Category Archives: Youth

Graduating students

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MERIDIAN –The Catholic ommunities of St. Patrick and St. Joseph honored 14 graduates at the annual Baccalaureate Mass on Sunday, May 6. Each graduate received a Catholic Bible, a personal note and they along with their families were treated to lunch afterwards in the St. Patrick Family Life Center. (Photo by John Harwell)

COLUMBUS - Annunication staff join the rest of the student body to wave good-bye to the eighth graders as they leave campus on the last day of school, Thursday, May 24th. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

JACKSON – At left, Deacon Nick Adam shakes Gracie Hamilton’s hand at the St. Richard sixth grade recognition Mass on Friday, May 25. Teacher Sarah Sistrunk looks on. (Photo by Dave Vowell)

NATCHEZ – Holy Family Kindergarten graduate Robert Terrell leading the graduates in the pledge of Allegiance before their ceremony. (Photo by Valencia Hall)

MADISON – Graduating St. Anthony sixth-grader JJ Tice receives congratulations from principal James Bell at the St. Anthony Mass to honor outgoing students held at St. Francis of Assisi Church. (Photo by Dave Vowell)

NATCHEZ – Cathedral Principal Norm Yvon sings to seniors before they walk the halls in their caps and gowns. During this tradition, students from pre-k through high school line the halls to cheer for the graduating students. (Photo by Cara Serio)

Eagles land in Madison

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The Eagles have landed

Due to the hard work of Ed Marsalis and his family, the bronze eagles are in place on top of the western entrance pillars of St. Anthony School. Ed Marsalis, Knight of Columbus Council #9543, was the project manager and supervised everything from beginning to end. The final stage of the placement took four hours on Saturday March 24. For the installation, a steel template had to be made on which were fastened the eagles with four bolts per eagle. These steel frames where then fastened to the concrete top of the pillar with bolts, which in turn were added further 18 inch bolts and the center of the standing pillars were filled with concrete and the mounted eagles, together with  the concrete slabs were hoisted by an excavator to their position on top of the pillars and the projecting 18 inch bolts inserted into the fresh concrete to make  the eagles a permanent fixture. It was a family affair with the following members participating; Ed Marsalis and his wife Corley, his daughter Paige and her husband Mason Spratlan, together with their children Megan, Marleigh, Matthew and Mason Jr. Mason and his family provided ground work and form assembly for the concrete work and brought the excavator to the site. John Ramsey of Pelahatchie was the equipment operator, concrete man and technical expert who placed the eagles in position after they were assembled on the ground. The excavator was provided by Gamma Enterprises of Madison. The attached photos give insight to the work in progress.  

MADISON – A pair of bronze eagles now greets students at the entrance to St. Anthony School. Ed Marsalis and his family managed the tricky installation in late March. Msgr. Michael Flannery donated the sculptures of the school mascot. (Photos by Msgr Michael Flannery)

Greenwood students get weather wise

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GREENWOOD – Chris Mathis, WABG meteorologist, hears from St. Francis School students about their use of a wind vane and anemometer to measure wind speed and direction. Father Camillus Janas, OFM, Andrew Lopez, Makayla Robinson and Zuri Brown all listen and watch. Mathis visited the school in early April to talk about weather awareness. (Photos by Sister Kathleen Murphy, OFM)

Youth Briefs

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Two Diocese of Jackson students have been named STAR Students by the Mississippi Economic Council M.B. Swayze Foundation. STAR, an acronym for Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program, selects students on the basis of academic excellence and allows them to name a teacher who had a positive influence on their academic achievements.
Greenville St. Joseph School’s STAR student is Sarah Hayek. She named math teacher Celeste DeAngelo as her STAR teacher.
Madison St. Joseph’s honoree Franco Frascogna selected AP math and science teacher Chance Theriot as his STAR teacher.
The Mississippi Economic Council and its M.B. Swayze Foundation sponsors the STAR Program in an effort to encourage scholastic achievement among the state’s high school students. The STAR Program is meant to emphasize scholastic excellence and encourage greater scholastic effort among Mississippi students and recognize the teaching profession.
All the STAR students in the state were honored Thursday, April, 12, at the Jackson Convention Complex.

