This was a great 3 days with some wonderful people in a small city in the middle of Mississippi. The DRE/youth minister, Suzie Middleton, did a fantastic job in arranging a wonderful parish GATHERING and celebration. I got the greatest gift basket in my room.

The children of the parish were so nice to me…they’d sit in the front pews of their own accord each night and laugh and encourage me.

I met so many people who knew people I knew and who had stories of cities near home. It really is a small world.

One of the treats of the mission was a cookie cake made for me on the closing night for our dessert/dance celebration at the end of the mission.

(”do the happy dance!”—so cool!)

It was so great to be asked to dance by the children (I like the idea that 5 girls wanted to dance with me at the same time; it erased old high school memories!) and it was so awesome to see a couple in their 70’s dancing to “Sweet Home Alabama.”

It was “home” of sorts…great hospitality…deep faith and holy families coming together as one Catholic parish family in a place where they are the only Catholic parish in Jones county—the only Catholic church among 240 churches. That inspires ME!