MS Catholic - October 14, 2022

'National treasure' receives care, repairs

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

NATCHEZ — The beauty is evident just driving by gothic revival style church – St. Mary Basilica – in downtown Natchez. The thousands of tourists that visit the Basilica each year, in addition to many parishioners don’t see all of the work that goes in to keeping such a beauty in shape.

Father Aaron Williams was just appointed pastor of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption parish in May of this year, but he has already taken on projects from restoration work on the rectory and the bell tower, repairs to stained glass windows, and lighting work in the sanctuary – not to mention work on electrical equipment, including the church bell, the organ, sound system and HVAC due to a lightning strike in August. And all of this is in addition to his pastoral duties to the parishes and to students at Cathedral School.

“It is exciting for me to be a part of this great work of preservation,” said Father Williams. “The parish really is a treasure of American Catholic history and we have to do what we can to hand on that treasure to the next generation.”

To help keep up with all of the projects, Father Aaron recently hired a new staff member, Jacob Ali, to serve as strategic planning coordinator. “Jacob is assisting me by being the point-person on all these projects, ensuring they are running on schedule and communicating with vendors and contractors,” said Father Williams.

“Him and a lot of caffeine keep my head over water.”

One major project is the third floor of the rectory located next to the Basilica. The top floor of the rectory historically had three bedrooms, but for many years was

used as an area for storage. Over the years, the area was subject to moisture that damaged the walls. The third floor of the rectory has now been completely gutted down to the studs and is now safer said Father Williams. The long-term plan is to restore the bedrooms on that floor for guests.

On the side of the church facing the rectory, it was discovered that two stained glass windows were in need of immediate repair. Father Williams said it was determined to be an “emergency” situation because the windows were both bending out from the frame and could potentially break.

The two windows are now being repaired and cleaned, with new protective glass being installed over them on the exterior.

In 2019, the ice storm caused extensive damage to the Basilica. “Most of that was repaired,” said Father Williams. “But we discovered that the top level of the bell tower was holding water and in the long-term this could prove very dangerous for the structure.” So, the few feet of roofing over the tower was replaced.

Amidst all of the projects, a lightening strike to an adjacent property during a storm in August caused thousands of dollars in damages to various electrical systems, including the church bell, the organ, sound system and HVAC. Father Williams reported that the surge fed up the underground lines and hit the Basilica, the rectory and other businesses surrounding the property.

“Nearly every electronic system in the church was damaged in some way, and we lost some devices in the rectory,” said Father Williams.

Homegrown Harvest event celebrates, supports diocesan seminarians

BY JOE LEE

MADISON – Once he was named vocation director for the Diocese of Jackson, Father Nick Adam went right to work on developing a grand plan to get seminarians acquainted with parishioners from all over the diocese.

That dream became the Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest Festival, now in its third year and set for Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison. The event includes a sit-down meal, a silent auction and a seminarian presentation.

“I knew we needed to raise money to support the education of future priests,” said Father Adam. “But I wanted there to be an event where we came together to ‘see’ what was happening with our vocation program.

“Homegrown Harvest began with a vision of an event to celebrate our faith and the future priests of our church, and this year we are going to ‘see’ that we have nine seminarians. That’s four more than we had just this past May.”

Seminarian education is hardly inexpensive. Bishop Joseph Kopacz estimates that education plus room and board for each year of college seminary and theology is in the $40,000 range per student. Then there’s travel,

summer assignments and summer formation programs for the seminarian, bringing to cost per student much closer to $50,000 annually.

“The Homegrown Harvest is becoming the featured event to celebrate the gift of priesthood, to encourage vocations, and to personally invite candidates for seminary discernment and formation,” Bishop Kopacz said.

“It is also an opportunity to build up the community of parents, family members, friends and supporters of

priestly vocations.”

