Youth – Around the Diocese
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Category Archives: Youth
Youth – SEEK24 and High School Confirmation retreat
SEEK24
By Alex Barfield
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – College students from Mississippi joined approximately 20,000 others for a five-day conference focused on faith in St. Louis from Jan. 1-5.
The University of Mississippi brought a group of 18 students, and Mississippi State brought about 80 students.
SEEK is a national conference organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).
Each day, students attended Mass in the former hockey arena, listened to speakers like Father Mike Schmitz, and formed community with the universal church.
“SEEK was the most incredible experience that I had no idea I needed so much! Getting to hear the most amazing speakers, meeting so many people on fire for the Lord, and singing and worshipping alongside 20,000 other students truly made me fall in love with the Catholic Church in a whole new way,” said Olivia DeGravelle, sophomore.
“SEEK 24 was yet another reminder to me that the Catholic Church is alive and thriving! I encountered Christ through the many interactions I had with fellow college students, through powerful speakers, and through the sacraments. The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly doing incredible things,” said, Frank Galeziewski, senior.
A yearly event, the SEEK conference will be held in Salt Lake City, UT as its main location in January 2025.
(Alex Barfield is the campus minister at The University of Mississippi through St. John the Evangelist parish in Oxford.)
High School Confirmation Retreat – MACON
St. Michael parish in Forest
St. Peter parish in Grenada
Youth – Catholic Schools Week in pictures
COLUMBUS – Annunciation
(Photos by Jacque Hince)
CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth
MADISON – St. Anthony
VICKSBURG schools
MADISON – St. Joseph
JACKSON – St. Richard
NATCHEZ – Cathedral
Youth
Around our Catholic Schools
Youth
Around our Catholic Schools
Posadas, Belen and Reyes Magos
By Berta Mexidor
JACKSON – In the Latino Hispanic tradition, Christmas starts with Posadas, weeks ahead of Dec. 25, and ends on Jan. 6 with the celebration of the Epiphany.
Every Christmas season, parishioners decorate the building with nativity scenes, “El Belen” that include each protagonist of the most important event for the Christian community worldwide. The decoration came alive when people started representing the season’s most important moments.
The Posadas (translation for Inn) is a remembrance of the time when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place where pregnant Mary could deliver the baby, but only received rejections.
Posadas are a procession during the night, led by Mary and Joseph’s actors accompanied by people singing villancicos (Carols for this special occasion), and holding candles.
“The Pilgrims…
I’ve asked you for lodging
Dear innkeeper
Because the mother is going to be
The queen of the heavens.
The Innkeepers…
Then if it is a queen
Who requests it
How is it that at nighttime
She’s traveling so alone?”
Posadas are hosted by a family who opened their house’s doors at the end.
At the Christmas vigil, the Nativity scene is alive with people impersonating the story’s characters.
The Epiphany, in most of the towns, is celebrated with a big parade where three people impersonate the Reyes Magos (the wise men), who distribute sweets, and gifts among the crowd. This action is replicated at home by adults giving gifts to children.
Youth
Around our Catholic Schools
Around the diocese
Youth
Around our Catholic Schools
Youth
Around the diocese
JACKSON – St. Richard first grade students studied, drew portraits and presented their saints to their classmates, family and parishioners at Mass on All Saints Day on Nov. 1. (Photos by Chelsea Dillon)
COLUMBUS – (first photo) Noah Langston and David Leonard walk down the aisle to present the gifts at the All Saints Day Mass at Annunciation School. (Photos by Logan Gentry)
Around our Catholic Schools
COLUMBUS – Annunciation students participated in Superhero STREAM Day celebrating National STEM/STEAM Day recently. (Photos by Logan Gentry)
MERIDIAN – St. Patrick students enjoyed the annual soccer challenge hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 802. (Photos by Kasey Owen)
Youth
Around the diocese
TUPELO – A group of three photos depict community fun at St. James parish’s annual trunk or treat event. (Photos by Michelle Harkins)
Youth
Around the diocese
Columbus
Pearl
Vicksburg
VICKSBURG – Recently, Vicksburg Catholic School eighth graders met for a day of reflection, prayer, small group discussion and liturgy with the school retreat team – START. (Photos by Lindsey Bradley)
Meridian
s part of their Catholic identity, St. Patrick School restored their St. Patrick statue and placed him at the front of the school with Holy Water for students to bless themselves each morning and afternoon as they leave. Blessing themselves daily will remind them of their baptism and to imitate Christ in all things. Pictured: First graders practiced the correct way to bless themselves. (Photos by Owen Kasey)
Columbus
