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CATHOLIC ACTION' OF' THE SOUTH '	^	"	Natchez	Ccntefinja^^^
-—^---------------	.	"  --  ‘J '*	,Cj'X.TiViftxJi
^iii4: Lady‘ of Victories "
iSfieiKyl'First-to Have Catholic Church in Cleveland Section;
ftjr	Nv'sc’j- - -- ■ i?	'
H |5^£Our Lady of Victories Church Was Erected in 1923;
&	Parishioners	Are	Principally	Italian
1	^	v
[P^By;-Rev.E.' V. Rotondo	.
pi The' parish - of which Cleveland 5 s *t£thej;: center lies -in the, .Delta'
%'country I, of northwest Mississippi Jybordering' on the. river,- including ^■' int'jts''- territory the missions of ■
Shel&yy. Shaw, Merigold and Rose-i^daleJAV^f--
Records" show that in 1895 scat-' tered- Catholics in this territory ' numbering-48 lived in and around Shelby.- In 1899 the number had .increased to 130, and in 1900 the • total amounted to 165 souls. Shelby..was the first town in the territory. now attended from Cleve-' land1 to have a permanent Catho-licTsettlement. While there were ; Yome -members of Irish descent, ihe'igreat majority were Italian larrrlers from Ancona, Mantova and':' Bologna,' and business men from ; southern Italy. The names of^ihese pioneers were Trimble,
■ KndSvlton, Lamb, Curcio, DeRiso,
"'-SaCCO^Ggmponovo, DeMarco and Serio. 'Many of these pioneers are stMSi living in or around Shelby
Our Lady of Victories church, Cleveland, churches are also attached.
A number of, mission
| -'community has^decr&as6d$\	^
‘ the years'- of ^depressioh.^^iji^l Merigold, a small'. miles north of Clevelandjy&as^J& small comihunity of CathMSi^^rlSp ther L. A. Dutto became' past'or^oi®'' Merigold in 189& When^hffiwasnC? appointed to Clarksdale Merigold and Friar’s Point*verei$$ under his care. In -thos^'flS^SjB there were some •, six r'esidteQt$S Catholic families of Irish-GetroaijjK-descent in Merigold.
Marquette Colonization Soc{^y^pf^5 Chicago erected a, small^'cpiWcii^ there in 1898, Rev., AJHeiC^S,^ V. D., of Techny,' iyr, -w,as-fiap-rk:5 pointed pastor of. .the little. munity, which had increased,;.du8^ to the arrival of several 'Austrian';^ Catholic families intent on-cplon-^ ization, Discouraged by flood.’cbn-jft ditions, the . latter left' aftei? ■"'one r'1 year. Today the only Catholics/;: remaining there are J. and- C; yj Michie • and Miss Mary Elslanderi*; V. Bremner, a Catholic from. ChJ££ cago, purchased the land -owhed^i' by the Marquette company ' and-^ donated two acres for school-'pUr-,V-; poses. He also built a rectory..'.,. Father Heick remained in charge,'j."; for about one year. Rev.' 'A'.'„.'J.,7r Gmelch resided in Merigold';from/ 1902 until 1905. Then it - became!!^ attached to Clarksdale until trans- > ferred to Shelby in W12.
Cleveland and its missions, tor,, day have a Catholic population of over 1000 souls, 80 per cent beings Italians or of Italian descent/jBar-yks, site donated by C. Scott, owner ish societies have been organized^ of the plantation. From 1924 u»- in every mission. Of late-^yeans?^
Rev. E. Victor Rotondo, born, Villa Sta Lucia, Roma; studied at Abbey St. Andrew, Bruges, Belgium; Louvain, Belgium; ordained, August 6, 1910, at Abbey St. Andrew, Lophem, Belgium; camc to the diocese, April 24, 1924; incardinated in the diocese, March 4, 1926. successive appointment, April, 1934, Church of Our Lady of Victories, Cleveland and Missions, pastor.
