Deacon John McGregor, having forty years of experience in management and organizational systems, has been named the Director of Operations for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. 
In the newly created role, Deacon McGregor will be responsible for overseeing and organizing daily operations of the diocese. He will oversee and coordinate the priorities, systems, services and inter-departmental relations of the department directors and other administrative staff consistent with the bishop’s priorities and vision.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz is delighted that Deacon McGregor is joining the diocesan chancery staff. “[He] will guide us to close the gaps that hamper our capacity to serve diocesan ministries more effectively as faithful stewards of diocesan resources, while building upon the strengths that are already at work,” said Bishop Kopacz. “Truly, he is engaging in a ministry of service that is the heart of the diaconate in order to strengthen the Lord’s body in the Diocese of Jackson.”
Deacon McGregor was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Jackson in June 2016. He currently serves as a deacon in Pearl, Mississippi, where he and his wife, Kelly, minister together to the people of St. Jude. He is also the Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese.
Passion to look for new and creative ways to help adult Catholics share and deepen their faith, motivated Deacon McGregor to study theology at the graduate level, earning a master’s degree in biblical studies, a certificate of spiritual direction (Ignatian), as well as, a doctor of ministry degree, with an emphasis in spiritual formation in the local community.
He will begin his duties as Director of Operations, initially by focusing on three questions: Where are we now? Where do we wish we were? How are we going to close the gap?
In his new position, Deacon McGregor is “looking forward to being a member of the diocesan team, forging new ways to serve the parishes and their missions as they work to carry out the mission of the diocese, which is ‘to proclaim Jesus as Savior by living the Gospel, so that all may experience the crucified and risen Lord.’”
John McGregor is married to his high school sweetheart, Kelly Myers. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.

MADISON – Joseph Patrick Murphy, Jr., 97, of Madison died at St. Catherine’s Village on July 1, 2019.
Murphy was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on November 20, 1921, to Joseph and Louise (Stubblefield) Murphy, Sr. He graduated from St. Clara’s Academy in Yazoo City, Mississippi and attended Millsaps College. He worked as a ticket agent for the Illinois Central Railroad in Jackson, Mississippi and retired after many years of dedicated service. Following his retirement, he volunteered for Catholic Charities of Jackson and eventually became employed due to his loyalty and hard work. He later worked for the Diocese of Jackson where he assisted with editing the Mississippi Catholic newspaper and served as a receptionist. He loved his many years working in the chancery where he created many wonderful, lifetime friendships.
Murphy was a longtime, active parishioner of St. Peter Cathedral in Jackson where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and also served on the Pastoral Council. He was beloved by all who knew him. His gentle mannerisms and dry sense of humor were a delight.
Murphy knew everyone and had a unique insight on everything. He was a founding member of the JMJ supper club.
Murphy is survived by his sister, Louise Murphy Andy; his brother, John Marlin Murphy; his nieces and nephews: Maria Andy Scarbrough (Richard), Orlando Andy, Jr. (Hope), Patrick Andy, Jack Andy (Crystal), Paul Andy (Krista), Cathy Murphy Davis (Glenn), Maureen Murphy, Patricia Murphy Bennett (Larry) and Marlin John Murphy; and many great nieces, great nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Mary Eliza Murphy Lanning.

MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN – Sister Judith Norwick, age 79, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, died Tuesday, June 25 at Holy Family Convent.
The former Judith Ann Norwick was born April 26, 1940 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, daughter of the late John and Dorothy (Schneider) Norwick. She entered the convent in 1956 and professed her vows in 1959. Sister Judith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Holy Family College, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Sister Judith ministered as an elementary teacher at St. Joseph, Oneida; St. Joseph, Sturgeon Bay; and St. John, Antigo, all in Wisconsin and at St. Francis de Sales, Manistique, Michigan. Sister Judith was also involved in parish ministry at Sacred Heart, Point Pleasant, West Virginia and St. Louis Catholic Church, Gallipolis, Ohio. She was the Mission Effectiveness Coordinator at St. Paul Home, Kaukauna, Wisconsin and was a staff member at St. Joseph Retirement Community, West Point, Nebraska. Sister Judith spent time at St. Francis of Assisi, Greenwood, Mississippi, helping in the school and parish. She also ministered to the Sisters at Holy Family Convent, particularly to the Sisters in St. Rita Health Center, assisting with various tasks.
Survivors include the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and her siblings: J. Thomas Norwick, Mary Jean (James) Nussbaum, Karen (Steven) Blatz, Stephen (Marge) Norwick, and Patrice (Michael) Pajerski. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents: John and Dorothy (Schneider) Norwick and one brother: David.

