As a result of Katrina, RCS Elementary received 48-52 inches of flood water and neighboring St. Peter the Apostle Church and School, which primarily served African-American Catholics, were both destroyed. This prompted Bishop Rodi to consolidate the two schools at the RCS Elementary site.
The campaign for Catholic education resumed a year after Katrina and raised $16.2 million in pledges and a portion of that money went towards expansion of the RCS elementary campus. FEMA funding and donations from parishioners and other benefactors made up the balance.
Archbishop Rodi attended the groundbreaking to offer congratulations on a job well done.
“You took a dream, you turned it into a plan and, then, you made it happen. And, for those of you who have prayed for the success of endeavor and for those of you who generously supported it, making it a reality, I hope that you feel a justifiable sense of pride in what you have done. We pray together that this building will be for God’s honor and glory,” he said.
“When Bishop Morin blessed the building, he used water. Water is a sign of life. The waters from the sky give life to the earth. The waters of baptism give us eternal life. You all have given life to this building and we pray that the life of God will be here for all the parish functions and all the school functions and that this will truly be a place where faith is taught and celebrated and lived. This is truly a blessing to this parish and the entire Pascagoula community.”
We are connected
Speaking on behalf of the St. Peter the Apostle Parish community, which worshiped at Sacred Heart for two-and-a-half years following Katrina, Billy Knight, who serves as president of St. Peter’s parish council, thanked Father Kelleher and (RCS Elementary principal) Elizabeth Benefield, for opening their church, school and hearts to the people of St. Peter the Apostle Parish.
Knight said the two faith communities are inextricably connected and, as a show of gratitude, presented a monetary donation of an unspecified amount to Father Kelleher.
“You’ll never know how much (your generosity) means to us. You’ll never know how much we appreciate getting to know you, building friendships and relationships that will carry on forever,” said Knight, who was joined by St. Peter the Apostle pastor Father Charles McMahon, SSJ for the check presentation.
“It was only because of Hurricane Katrina and (Father Kelleher) who made the choice and had the courage to ask us to come (to Sacred Heart),” said Knight.
New Life
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As with any special occasion, there were many people to thank, including members of the RCS School Advisory Council and the parish building committee, but the dynamic duo regarded as the driving forces behind the project was Benefield and Father Kelleher.
Benefield thanked Father Kelleher for his visionary leadership and his support of the school.
“He’s always with the children,” she said.
“He shares himself so freely.”
Sacred Heart parishioner Jerry St. Pe, who emceed the dedication program, called Benefield “the mother of our children and our grandchildren for most of their young lives and, for Benefield, the new building was quite a Mother’s Day gift.
“It means that our children have a place to be when the weather is not good. They have a way to go to church without having to deal with the elements. They have a place to grow as God intends them to,” she said.