The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
MARIANNA -- Something was off.
All was going well during Mass in the small parish of St. Andrew Church in Marianna, but the pastor couldn't figure out what felt different. It took a moment before the former parish priest grasped the problem: No one sat where they usually did.
Margie Sallis smiled as she explained the parish pulled the prank at the pastor's last Mass at the church.
"He just laughed and said, 'Ya'll trying to mess with me,'" Sallis said. "We all have 'assigned' seats and sides of the church we sit on."
The prank was emphasized as one member, Stanley Bosnick, forgot the switched seating. Pam Jones said, "After Communion, Uncle Stanley went back to his usual seat, looked around and then went to where they were sitting that day."
Known as "Uncle Stanley," Stanley Bosnick has attended the church since he was three days old in 1926. Jones said he was the church's alternate altar boy.
The agriculture-oriented parish community easily acknowledges that they are all about family and welcomes newcomers with open arms.
"I like the small cozy feeling about it," Brian Ketner of Marvell said.
Ketner said he began attending the church a year ago when he moved to the area.
The Marianna church, located at 54 West Tennessee St., was established in 1913. Sallis said she can "remember the old church because I always wanted to go up to the old choir loft." The former church was built in 1913 for Catholics who were previously completing an all-day trip to Forrest City, Helena-West Helena or other parishes for their Sunday Mass.
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The first church was torn down and replaced with a new building in June 1969. Knoxylene Bosnick, who has attended church in Marianna for 59 years, said the new church was built 40 years ago in the same spot as the former church. The old church was replaced due to old age.
St. Mary Church in Helena-West Helena currently administers to the parish with Father Charles Kanu in his fourth month of being assigned there.
"It is a small place. It is more of a farm area. There are few members, but they are spirit filled and they do their best," Father Kanu said. "They are community people. After Mass, there is always something that is going on in the parish hall."
There are currently 20-25 families that attend the weekly 5:30 p.m. Mass Saturday with varied attendance of Helena-West Helena and Forrest City church members. Parishioners said, however, they have mixed feelings about their switch from Sunday to Saturday Mass, which occurred within the past 10 years.
"(Saturday afternoon Mass) improved our attendance," Sharon Bosnick said. "We thought it would be so hard to adjust to, but it wasn't."
For Jones, she said it took a while for her to get used to a Saturday Mass.
"I did not like 5:30 p.m. Mass for the longest time," Jones said. "I've done (8 a.m. Mass) so long that I feel like I am not doing my Sunday obligation. I felt guilty because I thought 'Sunday is the day of the Lord.' I felt like 'I'm a sinner because I have not gone to church on Sunday.'"
Jones said, "Now, it's fine. It was a lot to get used to."
Despite the usual Saturday Mass, Sallis and Jones both said an Easter Mass has been held on Sunday in the past.
After Mass, the group congregates in the parish hall for snacks and conversation. Father Kanu said he used the time to get to know the parish and field questions about the faith.
"You don't just go to Mass and rush out, you go back and visit," Knoxylene Bosnick said. "To me, that brings a parish together."
Bosnick said a potluck was held once a month, then four or five years ago, people started bringing small dish items weekly.
Sharon Bosnick said her favorite part of the church was "the family community feeling because while not everyone is related, it is a family parish."
Sharon Bosnick, who is married to her college sweetheart Lanny, began attending the church after they moved to the area in summer 1963.
"I came to church with him all those years, but I didn't convert until 14 years ago," Bosnick, whose three boys grew up in the church, said.
Jones said the church is "an older church and there are not that many young people there to have children."
Those with children go to Helena-West Helena, Forrest City or other parishes for religious education classes or programs.
Despite its smallness, church members say they are there to stay.
"I like it, we're all like one big happy family," Teresa Pena said.
Through talks and pranks, the mission remains close to their pastors and remain ready to share their memories -- and pranks -- at a moment's notice.
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