Category Archives: Featured

Knights celebrate “In Solidarity with our Church”

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JACKSON – The Mississippi Knights of Columbus held their annual convention in Jackson the last weekend of April with the theme “In solidarity with our Church.” The gathering gives the knights a chance to share ideas, receive training and recognize those councils and individuals who have offered exemplary service. Mississippi Knights raised more than $85,000 to support seminarians and pro-life initiatives this year. More than 300 people attended.
All photos are from the Mass Bishop Louis Kihneman of the Diocese of Biloxi celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Saturday, April 27.
Here are some highlights of those honored during the convention:
Knight of the Year: Norman J. Cantrelle – Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 in Pass Christian
Sir Knights of the Year: Sir Knight David Fisher, Assembly 554 Jackson and Sir Knight Stephen D’Angelo, Assembly 3625 Pass Christian.
Assembly of the Year: Bishop Gerow Assembly 554 – Jackson
Worthy Marshal of the Year: Sir Knight Craig Harrell, Worthy Marshal District 8
Family of the Year: Willie B. Jones Family -Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 in Pass Christian
Best Faith Program: Council 848; Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Council; Jackson for the Refund Support Vocation Program (RSVP)
Best Family Program: Council 1522; Pere Le Duc Council; Bay St. Louis for the Our Lady of the Gulf Parish Picnic
Best Community Program: Council 898; Vicksburg Council for Meals on Wheels for the Homebound
Best Life Program: Council 10901; St. John Council; Oxford for BBQ Dinner Fundraiser for Pregnancy Center
Best Vocations Programs: Jackson Diocese – Council 848; Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Council; Jackson for work with Carmelite Sisters and Monastery
Biloxi Diocese: Council 16433; St. Clare Council; Waveland for Cycle to Saints.

Holy week in picture

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Faithful throughout the Diocese of Jackson celebrated Holy Week in unity, but with their own cultural flavors. From an extraordinary form Mass to a modern reenactment of the Passion of Christ. Every parish started a new fire on Easter Sunday. Every Catholic was invited to renew his or her baptismal vows and every person on earth was invited to share in the joy of the resurrection.
Here are a sampling of photos of the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter from across the Diocese of Jackson. Bishop Joseph Kopacz and the entire chancery staff wish you a joyful and fruitful Easter Season.

FOREST – Father Roberto Mena, ST, of St. Michael Parish, and Sister Obdulia Olivar, MGSpS open Holy Week with the blessing of the palms, Sunday, April 14. (Photo by Sr. María Elena Méndez, MGSpS)
PEARL– Above, (l-r) Seminarian Andrew Bowden, Father Aaron Williams and Deacon Mark Shoffner celebrated Palm Sunday with a procession and Mass in the extraordinary form at St. Jude Parish.
JACKSON – Above, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and all the priests of the diocese celebrated chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 16, to bless and consecrate the oils used throughout the year. At this Mass, the priests renew their vows and spend some valuable time together.

Above, a team of volunteers pours the oils into smaller containers between the blessing and the end of Mass for distribution to parishes.
HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family School Principal Clara Isom washes the feet of student Shaleigh Faulkner on Holy Thursday, following the example of Jesus from scripture.

SOUTHAVEN – Sacred Heart School students George Espinoza, Ethan Towell and Jacob Bland act out the crucifiction during a live stations of the cross. (Photo by Laura Grisham)
JACKSON – Members of St. Therese Parish light candles for their homes from the Paschal candle. (Photo by Sr. María Elena Méndez, MGSpS)

JACKSON – The Cathedral slowly fills with light during the Easter Vigil as people share their flames as they process into the church.
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, assisted by Mary Woodward, chancellor and Father Anthony Quyet, rector of the cathedral, inserts the incense nails into the Paschal candle at the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

Youth

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Youth retreat invites contemplation

Musicals brighten spring semester at Schools

Left: COLUMBUS – Annuciation middle school students presented the musical Willy Wonka Jr. on April 4 and 5. Below, the entire cast surrounds Delia Lochala who plays Charlie during the finale number. (Photo by Katie Fensteramacher)

Right: MADISON – At left, students from St. Joseph High School present the Wizard of Oz on Saturday, April 13. There were two casts for the play, allowing more students to play the lead roles for the show, which was presented four times. In this cast, Wyatt Davis plays the Lion, Annalise Rome is Dorothy, Hannah Dear is the Scarecrow, Liam Moorehead is the Wizard and Lake Dodson is the Tin Man. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

