NATCHEZ — A century of history inspires The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church as it celebrates its 100th anniversary Sunday.

The church is the result of a small group of Italians who fought to make Natchez their home.

Charles Mascagni, a descendant of the St. Catherine Creek Italian Colony, said in 1905, a small group of struggling immigrant Italian families boarded a ship bound for America. They arrived at Louisiana cotton plantations and found themselves living in deplorable conditions.

Mascagni said a few of these families fled the plantations, and with help from local Natchez businessmen, settled along Old Washington Road near St. Catherine Creek.

What started off as a small group of Italian families turned into a larger number settling into their way of life in Natchez.

As men and women of the Lord converged, it wasn’t long until Assumption Church was erected in 1913.

Descendants of the founding families of Assumption Church, including the Mascagnis, Dallalios and the Verucchis still attend the church today.

Donnie and Carolyn Verucchi, descendants of founding member Augustine Verucchi Sr., are just a few members of Assumption Church whose family has been attending the church since it was built.

“Being a part of that church is truly a wonderful experience,” Carolyn said. “We have a very friendly and faithful church.”

Every Sunday before Mass, the descendants can feel the livelihood of their ancestors with just a ring of a bell.

In the 1960s, the original church became infested with termites and was moved to another location on the premises so that a new church could be built.

The church bell was removed from the tower of the old church and taken to the home of Augustine.

“(Donnie’s) grandfather took the bell and mounted it on a metal frame, and it was there in his yard to welcome anyone that came to his house,” Carolyn said.

In 2002, Father Mike O’Brien was Pastor at Assumption Church. O’Brien hosted a “Welcome Home Ceremony” during which the bell was returned to the new church built in 1960.

It was made a permanent fixture outside the church, where it remains today and is rung joyously before each Mass begins.

“The bell and stone represents the hardships and strength of our ancestors who built the church,” Carolyn said.

Carolyn said though she can feel the tradition every time the bell rings, the church has come a long way from its first days.

“(Since those days,) we’ve opened up our doors to Hispanics, and we also have an African-American family there,” she said. “It’s now one big melting pot, and I’m glad to know we can all come together and serve the same God.”

Assumption Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary starting with the ringing of the church bell Sunday.