MADISON – Sister Paula Marie Blouin, SSND celebrated her retirement on Friday, Feb. 4 in her home parish of St. Francis of Assisi.
Sister Paula opened the Assisi Early Learning Center at St. Francis in 1987 and served as the director. She helped cultivate the prototype for all Early Learning Center in the diocese. Her devotion to child development for Catholic families has been nothing less than exceptional. She wanted all children in her care to know that Jesus loved each of them and that they should, in turn, love each other.
The diocese extends our warmest gratitude to Sister Paula for her dedication to the young people of the metro Jackson area and her contribution to the high standards used by all of the Early Learning Centers in the diocese: St. Paul Early Learning Center and the Sisters of Mercy Early Learning Center in Vicksburg. Sister Paula takes with her many prayers and best wishes for a happy and restful retirement. (Photo by Maria Teresa Salzman)
PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, 22nd annual Draw Down, Friday, Feb. 25 at The Bank. Tickets cost $100 (or $125 with insurance), available at the church office or from St. Elizabeth students. Ticket admits two, and includes food, drinks, live band and a chance at $10,000. Details: church office (662) 624-4301.
GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Spring Fling 2022, $10,000 Cash Drawdown Mardi Gras, Saturday, Feb. 26 at The Gin at Dunleith in Leland. Drawdown begins at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased at church or school office. Details: church office (662) 335-5251.
FLOWOOD St. Paul, Black & White Ball/Annual Drawdown, Saturday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Tickets: $125 and raffle tickets $1. Details: Pat Scanlon (601) 953-6370.
JACKSON St. Peter Cathedral the Apostle, Bishop Chanche Awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. These service awards honor those who have shown exemplary service at the parish and/or diocesan level in the areas of evangelization, faith formation and service to the community.
JACKSON St. Richard School, Krewe de Cardinal, Friday, Feb. 25. This festive evening features a brass band, silent and live auctions, cash drawing, cocktails and cuisine. Tickets: $50/per person or $100/per couple, in advance. Details: development@strichardschool.org.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Save the date: blood drive on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 1-5:45 p.m. Blood donors are desperately needed. Online scheduling begins in April. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
PEARL St. Jude. Father Lincoln Dall will be offering Spanish lessons beginning on Thursday, Feb. 24, with sessions lasting approximately six weeks. Program will start with the basics, including pronunciation and learning basic words and grammar. The emphasis will be on Spanish in the context of the church, including basic prayers and basic church vocabulary. Program will also look at some of the Spanish Catholic cultural traditions. Father Lincoln has an MA in Education from Ole Miss specializing in the teaching of languages, and was a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps for four years from 2000-2004, where he taught Spanish on the high school and elementary level in the Greenville Public Schools. He has also studied in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica, and has traveled extensively in Spain, mostly on pilgrimage. Lessons will be one hour each, with home practice, as well. Two of the lesson times each week will be in-person. There is also an option on Zoom, for those who do not feel comfortable coming in-person. First lessons: Thursday, Feb. 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in-person in the classroom in the church office building; Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom; or Friday, Feb. 25, after the 10 a.m. Mass in the St. Jude classroom. Details: Contact the office at (601) 939-3181 or by email if you would like to attend one of these session or by zoom.
TUPELO St. James, Adult Trivia Night, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Kingfisher Lodge. Food and drinks served. RSVP to Mary Frances Strange at https://linktr.ee/stjamestupelo Details: church office (662) 842-4881.
VICKSBURG 39th Annual $10,000 Drawdown on the River on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Levee Street Marketplace for Vicksburg Catholic Schools. Everyone is invited to purchase a ticket, as this is the first in-person drawdown since 2020. To purchase a ticket, visit https://bit.ly/VCSDrawdown2022 or call school office at (601) 636-2256.
