Category Archives: Parish News

Bishop grateful for support from faithful

Posted on by
Reply

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz

(Editor’s note: Bishop Kopacz and the priests of the diocese are on retreat. In lieu of a column, he offers his homily from the Chrism Mass.)

The traditional Gospel on Monday of Holy Week recalls the story of Mary’s anointing of the feet of Jesus at their home with Martha and Lazarus present, along with many of Bethany’s Jews. Mary, once again at the feet of Jesus, this time lavishly anoints her Lord and dear friend and dries his feet with her hair. This anointing, as Jesus foretold in anticipation of his death, would be remembered forever. It is a fitting prelude to today’s Chrism Mass.

Today this Scripture is fulfilled in our hearing because the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick are blessed, and the Oil of Chrism is consecrated in order to flow from our cathedral, to all parts of the diocese, to be lavishly applied to the Body of Christ, the Church, during Baptism and Confirmation, to begin in several days at the Easter Vigil, for the anointing of the sick, for Holy Orders, and the consecration of altars and churches.

Mary’s astonishing gift of anointing for the Lord is also a sign of the great love that the people of God, the faithful, have for priests, who have been set apart in Holy Orders in order to serve in the church for the salvation of all. This service is accomplished in myriad ways in the course of a day, in the course of this past year, in the course of a lifetime, and people are grateful. Whether in the power of the Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick, or in loving service and leadership, the people of God are grateful. Just recently, someone asked me, “what more can we do for our priests who sacrifice for us?” One answer was to pray for them, another said: ‘tell them of your gratitude’, another response was ‘write them a check’, but post date it until after Christ comes again so that their reward will be great in heaven.

In nearly 40 years as a priest and, including a little more than three years as a bishop, I have known the generosity of the faithful that continues to amaze and inspire me. One extraordinary example. Last week I made my annual pilgrimage to Saltillo, Mexico, accompanied by Padre one, Msgr. Flannery, to further the relationship of nearly 50 years between Jackson and Saltillo that took root with Father Paddy Quinn. We were out in the rancho of Tapon, as remote a place as you can imagine, and the people asked me to bless their newborn goats. That was a delight and they were so grateful that one woman wanted me to take one of the goats as a special gift. The restrictions of customs, airport security, international flights, were not remotely on her radar. It was simply a sign of her gratitude and it radiated in her eyes. Could you see me telling the Customs agent that it may look like a live baby goat, it may sound like one, it may even smell like one, but it really is a battery powered stuffed animal baby goat. Sadly, I could not take the goat.

Whether it’s Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus 2,000 years ago, in Bethany, or Maria two weeks ago, on the remote rancho, they represent the loving gratitude that you have for the priesthood and for your priests. We want and need your faith and prayers, and even more, a very special gift, is to experience your growth in holiness, in faith, hope and love as disciples, due in part because of our vocation as priests.

This is the unity we all know through faith and baptism, to be renewed at Easter, the common priesthood of Jesus Christ that all the baptized experience flowing from his side on the Cross, a Kingdom of priests as the reading from the Book of Revelation proclaimed today. All of us are anointed to further the Lord’s mission that we proclaimed in the Word of God today. We bring the Good News to the poor in ever ancient and in ever new ways, and with Pope Francis we challenge the social order wherever it oppresses the vulnerable and powerless.

Inspiring images in my mind these days have been the gatherings for the enactment of our Pastoral Vision and Priorities, beginning at the Duncan Grey Center with priests, and deacons, Lay Ecclesial Ministers and Chancery officials, and continuing at the recent sessions around the diocese.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, anointing us, and sending us to be living witnesses of our salvation and mission in Jesus Christ. This Chrism Mass assembly embodies our unity, our mission, our vision and our dreams for our diocese, 180 years young this year.

In preparation for the renewal of our priestly promises I want to call upon the wisdom of our most recent Holy Fathers.

In his final Chrism Mass Homily in 2004, Saint John Paul II offered these words.”The today of the Gospel’s fulfillment is renewed in a very special way during the Chrism Mass which is a true prelude to the Easter Triduum. If the Mass of the Lord’s Supper accentuates the mystery of the Eucharist and the presentation of the new commandment of love, the Chrism Mass gives prominence to the gift of the ministerial priesthood. The Eucharist and the priesthood are two sacraments born together, and their destiny is indissolubly linked until the end of the world.”

The faithful of the Diocese of Jackson echoed these words throughout the past year during the process of pastoral planning when they expressed their love for the Eucharist and the priesthood, and how important it is to create a culture of vocations that will inspire a generosity to hear the call of the Lord in the priesthood.

