This newsletter provides information about summer camp activities and new clergy at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. The newsletter discusses the successful "God is Wild About Us" summer camp program for 45 youths ages 6-12 that focused on biblical themes. It also announces the ordination of three new Josephite priests, including two assigned to Our Mother of Mercy. Finally, it introduces the new Knights of Peter Claver Texas State chaplain, Very Rev. Henry Davis.

1. VOLUME 1 NO. 4 “ST. NEWSLETTER DATE: AUGUST 2011
OUR MOTHER OF MERCY NEWSLETTER
EDITOR: VERY REV. HENRY DAVIS, SSJ
“God Wild About Us” Summer Camp at OMOM!
Special points of in-
What do you call a reflected hearts of the little camp- terest:
group of children those ers. The psalm theme —
Junior Counselor who come together attributes — was great and the kids  Our youth of our par-
skating the time during the hottest in their journeyed to Moody Gar- ish attended two con-
away! days of summer, own way. dens for an IMAX Movie ferences this Summer.
screaming shouting, The and a day at the Beach.
singing, splashing , themes The culmination of the  Reflections from the
clapping, reading were camp was brought reality
the Bible, and creat- CYM Class of 2011.
“God made you.” , as we had our camp closing
ing beautiful crafts? You “God listens to you.”, celebration. Many parents,  First African American
would call it God watches over grandparents and friends
“PANDAMANIA”, where Josephite Superior
you.” , “God loves you were treated to a song fest
“God is Wild about us” take no matter what.”, “God and a great lunch. Many elected!
from Psalm 139. For the fifth gives good gifts.” The thanks to our supporters
straight year, Our Mother camp was staffed by the especially the Black and  Our Mother of Mercy
of Mercy Catholic Church good people of the par- Indian Fund of the United Church celebrating 75
welcomed 45 youths, 15 ish. Ms. A. Mills was the States with their grant to our years 1937-2011!!
counselors and 6 adults director, of Mrs. M. program.
to a wonderful event of Denson, Mrs. K. Thomas
the Vacation Bible School and other teachers as-
Summer Camp. This five sisted with the activities.
week program focused on We began the day with
five themes which was prayer, songs and dance
tied to biblical stories with the campers. The
from the Old and New camp was also grateful
Testament. Biblical for the junior counselors
themes were brought to and this year senior
life through African songs counselor Jacoby Ander-
and God’s creatures who son, Mary Pickney and
Al Lewis Jr. who won the
Inside this issue:
Good News!
New Josephites Priests for Missions!
apostolic duties in the Jose- to the priesthood at Holy Ms. Alexis Reado’s spotlight 2
phite Parish community. Comforter—St. Cyprian
Rev. Christopher Amadi, Church in Washington, D.C.
SSJ, who did his diaconate The church was filled to Very Rev. William Norvel, SSJ 2
year here at OMOM. Rev. capacity as these men took
Ugochukwu Jerome Cletus, the step into serving the KPC Texas has a chaplain! 3
SSJ our newly assigned Church as a Josephite
Vicar begin late August priest. Let us all bless the Young disciples of Christ. 3
On May 21, 2011, three 2011 and Rev. Michael K Lord and pray for these
young men lives changed Okechukwu, SSJ, who as- men and pray for more men New Roman Missal 3
for the good after years of sisted here a summer at from our parish to be Jose-
preparation, prayers and OMOM were ordained phite priests or brothers. School News 4

2. OUR MOTHER OF MERCY NEWSLETTER
Page 2
KPC State of Texas has a new chaplain– Do you
know him?
