JACKSON, MO., CATHOLICS CELEBRATE: MASS MARKS 150 YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY

JACKSON, Mo. -- How exactly do you celebrate 150 years of Catholicism in a community?

As a community of faith and in much the same manner as the first Catholics who gathered in the basement of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse.

About 400 people -- many of them from area churches and Catholic parishes -- filled the lawn Monday night at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse for an outdoor Mass celebration.

The Mass marked the 150th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass celebrated in Jackson, Mo., and celebrated the Feast of the Vigil of the Assumption.

That first Mass was held in the basement of the county courthouse in 1850.

It was symbolic that the church worshipped Monday with others in its religious community. "We wanted to do this so it could be a community event," said Liz Aufdenberg.

The churches and schools in Jackson work together, so the service honored those partnerships. "That's how you make the town better by growing in your faith together," Aufdenberg said.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander agreed. He thanked the church for its commitment and accomplishments in the past 100 plus years. Growing churches, like Immaculate Conception, help keep the community vibrant, Sander said.

Baptists and Catholics in Jackson have a somewhat parallel history. The community, when it was founded, was equally divided about whether to build only a Baptist church or only a Catholic church.

According to church records at Immaculate Conception parish, "it was decided to build both a Catholic and Baptist church. To raise money, collectors called on citizens of Jackson for contributions. The solicitors had a Catholic and a Baptist pocket in their coats and the contributions were equally divided between the two pockets."

The Catholic church began as St. Lawrence parish but the name was changed to Immaculate Conception shortly after the building was completed. The original church stood at the corner of Hope and Adams streets across the street from the existing building.

Although Catholics have been gathering in Jackson for Mass since 1850, it wasn't until 1854 that any land was purchased or building constructed. Masses were celebrated monthly by priests from St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau. In 1879, a diocesan priest was appointed to serve the church.

With such a history, it made since to mark the event when the community began worshipping together, said Monsignor Edward Eftink.

During a homily, Eftink reminded the congregation to "celebrate who we are and where we have come from but most importantly remember what we are called to be."

Choir members sang hymns about "pilgrims on their way," after members of the church walked the few blocks from the church to the courthouse steps. People of all ages walked in the processional, which was led by the Knights of Columbus.

Linda Martin helped to organize the anniversary activities as a way to "celebrate the event with the whole community," she said.

While many people remember the church's history, it is also important to look to its future, she said.

Immaculate Conception is embarking on a several-year program to expand its church and school facilities.