Category Archives: Diocesan News

In memoriam: Sister Kay Burton, SNJM

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ROCKFORD, Wa. – Sister Kay was born Frances Catherine (Kay) Burton on Nov. 3, 1936, in Santa Monica, California to Gordon and Marie Burton while Gordon was employed by Douglas Aircraft to work on experimental airplanes. The family moved to Issaquah, Washington, in 1942 when Gordon began work as a government inspector on airplanes in Renton. They lived there for less than a year when the family moved to Rockford, Washington, where Kay had fond memories of living on the Saunders place. In 1948, the family moved to Lake Creek, Idaho, into the farmhouse where Gordon had been raised and that is still standing today.

In 1954, Kay graduated from Rockford High School as Valedictorian. She enrolled in Holy Names College, Spokane, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Education and began her teaching career at Deer Park High School. In January 1960, after a year and a half teaching in public schools, Kay entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary at Marylhurst, Oregon receiving the religious name Sister Gordon Mary. She pronounced first vows on Feb. 5, 1962.

Sister Kay spent years developing peace-education programs and anti-racism curricula as an inner-city teacher and administrator in Seattle. She traveled to Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1978 to teach at Immaculate Conception School and earned a M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance from Western Michigan University in 1979. After returning to Spokane from 1983-87 to assume a leadership role as Provincial Director of her SNJM community, Sister Kay returned to Mississippi. She bought a house which she immediately remodeled into appropriate space for tutoring. She reached out to the Jonestown community to find out what people wanted. As a result, Sister Kay established GED programs, garden projects, softball teams and life skills classes for the people of Jonestown. Music was important to her and became a major emphasis. She encouraged instructors to come to Jonestown to teach music. The result was joyful singing at annual Christmas celebrations and Black history presentations, as well as piano recitals and other wonderful gatherings.

Her successful volunteer recruitment campaigns led to innumerable home repair and Habitat for Humanity projects benefiting the residents of Jonestown. Volunteers created a playground for younger children and helped upgrade basketball, baseball and track facilities. Sister Kay provided enrichment opportunities to the young people of Jonestown by organizing field trips and driving students to meet Sisters and others involved in service work. These ranged from travels to the Native American Community in Wapato, Washington, to Holy Names Convents in Lesotho, Africa.

Sister Kay also helped found The Call to Vietnam Program which sent Sisters of the Holy Names and volunteers to teach English language skills to the young Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters in Hue, Vietnam.
Sister Kay’s career spanned a lifetime of giving to those in need. Her gifts as a teacher, administrator, volunteer, advocate, innovator, gardener and counselor touched the lives of the thousands of people she served. The people of Jonestown, Mississippi, will never forget Sister Kay and the impact she had during the thirty-plus years of her ministry there.

Sister Kay Burton, SNJM, died March 18, 2022, in Spokane, Washington, at Hospice House of Spokane. There must have been a joyous greeting in Heaven that morning as her mom and dad along with brothers Dick, Bill, Jim, and Ira met Kay on her journey to everlasting life.

Sister Kay is survived her five brothers: John, Tom, Don, Bob and Steve and generations of nieces and nephews who knew and loved their Aunt Kay. Sister Kay is also survived by members of her religious community the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rockford, Washington. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, PO Box 398, Marylhurst, OR, 97036 or online at www.snjmusontario.org/donate.

Bishop’s schedule confirmation

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Friday, April 29, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, Joseph, Greenville

Saturday, April 30, 4 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Francis of Assisi, Brookhaven

Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. – Confirmation, Holy Family, Jackson

Sunday, May 1, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Joseph, Gluckstadt

Monday, May 2, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, All Saints, Belzoni

Wednesday, May 4, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Paul, Flowood

Friday, May 6, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez

Sunday, May 8, 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation, St. Mary, Batesville

Tuesday, May 10, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Joseph/St. Patrick, Meridian

Wednesday, May 11, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Joseph, Starkville

Saturday, May 14, 10:30 a.m. – Priestly Ordination of Deacon Andrew Bowden, Cathedral of St. Peter, Jackson

Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. – Confirmation, St. Anne, Carthage

Sunday, May 15, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Francis of Assisi, Madison

Sunday, May 22, 9:30 a.m. – Confirmation, St. Therese, Jackson

Sunday, May 22, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Richard, Jackson

