LOUISVILLE – Members of Sacred Heart Parish participated in a community-wide luncheon in mid-February to make money for “Good News Bible Clubs,” an after-school program taught in private and public schools in Winston county. Above, Linda Veazey, Carol McAdory and Theresa Bridges dish out the offerings from Sacred Heart’s table. (Photo by Paula Fulton)
Louisville good news club
By Alí and Patricia López
HAZELHURST – The Catholic community of St. Martin of Tours selected the lifelong formation of intentional disciples as the Pastoral Priority on which they want to focus. Bishop Joseph Kopacz launched the priorities in 2016 and invited parishes and missions to select one or two they felt would strengthen their community.
Members of the mission planned and executed a retreat for the Hispanic community who attends the Mission of Saint Martin of Tours in Hazlehurst. The retreat was performed February the 3 – 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eighty seven people attended the retreat during both days (35 couples and 17 singles).
The speakers, who were invited to conduct each one of the lectures, came from South Bend, Indiana. With a very profound spirituality and knowledge of the themes treated during the retreat, two married couples shared the Kerygma – the apostolic proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ. Víctor Rodríguez and his wife Luguety de Rodríguez; Oscar Cortez and his wife Yomir de Cortez, shared themes such as, the love of God, sin, salvation, faith and conversion and the Holy Spirit.
Other topics from the Kerygma that were presented and discussed in this retreat included: the role of Hispanic women in the Catholic Church, Why be Catholic?, and formation of a Christian community.
The retreat ended with a Mass celebrated by Father Henry Shelton. At the end of the retreat, the participants had the opportunity to share their experiences during the retreat and were invited to be more proactively involved in different services offered at the mission.
By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz watched as 43 catechumens signed their names to the book of the elect in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Sunday, Feb. 18. The Rite of Election is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) a program of formation and catechesis people go through when they decide to become Catholics.
JACKSON – Zemaree Hampton of Meridian St. Joseph Parish grins as she meets Bishop Kopacz after she signed the book of the elect. Her sponsors Brenda Wilson and Frank Washington accompanied her to the rite.
At the rite, a catechumen’s sponsor and catechist attest to his or her intention to become Catholic and thier committment to conversion of heart, those who have not been baptized sign the book of the elect, pledging their fidelity. Those who are already baptised, the candidates, come forward for a special blessing. The celebration is always held the first weekend of Lent as the catechumens and candidates go through their last, intense period of preparation before receiving sacraments at Easter.
More than 130 people from parishes across the diocese turned in their names as candidates this year. Not all could come to the cathedral. Some parishes celebrate the completion of the rite at their liturgies on the same weekend.
See more photos online at www.mississippicatholic.com.
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
METAIRIE, Louisiana, Southern Regional Conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, March 16-18, Copeland Tower Suites and Conference Center, “I Am the Lord Your Healer,” Seating is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Discounts are available for pre-registration. All priests, religious brothers and sisters, deacons and their families are invited to attend the conference at no charge, but pre-registration is requested. Details: (504) 828-1368; info@ccrno.org: or www.ccrno.org.
Holly Springs, “Hands-ON + Hearts-IN” provides week-long discernment experiences for women who are considering life as a Catholic Sister on the following dates: May 7-11, May 21-25, August 20-24, and September 10-14. There is no cost. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Living Word, the Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association and Sacred Heart Southern Missions. Applicants must register one full month prior to the start of a specific week-long program. Details: Sister Sharon Glumb, SLW, (601) 291-6738 (cell) or sglumb@slw.org.
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., Men’s Morning of Spirituality Saturday, March 10, Church of the Incarnation, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Mass at noon with Bishop Martin D. Holley. Details: register at www.MensMorning.com
PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
ABERDEEN St. Francis of Assisi, Lenten Luncheon at St. Francis on Wednesday, February 28, with speaker Van Moore of First Presbyterian Church. Details: church office (662) 813-2295.
