Bearden joins Chancery staff as Coordinator of Family Ministry

By Maureen Smith

Charlene Bearden

Charlene Bearden

JACKSON – The Office of Faith Formation welcomes Charlene Bearden as the Coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry. Bearden, a member of Jackson Holy Family Parish, is no stranger to lay ministry. She has led Cursillo weekends, helped with marriage preparation, been a catechist and was in training for a role as a lay leader. Her volunteer work goes back more than 25 years at parishes in the Jackson area.
“I thought I was training to be a lay ecclesial minister,” said Bearden of how she came to the position. Father Michael O’Brien encouraged her to join the program after he saw her natural leadership in parish life. When the family ministry job became available, she found her place.
“When I finished the interview I knew this was where I belonged. It’s a match. I have been involved with children’s CCD, Marriage Encounter, events for the engaged,” she explained. She also served on the St. Richard School advisory council and in a number of other volunteer ministries.
The Office of Family Ministry works with parishes to provide a variety of services that support and minister to families, whether these families are traditional, single parent, blended or extended. Many of these programs are focused on supporting couples. This includes marriage and remarriage preparation, natural family planning, celebrating World Marriage Day and more.
“I have known Charlene for several years and can always count on her for a kind word or encouraging smile. She lovingly sees the family as the foundation on which the whole Church built, from the example of the Holy family to our very own modern day families,” said Fran Lavelle, director of faith formation for the diocese. “I am thrilled to have her on board leading the office of family ministry and look forward to seeing where God takes her in this ministry,” she added.
Bearden said she sees the office as a way to help people better understand God’s very personal love for them. “There is something about the family that is basic to all of humanity. Everyone started with a family,” she said.
“Even though family life can be complicated, there is always the option to move towards, love, intimacy, understanding.”
Bearden also understands something about loss. She and her husband lost their first child to complications after she got meningitis. She was not quite a year old and she died in her mother’s arms.
Years later, Bearden nursed her husband through four years of cancer before his death. “When someone we love is taken from us and we feel their loss we can see that they were loaned to us. They really belong to God,” she said.
Her friends stepped in to become a new kind of family. “Family can expand beyond your immediate family. The family of community, your church family, they are also family.” She sees families as models for the kingdom of God.
She said she and her husband were “babies” when they married and had to mature into their relationship. “That storybook version of marriage is not how God wanted me to see marriage. Living with another person in an intimate environment where the other person can be who God is calling that person to be- that’s where marriage is.”
Bearden credits Father Joseph Dyer, Father O’Brien and Father Frank Cosgrove for supporting and encouraging her through the years and she said she looks forward to showing people all the love God wants to offer them.
Her first event will be the World Marriage Day celebration at the Cathedral Sunday, Feb. 12.

Grief healing workshops on tour in diocese

By MaureenSmith
JACKSON – The Office of Family Ministry has partnered with the Health Ministry office to take sculptor and grief counselor Bob Willis on something of a tour of the diocese. Willis will lead his unique grief workshop in five cities in March, Brookhaven, Vicksburg, Clarksdale, Tupelo and Meridian.022015grief01
Each stop will include a daytime training session from 8:15 a.m. to noon for health professionals and an evening session around 6 or 6:30 p.m. for anyone who may feel the need. Check with the individual parish for exact times. The office is working to make continuing education credits available for the professionals.
“Adapting to change, grief and loss training,” as the workshop is called, will include a look at different forms of grief, theories of how grief progresses, a look at normal responses to grief, a guide to ways to express feelings of loss and will identify and develop referral and community resources.
Willis has a unique presentation style. In addition to presenting the latest research and academics, he sculpts while he speaks. The sculptures, sometimes a broken heart and sometimes a bust of Christ wearing a crown of thorns, help illustrate many of the points he makes.
Willis came to the diocese in 2014 to present at Jackson St. Richard Parish as well as in Brookhaven, where several Faith Community Nurses serve at St. Francis Parish. Cheri Walker is one of those nurses. She said Willis’ presentation was particularly timely. A pair of hospital employees had recently lost family members and the staff had cared for several infants with chronic illnesses.
“We are caregivers in a hospital setting and sometimes we get a bit overwhelmed,” said Walker. She said she learned many useful things from the workshop. One of Willis’ suggestions is to ask a grieving person how he or she met the loved one they lost. “This opens up positive memories, early memories of the love you had. This helps take away the anguish and I think that’s a real gift,” said Walker.
It is important to note that death is not the only form of grief addressed in the workshops. “This is applicable to any major life changes. A child leaving home can cause grief, or a divorce. This is not just about death,” she said.
Willis emphasizes that adjusting to any big change in life can make us feel a sense of loss and stress and this can trigger a grief reaction. He offers strategies for caregivers, grievers and friends to use during times of grief. His work is based in the gospels and he brings scripture and prayer into his workshops as well.
Walker said she learned something every time she saw Willis present and encourages everyone who is a caregiver or feeling some kind of loss or grief to attend.
See the sidebar for dates and locations and registration information.

Celebrating the gift of marriage

By Elsa Baughaman
JACKSON – John and Camille Barranco say they owe the success of their marriage to the ability to get above their differences and to know what God wants in their relationship. “With all the ups and downs we have gone through during these many years, the sadness and the joy, he has brought us through,” said Camille.

