Category Archives: Diocesan News

Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth to receive lifetime achievement award

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JACKSON – St. Dominic’s is pleased to announce that Sister Mary Dorothea Sondgeroth, O.P., has been named a 2017 recipient of the Catholic Health Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to a leader of the health ministry who has inspired and mentored many others and whose leadership extends past the Catholic health ministry to influence and impact the local community and beyond.

“Sister Dorothea has dedicated her life to service and we, in Jackson, have benefitted from our association with her,” said Claude W. Harbarger, President of St. Dominic Health Services, Sister Dorothea’s successor and a St. Dominic’s employee of 30 years. “Sister Dorothea is the embodiment of kindness and compassion and a wonderful selection for this honor.”

After 36 years of overall service and 17 years of serving as president of St. Dominic Health Services, Sister Dorothea retired from her position in 2011 and has since worked as the associate executive director of the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation. At the start of Sister Dorothea’s tenure in 1995, the system held two subsidiaries: the hospital and an organization for community-based services. When she retired from that position 17 years later, the role had grown to include oversight of seven subsidiary organizations comprising a 571 bed hospital with more than 500 affiliated physicians, a large continuing care retirement community (St. Catherine’s Village) and oversight of more than 3,000 employees.

In the Jackson community, she has been recognized with roles in numerous community organizations, including the United Way of the Capital Area, Safe City Initiative, the Rotary Club of Jackson and Fondren Renaissance. She is a laureate of the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame and in 1997 was named the top businesswoman in the state in Mississippi Business Journal’s Mississippi’s 50 Leading Business Women awards. In addition, in 2005 Sister Dorothea was selected for a Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service. This national award honors “unsung heroes who encounter problems in their communities, believe they can help and create innovative solutions.”

In April of 2012, Bishop Joseph Latino awarded Sister Dorothea the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, the highest medal Pope Benedict XVI bestowed on non-clergy. The Pope confers this recognition to those who have given distinguished service to the Catholic Church and their communities.

Sister Dorothea will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Catholic Health Association Annual Assembly in June.

Sister Dorothea

Sister Dorothea

April recognized as Child Abuse Prevention month

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JACKSON – April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Catholic Church across America use this month as a way to reinforce the message that the Catholic Church is committed to protecting children. The following is from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and reflects both diocesan and national promise to protect and pledge to heal.

You Can Help

You can help prevent the abuse of children. Know the warning signs of offenders. They prefer to be with children. They go overboard touching, wrestling or tickling. They may give minors alcohol or drugs or show them pornography. They allow children to break the rules. Offenders act as if the rules do not apply to them.

If you observe an adult who is not behaving appropriately with children, speak up. Let someone know what you saw. You are not accusing anyone of anything. You are letting someone know you care, are watching, and are concerned that no harm is done to a child.

You Can Get Help

Abuse is never the fault of the person harmed. It is always the responsibility of the offender. The reality is that most victims of abuse know their abuser. One in four females and one in six males report being abused as a minor.

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse there are things you can do, even if the abuse happened years ago. Call the police to report the abuse. If the abuser was in a position of authority in an organization, you should also report the abuse to that organization. If the abuse happened in a Catholic church or school, contact Valerie McClellan, Victims Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Jackson, at 601-326-3728.

The Charter

In Dallas in June of 2002, the bishops of the United States adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter is the plan of action developed by the bishops to address the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

Part One- To Promote Healing and Reconciliation with Victims/Survivors of Abuse

The wording of the Charter is very clear on the importance the bishops place on their responsibility to help victims find healing and reconciliation. It states, “The first obligation of the Church with regard to victims is for healing and reconciliation.” Outreach takes a variety a forms including extensive therapy, apology meetings, spiritual retreats, and Masses for healing.

In 2016, outreach was provided to 1,760 victims and their families.

Part Two- To Guarantee an Effective Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors

All dioceses are to report allegations of sexual abuse of minors to public authorities. All clergy who have been found guilty or admitted guilt are permanently removed from ministry. There are clear standards of behavior and appropriate boundaries for all clergy employees, and volunteers.

