Category Archives: Diocesan News

Listening sessions

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In an effort to advance the healing process and to support our commitment to transparency, Bishop Joseph Kopacz is sponsoring a series of listening sessions open to the community. There will be four sessions to accommodate people all across our Catholic community.

Franciscan Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit will be the facilitator at each session. She is CEO of Southdown Institute of Toronto, Canada. Southdown Institute was founded specifically to address the needs of religious and clergy around mental health and addiction. Sister Dorothy served as a therapist and director of Family Ministry at Catholic Charities of Jackson from 1987 to 2000.

Before you come, we ask that you read the diocesan statement addressing what we do when abuse is reported, what we have done in the past and what we are doing now to prevent abuse in the Diocese of Jackson. It can be found here: https://jacksondiocese.org/2018/09/a-reason-for-hope-the-diocese-of-jacksons-commitment-to-our-children/

We also ask that you submit questions in advance in writing here: https://jacksondiocese.org/contact/ Use the subject “Listening Sessions.”

A Spanish interpreter will be available at each session.

Thursday, Oct. 4, Tupelo St. James Parish, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 5, Cleveland Our Lady of Victories Parish, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6, Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 11 a.m.

Sunday, Oct. 7, Natchez St. Mary Parish, 4:30 p.m.

Feast day fiesta at St. Matthew

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RIPLEY – Members of St. Matthew Parish in Ripley celebrated their patron saint on Saturday, Sept. 22. The actual feast is celebrated worldwide on Sept. 21.
Matthew, the evangelist and apostle was a tax collector for the Romans. He coverted to Jesus and after the resurrection, Matthew preached for years in Judea and in nearby countries. San Mateo (in Spanish) is credited for being a patron of bankers and is represented with a book.
The celebration started with Mass, but included dancers from Tupelo St. James Parish who came to share a traditional Aztec drama- dance. “Los Matachines,” usually dance in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The dance represents the fight of good versus evil. At the end good is the winner.

(Katia Cruz contributed to this story)

RIPLEY – Above “Los Matachines,” dancers from Tupelo St James Parish. For more than ten years this group has offered traditional Aztec dance performances around Mississippi. With 40 members including young and adults, the group came to bring color and music to the celebration for the Feast Day of St. Matthew. (Photos courtesy of Madeline Hale)

In right photo: Father Jesuraj Xavier accepts the gifts from the dancers during the Mass. (l-r)Carriying flowers Sindy Vázquez and her mother, Rosario Gonzalez, Brithney, Yaire López and Alma Diaz, the last two are current leaders of the dancers.

Principals explore Beatitudes at annual gathering

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Catholic School principals and Early Learning Center directors gathered in Jackson on Wednesday Sept. 12, for a day of reflection and discussions. Stephanie Brown, coordinator for school improvement, led a discussion that focused on mission and mindset and how these connect to the Catholic identity theme for the year, living the Beatitudes. The principals and directors gather several times a year for professional as well as spiritual development and to address administrative business.

JACKSON – Jo Anne Heisterkamp, elementary principal of Greenville St. Joseph School, answers a quiz question during the principal’s meeting in Jackson. (Photos by Maureen Smith)

Principals and directors downloaded a classroom participation app and engaged in a friendly quiz competition during their meeting in Jackson. Cathedral’s Norm Yvon won the quiz game.

Holly Springs school celebrates 70th anniversary with alumni, friends, students

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By Laura Grisham
HOLLY SPRINGS – This year, St. Mary’s/CADET/Holy Family School celebrates 70 wonderful years of education.
During Labor Day weekend, several hundred alumni and educators gathered to celebrate. No doubt it was also a grand undertaking for those on the reunion committee, and in particular, chairman Vincent Smith (Class of 1981).
Two years after World War II ended, Sacred Heart Father Paul Frichtl, bought an old abandoned school building in Holly Springs and began to make enough repairs to make the building usable. In 1948, the St. Mary School for African American children opened.
The following year, four School Sisters of St. Francis arrived to work with him. When St. Mary’s began, eighth grade was the highest level offered. Another grade was added each year until all 12 grades were available. In 1954, the first seniors were graduated from St. Mary’s High School.
In 1969, St. Mary’s merged with St. Joseph’s to form C.A.D.E.T. (Christian Aided Development Through Extraordinary Training). CADET Child Care Center opened in 1974 with 25 children and CADET High School closed. A new computer lab was installed for students in 1995, and with that, CADET changed its name to Holy Family School in order to provide a stronger Catholic identity.
“Seven decades have brought about many changes in our world and in our schools, but the commitment of Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM) and the Priests of the Sacred Heart to educating hearts and minds remains steadfast,” said Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, executive director of SHSM.

