2024 SacramentS S pecial e dition
TUPELO – Vacation Bible School (courtesy of St. James parish)
Communion, Sunday, May
– St. Francis, First Communion, Saturday, May 4. Front row (l-r): Kody Pham, Thanh Nguyen, Jon-Michael Trimm, Finn Munnell, Skip Harkins, Braelynn Allen, Gates Doty, Teddy Doty, Anna Devassy, Cohen Klar and Eden Harris. Second row (l-r): Charles Dukes, Morgan McCullough, Malita Madison, Jacob Brock, Antonio Silva, Mollie Todd, James Todd, Mary Todd, Matthew Price, Thomas Caskey, Audrey Butler, Collins Kassinger and Joseph Bertucci. Third row (l-r): Scarlett Jones, Léa Pudin, McKenzie Young, Victoria Galina, Tyler Tassin, Hannah Burrage, Gabrielle Sosa, Harper Hall, Rylee Deery and Brynn Evans. Top row (l-r): Brittany Magaña, Mayrin Guerrera, Msgr. Michael Flannery, Father Albeenreddy Vatti, Msgr. Elvin Sunds, Juliet Akin and Kylie Young. (Photo by Paula Bennett)
CLARKSDALE – (Left) St. Elizabeth, First Communion, Sunday, April 14. Pictured (l-r): Catelin Britt, Emily Guevara, Allison Zuniga, Alexa Zuniga, Emery Ellis Alderson, Elizabeth Blaine Cauthen and Father Raju Macherla. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MCCOMB – St. Alphonsus, First Communion, Saturday, April 13. Pictured top row (l-r): Chris Ingrassia (instructor), Valentina Angel, Kimberly Fuerte, Daneli Nava and Wanda Esponge (instructor). Middle row (l-r): Kristen L. Jones (DRE), Luza Casarrubias, Nevaeh Lunkins and Father Suresh Thirumalareddy. Front row (l-r): Rodrigo Lopez and Angela Gonzalez. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MAGEE – St. Stephen, First
12. Pictured (l-r): Alexander Lien, Lila Breaux, Father Stephen Okojie and Kelsey Do. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MADISON
WOODVILLE – (Above) Channin Patrice Wilkinson received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion by Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha on Saturday, April 27 at St. Joseph Church. (Photo courtesy of parish)
KOSCIUSKO – (Right) St. Therese, First Communion, Sunday, May 5. Pictured with Father Marco Sanchez are Emma Delgado, Max Nguyen and Sophia Nguyen. (Photo courtesy of parish)
TUPELO – (Below) St. James, First Communion, Saturday, April 27. Students receiving First Communion: Ezekial Acosta, Fernando Orostico, Jaspar Austin, Stefano Patawaran, Jones Bridges, Christian Perez, Jacob Candanedo, Isabella Castillo, Elisa Ramirez, Edwin De Leon Corona, Alan Renovato, Maria Isabella Cupino, Larios Rios, Gabbrielle Cupino, Carol Rodas Mejia, Johndeny Gaspar Ramirez, Cindy Rodas Mejia, Lyle Gaspar Ramirez, Emily Rodas Mejia, Santiago De Jesus Hernandez, Servando Tiscareno Diaz, Maria Isabel Hilario Galaviz, Lya Valentin, Ruby Koonlaba, Karina Vazquez, Luke Lockhart, Adrian Vazquez, Heriberto Macias Esparza, Oliver Vazquez Avina, Kaylee Martinez Malpica, Ava Weatherford, Isaac McGrath, David Ybarra, Chip Nelson and Samantha Ybarra. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC JULY 19, 2024
PHILADELPHIA – Children of Holy Cross Church celebrated First Communion with Father Jofin George on April 28. (Photo courtesy of parish)
VICKSBURG – St. Paul, First Communion. Pictured (l-r): Walker Ashley, Olivia Lawrence, Wiley Stokes, Frances Cappaert and Noah Corley. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MERIDIAN – Bennett Ethridge celebrated his First Communion at St. Joseph Church with Father Augustine Palimattam Poulose. (Photo by John Harwell)
VICKSBURG – (Below) St. Michael, First Communion. Pictured with Father Robert Dore are (l-r) Michael Tate, Joseph Nippes, Dixie Rice, Elvie Grace Bradley, Lilly Curro, Santiago Aguirre and Leiram Diaz-Mejias. (Photo courtesy of parish)
