By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Catholic School students scored higher on the ACT college test than other students in the state. Catholic students also saw an increase in scores over last year and an overall increase over a five-year period, according to the organization that administers the test.
The ACT is a test used to measure college readiness in English, math, reading and science. It is open to high school upperclassmen. Composite scores rose from 22.3 last year to 22.9 this year. The state average score was 18.7. The state score includes all of the public and private school students tested across the state. The highest possible score is 36 and the national average falls between 20 and 21. The highest gains from last year came in English and reading, both of which rose by a full point from 23 to 24 in English and 22.5 to 23.5 in reading. State averages in those subjects were 18.7 and 19.3 respectively.
Math scores rose .7 to 21.2; science scores rose .3 to 22.4. To put some of these numbers in perspective, a student with a score of 18 in English composition is considered ready for college-level courses in that subject. Students who score 22 in the Algebra section, 22 in social science and 23 in biology are all considered to be ready to pass a college course.
“We are thrilled about the increase,” said Catherine Cook, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “While we are glad to see test scores reflecting the great work being done in our schools, we will continue to work toward ensuring that each student gets what he or she needs to succeed overall in whatever path they choose,” added Cook.
The test may be taken by high school students, but the work to prepare students for graduation and college starts in the earliest grades. The Diocese of Jackson has been on a mission to improve curriculum in all of its schools with help from the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), based out of Notre Dame University.
“In the past five years, we have implemented the ACE curriculum, which uses a set of standards written for our diocese by educators in our diocese” said Margaret Anzelmo, coordinator for academic excellence for diocesan schools. “It uses intentional structures between what students know and should be able to do at the end of the year,” she added. This individual planning means the educators in diocesan schools were able to discuss specific strengths and challenges within their schools and come up with the best ways to structure their curriculums, seek out needed resources and share success stories.
“We have also been using a standard walkthrough for principals to observe in classes and be able to offer feedback,” said Anzelmo.
Educators from every school took initial training at Notre Dame and then came back to the diocese to begin revising the curriculum for each subject and training their fellow educators on the method ACE uses. Each subject goes through a two-year assessment and revision followed by ongoing assessment and measurement.
“At the end of the day, we have great teachers and we emphasize the strength of each child,” said Anzelmo.

By Maureen Smith
RAYMOND – The weekend of Aug. 7-9, six men preparing to be deacons for the Diocese of Jackson and their wives joined Bishop Joseph Kopacz and their chaplain Father Sam Messina at the Norbertine Priory of St. Moses the Black in Raymond for a retreat. On Sunday, all six men were admitted to candidacy for the diaconate, one of the last steps on their five-year-journey to ordination.
The retreat is an annual gathering meant to help the men build strong relationships with one another and their bishop and to take a break from the academic side of their preparation.
“The process of our formation – the academic part – can be kind of intense sometimes because we are doing the equivalent of a masters in theology along with our regular jobs and our lives and all that, so this is an opportunity for us once a year to step back from all that and settle down and remember why we are doing this and really focus on the ministry of being a deacon,” said John McGinley.
“We have an opportunity, first of all to bond as brothers and get to know each other, get to know the wives and also bond with the bishop. This is an opportunity for us to know him and him to know us. That’s really important because of the unique relationship between the diaconate and the bishop,” said John McGregor.
The group spent a week earlier this summer at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana taking an intensive course on homiletics. “It was quite an adventure. We had one prepared homily going in and we were videotaped. It was humbling to sit down with the priest and go through our strengths and weaknesses,” said Ted Schreck.  The men had to prepare homilies for different occasions, including a funeral.  “We looked at the different styles of homiletics and such. I gained a great appreciation for what the priests and deacons do each and every day,” said Schreck.
He said while they were far from Mississippi, the course really brought home the kind of very personal work they will be doing when they preach. “We really concentrated on knowing who your audience was — so it was all about considering those that we left at home — the parishioners, our friends and family members, people we haven’t met yet,” he said.
McGinley said the trip was more than just an academic experience. “Fr. Anthony Quyet told me at the beginning of this, he said, ‘John you’re going to get a lot of information in the next five years, but information is not formation and you need to make that distinction and make sure that as you gain all this new information that you let it become part of who you are and let it change you.’
