Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • August 20, 2021 4 “Little Church with the Big Heart” longtime source of love, faith, social justice in Hattiesburg BY DAVID TISDALE For those unaware of its important place in the history of Hattiesburg and the pas- sion of its members, it might be easy to dismiss the diminutive church on Dabbs Street as being of minor consequence. But that church -- Holy Rosary Catholic Church -- the “little church with the big heart” and the vision of the late Bishop Richard Gerow of the Diocese of Natchez, took root as a mission house of worship in the mid-20th century for the city’s small but vibrant Black Catholic community and holds a legacy that remains inspirational seven decades later. “I’ve always felt love since the day I walked in the church which made me understand why it got that nickname,” said Father Ken Ramon-Landry, who serves as pastor for both Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart churches in Hattiesburg. Holy Rosary is an integral part of very important local history on a personal level as its members baptized their children, got married, participated in its youth activities, served with the Knights of Columbus and various church ministries, celebrated holi- days and became stronger disciples of the Lord with their Catholic faith serving as the foundation. Along the way, their faith and strength would be tested as its members and a brave pastor fought for some basic human rights many today take for granted. For its parishioners, Holy Rosary more of a family than a congregation Charo Sneed, a lifelong member of Holy Rosary who now serves as director of Catholic Social Services in Hattiesburg (headquartered at the church) said Holy Rosary has provided a spiritual and educational founda- tion for her, as a minority Black Catholic, and her fam- ily through the years. Her mother, Esther McBride Clark, was one of the first Aican-Americans to attend and integrate nearby Sacred Heart School. “I was able to gather morals, values and have grow- ing faith in the Catholic religion by being part of the Holy Rosary family,” said Sneed, a 1995 graduate of Florida State University’s registered nursing program. “I’ve been honored to be chosen to work with Catholic Charities to further my mission of helping the sick and poor. I hope to continue to do God’s work and expand services at Holy Rosary/Catholic Charities, including food pantry and baby items. “I also have a continuous mission to bring back old members of the church as well as introduce potential new members. I want to be a disciple of Christ and bring others to Him.” Nikki Bryant Williams, also a lifelong member of the church, echoed Sneed’s sentiments. “I’ve been a member of Holy Rosary as long as I’ve been alive,” Williams said. “I can still remember me and my cousins loading up in the car on Sunday morn- ings, and Daddy warning us not to giggle and play on the ride to church or in church. “I remember my Aunt ‘Storm’ playing the piano and giving us what we kids called ‘the eye’ (raised eye- brow) when we looked as though we weren’t paying attention in Mass. I remember all the families and how each member had a part in the Mass or any event at the church -- picnics, bazaars, Bible School. “Although, our parish is much smaller now, the sense of unity remains,” Williams contin- ued. “During Mass, I can still see the faces of some of the members who have passed away when I look around the church. You know, church folks love their assigned seats. Back then our congregation was all about family and it still is today.” Arthur Walker serves as sacristan for Holy Rosary charged with the important work of caring for the sacristy, the church and its contents as well as general upkeep of the church. He says he “married into Holy Rosary” (Jackie “Storm” Walker, 1972) and his devotion to and love for it is evident. “My association with Holy Rosary, it’s a personal relationship for me,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot. I’m not going to let anyone or anything run me out of my church. I come here to join in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. “Every day I get up and give my will to God, my will is His will -- so I’m just doing His work. I’m just a servant of the Lord and I keep it moving.” Active in the church’s chapter of the Knights of Columbus Peter Quinn Council, Walker is hopeful once the Covid-19 pan- demic fully subsides that attendance will grow and the church’s traditional monthly luncheons will return on a regular basis. “We’ll be happy when we can get back to that (some kind of normalcy),” he said. Like most Catholics, when John Kinley moved to a new area he started going to the largest church near his home. He said that in time he came to know most of the Catholic churches in the area he lived and such was the case when he moved to the Hattiesburg area to care for his aging par- ents. “In trying to keep the Holy Days of Obligation, you learn when Masses are scheduled at all of the churches so you can maintain the personal relationship the Church asks of us,” Kinley said. After he suffered a stroke, walking became prob- lematic for Kinley. “I needed a cane and often navigat- ing large crowds was difficult,” he said, “so on occa- sion I would attend Mass at Holy Rosary. A iend of mine, now departed, also had a heart condition and we would often attend the first Saturday Mass at Holy Rosary together. The pastor at that time also included the Sacrament of Unction as a part of that liturgy and these sacraments meant a lot to both of us. As a result, I started going to Holy Rosary much more often. Most people there were about my age so I could ‘tiptoe’ around obstacles safely.” SEE HOLY ROSARY, PAGE 10 Holy Rosary Church in Hattiesburg Photo/Juliana Skelton Father Ken Ramon-Landry and Deacon Warren Goff lead a Palm Sunday procession outside Holy Rosary Church in Hattiesburg. Photo/David Tisdale