Rev. Vijay Madanu, SVD, appointed Administrator of Holy Ghost Parish in Jackson, effective Dec. 1, 2024.
Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, appointed Administrator of Holy Family Parish in Jackson, effective Dec. 1, 2024.
Pastoral Assignments
Category Archives: Diocesan News
FEATURE PHOTO … Insert Statue Here …
Calendar of events
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Millions of Monicas – Praying with confidence for our children, each Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the church. Join with other mothers, grandmothers and step-mothers as we pray to grow in holiness and humility, and for our children’s faithful return to the church. Details: church office (601) 856-2054 or email millionsofmonicas@stjosephgluckstadt.com.
St. Joseph, Fatima Five First Saturdays Devotion, Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5 and May 3, 2025. Confession begins at 8 a.m. and ends with a period of meditation beginning at 10 a.m. Details: church office (601) 856-2054.
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – The OCE hosts a Zoom Rosary the first Wednesday of each month during the school year at 7 p.m. On Dec. 4, Annunciation School will lead us in prayer. Join early and place your intentions in the chat. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/zoomrosary2024 or check the diocese calendar of events.
ROBINSONVILLE – Good Shepherd, “Journey through Advent,” Wednedays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Small group sessions on Advent Sunday readings led by Sister Rose. All are invited! Details: church office (662) 342-1073.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
COLUMBUS – Annunciation Parish, “Columbus Sings G.F. Handel’s Messiah,” Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets available in church office. No charge. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.
CORINTH – St. James the Less, Parish Thanksgiving Meal, Thursday, Nov. 28 after 9 a.m. Mass. Bring your favorite dish and celebrate Father Mario’s birthday. Come enjoy fellowship and give thanks to God for all of His blessings. Details: church office (662) 331-5184.
FLOWOOD – St. Paul, Christmas Bingo, Friday, Dec. 6, doors open at 6 p.m. with bingo at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to wear your festive Christmas attire and come join the fun. Adults only. BYOB. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.
St. Paul, Breast Cancer Support Group, Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center (St. Peter’s Room). A gathering of women in all stages of their breast cancer journey. Details: call or text Monica at (601) 942-5753.
HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Christmas Program and Dinner, Sunday, Dec. 8. Save the date. Details: Keelan at (601) 604-2202.
JACKSON – St. Peter the Apostle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 from 1-2:30 p.m. with speaker Constance Slaughter Harvey. You may write a one page reflection on how Dr. King’s message impacted your life or society. Submit no later than Jan. 10. Details: amelia.breton@jacksondiocese.org.
MERIDIAN – St. Patrick School, Candy Cane Dash, Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Details: register at https://time2run.raceentry.com/candy-cane-5k-dash/race-information.
NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Advent Wreath Workshop, Sunday, Dec. 1, in the Family Life Center after 10 a.m. Mass. Families or individuals are invited to come and make an Advent wreath. Fun craft activities available for children. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Advent Program, Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. followed by dinner. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.
DIOCESE
#iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 3, Advanced giving is now open – Nov. 18 through Dec. 2. Details: https://jackson.igivecatholic.org.
YOUNG ADULTS – Theology on Tap Karaoke Christmas, Thursday, Dec. 19 from 7-9 p.m. at Mr. Chen’s Restaurant in Jackson. Adults 21+ are welcome for an evening of food, fellowship and karaoke. Guest are responsible for cost of drinks and dinner. Details: amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org.
Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, May 12-27. Father Lincoln Dall will be leading this once in a lifetime journey. Space is limited. Email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org for more information.
YOUTH – Diocesan SEARCH Retreat for tenth through twelfth graders, Jan. 17-19, 2025 at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. Diocese High School Confirmation Retreat, Jan. 25-26, 2025 at Lake Forest Ranch, Macon. Diocese Catholic Youth Conference – DCYC for ninth through twelfth grades, March 21-23, 2025 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Details: contact your individual parish offices or contact Abbey at (601) 949-6934 or abbey.schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org.
CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER – CEE is the diocesan marriage prep program for couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage. The upcoming weekends for 2025 are: Feb. 21-23; Aug. 1-3; and Oct. 24-26 at Camp Garaywa in Clinton; and April 25-27 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville. Register at https://bit.ly/CEE2024-2025. Details: email debbie.tubertini@jacksondiocese.org.
PENANCE SERVICES
CLINTON – Holy Savior, Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.
CANTON – Sacred Heart, Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m.
COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.
GREENVILLE – St. Joseph, Monday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 5:30-7 p.m.
MADISON – St. Francis, Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
MAGEE – St. Stephen, Monday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
PEARL – St. Jude, Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
Synod calls for quick steps to involve more people in church life
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Parishes and dioceses must move quickly to give life to the consultative bodies and broad participation in mission and ministry already foreseen by church law if the Catholic Church is to have any hope of becoming a more “synodal” church, members of the Synod of Bishops said.
“Without concrete changes in the short term, the vision of a synodal church will not be credible and this will alienate those members of the People of God who have drawn strength and hope from the synodal journey,” the members said in the final document they approved Oct. 26.
Pope Francis convoked the synod in 2021 and called on parishes, dioceses and bishops’ conferences to hold listening sessions before the first synod assembly in Rome in 2023. The current assembly, including most of the same members, began with a Mass at the Vatican Oct. 2.
Members voted on each of the 155 paragraphs of the document, which made suggestions and requests to Pope Francis that included long-term projects, such as continuing discernment about the possibility of women deacons, the need to reform seminary training and the hope that more lay people would be involved in the selection of bishops.
But they also included actions that could and should be implemented immediately, including hiring more women and laymen to teach in seminaries or having bishops make pastoral councils mandatory for every parish and pastors ensuring those bodies are truly representative of the parish members and that he listens to their advice.
Synod officials said all the paragraphs were approved by the necessary two-thirds of synod members present and voting; 355 members were present and voting, so passage required 237 votes. A paragraph devoted to increasing women’s profile in the church received, by far, the most negative votes of any paragraph with 97 members voting no and 258 voting yes. The paragraph, which required 66% of the votes, passed with 72%.
“In simple and concise terms,” members said, “synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the church to be more participatory and missionary, so that it can walk with every man and woman, radiating the light of Christ.”
In a synodal church, the document said, members have different roles, but they work together for the good of all members and for the mission of the church.
Like the synthesis report from the first assembly of the synod in 2023, the final document did not use the term “LGBTQ” or even “homosexuality” and spoke only briefly about the need to reach out to people who “experience the pain of feeling excluded or judged because of their marital situation, identity or sexuality.”
The document repeatedly referred to the “equal dignity” of men and women by virtue of their baptism and insisted the Catholic Church needed to do more to recognize women’s contributions to the life and mission of the church and their potential to offer more.
“Women continue to encounter obstacles in obtaining a fuller recognition of their charisms, vocation and roles in all the various areas of the church’s life,” it said. “This is to the detriment of serving the Church’s shared mission.”
Members of the synod called for the “full implementation of all the opportunities already provided for in Canon Law with regard to the role of women,” and said, “there is no reason or impediment that should prevent women from carrying out leadership roles in the Church. What comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.”
“Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open,” they said. “This discernment needs to continue.”
The question of women deacons was among several questions Pope Francis assigned to study groups last spring. Synod members asked the General Secretariat of the Synod “to continue to watch over the synodal quality of the working method of the study groups,” which are supposed to report to the pope in June.
The synod process, members said, was a “call to joy and renewal of the church in following the Lord, in committing to service of His mission and in searching for ways to be faithful.”
But the document repeatedly acknowledged the crime and sin of clerical sexual abuse and abuse of power, and insisted that a commitment to synodality, particularly to learning to listen and to necessary forms of transparency and accountability, were essential to preventing abuse.
