May 20, 2024 (Edward J. Barr) – The Gulf Coast region of southern Mississippi sits at the lower edge of the bible belt, almost exactly in the middle of the huge swathe of the South that is traditionally Protestant. Brackish waters from the Gulf of Mexico feed the bayous that spread inland for several miles. Travelers on I-10 rush past the port cities of Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis on their ways to more populated regions. The lush fields remain semi dormant in the short southern winter. Bare branches holding remnants of Spanish Moss will seldom be visited by migratory or local birds until Spring. Yet there is much life here. The Spirit is alive and well in this little Catholic loop deep in the bible belt.
Some may view this as the land that time forgot. But the faithful don’t forget time. Rather, the people remember and cherish the traditions that brought their ancestors closer to God. The natives were traditionally a mix of French Canadian and Spanish heritage, with a smattering of transplanted Cajuns from nearby Louisiana. These people still live here, their ancestors spanning generations that fought against historically Protestant prejudice of Catholics in the South. In recent years they have been augmented by new arrivals escaping the secular persecution of the Northern states. The result is a palpably Spirit filled church that spans the diocese of Biloxi, consisting of the seventeen southern Mississippi counties.
The plagues of modernity haven’t spared the region. The scourge of drugs has claimed a good share of the local treasure. Yet the resoluteness in the twin pillars of faith and family holds the communities together in the face of the onslaught from the world. The remnant found in most Catholic churches looks the same from the outside: mainly women, some older men, and a handful of younger parishioners. Too many men defer their role as spiritual head of the household to their wives, but not with any malice. Yet the depth of this community’s faith exudes a gentle hope in God’s mercy.
You will find little of the pretensions and arrogance of the greater culture. These are people comfortable in their own skin. They are authentic. Perhaps a key to their peace is being blessed with an inspirational bishop. His priests are equally focused on saving souls; whether they come from Mississippi, Vietnam, Africa, or elsewhere, they are shepherds who care well for their flock.
On the surface, many seem to lack, but only the passing things of this world. They know the greater part, and they cling to spiritual goods as dearly as they cling to their gun and bibles. They are adorable deplorables, destined to either stem the tide of evil sweeping our country or die trying. The battle is primarily being fought by a faithful remnant, but their strong family ties in the community will no doubt bring more into the fight.
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5)
Edward J Barr, Esq. is a Catechist and public speaker based in Florida; he recently spoke at Sacred Heart Parish in Dedeaux, Mississippi. He earned a Master of Theology degree from the Augustine Institute. His first novel, The Gray Apostle: Mission of the Messiah is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores. The second in the series, The Gray Apostle: Roman Justice, was just released in May 2024. Mr. Barr is a contributing writer for the Roma Locuta Est blog (www.RomaLocutaEst.com)
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