JACKSON – St. Therese, First Communion, Sunday, May 26. First Communicants pictured with Father Stephen Okojie are Alexander Urbano, Sofía Morales, Jose Urbano, Ashley Avalos, Ximena García, JenCarlos Hernández, Gabriel Hernández, Victoria Vaca, Melisa Mosqueda, Phoebe Barragan, Camila Martínez, Paris Juliette Ramirez Castellanos and Jason Moy Padron. Teachers photographed: Rosalinda Montoya, Maria Valadez, Reyna Solano and Maria Canela. (Photo by Jorge Alfredo)
PEARL – Children from St. Jude’s Atrium program celebrated their First Communion with Father Cesar Sanchez and Deacon John McGregor. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MERIDIAN – (Left) St. Patrick, First Communion, Sunday, April 14. Some students posed with Father Augustine Palimattam Poulose after Mass for a photo. First Communicant names: Mary Lela Alexander, Gaia Brauninger, Shelby Embrey, Bennett Ethridge, Jodie Le, Myles Owen, Rose Purdy, Sophia Rivera, John Shuler, Emily Suarez-Reyes, Carol Ibetoh, Jude Lee, Tommy George, Damien Craft, Jacob Craft and Elijah Johnson. (Photo by John Harwell)
FAYETTE – (Below) Mykell Edward Means and Matthew Francis Means celebrated their First Holy Communion with Father Anthony Okwum at St. Anne parish on Sunday, March 31. (Photo courtesy of parish)
– Basilica of St. Mary, First Communion, Sunday, May 5. Top row (l-r): Abigail Powers, Lewie Brown, Colt Atkins, Carmen Escamilla, Khloe King, Patrick Goldman, Easten Morris, Stevie Jenkins, Thomas O’Brien, Jacob Tran and Father Aaron Williams. Bottom row (l-r): Neil Willard, Tommy Malloy, Lauren King, Piper Smith, Tinley Blaney, Aubrey Ryan, Ella Blase Gaude, Elin Wagner, Jewel Killen and Harrison Williams. (Photo courtesy of parish)
NATCHEZ
YAZOO CITY – Michael Dew, Kiley Dew and Nicholas Swafford celebrated their First Communion at St. Mary parish on Sunday, April 21. (Photo courtesy of parish)
CORINTH – Children celebrated the Sacrament of First Communion with Father Mario Solórzano on Sunday, May 26. (Photo courtesy of parish)
STARKVILLE – St. Joseph, First Communion, Sunday, May 5. Front row (l-r): Giselle Herrera, Alexa Rodriguez, Laura Kate Buys, Claire Tseng, Emily Taboada and Luisa Velazquez. Back row (l-r): Father Jason Johnston, Declan Tseng, Alex Perkins, Silas Falls, Asher Clark, Abraham Chavarria, Fabian Herrera, Freddy Gonzalez and Daniel Ramirez. (Photo by Dave Monts)
JACKSON – St. Richard, First Communion, Saturday, April 27. Top row (l-r): Ross Ratcliffe, Lee White, Aeden Flood, Warren Davis, Jay LeBlanc, Carter Clayton and Mason Lester. Middle row (l-r): Ava Ren Lumaghini, Raegan Nelson, Reid Brown, Ethan Meeks, Francis Choufani, Hayden Matthews, Frances Stanton, Hadley Pharr and Roane Zimmerman. Front row (l-r): Elizabeth Neely, Morgan Gomez, Ellie Blain, Weezie White, Allie Vandiver, Sunny Davis, Makayla Carlson, Lizzie Smith and Lucy Arnemann. (Photo by Blaylock Photography)
NEW ALBANY – (Right) St. Francis, First Communion, Saturday, June 8. Top row (l-r): Mateo Ramirez, Jared Guerrero, Father Xavier Jesuraj, Yatziri Vianey, Leslie Giselle Tiscareno and Zoey Perez Hernandez. Front row (l-r): Mario Mendoza, Nicolas Gonzalez, Micah Sanchez, Emma Garcia, Aitanna Perez Hernandez and Daleyza Ximenna Perez Hernandez. (Photo by Joanna Manning)
PEARL – Children from St. Jude’s sacramental preparation program celebrated their First Communion with Father Cesar Sanchez. (Photo courtesy of parish)
– St. Joseph, First Communion. Front row (l-r): Antony Escudero-Simon, Yulisa Reyes-Varela, Shelby Laxson, Holland Portera, Beckham Lavender, Brooklyn Skok, Langston Lape, Laney Biasani, Nora James and Emily Tovar-Santos. Second row (l-r): Ana Wendy Contreras-Varelas, Sam Dahduh, Peter Beers, Tenessie Malin, Drake Harrison, Nathan Wilds, Audrey Shapley, Jack Agostinelli, Miller Beasley and Destiny Elias-Desiderio. Third row (l-r): Jack Finnegan, Rowan Portera, Edgar Sobernis-Fierro, Ari Rodriguez, Mirren Kern, Benjamin Cabrera, Haze Whatley and Tillie Berry. Fourth row (l-r): Karen Lopez-Gaspar, Uriel Reyes-Varela, Nadia Reyse-Varela and Father Matthew Simmons. (Photo by Paula Bennett)