By Mary Margaret Halford
VICKSBURG – Three pastors in the Diocese of Jackson announced their retirements this year. Mississippi Catholic honors each of these men for their commitment to the people of God and their Church, which they have been dedicated.

Father Tom Lalor
Father Tom Lalor, who grew up in a large Catholic family, credits his devote parents and his two uncles and older brother, who are now priests, for playing an important role in his priestly vocation.
“I just thought they were great,” said Father Lalor about his religious family back in Kilbeggan, Ireland, who were role models and taught him about the faith. “I knew I wanted to be like them.”
Feeling called to the religious life, Father Lalor entered the seminary, and while studying and in formation at Carlow College in Ireland, he was approached by the college president, who asked if he would be interested in leaving the country after his ordination.
“Mississippi was considered to be mission territory. There were not enough priests here at the time,” Father Lalor said. “So, I changed my course; he really encouraged me and wanted me here. If I had to do it again, I would.”
After being ordained in 1966, Father Lalor packed his bags for Mississippi leaving his family behind and anxious to begin his priesthood and ministry. His first assignment – Nativity Church in Biloxi, where he met yet another great teacher, Mercy Sister Paulinus Oakes, who inspired him to be open to any opportunities that might come along as he traveled his new priestly path.
“She told me that if I got a chance to teach, I should go ahead and do it,” Father Lalor said.
From there, Father Lalor began teaching in the classrooms, as well as from the pulpit. In Biloxi, he began teaching at Sacred Heart School as part of his ministry. “The hardest part was on the weekend when I’d say Masses and preach, then correct papers and prepare classes,” he said. “The amount of work involved in teaching is huge.”
After serving in Biloxi, Father Lalor found himself in Jackson where he served St. Mary’s parish and school, and then from there, St. Joseph Greenville, St. Mary and Cathedral school in Natchez, Cleveland, Tupelo, and finally, St. Paul’s in Vicksburg.
“The Catholic schools are very important to me,” he said, noting that he was a classroom teacher in all the diocese’s Catholic schools, except for Saint Aloysius High School in Vicksburg. “But I showed up there just about every day,” he said with a laugh.
When asked about his best memories as a priest, he focuses more on the lessons he learned than the ones he taught.
“So many people have inspired me,” he said. “I’ve seen people work through marriages, raise their families, and do the best they can. It makes me realize how fortunate I am.”
Since retiring in January, Father Lalor has lived at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, where he helps fill in for priests across the area. “I’m here to serve God’s people,” said Father Lalor, a priest for more than 50 years. “And when people ask how I’m doing, I say ‘I’ve got it made in the shade.’”

Father David O’Connor
Since his ordination 55 years ago, Father David O’Connor can’t remember a single day when he’s woken up and wished he didn’t have to do any of his priestly duties.
“I’ve been extremely happy on the job,” he said. “It’s been an incredible trip.”
A native of Limerick, Ireland, Father O’Connor was one of many Irish priests who came to Mississippi in the 1960s, a time when the state was the epicenter of civil rights activity. Father O’Connor’s first assignment was at Meridian St. Patrick, just south of Neshoba County, where three civil rights workers were murdered.
“I was there for the arrest of the people involved with that,” Father O’Connor said. “It was a very new experience for me.”
Father O’Connor also spent time back in Ireland, recruiting for seminarians to come to Mississippi before moving to Oxford and serving as the pastor at St. John’s and the campus minister for Ole Miss. It was during that time that he did graduate work in community counseling.
With that experience under his belt, Father O’Connor moved to Jackson, where he worked to train committees and councils and served as a resource for liturgical questions.
“If you ask anyone in the Diocese to pinpoint what my central focus has been, it would be developing lay leadership,” he said, adding that he has done pastoral planning for more than 300 parishes across the South. “That has been a blessing for me.”
Father O’Connor also found himself as a pastor in Greenwood, a director of development for St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison and the pastor of St. Mary’s in Natchez.
“I always end up becoming part of the people, and that’s where the fun is,” he said. “I’d like to think the people who came to know me would say ‘he was there for his people and showed up when there was a crisis, and when there were birthday parties.’ I think I’ve become a part of every parish I’ve served.”
Father O’Connor was recognized for just that recently when he was given the 2019 Seton Award for his service to Natchez Cathedral School.
“People are offering congratulations, but that’s not what I feel like,” Father O’Connor said of his retirement. “I feel like I’m walking away from extended family.”
But his retirement should be a fulfilling one, as Father O’Connor plans to lead a few groups to England and Scotland this summer and potentially continue his work training leadership and working with faith formation.
“I feel there are fun and exciting things out there ahead to come,” Father O’Connor said. “And so far it’s been a great, great experience.”

