Author Archives: Tereza Ma

Mother, daughter find comfort, care camaraderie at St. Catherine’s Village

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MADISON – A Last year, when Lynette Hegwood lost her husband to cancer, she decided it was time to consider alternatives to assist her with the challenges of living alone. And she could think of no better place than where her mother, Flora “Flo” Mullins, has lived for more than a decade — St. Catherine’s Village. Now, daughter and mother live just one floor apart at the all-inclusive life care community in Madison, Mississippi.
“I was familiar with St. Catherine’s Village’s respected reputation,” said Lynette. “In 2004, when my husband’s mom was living with Parkinson’s disease, we accompanied her when she looked at several senior living communities. We kept coming back to St. Catherine’s Village because it offered multiple levels of care — independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, and skilled nursing in Siena Center.”

MADISON – Flo Mullins, her daughter Lynnette Hegwood and Hegwood’s service dog Prophet all enjoying independent living at St. Catherine’s Village (Photo courtesy of St. Catherine’s Village)

“My mother-in-law did not immediately warm up to the idea of moving, but she made the decision on her own,” said Lynette. Part of the reason was because St. Catherine’s Village offered a mission-focused environment that encourages residents in all levels to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.
At this same time, Lynette’s own mother, Flo, became ready to leave the hassles and maintenance of her old home behind and gain more freedom.
“They were both living alone in their own houses and my husband and I were going back and forth to help them take care of yards and chores. It kept us busy,” Lynette explained. With the promise of a family Alaskan cruise after their moves as an incentive, Lynette’s mother and mother-in-law packed their belongings and the two women moved into St. Catherine’s Village between May and July, 2004.
“Over the next 14 years, I got to know so many residents and employees at St. Catherine’s Village. They all hold your hand whenever you need them. They became — and continue to be — our extended family,” she said.
It was only natural, then, when Lynette felt it was her time to consider benefits offered to residents at St. Catherine’s Village, she chose the life care community, too, even though her son and his family offered to move both Lynette and Flo near them in Pennsylvania. Plus, Flo knew so many people at St. Catherine’s Village that Lynette immediately had a built-in network of friends.
“If anyone here isn’t happy, I haven’t met them,” she laughed. “This is such a caring environment, you’ll never get as many hugs as you do here.”
When deciding which apartment to choose, Lynette thought, “I want to be close to mom,” adding that “it would be nice if she could bring me some chicken noodle soup every once in a while.”
Lynette’s one-bedroom apartment, which has been described as a showplace for Ikea furniture, is in the same building as her mother’s. However, Flo recently had hip surgery and is recovering in another level of care until she is able to return to her apartment in independent living.
“We have a bit of a role reversal now,” said Flo. “But we are thankful to have each other.”
Lynette was quick to point out that the independent living apartments “aren’t your mother’s nursing home!” As a second-generation St. Catherine’s Village resident, she has — with the help of her neighbors — energized the atmosphere on her floor by creating a gathering place set up for card games or happy hour with a Keurig coffee bar and an Alexa that plays relaxing music. This casual gathering spot allows everyone to get together spontaneously.
“Planned activities are good, but we like to do our own thing, too,” said Lynette.
Flo agreed. “I worked as an activity director in a nursing home before … and I’ve had enough Bingo.”
Now, Flo crochets clothes for American Girl dolls and leads the singing at Sunday morning church service. And she plays the dulcimer — an Appalachian mountain string instrument. She also has a green thumb and is pretty handy.
Beyond their living arrangements, both women also appreciate the care and security of St. Catherine’s Village. No one gets past the front gate without authorization by a resident or staff. And St. Catherine’s Village emergency responders have first-hand experience addressing health needs.
“I am a Type 1 diabetic and contend with low glucose,” said Lynette. “In the wee hours one morning I called security and they — along with nursing — arrived to assist me. They were top notch, even better than 911. It’s reassuring to have a registered nurse and security available 24 hours each day.”
Lynette also had committed to having a service dog for her diabetes prior to coming to St. Catherine’s Village. Complying with the Americans with Disability Act, management happily worked with Lynette to ensure her service animal was welcome and accommodated. The one-year-old black lab, Prophet, was delivered in November.
“The hole in my heart that arose after my husband passed away has been filled by the people at St. Catherine’s Village,” said Lynette. “You never have to be alone if you don’t want to be.”
Even though there are on average 475 residents at St. Catherine’s Village, the staff makes each and every one feel like the most important person. It is the first all-inclusive life care community in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for CCRCs.
“I can’t talk to anyone without finding out how much they love it here,” said Lynette.
St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. The private, gated community boasts 160 acres of wooded grounds, protected and beautiful outdoor spaces, and unparalleled facilities that provide the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years.
Speaking from experience — her mother-in-law went through every level of care at St. Catherine’s Village — Lynette noted that “at whatever stage or age, St. Catherine’s Village has something for everybody.”
To learn more about St. Catherine’s Village, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.