BATESVILLE – (Left) St. Mary, First Communion, Sunday, April 28. Front row (l-r): Jacob Jimenez, Jacob Madrigal Garcia, Ward Mothershead, Armando Cruz and Abraham Martinez. Back row (l-r): Nicole Zamora, Shayla Delatorre, Father Pradeep Thirumalareddy, Alyssa Martinez, Kerri McKnatt (catechist) and Belinda Hernandez Moreno. (Photo courtesy of parish)
FLOWOOD – St. Paul, First Communion, Sunday, May 5. Front row (l-r): Oliver Cain, Blaine Pambianchi, Talon Nelson and Joseph Duffy. Second row (l-r): Jacob Gatlin, Rosie Newell, Annie Mize, Lillian Zinke, Kara Parker and Charlie Jordan. Third row (l-r): Xander Scott, Maddox Murphy, Abigail Callais, Brenden Thornburg, Angelina Thornburg, Dean Burns and Sterling Harkins. Top row (l-r): Father Gerry Hurley and Deacon Tony Schmidt. (Photo courtesy of parish)
RIPLEY – St. Matthew, First Communion, Saturday, June 22. Pictured: Alan Cruz, Eleazar Isai Cruz, America Elias, Leiliany Gonzalez, Luis Gonzalez, Yishaq Gonzalez, Chloe Ibarra, Xavi Ibarra, Rodrigo Monroy, Jaky Ruedas, Brayan Santos and Andrea Santos, with Eduardo Padilla, Sylvia Santos, Sister Carol Ann Prenger, SSND, Father Xavier Jesuraj and Sister Rode Mock, SSND. (Photo courtesy of parish)
GLUCKSTADT
STARKVILLE – (Right) St. Joseph, Confirmation, Wednesday, May 1. Front row (l-r): Eliza Artigues, Emma Wietig, Maria Keith, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Grace Word and Olivia Portera. Second row (l-r): Father Jason Johnston, Joseph Rollins, Fabian Fuentes, Patricio Lespron, Joseph Coleman and Deacon Jeff Artigues. (Photo by Dave Monts)
– (Above) St. Michael, Confirmation, Wednesday, April 24. Front row (l-r): Father PJ Curley, Julia Tuminello, Camila Martinez, Farrell Roberson, Taryn Lusby and Dalton Windham. Second row (l-r): Hannah Ryan, Elizabeth Bednar, Quaid Farmer, Presley Kaysen Hossley, Evan Farrell, William Roberson and Corbin Ramshur. Top row (l-r): Deacon David Rouch, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Robert Dore and Deacon Dien Hoang. Not pictured is Mary Evelyn Hossley. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MCCOMB – (Right) St. Alphonsus, Confirmation, Thursday, May 2. Front row (l-r): Ryan Weber, Lydia Tullos, Holden Cutrer, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Ann Elise Gatlin, and John Michael Heroman. Top row (l-r): Mary Roberts (youth minister/confirmation instructor), Father Suresh Thirumalareddy, Father Bill Henry and Angie Barrios (confirmation instructor). (Photo courtesy of parish)
on Tuesday,
PEARL – Youth from St. Jude celebrated Confirmation
April 23 with Father Cesar Sanchez, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Andrew Bowden and Deacon Mark Bowden. (Photo courtesy of Rhonda Bowden)
VICKSBURG
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Confirmation, Sunday, April 21. Front row (l-r): Aristotle Nguyen, Daynie Parish, Ava Spence, Katie Honigfort, Samantha McNeil, Azul Garcia, Ivy Le, Campbell Miller, Kirsten Fontenot and Konner Le. Second row (l-r): Laura Ribeiro do Nascimento, Summer Rives, Mia Morgan Word, Madelynn Soucie, Sarah Chase Porter, Sydney Lieb, Elaina Price, Kate Kosek, Yosvani Arenas-Alvarez, Mason Robertson and Coleman Andy. Third row (l-r): Father Matthew Simmons, Anibal Tolentino de La Luz, Austin Love, Brittany Soberanis, Aaron Emrick, Denley Holloway and Ford Johnson. Top row (l-r): Mason Towler, Tyler Stovall, Matthew D’Alfonso, Andrew Raffaelle, Garrett Smith, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, William Sheehan, Clark Estess, Charles Thomas, Jr., Benjamin Sylve, James Smiley IV and Patrick Dussouy. (Photo by Paula Bennett)
and
– St. Francis, Confirmation, Sunday, April 28.
