Author Archives: Tereza Ma

Vatican issues new document on vocation of consecrated virgins

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By Juno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican has released a document that establishes norms and principles for women who dedicate their lives as consecrated virgins and their place in the life of the church.
Presenting the new document at the Vatican press office July 4, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, said it is the “first document of the Holy See that delves into the character and discipline of this way of life.”
“The instruction on the ‘Ordo virginum’ (‘Order of Virgins’) intends to respond to the requests that numerous bishops and consecrated virgins in these years have presented to the congregation for consecrated life regarding the vocation and witness of the order of virgins, its presence in the universal church and, particularly, its formation and vocational discernment,” Cardinal Braz de Aviz said.
Consecrated by her local bishop, a member of the order of virgins makes a promise of perpetual virginity, prayer and service to the church while living independently in society.

Laurie Malashanko, consecrated to the Catholic Church's order of virgins, receives a wedding veil from Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron in Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament June 24. (CNS photo/Joel Breidenbach) See CONSECRATED-VIRGINS June 27, 2017.

Karen Ervin, Theresa Jordan and Laurie Malashanko pause in prayer before the altar at Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in 2017. They were consecrated into the Catholic Church's order of virgins. (CNS photo/Joel Breidenbach) See VATICAN-CONSECRATED-VIRGINS July 5, 2018.

The publishing of the document, “Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago” (“The Image of the Church as Bride”) comes two years ahead of the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the renewed “Ritual for the Consecration of Virgins,” an ancient rite in the church that fell into disuse in the years before the Second Vatican Council.
Divided into three parts, the document’s first section highlights the biblical origins and characteristics of the order of virgins, in which women “with spousal love are dedicated to the Lord Jesus in virginity.”
“Since this form of consecrated life was reintroduced in the church, there has been a real revival of the ‘Ordo virginum,’ whose vitality is evident in the rich variety of personal charisms placed at the service of the church’s development and of the renewal of society in the spirit of the Gospel,” the document stated.
Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the congregation, told journalists that through prayer penance and works of mercy, women in the order of virgins “take the Gospel as the fundamental rule of life.”
“The unique element of the ‘Ordo virginum,’ which distinguishes itself from the Institutes of Consecrated Life, is that the charism of virginity is harmonized with the charism of each consecrated woman, making room for a great variety of responses to vocations, in a creative freedom that demands a sense of responsibility and the exercise of a serious spiritual discernment,” Archbishop Rodriguez said.
The document’s second section, he added, deals with the pastoral duties of bishops in fostering and nurturing the vocation of consecrated virgins as well as their role within the diocese.
While rooted in their diocese, consecrated virgins are not confined to it and instead “are opened to the horizons of the universal mission of the church” in other dioceses, bishops’ conferences and the universal church,” Archbishop Carballo said.
Finally, the third section of “Ecclesia Sponsae Imago” details the discernment and formation of women who choose the life of consecrated virgins.
Bishops, the archbishop said, must ensure that their dioceses have the available resources to help women discern their calling that “deepens the understanding of the ecclesial value of this consecration.”
“Reproposing this way of life in the church may seem as an anachronism, but it is an act of trust in the action of the spirit, who is leading many women to accept and interpret this vocation in the light of the path fulfilled by the church over the centuries and according to the needs of the current historical context. It is a true path of sanctification that is fascinating and demanding,” Archbishop Carballo said.