YOUTH BRIEFS SEARCH retreat for juniors and seniors, April 1-3, at Camp Wesley Pines in Gallman. Retreat is “for teens, led by teens” and is an experience like none other; with a strong focus on vocations, SEARCH engages youth in a special way and calls them to live out their Catholic faith in a bold real, active and healthy way. Cost $125. Details: abbey.schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org.
SAVE THE DATE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST A parish mission on the Eucharist and the Mass is available in the diocese at two locations this Lent. Father Aaron Williams will offer a three day mission at St. Mary’s Basilica Natchez from March 8-10 and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood from March 27-29. All sessions will begin at 6 p.m.
TRIPS WITH FATHER DAVID O’CONNOR Father O’Connor will be hosting trips to Italy (May 28 – June 6), England and Wales (June 23 – July 3) and Ireland (Sept 7-15). Details: For Italy trip visit caragrouptravel.com/italy-with-father-oconnor-2022/. For England and Wales trip visit caragrouptravel.com/england-and-wales-with-father-oconnor/. For Ireland trip visit caragrouptravel.com/tour-of-ireland-with-father-o-connor-2022/.
COVID NOTE As the Omicron variant continues, the Diocese of Jackson STRONGLY ENCOURAGES the wearing of masks to Mass and all parish gatherings. Social distancing of three feet is recommended. Keep in mind that the church always dispenses from the Sunday obligation when any of the faithful are confronting serious health concerns. We appreciate all of your efforts to keep each other safe. Each parish may adapt protocols and make decisions according to the local reality of their individual parish communities.
GREENWOOD – Llenos de fe, los feligreses de Immaculate Heart of Mary en Greenwood se niegan a permitir que un allanamiento que profanó su parroquia triunfe sobre su espíritu, eligiendo perdonar y orar para que el Espíritu Santo llene los corazones de los perpetradores.
El miércoles 26 de enero, los miembros del coro que llegaron para practicar descubriendo que su parroquia había sido objeto de vandalismo. Algunos feligreses describieron la escena como si un tornado la hubiera atravesado.
El altar fue volcado, los himnarios fueron arrancados de sus lomos con papeles esparcidos por todo el santuario, el púlpito también fue volcado. Una estatua de María, de más de 100 años, fue derribada y su rostro destrozado. Muchos otros artículos fueron volteados y doblados. También se rompió una fuente bautismal antigua.
Lo más perturbador para algunos feligreses fue que se abrió una brecha en el tabernáculo y se retiró el Santísimo Sacramento, que se colocó en el altar original de la iglesia. Pero por gracia, las hostias no parecieron ser tocadas. Los feligreses como Mary Jane Faulkner sintieron que la situación podría haber sido peor.
Greenwood- El obispo Joseph Kopacz derrama el Crisma in el altar de la iglesia Inmaculado Corazón de María, después de un asalto que desacralizó no solo el altar, sino además, estatuas y otros objetos sagrados de la misma.
“Al menos no rompieron las ventanas… podrían haber incendiado la iglesia, cuando destruyeron a María junto a las velas,” dijo Faulkner, quien también trabaja en las comunicaciones para la parroquia. “Entonces, fuimos bendecidos. Es increíble que no demolieran algunas de las otras cosas que podrían tener,” concluyó.
Según la USCCB, al menos 120 incidentes, como el ocurrido en Immaculate Heart, han ocurrido en 31 estados y el Distrito de Columbia desde mayo de 2020. Los incidentes incluyen incendios provocados, estatuas decapitadas, extremidades cortadas, destrozadas y pintadas, lápidas desfiguradas con esvásticas y lenguaje anticatólico, banderas americanas quemadas junto a ellas y otros actos de destrucción y vandalismo. La conferencia incluso tiene una página dedicada en su sitio web que enumera noticias que detallan el vandalismo por mes, desde que comenzaron a rastrear incidentes en mayo de 2020.
El párroco del Inmaculado Corazón, José de Jesús Sánchez expresó su “conmoción y dolor” por el allanamiento a través de las redes sociales a la comunidad católica, alertándolos de la destrucción en su parroquia. El Padre José estaba en una boda familiar en su país de origen, México, en el momento del incidente.
