11.11.2014 Views

The News According to St. Thomas - St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ...

The News According to St. Thomas - St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ...

The News According to St. Thomas - St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

8<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

Mudbugs in season<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff report<br />

Following an early morning rain<br />

s<strong>to</strong>rm, the 12 th annual James<br />

Loftus Crawfish Boil rocked and<br />

rolled April 14 with music by DJ<br />

Trae Griffin of Trazy Productions.<br />

This year’s theme on navy T-shirts announced the “Next<br />

Generation” of crawfish lovers with a tiny baby at the bot<strong>to</strong>m of the<br />

logo representing James Loftus’ first grandson, James Bennett Loftus.<br />

He is the son of Laura and Jared Loftus, who designed the T-shirt.<br />

Members of the Loftus family traveled from the coast, Ba<strong>to</strong>n Rouge,<br />

and Hattiesburg <strong>to</strong> join the festival.<br />

James Loftus was a beloved parishioner who maintained the<br />

grounds for <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> through his lawn service. Whenever he<br />

arrived for work, he always s<strong>to</strong>pped first in church <strong>to</strong> pray. Before<br />

the Loftus Crawfish Boil was established in his memory, James was<br />

always the first <strong>to</strong> serve at <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> food events, particularly when<br />

crawfish were on the menu.<br />

By noon the skies were blue and the crawfish red and hot for mudbug<br />

lovers who paid $20 for all they could eat. Other food included hot<br />

dogs and hamburgers, chips and soft drinks. Asked if people ate<br />

crawfish in Ghana, Fr. Godfrey replied that he was introduced <strong>to</strong> them<br />

in South Mississippi and is now a big fan.<br />

New this year was a Crawfish Eating Contest. Brad Diaz was the<br />

first <strong>to</strong> empty his plate. “Woo hoo!” His winning advice was, “Go<br />

fast. Don’t s<strong>to</strong>p because you ate a shell.” He won a $50 bar tab from<br />

Keg & Barrel.<br />

Tommy Fields came in second. “I missed by one or two crawfish,”<br />

he said, but was delighted <strong>to</strong> win a round of golf at Timber<strong>to</strong>n. “I’ve<br />

always wanted <strong>to</strong> play golf but never have except for Putt Putt.”<br />

Third place went <strong>to</strong> Solomon Tuvai who won a month’s membership<br />

at Revolution Fitness plus six sessions with a trainer.<br />

New leaders, Louis and Rhonda Irizarry, were pleased with the<br />

results of their first Boil. 1300 pounds were served, with none left<br />

over.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />

<strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

Vol. 7 Summer 2013<br />

Jeremy Zipple ordained a priest P. 2


2<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> 7<br />

Jeremy Zipple ordained a priest<br />

Because He is<br />

Because He is<br />

I am.<br />

Because He lives<br />

I serve.<br />

God is neither up nor down.<br />

He is here<br />

Waiting <strong>to</strong> be found.<br />

don hegwood<br />

By Carolyn Nation<br />

Hattiesburg native, Jeremy Zipple, 35, was ordained a priest by<br />

Archbishop Gregory Aymond in early June at Holy Name of Jesus<br />

Church in New Orleans.<br />

Like most youth growing up in a <strong>Catholic</strong> family, Jeremy, the son of<br />

Francis and Kathy Yadrick Zipple, was an Altar Server and involved<br />

in CYO at Sacred Heart and the diocesan level. Wanting <strong>to</strong> be where<br />

<strong>Catholic</strong>s were less of a minority and have more opportunities <strong>to</strong> be<br />

engaged in faith, he went <strong>to</strong> Bos<strong>to</strong>n College in 1996.<br />

Administered by the Jesuits, Bos<strong>to</strong>n College offered insights in<strong>to</strong><br />

the Jesuit model of the priesthood and their mot<strong>to</strong> of “God in all<br />

things.”<br />

While earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in<br />

film and music, he worked in campus ministry, played piano for student<br />

liturgy, worked in an inner city homeless shelter, did volunteer<br />

work in a prison, and worked on the campus newspaper. He also likes<br />

watching college sports. “I’m like Fr. Tommy in that regard.”<br />

In 2002 he entered the Society of Jesus as a novitiate, which he calls<br />

“Jesuit boot camp.” While it takes ten years for a Jesuit <strong>to</strong> become a<br />

priest, he considered this “a great time. <strong>The</strong>re is a lot of school work.<br />

