Category Archives: Diocesan News

Inspiring others to ‘work together as people of faith ’Msgr. Sunds observes golden jubilee

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By Joe Lee
MADISON – On the evening of Aug. 7, the family life center at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison resembled a fine restaurant, with white tablecloths and soft candlelight creating the perfect backdrop for a huge crowd to congratulate Msgr. Elvin Sunds on the golden anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

It was a fitting tribute to the kind, soft-spoken man who grew up in Iowa and has spent more than fifty years of his life bringing Mississippians of different backgrounds together. The throng waiting to enjoy the mouth-watering dinner was no surprise after the standing room only gathering at Mass, which made Sunds feel, in his words, deeply affirmed.

“When I first saw the church packed for the Mass, I was genuinely overwhelmed,” he said. “I had no idea so many people over the years from so many parishes – and from Catholic Charities – wanted to express their gratitude.”

MADISON – Msgr. Elvin Sunds (second from right) celebrated his golden jubilee on Monday, Aug. 7 at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Madison. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Sunds felt the call toward the priesthood while a senior in high school, but he wanted something more exciting than the Diocese of Des Moines, especially after being told by his vocation director that he was expected to teach high school for the first ten years after ordination.

“During my junior year at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Conception, Missouri, my spiritual director suggested I spend a summer working for a friend of his in New York City named Father John Powis. This was 1967, and Father Powis was working in the rough Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, a largely Puerto Rican and African American neighborhood.

“I was impressed at what Father Powis was doing and found an apartment in a condemned building for the summer. I worked mornings at a commercial laundry to support myself and spent afternoons organizing recreational programs for the neighborhood kids.”

Sunds had seminarian classmates from Mississippi who urged him to visit the state, which he did for the first time that fall.

“Cardinal Bernard Law was the vocation director then for what was the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson,” Sunds said. “He arranged for me to spend several months with Father Nathaniel Machesky, who was pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Greenwood.

“This was predominantly an African American parish. They were offering education for the kids in the grade school there, a wonderful alternative to what wasn’t a good education in the Greenwood public schools. I realized the Natchez-Jackson Diocese was where I needed to be.”

Since his ordination by Bishop Joseph Brunini at Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis on Aug. 5, 1973, Sunds has pastored in Biloxi, Jackson, Meridian, Greenville and Corinth. Revered for his work with Catholic Charities (where he served as executive director from 1978-1994), he was honored by the Mississippi NAACP in 1982 with the organization’s Outstanding Service Award.

Msgr. Elvin Sunds pictured at his priestly ordination on Aug. 5, 1973 in Bay St. Louis. (Photo from archives)

“We established programs while I was there to serve people that had not been served in Mississippi,” Sunds said. “I really encouraged the employees to think toward trying to change the system and make a bigger impact than just the person we were serving. My first hire was Linda Raff as associate director. We made a great team.”

“Msgr. Sunds brought a sense of social justice for all of God’s children, especially those poor and vulnerable,” said Raff, who succeeded Sunds as executive director in 1994 and served in that role 14 years before returning for a final year as director in 2014. “I appreciated that he administered the agency in a very fair-minded way, and it will always be one of my greatest privileges to have worked for him.”

“We’re only 2.5 percent Catholic in the Jackson diocese,” Sunds said. “But we have a tremendous impact, and we have an even bigger impact when we work together ecumenically. The Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference was Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Jewish – lots of denominations – that worked together in the civil rights era.

“When we work together as people of faith, we can make a tremendous impact in Mississippi, such as the changing of the state flag. The football community, the academic community and the business community were behind it, but it was also the Catholic bishop, Methodist bishop, Episcopal bishop and others that agreed we needed to change it.”

“Msgr. Sunds and I have been friends for almost 30 years,” said retired pastor Raymon Leake. “He invited me to speak in his church (St. Patrick in Meridian at the time), and I invited him to speak in mine (First Baptist of Meridian).

“We’ve worked together on projects as significant as establishing a children’s home, and as seemingly insignificant as sharing with a community that Christians of different backgrounds can work together for the benefit of those who need us.”

“Msgr. Sunds was my predecessor at St. Patrick and did the hard work in setting up a relationship between (predominantly white) St. Patrick and (predominantly black) St. Joseph,” said retired priest Father Frank Cosgrove. “What he did should serve as a model for other places.”

“The attendance at 8:30 Sunday Mass at St. Joseph is now about fifty percent white – they come for the music and hospitality, both of which are wonderful – and Msgr. Sunds deserves great credit for that. A St. Patrick parishioner told me that Msgr. Sunds brought the Meridian Catholic community into the twenty-first century.”

