DIOCESAN NEWS
12/02/11
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Diocese announces plans for 175th
JACKSON — The year 2012 will mark the 175th anniversary of the official establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in Mississippi. The diocese of Natchez was named by Pope Gregory XVI on July 28, 1837, along with the dioceses of Nashville, Tenn., and Dubuque, Iowa. 
Bishop John Joseph Chanche, a Sulpician priest from Baltimore, Md., the mother see or oldest diocese in the United States, arrived four years later in May 1841 as the first bishop of the Natchez diocese – a diocese with no church buildings and a handful of missionary priests.
One hundred and seventy-five years and nine bishops later the Diocese of Jackson encompasses 65 counties, 75 parishes, 28 missions, and about 48,000 registered Catholics .
According to Bishop Joseph Latino, the theme for the year — Gather at the Lord’s Table – Celebrating 175 Years of His Presence – continues the diocese’s deepened focus on the Eucharist and the Real Presence.
This theme and anniversary year will build on the current activities going on in parishes throughout the diocese to connect Catholics with the great gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Latino added.
Several events and activities on the diocesan level will take place throughout the year to celebrate the history and tradition of the Catholic Church in Mississippi.
A diocesan-wide Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in the afternoon at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson. All parishes and missions are asked to mark the date and send delegations to the Mass.
“We chose this date because of its close proximity to the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows – to whom the original cathedral of the diocese now St. Mary Basilica was dedicated,” said Bishop Latino.
For Corpus Christi weekend, June 9-10, 2012, deaneries and parishes are being encouraged to promote the Forty Hours devotion of eucharistic adoration and processions. Jackson area parishes are planning a large outdoor procession through the streets of downtown Jackson.
In honor of the first bishop of the diocese, Bishop Latino is establishing the Bishop John Joseph Chanche Medal. This annual award will honor lay people who have shown great dedication and service to the church in their parish and community, the bishop said.
The first medal recipients will be announced in February near the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the patronal feast of the diocese. A celebration to present the awards will be held later in the spring when the renovations and repairs to the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle are completed.
A diocesan time-line website is being developed with assistance from the St. Mary Basilica Archives in Natchez, said Mary Woodward, a member of the 175th steering committee and diocesan director of the Department of Evangelization. Woodward is also in charge of the diocesan archives.
A book entitled “Gather at the Table” will be written by Cleta Ellington, a retired English teacher who is a member of St. Peter Parish and the anniversary steering committee.
According to Woodward, the book will be published toward the end of next year and will present a unique history of the diocese through the food and traditions of the many cultures that came to the diocese and helped form the church.
A variety of activities to engage young people from throughout the diocese in the anniversary celebrations are being coordinated by Cathy Cook, associate superintendent of Catholic schools, and Kathie Curtis, director of the Office of Youth Ministry.
Projects like researching the history of bishops of the diocese and the history of their parishes and designing banners for the celebration in September are just part of the efforts that are being promoted.
Catholic schools, parish youth groups and parish schools of religion will be invited to use their imaginations to connect with the history of the diocese by creating videos, art projects, and other creative links to connect the past to the present.
A logo has been designed for use during the year on communications about activities and celebrations, Woodward said.
“The logo is based on the diocesan coat of arms in terms of color and shape but also incorporates the theme of Eucharist and Real Presence along with the history of the diocese,” she said.
“We wanted to continue our renewed and deepened focus on the Eucharist, but also capture the historical nature of the anniversary. The logo in its simplicity and cleanness accomplishes this,” added Woodward. The logo was designed by Maris, West & Baker Advertising.
More information on these and other events will be shared in the coming weeks through Mississippi Catholic, the diocesan website – www.jacksondiocese.org, and directly to parishes.
Saying this is indeed a wonderful time for celebration, praise, reflection and worship, Bishop Latino asks, “All the faithful to keep the Diocese of Jackson in prayer as we journey through this upcoming anniversary year, especially each time we gather at the Lord’s Table.”
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