Students receive blessed rosaries

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JACKSON – Second-graders at St. Richard School who received First Communion this year were honored at a school Mass. They got to wear their First Communion outfits and were treated to a reception after Mass. At left, Father John Bohn, pastor, hands out rosaries to Vinnie Milton, Jakob Sistrunk, Loftis Garner and George Decker. The Lunardini family had them blessed by the Pope on August 30 of this year and shared them with the school. (Photos by Wendi Shearer)

BruinThon raises $12,400 ‘for the kids’

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MADISON – Above left, students play games during BruinThon, an eight-hour dancing fund-raiser for the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital. At right, editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey spoke at the event. Students used the theme ‘for the kids’ to recruit sponsors and offered up art for sale. They raised a total of $12,471 during the event. (Photo by Kathryn Sckiets)

Photo by Maureen Smith

Photo by Kathryn Sckiets

Holy Week across the Diocese

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GREENWOOD – Sixth-grader Daniel Varges (right), shares unleavened bread with Father Joachim “Kim” Studwell, OFM, during a Seder meal at St. Francis of Assisi School on Wednesday, March 28. (Photo by Cherrie Criss)

The Way of the Cross, also known as Stations of the Cross, is a powerful reflection on the passion of Christ. This year, Mississippi Catholic received photos from youth groups and schools all across the diocese who offered their communities a live reenactment of the stations. Not all the photos would fit in the printed version, so more are posted to galleries on the website: www.mississippicatholic.com.
As the Easter season progresses, please remember to send your First Communion and Confirmation photos to editor@mississippicatholic.com for inclusion in the Spring Sacraments issue.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation School eighth-grader Ren Kitko, carries the cross as Jesus during live stations of the cross for the school community. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

NEW ALBANY – Cody Carson depicts Christ as the youth of St. Francis of Assisi Parish lead an outdoor live stations of the cross. They started the tradition in 2012, inviting anyone of any faith to join in this memorial of Christ’s passion.
This year, two-dozen parishioners participated in the event. (Photo by Claudia Murguia)

 

MERIDIAN – Pilate questions Jesus as St. Patrick School first graders, performed a live Stations of the Cross Wednesday, March 28, for the school. (Photo by Mary Yarger)

  GREENVILLE – Live stations of the Cross are a tradition for middle-schoolers at St. Joseph School. In left photo, Jesus falls the second time. (Photo by Missi Blackstock)

PEARL – St. Jude Parish youth participated in Stations of Cross led by Father Lincoln Dall, the front row is Molly, Katie, Jack, and Charlotte Riordan. The next row back is Craig Millette and John and Mary Beth VanLandingham. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Lucky day for young people

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By Abbey Schuhmann
COVINGTON, La. – On Saturday, March 17, the Feast of St. Patrick, teens and adult leaders from 22 parishes from around the Diocese of Jackson traveled to St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College for the 2018 Abbey Youth Festival (AYF). The theme for the day was “Arise” coming from the gospel for that weekend.
The 2018 AYF logo was designed by seminarian, Luke Mayeux of the Diocese of Beaumont. The image is an imitation of the Dom Gregory de Wit painting in the apse of the St. Joseph Abbey Church which hosted AYF. Inspired by St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer, the logo exemplifies the Christo-centric aspect of the prayer, while the 12 stars symbolize discipleship as well as the Blessed Mother inviting us to her son. The image of the Risen Lord invokes the message found in the Gospel from the day: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12: 20-33.
The seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary College play a vital role in the production of AYF including Andrew Bowden and Tristan Stovall from the Diocese of Jackson. This year’s festival brought in more than 3,000 young people from Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The festival always boasts a packed schedule that includes faith-filled music, prayer, catechesis, fellowship and fun. Showers on Friday did not make for ideal conditions, but organizers made accomodations and the day went forward as scheduled. For the first time, much of the festival was hosted on the main campus. Another new addition to the program schedule was the opportunity to attend breakout sessions throughout the day. Father Brad Doyle and Father Bryce Sibley offered the keynote presentation. Emily Wilson presented the breakout session for teen girls while Austin Ashcraft, Joe Bass, Father Doyle and John Finch led the session for teen guys.
Adult leaders had the opportunity to attend a session discussing “Ministry in the Modern Age.” The Vigil Project and Ike Ndolo, Catholic song-writers and recording artists, entertained the crowd with two different concerts. The Vigil Project also provided music for Mass and Eucharistic adoration. All participants had the opportunity throughout the day to visit different vendor booths including religious orders and communities from all around the country. Because of the venue change, groups could tour the beautiful Abbey church on campus. Many teens and adults took advantage of the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.
This year’s prayer chapel area featured an exhibit of Eucharistic miracles from around the world. The day wrapped up with Mass and candlelight adoration – the highlight of the event for most participants. Archbishop Gregory Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans celebrated the Mass; the homilist was Father Colm Cahill of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The common theme throughout the day was for teens to “take action” in their faith. Each person is called to something great and now is the time to “Arise” and heed the call.
The Luck of the Irish kept the rain away for the majority of the day, while the ground was still very muddy from the previous day’s showers; most teens embraced the day and the circumstances.
Abbey Youth Fest is an excellent opportunity for teens to see the bigger church and enjoy fellowship with other young Catholics. This was the eighth year for thisdiocese to sponsor a trip and it won’t be the last. Make plans to participate in the 2019 event scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd. For more information visit www.abbeyyouthfest.com or contact the Office of Youth Ministry at 601-949-6934 or Abbey.Schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org

