Category Archives: Featured

Catholic press faces ‘double mandate’

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By Julie Asher
ST. LOUIS (CNS) – Catholic communicators “have a double mandate: the First Amendment of the Constitution and the Gospel,” Greg Erlandson told the Catholic Media Conference in St. Louis.
Erlandson, former president and publisher of Our Sunday Visitor, (OSV) received the Bishop John England Award June 2 from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada.
“These are perilous times,” he said in his acceptance remarks. “We are looking at competing ideological agendas that too often are incompatible with the Gospel and that too often threaten the weakest among us – both born and unborn – the undocumented, the terminally ill, the poor and neglected.”
Catholic communicators’ vocation “is to be their voice,” said Erlandson. “Our vocation is to be the voice of the church. That is our responsibility and our privilege.”
Our Sunday Visitor, based in Huntington, Indiana, was founded 104 years ago “to be a voice for the church and the rights of Catholics.” he said.
He said that in that role, he “sought to defend the church’s right to speak out on all the issues of the day, to defend the church’s right to participate in the debates that animate the public square, but to do so without rancor or histrionics, to do so without blinders or defensiveness, but in the spirit of loyalty, honesty and intelligence that I hope has defined all that we published.”
In editorials and articles, OSV Newsweekly “has spoken out in defense of religious liberty and supported – both in court and in our pages – the opposition to the HHS (Health and Human Services) mandate regarding contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. We have addressed religious freedom issues worldwide, and defended the rights of migrants and refugees.”
The publication also has addressed the sex abuse crisis, he said, “both saluting the church for the policies it has instituted in the wake of the crisis, but also addressing the failures of leadership that occurred and that so wounded our church.”
He noted the publication’s defense of Catholic organizations “that have endured unjust attack,” he said, pointing in particular to Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency. CRS “has been the target of malicious and shameful witch hunts,” Erlandson said.
The England award is named for the Irish-born bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, who founded The Catholic Miscellany in 1822. As publisher of the newspaper, Bishop England defended separation of church and state, saying it was good for both entities. He also espoused freedom of religion. Presented annually, the award recognizes publishers in the Catholic press for the defense of First Amendment rights, such as freedom of the press and freedom of religion. It is the CPA’s highest award for publishers.
In 2015, Erlandson received the CPA’s St. Francis de Sales Award.
Mississippi Catholic production manager and creative services coordinator Contyna McNealy was recognized at this year’s Catholic Media Conference with a second place award for the design of the diocesan Saltillio Mission collection ad. Editor Maureen Smith attended the conference on behalf of the department of communications.

Bishop: pray for Orlando

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ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) – Orlando Bishop John G. Noonan urged people of faith “to turn their hearts and souls” to God and pray for the victims, the families and first responders following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history June 12.
“A sword has pierced the heart of our city,” he said in a statement.
“The healing power of Jesus goes beyond our physical wounds but touches every level of our humanity: physical, emotional, social, spiritual,” he said. “Jesus calls us to remain fervent in our protection of life and human dignity and to pray unceasingly for peace in our world.”
The shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando left 50 people dead, including the gunman, and 53 wounded.
Police said a lone gunman identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen – opened fire inside the Pulse club in Orlando in the early morning hours. News reports said that Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, died in a gun battle with SWAT team members.
Across the nation, reaction from church and community leaders was swift, and in cities large and small, people organized candlelit vigils for the victims and their families the night of the shooting.
“Waking up to the unspeakable violence in Orlando reminds us of how precious human life is,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“Our prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible act,” he said in a statement June 12. “The merciful love of Christ calls us to solidarity with the suffering and to ever greater resolve in protecting the life and dignity of every person.”
“Our prayers and hearts are with the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, their families and our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters,” said Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich.
In Orlando, priests, deacons and counselors from the Diocese of Orlando and Catholic Charities of Central Florida were serving at an aid center established by city officials.
Throughout the day June 12, church personnel were helping victims and families “on the front lines of this tragedy,” Bishop Noonan said. “They are offering God’s love and mercy to those who are facing unimaginable sorrow. They will remain vigilant and responsive to the needs of our hurting brothers and sisters.”
In his statement, Archbishop Cupich expressed gratitude to the first responders and civilians at the scene of the shooting.
“In response to hatred, we are called to sow love,” he added. “In response to violence, peace. And, in response to intolerance, tolerance.”
In a letter to the Chicago archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach, Archbishop Cupich said: “For you here today and throughout the whole lesbian and gay community, who are particularly touched by the heinous crimes committed in Orlando, motivated by hate, driven perhaps by mental instability and certainly empowered by a culture of violence, know this: The Archdiocese of Chicago stands with you. I stand with you.”
He also urged Americans to “find the courage to face forthrightly the falsehood that weapons of combat belong anywhere in the civilian population.”
In Washington, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said in a post on his blog said that “the love of Jesus Christ will prevail,” and while all too often “it appears it that our civilization is walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil.”
He said all people of goodwill must stand together “in making another impassioned appeal for peace and security in our communities and throughout the world.”
Another Florida prelate, Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg, expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and also addressed the gun rights issue.
“Our founding parents had no knowledge of assault rifles which are intended to be weapons of mass destruction. … It is long past time to ban the sale of all assault weapons. … If one is truly pro-life, then embrace this issue also and work for the elimination of sales to those who would turn them on innocents.”
Bishop Lynch also said that “sadly, it is religion, including our own, which targets, mostly verbally, and also often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people.”
Courage International, a Catholic organization that provides support for people who experience same-sex attraction, condemned “the atrocious violence” at the gay night club, adding that “in the face of such outrageous violence and loss of life, human words and explanations fall short.”
“So people of faith look to the everlasting mercy and compassion of almighty God, who ‘is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit,’” the group said, quoting Psalm 34.
The Courage statement also reminded people of what the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said 30 years ago about violence toward gay people: “It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the church’s pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.”

