Category Archives: Diocesan News

On the frontlines, sisters aid families in need

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By Berta Mexidor
JACKSON – Health and economic hardships brought on by COVID-19 have been felt across the world. To help in the U.S., Catholic Extension launched the Sisters on the Frontlines alliance in late June in response to the pandemic, taking particular care to aid communities disproportionately afflicted by poverty and a lack of resources.
The goal of the initiative is to give 1,000 sisters, $1,000 each to provide rapid response to the poor and distressed. So far, five sisters in the Diocese of Jackson have received funds from through this special program – Sister Lael Niblick and Sister Mary Christine Fellerhoff of St. Helen Amory; Sister Nancy Schreck of Excel in Okalona; and Sister Maria Eugenia Moreno, MGSpS and Obdulia Olivar, MGSpS of St. Michael Forest.
According to Joe Boland, vice president of mission for Catholic Extension, the funds are unrestricted and the process to request and receive funds is simple.

“If they’re engaged in some ministry that is serving the poor — or have access to the poor — they determine how the money will be spent,” Boland said. “They know the ones in their communities, they know the names, the faces, the families. They will be able to deliver it or organize it in such a way that support goes to those who have the greatest need.”
Sister Obdulia, working with Hispanic families in Scott County affected by the ICE raids of Aug. 2019 and now impacted by COVID-19, said “Families to help are many, it was not difficult to identify them. We know what families were impacted by COVID and which ones were in most need of [this] help.”
Boland said that the sisters may serve anywhere, not just the 87 U.S. dioceses in Catholic Extension’s territory. Funding is released as it is raised, and Catholic Extension continues to seek donations to underwrite the program.
The Diocese of Jackson has been blessed by the service of many orders of sisters over the years: The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, – CSA; Missionaries Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit, MGSpS; School Sisters of Notre Dame, SSND; Sisters of Humility of Mary, CHM; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, RSM; Daughters of Charity, DC; Sisters of Charity of Halifax, SC; Franciscan Sisters, OSF; Sisters of the Living Word, SLW; Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns, OCD; Dominican Sisters of Springfield, OP; Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, FSPA; Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, SCN School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI – OSF; Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, SNJM; Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, S.H.Sp.; Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the BVM, PBVM; and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province – CSJ.
Since the program began in June, 378 sisters have received support from the Sisters on the Frontline grant program and another 622 have requested funds.
Sisters who have received funding are asked to report back to Catholic Extension as to how the funds were used. Catholic Extension will be sharing the sisters’ stories as they are received. To learn more or to donate, visit https://www.catholicextension.org/sisters-on-the-frontlines/.

Parishes postpone and cancel events due to COVID-19

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By Joe Lee
MADISON – Parishioners at St. James Parish of Leland were greeted in a recent church bulletin with this sobering news regarding their annual parish fair:

“The council felt that it was in the best interest of the community to postpone the upcoming fair. Without it, we will have substantial loss of income. Discussion was held regarding ways to offset this loss. Any contributions will be greatly appreciated. Please mark your contributions ‘Parish Fair.’”

A tiny Mississippi Delta town with a population of less than 4,000, Leland is in an economically-depressed area to begin with, and this month’s cancellation of St. James’ biggest annual fundraiser — which debuted in 1933 — was not an easy decision to make. While health and safety concerns came first, the loss of the event puts the parish in a significant financial hole.

“We (usually) serve about 800 spaghetti plates with meatballs, all homemade by the ladies of the church from a very old recipe,” said Debbie Ruggeri, St. James Parish secretary. “They’re served in the parish hall, where we also have a silent auction. The outside booths — a ribeye booth, a ham booth, a bingo booth, and teddy bear and fishing booths for children — usually handle about 1,000 people. Everything is donated.”

Raffle tickets are also sold, and those who purchase the highest-priced $100 tickets are competing for a $10,000 grand prize. Not only are the loyal parishioners of St. James missing the badly-needed fellowship opportunities amid the pandemic, the gaps in the parish budget will be felt for some time.
St. James is not alone. At St. Joseph of Gluckstadt, Germanfest has been a September staple since the 1980s and draws crowds of 10,000. Attendees drive in from neighboring states as well as all corners of Mississippi.

