DIOCESAN NEWS
05/28/10
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Priests celebrate significant anniversaries
By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — Ask priests of a certain tenure in the Diocese of Jackson to describe Msgr. Joseph Koury, 87, and you will probably hear the following story about him from when Bishop Joseph Brunini, now deceased, led the diocese (1967-84),.
Once at meeting in Jackson with Bishop Brunini and a group of priests, including Msgr. Koury, time ran over before a vote could be taken on the issue under discussion.
Not wanting to be late for a scheduled meeting in his parish, Msgr. Koury alerted the bishop he needed to leave to drive back.
“You go ahead and go Joe,” Bishop Brunini told Msgr. Koury, “I will vote your no.”
The story illustrates a well-known trait of Msgr. Koury: he is a man of strong convictions. Those who know him agree he was not one to vote for something just because it was popular at the time, or in line with prevailing opinions, or to keep in step with change.
“He is a person who was cautious about change,” said Msgr. Elvin Sunds, vicar general of the diocese.
“He voted no on a lot of things that came up (hence the story). But he is a person who could accept change when he saw the change was good. He could accept it and embrace it.
“And in anything Joe did, he was 100 percent committed, full steam ahead. Joe had tremendous enthusiam, tremendous energy. When he was committed to something, he was committed to it.”
This year, on Thursday, May 20, Msgr. Koury marked 60 years of dedication and committment as a priest of the Jackson diocese.
After retiring in 1992, Msgr. Koury has lived in Clinton. While in good health, he filled in for the pastor, Father Thomas McGing at Holy Savior Parish.
“I would say he is a very fine priest with very definite ideas about things,” said Father McGing, who talks with Msgr. Koury weekly and up until four months ago had lunch with him once a week.
“You know where he stands very easily. He has a great love for the Lord, for the church and a great interest in what’s going on in the church. And he has a great love for his family and they have a great love for him.”
Being his 60th anniversary, Msgr. Koury leads the list of priests, diocesan and religious, celebrating significant anniversaries in 2010.
The list includes: Msgr. Thad Harkins and Fathers Donald Derivaux and Liam Pentony, 55 years; Msgr. Patrick Farrell and Norbertine Father Sebastian Sc halk, 50 years; Father Daniel Gallagher, 45 years; Father P. J. Curley and Divine Word Father Thomas Mullaly, 40 years; Trinitarian Father Bob Goodyear, 35 years; Norbertine Father Faustin Misakabo, 30 years; and Josephite Father John O’Hallaran and Franciscan Father Gregory Plata, 25 years.
“I feel good about my anniversary,” said Msgr. Farrell, pastor of Vicksburg St. Paul Parish.
“I can look back and most of what I’ve been through has been very positive and pleasant.”
Born in Ireland, Msgr. Farrell returns home for vacation every year to Ballygar, County Galway.
A number of Irish priests from his home parish, St. Mary, have served and continue to serve in Mississippi, including his younger brother, Father Bernard Farrell, pastor of Ocean Springs St. Elizabeth Seaton Parish.
Eligible to retire three years ago, Msgr. Farrell continues his ministry, as do a number of retired priests. He has been pastor of St. Paul for seven years.
“The first reason I continue is because the diocese needs me,” he said. “I don’t know what to do about our shortage of priests except to keep doing what I’m doing. I just have to leave that in the hands of the Lord.
“And the second reason is I still feel capable in what I am doing. We have to live and act on faith and that is not in our hands but in Christ’s. We have just got to serve and do our best and leave it to the Lord.”
In Vicksburg, Msgr. Farrell, 73, will celebrate his 50th anniversary at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, with Mass followed by a reception at St. Paul.
In Clinton, contacted by telephone, Msgr. Koury said his health deterred him from any celebration.
His younger brother, Peter, 80, said the family is taking care of him and Msgr. Koury is adamant about staying in his Clinton home.
Another brother, Michael, is deceased.
“He’s not that well and he is not self-serving, so he doesn’t want to say anything about himelf,” said Peter.
“He is a very dedicated priest and he really enjoyed all the parishes he was in,” Peter said. Msgr. Koury told Peter the people in each parish made him feel like he was Jesus; they were so good to him.
“He is a very, very smart person. He ruled the roost when we were growing up. If we had anything to say that wasn’t worth anything, what he said counted. He reads a lot and retains what he reads.
“We are a Lebanese family and he knows a lot of Lebanese history,” said Peter, and he didn’t mind sharing it. “Whenever he would give a homily at the funeral of someone Lebanese, he would give the history of the Lebanese people.” he said. “I know the priests in the diocese have got a lot of stories to tell about him.”
Father McGing described Msgr. Koury as a man with very firm ideas.
“You don’t have to ask him where is stands on an issue, he will tell you. And he doesn’t need a spin doctor to express his views,” he said.
Msgr. Sunds said Msgr. Koury has devoted his life to ministry and given completely to his ministry as a priest.
“Even after he retired officially, he continued to generously give and fill in where he was needed,” he said, “sometimes staying at a parish for months.
“He is a very, very generous man. He only slowed down due to his health.”
Father McGing said Msgr. Koury celebrates Mass every day in his home and prays every day for the people of the diocese and the church.
“His mind is alert and he is keenly interested in what is going on in the diocese. He enjoys knowing about everything,” Father McGing said.
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