It’s not for the faint of heart.” While a novitiate, his documentary film<br />

work on Jesuit missionary <strong>St</strong>. Francis Xavier aired on PBS.<br />

Following two years of teaching in the northeast, he spent time at<br />

Grand Coteau, Louisiana. “<strong>The</strong> quiet offered a stilling of my soul,” he<br />

said, “especially after New York.”<br />

He earned a master’s degree in Philosophy at Fordham University<br />

followed by a three-year regency assignment with National Geographic<br />

Television. As a writer, producer and direc<strong>to</strong>r, he worked on<br />

documentaries about a lost Mayan civilization and the quest <strong>to</strong> find<br />

King Solomon’s mines. His ministry work with youth and prisoners<br />

has taken him from South Dakota <strong>to</strong> Belize.<br />

In 2010, he was missioned <strong>to</strong> the Bos<strong>to</strong>n College School of <strong>The</strong>ology<br />

and Ministry where he earned a Master of Divinity while serving<br />

as a deacon at <strong>St</strong>. Joseph’s Parish in Belmont, Massachusetts.<br />

His world travels and social justice ministry work could only be<br />

<strong>to</strong>pped by his ordination. “It was pretty amazing,” he said. “Key moments<br />

were the laying on of hands while lying in the middle of the<br />

aisle. You had the sense the whole time these people of God were lifting<br />

you up. It was very moving. All the Jesuit priests came through<br />

silently (for) laying on of hands.<br />

“It was wonderful <strong>to</strong> have friends and family from <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> and<br />

Sacred Heart there. I felt joy and gratitude for the role they all played<br />

in getting me <strong>to</strong> this point.”<br />

His first home parish Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart June 16.<br />

While he will remain at Immaculate Conception in New Orleans for<br />

the summer, he will return <strong>to</strong> Bos<strong>to</strong>n in the fall <strong>to</strong> continue work on<br />

his Licentiate in Sacred <strong>The</strong>ology.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Richness of Great<br />

Moments<br />

<strong>The</strong> richness of a great<br />

moment<br />

cannot be fully savored<br />

until it has grown <strong>to</strong> maturity<br />

in a fertile mind field<br />

where its memory has been<br />

nourished<br />

<strong>to</strong> its fullest treasure.<br />

don hegwood<br />

Discover your gifts with Life Keys<br />

by Carolyn Nation<br />

“<strong>The</strong> more we realize that God has furnished us with a gift, the<br />

more completely we will be united with Jesus,” wrote 19 th century<br />

British spiritual leader, Smith Wigglesworth.<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> is now offering Life Keys, a workshop program<br />

designed <strong>to</strong> help individuals discover their gifts and how they can be<br />

used <strong>to</strong> serve others.<br />

Sessions are based on the Life Keys book Discover Who You Are<br />

by Jane Kise, David <strong>St</strong>ark and Sandra Hirsh. Its purpose is <strong>to</strong> help<br />

discover the answer <strong>to</strong> these questions: Why Are You Here? What Do<br />

You Do Best? What Are You Passionate About? What Do You Value?<br />

and What Are Your Priorities?<br />

Little drummer boy<br />

By Carolyn Nation<br />

Those of us who have heard Fr.Godfrey’s a capella singing at Mass<br />

will not be surprised <strong>to</strong> learn he also loves <strong>to</strong> play the drums.<br />

“I love rhythm,” he said. “Even as a child, whenever I heard a song<br />

I liked I looked for any container <strong>to</strong> beat the rhythm.”<br />

Although he plays different types of drums, he enjoys conga drums<br />

best. <strong>The</strong>se are placed on a stand and beat by hand. Different hand,<br />

knuckle, and finger positions help <strong>to</strong> vary the rhythm and <strong>to</strong>ne, which<br />

takes a degree of mastery <strong>to</strong> perfect.<br />

While at the seminary, he wanted <strong>to</strong> learn <strong>to</strong> play the guitar.<br />

However, he is left handed and the only guitar teacher was right<br />

handed and couldn’t teach him using a right-handed guitar. <strong>The</strong><br />

seminary choir had a set of drums, so he began playing them instead.<br />

When Fr. Tommy is saying Mass and Fr. Godfrey is free, he will<br />

play the drums, adding his own special talent for music. He has<br />

also performed impromptu dancing and drumming at the church<br />

Christmas party.<br />

Thirty one people signed up for the first Life Keys retreat/workshop<br />

in April, which covered a Friday evening and Saturday. “I’m not sure<br />

what I expected, but this was powerful,” said Jean Fertita. <strong>St</strong>ephen<br />