“The family-oriented festival is best known for its delicious German food, including bratwurst, shish kabobs, and homemade sauerkraut,” said Pam Minninger, St. Joseph lay ecclesial minister. “Visitors also look forward to participating in the beer stein-holding contest and authentic German Folk music and dancing.”

“A significant amount of the proceeds is donated to local charities. Hopefully we will be able to absorb the shortfall and still be able to support some of these charities this year.”

With no way of knowing what the pandemic restrictions on large groups will be from month to month, St. James has postponed their parish fair until early 2021 and are having initial discussions about possibly having a modified event. Likewise, talks are underway at St. Joseph about cooking up a small-scale Germanfest.

“We are anticipating, at some point after the first of the year, possibly having some type of take-out bratwurst meal that folks can come by and pick up,” Minninger said. “That way they can get their ‘German food fix.’”

Cajun Fest at nearby St. Francis of Assisi in Madison is that parish’s largest fundraiser and features mouthwatering Cajun delicacies and lots of family-friendly fun. With an extensive facilities overhaul and building campaign underway, the cancellation of this year’s event (already delayed from May until October) will leave a deep shortfall in parish fundraising. St. Francis will go virtual, however, in an effort to make back at least some of the losses.

“We will host live the drawing of our annual raffle associated with Cajun Fest at 2 p.m. on October 4,” said Father Albeenreddy Vatti, St. Francis of Assisi pastor. “We chose this date because it is Feast Day for St. Francis, our patron saint. Annually, we celebrate this day with an event, A Taste of St. Francis. It is a time we can gather and celebrate the many cultures that make up our parish with great food and music.”
One of the more disheartening cancellations is the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksdale. Because of pandemic concerns, the small parish hasn’t yet reopened for services and, without the anniversary event, must find other ways to raise money to fund facility upgrades and insurance payments on the church building.

“It has been customary that a fun gathering with a cookout or soul food dinner is planned during the week of the anniversary,” said Father Raju Macharla, Immaculate Conception pastor. “In January the members met to plan a jubilant celebration, and plans were made for a Mass with a reception planned for Sept. 5 to coincide with Bishop Joseph Kopacz’s trip to Mound Bayou that evening.

“One of the highlights would have been to visit with former teachers, students, sisters, priests, and parishioners. We had already started reminding them to save the date and have received regrets and disappointments since the pandemic has occurred.”

Catholic Charities also lost their annual Journey of Hope fundraising luncheon to COVID-19, but the organization — thanks in part to the flexibility of keynote speaker Elizabeth Smart — is back on the calendar for early 2021.

“We’re still at the Jackson Convention Complex and set for February 25,” said Michael Thomas, Catholic Charities development director. “We would have seated ten to a table and will now seat six, but we will have more available tables. Everyone will wear masks to enter and exit unless the mask order has been lifted by then.

“At the meet-and-greet the evening before, we’ll have a book signing with Elizabeth, a paid event at 6 p.m. at a location that has yet to be determined. Her story covers so much of what we do at Catholic Charities in our counseling: kidnapping, rape, domestic violence, and abuse. She is wonderful to work with and has such a strong faith in God.”

Thomas said that a Peer to Peer social media campaign will launch Sept. 15 to begin recouping the loss of funding from this month’s Journey of Hope cancellation. Football coach Lou Holtz drew nearly 1,000 attendees in 2016, and hopes are high that Smart, who was abducted from her Utah family home in 2002 at the age of fourteen before being rescued nine months later, will pack the convention complex in February.

Ultimately, while some events can’t be recreated — Immaculate Conception will never have another seventy-fifth anniversary — many parishes and organizations are thinking creatively and trying to find silver linings in preparing for the future.

“We normally have our Bishop’s Ball each year, and this year we had a virtual event,” Thomas said. “It was a great success and touched more people than the usual ones. We had the live auction online a week before, and everything sold — we were shocked. Wanda Thomas is our new executive director and hosted the hour-long event on Facebook. We were faced with either no Bishop’s Ball or thinking of another way.”

