History of Saint Jude Parish
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In 1935, the Mississippi State Hospital was established at Whitfield in Rankin County, The hospital was named for Governor Henry L. Whitfield, one of Rankin County's natives. Assistant priests from St. Peter's Cathedral were assigned to visit patients at Whitfield.
In 1956, Bishop Richard Gerow asked for a $10,000 grant from the Extension Society to build a church in Rankin county, as no Catholic church existed. Father Frances Reid of the Chancery office was named as leader of the project. 10 acres of land was purchased in 1957.
With another $15,000 in private donations, construction soon began on St. Jude. St. Jude was chosen as the patron saint because Catholicism was so misunderstood at the time. Fathers Tom Delaney, Bernard Law, and Jim McGough served the mission during its early days. |
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St. Jude |
In 1961, the mission added a rectory and in 1962 St. Jude was declared a parish with Father Reid as the pastor. In 1963, Father Edward Balsar was appointed and he remained until 1976. Father Peter Quinn was selected to replace him serving the St. Jude parish.
On New Year's Day, 1981, a candle that had been left burning caught some dry greenery that adorned the creche on fire. Father Quinn retrieved the fireproof tabernacle, but the damage to the church took nearly a year to repair. The church congregation met in the day care center and at a nearby Methodist church.
Under Father Quinn, one of the diocese's first deacons was ordained. In 1983, Father Quinn was transferred, and Father Tom Boyce replaced him. During his tenure, one of St Jude's members dedicated herself to the Sisters of Mercy, marking St. Jude's first member to be dedicated to religious life.
In 1993, Father Martin Ruane was assigned to St. Jude. During his assignment, St. Jude's first seminarian, Chuck Macko, enrolled at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans where he is currently studying. Fr. Ruane served until 2005.
In January of 2005, Father Gerard Hurley was assigned as pastor of St. Jude. The parish continues to thrive.