Saturday, May 28, 10 a.m. – Closing Ceremony for Christian Family Movement, Richland Community Center

Wednesday, June 1, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Jude, Pearl

Friday, June 3, 6 p.m. – Installation of Father Adolfo Suarez, Hope Well Pointe, Morton

Saturday, June 4, 10:30 a.m. – Ordination of Carlisle Beggerly to Diaconate, Immaculate Conception, West Point

Saturday, June 4, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, Immaculate Conception, West Point

Sunday, June 5, 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Peter, Jackson

Saturday, July 9, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. James, Corinth

Sunday, Aug. 28, 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation, St. Elizabeth, Clarksdale

All events are subject to change. Check with parishes for further details.

Diocese statement regarding
conviction and sentencing
of Paul West

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GREENWOOD – Paul West was a teacher and principal at St. Francis School in Greenwood, Mississippi from July 1993 until October 1998. The Diocese of Jackson cooperated fully in the State of Mississippi’s recent criminal conviction of Paul West, including providing background testimony at his trial on the diocese’s list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. The list was first provided to the Attorney General in 2002 and then updated and released publicly in March of 2019.

The diocese reported the initial allegation against Paul West to the Department of Human Services and the Greenwood Police Department in 1998 and reported the subsequent allegations to the Leflore County District Attorney in 2018. West was removed from ministry after the original 1998 complaint.

The Diocese of Jackson is committed to protecting children. Sexual misconduct by church personnel violates human dignity and the mission of the church. The diocese has dedicated substantial time and resources to ensure that children being served by the church are not at risk of sexual abuse by church personnel. The spiritual well-being of all victims, their families, and others in the community is of particular concern to the church.

Over the past thirty years, the Diocese of Jackson has developed and implemented a safe environment program. The diocese has publicized standards of conduct for its priests and deacons as well as diocesan employees, volunteers, and any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. Beginning in 1986, the diocese implemented a written policy and procedure regarding reporting and handling of sexual misconduct claims. The policy was updated in 1994 with the addition of a Diocesan Fitness Review Committee and again in 2002 so that it would reflect the mandates of the Bishops’ Charter.

Anyone who has been a victim of abuse or exploitation by clergy, religious or lay church personnel and has not yet reported it is encouraged to do so. The Victim Assistance Coordinator, Erika Rojas, is available to assist in making a report. The contact number for the Victim Assistance Coordinator is (601) 326-3736.

Pastoral Assignment

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Rev. John Bohn, granted a leave of absence from ministry, effective May 1, 2022.
Rev. Mark Shoffner, appointed pastor of St. John Parish in Oxford, effective May 12, 2022.
Rev. Joseph Tonos, appointed pastor of St. Richard Parish in Jackson, effective May 12, 2022.
Rev. Aaron Williams, appointed pastor of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption Parishes in Natchez, effective May 12, 2022.

First Mass on Mississippi soil dates back to Easter 340 years

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From the Archives
By Mary Woodward
JACKSON – Possibly a little-known fact by most of us is this Easter is the 340th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated on Mississippi soil. In the southwest corner of the State of Mississippi in Wilkinson County, there exists a very important site of church and American history.

On Easter Sunday in 1682, Father Zenobius Membre, an Order of the Friars Minor Recollect priest, celebrated Easter Mass on the bluff above the river near present day Fort Adams as part of Sieur Robert Cavelier de LaSalle’s expedition down the river from Montreal to its mouth.

Although this is the first documented Mass in the area, there is much evidence that the Hernando deSoto expedition in 1540 would have had Masses celebrated in what is now southern Alabama. It is believed by the time the expedition reached the Mississippi, where deSoto died of a mosquito born illness in 1842 near present day Ferriday, Louisiana, the priests travelling with him would have run out of the wine needed for Mass.

FORT ADAMS – On Easter Sunday 1682, the first recorded Mass on Mississippi soil took place in Wilkinson county. St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1900 on Fort Adams town square. Today, the town has largely become a hunting and fishing camp and was named to the 2021 list of Ten Most Endangerd Places in Mississippi by the Heritage Trust. (Photos by Mary Woodward)


After de LaSalle claimed the territory along the entire river for France and named it Louisiana, the Bishop of Quebec sent missionary priests down the river to evangelize the various tribes of indigenous people. Father Antione Davion was one of these missionaries, who came to the area around 1698 and established a small mission near the site of what is now Fort Adams. He built a small church on the bluff, which became known as La Roche a Davion, and ministered there until he left the mission in 1720.

