By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Catholic Charities, Inc. will bring together two longstanding ministries of service in Mississippi at its 2026 Journey of Hope Luncheon, featuring Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, O.P., of St. Dominic Health.
The luncheon will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Country Club of Jackson. This year’s event will highlight St. Dominic’s 80 years of service and Catholic Charities’ 63 years of serving people in need throughout Mississippi.
Sister Dorothea, associate executive director of the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation, said St. Dominic’s anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate a legacy of compassionate, faith-filled care.
“What stands out to me is this mission of service throughout St. Dominic’s and the community continues today as a vibrant ministry of providing compassionate care and hope,” she said.
Inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the witness of its founding Dominican Sisters, St. Dominic provides care as a healing ministry of the Catholic Church. Sister Dorothea said that mission has improved the lives of countless Mississippians by seeking the healing and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

That commitment to service also connects St. Dominic with the work of Catholic Charities. Through shared resources and outreach efforts, the two ministries have assisted people experiencing medical, financial and other hardships.
Among those efforts are the Sister Trinita Community Clinic, Care-A-Van, educational classes and other outreach programs. The Sister Trinita Community Clinic provides free primary care to people who are uninsured or medically underserved.
Sister Dorothea said the name “Journey of Hope” reflects what both organizations seek to offer people confronting health, food, housing and financial challenges.
“People who are struggling with many challenges on their journey in life are given hope through the compassionate care and the many services provided by Catholic Charities and St. Dominic’s,” she said.
Sister Dorothea has witnessed that hope throughout her years of ministry, including in hospital intensive care units as chaplains and clinical staff offer spiritual support and medical care to patients and their families.
She has also seen it through the community clinic, which opened 30 years ago to serve uninsured and underserved patients in west Jackson.
“Hope was restored for countless patients, witnessed in the community and continues today,” she said.
Catholic Charities began the Journey of Hope Luncheon in 2003 to introduce its programs and services to a wider audience, according to Michael Thomas, development director for Catholic Charities. The event has grown consistently through the years, with its largest luncheon drawing more than 1,100 guests.
Previous speakers have included Coach Lou Holtz, Father Burke Masters, Rocky Bleier, Elizabeth Smart, Jim Caviezel, David Magee, Jonathan Morris and Bishop Duncan Gray. Former Catholic Charities clients have also shared stories of how the organization helped them overcome difficult circumstances.
Thomas said Sister Dorothea was a natural choice for this year’s luncheon because of her knowledge of both institutions and her years of service and devotion.
“St. Dominic and Catholic Charities have worked closely over the years,” Thomas said. “It was the right time to highlight the 80 years of service from St. Dominic and the 63 years of Catholic Charities serving the needs of many Mississippians.”
Journey of Hope is a free luncheon designed to educate guests about Catholic Charities and the work of its staff. During the event, guests will have an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to support the organization’s programs, but there is no obligation to give.
Table captains are asked to invite seven friends, family members or colleagues to join them at a table of eight. Individuals may also contact Catholic Charities to attend.
Thomas said the luncheon is successful when guests leave with a greater understanding of the programs and staff serving people in need across Mississippi.
Sister Dorothea hopes guests will also recognize how their financial support, volunteerism and generosity allow that work to continue.
“Our guests are the hands of Jesus Christ in union with the co-workers of Catholic Charities as they bring hope, help and healing to those less fortunate,” she said.
As Catholic Charities and St. Dominic celebrate their respective milestones, Sister Dorothea said she hopes both will remain focused on their missions and continue their legacies of compassionate service.
“The charity of Christ urges us on,” she said. “I hope the leaders today instill in all the staff members the profound privilege to serve the needs of the vulnerable.”

To attend the Journey of Hope Luncheon or serve as a table captain, call Catholic Charities at (601) 355-8634 or Michael Thomas at (601) 331-1152. The names of confirmed guests are requested in advance.