In residence at St. Francis in Madison since officially retiring in 2019, Sunds has taken time off to travel the country, most notably an 8,000-mile excursion that took him to eight national parks and three national monuments. He and Leake, both avid outdoorsmen, have hiked together through the Tetons, the Sierras, the Rockies, and from France into Switzerland through the Alps. He even pastored for a month in 2021 in Nome, Alaska. [Click here to ready the story on his trip to Nome]

Sunds has the admiration of St. Francis pastor Father Albeenreddy Vatti, who praised his brother priest’s work ethic, organizational skills and the simple lifestyle he leads. He has also earned the trust and respect of the parish’s youth.

“When you’re a young priest, you’re kind of a mentor to young people because you’re not far removed from them in age,” Sunds said. “When you get to be middle age, you’re more like a parent, and the relationship changes a bit. Then you get to a stage where you’re more like a grandparent. Maybe they relate to you in a way they wouldn’t relate to their parents.

“You reach out by being accepting and non-critical. And listening.”

Growing Catholic community flourishes inside Pearl state prison

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By Chris Kieffer
PEARL – On a Saturday afternoon in July, the 100 men gathered inside a chapel in this central Mississippi city rose and applauded as Father Lincoln Dall began his processional to commence Mass.

The congregants were inmates at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF). And the unscripted moment of enthusiastic appreciation that erupted at the start of Mass underscores the passion that has been at the heart of the growing Catholic ministry here inside the razor wire.

“I feel like it is almost ministry in its most raw form,” said Father Lincoln, the pastor at both Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Raymond and the vicar general for the Diocese of Jackson. “A lot of them realize they have a lot to work on, and they’re hungry for this. You feel the energy for it. It’s palpable.”

PEARL – Recently, Father Lincoln Dall and Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated Mass with the St. Michael the Archangel community at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. (Photo courtesy of Father Lincoln Dall)

Father Lincoln has a long history with prison ministry, but even he has been amazed by the burgeoning Catholic community here inside one of Mississippi’s three state prisons. As recently as last Christmas, about 15 or 20 inmates would regularly attend Mass, which was then held in a small room tucked inside one of the facility’s buildings. Now, some 120 or 130 men attend one of the two Masses Father Lincoln celebrates at CMCF’s chapel nearly every weekend.

“It is an accomplishment for us to see it growing, and it makes us feel we are doing something positive,” said Chris, an inmate at the facility and member of the Catholic community.

Their numbers have grown so much that the Catholic community has recently been recognized by CMCF as an official organization with its own bylaws and name – St. Michael the Archangel, chosen to honor the celestial being who led the angelic forces against Satan and his followers.

The community was also given use of the CMCF chapel, where it met for Mass on that Saturday in July. During the service, a banner hung from the ceiling above the altar declaring: “St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Community, Established 2023. Always fighting the forces of evil.”

The Catholic inmates have played a large role in the community’s rapid growth, said Father Lincoln, who has made the ministry the focus of a project he’s undertaking as part of the Mathis Liturgical Leadership Program, a selective two-year initiative run by the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute of Church Life.

The project is about creating a Eucharistic culture. In this case, it builds that culture by empowering the members of CMCF’s St. Michael the Archangel community to evangelize their fellow inmates.

“It has grown because that core group is working behind the scenes when we’re not there, and they’re going and talking to people and evangelizing them and trying to get them to come to Mass,” said Wes Stevens, who also volunteers with Father Lincoln in the ministry. Michael, an inmate who serves as St. Michael the Archangel’s leader, is also a Eucharistic minister. Recognized as the facility’s official Catholic field minister, he meets with other inmates throughout the week, prays with them and tells them about the growing Catholic ministry.

Father Lincoln brings consecrated hosts to a tabernacle they established within the chapel, and Michael distributes the Blessed Sacrament to Catholic inmates during the week. He also brings rosaries and Bibles that have been donated to the ministry.

“For me, it doesn’t matter where I am,” Michael said when asked why the ministry means so much to him. “I have the peace of God. I want others to have what I have. It’s an incredible gift, and I want other people to have it.

“That’s the last thing Jesus said in the Gospel, was for us to go forth and share it.”

Six inmates went through the RCIA program last year and joined the Catholic Church at Easter, and two more were confirmed by Bishop Joseph Kopacz during a spring visit to the facility. A new RCIA class will be held this fall.

The community has a pastoral council of Catholic inmates who meet regularly to plan activities. It recently launched a farmer’s market, which buys fresh fruits and vegetables and sells them to other inmates. They view the market as an outreach opportunity – a chance to highlight the growing Catholic community to others inside the facility – as well a means to provide healthy meals at affordable prices.