Part Three- To Ensure the Accountability of Our Procedures

The mission of the Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People is to advise the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on all matters related to child and youth protection. The Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection was established in 2002 by the USCCB. The National Review Board is a consultative body that reviews the work of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and advises the president of the USCCB. In addition, each diocese has a review board to advise its bishop in his assessment of allegations and in his determination of a cleric’s suitability for ministry. To prove their commitment to accountability, dioceses undergo an annual audit conducted by an outside auditor.

Part Four- To Protect the Faithful in the Future

Dioceses train clergy, employees and volunteers to create and maintain safe environments for children. The backgrounds of clergy, employees, and volunteers are evaluated to determine if someone should be allowed around children and young people.

More than two million parish employees and volunteers, and 4.2 million children have been Safe Environment trained to recognize the behavior offenders and what to do about it. Training was also provided to 159,764 educators, 258,978 other employees, 35,475 priests, 16,294 deacons and 6,847 candidates for ordination.

Background evaluations have been conducted on more than 2 million parish volunteers and Church personnel who have contact with children. Seminary screening has been tightened and transfers among dioceses of clergy who have committed abuse against minors are forbidden.

Papal nuncio: Pay close attention to pope’s words, actions

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By Carol Zimmermann

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States, gets plenty of questions about Pope Francis.

A March 27 discussion at Georgetown University, sponsored by the university’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, was no exception. The nuncio, who sat onstage with John Carr, the initiative’s director, was asked about the pope’s key issues and his impact in the four years since his election.

Instead of emphasizing the pope’s special qualities or accomplishments, Archbishop Pierre, who has been in the Vatican diplomatic corps for almost 40 years, stressed how Catholics are called to view the pope and essentially work with him in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

He told the audience, nearly filling a campus auditorium, that it is not a question of whether the pope is good or bad or if one agrees with him or not. The issue, for Catholics, is to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying through the pope.

“We have to pay a lot of attention to the person of the pope and to his message and to his testimony because the pope is not just words but he is also actions and actions that are powerful words,” the nuncio said.

Archbishop Pierre, who was appointed to the U.S. post by Pope Francis last April, would not comment on the pope’s approval ratings compared to politicians nor would he address the current political climate, but he stressed that one’s personal faith can’t be separated from daily life and that people need to use discernment even in civic duties like voting.

When asked about care for migrants in today’s world, he said Christians should be the “soul of this country” and Catholics should follow the example of Pope Francis who goes out to the borders and reaches out to those who are broken and those who suffer.

“The church is in the business of evangelization,” he added, saying this works best when the church “goes outside herself” to meet people where they are. And in a pointed statement to this country, he added: If America is the center of the world then it has “a huge responsibility to help others.”

When the nuncio was joined on stage by other panelists, they reiterated the importance of the pope’s message that has come across just as much from his actions as his words.

To sum up the pope’s message to Catholics today, Ken Hackett, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and former president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, looks to the example of the pope’s visit to the United States in 2015 where the pope’s presence, in front of Congress and with the poor, and his words at each stop made Catholics proud of their faith.

Kim Daniels, a member of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications, said the pope’s message has resonated not just with Catholics but also with those who have heard him even through social media. She said he has made the call to live out one’s faith “something that’s concrete and not abstract” and something “we can do right here, right now, where we are.”

For Maria Teresa Gaston, managing director of the Foundations of Christian Leadership Program at the Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, the pope has been clearest on his message of community, telling people, including “those who are undocumented: You are loved and valued.”

She also points to his message to youths at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 as something that still resonates with her. He told the crowd “not to be afraid, to take risks and to be courageous” stressing they should prepare for “courageous and prophetic action in solidarity with the earth and with the poor.”

(Follow Zimmermann on Twitter: @carolmaczim.)

