JULY 21, 2023
mississippicatholic.com
Christine Love receives the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice cross from Pope Francis BY JOE LEE
ceeded by Bishop Joseph Brunini, but Love continued to sit with him as his JACKSON – The reality of being health worsened over the years. presented with a medal awarded by “At the end, Bishop Gerow’s home Pope Francis is difficult for Christine was at St. Dominic Hospital. He passed Love to get her mind around. away in my arms,” she said. “After he Recently retired after more than passed, I began working with Sister five decades of serving as housekeeper, Claudia Murphy, taking care of the secaretaker, and trusted friend to Jacknior citizens of the diocese. When Bishson Diocese Bishops Gerow, Brunini, op Houck came along, I started working Houck, Latino and Kopacz, the soft-spofor him at his home.” ken member of Cathedral of St. Peter’s There were lots of lighthearted mothe Apostle Church was awarded the ments over the years. Love recalls BishPro Ecclesia et Pontifice cross for her op William Houck always being able fifty-plus years of dedicated service to to tell a good joke and remembers his the Office of the Bishop. Frank Sinatra records; she said Bishop “It makes me feel good. It makes me Joseph Latino enjoyed discussing the feel happy. It makes me feel like I’m gonews and television shows. Using the ing to heaven,” Love said of the medal, words “perfectionist” and “tidy” to dewhich was announced at the Vatican in scribe all five men, Love said she built a February and presented to her by Bishrapport with each and earned a level of op Joseph Kopacz at the Cathedral in trust that brought her into their inner late June. (Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, as circles. translated, means “for the church and “I’ve known Christine more than 35 pope.” See accompanying story.) years,” said Diocesan Chancellor Mary A graduate of Jim Hill High School JACKSON – On June 25 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Chancellor Woodward. “I got to know her better in Jackson, Love earned an undergraduate degree from Campbell College Mary Woodward prepares to pin the pro ecclesia et pontifice cross on Christine when I started coordinating the dinners (now Jackson State University) six de- Love for fifty-plus years of dedicated service to the Office of the Bishop. (Photo Bishop Houck would host at his townhouse. Christine would be getting the cades ago. When her husband, A.G., a by Joanna King) house in tip-top shape for guests while I building contractor, was temporarily ill would be chopping lemons and carrots. early in their marriage, Love enrolled in nursing school at Hinds Community Col“She is one of the kindest people I know. Traits of hers that I think endeared her lege. “I was just about finished. Pharmacology was my last class,” Love recalled. “I to each bishop were her dedication to their well-being, availability at the drop of a was told, ‘You’re just like a nurse. Come on.’ I started with the Professional Nurses hat, her knowledge of the household and of each bishop’s personality. She would Registry and worked for them a year or so before going on out my own. That’s what know exactly how Bishop Houck would want something, compared to how Bishop Latino would like it. Each one she served was unique, and she was very good at led to my work with the diocese and the bishops.” A major turning point in her life was an opportunity to serve as a private duty – Continued on page 6 – nurse for Bishop Gerow, to whom she grew close. Gerow retired in 1967 and was suc-
Diocesan elementary schools move to MAIS BY JOANNA KING AND STAFF REPORTS
JACKSON – The seven remaining Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Jackson have collectively decided to join diocesan Catholic high schools in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). This summer, St. Anthony, Madison; St. Elizabeth, Clarksdale; St. Patrick, Meridian; St. Richard, Jackson; Sr. Thea Bowman, Jackson; Sacred Heart, Southaven; and Holy Family, Holly Springs became the newest members of MAIS. “We are very excited about this move as it broadens our opportunities for student activities and educator professional development and widens the professional network among our nonpublic and independent school counterparts,” said Karla Luke, executive director of Catholic education for the diocese. With this decision, all diocesan schools and early learning centers in the Diocese of Jackson will remain internationally accredited by Cognia, Inc. Additionally, the Office of Education will withdraw membership from state accreditation obtained through the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). “We are proud of our Cognia accreditation as it is based on a strict set of school improvement principles and is aligned with the National Catholic Education
Association’s adopted National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS),” said Luke. The state accreditation obtained through MDE is a regional performance-based accreditation centered on adherence to and compliance with a set of requirements established by the Mississippi State Board of Education. Cognia, through its partnership with
MAIS, operates on the principle of continuous school improvement. This difference allows school administrators and their organizational leadership to render important education-related decisions based on the needs of their community. The NSBECS standards, incorporated in the Cognia accreditation process, advocate that a concentrated focus on continuous im-
– Continued on page 6 –
INSIDE THIS WEEK
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