Category Archives: Parish News

Wreaths Across America participation deadline approaches – a patriotic program sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Bishop R.O. Gerow Assembly 554 –

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By Staff Reports

CLINTON – Knights of Columbus Assembly 554 is once again participating in the Wreaths Across America program.

This patriotic program has grown from humble beginnings during the Christmas season of 1992, when wreaths were placed on veteran graves in an older section of Arlington Nation Cemetery, into a national event.

In 2022 on Wreaths Across America day 2.7 million wreaths were placed on veteran graves with the help of over 2 million volunteers at 3702 cemeteries nationwide.

CLINTON – A member of the Knights of Columbus from Holy Savior parish places a wreath on the grave of a veteran for the 2022 Wreaths Across America event. (Photo courtesy of Knights of Columbus Bishop R.O. Gerow Assembly 554)

Assembly 554 sponsors two locations, the Clinton Cemetery Association and Cedar Grove cemetery. Both cemeteries are located on East College Street in Clinton. The assembly has identified upwards of 300 veteran gravesites and is looking for individuals, small businesses or corporations to sponsor wreath purchases.

Wreaths can be purchased online at kofc554.org, by downloading a sales form and mailing to listed address, or from members of Assembly 554.

Wreaths can also be purchased for a specific veteran at either of our sponsored locations, or for veterans buried at other locations. (Wreaths purchased for veterans at other locations may be picked up at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Holy Savior Catholic Church on the corner of Lindale Street and Old Vicksburg Road Clinton.)

The wreaths are made with Maine balsam with a red, hand tied, weatherproof velveteen bow approximately 22” in diameter. The cost per wreath is $17.

This year Wreaths Across America day is Saturday, Dec. 16. In Clinton, the program will begin with a ceremony honoring veterans at 12 p.m. at the War Memorial in the Clinton Cemetery, 500 East College Street followed by wreath placement on veteran graves at both the Clinton Cemetery and Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Anyone wishing to participate in the laying of wreaths is welcome. There is no parking in the cemeteries, but Pleasant Green Mission Baptist Church, located across the street from the cemeteries, allows volunteers to park in their lot.

For more information about this event or for assistance purchasing wreaths please contact Bill O’Connor at (601) 906-8890.

The deadline for all wreath purchasing for Wreath Across America Day 2023 is Saturday, Nov. 25.

Parishioners share parish origin story on feast of St. Therese

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By Berta Mexidor

KOSCIUSKO – A special Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and concelebrated by Father Marco Sanchez, ST, to celebrate the patronal feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus on Sunday, Oct. 1.
Over two days of celebration, parishioners were able to enjoy a permanent exhibit press articles and photos donated by the Joseph family following the passing of patriarch Louis Joseph.
All the documents and notes came into the hands of Marilyn Scott, a parishioner of St. Therese since 1969. She, along with Vicky Bell Pope, and others, undertook the task of chronologically compiling the history of the church with the documents received.

KOSCIUSKO – Bishop Joseph Kopacz views pictures painted by Vicky Bell Pope, as a part of a permanent installation at St. Therese chronicling the history of the parish. (Photo courtesy of Father Marco Sanchez, ST)

Additionally, Bell Pope painted reproductions of “The Cabin,” which gave birth to the church, and of the story of Father Julian M. Guillou, riding a horse on his journey from Yazoo to Kosciusko.
Scott says that this was a “glorious” celebration and noting that “…we have been very blessed to receive these historic documents and also by the presence of Trinitarian priests who have taken charge of the parish.”

The Joseph family are considered the founder of the parish since Mr. and Mrs. Joseph began writing letters to Bishop R.O. Gerow and the town of Kosciusko to help build a church for the growing Catholic community.

“In June 1940, Bishop Gerow dedicated the church to St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The energetic young pastor, the Joseph family, other young members, and a new chapel meant there was Catholic activity like Kosciusko had never seen,” said Scott, reading a prepared statement during the Mass.

The departed Louis Joseph wrote in his original letter to Bishop Gerow: “I know in my heart and soul that our parents were guided to Central Mississippi by our good Lord, to not only raise a wonderful family but to help bring the church to our little town.”

(Marilyn Scott, and Father Marco Sanchez, ST contributed to this story)

Family answers ‘yes to the Lord’s invitation’ for mission work

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By Joe Lee
JACKSON – Imagine being very successful in your profession. You and your spouse have a wonderful family, are blessed with many friends and are active church members.

