Ash Wednesday: Ancient tradition still thrives in modern times

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Melisa Munoz

By Carol Zimmermann
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In more ways than one, Ash Wednesday — celebrated March 1 this year – leaves a mark.
That’s because not only are Catholics marked with a sign of penitence with ashes on their foreheads, but the rich symbolism of the rite itself draws Catholics to churches in droves even though it is not a holy day of obligation and ashes do not have to be distributed during a Mass.
Almost half of adult Catholics, 45 percent, typically receive ashes – made from the burned and blessed palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday – at Ash Wednesday services, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.
Parish priests say they get more people at church that day than almost any other – excluding Christmas and Easter – and the congregations are usually much bigger than for Holy Thursday or Good Friday services.
“Virtually every parish that I’ve worked with will have more people come to Ash Wednesday than almost any other celebration,” said Thomas Humphries, assistant professor of philosophy, theology and religion at St. Leo University in St. Leo, Florida.
“We talk about Christmas and Easter as certainly being the most sacred and most attended events during the year, but Ash Wednesday is not even a day of obligation. In terms of liturgical significance, it’s very minor, but people observe it as overwhelmingly important,” he said in a Feb. 17 email to Catholic News Service.
Humphries said part of the Ash Wednesday draw is the “genuine human recognition of the need to repent and the need to be reminded of our own mortality. Having someone put ashes on your head and remind you ‘we are dust and to dust we shall return’ is an act of humility.”
He also said the day — which is the start of Lent in the Latin Church — reminds people that they are not always who they should be and it is a chance to “stand together with people and be reminded of our frailty and brokenness and of our longing to do better.”
“This practice is particularly attractive to us today because it is an embodied way to live out faith, to witness to Christian identity in the world, ” said Timothy O’Malley, director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, where he also is a professor of New Testament and early Christianity.
He said that’s the only way to explain why millions of people identify themselves “as mortal sinners for an entire day.”
Jesuit Father Bruce Morrill, the Edward A. Malloy professor of Catholic studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee, thinks the appeal of Ash Wednesday is partly because participants receive a “marker of identity” as Catholics.
The day also has rich symbolism, he said, of both flawed humanity and mortality. He pointed out that even though a large percentage of Catholics do not go to confession they will attend this very penitential service because they “get a sense of repentance and a kind of solidarity in it.”
“Clearly it touches on a deep sense of Catholic tradition in a way few other symbols do,” he told CNS Feb. 17.
For many, it also links them to childhood tradition of getting ashes. It also links them, even if they are unaware of its origins, to an ancient church tradition.
The priest said the use of ashes goes back to Old Testament times when sackcloth and ashes were worn as signs of penance. The church incorporated this practice in the eighth century when those who committed grave sins known to the public had to do public penitence, sprinkled with ashes. But by the Middle Ages, the practice of penance and marking of ashes became something for the whole church.
Ash Wednesday also is one of two days, along with Good Friday, that are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholic adults – meaning no eating meat and eating only one full meal and two smaller meals.
The other key aspect of the day is that it is the start of the 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving of Lent.
“Ash Wednesday can be a little bit like New Year’s Day,” Father Mike Schmitz, chaplain for Newman Catholic Campus Ministries at the University of Minnesota Duluth, told CNS in an email. He said the day gives Catholics “a place to clearly begin something new that we know we need to do.”

Ash Wednesday, Jackson, St. Peter the Apostle

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Ash Wednesday, Jackson, St. Peter the Apostle