That week at St. Meinrad was a lot of information, but it was tremendous formation,” said McGinley. “I really felt like in some way I was different when I left there than when I got there. It was just as much a very intense class as it was a retreat. It was a week of tremendous growth. Yeah, just a beautiful week,” he added.
The Feast of St. Lawrence, one of the first deacons and martyrs for the church, fell on the weekend of the retreat and the bishop used it to speak about the ministry of the diaconate. He spoke of it as a ministry of service and reminded the men that even after they take the Sacrament of Holy Orders, they will have to maintain and nourish their Sacrament of marriage. They will continue to live their lives at work and in their parishes.
The candidates have talked a lot about that service during their fomation. “The idea of the diaconate does not deny the service that other people are doing. The laity are very active in our churches,” explained John McGregor. “I think John Paul II said that we are the service of the church sacramentalized. We are not the only ones serving in church, we are just a sign of that service,” he added.
All of the men were thankful that now retired Bishop Joseph Latino started them on their journey and that Bishop Kopacz continues to support them on the way.
Father Messina said he enjoys guiding the candidates because he values the ministry they are called to do. He said a man who believes he has a calling to the diaconate should have a couple of important qualities. “He must have a suitable prayer life and relationship with God. There must be a willingness and desire to serve God’s people.
“The Good Shepherd image is what’s needed; a Pope Francis model would be ideal. In short, a deacon is a servant after the mind and heart of Jesus who came to serve and not be served. The candidate will need the ability to proclaim and preach God’s Word. Finally, a Deacon or any minister lay or ordained primarily preaches by his or her life,” said Father Messina.
During the next several months the candidates will continue their formation, which will include a day of practicum on liturgical roles and movements of a deacon, especially at a Mass where the bishop is the celebrant. “Deacons have a very special role in the liturgy. When the local bishop is the celebrant, the presence of the deacon allows the bishop to be surrounded by all his ministers – servers, lectors, acolytes, deacons and priests,” said Mary Woodward, diocesan chancellor and director of liturgy.
“Our diocesan liturgies will be greatly enhanced by having deacons present in their traditional role. Therefore, we want them to have a sense of comfort and confidence in the sanctuary. This will assist in drawing the faithful even more into the sacred mysteries,” Woodward added.

By Sister M. Dorothea Sondgeroth, O.P.
The year of celebrating Consecrated Life concludes in February, 2016. This year coincides with the Dominican Sisters celebrating St. Dominic Hospital’s 70 years of Catholic healthcare ministry to the people in Mississippi.
In 1946 the Dominican Sisters from Springfield, Ill., were invited by Bishop Richard O. Gerow to come operate the Jackson Infirmary located in downtown Jackson on President Street, in walking distance from St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral. Nine Pioneer sisters answered the call to leave Illinois and journey to “mission territory” where they experienced a warm welcome from Bishop Gerow, the clergy and Mercy Sisters who offered them temporary living accommodations.
The lay folks offered a more skeptical welcome as they had never seen Dominican Sisters in white habits and from the North, at that! These women religious were ahead of their times in leadership as the sisters came equipped to minister in various departments as administrators, registered nurses, registered dietitians, registered pharmacists, purchasing agents, medical record librarians and laboratory technicians.
The old Jackson Infirmary was in deplorable condition so the sisters set out with the help of business leaders in the community to locate land for a new hospital. Having been denied a parcel of land by the state, an offer was made to the sisters to purchase 13 acres in north Jackson, a location that was isolated with no roads.
Trusting in God’s Providence, the sisters decided to purchase the land and soon St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital was built on what was to become Lakeland Drive. This “Beacon on the Hill” weathered the challenges of the 1960’s under the direction of the sisters who followed the motto, “The charity of Christ urges us on” and “God prospered the work of our hands.”