Ryan commended our choice of a strong program. Mamie Walters<br />

said, “This was confirmation for me. Sometimes you wonder if<br />

you’re on the right track or need <strong>to</strong> do more.”<br />

A fall session will be offered in September. Barbara Ellender<br />

will present the Life Gifts session. Fr. Godfrey will cover Spiritual<br />

<strong>St</strong>rengths. Joe Olmi will lead Personality Types. Jim Ghents will<br />

present Values and Passions.<br />

Watch the bulletin for details and dates.<br />

A farewell party was held for Cecelia Carl<strong>to</strong>n who was involved<br />

in numerous ministries at <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong>. She will be missed.<br />

SIBS (<strong>St</strong>udents Inspired By <strong>St</strong>udents)<br />

CSA’s <strong>St</strong>udents Inspired by <strong>St</strong>udents (SIBS) held monthly <strong>to</strong>pics<br />

on <strong>Catholic</strong> traditions, the Liturgical seasons, scripture readings<br />

and guest speakers.<br />

By Carrie Bell<br />

About three years ago several college students involved with the<br />

<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>St</strong>udent Association (CSA) were looking for a way <strong>to</strong> learn<br />

more about their faith and strengthen their spiritual life through a<br />

small group format. This led <strong>to</strong> the development of the CSA small<br />

faith group, SIBS (<strong>St</strong>udents Inspired By <strong>St</strong>udents) and it continues <strong>to</strong><br />

evolve and grow each year.<br />

SIBS is coordinated by the Spiritual Committee co-chairs who also<br />

serve on the CSA Leadership Team. During the first year interested<br />

students were put in small groups of about 5-7 people. <strong>The</strong>y selected a<br />

group leader and met at least once a month on campus <strong>to</strong> pray <strong>to</strong>gether,<br />

read the Bible, talk about current events and other <strong>to</strong>pics of interest<br />

<strong>to</strong> the group. Based on students’ feedback, the second year SIBS<br />

organizers tried a new format with a Women’s group and a Men’s<br />

group. This was also successful but the students discovered they were<br />

talking about very similar issues and sharing common events.<br />

This past year the students combined the Men’s and Women’s<br />

groups <strong>to</strong> form one group that met twice a month. This preferred<br />

format for the program helped increase the diversity and<br />

participation in SIBS.<br />

This year SIBS was organized by Serena Williams and Kyle<br />

Ladner, CSA’s 2012-2013 Spiritual Committee, and they did a<br />

great job. Monthly <strong>to</strong>pics included <strong>Catholic</strong> traditions, the Liturgical<br />

seasons, scripture readings and guest speakers such as a Seminarian<br />

from New Orleans. With a new Leadership Team in place CSA looks<br />

forward <strong>to</strong> another success and enriching SIBS program.


6 <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

3<br />

Happy birthday Sister Carmelita<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff report<br />

On April 28, Sister Carmelita <strong>St</strong>inn celebrated her birthday with<br />

her parish family at <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Aquinas</strong> in Hattiesburg.<br />

Since this was the regular date for Covered Dish Sunday, she was<br />

surprised by singing and a birthday cake in her honor.<br />

2013 marks her 63 rd year as a religious sister serving in the Sisters<br />

for Christian Community. She first came <strong>to</strong> Mississippi in 1952 and<br />

later returned <strong>to</strong> earn a Masters Degree in social work in 1977 at the<br />

University of Southern Mississippi. She did her practicum at Ellisville<br />

<strong>St</strong>ate School and continued working there until her retirement in 1993.<br />

Currently she serves as <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong>’ <strong>Catholic</strong> Social Services<br />

ministry leader where she and her team work tirelessly <strong>to</strong> meet many<br />

unmet needs in the community such as delivering household items,<br />

diapers and food <strong>to</strong> the poor, many of whom are Hispanic. In 2011 she<br />

served as the reigning Colleen for <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong>’ Irish Italian Festival<br />

parade.<br />

She has said that she is most at peace during her hour of morning<br />

prayer and when attending daily Mass. She also enjoys reading and<br />

traveling, along with occasional rides on a mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle.<br />