It might make sense to guess that most seminarians are in their early twenties, though this season’s group of nine ranges from early twenties to early fifties. For older seminarians, the discernment process is different because of their station in life, as well as the role parents play in the life of a fifty-something seminarian compared to that of a teen who may hear the call and look to his

Eucharistic

Hurricane Ian 10 Recovery e orts and collections

Blessing of the Pets 17 Photos from blessings around the diocese

NATCHEZ – Stained glass windows at St. Mary Basilica receive repairs on Friday, Sept. 16. Father Aaron Williams has been working on several major projects at the historic parish. (Photo by Father Aaron Williams)

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

DIOCESE/GLUCKSTADT Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, Friday, Oct. 28-29 at St. Joseph Church in Gluckstadt. Featured speaker Father Ajani Gibson of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This will be an evening and morning of prayer, adoration, spiritual talks and Mass. Details: visit https://jacksondiocese.org/calendar-event/ diocesan-eucharistic-congress/.

GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus, “The Prison, the Warden and the Key to Freedom” event, Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featured presenters: “Mercy Beau coup” – Cindy Scardina, Ann Roshto and Lynn Mondt. All are welcome. Event is free with love offering taken. Details: sign up on facebook, eventbrite or call (662) 299-1232.

NATCHEZ St. Joseph Monastery, “Falling More in Love with Jesus” Day of Recollection with special guest, Noel Delery on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch provided. To view itinerary, visit www.saintjo sephmonastery.com. Details: RSVP to (601) 653-0914 or email mon.saintjoseph@ive.org.

TUPELO St. James, Annual Men’s Retreat, Nov. 1820 at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala. Retreat leader is Father Ben Cameron of the Fathers of Mercy. Retreat begins Friday evening and ends Sunday morning. Enjoy this weekend of prayer, rest and fellowship. Cost: $130 if sharing a room or $205 for a private room. Registration includes two nights of lodging, all meals and snacks. De tails: David at (662) 213-3742.

PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS

FLOWOOD St. Paul, MARC Prison Ministry Work shop, Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests will hear success stories of former inmates, meet vol unteers who are doing the work and learn more about areas of need. Lunch provided. Must RSVP by Oct. 19 at https://www.marcreentry.org/. Details: on website or call/text (601) 521-1331.

JACKSON 42nd annual Squat & Gobble, Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Country Club of Jackson. All proceeds help victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. De tails: visit www.friendsforacause.com.

MADISON St. Francis, Homegrown Harvest Voca

tions Fundraiser, Saturday, Oct. 29 from 6-9 p.m. Details: visit https://bit.ly/HGHarvest2022.

MCCOMB St. Alphonsus, 100th Jubilee Celebra tion, Sunday Oct. 30. Musical program at 3 p.m.; Mass at 3:30 p.m. with fellowship meal following. Details: church office (601) 684-5648.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick, 23rd annual Variety Show, Dinner and Fashion Show, Saturday, Nov. 5 in the Family Life Center. Tickets on sale at school or parish office. Reserved $25; adults $10; and chil dren 13 and under $5. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Annual Cemetery Procession at Natchez City Cemetery on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. Procession begins at the Old Catho lic Plot 1. Participants recite rosary to honor burials prior to 1861 as they process to Catholic Hill in the rear of the cemetery. All adults and youth are invited to join. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

TUPELO St. James, Rummage Sale, Saturday, Nov. 5 from 7:30-11a.m. in Shelton Hall. Details: call Kathy at (662) 322-2556.

YOUTH EVENTS

DIOCESE SEARCH Retreat – For Teens, By Teen, Jan. 13-15, 2023 at Camp Wesley Pines in Gallman. Details: email abbey.schuhmann@jackson diocese.org.

JACKSON St. Richard, An Evening with Moms and Daughters with Kari Kampakis, Sunday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening with author and speaker Kari Kampakis as she shares Scripture-based wisdom for girls (seventh grade and up) and their mothers, covering topics from friendships, identi ty, social media, dating and more. Tickets $5 each or max $20 per family. Purchase at https://bit.ly/ STRKariEvent – Register by Oct. 21. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.

SAVE THE DATE

JACKSON St. Richard School, Krewe de Cardi nal set for Feb. 10. Call for tickets and sponsorship

Double installation of Father Lincoln Dall ...