Catholic Charities Migrant Resource Center leads know your rights workshops

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CANTON – Immediately after the Spanish-language Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Nancy Sanchez, Matthew Young and Amelia McGowan put on a very short “know your rights” presentation about what to do in case of an encounter with ICE or the police. The three are all on staff at Catholic Charities’ Migrant Resource Center.

“We particularly spoke about what to do if ICE or the police come to your home or work, or if you are stopped in a roadblock, as most people seemed to be concerned about that,” said Amelia McGowan, attorney for the center. “We used a guide from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC),” McGowan added. Close to 100 people attended the presentation.

“Because we have received a human trafficking grant, I also discussed human trafficking briefly, as some of our clients have fallen victim to labor trafficking, and many are particularly vulnerable to it,” McGowan explained.

After the presentation, Matthew and McGowan provided legal screenings for interested individuals. About 25 people stayed for the screenings.

“For those individuals, we reviewed their particular situations to see if they might qualify for an immigration benefit, such as a U visa for certain victims of violent crimes, a family petition, asylum, etc. We provided those screenings so that people would know what their legal options may be if they are undocumented and would like to stay in the United States,” said McGowan.

This presentation as part of a grant, the Legal Screening Pilot Project, the Migrant Resource Center received from CLINIC. The purpose of the grant is to provide outreach, education and legal screenings to immigrants – especially undocumented immigrants – throughout the state. Starting in the end of February, the center has conducted these presentations/screenings in Corinth, Greenwood, Jackson, Tupelo and Canton. The staff will host one more in Natchez on a date to be determined. “So far, we have spoken to about 550 in group presentations, and 175 individually,” said McGowan.

She said her staff is available to other communities who see a need for education and screenings. “If any parish or community organization is interested in a presentation/legal screening event, they can call us at (601) 948-2635 or email us at immclinic@catholiccharitiesjackson.org.”

Know your rights workshop

St. Richard breaks ground on Special Kids expansion

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JACKSON – St. Richard Catholic Church held a blessing and groundbreaking for the start of the new special kids’ and boy scout building on Sunday, March 26 after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

The new 3,000 square foot building, located across the street from the church, will be completed for the start of the 2017 fall semester.

The area for special kids will contain a classroom with one-on-one areas, art room, kitchen and work room. The scout space will have a large room for meeting and group activity along with three smaller classrooms for meeting, and ample storage room for all their camping supplies.

Kim Turner is the director of the Special Kids Program at St. Richard. The program is designed to help high school students with developmental disabilities. Anthony Warren, senior staff writer for the Northside Sun recently interviewed her about the program the new facility.

What exactly is the Special Kids Program?

“It’s a ministry that provides individual programs to students with developmental disorders. The programs depend on each student. Each child’s goal is different. One might strive to study academics, while one strives to learn life skills and live alone. That’s the ministry.”

Is the program part of the St. Richard school?

“No; the elementary does have a ‘Special Kids’ program, but it’s separate from us. We are a separate ministry of the church.”

What ages do you serve?

“Ages 13 to 21, and we are looking at (expanding) to include an adult program as well.”

I want to go back and ask about the adult program. Why is St. Richard looking at doing that? Also, what age group will the new program serve?

“There seems to be a need. There are great places out there, but some of the students like our program and we just see a need. We’re just in the beginning process of it. We’re not sure where it’s going to lead yet.”

Is the program free for students?

“No, there is a tuition.”

Is Special Kids open only to Catholic students?

“Absolutely not. Anyone is welcome.”

What disabilities do you serve?

“We have a range of children with special needs. There’s not one specific.”

How many instructors do you have?

“We have three teachers, and then we have a lot of volunteers who come in and teach art, dance. Everything is very scheduled, so we have times for them to come in and work with (the students).”

In addition to tuition, how does Special Kids raise money?

“We have a golf tournament every year. This year, it will be October 5. We also have contributors (who give) throughout the year. We have a huge raffle for a weekend at Perdido Key that also raises money. The golf tournament is at Deerfield.”

Let’s switch gears and talk about the new building project. Why is a new facility needed?

