By James Shields
Saint Joseph Seminary College, located near Covington, La., welcomed a record 137 students this year for the Fall 2015 semester, an 83 percent increase from just five years ago, when 75 seminarians enrolled. Seminarians for the Diocese of Jackson study at St. Ben’s, as it is commonly known, before they complete their formation and graduate studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
Saint Joseph Seminary College is a community of faith and learning in the liberal arts rooted in the Benedictine tradition that promotes the development of the whole person. The formation program fosters the commitment of seminarians to the Roman Catholic priesthood in accordance with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops› Program of Priestly Formation.
The Seminary College also supports preparation for service in lay ministries and makes available its educational and other resources to the local community.
Father Gregory Boquet, OSB, president and rector of the seminary college, credits not only the presence of the Benedictine community to the growing student body over the years, but also the reputation of the baccalaureate and pre-theology programs.
“Our seminarians not only have the opportunity to live, learn and grow spiritually alongside the Benedictine community, who have made this their home since 1889, but also benefit from a stellar group of faculty and staff who are dedicated to making sure students achieve their full potential,” Boquet said.
“We realize the decision to attend Saint Joseph Seminary is a defining moment for students and strive to make sure everybody is on the right path. This sentiment goes a long way with our students and is a big part of the reason so many young men decide to pursue their education here,” Boquet added.
One of those young men who didn’t take the decision to attend Saint Joseph lightly is Luke Mayeux, a second year seminarian from Orange, Texas. Mayeux believes that the enrollment has increased so much within the last few years because of the growing awareness of the need for priests that young men are witnessing today.
“I truly believe that most guys have a genuine desire to do something with their lives that is greater than themselves. The priesthood is just that,” Mayeux added.
In addition to Mayeux, students this year are representing 20 archdioceses and dioceses from across the Gulf South region, including: Atlanta, Ga.; Galveston-Houston, Texas; Mobile Ala,; New Orleans; Alexandria, La.; Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, La; Beaumont, Texas; Biloxi, Miss,; Corpus Christi, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Houma-Thibodaux, La.; Jackson, Miss.; Lafayette, La.; Lake Charles, La.; Memphis, Tenn.; Shreveport, La.; St. Augustine, Fla.; and Victoria, Texas.
Joseph Hastings, a senior from Memphis, Tenn., thinks word of mouth plays a large role in the decision for students across the South to visit campus and eventually make it their second home for four years.
“Another cause for the increase is the example that Pope Francis is setting for the world. He not only preaches the Gospel, but he goes out and lives it; by encountering people in the streets. He’s an example of what a true shepherd is called to be, a man of prayer and action, and this example is attractive to men everywhere,” Hastings said.
(James Shields is the manager of Communications for Saint Joseph Abbey + Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana.)

Each fall the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors gathers. This year, Archbishop Joseph Lucas of Omaha reflected on the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation ‘I Shall Give You Shepherds.’ This exhortation followed the 1990 synod of bishops reflecting on priestly formation. Pope Saint John Paul wrote, “Pastoral work for vocations needs especially today, to be taken up with a new vigor and more decisive commitment by all the members of the Church…[It] is an essential part of the overall pastoral work of each church.”
Archbishop Lucas explained, “The church is a community of those being called.” He continued that all have been impacted by the sexual revolution, the consumer culture, and relativism. The church must have priests, and God is calling young men. They are imperfect, but they can grow.
The Diocese of Jackson has 12 seminarians currently in formation, an expensive prospect for any diocese. The faithful can help by donating to the Seminarian Education Endowment, and now their gifts can go even farther, thanks to Catholic Extension Service’s Seminarian Endowment Challenge.
Extension will give $500 for every new $1,000 donation to the endowment, but the diocese has to get $75,000 in donations by the end of the year to earn the match.  Groups of people can donate, but the donation must be a new one, not a renewal from last year and it cannot come from an organization such as the Knights of Columbus.
It costs between $32,700 and $40,650 to educate a seminarian for a year depending on whether he is going to St. Joseph Abbey or Notre Dame Seminary, both in Louisiana. The men pay for part of their education, but the diocese also pays. Being able to build up the endowment is critical to help these men complete their discernment and formation as well as being a catalyst for local vocations.
All donations should be payable to the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and earmarked for the Seminarian Endowment Challenge. Send them to 237 East Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201. For more information contact Father Matthew Simmons at 601-960-8484 or matthew.simmons@jacksondiocese.org or Aad de lange 601-960-8459 or aad.delange@jacksondiocese.org.