Synodality, members said, “will also help to overcome clericalism, understood as use of power to one’s own advantage and the distortion of the authority of the church which is at the service of the People of God. This expresses itself above all in forms of abuse, be they sexual or economic, the abuse of conscience and of power, by ministers of the church.”
Lay men and women have many talents that can and should assist bishops and parish priests in the smooth functioning of their dioceses or parishes, synod members said. Tapping into those talents can help bishops and priests, who often feel overworked.
Where church law requires the bishops to consult their priests’ or pastoral council or pastors to consult the parish council, the document said, they “may not act as if the consultation had not taken place.”
“As in any community that lives according to justice,” it said, “the exercise of authority does not consist in an arbitrary imposition of will.”
Synod members also said listening, consulting, praying and discerning before making a decision is not the end of the process. “It must be accompanied and followed by practices of accountability and evaluation in a spirit of transparency inspired by evangelical criteria.”
Ensuring accountability and regularly evaluating all those who minister in the church’s name “is not a bureaucratic task for its own sake. It is rather a communication effort that proves to be a powerful educational tool for bringing about a change in culture,” synod members said.
One issue that prompted debate during the synod involved the authority of national bishops’ conference, particularly when it came to doctrinal matters.
The synod members, in the final document, called for a study of the theological and juridical status of bishops’ conferences and for a clear definition of “precisely the domain of the doctrinal and disciplinary competence” of the conferences.
(Editor’s note: At press time on Nov. 1, 2024, the final document of the XVI Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was only made available in the original Italian. Visit https://www.synod.va/en.html in the coming days for additional language translations.)
St. Joseph School launches “We Are St. Joe” capital campaign
By Joanna Puddister King
MADISON – St. Joseph School has launched its first major capital campaign in 17 years, introducing ambitious plans for new classrooms, a state-of-the-art multipurpose athletic facility, campus-wide upgrades and debt retirement. The three-year, $5 million “We Are St. Joe” campaign was unveiled before the school’s Homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 27. This initiative is aimed at strengthening St. Joe’s legacy of academic and athletic excellence while addressing the evolving needs of its students.
“Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are ready to make a big investment in the future of St. Joseph Catholic School,” said Dr. Dena Kinsey, principal of St. Joe. “With the help of our families, alumni and other incredible supporters, this campaign will make a great school even better.”
Dr. Kinsey highlighted the success of St. Joe students across academics, the arts and athletics. “Our students continue to achieve remarkable things,” she said. “By supporting this campaign, our alumni, friends, families and supporters will help us build on that well into the future. We are 154 years strong and pushing forward.”
In early 2024, St. Joe’s Canonical Board, Advisory Council, and school administration conducted an extensive planning study to identify the school’s immediate and long-term needs. The resulting projects were divided into two phases: the Celebration Goal and the Challenge Goal.
The Celebration Goal aims to raise $2 million to support critical campus upgrades. This phase includes adding two classrooms to the Middle School Building, implementing a new public address system, enhancing HVAC systems campus wide, constructing a retaining wall for the campus lake, and reducing debt on the Fine Arts building.
The Challenge Goal target is to raise an additional $3 million to construct a multipurpose athletic facility. This facility will feature a high-quality floor for volleyball, basketball and cheer, as well as a covered turf field for multi-sport practices and use by the school marching band.
“This is something we have needed for several years,” said Michael Howell, athletic director at St. Joe. “As a member of the MAIS and as our athletic programs grow, we need to provide as much as we can to safely and effectively support and develop our athletes.”
St. Joe’s athletic achievements include 23 varsity sports, while its academic excellence is reflected in a 1-to-12 student-teacher ratio, 12 honors courses, nine AP courses, and an ACT average of 23, and increasing to 26 for students who have been enrolled since seventh grade. The school also offers academic support and dyslexia therapy for students with diagnosed learning needs. Despite being a small school, St. Joe provides a comprehensive education.