Bishop, advocates oppose sanctuary cities bill

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Melisa Munoz

By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – A bill that would keep agencies, cities and college campuses in Mississippi from offering sanctuary to unauthorized immigrants would not keep communities safe and goes against the Christian tenet of caring for those in need, said Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson.
He issued a statement Feb. 15 opposing S.B. 2710, also known as the “sanctuary cities” bill, which passed the state Senate in a 32-16 vote Feb. 9. The bill goes to the state House for consideration.
The measure would prohibit cities and institutions of higher learning from declaring themselves sanctuary cities. There are currently no sanctuary cities in the state, although the city of Jackson proposed such a declaration last year.
“As Christians we are called to welcome the stranger and care for those in need. As citizens, we are called to keep our communities strong and safe. We feel that the so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ bill being debated right now in the Mississippi Legislature damages both of those efforts,” wrote Bishop Kopacz.
In a sanctuary city, local law enforcement would not be forced to act as federal immigration agents, like the officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In fact, they would be prohibited from asking a person they detained about his or her immigration status. S.B. 2710 would prohibit cities from enacting sanctuary policies.
The bill’s opening statement says it would apply to entities such as “a state agency, department, political subdivision of this state, county, municipality, university, college, community college or junior college, or any agent, employee or officer thereof.”
Immigrant advocates said the bill raises several concerns.
Amelia McGowan, an immigration attorney for the Catholic Charities Migrant Resource Center based in Jackson, said the vague language, especially in relation to schools, opens up a number of potential problems.
“The first provision is potentially extremely dangerous. It could allow any state official, or anyone working for the state government to report any individual to federal immigration authorities. In other words, it prevents the state and local agencies from prohibiting its employees from reporting an individual to ICE,” said McGowan in an email to the Mississippi Catholic, newspaper of the Jackson Diocese.
“That means, undocumented – or suspected undocumented – individuals seeking services in any state or local agency – courts, police protection, K-12 education, higher education, state hospital, state health and mental health agencies – could be reported to ICE by a disgruntled employee,” McGowan explained.
It also means an agency “could not prohibit its employees from doing so,” she continued. “Now, presumably that person may be protected in some cases by privacy laws, but I am afraid that this provision would prevent individuals from seeking state services, which include reporting violent crimes to the police.”
According to Christy Williams, an attorney at the headquarters of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, known as CLINIC, in Silver Spring, Maryland, the provision also opens up municipalities to potential liability. A school employee who discloses a student’s immigration information could be violating federal privacy laws and the school could be held liable.
If any officer reports a person they suspect is in the country without legal permission but that person turns out to have a valid legal status, the local agency can be sued. CLINIC highlighted one example from Allentown, Pennsylvania, when officers arrested a U.S. citizen for alleged drug crimes.
“He had both his driver’s license and Social Security card with him at the time of the arrest and was eventually found innocent,” according to a CLINIC document about sanctuary cities. “During his time in custody, the police called ICE based on the presumption that, because of his race, he was undocumented.
“Despite being documented, the citizen was held for three days after posting bail based on an ICE detainer. He was released only after an ICE agent interrogated him and confirmed his citizenship. The U.S. citizen sued local and county officials in 3rd District Federal Court, leading to verdicts in his favor and settlement costs totaling nearly $150,000,” the document said.
When a local agency reports someone to ICE, the federal agents may ask the local agency to detain the suspect. The local agency has to absorb the cost of housing, feeding and caring for the person until ICE can process the case. That money is rarely reimbursed to state and local agencies.
Critics of the Mississippi bill say that because it is vague, it also could erode the relationship first responders have with their communities. If immigrants, even those in the country legally, believe police officers, medical personnel or firefighters are going to report them to immigration officials, they may hesitate to call for much-needed help.
McGowan said she thinks if the bill becomes law, it “would have a chilling effect on individuals seeking state services” such as medical care, mental health care and police protection,” and would negatively affect immigrants’ educational opportunities. She also thinks it would subject victims of violent crimes and/or abuse “to greater danger.”
President Donald Trump has pledged to strip federal funds from jurisdictions that declare themselves “sanctuary cities.”
“We urge lawmakers and advocates to oppose S.B. 2710,” Bishop Kopacz said in his statement. “We will, as a Catholic community, continue to work with immigrants and refugees – welcoming their contributions to our community and culture – even as we pray for a just solution to the challenges of immigration and security.”
(Editor’s note: the full text of the statement is available here.)

Charter member donates custom window to Holy Savior

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Melisa Munoz

CLINTON –above, an image of Jesus, familiar as the Divine Mercy image, is visible in the new window at Holy Savior Parish. (Photos by Maureen Smith)

By Maureen Smith
CLINTON – The Callegan family of Holy Savior decided they wanted to leave a family legacy to their parish, but after Ivy Callegan put instructions in her will to direct part of her inheritence to her parish, she changed her mind. “A while back I started thinking, I don’t have to wait until I’m gone, so I called Father (Thomas McGing).” Callegan told him she wanted to give the money now and asked Father McGing how he thought it could be best used.

The result is a window incorporating the Divine Mercy image of Christ flanked by two crosses. The crosses are not obvious at first, but come into focus when the viewer spends some time in front of the image.
“The passion cross has the five wounds of Christ in red. The cross of the Easter resurrection has Easter colors, pastels and whites,” explained Andy Young, the artist from Pearl River Glass studio who designed the

At left, Julie Harkins, parish secretary, Father Thomas McGing, pastor, and Ivy Callegan, founding member and donor, talk about the new window.