Lumen Christi Award winner has spent life as a religious serving poor

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By Catholic News Service
CHICAGO – Sister Marie-Paule Willem, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary, who has been serving the poor in the U.S. and around the world for more than 60 years, will receive the 2018-2019 Lumen Christi Award from Catholic Extension.
The Office of Hispanic Ministry from the Diocese of Jackson was recognized as a finalist for the award. The members of that office offer their heartfelt congratulations to Sister Willem.
“Working across many countries, Sister Willem believes strong families are the foundation of the church and society,” said the news release announcing the award Nov. 19.
The Lumen Christi Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Chicago-based national organization, which raises and distributes funds to support U.S. mission dioceses, many of which are rural, cover a large geographic area, and have limited personnel and pastoral resources.
The recipient is chosen for best demonstrating how the power of faith can transform lives and communities.
Sister Willem, who is 85 and speaks five languages, is currently in ministry in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she serves women in detention and leads a growing parish along the U.S.-Mexico border as pastoral administrator.
Nominated by her bishop, Sister Willem was one of 47 nominees this year and one of eight finalists.As the Lumen Christi recipient, Sister Willem and her diocese will share in a $50,000 grant.

Sister Marie-Paule Willem, a Franciscan of Missionary of Mary, poses for a photo Aug. 27 in Dona Ana, N.M. She was awarded the 2018-2019 Lumen Christi Award by Catholic Extension for her missionary work in the United States. (CNS photo/Rich Kalonick courtesy Catholic Extension)

Born into a large, Catholic family in the city of Bruges, Belgium, Sister Willem has early memories of World War II and the Nazi invasion, fleeing with her family as the bombs fell around them. They were eventually liberated by Allied forces. At age 23, she joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, “who serve where the need is greatest and where no one else wants to go, among the poorest and most forgotten,” Catholic Extension said.
She ministered in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in the 1970s during times of military dictatorships and political upheaval.
“She was part of the church’s advocacy and social justice efforts to help the condemned, who were put in outdoor ‘corrals’ and left to starve. For her mission, she risked her life, received death threats and was ousted from the region,” the news release said.
Still wanting to work with the poor but knowing she could not return to Latin America, she found an opportunity in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
In 1980 Sister Willem joined her community in Roma, Texas, a border town, and became director of religious education for a parish. She led bilingual programs in catechesis for children and worked with incarcerated women at a detention center
She then moved to the Diocese of Las Cruces to serve migrant farmworkers and immigrants. At age 80, she became pastoral administrator at San Jose Mission Church in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, a mission church in a working-class neighborhood. It had only a handful of parishioners and no full-time pastor.
“When I arrived, it was so sad here,” Sister Willem recalled. “The buildings were falling apart, and no one seemed to care.”
She started walking around the neighborhood, telling people about the parish and asking what they needed.
She started building up the community and the church itself – the liturgy, the buildings, the ministries and the grounds, which are now full of gardens. The parish hall was recently remodeled, and the church received updating.
Today the parish has more than 200 active families; about 35 people attend Mass on Saturdays and nearly 100 on Sundays.
“Sister Marie-Paule has turned the parish around,” said parishioner Irma Chavez May. “The church was in bad shape, and few people came. It is beautiful now and so many attend Mass, it’s hard to find parking on Sunday.”
Added Irma’s husband, Robert: “She came with a vision, enthusiasm and a passion for the church. She has gotten everyone involved and keeps us connected. If she wasn’t here, this parish would likely have closed.”

