Youth

Around the diocese

MACON – St. Jude youth leaders Lauren and Jojo Roberts with youth participants in Midle School Retreat on Oct. 5/6. (Photo by Lauren Roberts)
FOREST– St. Michael celebration in Gattis park on Oct. 6. Jeunn Guroin and Jerry Tambriz preparing piñata for youngsters. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
MADISON – St. Joseph Catholic School students Keden Murry, left, Riley Bianchini and Pierce Johnston pack donated items in a box for the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Jackson. St. Joe students, faculty, staff and families have spent the past few weeks collecting non-perishable food items, paper towels and other items for the Hope Lodge where cancer patients stay free of charge when receiving necessary medical treatment. St. Joseph and St. Richard Schools in Jackson combined this year to collect more than 3,000 items and more than $3,500 in cash to help Hope Lodge. (Photo by Terry Cassreino)
JACKSON – Students line up at this year’s St. Richard School Cardinal Fest Dunking Booth for a chance to dunk their teachers! This is a favorite for all students! (Photos by Celeste Saucier)
GREENVILLE – St. Joseph school celebrated a special Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz on Wednesday, Oct. 16 before a blessing of the new athletic facility made possible by a generous bequest from alumni, Salvador Sarullo. Pictured: Father Gabriel Savarimuthu, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Sleeva Reddy, Fletcher McGaugh, Tayshun Bonney and Victor Baker as altar servers. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
GREENVILLE – Several young ladies in the St. Joseph choir got in some extra practice with Laura Jackson before a Mass with Bishop Kopacz on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
PEARL – St. Jude youth celebrated Hispanic Heritage month on Sept. 18 with an afternoon full of creative activities and delicious food. Pictured: David Hall, Kathleen Edwards and Lauren Roberts help children choose items for their chosen project. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

MADISON – St. Francis of Assisi Early Learning Center recently received a visit from the local Fire Department for a presentation on fire prevention. (Photo by Chelsea Scarbrough)

Youth

Around the diocese

SOUTHAVEN – As part of a fundraising campaign Sacred Heart students could build a bear on Thursday, Sept. 19. (Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)

CLARKSDALE – Laken Smith and Graves Walker play games at the annual St. Elizabeth fair. (Photos by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph sixth graders, Javeon Easley and Adalyn Thompson, meet their K-5 buddy, Madolyn Clanton and build crazy animals in the library. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)
JACKSON – Ms. Morris’ Kindergarten class watched their butterflies grow from hungry caterpillars to dull chrysalis to colorful butterflies. Her class cheered and watched as their butterflies were released. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
MERIDIAN – Third graders, Hunter Gillespie and Caroline Augustine help lead Friday Rosary at St. Patrick School. (Photo by Owen Kasey)
FLOWOOD – Teddy Walker works on his activity from the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. (Photo by Susan Irby)
MADISON – Paige Loyacono, St. Joseph Catholic School’s 2023 Homecoming Queen, crowns senior Jennifer Crotty Homecoming Queen for 2024 during halftime of the Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, Homecoming football game. Dr. Dena Kinsey, St. Joe principal, watches in front. (Photo courtesy of St. Joseph School)
PEARL – St. Joe Madison, Jr. High Bruin, Riley Bianchini out runs Park Place Academy for a touchdown on Thursday, Sept. 26. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
JACKSON – Clovis and Silas Berlin of St. Anthony School set up a lemonade stand one weekend to raise funds for the Hurricane Helene victims. (Photo by Victor Gray-Lewis)

Youth

Around the diocese

COLUMBUS – (Above) Second grader, Henry Hince receives a blessing from Father Jeffrey Waldrep at Annunciation School. (Photo by Jacque Hince)
HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family School student Sophia hands first responders her “thank you” card for Patriots Day on Sept. 11. (Photo by Laura Grisham)
JACKSON – St. Richard students George Rutherford, Gabriel Sullivan and Joseph (Reeves) Buckley that are part of Cub Scout Pack 30 led the procession for Patriots Day Mass on Sept. 11. During this Mass students, families and supporters sang “God Bless America,” said the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke about the significance of our country’s flag and its symbolism. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
GREENVILLE – First Communion, St. Joseph, May 5, 2024. Pictured: Ryker Ruggeri of St. James, Leland; Father Jose Sanchez; Luke Jones of Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Village, Arkansas; Matthew Cannatella of Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Village; Cesare Wilson and Owen Swafford of St. Joseph Church. (Photo courtesy of Mary Lynn Powers)
NATCHEZ – Dual enrollment students in Anatomy and Physiology dissected rats in class. Pictured: Brittany Smith, Ella Skates, Ally Blanton and Molly Shirley. (Photo by Sarah Welch)

CLARKSDALE – Students at St. Elizabeth School joined around the American flag for a Patriots Day prayer service on Sept. 11. (Photos by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)

