St. Francis of Assisi, Booneville, MS

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church & Catholic Student Center

The Catholic presence here in Booneville began in 1961 with Father Charles Reiner, O.S.B., Gladys Mitchell and six Catholic families. They met in homes or attended Mass in Corinth or Saltillo. Eventually, the Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church was built four miles south of town with the dedication services being held on Sunday, April 29, 1962.

The church began to grow as more families moved to the Booneville area: the Fulper family started a dairy farm; the Buchberger family established Marathon Cheese; the Lawyer family came here from American Seating, which later became Schweiger's furniture.

In 1967, Sacred Heart Southern Missions of Walls, MS. took on the responsibility of serving the spiritual and financial needs of the nine counties in northeast Mississippi. Prentiss County has been served since that time by Sacred Heart Southern Missions.

Father George Pinger, S.C.J. became the first full-time priest in 1977. Father Pinger made his home in the back of the church. Eventually a house was purchased in Booneville which, to this day, still serves as our Parish house.

In 1987, due to the shortage of priests, Sisters from religious communities began doing the day-to-day duties with a priest coming for the celebration of the Mass and Sacraments on Sundays.

In the fall of 1992, plans were made for a new church. Land was purchased in Booneville on College Blvd. across from Northeast Mississippi Community College. At the direction of the Bishop, this was to be the location of the Catholic Church and Catholic Student Center.

This new church was made possible by Sacred Heart Southern Missions, a grant from Marathon Cheese in Wisconsin, and contributions both financially and through service by parishioners. The congregation moved to the new church facility in December 1993 and a beautiful dedication ceremony took place on April 10, 1994. The new church was named St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Father Tom Burns, S.C.J. arrived as Sacramental Minister in July of 1993 and continues to hold this position to this day.

Sister Colette Fahrner, S.L.W., arrived in July of 2006 as our new Lay Ecclesial Minister filling the position left by Sister Dorothy Pashuta, C.S.J. Sister Dorothy was with us for nine years.

Church membership continues to steadily grow and members of the congregation are proud of caring for the present church, social hall and grounds. We have been richly blessed and ask you to join us in thanking God for graces received through all these years. Anyone is welcome to stop by to see our facilites or join us for services on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.