“The men who participate in the Catholic Community are a great bunch of men,” Gregg, another inmate, recently wrote in a letter to Father Lincoln expressing his appreciation for the CMCF Catholic ministry. “…. (They) strive behind bars and razor wire to do things that are only discussed and dreamed of from the outside – to evangelize CMCF and build the kingdom of God.”

Although Jesus explicitly instructs his followers to visit those who are in prison (Matthew 25:36), it’s an often-overlooked ministry. It’s an especially important one in a state like Mississippi, which has an incarceration rate of 1,031 people per 100,000 residents, according to 2021 statistics from PrisonPolicy.org. That’s the second highest among U.S. states, and 55 percent higher than the national average.

Father Lincoln was joined on that July Saturday by Bob Pavolini, a volunteer with the Mississippi Association for Returning Citizens (MARC), a group that focuses on the re-entry of incarcerated individuals into society and that holds meetings at St. Paul Catholic Church in Flowood. A handful of other volunteers also assist in this ministry.

Father Lincoln notes the need for more volunteers and donations. Last year, they spent about $16,000 on the ministry – covering such various expenses as rosaries, Catechisms, Bibles, missalettes and books, as well as a golf cart used to distribute produce from the farmer’s market to the inmates. Individuals can donate specifically to the prison ministry through the Jackson’ Diocese’s online giving portal. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Father Lincoln at lincoln.dall@jackson.diocese.org.

“It’s uncomfortable at first and building relationships with the inmates is a slow-going process, but if you persist and you keep coming, eventually the guys bond with you and they open up and you realize they are just a normal human being who made a mistake at some point in their life,” Stevens said. “They’re not any different than you or I.”

Speaking about the growth of the Catholic community inside CMCF, the inmates rave about Father Lincoln and his sincerity and genuine passion for the ministry.

“I knew from the first time I met him that he really cared about the men here and his mission for God,” Michael said.

During his homily that Saturday afternoon, Father Lincoln referenced a quote he recently saw on the Internet, noting there are no perfect lives, jobs, marriages, parents, etc. We all have our struggles. But, Father Lincoln said, we have God who is perfect and will lead us through our imperfect lives with wisdom, strength and love.

“We all have our crosses,” Father Lincoln said. “I know you do. Our faith is here to help us through all of the struggles we have.”

St. Catherine’s Village memory care gives couple best quality of life

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By St. Catherine’s Village

MADISON – Like many people in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the signs were there for Carolyn Hall: forgetfulness, struggling to find the right words, not paying a few bills on time. But Mrs. Hall was only in her late 50s, so she and her husband Jerry looked to their doctor for other explanations. After extensive research, Mr. Hall’s fears were confirmed … his wife did have dementia. And that’s when his journey to memory care at St. Catherine’s Village began.

At first, Mr. Hall cared for Mrs. Hall at their home in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Things were going okay until COVID-19 hit and accelerated Mrs. Hall’s cognitive decline. Even after bringing in in-home caregivers and nurses, caring for her became too much for him to handle. A work associate had retired to St. Catherine’s Village and Mr. Hall knew a board member at the all-inclusive Life Plan Community, so he checked the property out. After visiting, he knew this was the place where his wife would have the best quality of life.

Mr. Hall’s hope was to have Mrs. Hall admitted into Campbell Cove memory care on the St. Catherine’s Village campus. Unfortunately, it was determined she needed more support, and she was accepted into skilled nursing in Hughes Center. Directly connected to Campbell Cove, Hughes Center offers person-centered care with sensory-stimulating and enriching activities to help preserve each resident’s cognitive health. Another advantage of skilled nursing was that a physician visited Mrs. Hall in Hughes Center so she would not have to leave her familiar surroundings, which often caused agitation.

Pictured are Carolyn and Jerry Hall. St. Catherine’s Village memory care gives Mrs. Hall the “best possible care.” (Photo courtesy of St. Catherine’s Village)

Soon after moving in, Mrs. Hall’s condition improved … so much so that the staff at St. Catherine’s Village recommended she move into Campbell Cove. While it’s common for residents to move from memory care to skilled nursing, it’s rare that someone moves from skilled nursing to memory care.

Being able to receive the right level of care at the right time on the same campus is one of the main benefits of living in an all-inclusive Life Plan Community like St. Catherine’s Village. Residents can transition from one service level to another while remaining in a familiar environment. Becoming a member of the St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community did require an up-front investment from the Halls. However, Mr. Hall – a retired banker – realized the long-term financial stability was worth it.