On the frontlines, sisters aid families in need

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By Berta Mexidor
JACKSON – Health and economic hardships brought on by COVID-19 have been felt across the world. To help in the U.S., Catholic Extension launched the Sisters on the Frontlines alliance in late June in response to the pandemic, taking particular care to aid communities disproportionately afflicted by poverty and a lack of resources.
The goal of the initiative is to give 1,000 sisters, $1,000 each to provide rapid response to the poor and distressed. So far, five sisters in the Diocese of Jackson have received funds from through this special program – Sister Lael Niblick and Sister Mary Christine Fellerhoff of St. Helen Amory; Sister Nancy Schreck of Excel in Okalona; and Sister Maria Eugenia Moreno, MGSpS and Obdulia Olivar, MGSpS of St. Michael Forest.
According to Joe Boland, vice president of mission for Catholic Extension, the funds are unrestricted and the process to request and receive funds is simple.

“If they’re engaged in some ministry that is serving the poor — or have access to the poor — they determine how the money will be spent,” Boland said. “They know the ones in their communities, they know the names, the faces, the families. They will be able to deliver it or organize it in such a way that support goes to those who have the greatest need.”
Sister Obdulia, working with Hispanic families in Scott County affected by the ICE raids of Aug. 2019 and now impacted by COVID-19, said “Families to help are many, it was not difficult to identify them. We know what families were impacted by COVID and which ones were in most need of [this] help.”
Boland said that the sisters may serve anywhere, not just the 87 U.S. dioceses in Catholic Extension’s territory. Funding is released as it is raised, and Catholic Extension continues to seek donations to underwrite the program.
The Diocese of Jackson has been blessed by the service of many orders of sisters over the years: The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, – CSA; Missionaries Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit, MGSpS; School Sisters of Notre Dame, SSND; Sisters of Humility of Mary, CHM; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, RSM; Daughters of Charity, DC; Sisters of Charity of Halifax, SC; Franciscan Sisters, OSF; Sisters of the Living Word, SLW; Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns, OCD; Dominican Sisters of Springfield, OP; Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, FSPA; Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, SCN School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI – OSF; Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, SNJM; Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, S.H.Sp.; Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the BVM, PBVM; and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province – CSJ.
Since the program began in June, 378 sisters have received support from the Sisters on the Frontline grant program and another 622 have requested funds.
Sisters who have received funding are asked to report back to Catholic Extension as to how the funds were used. Catholic Extension will be sharing the sisters’ stories as they are received. To learn more or to donate, visit https://www.catholicextension.org/sisters-on-the-frontlines/.

Putting for a cause

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MADISON – Father Aaron Williams and Dr. Andrew Abide wait to see if Phil Mansour sinks his put at the Lake Caroline golf course for the 2020 Bishop’s Cup Golf Scramble. Funds raised from the tournament and silent auction went to support the Catholic Foundation Grant Trust. Congratulations to the tournament winners. The BankFirst team of Marcus Mallory, Chase Frazure, Walker Brown and John Oller for came in first place. Second place (tied) was the Tico’s Steakhouse team of Tico Hoffman, Jack Hoffman, Father Gerry Hurley and Joe Beall. Also in second was the Campus Dining team of Michael Prince, Barry Planch, Steve Shirley and Jimmy Bailey. (Photo by Julia Williams)

New early learning center named in honor of Sisters of Mercy

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By Staff Reports The Vicksburg Post
VICKSBURG – Nearly 160 years ago, six ordained Sisters of Mercy arrived in Vicksburg with a singular goal in mind — to educate the children of the town and open the area’s very first school. Now, that legacy is being continued, and those women are being honored through the naming of the Vicksburg Catholic School Sisters of Mercy Early Learning Center.
The new facility, which is under construction at the corner of Clay and Howard streets, will serve as a childcare center for infants through three-year-olds. The building itself will be named the Sherry J. Scott Building, honoring a graduate of St. Francis Xavier and a generous donor to the school, who learned the importance of giving back at a young age from the Sisters of Mercy.