Monsignor Elvin Sunds
When Msgr. Elvin Sunds was a senior in high school back home in Nebraska, he had not spent too much time thinking about what his future would look like, but he knew it was something different than most of his classmates.
“I thought there was something else the Lord was calling me to,” he said. “I felt like it was the priesthood.”
So, Msgr. Sunds studied at Immaculate Conception in Missouri for two years of college, then made his way to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans before he was ordained for the Diocese of Jackson in 1973.
After his first assignment as associate pastor at Sacred Heart in North Biloxi, Msgr. Sunds landed at Catholic Charities, where he served for 19 years.
“The years as an associate are fun years, right after you’re ordained, those are important,” he said. “And my time at Catholic Charities was a challenge, but an exciting time to create new programs and serve needs in Mississippi that had not been met before.”
At Catholic Charities, Msgr. Sunds was instrumental in expanding the counseling program and building up therapeutic foster care, the women’s shelter, crisis center, and other programs. On weekends, he also served at Jackson Holy Family and Flowood St. Paul. After that, he went to Meridian, where he served at St. Patrick and St. Joseph for 11 years before being tapped as the vicar general for the Diocese of Jackson. Since 2005, he’s been the pastor of Jackson St. Therese.
“I have so many special memories, every place I’ve served has been unique and a blessing and each has been a little different,” Msgr. Sunds said. “I’ve lived in wonderful communities, bringing together different cultures, African-American, Caucasian, and Hispanic parishes who really see themselves as one Catholic community with wonderful diversity.”
And though Msgr. Sunds might not have been able to predict where his path would lead at 18 years old, he’s loved every part of the journey.
“It’s been an exciting adventure to be a Catholic priest in Mississippi,” he said. “The Diocese of Jackson is a unique diocese with a lot of gifts and challenges and I’ve very much enjoyed being here.”
To celebrate his retirement after 46 years of priesthood, Msgr. Sunds is going on a different kind of adventure — exploring the United States from a travel trailer and pickup truck.
“I’m going to see how many national parks I can visit in the next two months,” he said. “We’ve got a beautiful country that I’m just waiting to see.”

By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Joanna King joined the chancery staff as Director of Communications on Monday, June 24. She is a member of Flowood St. Paul Parish and a graduate of Natchez Cathedral School. King previously worked in law and as the Communications Director for the Good Samaritan Center. She has also been on the executive board for Leadership Greater Jackson for four years, serving as secretary for two of those years.
King said she was looking for a more active way to share her faith so she felt called to apply for the position at the diocese. “I have been working on being more mindful of the Holy Spirit in my everyday life. If you listen, you will hear and feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit every day. One evening I sat down to read my Mississippi Catholic paper. Before opening it, I silently asked, ‘God, is there something you need me to hear?’ I randomly opened the paper and the first thing my eyes laid on was the position opening for the Director of Communications. So, you can say that the Holy Spirit definitely called me to apply and I listened,” she said. She participated in the Christ Life program and will begin working with the Alpha program at her parish this fall.
“I feel blessed that the position will afford me the opportunity to share and celebrate my Catholic faith, in addition to continuing my love of service,” King explained. “For the last 12 and-a-half years I have worked at a social service agency that allowed me to do Jesus’ work to help clothe and feed the hungry. I feel so blessed to have served in that capacity. It truly has helped my understanding of the Church’s love for all people,” she added.
She graduated from Mississippi State University and went on to law school at Mississippi College. She brings a variety of experience to her new role. As Director of Communications, she will be the editor for Mississippi Catholic newspaper, maintain the diocesan website and act as the spokesperson for the Diocese of Jackson.
“I look forward to building relationships with new people and strengthening relationships with those I do know. I also look forward to continuing my life-long love of learning. I love that this position affords me the opportunity to learn and grow in my Catholic faith,” said King.
The Department of Communications worked with a search committee to seek a new director. “Joanna’s enthusiasm and love for the church were obvious from the moment we met. This is such an important position in our diocese, and Joanna is genuine in her excitement and willingness to get the job done,” said committee member Mary Margaret Halford, a member of Vicksburg St. Paul Parish.
Corinne Anderson from Jackson Holy Family was also on the committee. “During the interview, I was particularly interested in Joanna’s ability to manage and work with staff and respond to various constituencies. Her past work record document skills that are requisite for the job of editor. I was sold by her candidness and apparent cognizance of the fact that she will need to work with key diocesan personnel to enhance her current skills and ensure that diocesan policies and basic Catholic doctrine guide her work as editor and manager,” she said.
King replaces Maureen Smith, who has been with the diocese for seven years and has been director for four of those. Smith is moving back to her hometown of Atlanta, Ga., to be closer to family.
King lives in Brandon with her husband and son.