2018-06-08-eEdition

PAGE 2 THE CATHOLIC WEEK JUNE 8, 2018 The Catholic Week JUNE 8, 2018 Volume 84, Number 12 Official Publication of the Archdiocese of Mobile Published since 1934 The Catholic Week (USPS 094-660) is published bi-weekly by the Archdiocese of Mobile 356 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602 Periodical Postage Paid at Mobile, Alabama —POSTMASTER— Send address changes to: The Catholic Week, PO Box 349, Mobile, AL 36601 Mobile P.S. Form 3541-N —PUBLISHER— Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi —EDITOR— Robert W. Herbst 251-434-1544 rherbst@mobarch.org —PRODUCTION— Pamela C. Wheeler 251-434-1545 tcw@mobarch.org —ADVERTISING— Mary Ann Stevens 251-434-1543 mstevens@mobarch.org —OFFICE HOURS— 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— 251-432-3529 FAX: 251-434-1547 —OFFICE ADDRESS— 356 Government Street Mobile, Alabama —MAILING ADDRESS— PO Box 349 • Mobile AL 36601 —WEBSITE— www.mobarch.org/catholicweek —ONLINE EDITION— www.mobarch.org —SUBSCRIPTIONS— Laura C. Ball 251-434-1535 lball@mobarch.org $22 out-of-parish, and $24 out-of- state. Address all subscription cor- respondence to The Catholic Week , PO Box 349, Mobile AL 36601. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about a subscription, customer should include a recent address label with old address and new address and allow four weeks for address change to take effect. DEADLINES for JUNE 22, 2018 News copy and photos: JUNE 12, NOON Advertising Camera-ready Ads: JUNE 12, NOON Children and Adolescent Protection Program training throughout the archdiocese is offered monthly for personnel and volunteers in the Mobile District and the Baldwin/Escambia and Montgomery Deaneries. Teacher/catechist certification curriculum will be taught at August and September sessions. Baldwin/Escambia Deanery St. Lawrence Parish—7 p.m. ( 2 nd Tuesday of most months) June & July (no training), August 14, September 11, October 9 Mobile Deanery St. Dominic Parish—7 p.m. ( 4 th Wednesday of most months) June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, November 28 Montgomery Deanery Montgomery Catholic High—6:30 p.m. ( 4 th Wednesday of most months) June & July (no training), August 22, September 26, October 24 Dothan Deanery Training sessions are conducted on an “as needed” basis. Contact your pastor in the Dothan area for more information. Each of these parishes will serve as the ongoing training location for its district/deanery. For information or to report suspected abuse contact the Office of Child Protection at 251-434-1559 or email childprotection@mobarch.org The Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy can be found in the “Supplemental Material” section of the Children and Adolescents Protection Program page of the mobarch.org website Education/Training Schedules CHILD PROTECTION OFFICE By ROBHERBST The Catholic Week MOBILE — Those who are imprisoned lost one of their greatest advocates and the Archdiocese of Mobile lost a great deacon last month. Deacon John F. Ross, who had been the director of the Archdiocese of Mobile’s Min- istry to the Incarcerated, died May 23 at Flowers Hospital in Dothan at the age of 75. He was ordained a deacon in 2002. Along with being a fixture at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Ozark, Deacon Ross was de- voted to serving those who are incarcerated. According to Deacon Ronnie Hathorne, director of the dia- conate for the archdiocese, Dea- con Ross “was a great man and a great deacon of the Church.” “John especially loved all of those men that he served in prison,” Deacon Hathorne said. “And he had a great commit- ment and passion in carrying out prison ministry through- out the Archdiocese of Mobile. John was always advocating for those imprisoned. And he was always reaching out to priests, deacons and others to get them actively involved in prison min- istry. Because of John’s personal commitment and passion in carrying out this ministry, he personally demonstrated to many, many people, including myself, that he was one of the greatest advocates that God sent upon this earth to be a minister to his people who have been imprisoned.” A Mass of Christian Burial was held May 26 at St. John the Evangelist Parish with par- ish Pastor Rev. Fred Boni offi- ciating. Interment followed in Westview Memorial Cemetery with full Military Honors. Deacon Ross had visited those who are imprisoned for more than 10 years and served for about seven years as the min- istry’s director. “In my experience of