Pope Benedict, in his final Chrism Mass homily in 2012 recalled Jesus’ great priestly prayer of departure from this world in Saint John’s Gospel to further reflect upon the gift of priesthood that the Chrism Mass presents. The power of truth, mission, and unity is evident in Jesus’ words. “As you sent me into the world, so I send them into the world. Consecrate them in the truth. I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one. Father, they are your gift to me.”

Pope Benedict asks: But what does it mean to be consecrated in truth? He says:

“We need, I need, not to claim my life as my own, but to place it at the disposal of another, of Christ. I do not own myself, and I become myself by the very fact that I transcend myself, and thereby become a part of Christ, a part of his body the Church. No one should ever have the impression that we work conscientiously when on duty, but before and after hours we belong only to ourselves. A priest never belongs only to himself. People must sense our zeal through which we bear credible witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis, during his homily to priests and religious during World Youth Day in Poland last year spoke in the same vein, recalling the words of Saint John Paul.

“Open wide the doors to Christ and the hurdles associated with it. We can often be tempted to remain enclosed, out of fear or convenience. But Jesus directs us to a one-way street, that of going forth from ourselves, a one-way trip with no return ticket, setting out on the path of self gift. Nor does Jesus like journeys made halfway, doors half closed. He asks us to pack lightly for the journey, to set out renouncing our own security, with him alone as our strength, not limited to trails already blazed, but open and faithful to the paths pointed out by the Spirit in whom we have been anointed.”

The Church now asks you to pray for me and my brother priests as we renew our commitment begun on our ordination day. Pray that the Holy Spirit may stir into flame the gift of God that all of us received in the Sacrament of Holy Orders that we may continue to respond as self-gift in the footsteps of our Lord, for God’s glory and the salvation of all.

 

Retiring priests look forward to rest

Posted on by
Reply

By Mary Margaret Halford

Father Messina

For Father Sam Messina, priesthood has been all about the people. From fostering young minds as a teacher in Catholic schools to working as a hospital chaplain who counseled people at the end of their lives, Messina has seen it all. And after 52 years as a priest, the 78-year-old is retiring.

“I just love people, and I love a challenge,” Messina said, noting that he could have retired eight years ago, but just wasn’t ready to hang it up then. “But I just knew it was time.”

After being ordained in Ohio in 1965, the Greenville native made his way back to Mississippi, where he got his start in Hattiesburg, teaching Latin and theology at Sacred Heart. From there, he went to Greenville, where he also taught, and then to Vicksburg as the parish priest at St. Michael. He also served in Chatawa, where he was chaplain at an all girls school, as well as the priest of churches in Osyka and Magnolia. He then did stints in West Point and Natchez, before going back to Vicksburg as the chaplain of Mercy Hospital. After 12 years as parish priest in Belzoni, he ended his career with 13 years in Batesville/Sardis.

Messina has countless fond recollections of his service across Mississippi, but his time spent working in the hospital evokes some special memories.

“Although it’s difficult work, I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Messina said, adding that once, he made 150 visits in just a day. “It was 24/7, you were expected to answer calls and minister to people at all times.”

One day while having lunch, Messina’s beeper went off, paging him to the emergency room. As he rushed into the ER, he heard a mother tell her ailing child “You’ll be alright, look, here comes Father Sam.”

“The more I worked, the more I loved it,” he said.

Though Father Sam has retired to St. Catherine’s Village in Madison now, his love of people is stronger than ever.

“I’ve already been called on to do different ministries here,” he said. “We have daily Mass, and I’ll always be here to counsel people. I do like to fish, and they don’t lack things to do here if you’re capable of doing them. I’m getting settled – so far, so good.”

Father P.J. Curley speaks to Rian Harris at Vicksburg Catholic School in this file photo. (Photo courtesy of Ann Roberson)

From the time that Father P.J. Curley came to the United States from his home of Roscommon, Ireland, he’s been consistently pleased with how well people have treated and accepted him, both because of and despite his humorous side.

Throughout his career as a priest – which is nearing the 47-year mark – Father Curley has made connections with parishioners across the state.

“I think that no matter where I’ve been, as far south as Biloxi and as far north as Shelby, everybody was continually friendly and kind and loving,” Father Curley said. “I’d say 99 percent of the people were gracious enough to accept silliness as part of my personality.”

Father Curley began his priesthood on the southern end of the state in Biloxi before moving to Jackson. He then went south again to Woodville, which had a mission at Fort Adams. From there, Father Curley moved north to Shelby, and he also served in Belzoni, which had a mission at Anguilla. His last two stops were Yazoo City and finally, St. Michael in Vicksburg.