La gente se sintió muy afectada por las imágenes compartidas por el padre Sánchez, incluido el obispo Joseph Kopacz, quien dijo que “al mismo tiempo, se han ofrecido muchas oraciones” de personas de toda la diócesis a través del poder de las redes sociales.
En medio de toda la destrucción en Immaculate Heart, el obispo Kopacz viajó a la parroquia el miércoles 1 de febrero para volver a consagrar la iglesia.
“Volveremos a consagrar esta iglesia una vez más a Dios en el Señor”, dijo el obispo Kopacz “…con mucha fe, esperanza, amor y con el deseo de seguir verdaderamente adelante, sabiendo que nos hemos reconciliado a un nivel muy profundo”.
Algunos en la parroquia sintieron que la intención detrás de la destrucción era hacer que los feligreses perdieran la fe, pero la fe de la comunidad del Inmaculado Corazón es fuerte. “Damos gracias por este don de fe, que puede ser atacado, que puede ser lastimado, pero no puede ser vencido en el Señor,” dijo el obispo Kopacz.
Durante su homilía, el obispo Kopacz habló de la destrucción y el mal que ocurrió dentro de los muros de la iglesia, mencionando el hecho de volcar el púlpito y el altar. “La Palabra de Dios, otra parte sagrada de lo que somos, fue anulada, como diciendo ‘No queremos que esta Palabra sea proclamada desde este púlpito’,” dijo el obispo Kopacz, comparando la destrucción con la malicia. “Esto es más que juvenil, ‘vamos a causar un poco de caos en este edificio’.” Además, el obispo Kopacz mencionó el altar volcado y el sacramento perturbado afirmando que “fue un golpe deliberado a todo lo que es sagrado para nosotros”.
Como parte de la nueva consagración de la iglesia, el obispo Kopacz tuvo mucho cuidado en la unción del altar con el Crisma, además del uso del agua bendita para renovar la promesa bautismal de los presentes. “Esto busca corregir lo que se ha agraviado,” dijo. “Nuestro altar representa a Cristo, es Cristo. … En la unción, estamos permitiendo que el Señor venga nuevamente ante nosotros de la manera más poderosa para ser nuestro Buen Pastor y para que lo conozcamos. Para que luego entremos profundamente en el misterio de su vida. … El cielo y la tierra se unen cada vez que celebramos la Eucaristía.”
Fotos compartidas en Facebook muestran algunos de los daños producidos en la parroquia y descubiertos el miércoles 26 de enero.
Después de la Misa, feligreses como Faulkner expresaron su agradecimiento y se conmovieron por la belleza en el cuidado de la consagración. “Nunca he visto algo así. Fue extremadamente conmovedor y hermoso”, dijo Faulkner.
El padre Sánchez agradeció la experiencia de la consagración y agradeció el sentimiento de esperanza, siendo testigo también por primera vez de una consagración de una iglesia. “Fue realmente hermoso y sabemos que no estamos solos.”
“Es una nueva oportunidad para todos nosotros en el Cuerpo de Cristo… y podemos decirle al enemigo que, si Cristo está con nosotros, quién contra nosotros,” concluyó.
La coordinadora parroquial y directora de educación religiosa, Emelia Joseph, quien ha trabajado incansablemente para obtener nuevas llaves, luego de reunirse con oficiales de la policía a raíz del robo, está agradecida por el apoyo de la comunidad de Greenwood y la gente de la diócesis.
“Sabemos, por la gracia de Dios y de todas las personas que nos han contactado con oración y apoyo, que no solo vamos a superar esto, sino que seremos más fuertes que nunca.”
En febrero primero, parroquianos asistieron al Padre Sanchez a cambiar el mantel del altar, después que el obispo Kopacz consagrara de nuevo el mismo, después de haber sido volcado en el piso durante la semana anterior.