“We were in a building that we have just outgrown. We have taken that property and are building the special kids building and also a Boy Scout building. We needed more space and that would be more of an educational space to benefit students.”

Is the building just for improving the experience for current students, or do you hope to expand Special Kids to serve more teens?

“Both; right now, we don’t have a limit of how many students we’ll take, but we have a goal of having 10 or 12. We are creeping up to that number now, and we just need more space. We’ve designed the new building to be the best for these students. There’s a kitchen area, a social area, a classroom area, and also – this is my favorite part – an open space that will provide for one-on-one interaction with students, where teachers can work with the children, and where children can have areas for iPads, art (and the like).”

How are students chosen to participate in Special Kids?

“We meet with parents and students and decide if it’s a good fit for them. We talk to parents about the goals they have for their children, and if our program fits those goals, they’re in.”

How long are students with the Special Kids program?

“Nobody’s left since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here four years now. (Students) finish out at 21. Hopefully, we’ll get an adult program next year and (graduates) will go into that, if that is their desire.”

Is Special Kids’ objective to make all of its students independent, in terms of being able to live on their own?

“I wish I could say there is one specific goal, but each child is different. If it is the desire of the student and parents that the student should live independently, then yes, that is what we’re going for. There may be some children where that is not the goal. They may want to learn (to prepare) their own food. We strive for students to be as independent as possible.”

(Interview reprinted from the Northside Sun Newspaper.)

Father John Bohn, pastor of St. Richard Parish, blesses the ground where a new building to house the Special Kids and Boy Scout programs will be built across from the church. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

Thea’s Turn to be staged in Canton

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CANTON – The life of Canton native Sister Thea Bowman comes to life on stage in her hometown thanks to a performance of “Thea’s Turn” on Saturday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Canton High School Auditorium. The project has been declared an official state bicentennial project.

“Thea’s Turn” has strong ties to Canton beyond just Sister Thea’s upbringing. The play’s author, Mary Queen Donnelly, knew the title character while the two grew up in Canton. Canton native, Dr. Mark Henderson, chair of the department of speech, communication and theatre at Jackson State University, serves as executive director. The cast and crew include members of the nationally acclaimed MADDRAMA, an award winning drama troupe under his direction.

The play tells the story of Sister Thea Bowman from her childhood as Bertha Bowman through her conversion to Catholicism and vocation to religious life all the way to the discovery of cancer and her death. The scenes include periods from the late 1940’s through late 1989. Flonzie Brown-Wright, a classmate and playmate of Bertha (Sister Thea), saw the play in Madison during the summer of 2015 and thought it should be staged in Canton. She enlisted the help of Jana Padgett-Dear, executive director of the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau. Padgett-Dear immediately agreed because in part, it continues her personal commitment to increase the awareness of Sister Thea’s life.

During the spring and summer of 2016, she spent endless hours working with Brown-Wright to update the large display of Sister Thea’s artifacts displayed at the Multicultural Center in town. Incidentally, Padgett-Dear never met Thea, but has been inspired by what she has read and heard about her.

The play attempts to capture the essence of Thea’s struggle of what it meant to be black and Catholic” and her ultimate decision to reconcile Bertha, the great- granddaughter of a slave, and her African American culture with that of the all- white, traditional culture of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wis., where she was Sister Thea.

The play gives the viewer a broader understanding of the complexities of the multifaceted Thea. Donnelly used music to portray different periods of Thea’s life. Being a singer, Spirituals and Gospel songs allowed Bertha to remain connected to her southern heritage, while her appreciation for traditional Latin chant and church music gave her the opportunity to remain true to her beliefs as a Catholic sister.

The advisory committee for this production includes a number of people who knew Thea personally during their days at Holy Child Jesus School and Church, either as classmates, students, priests, parishioners, or members of the Thea Bowman Choir.

“Thea’s Turn” first premiered in New Orleans, LA and later in Madison, MS.

Readings continue as far away as New York City.

This official bicentennial project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities through support from the Mississippi Development Authority.

To reserve seating and for more information contact: jana@cantontourism.com or call (601) 859-1307.