Camp Friendship builds Catholic spirit

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AMORY – Ryan Stoer, right, a seminarian for the Diocese of Jackson, chats with a camper at Camp Friendship, a summer camp for Catholic youth in Mississippi started by the Glenmary Missioners many years ago. For the last couple of years, dioscean seminarians have spent part of their summer helping at the camp. The parishioners from Aberdeen St. Francis go Wednesday while camp is in session and prepare a traditional fried chicken dinner for the campers, counselors and staff. The counselors are from all over the nation including Chicago, New York, D. C., even Rhode Island. (Photos by Rhonda Bowden)

Summer = Vacation Bible School

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GREENVILLE – (l-r) Hunter Ford, Lela Hallman, Olivia Nevels, Julia Hooker and Emerson Lipscomb explore the “Marvelous Mystery” of the Mass during Saint Joseph Parish’s Vacation Bible School- June 11-14. (Photo by Rayetta Serio)

JACKSON – St. Richard Parish Vacation Bible School during the first week of June. Teen volunteers joined adult organizers for the week. (Photo by Shannon Garner)

PEARL – The children of St. Jude Parish went “around the world in five days” for their Vacation Bible School June 11-15. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

Inspiring ordination journey started in Mexico

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By Melisa Munoz
JACKSON – Deacon Adolfo Suarez Pasillas was ordained in his hometown of Aguascallientes, Mexico on Wednesday, April 11. Bishop Joseph Kopcaz traveled to Mexico for the liturgy, including a visit to Saltillo in his travels.
Deacon Suarez Pasillas was born and raised in Pabellón de Arteaga in Aguascalientes, Mexico. His call to the priesthood came early in his life. “The first time the priesthood came to my mind was when I was around 6 years old. I was walking with my cousin’s wife, Concha, and I told her I wanted to become a priest because all priests go to heaven,” he recalled. “I was scared because the day before in our catechism class, our catechist taught us about heaven and hell. The way she depicted hell was so shocking that I decided to become a priest to escape from it.”

Deacon Adolfo Suarez Pasillas

Deacon Suarez Pasillas moved to Jesus Maria, another city in the state of Aguascalientes, when he was 11 years old. “The second time I heard God’s call to the priesthood was when I was about 16 years old. I was heartbroken about a family situation. I was living with my aunts and grandmother who introduced me to the life or prayer. At the beginning, I thought they were crazy asking me to go give thanks in front of, what was for me, nothing.” With time, Deacon Suarez Pasillas began meeting people who steered him closer to God and strengthened his faith, including his pastor, Father Tirso Sanchez Cruz, whose uncle, St. Atilano Cruz Alvarado, martyr of the Cristero War, was canonized by St. John Paul II.
“Father Tirso inspired me because, although he was an old priest, he was a tireless disciple of the Lord – a joyful man, full of energy. I wondered where all his energy came from. He was old, poor, he had no wife or children and he did not party like many other people did. However, he was the most joyful and energetic man I had ever met. And I wanted to become like him. His zeal and love for the Church was my inspiration.”
Time passed though, and Suarez Pasillas had to work to pay rent, bills and food to contribute to his household. “I began to hang out with friends and I started to forget about God, and I was not happy. I felt an emptiness even though I was surrounded by friends and family.”
Searching for a quiet place for meditation and self-reflection, Suarez Pasillas moved to Iowa to live with extended family. “I really did not have a reason to come here for a job, the work I had before was good, and I made enough for living. For around three years, I spent hours and hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament asking the Lord for answers and strength. He listened to my prayers and took the depression I had been suffering for years away from me. It was really a miracle. One night I went to bed crying with a heavy depression and the next day I was happy, as if I was the happiest man in the world. I was so happy that I wanted to go out and cry aloud that I was happy.”
This time of joy lasted about six months. “I told the Lord, ‘Now I am ready to follow you. I want to share with the world what you have done for me.’” But it was not yet his time. Deacon Suarez Pasillas was involved in an auto accident while driving a friend’s truck. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but he still was responsible for paying for the damage to both vehicles. He had to wait until he finished paying before he could think about going to the seminary. “That time was useful because I came down from heaven and set my feet again on earth.”
When Deacon Suarez Pasillas was ready to enter seminary, he had planned to return to Mexico, but his sister suggested that he attend seminary in the United States. For one one year, he studied for the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, where he was living, but the diocese decided not to pursue foreign vocations. “The rector of the seminary allowed me to continue my studies until I found another diocese. And during that time, Father Lenin Vargas visited the seminary and invited me to join the Diocese of Jackson.”
Father Vargas presented the needs of the diocese, especially in those areas in the state with the growing Hispanic population. “I decided to come here mainly because I knew the necessity of having Spanish-speaking priests. In Iowa, I had trouble finding a priest who could understand my situation and who could guide me. There are many young people who are in danger because they cannot find spiritual help. Then they get lost in so many things. My primary reason I want to work here as a priest is to help those who live far from their home countries and who know only to turn to the priest when they are in need.”
For his diaconate year, Deacon Suarez Pasillas has been assigned to Jackson St. Therese Parish. He is looking forward to spending time in the diocese and getting to know the people since he has spent most of his formation in New Orleans. “I am looking forward to learning more about how parishes work, especially in Mississippi where Catholics are the minority.” But most importantly, Deacon Suarez Pasillas stressed that he is looking forward to meeting and working with the people of the parish. “It is always a blessing from God to be among His people, as their love and attention comfort me. I am looking forward to placing the grace of my diaconate ordination at the service of the people at St. Therese.”

