For the first time in its more than 130-year history, three bishops of the Catholic Church will concelebrate Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton on Sept. 17.

The occasion is the 40th anniversary celebration of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia (CCA) that will be holding its annual meeting over three days, beginning with a social at St. Patrick Church Hall Friday evening and concluding there with closing ceremonies Sunday.

Most Reverend Michael Bransfield, Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, will be joined in Celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 5:30 Sept. 17 by Most Reverend Dan Conlon, Bishop of Steubenville, Ohio Diocese, and Bishop Emeritus Walter Sullivan of Richmond, Va.

“To have three bishops of the Catholic Church concelebrating Mass at St. Patrick is a most auspicious occasion,” said St. Patrick’s pastor, Father Tom Dagle. “Never before in our memory has this occurred anywhere in West Virginia, or the entire Appalachian area for that matter.

“As a parish, we absolutely are thrilled; parishioners and other volunteers have spent weeks scrubbing, scouring, and painting in preparation of their arrival, as well as that of those who will be attending the CCA annual meeting.”

CCA is an organization of nearly 400 people spread over 30 states who are concerned with the environmental and social challenges present in Appalachia.

“CCA is comprised of religious and laity, Catholics and non-Catholics who share in the Catholic Church’s concern for environmental and social issues affecting the people of Appalachia,” explained Jeannie Kirkhope of Spencer, administrative director.

“While this year we are celebrating our 40th anniversary, our roots date back to the early 1960s and President Johnson’s War on Poverty. Amongst earliest to respond to the call were the Priests of the Glenmary Home Missioners and Glenmary Sisters, both of whom concentrated their work amongst the poor. Together with more Catholic and other Christian groups, they formed an ecumenical group called CORA, the Commission on Religion in Appalachia.

“As more and more Catholics became involved in that group,” Kirkhope said, “in 1970 it was decided to spin off from it and form the Catholic Committee of Appalachia.

She added that being Catholic is not a requisite to becoming a member of CCA.

“What is required is a shared belief in social and environmental justice, which includes concern for the world in which we live and the people with whom we share it.”

“The precepts of CCA,” she said, “are the mirrored in the two awards presented each year, the 2010 recipients of which will be announced after the dinner following Saturday’s Mass at St. Patrick: The Bishop Sullivan Award and the FOCIS Award.

“The Bishop Sullivan Award recognizes that individual who has labored at least 10 years in peace and justice type work in Appalachia, for example housing, minorities, community organizing, prisons, environment, workers’ rights, women’s empowerment, health issues, education, living wage, dismantling racism, death penalty moratorium, and so forth, and who also has demonstrated he or she is supportive of the Appalachian pastoral messages This Land is Home to Me and At Home in the Web of Life.”

“Our other award,” Kirkhope continued, “the FOCIS Award, is presented to the group or organization that over the past year best has been an exemplary expression of Catholic social teaching, whose actions make the gospel concrete in Appalachia, that has been ministering to people where they are located, has had a tradition of service and, finally, has demonstrated an appreciation of Appalachia.”

“While we do have a closed business session during the annual meeting, everyone is welcome to attend the three-day convention. Non-member registration is $35, plus $10 for breakfast Saturday and $10 Sunday, and $15 for the Saturday evening dinner following Mass, all taking place at St. Patrick Parish Hall on Temple Street in Hinton,” Kirkhope said.

“Reservations are required and can be made by calling me at 304-927-5798. To become a member of CCA,” she added, “only requires that you share in our values and the Catholic Church’s concern for environmental and social justice throughout Appalachia. More information is available on our website at http:/wwwccappal.”