window. He also created the windows in the sanctuary of the church back in 1988. He said the mix of abstract and specific imagery is deliberate. He wants people to be able to interpret different things from the windows.
Callegan said she is delighted with the result. She came to check on the progress of the work one day, not knowing that the project was more than half-way done. “When I hit the door to the sanctuary, I looked up and I just sort of froze. I guess the Lord was with me to tell me to do this window,” she said.
Young said the parish gave him an image of Divine Mercy as his inspiration. Father McGing said it seemed like the perfect place to start.
“We wanted to highlight the name of the parish – Our Savior – and we started talking about it during the Year of Mercy and the more we talked about it the more we wanted to highlight Our Savior, who is the source of mercy and whose heart bleeds with love and mercy for us,” said the pastor.
The window is made up of several panels which sit at a 90-degree angle in the chapel behind the main altar. The chapel is used for daily Mass, but is visible from the sanctuary.
“If you look from the right spot inside the sanctuary, the lines of light radiating from Jesus line up just right behind the tabernacle,” said Young. “I had not intention of doing that whatsoever, but it was such a nice serendipity- it was a blessing,” he added.
Callegan surprised her family – only showing them the window after it was installed. “The best reaction I got was when Catherine, my 9-year-old granddaughter, came through the door there, and said ‘oh mamaw, it’s amazing,’ I don’t know how many ‘a’s there were in there! I’m really close to those kids, she and her brother, who is 12,” she said.
Callagan and her husband were founding members of Holy Savior. She said his years of hard work in the oil industry made the Callegan family donation possible.

Knights of Columbus build ramp for Carmelites

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Melisa Munoz

JACKSON – Knights from Clinton, Holy Savior build a ramp for the Sisters at the Carmelite gift shop

By R. Allen Scott
JACKSON – The Carmelite gift shop on Terry Road in Jackson is easier to get into thanks to the Knights of Columbus Council 7854 out of Clinton Holy Savior Parish. The knights built a ramp on the side of the steps and cleaned up some of the convent grounds while they were on the property.
At a planning meeting back in the fall council Chaplin and pastor Father Thomas McGing made several suggestions on community service projects. One of those suggestions was to contact the Carmelites and see if we could offer any assistance.
The Council contacted Sister Mary (Agonoy), OCD, the prioress, and discussed several projects with her.
On October 29, 2016 Knights Allen Scott, Chris Halliwell, Jim Sharp, and Steve Miller and Holy Savior parishioner Maureen Scott cleaned all the statues on the grounds and pressure washed the sidewalks.
The Sisters have a gift shop on the grounds and the shop was only accessible to the public through a set of steps. According to Sister Mary this severely limited the ability of the handicapped and some elderly persons from easily accessing the gift shop.
On January 21 and 28, the Knights constructed a handicap ramp to the gift shop. The ramp is about 53 feet long and 4 feet wide and is constructed of treated timber. The Knights solicited funds to purchase the materials and provided the labor to construct the ramp. The total material cost was approximately $2,000. Council 7854 Knights who assisted with the project were: Chris Halliwell, Allen Scott, Craig Harrell, Steve Miller, Mike Kirby, Mike Weisenberger, Mike Booth, Arnie Senger, and Charlie Collins. A total of 206 man hours was donated to complete the construction.
(R. Allen Scott is a member of Council 7854)

Surgery postpones Biloxi ordination for bishop-designate

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Maureen Smith

Due to health reasons, the Ordination and Installation of Bishop-designate Louis F. Kihneman as Fourth Bishop of Biloxi has been postponed. A new date for the Ordination and Installation will be announced at a later date.

On the advice of medical staff, Bishop-designate Kihneman will be undergoing surgery for diverticulitis and will be unable to travel to Biloxi for the 17th of February.

Please pray for our bishop-designate for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

In lieu of flowers and plants, please send a spiritual bouquet or make a donation to your parish or school.

Youth News

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Maureen Smith

JACKSON — Father John Bohn, pastor, speaks to the St. Richard School sixth-grade Newcomb team before the teachers (and pastor) versus students game on the Friday of Catholic Schools Week.

JACKSON — Father John Bohn, pastor, spikes a ball during the students versus teachers Newcomb game at St. Richard School.

JACKSON – Students soundly defeated their teachers and pastor Father John Bohn in a game of Newcomb, a game much like volleyball, against to cap off their Catholic Schools Week celebration. (Photos by Chris Lombard.)

MADISON – Students at Madison St. Anthony School got to show their parents all around their school, including demonstrating the work they do in the computer lab during STREAM night as part of Catholic Schools Week. In the art studio, students demonstrated a motion and balance with a kinetic sculpture, they downloaded and showed off their apps in the computer lab, showed how “Math is everywhere in the math lab and took on an engineering challenge in the media center. STREAM stands for the integration of science, technology, religion engineering, art and math. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Beatty)

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick School hosted their first ever Reading Fair on Thursday, Jan. 19. Above, Audrey Lee explains her project to the judge, Ann Blackledge. The fair was coordinated by Jodi Lovette, teacher at St. Patrick School. First place winners move on the regional fair on February 24th. (Photo by Jennifer David)

CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth, Grace (Gifted) Students are learning about Hover Crafts propelled by air moving from the balloons through the air holes that have been punched in bottle caps glued to CDs. The Hover Craft rides on the cushion of air between the CD and the floor.

