Category Archives: Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities of Jackson raises awareness of adoption and post-adoption services

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Catholic Charities of Jackson hosted a special baby shower event on May 8 for their adoption services program. Pictured are employees preparing shower gifts. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities)

By Tereza Ma and Joanna King
JACKSON – Catholic Charities of Jackson is working to raise awareness that its adoption, maternity support and post-adoption services remain available to families throughout Mississippi.

The agency’s Adoption and Post-Adoption Program has been intentionally reconnecting with community partners, hospitals and other organizations to remind the public that these services continue to be offered and that support is available for those considering adoption, seeking maternity assistance or needing resources after an adoption is finalized.

“The biggest thing we want the community to know is adoption is here,” said Shaniqua Forrest, program director for Adoption and Post-Adoption Services at Catholic Charities. “We are maintaining the program. We are here to support in any way that anyone may need.”

Catholic Charities offers maternity support, domestic and international adoption services, Safe Home Studies, foster-to-adopt opportunities and post-placement visits. The agency’s goal is to place children in loving, stable and permanent homes while providing guidance and support throughout the adoption process.

As part of its outreach efforts, the program recently hosted a community baby shower that provided essential baby items to expectant and new mothers. Participants received diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers and clothing, while donated items such as a stroller and breast pump were also distributed. Program staff noted that two mothers delivered their babies before the event and received their donated items at the hospital.

The agency also provides extensive post-adoption support designed to help families navigate challenges that may arise after an adoption is finalized. Services include counseling, mental health treatment, crisis intervention, family preservation and stabilization services, peer support and respite care.

For Cornella Slaughter, post-adoption specialist with Catholic Charities, ongoing support is essential to helping families thrive.

“The main goal is to make sure that that placement stays permanent,” Slaughter said.

Catholic Charities staff emphasized that adoptive families do not have to face challenges alone and that resources are available to support both parents and children as they adjust and grow together.

The agency will host an event highlighting its Post-Adoption Services on Tuesday, June 30 – “Taco-bout a Great Support System.” Those interested in learning more about adoption, maternity support or post-adoption resources can contact Catholic Charities for additional information at (601) 326-3796.

Knights of Columbus aid pro-life mission at Born Free-New Beginnings

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By Joe Lee
MADISON – Born Free-New Beginnings, a Catholic Charities of Jackson program and one of only two facilities in the state of Mississippi that treat pregnant females suffering from addiction, as well as their children born with addiction, has gotten a crucial makeover from the Knights of Columbus at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison.

A freshening up that took almost eight months to complete after a walk-through of the grounds last October.

“Some women are pregnant and overcoming addiction to alcohol and drugs so that their child may be ‘Born Free’ of addictions,” said Msgr. Elvin Sunds, who discussed needed repairs and upgrades with KC 9543. “Others are overcoming addiction while also caring for young children there. They’re creating a ‘New Beginning’ as loving, addiction-free mothers and families.”

Slowed by winter weather delays and a busy spring calendar for KC 9543, Grand Knight Lance Lee and a team of volunteers squeezed in trips in March and May to pressure wash the exterior surfaces of the two-story structure (which was built years ago into the side of a steep, craggy hill), clear away dead tree limbs and overgrown shrubs, and replace torn screen material in an enclosed toddler play area.

The second visit was to rebuild a wooden fence around the outdoor play area for toddlers, an expanse bordered by dense woods on one side and a treacherous hill on the other.

“It’s important for the residents who stay 28 days or longer to feel a sense of comfort as they see the facility for the first time, and as they spend time here,” Sunds added. “I am very grateful to the Knights of Columbus at St. Francis for seeing the project through.”

“It’s a very worthy pro-life project,” Lee said. “We had great volunteer help, including wonderful assistance from Born Free Facilities Manager Jimmie Roush, and did a good job for them. I was proud to be part of it. The new fence looks great and will go a long way toward keeping the little ones safe who are out there.”

To learn more about how you or your organization can support Born Free-New Beginnings, visit catholiccharitiesjackson.org.

Catholic Charities to honor Father Burke Masters, Tommy Turk at annual Bishop’s Ball

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By Joe Lee
JACKSON – Originally from Joliet, Illinois, and the parish priest at St. Isaac Jogues Church in nearby Hinsdale, Father Burke Masters almost seems like a native Mississippian despite living most of his life near Chicago.

Even casual sports fans remember his starring role on the 1990 Mississippi State baseball team that made the College World Series, and many people across the state have met him through his keynote appearances at Journey of Hope luncheons in 2019 and 2025.