St. Richard students ‘Make something beautiful’

St. Jude Palm Sunday get together

PEARL – St. Jude’s youth get together for a fun event on Palm Sunday afternoon Aubrey Lee, Ross Lee, Thomas Paczak, Ashley Lowe, and Jessie Millette string colorful beads remind them to pray during Holy week. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Songs and praise for Sister Thea Bowman

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CANTON – Gospel choirs from many churches gathered at Holy Child Jesus Parish on Saturday, March 30 for a musical celebration in honor of Sister Thea Bowman. Sister Thea died on March 30, 1990. Last year the Diocese of Jackson opened a cause for sainthood for the Mississippi native, who became Catholic and later served as a teacher at Holy Child.
Choirs included the Mary Grove Baptist Church men’s choir, Jackson Christ the King and Holy Ghost choirs, the Frazier Riddel Choir, the Jackson Family, Ed Hightower, Landris Jones and the Rembert Washington Chorale.
Participant choirs each offered a couple of songs while Billy Joe Wells, acting as master of ceremonies, kept the crowd upbeat and involved. Organizers hope to make the celebration an annual event.

(Story and photos by Maureen Smith)

Sun shines on Abbey Youth Fest

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By Abbey Schuhmann
COVINGTON, Louisiana – On Saturday, March 23, more than 200 youth and adults from around the Diocese of Jackson loaded four charter buses and made their way to St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College for the 2019 Abbey Youth Festival (AYF). Additional parishes made trips on their own to the festival as well; the diocese was well represented with more than 300 youth and adult participants attending the one-day conference in south Louisiana.
After four straight years of rain, mud and even catastrophic flooding in 2016 which cancelled the entire event, the weather was perfect and the skies were blue; it was a sunny, 70 degrees on the AYF field. The theme for the day was “Restored – Let Your Heart Be Filled.” The seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary College play a vital role in the production of AYF including the diocese’s own, Tristan Stovall of Philadelphia Holy Cross. “The Abbey Youth Festival is an apostolic service of Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College.” The mission statement for Abbey Fest declares that “it is designed to provide young people with an opportunity to experience a day of prayer and faith formation with an exposure to the Benedictine traditions. Its focus is evangelization and vocational discernment by means of liturgy, prayer, worship, music and education appropriate for Catholic young people.” The festival has grown over the years; this year’s festival brought in more than 2,500 young people from Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The festival boasts a packed schedule that includes faith-filled music, prayer, catechesis, fellowship and fun.
A new addition to the program this year was a talent show featuring youth versus seminarian acts including a panel of judges. Richard Smallwood of Flowood St. Paul and Anna Trautman and Hannah Hoang of Amory St. Helen were the selected youth acts to perform on stage. Trautman and Hoang performed a beautiful rendition of Lauren Daigle’s song “You Say” while Smallwood entertained the crowd with a reenactment of the classic campaign speech dance from the movie Napoleon Dynamite.
Other acts from seminarians included fire breathing and a dance-off battle. Smallwood took home the grand prize for his performance. The program featured inspirational keynote presentations from Father Sidney Speaks and Sister Josephine Garrett. Danielle Nicole presented the breakout session for the women while Dom Quaglia led the session for men. The Sarah Kroger Band entertained the crowd with an evening concert and led worship music throughout the day.
All participants had the opportunity to visit different vendor booths including religious orders and communities from all around the country. Many teens and adults also take advantage of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Archbishop Gregory Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans celebrated the Mass with Bishop Kopacz for the second year in a row. Bishop Kopacz has made several trips to Abbey Youth Fest since his installation as bishop for the diocese. The day concluded with candlelight adoration and praise and worship.
AYF is an excellent opportunity for teens to see the bigger church and enjoy fellowship with other young Catholics from all across the South. This was the ninth year for the diocese to sponsor a trip to the Abbey Youth Festival.
Make plans to participate in the 2020 event scheduled for Saturday, March 21. For more information visit www.abbeyyouthfest.com, on Facebook at “Abbey Youth Fest” or contact Abbey Schuhmann in the Office of Youth Ministry – 601-949-6934 or Abbey.Schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org

  • Two finalists in the talent show were from the Diocese of Jackson including Anna Trautman and Hannah Hoang of Amory St. Helen, center, and Richard Smallwood from Flowood St. Paul, who won the competition. (Photo by Abbey Schuhmann)
  • Young people are invited to consider a religious vocation. (Photo by Patti Greene)
  • Hunter Yentzen, center, with the youth group from Clinton Holy Savior Parish at Abbey Youth Fest.