From the Archives By Mary Woodward JACKSON – The image chosen for this year’s Catholic Service Appeal has special meaning from an archives perspective. The chalice and Roman Missal belonged to Bishop William R. Houck and Bishop Joseph N. Latino respectively.
Bishops’ chalices, rings, pectoral crosses and other episcopal accoutrement belong to what is called the patrimony of the diocese and are kept as part of the diocesan archives collection as spiritual gifts to the church.
Bishop Houck’s chalice was made by the Gilles Beaugrand Goldsmiths Company in Montreal, Canada in 1951 for his ordination on May 19 of that year. It is a simple, elegant, styled chalice with a hammered finish. The inscription on the bottom of the chalice has his name and date of ordination.
The 2022 Catholic Service Appeal featured image contains items that have special meaning to the Diocese of Jackson. The hammered chalice belonged to Bishop William Houck and the open missal belonged to Bishop Joseph Latino. Both are now pieces of the diocesan archives collection. The theme of the 2022 CSA is “Hope Rising.” To donate and learn more about the ministries supported visit csa.jacksondiocese.org. (CSA photo by Rebecca Harris)
The central knob has images of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac and then replacing him with the lamb on an altar. Another image is Jesus offering the Last Supper juxtaposed to an image of the breast of the Lamb of God pierced and pouring blood into the chalice. It is beautiful when held in the hand and examined closely.
Having worked with Bishop Houck closely, I can see why he would have chosen this style and imagery. He was viewed as larger than life by many, but ultimately, he was a priest and churchman who placed his heart on the altar during the Liturgy so that it could be swept up into the heart of God in the Sacred Mysteries.
Bishop Latino’s chapel missal lies open on the cathedral altar next to the chalice in the CSA image, which is how it always lay on his altar in his chapel at his residence in Jackson. He kept his beloved chalice and paten on his home altar as well.
Fashioned in cross-hatched white enamel. Bishop Latino’s chalice was created by the famous Swiss chalice maker, Meinrad Burch in 1963. It was consecrated by Archbishop John P. Cody in New Orleans a few days before Cody ordained then Joseph Latino a priest for the archdiocese.
Bishop Joseph Latino’s chalice and paten were created by the famous Swiss goldsmith, Meinrad Burch-Korrodi in 1963. The chalice and paten were given to Bishop Latino by his cousins, Joseph and Josephine Ricobono. The paten contains Josephine’s diamond from her wedding ring. Today, the chalice and paten are a part of the patrimony of the diocese. (Photos from archives)
Bishop Latino’s cousins Joseph and Josephine Riccobono gave him the chalice along with the paten, which contains Josephine’s diamond from her wedding ring. In the early 1960’s, Burch was sought after for his unique chalice work. Bishop Latino shared with me the story of the diamond placement in the paten.
Burch initially told the young Latino that he did not put “headlights” on chalices, referring to the desire to have the diamond on the actual chalice. This left the young ordinand crest fallen. A few days later, Burch sent word that he would however be happy to include the stone underneath the paten and all was well in the Latino household again. Once again, the style of the chalice and its origin fit the man. Bishop Latino loved his Sicilian, New Orleans family and all that went with that, but he loved the Lord more than anything and cherished every opportunity he had to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries on the altar of the Lord. It is fitting that the last Mass he celebrated on earth was on the 58th anniversary of his ordination – elevating his chalice and paten as he poured his heart into God’s heart.
This year our diocese is intensely “reflecting, remembering and renewing” our love of the Holy Eucharist as we make our way slowly through this pandemic. The elements used in the CSA image and this year’s CSA theme of “Hope Rising” offer a beautiful image of the lives of our most recently deceased bishops and how dedicated they were to participate in the Sacred Mysteries as priests of God. Each time I see the image I remember their dedication and unending love for the Eucharist and being able to offer it to God’s people. I offer a prayer for them both and soak in the many memories of assisting at Mass with them.
This year as you consider your CSA pledge take a moment to reflect on, remember and renew your love of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of your faith and our faith. It is our foretaste of Heaven.
