By Joanna Puddister King
GRENADA – Parishioners, clergy, family and friends filled St. Peter Catholic Church on Aug. 18 to celebrate the funeral Mass of Father Sam Messina, a priest of the Diocese of Jackson for more than 60 years. Father Messina, who died Aug. 30 just days away from turning age 87, was remembered as a devoted pastor, a joyful friend and a man of deep prayer whose ministry touched communities across Mississippi.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at his home parish, where he offered his first Mass in 1965. Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz presided, with dozens of priests and deacons concelebrating. Music included hymns dear to Father Sam, such as Amazing Grace and On Eagle’s Wings.

In his homily, Father Jeffrey Waldrep described Father Messina’s life as “long and large in virtue and in merit, a life long and selfless love.” He drew from the day’s readings to remind mourners that “death is not the end … it’s a mere passage to glory.”

Father Waldrep recalled Messina’s dedication to daily prayer, particularly the Liturgy of the Hours and the rosary, which he learned from his mother. “Anytime we were in the car going to a mission or parish, he would say, ‘All right, get your rosary out, Jeffrey,’ and we would pray together,” Waldrep said. Though known to be exacting at times, Messina’s joy in priestly ministry was constant. “He never complained about celebrating Mass or taking Communion to the shut-ins. It was never an inconvenience. He loved being a priest and said he would do it all over again.”

Near the close of Mass, Bishop Kopacz reflected on Messina’s decades of service, stretching back to the era of Bishop Richard Gerow. He noted Messina’s leadership in reviving the permanent diaconate program under Bishop Joseph Latino, and his devotion to parish life in Grenada, Batesville and other communities. “You couldn’t have a better heart of the servant priest overseeing Christ the servant in the permanent diaconate,” Kopacz said. He also recalled celebrating Messina’s 50th jubilee in Batesville, where the parish hall Messina helped build became a vibrant center of community.

Family members remembered Father Sam as a steady presence across generations. His niece, Rita Heuel, said she grew up with her uncle’s energy and warmth. “Every summer when we visited Mississippi, he’d show up at my grandparents’ house, loud and boisterous, just happy to see everyone. He had such a big heart,” she said. Hoyle added that even in his later years, “He always said, ‘I love my nieces to pieces,’ and even when he struggled with dementia, he still remembered that. That means a lot to me.”

Dr. Joseph Messina, Father Sam’s first cousin and a physician in Grenada, called him “a vital part of my life for as far as I can remember.” He said, “He was at my baptism, he officiated at my wedding, and he was present at every important family event, whether joyous or sad. He was someone that I admired, that I looked up to, and I will always cherish until my dying breath.” Dr. Messina’s son, Philip, a senior at Kirk Academy, said he will remember his cousin for his kindness and humor. “Every time you saw him, he always had a smile on his face and was cracking jokes. He’d light up every room he went into,” Philip said. “I’m really going to miss him, and he’ll always live in my mind for the rest of my life.”

Ordained in 1965, Father Messina served parishes in Jackson, Starkville, Batesville, Grenada, Greenville, Natchez, Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Anguilla, Sardis and West Point; and additionally in Hattiesburg and Chatawa. He was remembered for his pastoral care, ecumenical friendships and simple pleasures such as fishing and bird-watching. Even in retirement and during years of illness, he remained faithful to prayer and to the people he served.

As the final commendation was prayed, Bishop Kopacz entrusted his brother priest to God’s mercy. “Into your hands, Father of mercies, we commend our brother Father Sam in the sure and certain hope that he will rise with Christ on the last day,” he prayed. Burial followed in the parish cemetery, with family inviting clergy and mourners to a reception afterward.

“Father Sam lived not just a faithful life, but a faith-filled life,” Father Waldrep said. “We pray that he now receives his eternal reward.”

By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – This May, a group of young adults from the Diocese of Jackson joined pilgrims from around the world in Spain, walking nearly 75 miles on the historic Camino de Santiago. Led by Father Lincoln Dall and organized through the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries, the 11-day journey invited participants into a rhythm of prayer, simplicity and deep encounter – with God, themselves and each other.

For civil engineer Samuel Rust of St. Joseph Parish in Gluckstadt, the Camino offered “a challenging yet simple way of life. A good reset from the hustle and bustle of daily life.” Rust had dreamed of walking the Camino for more than a decade, drawn by its blend of Catholic tradition and the spirit of adventure. “I encountered God most clearly in the people we met,” he said. “Everyone, regardless of nationality or language, was so friendly. We met people from five of the seven continents.”

Among the most memorable were a group of Taiwanese women the pilgrims kept running into – first during their free day exploring Ferrol, and again unexpectedly in the square outside the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, after the pilgrimage had ended. “It felt like a perfect closing to the journey,” Rust said.

The group walked the Camino Inglés, or “English Way,” beginning in Ferrol on the northern coast of Spain. Daily Mass, simple meals, and shared conversations grounded the experience as they crossed Roman roads, cobbled paths and centuries-old villages. The physical challenge was real – “Walking on hard surfaces every day was tough on my knees,” Rust admitted – but the deeper movement was spiritual.