VICKSBURG –Bishop Kopacz celebrated Mass with Father P.J. Curley at Vicksburg Catholic Schools on Thursday, Feb. 2. Even the Montessori Students got to be a part of the celebration. (Photo courtesy of Ann Roberson)

JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz spoke with students at St. Thea Bowman school before a prayer service to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. (Photo by Karla Luke)

SOUTHAVEN –Students from Sacred Heart School collected a million alumninum can tabs to the Ronald McDonald House as one of their service projects on Thursday, Feb. 2. The can tops will bring in extra money for the house. (Photo by Sr. Margaret Sue Broker)

MADISON –Nobel Prize winning astrophysicist Alex Filippenko visited Madison St. Joseph school, speaking to students, parents and even visiting Millsaps College while he was in town. (Photos by Dave Vowell of Vowell photography)

MADISON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz blesses a new telescope at the Hulett observatory at St. Joseph High School on Friday, Jan. 27. As part of the dedication, Nobel Prize winning astrophysicist Alex Filippenko visited the school, speaking to students, parents and even visiting Millsaps College while he was in town. In right photo, Phillip Smith listens to Filippenko speak at one of the public events. The scientist spoke about his love for science and encouraged students to explore and make new discoveries. He joked with the bishop that he had never been to a telescope blessing before. (Photos by Dave Vowell of Vowell photography)

Tet rings in year of rooster

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Maureen Smith

By Father Anthony Quyet

JACKSON – As we have done every year for the last 30 years, the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Jackson came together at St. Therese Parish to celebrate their New Year – called Tet – on Sunday, January 22. Tet is the first moment of the New Year, and its celebration of this Year of the rooster is made more special for several reasons.
We had the special honor this year of including four Vietnamese priests to the celebration: Fathers Peter Phong Nguyen, SVD, Chien Dinh, SVD, Joseph Le and myself.
Tet is the most sacred time and most celebrated holiday for the Vietnamese people. It’s the time set aside to make peace, to reconcile with self, God and others, and to make new resolutions aiming for a better year.
Tet is a combination of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and Memorial Day celebrated here in the United States. Tet is also everyone’s birthday. So on the New Year’s Day, the first greetings are “Chuc Mung Nam Moi!” (Happy New Year) and “Chuc Tuoi Moi!” (Happy Birthday). The blessings of the New Year are expressed through the exchange of best wishes and gifts, especially “Lucky Money” (crisp new money bills in red envelopes).
This is the year of the Rooster. The cycle of animals repeats every 12 years. If we look at life span as 100 years the earliest year of the rooster for most people is 1921. That makes you 96. It
comes back every twelve years. So the next one is 1933, and you are 84; then 1945, you are 72; then 1957, you are 60; then 1969, you are 48; then 1981, you are 36; then 1993, you are 24; then 2005, you are 12.
If you were born in the year of the Rooster, you are observant, hardworking, resourceful, courageous and talented. Rooster people are very confident in themselves, love to talk and like to be the center of attention. They are surrounded by others, whether at a party or just a social gathering.
The rooster has a special place in the Scriptures which have 13 references. Ten of them are related to St. Peter and his triple denial of Jesus. The crow of the Rooster reminds him of the words of Jesus through which he recognized his sins and received not only forgiveness but his mission to continue Jesus’ ministry.
The spirit of Tet celebration is expressed in the way the Vietnamese talk about the holiday. They do not usually say “celebrate,” instead they use the phrase, “eat Tet” in these expressions and their likes, “Do you eat Tet with your family?” or “Where do you eat Tet?” Of course “eat” here means much more than just sharing the food. It means to be with each other to share food, fellowship, support and concerns.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen once asked a missionary who had just returned from one of the islands in the Pacific Ocean what the people whom he served would consider as the greatest virtue. The priest told the archbishop that, in order to help him understand more fully what the people there considered as the greatest virtue, he would tell him what they considered as the worst sin. “To them,” the priest continued, “it is to eat alone.” That’s why a person might go a day without food, until he or she could find someone with whom to share the meal.
Eating in that sense underlines Tet celebration. The customs and traditions during Tet reflect the harmonious bond with heaven, earth and people. It is the time to give thanks to God for his blessings, for the beautiful seasons and their harmonious cycles and for the nurturing fruit of the earth.
Most importantly, Tet is the time to renew and strengthen human relationship. Tet is a big family reunion. Family here is an extended family that includes not only family members but also relatives, neighbors, friends, benefactors and community. Out of this big family reunion everyone offers and receives the three best wishes: happiness, prosperity and longevity.
(Father Anthony Quyet is the rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.)

