TRCC President Dr. John Cooper, far left, accepts a copy The Catholic Church in Southern Missouri from Monsignor Michael F. Swalina of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff. Looking on are TRCC supporters Christy and Tom Turner of Poplar Bluff. [Click to enlarge]

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A new book on the history of the region's Catholic churches has been presented to Three Rivers Community College and placed in the college's Rutland Library. TRCC President Dr. John Cooper, far left, accepts a copy The Catholic Church in Southern Missouri from Monsignor Michael F. Swalina of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff. On hand for the presentation were TRCC supporters Christy and Tom Turner of Poplar Bluff. Tom Turner is the vice chairman of the TRCC Board of Trustees, and Mrs. Turner is an active member of the Sacred Heart parish. The Catholic Church in Southern Missouri by Loretta Pastva, SND, is a pictorial history of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese of the Catholic Church. The diocese will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2006.