RAYMOND/CLINTON – Father Lincoln Dall receives a blessing from the small community of Immaculate Conception in Raymond. Pictured behind the altar are Father Lincoln, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, with Greta and Gage Nalker as alter servers. Second picture: Diaconate candidate, Hunter Yentzen carries the Cross during the procession, along with Father Lincoln, Bishop Kopacz, and Missal gift and basket bearers – Jason Rogers and Franz Barney. (Photos by Tereza Ma – More photos available at mississippicatholic.com and Facebook @jacksondiocese)

R dgeland Cl nton

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Jackson Flowood Pearl

Sister ea’s voice resounds for generations to come

BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.

Earlier this month on Oct. 2, the documentary film “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” was released for public edification and inspiration both in the church and beyond to all Christians and people of goodwill who long for something better for all of God’s children. It is a dynamic nearly hour-long presentation of the life of Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA – the times in which she lived, her impact during her lifetime, and now more than ever her witness in the present and deep into the future.

It’s a time of great joy for the Diocese of Jackson as we celebrate the life of this religious woman whose story is a remarkable journey of faith.

Sister Thea is officially a Servant of God, the first stage for those who are blessed to be on the path to canonization in the Catholic Church. This is a steep climb that follows the narrow road that the church has established for those set apart as faithful disciples who were extraordinary in their walk with the Lord during their time on this earth.

Pope Francis calls such a steady abundance of grace in the life of a person or a community “overflow moments” when the presence of God’s providence is palpable, and the path ahead opens up with new and unexpected ways. The opening prayer at Mass this past weekend expresses this desire for all of our lives. “Lord God, open our hearts to your grace. Let it go before us and be with us that we may always be intent on doing your will.”

Sister Thea had many “overflow moments” in her life of 50 years and certainly would include her entrance into the Catholic Church at age nine, her decision to enter into formation as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration in her mid-teens, and her perseverance in her battle with tuberculosis early in formation that did not weaken her resolve in pursuit of her religious vocation. She “had made her vows to the Lord” early in life and her “yes” empowered her to celebrate and endure all that crossed her path until God called her home like a shooting star. The documentary celebrates an abundance of God’s grace across her lifespan.

Her voice will resound for generations to come in many and varied ways. She was a scholar and educator

who demanded excellence from her students, young and older. She was a charismatic woman of praise who led congregations to sing out their joy to the Lord. She had a deep love for the truth and her prophetic voice has been heard and will gather more strength over time. She loved the church and its universality and she challenged us to be genuinely one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

She wholeheartedly loved her people and culture, but not over and against the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church in our country and in the world. She upheld the dignity of all of God’s children because we are all part of the family of God. She would have sung out full throated and unsparingly last Sunday’s Respon-

sorial Psalm, “the Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”

In the months ahead we will develop a study guide for “Going Home Like a Shooting Star” that will shed more light on Sister Thea’s blessed life. The Holy Spirit surely will open our hearts and minds through prayer, conversation and reflection to follow the Lord more faithfully on the path to holiness, our universal call. On her gravestone is her motto: “I tried.”

May Sister Thea, Servant of God inspire us to try in the uniqueness of our lives and times to live by God’s abundant grace.

BISHOP’S SCHEDULE

Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m.

Catholic Charities Purple Dress Run, The District at Eastover, Jackson

Friday, Oct. 28-29 – Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, St. Joseph, Gluckstadt

Saturday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.

3rd annual Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest Festival, St. Francis, Madison

Sunday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.

Feast of St. Jude, St. Jude, Pearl

Sunday, Oct. 30, 3:30 p.m.

100th Anniversary Celebration, St. Alphonsus, McComb

Monday, Nov. 14-18 – USCCB Fall General Assembly, Baltimore, Maryland

All events are subject to change. Check with parishes and schools for further details.