(Below) FLOWOOD – Ms. Betty Taylor reads to nursery babies at St. Paul Early Learning Center. (Photo by Susan Irby)

MADISON – St. Anthony second grader, Lawson Griffin reads with his sixth grade reading buddies Liza McCarthy and Channing Smith. (Photo by Celeste Tassin)

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman students, JaKauzi Brown, Joelle Carpenter and Amirah Wilson play the game “Monkeys in a Barrel” to see how many “monkeys” they can get, then worked on creating a bar graph for a graphing lesson. (Photo by Christopher Payne)
MERIDIAN – (Above) Fifth graders at St. Patrick School try out their balloon rocket in science class. Pictured (l-r): Patrick Pittman, Kayleigh Johnson and Nolan Alexander. (Photo by Kasey Owen)

Early Learning Centers: A year-round commitment to academic excellence

MADISON – Staff from Early Learning Centers around the diocese gathered for a professional development event on Aug. 12 at St. Francis parish in Madison. The diocese has four early learning centers – Assisi ELC in Madison, St. Paul ELC in Flowood, Sisters of Mercy ELC in Vicksburg and St. Richard ELC in Jackson. (Photos by Virginia Hollingsworth and Rachel Patterson)

FAITH IN EDUCATION
By Karla Luke
While most elementary and high schools began their academic year in early August, there are some educators who work tirelessly year-round: the staff at our Early Learning Centers. The Office of Catholic Education proudly oversees four Early Learning Centers within the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, where dedicated teams ensure that children, from infants to toddlers, get a strong start on their academic journey.

The Assisi Early Learning Center in Madison, established in 1987 under the leadership of the beloved Sister Paula Blouin, SSND, continues to thrive. Sister Paula led the center for 34 years, and her legacy is carried on by the current director, Latoya Kelly, who was mentored by Sister Paula.

St. Paul Early Learning Center in Flowood has been a cornerstone of early childhood education since the early 1990s. Recently, it welcomed new leadership: Wendi Murray and Susan Irby, following the retirement of director Jennifer Henry and assistant director Darlene Scanlon.

The Sisters of Mercy Early Learning Center in Vicksburg, named for the religious community who helped staff Catholic schools from their beginnings, opened in 2021, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its establishment was an act of faith and courage by the Vicksburg Catholic community, St. Aloysius and St. Francis. The ELC is currently led by Katie Emfinger.

In March 2024, the newest Early Learning Center opened at St. Richard Parish in Jackson. This modern facility, located in the heart of the city, has the capacity to accommodate 118 students. Ilana Schuetzle, a former preschool teacher at St. Richard Catholic School, serves as the center’s director.

The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first educators of their children. We are honored that parents have entrusted our Early Learning Centers with the beginning of their child’s education. From as early as six weeks old, children enter our centers where learning begins from day one.

For the past three years, the diocese has organized professional development for all caregivers, directors, assistant directors, and staff members at the Early Learning Centers. Around 120 employees gather annually at one of the four centers to receive training on best practices, curriculum development, classroom management, and various other areas of early childhood education.

On Aug. 12, the Assisi Early Learning Center in Madison hosted a professional development event for all four Early Learning Centers. Speakers from the Madison County Pre-School Specialist Training Department included Kelli Dyess, behavior specialist coordinator; Tanya Graves, student support coordinator; and Robyn May, math specialist. Attendees rotated through each presentation, allowing them to engage with all three speakers. The sessions emphasized the critical role of early interactions, from infancy to preschool, in shaping a child’s future academic success. All presenters highlighted the importance of building strong relationships with both children and their families as the foundation for a child’s success.

MADISON – Staff members of Early Learning Centers work on developing counting schools for preschool children.

The training day was well-received by teachers and caregivers alike. Here’s what some of them had to say:

“The speakers were very knowledgeable about their respective topics. I was highly engaged and learned a great deal. I just wish we had more time!” said a staff member from St. Richard ELC.

“I appreciated the intimate setting of the smaller groups. It allowed us to ask questions and engage more deeply with the speakers,” shared Alexis Emfinger of Sisters of Mercy ELC.

“The professional development meeting was very informative and engaging. I have implemented a number of the skills taught into my daily routine,” said Chiquita Brown from Assisi ELC.

“My teachers were excited to implement the behavior strategies they learned, which included both verbal and non-verbal techniques along with positive reinforcement. Nursery teachers were especially eager to read The Pout-Pout Fish book to their babies, and they loved the phonics and reading strategies we discussed,” said Wendi Murray of St. Paul ELC.

This day of learning highlights our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement as educators and administrators. From infancy through high school, we invest in our teachers, who in turn invest even more in our students – both spiritually and academically.