(Story submitted by Flonzie Brown-Wright)

Members of the award-winning drama troupe MADDRAMA will perform the play Thea’s Turn in Canton April 21 and 22. (Photo courtesy of Mark Henderson)

Thea’s Turn to be staged in Canton

Thea’s Turn to be staged in Canton

Thea’s Turn to be staged in Canton

Bishop makes visit to Saltillo mission

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Bishop Joseph Kopacz made his annual journey to Saltillo, Mexico Thursday, March 30- Monday, April 2. Msgr. Michael Flannery accompanied him on his visit. He traveled around to the ranchos and villages, celebrating Masses, Confirmations and helping with the distribution of food to the people. Read more about their trip in the April 21 edition of Mississippi Catholic.

Bishop encourages pastoral planning

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Editor’s Note: Bishop Joseph Kopacz was in Saltillo Mexico March 30-April 3 and was unable to complete a column for this edition. Instead, he offers this letter which is included in the Pastoral Priority workbook. His regular column will return in the next edition.)

Dear friends in Christ,

The new mission, vision and priorities are the fruit of the Holy Spirit through the work of people of God of the Diocese of Jackson. I want to thank the members of the Envisioning Team and all those who attended the 2016 Listening Sessions for giving their input.

Going forward, I hope these priorities will take root and bear fruit for each of our communities and for our diocese as a whole.

I would also like to take a moment to wish you all a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter Season.

Yours in Christ,

(Nota del editor: El obispo Joseph Kopacz estuvo en Saltillo, México desde el 30 de marzo hasta el 3 de abril y no pudo completar la columna para esta edición. En lugar de su columna ofrece esta carta que está incluida en el libro de Prioridades Pastorales. Su columna regular volverá en la edición próxima.)

Queridos amigos en Cristo,

La misión, visión y prioridades nuevas son el fruto del Espíritu Santo a través del trabajo del pueblo de Dios de la diócesis de Jackson. Quiero agradecer a los miembros del equipo de visualización y a todos los que asistieron a las sesiones de escucha de 2016 por sus contribuciones.

Hacia adelante, espero que estas prioridades tomaran raíz y serán fructíferos para cada una de nuestras comunidades y para nuestra diócesis en su totalidad.

También me gustaría tomar un momento para desearles a todos una semana santa bendita y una temporada de Pascua llena de alegría.

Suyo en Cristo,

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

BROOKSVILLE Dwelling Place Retreat Center, Paschal Triduum, April 14-16. Join the staff in observing the spirit of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday in silence and prayer. Attend the special services at Corpus Christi, Macon. Begins 5:00 p.m. Holy Thursday service; concludes with Easter Sunday breakfast. Donation $200. Details: Sheila Avery, (662) 738-5348 or www.dwellingplace.com to register online.

GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus, Sunday, April 23, Feast of Divine Mercy, prayer service, 3 p.m. at the Chapel of Mercy. Come and thank our Lord Jesus for his limitless mercy and love. Details: call Magdalene Abraham (662) 299-1232.

PEARL St. Jude, “Liturgical Music: Ministry Encounters Mystery,” a retreat for parish music directors, musicians and clergy, June 8-9. Sponsored by the Office of Liturgy. Presenter: Alexis Kutarna, director of music for St. Mary Seminary in Houston, Texas. It is requested that all parishes send a representative from their music ministry to this enriching experience. Details: Mary Woodward, (601) 960-8475 or mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org.

CHICAGO Ill., “Disciples Making Disciples,” National Gathering on Christian Initiation is sponsoring a conference for Catechumenal Ministers and Pastoral Leaders on July 5-6. They will be exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of the ministry of Initiation. Details: ngci@ltp.org, (773) 579-4900, ex. 3554 or www.NationalGatheringOnChristianInitiation.org to register.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS

AMORY St. Helen, book discussion on “Dispatches from Pluto” by Richard Grant, Monday, April 10. Everyone is invited to read the book and plan to join in the discussion. Details: church office (662) 256-8392.