Rogation Days still part of rural Mississippi faith

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By Father Scott Thomas
May 24 marked the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si, in which he spoke to humanity about its relationship with creation. In rural Mississippi, especially in the Delta, people still depend on the yield of the land. So many jobs are based on farming, so naturally the Holy Father’s encyclical is very relevant to our diocese and state. Towards the end, the Holy Father says, “The rich heritage of Christian spirituality, the fruit of twenty centuries of personal and communal experience, has a precious contribution to make to the renewal of humanity.” One of those contributions is the celebration of Rogation Days in the month of May.

Father Thomas blesses St. Elizabeth parishioner, Mark Agostinelli's field in Clarksdale. In rural Mississippi, especially in the Delta, people still depend on the yield of the land.

Father Thomas blesses St. Elizabeth parishioner, Mark Agostinelli’s field in Clarksdale. In rural Mississippi, especially in the Delta, people still depend on the yield of the land.

Rogation Days within the Christian church can be traced back to the days of St. Mamertius (d. 475). His diocese suffered different natural disasters so he recommended the faithful to turn to fasting in asking for divine assistance and protection over the course of the three days before the Ascension. This continues today, but unfortunately with less participation since the reform of the Roman Calendar following the Second Vatican Council.
During that reform, Pope Bl. Paul VI asked that during Rogation Days prayers for vocations to the priesthood be added. After all, the flock of Christ is seen as a harvest in Sacred Scripture (Luke 10:2), and many laborers are needed to work this harvest. Paul VI’s interest in these days shows that he himself intended for Rogation Days to still be celebrated in some fashion because he saw the value in them.
The church teaches us through her social doctrine that our work can be a participation in the creation of the world. Pope Francis recently said that Jesus “sanctified human labor and endowed it with a special significance for our development.” Thus, as St. John Paul II stated, through our work humanity “in a way collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity.” God blesses our work in a number of ways, most visibly through the church and her priests as farmers take their pastor into the fields during the Rogation Days.
St. Elizabeth parishioner, Richard Noe, has farmed in the Clarksdale area for 55 years. These days he farms with his son Richard and is joined by his grandson Zachary during the summers. According to Noe, during the days of Msgr. McKenna, one or two retired farmers would pick up the priest and take him around to all of the farms in the parish boundaries. But today each individual farmer meets the priest or picks him up and escorts him to a patch of fledgling crops. This way more are involved and the pastor greets his flock on their turf, in their “natural habitats” away from the parish rectory.
Jude Watts, also a parishioner of St Elizabeth who farms with his son Thad, says that the farmer learns very quickly to trust in God’s providence. “Farming is good proof that God is in control. We can’t control the rain so of course God’s blessing on our crops is needed,” said Watts. There is a lot that farmers have to contend with, whether it be a lack of rain, high winds blowing sand on the crops, a scorching sun, or pests such as wild hogs.
While we can till the ground more efficiently, improve seeds, and have access to beneficial chemicals, even as technology grows, we are still dependent upon God and His grace for us. Rogation days are a marvelous reminder of this as we fast and pray for God’s blessing on our farms and gardens. Of course, we in no way should limit these prayers to just three or four days. Rather, we should always pray to God for favorable weather and a good harvest for the benefit of the farmers, their community and beyond.
(Father Scott Thomas is the pastor of Clarksdale St. Elizabeth Parish)