VICKSBURG – Vicksburg Catholic Schools new early learning center, which is scheduled to open in 2021, will be named the Sisters of Mercy Early Learning Center. (Photo by Tim Reeves/The Vicksburg Post)

“Without the support from Sherry and her husband, Sam Scott, fundraising for this project would have been daunting, especially in our current environment,” said Kristi Smith, development director at VCS. “Their generosity and commitment to the school is just another great testament to the incredible impression the Sisters of Mercy left on their students.”
But education wasn’t the only call the Sisters of Mercy answered during their time in Vicksburg. In addition to being remembered as great teachers in the area, the Sisters also became nurses when they encountered numerous sick and injured soldiers during the Civil War. That work led them to take over City Hospital in 1878 and the Vicksburg Street Hospital in 1943, which later became known as Mercy Hospital until it was bought by a corporation in 1991.
“When you talk about the history of Vicksburg, you have to talk about the Sisters of Mercy,” said Mary Margaret Edney, a member of the VCS advisory council. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way for us to honor their legacy and to remember the many sacrifices they made to better our community all those years ago. There are a lot of people who will tell you that they wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for those women.”
Since the news of Scott’s donation, VCS has moved into Phase 2 of its capital campaign to raise $2.2 million for the center. This phase will fund construction completion and furnishings, a total of about $400,000.
The Sisters of Mercy Early Learning Center is scheduled to open in 2021. For more information about enrollment, please contact the school at 601-636-4824.

(Editor’s note: Article re-printed with permission of The Vicksburg Post.)

Calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

VIRTUAL Dominican Sisters of Peace presents “Listening to God’s Call with Open Hearts,” a virtual discernment retreat for single women ages 18-45, Sept. 11-13. This retreat will give single Catholic women an opportunity to meet and talk with Sisters and women in formation, as well as other women who are discerning their own call to religious life. Details: Sister Bea Tiboldi, OP, (614) 400-1255 or BTiboldi@oppeace.org.
GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus Retreat Center, “Why am I Afraid to Change?” Friday, Sept. 25 to Saturday, Sept. 26. Presenters: Father Bill Henry and Janet Constantine, LMHC. The Retreat is on Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admittance is by love offering; however, participants must register, since seating will be limited due to social distancing. Masks must be worn by all participants. Details: You may register online at www.locusbenedictus.org or call (662) 299-1232.
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Healing Shrine in the Daily Mass Chapel. A healing shrine has been erected along the back wall of one side of the daily Mass chapel at Holy Spirit, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints. A petition book is available for you to write your petitions for healing of any illness of body, mind or spirit, for you, your relatives and/or friends. These petitions will be remembered and prayed for by our parishioners. You may light a small 5-hour candle (tea light) for $2 or a 7-day candle for $10. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS

CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, Parish Fair, Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 5-7 p.m. This year the fair will be drive through food items only with some surprise booths. The sweet shoppe and frozen casseroles will only be offering their top five items to be purchased. Details: (662) 846-6273.
GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph, Germanfest 2020 cancelled. After consultation with the diocese, conversations with Father Kevin and our Germanfest Chairperson Eric Price, and much prayer, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel Germanfest this year. Due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID pandemic, the escalating numbers of illness, and the necessity of close and sustained contact during preparations, as well as the need to protect our parishioners and our visitors, we feel it is the best decision we can make at this time.
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Adult Religious Education on Thursday mornings after daily Mass at 9 a.m. which will focus on scripture study. Grow in your spirituality and knowledge of our Catholic faith. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.
Holy Spirit, along with the other SCJ parishes, Grandparents Day will be celebrated the weekend of Sept. 12-13. They will be honored with a special blessing at the Masses that weekend. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.
JACKSON St. Richard, Save the Date, Special Kids Golf Tournament, Thursday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Deerfield Golf Club, Canton. Almost 40 years ago, Father Patrick Farrell saw the need to provide a program designed to address the challenges of children with special needs. Every year, the funding raised by our golf tournament makes so many things possible for our students. Raffle tickets for a Mother’s Day Weekend in Florida are available at St. Richard Church and school offices for $5 or five tickets for $20. Details: Shannon Garner at the church office (601) 366-2335, garner@saintrichard.com or www.saintrichard.com.
St. Richard, Confirmation for 10th and 11th grades begins Sunday, Sept. 20 and meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the youth center. Pizza will be served from 6-6:30 p.m. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.
JACKSON St. Peter Cathedral, Adult Faith Formation, Sundays, during 9:15–10 a.m. between Masses starting Sept. 13 in the Cathedral. Discussion will be on the book The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy. It is part of a series entitled the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. The author teaches at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. The book is available at www.amazon.com and in the kindle format. Details: fathermatthewpricesimmons@gmail.com.
JACKSON Catholic Charities’ Journey of Hope has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 at 12 p.m. There will be a meet and greet the night before, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. The luncheon speaker will be Elizabeth Smart. Details: Catholic Charities (601) 355-8634.
JACKSON 40 Days for Life kickoff rally, 2903 North State Street, Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. Join in prayer and fasting as they go to the abortion facility to be a public witness for God. There will be no speaker this year, but they are asking that you pray and sing. Details: plm@prolifemississippi.org.
MERIDIAN Catholic Community of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, join in for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m. and Vespers/Rosary at 4:45 p.m. (Monday-Friday). Details: Dial in by phone (769) 206-1927 to join in.
Catholic Community of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, Father Augustine leads a novena to the Lady of Our Perpetual Help on the parish’s Facebook page Saturdays at 11 a.m. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by Knights of Columbus, Sunday, Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the O’Connor Family Life Center. Due to COVID-19, all dinners will be to go and no brought-in containers will be allowed. Cost: Donation per ticket is $9. Details: Joe Garrity or Steve Nielsen at the church office (601) 445-5616.
SOUTHAVEN Christ the King, National Prayer Event, “Let’s Life Chain America,” Sunday, Oct. 4 from 2-3 p.m. Life Chain is a silent prayer vigil to communicate opposition to abortion. It is not political or confrontational. Details: Barbara Dean at (901) 486-6470; MaryAnn (662) 420-7851 or (662) 429-0501.
VICKSBURG St. Mary, Knights of Columbus Drawdown, Sunday, Oct. 11. This event will be a “virtual” drawdown with takeout food. Cost: tickets are $75 each. Details: church office (601) 636-0115.
VIRTUAL First Homegrown Harvest Gala and Fundraiser, Friday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to raise awareness and funds for the Seminarian Trust. This will be a live online event. You can go to https://one.bidpal.net/homegrownharvest2020 to be a part. You will hear from the six men who are studying for the priesthood, as well as hear a talk from Father Jim Wehner, the President/Rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and throughout the evening you will hear from Father Nick Adam, our seminarians and more. Details: Father Nick Adam, vocation director (601) 969-4020 or nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.

YOUTH BRIEFS

CLARKSDALE Catholic Community of St. Elizabeth, Faith Formation will resume on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. before Mass for the following grades: 9th-12th grades – meet in the church; 7-8th grades – meet in the school gym; 4th-6th grades – meet in McKenna Hall and 1st-3rd grades – meet in the school classrooms. Social distancing of at least six feet will be required and masks must be worn at all times. A teacher for 4th-6th grades is still needed. Details: call the church office to register your child (662) 624-4301.
MERIDIAN, Catholic Community of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, the Youth Group will be meeting every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Youth (6th-12th Grades) are invited. Please contact Angela Dove at 601 693 1321 Ext. 8 or by email angela@catholicmeridian.org.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, High School Youth Group, Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. at the Family Life Center youth wing. “Be Still …” not a class, not a meeting, but a journey. There will be pizza. Details: (601) 445-5616.

COVID-19 REMINDER

In person Masses are now open at many parishes within the Diocese of Jackson. Check with your local parish for details and follow guidelines in place for attendance. All over the age of two are required to wear a mask.
The obligation to attend Mass continues to be dispensed by Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, so if you do not feel safe attending, or have an underlying health condition, or feel sick, please stay home. Be safe and stay vigilant!