Soon St. Dominic’s expanded its services and today St. Dominic Health Services is the Parent Corporation for St. Dominic Hospital, the only Catholic hospital in the state, and six other subsidiaries. These subsidiaries include St. Catherine’s Village, Madison Health Services, St. Dominic Health Services Foundation, First Intermed Corporation, and Community Health Services – St. Dominic, Inc. which includes the Club, St. Dominic’s Community Health Clinic, New Directions for Over 55 and the Care-A- Van.
Besides the sisters ministering in healthcare, there were other Dominican Sisters privileged to serve in the Diocese of Jackson as teachers, pastoral associates and an assistant school superintendent. For the past 69 plus years more than 70 Dominican Sisters have been blessed and privileged to minister to the people of God in the Jackson diocese. Today there are seven Dominican Sisters ministering with 3,500 associates who are defined by our mission and driven by our passion to serve God in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi.
Consecrated Life truly is worthy of celebration!
(Sister Dorthea Sondgeroth, OP, is the associate executive director of St. Dominic Health Services Foundation)

FOREST – After 18 years of service in Morton and Forest, Sister Camilla Hemann is retiring from her ministries in music, hospice care and assistance to immigrants.
“I feel very sad to leave this place where I have grown in my faith and where I have worked with the different communities in both places,” said Sister Hemann Saturday, Aug. 15, during a special Mass at St. Michael Parish where she sang and played the organ.
“I have enjoyed my work here where I have served the Hispanic, American and Vietnamese communities,” she said, adding that her hospice ministry with African-Americans was very important to her too.
“When I came to the Diocese of Jackson, my work was with hospice ministry but I offered to help with music in case there was a need for it,” she added.
During her time in Scott County she helped families file and maintain immigration papers and accompanied them to the immigration office and on doctor’s visits. “I also wrote letters for them and helped them in any way I could.
“I see all my work in this area as a blessing,” she said. “It makes me sad leaving now, and sometimes I think that I should stay a little longer since I have the energy to continue my service but at the same time I feel it is time for me to go to my mother house in Dubuque,” she said.
Sister Hemann, a Sister of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa, was the director of the EXCEL Center in Morton for several years and recently has been a volunteer.
At 78, she says she is not retiring, just moving. She plans to find a new ministry when she gets to the motherhouse. In the meantime she is praying for someone to replace her in Forest and Morton.

JACKSON – Habitat for Humanity’s Mississippi Capital Area Chapter will build two houses this year with help from the Catholic community – the annual Catholic Build house and a house dedicated to Pope Francis. The agency announced Tuesday, Aug. 11, that it had raised the needed pledges to get started on both projects. Catholic Build partners raised $80,000 for their regular house and another $40,000 for the Pope Francis House. An anonymous donor will match that.
The next step is organizing and feeding the volunteer teams who will build the houses. The project starts Saturday, Sept. 19. Two crews will work almost every Saturday from then until November 7. Crews work either a morning or afternoon shift while other volunteers feed the workers.
Habitat met with the Catholic Build partners on Aug. 11 to give them the good news about meeting the fundraising goal. “Most folks are going back to their churches this weekend to announce the build dates and recruit and sign up volunteers,” said Peggy Hampton, public relations director for Habitat in Jackson. A parish can send an entire work crew for a half-day or can offer individual volunteers to work with other parishes to fill all the crews needed.
The houses will be built on Greenview Street in South Jackson, but improvements won’t stop there. Habitat is inviting members of the community to a press event Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. on Greenview.
“At this gathering announcements will be made regarding plans for revitalizing this street. Because you play a part in our work, we wanted you to know about it first,” wrote Hampton in an invitation to the event. Greenview runs along St. Therese Church property and parish members have already been active in making improvements to the area. Other parishes involved in the effort include Flowood St. Paul, Gluckstadt St. Joseph, Jackson St. Richard and Holy Family, Madison St. Francis, the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, St. Dominic Health Services and the Knights of Columbus.
The anonymous donor has offered to pay for half the cost of several houses across the nation for Habitat. The donor asks that the houses be dedicated to Pope Francis and that Habitat make an effort to involve young people in the project. The choir from Madison St. Joseph High School will be on hand for the Sept. 16 event and volunteer coordinators are working to raise awareness among young people about opportunities to help.