In 1795, after the Revolutionary War, the United States signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain, establishing the boundary between Spanish West Florida and the U.S. at Latitude 31 N, a short distance south of Roche Davion. Because of its strategic location on the river, the site became the last military outpost before French territory and served as the port of entry for the United States. The name was then changed to Fort Adams after the President John Adams who was in office at that time.

It is here that in 1801, the Choctaws signed the Treaty of Fort Adams ceding more than 2.6 million acres of Choctaw land to the U.S. When the Louisiana Purchase occurred in 1803, the more than 500 troops on site were moved to New Orleans, but Fort Adams continued to function as a post until the War of 1812.

With time and the river’s changing course, Fort Adams population dwindled as happens in many cases. Those who remained eventually saw the building of a small church dedicated to St. Patrick on the town’s main square in 1900. The church, along with St. Joseph Church built in 1873 were serviced by priests from Natchez mostly until 1940, when St. Joseph was established as a parish again.

Nowadays, Fort Adams has become largely a hunting and fishing camp with only a few houses and two churches remaining, including St. Patrick. Although, the river is now distant from the town, it often visits after a few heavy rains and floods most of the area including the small church, which a few years ago was given to a group of local parishioners devoted to saving the church building. Mass is no longer celebrated there and most of the sacred items are stored safely in higher ground.

On a visit to Woodville and Fort Adams a few years ago, I was given a tour of the area by my dear cousin, Shep Crawford, local lawyer and judge, who has lived in Wilkinson County near Woodville for many years. Shep and I toured Fort Adams on a dry day and were able to see St. Patrick and the almost permanent water line four feet up on the church exterior wall. Pontoons boats were parked on the land adjacent to it. Residents of the area live up on the hillsides that once looked out of the “father of waters.”

We then made our way around to the small hamlet of Pond, which is named so because there is a pond in the middle of it. It includes a small general store and post office and a couple of cabins overlooking the pond.

I have often wanted to return to Pond and one of its cabins to spend a few days steeped in the history of the area. But I also remember Shep casually stating, as we stopped and looked down a road headed south, that 20 minutes down this scenic highway was Angola State Prison. So that was a reality check.

The entire town of Fort Adams was named to the 2021 Ten Most Endangered Places in Mississippi by the Mississippi Heritage Trust. It is recognized for its once pivotal role in the development of borders among nations as our country and state grew into existence.

So, on this Easter Sunday, imagine back 340 years and a missionary journey that brought the sacred mysteries to a small corner of God’s Kingdom. The history is there, and the spirits of the past linger as an inspiration of commitment and dedication to our Catholic Faith. We give thanks to Almighty God for them.

I credit the Heritage Trust website for historical information included in this article. You can learn more about the 10 most endangered places at https://www.10mostms.com/.

(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)

Called by name

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I am pleased to announce that we have a new seminarian enrolling the fall. Mr. Richard Martin, Jr. (EJ) has been accepted to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Jackson and will be enrolling at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans this August. EJ grew up at St. Richard Catholic Church and attended St. Richard and St. Joseph Catholic Schools. After graduating from Spring Hill College in Mobile, EJ was working in Austin, Texas, but discerned that the Diocese of Jackson is where he is called to continue his discernment.

It has been a great gift to walk with EJ, who I had met a few times here and there as he came home to visit family when I was the parochial vicar at St. Richard. I have gotten to know him much better over the past year or so as we have embarked on a ‘pre-discernment’ process which has led him to this point. Our application process for the priestly formation program in the diocese is very involved, but it helps the applicant, and the church, decide whether or not the diocesan seminary is the right place for formal discernment.

One of the aspects of the process which is particularly helpful is the vocations board. This is a group of parishioners from around the diocese (mostly the Jackson area) that agree to meet with an applicant after he has met all the other ‘objective’ requirements for admission. As the vocation director, I provide them with a review of the application process, and then every applicant meets speaks with them about his journey so far. The Board is then invited to ask any questions of the applicant, and of me, about the process and to discuss frankly whether seminary is the right choice for that man. This is a great opportunity for the church to speak with men who, God-willing, will be future priests, and it also gives me perspectives that are extremely valuable which are brought to the Bishop as he decides whether each applicant is a good fit for seminary formation.