And of all his experiences in those assignments that spanned the state, Father Curley said he’ll miss preaching the most. “I just love preaching, probably because nobody listens,” he said with a laugh “But really, I love preaching; and I love liturgy; I love Eucharistic celebrations.”

And as for retirement, his big plan is to just soak it in.

“I intend to enjoy myself, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said. “I’ll be living in Vicksburg and helping out anywhere I’m needed.”

Not long before Father Curley sat down to draft his letter of retirement to Bishop Kopacz, he came across a poem that struck him when he thought about parishioners missing him in retirement.

When you’re feeling so important and your ego is in bloom,

When you simply take for granted you’re the wisest in the room,

When you feel your very absence will leave a great big hole,

Just follow these instructions, they will humble any soul.

Take a bucket filled with water, put your hand in to the wrist,

Pull it out, and the hole remaining is how much you will be missed.

“Anytime I think about people missing me, I remember this poem,” he said. “And I just ask the people of God to pray for me.”

(Mary Margaret Halford is a member of Vicksburg St. Paul Parish)

 

Immigrant advocates seek pro-bono attorneys through conference

Posted on by
Reply

By Elsa Baughman

JACKSON – The Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission recently joined forces to offer a seminar focused on children’s immigration issues. Gathered at the Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday, April 7, 73 participants, the majority lawyers and a few religious, heard several panelists address issues mainly concerning two common immigration protections for vulnerable immigrant children: the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and asylum.

During the welcoming remarks, Tiffany Graves, a lawyer from the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, noted that there are not many legal aid programs in the state that focus on immigration issues and they are fortunate to have Catholic Charities doing this work but they need some help.

She said one of the aims behind the seminar was to educate attorneys on how to help pro bono with immigration cases. “We hope you leave inspired to help in your communities,” she told those present.

JACKSON – Kaytie Picket, Young Lawyers Division board of directors, welcomes participants to a day of education about immigration while Tiffany Graves from the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission looks on. (Photo by Elsa Baughman)

Kaytie Pickett, a lawyer and member of the YLD board of directors, said at the beginning of the conference that she had been thinking about pro bono opportunities in Mississippi. “Immigration is something I want to address but I don’t know anything about it,” she said.

She wanted to find ways to train lawyers in immigration work. Pickett heard about Amelia McGowan, an attorney at the Migrant Support Center of Catholic Charities. Pickett contacted McGowan and the seeds for the conference were planted. “Kids Seeking Safety: An Intro to Children’s Immigration issues,” was the theme.

Catholic Charities and the Mississippi College School of Lay Immigration Clinic were also sponsors of this seminar. As a result of this presentation, Catholic Charities hopes to place cases of children in need with pro bono counsel.

McGowan’s presentation, “The Journey: Background on Migration of Children and Families from Central America,” addressed why so many children migrate to the United States, what kind of problems they face in their own countries and here in the U.S. when they arrive. Seventy-four percent of these children are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. She said in Mississippi approximately 300 children arrive each year. They are usually released to family members and if they don’t have a family member they are placed with foster parents.

“Often, children represent the most dire cases, representing the most vulnerable clients in immigration courts,” she said, explaining that when a child is apprehended in the border that child is place in a deportation proceeding and in most cases they are not given the right counsel. “That is where your participation is important,” she said.

The seminar included seven presentations that address such issues as asylum and its application process. The keynote address was by Judge Leslie Southwick from the U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit.

Patrick Fields, a law student at the Mississippi College School of Law, said that a lot of time people who are outside the practice don’t understand the gravity of what these children have lived through and don’t comprehend the profound nature of the obstacles they have already overcome and the ones they have before them. “I think that to inform people of that and show them a humane face to this dynamic that they just read about it in the paper it was a really good thing.” Fields said that the overview that McGowan presented about how this process looks like for a lot of these kids may compel the lawyers attending to search their hearts in regards to this issue and consider getting involved.

Courtney Hunt, a lawyer with the Forman Watkins & Krutz said the conference was an eye opening for her. “I hear about these issues in the news but learning a little bit more about what is causing children to end up here in Mississippi and the United States is very important to me,” she said. Her firm has a pro bono partnership with Catholic Charities to do immigration work. “I am excited to be able to be involved in an area in which I can play a little part.”

“I am thrilled to see us calling attention to the children who are here in this country suffering because of the immigration laws,” said Redemptorist Father Michael McAndrew. He said that calling attention to this children will hopefully give people to also look later at the many citizen children who have undocumented parents. “Here in Mississippi we have a need to see the faces of these children and realize that we are a country of immigrants and we need to value them,” Father McAndrew noting that whatever opportunities we give to these children God blesses our country.

