St. John the Evangelist
THE CATHOLIC TRADITION IN OZARK, ALABAMA
Ozark is located in the heart of the "Bible Belt," an area populated almost entirely by Baptist and Methodists. St. John's Church has 230 Catholic families, primarily from other areas of the United States, coming through the United States Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker.
During the war, in the early 1940's, Father Cauley was pastor of Saint Columbia's in Dothan. Many of the Army personnel at Fort Rucker were Catholic. Father Cauley came to Ozark to celebrate Mass in the community house, now known as Perry Recreation Center. The attendance was 200 people, nearly all from the military. After the war, the military personnel diminished. Father Cauley then purchased a small frame house on Union Street where he celebrated Mass with an attendance of several couples, five locals and two from Enterprise.
In 1954, Fort Rucker was reactived and a number of Catholics came to the area. Mass was once again moved to the community house to accommodate the increase in numbers. Father William Jones was pastor in Dothan at this time. He felt that Ozark was ready to build a church in order to house the growing congregation. The house would be sold to raise funds for the new building, which would cost approximately $25,000.
Father Jones purchased the land, which is the site of our present's church. He also instituted a fundraising drive and raised $5,000. Ten thousand dollars was donated by Catholic Extension Society.
The construction of St. John's Church was started in March 1957, and the first Mass was celebrated there in December, 1957. The church was completely finished in April 1958, and dedicated by Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen, April 20, 1958. Dothan continued to serve St. John's Ozark, and the Catholics of Dale and Coffee counties.
On November 14, 1963, Ozark was made a parish and Father Maher was the first resident pastor. Dale, Coffee, and Geneva counties comprised the parish.
After building the church, it was soon evident that a parish hall was needed to hold religious education and parish meetings. The present hall was built in 1960 at a cost of $18,000.
Father Maher lived in a parish hall room for several years until a rectory was built in 1967. The parish secured a loan to build the $40,000 structure.
Enterprise became a separate parish in 1968, which included Coffee and Geneva counties. Ozark had only Dale county at this time, Father Maher became the pastor of the Enterprise parish and Father Peter Cunningham succeed Father Maher at Ozark. Father Cunningham stayed in Ozark for four years and Father Barry Desmond succeed him in 1972.
During Father Desmond's stay, the debt for the rectory and the church was fully paid. Due to illness, Father Michael Kelly succeeded Father Desmond in December 1980.
Father Kelly began restoration of the sanctuary in March, 1982. It was completed in time for the Easter celebration in 1982. The sanctuary was fully done in marble, and the rear wall displays the risen Christ. Shortly after this, the entire church was carpeted, the main entrance doors replaced, and the sacristy door and entrance repaired.
Plans for a brick Religious Education building began formulating September, 1984. The building construction was started in April of 1985, and completed in August, 1985. The Religious Education Building was dedicated on August 18, 1985. Classes officially began in September, 1985. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Grades K through 12 was accommodated each Sunday morning ands a room for a Religious Education director was also utilized. The building was constructed at a cost of $70,000. A grant of $30,000 was received from Catholic Extension Society , which was paid off in 1990.
Father Kelly was succeeded by Father David McGinnis in 1987. Father McGinnis implemented the R.I.C.A. program and reorganized the adult education program. During the time Father McGinnis was with our parish, the Religious Education Building's mortgage was paid off. Father McGinnis was succeed by Father Brendan J. Keller, and Father Keller was followed by Father Charles McCabe, who was followed by Father Paul Egbe. Our present pastor is Father Fred Boni