By Joanna Puddister King
NATCHEZ – On Sept. 11, as the choir sang “Jerusalem, My Happy Home,” a sea of priest and deacons in white clerical vestments passed down the center aisle of St. Mary Basilica to pay respects to their brother in Christ, Father Alfred “Al” Camp at a memorial Mass. Father Al passed at the age of 87 on Sept. 1 at St. Dominic hospital in Jackson.

Led by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, hundreds from around the state and the numerous parishes and schools in which Father Camp served, gathered to celebrate a man known for his faith, wisdom, knowledge, humor and service to Catholic schools.

Father Gerry Hurley, pastor of Flowood St. Paul, delivered a homily that celebrated the life of Father Camp, with anecdotes full of humor and love of Christ.

“We gather today for two reasons. To celebrate our faith and hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to celebrate our hope and faith in the resurrection of Father Al Camp,” said Father Hurley.

“Alfred Camp certainly believed in that faith and hope in the resurrection and he was very keenly aware that was where he was proceeding. The second reason we come together is to celebrate the life of this distinguished man.”

After delivering a summary of Father Camp’s service to the priesthood, Father Hurley noted Father Camp’s immeasurable commitment to Catholic education. “This was his life, this was his passion, this was his vocation,” Father Hurley said of Father Camp’s enduring interest in education.

Father Camp began his life of service as a priest and educator at Vicksburg St. Paul and St. Aloysius school in 1968. He served as teacher and principal of St. Aloysius until 1992, when he was named pastor of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, where he served until 2004. During that time, he was often present in the halls and supportive of Natchez Cathedral school.

Father Hurley shared stories of Father Camp, including his efforts and humor after a fire at St. Aloysius school, his big green Pontiac and how much he enjoyed ice cream with a big dollop of cool whip. The highlight being a conversation between Father Hurley and Father Camp on his wish to donate his body to science.

“A few years ago [Father Camp] said to me ‘I’m going to donate my body to science … I want them to see how a real man has lived,’” to which the crowd in the pews laughed heartily. Father Hurley continued, “Then he said ‘Not really. I want them to figure out what made me tick. Because I’ve been trying to figure it out for all these years myself.’”

“We know that what made him tick was the spirit of God in him,” said Father Hurley. “He had that spirit. He was an unrelenting and boundless spirit of love and devotion and faithfulness and friendship and care for others.”

In addition to the memorial Mass at St. Mary Basilica, celebrations of Father Camp’s life were held in Vicksburg, Madison and in Ohio with family. On Oct. 25, a “Tailgate for Fr. Camp” will be held in Vicksburg before the St. Aloysius home football game against Natchez Cathedral. More details will be posted on Vicksburg Catholic Schools Facebook page in the coming weeks.

By Debbie Szwast
MADISON – What started as a meeting in elementary school has become a lifelong love story for Betty and John King, now residents at St. Catherine’s Village senior living community.
“The couple act like newlyweds, even though they have been married for 66 years,” said Felichia Fields, assistant executive director at St. Catherine’s Village. John, who is 90 years old and a Korean War veteran, lives in skilled nursing in Siena Center while Betty, 88, has a studio independent living apartment on campus.
“Being able to stay happy and connected while living in separate areas of St. Catherine’s Village is a testament to their bond and the strength of their marriage,” said Fields.
John and Betty first met in Clinton and after travelling across the country and Europe and raising two daughters, retired there. But as John entered his 80s, his health began to falter and his mobility became restricted due to diabetes. After caring for her husband at home for seven years, Betty—a former teacher—realized it was time to get caregiver support. A close friend told the couple to check out St. Catherine’s Village.
“We had seen the community being built but were unaware of the services available,” said Betty. Following a stint in physical therapy for John, the couple decided to visit the property.