“Since college, Mississippi has always been like a second home,” said Masters, who was ordained as a priest in 2002 and authored A Grand Slam for God, published in 2023 by Word on Fire Press. “I grew up in Illinois but spent five years in Starkville. Coming back to see friends I’ve known since I arrived there in 1985 is like a home week for me.”

https://event.gives/bb26

Masters will be honored at the 21st annual Bishop’s Ball on Thursday, June 18 at the Westin in Downtown Jackson. Also honored will be Jacksonian Tommy Turk, whose “Friends for a Cause” nonprofit supports Squat & Gobble each Thanksgiving, a beloved event that helps fund the Catholic Charities domestic violence program.
“The Bishop’s Ball gives us a chance to honor the support of the bishop each year, as well as others who have contributed significantly to Catholic Charities,” said executive director Christina Bach. “As one of our major fundraisers, it provides the necessary funds to support Born Free/New Beginnings, a substance use recovery program for pregnant or parenting women in order to keep families together and help babies enter the world free of drugs.”

Other programs support victims of sexual assault, and counseling services are available for families with children experiencing behavioral issues. Catholic Charities of Jackson’s efforts reach 65 of Mississippi’s 82 counties.

“Our honorees have been very committed to Catholic Charities for a long time,” Bishop Joseph Kopacz said. “Tommy Turk has directed a generous amount of the proceeds from community fundraisers to Catholic Charities, raising money and awareness in the process.

“Father Burke has traveled to our diocese on separate occasions to evangelize and to raise money out of love for the work of Catholic Charities and the people of Mississippi. It is a blessing to honor these men of God.”

Masters will also receive a Knights of Columbus award from Cameron Ellis and Luke McClure from the regional KC insurance office that serves Alabama and Mississippi.

“Catholic Charities does so much for the poor,” Masters said. “In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that ‘whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.’ That’s the call for all of us to share the good news God has given to us, and Catholic Charities is on the front lines all over the world and certainly in Jackson.”

“It is often said that Catholic social teaching is the best kept secret in our Church,” Kopacz said. “This is certainly true for many in our diocese regarding Catholic Charities, whose programs serve those in need throughout our state. Come out and enjoy the evening and support the mission to be a visible sign of Christ’s love.”

(Visit https://event.gives/bb26 to purchase tickets to the Bishop’s Ball or to sponsor the event.)

Beloved Notre Dame coaching legend Lou Holtz remembered

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Lou Holtz, a legendary college football coach and devout Catholic who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1988 National Championship, died March 4, 2026, at age 89. He is pictured at Catholic Charities Journey of Hope in Jackson, Miss. in June 2016. (Photo from archives)

By Eric Peat, Today’s Catholic
(OSV News) – Leading up to a college football clash between Notre Dame and heated rival Miami in the late 1980s, a team chaplain for the Hurricanes proclaimed that God doesn’t care who wins football games.

Lou Holtz, coach of the Fighting Irish at the time, agreed. “I don’t think God cares who wins, either,” he replied with a smile. “But his Mother does.”

This now-famous quip captured the essence of the legendary coach: an uncanny wit, an unwavering Catholic faith and an unshakable love for Notre Dame – Our Lady’s university. On March 4, Holtz died in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 89, surrounded by his family. Holtz leaves behind not just a decorated football resume but a legacy of shaping young men and inspiring people to live virtuously.

Louis Leo Holtz was born on Jan. 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, and grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio. He played linebacker at Kent State University before beginning a coaching career that would span over four decades. With head coaching stops at William and Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina, Holtz became the ninth-winningest coach in college football history with a record of 249-132-7. He received national Coach of the Year honors on three occasions and remains the only coach to lead six separate programs to bowl games.

However, Holtz is best remembered for his 11 seasons in South Bend, where he revitalized the Notre Dame football program. From 1986 through 1996, the Fighting Irish won 100 games, reached a program-record nine consecutive bowl games, and were undefeated national champions in 1988 – Notre Dame’s last national title to date.

After retiring from coaching, Holtz spent time as a studio analyst for ESPN, a best-selling author and a motivational speaker, where he continued inspiring people with the same energy and charisma.
He often told crowds, “I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.” Holtz preached that “life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.” He challenged people to live exceptional lives, famously stating, “I can’t believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.”

Central to everything Holtz did was his faith. A lifelong Catholic, Holtz served as an altar boy and credited the education he received from the Sisters of Notre Dame with instilling the desire to make God the focus of his life. Holtz was outspoken about his faith and believed following Church teachings “brings meaning and lasting happiness to life.”

He possessed a deep and profound love for Notre Dame – not just his team, but the university, the students, the fans and the faith alive on campus. “Every single day being there was very special,” Holtz told the National Catholic Register in a 2012 interview, “because there were so many opportunities to encounter and live out the Catholic faith.”

(Eric Peat writes from Fort Wayne, Indiana, for Today’s Catholic, the news outlet of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.)