(Abbey Schuhmann is the coordinator of youth ministry for the Diocese of Jackson.)

Seminarians Ryan Stoer and Tristan Stoval visit with parishioners from St. Francis, Madison

Seminarian Andrew Bowden assists at the first aid tent

Flowood St. Paul

Called To Serve: Confirmation retreat welcomes 200 youth

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By Fran Lavelle
CLINTON – The day began like a normal Saturday morning in the late winter. There was a chill in the air, but the sun was shining. The possibilities of what one can do on any given Saturday literally are endless but high school youth from around the diocese had one destination in mind, the Diocesan High School Confirmation Retreat (DHSCR). Nearly 200 young people attended the DHSCR at Camp Garaywa in Clinton. The weekend was filled with opportunities for our Confirmation candidates to grow closer to God and affirm their decision to be confirmed. In addition to the adult catechist and chaperones who accompanied the youth, a group of college students were also present to lead group activities and serve as small group leaders.
The theme for the retreat was “Called to Serve.” Leaders challenged students to consider how they are being called to serve in their homes, community and in the world. Using the example of the Holy Family, Father Rusty Vincent encouraged the youth to serve with the heart of Mary. Father Rusty reminded the youth that, “From what we are able to determine, Mary was 15-18 years old when she said ‘Yes’ to be the Mother of Jesus.” We learn by example and Mary provides us all with an example of selfless service.
The youth were asked to write a letter to someone who has modeled service and thank them for their witness.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated Mass Saturday evening. He shared with the youth how important the letters they write him really are and that he reads them all. In addition to asking to be confirmed, the letters often describe the individual journey to deepening their faith. Bishop Kopacz also encouraged the young people to use their voices to be the change in the world that we desperately need. He shared a story from his recent visit to the Holy Land about being where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, commonly known as the Beatitudes. In them, Jesus unveils the foundations and character of life in the Kingdom of God. Bishop Kopacz used the example of the young people in Florida who are challenging local, state and national leaders to enact sensible gun laws. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” he reminded them, “for they will be called the sons of God.”
Saturday night John Finch, a native of Pearl River, Louisiana, led the youth in praise and worship through his gift of music and song.
Sunday, Brent and Kristin Lape of Gluckstadt St. Joseph Parish shared how they were called to service. The couple met at Mississippi State University where they were both active in campus ministry. They fell in love and after college got married. The birth of their first child, Lily, totally changed the trajectory of this young couple’s lives as they came to understand Lily’s Down Syndrome. Together they began “Running Up for Downs” an annual race in metro-Jackson. They have used this journey as a platform to help spread awareness and acceptance for people with Down Syndrome within our community. They invited the young people to find something they are passionate about and use their particular gift. The youth were asked to share a service to the community that they found to be particularly meaningful.
John Finch rounded out the retreat with a talk on service to the world. He described his own journey of faith and how he was able to take ownership of his faith through Confirmation. His talk was reminiscent of a Mother Teresa quote, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” The young people were asked to consider the ways their actions create ripples around the world. They examined international aid organizations like Catholic Relief Service which provide for the marginalized and the poor around the world.
At the end of the weekend it was quite apparent that service is at the heart of the gospel. The youth were challenged to make service an integral part of their lives going beyond building a resume for college or getting confirmed. “The Simple Path…Silence is Prayer, Prayer is Faith, Faith is Love, Love is Service, The Fruit of Service is Peace.” – Mother Teresa

(Fran Lavelle is the director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Jackson.)