PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
CAMDEN – Sacred Heart, 80th Celebration of Sacred Heart Camden, St. Anne Carthage and Holy Child Jesus Canton and Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, May 18 from 3-6 p.m. Custodian general, Father Jesus Ramirez, ST will preside and preach the liturgy at 3 p.m. followed by food and music. Details: church office (662) 468-2354.

CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, Pentecost Parish Picnic, Sunday, May 19 after 10 a.m. Mass. Including cookout and games for the whole family. Bring your own chairs and a side dish or dessert to share. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Annual Pentecost International Food Festival, Sunday, May 19 from 5 p.m. to sunset in the area behind the church. All are welcome to join for fun, fellowship and fantastic food as we celebrate the birth of the church. Please bring a dish to share. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation School, Sportsmania Camp, June 10-14 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the school gym. Basketball, soccer, football and other fun activities for upcoming second through sixth grades. Cost: $135 per child. Details: register by emailing pfarrell@annunciationcatholicschool.org. $50 non-refundable deposit is due for registration.

Annunciation School, Dinosaurs to Luaus: Good Times! from June 24-28; Around the World from July 15-19. Camps from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for students entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Enjoy these hands-on camps focused on music, theatre and physical arts. Cost: $135 per child. All supplies and snacks included. Details: email Ms. Staggers at music@annunciationcatholicschool.org.

FLOWOOD – St. Paul, Bingo Night, Saturday, June 15 after 4:30 p.m. Mass. Play begins at 6 p.m. Enjoy a hotdog dinner celebrating Father’s Day. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph School, Paul and Wade Abide Memorial Golf Classic, Friday, May 17 at the Greenville Golf and Country Club with shotgun start at 1 p.m. Four-person scramble; $150 per golfer, includes cart fee, two drink tickets and entry to social event. Details: Bonda at (662) 931-0490.

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph, Pentecost Sunday Multi-cultural Lunch, Sunday, May 19 after 10 a.m. Mass. Enjoy flavors of Mexican, Filipino, Italian, Lebanese, French, German, Indian and more. Details: contact Judy at (662) 820-4966 for more details.

MADISON – St. Francis of Assisi, 36th Annual Cajun Fest, Sunday, May 19 from 12-4 p.m. Laissez les bon temps roulez! Enjoy some of the best cajun fare around, raffles, games and live music – featuring Gypsy Heart. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Yard Sale, Saturday, June 1. Please bring your donations and leave them in the classrooms labeled “Yard Sale Donations.” Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

PEARL – St. Jude, Pentecost International Food Fest, May 19 at 11:30 a.m. (after a multilingual outdoor Mass at 10 a.m.) Come commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church, as well as the cultural and ethnic diversity of our parish. Bring lawn chairs or blanket for seating. Bring a dish the shows off your family’s cultural or ethnic heritiage to share. After lunch enjoy games for the youth and young at heart soccer, basketball, volleyball and cornhole. Sign-up sheets located on talbe outside the front door of the church. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.

STARKVILLE – St. Joseph, Pentecost Parish Celebration, Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Details: church office (662) 323-2257.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
PRAYER – Locus Benedictus, Would you be willing to commit to one day per week to pray the Rosary for priests and religious? Details: email your day of choice to contactlocusbenedictus@gmail.com or call (662) 299-1232.

NEW ORLEANS – Directed Retreat with the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at the Cenacle on Lake Pontchartrain, June 28-July 3. Cost $500 – includes lodging, meals and personal spiritual director. To register call (504) 861-3254. Details: for more information call Melinda at (601) 597-7178.

SAVE THE DATE
JACKSON – Catholic Charities Bishop’s Ball, Saturday, July 13 at the Old Capitol Inn.

BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vacation Bible School, July 14 – 17.

GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Vacation Bible School – Scuba: diving into friendship with God, June 24-28 from 6-8 p.m. in the parish hall, with dinner and games beginning at 5:15 p.m. Open to all children entering K through sixth grade. Cost $15 per child/$30 max per family. Pick up registration card by the SCUBA display in the church foyer. Details: Karen at kworrellcre@hotmail.com or (601) 672-5817.

JACKSON – St. Richard, Vacation Bible School, June 3-6 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for rising PreK-3 to sixth graders of St. Richard School and parishioners.

MADISON – St. Francis, Vacation Bible School, June 17-20.

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Vacation Bible School, June 24 –28 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Vacation Bible School, July 15-19, evenings at the Family Life Center. More information to come.

TUPELO – St. James, Vacation Bible School, July 15-18 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for ages 4-years through sixth grade. Theme: “The Chronicles of Narnia – God’s Surely Alive!” Register before June 8 for a shirt. Details: register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6WHPDQQ or for more information email rhondaswita13@gmail.com.

PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
DIOCESE – Jackson area young adults (ages 18-35), Co-ed Softball league, register by May 8. Cost: $30. Games on Monday and Thursday evenings; game locations vary from Ridgeland Baptist Church, Liberty Park and in Canton. Details: Register at https://jacksondiocese.flocknote.com/signup/164316 or email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org.

CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, Parish Picnic, Sunday, May 19. Enjoy cookout and games for the whole family. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.

DIOCESE/JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, Priestly Ordination of Tristan Stovall, Saturday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. All are invited to attend.

JACKSON – St. Richard, Evening with Mary, Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. Please join us for a time of reflection and prayer honoring the Blessed Mother, with speaker Fran Lavelle, director of faith formation for the diocese. Details: RSVP to the church office at (601) 366-2335 or secretary@saintrichard.com.

MADISON – St. Joseph School, “Bruin Burn” 5k Run/Walk and fun run, Saturday, May 11 at 8 a.m. Registration $30 for 5k or $15 for fun run after April 25. Register at https://raceroster.com/events/2024/87878/bruin-burn. Details: email bruinburn@gmail.com.
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School, Cajun Countdown, Friday, May 3. Details: eks_46@yahoo.com or sarahc@terralriverservice.com.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Cinco de Mayo Dinner Celebration, Saturday, May 4 after Mass in the social hall. Sign-up to attend in the common area. cost: $20/person or $30/couple – includes dinner and one beverage. Must be 21 or older to attend. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.
PEARL – St. Jude, Spring Fair, Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parish hall. This free event will feature a variety of handmade items, homemade food, raffle and more. All proceeds will benefit the St. Jude’s Artisan Guild ministry. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.

RIPLEY – St. Matthew, Free Immigration Day, May 4 at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Conference is on key aspects of Immigration Law in the U.S. Special guest: attorney, Steven Balson-Cohen, Esq. of Immigration Pro, LLC. Conference includes free case evaluation and consultation. Details: church office (662) 993-8862.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
BOONVILLE – National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2 at 12 p.m. at the Booneville City Hall steps. Join this day as Christians come together and pray for our nation. Lunch provided for attendees.

BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vietnamese Language Mass, 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 12 (then the first Sunday of the month thereafter).

NEW ORLEANS – Directed Retreat with the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at the Cenacle on Lake Pontchartrain, June 28-July 3. Cost $500 – includes lodging, meals and personal spiritual director. To register call (504) 861-3254. Details: for more information call Melinda at (601) 597-7178.

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Men’s Group, Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. in the Father Vally room in the St. Patrick center. This is the first meeting of this newly formed group. Details: John at jmcylk@gmail.com.

NATCHEZ – National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2 at 12 p.m. at the Gazebo on the Bluff.

SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist,” Thursdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; and June 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. How do these Jewish roots help us, to understand his real presence in the Eucharist? Facilitator is Don Coker. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

SAVE THE DATE
BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vacation Bible School, July 14 – 17.

MADISON – St. Francis, Vacation Bible School – June 17-20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Pre-K4 through fourth graders. Email mc.george@stfrancismadison.org to volunteer.

St. Francis, Cajun Fest, Sunday, May 19.

DIOCESE – Each month, the Office of Catholic Education holds a Rosary in thanksgiving for Catholic education in the diocese. Join them via Zoom on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. Check the diocese calendar of events for the Zoom link. Join us!

By Eileen Dushek-Manthe
SINSINAWA, Wis. – Sister Joan Duerst, OP, will celebrate her 60th jubilee in 2024. A Mass will be held in October for her and 10 other Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters celebrating 60 years. Her religious name was Sister Marie Herve’.

Sister Joan’s home parish is St. Patrick, Madison, in the Diocese of Madison. She is the daughter of the late Hervey and Catherine “Kay” (Skibba) Duerst. Sister Joan’s ministry has been dedicated to social justice, especially criminal justice reform.

In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Sister Joan taught at Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay, 1968-1972.

In the Archdiocese of Omaha, Sister Joan taught at Dominican High School, Omaha, 1972-1979.

In the Diocese of Tulsa, Sister Joan served as neighborhood organizer at Immaculate Conception Parish, Tulsa, 1979-1982; founder and director of Osage Hills Apartment ministry, Tulsa, 1982-1987; coordinator for peace and justice at Christ the King Parish, Tulsa, 1993-1998; and founder and community organizer for North Tulsa Neighborhood Alliance, Tulsa, 1993-1998, facilitating 12 neighborhood associations to build strong organizations in a neglected area of the city. She taught at Bishop Kelley, Tulsa, 1987-1993, and served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as provincial councilor for the Southern Province while living in Tulsa, 1998-2003.

