OCTOBER 14, 2022
mississippicatholic.com
'National treasure' receives care, repairs BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING
used as an area for storage. Over the years, the area was subject to moisture that damaged the NATCHEZ — The beauty is evident just drivwalls. The third floor of the rectory has now been ing by gothic revival style church – St. Mary Bacompletely gutted down to the studs and is now silica – in downtown Natchez. The thousands of safer said Father Williams. The long-term plan is tourists that visit the Basilica each year, in adto restore the bedrooms on that floor for guests. dition to many parishioners don’t see all of the On the side of the church facing the rectory, work that goes in to keeping such a beauty in it was discovered that two stained glass windows shape. were in need of immediate repair. Father Williams Father Aaron Williams was just appointed said it was determined to be an “emergency” sitpastor of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption parish uation because the windows were both bending in May of this year, but he has already taken on out from the frame and could potentially break. projects from restoration work on the rectory and The two windows are now being repaired and the bell tower, repairs to stained glass windows, cleaned, with new protective glass being installed and lighting work in the sanctuary – not to menover them on the exterior. tion work on electrical equipment, including the In 2019, the ice storm caused extensive damchurch bell, the organ, sound system and HVAC age to the Basilica. “Most of that was repaired,” due to a lightning strike in August. And all of this said Father Williams. “But we discovered that the is in addition to his pastoral duties to the parishes top level of the bell tower was holding water and and to students at Cathedral School. in the long-term this could prove very dangerous “It is exciting for me to be a part of this great for the structure.” So, the few feet of roofing over work of preservation,” said Father Williams. “The the tower was replaced. parish really is a treasure of American Catholic Amidst all of the projects, a lightening strike history and we have to do what we can to hand to an adjacent property during a storm in August on that treasure to the next generation.” caused thousands of dollars in damages to various To help keep up with all of the projects, Father electrical systems, including the church bell, the Aaron recently hired a new staff member, Jacob NATCHEZ – Stained glass windows at St. Mary Basilica receive organ, sound system and HVAC. Father Williams Ali, to serve as strategic planning coordinator. “Jarepairs on Friday, Sept. 16. Father Aaron Williams has been reported that the surge fed up the underground cob is assisting me by being the point-person on working on several major projects at the historic parish. (Photo lines and hit the Basilica, the rectory and other all these projects, ensuring they are running on by Father Aaron Williams) businesses surrounding the property. schedule and communicating with vendors and “Nearly every electronic system in the church contractors,” said Father Williams. was damaged in some way, and we lost some devices in the rectory,” said Father Wil“Him and a lot of caffeine keep my head over water.” One major project is the third floor of the rectory located next to the Basilica. liams. Continued on page 6 – The top floor of the rectory historically had three bedrooms, but for many years was
Homegrown Harvest event celebrates, supports diocesan seminarians BY JOE LEE
MADISON – Once he was named vocation director for the Diocese of Jackson, Father Nick Adam went right to work on developing a grand plan to get seminarians acquainted with parishioners from all over the diocese. That dream became the Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest Festival, now in its third year and set for Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison. The event includes a sit-down meal, a silent auction and a seminarian presentation. “I knew we needed to raise money to support the education of future priests,” said Father Adam. “But I wanted there to be an event where we came together to ‘see’ what was happening with our vocation program. “Homegrown Harvest began with a vision of an event to celebrate our faith and the future priests of our church, and this year we are going to ‘see’ that we have nine seminarians. That’s four more than we had just this past May.” Seminarian education is hardly inexpensive. Bishop Joseph Kopacz estimates that education plus room and board for each year of college seminary and theology is in the $40,000 range per student. Then there’s travel,
summer assignments and summer formation programs for the seminarian, bringing to cost per student much closer to $50,000 annually. “The Homegrown Harvest is becoming the featured event to celebrate the gift of priesthood, to encourage vocations, and to personally invite candidates for seminary discernment and formation,” Bishop Kopacz said. “It is also an opportunity to build up the community of parents, family members, friends and supporters of
priestly vocations.” It might make sense to guess that most seminarians are in their early twenties, though this season’s group of nine ranges from early twenties to early fifties. For older seminarians, the discernment process is different because of their station in life, as well as the role parents play in the life of a fifty-something seminarian compared to that of a teen who may hear the call and look to his – Continued on page 6 –
INSIDE THIS WEEK
Eucharistic Congress 7 Diocese to host Eucharistic Congress in October
Hurricane Ian 10 Recovery efforts and collections
Blessing of the Pets Photos from blessings around the diocese
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