates during this period also included significant renovations to the Frassati youth center.

A central piece of the Master Plan, the repurposing of the original church into a spacious parish hall, saw its first phase successfully completed in 2025. This initial stage has already begun to serve the community, while Phase 2 of the development is currently underway to further enhance the hall's facilities and capacity.