But something crucial is missing from your lives.

“I had always done well in commercial real estate and banking,” said Saul Keeton, a native of the Jackson area who became Catholic in 2001. “But (my wife) Jan and I had a growing dissatisfaction with what the world had to offer us … we sensed the Lord wanting something radical from us.”

Jan Keeton, a cradle Catholic originally from Stafford, Texas, considered the idea of foreign missions for the first time in 2018. But with young children at home (the Keeton kids range from age 20 down to seven), planning such a trip was complicated.

MEXICO – Saul Keeton assists in mixing concrete for a foundation on a mission trip to Mexico in early 2019. He was accompanied by his four oldest children. The Keeton family said “yes to the Lord’s invitation” for mission work. (Photo courtesy of Saul Keeton)

“A Methodist college friend was very involved in supporting a school in Haiti, and she invited me to go with her several times,” Jan said. “Eventually it dawned on me that the only way I’d get to go on a mission trip was if (our entire family) went together.”

Through a simple Google search, Jan learned of Family Missions Company (FMC) and was delighted to learn that in addition to being a Catholic organization, FMC was based in Abbeville, Louisiana, only 250 miles from Jackson.

“All the FMC missionaries and staff live in Gospel poverty, meaning they have all they need to live and nothing more,” Saul said. “Most of my questions (amounted to), ‘What would it be like for our kids to go from living in American suburbia to living in the desert, the jungle or a barrio?’”

Their first mission trip was to General Cepeda, Mexico, in 2018. Saul recalls reading aloud to Jan his journal entries from that week.

“We cried about it together in a jumble of emotions: anticipation, anxiety, relief, excitement, unworthiness,” he said. “I think we experienced all simultaneously. We intensified our spiritual direction with Father Anthony Quyet after the trip and, praise be to God, he confirmed our missionary call.”
They applied with FMC to be full-time foreign missionaries and were accepted. With the new formation year beginning that fall, the couple faced the choice of entering formation within a few weeks or waiting until fall 2019. They chose the latter, wanting the extra year to get their affairs in order and build a team of missionary supporters.

They also wanted time to pray about their son Nicholas’s 2018 diagnosis of autism.

“We knew the Lord was in control,” Saul said, “but trusting in Jesus is pretty easy until a serious trial comes along. And it was hard to see the path ahead more than one step at a time.”

Saul made another mission trip to Mexico in early 2019 with the couple’s four oldest kids, and Jan made one to Costa Rica that year, but they felt the Lord wanted them to put down roots in Jackson and dove headfirst into autism therapy.

Then, in summer 2022, they again heard the Lord’s call to go back into mission work and relocated from Jackson to Abbeville.

“I gratefully accepted the position of Director of Mission Advancement for FMC,” Saul said. “I oversee all fundraising efforts, donor relations, our marketing team, our two retreat centers, and foreign mission trips. For the last year, my family has lived in missionary housing in community with many of the other families that are part of the FMC administrative staff.

“Many people mistakenly believe that the Gospel has been taken to the whole world … that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there are hundreds of organizations that have sprung up in the last 60 years to serve the church in the U.S., I know of no other that is so focused on taking the Gospel to places where it hasn’t been heard yet.”

While the Keetons’ family service with FMC looks different than Saul and Jan envisioned, they look for opportunities to preach the Gospel around their mission post whenever possible.

“I spoke (recently) to 40 high school kids at one of our retreat centers on serving and loving the poor,” Saul said. “When the poor need a water well, we’ll dig one. Or we’ll mix and pour concrete to replace a dirt floor. We’ll also listen and offer a shoulder to cry on – and cry with them – when emotional support is needed.”

“We do find plenty of opportunities to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy within our own family,” Jan said. “This has had a profound experience on our own hearts.

“It’s easy to forget sometimes how hard it is for many people to say yes to the Lord’s invitation. Through much prayer, we’ve said it twice now, and we’re surrounded by people who’ve also given up everything to follow Him. But that shouldn’t dull us to the shock people feel when their consciences are shaken awake for the first time.”

One of the only lay-run Catholic foreign missionary organizations in the U.S., Family Mission Company have more than 200 missionaries serving in nine countries around the world. They work with the blessing of Bishop Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. To support FMC, or to reach Saul or Jan Keeton and learn more about international mission work, visit familymissionscompany.com.