Above, a pep squad of current Holy Family Students cheered on those attending the reunion during a Friday night meet-and-greet. At right, Sr. Cathy Mauge, OSF, and Cathedral Pryor Wilkins at the picnic on Sunday.

“Our school has been and remains a sanctuary for children, where they are safe and receive guidance, discipline and love. Our students receive a quality education — a firm foundation not only in academics, but also in Christian values and respect for one another.”
Friday evening, guests were treated to a meet and greet, complete with tasty food and jazzy entertainment. The Holy Family Pep Squad greeted alumni with cheers and acrobatics to begin the evening. Beta Club members offered tours of the building.
The next day alumni volunteers cleaned out the school’s basement. Much to the delight of current Principal Clara Isom, two dump trailers of trash were removed. Equally hard work was being performed upstairs as members of the reunion committee set up and decorated for the banquet scheduled for later in the evening.
Nearly 200 former students, teachers and principals attended the gala Saturday night. The evening began, as does every event, with a prayer. Several alumni addressed the gathering, sharing fond memories.

HOLLY SPRINGS –The reunion chior had the crowd on its feet singing ‘Oh Happy Day’ at a Sunday morning worship service to celebrate Holy Family School’s 70th anniversary during the Labor Day weekend. (Photos by Laura Grisham)

Former Cadet principal, Sister Sheila Kloss, OSF, was the guest speaker for the night. Traveling all the way from California for the event with another former CADET educator, Sister Cathy Mauge, OSF. She greeted attendees with heartfelt enthusiasm. Citing the gospel, “’Lord, it is good for us to be here. This is a sacred place.’ All of us and many others over the years made this a sacred place by coming together to live, to learn, to love.”
Sunday began in earnest with a rousing worship service. Prayers, scripture and hymns filled every corner of the school gymnasium. The Reunion Choir and Rev. Catherine Robinson Willett had everyone on their feet with “Oh Happy Day.”
Services ended prior to noon, giving those in attendance just enough time to don their blue reunion t-shirts and some comfortable shoes before attending a closing picnic.

(A longer version of this story appeared in the Sacred Heart Southern Missions newsletter.)

 