Pastors from Greenville, Clarks-	by. He purchased a residence	lies Shaw, an important Cleve-	til the present time	Rosedale has	Catholic	growth	and	development^
' dale,1 .etc.,rattended to the spiritual	there for $1500 in 1915, which in	land mission. Two or three Cath-	been attended from Cleveland,but	have taken	place	in	a,	deCidedj®
welfare'ii'pf .-these ; Catholics for	ig23 was 5©]^ for $1200. At that	olic families resided there in 1907	the membership of	the Catholic	manner.
rnan'y/’Veai'S and .the memories 01 (.ime Father Gabrielli decided to and in 1910 this number was in-	 ---------------------------------------------’—
v ‘Fatfrprs^Putto,', Larkin, Mailin, -build a church in Cleveland and creased by the addition of sev-O’Reill^,':,. Korstenbrock, Gmelch establish his residence there, eral families from the Sunnyside and^Keenan are still treasured by	s;nce Catholic community had	plantation near Greenville. Later
the’kC^tholics of Shelby. It was	jncreased to 100 souls. A site 100	other families came from Ostra,
. thjj,c,u^tom - of visiting priests to	^y feet «ear the depot in Cleve-	Ahcona, in Italy. Fathers Clerico
^'sayif^assiin'-private homes until ]and was purchased for $1500. and Gabrielli were accustomed to 1905,-iwhen-'Rev. B. O’Reilly, Jr.,	shortly after this the present	say Mass each month in private
pastorffofviClarksdale,^ erected ^a	church building was erected, two	homes at Shaw until 1914, when
Gulfport Parish Was
Founded Before City^l
(Continued from Page 67)
site. Then some lots were,boUght;-
_	Email'frame church at Shelby at	rooms being provided in it for- the	the Catholic community 'had in-	~____	__________________
'	a Hcost^ oft $1200. yincent DeRiso	pastor’s temporary residence. Fa-	creased to 250 souls and the need	leans administered the Sacrament	on 23rd avenue for a new^sphpbjfgt
and<;his'v.wife, Dominica Larvina,	ther Gabrielli resigned in Janu-	of a church became imperative.	0f Confirmation in the parish.	and convent. However •-the’”-1'^''
_1	'	_	*	~	J	,'>l	4-U^	+ «	-	TVift	•	r’a	+	hnllf'	_	^	„ _i	ii_	_J»	tT? Tr- X-X!_	_	T-i._-i.-_J._i.	_	..	,	■.	■	/-...
donated'*the - site. The Catholic ary 1924 and Father Clerico of W. K. Chapman, a Protestant,
^190'»'s6uls in 1907.
.•—. ----	---	--	mj,	«nu	roiuu	^	tv. iv. wiaF,uan, « a.	The	first church built in Gulf- of the 25th avenue Propert^^a3&
I; congi*egaUon at Shelby numbered Greenwood again for a short time donated a site 50 by 100 feet for a port in 1901 was later enlarged not made, so the parish
^souls in 1907.	took charge of Cleveland and its new church, which was ready for by the addition ot two wings. By large site ready whGnever^j^i&Cg
*•'	1907	the	Aguzzi,	Fabri,	Gag-	missions. On April 24, 1924, Rev. Divine Service on June 19, 1914. 1921 the house of God was so can be made of the. presenllycTOHfc^
v liarjdU'.Feduccia and Camise fam- E. V. Rotondo, the present incum- After a brief period the church crowded each Sunday that talk vent and school. • v -^Viliesncame.- In 1912 several	other	bent, wa^ given care of these mis-	facilities proved inadequate' and	1 began * either	of again enlarging	In the years that have passed'^
■ftltali^n.' families settled in	Boyle	sions. A few months later it was	in 1916 the building was enlarged,	the structure	or building a new	since his coming to GuKporty-^j
^andilO’Reilly, stations a few	miles	decided that Cleveland was -t\\e	During Father Rotondo's ’admin-	'church.'- The	people were unani-	Father Spengler has been^gOTve^
jS^outlif'of-'Cleveland. In February,	logical headquarters for the priest	istration the church has been re-	mously in favor of a new church,	in the civic life of the coastj:pfren^
• ..rr______	-	,	-	1->	T-\	•:	_1______	____I _ J, ^»_11____	__:____1____I	__+	j.	.	I.	_	i.-li.__A!-----	nolirt,!	4^	c-noqir	o	+	-
Thus it was possible to use tne 01 omcers 01 tne jji9cese:ov.iNai-ig west of old building while the new church chez, he is censor of publications;^ he oldest was under construction. The firm director of the Holy Na~me s<?ciety^
<i temporarily at Greenville, he soon permanent residence in the , two . Rosedale, 22 mile's ..
