I'm searching for anyone interested in the Byzantine Catholic Church who lives in the Jackson, Mississippi/Central Mississippi area. If you know of anyone, please have them reply to this post.

Jim,

Welcome to the forum. Hopefully, you'll find some interested individuals here.

Many years,

Neil

Welcome Jim!

I know we have people who come here from Mississippi occassionally for Church. There is a group of seminarians and friends that drive up. Also, some family members of people from our Church live there. Seems they are in Jackson, but have no idea where. You could call our rectory and see if there is any info on people from here that are there. Also, maybe, if I am not mistaken, one of the families - their daughter is in sports medicine there.

Are you at St. George? I've visited St. George a number of times with my family. My brother in law lives in Hoover. We also visit St. Elias occasionally. Thanks. I'll call the rectory. Is Archimandrite Milienewicz still your priest?

I will call.

Thanks so very much.

I love this. I'm 55 years old and I'm a junior Member! This is great!

youngster

Jim,

Rose is indeed at St George's, where her husband serves as a deacon. Father Archimandrite Frank is still the pastor and I'm very impressed that you can spell his surname correctly - not an easy task.

Contact info for the parish can be found here

Many years,

Neil

I looked up Fr. Frank's spelling of his last name. I think Rose may have met me and perhaps was referring to my family. Hope I'm wrong.

Jim,

I've been wracking my brain trying to remember if we have any posters from MS and just remembered that we do have at least one. I just sent him a PM to ask if he had encountered any pockets of Byzantines during his time there - and, if so, would he be kind enough to point you in their direction. (Father Mike is a cradle Ruthenian, but now an Episcopal priest - recently retired as memory serves - and a very pleasant individual.)

Many years,

Neil

I hope that you will be able to find a priest to plant a church in Mississippi. I believe it would offer more of a choice than the OCA and the Greek Orthodox.

Although not a member of the byzantine rite I support your efforts to do this. I was born, christmated, baptized in the byzantine rite, eventually went to a Franciscan Novitiate.
An today an Episcopal priest having finished his second retirement (Air Force & Episcopal church).

Blessings to you on this effort.

Fr. Mike+
Clinton MS

Hey Jim,

I was thinking that too, that I have met you once you said you visit your brother here. AND, no you are not the only one. I know my daughter has friends there that come up, especially for the food festival. You know what, let me inquire on facebook and see what turns up.

Sorry to be out of touch the last couple of days. Pani Rose, I remember meeting you and your husband at St. George. You have a good memory. I was visiting my brother-in-law, who lives in Hoover. We get over there occasionally.

Fr. Mike, glad to know you're in Clinton. I have attended vespers at the OCA Church there a number of times. Beautiful choir. A friend of mine sings in it.

I'll look forward to talking with you one day. I have a number of Episcopal priest friends--including two I've taken theology classes with through our local Spring Hill College extension program.

Peace to all,

jtmc

Fr.Mike,

Give me a call sometimes. I'm in the Jackson phone book. Call me at my office. It's easier to get me there.

--jtmc

And Pani Rose--if you can find out any names of folk in the Jackson area who have an interest in a Byzantine Church, please pass them on to me.

Thanks, and Peace,

jtmc

Jim,

The site has a page on which we list missions and/or calls for those interested in forming one. I suspect that it's read by a lot of folks who never venture to post in the forum and may not even read here. If you can e-mail me some type of contact info that you don't mind having posted on the web, I'll add a link there this w/e regarding your search for interested folk. If you're comfortable w/ that, send it to me at ec_parish_webmaster@yahoo.com

Many years,

Neil

Jim,

Father Mike thought of something else and that reminded me of it being discussed here a few years back - that there was a sizeable Slav community in that whole area down there at one time - a community of people whom we usually associate only with the Rust and Coal Belts.

Father said



It might be worth your while to search out ethnic clubs in some of the local directories. I tried to find any info on-line about the society that Father mentions, but didn't have any luck. Some of the more mundane reference sources - local phone books, for instance - might be more revealing. You could also try a few notices in local Latin parish bulletins - those almost always dredge up some closet Byzantines.

And see Hungarian Folklife in Louisiana's Florida Parishes, for evidence of other Slav settlements in the region.

Many years,

Neil

Thanks. I just was looking in an old National Geographic I have from the 1930s. It featured an article on Mississippi. In it was a picture of Ruthenian girls on the coast dressed in their native attire and performing a traditional dance. I'll try to follow up on that suggestion. The coast is quite a ways from here, but some of their children may be in the Jackson area. Good idea.