Irish Italian Festival cooking on sale<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff report<br />

Do you have Two Saints in your Kitchen?<br />

That’s the title of the 281 page parish cookbook that has become<br />

a souvenir cookbook from the Irish Italian Festival. It is packed with<br />

recipes from the original Our Daily Bread parish cookbook that came<br />

out in the 1990s with so much more.<br />

From “Conway’s Cuisine & Other Irish Delights,” you can make<br />

Father Tommy’s Irish Scones, Irish <strong>St</strong>ew, and Blarney S<strong>to</strong>ne-Kissed<br />

Cookies, among other Irish traditions. “Mama Mia! Now That’s<br />

Italian!”covers everything from Italian Appetizer Thang! <strong>to</strong> Delta<br />

Redneck Italian Gravy and Meatballs with Italian Love Cake for<br />

dessert. <strong>St</strong>art preparing for Golden Eagles Tailgating Favorites such<br />

as Mississippi Sin (jalapeno pepper lovers take note), For lagniappe<br />

- a little something extra - Two Saints in My Kitchen includes the<br />

his<strong>to</strong>ry of the <strong>St</strong>. Joseph’s Altar, and a paragraph on Saint Patrick,<br />

Saint Joseph, and Saint <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Aquinas</strong>.<br />

<strong>The</strong> cookbooks can be found in the church foyer and cost $15. All<br />

proceeds go <strong>to</strong>ward our Disaster Relief Fund.<br />

Pas<strong>to</strong>rs attend Police<br />

Chaplain training<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff Report<br />

Fr. Tommy and six other Hattiesburg pas<strong>to</strong>rs attended training<br />

for Police Chaplains in Shalimar, Florida in April.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first day sessions covered responding <strong>to</strong> a crisis, a sherif’s<br />

perspective of chaplains, and how <strong>to</strong> react <strong>to</strong> the trauma from an<br />

officer down. <strong>The</strong> second day attendees learned about human<br />

trafficking, how <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> an officer’s death or injury, and<br />

keys <strong>to</strong> being a successful chaplain.<br />

<strong>The</strong> final day focused on self defense with tips for street<br />

survival for chaplains and what <strong>to</strong> do when things go wrong.<br />

Trainees were placed in mock scenarios <strong>to</strong> show them how <strong>to</strong><br />

react <strong>to</strong> a DWI traffic s<strong>to</strong>p, domestic violence call, how <strong>to</strong> notify<br />

a family of a death from a tragic accident, and how <strong>to</strong> determine<br />

if a person is high on drugs or mentally ill in order <strong>to</strong> place them<br />

in the correct facility.<br />

<strong>The</strong> number of options for the three day workshop were <strong>to</strong>o<br />

numerous <strong>to</strong> attend all events. It ended with a service honoring<br />

fallen officers.<br />

“It was one of the best courses I ever attended,” Fr. Tommy<br />

said.<br />

Now that the pas<strong>to</strong>rs have returned home, they will be available<br />

on a rotating basis <strong>to</strong> aid the police. <strong>The</strong>y are encouraged <strong>to</strong> go<br />

on ride-a-longs during night time patrols.<br />

Kathy Schimel joins staff as Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Volunteerism<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff report<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> now has a ministry matchmaker<br />

called the Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Volunteerism.<br />

In accepting this new staff position,<br />

Kathy Schimel said she hopes <strong>to</strong> help people<br />

feel more comfortable in ministries and<br />

involve more people so that those already in<br />

ministries won’t feel burned out. She plans<br />

<strong>to</strong> work with newcomers and those who<br />

want <strong>to</strong> be of service but don’t know which ministry <strong>to</strong> choose.<br />

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she and her husband,<br />

Bob, moved <strong>to</strong> Mississippi when his company closed. <strong>The</strong>y lived in<br />

Alabama before Bob <strong>to</strong>ok a job in Collins. He has since retired and<br />

started his own payroll service business. “Hattiesburg seemed like a<br />

nice place <strong>to</strong> live,” Kathy said. “We’ve been here 25 years.”<br />

