The congregations of two rural Mississippi Episcopal churches have each been blessed with the healing presence of a cat.
Those cats —“Episcocats” if you will — are part of their ministries.
The Rev. Elizabeth Malphurs, rector at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Bovina, said Sallie Mae has been a balm to her soul in ways she didn’t realize she needed.
The Rev. Josh Shipman, rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Corinth, said Rev. Mittens is a cheerful presence in the church building, welcoming all who stop by there.
Malphurs said Sallie Mae arrived at the church on Aug. 3, 2021, in the middle of a summer that had been plagued by an abundance of mice.
“I had just been joking to our Wednesday night service participants that I hadn’t known that setting mouse traps would be part of my ministry. When the Wednesday service ended and we walked outside, we found a kitten in the churchyard,” Malphurs said.
Malphurs said Sallie Mae embodies the St. Alban’s tradition of holy hospitality.
What greater gift than the love of a cat — Charles Dickens
“She is quite possibly the most social cat I have ever met, and she relishes greeting everyone who comes to the church, old and young, strangers and long-time members. Whenever a group meets at the church, Sallie Mae wants to be included, and she often goes from lap to lap.”
Earlier this year, Sallie Mae was bitten by a venomous snake.
“By the grace of God, she got herself to the church yard before she collapsed, and our parish administrator spotted her. There was a group meeting at the church that sprang into action and helped get her to the Animal Medical Clinic of Vicksburg. She was gravely ill and spent two weeks at the vet, then had to return several weeks later for further treatment of her wound. We became very close to the staff at the Animal Medical Clinic, and Sallie Mae may have received a record number of visitors during her convalescence,” Malphurs said.
Malphurs said Sallie Mae brings the clergy and congregation so much joy.
“Someone said recently that Sallie Mae makes each person feel as if they are the most important person in the world, which is such a beautiful reflection of what we believe about God here at St. Alban’s. She is a daily reminder of God’s welcome and unfathomable love for us. She also keeps us mindful that God’s creation includes not just humanity, but all living things, and that we have a role in stewarding our little corner of the world for the good of all creation.”
Over in Corinth, Rev. Mittens became a part of St. Paul’s during the pandemic after a family had moved and wasn’t able to keep the cat. Congregation members got used to seeing Shipman’s cats during livestreaming sessions in the pandemic and warmed to the idea of eventually having a church cat.
“We also had a bit of a mouse problem at the church, and people were getting used to the idea of a cat being connected to the church. So, I suggested that the parishioner bring the cat to the church, and the rest is history. People have come to adore her, but she is frequently banned from Bible Study for poor behavior,” Shipman said.
Rev. Mittens, Shipman said jokingly, is a bit of a therapy cat.
“She is known to nose her way into pastoral counseling sessions (with the approval of the other person). She has become something of a celebrity on our Instagram and Facebook pages. She attends Bible Study when she can keep her paws to herself.”
Rev. Mittens has never met a stranger, Shipman said.
“Many cats (I have known) are kind of scared of new people. Rev. Mittens’ main job during the week is greeter. She usually knows someone is at the front door before we do, and she never fails to run to the narthex so she can welcome them to St. Paul’s. She will talk your ear off if you let her, and people love it. My days in the office would be lonely without her into some mischief somewhere in the building,” Shipman said.
