Category Archives: Diocesan News

Knights celebrate ‘under God’ anniversary

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The Knights of Columbus is celebrating this year the 60th anniversary of the resolution adding the phrase ‘under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance. In 1951 the knights added the phrase to the pledge at their meetings and then decided to take the idea to the president and Congress.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it official on Flag Day, June 14, 1953. The president wrote a letter to the Grand Knight at that time expressing his gratitude. “We are particularly thankful to you for your part in the movement to have the words ‘under God’ added to our Pledge of Allegiance. These words will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded,” reads the letter.

Prison ministry seeks volunteers

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By Maureen Smith
There are 16 correctional facilities in the Diocese of Jackson and precious few people working to minister to the Catholic inmates. Those who do visit the imprisoned are inviting anyone willing to step forward and undergo training for this ministry.
“I don’t call it a ministry, I call it doing what the Lord tells you,” said Lee Grillo, who visits women at the state facility in Rankin County. She started out 30 years ago teaching a quilting class to women in the prison in Parchman, but now lives in Jackson. She says her years of visiting have been good for her spiritual development, saying the women in prison have taught her how to be a better Christian.
“It is not scary. I’m not going to tell you some of the women don’t deserve to be there, but they are some of the most prayerful women you will ever come across,” said Grillo. She said many of those incarcerated are just regular people who have made a mistake and need to stay connected to their faith while they face the consequences of their actions.
Raymond Barry, who coordinates visits for a group at Jackson St. Richard Parish agreed. “It’s just that these are people who have done something that has caused them to be separated from their families and friends. They are still the same people you might see in a restaurant or around town,” he said.
Both Barry and Grillo bring Communion to the prisons and lead other devotions such as Bible studies, watching DVDs or praying together. The inmates run their own Communion services, the visitors just provide the Eucharist and stay for fellowship and study.
Marvin Edwards works full time in his unpaid position as the Catholic services coordinator at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman. He even has an office in the facility, which he visits six times a month. He goes into the different units to offer services and different ministries. In addition to offering Communion and religious reading materials, Edwards said he tries to give the inmates writing paper and envelopes so they can keep in touch with family or even just to write him letters. Sometimes, he said, he brings simple toiletries as well.
He said most of the prisons in the state are privately run and that’s where Catholics get few visitors. When inmates are transferred from Parchman to a private prison they often contact Edwards to say they have no access to Catholic ministry at all. No reconciliation, no Eucharist, no rosary, no fellowship or conversation.
Edwards said just a few hours a month can make a huge difference to an inmate. “Compassion, that’s what they want. They want someone they can trust to talk to and to be open with,” he said. “They have so much time to read and study, but they are isolated in their study,” he explained. “When you are in the system you are always vulnerable to being taken advantage of so they are always on guard. They have questions so they need someone they can ask,” he added.
Edwards hopes to expand his ministry to those who have just been released from prison. He hopes to gather people and resources to start some sort of program or half-way house to help people re-integrate into society once they are released from prison. “When they get out, for many of them their families are gone or far away, their friends are gone, they are basically just dropped off,” he said. This effort is just in the organizing stage, so look for updates as plans become more concrete.
Those who want to visit prisoners must undergo a background check and take a short orientation course, usually a three to four hour process. There is a June 18 deadline for the August training in Rankin county. Edwards said there is a class in Parchman sometime in July. Both Barry and Edwards would be happy to help anyone get the process started for any prison in the diocese.

Helping vets out of the woods

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By Maureen Smith
Soldiers are trained to live in often brutal conditions, camping or making-do in terrible situations during deployments for their country. What many people don’t know is that some veterans are forced to use those survival skills when they come home. Catholic Charities is using a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help those low-income vets who are homeless or have unstable housing situations in the Diocese of Jackson. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program started in February in four offices throughout the state.

“This has been an eye-opening experience,” said Chamon Williams, the program coordinator. “We love the people we encounter and some of these stories are heart-wrenching. These are people who have served our country and now they are living below the poverty level,” she added.