90-year old sister not slowing down, teaching the faith

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Joe Lee

By Joe Lee
At the time Sister Michele Doyle grew up in metropolitan Chicago, it was possible for young Catholic ladies to join a sisterhood after eighth grade and begin a lifelong commitment to faith and religious life.
Now 90 years young, and having spent more than five decades in Mississippi as a Catholic schoolteacher, college professor and parish religious education leader, she’s grateful to her parents for holding firm when they thought she was a bit young to begin chasing her dreams.

Sister Michelle Doyle talks about dealing with loss during a Catholic religion class Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison.

“From the time I was a small child, I knew I wanted to be a (religious) sister,” Doyle said. “All during elementary school and high school, I continued with that desire. My parents were wise, because at that time religious communities were taking people out of eighth grade. I would do a little tantrum because I wanted to go, and they would say, ‘No, not until you finish high school.’”
After graduating in LaGrange, Illinois, Doyle entered School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That year she and her fellow sisters took the first in a series of vows which, over a period of several years, led to a lifetime vow the women were asked to make.
“We call ourselves sisters,” Doyle said. “Nuns are formally cloistered. Sisters are active (in the local community). For a long time we were trying to live both lives: the active life and the prayer life. And we still pray, of course. But today we understand that you can’t be a fully contemplative community and at the same time be an active community.”
Doyle asked to be sent to China once she was ready for active life, but when the assignment from the mother house came in 1949, she was told she was being sent to Mississippi.

Sister Michelle Doyle leads a Catholic religion class Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison.

“I was in Yazoo City for 20 years at St. Francis, an all-black mission school. I taught and was principal part of the time,” Doyle said. “The purpose in sending sisters down was in response to a request from Bishop (Oliver) Gerow, because this was a period of strong segregation — we were asked to go and not so much convert people, but the ultimate goal was to educate the African American students to help them move forward in the world.”
Doyle joined the faculty of St. Joseph Catholic School in 1969, the year St. Francis of Yazoo City closed its doors. St. Joe, now on Mississippi 463 in Madison, was located on Boling Street in West Jackson then.
“It was the year the schools were integrating, and I thought I still had something to give to the African American community,” Doyle said. “So I taught at St. Joe part time and taught history at Jackson State University part time.
“I did that seven years — I’d gotten a master’s in history from the University of Loyola in Chicago and a master’s in religious education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, so by then I was free to move into the Jackson diocesan office in the areas of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Adult Formation.”
Those areas of study — which involve, respectively, bringing new Catholics into the church and getting parish catechists (teaching candidates) certified — are crucial in rural parishes that may not have anyone on staff who is trained in religious education.
Although Doyle retired from full-time work in 2005, she remains very active in Adult Formation today. She continues to work closely with Holy Family of Jackson, St. Mary of Yazoo City, St. Thomas of Lexington and St. Francis of Assisi in Madison, and she’s teaching small groups of catechists right now at St. Mary and Holy Family.
Joyce Adams coordinates Adult Faith Formation at Holy Family and is also working toward certification while enjoying the series Doyle is currently teaching, “Mary and the Saints: Companions On the Journey.” It’s one of eight different classes Doyle has taught at the parish.
“Sister Michele is very meticulous,” Adams said. “She ensures that we get a minimum of 16 hours of instruction with each class. Discussions often include ways that the content has impacted one’s personal spiritual journey. Seeing the sunrise, visiting the zoo and hearing the sounds of children playing took on new meaning for me after taking the ‘Christian Prayer and Spirituality’ class.”
“Sister Michele taught me religion in 1976 (at St. Joe),” said Mary McDonald, part of the Adult Formation class at St. Francis of Assisi. “I always thought she was a wonderful teacher, and she was always very dedicated to her profession. It was so clear even to a high school student that she not only talked about service to others, but she lived it.”
“I think there is something extraordinary about a person who does not see age as a limitation to maintain a sense of purpose,” said Fran Lavelle, director of the department of faith formation with the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. “She is a great inspiration to me as I think about all of the years she has served God’s people. She could sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labor. But, for Sister Michele, the fruits are her labor.”
Diane Melton, religious education coordinator and a St. Mary’s parishioner in Yazoo City, took catechist Level II classes from Doyle in 2009 and became certified to teach adults at her parish. Doyle is currently teaching “Christology: Jesus of the Gospels and History” at St. Mary’s through the end of February.
“She has a way of making things relevant to our day and time as well,” Melton said. “Several of us have taken some of her classes the second time because she is so easy to listen to, and just to gain more information regarding our Catholic faith.”
It has been a full 75 years since the eighth grade sister-to-be was itching to leave home and serve. And as her students see each day, Doyle shows no signs of slowing down.
“I enjoy what I’m doing. It’s an opportunity to be with people and be creative,” Doyle said. “And to share the gifts I have — everyone has gifts. I don’t garden and I don’t cook and I don’t sew, so I do what I can do. People keep coming back.”
(Reprinted with permission from the Clarion Ledger.)

