Knights of Columbus’ August Family of the Month
The Barrett Family!
Dear Parish Family,
I have the honor of announcing that the family of Jeanne and the late Frank Barrett is the Knights of Columbus’ “Family of the Month” for August 2022! The award normally goes to a family that has at least one child still living at home, but our Knights recognized that does not have to be the case, especially as Jeanne and some of her adult children and grandchildren are still part of our parish.
Back in 1953, Jeanne’s husband, Frank had proposed to her during a 40 Hours Devotion before the Blessed Sacrament. In their 60-year marriage, they would have ten children: Patrick, Michael, Kathy, Teresa, Laura, Frank, Joe, Peter, Paul, and Andy. While I never got to meet Frank (he passed away just before I arrived over eight years ago), both he and Jeanne set wonderful examples of giving of themselves in service to Christ and his Church. They were very active in the Christian Family Movement and in all the parish functions. During Sunday Mass, Frank would serve as a lector, usher, and choir member. Jeanne would teach CCD, now known as religious education. For decades, Jeanne was often in the kitchen cooking for all the various parish festivals and the annual seder meal. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for the Barretts were never about just the immediate family, as they would take the time to provide food, clothing, and even appliances for families in need.
At 90 years old, Jeanne continues to volunteer to this day, providing hospitality at funerals and volunteering at the parish office, such as being a counter for Sunday collections. She’s a regular at the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, but I also see her attending daily Mass each Wednesday and Friday. She is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary through the rosary and weekly devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She very much appreciates the revival our parish has experienced in the last several years, and she has been a part of that revival by her continued service.
Some of Jeanne’s children are likewise involved in our parish. Her firstborn son, Patrick, particularly in the last seven years now has become on fire with his Catholic faith! He initiated the rosary that is recited before the 8:00 Sunday Mass. He was one of the pilgrims on our parish’s Holy Land pilgrimage back in April. He galvanized support and helped organize a couple of the diocesan Men’s Conferences before Covid.
Patrick finds great fraternal support in his Saturday morning men’s group. He along with a couple of others in that men’s group have built the rosary garden just outside the parish center conference room and taken care of the landscaping around our St. John campus. He has also assisted Marty Lefere in taking care of the immaculate lawn surrounding our St. John Church. He has become a Knight of Columbus and regularly serves as lector, sacristan, and adult altar server at the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
Another son, Joe, has assisted Herb Brogan in coaching football at Lumen Christi. His wife, Karen, is one of our most beloved teachers at St. John School. She has been teaching the younger grades for over fifteen years at St. John and is one of the reasons why our school is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere. For Sunday Mass, I see them attending at both our St. John Church and St. Joseph Church. In sum, the Barrett family’s support of God’s kingdom here in Jackson is wide and varied. For all these reasons and more, the Barrett family is the Knights of Columbus August Family of the Month!
Fr. Chas