About Immaculate Conception · Indianola, Mississippi
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Indianola, Mississippi, within the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, tracing its origins to a small mission founded in 1900 by German and other European Catholic immigrants in the Mississippi Delta. For decades it was served by Franciscan friars from Greenwood; since 1962 it has been a diocesan parish. Today the parish is pastored by Fr. Sleeva Reddy Mekala (appointed May 1, 2022), who also serves the neighboring St. Benedict the Moor and St. James in Leland, with assistance from the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) on the pastoral team.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Sleeva Reddy Mekala
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a welcoming, multicultural Catholic parish that has served the Mississippi Delta for more than 120 years, with deep roots in the immigrant, Franciscan, and diocesan traditions of the Church. Parishioners worship in English each Sunday morning and in Spanish on the first and second Sundays of the month, making it a natural spiritual home for both longtime Delta Catholics and the region's growing Hispanic community. Backed by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) on the pastoral team and a parish council rooted in the Diocese of Jackson, the parish offers a stable, family-friendly setting in which to celebrate the sacraments, raise children in the faith, and serve the wider Indianola community.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (contact the parish office at 662-887-4659)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception's story begins in 1900 with Mass celebrated in a boarding house owned by a German Catholic widow, served by Father Andrew Gmelch of the Marquette Colonization Society in Merigold. The Franciscan founding pastor Father Bonaventure Bolda, OFM, helped the community grow from two dozen faithful to nearly a hundred within a generation, supported by Sisters of Mercy from Greenville who ran summer Bible schools. After a 1917 mission church was dedicated by Bishop John Gunn, the parish grew steadily; by the 1950s it had given rise to St. Benedict the Moor (1953). In 1958 Bishop Richard Gerow separated the two as full parishes, and in 1962 the Franciscans withdrew, ushering in an era of diocesan priests. Under the first diocesan pastor, Father Patrick Curley, the parish built its current 500-seat church, parish center, and rectory, dedicated by Bishop Joseph Brunini in August 1969 and paid off through decades of spaghetti suppers. The original 1917 church became the Mid-Delta Arts Association's little theater. Today, in its second century, Immaculate Conception continues to serve Indianola and the surrounding Delta.
- 1900 — first Mass in a boarding house of a German Catholic widow
- Father Andrew Gmelch traveled from the Marquette Colonization Society, Merigold, MS
- Father Bonaventure Bolda, OFM — founding pastor
- 1917 — mission church dedicated by Bishop John Gunn (Oct. 14)
- 1953 — founding of St. Benedict the Moor mission
- 1958 — Bishop Richard Gerow formally separated the two parishes
- 1962 — Franciscan Order withdrew; diocesan priests began
- 1969 — new church, parish center, and rectory dedicated by Bishop Joseph Brunini (seats 500)
- Funds raised through decades of spaghetti suppers retired the debt
- 1917 church later became home of the Mid-Delta Arts Association
Mass & Worship Schedule
Immaculate Conception offers Sunday Mass in English at 9:15 AM, and a Spanish-language Mass at 3:30 PM on the first and second Sundays of each month to serve the Hispanic Catholic community of the Delta. The sacrament of Reconciliation is available by appointment by calling the parish office.
- Sunday 9:15 AM — English Mass
- Sunday 3:30 PM — Spanish Mass (1st and 2nd Sundays of the month)
- Confession — by appointment (call 662-887-4659)
- Holy Days — contact the parish office for the schedule
Sacraments
As a parish of the Diocese of Jackson, Immaculate Conception celebrates the seven sacraments and welcomes parishioners and visitors to inquire about baptisms, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick, and Reconciliation. Because it shares its pastor with neighboring parishes, sacramental preparation and scheduling are coordinated through the parish office.
- Eucharist (Sunday Mass in English and Spanish)
- Reconciliation (by appointment)
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- Marriage — by arrangement with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement with the parish office
Diocese of Jackson
Immaculate Conception is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, which covers the southern two-thirds of Mississippi. It is grouped in one of the diocese's seven deaneries — a regional grouping of parishes that supports collaboration among clergy and faithful under the bishop's authority. Through the diocese, Immaculate Conception connects to wider ministries, schools, and faith-formation resources across Mississippi.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Jackson
- Deanery: Indianola deanery (Immaculate Conception is one of the deanery parishes)
- Diocese website: https://jacksondiocese.org
Twin Parish: St. Benedict the Moor
Immaculate Conception shares its pastor with St. Benedict the Moor, the historically African-American Catholic parish of Indianola. St. Benedict the Moor was founded on March 5, 1953 by Bishop Richard O. Gerow and Father Theophane Kalinowski, OFM, and was separated as a full parish in 1958. It offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:00 PM at 403 Church Avenue, Indianola. Together the two parishes form the Indianola Catholic Community, served from a single pastor and pastoral team.
- St. Benedict the Moor established March 5, 1953 by Bishop Richard O. Gerow
- First pastor: Fr. Meinrad "Walter" Smigiel, OFM
- Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:00 PM
- Address: 403 Church Avenue, Indianola, MS 38751
- Shared pastor with Immaculate Conception under the Indianola Catholic Community
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Immaculate Conception by phone at (662) 887-4659 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is located at 702 Sunflower Avenue Ext / MS-448 in Indianola; the mailing address is P.O. Box 944, Indianola, MS 38751-0944. The parish website is indianolacatholic.org, where Mass times, history, and contact information are published.
- Address: 702 Sunflower Avenue Ext / MS-448, Indianola, MS 38751
- Mailing: P.O. Box 944, Indianola, MS 38751-0944
- Phone: (662) 887-4659
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.indianolacatholic.org/
Community & Outreach
Immaculate Conception has long been woven into the life of Indianola and the Mississippi Delta. From its earliest days, parish fundraising — most famously the spaghetti suppers — financed church construction and ministry, and the parish's buildings have hosted civic and cultural life, including the 1917 mission church which became the Mid-Delta Arts Association's theater. Today the parish continues its mission of worship, sacramental life, and outreach across the region through the Indianola Catholic Community.
- Historical spaghetti-supper fundraisers built parish facilities
- 1917 mission church repurposed for the Mid-Delta Arts Association
- Spanish Mass ministry serves the Hispanic Catholic population of the Delta
- Pastoral cluster includes St. Benedict the Moor (Indianola), St. James (Leland), and Immaculate Conception Mission (Hollandale)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Andrew Gmelchc. 1900 (traveling priest)
Traveled from the Marquette Colonization Society of Merigold, MS, to celebrate Mass for the small Catholic community of Indianola in its earliest years.
- Fr. Bonaventure Bolda, OFMearly 1900s (founding pastor)
Franciscan (Order of Friars Minor) recognized as the founding pastor of Immaculate Conception; served with other Franciscan priests from Greenwood on two Sundays per month plus holy days.
- Franciscan friars from Greenwood, MS (OFM)through 1962
Order of Friars Minor supplied pastoral care from Greenwood until the Franciscans withdrew in 1962.
- Fr. Patrick Curleyc. 1960s (first diocesan priest)
First diocesan priest assigned to the parish after the Franciscans withdrew; supervised construction of the new church, parish center, and rectory dedicated in August 1969.
- Rev. Binh Nguyenprior to 2022
Listed as Pastor of Immaculate Conception / St. Benedict the Moor on the Diocese of Jackson parish roster prior to Fr. Mekala's appointment.
- Rev. Sleeva Reddy MekalaMay 1, 2022 – present
Appointed Pastor of Immaculate Conception and Administrator of St. Benedict the Moor, Indianola; also serves St. James, Leland, and Immaculate Conception Mission, Hollandale.