“When we first spoke with the staff, they were all very kind and truly made us feel wanted here,” she continued. “Luckily, one private skilled nursing room was available so we took it. And we are so glad we did! St. Catherine’s Village is about the most precious place in the world.”
John moved into Siena Center in Oct. 2017. For a year, Betty visited John at St. Catherine’s Village every day. John was concerned about Betty driving 20 miles each way so her daughters urged her to consider moving to the senior living community as well. It was a difficult choice after owning a home for more than 60 years.
“I put everything on paper…one column with what I liked about St. Catherine’s Village and one column with the drawbacks. When I looked at the paper, everything was in the ‘like’ column,” she recalled. “So I prayed on it and asked God to show me a sign to make the right decision.”
Soon after, Betty’s son-in-law called to tell her he had a friend who was looking to purchase a home for investment purposes. The morning after showing Betty’s home, the potential investor made an offer and within 30 days the Kings’ family home was sold and closed.
“I knew this was God’s answer,” she said.
In Oct. 2018, Betty moved to St. Catherine’s Village and immediately began making friends. Around the corner from her apartment was a college mate and around the other corner was a couple from Clinton she had known. On her first night, she also met the community’s music director.
“I found my niche—playing the piano and loving it,” said Betty. “I grew up playing in church then in clubs and at dances. Now I play hymns for Sunday church.”
At first, Betty was concerned about downsizing to a studio apartment.
“I thought, I can’t live in a space that small,” she recalled. “But the staff assured me that when a larger apartment opened up I could move into it. Needless to say, the studio ended up being absolutely perfect for me.”
She appreciates that her residence has a balcony overlooking the lake because a natural setting is very important to both Betty and John, who worked for the Mississippi State Park Service helping to restore the Gulf Coast after hurricane Camille and building 11 new state parks.
Overall, St. Catherine’s Village boasts 160 acres of beautiful outdoor space with lakes and wooded grounds. The Kings can be found walking around the lush campus and enjoying the well-manicured property during “date time” nearly every day. Betty often accompanies John to the grill, as well.
“We both adore the food here,” John said. Several choices are offered for every meal, all chef prepared in one kitchen. So whether in independent living or skilled nursing in Siena Center, menus are the same.
While Betty likes going out to eat at night, she also plays bridge with friends and participates in many of the activities and events at St. Catherine’s Village. There is so much to do on campus that even though the couple’s daughters and their families live nearby in Clinton and Madison and can frequently visit, “sometimes I’m already booked,” Betty teased.
John prefers quiet hour on the lower level. More importantly, he wants to catch a big fish on what he calls “Lake Siena,” the large lake outside the Siena Center skilled nursing building.
“I keep trying to put together a football team but no one wants to be on my team,” John joked. A former college football coach, he met a staff member at St. Catherine’s Village who had been a quarterback on one of his teams.
“We feel so special and blessed to be in such a good place,” said Betty. “With John’s diabetic condition, the nurses test his blood sugar several times a day and keep him on track. You don’t find that anywhere else. And they are always in such good spirits and take beautiful care of him. So we can stay relaxed and not worry about anything.”
“Everything at St. Catherine’s Village is at the highest level—service, amenities, property, activities, etc.,” said Betty. “Anyone who moves here will have the best quality of life—whether for the next year or many years.”
As Madison’s preeminent all-inclusive Life Plan Community, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years. The private, gated community boasts a caring staff, on-site resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment. Adults age 62 and older are welcome and encouraged to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.
St. Catherine’s Village offers independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, skilled nursing in Siena Center and the new Tuscany building, and skilled nursing dedicated to memory care in Hughes Center.
The all-inclusive Life Plan Community was the first in the state to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for CCRCs.
To learn more about life at St. Catherine’s Village, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.

CANTON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated mass on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Sacred Heart parish. As a parish hit hard by the ICE raids last month, in his homily Bishop Kopacz reminded parishioners that even when carrying the cross, there is always someone coming to help, like Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus.
Catholic Charities of Jackson has received monetary donations from around the country to help those affected, in addition to numerous in-kind donations that they are using to restock affected parishes as needed. At this time, Catholic Charities is in need of a warehouse or building with lots of storage space for a several month period in the Canton, Jackson, Forest or Morton area. Catholic Charities would provide insurance, utilities and janitorial needs. If you are able to help contact executive director, Wanda Thomas at wanda.thomas@catholiccharitiesjackson.org.
Monetary donations may be made at https://catholiccharitiesjackson.org/ice-raids-in-morton.