Chanche Medal, youth award, recall work of pioneer bishop

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Maureen Smith

Bishop Kopacz leads the applause for the recipients of the Bishop Chanche Medal and youth awards for service for 2017. The awards were given out during a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Saturday, Feb. 18. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

Every February the Diocese of Jackson bestows the Chanche Medal for service upon individuals, nominated by their parishes, who have given extraordinary service to their communities. This year the celebration was Saturday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. What follows are excerpts from the nominations for all of this year’s honorees.

Rebecca Bellipanni from McComb, St. Alphonsus

REBECCA BELLIPANNI – McComb St. Alphonsus
Cleans and maintains sanctuary, operated first integrated daycare in McComb using parish facility, lay ministries.
“Many times Protestants have told me how much the St. Alphonsus daycare meant to their family. Their children’s’ success in school, college and career would be traced to the early learning and moral foundation Becky Bellipanni provided for them,” Father Brian Kaskie, pastor.

Richard Butler from Natchez, Assumption

RICHARD BUTLER – Natchez Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Volunteer music director.
“His service has meant that a small parish, Assumption in Natchez, has had a music program for every Sunday, during Advent and Christmas times and for Lent, Holy Week and Easter,” Father David O’Connor, pastor.

Tony Dardeau from Vicksburg, St.-Michael

TONY DARDEAU – Vicksburg St. Michael
Sacristan, usher, lector, replaces misselettes and sanctuary/tabernacle candles.
“While commitment to his individual ministries may seem small and unassuming, the totality of Tony’s ministerial work is amazing. He is a wonderful example of someone living out their baptismal promises.” Father P.J. Curley, pastor.

JOHN DAVIS – Chatawa St. Teresa of Avila
Pastoral council, usher, lay ministries.
“Since the parish in Chatawa is full of older, retired people, including John, he is always available to help in any way. He feels responsible for fulfilling his responsibilities even though he is a volunteer,” Father Suresh Thirumalareddy, pastor.

Aulene Flaccomio from Woodville, St. Joseph

AULENE FLACCOMIO – Woodville St. Joseph
Sacristan, bereavement committee, volunteer.
“In spite of some health issues, Aulene faithfully carried out her sacristan duties. Her ministry is a powerful witness to the gospel of stewardship,” Father Scott Dugas, pastor.

Margaret Griffin, from Batesville, St. Mary

MARGARET JUNE GRIFFIN – Batesville St. Mary
Altar Society and flower guild, Cursillo, ministry to homebound, music and liturgical ministries.
“June is a true evangelizer – in her family, her parish family and in the civic organizations to which she belongs. She the THE faith leader in her family and an extremely dedicated lay minister in the parish,” Father Sam Messina, pastor.

Gene Loper from Jackson, St. Peter

GENE LOPER – Jackson St. Peter the Apostle.Doctor for priests, religious and Madison St. Joseph athletic teams. Supports development efforts at Madison St. Joseph School.“His special ministry is Catholic education. I do not believe we would have St. Joseph High School today without the sacrifices in time and energy he has made for that school.” Msgr. Michael Flannery, cannonical steward for St. Joseph School.

AGNES McCRAINE – Gloster Holy Family (mission)
Community advocate for social justice, bereavement committee member, community leader.
“Miss. Agnes’ ecumenical outreach in helping and encouraging others through prayer services for social justice causes, bettering her Centerville community, helping nurture prayer sessions on poverty, crime and quality of life for more than 30 years speaks volumes about her commitment to church and community,” Father Scott Dugas, pastor.

Ruth McWilliams from Natchez, St. Mary Basilica

RUTH McWILLIAMS – Natchez St. Mary Basilica
Liturgical planning, youth program, volunteer.
“She was a staff member during a creative period for this parish – helping plan and open a new family life center, while many new programs were being developed and a time of increased parishioner participation. Her role was to take new ideas at their beginning and develop them into programs, recruiting chairpersons and participants,” Father David O’Connor, pastor.

