Fall sports talk usually centers around football in Mississippi, but there are other intense high school state competitions going in October and November. Our diocesan Catholic school athletes recently participated in state swim meets in Tupelo and cross country finals in Clinton.
The Madison St. Joseph girls swim team brought home the state title last week winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class I state championship. Senior Sophia Waddingham (50 freestyle) and sophomore Emma Adkins (100 freestyle) each captured an individual gold and were part of the three winning relay teams along with Ellie Smith, Caleigh Hankins, Anna Chris Nicholas and Avery Nicholas.
The Lady Bruin Swimmers out paced their division rivals, St. Andrews, by scoring twice as many points.
The St. Joseph boys team finished second in the state. Eight different team members scored individually, showing the depth of the roster. Finishing in the top three were Graham Hlavac, second in the 100 breast; Nick Burrow, second in the 50 free; Jack Collins, third in the 100 free; and Kenny Thomas, third in the 500 free.
In cross country, the Bruin boys’ and girls’ teams captured the district meet at Choctaw Trails in Clinton. The boys were led by Matthew Hendley, who finished second; Brantley Bariola, fourth; and Nick Oigbokie, fifth. Riley Wolf placed third, Caroline Doherty, fourth and Emma Dotson, eighth for the Lady Bruins.
As of press time the results for the state meet were not available as the meet was postponed due to bad weather last Saturday.
In Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) action, Jalen McCoy of Natchez Cathedral placed second in the state in the Class AAA 5K run.
Greenville St. Joseph’s Cecelia Azar finished fifth for the Fightin’ Irish in the girls two mile run in MAIS AAA.

BROOKHAVEN St. Francis of Assisi Parish, youth Mass followed by a Halloween Party at Dr. Shann’s house, Sunday, Oct.18, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
– Trunk or Treat, Wednesday, Oct. 28.

COLUMBUS Annunciation Parish, youth gathering on Sundays from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m in the activities center.

GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph Parish, high school prayer group is inviting seventh and eighth graders to the October meetings on Wednesdays from 5 – 6 p.m. in the Youth Center in Heritage Hall. Join us for snacks, games and faith building fun.
– Youth Mass, Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5:15 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Canton.

HERNANDO Holy Spirit Parish, “Decorated Sugar Bag” contest as October service project. There will be prizes awarded for the Sunday morning group and the Wednesday night group. Youth are asked to decorate a four- or five-pound bag of sugar and turn it in to Miss Amanda by Friday, Oct. 23. After the project, the bags will be donated to the food pantry on behalf of the parish.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, KCYO (3 – 5 grade) cemetery cleanup, Sunday, Oct. 25. Time TBD.
– Halloween carnival, Wednesday, Oct. 28, after the parish dinner for 5th grade and younger.
– JCYO & CYO bake sales after both Masses, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25.

SOUTHAVEN Confirmandi for the class of 2015 for all six parishes (Hernando Holy Spirit, Holly Springs St. Joseph; Olive Branch Queen of Peace; Robinsonville Good Shepherd; Senatobia St. Gregory and Christ the King) will participate in the celebration presided by Bishop Joseph Kopacz at Christ the King Parish on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. A reception will follow in the Parish Center.

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GRENADA St. Peter Parish LifeNight youth group are meeting on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. to examine spiritual warfare.

JACKSON  CardinalFest is set for Saturday, Oct. 25 at St. Richard School. Carnival games, Chili cookoff,  and fun for the family. All proceeds benefit St. Richard School.

MEMPHIS  Father/Son Program  for 12-15 year old boys and their dads to learn about God’s gifts of human sexuality, fertility, chastity and His plan for growing up and becoming a man of integrity, Sunday, Oct. 25, from 4 – 7 p.m. at St. Francis Hospital Auditorium, 5959 Park Ave. in Memphis. Pizza and refreshments. Cost is $25 per family if received by Oct. 21. Pre-registration required.  Register online at www.cdom.org or call the Diocese of Memphis NFP Center, 901-373-1285 for more information.

PEARL St. Jude Parish, Sunday hangout, Oct. 11, after the 11a.m. Mass.
– Service project, feeding the hungry at Smith Park,  Sunday, Oct. 18, after Parish School of Religion Class.
– Saturday, Oct. 24, Trunk or Treat from 6:30  – 8:30 p.m.

VICKSBURG  Spooky Sprint and Halloween Carnival, Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. The sprint includes a 5K and 1 mile fun run. Registration is $35. Carnival admission $5. All proceeds go to Vicksburg Catholic School. Register online at www.vicksburgcatholic.org.

SAVE THE DATE
Diocesan high school confirmation retreat, Jan. 16-17, 2016, at Camp Bratton Green @ Duncan Gray Center, Canton. Cost is $40 per student and includes: meals, housing and a really cool tee! Registration will be available in November.

SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN MATURITY
¡SEARCH! Search for Christian Maturity Retreat, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 20-22, at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. All high school juniors and seniors are invited. Cost is $120.
For information and to register visit www.jacksonsearch.com. Details: Jeff & Ann Cook, 601-853-2409, search@jacksonsearch.com.

JACKSON – The Holy Family Parish Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) has reorganized after a few years of dormancy. One of their first projects was to plan, prepare and serve a meal at Stewpot on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Three members of the group are preparing for confirmation. “This is a very humbling place. It reminds us of how fortunate we are and all God has blessed us with because there are some people who don’t have all we have,” said group member Rodney Self.
The teens planned the menu and prepared all of the food except the main dish. They recruited adult volunteers to make the spaghetti with meat sauce. The group plans another visit to Stewpot, a fall festival for neighborhood children and a project with the Gleaners in the coming months.
Holy Family pastor Father Xavier Amirtham, OPraem, who pitched in to help with the Stewpot project, said he is pleased to see the students step up to do service projects. He said projects like this expose them to the real needs of communities close to home. “So they can understand the needs and the struggles of the people in this area. They better understand their responsibility to social justice and we see their need to do works of charity and I think they learn something,” said Father Amirtham.

GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph Parish, youth Bible study, “Altaration,” Wednesdays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Center.

CLEVELAND – Delta State University Catholic Student Association meets at Java City at Union. Ladies meet with Natalie Hardesty, 228-861-7253, and guys meet with Benjamin Pickard, 228-861-0729.NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, kids (Pk-3 – second graders), fun in the youth wing in Family Life Center, Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m.
– KCYO (3rd – 5th graders) meet to paint pottery for Empty Bowls in the Family Life Center, Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. The finished bowls will be sold during the fund-raiser in February 2016.

GRENADA St. Peter Parish LifeNight youth group are meeting on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. to examine spiritual warfare.
– The first youth Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct 3, at 6 p.m.

SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN MATURITY
¡SEARCH! Search for Christian Maturity Retreat, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 20-22, at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. All high school juniors and seniors are invited. Cost is $120. Deadline to register is Oct. 4. (Space is limited) For information and to register visit www.jacksonsearch.com. Details: Jeff & Ann Cook, 601-853-2409, search@jacksonsearch.com

GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph Parish, youth Bible study, “Alteration,” Wednesdays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Center.

COLUMBUS Annunciation Parish, CYO back-to-school “Splash Bash” Sunday, Sept. 13, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Lucy Phillips’s home, 181 Philwood Dr. RSVP to Molly Stafford, 662-328-2927, mostafford@cableone.net.

JACKSON St. Therese Parish, confimation class open for youth in 10th-12th grades. Register by contacting the parish office, 601-372-4481, stheresecc@yahoo.com, JThisaw@gmail.com.

MADISON St. Francis of Assisi Parish, “Altaration,” a new series about the Mass designed for teens, (seventh-12th graders) Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the Family Life Center.
– St. Joseph School’s annual 5th & 6th Grade Deck Party will be on Friday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m. All 5th & 6th graders are invited and will receive a ticket to the St. Joseph vs. St. Andrews football game. Details: Kristi Garrard at 601-898-4812.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick Parish, CYM meeting, Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Details: Father José de Jesús Sánchez, 601-693-1321.
– Youth Mass, Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. followed by food and fellowship.

SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN MATURITY
¡SEARCH! Search for Christian Maturity Retreat, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 20-22, at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. All high school juniors and seniors are invited. Cost is $120. Deadline to register is Oct. 4. (Space is limited) For information and to register visit www.jacksonsearch.com. Details: Jeff & Ann Cook, 601-853-2409, search@jacksonsearch.com

GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph Parish youth Mass, Sunday, Aug. 2, at 5 p.m. Volunteers needed for all ministries.
– Kick off party Sunday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. food, fun and fellowship.

GREENVILLE St. Joseph Parish, Theology of the Body for Teens retreat, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9, at Locus Benedictus Retreat Center. This program will give teens the answers and the tools they need to successfully and safely navigate through life. Details: Tara Trost,  662-515-9126.

HERNANDO – Backpack blessing during the Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8-9, Masses at Holy Spirit Parish, Olive Branch Queen of Peace, Robinsonville Good Shepherd, Southaven Christ the King, Senatobia St. Gregory, and Holly Springs St. Joseph.

MADISON St. Anthony School football practice for third through sixth graders will begin in August. A physical is required for all participants. Details: Frank and Paige Harrison, 601-291-4846, Paigeharrison5@hotmail.com.

PEARL St. Jude Parish, Young Apostles (rising seventh-12th graders) annual kayak and canoe trip down the Okatoma River, Sunday, Aug. 9. The cost to rent a canoe is $30 (canoe fits 2 people)YA and for a kayak is $30 (fits one person. Participants will attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass then depart for Seminary. Bring extra clothes, shoes, lunch and additional money ($5-10) for dinner/snack. Details: text or call Mrs. Mara, 601-421-3849, or Mrs. Betsy, 601-214-7378.

BROOKHAVEN St. Francis of Assisi Parish, LifeTeen youth Mass, Sunday, July 19 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m.
– Canoeing on the Okatoma River, Sunday, July 26. Meet at the church at 7:30 a.m. Details: Ange’le Bartholomew, 601-757-3084.

CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories Parish, trip to Geyser Falls water park in Choctaw, Sunday, July 19, for youth in seventh-12th grades. Cost is $10. Mass will be celebrated during trip. Details: Jenifer,  662-402-7050.

JACKSON St. Richard Parish, “Scripture by the Slice,” a summer discipleship group for seventh-ninth graders, Tuesdays, July 14, 21 and 28, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the youth center. Bring $2 for pizza and drink. All youth who will be in grades eighth-10th are welcome.
– The Breakfast Club,” will meet on July 17, 24 and 31, beginning with Mass at 8 a.m. and then head to a local restaurant for breakfast. All  youth who will be in eighth-10th grades in the fall are welcome.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick Parish, annual kayak and canoe trip down the Okatoma River, Saturday, Aug. 8. The rental cost for a canoe is $30 (fits 2 people) and for a kayak is $30 (fits one person unless you get a double kayak).

PEARL St. Jude Parish, registration for parish school of religion, Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 1-2 and 8-9.
– Blessing of backpacks and pancake breakfast, Sunday, Aug. 2.