Now 74, Mrs. Hall is doing well in Campbell Cove … interacting with others, and dancing, doing a little soft shoe. She feels comfortable, which is a great comfort for Mr. Hall. He sings the praises of everyone at St. Catherine’s Village and believes Mrs. Hall is getting the best care possible – care that he could not duplicate on his own at home.

He also appreciates that St. Catherine’s Village is a Christian organization and calls the community is a blessing. The couple’s daughter and her family live nearby in Madison and she visits her mom weekly. Although their son is in Memphis, he agrees that St. Catherine’s Village is the right place for Mrs. Hall.

Located on 160 picturesque acres in Madison, St. Catherine’s Village is a private, gated community boasting a caring staff, on-site resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment. It was the first CCRC in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).

On campus are independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, and skilled nursing in Hughes Center, Siena Center and Tuscany.
To learn more about senior living options at St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.

In the footsteps of Daniel Rudd, National Black Catholics Congress addressed the problem of racism

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By Ivory Phillips

     This past weekend more than 3000 Black Catholics from more than 80 dioceses across the country gathered in National Harbor, Maryland, one of the newer suburbs of Washington, D.C.  It was the thirteenth National Black Catholic Congress. Although the theme was, “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive,” in many ways the meeting was dedicated to addressing the existence of racism in the church and in the society wherein the church exists. Effectively addressing racism would go a long way in developing that vision and enabling the Black Catholic Church to thrive.

     The sponsoring organization of the convention was the National Black Catholic Congress.  It had come into existence in 1889 under the leadership and at the initiative of Daniel Rudd, a Black publisher and outspoken, faithful Catholic layman.  Between 1889 and 1894, five if these congresses were held, calling for equality in the Catholic Church, the elimination of societal racial oppression and promoting strategies of Black self-help. After the 1894 convention, however, the movement died until it was revived in 1987, largely through the efforts of Bishop John Ricard, who attended the National Black Catholic Congress last week.

     There were numerous things that clearly showed today’s Black Catholics walking in the footsteps of Daniel Rudd. Along the line of Rudd and his contemporaries calling for equality, these Catholics spoke of racial equality, White supremacy and racism.

     The issue was more than subtly emphasized by the fact that there was a commissioned portrait of the baby Jesus and his mother Mary as beautiful Black people positioned in several locations in the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center, which was headquarters for the meeting. The portrait inspired many to pose beside them and to glory in their own blackness. The matter of struggling against racism was also illuminated by the repeated focus on the racist burdens borne by the six Black American saints who are on the road to sainthood, especially, those who had racist obstacles placed before them in their efforts to answer the call to the priesthood and religious life and/or were discriminated against in their efforts to serve. 

     During The National Black Catholic Congress XIII, the two major keynote speakers, His Eminence, Wilton Cardinal Gregory and Dr. Omekongo Dibinga, addressed the existence and destructiveness of racism.  Cardinal Gregory dwelt more on the sinfulness and divisiveness of racism and the role that strong adherence to the faith and devotion to the eucharist can play in healing the nation from the historical impact of racism. Dr. Dibinga, used contemporary rap or the hip-hop genre to inspire people in an effort to utilize their human resources to overcome racism, poverty, and self-image problems. In both cases, they were able to easily connect with the audience and elicit resounding supportive responses.

     Perhaps, even more amazing was the fact that the homilies during the Masses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all received by tremendous applauds from the congregations. On Friday, Washington, D.C. Archbishop Wilton Cardinal Gregory, used that day’s scripture reading to talk about the need for Black Catholic visionaries; to publicize the types of visions discernable in the lives of the six African Americans being seriously considered for sainthood; to point to Father Clarence J. Rivers as a visionary and Dr. Martin L. King as the greatest of the contemporary visionaries; and to show how those visionaries, align with the revelations of Jesus in the pursuit of freedom. On Saturday, Bishop Jacques Fabre Jenne of Charleston South Carolina, used the story of Mary Magdalene to talk about the racism underlying the means of securing and enslaving African people during the Atlantic Slave Trade. He ended his talk by utilizing one of the youth altar servers to illustrate an act of freedom and liberation. On Sunday, Bishop Emeritus John Ricard of Pensacola/Tallahassee added to the four-day conversation on the evils of racism and what has to happen to diminish and destroy it. He ended his homily by urging the audience to let the spirit rain down upon them so that they can do miraculous things regarding eliminating racism and other problems faced by contemporary Americans and urging Catholics to not let the fire go out as was lighted by the likes of Daniel Rudd and the six African Americans on the road to sainthood – Father Augustus Tolton, Mrs. Julia Greeley, Mother Mary Lange, Mr. Pierre Toussaint, Mother Henriette Delillie, and Sister Thea Bowman.