In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Joan ministered as director of high school religious education and social concerns coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Madison, 2004-2008.

In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Joan ministered as volunteer coordinator at South Madison Coalition of the Elderly (now New Bridge), Madison, 2008-2014, and served with the multigenerational faith formation team and directed the first reconciliation and First Communion program at St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie, 2009-2011. She is a member of MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity), where she is a religious leader, and has served on the antiracism transformation team of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa since 1999.

She has also ministered in Illinois and Trinidad and Tobago.

Sister Joan is living in community with her Dominican Sisters.

If you would like to honor Sister Joan on her jubilee, go to the Sinsinawa Dominicans’ website at www.sinsinawa.org/jubilee.

By Joe Lee
JACKSON – If you have a student at St. Richard Catholic School, your initial reaction to the news that they’re relocating next year might be panic. How might the move impact your commute to school and work each day? How much earlier will the morning routine have to begin?

Relax, because the beloved elementary school will be less than a quarter mile away, at 4261 I-55 North Frontage Road in a church building that presently sits empty.

“St. Richard parish and school were presented with the opportunity to purchase the property that housed the Meadowbrook Church of Christ for many years,” said Celeste Saucier, St. Richard School director of development. “The Diocese assisted by granting a loan to the parish and offered assistance through the Office of Education.

“The move allows for greater exposure to the frontage road and better ability to expand and grow over time. It provides space for a high-grade STREAM Lab (Science, Technology, Religion, English, Arts, Math), a flex space for studying and projects, and a refectory. Naming and investment opportunities are available as the school begins their capital campaign.”

“We will start classes in August 2025 under the advisement of the diocese,” said Father Joe Tonos, St. Richard pastor. “We will use the period between January and August for tours, and for “test runs” of some of the older classes (grades 4-6) using the facilities to make sure all is in order for fall 2025.

“The elementary students can walk with their classes over to the (empty) church and back quite easily as it stands now. There is a full chapel at the new site which will be used for liturgies and services for the school. It will also be available for conferences, musical recitals, and programs.”

For more information on St. Richard School visit strichardschool.org or call (601) 366-1157.

By Joe Lee
JACKSON – Several years in the making, the St. Richard Early Learning Center (ELC) opened its doors in mid-March to rave reviews from parents and great relief from ELC director Ilana Schuetzle after the first week went well.

“It was trial and error the first day, teachers and children getting to know one another in a completely new environment, checking those little things off that may have been overlooked,” Schuetzle said. “All in all, I couldn’t be happier with the staff in helping make (the opening) go as smoothly as possible.”

The ELC began with 17 littles, as Schuetzle calls them, and more have been added each week. The busy ELC director is giving tours to prospective parents almost daily and noted that once enrollment reaches capacity at 88, a waiting list will begin. They serve infants from six weeks to two-year-olds, with the three- and four-year-olds at the elementary school.

“We’re in a renovated part of St. Richard church directly behind Banner Hall,” Schuetzle said. “The ELC campaign began before Covid. Work began on the ELC last spring. We’ve had a lot of interest from people who work in the hospitals or downtown area, as well as those who already have children attending St. Richard School.”

“I learned of the ELC from a friend whose children currently attend St. Richard’s,” said Anna Moss. “I called and booked a tour with Ilana within days of learning of the Center. My son, John Nicholas, is six months old. He has been attending for about a month. We were there on opening day to meet the teachers and staff.”

The ELC is associated with St. Richard Parish and School and falls under Diocese of Jackson guidelines, offering a continuation of decades of Catholic administration and formation from the diocese and parish.

Father Joe Tonos, St. Richard pastor, hopes to introduce the children to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd specifically for the ELC, as well as providing a bridge for parents to the school and parish.

“The first few days were not hectic due to the measured planning Ilana and the ELC committee had put in place,” Father Tonos said. “To the contrary, it started with serenity and happiness.”

Young John Nicholas is Moss’s first child. As a working mom, it wasn’t easy for her to adjust to leaving him during the day, but she is very pleased with the St. Richard ELC.

“I felt an immediate sense of calm and love when I met with Ilana and saw the beautiful space on our tour,” Moss said. “I knew within my heart this was the place for my son. The staff is personable and caring. John Nicholas is always smiling when we pick him up. The ratio of staff to children is wonderful and I love the feeling of family here.

“The staff communicates with my family via the Procare app, where I receive updates throughout the day on my son’s bottles, naps, pictures and other information. I know John Nicholas will continue to learn, develop and thrive at the ELC.”

To schedule a tour, Schuetzle can be reached at director@strichardelc.org.