Sacred Heart Southern Missions is a Catholic ministry in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, served by priests and brothers of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, sisters from many different religious communities, and dedicated lay ministers. We are a community of faith working to build up the Catholic Church and make a difference in the lives of people of all faiths who struggle in poverty. Our pri
ests serve six parishes in an area that is only two-percent Catholic. We serve in five northern counties of Mississippi and are headquartered in Walls, Mississippi. Through the financial support of donors throughout the United States, Sacred Heart Southern Missions staffs and funds the programs and work of six social services offices, two elementary schools, housing, a soup kitchen, a thrift store and food pantries serving thousands of people each year. Our six social service offices provide advocacy, adult life skills, emergency food, clothing, gasoline, rental and utility assistance for those living in poverty within the five counties in northwest Mississippi. Volunteer Services coordinates volunteer activity throughout the organization. Groups and individuals come from across the country to help with food distributions, holiday programs, and a variety of projects throughout the organization. One of the largest areas of volunteer experience is in home rehab, providing home repairs for the disabled, elderly and those in need. Our HIV/AIDS ministry, the only one of its kind in our area, offering emergency assistance and counseling to these individuals and their families. The Sacred Heart Southern Missions housing programs include a 38-home rental neighborhood for low income families and a variety of programs to help low-income families move toward or to retain home ownership, including budget and credit counseling and home-buyer education. The educational programs of Sacred Heart Southern Missions include two Catholic schools serving more than 500 students each year. Our Adult Continuing Education courses are designed to assist individuals and families with a variety of economic, career and family topics. Project: Good Mother is a multi-week course for pregnant teens established to educate young mothers-to-be how to be good parents and showing them self-worth beyond their situation so that their babies might grow up in a better home. Project New Beginnings helps individuals expand their options for employment by providing a basic computer training course, resume creation, interview preparation, assistance with job searches and career planning. Additional support and advocacy is realized through a wide range of partnerships with other organizations.