Sister Mary Anne Poeshel, RSM celebrates 60th jubilee

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CANTON – Pictured is Father Guy Wilson, ST conferring a blessing upon Sister Mary Anne Poeshel, RSM, celebrating her 60th anniversary as a religious sister on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Holy Child Jesus Church. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis on Sept. 8, 1963, entering religious life in the midst of the Second Vatican Council. Sister Mary Anne has served “faithfully and dynamically” at Holy Child Jesus, Canton for 21 years, said Father Guy. With no resident priest living at the parish, Sister Mary Anne is the on site director of the church, coordinating the community’s activities and outreach. She also serves as director of religious ed at Holy Child Jesus and Sacred Heart Church in Camden. (Photo courtesy of Father Guy Wilson)

God and country: St. Alphonsus pastor becomes an American citizen

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By Mack Spencer, Enterprise-Journal

MCCOMB – St. Alphonsus Catholic Church is having a celebration as American as apple pie on Sunday.
There are no guarantees that dessert will be available in Liguori Hall, but those summer staples of hamburgers and hot dogs will be plentiful.

As American as the food fare will be, so, too, is the honoree. St. Al’s pastor, Father Suresh Thirumalareddy, is the star of that show, and a naturalized citizen of the United States after a ceremony in New Orleans in June.

MCCOMB – Father Suresh Thirumalareddy sits in the sanctuary of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. He became an American citizen in June 2023. Fathers Augustine Palimattam Poulose and Anthonyclaret Onyeocha became American citizens earlier this year as well. (Photo courtesy of Enterprise-Journal)

Growing up in India, Father Suresh didn’t think much about visiting the United States, and had never harbored a desire to seek American citizenship, though many Indians view this country positively and want to visit, if not immigrate.
“In India, people look at the United States as being a powerful nation – the greatest, most powerful nation on earth,” Father Suresh said. “That’s what we are taught. When people think about leaving, the first option is always to go to America.”

Eventually, he felt a call to take the opportunity afforded through a loan program between his home Guntur Diocese in southern India and the Jackson Diocese to become what could be called an exchange priest here, where there is a shortage of priests to fill the pulpits – but just for a while.

“My dad’s intention was that I would come here and serve as long as I wanted, and then I would come back to my home church,” he said. “I abided by that when he was alive.”

His father died at home after the start of the second wave of COVID-19 in India, following a 15-day stay in a hospital’s intensive care unit with the virus and complications, including two heart attacks.

Father Suresh became close to his predecessor, Father Brian Kaskie, in 2014, when he moved to Pike County after a year in Meridian with an appointment at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Chatawa, which served the nuns of St. Mary of the Pines.

The death of Kaskie, a friend and mentor, as well as his father, coupled with the ongoing priest shortage, led Father Suresh to seriously consider seeking American citizenship.

“I wanted to settle here and join the community,” he said. “My family said, ‘you have given your life to the Lord, you decide what you want.’

“So I started a new life. I said yes to America, and that I would follow the rules of America and be part of the culture and support America where I can.”

Father Suresh applied for and received both his voter identification and an American passport after his naturalization, and he voted in an American election for the first time in this year’s primary. India does not allow dual citizenship, so he sent his original passport to the Indian consulate in Atlanta for cancelation.
India will send him a renunciation certificate, after which he will be able to travel back home on his American passport, but unable to work or buy land in the country.

He has settled into American society despite difficulties when he first came to this country.

“The first year here, I struggled,” he said. “I missed the food, my family and my culture. I lost 28 pounds. I craved Indian food. Now, when I get the chance, I cook Indian food.

“I came to Chatawa in 2014, and I started eating American food with Father Brian. I like American food now. Popeye’s spicy chicken is good, and I like burgers, lobster and crab claws we used to get at the Caboose.”

While quite familiar with English – some authorities consider India to be the largest English-speaking country in the world, due to its colonial history in the British Raj – Father Suresh was sent to two months of classes in Meridian to lessen his accent.

While food and Southern drawls took some getting used to, other aspects of Mississippi were more familiar.

Father Suresh Thirumalareddy signs his American citizenship paperwork during a special ceremony in June 2023. He says that his has found his American family at his parish of St. Alphonsus in McComb. (Photo courtesy of Father Suresh Thirumalareddy)

Mississippi’s summer heat, especially with this year’s string of days in the triple digits, reminded Father Suresh of home, though even the temperatures of 102 and 103 paled somewhat beside the 115 to 120 often experienced in India.