“The St. Joe Capital Campaign is a campaign for excellence,” says Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “As culture changes around us, we must continuously search with ‘new eyes and open minds’ the best methods to be ‘distinguished by excellence’ in all areas within the … precepts of the Gospel.”
Bishop Kopacz says that along with school leaders, he is committed to the review and continuous improvement of St. Joe, and all schools and early learning centers throughout the diocese.
“Each of our schools is dependent of the other and each can only reach their full potential when all reach their full potential of being distinguished by excellence,” says Bishop Kopacz.
Now at 154 years strong, St. Joe is ready to keep growing in excellence.
“With this campaign and help from families, alumni and supporters, we will be poised to continue to enjoy success well into the future,” said Dr. Kinsey.
“St. Joe is a great campus and school. This will make it even better.”
Founded in 1870 by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph Catholic School has provided a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12, all grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Located at 308 New Mannsdale Road in Madison, just west of the Interstate 55-Mississippi 463 interchange, St. Joe is accredited by both the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools and Cognia.
(For ways to give to the “We are St. Joe” Capital Campaign visit https://bit.ly/WeAreStJoeCC2024 or contact Candace Sigler at csigler@stjoebruins.com or (601) 898-4800.)
Pastoral Assignments
Rev. Joseph Ashok Thumma appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish in Batesville and its mission St. John the Baptist in Sardis; St. Peter Parish in Grenada, and St. John Parish in Charleston, effective Nov. 1, 2024.
Rev. Joseph Reddy Golamari appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Madison, effective Nov. 1, 2024.
Rev. Gabriel Antonysamy Savarimuthu appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Greenville, effective Nov. 1, 2024.
Bishop Kopacz among the participants at international conference on the dual threats of climate disruption and nuclear weapons
By Mary Gorski
OLIVE BRANCH – Next year the church celebrates the 10th anniversary of Laudato Sí, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter addressed to all people, to “every person living on this planet” to “care for our common home.”
This was the spark that brought approximately 90 people from throughout Canada and the United States to Olive Branch, Mississippi (just south of Memphis), Oct. 7-10, to discuss two seemingly diverse themes: climate change and nuclear weapons. Hosted by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians), the “Dehonian Conference on the Dual Threats of Climate Change and Nuclear Weapons,” featured presentations by Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe and Sister Kathleen Storms, SSND. Participants included Dehonian priests and brothers, coworkers, parishioners, students, seminarians and others with a connection to the religious order, including Bishop Joseph Kopacz, who was present on the first day of the conference and celebrated Mass with participants.
Threats to our “common home”
According to the presenters, two of the greatest threats to our “common home” are climate change and nuclear weapons.
“Climate change is a normal process, but what we are experiencing now is climate disruption,” said Sister Kathleen. “Disruption gets to the roots of our existence; it creates extinction.”
As she spoke, Florida was bracing for Hurricane Milton, the second of two significant hurricanes with devastating impacts in just a few weeks’ time.
“We often look at the environmental crisis and say it will pass,” she continued. “But it is a different kind of crisis right now. It is felt all over the globe. If we don’t care for creation now, we will be in deep trouble.”
An environmental educator, Sister Kathleen Storms had the opportunity to read Laudato Sí prior to it being published. “For me it has given us a new creed of beliefs founded on the ‘Gospel of Creation,’ as expressed in scripture, teachings of the church over the centuries and by numerous popes,” she said. In 2018, on the third anniversary of the encyclical, she was part of a two-day conference in Rome focused on integral ecology. “A term coined by Pope Francis to speak about the oneness of all creation.”
She urged the Mississippi conference participants to consider an “ecological spiritual conversion,” to reflect on what they can change personally, locally and at an organizational level to better care for our common home.
“What is ours to do?” asked Sister Kathleen. “Our home matters, our creation matters.” And as people of hope, we can work together to bring change. “But it will take every one of us to be the hope needed to make the changes that are necessary.”
Hope is essential
“Hope” may seem an unlikely concept in the midst of presentations on the threats of climate change and nuclear weapons, but it was a word used repeatedly by both of the conference’s presenters.