JACKSON – Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman is the subject of a new documentary “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.” Pictured, Sister Thea Bowman emphasizes participation to music conference attendees, including the choir of Holy Child Jesus Elementary School, at Murrah High School in November of 1986. (Photo fom archives)

“She loved the church and its universality and she challenged us to be genuinely one, holy, catholic and apostolic.”

Don’t assume. Just ask.

I met Kai Lee I during my final year of seminary studies in New Orleans. One of the priests on faculty, Father Joe Krafft, told me that he had met this man at a parish in the area who was looking for an RCIA program that fit his cir cumstances. Kai had been married to a Catholic for about 30 years and had raised his son Austin in the faith. He was so active in his parish that most parishioners at Christ the King on the Westbank assumed he was already Catholic, but he hadn’t even been baptized! As Father Krafft listened to Kai’s story and realized he wasn’t baptized, he didn’t assume that Kai had already discerned whether or not to join the church, he asked him!

Kai began to attend RCIA sessions at the seminary with myself and one of the other seminarians. He was an incredible student who left no stone unturned. He ended up reading through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church (and he poured through much of it while he was taking instruction from us), and I always had to make sure I stayed up on my own studies so I’d be able to help answer the questions he would come up with during the week. Kai remembers how we would often go over our class time by 30 minutes to an hour just talking about the faith. Kai was baptized and received first communion and confirmation in May 2018. It was a joy filled day, and it was a great joy to see Kai, his wife Vicky, and their son Austin earlier this month as they paid a visit to Jackson.

Father Nick Adam

The lesson I learned from Kai is one that I use in vocation ministry today: don’t assume, just ask. You may see a young man who is active in his faith and in the church and assume that he has already been encouraged to think about priesthood, or that he’s already discerned and decided against going to the seminary but don’t assume, just ask! It is so helpful to all of us when we are encouraged by someone to share our gifts. We need that encouragement as human beings, and so never be shy to ask someone if they have considered priesthood and to tell them that they should.

There is one more step that is important to remember. If you can, make sure you help that person make the next step in their journey. Father Krafft helped Kai get connected to an RCIA program that fit his specific circumstance. You can help a young man that you encourage about the priesthood by putting him in touch with me! Remember that anyone who is interested in priesthood or religious life can call my office to get more information my direct line here at the office is (601) 969-4020, or send me an email at nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.

Don’t assume, just ask. And then help a young man make the next step in his discernment by encouraging him to talk to me!

Father Nick Adam

Writing your own obituary

IN EXILE

By Father ron rolheiser, oMi

There comes a time in life when it’s time to stop writing your resume and begin to write your obituary. I’m not sure who first coined that line, but there’s wisdom in it.

What’s the difference between a resume and an obit uary? Well, the former details your achievements, the latter expresses how you want to be remembered and what kind of oxygen and blessing you want to leave behind. But, how exactly do you write an obituary so that it’s not, in effect, just another version of your resume? Here’s a sugges tion.

There’s a custom in Judaism where as an adult you make out a spiritual will each year. Originally, this will was more in line with the type of will we typically make, where the focus is on burial instructions, on who gets what when we die, and on how to legally and practically tie up the unfinished de tails of our lives. Through time, however, this evolved so that today this will is focused more on a review of your life, the highlighting of what’s been most precious in your life, the honest expression of regrets and apol ogies, and the blessing, by name, of those persons to whom you want to say a special goodbye. The will is reviewed and renewed each year so that it is always current, and it’s read aloud at your funeral as the final words you want to leave behind for your loved ones.

This can be a very helpful exercise for each of us to do, except that such a will is not done in a lawyer’s office, but in prayer, perhaps with a spiritual director, a counsellor, or a confessor helping us. Very practically, what might go into a spiritual will of this sort?

If you are looking for help in doing this, I recom mend the work and the writings of Richard Groves, the co-founder of the Sacred Art of Living Center. He has been working in the field of end-of-life spirituality for more than thirty years and offers some very helpful guidance vis-à-vis creating a spiritual will and renew ing it regularly. It focus on three questions.

