JACKSON – The Mississippi Knights of Columbus held their annual convention in Jackson the last weekend of April with the theme “In solidarity with our Church.” The gathering gives the knights a chance to share ideas, receive training and recognize those councils and individuals who have offered exemplary service. Mississippi Knights raised more than $85,000 to support seminarians and pro-life initiatives this year. More than 300 people attended. All photos are from the Mass Bishop Louis Kihneman of the Diocese of Biloxi celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Saturday, April 27. Here are some highlights of those honored during the convention: Knight of the Year: Norman J. Cantrelle – Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 in Pass Christian Sir Knights of the Year: Sir Knight David Fisher, Assembly 554 Jackson and Sir Knight Stephen D’Angelo, Assembly 3625 Pass Christian. Assembly of the Year: Bishop Gerow Assembly 554 – Jackson Worthy Marshal of the Year: Sir Knight Craig Harrell, Worthy Marshal District 8 Family of the Year: Willie B. Jones Family -Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 in Pass Christian Best Faith Program: Council 848; Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Council; Jackson for the Refund Support Vocation Program (RSVP) Best Family Program: Council 1522; Pere Le Duc Council; Bay St. Louis for the Our Lady of the Gulf Parish Picnic Best Community Program: Council 898; Vicksburg Council for Meals on Wheels for the Homebound Best Life Program: Council 10901; St. John Council; Oxford for BBQ Dinner Fundraiser for Pregnancy Center Best Vocations Programs: Jackson Diocese – Council 848; Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Council; Jackson for work with Carmelite Sisters and Monastery Biloxi Diocese: Council 16433; St. Clare Council; Waveland for Cycle to Saints.
By Joe Lee MADISON – As Doug Harkins and his wife, Kimberly, watch their twins Jacob and Clare graduate from St. Joseph High School next week, the moment will be even more poignant for Doug, a 1988 St. Joe grad and cardiologist with Jackson Heart Clinic, because of the presence of his mother, Rosemary. A 1950 graduate, she will join her son and daughter-in-law at Thalia Mara Hall as her grandchildren represent the third Harkins generation to cross the stage in St. Joe cap and gown.
But as remarkable as that accomplishment may be, the 70 years spanning the family’s graduations doesn’t even cover half the era represented by the school. The humble beginnings stretch all the way back to 1870, and the St. Joseph Catholic School 150th Class Reunion will launch July 1 and continue through the end of 2020.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime for all of us,” said Tricia Harris, St. Joe coordinator of special events and enrollment. “We have the opportunity to put forth the importance of academic achievement and a Catholic education — there are so many influential people that have graduated from this school and gone on to amazing things.”
In addition to an updated Bruin logo that reflects the sesquicentennial – seen on car bumpers all over the Jackson area – the school will ask for a special proclamation from the state legislature, as well the next Mississippi governor.
“The whole yearbook design for the 2019-2020 school year will integrate a lot of ‘look back’,” Harris said. “The newspaper will be digitized and integrate the logo. Every athletic team will have some semblance of the 150th anniversary worked into their uniform, helmet, and ball they play with. It will constantly tout the fact that we’re in celebration mode.”
While the school has relocated several times its existence, much of what has always drawn both Catholics and non-Catholics to St. Joe remains solidly in place.
“It impacted our perspective on everything,” said 1957 grad Con Maloney, whose high school years were spent in a building that backed up to Central High School in downtown Jackson. “Our class had about 35 people, so I got to know a lot of them very intimately over the years. We were taught by the Mercy Nuns, who were very strict on us. One thing the school never had to buy was erasers. We would harass the Central students and they would throw erasers at us over the fence separating the schools.”
Con’s son, Chris, has returned home to manage the Mississippi Braves. He graduated in 1980, giving the Maloney family a second generation at the school. But a truly unique perspective belongs to David Wissel, who has taught Theology and coached track at St. Joe since 1984. He taught Doug Harkins and is now teaching Doug’s youngest son, Noah.
“Teaching a son or daughter of former students is interesting,” Wissel said. “There are similarities and mannerisms that seem to stand out. Each brings something different to the table.