I believe God is calling many more men to the seminary than are currently in the seminary, but we almost must be prudent, patient and collaborative in this process. I am so pleased that we have accepted another excellent applicant to study for the priesthood. When we as a church send a man off to seminary, we simply can’t predict whether the Lord will call him ‘all the way’ to the priesthood, but we can do our best to ensure that he is a position spiritually, personally and emotionally to thrive in the seminary program, and whether or not he reaches ordination, he will be an great asset and continue to build up the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of Jackson.

Please keep EJ in your prayers as he embarks on this next step, I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for him, and I know he’ll be a great asset to our excellent group of seminarians!

– Father Nick Adam

If you are interested in learning more about religious orders or vocations to the priesthood and religious life, please email nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.

Invite the Holy Spirit into your stewardship journey

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POWERFUL PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

The Holy Spirit, traditionally depicted as a dove, is pictured in a stained-glass window at St. John Vianney Church in Lithia Springs, Ga. This Pentecost more than ever we are called to express our firm faith in the Holy Spirit as renewer, who promised more than once, “I make all things new.” (CNS photo/Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin) See FAITH-ALIVE 23 April 30, 2020.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did
instruct the hearts of the faithful. Grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations,

Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

STEWARDSHIP PATHS
By Julia Williams

JACKSON – The month of April is dedicated to the Third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Every time we recite the Nicene Creed, we worship the Holy Spirit as God.

• The love of the Father for the Son is total. God the Father empties Himself completely, holding nothing back from the Son.

• The love of the Son for the Father is total. God the Son empties Himself completely, holding nothing back from the Father.

• The love of the Father for the Son and the Son for the Father is the Holy Spirit. The love that is the exchange of Persons between Father and Son is the Life that is the Spirit, with no beginning and no end.

Stewardship is a conversion journey of receiving God’s love and returning love to Him. A conversion requires prayer, reflection, and time to allow God to show us who we are and the person of love that we can become.

The apostle Jude reminds us to make every prayer in the Holy Spirit; asking that He be showered upon us. The Holy Spirit is always there and “helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26-27)
In your daily prayers, invite the Holy Spirit into your stewardship journey, asking for guidance on how you can share your gifts in love of God and neighbor.

There are many variations of prayers available, but the prayer below is a very popular and powerful prayer.

Together in our journey of stewardship, may God bless us and may we respond as faithful disciples – faithful stewards.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and God will establish your plans” Proverbs 16:3

(To subscribe to the monthly Stewardship PATHS newsletter, scan the QR code. Excerpts: bigcatholics.blogspot.com)

Calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
JACKSON Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Divine Mercy Holy Hour with Bishop Kopacz for healing and prayers for victims of sexual abuse by clergy and church personnel, Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m.

NATCHEZ Our Lady of the Oaks ladies retreat at Grand Coteau, Louisiana. The ladies of the Natchez area will be attending their annual three day retreat December 1-4, 2022. You are invited to join us to rest in the care of the Lord in silence, solitude, deep prayer and reflection. It is time to send in deposits ($50) to hold rooms as they fill up quickly. Deposits should be sent in as soon as possible. Details: Kot Morris at (601) 334-8339.

PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS
COLUMBUS Annunciation Catholic School, Draw Down/Art Auction on Friday, April 22 from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Trotter Convention Center. Adults only with dinner and open bar. Draw down ticket $100. Art auction ticket $35 at the door. Details: school office (662) 328-4479.

GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Paul and Wadel Abide Memorial Golf Classic, Friday, May 13 with 1 p.m. tee time at the Greenville Golf and Country Club. Following golfing is dinner with beverages. Teams will consist of 4-man scrambles. Sponsorships available. Details: Bonda Abide at (662) 931-0490.
St. Joseph School, Calling St. Joe class of 2002, it’s your 20th reunion. Please update your mailing address, email and phone number to receive all reunion details with Leslie Anderson at leslieabideanderson@gmail.com.

HOLLY SPRINGS St. Joseph, Glorious Dawn Pancake Brunch for all six Northwest parishes on Sunday, April 24 from 1-3 p.m. Sponsored by St. Joseph Youth. Details: church office (662) 252-3138.