JACKSON – Father Alfred Louis “Al” Camp died Sunday, Sept. 1, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. Born in Monroeville, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1931, Father Camp enrolled in the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio in 1945. After completing his seminary studies at the Josephinum in 1957, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1957 by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States. Father Camp taught Latin and served as Dean of Men in the College Division at the Josephinum from 1957-1966. While teaching, he also pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State University in Classical Languages, Physical Education and Higher Education.
Upon completion of those studies, Father Camp came to the Diocese of Jackson (Natchez-Jackson) where he was assigned to St. Paul Parish in Vicksburg and St. Aloysius School, where he began his life of service as a priest and educator. He served as teacher and principal of St. Aloysius until 1992, when he was named pastor of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez where he served until 2004. During his tenure in Natchez, St. Mary, the original Cathedral of the diocese, was named a minor basilica by Pope St. John Paul II.
Father Camp tried to retire in 2004, but his services were needed by the Bishop in Clarksdale as pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Elizabeth Parishes. He served there for two years and then retired in 2006 as Senior Priest at St. Francis Parish in Madison.
Beloved by countless numbers of people with whom he shared his wisdom, knowledge, compassion and wonderful sense of humor, Father Camp never ceased to serve by visiting the sick and comforting the dying until his health no longer allowed it. He is survived by one sister and many nieces and nephews.
As the consummate educator he was, Father Camp chose to be an anatomical donor to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, so that even in death he will continue to teach. His pupils now are numerous medical students tasked with improving the healthcare of our state for all its inhabitants.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated a Memorial Mass for Father Camp on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at St. Mary Basilica in Natchez.

MANITOWOC, WIS. – Sister Judanne Stratman, age 80, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, died Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc.
The former Mary Lou Stratman was born March 18, 1939 in West Point, Nebraska, daughter of the late Leonard and Angeline (Disher) Stratman. She entered the convent in 1956 and professed her vows in 1958. Sister Judanne earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Holy Family College, Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Masters in teaching Biology at Loyola University, Los Angeles, California; Masters Certificate in Renewal of Apostolic Religious Life, Rome, Italy; and Master of Arts in Religious Education, Notre Dame Institute, Arlington, Virginia.
Sister Judanne was involved in a variety of ministries. These included teaching at all grade levels: St Joseph, Rice Lake; Catholic Memorial, Waukesha and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, Manitowoc, all in Wisconsin; Bishop Amat, La Puente and San Roque, Santa Barbara, both in California. She also directed religious education programs at St. Anthony, Neopit; Holy Redeemer, Two Rivers in Wisconsin, and St. Mary, West Point, Nebraska. Sister Judanne studied in Rome, Italy, in preparation for her years as Directress of Novices in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For twelve years, sister Judanne served the Community as a General Administration Council Member. Later on she volunteered at the St. Gabriel Center in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
Sister Judanne also ministered to the Sisters at St. Francis Convent, Manitowoc, as well as the Sisters in St. Rita Health Center, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Sister Judanne had been a resident of St. Rita Health Center, Manitowoc, for the past month.
Survivors include the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; one sister: Susan Stratman of Williamsport, Indiana; and other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents: Leonard and Angeline (Disher) Stratman; and one brother: Brother Bernard Stratman, S.M.
Memorial contributions may be made to support retired Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, in care of FSCC Retirement Fund, Holy Family Convent, 2409 S. Alverno Rd., Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220.
Published in Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter from Aug. 16.

By Charlene Bearden
TUPELO – Do you know how to identify when someone is struggling with a mental health problem? Where would you send someone for help?
Participants learned just that at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) workshops held on Aug. 22 and 23, a collaboration by the Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Family Ministry and Catholic Charities Office of Parish Health, sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Health and Belhaven University. Workshops on the opening day focused on adult mental health, while the second day focused on youth mental health.

Created in 2001 by Betty Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education and Anthony Jorm, a mental health literacy professor, the MHFA program is designed to teach individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in a community.
It is vital for parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human service workers, law enforcement officers and caring citizens to learn how to offer initial assistance to someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis or addiction challenge. Introducing participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illness, building understanding of their impact and providing an overview of common supports are hallmarks of the MHFA program. The goal is to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.
Participants in the workshops led by licenses psychologist, Dr. Bradford Smith, Ph. D., Provost and Vice President of academic affairs at Belhaven University, felt that they received vital insights and skills to handle mental health emergencies and the ability to offer support to someone who appears to be in mental distress. In addition to the hands-on training by Dr. Smith, participants in the program received a comprehensive MHFA reference manual and certificate of completion, valid for three years.
Sister Pat Clemen, program coordinator of parish health ministry at Catholic Charities said that “the MHFA training was well received. The participants were very much engaged in the training. Their insights and experience enhanced the learning for all attendees. Comments from the trainings lead us to believe that more Mental Health First Aid trainings are a must.”
The Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Family Ministry and Catholic Charities are in talks to offer additional MHFA workshops in other areas of the diocese, the first of which will be in spring 2020.

(Charlene Bearden is Coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry for the Diocese of Jackson and a member of Jackson Holy Family Parish)