March 2008 - Father Tom Woods

If Catholic Extension sometimes seems like the "glue' that holds little rural parishes together, no one knows it better than Father Tom Woods, pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Russellville, Alabama.

Catholic Extension helped build the first permanent church  for the little mission in the northwest corner of the state, 25 miles from the Mississippi border, in 1982.  That original building now serves as catechetical center for the parish, and Catholic Extension funds have helped train catechists in "the basics" - the Bible, the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, central to our Faith.

Religious education training has been especially welcome in his parish, which is largely Hispanic, Father Tom says. (As a seminarian, a Catholic Extension grant also helped him learn basic Spanish.)

Most of his parishioners are from Guatemala, and came to Russellville to work in the chicken processing plant there.  "A priest in their land may have only visited once every few weeks," he says. "Both children and adults are lacking in catechesis - training in the basic beliefs of the faith." The classes, taught by Anglo families, have been a way to bring the parish together.

Before it had its own church, the Good Shepherd community worshipped in private homes, and later in the Sunday School chapel at the First Methodist Church.

The two churches still enjoy a close relationship that's sealed with a unique custom, he adds.  On the parish grounds is a rough wooden cross with little slips of paper nailed to it (pictured above).  Each Holy Week, Good Shepherd parishioners nail slips of paper with their prayer intentions onto a similar cross and carry it down to the center of town. Members of the Methodist church do the same, and the two congregations exchange crosses so they can pray for one another's intentions.

"We're very ecumenical here," Father Tom smiles.

Catholic Extension helps support Father Tom's ministry needs and many other dedicated missionaries  who work hard to bring God's comfort to America's poor and struggling Catholics. Will you consider helping them with a gift today? Please donate now securely. Thank you.

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