Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church (Canton)

Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church #iGiveCatholic initiative for 2025 is to raise $2,500 to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the historical parish hall-gymnasium that is in the process of being repurchased. The maintenance and upkeep of this historical landmark will be utilized to provide a faith-filled environment for church and community events in the city of Canton.

The History of Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church

Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church was established in 1946 when Father Andrew Lawrence, ST of the Most Holy Trinity (the Trinitarians) purchased property in Canton known as "Frog Hollow".  The mission became Holy Child Jesus Mission and primarily established a school to provide a nurturing environment and Catholic education for the African American children who lived in Canton and the surrounding areas. The church was later added, and it was one of the last African American Catholic parishes to be formed in the state of Mississippi. The congregation began worshipping in a reused World War II barracks moved from Meridian's Key Field and built a four-classroom brick school in 1947. In 1960, addition wings were added, and in June 1966, the school's barrel-roofed auditorium-gymnasium built in 1956 gave overnight shelter to marchers in the March Against Fear, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Meredith just to name a few. When the city of Canton refused a building permit in 1965 for a new church, Fr. Luke Mikschl led on hundred parishioners to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Canton which had a white congregration. After a joint service, Sacred Heart's congregation pressured the city to grant the permit.

Holy Child Jesus Catholic School produced one of the nation's most eminent black Catholic nun, Sister Thea Bowman, who joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and returned here to teach. Her 1987 Catholic hymnal, Lead Me, Guide Me, is credited with developing a distinctively African American style of Catholic worship which you find today at Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church which consists of many families and graduates of Holy Child Jesus Catholic School.  Since the school closed, the church remains. Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church is dedicated to fostering a faith-filled community that gathers to deepen its relationship with Jesus as well as actively engages in providing a spiritual growth through worship, song, service and the promotion of social justice and equality for all of Canton.