By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Abbot emeritus Thomas DeWane, OPraem grew up “surrounded by Norbertines” in Green Bay Wisconsin. His family, five siblings and his parents, attended a parish staffed by Norbertines. The order also ran the schools he attended, so it was natural for him to enter the order as soon as he graduated from high school.
This summer, the abbot will celebrate his 60th anniversary of ordination. His family will gather at their old parish in Green Bay for Mass and then a meal at a local restaurant on Sunday, June 3. The Norbertines always celebrate their significant jubilees on the Feast of St. Norbert, Wednesday, June 6. A classmate of Abbot DeWane will join the celebration along with two priests celebrating 50th and two more celebrating 25th anniversaries this year.
“I always wanted to be a priest, I used to play at being a priest when I was a boy,” said Abbot DeWane. He remembers the Norbertine Sisters encouraging him to pursue the vocation. He spent most of his career in education management, as a principal, director of education and dean of student affairs, all around the Green Bay area. When it came time to retire, he decided he wanted to stay in ministry and maybe even try something new.
“I saw our priory in Mississippi and thought I would come help them,” he said. He enjoys helping out with works of mercy. “I have been involved in prison ministry in Yazoo and Washington. I am the chaplain at the VA hospital so I minister to the sick and parish work, I am the sacramental minister for Magee (St. Stephen parish),” he explained.
The abbot said his vocation has brought him great joy. “I am happy, I have never regretted any of it.”
Father Alphonse Arulanandu dreamed of being a priest from the time he was a child. In May of this year, he gave thanks for 25 years of priesthood at the First Friday healing Mass at Leland St. James parish, where he is pastor.
“I came from a farmer’s family in a rural area so we only had a priest come a few times a year. It was a privilege to be able to go to Mass every Sunday,” he said. The youngest of four, Father Alphonse said his family prayed all the time. When he left to become a priest, he served 2,000 miles from home so the idea of coming to Mississippi was not that far-fetched.
“I just wanted to go and explore more places the way the missionaries who came before did,” he explained. He heard about the missionary Diocese of Jackson while he was serving in Louisiana and decided to apply. He has been here for six years, serving at Brookhaven St. Francis before going to Leland, and said he is enjoying the people in the diocese.
Early in his career, Fr. Alphonse did social work in institutions such as hospitals and Catholic Charities. He is glad that he can now serve in a parish. “My goal in life is to spend more time with the people in my parish, praying with them when they are sick, visiting with them, things like that,” he said. “I like this place and I like the diocese and the people here.”

(Editor’s note: Mea Culpa. When I produced the previous issue of Mississippi Catholic, I inadvertently omitted these two jubilarians. I offer my deepest apologies. -Maureen Smith)