“When a student walks out of St. Joe for the last time, I hope they are a better person, equipped to make their mark on the world, and that they have a stronger faith and the confidence to be successful in whatever God has planned for them.”
Terry Cassreino, whose daughter Camryn is a current Bruin, credits his Catholic education with shaping the person he is today. A newspaper reporter and editor before joining the Bruin faculty in 2011, his journalism program wins dozens of awards each year at the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association’s annual conference in Oxford. The student newspaper, The Bear Facts, was ranked in the nation’s top 50 by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
“I see firsthand how a Catholic education is helping Camryn deepen her faith and appreciation of the Catholic Church while preparing for her college and life as an adult,” Cassreino said. “And I am beyond proud of my current and former students — St. Joseph Catholic School, without a doubt, has the best high school student media program in the state. It is incredible to me, and extremely important, that we are accomplishing this in a Catholic setting grounded in the teachings of our faith.”
Ronnie Russell, now in his 15th year as band director, instructed two students that went on to win Grammy awards for contributions to major motion picture soundtracks, as well many who performed with college bands all over the southeast and beyond.
“Our campus minister, Kathryn Scikets, is a former St. Joe student and drum major,” Russell said. “One of the most recently-ordained priests in the Jackson Diocese, Father Aaron Williams, is a former band student. Perhaps the highest compliment I’ve ever been given came when he asked me to play trumpet in his very first Mass as a priest.”
Theology teacher Ryan Starrett and Sckiets, who teaches in the English department and graduated in 2013, both work with many faculty that taught them in high school.
“I did not expect to teach at St. Joe, but God works in mysterious ways,” Sckiets said. “When the campus ministry position was open, I thought it would be a really unique opportunity to grow in my faith and hopefully help students grow in theirs. I was — and still am — fortunate to have many great role models at St. Joe who showed me by example how to not only be great teachers, but great people.”
“The thing that impresses me most about St. Joe is that you don’t just feel you are part of a school — you feel like you are part of a family and community,” said Bruin athletic director Michael Howell. “We have a unique balance of education, arts and athletics. Our coaches do a great job of working together to make sure our student-athletes can be successful in all areas of school community.”
At the helm of the Catholic school that opened its doors barely 50 years after Mississippi became a state is Dena Kinsey.
“I want our students to understand the importance of the Hand of God,” Kinsey said. “From the faith of a pastor and a few Sisters of Mercy, a school was established based in truth that has overcome all obstacles to not only survive, but thrive for 150 years. The love of God prevails, and St. Joe is a living example in our most secular world of the power of God.”
JACKSON – A view of St. Joseph High School located downtown in 1932. See more photos online at mississippicatholic.com. (photo courtesy St. Joseph High School Archives)
(Joe Lee is a member of Madison St. Francis Parish and owner of Dogwood Publishing.)
By Dennis Sadowski
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A federal magistrate judge denied motions from seven longtime Catholic peacemakers to have charges dismissed on religious freedom grounds in connection with their April 2018 protest at an East Coast submarine base.
Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheesbro of the Southern District of Georgia said in an April 26 ruling that the defendants, all Catholics, failed to show that the government violated their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
In an 80-page ruling, Cheesbro determined that while the cause the activists espoused is legitimately religious and their faith is sincere, the 20-year prison term that the seven face was the government’s least coercive response to the protest.Bishop Joseph Kopacz testified on behalf of the protestors on Nov. 7 of last year.
Cheesbro said the faith-based activists could have pursued other means to carry out their protest against nuclear weapons on religious grounds rather than illegally entering the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.
Cheesbro also denied the defendants’ three other legal arguments for dismissal, saying that the federal government acted appropriately in charging them with conspiracy, destruction of property, depredation of government property and trespass in connection with the Kings Bay Plowshares action on the night of April 4-5, 2018.
Bill Quigley, a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans who is pro bono legal representative for the seven, told Catholic News Service April 29 that an appeal of Cheesbro’s decision would be filed with the U.S. District Court for Southern Georgia within 30 days of the ruling.
“We think he was at least half right, that our people are sincere, they were motivated by deep religious, Catholic faith and the opposition to nuclear weapons is a key part of Catholic faith,” Quigley said of Cheesbro’s ruling.