“Our hope is in Jesus,” said Archbishop John Wester. “We must be people of hope that believe that God will work in us and through us… As Christians, how is the Lord calling me to be an instrument of peace in nuclear disarmament?”
The archbishop was profoundly impacted by a visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2017. When he returned to Santa Fe, he was acutely aware that much of the work of developing and testing atomic bombs took place in New Mexico. He has since become a staunch advocate for universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament.
In 2022, Archbishop Wester published a pastoral letter titled, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament.”
In the years since, he has continued to keep the issue in the public eye through letters, speeches and regular “pilgrimages of peace” to Japan on the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Via a pre-recorded interview, and a live Q&A through Zoom, Archbishop Wester spoke to the conference about the challenges of disarmament, including arguments for the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression.
“I ask, what is better strategy: deterrence or disarmament?” said the archbishop. “If you look at the danger that nuclear weapons pose, and factor in human nature, tyrants, dictators, terrorism and genuine mistakes, I prefer the strategy of disarmament. Some people may say I am naïve, but I think that the ones who are being naïve are the ones who think that deterrence will work.”
To those who say that deterrence is working, Archbishop Wester insists that “we are simply lucky, and luck is not a good strategy to protect lives… just one Trident submarine has the capacity to destroy all of human civilization. It sounds like hyperbole, but it is not…
“If we care about humanity, if we care about our planet, if we care about the God of peace and human conscience, then we must start a public conversation on these urgent questions and find a new path toward nuclear disarmament.”
More than just words
One of the challenges of any conference is turning it into something more than just an isolated moment in time. In small and large-group discussions, participants identified “next steps” to be taken personally and locally to better care “for our common home.”
Such actions included commitments to live more mindfully, leaving a smaller ecological footprint on the planet, buying locally, and using recyclable materials as much as possible, as well as participants’ commitment to educating themselves on the topics of the conference and having the courage to engage others in discussion of the threats of nuclear weapons and climate disruption, emphasizing that nuclear disarmament is a pro-life issue.
Groups from each region committed to continuing the work of the conference in their ministries; setting dates for future meetings on the local level to ensure that the work of the conference is not easily forgotten. Coworkers talked about working towards paper-free offices, where everything from budgets to publications to province assemblies is done digitally.
The conference concluded with a commissioning ceremony in which participants committed – in writing – to actions that they will do personally at home as a follow-up to the conference.
“My dear brothers and sisters, our gathering here in Mississippi is not on the world stage like the big meetings of heads of state or the United Nations, but believe me, if each of us commits to taking concrete action with the tools we will have at the end of this meeting we will make an impact on the world,” said Father Gustave Lulendo, SCJ, regional superior of Canada, in his words of welcome to the conference. “Like the leaven of the Gospel, even though it takes such a small quantity to make the dough rise, we will change the lives of our brothers and sisters by influencing the choices they make to preserve our common heritage, this common home that we want to leave to posterity.”
(Mary Gorski is the communications director for the US province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.)
The Priests of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic religious order of brothers and priests found in over 40 countries around the world. In many they are known as “Dehonians” after their founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon, or by their initials – SCJ – which stands for the official name of the congregation, “Sacerdotum Corde Jesu.” In the United States, the Dehonians have ministries in Texas, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Mississippi, where the order operates two grade schools (Holy Family in Holly Springs and Sacred Heart in Southaven), Sacred Heart Southern Missions, and minister to six parishes in the northern counties of the state.
Calendar of events
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – The OCE hosts a Zoom Rosary the first Wednesday of each month during the school year at 7 p.m. On Dec. 4, Annunciation School will lead us in prayer. Join early and place your intentions in the chat. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/zoomrosary2024 or check the diocese calendar of events.