He tries to use the four weeks of vacation afforded him each year to visit friends and family in India during the cooler months, as he has acclimated to Mississippi’s temperature range.

He’s also used to a mix of religions, as southern India has large Catholic and Protestant populations as well as Hindu and Muslim, and they live fairly congenially and harmoniously; whereas northern India is largely Hindu, and the border regions with Pakistan are prone to clashes between Hindus and Muslims.

“It’s peaceful in the south” of India, he said. “There is no threat to Christians, especially in the south. There are friendly relations with Hindus and Muslims. When we had church events, many Hindus would come to celebrate with us. (Hindu) nationalists are not prevalent.”

Despite the difficulties and the differences, Father Suresh is glad to have taken the opportunity to come to Mississippi.

“God blessed me to come here,” he said. “I am happy to work here and serve this church. My life is meant to serve people, and in doing that, I have found another family.”

(Reprinted with permission of the Enterprise-Journal, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

Calendar of Events

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PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m., in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Details: olvcc@att.net or call (662)-846-6273.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Loaves & Fishes Fundraiser, Thursday, Oct. 19 at the activity center. Pick-up times 5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. Tickets $15, must purchase in advance at parish. Meal: pork loin, potato salad, coleslaw, beans, cornbread and dessert. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.

FLOWOOD – Homegrown Harvest Fest, sponsored by office of vocations, Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul parish. Proceeds support our seven diocesan seminarians. Evening includes dinner, silent auction and fellowship. Silent auction items are needed! Contact Shelia at sheliafoggo@gmail.com or Laura at lfoley929@gmail.com to help. Details: Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/HGHarvest2023.

St. Paul, Trunk or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Sign up your trunk today! Help us bring the best and safest Halloween event to all. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Cocktails and Catholicism, Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Guest speaker is Rebekah Zachary, associate director of Campus and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Memphis. Topic is “The Kerygma – the building blocks to a devout life.” Adults only. BYOB. Details: Sign up in the Narthex or visit https://bit.ly/CatholicCocktailsOct23.

Holy Spirit, Drive-through Pet Blessings, Monday, Oct. 2, time to be announced. All pets are welcome! Details: church office (662) 429-7851.

Holy Spirit, Scripture and the Rosary, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 1-2:30 p.m. in the little parish hall. October is celebrated as the month of the Holy Rosary. Join us for four sessions for this very special month. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.

FOREST – St. Michael, Celebrating St. Michael’s Day, Sunday, Oct. 8 at Gaddis Park. Mass at 10 a.m. with festivities after. Details: church office (601) 469-1916.

JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Fellowship Night on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Schedule: 4:30 p.m. Adoration, 5:30 p.m. pot luck meal in the center and 7 p.m. presentation by Father Nick in the church followed by Benediction. Details: church office (601) 969-3125.

JACKSON – St. Richard, Special Kids Golf tournament at Deerfield Country Club in Canton on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Details: church office (601) 366-2335 or saintrichard.com.

St. Richard School, Cardinal Booster Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 9 with Coach Mike Bianco of Ole Miss. Cost $250 per ticket (admits two). Enjoy Mass at 5:15, then cocktail social, silent auction and “meet and greet” with Coach Bianco, catered dinner at 6:45 p.m. with address by Coach. Details: Coach Nelson rnelson@saintrichardschool.org.

JACKSON – Christ the King, Blessing of the Pets, Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier. Details: church office (601) 948-8867.

MADISON – St. Francis, Fall Parish Mission “Igniting the Light of Christ within you,” Oct. 1-3 at 6:30 p.m. each night in the church. Featured speaker is Paul Koleske. Hear practical techniques you can use to increase your connection with the presence of the Holy Spirit. All are welcome! Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

St. Francis, Taste of St. Francis Feast takes us around the world on Sunday, Oct. 8 in the Family Life Center following 10:30 a.m. Mass. Details: parish office at 601-856-5556 or Amy at 601-953-4182.

MERIDIAN – St. Joseph, Harvest Fest, Saturday, Oct. 7 from 11 am to 2 p.m. Enjoy this day of fellowship and fun! There will be youth activities, plenty of food and more. Details: contact Rhonda (601) 227-1199.

NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Family Life Center and Prayer Garden. Please have pets on a leash or in a carrier. Bring pictures of pets who are unable to join us. Donations of pet food welcome. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

St. Mary Basilica, Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner, Sunday, Oct. 15 in the O’Connor Family Life Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take out and dine in. Tickets $10. Details: Darren at (601) 597-2890 or church office (601) 445-5616.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Halloween Bash, Sunday, Oct. 29 beginning at 5 p.m. Enjoy games, food, trunk or treat and more. All are welcome! Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

PEARL – St. Jude, Day-trip Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 28. Tour the Shrine, Mass, Adoration and more. Cost est. $75. Details: email kmcgregor@stjudepearl.org or call (601) 939-3181.

SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food, games, raffles, white elephant sale and more! Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

Christ the King, Pumpkin Patch, Sept. 27 to Oct. 30. Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12-7 p.m.

Christ the King, Halloween Bash, Saturday, Oct. 28 in the social hall. Adults only. Enjoy a night with DJ Fernando, dancing, food, fun and frights. Adults only, cost $25 per person.

Christ the King, Gala Dinner with World Youth Day Community, Saturday, Oct. 21 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the religious ed building. Delicious food, keynote speeches by youth leaders, live performances, inspiring stories of personal triumph, door prize religious articles from Fatima and Lisbon and more! Cost: family ticket $50 (3 adults and 2 or more kids); Adult ticket for one $20. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

STARKVILLE – St. Joseph, Fall Trivia Night, Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph parish hall. Cost $20/person – $10/college student. Details: email ben.bachman@gmail.com for reservations and other questions.

VICKSBURG – Knights of Columbus 898, $3,000 Drawdown, Sunday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. Tickets $75 each. One ticket gets one draw and dinner for two. Details: kc898.square.site or see any 898 Knight. Hall located at 310 Fisher Ferry Road.

NOTICES & OTHER EVENTS
BAY ST. LOUIS Save-the-Date, Divine Word Missionaries Centennial celebration of St. Augustine Seminary, Oct. 28-29. Enjoy historical exhibits, tours, food, entertainment, raffles, a Jazz procession, Mass and more.

JOB OPENINGS Catholic schools across the diocese have a variety of positions open. Please visit https://jacksondiocese.org/employment for an opportunity near you.

INDIANAPOLIS Eucharistic Congress, July 17-21, 2024. Registration is now open. See what Our Lord has in store for this next chapter for the Catholic Church in United States. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3ydav9Q. Details: EucharisticCongress.org.

INDIANAPOLIS National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), Nov. 16-18, 2023 at the Indiana Convention Center. This distinctly Catholic three-day conference will include opportunities for spiritual growth, prayer, learning and service. For more information, visit ncyc.us.

NASHVILLE Billings Ovulation Method Teacher Training, Oct. 19-21. Learn the science of fertility in order to monitor reproductive health and wellness. Cost: $750. Details: events.boma-usa.org.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
DOWNINGTOWN, PA – Day of Prayer for the Health and Wellness of Clergy and Men and Women Religious, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 20. The main event for is a live-streamed Mass from the Our Lady of Hope Chapel on Saint John Vianney Center’s campus at 10 a.m. CST. The goal of this day is to raise awareness of the need to support our men and women in ministry and to pray for them in solidarity as one community of faith. No cost to participate. Details: https://www.sjvcenter.org/dayofprayer/.

SAINT LOUIS, MO – The North American Vocation Team (NAVT) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) invites young adults ages 18 and older to a monthly online evening prayer on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CST via Zoom. Upcoming dates for evening prayer are Oct. 24 and Nov. 28. Details: ssnd.org/events/.

Parish pioneers celebrate 40th anniversary

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By Joanna King and Tereza Ma
GLOSTER – Families gathered to celebrate a relatively “new” church in the history of the diocese on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Holy Family in Gloster. Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha and several of the founding families gathered for a special Mass in celebration of 40 years of the “young” parish.

In 1983, the few Catholics of Amite County were scattered but one woman had a dream to bring them together.

June Vallely moved to Gloster in 1980, she and her husband Bill, along with their five children had to travel over 23 miles away to St. Joseph in Woodville for Mass.

“Trying to get the kids ready, get them up, feed them, get them ready to go to church … it was hard work,” said Vallely.

GLOSTER – June Vallely displays her plaque presented to her for her contributions to the Holy Family parish in Gloster. On left, the tabernacle sits behind the altar at Holy Family parish. It was donated to the fledgling parish in 1983 from a church in Illinois. (Photos by Tereza Ma)

“So, I started asking around in the community if there were any Catholics, or did they know of a Catholic.”
From that, Vallely began making a list; making it her mission to establish a Catholic Church in Amite County.

