By Maureen Smith
TUPELO – Almost 300 people attended a Journey of Hope Luncheon in Tupelo to benefit Catholic Charities Vardaman Service Center on Friday, April 26. The guest speaker was Father Burke Masters, former Mississippi State Baseball standout and chaplain for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Father Masters spoke at the Jackson Journey of Hope last year. When Catholic Charities organizers heard he would be back in Starkville for a Hall of Fame event, they took a chance and invited him to travel to Tupelo for another event.
“We can’t thank Father Burke and the people of St. James in Tupelo enough for their generosity and all they did to support Catholic Charities,” said Michael Thomas, development director for Catholic Charities. “We could not have hosted this event without their help,” he added.