Clara Mandolini from Greenville, St. Joseph

CLARA MANDOLINI – Greenville St. Joseph
Catechist, RCIA team, bereavement ministry, Discovering Christ leader.
“Clara’s volunteer work requires significant time in training and teaching so she is at church instead of at home. She currently travels to Jackson for training in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,” Father Bill Henry, pastor.

Emily Moran from Philadelphia, Holy Cross

EMILY MORAN –Philadelphia Holy Cross
Youth ministry, parish council, liturgical ministries.
When the previous pastor died “the church was without a priest for almost a year. During those months, she played an important role in the church and the religious education of the children. Because of her commitment and dedication, we have a good number of children fro the CCD and have good programs for them,” Father Augustine Palimattam, pastor.

Gloria Morarity from Olive Branch Queen of Peace

GLORIA MORARITY – Olive Branch Queen of Peace
Catechist, youth group leader, church landscaper, liturgical ministries.
“The one thing that stands out about Gloria is her quiet, positive and humble ways. She is quick to encourage all parishioners with a pat on the back and a reminder that God is with all of us,” Father Thi Pham, SCJ, pastor.

ROBERT NEWELL– Jackson St. Peter the Apostle
Finance council, ministry to elderly, lay ministries
“Bob Newell was an incredible man who brought great humor, joy and love to all relationships. He was the glue that held us all together at the cathedral. His Catholic faith guided him throughout his life in every situation, good and not-so-good,” Father Anthony Quyet, pastor.

John Pham and Thuy Nguyen from Forest, St. Michael

JOHN PHAM AND THUI NGUYEN – Forest St. Michael the Archangel Ministry to Vietnamese community, liturgical ministries, upkeep of parish facilities.
“The Vietnamese population continues to grow. While some are moving away… St. Michael remains the site for big celebrations such as Tet and the New Moon Festival. They are always involved in those celebrations both in preparation and cleanup,” Father Joseph Dyer, pastor.

Arnie and Lois Senger from Clinton, Holy-Savior

ARNIE AND LOIS SENGER – Clinton Holy Savior
Directors for diocesan Engaged Encounter ministry, parish repair work, bookkeeping, lay ministry.
“Working with Engaged Encounter has made a difference for hundreds of couples preparing for marriage in the diocese. Arnie saves us money by working on parish buildings and Lois by working on the books,” Father Tom McGing, pastor.

Judy Strong from Gluckstadt, St.Joseph

JUDY STRONG – Gluckstadt St. Joseph
Lay ministries, bereavement committee coordinator, flower guild coordinator, Knights of Columbus auxiliary.
“Judy’s service provides me with calm assurance that whatever I need done, she can be counted on to take care of it. Her calm, quiet dedication is a testament to the faith she lives out every day,” Pam Minninger, pastor.

proxy for Jane Sullivan from Tupelo, St.James

JANE SULLIVAN – Tupelo St. James
Ministry to sick and homebound. liturgical ministries.
“Jane has been an inspiration to so many. Not only does she touch the lives of those she visits and their families, she is an inspiration to our parishioners who see her ministry and witness her quiet, humble presence,” Father Lincoln Dall, pastor.

Shannon Trautman from Amory, St.-Helen

SHANNON TRAUTMAN – Amory St. Helen
Youth ministry, Meals-on-Wheels, food pantry work, liturgical ministries.
“Without Shannon and another woman, the youth and children’s programs would not exist. The community of Amory is also deeply indebted to this family. The Food pantry, meals on wheels, the school system and Amory Downtown are all aware of who they are and the good they do with humility and grace,” Sr. Lael Niblick, pastor.

Ossie Whittington from Jackson, Holy Family

OSSIE WHITTINGTON – Jackson Holy Family
Men’s club, hospitality ministry, physical plant upkeep and repair.
“Mister Whittington took off work to be present during the building of the new parish hall, the demolition of the old building and to take care of ‘little things’ as needed by the pastor … He has been one of the consistent persons who would readily respond when needed,” Father Xavier Armirtham, pastor.

DAVID AND WENDY WHITTINGTON – Magnolia St. James (mission)
Lay ministries, pastoral council, finance council, overall volunteers.
“This couple is so prayerful. They are a very good inspiration to younger couples in our parish. Many people in our parish admire them for their ministry, service and sacrifice,” Father Suresh Thirumalareddy, pastor.

Wes Williams from Madison, St. Francis

H. WESLEY WILLIAMS, III – Madison St. Francis of Assisi
Coordinator for ChristLife program, Knights of Columbus, Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts, capital campaign committee, catechist, lay ministries, finance council.
“This past year, Wes has made it a priority to help the parish grow as a community by promoting the mission of the parish, helping build community and helping form disciples among the parishioners at St. Francis.” Father Albeenreddy Vatti, pastor.