“Something was just pushing me and pushing me,” said Valley.

Then it hit like lightening.

One night in the middle of a thunderstorm, Vallely shot up from a slumber and went to the kitchen table and began to write.

Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha and Bishop Joseph Kopacz process out after Mass at Holy Family parish in Gloster on Saturday, Sept. 23 for the 40th anniversary of the parish.

“I started writing this letter to the Bishop. The words kept coming out.”

A couple of months later, Bishop Brunini gave permission for a church building in the small Catholic community in Gloster. The name Holy Family was even drawn from a brown paper bag. Everyone at Mass that given Sunday submitted a name and the youngest member of the church, Jason Chabreck, drew the name.

With the assistance of Sister Margaret Maria Coon, a retired college philosophy teacher and former provincial of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth of Kentucky, who had retired to the area, the fledgling congregation began to take shape.

The first location was an old store front on Main Street, the walls of which were covered in burlap to cover large holes.

“Our first altar was a kitchen cabinet from one of our parishioners,” said Vallely, reminiscing.

Other first items were a brass crucifix from an army surplus story, a baptismal font from a Methodist church in Crosby, a tabernacle from a Catholic Church in Illinois and various hand-me-downs from other parishes across the diocese. It didn’t matter where the items came from, the founding families were happy to have a church of their own for their growing community.

June Vallely visits with Bishop Kopacz and Pauline Gauthier after Mass, about her history with the parish. Vallely and other founding members were present for the 40th anniversary celebration of Holy Family Gloster.

To fundraise families would hold dinners on Fridays during Lent, serving Cajun delicacies such as jambalaya and shrimp etouffee. Parishioners would take orders from the area, including Liberty, Woodville, Centreville and Gloster. Each week earning $1,000 or more for their young parish.

“It was lots of fun,” said Vallely. “We loved bringing the whole community together.”

Michele Chabrek was also of one of the founding families of Holy Family. Along with Vallely, she is one of the only remaining families from the beginning of the parish.

“Through hard work and faith, we’ve managed to come together and provide for the community and any of our spiritual needs.”

At the 40th anniversary celebration, Vallely was recognized for her contributions to the history of the parish with a special plaque.

“We wanted to do something special for June to let her know all of her hard work did not go to waste,” said Pauline Gauthier, a resident of Gloster for 36 years.

“We’re not a big parish or big community, but those of us that are here – we’re family.”

St. Joseph Woodville celebrates 150 years

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By Berta Mexidor and Tereza Ma
WOODVILLE – A grand gathering, after a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, took place in the gardens of the St. Joseph community in Woodville where parishioners and Catholic community commemorated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the parish, on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The historic Mass was concelebrated by Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha, pastor of St. Joseph Woodville and Holy Family Mission Gloster and Father PJ Curley, who served the parish in the 1970s.

WOODVILLE – Samuel Bray reaches in for a hand shake hand with Bishop Joseph Kopacz after a Mass celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph parish. Also pictured is Spencer Bray.

The congregation that filled the pews came from Woodville, Baton Rouge and other surrounding areas.

The year 1873 marked the opening of St. Joseph Catholic Church, under the direction of Father Germain Martin. Catholic believers were present around Fort Adams area since 1682, when on Easter Sunday, historians claimed the celebration of the first Mass, not only of the area but for all Mississippi soil.

The town of Woodville was incorporated in 1811, and for years the only Catholics families were the Elders, the Gordons, and the Poseys, who gave the community and history from a General to a Bishop.

The first Mass for the Woodville community was celebrated in the Gordon family house. The first families and their descendants have claimed and kept the history until these times.

For years the Catholic community of Woodville was served by priests of Natchez, until 1905 when Father Joseph B. Weis was the first resident priest.

The history of the Woodville community is rich, with many home and buildings, including St. Joseph Church, being included on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

St. Joseph’s current pastor, Father Anthonyclaret was also celebrating his American citizenship during the festivities. He stated that all the parishioners “worked on weekends for months and contributed to the celebration.”

Bishop Joseph Kopacz blesses new vessels, surrounded by (right) Father Curley who served at St. Joseph in early 70s, Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha (left) with Wil Seal and Wallace Ferguson as altar servers.