Ospino hears from pastors, lay community

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By Berta Mexidor
PEARL – In an analysis of history and its consequences on today, Dr. Hosffman Ospino exchanged information with priests, seminarians, sisters and lay people who work in the parishes of the diocese during two intensive gatherings. Ospino, assistant professor of theology and religious education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, was in Jackson for Faith Formation Day August 25, so the office of Hispanic Ministry invited him to meet with pastors and lay people separately at St. Jude Parish.
Ospino presented several facts about the development of Catholicism in the United States to both groups centered on why in the 21st century the church is adopting ministries designed to alleviate segregation in the parishes. This segregation, once imposed socially and legally, is now self-inflicted.
The current segregation, he said, is a personal attitude to choose segregated life and it is a trend that has been getting worse since the 1960s. “This self-segregation is destroying us,” Ospino noted. Personal experiences and culture are taken to church every Sunday, this can affect the church positively or negatively.
Catholics have struggled to keep and share their faith for centuries. At the beginning, Irish, Germans and Italians created national churches to keep their faith, language and customs.
Blacks, Latinos, Asians and other internationals are converging in Catholicism from different routes and causes. Specifically, for Latinos, in every country, Catholicism has been the main religion, a heritage from the colonization of Spain and Portugal. In terms of major migrations of Spanish speakers to the U.S., one important event was when generations of Mexicans, became U.S. citizens after the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty on 1848. Later, in the 1960s, political and economic instability detonated a migration from Latin American and Caribbean countries, bringing Catholicism with it. Mexicans, Cubans and Puerto Ricans came to be part of established Catholic churches in U.S. This pattern continues until today with the immigration of Venezuelans, Guatemalans, Hondurans and more.
These immigrants share the same language – Spanish, but their children speak English. “Hispanic Ministry needs to use both languages, or even ‘Spanglish’ if necessary, to share the gospel to all,” Ospino joked.
Embracing diversity is the new challenge for Catholic churches. Bringing the best of different societies and cultures will strengthen the Catholic Church. “Latinos are attending church, everywhere they go, to keep their faith” Ospino emphasized, remarking that at the end all “Catholics are called to share and keep their faith.”
Priests, deacons and leaders from more than 20 parishes came to the first gathering. Most of the priests are working in places were the Latino community has an important presence in Mississippi. At the second meeting, Saturday afternoon, more than 70 Latino parishioners shared their hopes and challenges with Ospino. He noted Hispanics have a history in United States with deep roots, and based in that foundation, Latino families need to continue the construction of their identity. This time one of the participants highlighted the fact that parents should have an active participation in school system to support their children’s education, therefore they need to learn English, and understand the American system.
Ospino called their attention to certain figures: in United States’ 196 archdioceses/dioceses with more than 17 thousand churches, 35 million Latinos are Catholics. Two-thirds of Hispanics live in poverty; only 18 percent have a college degree. The average age of Latinos is 19 years, which represents almost 60 percent of the entire Latino population.
These statistics should impel the Catholic Church to first – reach out to the Hispanic youth, second – work with family life and third– create a new context for vocations. Coincidentally, these are the objectives of the main agenda for the V Encuentro, which will be held at the end of September.
The numbers grow every year and “this human tsunami is transforming the Catholic Church,” creating what Ospino considers to be “multicultural churches.”

(Photo by Sister María Elena Mendéz, MGSpS)

Padre Capó visits V Encuentro delegates

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By Sister Maria Elena Mendez, MGSpS
JACKSON – Father Rafael Capó, director of the Pastoral Institute of the Southeast (SEPI), visited on Sep. 5, the Diocese of Jackson’s delegates to the V Encuentro to be held at the end of the month. In this preparatory meeting, Father Capó reminded delegates that they are the representatives of all Mississippi Latinos. He encouraged the team to be prepared intellectually, but also spiritually, studying the documents and assuming the whole task.

Sister Maria Elena Mendez, Brother Ted Dausch, Danna Johnson, Father Rafael Capó, and Mazy Ismar meet to prepare for V Encuentro.

Father Capó explained delegates are not going to participate just in another conference, the V Encuentro is a conclave to work by order of the U.S. Bishops. Despite the small size of the delegation, it showcases the diversity of the community in Mississippi carrying their challenges and hopes.
“You are sent, first by the bishop, but this is also like links in a chain,” Father Capó said, referring to the fact the four delegates also belong to the southeastern regional delegation. The V Encuentro will be held in Grapevine, Texas, from September 20-23. “The V Encuentro is, according to the Pope, a moment of grace” Father Capó concluded.

(Sister Maria Elena Mendez is a coordinator for Hispanic Ministry for the
Diocese of Jackson.)

