By Staff Reports JACKSON – Get ready for a day of golf, giving and good company at the 43rd annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament. Set for Thursday, Sept. 11, at Lake Caroline Golf Club, this longstanding tradition invites players of all experience levels – men and women – to enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition and community.
Steve Carmody, who has led the tournament for more than 33 years, said, “We’re grateful for the incredible support this tournament receives. It’s a fun and meaningful way to bring people together while supporting the needs of our parishes and schools. We look forward to seeing Bishop Kopacz and so many familiar faces on the course.”
Whether an avid golfer or just in it for fun, the Bishop’s Cup has something for all. Tee-off begins at 1 p.m., and participants can register individually or with a team. Registration is $200, and priests play for free. Also, the excitement builds with a $10,000 hole-in-one prize waiting on the course.
Registration includes a pre-tournament lunch, 18 holes of golf with a cart, snacks and drinks throughout the course, a commemorative golf towel and balls, and dinner with two drink tickets at The Mermaid Café.
Not a golfer? Dinner-only tickets are available for $40 and include both silent and live auctions to support a meaningful cause.
Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Catholic Foundation, said, “We’re thrilled to see the Bishop’s Cup continue to grow year after year. It’s always a joy to welcome back our supporters and sponsors, whose generosity makes this day – and our mission – possible.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Dave Cowger Memorial Trust, which provides funding for impactful grant projects throughout the diocese, and the Youth Ministry Trust, which supports retreats and programs such as the youth convention, fall junior high retreat, and SEARCH.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. To register or become a sponsor, visit bit.ly/BishopsCup2025. The committee is also collecting items for this year’s auctions. To donate or help assemble a themed auction package with friends, contact Rebecca Harris at (601) 960-8477.
Mark your calendars and gather your foursome – it’s going to be a day to remember on the green!
MADISON – Father Joe Tonos, co-canonical administrator of St. Joseph School, visits with students during lunch on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Sitting at the table from left: Ellery Skipper, Ollie Davis and Olivia Burrough. (Photo by Terry R. Cassreino)JACKSON – First-day energy filled the halls of St. Richard School as the Stanton family explored the brand-new campus, walking their children to homerooms. Back: Jack Stanton; Middle: Pre-K assistant Sharon Shipman, Anne Stanton, Edmund Stanton, Frances Stanton, John Stanton; Front: Mary Anne Stanton. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent, pictured with Luke Richards, shares a joyful moment with kindergarteners on their first day of school. (Photo by Jordan Amborn)
Father PJ Curley shares a warm hug with Nola Brasfield and chats with other Pre-K4 students on the first day of school. (Photo by Laura Kidder)MCCOMB – St. Alphonsus Parish hosted Vacation Bible School June 2-6 with the theme “A Cool Kingdom Party: Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus.” Pictured are participants and volunteers. (Photo by Kristen L. Jones)
CLARKSDALE – Seminarians Francisco Maldonado and Will Foggo joined members of Russell Tree Service, Father Raju Macherla, and parish volunteer Ronnie Demilio in a campus beautification project at St. Elizabeth Church and School. The work included careful pruning of the parish’s 21 historic live oaks, a reminder of both the South’s natural beauty and the strength and rootedness of faith. (Photo by Catelin Britt)
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While giving money to charity is a good thing, God expects Christians to do more by giving of themselves to help others, Pope Leo XIV said.
“It is not simply a matter of sharing the material goods we have, but putting our skills, time, love, presence and compassion at the service of others,” the pope told thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square Aug. 10 for the recitation of the Angelus prayer.
Commenting on the day’s Gospel reading, Luke 12:32-48, the pope focused on how Jesus invites his followers to “invest” the treasure that is their lives.
Pope Leo XIV greets people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus prayer Aug. 10, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
“Everything in God’s plan that makes each of us a priceless and unrepeatable good, a living and breathing asset, must be cultivated and invested in order to grow,” he said.
“Otherwise, these gifts dry up and diminish in value, or they end up being taken away by those who, like thieves, snatch them up as something simply to be consumed.”
“The works of mercy are the most secure and profitable bank” for investing those treasures and talents, the pope said, “because there, as the Gospel teaches us, with ‘two small copper coins’ even the poor widow becomes the richest person in the world.”
Pope Leo urged people to be attentive so that no matter whether they are at home or work or in their parish they do not “miss any opportunity to act with love.”
“This is the type of vigilance that Jesus asks of us: to grow in the habit of being attentive, ready and sensitive to one another, just as he is with us in every moment,” the pope said.
Rev. Marvin Gyasie, SVD, appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in Vicksburg and Administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Port Gibson, effective July 1.Deacon Anthony Schmidt appointed to serve in diaconal ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Gluckstadt, effective August 1.
For more than two decades, Michelle Harkins has been a steady and faithful presence at St. James Parish in Tupelo, Mississippi. From full-time volunteer to trusted parish leader, her ministry has touched the lives of countless families – and it all began with a mother’s simple “yes.”
Her ministry started with a desire to support her children’s faith journey.
“I felt it was crucial, as a parent, to be involved and active,” she said.