Edward (Eddie) Rispone, a Catholic from Baton Rouge, owns acres of property in the area for recreation, and even though he has his parish at home, he registered his family at St. Joseph, and contributes to the area because “it is special to belong to a historical Catholic Church.”
Like him, many of the attendees from Louisiana came because of the ties of their ancestors to the parish.
Ann and Octavio Gutierrez were parishioners for years. They moved back to the area from Texas, sharing their ties of many sacraments in this church. Ann now sings in the choir. Even though they have other homes, she said this has always been her “home church.”

Beautiful weather provided for a wonderful outdoor gathering for the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph Church. On right, smoke- master Mac Fletcher of Daddy Mac’s BBQ in action at the event. (Photos by Tereza Ma)

In memoriam: Sister Angela Susalla, OP

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ADRIAN, MICHIGAN – Sister Angela Susalla, formerly known as Sister David Mary, died on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 91 years of age and in the 71st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican congregation.

Sister Angela was born in Detroit, Michigan, to David and Bertha (Zinger) Susalla. She graduated from Rochester High School in Rochester, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Mixed Science, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.

Sister ministered for 24 years in elementary and secondary education in Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Aiken, South Carolina; Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach, Florida; and Grafton, West Virginia. This includes 10 years as elementary and secondary teacher at Rosarian Academy, a sponsored ministry of the Adrian Dominican congregation in West Palm Beach. She also served six years as a pastoral minister: a year in Eleuthera, Bahamas; and five years for the Diocese of Memphis in Lexington, Tennessee. Her last 31 years of service were spent as a social service minister for Catholic Social Services in Tunica, Mississippi. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2014.

Sister Angela was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Thomas, Ernest, Larry and David; and a sister, Elda. She is survived by sisters Elaine Campbell of Troy, Michigan, and Karen Swaim (Gary) of Sevierville, Tennessee; other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

A Funeral Mass was offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.

In memoriam: Curtiss McKee

MADISON – Curtiss wanted his obituary to be short because he was never interested in accolades. He requested that it state only that “he was born, he lived, he died.” However, no one who ever knew him could ever stop there because he truly was a “gentleman” – one of faith, loyalty, generosity, intelligence, wit and unfailing love.

Miles Curtiss McKee was born Aug. 21, 1930 in Cleveland, Mississippi to Samuel Melvin and Alethea (Alice) Miles McKee. At age sixteen, he went to Millsaps College for two years before moving to Clarksdale to work for the Bank of Clarksdale. As the Korean War was beginning, he joined the Navy to become an aviator. As a Naval aviator, he served as a hurricane hunter, flying just 100 feet above the water and in anti-submarine warfare missions. He served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the Naval Reserves. Curtiss retired as a Captain after 30 years of military service. Curtiss was President of Naval League of Mississippi for several terms.

After his four years of active duty service in the Navy, Curtiss finished his undergraduate degree at Ole Miss and then attended University of Mississippi Law School while also teaching Political Science. Curtiss was an editor of the Law Journal and a member of the Lamar Order. He graduated from law school in 1959 at the top of his class with many distinctions, and he was elected as a member of the Ole Miss Hall of Fame.

Curtiss became one of the leading labor and employment lawyers in Mississippi. He took two cases to the U.S. Supreme Court. He was Chairman of the Judicial Selection Committee of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He was also an active member of the Mississippi Bar Foundation of which he was also a Fellow, the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employer Lawyers. He was continuously chosen for The Best Lawyers in America from 1987-2010.

When Curtiss retired, he was asked to become the in-house attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. He served pro bono there for five years. Curtiss was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison where he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Curtiss is survived by his wife, Ann, of 50 years, daughters Carol Brame of Madison and Laura McKee Zouein (Fouad) of Ridgeland; sons David McKee (Shannon) of Gluckstadt and Reid McKee (Rachel) of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Lindsay Casperson (Eric), Allison Dotson (Alex), Taylor Brame, Shelby Partridge (Austin), Betsy McKee, Miles McKee, Jackson Lindsey, Juliet Lindsey, Molly McKee, Ava Cate McKee, Lucy McKee; and great-grandchildren Caylee Casperson, Connor Casperson, Chloe Casperson, and Luke Dotson.

A Requiem Mass was held Wednesday, Sept. 6 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
In memory of Curtiss, donations may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4000 W. Tidewater Lane, Madison, MS 39110, University of Mississippi Medical Center Children’s Hospital and/or your charity of choice.