Religion Briefs for July 21, 2012

Vocations discussed at St. Thomas More

Patricia Welther, who as a volunteer has led adult and youth religious education programs in both the St. Thomas More Catholic Parish and the Baton Rouge Diocese, will discuss her faith journey during the A Calling from God at a vocations symposium at 6:30 p.m. July 31 in the St. Thomas More activity center on Dartmoor Drive near Goodwood Boulevard.

Welther earned a master’s degree in theology in 2009, the year after the sudden death of her husband, Jay. She is the mother of two adult children. Through prayer and intense study, Welther discerned a belated vocation with the Daughters of Divine Hope in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.

Also scheduled at the program will be he the foundress of the order, Sister Susan Catherine Kennedy, who will speak about her own search for fulfillment in a consecrated religious community. A mother and grandmother, Kennedy was widowed in 2007.

The Rev. Matthew Dupré, of the Baton Rouge Diocesan Vocations Office, will conclude the presentation with a discussion of vocations to priesthood, religious life and marriage.

Refreshments will be served after the program.

Catholic High School leader remembered

Donnan Berry, a brother of the Sacred Heart, who died on July 6 at the age of 84, is remembered for his contributions to fundraising and Catholic education.

Berry served as principal of Catholic High School from 1964-1974, when the school was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities.

Berry later returned to Baton Rouge in 1980 as the first development director at Catholic High School where he served until 1993.

Berry shared his vision of fundraising to the broader community by founding the Baton Rouge Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives (now called Partners in Philanthropic Planning) to help nonprofits throughout the area. He was the first person in Baton Rouge to hold a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation.

Berry was inducted into the Catholic High Hall of Fame in 1975 and was honored by the National Catholic Education Association in 1991 for his contributions to American Secondary Education.

Martis Jones named Pentecostal bishop

A Louisiana advocate for social change was consecrated by the Board of Bishops of the Louisiana District Council, 27th Episcopal Diocese of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World last month in New Orleans as a suffragan bishop, making her the first female Pentecostal Assemblies bishop in the South.

An author and pastor for more than 10 years, Suffragan Bishop Martis Jones is a pastor in EdenNOW Ministries and WOMEN United in Prayer (WUP), both of which are ministry groups centered on reaching women and children in need through creative outreach.

Jones and other members helped to rebuild the groups, whose membership dropped from 200 to six following Hurricane Katrina, through inspiring telephone ministry.

In her new position, she will serve the church in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Jones earned her doctorate at Vanderbilt University. Prior to embarking on her ministry with PAW, Jones worked at the State Department in New York State, American Airlines and Southland Corp. before starting a change management company.

After selling her company, Jones moved to Louisiana where she served as chief administrative officer/deputy mayor in Hammond.

Boys book club reads ‘The Dream Giver’

Building Biblical Principles Through The Power of Literature, a young men’s book club of New Life Ministries, will next read “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkerson.

Club members, ages 12-16, meet to discuss their reading from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Sundays of the month at various community locations such as bookstores.

Contact Kellie Bynum Lathan at [phone] to register.

Compiled by
Advocate staff