That involvement soon grew into teaching CCD classes, working with the Catholic Youth Program and eventually leading the parish’s Protection of Children ministry. Over the years, Harkins’ own faith has deepened.
“Working with the youth helps me learn more so I can give a simple answer to what they may find a difficult question,” she said.
She speaks with great pride about the bonds that are built through ministry – connections that last well beyond confirmation or graduation.
“The moments I treasure most are when I’m told, ‘Thank you for being there with me through it all. Thank you for your time and understanding,’” Harkins said.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of her ministry has been seeing the full circle of faith lived out in the lives of the young people she once taught.
“There are so many stories,” she said. “But the ones that stand out are those I walked with through faith formation and now they walk with me as adult teachers and chaperones. Lauren Pound, Patrick Dye, Denise Burnley … they were ‘my kids’ and today they are young adults who are constant and present for the youth in our parish. It’s amazing and beautiful to see the full circle come to completion with the Catholic faith as their strong foundation.”
Harkins’ ministry is one of many supported by the Catholic Service Appeal (CSA), which funds programs and services throughout the Diocese of Jackson. She believes in it wholeheartedly and encourages others to give.
“The CSA provides so much more than people realize,” she said. “Please give and take the time to find out all the various and beautiful opportunities it supports across the diocese. It continues to provide for our retired priests like Father Henry Shelton – who is retired, yet still faithfully serves St. James.”
“To those who give to CSA and those considering a gift,” she added, “know in your heart that you are serving others in our diocese in so many ways. If you want to understand all that the CSA does, take the time to do your research. Contact the diocese. Ask questions. You’ll find that you are giving to a truly great cause.”
As Harkins continues her ministry, her story stands as a testament to the lasting impact one person can have on a faith community – and the ripple effect of generosity shared through initiatives like the Catholic Service Appeal.
The annual Catholic Service Appeal unites Catholics across the Diocese of Jackson to support 14 vital ministries that serve local communities. From faith formation and youth ministry to seminarian education and clergy healthcare, these initiatives help carry the Gospel’s message to those in need throughout the diocese. Give today to help these ministries thrive.
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Stories about “the first 100 days” are standard fare at the beginning of a U.S. president’s four-year term; the articles usually focus on how much the new president was able to accomplish and how quickly.
But a pope is elected for life and without having promised voters anything or having presented a platform.
Pope Leo XIV was elected May 8, making Aug. 16 the 100th day since he stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as pope. He will celebrate his 70th birthday Sept. 14.
While the first 100 days of a pontificate may hint at what is to come, the initial period of Pope Leo’s ministry as the successor of Peter and bishop of Rome seemed mostly about him getting used to the role, the crowds and the protocol.
According to canon law, the pope “possesses supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the church, which he is always able to exercise freely.”
Pope Leo XIV greets people as he rides in the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square after celebrating Mass for the conclusion of the Jubilee of Sport in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 15, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
In other words, he could have issued a slew of the canonical equivalent of executive orders in his first days in office. Instead, he lived up to his reputation as a person who listens before deciding – holding a meeting with the College of Cardinals and individual meetings with the heads of Vatican offices.
Like his predecessors, Pope Leo confirmed the heads of Curia offices on a temporary basis a few days after his election. Some major nominations are expected in September or early October, starting with his own replacement as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
His choices for members of his team, and whether he decides to have an international Council of Cardinals to advise him will send signals not only about what he wants to do but also how he wants to do it. (Pope Francis set up the Council of Cardinals early in his pontificate to help him with the reform of the Roman Curia and to advise him on other matters, but he did not make the council a formal body.)
September also should bring an announcement about where Pope Leo will live. Several cardinals have said that in the days before the conclave they encouraged the future pope – whoever he would be – to move back into the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
In his first public address, moments after his election, the new pope said: “We want to be a synodal church, a church that moves forward, a church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.”
Pope Leo went deeper when he spoke about the key objectives of his ministry – in a pontificate that easily could last 20 years – during a meeting with the College of Cardinals two days after his election.
He asked the cardinals to join him in renewing a “complete commitment to the path that the universal church has now followed for decades in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.”
That path had six fundamental points that, Pope Leo said, “Pope Francis masterfully and concretely set it forth” in his exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel.”
The six points highlighted by Pope Leo were: “the return to the primacy of Christ in proclamation; the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community; growth in collegiality and synodality; attention to the ‘sensus fidei’ (the people of God’s sense of the faith), especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, such as popular piety; loving care for the least and the rejected; (and) courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities.”
Those realities include the widespread media attention focused on the election of the first U.S.-born pope as well as the fact that people feel free to use social media to proclaim what Pope Leo “should” do, “must” or “must not” do.
According to a Gallup Poll published Aug. 5, Pope Leo was the most favorably viewed of 14 world leaders and newsmakers; 57% of Americans said they had a “favorable opinion” of him and 11% said they had an “unfavorable” opinion.
“These figures closely match Pope Francis’ ratings when he assumed the role in 2013, then viewed favorably by 58% and unfavorably by 10%, as well as Pope Benedict in 2005 – 55% favorable, 12% unfavorable,” Gallup said.