     In addition to the keynote speakers and clergymen who preached, the planners of the convention had set the agenda to challenge racism through at least twenty Break-Out Sessions. Although the title of each session may not in every instance indicate that they were about racism, the following sessions, several of which were presented in two or three different time slots, were staged through the first three days of the convention: (1) Synodality, Black Catholic Spirituality, and the Racial Divide, (2) Exploring Catechesis from an Afrocentric Perspective, (3) Strengthening the Spirit for Turbulent Times and Beyond, (4) Saints: Witnesses for Our Times and a Testimony of Holiness, (5)What We Have Seen and Heard for the 21st Century, (6) Developing Catechetical Resources from an Afrocentric Perspective, (7) The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program: Two Success Programs, (8) See, Judge, Act: How Youth Can Use Faith to Become Active Champions for Justice, (9) Sojourning Towards Racial Justice, (10) Let’s Talk: Black Catholics are Thriving, (11) Six Black Americans on the Journey to Sainthood, (12) A White Man’s Journey into Biblical Black History, (13) Made for Such a Time: Gifts of Black Catholics for the 21st Century Church, (14) Let Our Healing Begin, (15) Pastoral Lessons from Father Clarence Joseph Rivers, and (16) Are the Prolife and Racial Justice Movements Incompatible?  Each Break-Out Sessions was a one-hour discussion period wherein presenters introduced researched topics, which were followed by questions and comments from the audience.

     Three of the most informative sessions, which dealt with White supremacy or racism were: What We Have Seen and Heard, Sojourning Towards Racial Justice, and Synodality, Black Catholic Spirituality, and the Racial Divide. In the What We Have Seen and Heard session, Bishop Emeritus Terry Steib of the Diocese of Memphis explained that Black Catholic parishioners in the late 1980s complained and wanted to hear from what had grown to be 10 Black bishops regarding the continued racism in the Catholic Church. In response, the document, “What We Have Seen and Heard,” a 1984 pastoral letter from the Black bishops was produced. That document spelled out the gifts that were possessed by Black people that needed to be more widely accepted in the Catholic Church.  It was also designed to challenge the church leadership to understand that the Black bishops and Black church people were not children in the church, but mature, gifted souls who needed to be accepted and treated as such. Ali Mumbach, a Master’s degree student at Howard University, followed him, explaining how there are similar needs in the church today as the statistics for Black Catholics decline and as there is a rise in materialism secularism, individualism, and relativism effecting society.

     In the Sojourning Towards Racial Justice session, Adrienne Curry gave a brief history of racial oppression in America, beginning in 1619. This was followed by a listing of papal documents, outlining Catholic social reaching as it related to slavery, freedom, race and human brotherhood.  She then proceeded to spent some time defining racism and its various manifestations.  Her talk concluded with a discussion of the fact that there had been only four documents on racism issued by America’s Catholic bishops since the supreme court issued Brown the Board decision in 1954.  One was issued in 1958, affirming that court decision. One was issued in 1968, after the Kerner Report on the urban riots of that year. One was issued in 1979, calling racism a sin.  One was issued in 2018, which was a response to the “What We Have Seen and Heard” letter from the Black bishops.  She indicated that in each case, the documents were inadequate and/or not highly publicized.

     In the Synodality, Black Catholic Spirituality, and the Racial Divide session, Daryl Grigsby talked about the gifts that are possessed by Black Catholics that are underappreciated and underutilized; the fact that too often whatever that is positive that comes out of the synodality sessions is not openly shared with or embraced in White parishes. He also shared statistics which showed that White Protestant Evangelicals were the most likely people to accept or see current police misconduct against Black and Brown people as non-racial and to reject the idea of reparations for Black and Native Americans, but that Catholics were not far behind.  Individuals with no religious affiliations were much less racist in such regards than either those who are Protestant or Catholic.

     Throughout the convention, it was clear that many Catholics were concerned that in terms of liturgy- music, prayers, greetings, and various forms of celebration and personal interactions-the church was too restrictive, stifling Black cultural expression; that too often what was considered as sacred or Catholic was merely examples of White cultural preferences; that one can be fully black and fully Catholic at the same time. In addition to the issue of cultural preference, however, there were also complaints about incidences of White personal attitudinal expressions, Black people being ignored or treated differently. One presenter suggested that it would be easier to attract others to the Catholic Church “if we cleaned-up our house first.”