First: What, in life, did God want me to do? Did I do it? All of us have some sense of having a vocation, of having a purpose for being in this world, of having been given some task to fulfill in life. Perhaps we might only be dimly aware of this, but, at some level of soul, all of us sense a certain duty and purpose. The first task in a spiritual will is to try to come to grips with that. What did God want me to do in this life? How well or poorly have I been doing it?

Second: To whom do I need to say, “I’m sorry?” What are my regrets? Just as others have hurt us, we have hurt others. Unless we die very young, all of us have made mistakes, hurt others and done things we regret. A spiritual will is meant to address this with searing honesty and deep contrition. We are never more big-hearted, noble, prayerful, and deserving of respect than when we are down on our knees sincerely recogniz ing our weaknesses, apologizing, asking where we need to make amends.

Third: Who, very specifically, by name, do I want to bless before I die and gift with some special ox

ygen? We are most like God (infusing divine energy into life) when we are admiring others, affirming them, and offering them whatever we can from our own lives as a help to them in theirs. Our task is to do this for every one, but we cannot do this for everyone, individually, by name. In a spiritual will, we are given the chance to name those people we most want to bless. When the prophet Elijah was dying, his servant, Elisha, begged him to leave him “a double portion” of his spirit. When we die, we’re meant to leave our spirit behind as sustenance for everyone; but there are some people, whom we want to name, to whom we want to leave a double portion. In this will, we name those people.

In a wonderfully challenging book, The Four Things That Matter Most, Ira Byock, a medical doctor who works

The Pope’s Corner

with the dying, submits that there are four things we need to say to our loved ones before we die: “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” “Thank you,” and “I love you.” He’s right; but, given the contingencies, tensions, wounds, heartaches, and ups and downs within our relationships, even with those we love dearly, it isn’t always easy (or sometimes even existentially possible) to say those words clearly, without any equivocation. A spiritual will gives us the chance to say them from a place that we can cre ate which is beyond the tensions that generally cloud our relationships and prevent us from speaking clearly, so that at our funeral, after the eulogy, we will have no unfinished business with those we have left behind.

(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.)

Pope tells Putin: Stop the war

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – With “rivers of blood and tears” still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis begged Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Stop this spiral of violence and death.”

With the situation being “so serious, devastating and threatening,” the pope did not offer his customary com mentary on the day’s Gospel reading before reciting the Angelus prayer Oct. 2. Instead, he focused on the war and the “terrible and inconceivable wound” it is inflict ing on humanity.

While constantly call ing for peace and offering prayers for the victims since the war began in late February, the pope drew attention in his talk to “the serious situation that has arisen in recent days with further actions contrary to the principles of international law,” a clear reference to Putin’s announcement Sept. 30 that Russia was annexing four occupied territories in Ukraine.

The decision, the pope told people in St. Peter’s Square, “increas es the risk of nuclear escalation to the point of fears of uncontrollable and catastrophic conse quences worldwide.”

without allowing themselves to be drawn into danger ous escalations, and to promote and support initiatives for dialogue.”

While remembering Ukraine’s “thousands of vic tims,” including children, the destruction and the dis placement of millions of people, Pope Francis also spoke of specifics.

“Some actions can never be justified. Never!” the pope said.

“It’s distressing that the world is learning the geogra phy of Ukraine through names like Bucha, Irpin, Mariu pol, Izium, Zaporizhzhia and other towns that have be come places of suffering and indescribable fear,” the pope said, referring to cities previously occu pied by Russian troops and where mass graves were found once the ar eas were liberated.

“And what about the fact that humanity is once again faced with the atomic threat?” the pope asked. “It is ab surd.”

Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vat ican Oct. 2, 2022. The pope begged Russian Pres ident Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine and condemned Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian re gions. He also called upon Ukrainian President Volo dymyr Zelenskyy to be open to serious peace propos als.

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“My appeal is ad dressed first of all to the president of the Russian Fed eration, begging him to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the sake of his people,” the pope said.

But “saddened by the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people as a result of the aggression suffered,” Pope Francis also appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “to be open” to any “serious peace proposals.”