“We disagree with the idea that it’s appropriate that the least restrictive means for the government to address people’s religious belief is by exposing them to 20-plus years in prison. That’s going to be one of the key challenges we bring (in the appeal),” Quigley explained.
The defendants, all Catholics, include Elizabeth McAlister of Baltimore; Jesuit Father Steve Kelly of the Bay Area in California; Carmen Trotta of New York City; Clare Grady of Ithaca, New York; Martha Hennessy of New York, granddaughter of Catholic Worker co-founder Dorothy Day; Mark Colville of New Haven, Connecticut; and Patrick O’Neill of Garner, North Carolina.
Father Kelly, McAlister and Colville remain jailed in Georgia, while the four others have been released on bond.
The protest marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and to “repent of the sin of white supremacy that oppresses and takes the lives of people of color here in the United States and throughout the world.”
The seven entered the submarine base, the East Coast home of the Trident nuclear submarine, and during approximately two hours placed crime scene tape and spilled blood at different locales while posting an “indictment” charging the military with crimes against peace, citing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Navy’s fleet of Trident submarines carries about half of the U.S. active strategic nuclear warheads, according to military experts.
In their arguments, the activists sought dismissal of the charges on grounds that they were being selectively prosecuted, that the charges were “duplicitous and multiplicitous,” that the government failed to identify an offense under international and domestic law, and that they were being unlawfully prosecuted under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Seven Catholics who call themselves the Kings Bay Plowshares are seen April 4, 2018, before they entered the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia to protest nuclear weapons. They were arrested and charged with conspiracy, trespass, and destruction and depradation of property. Patrick O’Neill, second from left, Martha Hennessy, third from left, and Carmen Trotta, right, have been released on bond. The other four decided not to bond out and remain in a detention facility n Brunswick, Ga. (CNS photo/Kings Bay Plowshares) See KINGS-BAY-PLOWSHARES April 29, 2019.
By Maureen Smith
TUPELO – Almost 300 people attended a Journey of Hope Luncheon in Tupelo to benefit Catholic Charities Vardaman Service Center on Friday, April 26. The guest speaker was Father Burke Masters, former Mississippi State Baseball standout and chaplain for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Father Masters spoke at the Jackson Journey of Hope last year. When Catholic Charities organizers heard he would be back in Starkville for a Hall of Fame event, they took a chance and invited him to travel to Tupelo for another event.
“We can’t thank Father Burke and the people of St. James in Tupelo enough for their generosity and all they did to support Catholic Charities,” said Michael Thomas, development director for Catholic Charities. “We could not have hosted this event without their help,” he added.
By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – On Saturday, June 15, Catholic Charities will honor the Brunini Law Firm at the annual Bishop’s Ball fund-raiser. The event will start at 6 p.m. at the Jackson Country Club and includes a cocktail hour, silent and live auction, dinner and dancing. Tickets are $85 per person.
The Brunini Law Firm was founded in Vicksburg in the late 1890s. One of the earliest founders, John B. Brunini, was a devout Catholic – the son of Italian immigrants. In the book Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, detailing the history of the firm, it was said neighbors could set their watch by when John Brunini walked to early Mass at St. Paul Parish every day. His son, Joseph Brunini, became the bishop of the Diocese of the Diocese of Jackson and so the church and the firm have always had a connection.
Today the firm has offices in Biloxi, Columbus, Jackson and Washington, D.C. It represents the diocese in many matters and many of the attorneys there support the church through work with the Catholic Foundation, Catholic Charities and parish and school work. Bishop Joseph Kopacz said he is happy to honor the firm with the award. “Because the world continues to grow more complex the rule of law becomes indispensable in safeguarding and promoting a society that is just and humane,” said the bishop, adding that the diocese is proud to partner with the firm.
“The Brunini team members are wonderful civic leaders in the community. The Good Samaritan Award recognizes organizations and individuals who serve others selflessly. We have worked with Brunini for many years and it is truly an honor to recognize them their contributions to our community through their partnerships and pro bono work,” said John Lunardini, Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities of Jackson.
Those who wish to reserve a seat at the ball should contact Julie O’Brien by email at julie.obrien@ccjackson.org, or by phone at either (601) 326-3714 or (601) 326-3758.