     Beyond the examples of racism in the church itself, there was concern about examples of racism that are manifest by governmental and public bodies. Several speakers pointed to decisions of the courts in things like health care, voting rights, food, criminal justice, educational funding, curriculum distortions, and educational freedom. One person was highly applauded when she made the observation that politicians, including Catholics, need to bring as much passion to the fight for racial justice as they do to the fight against abortion.

     Based upon what was seen and heard at the XIII National Black Catholic Congress, there seems to be a serious movement to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Rudd and others to challenge racism and to do so with the full weight of the Black Catholic Church. More than a few of the attendees expressed the idea that they had become Catholic because the teachings of the Catholic Church had encouraged them to act boldly in the area of racial equality and that they do not intend to turn-back. Daniel Rudd would be proud of the work that the National Black Catholic Congress continues to do.

Christine Love receives the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice cross from Pope Francis

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By Joe Lee
JACKSON – The reality of being presented with a medal awarded by Pope Francis is difficult for Christine Love to get her mind around.

Recently retired after more than five decades of serving as housekeeper, caretaker, and trusted friend to Jackson Diocese Bishops Gerow, Brunini, Houck, Latino and Kopacz, the soft-spoken member of Cathedral of St. Peter’s the Apostle Church was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice cross for her fifty-plus years of dedicated service to the Office of the Bishop.

“It makes me feel good. It makes me feel happy. It makes me feel like I’m going to heaven,” Love said of the medal, which was announced at the Vatican in February and presented to her by Bishop Joseph Kopacz at the Cathedral in late June. (Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, as translated, means “for the church and pope.” See accompanying story.)

A graduate of Jim Hill High School in Jackson, Love earned an undergraduate degree from Campbell College (now Jackson State University) six decades ago. When her husband, A.G., a building contractor, was temporarily ill early in their marriage, Love enrolled in nursing school at Hinds Community College.

“I was just about finished. Pharmacology was my last class,” Love recalled. “I was told, ‘You’re just like a nurse. Come on.’ I started with the Professional Nurses Registry and worked for them a year or so before going on out my own. That’s what led to my work with the diocese and the bishops.”

A major turning point in her life was an opportunity to serve as a private duty nurse for Bishop Gerow, to whom she grew close. Gerow retired in 1967 and was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Brunini, but Love continued to sit with him as his health worsened over the years.

“At the end, Bishop Gerow’s home was at St. Dominic Hospital. He passed away in my arms,” she said. “After he passed, I began working with Sister Claudia Murphy, taking care of the senior citizens of the diocese. When Bishop Houck came along, I started working for him at his home.”

There were lots of lighthearted moments over the years. Love recalls Bishop William Houck always being able to tell a good joke and remembers his Frank Sinatra records; she said Bishop Joseph Latino enjoyed discussing the news and television shows. Using the words “perfectionist” and “tidy” to describe all five men, Love said she built a rapport with each and earned a level of trust that brought her into their inner circles.

“I’ve known Christine more than 35 years,” said Diocesan Chancellor Mary Woodward. “I got to know her better when I started coordinating the dinners Bishop Houck would host at his townhouse. Christine would be getting the house in tip-top shape for guests while I would be chopping lemons and carrots.

“She is one of the kindest people I know. Traits of hers that I think endeared her to each bishop were her dedication to their well-being, availability at the drop of a hat, her knowledge of the household and of each bishop’s personality. She would know exactly how Bishop Houck would want something, compared to how Bishop Latino would like it. Each one she served was unique, and she was very good at adapting to each one’s modus operandi.”

While Love and A.G. raised five kids (all of whom graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School and went on to college), she juggled being a band mom, soccer mom and sports mom while being flexible when it came to her responsibilities for each bishop.

“With my arrival in the Diocese of Jackson, Christine extended her dedicated service to me at my home with weekly house cleaning,” Bishop Kopacz said. “I note ‘extended her service’ because at the time of my arrival she was also attending to Bishop Houck and Bishop Latino.

“She worked with others to prepare my house to receive guests for special events, and she always made sure my Labrador Retriever had some extra loving and treats. She’s rightly enjoying a well-deserved retirement surrounded by her children, grandchildren and friends. I and the Bishops who preceded me – Bishops Gerow, Brunini, Houck and Latino – are eternally grateful for her dedicated care, her strong faith in the Lord Jesus, and her love for the church.”

JACKSON – The pro ecclesia et pontifice insignia cross was awarded to Christine Love on Saturday, June 25 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photo by Mary Woodward)

“I tried to bring honesty and work ethic to whatever I did,” Love said. “Bishop Houck always encouraged me. He said, ‘You can do it. You can make it. I want to see those kids graduate from St. Joe.’ He encouraged me to open my own business and was very proud when I created Love Janitorial Services 18 years ago.”