Very Rev. Henry J. Davis, at each state conferences. accessible to any and all
SSJ has been appointed the The Knights and Ladies of councils and courts who
Very Rev. Henry J. new Texas State Confer- St. Peter Claver is a Catho- may be in need of spiritual
Davis, SSJ cele- ence Chaplain. He will be lic Organization founded direction and advice on the
brating the mass at the first Fourth Degree the Society of St. Joseph of life of St. Peter Claver. The
Diocesan Youth Knight to hold the position the Sacred Heart of Jesus next big conference for the
conference in in the state of Texas. His and four lay men over a Texas State Conference will
2010& 2011. main responsibilities will hundred years ago. Fr. be in May 4-6, 2012 in Cor-
be to assist with the spiri- Davis belong to Council pus Christi, Texas for Sen-
tual enrichment of all mem- #78 in New Orleans and ior members and Junior
bers in the state and to ad- works extensively with State Conference will be
vise the boards of the Junior both Councils and Courts at March 8-March 11, 2012 at
Knights and Daughters and Our Mother of Mercy and the Dallas Forth Worth
Senior members Boards Blessed Sacrament Texas.
with liturgical celebrations Churches. Fr. Davis will be
To the Class of 2011 by Ms. Alexis Reado
Throughout my high school ca- became more involved in knowledge on how to be a
reer I have been involved in the things that bring me closer to leader and worked my way up
CYM ( Catholic Youth Ministry). God. Over the years I have the ladder from being a mem-
It has helped me be a leader and had the pleasure to evangel- ber, to being the secretary,
take the initiative to be all that ize with a variety of people vice president, and finally
the Lord has in store for me. that I probably would have president. It is sad to leave a
When I first joined I was appre- never met. On our annual strong group that has became
hensive about the organization trips I have friends that I can a family away from home. I
because it was something new. speak to by name and relate will take experiences with me
Everything at that time in my to them about almost any- as I embark on my new jour-
MS. ALEXIS READO & MR. life was new to me, but I am thing, because as a young ney, college!
IBRAHIM PAYNE glad to say now that I am glad I Christian we go through the
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
FOR THE CLASS OF 2011 did not give into my fear. By same things. God Bless,
ATTENDING THE being a member I have strength- By watching the older mem- Alexis Reado -Class of 2011
DIOCESAN YOUTH ened my faith as a Catholic and bers each year I gained
CONFERENCE!
Meet Very Rev. William Norvel, SSJ
The Very Rev. William Norvel SSJ is the Superior General of the
Josephite Society of Priests and Brothers. Father Norvel has
been a leader in bringing African American spirituality into
liturgy in the United States. “My thrust in ministry has been to
bring black culture and black spirituality to the Catholic
Church,” Father Norvel told The Josephite Harvest shortly after
his election.
He is credited with starting the gospel choir movement in
Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. He opened a Josephite
house of spiritual formation in Nigeria, where he served for
Very Rev. William Norvel, SSJ five years from 1999 to 2004. A number of Josephite priests Rev. Michael Thompson, SSJ
first American American have been ordained as a result of the Nigerian connection. He
Superior of the Josephites known to members here at OMOM. He used to visit when Fr. Rev. William Novel, SSJ
of Baltimore, Maryland.
Wooka was pastor.
Rev. Tom Frank, SSJ

3. VOLUME 1 NO. 4 “ST. JOSEPH, HEAR OUR PRAYER!”
Page 3
Our Catholic Teens are Disciples of Christ!
I am often amazed at how Amen!” . These young ing strong faith witness-
society can say that our disciples of Christ wit- ing skills and parish lead-
children and teens can ness their faith by attend- ership. This year we are
not focus or get there be- ing religious classes on blessed once again to
havior in check. There Monday evenings and have a member of our
may be some credit to the attend parish events as CYM group to present us
statement but when you on the Diocese Youth
encounter the teens and Board. Mr. Julien Owens,
youth at Our Mother of a young servant of the
Mercy Catholic Church, Lord will bring our teens
concerns and experience
to the committee. We are
also blessed to have to
youth members who at-
tended the
Oracle
Summer
youth members who are Institute in
active in this parish. The Washing-
Confirmation class this ton D.C.
you can not but contain year had a total of 12 Mr. Jordan
the joy and the excite- teens who wanted to keep Chambers
ment for the future be- living their faith in the and Ms.
