NATCHEZ — Among Edward Songy’s many passions in his life are his faith and music.

The two collide on Sundays when he sings in the choir at Grace United Methodist Church in Natchez.

“It’s just a delightful experience, they are all great musician, and we all get such joy out of singing,” he said.

But there’s a catch — Songy is a devout Catholic.

“There are so many similarities in how we all worship,” he said. “In each religious services, you can find different beauty.”

Songy was raised Catholic and brought up to believe an exclusionist point of view in which only Catholics could go to heaven.

Everything changed when he joined the U.S. Air Force.

“I met this Jesuit chaplain that preached how everyone, regardless of background or faith, deserved a seat at Christ’s table,” Songy said. “And the chaplain offered everyone communion without asking if they were Catholic or not.

“It opened my eyes.”

Since then, Songy has been religiously inclusive.

In addition to attending the Methodist and Catholic Churches in town, Songy also attends the Temple B’Nai Israel synagogue.

“The great thing about Natchez is that it has such a mixing of cultures, you can practice just about anything you wish,” he said.

Songy gets a little something different from each of the services he attends, but the reason he is there remains constant.

“People ask me, ‘What are you doing singing at the Methodist Church?’” he said.

“I don’t think the Lord will mind if I am singing at a different church, I am still singing to him.”