The Barrancos are members of Jackson St. Richard Parish and are celebrating 64 years of marriage this year. They were one of the 36 couples who attended a Mass in honor of World Marriage Day at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Sunday, Feb. 9.  They have five children, 12 grandchildren and a great-grandaughter.

Late last year, the Office of Family Ministry mailed 103 invitations to couples in 24 parishes in the diocese. Present at the ceremony were five couples celebrating their 60th anniversary, 11  celebrating their 50th, 15 celebrating their 25th, one each celebrating their 65th, 64th, 52nd, 49th, and 20th.

Jennifer Eidt, coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry, said the church teaches  when a man and woman vow to be true in good times and bad, they are confirming a decision to love one another. “And, as married couples have taught us, this decision to love one another is one we have to make over and over again.”

She said in the marriage preparation program for the newly engaged offered by her office, one of the many lessons they discuss with the couples anticipating marriage is that “marriage requires work and work is not always fun.”

“A marriage cannot be built in a day. It requires a lifetime of love, effort, joy and pain, and the constant hope of what is yet to come. It is a decision to look, act and pray for the good in the people we say we love.”

Eidt pointed out marriage is a pledge of fidelity. “Our world desperately needs living witnesses to fidelity. These are the most convincing signs of the love that Christ has for each of us. The sacrament of marriage is meant to be a sign of God’s love for humanity and Christ’s love for his church.

“Couples and families who are living faithful lives of mutual love and support, though not without difficulties, have the gratitude of the whole church.”

Eidt finished her presentation by telling the couples they are each truly a light to the world.
Juan and Maribel Melo said unconditional love, patience, understanding and knowing what to argue about has kept them together for 26 years.  During the special anniversary Mass, celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, the couples made the covenant renewal of Christian commitment and the renewal of marriage vows.

In his homily, Bishop Kopacz pointed out that marriage is successful through perseverance coupled with togetherness in experiences during stressful and joyful times. “A sense of humor is a key component,” he said while reminiscing about his parents married life. “Reflection of your parents’ actions can lead to success with your children and family.”

Bishop Kopacz mentioned his parents were married 51 years and in those days,  he said, things were stressful but they did everything together, that was important, he noted.

He also reflected on the Gospel of Matthew telling them their lives as couples are like the salt and light of the world and should be an example for others and for their own families. “Few days ago I deepened the union I shared with Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Holy Orders. Bishop Kopacz presented each couple a certificate of recognition.

At the reception, John Barranco, looking at his wife and daughter, wittily said their marriage has prevailed because of his obedience to his wife. “I say ‘yes’ to everything she says,” he said with a big smile.

World Marriage Day: honored couples ‘truly a light to the world’

By Elsa Baughaman
JACKSON – John and Camille Barranco say they owe the success of their marriage to the ability to get above their differences and to know what God wants in their relationship. “With all the ups and downs we have gone through during these many years, the sadness and the joy, he has brought us through,” said Camille.

The Barrancos are members of Jackson St. Richard Parish and are celebrating 64 years of marriage this year. They were one of the 36 couples who attended a Mass in honor of World Marriage Day at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Sunday, Feb. 9.  They have five children, 12 grandchildren and a great-grandaughter.

Late last year, the Office of Family Ministry mailed 103 invitations to couples in 24 parishes in the diocese. Present at the ceremony were five couples celebrating their 60th anniversary, 11  celebrating their 50th, 15 celebrating their 25th, one each celebrating their 65th, 64th, 52nd, 49th, and 20th.

Jennifer Eidt, coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry, said the church teaches  when a man and woman vow to be true in good times and bad, they are confirming a decision to love one another. “And, as married couples have taught us, this decision to love one another is one we have to make over and over again.”

She said in the marriage preparation program for the newly engaged offered by her office, one of the many lessons they discuss with the couples anticipating marriage is that “marriage requires work and work is not always fun.”

“A marriage cannot be built in a day. It requires a lifetime of love, effort, joy and pain, and the constant hope of what is yet to come. It is a decision to look, act and pray for the good in the people we say we love.”

Eidt pointed out marriage is a pledge of fidelity. “Our world desperately needs living witnesses to fidelity. These are the most convincing signs of the love that Christ has for each of us. The sacrament of marriage is meant to be a sign of God’s love for humanity and Christ’s love for his church.

“Couples and families who are living faithful lives of mutual love and support, though not without difficulties, have the gratitude of the whole church.”

Eidt finished her presentation by telling the couples they are each truly a light to the world.
Juan and Maribel Melo said unconditional love, patience, understanding and knowing what to argue about has kept them together for 26 years.  During the special anniversary Mass, celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, the couples made the covenant renewal of Christian commitment and the renewal of marriage vows.

In his homily, Bishop Kopacz pointed out that marriage is successful through perseverance coupled with togetherness in experiences during stressful and joyful times. “A sense of humor is a key component,” he said while reminiscing about his parents married life. “Reflection of your parents’ actions can lead to success with your children and family.”

Bishop Kopacz mentioned his parents were married 51 years and in those days,  he said, things were stressful but they did everything together, that was important, he noted.
He also reflected on the Gospel of Matthew telling them their lives as couples are like the salt and light of the world and should be an example for others and for their own families. “Few days ago I deepened the union I shared with Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Holy Orders. Bishop Kopacz presented each couple a certificate of recognition.

At the reception, John Barranco, looking at his wife and daughter, wittily said their marriage has prevailed because of his obedience to his wife. “I say ‘yes’ to everything she says,” he said with a big smile.