Day-long event provides forum for discussion, connecting

Ripley Choir: The youth choir from Glenmary’s St. Matthew mission in Ripley, Miss., performed at the Celebration of Catholicism on Nov. 10. The group has recorded a Spanish-language CD, “Es Tu Canto Señor” (“It’s Your Song Lord”), which is available for $15 by contacting Sister Kate Regan at 662.837.8391 or kregan@glenmary.org. Proceeds from the CD will benefit the mission’s building fund for their new church. Photo/Fabvienen Taylor, The Mississippi Catholic

Over 100 people gathered Nov. 10 at St. James Church in Tupelo to “Celebrate Catholicism in Northeast Mississippi.”

The unique day-long event was facilitated by Sister Mary Jean Morris, pastoral coordinator of Glenmary’s mission in Bruce, Miss. Sister Florita Rodman and Jerry Woods, who have worked with Glenmary in the past as a pastoral coordinator and pastoral associate, respectively, were instrumental in organizing and planning the event.

The purpose of the gathering, according to Sister Mary Jean, was to create a forum that would provide information as well as offer an opportunity for Catholics of the region to get to know one another and share what it’s like to be members of the Catholic minority.

In this rural area of Mississippi, Sister Mary Jean says the Catholic parishes—eight of the 14 are Glenmary missions—are very small and the members don’t have many opportunities to meet other Catholics due to the distance between the churches. By the end of the day on Nov. 10, that was no longer the case as connections were made!

The day included four panel presentations as well as an opportunity for small group discussion.
There are many things these parishes and missions have in common, most especially the lack of a resident pastor. Most are served by lay professional ministers and priests who travel from mission to mission serving as sacramental ministers.

Susan Sweet, pastoral associate at Glenmary’s St. Francis of Assisi mission in Aberdeen, reported during a panel on preparing future leaders for ministry that there are over 40 people being trained in different programs (in the Jackson diocese). These folks will eventually serve in some capacity in the diocese or in their own parish.

Susan also serves as the liaison for the Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX), a graduate program for lay ministers out of Loyola University in New Orleans.

The opening presentation gave five panelists the opportunity to talk about their call to ministry and how that call has changed their lives.

Other panel discussions focused on evangelization and the future challenges for Catholicism in northeast Mississippi. The day closed with Mass.

Catholics living in northeast Mississippi learned on Nov. 10 that despite the struggles and challenges that their small missions have, the Catholic Church is actively present and making a difference in the lives of countless individuals, including themselves.

Sister Alies Thérèse, pastoral coordinator of Glenmary’s missions in Eupora and Ackerman, told those gathered that they “can view their faith as a religion or a way of life. You can lead changes in areas such as social justice. Or you can wait to be led by the culture around you.”

As Catholics, she says, we are called to not only share what we eat, but to become what we eat.