YOUTH

Tori Ann Cobb from Gluckstadt, St. Joseph, Chanche youth award.

TORI ANN COBB – Gluckstadt St. Joseph
SEARCH retreat leader, CYO, youth choir, liturgical ministries, mentor and tutor, service club
“Tori sets an example of how to behave as a proud member of the church and her community. I feel like she has challenged me to be a better youth minister to all I serve.”

Caroline Doherty from Jackson, St. Richard, youth award

CAROLINE GRACE DOHERTY – Jackson St. Richard
SEARCH retreat leader, CYO, CORE team, Madison St. Joseph High School Cross Country team captain, president Mu Alpha Theta math club, Madison Mayor’s youth council.
“Because of her maturity, Caroline has built a heart of kindness to serve others while responsibly balancing her academic affairs, extracurricular activities and faith life. Overall, Caroline is a witness of word and service to others in her actions, words and deeds.”

Helen Greene from Canton, Sacred Heart, Chanche youth award

HELEN M. GREENE –Canton Sacred Heart
Alive in You service camp, youth choir, nursing home volunteer.
“Helen is mature, responsible and compassionate. She goes out of her way to welcome newcomers and be am ambassador for her faith.”

Rodney Self from Jackson, Holy Family, Chanche youth award

GERALD SELF, Jr. – Jackson Holy Family .
Liturgical ministries, CYO, volunteer activities, Alive in Youth service camp.
“His integrity is impeccable. He quietly goes about doing his tasks s with little fanfare, but demonstrates that he has a strong moral compass and is willing to help others.”

Laurie Richard from McComb, St. Alphonsus, Chanche youth award

LAURIE RICHARD – McComb St. Alphonsus
CYO, music ministry, crisis pregnancy volunteer, ministry to homebound.
“Laurie has a deep devotion to prayer and a love for evangelization. Everyone feels welcome in her presence and she tactfully challenges other youth to live out their own faith.”

31st Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build house dedicated

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Maureen Smith

Msgr. Elvin Sunds, pastor of Jackson St. Therese Parish prays as Bishop Emeritus Joseph Latino blesses the new Habitat Home on Greenview Dr. in Jackson.

By Peggy Hampton
JACKSON – Ariel and Christopher Jones of Jackson and their three children now have a safe, decent, affordable home and a brighter future, thanks to a partnership of Catholic parishes in the metro Jackson area.
The 31st Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build home was dedicated Wednesday, January 25. Bishop Emeritus Joseph Latino blessed the new home and homeowners. Partner churches included Flowood St. Paul; Madison St. Francis of Assisi; Clinton Holy Savior; Gluckstadt St. Joseph and Jackson’s St. Therese, St. Richard, Christ the King and the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle; along with St. Dominic’s Health Services and the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.
Volunteers from the partnership worked eight Saturdays in October and November to build the house. The homeowner couple worked along with volunteers, building not only a house but a bond with the partner members.
“The Catholic Build volunteers are the most loving people I have ever met,” Ariel said. “I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know each and every one of them.
“This was a great Habitat build,” added Christopher. “From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate it, and we thank you.”

JACKSON – Bishop Emeritus Joseph Latino blessed every room of the newest Habitat for Humanity Home on Greenview Drive in South Jackson on Wednesday, Jan., 25. At left, volunteers, area pastors and sponsors gathered for the dedication and blessing. This is the 31st home built as part of Catholic Build. (Photos by Peggy Hampton)

The house was built on Greenview Drive in south Jackson, a street that the Catholic community has played a major role in transforming through its partnership with Habitat. The first two new houses built on the street were the Pope Francis House and the 2015 Catholic Build home, and now the recently dedicated Catholic Build home. The street is located immediately west of St. Therese Parish, and the families who occupy these homes are neighbors.
The partnership will begin plans soon on the 32nd Catholic Build Habitat home – this one also to be constructed on Greenview Drive.
For more information about how to become a Habitat volunteer, donor, or homeowner, please call 601-353-6060 or visit www.habitatmca.org.
(Peggy Hampton is the public relations, marketing and fundraising coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area.)

Homeowner Ariel Jones stands in front of her new home with her baby.

Mississippi Catholic - Serving Catholics of the Diocese of Jackson Since 1954

Category Archives: Featured

Ash Wednesday: Ancient tradition still thrives in modern times

Bishop, advocates oppose sanctuary cities bill

Charter member donates custom window to Holy Savior

Knights of Columbus build ramp for Carmelites

Surgery postpones Biloxi ordination for bishop-designate

Youth News

Tet rings in year of rooster

90-year old sister not slowing down, teaching the faith

Chanche Medal, youth award, recall work of pioneer bishop

31st Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build house dedicated