Spring Growth

Over ten years ago, I concluded my time as pastor of St. Christopher Catholic Church, Pontotoc, MS and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church , New Albany, MS.  For three Sundays I had the honor of returning to St. Francis of Assisi Church, New Albany to offer the Holy Week Masses and services as well as Mass the following Sunday.   What beautiful changes, what wonderful spring growth I discovered.



Inside of St. Francis of Assisi, New Albany, MS



When I was there they had just finished building a new Church.  During my six years, we needed to add more pews to the church, we paid off the debt and bought a rectory.  Also, every year we had new people joining the church.  One of them, Leonard, answered an advertisement inviting folks to come and learn about Catholics.  He and some of children began coming to classes.  Then his wife and more of his children did so. It was my honor to confirm Leonard in the Catholic church and baptize the rest of his family. Now Leonard has completed a certificate in Theology and is the Parish administrador of the parish.  To see him and his children and now grandchildren members of the Church is a thrill.  What God will do with His Love is fantastic.





Friends outside after Spanish Mass

 Another thing during my days there was the beginning of Mass for the Spanish.  In the beginning, Fr. Francois, another Glenmary priest, would offer the Mass once a month in Spanish since I did not speak it at the time.  We had about twenty people at the first Mass.  Then later I attended classes in Mexico and upon return started offering the Mass in Spanish every week.  When I left we were averaging hundred people attending the Spanish Mass with about 250 attending within a month time.  (The difference of numbers is because not all those who came attended every Sunday.)  Today, they have a Spanish choir of about twenty people and the church is standing room only at every Spanish Mass. Even daily Mass is bilingual because of the numbers of both cultures coming.  The Blessing of the Lord continues to spring forth.

Another major missionary endeavor during my time was assisting St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ripley begin.  Ten years ago there was no church.  Slowly we went from having Mass in the bank, to renting a spare room to renting a store front.  Today they have a very beautiful church.  For the bilingual services on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday we could barely fit everyone in.  The majority of worshippers are Spanish speaking, but the english Mass is also growing. (I should have taken a picture, but I forgot!)

 These are but a few examples of Spring Growth or positive change.  It is also great to see the young people now grown, the children now teenagers, and the parents now grandparents.  It is wonderful that I only knew about half the community since the growth of parishioners is terrific. 





From teenagers in my days to a married couple today.



Yet, there is so much more than this.  There are prayer services, community activities, new leadership and new witness to the boarder community.  Most importantly, their are strong followers of Jesus, with a deep faith, a clear witness to the joy of being Catholic. This is what gives life to a missioner.  We plant the seed and another harvests.



It is our hope to see the Catholic Community and the Reign of God emerge, spring forth new life and become a flowering garden of God's love in every corner of the United States.  What a joy to return and see what the Lord is doing in this small corner of rural Mississippi.