SOUTHAVEN – Sister Margaret Sue Booker shows students how last year’s palms from Palm Sunday become this year’s ashes for Ash Wednesday. Sister Booker has made a tradition of bringing the students outside to watch the fire and talk about the Liturgical seasons. (Photo courtesy of Laura Grisham)
CLARKSDALE – At right, St. Elizabeth students get creative on tacky/crazy hair day during Catholic Schools Week. Isabel Walker sports the rainbow. Later in the week students were invited to dress as heroes. (Photo by Dawn Spinks)
COLUMBUS – Annunciation seventh grade students Kelly Nguyen and John Pryse Tompkins escort the jester during the school’s annual Mardi Gras parade on Tuesday, Feb.13th. Many schools let their students celebrate this holiday meant to use up sweets before the fasting and abstinence of Lent begins. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)
NATCHEZ – Friday, February 9, Cathedral Elementary School celebrated Mardi Gras with a fifth grade royalty parade, complete with floats, throws and costumes. At right, King Aiden Huff and Queen Lacy Welch throw necklaces to the crowd.
Below: Lily Crum looking into the crowd after tossing a handful of Mardi Gras beads as the “Dukes” float makes its rounds. (Photos by Cara Serio)
NEW ORLEANS – Deacon Aaron Williams and Deacon Nick Adam sign their Professions of Faith and Oaths of Fidelity as required by Canon Law in the chapel at Notre Dame Seminary on Sunday, Feb. 4 along with other members of their seminary class. Seminary Rector Father James Wehner witnessed the oaths. This is one of the last steps men take before priestly ordination. See below for details on their ordinations. (Photos courtesy of Notre Dame Seminary)
By Mike Talbert
PONTOTOC – Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, was an appropriate day for the standing-room crowd of 250-plus at Pontotoc St. Christopher Parish to dedicate the new multipurpose parish hall.
The dedication activities were centered around a bilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz. He noted that this Sunday was part of the celebration and preparation for Christmas, a time for thanksgiving.
“The Mass is always a prayer of thanksgiving,” the bishop said. “We give thanks a little more so because of the dedication of this building.”
The building was named Glenmary Hall in honor of the Glenmary Home Missioners, who helped found and build St. Christopher during a 50-year period from 1965 to 2015. The church grew from a storefront mission to one of the larger Christian congregations in Pontotoc County. Liz Dudas of the Glenmary Home Office in Nashville represented Glenmary for the dedication. Dudas has long been active in North Mississippi mission activities.
Joining as concelebrants of the Glenmary Hall dedication mass were Glenmary priests, Father Gerry Peterson (known in the community as Father Pete), whose Hispanic ministry operated for 13 years out of Pontotoc, retired Glenmary President, Father Robert Dalton of Houston, and Father Tim Murphy, the current pastor..
In honoring the effort so many that went into the new structure, that replaced an aging doublewide trailer, Bishop Kopacz, in his dedication, asked a “blessing for all the labor that went into the building and the building itself.”
In recognition of those efforts, Danna Johnson, Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry at St. Christopher, revealed plaques, one in English and one in Spanish, that will be a permanent part of Glenmary Hall entryway. The plaques demonstrate that the building of Glenmary Hall was a community effort involving many contributions of money and personal effort.
Among those honored on the plaque were those whose donations helped make the construction possible, including Elmon and Bonnie Thomas, and the Hodges family Zeke, Karen and Billy, who made their donation in memory of their late nephew Robert E. Woolard III.
“Their financial generosity was a great blessing,” Johnson said.
Also honored were those who provided at lot of the hands-on work on the new hall, including much of the carpentry, roofing, painting and finishing work.
“They were our Saint Josephs, our expert carpenters,” Johnson said. “Their work is a testimony to God’s presence among us.”
Those “St. Joseph” workers include Martin Jara, the Marcelino Ramos family, Luis Gordillo, the Oscar Zuniga family and the Miguel Torres family.
Also among those honored were the George Adrian memorial that allowed the completion of landscaping work, and David and Teri Strange, who donated sound equipment. David, with his brother Danny installed the sound system for the new building, which will not only be a parish hall but will service for Sunday Hispanic mass. Segio Vega and Mi Pueblo Restaurant donated kitchen equipment.
Inclosing the presentation, Johnson said, “We also want to thank Father Tim Murphy, our pastor, whose dedication and support made this possible.”
(Mike Talbert is a retired newspaperman who grew up attending Mass at the original storefront church in Pontotoc!).
FOREST – Father Joseph Dyer celebrated his retirement with a Mass at the Crudup Community Center in Forest on Sunday, Jan. 14. The St. Michael community gave him a beautiful farewell which included a trilingual (English, Spanish and Vietnamese) Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz. Bishop Kopacz thanked him for his almost 40-years of service in the diocese. In his remarks, Father Joe thanked his parish community for their love. (Photos by Sister Maria Elena Mendez)
OXFORD – The Pregnancy Center celebrated delivery of the new Toshiba Xario Platinum Ultrasound Machine donated by the Knights of Columbus Council 10901 of St. John Parish with a reception and open house. The machine can determine viability of pregnancy weeks earlier than the previous model. (Photo by Joan Buglewicz)
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
Assisi Prayer Chain, the power of prayer is available to all those in need through the Assisi Prayer Chain. Details: (601) 874-1061 or (601) 497-3592 between 5-7 p.m.