Magazine details Sisters’ Mississippi mission

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Although the Sisters of St. Joseph of the third order of St. Francis no longer serve in Mississippi, their legacy remains, especially in Meridian and Greenwood, where they were integral in starting a hospital and school. The school, St. Francis of Assisi, is still operating in Greenwood, although it is now served by a different Franciscan community.
This spring the school’s founders dedicated an issue of their magazine, Peace and All Good, to their time in Mississippi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of coming to the state. “Mississippi Ministry, 1945-1996,” is packed full of stories and photos from both communities. A digital issue will be available on the order’s website, www.ssj-tosf.org. Those who would like to order a hard copy should send $10 to Sister Angelora Grossman, SSJ-TOSF, P.O. Box 305, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0305. To speak with Sister Angelora, call 715-341-8457.

Graham calls for conversion, prayer in politics at rally

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JACKSON – Franklin Graham, son of iconic televangelist Billy Graham, stopped in Jackson on Wednesday, April 13, for the Mississippi leg of the Decision America Tour. Graham is making stops in every state capitol to call people to prayer and political activism.
The preacher reminded people they cannot depend on any political party to save the country. That, he said, would take faith in Jesus and hard work. In addition to inviting people to give themselves to Christ, Graham invited them to make a pledge to consider running for office or working for a campaign each person thought would advance Christian ideals.
The rallies combine old-fashioned music and prayer with a high-tech element. People who needed prayer or who wanted to sign the pledge could text their support to a number and someone from Graham’s organization would get back to them with local contacts and information. Several thousand people braved threatening skies for the noon-time rally on the Capitol steps.

Birthright needs volunteers, offers free tour, training

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“I am sitting there, waiting for the phone to ring. No one has called in the past hour. I start thinking about all the productive things I could be doing at home. Then, there is a knock at the door. It’s a young girl in her twenties. She looks weary and sad. I welcome her and invite her to sit with me for a moment.
She looks into my eyes, sees the smile on my face, and bursts into tears. She has kept this a secret and feels all alone. She is tormented by her circumstances and fear of what to do next. She thought no one would understand or love her again. But, then she found her way to me. Somehow she knew, just by being in my presence, that I would help her. I am here for her. She will make it through this after all. She is not alone!” This is the picture of a day at Birthright painted by Monica Walton, a Birthright volunteer for 21 years.
The organization needs new volunteers so it is hosting a training session in May.
Birthright believes “It is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born.” That has been the Birthright way since it was founded in 1968 by Louise Summerhill in Canada. Birthright of Jackson began in 1983. Every Birthright chapter adheres to the same charter which has remain unchanged since its inception.
“It’s a very narrow focus of helping a woman take care of herself so she can take care of her baby,” said Walton, who also serves as director of Birthright of Jackson. “We simply welcome each client as a friend. We run a free pregnancy test and sit with her, listening to her personal story. Whatever problem she feels is a stumbling block in the pregnancy, we help her make a plan to improve her circumstances. Then she feels better able to carry the child to term,” she added. Birthright offers love, hope, friendship, information, practical help and referrals for as long as a woman needs their services.
Last year, Birthright of Jackson had 350 counseling sessions with clients. Twenty-seven clients were considering abortion. Of the 16 pregnancy tests administered, 12 clients reported back with information on the birth of their child. The remaining four either had a miscarriage or abortion, or Birthright lost contact with the client.
“We don’t always get to hear the outcome of our interaction with these women,” said Walton. “Sometimes, their phone service is disconnected or they simply stop taking our calls. But, it is so wonderful when we do get to meet the babies and see the change of heart these mothers have experienced!”
“I had volunteered at the hospital and at hospice ministries, but I didn’t find either fulfilling,” said Lou Runnels, Birthright volunteer from Flowood St. Paul Parish. “Volunteering at Birthright filled a void in me, even though I didn’t know what was missing. Meeting clients makes me feel good. We make a connection and I know I have made a difference in their lives.”
Runnels, who has been a Birthright volunteer for two years, shared that she had an abortion at the age of 18. “I am able to give these girls information that wasn’t given to me 42 years ago when I had my abortion,” she said. “If I would have found a place like Birthright, I might have made a different decision,” she said.
“Helping with Birthright gives me peace of mind,” said Caroline Gaudet, who has been a Birthright volunteer, off and on for 20 years. “I know I am doing something for those who are very vulnerable, and I like Birthright because it’s non-judgmental and offers a sense of safety. That’s very important to me.” Gaudet is a member of Jackson St. Richard Parish.
Dennis Riecke has volunteered for Birthright as a board member for 20 years. He said Birthright is always in need of a variety of volunteers with different skill sets. “I wanted to do something in the pro-life movement, but I didn’t want to protest, lobby or be confrontational,” said Riecke, a member of Madison St. Francis Parish. “I’m not a counselor. I have taken minutes at board meetings and helped with fundraisers and other activities as needed.”
Volunteer training day will be Saturday, May 7, starting at 9 a.m. with coffee and a tour of the center at 644 Lakeland East Drive, Suite C in Flowood. We will discuss the services we offer, how easy and rewarding it is to volunteer, and conclude with a question/answer session and a light lunch. Everyone is encouraged to attend with no obligation. This is simply a chance to learn more, understand the needs of Birthright and their clients, and gauge your level of interest. Bring a friend!
Visit the Birthright website, www.birthright.org or contact Monica Walton by email:  birthrightofjackson@gmail.com or by calling 601-371-7711.