The SSVF seeks out vets and their families who are either homeless or who are “couch surfing,” meaning they are staying with friends and family for short periods of time. The main goal of the program is to get them in a stable housing situation through case management, but Williams said the case workers are doing much more than that.

“We provide utility assistance, help with job location, sometimes we can help with transportation and clothing vouchers,” she explained. Many times, she said, the veterans are not aware of the many programs and resources available to them so SSVF case workers act as connectors to other partners and agencies.

Budgeting is sometimes an issue. One client in Natchez was living in a wooded area near a retail center. He was getting a pension every month but could not seem to make the money stretch. “He was unable to budget his money and save so he could move into permanent housing,” said his case manager, Cynthia Jackson. She was able to help with the deposits for an apartment and utilities and help him learn how to manage his budget. “At the present time, he is in a stable housing situation and is paying his own rent and utilities,” she said. When she went to visit him recently, he offered her a cup of milk as he unloaded groceries. He was all settled in and had clean clothes drying on a clothesline. Jackson said she was touched by the normal domestic scene since he had been homeless just a few short weeks before. “He is very happy and thankful for the assistance he received through the Catholic Charities SSVF program,” Jackson added.

Williams said she has spoken with some clients who have fallen victim to predatory lenders. One man had taken out four different loans from high-interest so-called payday lenders in an attempt to pay off one debt. Case managers worked with him to break the cycle and pay off all the debts to get a clean start.

Another family in the Delta heard about the program on the radio. The veteran, his pregnant wife and their son were living with family, but needed to get a home of their own before their baby was born. “On May 9, two wonderful things happened for this couple. The first being the couple was able to secure housing,” wrote their case worker Melissa Ivory. The second bit of good news is that the husband has secured job training to become an IT specialist. Their baby is due in June.

Kimberle Neal, who works in the Vardaman office, said one of her greatest joys is seeing how her clients thrive when they are empowered to make a positive change. “There’s always a helping hand, but it’s nothing like trying to help yourself first. I must say that it has been a pleasant experience to meet and collaborate with new clients that are seeking help in order to have a better way of life,” she said.

“We wanted to reach an under and unserved population,” Williams explained about why Catholic Charities pursued this grant. “When we started there was one organization working with veterans only in the Jackson area, and it was located in Hattiesburg. There are now five partner organizations throughout the state,” she added. Catholic Charities already had staff in the Delta and the northern part of the state so they knew about the need and knew they could bring the right services to those areas.

Catholic Charities takes advantage of the synergy of its network of services. Recently Williams delivered a load of new clothing donated by Catholic Charities’ thrift store All Things New to clients in the SSVF program. Ivory, who works in Greenwood, was able to use those clothes for some of her clients. “One of my clients was able to find items to wear to church and future interviews. Others took the basics for everyday wear and were extremely happy to have clothing that fit,” said Ivory.

Other case managers can refer their clients to other programs and services to help with other needs they may have. Catholic Charities in Jackson was one of 15 Catholic Charities entities across the nation to get this grant.
SSVF case managers have offices in Jackson, Greenwood, Vardaman and Natchez. Case managers hope to impact 100 families by late fall of this year. To participate in this program or assist call Chamon Williams at Catholic Charities at 601-355-8634 .

Seminarians earn degrees

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COVINGTON, La., – Two of the Diocese of Jackson’s seminarians received degrees and a third received a certificate from St. Joseph’s Seminary Friday, May 9. Bishop Shelton Fabre of Houma was the speaker at commencement.
Nick Adam got a certificate of completion in the pre-theology program since he already has an undergraduate degree. Mark Shoffner received a BA in Philosophy and Theological Studies and Aaron Williams earned a BA in Philosophy. Williams also got the Esse Quam Videri Award for “quiet service to the seminary community.” The men will continue their studies in the fall at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Most of the seminarians will spend the summer either doing extra study or doing work in various parishes.
The seminary, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary year, reported record enrollment this year and opened a new dorm to accommodate all the students.

