MAY 5, 2023
mississippicatholic.com
Not forgotten: Historical marker dedicated at former orphanage site at Cathedral School BY SABRINA SIMMS ROBERTSON/THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School students, officials and community members of all ages gathered around a historical marker on a hilltop behind Cathedral School on Wednesday, April 26 to celebrate the dedication of a historical marker for the former Devereux Hall Orphan Asylum, out of which the Catholic school was established. Between 1861 and 1966, the Devereux Hall Orphanage, led by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, cared for more than 1,500 boys. One of them was James Shaidnagle, who entered the orphanage in 1955 and graduated from Cathedral School in 1962. “As a representative of these boys, we do not want this piece of history to (be forgotten). The brothers instilled in us an everlasting work ethic and values that allowed us to become productive citizens,” Shaidnagle said during Wednesday’s dedication. His brothers, Donnie, Billy and Paul, were raised by NATCHEZ – On April 26, Cathedral School students gather around a historical marker that marks the orphanage also. the location of a former orphanage for boys where the school was later built. (Photo by Sabrina Shaidnagle, a lifelong Simms Robertson/The Natchez Democrat)
teacher, retired from Cathedral in 2022 and turned his attention to memorializing the orphanage. In 1855, William St. John Elliot willed his mansion, Devereux Hall, for the creation of a boy’s orphanage. His widow Anna Elliot later purchased the estate from the church in order to keep the house in the family and the proceeds were used to purchase 35.19 acres for a new orphanage on Aldrich and Pine streets, which could only accommodate 12 boys. After the Civil War, a larger brick building was constructed and was right away filled with 41 orphans. Through the years, the building expanded in size. But in 1966, several factors, including the escalation in operational costs and a decline in the number of orphans, contributed to its closing and demolition. With Wednesday’s dedication of a marker at the site of the former Devereux Hall Orphanage, younger generations learned about it and the impact it has had on their lives and the generations before.
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Upcoming ordinations, invitation to celebrate with the church BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING
Deacon Carlisle Beggerly will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Jackson on Saturday, May 27.
home parish of Immaculate Conception in West Point on Sunday, May 28 at 9 a.m. A priestly assignment for Beggerly will be announced in the near future. JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson celebrates On Saturday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. seminarian Tristan Stovall will be ordained to two ordinations this year, giving the faithful across the diocese an opportunity to join in this special the transitional diaconate for the diocese. chapter in the life of the church. – Continued on page 6 – Deacon Carlisle Beggerly will be ordained to INSIDE THIS WEEK the priesthood on Saturday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. The ordination is open to all. There will be reserved seating for family members and a reception will follow where all may receive a blessing from the newly Pro-life safety net 7 Youth 18 ordained. New leader 10 After ordination, Mississippi enacts legislaYouth activities around the SHSM names Sacred Heart Beggerly will celebrate tion to protect life diocese alum as president/CEO his first Mass in his