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson)
By Joanna Puddister King and Laura Grisham JACKSON – After months of planning, printing material and a bit of prayer, parishes across the diocese are now beginning to host synod listening sessions, as a part of the 2021-2023 Synod of Bishops, titled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.”
Each parish in the diocese is tasked with hosting a listening session, and other entities such as schools and youth programs, are encouraged to offer sessions, as well.
During Advent, the diocese director of faith formation and synod lead coordinator, Fran Lavelle and the synod core steam invited groups, including clergy, deacons and LEMs, to go through the listening session process to aid them in planning their own local synodal listening sessions.
“By all accounts, it was a success,” said Lavelle.
Kicking off the parish listening sessions was Christ the King Southaven, that held a listening session for parishioners on Thursday, Jan. 23, with Deacon Ted Schreck as coordinator.
In attendance at the listening session was Elizabeth Clark, who commented that the session was great and “the process was well aligned to get answers that are needed in order for us to grow as a church.”
One thing that really stood out to Clark in the session, and that was the strong desire for community, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that people are more aware of the isolation of individuals, particularly those who live alone.
SOUTHAVEN – Elizabeth Clark joins in a discussion during the synod listening session at her home parish. She commented that the session process was well aligned to get answers that are needed in order for us to grow as a church. (Photo courtesy of Laura Grisham)
“We are all feeling that isolation and have the desire to come together – to know and share our faith and be Catholic Christians,” said Clark.
Jeff Wallace equally enjoyed the gathering. “It was uplifting to be able to have some input on possible new directions in the church – You felt like you are helping to make a difference, a change in things to come.”
Wallace likened the process as a “spiritual neighborhood watch.” He said that it is “a broad gathering of our church community in which everyone was able to participate and share topics of concern and suggest ways to address them.” The best part of the session to Leonard Temple, district marshal for the local Knights of Columbus chapter, was “the ability to send a note on what you feel the Catholic Church needs to address or change.”
As listening sessions are held across the diocese, the hope is that thousands filled with the Holy Spirit will take part and allow their voices to be heard.
All sessions are to be completed by March 4, according to Lavelle. “We will continue to monitor the Covid cases and adjust if necessary.”
After materials from each listening session are collected, the feedback will be consolidated into a 10-page report by late April for submission to Rome. From there synodal reports from around the world will be compiled into a larger report.
In the opening Mass for the Synod in October, Bishop Joseph Kopacz stated that the “summary will be made available for the diocese as a very important body of material for our discernment in light of our mission and our ministries.” In 2023, after the worldwide synodal process, Pope Francis will speak to the church and to the world the essence of what the Holy Spirit has spoken to the church.
For more information on a listening session near you, please check with local parishes for dates and times.
JACKSON – After service to the chancery office and diocese faithfully for 34 years, 25 as a photo-journalist with Mississippi Today/Mississippi Catholic, Fabvienen Taylor retired on Dec. 31. Taylor also worked for three years in the Office of Faith Formation and another six in the Tribunal Office with Father Jeffrey Waldrep. On Thursday, Jan. 13, chancery staff gathered to share memories and celebrate Taylor and her many years of service to the Diocese of Jackson. Pictured is Taylor enjoying the last touch of her old camera, which she used to take thousands of picture around the diocese. Mississippi Catholic and the chancery staff are incredibly grateful for her service to the people of God in our diocese. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)
PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Spring Fling 2022, $10,000 Cash Drawdown Mardi Gras, Saturday, Feb. 26 at The Gin at Dunleith in Leland. Drawdown begins at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased at church or school office. Details: church office (662) 335-5251.
FLOWOOD St. Paul, Black & White Ball/Annual Drawdown, Saturday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Tickets: $125 and raffle tickets $1. Details: Pat Scanlon (601) 953-6370.
