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HISTORY OF ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH
DE LISLE. MISSISSIPPI
The causes that led to the Founding of St. Stephens were Father R. J. Sorin's ill health, extensive Missions, and a misunderstanding with the Black Catholics of DeLisle. Realizing this, he felt it was to the advantage of the Black Catholics that the Josephite Fathers relieve him of some of his responsibilities by establishing a church. So, on May 1, 1922 he approached Biship Gunn about the matter. Then he	came to Father Stephen	G. Sweeney of
St. Philomena1s Parish, now Our Mother	of Mercy, and told	him	what had tran-
spired between Bishop Gunn and himself, and asked him if he would assume responsibilities of the Black Catholics in DeLisle. Father Sweeney happily consented, and with his superior, Very Reverend L. B. Pastorelli, also consenting to the proposal, Father Sweeney began at once his work among this community.
Bishop Gunn meanwhile equipped him for his new field by furnishing him with a portable altar so that he could hold services and celebrate Holy Mass for his newly acquired parishioners in the most convenient and fitting place possible. Accordingly, the use of a little hall belonging to the Benevolent Society, was given him for this purpose. It had no	windows, as such. •	The	openings where	the
windows were suppose to be were enclosed by wooden doors,	and	secured by hinges
and hasps on either side. It had no chimney, although there was a stove, the pipe of which had its outlet through one of the windows. Here Father Sweeney said Mass for sometime. Here too, school was taught by two Sisters of the Holy Ghost - Sisters Mary Joan and Mary Leonard, until a new school was erected in 1927.
On December 9, 1923, Bishop Gunn dedicated a new church for the Bllfck at DeLisle. It was to have been called the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Enroute to the scene of the sacred function, the genial bishop decided that he would call the church St. Stephen's in appreciation of the arduous labors of the zealous pastor. This "Cathedral in the Pines" was erected at an estimated cost of $5,000.00; thus a long felt need was finally satisfied, and the annual report of that year shows a distinct increase in the Black Catholic Community.
In the summer of 1926, the indefatigable Father Sweeney consulted with Bishop Gerow of Natchez, regarding the need of a Catholic School at DeLisle for the Black children. The Bishop readily consented. Land was purchased and a beautiful combination school and auditorium soon graced the site. The new school dedicated to the patronage of St. Stephen, was blessed May 1, 1927.
On November 16, 1933 this school was destroyed by fire. Happily the damage was covered by insurance. The undaunted pastor set to work to rebuild.