Faith Formation revises catechist guidelines

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By Maureen Smith
Jackson – Among the projects in the works in the diocesan Department of Faith Formation this year: reinvigorate youth ministry with a new director, plans for diocesan gatherings and new energy; train and certify more lay catechists than ever; find a new director of family ministry; and revise the catechist companion, the book used as a guide for catechists in parishes and schools throughout the diocese.
Fran Lavelle is the head of faith formation. She works with diocesan coordinators and parish employees and volunteers to make sure Catholics can deepen their knowledge and faith at every stage of their lives. This means ensuring children in religious education are reaching certain milestones as they mature, offering rich faith opportunities to young adults and college students, preparing couples for marriage and supporting them in family life and making opportunities available for adults to explore church teachings and spirituality.041516catechistcompanion
A cornerstone in ensuring that we are setting young Catholics on a path of life-long learning and a love of their faith is good catechesis.  One of the major aid in this work is the Catechist Companion, a guidebook for teachers guiding students in religious education and preparing young people and their families for the sacraments of initiation. As Bishop Joseph Kopacz writes in his letter of introduction, “The most important work of the church is in passing the faith on to subsequent generations.”
“We want to respect each community’s approach to preparing their children for sacraments, but we also need to set some expectations of what they will know when they approach the altar,” said Lavelle. The book is a guideline, but different parish and school communities will offer the lessons in the way best suited to their students.
She and many others spent weeks going through the material to update and streamline it and hopes to set up a regular review schedule to keep it up-to-date all the time. Lavelle appreciates the assistance she has had in updating and revising the document. “It would have been an impossible task without the peer review group that reviewed the guide for continuity and having excellent colleagues at the chancery to help with layout and proofing,”  Lavelle said.
The book is divided up by age-group and by sacrament. It contains not only the concepts students should grasp by the end of the grade or by the time they receive a given sacrament, but it also has suggestions on presenting the material to students and their families, including scripture readings families can use for reflection and prayers.
“It is through teaching these beliefs that we aid those entrusted to us to deepen their relationship with God. Moreover, we hope to inspire a love for learning, growing and loving our faith in a way that is life-long,” wrote Bishop Kopacz.
The revised book will be finished mid-summer and will be distributed in printed form to catechists. An online version will be posted to the diocesan website so anyone can download and use it.
Lavelle’s office also offers a full complement of classes to help catechists earn certification and exchange best practices so they can better serve their students as well as gatherings and workshops for catechists and pastoral leaders to share best practices and resources.
The Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) directly supports the department of faith formation. Your pledge to CSA supports the work Lavelle and her staff are doing to offer faith formation opportunities to everyone in the diocese. Donate through your parish office or online at https://csa.jacksondiocese.org/.

Jackson businessman makes Catholic radio reality

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Roger Venable is the first to admit he knows nothing about radio. “I have no business starting a radio station,” he joked a week after that station went on the air. The business owner and member of St. Therese Parish just felt called to try and get a Catholic station up and running in the Jackson area.
The low-power station, 107.9 FM, WJXC, took years of persistence, some creative energy and more than a little help from some friends. The station will carry Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) programming for now, adding local programs as Venable is able.
Listeners in North Jackson will get a clear signal, while those in outlying areas may lose quality on stormy or windy days.