Delta Deacon ordained at home

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By Ruthie Robison
GREENVILLE – The Mississippi Delta is a special place to Mark Shoffner. “I am very Delta and very proud of this place,” said the Greenville native.
On Friday, June 8, Shoffner was ordained into the transitional diaconate on his way to the priesthood in the Delta town he loves and in his home parish, St. Joseph.
The newly ordained deacon has a great appreciation for St. Joseph and its parishioners and has even given tours of the church to visitors traveling by riverboats along the Mississippi who make a stop in Greenville. His was the third ordination to be held at the church.
“I grew up in a beautiful Gothic Revival church,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place of worship.”
Shoffner’s love of the Delta and his hometown became very evident to Bishop Joseph Kopacz the first time they met.
“He just launched right into the Delta,” said Kopacz during the homily. “This was my first time in Mississippi, and he said, ‘Well, let me tell you about the Delta.’ And he hasn’t stopped since.”

Deacon Mark Shoffner

Growing up in Greenville, Shoffner attended St. Joseph Catholic School.
He became active in the church by the time he was in the third grade, when he was asked to be an altar server. This was an honor for Shoffner because usually students did not become altar servers until the fourth grade.
“I started doing that, and I just enjoyed being up there,” Shoffner said.
Shoffner remembers being told as a child, “You’re going to be a great priest, Mark.” But for a kid in the ’90s, his future was broad with unlimited possibilities.
“I could be anything I wanted to be,” Shoffner said. “I wanted to be a steamboat captain, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer.”
When Shoffner was in the ninth grade, his family moved from Greenville to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. There, he became involved in youth ministry, and Shoffner’s call to the priesthood was becoming clearer.
“He’s always been a real reverent young man and just caring about the church,” said Shoffner’s mother, Eva. “We moved to Florida for a little while, and he got right into the church.”
Eva said it was during his teenage years that she “figured there was somewhere in his future when he was going to become very active in the parish, but I didn’t know exactly what.”
After graduating high school and a year of college, Shoffner’s family moved back to Greenville. At that time, he said he knew he wanted a career that allowed him to help people. He thought about teaching but decided on nursing. Shoffner attended Mississippi Delta Community College, where he received a degree in nursing. He began working in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville.
“With nursing, I thought I could really help,” he said. “That went on for about a year before I began to have these moments in the hospital.”
Soon, Shoffner went from having feelings about his vocation to actively talking about them with Father Kent Bowlds, pastor of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Cleveland and a former vocations director.
“You can’t discern a vocation by yourself,” Shoffner said. “You have to have a community.”
During this time, Shoffner was at work one day helping an elderly man in the hospital when he had a thought — one that would eventually lead him to enter seminary.
“I just remember thinking about Mother Teresa and Father Richard Ho Lung (who founded the religious order known as the Missionaries of the Poor in Kingston, Jamaica) and how they did the same thing I am doing now but they did not get paid. What’s their motivation? The motivation was love,” he said. “I started thinking about the Missionaries of the Poor in Kingston, and how they lived happy lives that were fulfilling, and that called out to me.”
Shoffner’s mother said she wasn’t caught by surprise when her son told her he felt called to be a priest.
“I am just overjoyed and full of happiness,” said Eva Shoffner after her son was ordained to the diaconate. “It was just beautiful, and I am so happy it came to be, and he can start professing the Lord’s faith and helping others.”
Shoffner’s ordination was held on the Feast of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“It’s a beautiful feast, because it’s a feast of the beating heart of Jesus — that heart that does not stop beating out of love for us,” said Kopacz.
During the homily, the Bishop read an excerpt from the official proclamation by Pope Leo XIII when he declared the consecration to the Sacred Heart in 1899.
Shoffner was vested by fellow seminarian and classmate Deacon Adolfo Suarez, who was recently ordained in his hometown in Mexico. The two men will be ordained as priests together next year.
At the end of the service, Shoffner, standing near a large stained glass window of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, said, “I was a cardiovascular ICU nurse. I was a heart nurse. So there’s another connection. I was trying to heal broken hearts physically broken, and now, through the Lord’s mercy, I am able to heal spiritually broken hearts.”
Deacon Shoffner, a product of one St. Joseph community, will spend his transitional year at another — St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt.
(Ruthie Robison is a reporter for the Greenwood Commonwealth and a member of Greenwood Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.)