 

Three priests plan anniversary celebrations

Posted on by
Reply

By Maureen Smith

JACKSON – Three priests will celebrate significant anniversaries in the Diocese of Jackson this year. Father Alfred Camp marks 60 years of the priesthood while Fathers Brian Kaskie and Panneer Arockiam will each celebrate their 25th anniversary.

VICKSBURG – Father Camp, left, with Father P.J. Curley in December 2016 when the school named the entrance after Father Camp. (file photo)

Father Camp spent more than four decades in education, some as discipline director at his seminary and another 23 at Vicksburg St. Aloysius School. “I remember one day Sister Virginia called me into her office and said she was leaving and asked if I would finish out the school year (as principal). I thought, ‘well, there’s only six months left,’ so I said yes. I ended up staying on as principal for 18 years,” he joked.

Father Camp also served Clarksdale at St. Elizabeth and Natchez at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. He lives at Madison St. Francis of Assisi where he says the pastor, Father Albeenreddy Vatti, pastor, and Father Jason Johnston, associate pastor, take good care of him. “I have enjoyed every bit of it. It has been such a privilege to be a priest,” he said of his years in service.

Father Camp will mark his 60th anniversary of ordination with a Mass and luncheon at St. Francis on Thursday, May 25. The celebration starts at 11 a.m. and all are welcome.

Father Paneer

Father Panneer Arockiam came to Yazoo City St. Mary Parish from India. He said he was very happy to come to America to be a pastor and has felt very welcomed here. Father Panneer started his vocational journey at the age of 13 when he was selected to participate in a vocational camp with other young men. “I was motivated by my parish priest as an altar server. We did so well as servers we were selected for camp,” he said.

The bishop in his home diocese was a visionary who believed in education so between his studies in philosophy and theology, Father Paneer was allowed to go to a local Jesuit university to get a degree in chemistry.

Father Panneer has a real love for ecumenical dialogue. In India, he served as the diocesan and then regional secretary for ecumenism and dialogue. He continues to pursue that work in Yazoo City, “We all believe in Jesus, why should we be divided,” he said. “In Yazoo City there is a ministerial association. I have joined and they call me ‘only Father’ because they call one another pastor,” he joked. “The group unifies us, we are all one family with God as our Father.”

When he was ordained, Father Panneer selected the scripture “into your hands” as a kind of motto. He hopes to be an instrument for God in all his work. On Sunday, June 11, St. Mary Parish will host an anniversary Mass and meal starting at 2 p.m.

Father Kaskie

Father Brian Kaskie also marks 25 years of ordination this year. The Mississippi native has served in Natchez and at Madison St. Joseph High School for five years. He said he is still on the wedding circuit thanks to that work. Other places he served include Madison St. Francis, the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and his current home of McComb St. Alphonsus Parish.

One of the highlights of his career was getting to be the chaplain for the New Orleans Saints football team when they held their spring camps in Jackson. “Twice I got to be the chaplain for the New Orleans Saints, before they got good. That’s why they got good, I was that good,” he said. Father Kaskie is currently director of seminarians for the diocese. His advice to men discerning their vocation: “Trust God and try to follow the Holy Spirit. It’s not complicated, but it’s hard,” he said.

Father Kaskie’s 25th anniversary celebration will be Monday, June 5, with Mass at 6:30 p.m. and a reception to follow.

 

Greenville welcomes Wies as new principal

Posted on by
Reply

Mr. WiesGREENVILLE – St. Joseph Catholic School is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Wies of Cleveland, Miss., as principal of the K3-12 school, effective July 1.

“Steve Wies is a great family man and a good Catholic, faithful to both his family and his church community,” said Father Bill Henry, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. “I am impressed with his love for education and his leadership abilities. He will be a principal that will lead by example, and will be someone our students can emulate in faith and in their academic pursuits.”

This decision caps a months-long search process that began when Paul Artman announced his intention to retire after 12 years as both teacher and principal of St. Joseph School, and Michelle Gardiner announced her retirement as Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) principal after nine years at the helm and 12 years at OLOL.

The St. Joseph School advisory council thanked Principals Artman and Gardiner for their many years of Service to St. Joseph Catholic Schools. Members remain most grateful for their leadership and contributions.

“Both Paul and Michelle have been a blessing and an asset to Catholic education for many years,” said Catherine Cook, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Jackson. “I am grateful for their willingness to share their gifts with us and I am thrilled to welcome Steve Wies to the Catholic school family in the diocese,” added Cook.

A product of Catholic schools in Missouri, Wies comes to St. Joseph from Cleveland High School. Since 2010, Wies has served as Cleveland’s athletic director and math teacher, as well as baseball and soccer coach.

