JACKSON – St. Therese parishioners select gifts during the “CWA Christmas shopping days” held Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 3-4 after all Masses. All proceeds from this sale and the tamale sale will go to the 2016 Catholic Habitat Build on Greenview Street. (Photo by Elsa Baughman)

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
AMORY St. Helen Parish, book discussion group of “Miss Jane” by Brad Watson, Monday, Dec. 12, at noon.
GRENADA St. Peter Parish, Advent Mission, Dec. 11-13, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Presented by the Sisters of St. Cecilia out of Nashville, Tenn.
VICKSBURG St. Paul Parish, “Discovering Christ,” a seven-week experience, Tuesdays, Jan. 10-Feb. 21,   2017, at night in Farrell Hall. Details: Parish office: 601-636-0140

PARISH, SCHOOL & FAMILY EVENTS
AMORY St. Helen Parish, Mission Mississippi meeting and pancake breakfast, Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8  a.m. followed by wrapping and delivering of Christmas presents to two families.
BROOKHAVEN St. Francis Parish, young adult Catholic group meeting and Christmas gathering, Friday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. at the home of Linda and Joe Moak.
CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth Parish CYO, pancakes, pictures, and the Polar Express fund-raiser, Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. in McKenna Hall for Pre-3 through sixth-graders. Admission is $10.
– Luminaries will be sold before and after Mass Sunday, Dec. 18, for $5. A special prayer service will be held by the youth on Jan. 8, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in honor and memory of those luminary names.
CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, the Knights of Columbus is collecting pajamas for needy children until Thursday, Dec. 15. Bring them unwrapped to Mass or the office.
COLUMBUS Annunciation Parish, “The Messiah,” Tuesday, Dec. 13. Performances are at 6 and 8 p.m. in the church. Tickets are free, available in the church office.
– Annunciation School Christmas Extravaganza, Tuesday, De. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Rent Auditorium on the MUW campus. The event is free and open to the public.
GREENVILLE Sacred Heart Parish, potluck Christmas party, Sunday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. Participants will play Dirty Santa, bring a $10 gift and a child’s gift.
GREENVILLE Our Lady of Lourdes School, Christmas play, Thursday, Dec. 15. Performances are at 1 and 6 p.m.
HERNANDO Holy Spirit Parish, “A Christmas Remembered,” Sunday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. Children and youth are invited to participate. Details: Barbara Smith, 662-233-4833 or 901-413-8102.
HOLLY SPRINGS St. Joseph Parish, senior yoga classes, Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. You must be at least 55 years of age and a registered member of the parish.
JACKSON Holy Family Parish is collecting caps, gloves, scarves, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, individually wrapped snacks, cookies, and crackers for the Christmas bags which will be distributed Sunday, Dec. 17.
OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace Parish, celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mass, Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. followed by a potluck dinner.
– Women’s Club December pizza night, Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the church. All women of the parish are invited to attend. Parishioner Diana Lyons will speak about the parish’s retreat.
– Women’s Club bake sale, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, after Mass. All women of the parish are asked to donate a baked good for the sale.
SOUTHAVEN Catholic young adults from Northern Mississippi are invited to an “Ugly Christmas sweater fiesta” on Thursday, Dec. 15, at Fiesta Grill (7065 Airways Blvd. Suite 101, Southaven) at 7 p.m. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater.
– Christ the King Parish, la posada, Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. The night will end with hot chocolate and sweet bread.
VICKSBURG St. Michael Parish, children’s Christmas party, Sunday, Dec. 18, from 2 – 4 p.m. All families are invited to attend. Bring a wrapped gift with your child’s name on it as well as an unwrapped gift for a boy or girl ages seven-12 to be donated to the children’s shelter. The party will feature arts and crafts for the kids, food, and a special appearance by Santa.

Advent reconciliation services
– Amory St. Helen, Thursday, Dec. 15, after 6 p.m. Mass.
– Brookhaven St. Francis, Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m.
– Gluckstadt St. Joseph, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 5 – 7 pm.
– Greenville Sacred Heart, Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.
– Holly Springs St. Joseph, Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
– Jackson St. Richard, Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m.
– Jackson St. Therese, Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.
– Meridian St. Patrick, Monday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m.
– Olive Branch Queen of Peace, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.
– Robinsonville Good Shepherd, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
– Senatobia St. Gregory, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
– Shaw St. Francis, Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m.
– Tupelo St. James, Tuesday, Dec 13, at 6:30 p.m.
– Vicksburg St. Michael, Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
* St. Paul, Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.
* St. Mary, Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m.
– Yazoo City St. Mary, Monday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m.

In Memoriam
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sister Veronica Grennan, BVM, 103, died Nov. 22, at Marian Hall in Dubuque. Burial is in Mount Carmel cemetery, Dubuque.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Grennan was superior/principal at Clarksdale Immaculate Conception School. She taught elementary and secondary school in Chicago; Cedar Rapids, Cascade and Iowa City, Iowa; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; and Rock Island, Ill., where she also served as counselor and in pastoral ministry.
She was born in Sterling, Ill., on Sept. 17, 1913. She entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1931, and professed first vows on March 19, 1934, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1939.

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY 2016
JACKSON – World Marriage Day 2017, Sunday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m. Mass and reception at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The celebration honors all married couples, but those celebrating their 25th, 50th or 60th anniversaries or any significant anniversary are invited to participate. Submit your name, address and wedding date to your pastor or parish secretary by Friday, Dec. 30.

Nativities display
CARY, Miss. – Nativity open house featuring more than 400 Nativities, Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Goodman Memorial United Methodist Church, Highway 61. Admission is free, donations are accepted for Cary Cemetery. Details: 662-873-2365.