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, Black Catholic History Month Event featuring Therese Wilson Favors and Ralph Moore on being Black and Catholic (475 E Chelten Ave, Philadelphia, PA) from 12:30-4 p.m. Details: Office for Black Catholics for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (215) 587-3541.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, “Taste of Italy” Lasagna Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 14 from 4:30-7 p.m. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.
COLUMBUS – Annunciation School, Open House, Thursday, Nov. 14, 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. classrooms open, 8:30 a.m. Mass (optional). Little Eagles Preview at 6 p.m. for PreK-3, PreK and Kindergarten. Details: RSVP to marketing@annunciationcatholicschool.org.
HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Christmas Program and Dinner, Sunday, Dec. 8. Save the date. Details: Keelan at (601) 604-2202.
MAGEE – St. Stephen, Fall Potluck Lunch, Sunday, Nov. 24. Details: church office (601) 849-3237.
MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Gender and Theology of Your Body hosted by Jason Evert, Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 6-9:15 p.m. Tickets are $15. Proceeds go to the Chastity Project. Details: https://tinyurl.com/stpatmeridian.
St. Patrick School, Candy Cane Dash, Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Register by Nov. 10 to guarantee a shirt. Details: register at https://time2run.raceentry.com/candy-cane-5k-dash/race-information.
St. Patrick, Our Lady’s Corner Christmas Open House, Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 4-6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Come shop for some meaningful Christmas gifts for your friends and family.
St. Patrick, Meridian Catholic Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Sunday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.
NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Advent Wreath Workshop, Sunday, Dec. 1, in the Family Life Center after 10 a.m. Mass. Families or individuals are invited to come and make an Advent wreath. Fun craft activities available for children. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
NATCHEZ – Wreaths Across America endeavors to honor all veteran’s graves with beautiful wreaths. Home With Heros is the proud, local Miss-Lou partner. Wreath ceremonies take place on Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. at Vidalia Cemetery and 11 a.m. at the Natchez National Military Cemetery. Wreaths cost $17/each. Order yours today at https://bit.ly/3AnaFjs. Details: call Larry at (253) 970-2090.
OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, Sunday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. Dine in or carry out. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.
Queen of Peace, Day of Reflection for Women of the Parish, Wednesday, Nov. 13 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the social hall. Presentation by Father Guy Blair, SCJ. Details: Bridget at (901) 412-9865.
Queen of Peace, Fellowship Card Night sponsored by the Men’s Club, Friday, Nov. 15 with dinner at 6 p.m. and games at 7 p.m. cost: $20 per participant for dinner, beverage and 200 chips. All parishioners and guests welcome. Must be 21+. Details: Sign up in the Commons or contact Tracy at lindseyroofing1@gmail.com or (901) 828-4848.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Advent Program, Sunday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. followed by dinner. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.
DIOCESE
JOB OPENING – The Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Communications is looking for a full-time communications specialist. Role involves creating and promoting content across multimedia platforms, including social media, websites and promotional materials. The position requires strong communication skills, knowledge of Catholic teachings and proficiency in design and communication software. College degree required with two years experience. Send a cover letter and resume to joanna.king@jacksondiocese.org. If you would like a full job description, visit https://jacksondiocese.org/employment-1.
YOUNG ADULTS – Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, May 12-27. Father Lincoln Dall will be leading this once in a lifetime journey. Space is limited. Email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org for more information.
YOUTH – Diocesan SEARCH Retreat for tenth through twelfth graders, Jan. 17-19, 2025 at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. Diocese High School Confirmation Retreat, Jan. 25-26, 2025 at Lake Forest Ranch, Macon. Diocese Catholic Youth Conference – DCYC for ninth through twelfth grades, March 21-23, 2025 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Details: contact your individual parish offices or contact Abbey at (601) 949-6934 or abbey.schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org.
CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER – CEE is our diocesan marriage prep program for couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage. The upcoming weekends for 2025 are: Feb. 21-23; August 1-3; and Oct. 24-26at Camp Garaywa in Clinton; and April 25-27 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville. Register at https://bit.ly/CEE2024-2025. Details: email debbie.tubertini@jacksondiocese.org.