JACKSON Sister Thea Bowman Virtual Draw Down, Saturday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 for a chance at $5000 grand prize. Details: contact Shae Robinson at (601) 352-5441.

JACKSON St. Richard Men’s Club, Flight to the Finish 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will be held at the school/church campus on Saturday, May 7. Details: call (601) 366-1157.

MADISON St. Anthony School, Golf Tournament at Whisper Lake Golf Club, Wednesday, April 27. Details: school office (601) 607-7054.

St. Anthony School, Color Fun Run on Friday, April 29 at 5:30 p.m. Details: school office (601) 607-7054.

MADISON St. Francis, Parish picnic Sunday, May 22 after 10:30 a.m. Mass. Picnic is full of activities for children, along with food and fellowship for all. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

St. Francis, Floyd Q. Doolittle Golf Classic at Whisper Lake Country Club on Saturday, May 14, with all proceeds going directly to seminarian education. In addition to playing the course, compete in a putting contest and a closest-to-the-pin event. Also enjoy a tasty lunch and a wonderful supper prepared by the Knights of Columbus Council 9543 at St. Francis, and you may win a door prize! Details: Art Ring at (601) 559-8581 or somerville3817@gmail.com if you’d like to play, sponsor or volunteer at the tournament.

MADISON Run Foster Run 10K run/5K walk/1 mile fun run for 12 and under on Saturday, April 30 at 8 a.m. – benefiting the Foster Care Programs of Catholic Charities. Details: Visit raceroster.com/events/2022/58524/run-foster-run.

MADISON St. Joseph School, Bruin Classic Golf Tournament at Annandale Golf Club Monday, May 2. Please register by April 29. Details: Paige Harrison at stjoebruinclassic@gmail.com.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick School, Annual Countdown fundraiser on Friday, April 22. Tickets are $100 for a full ticket but partial tickets can be bought for as little as $25. Grand prize is $5,000. Details: school office (601) 482-6044.

NATCHEZ Cathedral School, 38th Annual Crawfish Countdown Saturday, May 7, 6-10 p.m. Live music by 90 Degrees West. Tickets $120 each and $30 for second chance insurance. Details: more information and tickets available at cathedralgreenwave.com.

JOB OPENINGS
JOB OPENINGS Catholic schools across the diocese have a variety of positions open from assistant principals to substitutes. Please visit https://schools.jacksondiocese.org/education-overview/employment/ for an opportunity near you.

SAVE THE DATE
JACKSON St. Richard, VBS 2022, June 6-9. Online registration open May 1-10. No registrations will be accepted after May 10. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.

MADISON St. Francis, VBS 2022, June 20-24 for all children going into Pre-K4 through fourth grades. Registration will begin in May if enough volunteers sign up to assist with the camp. Details: Mary Catherine at mc.george@stfrancismadison.org.

PONTOTOC St. Christopher Catholic Friendship Camp, ages 7-11, June 12-18; and ages 12-14, June 19-25. Details: Heidi Stephens campsm@juno.com or https://www.campfriendshipmississippi.com.

Catholic pro-life heroes recognized at Her PLAN event

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By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Nearly 30 honorees across at least eight denominations were recognized as pro-life heroes by Her PLAN (Pregnancy and Life Assistance Network) on Thursday, March 17 at Fondren Church in Jackson.
Ranging from sidewalk advocates of Mississippi’s only abortion facility, adoption leaders, pregnancy center leaders and policy champions, these heroes have been at work in the pro-life movement for decades making strides against abortion. Those leaders included several Catholics from around the diocese: Dr. Beverly McMillan of St. Richard Jackson, Tanya Britton of St. James Tupelo, Monica Walton of St. Paul Flowood, Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, OP of St. Dominic Health Services and Charlene Bearden of Holy Family Jackson and coordinator of the office of family ministry for the Diocese of Jackson.
Anja Baker, Mississippi state coordinator for Her PLAN and parishioner of St. Jude Pearl, said that her reason for having a “Mississippi Moment” with pro-life heroes was two-fold. The first being to reflect and acknowledge all of the hard work that has been done to save the lives of the unborn, but also to talk about preparing for a pivotal moment in history – the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision legalizing abortion nationwide, with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, set for a decision in June.