Lenten rites pave way to Easter conversion

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By Berta Mexidor
JACKSON/ MADISON – Lent begins with the penitential sign of ashes on Ash Wednesday, but does include some joyful moments for the faithful.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz, celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral, blessing ashes to mark the forheads of those in the church.
The Sunday, March 10, Bishop Kopacz, assisted by Deacon Mc Gregor celebrated the Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion for 43 catechumens and 10 candidates for confirmation during Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Pastor Father Albeenreddy Vatti and Father Frank Cosgrove were also on hand.
Mary Woodward, chancellor, presented a book with their names to the bishop before all the catechumens and candidates received a blessing and a Pastoral Priorities prayer card from Bishop Kopacz.
The group represented all age groups and included members of parishes around the diocese. The Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion mark the final preparations for Easter, when the catechumens will receive first communion and candidates will be confirmed.
Lauren Roberts, a catechumen from Jackson St. Richard, explained that she was baptized into the church years ago, but her fiancé, family and friends helped her to decide to take this step toward full, active membership in the church. Maria Vera is sponsoring Alberto and Alexis Jiménez. She said she wants to show them the road to Christ.

Ash Wednesday

JACKSON – Mary Woodward places ashes on the forhead of a member of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Ash Wednesday. (Photos by Maureen Smith)

Above, Mr. Wesley Lindsay marks a woman's forehead. The ashes are a reminder to turn from sin during Lent and prepare for Easter.

Rite of Election

Freezing fun on Fat Tuesday

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CLARKSDALE – Cold temperatures didn’t stop the students from St. Elizabeth School from celebrating Mardi Gras with a parade around campus. Older students threw the traditional beads and prizes from convertables to their younger classmates. Mardi Gras, literally Fat Tuesday, was a day to eat all the sweets and meat a family might have to prepare for fasting and abstience during the season of Lent. (Photos by Dawn Spinks)

Couples share their love, commitment at World Marriage Day

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By Berta Mexidor and Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Eighty-two couples marked World Marriage Day by celebrating more than 3,500 years of marriage on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The number of couples attending doubled from last year. The majority of those are celebrating either 50 or 25 years of marriage. Ten couples honored are celebrating 60 years of marriage.
Charlene Bearden, coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry, organizes the celebration of World Marriage Day for the Diocese of Jackson. Each couple celebrating a significant anniversary receives a certificate and a blessing from Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “I think it shows that faith out there is solid – it’s strong and people want to celebrate that,” said Bearden.
World Marriage day is a global event to honor the sacrament of marriage and recognize those who are called to the vocation. In the homily Bishop Kopacz talked about the reading of loving your enemies. He remarked, teasingly, that it was not intentional for the occasion, but it is a good lesson about the magnitude of love. Bishop Kopacz blessed the commitment and example of the couples and asked them to renew their vows with a kiss. After the Mass and blessing, all the couples were invited to the cathedral center for a reception.

Margaret and John McAllese of Flowood St. Paul Parish are celebrating 65 years of marriage with their two children and three grandchildren. “Always get rid of the problem you had before you go to bed. No fighting going to bed – get rid of it,” said John. He and his wife also like to laugh together.
Rosa and Dan Buzzarde came down from Grenada to be honored for their 25-years of marriage. It may seem like a long time, but Dan feels differently. “I looked up one day from my job and lightning slapped me in the face and it was her and I haven’t gotten over it yet,” he said. Rosa said she would tell young couples that marriage takes “lots of patience, lots of love and lots of understanding.”
Carmen and Isidro Vieyra from Jackson St. Therese celebrated 25 years of marriage. They believe that God is always helping them on the trip. Carmen said “God gives patience and love to understand.” Their daughter, Cyntia Vieyra and her fiance Gustavo García, after six years of dating, will follow their parents’ example and take the vows next May.They want to have “all the children with whom God blesses them” both said at the same time.
30-year couple Cassandra and Tracy Hansbrough from Greenwood St. Francis urge young people to put work into a relationship before marriage. “They should weigh their options and get to know one another before they get married and realize that marriage is a partnership and compromise is very important,” Cassandra explained.
Forgiveness and mercy play a role in Yvonne and Robert Tanner’s 35-year marriage. “You need to still love every day. Every day is a new beginning and when you approach it that way then those days start adding to years and more,” said Robert. His wife added, “Keep God first in prayer and I think everything else will work out.”

More pictures coming soon!