Alabama archbishop releases names of clergy, religious accused of abuse

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(Editor’s note: The Diocese of Jackson is reviewing records and will release a list of credibly accused priests in the spring of 2019)
By Catholic News Service
MOBILE, Ala. (CNS) – Saying that Jesus provides light for the church to overcome darkness, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile released the names of priests, deacons and religious brothers who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors.
In releasing the list Dec. 6, Archbishop Rodi apologized to victims of child sexual abuse as well as to parishioners throughout the southern Alabama archdiocese in a statement posted on the archdiocesan website, www.mobarch.org.
The names were included on two lists: one for archdiocesan clergy and the other for religious order clergy and religious men.
In the case of religious order clergy, he said, the list includes the names of all priests and brothers credibly accused, even if alleged incidents of abuse did not occur in the archdiocese.
The lists show that allegations were received from the 1950s through 2012. The most recent case involved a deacon of the archdiocese. All other incidents were reported no later than 1998.

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, Ala., is pictured in a 2012 photo. In releasing the Dec. 6 list of names of priests, deacons and religious brothers who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors, Bishop Rodi apologized to victims of child sexual abuse as well as to parishioners throughout the southern Alabama archdiocese. (CNS photo/Robert Duncan)

In all, 10 archdiocesan priests and one deacon were named as were 15 religious order priests and two religious brothers.
Archbishop Rodi said the allegations involved about 2 percent of the 457 archdiocesan clergy who have served since 1950. However, church officials were unable to determine how many religious order priests served in the archdiocese during the last seven decades because of incomplete records, he explained.
“I presume the percentage would be similar,” the archbishop’s statement said.
“As you will notice almost all of these acts of misconduct were many years ago. That is in no way to excuse the devastating harm of child abuse. The injury that sexual abuse of a minor inflicts lasts for many years,” the archbishop said.
“At the same time,” he added, “the fact that these horrible acts of misconduct are many years ago, reflects the commitment of the church to protect young people form abuse while they are involved in church ministries.”
The names have been forwarded to the offices of the Alabama attorney general and the Mobile County district attorney, the archbishop said.
“It is my prayer that this (release) will not re-traumatize anyone but will assist in the healing for which victims desperately long,” Archbishop Rodi’s statement said. “I also pray that it will help all the people of the church, and of the broader community, to know that the Archdiocese of Mobile is not allowing anyone to minister in our archdiocese who has credible accusations of sexual misconduct with minors.”

‘Holy Fire’ retreat ignites faith of middle schoolers from 10 dioceses

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By Theresa Laurence
NASHVILLE, Tenn (CNS) – More than 1,800 Catholic middle school students and their chaperones from 10 dioceses danced and prayed their way through an interactive retreat event at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville, the largest of its kind ever staged in the diocese.
“I’m still in awe,” said Bill Staley, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Nashville.
The daylong event Dec. 1, which included a mix of high-energy musicians and inspirational speakers, along with quiet moments for eucharistic adoration and prayer, was well-received by the youth, their parents and chaperones who attended.
Holy Fire, produced by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, is developed in collaboration with host dioceses, like Nashville as well as Chicago recently. Both events have been extremely well attended by thousands of young people.
“We had over 10 dioceses in all, including representatives from across Tennessee and three of four dioceses in Kentucky,” Staley told the Tennessee Register, newspaper of the Nashville Diocese. Groups also traveled from Birmingham, Alabama, north Georgia and Evansville, Indiana.
“I feel really good to grow this event into something great,” said Staley, who is already thinking about hosting a two-day event next year.
“It was a great experience and we can’t wait to go back next year,” said Cindy Sabatino, director of religious education at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, who brought a group of 30 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to the event.
One of the high points of the day for Sabatino and her group was adoration. “Many of them had never experienced adoration like that” among such a large group of peers, she said. “They can be intimidated to pray in front of their peers,” she said, but here they were encouraged to let their guard down and “just be with the Lord” in the moment.
The entire experience of being with so many Catholic young people for a full day of Catholic musicians, speakers and prayer was new to many Holy Fire participants, young people and their parents alike, Staley said.
“Many parents joined for the whole day,” he said. “A lot of them didn’t have an experience like this (in their own childhood), which is a wonderful benefit of the program.”
Holy Fire is the newest evolutionary step in the Diocese of Nashville’s annual confirmation preparation for middle schoolers, and now reaches beyond the students preparing for the sacrament.