Two consecrated individuals who have served in the Diocese of Jackson have been elected to national leadership positions in their orders. Sister Maureen Delaney, SNJM, and Father Michael Barth, ST, will act as provincial and superior general respectively.
Sister Delaney is one of five sisters who will become the new Province Leadership Team for the Sisters of the Holy Names U.S.-Ontario Province beginning in January 2016. Joining Sister Delaney (who will serve as Provincial) are Mary Breiling, Guadalupe Guajardo, Margaret Kennedy and Mary Rita Rohde.
The Leadership Team serves a five-year term, leading a religious community that includes 17 Mission Centres across the United States and Ontario, Canada. Sister Delaney, who is the founder and executive director of the Tutwiler Community Education Center, has been developing education, recreation and enrichment programs and activities for children, teens and adults in a poor rural area of Mississippi for the past 28 years. She announced earlier this year that she will retire from that position. The center is currently in the midst of a search for a new director.
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) is an international congregation of Catholic Sisters, associates and lay consecrated who are dedicated to the full development of the human person through education, social justice, contemplation and the arts. Holy Names Sisters work to heal and repair the world by engaging in education, arts and culture, social service, advocacy, social justice and systemic change.
Father Michael Barth, ST, has been elected Superior General of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Missions). Father Barth served for many years as the pastor of Camden Sacred Heart Parish in the Diocese of Jackson. His election came at his religious congregation’s fifteenth General Chapter, held in Fort Mitchell, Alabama. Father Barth, ordained in 1979 and 63 years old, is a native of Berwick, Pennsylvania. In his first four-year term, Father Mike will be assisted by Rev. Jesús Ramírez, ST, of Guadalajara, México, who was elected his congregation’s Vicar General.
Among other actions taken by the General Chapter was a statement urging the passage of a comprehensive and humane immigration reform bill in the United States. In reference to statements made by the bishops of the United States, the document calls upon federal and state governments to recognize both the moral and human rights of people to migrate for political, economic, and religious reasons.
“We ask others, including religious and political leaders to join us in working together to bring about justice for our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Father Barth said.
The Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity are a religious congregation founded in Holy Trinity, Alabama, in 1929, by Rev. Thomas Judge.
Sacred Heart Parish in Camden and Holy Rosary Indian Mission in Tucker, are two of 30 Trinity Missions found in 11 dioceses in the United States and Puerto Rico, and eight dioceses in México, Colombia, and Costa Rica.

JACKSON – Emanuele Fontanini, of the House of Fontanini from Bagni di Lucca, Italy, will visit the Carmelite Gift Shop on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 – 5 p.m. as part of his 2015 Nativity tour in the United States.
Carmelite Sister Donna Marie Degnan said she is delighted to have the president of the House of Fontanini visit again the shop to autograph figures and chat with collectors and attendees.
The gift shop is being decorated with Christmas trees, ornaments and gifts for this event which will be part of the weekend open house and bake sale that will run until Sunday, Dec. 20.
Sister Degnan said this visit is very special since the members of the Fontanini family usually chose only around 10 stores to visit during the Christmas season and again they have selected the Carmelite Gift Shop for one of their tour stops. In 2013, Stefano Fontanini visited the store and Emanuele came in 2011.
The gift shop will also be among one of the retail stores that will carry the 2015 Exclusive Tour Figure, Dominic.
Sister Degnan said that those who can’t attend the day of Emanuele Fontanini’s visit, they can purchase the items ahead of time and leave them at the store to be signed by him during his visit and pick them up at their convenience.
Emanuele Fontanini is the fourth generation head of his family’s business, which has been creating nativities and sculptures since 1908. Fontanini Nativities are comprised of lifelike hand-painted figures and historically researched structures in eight different sizes that together present an extraordinary step back in time to biblical Bethlehem.
Christmas shoppers are also invited to view the variety of items available to decorate their homes, including ornaments, nativities and Santas.
On Saturdays, the store opens from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1- 4 p.m. The Carmelite Gift Shop is located on 2155 Terry Road in Jackson. For more information call 601-373-3412.

By Rebecca Harris
MADISON – The Catholic Foundation hosted the 33rd annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Lake Caroline Golf Course. Proceeds from the tournament benefited the Catholic Foundation office and the Rev. Martin Ruane Memorial Trust established by the Bishop’s Cup committee in memory of the Irish priest who died earlier this year.
Father Ruane was a big supporter of The Catholic Foundation and he played in the Bishop’s Cup every year. There were 94 golfers representing parishes across the diocese. After a day of golf, 100 guests gathered for dinner and the live and silent auction at The Mermaid Café. The golf awards were presented to the winners after a silent auction.
The scores were very close. A team for Madison St. Francis Parish sponsored by Bank Plus received first place and Natchez St. Mary Basilica received second place. The Bishop Cup committee would like to thank all the golfers, dinner guests and all who donated to the Rev. Martin Ruane Memorial trust. A special thank you goes out to all of our sponsors, listed below.