He has an exemplary track record at Cleveland High School, managing the day-to-day operations of 21 high school and eight junior high programs, handling the budgeting, scheduling, maintenance, inventory, security and overall needs of the school’s athletic programs.

Wies says his philosophy of education includes five pillars. “Set high expectations for all involved in the educational process. Establish clear policies and procedures with rewards and consequences. Be transparent. Be fair and consistent. Seek out the good in people, show appreciation and acknowledge their achievements.”

“I know youngsters are very impressionable, so I intend to impress upon them a Catholic foundation that will carry them into a productive adulthood life,” he says.

Wies earned his associate’s degree at St. Louis Community College, his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Delta State University, and his master’s degree in educational administration from Delta State University. He earned his Mississippi Class AA Administrator’s License in 2005. He is an active member of Cleveland Our Lady of Victories Parish.

Wies and his wife, Selena, have been married for 27 years and are the parents of two daughters, Anna (23) and Emily (20).

 

Camden marks 10th anniversary with music, liturgy

Posted on by
Reply

CAMDEN – On Sunday, March 26, members of Sacred Heart Parish gathered to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the parish. Former pastor Father Mike Barth, ST, now the director of the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling, New Jersey, returned for the occasion. Here is an excerpt from his homily on that joyful day.

Bishop Kopacz – thank you for your presence … To Father Raul, Pastor, Mayor Bolden, Judges Chinn and Griffin, Supervisor Griffin, Sister Mary Ann, Sister. Donna, Sister Joyce, Father Antone, Brother Senan and other clergy and religious women and men; Sacred Heart Parish Council members and good people of Sacred Heart, Holy Child Jesus and the Camden community, I am most honored and happy to be here with you as we celebrate together the 10th anniversary of this church and parish structure! God is indeed good! Amen? It’s been a minute, as they say, since I have stood here before you! The Lord has had me on a journey over the last few years and I’ve had to pack my suitcase more than once but it’s all good and it’s all in His hands – I’m just glad to be here with you today.

I think it helpful to put this 10th anniversary, that we celebrate this morning, into a larger context. This year, 2017, is the 74th anniversary of the Missionary Servant’s ministry among you at Sacred Heart and the 155th year, give or take a few, that the Catholic Church has been present in this area of Camden and Sulphur Springs, Mississippi. All we do here this morning and all we celebrate is in God’s good plan – a plan that covers a whole lot of years, not just 10, a plan that shows us that we serve a mighty good God, a God who is always looking out for us and who is ever present to us – even when we don’t realize it! Let’s give God some praise this morning!

This building, by itself, made of brick, steel, glass, sheetrock and concrete, is not all that significant. What makes it special however, and the reason we celebrate today, is what it signifies or what it stands for – what it points to. First and foremost, it points to God and is meant to help us recognize each time we enter and gather to worship the grandeur, beauty and awesomeness of God. It signifies our desire to give our best to God – to move us through wood, glass and art to see the beauty of the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It signifies or points to commitment – the commitment of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity to this community and your commitment to your parish, your faith community. It signifies a long- awaited dream to have a parish, a predominately African American Catholic Parish, built on these sacred grounds. It signifies the faith of a people – a people whose history has too often been marked by struggle, misunderstanding and racial discrimination – yet a people with a faith so strong, a faith that was always not a “hope so faith but a know so faith”, that even in the midst of all that struggle could stand and praise God day after day, lift up voices in praise, clap hands in glory and know that soon and very soon God would set things right, that the rain of justice would come down and that an awesome God would deliver them. Yes, my brothers and sisters, this building, this sanctuary is special because when we gather here, when we call on the name of Jesus, when we break the Eucharistic bread and share the cup, when we proclaim the Word of God, when we pour out hearts filled with joy and sorrow, with doubt and confusion – Jesus is present – not in brick and glass but in the living stones of each and every person gathered. Are you with me?

A church is not a church without people, a church is not a church without the faith of a people, a church is just an empty shell without the living stones of the faithful. Never forget that you are the church, you are the sanctuary of God precious Spirit, wherever you are God is present. God is surely present here, especially in the Eucharist, but God is here so that we may be fed and strengthened, so that we may then go out and be the missionary disciples God calls us to be! So, we gather and celebrate, we give thanks, we ask God to remain with us, we summon the Sweet Holy Spirit to remain here with us and with this community for generations to come. May this building, this sanctuary, built of living stones, always be a place of celebration and nourishment now and forever. Amen.

Camden marks 10th anniversary

Camden marks 10th anniversary

Camden marks 10th anniversary