Sister of Providence Mary Jo Stewart, age 91, died on April 20 in Lourdes Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was born on Sept. 25, 1927 in Terre Haute, Indiana. In the Diocese of Jackson, she worked at Sacred Heart Southern Missions, Walls from 1986-96 and Catholic Community Outreach in Holly Springs from 1996-98. The wake and Mass of Christian Burial were held at Church of the Immaculate Conception on April 26. Burial was in the cemetery of the Sisters of Providence. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana 47876.
Sister Janice Richards, age 79, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky on April 28. She was a professed Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 30 years. She was born in Chicago. She served in social services ministry at Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls from 1993-2016. A visitation and prayer service was held April 30 at Nazareth Home Chapel. Wake was held at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Nazareth, Kentucky, on April 30. The Funeral Mass was May 1 also held at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Burial was is in Nazareth Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the SCN Office of Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Nazareth, Kentucky 40048.
ALEXANDRIA, La – Bishop Emeritus Ronald Paul Herzog of the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana, and a priest of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, died on Friday, April 12, at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. He was born on April 22, 1942, in Akron, Ohio to Paul Herzog and Kathryn Donahue. His father, who was Lutheran, worked for Firestone in Akron for 24 years. His mother was Catholic. As a young boy, he attended various parochial and public schools through the eighth grade. The Herzog family moved to Natchez, Mississippi in 1953, and in 1956, while Herzog was in high school, his parents moved to St. Benedict, Louisiana, where he entered St. Joseph Seminary. After graduating from the junior college of St. Joseph Seminary, Bishop Herzog began his major seminary years at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor degree in Philosophy, followed by four more years of Theology culminating in a Bachelor of Sacred Theology, granted in association with Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. On June 1, 1968, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States. His first assignment was as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in D’Ilberville, Mississippi. Through the encouragement of the pastor of the adjoining parish who had returned to the diocese after serving as an Army chaplain, Bishop Herzog requested permission to become a chaplain in the Mississippi Army National Guard, and Bishop Joseph Brunini allowed him to join. During his nearly 30 years as a military chaplain, Chaplain Herzog served in different units in the Mississippi Army National Guard. His only active tour of duty was at Camp Shelby during Desert Shield/Desert Storm from November 1990 – January 1991. At that time he was the only Catholic chaplain in the Mississippi Guard. He retired from the Mississippi National Guard on April 21, 2002, with the state rank of Brigadier General. Besides the National Guard, another love of Bishop Herzog’s was music. Throughout college and theology, he participated in choirs and served as head cantor. In addition to serving as a chorus member and soloist for the Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus, he directed church choirs in several parishes as well as the diocesan choir. He served as a member or the chairman of several boards of directors for community chorus groups and performing arts groups. At the time, he was one of only three Mississippians accepted through national audition as a member of the American Choral Directors Association National Community Honor Choir for the national convention in San Diego, California in March, 1977. But his true passion was his role as a priest. He was named Domestic Prelate (Monsignor) on November 20, 1987, by Pope John Paul II. As a priest, Bishop Herzog was an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in D’Ilberville and associate pastor and pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Hattiesburg, and pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Joseph Church, St. Paul Church, St. Bernadette Church, Trinity Church, and Immaculate Conception Church, all in Mississippi. In addition to his pastoral duties, Bishop Herzog was assigned many diocesan responsibilities some of which included Diocesan Director of the Office for Worship, Diocesan Tribunal Defender of the Bond, Past Chair of the Presbyteral Council, Former Dean of the Northern and Western Deaneries, College of Consulters, and Secretary-Treasurer/President Elect of the Association of Priests for the Dioceses of Biloxi and Jackson. After spending all of his 36 years as a priest in the church parishes of Mississippi, he was named 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria on October 27, 2004, and ordained a bishop in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on January 5, 2005, by Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans. Bishop Herzog focused much of his episcopacy on seminarian education and communications. He is survived by members of his extended family, Bette Jean Lyons, Mary Elaine Lange, Marianne Bertsch, and Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, April 22, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria, with Archbishop Gregory Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, presiding. Fourth degree Knights of Columbus and priests of the Diocese of Alexandria served as pallbearers. Donations in memory of Bishop Herzog may be made to the Diocese of Alexandria Seminary Burse or the Priests’ Retirement Fund.
