DIOCESAN NEWS
09/25/09
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Father Heick relatives travel to Jackson for anniversary
By Fabvienen Taylor
      JACKSON — Holy Ghost parishioners didn’t have to search for relatives of their founding pastor as the church’s 100th anniversary loomed. A relative in Bavaria, Germany, had already found them at www.mississippicatholic.com.
      At the website for Mississippi Catholic, newspaper for the Diocese of Jackson, Richard Heindl has kept a watchful eye on the parish where his distant relative — Father Aloysius Heick, a Society of Divine Word priest — served as founding pastor.
      Recently parishioners learned Richard and Irmi Heindl and their son Bernie will attend the parish’s centennial Friday - Sunday, Oct. 2-4.
      “We are very excited about members of Father Heick’s family coming to our celebration,” said Sondra Powell, a member of the parish’s centennial committee.
      “It is amazing they are making this trip from Germany to be here for our 100th anniversary. We are really excited about his family being here and plan on giving them a good time while they are here.”
      With the exception of a banquet on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Hilton Hotel, all anniversary activities will be held on the church’s campus on Cloister Street.
      A relative of Father Heick, Pat Klar. a Gluckstadt St. Joseph parishioner, contacted Powell in July about placing an ad in the parish’s souvenir booklet in honor of the parish’s founding pastor.
      Recently Klar informed Powell the three Heindl’s from Bavaria, Germany, will travel to Jackson for the celebration. Klar is also attending.
      In 2005, the couple and their two daughters attended the 100th anniversary of Gluckstadt St. Joseph Parish, where Father Heick had ministered to the mostly-German flock while pastor of Holy Ghost from 1909-1929.
      Father Darrell Kelly, pastor, said the celebration will be “a reflection of the 100 years of faith, love, community and hope here at Holy Ghost Parish.”
      “One Hundred Years Teaching and Living the Love of God” is the theme of the celebration.
      Any person who attended the parish or the school is invited to attend as well as friends and supporters throughout the greater Jackson area.
      Organizers said the celebration will acknowledge the parish and former school’s spiritual ancestors — the Society of Divine Word Priests (SVD), the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), lay teachers and parents — who worked tirelessly to infuse the community with the Catholic faith and provide its children a Christian education.
      Events will kick off with a school reunion from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in Drexel Hall.
Saturday is Family Day with games, food and other fun activities scheduled 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. also on the grounds.
      That evening from 5:30 - 8:30 a celebratory banquet will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 1001 E. County Line Road.
      Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased from the centennial committee.
      On Sunday, the centennial Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. A reception will follow.
      For more information call the church at 601-353-1339.

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