Dea- con John Ross, he had the heart of a deacon. He truly took the works of mercy seriously, par- ticularly that of visiting those in prison. As I mentioned to the prisoners at Easterling in Clio during Mass the evening Dea- con John died, he was not just dedicated to prison ministry in the abstract but rather to each person he met in the prison,” Fr. Boni said. “In addition to this, Deacon John Ross was very dedicated to reaching out to others to invite them into the faith, into the Catholic commu- nity in our parish. He was most certainly a pillar in his family, in our parish, in the prison, as well as in the broader community in Dale County. He is missed, but in a certain sense Deacon John’s death is a victory, and our par- ish is proud to count him as our own. “ In an interview with “The Catholic Week” last year, Dea- con Ross explained he was committed to prison ministry because he was meeting people that needed to be nourished. “What you expect going in there is a bunch of (tough guys) and so forth,” Deacon Ross said in the Aug. 18, 2017, edition of “The Catholic Week.” “What I found was some Christians who felt like they were not being fed.” While his countless visits to prisons throughout the archdio- cese slowed down due to health issues in recent months, he al- ways tried to do as much as he could for those imprisoned. “John was so committed in helping others, for he said in a conversation to me just about three months ago ‘Ron, I am starting to feel better and I am ready to get back on the altar and get back to work in the prisons,’” Deacon Hathorne explained. “Well, John was unable to physically go back in the prisons and serve on the altar again. But I know within my heart that the memory of Deacon John Ross remains with all those impris- oned men that he served so well.” Deacon Ross was born July 28, 1942, in Baltimore. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam Vet- eran, retiring at Fort Rucker fol- lowing 20 years of service. After his military stint, Deacon Ross worked 20 years with Civil Ser- vice at Fort Rucker before retir- ing. Deacon Ross was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Holloway Ross; five children, Paula Ross, Tammy Ross Stinson (Wayne), John F. Ross III (Tonya), Mikell Ross Bishop (Danny) and Patrick M. Ross; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six sisters; one brother; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, P. O. Box 1008, Ozark, AL 36361. Said Deacon Hathorne: “And his memory remains with priests, deacons, laity, prison officials and others, who per- sonally witnessed his shining example of service throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. Rest In Peace Deacon John Ross and may God’s perpetual light shine upon you. For you served Him well, while upon this earth. AMEN.” DEACON JOHN F. ROSS, 1942-2018 Longtime prisonministry director dies Submitted by Spring Hill College MOBILE — The Board of Trustees of Spring Hill College has announced that, as part of its ongoing succession planning, President Christopher P.Puto,PhD has taken on the role of President Emeritus effective June 1. In this role, he will serve as Chair of the Spring Hill College FoundationTrust,Chair of the Board of Trustees Real Estate Task Force and Founding Director of the John J.Burke Center for the Study and Advancement of Free Enterprise. As he transitions from the office of President, he will continue to represent the college to key constituents inside and outside the College. “Dr. Puto has served our College well, helping secure our SAC- SCOC accreditation, moving our athletics program successfully to- ward NCAA Division II membership, and being a voice for and a partner to our students and alumni as they become men and women in service to others,” said Michael Coghlan, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The Board, faculty and staff appreciate the dedication he gave and the love he has shown to his alma mater.” Puto, the 37th president of Spring Hill College, began his post on campus June 1, 2015. He is a 1964 Spring Hill College graduate with a degree in economics. Puto served the College as a member of the Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2012. SPRING HILL COLLEGE Dr. Puto transitions to role as President Emeritus Deacon Ross served at St. John the Evangelist Parish, was ‘a great deacon of the Church’ The Catholic Week file photo Deacon John F. Ross, who served at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Ozark, died May 23 at the age of 75.