One of the first things they looked for was a community theater<br />

group, a love for both of them. Bob builds sets and is the mastermind<br />

behind the Irish Italian Festival’s welcoming rainbow arch. Kathy<br />

works with the costumes. She will be the President of the Hattiesburg<br />

Civic Light Opera in the 2014-15 season. She also enjoys reading,<br />

word puzzles, sewing, and the theater. Ready <strong>to</strong> tackle a new<br />

challenge, she said, “I feel like it’s something I can do. I look forward<br />

<strong>to</strong> working with the staff and ministry leaders, and of course, my boss.<br />

I hope <strong>to</strong> bring new life, and new ideas <strong>to</strong> help build the ministries.”<br />

In addition <strong>to</strong> scheduling and training Eucharistic Ministers,<br />

Lec<strong>to</strong>rs and Commenta<strong>to</strong>rs, Kathy launched the Prayer Blanket<br />

Ministry, leads two Small Faith Communities Groups, and serves on<br />

the <strong>News</strong>letter and Welcoming Newcomers teams. Welcome aboard!<br />

Fr. Tommy takes sabbatical in Rome<br />

By Carolyn Nation<br />

When everyone goes back <strong>to</strong> school, Fr. Tommy will begin his 10<br />

week sabbatical at the Pontifical North American College in Rome in<br />

early September.<br />

“I’ve already been <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>to</strong> bring my alb, s<strong>to</strong>le, collar, and a black<br />

suit,” he said, since among other activities he and 40 others will be<br />

meeting Pope Francis.<br />

Priests are allowed <strong>to</strong> take a sabbatical every seven years, although<br />

Fr. Tommy had not asked for leave earlier. <strong>The</strong> diocese covers half<br />

the cost of the program with the other half equally divided between<br />

the priest and the parish.<br />

He applied <strong>to</strong> programs in Ireland, Berkeley, California, Notre<br />

Dame and the North American College in Rome and was accepted<br />

there fairly quickly. <strong>The</strong>n he had <strong>to</strong> send in pho<strong>to</strong>s, references and<br />

blood work. Although he doesn’t have any family or friends in Rome,<br />

he does have a connection with Cardinal Peter Turkson, who was<br />

Bishop Turkson at the time he ordained Fr. Godfrey.<br />

“Many priests, including Msgr. Mike Thorn<strong>to</strong>n (in Laurel)<br />

recommended this course,” Fr. Tommy said. <strong>The</strong> four hours of class<br />

work each weekday are not manda<strong>to</strong>ry. “I’m <strong>to</strong>ld the classes are so<br />

good that participants don’t want <strong>to</strong> miss them.” In addition <strong>to</strong> free<br />

afternoons, there will be excursions <strong>to</strong> holy sites and day trips such as<br />

<strong>to</strong> Sienna and Assisi. Previous classes have said Mass in the Tomb of<br />

<strong>St</strong>. Peter, and the Angelus with the Pope at Castel Gandolfo, the papal<br />

retreat. At the Vatican special <strong>to</strong>urs have included the excavations<br />

beneath <strong>St</strong>. Peter’s Basilica and the Swiss Guard Barracks.<br />

“I feel that I am more than halfway through my priesthood,” Fr.<br />

Tommy said. “This will recharge my batteries for the next assignment,<br />

new beginnings.” He hopes that when he returns around Thanksgiving<br />

that the Bishop will let him know if he will return <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> or<br />

be assigned elsewhere.<br />

While in Rome, he plans <strong>to</strong> check in<strong>to</strong> the possibility of leading a<br />

<strong>to</strong>ur <strong>to</strong> Italy next fall. He is also looking forward <strong>to</strong> visits from some<br />

of his family. This will be his first trip <strong>to</strong> Rome. So far, he speaks “not<br />

a word” of Italian. Buon Viaggio!<br />

Altar Servers recognized<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> and Knights of Columbus Council 15382 honored<br />

the eighth grade altar servers at the end of 10:15 Mass on May<br />

19th. Pictured with Robert Lawson of the Knights and Fr. Tommy<br />

are Landry Filce, Dalen Pierce, and Jourdan Green. Not pictured<br />

is Anna Pecunia. <strong>The</strong>y were presented with appreciation medals<br />

with a thank you message engraved on the back.<br />

Duke and Roberts ordained<br />

permanent Deacons<br />

by Judy Showalter<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Aquinas</strong> parishioners Randy Duke and Truett Roberts<br />

began their journey <strong>to</strong> become permanent deacons four years<br />

ago.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first year was spent in prayerful discernment. <strong>The</strong> next three<br />

years of formation <strong>to</strong> the permanent diaconate included study of<br />

scripture, theology, canon law and pas<strong>to</strong>ral ministry. Bishop Roger<br />