Journey of Hope inspires faithful to “live God’s dream” through service and discipleship

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By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Catholic Charities’ annual Journey of Hope took on a new format this year, reaching across the diocese with two gatherings that drew nearly 800 people to celebrate faith, service and hope.

More than 550 guests attended the Oct. 22 luncheon at the Country Club of Jackson, while another 250 gathered the following day at St. James Parish in Tupelo, where the focus centered on the outreach of Catholic Charities’ Vardaman office in Northeast Mississippi.

“Each event reflected how Catholic Charities and our programs are guided by our faith,” said Michael Thomas, development director for Catholic Charities of Jackson. “The goal is always that everyone leaves with a positive sense of what Catholic Charities is doing throughout our state to better the lives of so many.”

JACKSON – Father Burke Masters speaks to a crowd of over 550 gathered at the Country Club of Jackson for Catholic Charities annual Journey of Hope event on Wednesday, Oct. 22. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

Featured speaker Father Burke Masters, a former Mississippi State University baseball standout, Chicago Cubs chaplain and priest of the Diocese of Joliet, told guests that discipleship requires the same commitment and discipline once demanded of him on the field.

Scouts, he said, used to rate ballplayers on six “tools”: hitting, power, running, fielding, throwing and baseball IQ. “I was good at everything but great at nothing,” he recalled with a smile. “Not all of us can become Major League ballplayers, but all of us can become better disciples of Jesus Christ.”

He offered a spiritual parallel – the six tools of a disciple: grow, give, serve, worship, imitate Jesus, and build community. “Everybody looks for meaning and purpose,” he said. “And I can’t imagine anything more meaningful or purposeful than eternal life.”

Father Masters urged guests to make time for daily formation. “We practiced five hours a day to be the best baseball players we could be,” he said. “How much time do you and I invest in our spiritual lives?”
He also challenged listeners to approach worship with gratitude. “You don’t have to go to church – you get to go,” he said. “You get to worship the God of the universe.”

Thomas said proceeds from the Jackson event will benefit all Catholic Charities programs, while donations from Tupelo will remain in the Vardaman regional office, supporting ministries that serve families and individuals across the northeast region. “Donors know that they have a vested interest in what is accomplished in their own communities,” he said.

This year’s events highlighted Catholic Charities’ mission to bring hope and healing statewide through more than two dozen programs, from adoption and counseling to domestic-violence intervention and outreach for immigrants and refugees.

TUPELO – Wayne Hereford of WTVA interviews Father Burke Masters after his Journey of Hope talk at St. James Parish. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Thomas credited widespread collaboration for the Jackson events’ success, noting leadership from St. Paul, Flowood; St. Francis of Assisi, Madison; and St. Richard, Jackson, who “led parish participation this year and set an example we hope others will follow.”

He also expressed appreciation for Christina Bach, executive director of Catholic Charities; Father Tim Murphy and the St. James staff in Tupelo; Michele Harris, board chair; and Julie Gibert, who chaired the development committee. “Everyone worked so hard to bring back our Journey of Hope and make it a success in both Jackson and Tupelo,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the dual-location format may continue in future years depending on the speaker, noting how fortunate organizers were that Father Masters could address both gatherings.

“Great things are happening with our programs,” he added. “Our Kinship Navigator Program is expanding to Greenwood and Jackson; and Born Free has a new director.”

In closing, Father Masters shared a story about receiving a replica Chicago Cubs World Series ring from seminarians while serving as vocation director. He often shows it to students, who “ooh and ahh” before he explains it is a $15 imitation. “It looks real, but it’s not,” he said, adding that his real focus is on a greater prize. “The crown of eternal glory doesn’t collect dust, it doesn’t fade away, and it lasts forever. Let’s live today as disciples preparing for that face-to-face meeting with God.”

Catholic Charities prepares for Journey of Hope with return of Father Burke Masters

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By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Catholic Charities of Jackson is preparing to welcome the community to its largest annual fundraiser, the Journey of Hope luncheon, with events scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Country Club of Jackson and Oct. 23 at St. James Parish in Tupelo.

The event is free to attend and brings together supporters from across the diocese to celebrate the work of Catholic Charities, which provides vital services for families, children and individuals throughout Mississippi.

“Journey of Hope is our largest fundraiser each year,” said Michael Thomas, development director for Catholic Charities of Jackson. “It brings awareness to the community on all the programs that we have. Since it is a free event, we have the opportunity to reach more members of the community.”

Thomas noted that the funds raised provide a cushion for programs that grants and other restricted funding sources do not fully cover. Catholic Charities’ ministries range from adoption services, domestic violence shelters and counseling, to emergency assistance and family support. The reach extends across the diocese, including the Vardaman office in North Mississippi, which operates a family center offering after-school programs and summer camps.