Plutonium Level:
St. Dominic Health Services, Inc.
The John Richards Collection

Uranium Sponsors:
Ergon

Titanium Sponsors:
Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC
Capital Glass Company
Rusty’s Boat, Grand Isle, LA

Gold Sponsors:
Acme
Insurance Consulting Group
Bank Plus
Insurance & Risk Managers
Boon Chapman
Lefoldt & Co., PA
Brown Bottling Co.
Peter and Miriam Koury
Capital City Beverages
Raymond James
Citizens National Bank
Southland Management
Coker & Palmer Inc.
Tico’s Steak House

Hole Sponsors:
Allstate, Ameritas
Kim and Gary Taylor
Knights of Columbus Council #9543
Mike and Diane Pumphrey
Old Rivers Company Inc.
State Farm
St. Anthony Catholic School

CANTON – Bishop John Manz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, arrived in Jackson Sunday, Oct. 11, for a five-day pastoral visit to the Diocese of Jackson, specifically to areas where Hispanics work.
Bishop Manz, who is chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers; and a member of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church and Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America, came accompanied by Sister Joanna Okereke and David Corrales of USCCB and Sister Miriam Bannon of the Catholic Migrant Farmworkers Association.
His first visit was in Canton where he met with about 50 Hispanic members of Sacred Heart Parish to listen to their concerns as immigrants and about work and safety related issues.
He plans to visit Vardaman, Houston, Greenwood, Bruce, Leland and Cleveland where he will meet with Hispanics, tour some of the farms where they work and celebrate Masses in several of these places.
The Oct. 30 edition will include a story and photos of his pastoral visit to the diocese.

Will Jemison, coordinator of the Black Catholic Office, has some funds to a help pastor, lay ecclesial minister, or religious that is interested in The Josephite Pastoral Center and the National Black Catholic Congress Presentation – “Pastoring in Black Parishes.”
Pastoring in Black Parishes is a series of development and enrichment conferences for priests, deacons, seminarians and brothers who serve in the Black Apostolate. We will focus on the development of pastoral skills necessary to effectively serve the African American community.
Dates: Nov. 9 – Nov. 12, 2015
Cost: $ 200 per person which includes: registration and materials, welcome dinner, daily continental breakfast and lunch.
Where: Hilton Crystal City Hotel 2399 Jefferson Davis Hwy Arlington, VA 22202. Details: Will Jemison, wjemison@gmail.com, 601-949-6935 or 601-291-2462. To register visit at: www.josephitepastoralcenter.org. Participants also need to reserve a room.

By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Society and the church have much to learn from the family and, in fact, the bond between the church and the family is “indissoluble,” Pope Francis said.
Families bring needed values and a humanizing spirit to society and, when they mirror God’s love for all, they teach the church how it should relate to all people, including the “imperfect,” the pope said Oct. 7 during his weekly general audience.
While members of the Synod of Bishops on the family were meeting in small groups, Pope Francis held his audience with an estimated 30,000 people in St. Peter’s Square. He asked them to accompany the synod with their prayers.
While the Catholic Church insists that governments and the economy need families and have an obligation to give them greater support, Pope Francis said, the church itself recognizes that it, too, must have a “family spirit.”
Using the Gospel story of Jesus telling the disciples he would make them “fishers of men,” Pope Francis said, “a new kind of net is needed for this. We can say that today families are the most important net for the mission of Peter and the church.”
“It is not a net that imprisons,” he said. “On the contrary, it frees people from the polluted waters of abandonment and indifference that drown many human beings in the sea of solitude.”
Families are the place where individuals learn that they are “sons and daughters, not slaves or foreigners or just a number on an identity card,” the pope said. “The church must be the family of God.”
Pope Francis asked people to join him in praying that “the enthusiasm of the synod fathers, animated by the Holy Spirit, would energize the impulse of the church to abandon its old nets and start fishing again, trusting in the word of its Lord. Let us pray intensely for this!”
“Christ promised — and this comforts us — that even bad fathers do not refuse to give bread to their hungry children, so it is impossible that God would not give the Spirit to those who — even imperfect as they are — ask with passionate insistence,” he said.
The world itself needs “a robust injection of family spirit,” he said. Even the best organized economic, juridical and professional relationships are “dehydrated” and anonymous without concern for people, especially for the weakest members of society.
Family ties, the pope said, teach individuals and society the value of “bonds of fidelity, sincerity, trust, cooperation, respect; they encourage people to work toward a world that is livable and to believe in relationships even in difficult situations; they teach people to honor their word.”
A video to accompany this story can be found at https://youtu.be/4-9sQIGCi3w