Father Andrew Bulso, a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, Tenn., carries the monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament during Mass for about 1,800 middle school students and their chaperones at the Holy Fire retreat event Dec. 1 at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville. (CNS photo/Theresa Laurence, Tennessee Register)

Partnering with the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry enabled Nashville’s youth ministers to stage a much larger-scale event than they could have done alone, complete with professional sound and lighting designs, big screen video and multimedia presentations.
Holy Fire’s mission is “to set young people ablaze with the love of Christ and inspire them to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world, to embrace their baptism and engage with the relevant and powerful Gospel of Jesus.”
Speakers and performers from the day included: Joe Melendrez, Noelle Garcia, Dom Quaglia, Sarah Hart, the Cimorelli Sisters and the Sarah Kroger Band. Throughout the day, participants also had the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, renew their baptismal promises, and talk with exhibitors, which included the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, among others.
Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding, who drove back to Nashville from Cincinnati just in time to make the closing remarks at the Holy Fire Mass, encouraged the young people to be examples pointing towards Christ, “to bring the love of Christ into your home and community.”
“I think the bishop’s message was very meaningful,” said Sabatino, encouraging the youth to go forth and have a positive influence. “He’s young, he’s motivated, he inspires the kids.”
Overall, Sabatino said, her group wasn’t sure what to expect going into the day, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Holy Fire “put them in a place where they could open their hearts to Jesus,” she said.

(Laurence is a staff writer for the Tennessee Register, newspaper of the Diocese of Nashville.)

From beach to basilica: ‘Sand Nativity’ brings unique style to Vatican

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By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN (CNS) – From the beach town of New Smyrna, Florida, just a stone’s throw away from Daytona Beach, Rich Varano never imagined his unique talent of sculpting sand would take him to the heart of Christianity.
Varano is the artistic director of the “Sand Nativity,” a massive 52-foot-wide sculpture made of sand imported from Jesolo, an Italian seaside resort town roughly 40 miles north of Venice. It will be the centerpiece of the Vatican’s annual Nativity scene on display in St. Peter’s Square.
“What does it mean for me to be here? I think, quite understandably, it’s the greatest honor there is” and certainly the biggest client he’s ever had, Varano told Catholic News Service Nov. 21.

A worker sculpts an angel on a Nativity scene made entirely of sand in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 26. The 52-foot wide sculpture is made of sand from Jesolo, an Italian seaside town near Venice. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

The American artist and three other sculptors were charged with creating the intricate sculpture, which, along with a 42-foot-tall red spruce tree donated by the Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone in the northern Italian region of Veneto, was to be unveiled at the Vatican’s annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 7.
Bas-relief sand sculptures, like the one to be featured in St. Peter’s Square, are a tradition in Jesolo, which, since 1998, has been the home of an annual sand sculpture festival. Varano is an accomplished sand sculptor with over 40 years’ experience and has organized various international sand sculpture festivals, including the annual event in Jesolo.
Yet, his artistic journey in sand sculpting began many years before his artistry would hit the sands of the Venetian resort town and, subsequently, the cobblestone square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I’ve been sculpting sand since I was 6 years old,” Varano told CNS. “My father was an amateur and the beach where I grew up had good sand.”
Varano began as an amateur, too, “until I discovered that people would pay for it in my late 20s. And within a year, sand sculpting was the only thing I’ve been doing professionally ever since.”
The process of creating the sculptures, however, is more than just molding and shaping sand. Unlike the sand castles vacationers often see disintegrate from a single touch or the occasional passing wave, sand sculptures are made durable enough to even withstand light rain through a process of compression.
The sand, which was delivered from Jesolo to St. Peter’s Square in massive trucks, is mixed with water and compressed into layers of blocks stacked on top of one another.
Varano said that this process allows for the sculpture to last “indefinitely as long as it wants to be left on display.” The “Sand Nativity” scene and tree will remain in St. Peter’s Square until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jan. 13.
“It’s like a tiered cake going upward and when you get to the top, you’re finished,” Varano told CNS. “Then it can be sculpted immediately; it’s suitable to carve right away.”
Unlike sculpting harder materials like marble, which artists can work on at any given part, sand sculpting begins from the top. The artists must ensure their artwork is finished before continuing downward.
“You don’t carve something below first because if you try to go above, it affects what’s below. So, it’s a process, like a scanning, from the top down to finish.”
Another important aspect, he added, is the composition of the sand, which needs to hold enough moisture to allow it to be sculpted and subsequently “stay in its shape and dry like a mud pie in the sun.”
“Really, the only difference that separates us as professionals and people that play on the beach doing it is that we understand the basics of why sand sticks or, more importantly, why it doesn’t stick,” Varano explained.
Of the 20 artists he works with creating sand sculptures at the annual Jesolo Sand Festival, Varano selected three of his top sculptors not just for their talent, but also “for their ability to work well together, (which) is kind of critical.”
“This piece is over 700 tons but, with 15 days, it still needs to be done in a way that everyone can work productively and stay out of each other’s way and help each other,” he said. “So, this team is very well versed in that; they’re used to working with each other, not just here in Italy, but around the world. So, it’s a good fit.”
Varano and his team have created sand Nativity scenes for the past 17 years in Jesolo, which allowed them to flesh out different more elaborate pieces that told various stories, such as “a day in the life in Bethlehem” and ending with the “crescendo piece” of Christ’s birth.
However, the sand art piece in St. Peter’s Square will feature the “basic, iconic and traditional scene” complete with “the angel with Jesus, Joseph and Mary and then the three kings on one side, the (shepherd) and the sheep on the other side and, of course, the donkey and the ox.”
Nevertheless, for Varano, the intricate planning and subsequent labor that goes into creating one of the most unique art pieces to feature in St. Peter’s Square is worth the effort.
“A lot of expense goes (into) it to bring joy to people. To be able to do the kind of work that we do that is joyful for us and brings joy to others, it can’t be beat,” Varano told CNS. “And to do it in a place like this, there really aren’t words to convey how special it is.”

(Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju)

Featured photo . . . Election-day soup sale benefits Mission

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STARKVILLE – The Father John P. Egan Council 6765 of Starkville St. Joseph Parish held an unusual election day fund-raiser. Council members prepared and sold “Senate Bean Soup” to provide funding for The Mission in West Point. The soup has been served in the U.S. Senate for decades. A member of the council knows someone with a recipe so they thought it would be the perfect meal to offer on election day. The Mission is a non-denominational Christian community outreach program offering a Christ-centered eight-principle, 12-step recovery program as well as a 20-bed men’s transitional living center. More than $1,000 was raised in donations and sales. (Photo by Chuck Bailey, DGK)

Parish calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
Assisi Prayer Chain, The power of prayer is available to all those in need through the Assisi Prayer Chain. Details: (601) 937-5943 or (601) 214-3093 between 5-7 p.m.
CHATAWA St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center, “The Lenten Journey: A Couple’s Response to Christ’s Call” for married couples, Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10, 2019. Begins Friday at 4 p.m. until Sunday morning. Presenters: Lloyd and Jan Tate are both trained spiritual directors of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and given retreats for more than 40 years. Suggested donation: $360 per couple. Details: Sr. Sue Von Bank (601) 783-0801 retreatcenter@ssndcp.org.
Saturday, March 9, 2019, A Lenten Day of Reflection – Chosen, Blessed, Broken and Shared, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Eucharist is the very pattern of our lives. Listen to the wisdom of Pope Francis as he calls us all to be sent in holiness. Presenter: Christine Ingrassia, who is a lay minister, graduate of Loyola Institute for Ministry and spiritual director. Suggested donation: $40, includes lunch. Details: Sr. Sue Von Bank (601) 783-0801 retreatcenter@ssndcp.org.
CULLMAN, Ala., Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, Epiphany Day of Reflection, Saturday, January 5, 2019. Epiphany is a perfect time to pause and reflect on Christ in our midst. There will be a particular focus on art and literature that incorporate the theme of Epiphany. Retreat Director: Sister Elisabeth Meadows, O.S.B. Cost: $30, includes lunch. Details: (256) 734-8302, retreats@shmon.org or www.shmon.org

