[marshmallow]

Dixie rocks.

[bourbon]

There is also a rising number of native converts.

I'm one.

I was born and bred in Jackson, MS. Converted to Catholicism last year, after thinking about it for about five years.

Plus, I've had two people ask me recently, if I could share some literature with them about Catholicism. Both of them are native Mississippians as well.

Btw, mass today at the Cathedral in downtown Jackson was standing room only.

[Campion]

Fr. Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, South Carolina

This is a wonderful church, BTW, if you're ever in Greenville. Masses are reverent and packed, the homilies are good, the music is traditional, etc.

[Dominick]

Woot! Southern Knight of Columbus are a lot different too! We don't usually have halls, but we do a lot of charity.

The membership is also a lot younger, and members are very involved in other Catholic pursuits, like our Pro-life Rosary, RCIA, and our local Orphanage.

[corpus]

Hmmm. Looks very much like the article that Time just wrote up and is being disussed here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1339368/posts

But they left out a few things from the Time article: "Instead, the Liuzzos are attending standing-room-only services like St. Mark's teen Mass, complete with a pop-music ensemble that could be mistaken for one of the area's rollicking Christian rock bands. "This I was not prepared for," says Liuzzo, who flashes a smile at a recent service as an altar girl marches a crucifix past 1,000 parishioners."

Teen "Masses", "Christian" rock, altar girls, etc. Catholic revivalism, anyone?

[NYer]

This is truly wonderful news!

Catholic Ping - Come home for Easter and experience God’s merciful love. Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Salvation]

Catholic Parishes Flourish in Southern U.S.

Bible-belt Catholics

Number of Catholics Rises by 15 Million (Diocesan Priests Increase; Religious Decrease)

Spanish Catholicism still very robust (3 shrines and The Sagrada Familia)

Catholics outsource praying to India

Catholic Priests in India 'Outsourced' to Meet Clergy Shortage in West

Christian Coalition head (in Ala.) becomes Catholic

Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline

Young people turn against their parents' 'church lite'

Pope calls US Church to repentance and renewal

A father for the 11th time - Widower becomes Catholic priest

Number of Adults Who Don't Attend Church Service Doubles

Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders

Church Attendance Increased : Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance

Catholics Trail Protestants in Church Attendance [Gallup]

Church Attendance Linked to Longer Life

Church Growth and Eveangelism

[e5man_r_u?]

Thanks, I needed some good news today.

Here in NJ I once heard a parishioner complain about a mass going over 40 mins to the priest. She was worried about getting somewhere. I should have asked where her priorities were, but I knew what the answer would be.
~sigh

[Coleus]

Maybe this could now add some stability with the high divorce rates in the bible belt.

[Clemenza]

Ping!