Second
and Deacon Denzil Lobo. (Photo courtesy of parish)
MADISON
Front row (l-r): Elizabeth Alimont, Abigail Garcia, Sydney Collins, Avery Hornback, Lilly Hlavac
Elizabeth Vanderloo.
row (l-r): Johnathan Warnock, Colin McElwain, Rachel Chmielewski, Cameron Moody, Annsley Maynor and Cole Allen. Third row (l-r): Gabe Leo, Finley Bergin and Reece Chandler. Fourth row (l-r): Father Guy Wilson, ST, Msgr. Elvin Sunds, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Albeen Vatti
BROOKHAVEN – On May 11, the communities of St. John (Crystal Springs), St. Martin (Hazlehurst) joined with St. Francis Brookhaven to celebrate confirmation. Pictured (l-r): Aurora Varas, Irene Joseph, Father Manohar Reddy Thanugundla, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Christian Franklin, Ismael Delcid Reza and Father Kevin Slattery. (Photo by Yvette Howard)
YAZOO CITY – Clayton Clark, Dalton Clark and Caroline Swafford received the sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, June 23, at St.
TUPELO – (Below) St. James, Confirmation, Saturday, April 20. Pictured: Andrea Brohawn, Andrea Tiscareno, Averi Coleman, Cindy Juarez, Cindy Gonzalez, Emily Lira, Estrella Candanedo, Evelyn Pickering, Joselyn Flores, Mariana Ramirez, Miranda Luna, Nancy
Mary’s Church. (Photo courtesy of parish)
TUPELO – St. James, Confirmation, Saturday, April 20. Pictured: Cooper Hairald, Michael Gusmus, Andrew Bizon, Andy Hernandez, Andy Tran, Angel Perez, Angel Mendez, Christopher Salinas, Dawson Arriola, Drew Hebert, Ethan Arriola, Andrew Kline, Irving Quevedo, Ivan Candanedo, Landon Nelms, Mariano Moralez, Bryce Vaughn, Oscar Chaires, Santiago Salgado, Victor Salgado, Gehovani Alonzo, Austin Escobar (St. Helen Amory). (Photo courtesy of parish)
Cruz, Tereza Perez, Valeria Diaz, Vanessa Acosta, Vanessa Castillo, Hannah Montanez (St. Francis Booneville), Angela Alvarez (St. Francis Booneville). (Photo courtesy of parish)
JACKSON – St. Richard, Confirmation, Sunday, Feb. 25. Those Confirmed were: Ruby Hospodor, Anderson Abide, Ella Abide, Susanna Berman, Sebastian Brown, Samuel Clements, Samantha Cochran, Thomas Coco, Ben Compretta, Trey Compretta, Ken Core, Eva Claire Courson, Hills Ezella, Kennedi Fair, Declan Foley, Jacob Gomez, Logan Gomez, Daniel Harris, Emily Hodges, Nicholas Jones, Katie Lancaster, Avery Malouf, Cash Malouf, Amelia McCaughan, Warren Rogers III, Allie Shuetzle, Ben Smith, Charlie Smith, Amelia Taylor, Caleb Underwood and Chamblee Ezelle. (Photo courtesy of parish)
FLOWOOD – (Right) St. Paul, Confirmation, Wednesday, May 8. Pictured Front row (l-r): Anna Claire Vowell, Madalyn Bergeron, Morgan Thornton and Allie Curro. Second row (l-r): Monique Callais, Aurora Latimer, Kalyn Oubre, Haidyn Borne, Emma O’Brien, Mary Lou Fede, Adelette Nichols, Izzie Frederick and Jess Boman. Third row (l-r): Daniel Latimer, DJ Peters, Jacob Maggio, Stephen Heintzelman, Brady Eubanks, Jacob Garner, Christopher Owen and Eli McFadden. Back row (l-r): Father Gerry Hurley, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Deacon Tony Schmidt. (Photo courtesy of parish)
Juan
Kopacz, Carlos
Rony Alexander, Isidro Vieyra,
Eric
JACKSON – St. Therese, Confirmation, Sunday, April 7. Pictured front row (l-r): Maribel Melo (teacher), Sindy Marbeli Mejia, Feliciano Sebastian, Alexa Castillo, Bishop Joseph
Rivas Perez,
Rivas Perez, Mirian Nicolas-Juan, Father Stephen Okojie and Jill Hisaw (teacher). Back row (l-r):
