Mary's House in Natchez

The Catholic community in Natchez traces its origin to 1682 when Robert de la Salle and his party traveled from Lake Michigan down the Mississippi River. A priest in the explorer’s party celebrated the first documented Mass just south of Natchez. In 1722 a French Catholic parish was established and endured until 1763 when France lost the French and Indian War to Britain. Spain took control of the Natchez territory in 1779 and built a church on Commerce Street in 1778. Then in 1793, Natchez became part of the Diocese of Louisiana. From 1798 until 1839 — a total of 40 years — Natchez Catholics maintained their own community without a resident priest.

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The Diocese of Natchez — the first diocese in Mississippi — was established in 1837. Four years later in 1841 Bishop John J. Chanche arrived as first bishop. Not long after his arrival, Bishop Chanche set about building a cathedral, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1842. The not-yet-finished Gothic Revival Cathedral — named Our Lady of Sorrows — was dedicated on December 25, 1943, but took 40 years to complete. Then on September 19, 1886, it was consecrated and remained the Cathedral of the Natchez Diocese until 1977.