NOVEMBER 23, 2022
mississippicatholic.com
Fourth and Glory! St. Joseph continues dynasty with victory over Tri-County in state title game By David W. Healy/Delta Democrat-Times
Said Baker, “Kye and the offensive line, they put the whole team on their backs and they got us in the endzone. JACKSON – It takes more than one We made the decision to run the ball in player to make a dynasty. the second half because we felt like we These were the words from St. Jowere more physical team and at halfseph Catholic School coach John Baker time we thought if we ran the ball we just minutes after his Fighting Irish decould win.” feated Tri-County Academy 26-14 to Nelson missed last year’s state semiwin the MAIS Class 4A State Champifinal with an injury. onship Thursday at Jackson Academy. Senior quarterback CJ Moore was It was the Irish’s fourth state champianother Irish player who helped ceonship in school history and fourth in ment the Irish dynasty Thursday night. six years. Moore is the brother of the first two As they have done in their previous Irish quarterbacks, Brice Johnson and three state championships, the biggest Dillon Johnson, who helped lead the stars on this year’s St. Joseph (11-1) Irish to their first three state championteam shined the brightest. But it was ships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. During not just one star. The night and the Thursday’s contest, Moore looked glory belonged to the entire St. Joseph much like his older two brothers when team who avenged a loss last season to they were leading the Irish to state gloTri-County in last year’s state semifinal ry. As he had all season, Moore extendgame. Senior running back Kye Nelson, JACKSON – The Fighting Irish of St. Joe Greenville toppled Tri-County Academy ed offensive plays with his speed and who played as a 5-foot-9 wrecking ball for the MAIS Class 4A State Championship on Thursday, Nov. 17 at Jackson Acad- escapability. After Tri-County opened the scorthe entire game, carried the ball for emy. More photos at mississippicatholic.com. (Photos by Joanna Puddister King) ing when QB Bryce Warriner connectcrucial yardage time after time again. ed with Ty Milner on a 13-yard touchIn the second half, Nelson’s determidown pass with 2:59 left in the first nation came to a crescendo when his quarter, Moore found a wide-open Christian Foster in the back of the endzone for 34-yard touchdown score put the Irish in the lead for good at 20-14 with 1:56 to play 24-yard touchdown reception to give St. Joseph a 7-6 lead. in the third quarter. Nelson finished the night with 144 yards rushing on 16 carries. Later in the second quarter, Moore made his biggest play of the game when he “I was just thinking after every carry to keep going and keep fighting,” Nelson raced down the right sideline for a 76-yard touchdown run to put the Irish up 14-6 said. “This game was revenge for us because Tri-County beat us in the semifinals last – Continued on page 6 – season.”
'Fraternal dialogue,' more prayer have place on bishops' assembly agenda By Catholic News Service
BALTIMORE – Gathered in Baltimore for their fall general assembly Nov. 14-17, the bishops elected new leadership, heard about the crisis in Ukraine and what's facing migrants at the U.S. southern border. They also approved several liturgical items and OK'd the advancement of the sainthood causes of three Catholic women. The prelates also discussed whether they should update "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," their document on the political responsibility of Catholics that they issue every four years for the presidential election. By an overwhelming majority, the bishops voted to reissue the teaching document without revisions but to add supplemental materials and begin a process of reexamining the teaching document following the 2024 election. Speaking from the floor, several bishops said it must include what Pope Francis has said on critical issues of the day in his nearly 10 years as the successor to Peter. But beyond the business agenda the bishops must
attend to every year, there was a greater emphasis on prayer throughout their four days together and changes in seating arrangements to promote "fraternal dialogue." In the ballroom of the hotel where the assembly takes place, round tables replaced long rows of tables and chairs focused on the stage where USCCB leaders led proceedings.
Each day of the meeting ended with vespers and throughout the plenary, there also was 24-hour eucharistic adoration, which was instituted at their 2021 assembly. There were also less formal bishop-media encounters. Their first public session took place the afternoon of Nov. 15 and opened with an address by Archbish– Continued on page 6 –
INSIDE THIS WEEK
Black Catholic Conf. 8 Blessing of Black Catholic Men's Conference
From the archives 10 Woodward gives thanks for gatherings around the table
Youth 15 Pictures of youth activities around the diocese