“Christine is a very circumspect person,” Woodward said. “She and I could discuss important matters about the household, but it would never go beyond us. She understood the life of a bishop and had an immense amount of respect for the office and the man in it. Maintaining a bishop’s house is an awesome responsibility, and Christine was an extremely valued and trusted person by each bishop. I knew if I called her to come check on something she would be on her way before we even hung up the phone.”

Love says she’ll always get a bit emotional when talking about Bishops Gerow, Houck, Brunini, Latino and Kopacz and the impact all have had on her life.

“I can’t say I’ll miss the work,” she said, “but I’ll always miss my bishops.”

Pro ecclesia et pontifice decree

From the decree issued by Pope Francis on February 21 at the Vatican:
“Francis, supreme pontiff, has deigned and elected to bestow the august insignia cross “pro ecclesia et pontifice” upon Lady Christine Love, for her excellent works and outstanding diligence, thus making it possible for her to adorn herself with this medal, having earned it through great service to the church and in particular the office of the bishop.”

While rare for a sitting pope to award a medal to anyone from the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, it has happened several times.

“At the request of Bishop Joseph Latino, Pope Benedict XVI awarded Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, OP, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross in 2012,” said Diocesan Chancellor Mary Woodward. “He also, at the same time, bestowed the Benemerenti Medal on Judy Cannon, former administrative assistant to Bishops Brunini, Houck and Latino, and Bill Dunning, former diocesan finance officer.

“The medals are requested by the local bishop and an extensive application is completed and reviewed by the papal office at the Vatican. Several individuals were awarded the Pro Ecclesia in the 1950s and 60s.”

Diocesan elementary schools move to MAIS

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By Joanna King and Staff Reports

JACKSON – The seven remaining Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Jackson have collectively decided to join diocesan Catholic high schools in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). This summer, St. Anthony, Madison; St. Elizabeth, Clarksdale; St. Patrick, Meridian; St. Richard, Jackson; Sr. Thea Bowman, Jackson; Sacred Heart, Southaven; and Holy Family, Holly Springs became the newest members of MAIS.

“We are very excited about this move as it broadens our opportunities for student activities and educator professional development and widens the professional network among our nonpublic and independent school counterparts,” said Karla Luke, executive director of Catholic education for the diocese.

With this decision, all diocesan schools and early learning centers in the Diocese of Jackson will remain internationally accredited by Cognia, Inc. Additionally, the Office of Education will withdraw membership from state accreditation obtained through the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE).

“We are proud of our Cognia accreditation as it is based on a strict set of school improvement principles and is aligned with the National Catholic Education Association’s adopted National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS),” said Luke.

PEARL – Newly hired diocesan coordinator of curriculum, professional development and standards review, Virginia Hollingsworth evaluates Terra Nova testing data with Caitlin Walker, an educator at St. Elizabeth Clarksdale and Anne Cowger, principal of St. Anthony Madison, at a principal and educator’s meeting on Thursday, July 13 at St. Jude parish. (Photo by Rachel Patterson)

The state accreditation obtained through MDE is a regional performance-based accreditation centered on adherence to and compliance with a set of requirements established by the Mississippi State Board of Education. Cognia, through its partnership with MAIS, operates on the principle of continuous school improvement. This difference allows school administrators and their organizational leadership to render important education-related decisions based on the needs of their community. The NSBECS standards, incorporated in the Cognia accreditation process, advocate that a concentrated focus on continuous improvement will increase a school’s effectiveness and viability.

This recent decision results from months of research, consultation with Bishop Joseph Kopacz, pastors, advisory council members, teachers and administrators. “The decision is borne out of a desire to exercise more flexibility in intentionally aligning our Catholic identity and mission with instructional and managerial practices that set our schools apart,” said Luke.

The move to MAIS will increase offerings in professional development for teachers, educational leadership training for administrators, academic competitions for elementary students, and exciting extracurricular activities for both athletic and non-athletic students. Students can participate in activities like art, chess, creative writing, choir, quiz bowl, spelling bees, drone competitions, robotics and eighteen competitive sports programs offered through MAIS.

“I am very excited about the level of support our staff will receive in professional development and the increased opportunities for our students throughout the year. Activities like the Reading Fair and Science Olympiad will allow our students to participate in academic competitions with their peers. MAIS works with its member schools to create educational communities that share ideals, values and priorities with children, teachers, and families,” said Sarah Cauthen, principal of St. Elizabeth School in Clarksdale.

School administrators have attended several district meetings and have been warmly welcomed by the members of MAIS.