JACKSON St. Richard, Annual Super Bowl Sunday Pulled Pork Dinner. Tickets $10 each and funds raised support St. Richard Boy Scout Troop 30. Dinners available for pick-up on Feb. 6. Tickets are available for purchase in the church and school offices. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.
St. Richard, Bereavement Support, Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Chichester Room. Speaker: Pat Walden, retired St. Dominic director of pastoral care. Topic: “Guilt in Grief – How to Deal with it.” All are welcome. Details: Suzie Cranston (601) 573-3347 or Nancy McGhee at (601) 942-2078 or ncmcghee@bellsouth.net.
St. Richard School, Krewe de Cardinal, Friday, Feb. 25. This festive evening features a brass band, silent and live auctions, cash drawing, cocktails and cuisine. Tickets: $50/per person or $100/per couple, in advance. Details: development@strichardschool.org.
LELAND St. James Feast of St. Blaise/Blessing of the Throats. On Feb. 3, at 12:15 p.m. for parishioners of St. James, Immaculate Conception Hollandale and Our Mother of Mercy Anguilla. Details: church office (662) 686-7352.
MADISON St. Joseph School, Jeans, Jazz & Bruin Blues $10,000 Drawdown, Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Country Club of Jackson. Details: www.stjoedrawdown.com.
St. Francis, Discovering Christ begins Tuesday, Feb. 1. Talk about big questions: What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? Join us one night a week for seven weeks. Details: www.stfrancismadison.org/dc-register-1.
OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Spaghetti dinner after Mass on Sunday, Jan. 30. Cost: $8/plate; $25/family; $2 smoked sausage ($1 half); $10 quart gravy; $5 quart slaw. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.
PEARL St. Jude, Super Bowl Chicken Plates. Knights are selling chicken plates for $12 for pick up between 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. Tickets sold through Sunday, Feb. 6. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.
TUPELO St. James, Adult Trivia Night, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Kingfisher Lodge. Food and drinks served. RSVP to Mary Frances Strange at https://linktr.ee/stjamestupelo Details: church office (662) 842-4881.
SAVE THE DATE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST A parish mission on the Eucharist and the Mass is available in the diocese at two locations this Lent. Father Aaron Williams will offer a three day mission at St. Mary’s Basilica Natchez from March 8-10 and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood from March 27-29. All sessions will begin at 6 p.m.
JACKSON St. Peter Cathedral the Apostle, Bishop Chanche Awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.
TRIPS WITH FATHER DAVID O’CONNOR Father O’Connor will be hosting trips to Italy (May 28 – June 6), England and Wales (June 23 – July 3) and Ireland (Sept 7-15). Details: For Italy trip visit caragrouptravel.com/italy-with-father-oconnor-2022/. For England and Wales trip visit caragrouptravel.com/england-and-wales-with-father-oconnor/. For Ireland trip visit caragrouptravel.com/tour-of-ireland-with-father-o-connor-2022/.
COVID NOTE As the Omicron variant continues, the Diocese of Jackson STRONGLY ENCOURAGES the wearing of masks to Mass and all parish gatherings. Social distancing of 3 feet is recommended.
We appreciate all of your efforts to keep each other safe. Each parish may adapt protocols and make decisions according to the local reality of their individual parish communities.
By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator CHATAWA – Nestled in a stunningly beautiful corner of southwest Mississippi, Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center features 400 acres of Mother Nature’s finest work.
Far removed from a main highway, or even a small town, the rolling property offers a welcome tranquility, a place where deer roam freely, where native woods house species of every sort, where a picturesque lake featuring a gazebo and a canoe are the center’s welcome mat.
For Father Mark Beard it is a 400-acre answer to a prayer. A Catholic retreat center serving the Diocese of Baton Rouge has been a dream of his for several years but as he said “didn’t think it would ever come to fruition.”
CHATAWA – A picturesque lake sits as a welcome mat to Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center, nestled on 400 acres of rolling hills in Chatawa. (Photo by Richard Meek/The Catholic Commentator)
He and Ponchatoula businessman Mike Fulmer had been seeking to purchase property suitable for a retreat center and believed they had found the ideal setting when the former Rosaryville Center went up for sale. Ultimately, the Dominican Sisters of Peace sold the retreat center to a businessman and it has since been turned into a non-denominational center.