COLUMBUS Annunciation School, Annual $10,000 Drawdown fund-raiser, Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. at the Trotter Convention Center. Tickets are $100 and admit two adults (21 and older). Includes dinner catered by Huck’s restaurant, live music by Winwheel and open bar. Drawdown purpose is to fill in the tuition gap between tuition and actual cost of education. Details: Katie Fenstermacher at acsmarking@cableone.net or (662) 328-4479.

GREENWOOD Immaculate Heart of Mary parish center, annual blood drive, Monday, May 8, 2:30 – 7:00 p.m. Details: parish office (662) 453-3980.

HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Annual Yard Sale, April 28-29. Sponsored by the Ladies Association. Proceeds go to debt reduction of the church. Setup will start April 17 at 9 a.m. Details: Barbara Wilder (901) 832-0672; Pat Kuehnel (662) 996-6622 or LaRae Walgenbach (901) 486-0225.

JACKSON Holy Ghost Parish will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23 with a Holy Hour and singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet starting at 2 p.m. The hour will close with benediction and Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 1:30-2:45 p.m. Details: Father Alfred Ayem, SVD, pastor, (601) 353-1339.

– St. Richard, a group of men and women within the parish and Jackson community (between the ages of 28-42) is forming to socialize and network in faith and fellowship. People from different backgrounds, stages of life, and relationships (single or married) to meet over food and drinks. First meeting is Thursday, April 20 at 6 p.m. in Foley Hall. Details: Katherine Capocelli, (804) 301-4590 or email katherine.capocelli@gmail.com.

MADISON St. Francis of Assisi, Cajun Fest 2017. Sunday, May 21, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Features Cajun food, Cold drinks and live music, children’s games, raffles, General Store and plenty of opportunity to socialize in a family friendly atmosphere. Sponsorships of $300 or more will be included on the back of Cajun Fest T-shirt. Sponsorship form must be received by April 14 to be included on the back of t-shirts. Details: (601) 856-5556 (CORRECTION: The March 24th paper had an incorrect date for Cajun Fest. This is a corrected entry. We regret the error.)

SOUTHAVEN Christ the King, Trivia Night, Saturday, April 29. Cost: $15.00/person or $25.00/couple. Mark your calendars now for a fun night out. Details: call Karin (901) 289-0311 or email Donna ctksdonna@gmail.com.

TUPELO St. James, Save the Date, Vacation Bible School “SUPER SAINTS,” July 17-21. Registration will be in Shelton Hall foyer during CCD hours. Details: Jessica (662) 871-5033 or email jvaughnii@aol.com if you can volunteer.

VICKSBURG, St. Michael, Softball league for 16 years of age or older. League play starts in April. Details: call Joe Loviza at 636-1694.

GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Joint Elementary and Secondary School Live Stations of the Cross presented by the Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School at 9:15 AM Wednesday, April 12, in the Philip and Louise Mansour Gymnasium.

YOUTH BRIEFS

GREENVILLE St. Joseph Catholic School, Summer Camp Dates:

Mini-Cheer, June 5-7, 8-11 a.m.

Football, June 5-7, 8-11 a.m.

Basketball, June 5-7,12 noon – 3 p.m.

Baseball, June 12-14, 8-11 a.m.

Science, June 12-14,12 noon- 3 p.m

Soccer, June 19-21, 8-11 a.m.

Registration forms will be mailed this week. Details: Missi Blackstock, (662)378-9711.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. Snacks at the Family Life Center, 9:30 – 10 a.m. KCYO in Memorial Park. Younger Children at Family Life Center. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

VICKSBURG St. Paul, Easter Egg Hunt for children up to fourth grade, Saturday, April 15, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Food and games as well as egg hunt with prizes. Bring a basket. Details: church office (601) 636-0140.

