The parking lot of St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Catholic Church on North Grand Boulevard was full by 9:30 a.m. last Sunday for the installation service of Rev. Royce M. Thomas, C.Ss.R. So were the surrounding streets. A makeshift parking lot was created in the grass to accommodate the full sanctuary.
“I used to play in this grass fifty years ago,” William “Billy” Doss said as he made his way inside to find a seat.
He hadn’t been to the Rock in a while, but when he saw on Facebook that the parish was welcoming its second Black pastor priest in its 160-year history, he knew he needed to be there. “My brother said that he had been here since last year, but I came anyway because this is important,” Doss said…