Roger Venable shows a visitor how a computer can play live or pre-recorded shows on his low-power radio station from the studios inside St. Dominic Centre in Jackson. The businessman hopes to find investors to help expand the operation. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

Roger Venable shows a visitor how a computer can play live or pre-recorded shows on his low-power radio station from the studios inside St. Dominic Centre in Jackson. The businessman hopes to find investors to help expand the operation. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

Venable said he always wondered why there was no Catholic broadcast radio station in the area and started doing research into what it would take almost 10 years ago. During that time, other station owners offered to sell their operations to him, currently operating stations offered limited time slots and lots of people offered advice.
About five years ago, the Federal Communications Commission, the agency that controls broadcast licensing in the U.S., opened up a number of new low-power frequencies on the dial. In order to be eligible, applicants had to have a 501c3 non-profit organization set up.
Venable raced to get the organization paperwork in order before the deadline and was able to land a permit. “When that piece of paper came in the mail, I could have fallen down on my back, I was so thrilled and surprised it all come together,” he said.
In the meantime, he got help from EWTN engineers on what equipment he would need and he approached Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, OP, assistant director of the St. Dominic Health Foundation, about adding his antenna to St. Dominic Hospital. She not only found the perfect spot for the small structure, she also found a room he could rent at St. Dominic Centre for his studio.
EWTN will provide programming for free to any station, but only if the bishop in that diocese approves. Bishop Joseph Kopacz granted his approval for Venable to pursue the project last year and met again with him and ETWN’s Jack Williams on Tuesday, April 5, to talk about next steps.
Williams, who is the affiliate relations manager and an on-air personality, said the Holy Spirit is often evident in the work of the dedicated people who set up Catholic radio stations across the country. He told the story of when Mother Angelica, the determined nun who founded the network, first saw the property where she located her empire.
The acreage was on top of a mountain and she went to see it with an engineer. “She got out of the truck and looked at the field and she could see St. Michael the Archangel in the field. She said ‘we’ll take it!’ The engineer said, ‘we can’t take it, Mother, short wave radio won’t work on a mountain, it’s impossible for us to operate here.’”
Mother Angelica, said Williams, would not be moved. “She asked him, ‘can you see St. Michael over there?’ he said no, and she repeated, ‘we’ll take it.’” Despite the technical impossibility, Mother Angelica did found a short-wave radio station on the mountain and developed it into the largest Catholic broadcast network in the world. .
Venable took out a loan to start the station, but hopes to find underwriters and donors to pay off that debt and keep the station on the air. Once that happens, he hopes to start adding local programming. He has the capability to record programs in his small studio and insert them into his schedule. He also hopes to begin streaming his signal online so anyone can listen using their computer or smartphone.
Later in the summer, Venable will host an official kick-off event for potential sponsors and listeners. In the meantime, anyone who wants to underwrite a portion of programming or make a donation can send a check made out to Mississippi Catholic Radio to PO Box 43, Terry, MS, 39170, or email rvenable@venableglass.com.

After faith, good sense of humor, most important thing in life

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By Msgr. Michael Flannery
I worked closely with Bishop Houck and served as his Judicial Vicar for eight years and as his Vicar General for nine years. I can say that he was a true southern gentleman and had tremendous work ethic. He loved his priesthood and serving the church. He lived a full active life all of his life and was in relative good health until the end. He came to the office every day and seldom if ever took a day off.

Bishop Joseph Latino, (left) newly ordained to the Diocese of Jackson, Msgr. Michael Flannery, then-vicar general, St. John Paull II and Bishop Houck in Rome in November 2004. Bishop Houck was retired, but was in Rome with Extension when Bishop Latino made his first ad limina visit so the three visited the pope together. (Mississippi Catholic Archive Photo)

Bishop Joseph Latino, (left) newly ordained to the Diocese of Jackson, Msgr. Michael Flannery, then-vicar general, St. John Paull II and Bishop Houck in Rome in November 2004. Bishop Houck was retired, but was in Rome with Extension when Bishop Latino made his first ad limina visit so the three visited the pope together. (Mississippi Catholic Archive Photo)