Foundation accepting grant applications through Aug. 31

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JACKSON – The Catholic Foundation is accepting grant requests through Aug. 31. Each year the Foundation supports projects around the diocese in parishes, schools, Catholic Charities and ministries. The application can be found on the diocese website https://jacksondiocese.org/catholic-foundation-grant-application-form/.
Last year the Foundation funded 23 projects and awarded over $73,500. One of the recipients was St. Paul Early Learning Center. in Flowood The grant helped them to create an outdoor learning space to keep the children engaged in learning even when they are outdoors. Rebecca Harris, executive director stated, “We were excited to fund this grant. Since children at this age learn through play the Foundation grant committee felt like this was a unique opportunity for the Foundation to fund. We look forward to reading through the grant applications this year.”

Meet Andrew Bowden

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Andrew Bowden is in his third year of Theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He entered the seminary after graduating from Brandon High School in 2014.

Andrew Bowden

Home parish: St. Jude, Pearl

Background: I am from Brandon. I have lived in Mississippi my whole life.

What is your vocation story? Who influenced you and why?
I’ve wanted to be a priest for as long as I can remember. Father Martin Ruane, my first pastor, was a big influence.

What draws you to diocesan priesthood? And to the Diocese of Jackson?
The Diocese of Jackson is my home. Prayer and discernment have made it clear the diocesan priesthood is how God wants me to serve him.

What are your hobbies/interests?
I like to listen to music, walk in nature and read. I also play the French horn.

Who is your favorite saint?
The Blessed Mother is easily my favorite saint.

Do you have a favorite devotion?
The Servite rosary is probably my favorite devotion. It reflects on Mary’s seven sorrows.

Who is your favorite sports team? The New Orleans Saints.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a seminarian? And the most challenging?
I’ve enjoyed getting to meet so many people in the diocese. The most challenging part has been being away from the diocese for so long [while I am away at seminary].

What advice do you have for those discerning a vocation?
Seminary formation is difficult and will be a long journey, but it will be worth it in the end.

Where can people send you a personal note?
Andrew Bowden, 2901 South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118

Father Bill Henry retires after 36 years

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By Mary Margaret Edney

JACKSON – While working as a district sales manager for Nissan Motor Corporation, Father Bill Henry lived a successful, comfortable life. But after one particularly powerful weekend prayer retreat, he knew he was being called to move in a different direction. He answered that call, and today, Father Henry is celebrating his retirement after 36 years of service in the priesthood.

Father Bill Henry retired in June 2020. He served the Diocese of Jackson for 36 years at the following parishes: St. Joseph Greenville, St. Therese Jackson, St. Alphonsus McComb, St. Teresa of Avila Chatawa and at St. Joseph High School.

“The Lord just started speaking to me,” Father Henry said of that crucial weekend back in his early adult life. “It wouldn’t quit, like a toothache. I finally said, ‘if this is what You want me to do, I’ll do it.’”

So, Henry set a personal goal for himself — if he was going to quit the car business, he wanted to quit on top. And that’s what he did.
“It was the weirdest thing I’d ever seen in my life,” Father Henry recalled. “On my final day with Nissan, I had 18 dealers in Louisiana, and they broke every sales record. It was just awesome; it was my sendoff. I left there, all I owned was a new car and what was in it, but I felt like a millionaire. I’ll never be able to put my finger on that feeling of freedom and richness, and when I walked in that door of the seminary, there was no doubt that was where I was meant to be.”

Born in Orlando, Florida, Father Henry was raised in Washington state and spent much of his early adult life on the West Coast before moving to Jackson to work for Nissan. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, and when he finished there, he made his way back to Mississippi.

After being at St. Therese Church, St. Joseph’s High School and the vocations office, all in Jackson, Father Henry became a part-time administrator at St. Anne’s in Carthage before his first pastorship at St. Alphonsus in McComb. He spent 11 years in McComb before going back to St. Therese in Jackson, and finally, his last assignment of eight years at St. Joseph in Greenville.

“A highlight for me was just the ministry as a whole,” Father Henry said of his years as a full-time priest. “It’s been a very interesting journey for me, but it has always been great to see people growing in their faith. That’s what I really enjoy.”