Nursing workshop registration open

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By Maureen Smith
BROOKHAVEN – A training for those interested in faith community nursing is set to start in late June in Brookhaven. The training is Monday June 30, Tuesday July 1, Monday July 14, and Tuesday, July 15. Each day starts at 7 a.m. and is packed with coursework, prayer and fellowship.
“The days are long, but we will try to make it as much of a spiritual retreat as possible,” said Ann Elizabeth Kaiser, coordinator for faith community nursing for the diocese.
Catholic Charities’ Faith Community Nursing program is partnering with King’s Daughters Medical Center for the workshops. The King’s Daughters Medical Foundation has donated a $1,000 to educational materials for the training. Active licensed registered nurses will receive 34 continuing education credits. This course is designed to prepare registered nurses, allied health care professionals, faith community leaders and lay volunteers of all faith denominations to develop health ministry programs within their own faith communities. The course follows the standardized curriculum developed through the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC).
“St. Francis of Assisi Health Ministry is a host as well. Cheri Walker, the Director of Nurses, has been instrumental in the planning stages. A local FCN, Evelyn Stiner, has been a tremendous help in organization of the required documents needed for Catholic Charities, Inc. to apply as a Continuing Education Provider through the Mississippi Nurses Foundation,” said Kaiser
The facilitators for the modules are Faith Community Nurses and other volunteers who are experts in their field. The training is open to all denominations. The program will close with an Affirmation Service and pinning ceremony the last day.
Total cost of the four day program is $200. Lunch and refreshments are provided daily.     Registrations, including a personal letter stating each nurse’s purpose and goals for taking this course and a letter of support from each nurse’s pastor, institution or congregational sponsor, are due June Tuesday, June 24.
Those interested can register online at www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org/services/health.ministry.

Diocese graduates 190

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By Maureen Smith
Almost 200 young men and women graduated from the four Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Jackson the week of May 18-24. The schools logged graduation rates of 95-100 percent, well above the state’s public school average and at least three of the schools report that all graduates are going on to college.

The theme for Catholic schools this year was communities of faith, knowledge and service and this year’s graduating class reflected that in their achievements.

 

Seniors took on a variety of service projects in 2013/2014, from Madison St. Joseph School’s dance marathon, which raised more than $11,000, to a Filipino-themed dinner to benefit Typhoon victims held in Vicksburg. In Natchez, students boxed more than 80,000 packages of food together. One senior at Cathedral took on the challenge of collecting a toy for every single child at Baton Children’s Hospital. These are just a few of the many tasks, large and small, that graduates completed to make their communities better places to live.
This year’s class was not lacking in academic honors either. They are going on to the Massechusettes Institute of Technology, Washington Lee University, Rhodes College, Spring Hill College and, of course, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss. At least two schools reported $3.9 in scholarships, an impressive number given the size of the classes.
In the following pages, Mississippi Catholic features some statistics from each class as well as highlighting the top students of each school. The staff of Mississippi Catholic offers congratulations and a wish for many blessings upon the class of 2014.