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, new Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke beginning Wednesday, January 9, 2019, in St. Elizabeth rectory. Details: Libby Antici at (662) 624-4301.
CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, Ladies Bible Study, resumes Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at 6 p.m. on Lesson 11: What does the sacrament of Penance have to do with my friendship with Christ? Details: church office (662) 846-6273.
GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph, January 27-29, 2019, Parish Mission by Jon Leonetti, author of his newest book, “The art of getting over yourself and why you’ will be happier when you do.” This book is about discovering the freedom Christ offers by way of his life and love. Details: parish office (601) 856-2054.
PEARL St. Jude, Alpha courses beginning on Mondays, January 7 – April 1, 2019, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question on faith and is designed to create conversation. Each talk starts with a meal and will be followed by a video presentation with small group table discussion. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.
YOUTH BRIEFS
CLARKSDALE Catholic Community of St. Elizabeth, Bible Adventure for Pre4 – 2nd graders meets Sundays from 9:40 – 10:20 a.m. in the daycare room at St. Elizabeth School. Details: church office (662) 624-4301.
MADISON St. Francis, Save the Date, NET Retreat for 7-12 grades, Saturday, February 16. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.
St. Joseph School, “Jeans, Jazz and Bruin Blues,” Annual Draw Down, Saturday, February 23, 2019, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $130 and admit two adults; second chance insurance may be added for $20. Each ticket includes a chance to win $10,000. Details: school office (601) 898-4800, tharris@stjoebruins.comor www.stjoebruins.com

SAVE THE DATE
World Marriage Day – The Catholic Diocese of Jackson and the Office of Family Ministry are pleased to announce that the 2019 Diocesan World Marriage Day Celebration will be Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. Bishop Joseph Kopacz, will honor couples with a blessing at Mass. A reception immediately follows. Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries, or any significant anniversary should notify their parish to be included in the celebration. Details: Charlene Bearden, Coordinator, Office of Family Ministry at 601-960-8487, or charlene.bearden@jacksondiocese.org

National Migration Week January 6-12, 2019
CORINTH St. James, Tuesday, January 8, 6-8 p.m., Free Legal Clinic TBA; Migrant Support Center of Catholic Charities
TUPELO St. James, Sunday, January 6, 2-4 p.m., Inauguration with Epiphany celebration; Cultural and video presentation with Professor Carlos Horacio Toro Escobar, Southeastern Pastoral Insitite (SEPI).
Thursday, January 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. “Creating Communities of Welcome” with Father Sean Carroll, S.J., Kino Border Initiative. For pastors, LEMs, staff and leaders of Deanery V.
St. James and Vardaman, Friday, January 11, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Tour and conversation with Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J. Meeting with Advisory Board, staff and community members in Vardaman.
6-8 p.m. – Youth Mass commemorating National Migration Week with Father Carroll and Bishop Kopacz
Saturday, January 12, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. “Culture of Encounter” Hispanic celebration and closure of National Migration Week with Mass

Edict opens Sister Thea Bowman’s cause

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz read the edict to open the cause for canonization for Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, Servant of God, at a Sunday, Nov. 18, Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The church was packed with people who loved Sister Thea and can’t wait to see her become a saint.
Days before the Mass, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops unanimously voted in support of the cause moving forward during their general assembly in Baltimore. Sister Bowman, a Mississippi native and the only African-American member of her order, the Wisconsin-based Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, was a widely known speaker, evangelizer and singer until she died of cancer in 1990 at age 52. She even made a presentation at the U.S. bishops’ spring meeting in 1989, moving some prelates to tears.