CHATAWA St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center, women’s silent retreat, Therese’s Path of Confidence and Love, April 12-15. The depth and breadth of Therese’s “Little Way” continues to have relevance for us today. Presenter: Robin Hebert, a retreat leader and spiritual director from Lafayette and a past president of the Theresians of the United States. Cost: Suggested donation $240 (private rooms only) Details: Sister Sue Von Bank (601) 783-0801 retreatcenter@ssndcp.org.
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., Women’s Morning of Spirituality Saturday, February 10, Church of the Incarnation, 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a continental breakfast beginning at 7:15 a.m. Mass at 12:30 p.m. with Bishop Martin D. Holley. Details: Hernando Holy Spirit church office (662) 429-7851.
CULLMAN, Ala., Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, Intensive Centering Prayer Weekend: The Welcoming Prayer, February 22-25. Develop further the discipline of Centering Prayer and deepen your relationship with God. Begins on Thursday instead of Friday. Prerequisite: Introduction to Centering Prayer. Cost: Private Room $325. Details: contact Sister Magdalena Craig, OSB at (256) 615-6114, www.shmon.org.
PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
ABERDEEN St. Francis, Mardi Gras Party after Mass on Sunday, February 11. Bring finger foods. Details: church office (662) 813-2295.
AMORY St. Helen, Spirit of Mississippi, annual retreat for women, the Benedictine Monastery Retreat Center, Cullman, Ala., February 9-11. Cost is $200 and includes retreat materials, lodging and meals. Details: Please see Carlos, Ann or Chris at (662) 256-8392.
St. Helen, our book discussion group has selected Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl for discussion at noon on Monday, February 5, at the parish hall. Everyone is invited to read the book and plan to join in the discussion. Details: church office (662) 256-8392.
BROOKHAVEN Central Baptist Church, 970 Highway 550, Life Line Screening, Monday, January 29. Details: (888) 653-6434.
GREENVILLE Sacred Heart, Parish Mission by Father Maurice Nut, a Redemptorist missionary preacher, April 23 – 26. He was the former director of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans.. Details: parish office (662) 332-0891.
JACKSON St. Peter Cathedral, organ recital by Robert Knupp, Friday, February 9, 7:30 p.m. Knupp is a Professor in the music department at Mississippi College and is also the organist of Galloway United Methodist Church in Jackson. An active performer, he has performed with several symphony orchestras, AGO regional conventions and has been heard nationally on the program “Pipedreams.” Open to the public. Details: church office (601) 969-3125.
MERIDIAN Catholic Community of St. Joseph & St. Patrick, “Our Lady’s Corner.” If your New Year’s resolutions include improving yourself, stop by and see what books we have that may help you. We have many self-help books that approach health, parenting and business from a Catholic/Christian perspective. Located at St. Patrick Parish. Hours are Wednesday 4-6:30 p.m.; Saturday after 5 p.m. Mass; Sunday 9:30 a.m. until after the 11 a.m. Mass. Details: (601) 693-1321.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Adult Sunday School, 8:30 Sunday mornings in the O’Connor FLC. No preparation necessary nor any commitment to continue with the group. Details: Karen Verucchi, class facilitator (601) 870-5388.
YOUTH BRIEFS
COVINGTON La., Abbey Youth Fest 2018 “Arise” for youth 8th grade and older, Saturday, March 17. For more information, visit www.abbeyyouthfest.com. Details: Please contact your parish. See page 11 for additional details about the event.
GREENVILLE St. Joseph School, Open House, Thursday, February 1, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Show your Irish Pride – Get your Shamrock Car Decal Today for $5. Details: school office (662) 378-9711.
JACKSON St. Richard School Krewe de Cardinal, Friday, Feb. 9, 7 – 10 p.m., at the Railroad District, located at 824 South Street in Jackson. This Mardi Gras-themed party features live music, a live and silent auction and dancing. Tickets are $100 per couple Details: (601)366-1157
MADISON St. Joseph School, 2018 Drawdown, Jeans, Jazz and Bruin Blues. Saturday, February 3. 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Details: Tickets may be purchased online at www.stjoedrawdown.com or at the school. (601) 898-4800.
SAVE THE DATE
World Marriage Day, the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and the Office of Family Ministry is pleased to announce that the diocesan World Marriage Day celebration will be held Sunday, February 4, at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. There will be Mass with a reception immediately following. The Mass honors all married couples, but invites those celebrating their 25th, 50th and 60th anniversaries or any significant anniversary. Please contact your parish office for registration details. For additional information, or questions, please call the Office of Family Ministry at 601-960-8487 or email Charlene Bearden at charlene.bearden@jacksondiocese.org .
Click here to see the insert of Catholic School Week, January 28 – February 3, 2018.