Accompany young people – invigorate the church

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By Maureen Smith
MADISON – Both keynote speakers at Fall Faith Formation Day had a message for catechists and pastoral leaders: the key to keeping the church in Mississippi vibrant is in empowering young people. Hosffman Ospino, a professor and expert in Hispanic ministry and Robert Feduccia, a national leader in youth ministry bookended a day of information, fellowship and encouragement for more than 200 catechists from across the diocese on Saturday, Aug. 25. The overarching theme for the event, organized by the Office of Faith Formation and hosted at Madison St. Joseph School, was ‘One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.’
Ospino spoke in the morning, offering a history lesson about the church and immigration. He showed how the Church in America was once concentrated in the Northeast thanks to European immigrant families who came and built their cultural churches and schools to serve their communities. Today, the numbers are shifting. The church in the South and West is growing thanks to a different immigrant community, Latinos from Central and South America. Another key statistic: the age difference between these populations. Non-Hispanic, white church members have an average age of 55. Hispanics make up 43 percent of the population with an average age of 28. Youth and young adult ministry are needed to keep these young Catholics in the church.
He said the Diocese of Jackson is in a unique position because existing communities can welcome their new neighbors. “In a sense being small and having been exposed to racial diversity and more recently linguistic diversity with the arrival of Latinos and Catholics who speak other languages, is an opportunity to test ideas. Being a mission diocese as well gives you all the flexibility in the world to imagine ‘what does it mean to be an evangelizing community,’” said Ospino.
He encouraged catechists and pastors to learn some Spanish or identify a member of the Hispanic community who can interpret for them so both communities can better communicate. “It is not two Churches that are merging, it is one and the same church. It is one and the same people of God called from many places and we are called to build the church here, period. We have different journeys different ways of doing things, different languages, cultural traditions, but we are in this together,” he said.
The day closed with a talk from Robert Feduccia. The Brookhaven native has fond memories of Catholic School and parish faith formation in his hometown. He has founded a program for evangelizing teens and has dedicated his life to helping people connect to a younger population. He also spoke about the immigrant population, but warned that they should not be taken for granted.
First generation immigrants, he explained, do practice their faith with their families “… yet the longer they are here their patterns being to resemble what we are already experiencing (with teens who leave the church) so if we are not proactive then even though there is this great invigoration that’s happening from the immigrant church, they will not bring long-lasting vigor any more than the Irish or Italians or anybody else brought long-lasting vigor. There has to be some real intentionality on formation- as Pope Francis says on the ‘encounter and accompaniment’ of us with our young people regardless of ethnic background,” he said.
Between these two speakers, attendees could select from a number of breakout sessions dealing with catechetical issues such as RCIA, adult faith formation, self-care for ministers and how to use the new VIRTUS curriculum for safe environment training. Terri Collins from Jackson Holy Family attended the VIRTUS session. She said she is thrilled with the new lessons and resources. She wants to find ways to share this important information with the whole parish, not just the students and their families. “The biggest question mark for me was what can we do to educate the entire parish so everyone is looking at it (safe environment) now only when we are in the church but also when we leave and are at the mall or when our kids are going to practice and all these other things,” she said. A group of more than a dozen young adults came from Pontotoc St. Christopher to attend the day. Jorge Gonzàles said he was glad to meet other Catholics from around the state and felt challenged to do more for his parish. “I like the Surprise and Joy session (by Feduccia) because it mainly applied to the youth. I learned that the youth start to lose faith around the age of 10; this is why we need to help the youth with their faith,” he said.

(Photos by Maureen Smith)

New St. Gabriel Mercy Center director ready to serve close to home

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By Denise Strub
MOUND BAYOU – If Dr. Shakebra L. Young had a mantra for her life it might be ‘God has a plan,’ as some of the biggest moves and successes in her life were not part of her original plan. Young is the new executive director of St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Inc. in Mound Bayou.
“God led me here to this place. I am blessed to be here and work with well-educated, cross-trained women. I’m pleased to have this opportunity to lead and give back and serve,” she said. Young is the first African-American woman to hold the position of executive director at St. Gabriel Mercy Center.
“I’m very excited to be back,” said Young, who is a native of Cleveland. She is the daughter of Mary Young and Karry Hilley and the mother of two daughters, Bry’Kevia and Jusilynn. She is a 1996 graduate of East Side High School. After high school she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Computer Information Systems and Office Administration from Delta State, where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
In May 2009, she obtained a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Social Work from The University of Tennessee and shortly afterwards, she enrolled into the doctoral program at Capella University. In May 2012, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Human Services and later obtained a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Walden University. She is still an online instructor for Walden. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration Degree in Human Resource Management from Delta State University. “Delta State is right there. I had to take advantage of it,” she said.
Young said she is devoted to helping others through outreach ministry with a strong passion for youth and single parent families. “I want to make a difference especially with families. I want to help build strong families,” said Young. In July 2014, Young published a memoir, titled, A Single Mother’s Journey from Suffering to Glory: My Testament of Faith. This book enables the reader to witness one woman’s hardships and how life-changing events propelled her to live a life of trust, perseverance and faith. Young has also worked in various positions and settings in the social work profession as an educator, therapist and mentor. Young served as an instructor in the Department of Social Work at The University of Mississippi and an adjunct professor of social work at The University of Memphis.