Morin will ordain Randy, Truett and nine other men on June 22, 2013<br />

at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi.<br />

Truett said, “I am very excited <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> serve the Lord in<br />

this manner, and I’m looking forward <strong>to</strong> working with the bishop<br />

in whatever capacity he desires.” <strong>The</strong> men will receive their official<br />

assignments from Bishop Morin after their ordination.<br />

As permanent deacons they cannot celebrate Mass, but they will<br />

be assisting the priest during the Mass by proclaiming the Gospel,<br />

preaching the homily and distributing communion. Permanent<br />

deacons do not hear confessions, but they administer the Sacrament of<br />

Baptism, witness the Sacrament of Marriage and officiate at funerals<br />

and burials.<br />

Truett is looking forward <strong>to</strong> baptizing his granddaughter, Lillian,<br />

the day after his ordination. Randy said he is experiencing “a sense<br />

of awe” and “tremendous excitement” in anticipation of his upcoming<br />

ordination <strong>to</strong> the permanent diaconate. He reflected on Philippians<br />

4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That<br />

scripture has guided him throughout his life, but it has been especially<br />

helpful <strong>to</strong> him over the past four years, and he knows it will continue<br />

<strong>to</strong> help him as he strives <strong>to</strong> do his best in service <strong>to</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong><br />

Church as a permanent deacon.<br />

Randy and Truett are grateful for the love and support of their<br />

families. <strong>The</strong>y also want <strong>to</strong> express their appreciation <strong>to</strong> the<br />

parishioners of <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> for their prayers and encouragement.<br />

Congratulations Randy and Truett!<br />

<strong>The</strong> Wise Person<br />

<strong>The</strong> wise person,<br />

when faced with and resolving issues,<br />

assigns emotion <strong>to</strong> a special place in the mind<br />

where it, upon resolution of the problem,<br />

becomes the building blocks<br />

of the mind’s moral fiber.<br />

don hegwood


4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>According</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong><br />

5<br />

RCIA changes lives: Recent graduates give insight <strong>to</strong> RICA<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff report<br />

We asked some of the recent “graduates” of RCIA <strong>to</strong> tell us what<br />

the experience meant <strong>to</strong> them.<br />

Returning <strong>Catholic</strong> Noel Anne Bennett said RCIA gave her a<br />

chance <strong>to</strong> relearn the his<strong>to</strong>ry of the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith, meet new people,<br />

and find a new home. She grew up <strong>Catholic</strong> in Natchez, but drifted<br />

away after her marriage. “I didn’t realize how important it was until I<br />

came back <strong>to</strong> it,” she said. “God was waiting for me all that time. He<br />

didn’t give up on me.”<br />

Mandy Baker explained, “For me, RCIA broke down all of the<br />

important parts of the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith and allowed us <strong>to</strong> explore them<br />

individually at a much deeper level. <strong>The</strong> RCIA classes showed us<br />

how <strong>to</strong> apply these beliefs <strong>to</strong> our everyday lives, and how <strong>to</strong> grow<br />

deeper in our faith and our relationship with God. How <strong>to</strong> not just read<br />

scripture, but <strong>to</strong> read it in the way that it was meant <strong>to</strong> be read.<br />

<strong>The</strong> MOST wonderful thing about RCIA was the manner in which<br />

it was led: Open communication about our previous faiths without<br />

judgement. It was so incredibly wonderful <strong>to</strong> gather with people from<br />

other faiths and backgrounds <strong>to</strong> discuss why we are here and what led<br />

us <strong>to</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church. For these relationships that have been built,<br />

I am eternally grateful.”<br />

Tessa Willoughby said, “Prior <strong>to</strong> RCIA, I had done a lot of praying<br />

and asking God if becoming <strong>Catholic</strong> was what He wanted for me.<br />

I also did a <strong>to</strong>n of reading and delved deep in<strong>to</strong> the Catechism and<br />

the Church Fathers’ writings. But when I got in<strong>to</strong> RCIA, I finally<br />

had people who were going through the same thing as me and could<br />

understand where I was coming from. I did not feel alone. I could talk<br />

<strong>to</strong> real people.<br />

<strong>The</strong> community aspect of RCIA was wonderful and I particularly<br />

enjoyed breaking bread with my friends every Monday night. I also<br />

appreciated the way we always started out in God’s Word and then<br />

heard from several members of the parish. In this way, I felt as though<br />

I was being adopted in<strong>to</strong> the family. My favorite presentations in<br />

