In 1934, having come to Montgomery, Alabama with little more than five dollars in his pocket, Fr. Purcell organized the construction of The City of Jude, a “city” built to meet the needs of black people in the south.
It had a hospital, a school, a home for disabled children, a nursing school, two convents, a “store” where people could get necessities, and, naturally, a church.
The church is in the middle of the campus and is the highest building on the property. As you can see, you have to go up to get into the church and that was done on purpose.
Even during the Depression, Fr. Purcell found a way to bring this “city” to the black population in Montgomery. A great testament to the fact that if you just set out to do God’s Will, He will bless your efforts.
There is a small picture museum in one of the buildings behind the church that tells the history of this church and in it I read a letter Fr. Purcell had wrote.
Before coming to the south, he had started a Catholic publication in New York called “The Sign.” In the letter, he explains to his readers that he is leaving to go to the south and why he is leaving. Basically, he lays out that there are very few to serve the destitute and neglected in the south and he feels he must go to bring Christ to them. It was a very touching letter.
Today in our second reading, St. Paul tells the Philippians, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vain glory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.”
I think Fr. Purcell tried very hard to live out these words.
I’m always so impressed by people who set out to do what Jesus wants, whether big or small. Fr. Purcell went to do something big, but not all of us will be called to that. St. Therese of Lisieux, whose feast day is today, taught us the “little way” to sainthood.
Nothing is insignificant, Catholic Pilgrims, when done for love of God.
Have a blessed Sunday.
(There is more to share about this church, so stay tuned.)
