Year 2007 fills pages with news By Fabvienen Taylor
JANUARY
In conjunction with the Episcopal and Methodist bishops, Bishop Joseph Latino declared 2007 the Year of the Child in the Diocese of Jackson.
Six priests — Fathers Walter Brown, John Bohn, John Vollor, William Cullen, Rich Smith and Bill Henry — received new parish assignments.
Over 400 youth attended the “Pirates of the Catechism”-themed Diocesan Catholic Youth Convention in Jackson.
A reunion of Saltillo, Mexico, volunteers met in Jackson to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Father Patrick Quinn, founding pastor of the state mission.
FEBRUARY
Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, and 60th wedding anniversaries renewed their wedding vows at Mass on World Marriage Day at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.
The Rite of Election, celebrated at Madison St. Francis of Assisi and Southaven Christ the King churches introduced 308 catechumen and candidates to Bishop Latino. They would later become Catholics at the Easter Vigil.
In Chicago, Bishop William Houck, who retired as diocesan bishop in 2003, retired as president of the Catholic Extension Society effective the end of the month.
MARCH
The Knights of Columbus distributed St. Patrick holy cards among revelers along the downtown Jackson route of the 25th Mal’s St. Paddy Parade.
In Camden, Bishop Latino dedicated the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the site of the old Sacred Heart Mission.
APRIL
Effective April 1, Trinitarian Father Joseph Keenan was appointed pastor of Magee St. Stephen Church.
Msgr. Thaddeus Harkins, then 79, retired. He was ordained June 5, 1955.
Three Jackson parishes, — St. Mary, Christ the King and St. Peter — and All Saints Episcopal Church came together to participate in “Moving Stations” in West Jackson.
This year marked the 15th year of the annual kickoff of the Catholic Service Appeal (CSA), “Share Your Blessings.”
The CSA funds the areas of priests’ retirement/clergy assistance, Catholic Charities, evangelization, mission schools/parishes, campus ministry, and seminarian education.
Jackson St. Richard/Holy Family pastor Father Mike O’Brien blessed and dedicated St. Richard’s new youth hall as Glynn Hall in honor of Msgr. Michael Glynn, a retired priest of the diocese.
Msgr. Glynn died in November. Soon after, a group of donors established the Msgr. Michael Glynn Seminarian Education Trust with the Catholic Foundation.
In Canton on the annual Day of Reflection sponsored by the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, Will Jemison was installed as the office’s new director.
In Batesville, Bishop Latino blessed the new St. Mary/St. John Catholic Center.
MAY
Four priests, three diocesan — Fathers John Rietti, Al Camp and Tom Delaney — and Society of Divine Word priest Father August Langenkamp celebrated the 50th anniversary of their ordinations to the priesthood.
JUNE
In Carthage Sister Pat Godri, resident pastoral minister of St. Anne Parish, was named a “Hidden Hero” by the Catholic Church Extension Society.
The Springfield Dominicans, who own and run St. Dominic Health Services, released a history, “The Life of Christ Impels Us: A Short History of St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital and St. Dominic Health Services Inc., 1946-2000.”
The history was co-authored by Sister Josephine Therese Uhll, former St. Dominic Health Services Inc. president, and Sister Susan Karina Dickey.
In Brookhaven St. Francis of Assisi Church was rededicated by Bishop Latino after extensive interior renovations and a new altar.
At the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, “Between God & Man: Angels in Italian Art” opened for a six-month stay.
The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) announced Sister Mary Trinita Eddington, a Springfield Dominican who has worked at St. Dominic’s for 50 years, had received its 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sister Donna Gunn retired from Catholic Charities where she served as director of parish social ministry, coordinator of parish-based ministries and diocesan disaster relief coordinator.
Sister Gunn would go on to direct social outreach in northern Madison County from an office in the Camden Sacred Heart Parish Center.
The second annual Bishop’s Ball, which benefits children’s programs at Catholic Charities, was held at the Country Club of Jackson.
JULY
Deacon Sam Baker of Holy Ghost Catholic Church celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon.
Father Joseph Donald Simon, 75, provincial superior of the Southern Province (USA) of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) died in Gulfport.
Twenty people from the Jackson diocese attended the 10th National Black Catholic Congress in Buffalo, N.Y.
AUGUST
Diocesan Catholic schools opened for the 2007-8 school year.
SEPTEMBER
On the 18th, Jackson area religious organizations and churches sponsored a gathering at Temple Beth Israel to remember and reflect on the 1967 bombing of the temple.
Former Gov. William Winter was the keynote speaker.
The 2007 catechetical conference — “Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ” — was held at Madison St. Francis of Assisi Church.
The 25th annual Bishops’ Cup Golf Tournament was held at the Colonial Country Club in Jackson.
This was the month for major festivals — Celtic, Latino, Germanfest.
Mississippi Catholic announced the discontinuation of the First Friday Forum and that the information would be incorporated into the regular pages and website.
Jackson Holy Family Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In Forest Bishop Latino consecrated the altar in the newly-restored St. Michael Church.
OCTOBER
The sixth Hispanic Encuentro was held at St. Richard Church in Jackson and led by Deacon Jessie Guajardo of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Midland, Texas.
In Natchez the 2007 Diocesan Convocation of Priests, “Ministers of a New Covenant,” was attended by priests, deacons and pastoral ministers at the Eola Hotel.
In Jackson over 350 people attended Catholic Charities’ annual fund-raising luncheon, Journey of Hope in Jackson.
Over 100 runners and walkers queued up in downtown Jackson for Christ the King Parish’s 3rd Annual Run/Walk for the King.
The Municipal Art Gallery in Jackson showcased the artwork of Carmelite Sister Muriel Ludden in the exhibit, “With a Brush and a Prayer.”
Former Canton Holy Child Jesus pastor and civil rights activist Father Luke Mikschl died in Maryland.
NOVEMBER
Two diocesan department heads, George Roman, director of the Department of Stewardship Development and Linda Raff, executive director of Catholic Charities, announced their retirements in 2008.
At Tupelo St. James, over 100 Northeast Mississippi Catholics gathered to gauge their progress and their challenges at the “Celebration of Catholicism in Northeast Mississippi.”
In a visit to the six diocesan deaneries, representatives of Renew International invited parishes/missions to utilize their program, “Why Catholic? Journey Through the Catechism,” for evangelization and adult faith formation.
DECEMBER
Sacred Heart Father Tony Kelly died in Memphis.
Seven diocesan priests – Fathers Sean Atkinson, Kent Bowlds, Charles Bucciantini, Thomas Lalor, Matthew Simmons, Lenin Vargas, and Jeffrey Waldrep – and Divine Word Father Malcolm O’Leary received new appointments in the diocese
Father Anthony Quyet, received permission to pursue further studies in spirituality.
Eight religious sisters celebrated significant anniversaries during a Mass of Thanksgiving in Celebration of the Consecrated Life at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle: Sisters Henrietta Hibbs (65th), Margaret Sue Broker, Anne Brooks, Andrene Flasch, and Julene Stromberg (50th), Patricia Clemen and Margaret Held (40th), and Paula Merrill (25th).
Across the diocese, many churches with Hispanic parishioners honored the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with various festivities and Masses.