RCIA were about Church His<strong>to</strong>ry, Old Testament Scripture, and the<br />

Sanctity of Life.<br />

RCIA will always have a special place in my heart. I’m sure many<br />

years from now when I think back on the beginnings of my conversion,<br />

I will remember RCIA as being a place of safety and friendship. I<br />

thank everyone involved for I have truly never learned so much about<br />

my God in heaven or my brothers and sisters in Christ.”<br />

Diana Little said, “I instinctively felt a comfort in that room<br />

and listening <strong>to</strong> the facilita<strong>to</strong>rs. <strong>The</strong>y presented each segment with<br />

intelligence and reason, backing up each lesson with scripture and/<br />

or his<strong>to</strong>ry. <strong>The</strong>ir kindness and patience surpassed any expectation I<br />

had. My heart felt settled while my mind expanded as I listened <strong>to</strong><br />

them. I gravitated <strong>to</strong> what was being said because it did not come<br />

from a subjective thought or ego, rather from a solid and substantial<br />

and intelligent knowledge of faith that has been consistent for over<br />

2,000 years. I found that the most amazing part.<br />

I am so grateful for Beverly Frosch, my sponsor. She was always<br />

available, always loving, always knowledgeable, gently admonished<br />

me when I needed it, and had infinite patience. I was looking for<br />

something <strong>to</strong> believe in that I knew was true and I found it. I wanted<br />

authenticity more than anything else and I found it with RCIA - when<br />

you find authenticity, everything else seems secondary, and that is<br />

how I feel now - nothing will ever be the same.<br />

I view life now, with all it’s goodness and challenges, with a more<br />

settled feeling knowing that this is a continuous journey and I can turn<br />

<strong>to</strong> my faith, and all it encompasses, for fortitude and gratefulness in<br />

everything. <strong>The</strong> lessons I learned from RCIA are with me every day,<br />

and I find myself applying them as a way of life now.<br />

Vacation Bible School - “SonWest Roundup” - FUN for All!<br />

By Kelly Lamunyon<br />

Lots of excitement filled the air at <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> during the week of<br />

June 3-7 as Vacation Bible School activities were in full swing!<br />

Several senior youth ministry members and young adults helped<br />

<strong>to</strong> construct and paint props <strong>to</strong> convert the old student center in<strong>to</strong><br />

a western <strong>to</strong>wn. Classrooms became other western scenes. Pre-K<br />

children through 4th graders enjoyed Bible s<strong>to</strong>ries, music, games,<br />

crafts, and snacks that all revolved around the Western <strong>The</strong>me<br />

“SonWest Roundup.”<br />

Each morning at the gathering assembly, one of God’s Ultimate<br />

Gifts was introduced, and then following the assembly that gift was<br />

focused upon through the day’s activities. <strong>The</strong> children became aware<br />

of God’s Ultimate Plan, Power, Rescue, Trust, and Love throughout<br />

the week!<br />

<strong>The</strong> VBS week came <strong>to</strong> a close with a children’s Mass in which<br />

the children served as lec<strong>to</strong>rs, commenta<strong>to</strong>rs and gift bearers. <strong>The</strong><br />

children provided music for Mass by singing songs they had learned<br />

during the week. An indoor picnic followed.<br />

Each participant received a Certificate of Attendance, a Bop’s<br />

coupon for free ice-cream, and a ConniCone sno-ball as they departed.<br />

A huge THANK-YOU <strong>to</strong> the many volunteers who made this such<br />

a successful event!<br />

<strong>The</strong> heart of Toni Wild<br />

By Shar Drennan<br />

Meet Toni Wild, representative for the American Heart Association’s<br />

2013 Go Red Campaign. She’s also a wife, mother, surgical nurse and<br />

daughter of <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> parishioners, Sydney and John Cuccia. She is<br />

a lady who has fought hard battles and come out a winner.<br />

Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29 she went through surgery,<br />

chemotherapy and radiation and made the disease a thing of the past.<br />

Five years later, on vacation in Tennessee, she lost her first husband<br />

when a car struck him while he was changing a tire. <strong>The</strong> injuries<br />