Melo (teacher),
Edmundo Rios, Mario Villasenor (DRE), Gael Chacón-Gonzales, Jesus Bolaños, Juvey Loredo and Ingrid Piernas (teacher). (Photo courtesy of parish)
CLARKSDALE
– St. Elizabeth, Confirmation, Saturday, April 6. Pictured (lr): Catelin
Britt, Kevin Elias, Angel Zuniga, Dominic Birdsong, Priscila Lopez, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Bella Favi, Ayden Lutts, Bailey Martin and Father Raju Macherla. (Photo courtesy of parish)
NATCHEZ – Gabe Orr, Jack Henry Stubbs, Joshua Britt and Ella Skates received the sacrament of confirmation with Father Aaron Williams at the Basilica of St. Mary. (Photo courtesy of parish)
CORINTH – Youth received the sacrament of confirmation on Saturday, May 25 at St. James the Less parish with Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Father Mario Solórzano. (Photo courtesy of Bernardo Sorcia)
PEARL – Youth and adults received the sacrament of initiation on Holy Saturday, March 30 at St. Jude parish with Father Cesar Sanchez and Deacons Mark Bowden and John McGregor. (Photo courtesy of Rhonda Bowden)
Erin Watson and Dr. Josephine Calloway (director of religious education).
BATESVILLE – (Right) St. Mary, Confirmation, Sunday, June 2.
Pictured: Juan Lazalde, Donna Smith (catechist), Camren Becerra, Father Pradeep Thirumalareddy, Jennifer Aguilar Moreno, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Luis Hernandez, Joey Azar and Rigoberto Salas. (Photo courtesy of parish)
PONTOTOC – (Below) Youth at St. Christopher celebrated their Confirmation on Saturday, April 20 with Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Father Tim Murphy. (Photo by Luis Gordillo)
GREENVILLE – (Below) Youth from the Greenville area parishes of Sacred Heart, St. Joseph and St. Francis, celebrated their Confirmation on Wednesday, April 10 with Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Tom Mullally, SVD, Father Hilary Brzezinski, OFM, Father José de Jesús Sánchez and Deacon Dien Hoang. (Photo courtesy of parish)
VICKSBURG – St. Mary, Confirmation, Wednesday, April 24.
Pictured: Father Joseph Nguyen, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, LaMarcus Martin, Erin Watson, Ke’Asia Slaughter,
(Photo by Deacon David Rouch)
TUPELO – (Left) Pictured (l-r) are Ethan Arriola, Dawson Arriola, Andrew Bizon, Andrea Brohawn and Averi Coleman, who received the sacrament of confirmation at St. James parish this spring. Pictured behind them are Christi Houin, Page Moore, Mike and Gail Boland, Ched Bautista and Rayli Arriola. (Photo courtesy of parish)
– Two St. Patrick School students were welcomed into the Catholic Church through baptism on Thursday, Feb. 29. Pictured are Zorah and Elijah Johnson with their parents, Jennifer and Kenneth Johnson, Father Augustine Palimattam Poulose and Melanie Pressly, their Godparent. (Photo courtesy of Helen Reynolds)
MERIDIAN
COLUMBUS – Julie and Chris Mitchell had their daughter Lily baptized at Annunciation parish by Father Jeffrey Waldrep this spring. (Photo courtesy of parish)
COLUMBUS – Chris and Janel Vander-Zanden had two of their children – Isaiah and Everett – baptized on Feb. 16 at Annunciation by Father Jeffrey Waldrep. (Photo courtesy of parish)
GREENVILLE – Emily McGraw and Alex Rester celebrated their confirmation at St. Joseph Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 19. (Photo courtesy of parish)
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