The pope also asked world leaders “to do every thing in their power to put an end to the ongoing war,

“How much blood still must flow before we understand that war is never a solution, only destruction?” the pope asked thousands of people gathered in the square for the midday prayer.

“In the name of God and in the name of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart,” he said, “I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire.”

Pope Francis prayed for a negotiated settlement of the conflict, one that is “not imposed by force, but agreed, just and stable.”

A just solution, he said, must be “based on respect for the sacred value of human life, as well as the sover eignty and territorial integrity of each country, and the rights of minorities and legitimate concerns.”

'... church building itself is a national treasure ...'

He is planning to take this unfortu nate event to improve upon systems that were dated or overly complicated to use, particularly the HVAC and lighting systems.

Also damaged at the Basilica was the electrical system which rings the church bell. The parish received an initial proposal to fix the damage but after speaking with several parishioners, Father Williams discovered there was interest in researching the possibility of adding bells to the tower. So, the “Ring out your joy to the Lord!” fund raiser was born to add to the current bells at the Basilica.

The church tower currently has two bells – the larger being the "Maria Alexandri na," which was cast in the 1840s in Italy at the direction of the direction of Bishop John Joseph Chanche, SS – the first bishop of the diocese. It was gifted by Prince Alexander Torlonia and his wife Maria, of Rome and created by prominent sculptor, Giovani Lu centi, who cast it from bronze. The second, smaller bell which was cast by the Coffin bell company in the 1880s in Cincinnati and was never formally given a name.

After studying the structure of the tower, it was determined that it could handle extra weight, so three additional bells, all smaller that the “Coffin” bell could be sup ported.

Within days of the fundraiser announcement, most of the sponsorships available for the bell project and restoration work were claimed, leaving only a few thousand dollars to be raised to complete the project.

Along with the restoration work on the bells, an electronic striker will be used for funeral tolls and hour strikes on the "Maria Alexandrina" bell – which Father Williams painstakingly struck by hand 96 times to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Another plan, in work for at least a decade at the Basilica is a “Cultural Heritage Center” to allow parishioners and tourists to have access to the historic treasures of the church and archives, as well as provide a place for evangelization and education on the Catholic faith.

Father Williams says that the parish is in the early stages of planning to convert the lower hall of the Basilica and the original parish library into this center, which will include a museum and place for video presentations. He says this will focus not only on the parish’s local history, but on the beliefs and practices of Catholics. The overall proj

ect includes the cre ation of a website to provide further infor mation and videos to visitors who wish to learn more, as well as a mural to tell the sto ry of the early school and ministry of Bish op Chanche to Black Catholics.

“The original parish hall is of great historic value, as it also served as the original school for Black Catholics in Natchez and was the site of the baptism of over 600 African Slaves at the hand of our first Bishop, John Joseph Chanche,” said Father Williams.

NATCHEZ – Pictured is the "Maria Alexandrina" bell located in the St. Mary Basilica church tower. Repairs to current bells and a fundraiser for additional bells are underway. (Photo by Father Aaron Williams)

The Basilica is a treasure of the Diocese of Jackson both because of its history and national recognition – welcoming tourist from around the world.

“The church building itself is a national treasure of which we are the custodians,” said Father Williams.

“We wish to preserve that treasure and increase the exposure of the parish partic ularly through initiative which can leave a lasting impression on visitors and hopefully touch them in their heart.”

Those wanting to learn more about St. Mary Basilica or to make contributions, can visit www.stmarybasilica.org or contact the office at (601) 445-5616.

'... It is never too early nor too late to start asking God what he wants you to do ...'

the desire and the maturity to enter into the sem inary and use the resources there for a couple of years to discover whether priesthood is for him, then he should go.”

Father Adam and the diocese have started a new initiative called POPS (Parents of Priests/ Seminarians/Sisters) which works alongside the Homegrown Harvest Festival.

foundation for all vocations.”

Father Andrew Bowden, associate pastor at St. Rich ard in Jackson since June, said he began thinking of the priesthood at a young age.