ALEXANDRIA – Priests of the Diocese of Alexandria carry the coffin containing the body of Bishop Ronald Herzog, Eleventh Bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana, out of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral following an April 22 Mass of Christian Burial. Bishop Herzog was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson on June 1, 1968. He served in Diocese of Biloxi from its establishment until his appointment as Bishop of Alexandria on October 27, 2004. Bishop Herzog’s funeral fell on his 77th birthday.
(Reprinted with permission from Church Today, the newspaper for the Diocese of Alexandria.)
By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Faithful throughout the Diocese of Jackson celebrated Holy Week in unity, but with their own cultural flavors. From an extraordinary form Mass to a modern reenactment of the Passion of Christ. Every parish started a new fire on Easter Sunday. Every Catholic was invited to renew his or her baptismal vows and every person on earth was invited to share in the joy of the resurrection.
Here are a sampling of photos of the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter from across the Diocese of Jackson. Bishop Joseph Kopacz and the entire chancery staff wish you a joyful and fruitful Easter Season.
FOREST – Father Roberto Mena, ST, of St. Michael Parish, and Sister Obdulia Olivar, MGSpS open Holy Week with the blessing of the palms, Sunday, April 14. (Photo by Sr. María Elena Méndez, MGSpS) PEARL– Above, (l-r) Seminarian Andrew Bowden, Father Aaron Williams and Deacon Mark Shoffner celebrated Palm Sunday with a procession and Mass in the extraordinary form at St. Jude Parish. JACKSON – Above, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and all the priests of the diocese celebrated chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 16, to bless and consecrate the oils used throughout the year. At this Mass, the priests renew their vows and spend some valuable time together.
Above, a team of volunteers pours the oils into smaller containers between the blessing and the end of Mass for distribution to parishes. HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family School Principal Clara Isom washes the feet of student Shaleigh Faulkner on Holy Thursday, following the example of Jesus from scripture.
SOUTHAVEN – Sacred Heart School students George Espinoza, Ethan Towell and Jacob Bland act out the crucifiction during a live stations of the cross. (Photo by Laura Grisham) JACKSON – Members of St. Therese Parish light candles for their homes from the Paschal candle. (Photo by Sr. María Elena Méndez, MGSpS)
JACKSON – The Cathedral slowly fills with light during the Easter Vigil as people share their flames as they process into the church. JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, assisted by Mary Woodward, chancellor and Father Anthony Quyet, rector of the cathedral, inserts the incense nails into the Paschal candle at the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photo by Maureen Smith)
Por Berta Mexidor
JACKSON – Los días del 5 al 7 de abril, mujeres pertenecientes al ministerio de Emaús, tuvieron su primer retiro en Pineview Camp, Kosciusko.
Hace más de 40 años, surgió este tipo de retiros basados en el pasaje de Lucas 24, 13-35. Este ministerio parroquial fue fundado en Miami por el padre David G. Russell, Mirna Gallagher y un grupo de mujeres dedicadas a la educación religiosa en 1978. Este modelo de retiros se ha diseminado por varios países de América Latina y Europa, principalmente España.
Lorena Urizar, de la Catedral de San Pedro y coordinadora del ministerio Emaús en Mississippi explica que un grupo de coordinadores de Houston junto al equipo local, determinaron hacer retiros en Mississippi. El de mujeres fue el primero y el próximo retiro de Emaús, en este caso para hombres, se realizará los días 3 al 5 de mayo, coordinado por Irvin López y Ricardo Ruiz. Lorena explica que “la misión es introducir a las personas en el ministerio de Cristo para que experimenten el amor de Dios y se conviertan.”
“…Desde esta experiencia personal, cada una pudo decir, como los discípulos de Emaús, ‘¿No es verdad que el corazón nos ardía en el pecho cuando nos venía hablando por el camino y nos explicaba las escrituras?’’, queremos otros vivan la experiencia de caminar el camino de Emaús y se encuentren con el Señor resucitado. ”
