Mission Statement
To be a witness to the all-inclusive love of God
Revealed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus
To be a voice of compassion for people in need
To be steadfast in our work for social justice
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
Sacred Heart Southern Missions is a vibrant Catholic ministry of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, rooted in the charism of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. For more than 80 years, we have served as a beacon of hope and a safety net for individuals and families facing poverty in northern Mississippi.
Since 1942, we have worked together as a community of faith to strengthen the Catholic Church and transform lives. We operate two excellent Catholic elementary schools — Sacred Heart School in Southaven and Holy Family School in Holly Springs — providing Christ-centered education from pre-kindergarten 3 through eighth grade. These schools deliver exemplary academics grounded in faith, nurturing confident, compassionate leaders who live the Gospel in their daily lives.
Our priests provide pastoral care to six parishes in a region where Catholics make up just two percent of the population. Headquartered in Walls, Mississippi, we serve the five northern counties of DeSoto, Tate, Tunica, Marshall, and Benton through six social service offices. We offer compassionate emergency assistance — including food, clothing, and utility support — as well as safe, affordable housing, skill development, advocacy, and counseling to help families achieve stability and dignity.
Through our active Volunteer Service program, generous individuals and groups from across the country regularly join us in food distributions, holiday outreach, critical home repairs and modifications for the poor, elderly and disabled, as well as other meaningful community projects that bring relief and joy to those we serve.
At Sacred Heart Southern Missions, we are committed to living the Gospel by meeting both spiritual and material needs, delivering quality faith-based education, building stronger communities, and sharing the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with everyone we encounter.
History with HFS
St. Mary School was established in 1948 to provide a high-quality education for African American children, eventually merging with the white St. Joseph School in 1969 to form CADET (Christian Aided Development Through Extraordinary Training)—a pioneering integrated program that closed its high school but expanded into early childhood care in 1974. Renamed Holy Family School in 1994, it continues to serve a predominantly low-income student body, carrying forward the mission's historical legacy of combining academic instruction with essential community and economic support.
More information on Holy Family School founding!