Diocese welcomes two priests, two deacons

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson ordained four men this spring, two as transitional deacons and two as priests.
People were standing in every available nook and cranny of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on the Feast of the Visitation, Thursday, May 31, to witness the ordination of Nick Adam and Aaron Williams to the priesthood.
The men come from very different backgrounds, but both answered yes to the call to serve their church. Father Adam’s family moved around. He is the youngest of eight and had already started a career in broadcasting when he first even considered the priesthood. Father Williams has one brother, has lived in Jackson his whole life and started serving at the altar at age five in hopes to get where he is today.
Family, however, played a huge role in the lives of both men. At the end of his first Mass, Father Williams invited his nieces, Ava and Hadley to place a bouquet of flowers at the feet of the statue of Mary. He then presented his mother with the cloth he had used the night before to clean the oil of Chrism off his hands, explaining to the congregation a tradition that calls for Julia Williams to keep the cloth so she can be buried with it wrapped around her own hands — a symbol of thanksgiving for the gift of her son to the church. In fact, Father Williams had a scripture verse embroidered onto it before his ordination so he could present it as a personal gift.
Nicki Michaud taught Father Williams when he was a boy at the cathedral. “It’s just amazing. He was such an awesome little boy and he questioned everything. He was a bit rowdy from time to time, but he would come and visit me even when I wasn’t his teacher anymore.” She spoke of his great love for music and the organ.
In addition to his theology studies, Father Williams is pursuing a degree in liturgy. “I think a lot of people are searching for the sacred and I think you can draw people into that sacred moment visually and through hearing and participating in the liturgy – (Father) Aaron has a great gift for that,” said diocesan Chancellor and friend Mary Woodward
Father Adam’s seven siblings and nine of their twelve children filled several pews in the cathedral for ordination and then at St. Richard for Father Adam’s first Mass. Infants, toddlers and big kids beamed as they watched their uncle profess his solemn vows.
Some of the students and families from St. Richard School, where Father Adam served his diaconate year and where he will serve as parochial vicar, attended the ordination as well.
Cy Steven, who will move up from St. Richard to Madison St. Joseph School this fall, attended the ordination with his family. He and his sister Ava Kathryn were altar servers for Father Adam’s first Mass.
“Father Nick is always laughing and smiling and I love to talk to him. He asked me to altar serve at his first Mass. I was excited that he was about to become a priest and I had a birthday on May 30th so I asked my mom if she would take me to the ordination for my birthday. It was really long but it was really worth it”
(Editor’s note: See personality profiles of the new priests on pages 10-11.)

