Page 31 - Spring 2019 Extension Magazine

Extension | Spring 2019 31

BLANCHE JONES

THROUGH SONG,

SHE CHANGES LIVES

Church musician
in Diocese of Biloxi

sees herself as an
instrument of God
‘I
sing and play the piano for
that person who says, ‘I was
burdened and your song
lifted me up — I needed that
song today,’” said Blanche
Jones, church musician at St. Peter
the Apostle Church in Pascagoula,
Mississippi. Blanche Jones, a lifelong musician, offers her voice to others.
She started playing piano at age
4 and was playing for Sunday school school. “The school had no black cian at St. Peter the Apostle Church.
the next year. “I prayed to God to teachers,” she said. “I wanted to When Hurricane Katrina struck
let me become a singer and piano inspire children to love music like I the area in 2005, the church was
player and He granted me that,” did.” demolished. Nearby Sacred Heart
she said. “I use these gifts to the When she returned home to Church allowed the parish to hold
best of my ability.” Magnolia, she set up a music stu- Mass in their church. “With all the
Raised in Magnolia, Mississippi, dio. Many of her students went on to devastation from the hurricane, I
Jones attended Alcorn State Univer- become music teachers and profes- asked God, ‘How do I approach
sity and studied music and educa- sional musicians. this?’ He said, ‘Be yourself and serve
tion. Upon graduating, she moved In 1983, she moved to Moss Point me!’” Jones said.
to Lorraine, Ohio, to teach at a grade and soon became the church musi- Catholic Extension has sup-
ported St. Peter the Apostle Parish
since 1992 and most recently helped
to rebuild its new church (see news
briefs, page 10).
At St. Peter the Jones is excited for the new
Apostle Church, church. “God uses me to sing, to
Blanche Jones bring people closer to God, espe-
leads the choir.
cially when they’re going through
difficult things,” she said. “It is
such joy!”