We thank Latoya Kelly and her team for graciously hosting this year’s gathering. We look forward to next year’s Professional Development Day for Early Learning Centers.
In faith, hope, and love…

(Karla Luke is the executive director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Jackson)

Youth

Around the diocese

NEW ALBANY – St. Francis of Assisi, Confirmation Mass, Aug. 18, 2024. Pictured front row (l-r) Jocelyn Rangel, Regena Portis, Isela Perez, Evelin Tovar, Jimena Perez and Joanna Martinez Romero. Middle row: Father Jesuraja Xavier, Chris Angel Tiscareno, Angel Guzman, Christopher Chen and Saul Franco Garcia. Top row: German Valles, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Juan Romero. (Photo by Joanna Manning)

JACKSON – Sixth graders at St. Richard School participated in a “brain break” and class bonding activities during their commissioning retreat. Pictured (l-r): Mary Catherine Vanderloo, Nicholas Morisani, Anthony Ramsey, John Choufani, Andrew Dillon (music teacher) and Joseph Starrett. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School student’s brought flowers with them to Mass on Wednesday, Aug. 21 to honor Coach Mark McCann, who lost his life to cancer this summer. After Mass, members of the senior class brought the flowers to his gravesite. (Photo by Father Aaron M. Williams)
WINONA – Thomas Rosamond, a member of Sacred Heart Winona, recently received the rank of Eagle Scout. He is presently a student at Mississippi State University where he is majoring in chemical engineering and is a member of the Famous Maroon Band. He is pictured with his parents Becky and Ken Rosamond. (Photo by Barbara Ruffo)
JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School fifth grader, Khamari Steverson reads a passage at the 50th anniversary Mass for Father Joe Dyer on Friday, Aug. 16 at Christ the King parish. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Youth

Around the diocese

VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent blesses the backpacks of parish youth on Aug. 4 at St. Paul parish. (Photo by Allyson Johnston)
PEARL – Kathleen Edwards leads a class during Vacation Bible School at St. Jude Pearl on July 17. (Photos by Adeline Bokros)
TUPELO – Youth of St. James Church had a grand time celebrating VBS from July 15-19. The theme was “God is Surely Alive,” a take-off from the “Chronicles of Narnia” storyline. Many themes from the Narnia story were reenacted and compared to the story of Christ. Youth learned about being strong and courageous, being called to a great mission, forgiving and “let it go”, and finally … God’s not dead, He’s surely alive! (Photo by Rhonda Swita)
CAMDEN – Father Guy Wilson celebrated the Sacrament of first Holy Communion with Aaliyah Johnson and Kevin Robinson Jr. on May 26. (Photos by Martina B. Griffin)
PEARL – The St. Jude youth group and Feed My Sheep Ministry served lunch at Poindexter park in Jackson to those experiencing homelessness on Aug. 11. (Photos by Tereza Ma)

Around the Diocese

CRYSTAL SPRINGS – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Yvonne Florczak-Seeman and the 2023/2024 Tomato Queen, Lindsay Willett cut the ribbon at the new Butterfly Garden in downtown Crystal Springs. The facility is centered around the theme of: “A Place of Healing and Transformation” and is specific to helping women in the community. (Photo courtesy of Jeannine M. Smith)

MADISON – (Above) Children learn about the ichthus fish symbol as they make their own beaded fish at Vacation Bible School at St. Francis parish. (Below) Children sang VBS theme songs for parents and friends at their closing program. (Photos by Mary Catherine George)

VICKSBURG – On Sunday, June 23, family and friends joined Father Rusty Vincent to celebrate his 10th ordination anniversary to the priesthood. This was the first time his family all joined together at the same Mass since Father Rusty became a priest on May 31, 2014. (Photo by Connie Hosemann)
Fr. Anthony Quyet poses for a photo with Thien Pham, Conner Le and Francis Ho after Mass recognizing recent graduates. (Destiny Pham is not in the picture)
JACKSON – Young adults gathered for Trivia on Tap at Fondren Guitars on Wednesday, June 26.

Youth

Around the schools and diocese

SOUTHAVEN – The seventh grade religion class at Sacred Heart School enjoyed tea with “Our Lady” on May 16. (Photos by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)

MADISON – St. Francis of Assisi parish hosted the annual St. Anthony School sixth grade recognition Mass and ceremony on Monday, May 20, 2024. Pictured are youth processing in for Mass. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

COLUMBUS – Annunciation School Principal Joni House visits a class working on their “letters” on Wednesday, May 15. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
PEARL – On May 31, members of the St. Jude youth group helped setup the parish’s huge garage sale in the parish hall. (Photos by Lauren Roberts)

MADISON – St. Joseph School soccer coach, Dwyane Demmin hosted an unforgettable showcase of jugglers from across the globe on Thursday, May 30. (Photo by Tereza Ma)