Tea for Carmelite Sisters

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GLUCKSTADT – The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary of St. Joseph Parish hosted its second annual Charity Tea on Saturday, May 19, to raise money for the Carmelite Community in Jackson.
The tea fell on the same day as the royal wedding this year, and the ladies did not disappoint, arriving adorned in lace, pearls, hats and fascinators.
All in attendance were treated to a menu of savory tea sandwiches, a fresh array of baked items and delectable sweets all homemade by auxiliary members. Three of the Carmelite Sisters attended. Sister Jane Agony, OCD, addressed the group, explaining that the community is always praying for the people of the diocese. The parish is looking forward to making this an annual event.
(Submitted by Carolyn Howard)

Q&A: Father Aaron Williams

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Top left, Father Aaron Williams waits to be called by name at his ordination Mass. At right, Father Williams with his neices, Hadley and Eva Williams. At bottom left, Father Williams celebrates his first Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photos by Maureen Smith and Tereza Ma)

Background:
Father Aaron Williams is a Jackson native who knew from his earliest memories that he wanted to be a priest. Chancellor Mary Woodward, who watched Father Williams grow up, allowed him to serve at a very young age. His family jokes that this was a way to make him sit still during Mass. He has one older brother, Matthew, and sister-in-law Marie, who have two girls, Ava and Hadley.
In addition to loving the liturgy, Father Williams is a life-long learner. “I attended St. Therese Catholic School for a few years and finished at St. Richard Catholic School. I did middle and high school at St. Joseph in Madison. After graduating from high school, I entered St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, where I earned a B.A. in Philosophy. From there I entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where I earned an Masters in Divinity. I will complete the course requirements this summer to also earn a M.A. in Liturgical Studies from the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein, Illinois,” he said.
Father Williams will share his love of learning with the students at Greenville St. Joseph School, where he will teach fifth and sixth grade this fall as well as serving as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish.
Father Williams’ mother, Julia is a long-time employee of the diocese, having worked at Madison St. Joseph School, the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and now as the Human Resources coordinator for the Diocese of Jackson.

Home parish: The Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle
 
Favorite Saints and why?
Saint Philip Neri. He is a model of priestly zeal and joy. He was known both for his deep devotion to the Lord, but also the levity by which he handled himself. He was fiercely devoted to his friends, and sought to grow in love with the Lord by forming communities of other devoted persons around him who could work together in fraternity to spread the gospel message and offer fitting worship to God.
 
Do you have a favorite devotion, religious image or prayer and why?
I have a great love for the Divine Office. There are certain texts which pop up each year that I look forward to hearing again and again. My favorite prayer is the Suscipe of Saint Ignatius of Loyola — it entrusts the whole will to the Lord, confident that He will take care of us, and requests His grace as our only benefit. 

Who vested you at ordination and why?
Father Jeffrey Waldrep. He was my pastor when I entered seminary and provided me great help and encouragement in making that step.

Do you have any hobbies?
I am an organist and composer. I also enjoy reading theology and research, though I occasionally read or listen to a fictional book. Apart from that, I am a cyclist when time permits it and enjoy going out to see new movies.
 
In what parishes have you served?
St. Francis in Brookhaven, St. Mary’s in Yazoo and All Saints in Belzoni, St. Jude in Pearl, and St. Patrick and St. Joseph in Meridian.
 
Can you tell me a little about your vocation story ?
I’ve always wanted to be a priest. I began serving at the Cathedral when I was very young and began to love the Mass. This love was encouraged by my parents, pastors, members of the Cathedral, and my school teachers. Eventually I applied to the seminary in my senior year of high school.
 
