For the most of us, religious education took the form of gentle Bible stories, Jesus-inspired art projects and simple Gospel songs.
Not so much for Myrtle Jean Otto and other young people from Canton, Mississippi. In 1966, their religious education happened in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement, in the middle of midnight bombings, tear gas, intimidation and fear. As terrible as that spiritual formation was, Otto would have it no other way.
She was a member of Holy Child Jesus Parish. Her religious education teacher was Sister Thea Bowman, the African American nun and likely future saint renowned for using song and music to teach the faith.
Starting at an early age, Otto learned much from Sister Thea. These are lyrics from one of her favorite songs taught by the sister:
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Keep on a walking, keep on a talking
Gonna build a brand-new world.
This song was a spiritual anthem and Otto’s personal sung response to the pervasive violence and racism gripping the community.
In May 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. (third from the left below) came to Canton to speak during the March Against Fear. Holy Child Jesus Parish was one of the centers for voter registration and training for the freedom marchers.
Otto was one of many who came to see Dr. King—but instead she had to flee from Ku Klux Klan members who attacked the crowd. Mississippi state troopers joined in, assaulting the marchers with tear gas, beatings and mass arrests.
But Otto would not be deterred. Her faith taught her that love could overcome violence, which was not an easy position to maintain during those desperate days. The Holy Child Jesus faith community gave her strength to keep going, keep working for a fairer, brand-new world.
She said that she would not have made it without the parish, which helped her see that she herself was a Holy Child of Jesus, part of His mission and embraced by His circle of love.
Otto’s song continues today. She is the assistant minister of music at Holy Child Jesus Parish. And like Sister Thea, she uses music as a means to pass on the stories of God’s love in the midst of trouble.
Otto is a living testimony to the transformative power of God’s love. She will not be turned around, for there is still much more work to be done. That is the best religious education lesson of all.
Myrtle Jean Otto’s story is part of our series on the courage and conviction of women in the Catholic Church. Read more here.
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Please support our mission!