Those interested in volunteering to be on the Habitat Build teams should contact the Habitat coordinator at one of the participating parishes.

MADISON – Join Bishop Kopacz, the Diocesan Protection of Children Office, the Office of Catholic Schools and the Department of Faith Formation for a one-day internet safety workshop on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at St. Joseph High School.
In the ever-changing world of technology, education is important to us as good Catholics to be respectable and appropriate users of digital and social media. The workshop attendees include pastors, DRE/CRE’s, youth ministers, teachers, principals, lay ecclesial ministers, parents and catechists.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) catechetical theme for the year is, “Safeguarding the Dignity of all Human Persons.”  What a better place to start than the internet.
The keynote speaker is Paul Sanfrancesco of Philadelphia, Pa. Sanfrancesco has a personal style and strong commitment to faith formation.  He is presently director of technology for the Owen J. Roberts School District in Pottstown, Pa. In addition to his keynote, the agenda will include a speaker from the State of Mississippi Attorney General Cybercrime Unit.
There is no registration fee or form. Send an email or call Annette Stevenson, 601-960-8470, annette.stevenson@jacksondiocese.org to let her know how many people from your parish will attend. Lunch will be provided.

Father Jonathan Morris, director of the Catholic Channel on Sirus XM Radio and well-known network news commentator, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Journey of Hope luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in downtown Jackson. Sponsors will also have the opportunity to speak with Father Morris at a meet and greet event the evening before.
Journey of Hope is one of the main fund-raising events for Catholic Charities, supporting the childrens’ programs. “We look forward to having Father Morris remind us at the Journey of Hope luncheon of what the Gospel of Jesus, particularly as expressed through Catholic social teaching, calls us to do to promote justice for our brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Father Ricardo Phipps, newly-appointed director of Catholic Charities.
“We affirm our own human dignity as well as the dignity of others when we respond to God’s call to help others and respond to their needs. That is what makes us a human family, that we respond to others’ needs. Father Jonathan offers a fresh perspective on reaching out to the underprivileged and underserved, a reminder that Catholic Charities and our supporters need so that we can continue to reach for even greater ways of serving,” he added.
Bryan Shaver, longtime supporter of Catholic Charities and vice president for sales at Insurance Consulting Group, Inc., invited Father Morris and is sponsoring the meet and greet. “I invited Father Jonathan because I listen to him every day on Sirius XM Radio Channel 129.  Whether it’s the resignation of the Pope or some other major story, Father Jonathan always shares where the Catholic Church stands on current events,” said Shaver.
“I find that he represents a voice of reason and faith. He is someone who can navigate the spin-doctors and help us find truth while being one of the most gracious talk radio hosts,” added Shaver.
Father Morris has more than one claim to fame. He was a theological advisor on the 2002 film “The Passion of the Christ,” and has appeared on Fox News, MSNBC and other networks where he gives a Catholic perspective on current events. He has written a number of books and serves as the assistant to Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Father Morris is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, but a diehard Michigan Wolverine fan. He lives in New York City where he serves in campus ministry at Columbia University.
“We are privileged to have Father Morris as a speaker. We look forward to his perspective on Catholic social teaching and how we reflect these teachings in our daily lives,” said Linda Raff, outgoing director of Catholic Charities.
The meet and greet event is set for Monday, Oct. 12, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Old Capitol Inn, downtown Jackson. Tickets are $100 per person.
The Journey of Hope luncheon is the following day, Tuesday, Oct. 13, from noon – 1 p.m. at the Marriott in downtown Jackson. Organizers are looking for table captains for that event, which is free, but requires an invitation. Table captains can invite up to nine of friends to the luncheon to hear Father Morris and to learn more about Catholic Charities. Completed guest lists need to be returned to Catholic Charities by Sept. 10. They can be returned by fax to 601-960-8493 or by mail to 200 N. Congress St. Suite 100, Jackson, MS 39210. Catholic Charities will send the formal invitations needed for entry to each guest.
For additional information, contact Michael Thomas, 601-326-3714, michael.thomas@catholiccharitiesjackson.org or Julie O’Brien, 601-326-3758, julie.obrien@catholiccharitiesjackson.org.