Program empowers shoppers to save, eat healthier

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – While everyone wants to get the best value per dollar for food, for many in Mississippi stretching those dollars can make the difference between having to go to bed hungry and having enough food for a family. Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Jackson is taking advantage of a program put together by Share our Strength to teach families not only how to get more food for every dollar, but how to eat healthier on a budget.
      Share our Strength’s Cooking Matters No Kid Hungry program has developed an educational store tour to help families. The program hopes to tackle the dual challenge of rising obesity and cuts in food assistance such as SNAP benefits. In the store tours, trained instructors show shoppers how to write a meal plan, budget for food and get better, healthier deals on groceries.
“The tour teaches four skills, unit pricing, how to add more whole grain to your diet, how to read nutrition labels and how to add more produce,” said Monique Davis, program director for Catholic Charities. At the end of the tour each participant gets a $10 gift card and a challenge to use it to purchase supplies for one healthy meal, which they get to keep.
Catholic Charities has gotten a grant to start training tour guides and recruiting families for tours.  Walmart on Highway 18, Greenway Road in Jackson, has agreed to host a tour in early June and three members of the Catholic Charities staff are trained. Davis said this is just the start. She is offering training to all her program directors throughout the state and to anyone who wants to become a tour guide. Her staff hopes to impact 100 families in the diocese by September.
“I want people to be able to make better decisions when they are in the grocery store. I want them to know this is psychological warfare!” Davis joked. She said learning to look past bright signs and name brand displays set up at eye-level can have a huge impact on a grocery bill. Learning how to use generic products and look on lower and higher shelves can result in more quality food for a family.
Share our Strength research shows that families who plan their meals in advance make healthy meals more often than those who don’t – up to five times per week. Many times families using supplemental assistance turn to cheap processed foods high in fat and calories in an attempt to stretch their money. They may not have learned how to prepare a balanced meal and may think they can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables. Education is the key to helping them make better decisions for their families and their communities.
“This program is attractive for two reasons. First, it teaches people how to do something, it empowers them and secondly because it uses volunteers,” said Davis. She said the trainers can continue offering tours after the grant runs out.
Anyone who wants to be a guide, host an information session about how to become a tour guide or anyone who wants to take part in a tour can contact Davis at Catholic Charities, 601-355-8634, Monique.davis@ccjackson.org.

Right to Life monument added to Natchez prayer garden

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NATCHEZ – Workers place a prayer bench dedicated to ‘right to life’ in the Bishop’s Prayer Garden at St. Mary Basilica, on Thursday, May 22.  The project is the result of two years of discussions and planning. Brookhaven Monument Staff, owned by David Pace, created the bench, using grey granite to match the stone covering Bishop John Joseph Chanche’s grave. Bishop Chanche is the first bishop in the diocese. Amber Case designed the monument. (Photo by Mike Murphy)

Scout refurbishes grotto

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By LaJuan Tallo
Senatobia – The grotto at St. Gregory Parish recently got a facelift thanks to the efforts of one of the church’s young members. L. Meng, a student at Senatobia High School, chose to refurbish the church’s grotto as his Eagle Scout project.
Meng got in touch with Meri Smith of Senatobia, who helped him design the new layout. In order to raise money for the project, he held a garage sale in the church’s fellowship hall and also presented his project to the local council of the Knights of Columbus, who donated money.
With the help of fellow scouts, his family and members of St. Gregory’s, the project was completed on May 3.  Father Gregory Schill, SCJ, who serves as one of the priests for St. Gregory’s, held a rededication and blessing of the Grotto on May 20.
Meng began his scouting career at age 11. He is a member of Troop 478 in Batesville and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, which is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a Life Scout and a patrol leader in the scouts.
He is the son of Greg and Leanne Meng of Senatobia. “Lyndon is more than proud of his project, not only because of the accomplishment, but also because of the beauty it brings to his church,” his mother said.
For photos of the grotto and rededication, visit St. Gregory’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StGregorySenatobia.

Class of 2014 reflects on experience

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MADISON ST. JOSEPH

  • Graduates: 83
  • Percentage of college bound: 100 percent
  • Number of scholarships awarded: 186
  • Largest scholarship awarded: $300,000
  • Total scholarship money earned: $3,936,344
  • Military enlistments: 1 Army and 1 Marine
  • Senior class service hours: 33,816
  • Notable service project: Dance marathon

VALEDICTORIAN: Anna Edge
Member of Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish

From her speech: Two of the most important things I have learned at St. Joe, and what I want you to take with you today are a passion for everything you do and an awareness of your worth, beauty and sacredness as children of God. … We have been blessed to be surrounded by teachers who have taken absolute joy in nurturing their students. Their passion has inspired me to push through those late nights of studying, countless tutoring sessions …
“The St. Joseph staff has made me aware of my dignity as a human being and of my values. When we embark on the world, we must remember to love ourselves enough not only to work hard for our passion but also time for rest and relaxation …
Plans to attend: Mississippi State University to study engineering.