Working as closely as I did with him over the years, I learned a great deal about him. He was a man of a very deep faith and put the Lord first in his life. He was a man of prayer. Anytime he had a difficult problem he turned it over to the Lord in prayer. After his prayer time, he usually knew what to do and he was a decisive man. Once he made a decision that was it.
On numerous occasions when we would be discussing some problem or other he would say to me: “Mike, I need to pray about that.” I knew then that he needed his space to bring it to the Lord. He was a workaholic. He came to the office usually at nine in the morning and he would not leave until nine at night. He worked Saturdays and Sundays.
Bishop Houck took all his responsibilities seriously and he loved to minister to people. At confirmation time which was usually during the Easter Season he would travel all over the diocese, comprising of 65 counties, celebrating confirmations. He liked to have a designated driver for these excursions and he would read every letter the candidates had sent him. During his homily he would weave some of those writings and make the homily personal every time.
I remember one incident in particular. It was right before 9/11. I had driven him to the airport in Jackson so that he could attend a meeting of a bishops’ committee of the United States Catholic Conference. Nine eleven took place the following day and the whole country came to a stand-still. There were no planes flying. He was stuck in Washington, D.C. for four days. He had nothing to do and it was driving him crazy. He was just about to rent a car and drive back to Jackson when they opened the airports again. He was on one of the first flights that arrived in Jackson and was interviewed by the press as to his experience.
Bishop Houck would always say to me: “After faith, a good sense of humor is the most important thing in life.”  I loved that man. I would do anything for him. In a way we were kindred spirits. I am a workaholic and so was he. He would say about me: “Never give anything to Flannery unless you are absolutely sure that is what you want him to do. Because when you look around the project is complete.”
One humorous incident that involved Bishop Houck was the service one year on Holy Saturday night at St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral. It so happened that Msgr. Noel Foley of happy memory, was the pastor at the time. He had ordered a paschal candle and it came in on the first week of Lent. However the candle was broken and he sent it back to the church supply company believing that they would send a replacement. The candle never came.

Bishop Francisco Villalobos with Bishop Houck and Msgr. Flannery at the installation of Father Michael Thornton at San Miguel in Saltillo, Mexico, in 1973. (Mississippi Catholic Archive Photo)

Bishop Francisco Villalobos with Bishop Houck and Msgr. Flannery at the installation of Father Michael Thornton at San Miguel in Saltillo, Mexico, in 1973. (Mississippi Catholic Archive Photo)

Msgr. Foley ended up with a well-used paschal candle. It was only about six inches tall. I commented to him that the candle was more a symbol of death than it was resurrection. Msgr. Foley called upon the ladies of the parish to assist him. One of them was very creative and took the candle and placed it in a cardboard roller used for altar cloths. Then she covered it with while paper and decorated the outside beautifully. It looked gorgeous and was six feet tall.
Bishop Houck did not know it was a fake candle. There is one part of the ceremony when the paschal candle is placed in the baptismal water. When Bishop Houck placed the candle in the water there was a sucking sound as the water penetrated the cardboard exterior. Bishop Houck began to take the candle out of the water and there was water pouring out from all sides. It was an embarrassing moment for him because he was very particular about celebrating liturgy.
Another story that comes to mind was the time Bishop Houck invited the Methodist and Episcopal bishops and their wives to dinner. Since Bishop Houck did not have a wife he invited me to come as his significant other. The three bishops had a custom of meeting every month for breakfast and they would discuss pastoral issues on which they could collaborate. Bishop Meadows, the Methodist bishop, was being transferred so the dinner was a going-away party. We were enjoying the hors d’oeuvres when Bishop Meadows asked to see Bishop Houck’s upstairs chapel. Bishop Meadows noticed a telephone and challenged Bishop Houck about the phone. Why have a phone in a chapel? Bishop Houck was embarrassed so I stepped in to say “Bishop Meadows, you have to understand, that is no ordinary phone. In fact, it is a direct line to the Lord –and from here it is a local call!”
Even in retirement, Bishop Houck kept abreast with the most recent developments. He was a regular visitor to the Vatican website and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops webpage. He had a tremendous energy level given his age. He had a keen reflective mind and he did not miss much. He was close to all his family members and would call each of them every week.
I will miss Bishop Houck. He was a close friend and confidant and a great mentor to me. I will always be indebted to him for his spiritual guidance and wisdom. I will continue to cherish the memories I have of him for years to come.
(Msgr. Flannery is working in the Tribunal for the Diocese of Jackson, although he is technically retired from ministry.)