“It’s not just about reaching a destination,” said Amelia Rizor, who coordinated the pilgrimage. “It’s about what happens along the way. Everyone carried something different – grief, questions, transitions – but the Camino meets you where you are. You get to walk with God, in real time, step by step.”

This was Rizor’s first time walking the Camino, and she did so alongside the group she helped organize. “It was powerful watching these young adults – some Catholic, some not – experience moments of prayer and awe, and really open up to the quiet,” she said. “It was raw, it was beautiful.”

One image that stuck with her was a snail crawling slowly across the path. “It was just this perfect visual of the pace we were being called to. The Camino isn’t about rushing – it’s about slowing down enough to notice what God is showing you in the smallest things.”

Chandler Parker, a 23-year-old student at Delta State University and a Baptist, said the Camino helped him grow in his walk with Christ. “It taught me some great lessons on discipline and helped me go deeper spiritually,” he said.

Wes LeBlanc, 21, of Holy Cross Parish in Philadelphia, Mississippi, described the Camino as a glimpse into how God works across humanity. “Even though we are all driven by different beliefs, motives and experiences, God has laid down the path for us to follow,” he said. “All we have to do is pay attention in the silence and follow the signs.”

Father Lincoln, who has walked the Camino six times, said each experience is different – but leading young people from the diocese was uniquely rewarding. “They found God in coffee breaks, in blisters, in spontaneous conversations with pilgrims from Taiwan. It wasn’t a rigid itinerary – it was about letting each person encounter the Camino in their own way,” he said.

Also joining the group was Edgar Meyer of St. Richard Parish in Jackson, who teaches at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Whether it was the shared meals, the aching legs, or the quiet prayers offered in stone chapels, one thing was clear: the Camino left its mark. As Rizor put it, “They came home changed – and closer to Christ.”

By Joanna Puddister King
MADISON – St. Joseph School has launched its first major capital campaign in 17 years, introducing ambitious plans for new classrooms, a state-of-the-art multipurpose athletic facility, campus-wide upgrades and debt retirement. The three-year, $5 million “We Are St. Joe” campaign was unveiled before the school’s Homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 27. This initiative is aimed at strengthening St. Joe’s legacy of academic and athletic excellence while addressing the evolving needs of its students.

“Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are ready to make a big investment in the future of St. Joseph Catholic School,” said Dr. Dena Kinsey, principal of St. Joe. “With the help of our families, alumni and other incredible supporters, this campaign will make a great school even better.”

Dr. Kinsey highlighted the success of St. Joe students across academics, the arts and athletics. “Our students continue to achieve remarkable things,” she said. “By supporting this campaign, our alumni, friends, families and supporters will help us build on that well into the future. We are 154 years strong and pushing forward.”

In early 2024, St. Joe’s Canonical Board, Advisory Council, and school administration conducted an extensive planning study to identify the school’s immediate and long-term needs. The resulting projects were divided into two phases: the Celebration Goal and the Challenge Goal.

The Celebration Goal aims to raise $2 million to support critical campus upgrades. This phase includes adding two classrooms to the Middle School Building, implementing a new public address system, enhancing HVAC systems campus wide, constructing a retaining wall for the campus lake, and reducing debt on the Fine Arts building.

The Challenge Goal target is to raise an additional $3 million to construct a multipurpose athletic facility. This facility will feature a high-quality floor for volleyball, basketball and cheer, as well as a covered turf field for multi-sport practices and use by the school marching band.

“This is something we have needed for several years,” said Michael Howell, athletic director at St. Joe. “As a member of the MAIS and as our athletic programs grow, we need to provide as much as we can to safely and effectively support and develop our athletes.”

St. Joe’s athletic achievements include 23 varsity sports, while its academic excellence is reflected in a 1-to-12 student-teacher ratio, 12 honors courses, nine AP courses, and an ACT average of 23, and increasing to 26 for students who have been enrolled since seventh grade. The school also offers academic support and dyslexia therapy for students with diagnosed learning needs. Despite being a small school, St. Joe provides a comprehensive education.
“The St. Joe Capital Campaign is a campaign for excellence,” says Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “As culture changes around us, we must continuously search with ‘new eyes and open minds’ the best methods to be ‘distinguished by excellence’ in all areas within the … precepts of the Gospel.”

Bishop Kopacz says that along with school leaders, he is committed to the review and continuous improvement of St. Joe, and all schools and early learning centers throughout the diocese.
“Each of our schools is dependent of the other and each can only reach their full potential when all reach their full potential of being distinguished by excellence,” says Bishop Kopacz.

Now at 154 years strong, St. Joe is ready to keep growing in excellence.

“With this campaign and help from families, alumni and supporters, we will be poised to continue to enjoy success well into the future,” said Dr. Kinsey.

“St. Joe is a great campus and school. This will make it even better.”

Founded in 1870 by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph Catholic School has provided a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12, all grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Located at 308 New Mannsdale Road in Madison, just west of the Interstate 55-Mississippi 463 interchange, St. Joe is accredited by both the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools and Cognia.

(For ways to give to the “We are St. Joe” Capital Campaign visit https://bit.ly/WeAreStJoeCC2024 or contact Candace Sigler at csigler@stjoebruins.com or (601) 898-4800.)