By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – August is recognized as national “make-a-will” month, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of estate planning. With less than one-third of Americans having a valid will, the Diocese of Jackson invites the community to take proactive steps in securing their future and their legacy using the free service – My Catholic Will.

“Creating a will can often feel like a daunting task, one that many of us tend to put off to do some time in the future,” says Rebecca Harris, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Jackson. “However, viewing this process from a different perspective might make it easier to approach. Think of creating your will as a way to establish a lasting legacy for your loved ones and even your Catholic faith.”

While many expect to live well into the future, not being legally prepared for the end could lead to significant issues. Ambiguous or absent final wishes could result in conflicts among beneficiaries. Those who die without a valid will risk having the distribution of assets decided by state law.

The Office of Stewardship and Development aims to simplify the process of estate planning for those across the diocese. In partnership with My Catholic Will, the diocese is offering a free online service that allows individuals to create a legal will in under 20 minutes in most cases. This service is available to everyone in the diocese and can be accessed by visiting https://mycatholicwill.com/jacksondiocese. The site also features a living will builder, enabling individuals to outline their medical wishes should they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.

“Taking the time to create your will not only provides peace of mind but also helps secure your legacy,” Harris said.

Even those who currently have a will can take this month as a reminder to update their wills.

“I’ve had a will for decades now,” said Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “It continues to evolve as time goes on.”

In a recent video on “Make-a-Will” month, Bishop Kopacz emphasizes the importance of being intentional and mindful about what matters most to us. For those who are devoted to their faith, their parish, their school, and their diocese, a will provides numerous ways to support these commitments.

Additionally, the diocese also offers a free “Funeral and Financial Planner Guidebook” to assist in the estate planning process. For questions about wills or other planned gift options, Harris is available for assistance at rebecca.harris@jacksondiocese.org.

National “Make-a-Will” month serves as a reminder to all individuals, regardless of age or wealth, to consider their estate planning needs and take the necessary steps to ensure their wishes are honored.

BILOXI – Msgr. James Patrick McGough, 91, of Biloxi, passed away on Aug. 12, 2024.

Msgr. McGough was born July 24, 1933 in Rathagan, County Kildare, Ireland. His ecclesiastical studies were at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland and at St. Bernard Seminary, St. Bernard, Alabama. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson at St. Mary Basilica on May 25, 1957.

On Sept. 2, 1957, He was assigned to Nativity Parish in Biloxi and in September 1958, he entered Catholic University in Washington, DC to study canon law. In 1961, he was appointed as assistant chancellor and defensor vinculi (Defender of the Bond) and in 1962, he was appointed a diocesan chancellor.

He was named Papal Chamberlain by the Holy See in 1965 and in 1966, he was appointed vicar general for the diocese. In 1969, he was named an honorary Prelate of His Holiness. Msgr. McGough was appointed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Canton on Jan. 15, 1971 and later that year was appointed diocesan consultor. On Dec. 1, 1971, he was appointed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Hattiesburg where he also served as the dean of deanery V and episcopal vicar.

On June 6, 1977, he was appointed as the chancellor for the newly established Diocese of Biloxi and in 1979 was appointed as pastor of St. Paul Parish in Pass Christian. In 1980, he was named vicar general for the diocese and in 1985, was appointed as pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis. In 1988, he was appointed as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Picayune, and then served as pastor of St. James parish in Gulfport. His last parish assignment was at St. Clare parish in Waveland before his retirement from active ministry.

Msgr. McGough was a brilliant scholar in church law and policies. His infectious laugh could light up any room he entered. His homilies were always theology based and were delivered with the utmost reverence to the Gospel and the importance of the Eucharist. Msgr. McGough was truly a man of God and will be greatly missed. His contributions to the Dioceses of Biloxi and Jackson will be remembered for generations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Joseph McGough and Margaret Stack McGough; 2 brothers, Peter McGough and Gerard McGough; and a sister, Mary O’Grady.

He is survived by a brother, Rev. William “Bill” McGough; and numerous nieces and nephews in Ireland and England.

A Mass of Christian was celebrated by Bishop Louis Kihneman and other priests at on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi. Interment will be in St. James Cemetery, Gulfport.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Association of Priests, 237 E Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201.

June 28
Father Stephen Okojie
St. Stephen Magee & St. Therese Jackson

July 16
Deacon Mark Bowden
St. Jude Pearl

Deacon Dien Hoang
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Jackson

Deacon Wesley Lindsay
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Jackson

Deacon John Pham
St. Michael Forest

Deacon David Rouch
St. Michael Vicksburg

Deacon Tony Schmidt
St. Paul Flowood

August 5
Msgr. Elvin Sunds
Retired

August 14
Father AnthonyClaret Onyeocha
St. Joseph Woodville & Holy Family Gloster

August 16
Father Joe Dyer
Retired

GULFPORT – Father George R. Kitchin, age 81, of Gulfport, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Deacon Leon Kitchin and Effie Smith Kitchin; and two sisters, Leona Pollard Webb and Helene Kitchin Cohen.