cause these teens are Donya
strong examples of what Stagg. We
it means to be a follower are in-
of Christ. From “Souper debted to
Bowl of Caring” drives, to the many
collecting and organizing adults who give of their
can goods, assisting as time for assisting but in
ministers of hospitality, particular of Ms. Joyce
lectors, altar servers, Lombard our youth direc-
ministers of music, coun- Lord. On May 15, 2011, tor for many years, May
selors at VBS, drama, Di- we celebrated the Continue to bless our
ocesan Youth Graduation Mass for the Youths as they continue to
Board Leaders, and of class of 2011. A total of 33 serve the Lord.
course members of the graduates from high
Catholic Youth Ministry, school and college were The Roman Catholic
CYM. This list can go on honored and due to the Church on November 27,
generosity of our parish- 2011 will be using the
ioners through the Lenten Third Edition of the Ro-
folders and fundraisers, man Missal. In the com-
we awarded college ing weeks, we as a parish
scholarships to nine to community will begin to
our young men and four to sing and pray new words
our young ladies totaling to our celebration. There
$7000.00. have been many hand-
outs in the parish bulle-
Our CYM group is well tins and workshops to
and on. Our teens of Our
known around the Dio- prepare us. The next wor-
Mother of Mercy Catholic
cese and often times, ship will be in October
always continues to give
asked to assist other 2011 in the parish. You
you and me cause to say,
youth groups in develop- are invited to keep re-
“Thank You Jesus and
viewing to understand
your role as we all wor-
ship anew.

4. PAGE 4 AUGUST 2011 “OUR MOTHER OF MERCY, PRAY FOR US!”
Our Mother of Mercy Church celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
1937-2012
Our Mother of Mercy Church
3390 Sarah Street Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church joyfully announces its
Beaumont Texas 77705
The Josephits Fathers and Brothers
75th Anniversary kickoff celebration on January 21-22, 2012 at
all the masses. On that weekend we will pass out the schedule
Phone: 409-842-5533 of events. Each ministry organization will sponsor an activity
Fax: 409-842-4710 each month and we will have a parish Lenten Revival, 75 hours
Web page: www.omomcc.org
of adoration before the Holy Eucharist, a 75th Banquet in the
Summer of 2012 and the great Evangelization Quest Drive to
bring back to our Church 75 members who left and to recruit
75 new parishioners. We will have friends and family day and
special masses of remembrances to honor Our Mother of
Mercy, patroness of our parish and all departed parishioners
of our parish. As members of the parish , you will be also
asked to give a special gift to your church to renovate the
Church from the front to the back fundraiser. More details will
be on the way. Our great theme for our 75th Anniversary
O UR SPIRITS REJOICE represents the discipleship of our patroness, “Our Spirits
I N G O D O U R S AV I O R ! Rejoice in God our Savior!”
Our Mother of Mercy School continues to
educate God’s most precious little ones.
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic dents to succeed in all acade-
School continues to be a place mia and they offer the presence
to grow little minds with the of Christ to them everyday. Tell
knowledge of God’s world. Our your family and friends to send
school assists with encounter- their children to the best school
ing the lessons of reading, writ- in the Diocese of Beaumont.
ing, arithmetic, and computer Tuition is affordable and you
skills. Our school encourages can not afford to miss the op-
all its youth to engage with ac- portunity to form your child in
tivities of the sports, music and the ways of the Lord. You can
worship as each student prays register on online at
everyday and on Wednesdays www.omomcs.org or contact
@ 8:30 a.m. celebrates the Mrs. Wheaton at 409-842-5534
Eucharist as a student body. for more information and quali-
You can see the difference in fications for your child to be
their little lives as they boldly admitted to the school. Our
sing out to the Lord and pro- motto, “Enter to Learn, Leave to
claim the readings of the day Serve!”
with confidence. Our teachers
continue to meet the challenge
of drilling and teaching the stu-