he sustained left him brain dead, forcing her <strong>to</strong> make the difficult<br />

decision of removing him from life support then donating his organs<br />

- heart and both kidneys, knowing that this would give three people a<br />

new chance at life.<br />

About a year later she was diagnosed with a second round of<br />

breast cancer. After surgery and more treatments she was then<br />

<strong>to</strong>ld she had chemotherapy-induced congestive heart failure. But<br />

through medication and rest her condition stabilized. With help from<br />

her parents and friends she returned <strong>to</strong> work, exercise and normal<br />

activities with limited symp<strong>to</strong>ms.<br />

Toni enjoyed a normal and happy life for the next ten years. In 2000<br />

she married Jim Wild and became a mother <strong>to</strong> his two boys, ages 6<br />

and 8. In 2009 Toni again started having symp<strong>to</strong>ms and knew her<br />

heart was failing her once more. Extensive testing confirmed Toni’s<br />

heart was badly damaged. She and her family were <strong>to</strong>ld that short of a<br />

heart transplant there was nothing that could be done.<br />

During this time she drew strength from prayer and was ready<br />

<strong>to</strong> face whatever it was God had planned for her. She says she felt<br />

the prayers that emanated from family, friends and her church. She<br />

went home <strong>to</strong> begin the wait for a new heart. <strong>The</strong> call came only<br />

a week later. She made emotional farewells not knowing what was<br />

ahead. During the next few hours Jim said they experienced a Godgiven<br />

peace. Doubt never entered their minds. <strong>The</strong> operation was a<br />

complete success.<br />

Always thinking of others, Toni has donated her hair <strong>to</strong> Locks of<br />

Love three different times. In Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2012, she ran a half-marathon<br />

in San Francisco, raising $5,000 <strong>to</strong> fight lymphoma. Now, as a Go<br />

Red representative she spreads the message <strong>to</strong> women <strong>to</strong> take care<br />

of themselves and their health issues. This extraordinary woman<br />

has beaten tremendous odds, yet through faith, prayer and medical<br />

technology she has triumphed.<br />

Wisconsin students aid <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> Disaster Relief efforts<br />

Some 50 students and parents from ten churches in the LaCrosse<br />

Diocese of Wisconsin spent a week in mid June helping with home<br />

repairs and cleanup from the February Tornado. Most were high school<br />

and college students, although the youngest team member was nine.<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> provided two meals each day and parishioners stepped up<br />

for lunches. Each evening Fr. Tim Oudenhoven celebrated Mass and<br />

invited the students <strong>to</strong> pause awhile in Adoration. He said, “When you<br />

reach out your hand <strong>to</strong> your neighbor is when you see God reaching<br />

out his hand <strong>to</strong> us.”<br />

Sidewalk Counselor speaks <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>.<br />

<strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Social Services<br />

by Jean Fertita<br />

Kathy Greene, a 10-year veteran Sidewalk Counselor, spoke with<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Thomas</strong> Social Services on the Abortion Issue in late April.<br />

She gave the his<strong>to</strong>ry and present status of the Jackson Abortion<br />

Clinic stating “70 babies die each week.” She explained the devastating<br />

news that a Judge Jordan signed an order where the Jackson Clinic<br />

does not have <strong>to</strong> abide by <strong>St</strong>ate Law 1390.<br />

She said that Hattiesburg’s Planned Parenthood organization has<br />

moved <strong>to</strong> 27th Avenue and has changed it’s name <strong>to</strong> Pine Belt Life<br />

League. To date there has not been an abortion at the Hattiesburg<br />

Planned Parenthood clinic.<br />

Ms Greene repeated that Roe vs. Wade must be overturned and<br />

offered suggestions of things <strong>to</strong> do:<br />

* Commit <strong>to</strong> meet at the Clinic and pray the rosary.<br />

* Contact any hospital Board Member and ask denial of any privileges<br />

<strong>to</strong> doc<strong>to</strong>rs who work in Abortion Clinics.<br />

* Write letters or make calls <strong>to</strong> our Congressmen asking for the<br />

impeachment of Judge Jordan who handed down the ruling that<br />

allows the Jackson Clinic <strong>to</strong> remain in operation.<br />

* Vote for Candidates who support Pro life.<br />

* Support Pro life groups such as the Crises Pregnancy Center and<br />

Birthright with the baby bottle project.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!