Our Story
A brief history of Saint James Catholic Church
The history of this parish starts in the late 1850s, when Father Holton of Pass Christian provided pastoral care and occasionally celebrated Mass in what was then known as Mississippi City. The small community of Handsboro, which existed just east of Mississippi City, were also in need of pastoral care. At the request of Bishop William Henry Elder of Natchez, land was acquired just east of Handsboro, where the St. James Cemetery is now, and a church was erected in 1868, until that time, Mass was celebrated in the home of Mrs. Kieley. The church was dedicated to Saint Patrick, and was a simple wooden structure and many years passed before pews were installed. The church was not completed in its entirety till 1892. The residents of Mississippi City were expected to attend services in Handsboro, but many residents of Mississippi City further petitioned for a church to be built in Mississippi City. During this time Saint Patrick’s Church was served by Father Georget of Pass Christian and then Father Chevalier of Biloxi. Father Victor Bally and Father Abram Ryan also served the parish throughout the late 19th century.
In 1872, Father LeDuc wrote to Bishop William Henry Elder at Natchez asking for a church to be built at Mississippi City, it wasn’t until the episcopacy of Bishop Thomas Heslin in 1892 was permission given for a church to be built in Mississippi City, to be dedicated to Saint James. The people of Handsboro consented to demolish their simple church and consolidate with the new Saint James Church in Mississippi City on Teagarden Road on land donated by the Malley Family. The cornerstone was laid on September 27, 1896 and its first pastor was Father Camille D’Hooghe, who died less than a year into his pastorate. On September 1, 1897, Father Thomas McNamara served as pastor until December 1st of that same year, when Father Dutto was assigned at Saint James where he remained until his death in 1902. In 1903, the parish census recorded around 100 parishioners.
Following the death of Father Dutto, Saint James remained without a reside pastor, and was attended by Father J.M. Preendergast of Gulfport and then Father J.E. Chenel who was appointed pastor until January 1, 1907. Father Chenel built a two-story rectory during his pastorate. Between 1907 and 1914, several priests sereved as pastor at Saint James, including Father McConkey, Father Maguire, Father Kuhn, and Father Mulvihill. In 1910, the church and the rectory were destroyed by fire. The new Church was soon rebuilt and was dedicated on July 21, 1912 and tragically burned on December 8, 1913. On November 22, 1914, Bishop John Edward Gunn of Natchez dedicated the newly built Church. In 1914, Saint James was again left without a resident pastor and was attended by Father Sweeny, C.M., and Father Hager, C.M., until October of 1926 when Father Holland was appointed. In 1936, the parish census recorded around 230 parishioners. The priests of Saint James attended the mission at Wiggins once a month starting in 1930.
In 1956, Saint James acquired 7 acres of land on Cowan Road and built a school and convent there, these were completed in 1963. On October 30, 1967, the Saint James Church on Teagarden Road was destroyed by a tornado. The decision was made to move the church to Cowan Road. The new church was dedicated on March 17, 1969, by Bishop Joseph Brunini of Natchez-Jackson.
For 165 years, the St. Patrick/St. James Catholic communities have provided a spiritual home for Catholics in the Handsboro/Mississippi City/Gulfport area. Countless Baptisms, Confirmations, First Holy Communions, and Funerals have hallowed the Churches inhabited by our parish family. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist has truly blessed our parish through the more than a century and a half of Masses celebrated in this area. From the simple beginning of St. Patrick’s at Pass Road and Anniston Ave, and through the years of St. James on Tegarden Road to the present St. James Church and School on Cowan Road, the work of the Church founded by Jesus Christ himself has been continued and promulgated in our community.
​Our current church building was dedicated on March 17, 1969.
Today, our local community is led by Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III. Our parish is led by Fr. Ryan McCoy, Deacon Richard Henderson, and Deacon Rick Conason.
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