(Photo courtesy LA PRODUCKTIONS 2K18)

(Photo courtesy LA PRODUCKTIONS 2K18)

She worked as the director of programs at Sacred Heart Southern Missions – a faith-based organization located in northern Mississippi. “I’m very grateful for everything I learned at Scared Heart,” said Young, who added though she is not Catholic, she is familiar with the Catholic atmosphere and looks forward to working within the entire community. St. Gabriel Mercy Center started as a parish and school. It now operates as a community center, offering several programs, including St. Gabriel’s Closet, The Delta Boutique, GED, Learning Lab, Senior Outreach, Parents As Teachers and Emergency Assistance. The Sisters of Mercy and the Fanciscan Sisters of Christian Charity have provided leadership in the past.

(Story reprinted with permission from Bolivar Commercial.)

Vocations born in young adult group

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By Chris Spear
GULFPORT – When Clare Bush and Mike Addis celebrated their wedding Mass on July 28, they were the latest in a remarkably long line of couples to find each other through the Small Faith Communities program at St. Richard Church.
The program, still going strong at the Jackson parish 26 years after its start, has helped generate at least five marriages and ten children in the last decade – and shows no sign of slowing.
In 1992, St. Richard started its Small Faith Communities (SFCs), small groups that meet regularly during the week to pray, discuss a particular faith topic or question, and generally support each other in spiritual growth. In a minority-Catholic area like Jackson (and much of Mississippi), these group meetings are often the only times outside of Mass that parishioners might have to share their faith with other Catholics.
“They’re designed to help you to connect your faith to your everyday life,” said Nancy McGhee, St. Richard’s retired Director of the SFCs. “Scripture-reading and theology are important aspects of SFCs, but we want to primarily focus on topics that catch the attention of the people and help them be everyday disciples.”
Often held at parishioners’ homes, the small groups can be organized by neighborhood, age, or special shared interests – senior citizens, Catholic authors and literature, young parents, and so on. One of the most popular has been the young unmarried adults’ group.
Two dozen young adults, usually post-collegiate but not yet engaged or married, met up weekly at the parish hall to pray together, share their struggles and successes in living their faith, and play air hockey in a casual, close-knit community.
“I loved meeting new people who shared my faith and who quickly became friends,” said Kristen Kulavic Whelan, a former leader of the young adults’ group. “It also provided great social activities to get to know people in the group outside of the normal Tuesday night study.”
Clare Bush agreed. “Each week brought a varied group, and thus varied ideas and ways of looking at Scripture and Catholic teachings,” she said. “Medical school was the first time in my life to attend a non-Catholic school, and I missed my religious education. I truly feel that my faith was deepened through the group discussions and the friendships.”
Through that combination of wine socials and faith-sharing, some young adults found others walking a similar path towards marriage.
In 2011, Kristen Kulavic and Jacob Whelan were married at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, plus Holly Hickman and Armand Scurfield at St. Thomas the Apostle in Long Beach. Chris Spear and Kate Dennis followed at Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis in 2012. Eric Williams and Megan Sheets married also at St. Thomas in 2014, and the newly-married Clare Bush and Mike Addis at Villanova University near Philadelphia.
Bush, in particular, found joy in being both matchmaker and match made at St. Richard. She introduced her friends Kate Dennis and Chris Spear to each other through the group in fall 2009, and met her own future husband Mike through the group a year later. In an unusual twist of divine providence, Addis was only in Jackson for a short time doing pro bono legal work between law school and a full-time position in New York City. Their short stint together in Jackson led to a lifelong commitment.
“I had prayed for my future husband ever since attending a retreat in high school,” said Bush. “Strengthening our friendship and talking about our faith from the start at St. Richard definitely helped Mike and me become closer in those early days of dating.”
Jacob Whelan, Kristen’s husband, agreed. “God knew what’s important in a good marriage and what is needed to have a good foundation,” he said, emphasizing that all those needed elements were there in the St. Richard’s group.
“The young adult group at St. Richard was one of the best things I have ever done,” said Clare Bush. “It was truly a blessed time in my life and I miss it.”

(Chris Spear is now a member of Gulfport St. James Parish.)