Region V development directors gather in Biloxi
Story and photos
BY TERRY DICKSON
BILOXI -- Annually, directors of development and stewardship from dioceses in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky meet to share ideas.
This year’s International Catholic Stewardship Council Region V meeting was
hosted by the Diocese of Biloxi.
“We get together every year around this time to share ideas, to share information,
but, most importantly, to encourage each other in our ministry as directors of devel-
opment,” said Deacon Roberto Jimenez, director of development for the Diocese of
Biloxi.
This year’s conference was held at the Beau Rivage. The last time the Diocese of
Biloxi hosted the regional gathering was in 2009. Fifteen people attended this year’s
gathering.
Deacon Jimenez said he looks forward to the annual event.
“It’s very helpful because we do share with one another some new ideas, some
new ways of fundraising and some new ways of doing our ministry,” he said.
“It’s helpful for me because we share our pains and our joys in this type of work
and we get to support and encourage each other.”
Ann Masden, who has served as the director of development/public affairs for the
Diocese of Alexandria, La., said the annual meeting also offers an important spiritual
component.
“The first huge benefit is the spirituality of our meetings,” she said.
“I think we all need to move away from our work and go to a quiet place. This
gathering enables us to share our spirituality with people that do the same thing we
do every day. Also, we’re able to exchange ideas that help us improve what we do in
our own dioceses. We go back, we take information back with us and it’s just a great
exchange for us.”
The keynote speaker was Father Mike Austin, pastor of Holy Family Parish in
Pass Christian and diocesan director of worship, who focused on stewardship from
the perspective of the liturgy.
The keynote
speaker for this
year’s International
Catholic
Stewardship Council
Region V meeting
was Father Mike
Austin, pastor of
Holy Family Parish
in Pass Christian
and diocesan
director of worship,
who focused on
stewardship from
the perspective of
the liturgy.
Some attendees of the International Catholic Stewardship Council Region
V meeting were, l-r, Ann Masden, Diocese of Alexandria, La.; Connie Babin,
Diocese of Lafayette, La.; Tammy Abshire, Diocese of Baton Rouge, L.; and Eric
Guerin, Diocese of Baton Rouge, La.
Bishop Roger Morin presents a $1,000 check to Theresa Pavlov, former executive
director of the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy. Pavlov was nominated
by Bishop Morin Catholic Extension’s 2013 Lumen Christi Award and, by merit of
her nomination, was given $1,000 by Catholic Extension to be used to continue the
good work of the pharmacy. At left, is Sam Burke, the pharmacy’s current executive
director. All three expressed gratitude to Catholic Extension for recognizing this vital
ministry.
A Prescription for Health and Hope
In 1997, Pavlov observed a troubling trend: many people along the Mississippi
Gulf Coast were forced to choose between paying for food and purchasing their
medications. Recognizing that a choice between food and medicine was no choice at
all, Pavlov and members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society founded a free pharmacy
to help all those in need. The pharmacy, the only one of its kind in South Mississippi,
distributes more than $1.5 million worth of medication each year. As its unpaid
executive director for 11 years and serving as a volunteer now, Pavlov’s faith and
vision has brought comfort, security and hope to those who feared finances would
trump their health.
Photo/Terry Dickson
Bishop Morin presents Catholic Extension check to former executive
director of St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy
Gulf Pine Catholic
•
March 28, 2014
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