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Bailey Brilley
Member of Jackson St. Richard Parish

From his speech: Quoting Tennessee Williams, who he had the privilege of portraying, Brilley read, “There comes a time when you look into the mirror and you realize that what you see is all that you will ever be. And then you accept it. Or you kill yourself. Or you stop looking in mirrors” I offer this quote to my classmates not because I believe in our overarching “un-specialness” (although I do), but because the most important lesson I’ve learned in these six years is that happiness comes from noticing how truly un-remarkable you are and choosing to defy your insignificance with each and every breath.
Plans to attend: Washington Lee

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Ramsey Fairbank
Member of Jackson St. Richard Parish

From her speech: “Looking back on it in twenty years when I have a career and am oh so high and important (not), these memories will probably seem like nothing but silly high school experiences that won’t mean much to me, but that’s not right. Learning fractals from Mr. Richards changed me, watching “Lorenzo’s Oil” with my AP chemistry class changed me, studying for Mrs. Tupman’s Phylum Friday test changed me. Maybe not in some grandiose, obvious way, but small changes add up. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my education at St. Joe, and there’s no one sitting up here who can say any differently. You definitely won’t remember this speech in twenty years, class of 2014, but if you remember anything, remember St. Joe. Remember what made you who you are, and, inevitably, what you will become.”
Plans to attend: Auburn University

 

Natchez Cathedral School

  • Graduates: 35
  • Percentage of college bound: 100 percent
  • Number of scholarships awarded: 33
  • Percentage of scholarship recipients: 94 percent
  • Largest scholarship awarded: $112,000 to Presley Davids from Millsaps College
  • Notable colleges: Spring Hill College, Rhodes College
  • Total scholarship money earned: $2.2 million
  • Notable service projects: Caroline Downer hosted a drive for toys to give every child at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children which she delivered to the Jackson hospital. Having a benign bone tumor on her hip, she knew first-hand what these children go through and wanted give the kids something to lift their spirits.  Kids Against Hunger meal-packing event put on by Cathedral School Key Club during the Key Club District Conference, which Cathedral hosted this year. Students packaged more than 80,000 packages of food. The students opted to donate the meals to local food banks, shelters, churches, and other organizations in need as opposed to sending them overseas.

VALEDICTORIAN: Alyssa Christine Stewart
GPA: 98.402 ACT: 30

From her speech: “As we prepare for the next chapters in our lives, I encourage each and every one of you to embrace life and to experience everything that it has to offer. Don’t be afraid to take risks or to fail. Don’t have regrets and don’t reflect upon the what-ifs. All of our experiences (even the bad ones) help to mold our character and determine who we are as individuals.”
Plans to attend: Louisiana State University to study biology.

SALUTATORIAN:
Gabrien Joyce Caramat Panteria
GPA: 98.179 – ACT: 27
Member of St. Mary Basilica

From her speech: Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I encourage my class to listen to her quote, to always believe in your dreams and aim high, for I believe you have the potential to be successful in anything you put your attention and effort into. Go forth, make a difference in this world, and use what you know; you can do anything.
I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all our teachers and faculty members for believing in our dreams, helping us grow educationally and spiritually, and encouraging us to do our best … I do know one thing: our years at Cathedral School have given us some of the best memories of our lives, lessons to learn from, and skills to give us confidence, intelligence, and personal integrity.
Plans to attend: Louisiana State University and study coastal environmental engineering/biology.

VICKSBURG ST. ALOYSIUS

  • Graduates: 35
  • Percentage of college bound: 100 percent
  • Number of scholarship recipients: 28
  • Percentage of scholarship recipients: 80 percent
  • Largest scholarship awarded: $105,800
  • Notable colleges: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Total scholarship money earned: $3,941,118
  • Senior class service hours: 3,300 hours
  • Notable service projects: Filipino dinner to benefit Catholic Relief Services efforts to help typhoon victims in the Philippines.