As the weeks passed after his election, Pope Leo seemed to grow more comfortable with a crowd, spending more time blessing babies and enjoying his interactions with the thousands of people who came to St. Peter’s Square for his weekly general audiences.
At his general audience Aug. 6 – held outside on a very warm summer day – the pope finished his formal program in less than an hour, then spent another two and a half hours shaking hands, posing for photos with pilgrim groups and having unusually long conversations with dozens of newlywed couples before offering them his blessing.
As a Curia official, the future pope had a reputation of being reserved, but Pope Leo has shown he has a special tool for connecting with a crowd: speaking English and Spanish as well as Italian, the Vatican’s official working language.
MERIDIAN – Meridian High School valedictorian Dane Hill was awarded the first Father Cosgrove Scholarship by St. Joseph Catholic Church. Pictured, from left, Father Augustine Palimattam, Dane Hill, Kim Hill and Demetrius Hill. (Photo courtesy of parish)
By Staff Reports MERIDIAN – St. Joseph Catholic Church has awarded the first Father Cosgrove Scholarship to Dane Hill, valedictorian of Meridian High School’s Class of 2025.
The scholarship honors Father Frank Cosgrove, former pastor of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Catholic churches and St. Patrick School in Meridian. Now retired at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Cosgrove is remembered for his wisdom, humor and deep pastoral care.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, the parish established a $10,000 scholarship fund to be awarded annually to the school’s valedictorian for as long as funds are available.
“Father Cosgrove has had a profound and lasting impact on our community,” said Father Augustine Palimattam, current pastor of the Catholic Community. “This scholarship honors his legacy by encouraging and supporting the academic and moral excellence he always championed.”
Hill, the first recipient, will attend Clark Atlanta University this fall.
By Carol Glatz ROME (CNS) – The fullness of life depends on how much one joyfully welcomes and shares in life while also living with a constant yearning for those things that only come from God, Pope Leo XIV told young people.
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you,” he said in his homily during Mass concluding the Jubilee of Youth Aug. 3.
The outdoor Mass, held in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood, marked the culmination of a week-long series of events for the Jubilee of Youth.
More than 1 million people were estimated to be gathered across the 130 acres that had been prepared for the morning Mass, the prayer vigil the evening before, and for the hundreds of thousands of people sleeping overnight.
A priest distributes Communion to a young woman during a Mass closing the Jubilee of Youth in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood Aug. 3, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
After touching down by helicopter less than 12 hours after leaving the evening vigil, the pope rode in the popemobile throughout the open areas – dotted with tents and tarps, and filled with young people, cheering, waving their nation’s flag, and sometimes launching at him shirts and gifts.
“Good morning!” he said in six languages from the stage set up for the Mass.
“I hope you all rested a little bit,” he said in English. “We will shortly begin the greatest celebration that Christ left us: his very presence in the Eucharist.”
He said he hoped the concluding Mass would be “a truly memorable occasion for each and every one of us” because “when together, as Christ’s church, we follow, we walk together, we live with Jesus Christ.”
In his homily during the Mass, the pope again highlighted the importance of the Eucharist, as “the sacrament of the Lord’s total gift of himself to us.”
It is Christ, the Risen One, he said, “who transforms our lives and enlightens our affections, desires and thoughts.”
“We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through the gift of self in love,” he said.
Much like a field of flowers, where each small, delicate stem may dry out, become bent and crushed, he said, each flower is “immediately replaced by others that sprout up after them, generously nourished and fertilized by the first ones as they decay on the ground. This is how the field survives: through constant regeneration.”
“This is why we continually aspire to something ‘more’ that no created reality can give us; we feel a deep and burning thirst that no drink in this world can satisfy,” he said. “Knowing this, let us not deceive our hearts by trying to satisfy them with cheap imitations!”
Pope Leo urged the young people to listen to that yearning and “turn this thirst into a step stool, like children who stand on tiptoe, in order to peer through the window of encounter with God,” who has been “waiting for us, knocking gently on the window of our soul.”
“It is truly beautiful, especially at a young age, to open wide your hearts, to allow him to enter, and to set out on this adventure with him towards eternity,” he said.
Speaking briefly in English, the pope said, “There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: what is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom and mediocrity?”
“Buying, hoarding and consuming are not enough,” he said. The fullness of existence “has to do with what we joyfully welcome and share.”
“We need to lift our eyes, to look upwards, to the ‘things that are above,’ to realize that everything in the world has meaning only insofar as it serves to unite us to God and to our brothers and sisters in charity, helping us to grow in ‘compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience,’ forgiveness and peace, all in imitation of Christ,” he said.
Evoking St. John Paul II’s words during the XV World Youth Day prayer vigil held in the same spot 25 years ago, Pope Leo reminded the young people that “Jesus is our hope.”
“Let us remain united to him, let us remain in his friendship, always, cultivating it through prayer, adoration, Eucharistic communion, frequent confession, and generous charity, following the examples of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will soon be declared saints,” he said.
Wishing everyone “a good trip home,” he encouraged the young people to “continue to walk joyfully in the footsteps of the Savior, and spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet!”