Father Kitchin is survived by his siblings, Robert Kitchin (Ann) of Bolivar, Missouri, John Kitchin (Susan) of Gautier, Mississippi, and Peggy Kitchin of Ridgeland, Mississippi; his nieces and nephews, Trey Pollard (Guyanne), Justin Cohen (Eliany), Andrew Cohen, Paul Kitchin (Sarah), David Kitchin, Joseph Kitchin, Clare Kitchin, and Jonathan Kitchin (Renae); and his brother priests from the Diocese of Biloxi and the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson.

He was born in Durham, North Carolina and was raised in Greenwood, Mississippi. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1970 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Greenwood by Bishop Joseph Brunini. After his ordination, he was assigned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and remained in the Diocese of Biloxi until his passing.

Father Kitchin served as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, Bay St. Louis, Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, and Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Biloxi. In 1982, he was appointed as the founding pastor of St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church in White Cypress.

Other assignments included: 1988 to 2002, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Ocean Springs; 2002-2014, pastor of St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport; and 2014 until his retirement, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Gautier. He was the longtime director of the Diocese of Biloxi Charismatic Renewal Program.
Father Kitchin was a profound homilist and engaging conversationalist and enjoyed all aspects of American History, especially the American Revolution, and the history of the Catholic Church. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, and enjoyed specific ministries within the church, especially the XLT Movement where he encouraged other to spend an hour of adoration with praise and worship along with offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Father Kitchin also had a deep connection to catholic education giving support to families in need ensuring that their children could receive a catholic education. The people of the Diocese of Biloxi are grateful for the 54 years of ministry he gave to the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

To continue to work helping families with tuition assistance, the family would prefer memorials be made to the Guardian Angel Program, c/o Office of Finance, Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, 1790 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop Louis Kihneman with his brother priests serving as concelebrants at St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport on July 15, 2024. Interment will be private in St. James Cemetery.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

School Sisters of St. Francis celebrate jubilees

By Michael O’Loughlin
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Thirty-five School Sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province celebrated milestone anniversaries of service as women religious on June 15, 2024. A Jubilee Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph Chapel at the sisters’ motherhouse in Milwaukee.

In addition, six lay women in Associate Relationship with the community celebrated their 25, 40, and 50-year jubilees.

Five sisters who are each celebrating 60, 70, 80, and 85 years of consecrated life have significant service in the Diocese of Jackson.

60 Years – Sister Bernadette Engelhaupt (St. Mary, Iuka) and Sister Kathleen McNulty (St. Francis School, Yazoo City and CADET School, Holly Springs)
Sister Bernadette Engelhaupt was born in Spencer, Nebraska. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. In the Diocese of Jackson, she served as the parish minister at St. Mary Parish in Iuka (2002–2009).

Sister Kathleen McNulty was born in Blue Island, Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1968–1969) and CADET School in Holly Springs (1969–1975 and 1976–1978).

70 Years – Sister Ramona Ann Schmidtknecht (St. Mary School, CADET School, Child Care Center, Holy Family School, Holly Springs and Sacred Heart Southern Missions, Walls)
Sister Ramona Ann Schmidtknecht was born in Galesville, Wisconsin. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from St. Louis University in Missouri. In the Diocese of Jackson, she has served in Holly Springs as a teacher at St. Mary School (1963–1969); teacher at CADET School (1969–1973 and 1975-1995); director of Child Care Center (1973–1975); and food service manager at Christopher Care Center (1999–2001). At Holy Family School in Holly Springs, Sister has ministered as a teacher (1995-1999 and 2004-2016) food service manager of the early childhood center (2001-2004), volunteer and substitute teacher (2016-2024). Since 2016, Sister has also volunteered at the Sacred Heart Southern Missions Garden Café.

80 Years – Sister Michele Doyle (St. Francis High School, Yazoo City; State College, Jackson; Director of Religious Education and Lay Ministry Program, Diocese of Jackson; Director of Education at St. Francis Early Learning Center, Madison)
Sister Michele Doyle was born in Forest Park, Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and master’s degrees from Loyola University in Chicago and the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis High School in Yazoo City (1949–1969 and 1973-1975) and State College in Jackson (1969–1975). She served the Diocese of Jackson as director of adult religious education (1975–1983) and in the diocese’s lay ministry program (2006-2021). She also served as director of education for St. Francis Assisi Parish in Madison (1991-2006).

85 Years – Sister Arlene Welding (St. Francis School, Yazoo City)
Sister Arlene Welding was born in Oakdale, Nebraska. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1953-1962).

Cards and donations in honor of sisters’ years of service may be mailed to each sister’s attention, c/o Jubilee Committee, School Sisters of St. Francis, 1545 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215.

Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, OSF celebrates 60th jubilee

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Dubuque, Iowa, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) on Sunday, June 23, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

Sister Dorothy was born in Iowa. She received a bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, and Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa; and a master’s degree from Tulane University, New Orleans.

Sister served at Region V Community Mental Health Center, Greenville, Mississippi, and was Director of Family Ministry at Catholic Charities from 1987-2000. She now resides at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque and serves as a facilitator and consultant for religious congregations.

“Community and ministry have been a blessing in my life. The gift of experiencing God in everyone I encounter and share life with is truly the Gospel coming alive. The joy of this Jubilee is deeply embedded in my gratitude for family, community and the People of God around the world who have touched my life,” she said of her Jubilee.

Cards may be sent to Sister Dorothy at 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001.