BROOKHAVEN St. Francis of Assisi, Ladies Retreat, Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m. – noon in library. Speaker: Mary Louise Jones. Details: church office (601) 833-1799.
Lent Adult Bible Study, Sunday, March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 8:40 – 9:15 a.m. with Father Shelton in the library. Details: church office (601) 833-1799.
CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, “Living in the Father’s Love,” Ladies Bible Study 6 p.m. in the Parish Center, Wednesdays until March 28. Part of the “Walking with Purpose” series www.walkgwithpurpose.com. Details: Melanie Bray (662) 588-8294 or Renee LaMastus (662) 588-1635.
GREENVILLE, Sacred Heart, Parish mission April 23-26. Speaker: Father Maurice Nutt, CSSR. Details: church office (662) 332-0891.
JACKSON Holy Family, Lenten Mission Preparation “How well is it with your soul?” Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. and Lenten Mission, March 5, 6, 7 at 6 p.m. Refreshments at 5:30 p.m. Presenter: Father Frank Cosgrove. Details: Joyce Adams, (601) 214-6123.
St. Richard – Men’s Prayer Breakfast will meet at 7 a.m. on the following Mondays: February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26. Details: (601)-366-2335
MADISON, St. Francis of Assisi, Save the Date, Sunday, May 6, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Annual Cajun Fest. Details: (601) 856-5556.
VICKSBURG St. Paul Parish will deliver Meals on Wheels on Saturday, March 3. Volunteers needed to make dishes or deliver meals. Details: Rae Nelson (601) 529-3187 or Jan Jackson (601) 415-0584.
TUPELO St. James, Sunday, March 19, LIMEX introductory meeting in Christian Life Center at 3 p.m. This program offers adults an opportunity to earn a master’s degree, or certificate of advanced study, in theology or pastoral ministry from Loyola University, New Orleans, while meeting in their local area. Details: Gail at (662) 640-2221, or Len at (662) 889-8771 or www.loyno.edu then type in LIMEX.
YOUTH BRIEFS
Catholic Camp Friendship for children in northeast Mississippi will be held: June 17 -23 for boys and girls ages 8–11; June 24–30 for boys and girls ages 12–14. This is a residential, over-night camp that includes daily Mass, sports, art and opportunities to meet other Catholic children in North Mississippi. Cost is $100.00 per week. Scholarships and reduced fees are available. Applications are in the church office at Tupelo St. James. Details: Fr. Tim Murphy, (662) 304-0087or catholiccampms@juno.com.
COLUMBUS Annunciation School, $10,000 Drawdown, Friday, April 20, 7 p.m. at Trotter Convention Center. Tickets are $100 and admit two adults for early bird dinner, open bar, live music and raffles. Details: Katie Fenstermacher at acsmarketing@cableone.net
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, “Open Gym” for 6th-12th graders, Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The Men’s Association will provide dinner, drinks and a time for fellowship before religious education classes. Additional volunteers are needed to chaperone each week. Details: Hank Ludwig at (662) 404-4672 or hludwig@renasant.com.
PEARL St. Jude, Chicken Spaghetti Supper Monday, February 26. Pick-up time: 5-6 p.m.; 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will be used to help the youth go to Abbey Youth Fest and future summer events. Details: (601) 939-3181.
IN MEMORIAM
Sister Clare Marie Cato SSND died January 31at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa. Nancy Dell Mary Cato was born in Itta Bena on October 8, 1924. She professed her vows as Sister Clare Marie in 1945 for the School Sisters of Notre Dame in St. Louis.
Sister Clare Marie earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education. Her teaching assignments were in Illinois, California, Texas. Finally, for 14 years, she taught at St. Philip Neri School in Metairie, La. At times during these years she was also the school administrator.
Morning prayer and visitation was February 6., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa Church in Chatawa. Her burial was at the Chatawa Cemetery. Memorials may be made to School Sisters of Notre Dame; St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS 39657.
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!).