Padre pens annual Saltillo chronicles
By Monsignor Michael Flannery
Bishop Louis Kihneman, (Bishop of Biloxi), Bishop Kopacz, Terry Dickson, (editor of Gulf Pine Catholic), Juliana Skelton, (photographer), and I, have returned from our yearly visit to our mission, San Miguel, Saltillo. We flew into Monterrey on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and returned on Sept. 29. Father David Martinez, pastor of San Miguel was there to meet us with the parish van. We rode 75 miles to Saltillo. As always, Father David had a full schedule lined up for the bishops.
After getting settled in at our new surroundings we had Mass at San Miguel and a meal with the parish council. On Wednesday morning, bright and early, we were on the road, heading for the rancho of San Francisco, which is about 60 miles from Saltillo. Confirmations were scheduled for 9:30 a.m. We were met about a mile from the village, with a float, complete with streamers, tied to a tractor. We rode the tractor into the village. About 100 villagers were there to greet us, singing Alabare a mi Senor. (I will praise my Lord). From there the bishops journeyed on to another village, Nuevo Gomez where we had First Holy Communions. Again, the same performance with a procession greeting the bishops. On return to Saltillo, there was time to visit the burial site of Father Quinn, who was the founding pastor of our mission in Mexico.
Each day of our visit was taken up with visiting the mountain villages for Mass and Confirmations. After evening Mass at San Miguel, each evening, the bishops were introduced to different parish groups, ranging from Eucharistic ministers, choirs and catechists. Saturday morning was reserved to visit the churches served by San Miguel within the city. At each site there were parishioners there to meet the bishops.
On Saturday afternoon, we met with Bishop Hilario, Bishop of Saltillo. He expressed his gratitude to all the people of Mississippi who have supported the mission in the past and continue to do so. He expressed his intentions of creating a new parish in Derramadero where a good deal of the factories from the United States have built such as GM, BMW and Ford. Already, 8,000 people have settled in the area and the projected growth over the next 10 years is that there will be over 100,000 people there. That is a sizeable city.
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, a procession began of the catechism children, from the churches in the outlying area, came dressed as angels. Each of the churches within the city under the direction of San Miguel were represented such as: St. Michael the Archangel, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christ the King, St. William, St, Francis of Assisi, Divine Mercy, The Mexican Martyrs and Juan Diego. After the closing Mass there was a “Noche Mexicana” (a Mexican night) complete with Mexican dancing, the Mariachi band, and ending up at 11:30 p.m. with a firework display. It was a full five days for the bishops.
The only negative note in our visit to San Miguel, was the fact we became aware of a break in at the parish medical and dental clinic which was donated by Dr. Charles Caskey some years ago. The break in took place two months ago. Any moveable equipment within the facility was stolen. It seemed like an organized group did it. They broke away the iron protection bars in the front window and entered the building. From there, they broke the front door lock. The means of escape seemed to be through the back door where transportation was awaiting them. I spoke to one of the nurses who donates her time to assist the patients served by the medical and dental clinic. She cried all the way through, giving her description and explaining to me how the clinic serves so many poor people who cannot afford a doctor’s visit and have no insurance. Services at the clinic are for suspended for the moment.
Bishop Kopacz and Bishop Kihneman have assured Father David that restoring the medical and dental services to the poor will be their top priority. However, some safeguards must be in place such as: a secure alarm system and a modern security system. We will also check with the insurance company as to what reimbursement we might expect for the damage done. The good news is that the mission work begun more than 50 years ago continues south of the border.
This past year at San Miguel there were 60 Baptisms, 116 Confirmations, 171 First Holy Communions and 24 marriages. The pastor’s name is Father David Martinez Rubio and the associate pastor is Father Michael Angel Sifuentes.
Happy Ordination Anniversary
November 10
Deacon Mark White
November 19
Father Jack Kurps, SCJ
November 27
Father Tim Murphy
Thank you for answering the call!