This year, Catholic Charities added the Tupelo luncheon to expand awareness in North Mississippi and highlight the Vardaman office’s work. “We wanted to increase awareness for our programs in North Mississippi,” Thomas said. “The Tupelo event allows us to reach new people who may not be as familiar with all that Catholic Charities offers.”

The featured speaker for both luncheons will be Father Burke Masters, who is making a return appearance at Journey of Hope after previously drawing crowds of more than 800. A former Mississippi State University baseball player who went on to play in the Chicago White Sox organization before entering the seminary, Father Burke is now known for his dynamic preaching and work as a Catholic priest.

“I love returning to Mississippi! It always feels like a homecoming each time I return,” Father Burke said. “I’m excited to support the Catholic Charities Journey of Hope event again this year. I’m hoping we can raise money and awareness for those in need, as Jesus speaks clearly about the importance of serving those who are less fortunate than we are.”

While careful not to give away the full scope of his talk, Father Burke said his message will encourage attendees to deepen their faith. “I hope people will become more intentional disciples of Jesus Christ after my talk,” he said. “My goal is to inspire the listeners to take one step closer to Jesus as we live out our faith in the world.”

JACKSON – Father Burke Masters is pictured at Catholic Charities Journey of Hope event in 2017. He is set to return to headline the event on Oct. 22 at the Country Club of Jackson and on Oct. 23 at St. James Parish in Tupelo. (Photo from archives)

Thomas added that guests can expect “an encouraging and enlightening conversation with Father Burke” at both luncheons. For those who may not get a seat in the main room at the Jackson event, Catholic Charities has arranged an additional space to broadcast Father Burke’s presentation live, followed by an opportunity to meet him for those guests.

Although attendance is free, registration is required. When signing up, attendees are asked to specify whether they will attend the Jackson or Tupelo luncheon. Seating in Jackson is extremely limited, with some guests placed in an overflow room where the talk will be broadcast live; however, if cancellations occur, some seats may open in the main area. Tupelo currently has more availability. To register, email info@ccjackson.org or call Michael Thomas at (601) 331-1152.

For those who cannot attend but want to support the mission, Catholic Charities invites donations through their website or by texting JOH25 to 50155.

“Every contribution goes directly toward strengthening our programs and helping us reach those most in need,” Thomas said. “Journey of Hope is not only a fundraiser but also a reminder of the hope that Catholic Charities strives to bring to every family and individual we serve.”

Tax credit legislation helps Catholic Charities, Inc. of Jackson

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By Galen Holley
JACKSON – Donors who give to philanthropic causes approved by the Mississippi Department of Revenue, like many offered through Catholic Charities, are eligible for a substantial tax credit, thanks to a unique piece of legislation.

The Children’s Promise Act (CPA) provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, up to $1,200 for individuals, and up to half of their state tax liability for businesses, for making a donation to ECOs, or Eligible Charitable Organizations. The CPA provides tax credits to corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

The Mississippi legislature passed the CPA in 2018. According to Monseigneur Elvin Sunds, interim executive director of Catholic Charities, Inc. of the Diocese of Jackson, it presents an incentive to support those on the margins of society.

“Many of the services we provide are funded by state and federal grants, but that money doesn’t always cover everything,” said Sunds. “The Children’s Promise Act helps fill in the gaps and allows us to continue those programs.”

Since the 1960s, Catholic Charities has served those in Mississippi who need a hand up. It’s a community effort, according to Sunds. “Catholic Charities has been out there, touching all aspects of community life, particularly serving women and children, and families,” said Sunds. Among its numerous outreach efforts, Catholic Charities in Mississippi provides round-the-clock service for children with emotional needs, as well as care for pregnant mothers facing addiction. Catholic Charities personnel try to make sure that children are always cared for. “We want to preserve those family bonds with which children are comfortable and familiar,” said Sunds.

Michael Crandall is the president at Trustmark Bank in Canton, as well a former board member at Catholic Charities. Trustmark recently contributed $100,000 to Catholic Charities, and the bank’s core values coincide nicely with the nonprofit’s efforts, according to Crandall.

“The Children’s Promise Act is an ideal opportunity for those who might not normally give to Catholic Charities to give,” he said. “Catholic Charities actually serves more non-Catholics than Catholics. It’s a community effort. One of Trustmark’s core values is building relationships within the community, and this is a perfect example.”

Michael Thomas is director of development at Catholic Charities in Jackson and said that the nonprofit is hoping to raise half a million dollars. To date, they’ve received about $200,000.

(To donate and take advantage of the tax credits offered through the Children’s Promise Act, visit https://www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org, email help@ccjackson.org, or call (601) 355-8634.)