By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Abbey Schuhmann, a native of Gulfport, will step into the role of Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Jackson this June. Schuhmann is currently the director of youth ministry for Madison St. Francis Parish.
“I’m excited and open and I’m ready to take on the challenge and hopefully bring some new energy to our youth on the diocesan level,” said Schuhmann. Fran Lavelle, Director of Faith Formation, said her search committee was thrilled to find a candidate close to home after a nationwide search.

Schuhmann

“There was a search committee that included a priest, a youth minister from a large parish, one from a small parish, a representative of Catholic schools, Hispanic ministry and myself,” said Lavelle. The group interviewed candidates from in and out of state. Some of this was happening during the recent listening sessions. The need for invigorating youth ministry was a common topic at the sessions so Lavelle said she felt very affirmed during her long and intensive search.
Schuhmann was raised in the Methodist Church and was very active in her youth group there. She attended Catholic middle and high school on the coast. While she attended Mississippi State University she began to attend events at the Catholic campus ministry program. “By my senior year I decided to go through the RCIA program. I just really felt called to the Catholic Church. I really felt like that’s where I belonged, that’s where I was being fed spiritually, that’s where I was being nourished and I was very comfortable in Catholic Church,” said Schuhmann.
When she graduated, she and her husband moved to Jackson and immediately got involved in youth ministry.  “My husband and I were attending St. Richard and got involved as volunteers with the youth program there. We started helping with Sunday night activities, chaperoned some of the SEARCH retreats,” she said.
“Youth ministry has always been a part of my life- ever since I was a participant through high school, through campus ministry at State, at St. Richard. Then a full-time position became available at St. Francis. The opportunity came about at what I felt like was a good time in my life to jump in feet first and I have loved it ever since. It’s just a part of who I am and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Schuhmann added.
She added a word of thanks to her pastor, Msgr. Michael Flannery and the entire staff at St. Francis. “I’m very blessed to have spent 9 years at St. Francis in the role as Youth Minister and more recently as High School Religious Education coordinator and I am grateful to all that I had the pleasure of working with,” she said. While Schuhmann won’t start her work full time until later this year, she and the team from the office of Faith Formation have already been setting goals and making plans.
“We’ve established short-term goals for the academic year as well as long-term goals that include the reestablishment of something like the youth convention. It might not look like the old youth convention, but it will be some kind of similar gathering,” explained Lavelle.
The calendar includes at least one diocesan-sponsored youth event a month except at Christmastime and in the busy months of April or May. The calendar includes service opportunities for the summer, retreats and trips to regional and national events such as Abbey Youth Fest and March for Life.
Schuhmann has been putting thought and prayer into her upcoming role. “I do have a vision for what I want it to look like. I want our youth to come together from all over our diocese to see the greater church. I want them to see they are no alone. We are such a minority in our state and I want them to know there is a greater group — they are not alone in their faith. There are a lot of teenagers who embrace the fact that they are Catholic. I want them to feel that unity and know they have support,” said Schuhmann.
“She understands where we have been and where we need to go and she has a vision for that and it includes really connecting our young people in a way that’s holy and fun. She’s got youthful energy, but she’s got some wisdom behind it so I really respect that in her,” said Lavelle.

JACKSON – Catholic Charities will award the Good Samaritan Award to Michele and Thomas Harris and the late Bishop William Houck during this year’s Bishop’s Ball in June. Bishop Houck was selected before he died in early March and the board decided to honor him posthumously for all his devotion to the organization.
“Many of the programs in Catholic Charities and within the diocese were started by Bishop Houck. Catholic Charities was in the beginning stages under Bishop Houck’s leadership and his vision to see the works of the organization truly assist those who throughout the diocese is being met,” said Mike Brechtel, chairman of the Catholic Charities governance council.

Houck

“His service both to our diocese as a bishop and then as president of Catholic Extension Society helped more people than you can imagine. He is truly deserving of this honor and his legacy and service will never be forgotten,” added Brechtel.
The Harrises are both CPAs and have successfully worked together at Home-Land Title, since 2003. They have two children, Mabry, who is a junior at Mississippi State University, and Jonathan, who is a junior at Hartfield Academy.
Michele has served on the board of the Catholic Foundation for a number of years and is also a member of the Diocesan Finance Council.
Thomas’ first experience with Catholic Charities was through his mother, who served on the board in the late 80’s and early 90s, serving as chairman of the development, finance and audit committees, and as chairman of the governance council.
“Being CPA’s always lead to treasurer/finance positions in many organizations that we found ourselves through the years, which in turn led to so much more knowledge and insight about how to serve and assist them in accomplishing their missions,” said Michele.
At Flowood St. Paul Parish, Thomas has severed as pastoral council president for eight years. He also served on the RCIA instruction team, a tradition, like Catholic Charities, that was handed down from his mother. He is a past membership chairman for the Knight of Columbus Council 10216, and has also served his parish as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, catechist, commentator, lector and usher.