VALEDICTORIAN: Wally Wibowo
GPA: 4.76 – ACT: 34
Member of St. Michael Catholic Church

From his speech: Through Mrs. Phillips’s rigorous math classes, I learned to love calculus and I realized that when I had a positive mindset towards a challenging and slightly bizarre differentiation or integration problem, it was more bearable to suffer through …
“In the history and humanities classes taught by Coach Booth,  I realized how understanding the material given, not simply memorizing it, was the key to learning.  He stressed the importance of critical thinking and also taught us how to make rational arguments, a skill I will definitely need later on when I’m begging a professor to extend a deadline.
Plans to attend: Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study mechanical engineering.

SALUTATORIAN: Lara Lamanilao
GPA: 4.63  –  ACT: 30
Member of St. Michael Catholic Church

From her speech: “Attending Vicksburg Catholic School has given us the privilege to express our faith. Through theology classes, Masses, retreats, and daily prayer, we constantly deepen our relationships with God. It is nice that we are able to pray together and for each other.  
“The Class of 2014 will be attending colleges from the east to west coast. Our education has fostered in us new career aspirations other than becoming a ninja, as we will pursue careers as doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and business men. Vicksburg Catholic School has given the senior class the opportunity to instill within ourselves exemplary character and a prime education that has built thinkers, writers, speakers, problem solvers, and citizens of the Gospel.  We are honored to soon be graduates of St. Aloysius and are proud to continue the tradition of Vicksburg Catholic School.”
Plans to attend: Mississippi College

GREENVILLE ST JOSEPH

  • Number of graduates: 37
  • Percentage of college bound:  97 percent
  • Number of scholarship recipients: 26
  • Percentage of scholarship recipients: 68 percent
  • Largest scholarship awarded: $122,800
  • Notable colleges: Columbia University, Chapman University, John Paul the Great Catholic University, University of Central Florida, Millsaps College.
  • Total scholarship money earned: $1.7 million
  • Total service hours completed by senior class: 950
  • Notable service projects: Parker Jones Fund, a lasting memorial for Jones who died from a brain tumor; St. Vincent DePaul, Carrie Stern Reading Mentors.
  • School honors earned this year: Academic Bowl Winner for second year in a row, state champions (team and individuals), District Championships baseball, tennis, softball.

VALEDICTORIAN: Caroline Mansour
GPA: 96.9  ACT: 33
Member of St. Joseph Catholic Church

From her speech: “I’ve thought a lot about the past and the future looking for a meaning, and the only pattern I’ve found is that it’s hard to appreciate the present. My present right now is standing here in the St. Joe gym at the 2014 graduation, but being here wouldn’t mean anything unless we were all here together. The only thing we have in common is that we are all here for this moment, together. That is our binding thread. It may seem weak or inconsequential, but to find people to share your moments with is to live with meaning.
… If we are lucky enough to have moments we want to live forever, our challenge is to share them. So while I may not know enough or have a story to write, I certainly have to thank the people who helped me pick up my pen. To St. Joe, who gave me the best six years it possibly could. You rarely said no, you made me feel special.”
Plans to attend: Columbia University.

SALUTATORIAN: Reya Marie Hayek
GPA: 94.6  ACT: 27
Member of St. Joseph Catholic Church

From her speech: “I would also like to extend a very special thank you to all the parents here today, the true masterminds of our burgeoning success. From diapers, to teenage attitude, to this glorious day. It is under your care and protection that we acquired the skills that made it possible for us to be here today. You have guided us, scolded us, and molded us into the strong and independent young men and women that are seated before you today. You sacrificed immensely to see us graduate.
Thank you for tolerating the tears, the drama, the cries, and the heartbreaks. Thank you for the warmth and strength you provided us with.  As we get ready to fly with our own wings and see and experience the world, we know that a part of you all will always be with us, your hearts …”
Plans to attend: Millsaps College