"'after! established his'residence in rooms attached to the back of the Cleveland and one of the —- ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -	■	~
• Shelly and from there'he visited church. The small and poorly	towns in the mid-Delta, is situ-	of Shaw and Woleben of Gulfport	and one	of the Consultors/Qf^the^
'■ the^-Catholic families in Rosedale, constructed rooms in which the	ated on the Mississippi river. To-	was engaged to draw up plans:’	diocese.	In 1930 Father. Spgnglejj-J
•>Indiariola,.! Belzoni, Leland,1 Boyle, pastor lived were entirely unsuit-	day there are some 15 Catholic	They secured the services of	C. W.	celebrated his silver jubilee* :ljay-0
Shaw ■' and Cleveland. In Cleve- ed to the purpose of a rectory,	families which are attended reg-	Welborn of Oklahoma City,	Okla.,	ing been ordained in Rome ;7og-v>
'land :he used to say Mass in a pri- According, in 1927 a fine lot, 125	ularly by Father Rotondo. Father	who working with the pastor,	June 16,	1905. The parish^ofvSt^v
Avate -home or in, the Masonic hall, by 300 feet, in the residential sec-	Korstenbrock attended this town	made the plans. The cornerstone	John the	Evangelist has Heptf’pace#-.
'. ln!1912, when, on account of flood	tion of Cleveland, was purchased	occasionally in 1888 when the	was laid on October 21, 1923, by	with the growth of the city ■i,o£
> and boll weevil in that year, many	for $2500 and the following year	O’Donnell Fitzgerald, Jones, Burt,	Bishop John E. Gunn. The cor-	Gulfport. The first annual-'re-•
•• Italians left, Father Clerico was a suitable rectory was built at a	Merchant and Kincaid families re-	nerstone	itself was a donation	port	of the	parish, made 40 years *v
3 changed' to Greenwood and from cost of $5000. When the new	sided there. The Catholics	num-	from Mr. W. G. Crotty. The	ago,	gave	Gulfport and - Long:^
'there attended Shelby, Cleveland priest’s home was opened in Au-	bered 19 in 1892. The annual re-	church begun in 1923 was	dedi-	Beach a Catholic population .01(32^
and'the stations nearby. In Jan- gust of the same year, represent-	ports of 1893 1895 and 1902 indi-	cated on July 20, 1924, by	Arch-	The annual report of 1936 -givies
uary/ 1914, Father Placide Gabri- atives of all classes in the city cate that Rosedale was a mission bishop John W. Shaw of New Or-. Gulfport alone a Catholip popula-tvT^ elli/'O* S, B., was appointed by	came to greet Bishop Gerow and	attached to Greenville. Later	leans. The building is of the Span-	tion of 1167.
Bishop Gunn to reside at Shelby	Father Rotondo.	priests from Clarksdale took care	ish mission style, with two towers.	The foundation of the Conventiy
and' to care for its missions, in-	•	Church at Shelby ‘	of it. At the turn of the century	A tablet in the vestibule records	of St. Francis de Sales, was., laid ;,
v eluding’ Cleveland.,	,	At	Shelby	the	church	was	en-	several Italian farmers moved a number of donations. The local on March 24, 1902. The arcmtectj^
At' this'time , the'only church in larged and improved in 1925 at a from the .Sunnyside plantation council of the Knights of Colum- of me building was Mx. PeUeimefo ■ his*territory, was located at Shel- cost of $1200 by. Father Rotondo.	near Greenville to the Scott	plan-	bus gave	a marble high altar. The	f Gul port	and the contractor,^.
