A new church AND a new parish - Priests of the Sacred Heart

February, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 12SCJ NEWSConcelebrants at the dedication Mass included SCJs of the Mississippi community, as wellas Fr. Tom Cassidy, provincial superior, Fr. John Czyzynski, novice master (the novicesserved at the liturgy) and Bishop Joseph Latino, bishop of Jackson.Sr. Margaret Sue Broker, a parishionerat Sacred Heart in Walls for almost50 years, echoed Lynn Sturgillwhen she said that “I think that there isalmost always a certain sense of grievingwhen something loved, honoredand respected, something which is anintegral part of one’s life, is drasticallychanged.” Sr. Margaret Sue, who hasworked in Mississippi for much of heradult life as a partof Sacred HeartSouthern Missions,has cometo know four andfive generationsof families at theparish. “I havetaught as manyas three generations;I have rejoiced,sufferedand grieved withmany. Therehave been manychanges duringthis time.”But the creationof a new,combined parishat a new church iscertainly the biggest change the communityof Sacred Heart has experiencedin Sr. Margaret Sue’s 49 years inWalls. “But we realize that it is just theFr. Dermot Twomey was instrumentalin the development of GoodShepherd. Unfortunately, he died beforeseeing the church’s completion.However, several members of hisfamily were able to take part in thecelebration.community that has moved,” she said.“Brick and mortar has nothing to dowith community.”Many people at the dedicationspoke of what had been and the historyof the two faith communities. Butwhile there was much reflection on thepast, the dedication was anything buta memorial service. Members of bothcommunities spoke well of their past,but also withmuch excitementabout their futureas the new parishcommunity ofGood Shepherd.“We are stillgetting organizedand finding outeach other’s talents,”said Lynn,noting that thenew parish is sortingout its committeesand responsibilities.“But morepeople offer morepossibilities. I feelvery strong in myfaith here, in thefuture of theChurch and of our church.”Camille Leatherman, a member ofthe family that donated land for thenew church, also noted that more peopleallow for more possibilities. Sheshared the story of a woman who wasat Mass the day before. After Mass thewoman came to talk to a few parishionerswho were in the kitchen preparingfor the next day’s dedication.Loretta Hussey was icing the multilayercake she had made for the celebration.“I heard this lady go back andtalk to Loretta, asking for her prayersbecause she needed a job. Loretta andI prayed for her right on the spot.”The three women talked for a whileand learned that the woman who wasin need of a job had previously workedin a bank. From Colombia, she was alsobilingual. “Loretta works at a bankand said that they were often in needof bilingual tellers; she would talk toher supervisors.”“This is what I hope for in our newparish,” continued Camille. “Morenumbers allow us to have more groupsof people who can really get to knoweach other and help each other. We canbecome a stronger family, and as peoplemove in and join us I hope thatthey too will find the Good Shepherdpresent in us as we come together andhelp each other.Fr. Dermot Twomey, SCJ, is creditedby many for bringing the two communitiestogether. “Without his visionand desire we wouldn’t have had achurch in Robinsonville,” saidCamille.Now deceased, Fr. Dermot waspastor of Sacred Heart in Walls and themission of St. Anthony in Tunica. Withfewer priests available to serve thearea he encouraged members of bothfaith communities to consider combininginto one parish. Br. Ray Kozuch,SCJ, later helped facilitate the mergingof the two communities.“I regret that Fr. Dermot could notbe here with us at the dedication,” saidLynn Sturgill. “In the years that hewas with us, from the converted liquorstore to our home church in the country,he taught us to be church and towork toward being a strong faith community.”Fr. Dermot may not have beenthere but several members of his familyflew in from the East Coast to join in