“We are excited to welcome the Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Jackson as part of this great organization. We look forward to the collaboration with Catholic school leaders and current members of MAIS as we share resources and ideas to build a stronger Mississippi through education,” said executive director, Dr. Shane Blanton at a diocesan principal’s meeting last week.

Chris Payne, principal of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, says, he’s excited about joining MAIS because of its dedication to supporting their schools.

“You feel a presence of community and fellowship which has made this transition worthwhile. The teacher and administrative development available to us as members is not only beneficial but cost effective. I’m excited for the collaboration of ideas and resources that we will take full advantage of,” said Payne.

This move is among the many exciting plans diocesan office, administrators, and advisory councils have developed for the 2023-2024 school year. “We look forward to continuing our high expectations for our students in spiritual and intellectual formation through their education in Catholic Schools,” said Luke.

“Please keep our school communities in your prayers for a successful transition and a happy and productive school year.”

Sisters of St. Francis celebrate jubilees

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DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sister Nona Meyerhofer, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, celebrated her

Double Diamond Jubilee (70 years) on Sunday, June 18, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

Sister Nona served as a teacher and educator in Iowa and Illinois and served from 1999 – 2009 at Excel, Inc., Morton, Mississippi, as director and teacher. In June of 2009 Sister Nona retired to Mount Saint Francis Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Rita Goedken, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Dubuque, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) on Saturday, June 17, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

Sister Rita is the daughter of Alfred and Loretta (Koch) Goedken and is blessed to be one of their 12 children. She attended SS. Peter and Paul School in Petersburg, St. Boniface High School in New Vienna, and Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa. Later she did graduate work at Central Michigan University and at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York. Over the years, she taught at Aquin Elementary School, Cascade, Iowa; St. Joe, Bode, Iowa; St. Paul School, Eugene, Oregon; and Our Lady Help of Christians School, Saginaw, Michigan. She has served in parish ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in

Chesaning, Michigan, St. Patrick Parish in Palms, Michigan and at St. Victor Parish in Monroe, Wisconsin. After serving on the Sisters of St. Francis’ leadership team, she traveled to Morton, Mississippi, and served as the program coordinator for the Learning Center. Now living at Mount St. Francis Center, Sister Rita continues to be immensely grateful for a life of rich blessings.

“God is good all the time. All the time, God is good!” said Sister Rita on the occasion of her Jubilee.

Cards can be sent to Sister Nona and Sister Rita at 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001.

St. Augustine Seminary celebrates 100th anniversary, honoring legacy of justice and mission

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By Joanna Puddister King

GREENVILLE – The Catholic community of Sacred Heart in Greenville, came together on Saturday, June 24 to celebrate the momentous occasion of the 100th anniversary of St. Augustine Seminary. The special Mass, presided over by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, was attended by Society of the Divine Word (SVD) priests from around the diocese and beyond, who joined in commemorating the seminary’s rich history and remarkable contributions.

The origins of St. Augustine Seminary can be traced back to the early 20th century when the Society of the Divine Word, known for their commitment to justice and peace, ventured into the Deep South. Despite the challenging backdrop of the Jim Crow era, the SVD priests saw an opportunity to promote equality and progress by establishing Sacred Heart seminary in 1920. This groundbreaking initiative marked the creation of the first school for African American candidates for the priesthood in the United States.

GREENVILLE – Various SVD priests and others gathered for a photo after a special Mass commemorating the 100th anniversary of St. Augustine Seminary was held at Sacred Heart Church, the site of the original seminary, on Saturday, June 24. (Photo by Sister Amelia Breton, SBS)

Recognizing the need for greater resources and a more conducive environment, the SVD made the decision to relocate the seminary to Bay St. Louis in 1923, within the boundaries of the Diocese of Jackson (nee Natchez), where a larger Catholic community and increased support were available. With this move, the seminary was renamed St. Augustine, an homage to the great theologian and philosopher.

During the commemorative Mass, Bishop Kopacz acknowledged the significance of the SVD’s mission and the impact of their work, remarking on their steadfast commitment to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus – to make disciples of all the nations.

Bishop Kopacz also shed light on the profound influence of Father Arnold Jansen, the founder of the Society of the Divine Word, and his unwavering dedication to the Gospel. Father Jansen’s vision for the SVD was rooted in the belief that announcing the Gospel was the “greatest act of charity,” said Bishop Kopacz.

“Blessings to all who are part of the Society of the Divine Word, and much gratitude for your continuing presence in the Diocese of Jackson, now for well over 100 years.”

The 100th anniversary celebration of St. Augustine Seminary, scheduled for later this year, promises to be a significant milestone in the history of the seminary and a testament to the ongoing legacy of justice and mission embraced by the Society of the Divine Word.