------•■/ -	.	-	-	At the same time, three suitable	tatioh at Rosedale, where	their	Children	of Mary donated one of	Mr.	Leard	of Mississippi >-QiJ.y.K*
lots for'a new brick church to be	reputation as ideal tenants and	the marble side altars, and the	About this time a benefactoR.^OT-j;^
erected in the future were pur-	excellent farmers increased. From	school children gave the other,	peared in the person of Mrs^?.R,<^
chased at a cost of $1700. Since	1910 this colony was attended reg-	The Mothers’ Club bought a set of	Geeks of Long Beach. To the.
conditions have improved, a spe-	ularly from Shelby. When Father	hand-painted stations from Ger-	lief of the pastor and Sisters,;this.-.(
cial drive for the new church has	Gabrielli found that increasing	many. The Catholic Womans	kind lady offered to donate, the j.;,
been made.	membership necessitated a church	Auxiliary bought the pews. Men-	sum required for the completion,^
Eleven miles south of Cleveland	he erected a frame building on a	tion should be made that the con-	of the convent, receiving. m re-
— tractors of the new church were turn from the Sisters her board^y ®-the Collins Brothers of Biloxi. It and lodging during her natural;!?! has steam he^t and is well light- life. Accordingly Mrs. Gecks;took£g . The altar railing of the old her'abode in the convent Juge'^4,33j
100th ■. |^!A.nniversary
The Staff, of the
.Clevel'and Ho'spital
Extends Congratulations and Sincere Wishes for Continued Success 1
ed.
church similar'
was the vestment case made larg-
was used with an addition 1902r and remained theref jintiM 'to' the :original.' - So too her'death.	\
jDleveland Slate Bank
'' --
#|^The’ Bank of
;	3^tth^ral	Ifome
\	.	An	Institution	Founded	on	Principals
, ,	,	165	N.	PEARMAN	AVE.
. - j - .■■■•■•■.- • ' ■ ■ 'Appretiate,,y'owr!:F'r'^«
er and put -in the new building. EUROPEAN PRIESTS
The church , has two rear sacris- SACRIFICED SELVES
ties, with a connecting passage be-	_____________	•	.	-
hind the main altar. A few years TO ASSIST DIOCEJjJE^? after the church was finished R. When the Diocese of Nafchezi'i L. Simpson, a non-Catholic of Was established, it was impossible' Gulfport, donated $300 - worthy of for-Bishop Chanche with: hist very’-i plants to ornament the grounds' limited resources to build a.sem.r-& around the building. There is a jnary. Subsequent Bishops'faced,^! .'good size vacant lot to the rear of the same difficulty and only Bish-i* the church, where at some.future 0p Janssens made an attempt’ toi-‘ day a new rectory may be built, establish a seminary for the train-as the present rectory is across the ing of diocesan priests,.sbutvthte'fc street from the church. Today the was only short-lived., . church is very well fiUed at both The Bishops, in/' c6nseqffin&3S Masses oil Sundays. The old were obliged to depend upon z^al-^^t church was converted into a par- ous, self-sacrificing priests ' from^ ish hall. The Knights of Columbus, Europe,/who gave up .familyVahdirf used it for.,some time, rThere is a fireside,i to take ' up -tliefv w<^?,of vi stage now in the-hall, used pften^establishing" and ' spreading^ib'^lfiit - by the parish; for pl^ys ^arid'-par-^Faith-Un^ a‘distant'-,'land. ' :r MatOBfff ties. The combination^school'and ,'cameSifrPrii Ireland,rbut otherpIUrS;* ( .convent building^on,'tHe'',southeaS^v-):opear!i'"nations also furnishedwdiefi^ ; comer ’-of -25th'avenue;- arid'9a7.th’¥^otediservants of Christ!''to.Tl8$btK| isteeet;ismjtwo:,storyistructiw','tl^t^r4tt^theSLbrd’s Wineyard^ar^Jroirf^ >has';been'ch^ng^’-i^ii^^i^arged^a^honae.^^>-;'’ii.i?';'v;;*-i‘*.- > -'Jnutab.er d^times'.>^Q^Syears>;ago(1?; VrAsi'in'the case, of other,dioceses^4 j»,\vh^n. Gulfport-'^d^-yfeixv.activ^vin 'thi^. country, the - Natchez See. |real'?estatei;b6phiy!.:s^v^als:attrac--^t6,wes^rn;uch * to theseunselfish
is- tive'1-offersiwere^reCeivjed;3£or.Vtlie;ipriests.'from..Europe;