Fulmer later learned St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa, Mississippi was on the market. Originally opened by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1874 as an all-girls boarding school, the facility, which was used as a retreat center in later years, had become too burdensome for the sisters to continue to manage.
“When (Fulmer) called (regarding a visit to Chatawa) I think my first words were, ‘Mike I don’t think we can afford to go down one more rabbit hole,’” Father Beard recalled with a chuckle.
But he relented and during his initial tour Father Beard knew God was revealing his dream before his eyes with each passing step. But he had one more surprise coming when earlier this year the property was sold to an individual who then donated the property to Chatawa Retreat Center, a non-profit business which manages the facility. “That was manna from heaven,” Father Beard said.
The School Sisters of Notre Dame had had the property listed for close to three years and fielded offers but it remained unsold. Fortunately, the buildings needed little work, a tribute to the sisters who Father Beard said “operated on a shoestring.”
The sprawling property features a combined 100,000 square feet of living areas, while Rosaryville had 10,000 square feet. Additionally, Our Lady of Hope has two dorms that can accommodate more than a combined 100 retreatants, a main dining room along with smaller dining rooms, a chapel that once served as a parish church, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, a firepit, cafeterias and beautiful vistas throughout.
A well-stocked gift shop includes paintings and digital copies of paintings of Drazen Vucina, an artist from Medjugorje, where Father Beard found his calling to be a priest. Our Lady of Hope features more than 50 of Drazen’s original works. Improvements include turning the property’s oldest building, a storage area built in 1875, into a eucharistic adoration chapel. Father Beard said all retreat centers offer the same amenities, such as good food and nice beds but what will ultimately separate Our Lady of the Hope are plans for 13 individual gardens that will include a Mary Garden and a garden of the apostles.
Father Beard admitted to some trepidation to opening the center during the COVID-19 pandemic, thinking “Really, Lord?’ Could we have picked a worse time to get started?”
Despite those concerns, success has come early. Already, the center has hosted several retreats, ranging from one day to a week. Other groups, such as ACTS, a production company and high schools have utilized the facility. Also under discussion is four Catholic high schools who wish to host a four-team basketball tournament with the emphasis on the retreat component.
“It’s kind of hard to sell it until you come and visit it,” Father Beard acknowledged.
In the past few months he has visited the chaplains and youth ministers at the Catholic schools in New Orleans. He followed with personal invitations and open houses.
Father Beard has also made visits to schools in Mississippi and Alabama and a Lake Charles company recently took drone photography for the website.
CHATAWA – A statue of the Sacred Heart sits near the entrance to Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center in Chatawa, a preview of the peace and tranquility that awaits. (Photo by Richard Meek/The Catholic Commentator)
“A lot of (the marketing) is personal; you need to meet the people and say ‘I need you to come visit,’“ he said.
Exuding an enthusiasm that is contagious, Father Beard discussed his vision for the future, which includes the potential of opening an elementary school that might be more “home schoolish” in the beginning.
Plans also call for building two tiny houses tucked away in the woods away from the center where clergy members can come spend a night or two to enjoy the solitude, to pray, to unwind. Father Beard cited the challenges of being a diocesan priest, saying that 20% percent is spent on the theological side of issues and the remaining 80% on such matters as building facilities maintenance, upkeep and meetings.
“You are not in the theology world and you can see it on the priests,” he said. “They are exhausted and his will give them a chance to get away and to be alone.”
For now, Father Beard roams the grounds frequently, checking on the status of projects, or more important checking on his dream.
“I love it,” he said. “I love the quiet. I love only to have to talk about our faith. We want to pass Catholicity through the door to as many people as we can.”
For information on Our Lady of Hope and how to book a retreat visit www.ourladyofhopems.com.