Michele & Thomas Harris

Michele has served on the chairman of the finance committee at St. Paul’s for an even longer period of time. She was the administrator of the building committee that oversaw the construction of St. Paul’s family life center. She has also served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, board member of the St. Paul’s Learning Center, and as a catechist.
“Thomas and Michele truly have servants’ hearts and lead by example bring many people of different faiths together to work and have fun doing it, said Brechtel. “I have personally witnessed many individual families who have benefitted from their acts of kindness and I know they never seek recognition,” he added.
“Connecting people with resources offered by Catholic Charities whether it is financial, spiritual or physical has been our most gracious gift to share,“ said Michele.
The ball is set for Saturday, June 4, at the Country Club of Jackson and tickets are available now for $85 per person. To reserve tickets call 601-326-3714.

By Amy Turner
Does the number 5,142 mean anything to you? What about 4,367? According to a report from the New York Times, As of December 2015, there were 5,142 children in the Mississippi foster care system. There were another 4,367 children being monitored but not yet placed in the system. For the Mississippi Department of Family and Children Services to be involved, some type of abuse or neglect has been reported or has occurred.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Much of the staff at Catholic Charities of Jackson are dedicated to both preventing further abuse and healing the hurts of past abuse all year round, but we welcome the opportunity to raise awareness of this pressing issue in our community. Many people think of abuse as just physical, but there are many forms including:
Physical – physical harm or injury to a child that is non-accidental. This can include kicking, punching, biting, beating, etc.
Sexual – when a parent or other person in charge sexually molests or uses a child for sexual purposes or knowingly fails to protect a child from sexual abuse or sexual exploitation
Emotional – emotional or mental injury to a child. This can include calling names, withholding affection, exposing a child to violence, belittling or humiliating the child.
Neglect – caregiver does not provide for a child’s physical, developmental, medical, emotional or psychological needs
The emotional effect on children who have been abused or neglected can last a lifetime. Even when the physical wounds have healed, the internal and external traumatic scars remain. These scars can damage a person’s sense of self, inhibit the regulation of their emotions, impact the ability to have trusting and healthy relationships, and impact the ability to function in home, work or school environments. In some cases, victims of abuse are not able to work and can become dependent on social services for care. Sometimes they become abusers themselves and perpetuate the cycle into a new generation.
This does not have to be the case. With proper treatment and support, victims can become survivors and can contribute to society. They can stop the cycle and help our entire community be stronger and safer.
Child abuse and neglect occurs in all types of families, regardless of race, ethnicity or socio-economic status. However, children who witness domestic violence, who live with an alcoholic or addict, or are being parented by a caregiver with untreated mental illness can be at an increased risk of abuse. Also, abuse risks are increased by caregivers with a lack of parenting skills, a lack of support from family, friends or community or increased financial stress in their lives.
If you suspect child abuse, call 1-800-222-8000. You can do this anonymously. Be specific and give as many details as you can. It is not your responsibility to investigate, but it is your responsibility to report.  You may not know the results of the investigation, but if you continue to suspect abuse, continue to report. You may not feel it is your place to get involved, but remember, the consequences of NOT reporting could be a detriment to a child’s safety or even life threatening.
Once abuse is reported, there are things we can do to help a child heal. Catholic Charities provides an array of services to assist children and their families who have been affected by abuse and neglect.
Programs include intensive counseling for children and their families through Hope Haven Home Based, Hope Haven Residential, and Solomon Counseling Center. The Therapeutic Foster Care Program and Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program provide services to children in a foster or group home setting. Domestic Violence Services and Alcohol and Drug Services are available as well.
We offer many of our services for free or on a sliding scale to make them affordable for working families. For more information or to support the work of Catholic Charities, visit our website, www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org.
(Amy Turner, LMSW, is the Director of Children’s Services for Catholic Charities of Jackson).