Weekend events, Mass cap Holy Ghost 100th JACKSON — In his homily Holy Ghost pastor Father Darrell Kelly tied the Gospel reading, Mark 10:2-16, into the parish’s weekend celebration of its centennial from Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4.
“Without marriage, Holy Ghost would not be here today,” Father Kelly told the overflow crowd attending the outdoor Mass on Sunday, Oct. 3, under two large tents on the church campus on Cloister Street.
Mark’s Gospel relays God’s intention for the permanence of marriage. Father Kelly emphasized it was through the sacrament of marriage that Holy Ghost built its “faith family.”
The centennial celebration showcased Holy Ghost’s broad sense of a “faith family” as former students of the school, many non-Catholic and from out of town, joined in centennial activities.
Events included a reunion for former students Friday evening, a family day on Saturday and anniversary banquet that evening, and Sunday’s Mass.
Retired Bishop William Houck was principal celebrant of the Mass with Father Kelly, and former pastor Father Malcolm O’Leary and Father Walter Bracken, former associate pastor, concelebrating.
Bishop Joseph Latino of the Diocese of Jackson was unable to attend.
Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit Betty Tranel, Angela Risi and Leonette Kaluzny, who served in the parish and school, traveled from Techny, Ill., for the celebration.
Also, four relatives of founding pastor Father Aloysius Heick — Richard, Irmi and Bernie Heindl of Bavaria, Germany, and Pat Klar of Madison — attended all of the events.
Ira Singleton, a 1965 Holy Ghost graduate, joined in singing with the alumni glee club choir.
“I came to celebrate Holy Ghost’s centennial to show my appreciation for how much they enhanced my education and my life,” he said on Sunday after the Mass.