 

Bishop, team roll out new plan, detail implementation structure

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By Maureen Smith

JACKSON – All of the rollout sessions for the new mission, vision and pastoral priorities are scheduled to be finished by Thursday, April 6. In all, Bishop Joseph Kopacz’ team led implementation sessions in nine parishes selected in hopes of making it possible for people from all parishes to attend if they would like. During the first seven sessions, more than 500 people representing more than half of the parishes came.

The point of the rollout sessions was two-fold. Bishop Kopacz wanted people who attended last year’s listening sessions to hear the data gathered and learn how it was turned into the new mission, vision and priorities. The other goal of the sessions was to work with the parish representatives who will be integrating the new material into their parish community life. The teams got a training session in how to write SMART goals and got time to practice how that is done.

In addition to parish presentations, Bishop Kopcaz and Father Kevin Slattery, vicar general for the diocese, presented the priorities to school administrators during their retreat. Catherine Cook, superintendent of Catholic Schools, said each school community will use the mission, vision and priorities as they plan their next couple of academic years.

From here, pastors will form teams and begin the process of writing and working on goals specific to their communities. Bishop Kopacz has appointed a resource person to each parish. This person has already undergone training in how to charter a team and what SMART goals should look like.

Members of the resource team are available to present workshops to the parish teams, but are not meant to direct the plans in any way. They will offer regular reports to Bishop Kopacz on how each parish is doing on writing and executing their goals.

Pam Minninger is one of the resource people. She said she is already seeing the fruits of this work. “Of course, it takes a bit of time to digest the idea of SMART goals and how to formulate them, but once the work begins the parish teams seem to be really energized and ready to set some good goals for their parishes,” she said. “In today’s world, we seem to move through our days, weeks, months, just ‘getting things done’ and forget to set goals and live our lives deliberately and with thought. I think teams are seeing the need, the wisdom, and the potential in taking the time to set goals and deliberately address the way the vision statements can be lived,” added Minninger.

This priority plan is meant to be a three to five year project. Parishes may decide to concentrate their efforts on one or maybe two priorities. Some larger parishes may be able to tackle all three at once. Each parish team learned that they should dream big, but concentrate their efforts on two or three SMART goals at a time. Once they meet those, the pastor can convene a new team, or keep the existing one to write new goals for another priority.

As the resource people report to the bishop, a new Envisioning team will consider how to adjust the priorities for the future.

Members of the parish teams each received booklets with the vision, mission and priorities outlined. The books include desired outcomes for the diocese as a whole and pages where team members can write their own thoughts or goals. Additional books are available to any parish who may need them.

The diocesan department of communications has developed an entire section of the website where anyone can read the new vision, mission and priorities and find resources for using them in groups or if an individual would like to take on a personal reflection of the plan. The new website is available from the homepage for the diocese, www.jacksondiocese.org. Look for Pastoral Priorities in the upper right corner.

Turn to pages 8-9 of this edition to see each priority and the detailed outcomes. In coming months, look in Mississippi Catholic for updates on the rollout and success stories.

 

VISION:

This is the new Vision Statement and logo. The Vision: Embrace Diversity, Serve Others, Inspire Disciples, is wrapped around the logo in a circular way to symbolize that they are all of equal importance. One part of the vision feeds into the others. The Envisioning Team wanted the vision to be broad so it captures what it means to be Catholic in Mississippi, but also wanted it to have some room so each community could embrace what each vision statement means in that specific parish, school or center. This will serve as the new logo for the Diocese of Jackson.

Logo

 

 

 

MISSION:

In a similar way, the Mission Statement will remain even if priorities change. It is meant to direct, guide and inspire the faithful as they live their lives and be a foundation for all the work of the individual parishes, missions, schools and service centers. The mission and each priority statement have Scripture versus associated with them. The Scripture for the Mission Statement comes from Matthew’s Gospel. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me (Matt 25:35-36).

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PRIORITIES:

The priorities are not numbered. All are of equal importance. Parishes may decide to focus on only one or two or may wish to tackle all three. What is important is that they find a shared vision to unify them. Bishop Kopacz and his Envisioning Team came up with outcomes to focus the work and assigned a scripture to each to help with discernment.