Supported Ministries

As each of our nine seminarians move closer to ordination, your gift to the appeal helps with the cost of tuition, books, and health insurance. The Office of Vocations helps to guide those who are discerning a call to a life of serving the Church. It is through prayers and your support that people are responding to God's call.









 

“I would not have been able to afford my seminarian education without the generosity of the faithful who give to the CSA. When I become a priest, I will give to the annual Catholic Service Appeal because I will never forget how important your current giving is to the future of our Church – our seminarians.” 
Carlisle Beggerly - West Point, MS

The Permanent Diaconate program supports men who are currently in spiritual enrichment and formation preparing to be ordained as a deacon to serve our church. Currently our diocese has seven men in formation who will be ordained in 2026.  At this time, we have 13 active deacons and 1 retired deacon.



 

"The Diaconate formation process has granted me a structured format to grow, not only in my faith, but also closer to the like-minded men while discerning this path of service to the Catholic Church." Hunter Yentzen - Clinton, MS

Through the Priest Retirement Fund we have the honor of supporting our 23 retired priests by providing assistance through supplemental  health insurance, long term care needs, and other important services required, as they continue to serve our diocese.

We are thankful for our retired priests whose lives embody the essence of giving. From them we learned firsthand what it means to sacrifice, for they gave their own lives as an offering to God, for our sake. With the passing of time, there comes a point when we, as a Church, must care for the priests who first cared for us.
 

“I go to Vicksburg Catholic School each day to be with the kids.   For an old priest like me, they put a spring in my step, a smile on my face, and a song in my heart.  I also like to see the teachers and the staff. They are such an inspiration.”  Father PJ Curley

The Clergy Assistance Program provides care to our priest above and beyond what medical care and salaries may cover.

From time to time, clergy are faced with personal emergencies and need modest help to meet their challenges. As members of the Catholic faith community, each of us can play an important role in encouraging and supporting those who answer God's call.
 

It is through these men that we have access to the life-giving graces of the Sacraments. Whether it’s new life in Baptism, nourishment in the Eucharist, forgiveness in Reconciliation, healing in Anointing of the Sick, or preparation for death through funeral rites and liturgies, it is these men, these priests, who make it all possible.

As the minors from worn torn countries and victims of human trafficking seek shelter and safety,  Catholic Charities provides foster care giving them a place to call home through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program. 

Since 1963 Catholic Charities has been a visible sign of Christ’s love to those who are unable to help themselves.


 

"They are my real Mom and Dad and they treat me like their other children," says  Izzy. "I don't know where I would be without my family and the CCURM program." Izzy.

At the Freshman retreat, students connect with other Catholics on Campus. They become involved in the campus ministry program, as well as making friends to attend Mass with each week.

Throught the Office of Communications, the Mississippi Catholic newspaper provides both print and digital Catholic news to all parishioners in our diocese.

Bishop Kopacz uses this media to evangelize throughout the diocese and to deliver local, national and worldwide Catholic news to all parishioners, in particular the homebound, helping them stay connected to their faith.

 

“Communication is the core activity of the church. It is essentially the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our communications team, along with many across the diocese, work to bring this Good News through print, video and social media, helping Catholics stay connected to their faith and to evangelize to all with His Good News.”  Joanna King, Director of Communications

You help bring people into a closer relationship with God through educational and experiential opportunities for encounter. Parish volunteers become certified catechists so they can work with adults and youth. Parish lay ministries and Catholic school teachers involved in catechesis, RCIA, liturgy, Lay Ecclesial Ministry, and Pastoral Ministry programs receive training, certification, and attend retreats to help them better serve our parishes and schools.


 

"The workshops help me to reflect and meditate alone with our Father. They reenergize me to follow my calling to spread the word of our Lord."  Letty Ruiz, St. Christopher - Pontotoc, MS

The Office of Family Ministry helps engaged couples prepare for a lifetime of marriage, enabling them to speak honestly and openly about their future life together through marriage preparation. The Office of Family Ministry also supports remarriage preparation enrichment, divorce support and natural family planning with the goal of strengthening the vocation of marriage.

 

"As the new coordinator of the Office of Family Ministry, I am excited to provide a wide range of resources to our priests, parishes, and families."  Debbie Tubertini

Intercultural Ministry works with Black, Hispanic, Vietnamese and Native American Catholics in our diocese to develop leadership, celebrate diverse cultures, and strengthen parish engagement. The Catholic Service Appeal helps by offering leadership training, family programs and retreat experiences to celebrate their gifts and deepen their Catholic faith.



 

We are challenged to break down the barriers of division and sectarianism, to bring the Gospel to every race and culture and help them understand the marvels of God in their own native languages.

Mission Parishes

The Catholic Service Appeal helps to provide grant opportunities for parishes to help with projects in their parish. Our mission parishes are filled with parishioners who are dedicated to their Catholic faith. These parishes are small but determined to build a strong Catholic community. Because they are small, they need the support of larger churches to help them accomplish the mission of our Catholic faith.
 

“A Mission Grant allowed us to make necessary structural repairs to our aging facility without worrying if we could cover our recurring bills.  We have suffered from roof leaks in our 8 dormers for a while now, but through the aid provided by the Mission Grant, we were able to secure our place of worship and prevent further damage to our church facility. Many of us have worried about the cost of this repair for quite some time as there was much “discovery” to be done to find the source of our problems.  Now that our repair is complete, we can turn our attention to other issues yet to be addressed.”  St. Francis, New Albany

Mission Schools

Catholic Schools have served in our diocese since 1847, providing excellence in Catholic education grounded in gospel values, community and service to others.

The Catholic Service appeal helps to provide operating grant opportunities for schools to help with special projects, tuition assistance, teacher salaries and curriculum needs.

 

“The Diocesan Mission grant helped Annunciation Catholic School. The $10,000 awarded to repair and replace Cottage 2’s roof enabled us to use that space as a classroom again (which was very necessary during COVID.) You enabled us to continue increasing enrollment, because now we have access to that room as a classroom, Thank you for your generosity so that we can continue to help children reach their full potential in a Christ-centered environment.”  Joni House, Principal, Annunciation Catholic School, Columbus

Young Adult Ministry - You spoke and we listened. During the synod process, the need for a Young Adult Ministry was mentioned often. This newly established ministry will give our young adults a place in our parishes to continue to grow in their faith beyond college.


 

"The voice of the young church was head throughout the diocese calling for intentional ministry beyond the college years. We are excited to expand ministry to the young church."  Amelia Rizor

Our youth live in a diocese that is only 3% Catholic. Youth Ministry allows our Catholic youth to gather at retreats and conferences so they interact with other Catholic youth, engage in their faith, and learn the importance of developing a relationship with God. 












 

"Last year the youth of my parish came up with the 'You've Been Loved' campaign. This ministy had a huge impact in our small community. The youth brought so much joy to so many p eple, and they could feel the presence of the Lord in this project."   Carrie Lambert, St. Mary Basilica - Natchez MS