Can you share something about yourself people may not know?
My first year at Notre Dame Seminary I published a volume containing English adaptations of the Gregorian Chants used for Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Sundays and Feasts during the academic year. It is the only book of it’s kind currently in existence. I have received multiple requests from religious communities and houses to finish the text to include the full liturgical year, but I have been unable to make time to respond to these requests.
 
What advice do you have for those discerning a vocation?
My generation has a tendency to see discernment (or all life decisions) as a sort of all-or-nothing consideration—one choice necessitates the closing of all other pathways. But, a true discernment is not a negative choice. We choose a certain path out of love for that life, and ultimately out of love for the Lord. Certainly there will be difficulties along the way, but love is powerful enough to drive us on despite the apparent sacrifices which will need to be made. But, we need not immediately consider all those sacrifices—they will come in time. Discernment in the present moment means to follow the movements of the heart, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He will guide us into all truth, and we have no need to fear following Him wherever He leads.

Is there one part of priesthood in particular you are looking forward to?
I am looking forward to celebrating the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and hearing confessions.
 
What are you looking forward to about your first parish assignment?
I have a great love of teaching and sharing the faith. My assignment in Greenville will have me directly teaching in the elementary school and continually present in the high school.

Q&A: Father Nick Adam

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Far Left, Father Nick Adam thanks those who attended his first Mass at Jackson St. Richard. Center, Father Adam with nine of his 12 neices and nephews after Mass. At right, Father Adam blesses Cy Steven, who was an altar server for the first Mass. (Photos by Maureen Smith and Julie Bordes)

Background:
“I am the youngest of eight children, so certainly attending lots of weddings and welcoming many in-laws has been a staple of the Adam family. So has welcoming a lot of nieces and nephews. I am so lucky to have 12 happy nieces and nephews running around,” he said.
His family moved to Elberta, Ala., along the Gulf Coast, when he was 10.
“I was a student at St. Benedict School (4th-8th grade). My mother was my principal during this time. Since we lived so close to the state line the closest Catholic high school was in Pensacola, Florida, so I attended Pensacola Catholic High School. After high school I was sure I wanted to be a sports broadcaster, so I enrolled at the University of Alabama and studied broadcast journalism. I graduated in 2008 and moved to Meridian to work at WTOK – TV.”
While he was in Meridian he began to discern a call to the priesthood. He got support while he discerned from then pastor Father Frank Cosgrove.
Nick’s siblings filled several pews at both his ordination and first Mass, a Mass he celebrated for his mother. “My mother, Claudia, died in 2014 after a long bout with cancer. I remain filled with gratitude for the support that was given to my family by the Church of Jackson during that time. Especially significant was when St. Patrick and St. Joseph in Meridian sent a bus down to Alabama full of parishioners to pray for my mother at the funeral. I learned a ton from my mother, and I believe that this is the culmination of a really awesome plan that God had for me that my mom helped me to see.”

Home parish:
St. Patrick/St. Joseph (Meridian) 

Favorite Saints and why?
St. Peter is always a go-to because of his courageous imperfection. He is so willing to put himself out there, and yet we also have so many examples of his own mistakes. I also love St. Paul for his untiring boldness. He gets knocked down again and again and again and just goes back to preach the truth no matter the cost. 

Do you have a favorite devotion, religious image or prayer and why?
Having been formed at a seminary called Notre Dame, it is hard to go with any devotion other than one to Our Lady. For the last four years we have ended community prayer with the Marian hymn tota pulchra es (you are all beautiful, Mary). This has become a source of great love and devotion for me.

Who vested you at ordination and why?
Father Frank Cosgrove will vest me at my ordination. He is not only the first person to talk to me about priesthood, but he has also become a very trusted friend and reliable support for me during my discernment and will continue to be a great friend and support as I enter priestly life.

Do you have any hobbies?
I love to play basketball, I am trying to love to golf. I love to talk about sports, to listen to people talk about sports, and to watch sports and then talk about them. I also love any movie that is clever, and can entertain you and make you think about something deeper without resorting to cheap effects or immoral shock value. I love a good book, though it takes me a while to get rolling on them! 

