By Joanna Puddister King
MADISON – The spirit of faith and generosity filled St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Saturday, Oct. 11, as nearly 300 guests gathered for the sixth annual Homegrown Harvest Festival – an evening of blues, barbecue and support for the future priests of the Diocese of Jackson.

The event raised a record $189,000, with donations still coming in. Funds from the night directly support the diocese’s 12 seminarians and the Office of Vocations’ efforts to promote priesthood.

For the first time, the event featured a live auction led by EJ Martin, who energized the crowd with a “raise your paddle” appeal. Guests pledged at various levels helping the live auction alone bring in $15,400.

“It was a wonderful evening,” said Father Nick Adam, diocesan director of vocations. “We had a record number of guests and raised a record amount for our seminarians. Every dollar supports our twelve current seminarians and our efforts to continue to promote the priesthood throughout the diocese.”

Father Nick noted that three additional men are currently applying for seminary next fall. “We would love to hit $200,000, which was our goal heading into the night,” he said. “If we do, that amount would help educate four of our seminarians for a year.”

The silent auction was another highlight of the evening, featuring dozens of donated items, including 12 themed baskets created by the families of each seminarian. The baskets reflected the personalities and favorite pastimes of the seminarians – from sports teams to snacks, and even a few with bottles of their favorite spirits.

“One of the greatest gifts of the evening was seeing our seminarian parents having such a great time and working together in support of our men,” said Father Nick. “They’ve really grown together over the past several months as they walk with their sons.”

A new touch this year were special buttons and ribbons worn by seminarian mothers, a visible sign of their pride and their sons’ ongoing discernment. Many families spoke about forming a prayer group to lift up their sons, Father Nick and future vocations.

Seminarian Grayson Foley, a graduate of St. Joseph School in Madison, drew laughter and applause when he shared his vocation story with the crowd. Using humor and heartfelt honesty, Foley told how God spoke to him through his love of basketball.

“I had an experience in adoration where I saw the Lord face to face,” he said. “I prayed, ‘Thy will be done,’ and for the first time I really meant it. I thought I was giving up basketball, but the Lord gave it back a hundredfold.”

Foley explained how he met then-Deacon Nick Adam on a basketball court years ago, where the two bonded over the sport that would later lead Foley to discern seminary. “Everything we do is for you,” Foley told attendees. “My life is not my own – it’s completely yours.”

Among the seminarians recognized was Will Foggo, who will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on Nov. 29 at Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. Foggo, the most senior of the group, will serve as a deacon at St. Joseph Parish in Starkville until his priestly ordination in May 2026.

The cost of education, room and board for each seminarian runs close to $50,000 per year, underscoring the importance of continued support from across the diocese.

“The work of calling forth more young men to consider priesthood is continuing,” said Father Nick. “We still have our goal of 33 seminarians by the year 2030. I know it sounds crazy, but with God, anything is possible.”

The night’s joyful fellowship, generous giving and laughter from stories like Foley’s showed that the seeds of that vision are already taking root.

(To support seminarian education, contact Rebecca Harris in the Office of Stewardship and Development at (601) 969-1880 or rebecca.harris@jacksondiocese.org.)

By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson is marking a significant transition in Catholic education as longtime leader Karla Luke retires and Joni House steps in as the new executive director of Catholic Education.

Luke, who retired at the end of September after more than 33 years in Catholic education, has been a steady and faith-filled leader for diocesan schools. During her tenure, she helped guide the diocese to national recognition when its Catholic schools were named a Cognia “School System of Distinction,” one of only four Catholic institutions worldwide – and the only Catholic diocese – to receive the honor.

“Over the past 33 years, the most recent accomplishment of having Cognia recognize the Diocese of Jackson as a System of Distinction has been an overwhelming and rare experience,” Luke said. “However, in the everyday realm of the work, I am most proud of being able to interact with so many students, teachers and principals. It is very humbling to know that you have been a tiny part of a student’s life for a short time.”

Bishop Joseph Kopacz praised Luke’s leadership and dedication, noting how she guided schools through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and into a period of growth. “Karla has dedicated her professional life to the spread of the Gospel and the teachings of the church through Catholic education,” he said. “Her servant-leadership culminated in the exceptional rating from Cognia for the Diocese of Jackson’s Catholic School System. May the Lord bless her in retirement with family, friends, and in all her new adventures.”

House, formerly principal of Annunciation Catholic School in Columbus, began her new role in early September. She was chosen following a five-month national search. With more than 14 years of experience as a Catholic school administrator and several years as a Cognia accreditation specialist, she brings both practical leadership and a big-picture vision.

“I felt called to this role because it allows me to serve our schools and communities in a new way,” House said. “Being a principal taught me the everyday challenges and joys of school leadership, and my Cognia work showed me how powerful continuous improvement can be. Together, those experiences help me bring both practical understanding and a big-picture vision to this role.”

House said she sees exciting opportunities ahead for Catholic schools in the diocese: welcoming more families, strengthening academic programs with new approaches, and deepening students’ faith life so they leave ready to serve others. At the same time, she acknowledged challenges such as enrollment, financial sustainability, and teacher retention, which she hopes to address through collaboration and strong parish partnerships.

She also expressed gratitude for the work done by Luke. “I want to build on the work she started, while also embracing the new opportunities that lie ahead for our schools, families, and communities,” House said. “The recognition as a Cognia School System of Distinction affirms the hard work of our schools, and it challenges us to sustain and grow that culture of continuous improvement so Catholic education in our diocese remains strong and vibrant.”

Bishop Kopacz said he is confident in her leadership. “She has a vibrant faith in the Lord Jesus and is committed to the Great Commission to teach the nations and form disciples,” he said. “Her passion for the children and their families, and her professional support for educators and staff have prepared her well to lead our Catholic school system into the future. I look forward to her leadership in the time ahead.”

Luke, in her retirement letter, expressed deep gratitude to Bishop Kopacz, chancery colleagues, pastors, and especially the administrators and teachers who form “the heart and soul” of diocesan schools. “Though my time in this role will come to an end, my commitment to Catholic education remains steadfast,” she wrote.

For Luke, the joy has always been in the relationships built along the way. For House, the excitement is in the new opportunities that lie ahead. Together, their stories reflect the mission at the center of Catholic education in the Diocese of Jackson: forming students in faith, knowledge and service.