Some of the songs she sang at that bishop’s meeting took center stage at the Mass. Phyllis Lewis-Hale, a professor from Jackson State University sang “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child” as a prelude to the Mass and brought the congregation to its feet with “We Shall Overcome” after communion. Everyone in the church spontaneously joined hands and swayed as they sang with Lewis-Hale – much like the bishops did in 1989.
Lewis-Hale teaches opera and traditional voice classes, but also teaches classes in Negro Spirituals. “Those spirituals go across denominations – they are cultural so I have known these songs all my life,” she said. She believes people can find comfort and support during these times if they “go back to the soothing comforting words of spirituals,” she added. She said she was honored to be a part of the celebration. “I am glad Sister Thea has been given this recognition and this honor and I hope this can come to fulfillment.”
Members of the choir from Sister Thea’s home parish of Canton Holy Child Jesus offered “Be Encouraged” during communion. Bernadette Otto-Russell, one of the singers, first sang in Sister Thea’s choir when she was in the third grade. “This was awesome. This is an enjoyable and memorable moment – I’m getting full just thinking about it. I think the people that know Sister Thea – they know who she is and they will always cherish her and also her memories. She will never die,” said Otto-Russell, adding that it was a joy and an honor to sing for her childhood teacher.
Carolyn Brooks and her mother Jean Brooks came from out of town to attend the Mass. When the younger Brooks attended Christ the King School she met Sister Thea. Brooks called her an inspiration both in her childhood and today. Jean Brooks called the Mass “inspirational,” adding that “we need the spirit from this service in this day and age.”
The postulator, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi and his assistant, Nina Bartulica, sat in the front pew with representatives from Sister Thea’s religious community, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Sister Eileen McKenzie, president; Sister Marla Lang and Sister Helen Elsbernd, both classmates of Sister Thea and Sister Dorothy Kundinger, Sister Thea’s assistant during her illness.
“She was my sister and my friend,” said Sister Kundinger, who was all smiles after the Mass, greeting friends and enjoying the moment.
A delegation of students from Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in Jackson handed out prayer cards after Mass. The students were thrilled to be a part of this historic moment for their school’s namesake. Sixth-grader Alexander Mason said he and his fellow students know the story of her life and have learned many lessons from Sister Thea’s mantra that she wanted to live until she died. “She taught me to always have perseverance and that I should never give up – even if I am close to death, I should keep on pushing myself to try,” said Mason.
In his homily Bishop Kopacz quoted the old testament reading for the day from the Book of Daniel “The wise shall shine like the splendor of the firmament. Those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” He spoke of Sister Thea’s wisdom and joy and holiness, saying that today “her holiness shines upon us.”

(The Diocese of Jackson has launched a website detailing Sister Thea’s life and the cause for canonization, sistertheabowman.com.)

Annunciation School breaks ground on expansion

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By Katie Fenstermacher
COLUMBUS – On Thursday, November 29, members of the Annunciation School community celebrated the much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s expansion. Talks of expanding have been ongoing for several years due to increasing enrollment every year – enrollment has almost doubled in the last seven years.
After much discussion and research school and parish administrators decided the best plan of action financially would be to build on the current location. A capital campaign started last spring to raise the $3 million needed to move forward with an expansion. As of today, the school has raised just shy of $2 million, which will allow work to begin on the first phase of expansion to include six new classrooms, a computer/STREAM lab, science lab, library and administrative offices. The front of the school will also get a revamp.
Representatives from each committee that worked on getting the school to this point joined Bishop Joseph Kopacz to “break ground” on this exciting new venture. The ceremony included alumni, parent, student and faculty speakers as well as a ceremonial turning of the dirt on the worksite. Earlier in the week, principal Joni House and Father Jeffery Waldrep got behind the controls of a backhoe to smash the front wall of the old building. Once they took a swing or two, construction crews took over to clear the lot for real work to begin.
Kyle McConnell, alumnus and committee member spoke about being in the first first grade class of 1963 and how much Annunciation school has grown since. His children and now his grandchildren have attended. Current parent Ashley Matthews, spoke about what this expansion means to her and her children while seventh-grader Jules Gallo, spoke about his excitement over having a new building.
Principal Joni House said her excitement is about more than just the new facility. “It’s just a joyful feeling. It’s been extremely heartwarming to see all the support that we have,” said House
Debbie Leonard, faculty member, spoke about her many years of employment and what a blessing physical growth means for the school.
Bishop Kopacz, and Father Waldrep also spoke at the ceremony. The new rooms should be ready by fall 2019.
Organizers hope to continue the capital campaign to add even more to the expansion, such as a stage for the gym and a working cafeteria.

(Katie Fenstermacher is the public relations and admissions director for Annunciation School.)

Seminarian Cesar Sanchez accepted to candidacy

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CANTON – During the 11:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Parish on Sunday, Dec. 2, Cesar Sanchez was accepted as a candidate for ordination for the Diocese of Jackson. This rite is one of many steps in formation for a seminarian. Sanchez presented himself to Bishop Joseph Kopacz to ask to be considered for ordination. The bishop asked him a series of questions and then accepted him.
Six priests, two deacons and three diocesan seminarians assisted at the Mass.
Sanchez thanked his brother and sister-in-law who attended the Mass, as well as his spiritual family who packed the church for the Mass and invited everyone to a reception in the parish center following Mass. He even played his guitar and sang at the reception. He has served at the parish for more than a year.
Sanchez is set to be ordained to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, May 15, 2019 at Sacred Heart Parish during the 5:15 p.m. Mass.
All the diocesan seminarians will attend a Holy Hour for vocations on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.