JACKSON – Charlene Bearden and Dr. Corinne Anderson, parishioners of Holy Family Jackson, speak to Erin Kate Goode, executive director of the Center for Pregnancy Choices Metro area at a luncheon held by Her PLAN recognizing Mississippi pro-life heroes on Thursday, March 17 at Fondren Church. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

“Regardless of what happens this summer, regardless of what changes in policy, we know that a larger safety net of support is needed,” said Baker.
Born in 1994, Baker got her start in the pro-life movement at age 15 when she saw a “40 Days for Life” flyer in the back of church. This led to attending pro-life banquets and getting involved in Students for Life before eventually working as a coordinator for Her PLAN.
A project of Susan B. Anthony List, Her PLAN also operates in Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia, and facilitates collaboration between assistance providers and their communities to empower women and families through comprehensive medical, social and material support.
At the event, Baker acknowledged all of the work those present had done since Roe, saying “my generation and generations to come have a lot to learn from you. Your voice and your example is the reason we have something to build upon in the first place and the reason … Mississippi is the one everyone is talking about.”
One of those examples is Walton, who was called to be actively pro-life back in high school after her best friend asked her to drive her across state lines to have an abortion. Today, Walton is the executive director for Birthright of Jackson, joining the group as a volunteer in 1994; as well as, office manager for St. Paul Flowood.
“I love the Birthright way of gentle love and care for women struggling with an unplanned pregnancy. We sit with them and listen to their worries – free of judgment, pressure and scare tactics. We make sure they have all the information to make a good decision about the future of their unborn child,” said Walton.
Sitting across from Walton at the event, Bearden’s passion for life was sparked in the 1960s after she and her husband Booker, lost their first child right after her first birthday due to meningitis.
“Bishop Brunini … welcomed Booker and me, and our other two young children into their community of various social and faith formation activities at St. Peter. … I became very interested in the church’s teachings pertaining to social justice, poverty, and the respect for all life,” said Bearden.
Her passion then grew to promote the sanctity of life at the time the Supreme Court instituted Roe in 1973 and after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released the “Declaration on Procured Abortion” in 1974.
As time progressed, Bearden began praying against abortion outside the abortion clinic. She even worked on a “whole life” front, from 1999-2006 with the Mississippi Department of Human Services to design, develop and support a computer application to track abused, exploited, neglected and adopted children.
Today, Bearden works with the Office of Family Ministry for the diocese, promoting and supporting a variety of pro-life programs. Among a long list of pro-life causes and events, she works with the Knights of Columbus to fund ultrasound machines for pregnancy care centers, collaborates with Catholic Charities of Jackson to respect life through a variety of services, offers support to parishes in the diocese for the USCCB’s “Walking with Moms in Need” program, and provides support and referrals to pregnancy care centers, among many other programs.
Walton and Bearden’s work are just some of the many connections Her PLAN hopes to make in its campaign to create a network of helping hands for new mothers in need.
“What ties us together is the battle to protect the unborn and the women that hold that life within them,” says Baker.
Bearden is also collaborating with Her PLAN to share resources through the diocese for women in need of support, whether it is medical, social or material. Their goal is to help empower women and have them choose life.
Bearden says, “Respect for the dignity of all life and the support of all life, especially pregnant mothers in crisis, is critical to supporting and being pro-life. This is our Christian belief; this is our Catholic belief.”

(To learn more about Her PLAN visit herplan.org.)

Semana Santa

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Cada viernes, en dependencia del clima los parroquianos de St Jude Pearl se reunieron, al atardecer, para las estaciones de la Cruz.

Durante toda la Semana Santa las parroquias recordaron la Pasión de Jesús con las estaciones de la cruz y celebraron su resurrección con Primera Comunión.

En las fotos están las representaciones de la Pasión en las parroquias de San Francisco de Asís Madison y el Inmaculado Corazón de Maria, Houston llevado a cabo por el Ministerio de Evangelización de St Christopher, Pontotoc y la celebración de la primera Comunión de Amy Rei Davis y Marion González, después de Misa celebrada por el Padre Binh Nguyen el Domingo de Resurrección, el 17 de abril en la parroquia del Inmaculado Corazón de Maria, Houston.

St Jude y St Francis: Fotos de Elsa Baughman y del Inmaculado Corazón de Maria, Houston: Fotos de Danna Johnson