And just as Father Henry kept himself busy as a priest, he plans to stay active in retirement with spiritual direction workshops and events. He has been very involved with the Marian Servants of Divine Providence, a group that serves through retreats and other ministries.

“Sometimes we get stuck spiritually, and we don’t move on. We work on the roadblocks and show people how our woundedness, sin and other things keep us from moving on and growing spiritually,” Father Henry said of a workshop scheduled for late September in Greenwood.

But it won’t be all work all the time — Father Henry is looking forward to a little downtime, as well.

“I also plan to do a little fishing and bike riding as part of my everyday exercise,” he said. “I have a lot of good friends in the area, so retirement is a very enriching experience for me right now.”

Springfield Dominican Sisters confirm corporate stance on migration

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By Sister Beth Murphy, OP
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Dominican Sisters of Springfield gathered in general assembly Aug. 6-7, 2020, and affirmed a statement in support of migrants that “heralds justice and non-violence” and that “speaks the urgent need for social equality and economic parity, for compassion and for reconciliation” of the world’s peoples on the move.
The full text of the corporate stance reads:
We, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Ill., express solidarity with those individuals and families who find it necessary to leave their homes or homeland in order to secure their safety and future. We commit to welcome, support, and protect all migrants: immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons. We commit to assist in their integration. We advocate for policies that protect their human rights, including family unity.
In her presentation of the statement to the sisters gathered at Sacred Heart Convent and around the Western Hemisphere via teleconference technology, Sister Sharon Zayac answered a rhetorical question about why more words were necessary on this topic. “In a world inundated with words that deny others their rights to life, liberty, and the means to provide for the needs and the future of their families, we need more words,” she said. “We need alternate words, words that herald justice and non-violence, that speak the urgent need for social equality and economic parity, for compassion and for reconciliation.”

(Left) Dominican Sisters of Springfield have been migrant advocates since their founders arrived in Jacksonville, Ill., on Aug. 19, 1873. Pictured: Springfield Dominican Sisters rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) legislation in 2017. Left to right are Sister Judith Hilbing, Veronica Espina (a Dominican associate), Sisters Elyse Marie Ramirez, Ann Clennon and Marcelline Koch. (Photo courtesy of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield)

The process of affirming this new corporate stance, the twelfth since 1994, began earlier this year with a period of communal study by the sisters on issues facing migrants in the U.S. and around the globe.
“When our founding sisters arrived in Jacksonville in 1873, they came to teach the children of the Irish immigrants whose fathers made a living doing back-breaking labor on the railroad,” said Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, the congregation’s prioress general. “Many of our own sisters were also immigrants. This statement affirms our commitment to continued concern for, ministry to, and advocacy on behalf of immigrants so deeply rooted in our own story.”
The sisters work to fulfill Pope Francis’ goal of making the Catholic church a welcoming place for migrants. In a video statement from the pope viewed before their vote on this corporate stance, the sisters heard Pope Francis say “Unfortunately, in many cases people are forced to move by conflict, natural disasters, persecution, climate change, violence, extreme poverty, and inhuman living conditions. Our shared response can be expressed by four action verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.”
The Springfield Dominican Sisters now work to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants in a multitude of ways. They serve migrants at the Dominican Literacy Centers in Aurora and Melrose Park, Ill. and at Bethany House, a Chicago shelter facility for women and children seeking asylum or awaiting adjudication of their human trafficking cases.
Sisters engaged in parish ministry often serve migrants in those parishes, and migrants attend the congregation’s three sponsored high schools. Migrants are served by Springfield Dominican Sisters at counseling centers in Illinois and are among those cared for in health care facilities where our sisters work.
In many instances, Springfield Dominican Sisters volunteer time in service of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and can often be found advocating for more just immigration policies in the seats of government. In Springfield, many sisters are engaged with the work of the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network (SIAN), an all-volunteer non-profit that provides service and advocacy for immigrants in central Illinois.
To learn more about how you can join the Dominican Sisters’ work in support of migrants contact Sister Marcelline Koch at 217-787-0481.