Mr.McCafferty,

Im from Meridian, with the St. Patricks parish. I attend St. Georges pretty often in Birmingham. Deacon Scott Thomas and I, with a few friends went during the late summer last year. Scotts
grandpa being from Lebanon, was actually Melkite.

I have been trying to get some people with the same interest in the central MS area together to study more about the East. Definately feel free to contact me anytime,Im definately interested!

God Bless, Daniel Pittman

Jim,

I am from Meridian, a member of St. Patricks. We travel to
Birmingham to attend St. Georges Divine Liturgy from time to
time.

Deacon Scott Thomas went on our last trip. His family being from Lebanon, his grandfather was actually Melkite. We try to make the trip as often as possible to attend.

Im definately interested in the Eastern Rites of the Church.
Trying to find a few like minded individuals in the area.
Please feel free to contact me anytime about the Byzantine Rite.

God Bless ! Daniel Pittman

Daniel,

Welcome to the forum. I'm delighted to see that Jim's efforts to find some like-minded folks in his area has attracted some notice, as I was feeling badly, knowing that we don't have very many members from that region.

I'm guessing that your second posting resulted from a concern that your first one never went through. Not to worry - as you may have read (I think it says it somewhere when one signs on), posts by new members require approval before appearing on the open forum (a precaution against spammers). Evenings, particularly on weekends, there may be a bit of delay before a Moderator actually sees and acts on them - until myself, the resident night-owl, logs in - but, it's rarely very long.

Again, welcome and I hope you'll enjoy participating here.

Many years,

Neil

Hi Daniel,

I don't know if we have met. My husband is the deacon with the short, gray hair, Fr. Deacon Stan. I hope the next time you are in town I can say hi!

Pani Rose

Thank you Neil for the reply, I look forward to being active on the forum. I actually did double post, thinking my first reply didnt make it through.

Hopefully Jim will see my post soon, and will get in touch to discuss more about the East. I wish more of the Catholic community here in MS was aware of our Eastern Rite Church.I would love to see a mission established here.

Mrs Rose, thank you for getting in touch! I dont believe we have met, but I have been there many times on Saturday while your husband was celebrating the Liturgy. I plan to visit again within the next month, I will definately look forward to meeting you!

God Bless! Daniel Pittman

Daniel--I got your e-mail and replied, but have not heard from you by e-mail. Let me know how to contact you.

Best,

Jim McCafferty

Jim,

Im sorry about the delayed response, for some reason I didnt recieve your reply. I can be reached by clash590@yahoo.com or
either clash590@aol.com.

Please let me know if the email addy works for you. I can also
give you my number, if you care to chat sometime. I hope to hear
from you soon.

Regards, Daniel

Jim,

I know that I promised to get your contact info on the mission page this past weekend, but I got waylaid and forgot it. It will happen this weekend.

Many years,

Neil

Jim,

I have been out of touch for awhile, but wanted to touch base with you. I spoke with Father Frank at St. George's a few weekends back about an Eastern Rite mission here in MS. He said he knew of no parishioners in our region.

I believe there was once mention of an attempt of forming a mission on our Gulf Coast. I have not heard any other news on that.

Recieved some great reading material from Father Frank, including a three part catechism. I plan to make a trip back during Holy Week. Please feel free to get in touch if you care to join me. God Bless!

Regards, Daniel

I hope that you keep this thought alive.

My mother's family are from Liberty, McComb & Osyka (mostly) and have scattered around the state since Grandma's days. Of course they are mostly Baptists.

I had often wished when visiting that there was a Byzantine parish in the area (I would have gladly driven to Jackson for liturgy). I have recently considered relocating to the area when I return to the States, but that seems a good long wait for me presently.

In addition to the Melkites you might try to contact the Metropolia of Pittsburgh for advice on how to begin.

Good luck to you.

Michael, my brother,

Who ever knew that you had some roots planted in the Southern climes? Seriously, it's off-topic, but I want to say how good it is to see a post from you, dear friend. Your regular presence here is missed by many.

Many years,

Neil

Michael/Hesychios,

I sent you my e-mail by private post, but I haven't heard from you. My mother lives in McComb. Let me know on the forum if you did not get my e-mail. I will look forward to talking with you.

My 17 year old daughter, out middle child, just said yesterday that we need a Ruthenian parish in Mississippi.

Best,

Jim McCafferty
jtm@netdoor.com

Jim,

It may be a bit before you hear from Michael. He is presently in China and. I believe, occasionally experiences some delays in net access.

Many years,

Neil