In what parishes have you served?
I have served at St. Jude (Pearl), St. Alphonsus (McComb), St. Dominic Hospital (Jackson), and St. Richard (Jackson).
 
Can you tell me a little about your vocation story?
So yes, about the call and all that! Ok so I had stopped going to Mass while I was in college, and didn’t go to Mass for a while after moving to Mississippi. In 2009 I finally darkened the doorstep of St. Patrick in Meridian. At that Mass I felt an unmistakeable call to something greater, or perhaps more accurately, deeper. I “felt” God calling me, but I didn’t know what he was calling me to. Father Frank Cosgrove helped me immensely during this time to discern the desire that I was experiencing. Eventually it became clear that I needed to check out the seminary, but this took a while to figure out since I had never heard of a seminary before!
My time in seminary has been a gift. I began my formation at St. Joseph Seminary College near Covington, Louisiana where I was educated by the Benedictine monks in philosophy and much much more. Then I moved to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans for four years of theological studies. The best thing about the seminary is the fraternity. I was able to learn and live with men who loved God and who wanted to live a life of virtue. Some of those men left formation before being ordained, many are being ordained this summer along with men, and all of us have been made better by the experience.
Along with Father Frank, I am grateful to all the priests who serve on the faculties of both seminaries, as well as the lay professors. I learned so much about living a life of holiness just by witnessing their example. I am especially grateful to Father Jim Wehner, Rector of Notre Dame, whose tireless leadership and spiritual fatherhood was an incredible source of life to me during my time in New Orleans.
 
Can you share something about yourself people may not know?
I was behind the camera of a viral video that gets shared on YouTube every football season. I interviewed a student at the University of Alabama for a story I was working on about the rivalry between Alabama and Tennessee. This guy really didn’t like Tennessee, like, really. He goes on for about two minutes about all the things that are wrong with the UT football team, and all the Alabama fans love to watch it every year. AL.com actually tracked us both down a year ago to do a “where are they now,” and it was funny because I was in my collar! Ha!
 
What advice do you have for those discerning a vocation?
Spend time in prayer, and spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and when the Lord is really working on you, speak to someone you trust about the way God is working in your life.

Is there one part of priesthood in particular you are looking forward to?
Hearing confessions intimidates me, humbles me, but is also something that I looking forward to. The Sacrament of Penance has been such a source of life to me that I am excited about celebrating that sacrament for others.
 
What are you looking forward to about your first parish assignment?
The first full day. Yes, I am looking forward to my ordination, my first Mass, etc., but I really am excited about the first full day in the office, starting with celebrating Mass, then responding to whatever is happening on that day. I have realized that life is not about one moment, but it is about constantly coming closer to the Lord through each and every choice you make each and every day, and so I am looking forward to the first full day in the office, the first full day of living as a priest in the parish.

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IN MEMORIAM

Sister Mary O’Donnell, OP, died on June 6. Her religious name was Sister Mary Colum. Sister Mary was born Nov. 13, 1929, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. She taught math and physics for 56 years, serving in a high school and colleges. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Mary served as a graduate assistant at University of Mississippi, Jackson, from 1980-1984.
The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa on June 12, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.
Sister Madalyn Hogan, BVM (Renata), a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died May 13 in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 98. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Madalyn was a reading teacher at Clarksdale Immaculate Conception, where she also ministered to the sick and elderly. She worked in the business office of Tutwiler Clinic. Interment was at Mount Carmel cemetery, Dubuque. Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or at www.bvmsisters.org.
Sister Maria Ann Raef (Mary Esther), a School Sister of St. Francis, died on May 23 at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was 88. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Maria taught at Sacred Heart School, Walls (1959-1965). A wake and funeral liturgy were held on May 30, at St. Joseph Convent Chapel, Milwaukee. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.