The third annual Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest event will take place on Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Fran cis of Assisi Church in Madison.

from page

parents for guidance and encouragement.

“I always tell young men that my job is to discern with them,” Father Adam said. “Seminary is not the end; it is a resource for young men to discover whether the Lord is calling them to priesthood. If a young man has

“Just like we are using the festival to build community and prayerful support for our seminari ans,” Father Adam said of POPS, “we want to make sure we are directing resources toward parents who have made a great gift to the church by supporting their sons and daughters who are pursuing a reli gious vocation.”

A ticket admitting two to the Homegrown Harvest Festival is $100. The event includes a silent auction and a sit-down meal served by the Knights of Co lumbus 9543 at St. Francis of Assisi in Madison. To purchase tickets, to view sponsorship levels for this year’s event, or to make a donation to seminarian education, visit: https://bit.ly/HGHarvest2022.

“For most of the time I was in middle school and high school I was about 90 percent sure that it was what God was calling me to,” he said. “But I would not say that this is the norm. I locked in mentally, becoming sure that this was what God was calling me to, during my first year in the seminary.

Bishop Kopacz, though, is quick to point out that Father Adam and other vocation directors are not recruiters.

“At times (the vocation director) is directing a young person to consider the beauty of marriage, re ligious life, or single way of life for a time — or for a lifetime — in service to the Lord,” he said. “Ultimately it is a matter of recognizing one’s gifts and talents for one’s own good, the good of others and the glory of God. This is the gift of our Baptism that, properly nurtured, is the

“People today tend to try to dis tract themselves from what God asks of them. Ul timately this only causes greater dissatisfaction. It is never too early nor too late to start asking God what He wants you to do and to encourage the people around you to do the same. God is the source of our joy, so the greatest joy will be experienced in do ing what He asks us to do.”

As Bishop Kopacz points out, presentations, prayer services and conversations are ways of planting seeds that God can bring to fruition in the years ahead. In ad dition to donating generously, plan to have a nice meal at the Homegrown Harvest Festival and get to know the current crop of seminarians. You may never know what impact you could have on their journey.

Diocese to hold Eucharistic Congress in October

By Joanna Puddister King

JACKSON

–

As a part of the Eucharistic Revival, developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Diocese of Jackson is holding a Eucharistic Congress on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt. The event also flows out of the diocesan “Year of the Eucharist.”

The event features an evening and morning of prayer, adoration, spiritual talks and Mass. The featured speaker for the event is Father Ajani Gibson of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“This will kick off the Eucharistic Revival’s focus on the Eucharist in parish life and the re-evangelization of parishioners through reverence for the Eucharist in their lives and connect ing the Eucharist to service and how parishioners are called to be the Real Presence of Jesus Christ to others,” said Mary Woodward, chancellor for the Diocese of Jackson.

“As we move further into this focus, we will provide more opportunities for parishes to deepen their worship life and prayer life.”

Woodward says that the Eucharistic Congress is not just about adoration of the Blessed Sac rament, which is a necessary, vital and profound action, but also a deeper understanding of and commitment to worshipping the Eucharist as active participants in liturgy.

“This in turn leads to an internalization of the Real Presence so that one can then reflect that Real Presence of Christ to the world that is so in need of the presence of Christ,” says Woodward.

The schedule for Friday, Oct. 28 consists of a holy hour of exposition, adoration and evening prayer from 5-7 p.m.; a spiritual talk on the gift of the Eucharist by Father Gibson at 7 p.m.; and adoration, night prayer and benediction from 7:30-9 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 29, the morning begins with exposition, adoration, morning prayer and benediction from 8:30-10:30 a.m.; a spir itual talk on living the Eucharist by Father Gibson; and closing Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz at 11:15 a.m.

For those unable to attend the Congress, look for local opportunities for adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation during event times. For more information on the national Eucharistic Revival, visit www.eucharisticrevival.org.

GLUCKSTADT – The Diocese of Jackson is hosting a Eucharistic Congress on October 28-29 at St. Joseph parish in Gluckstadt. All are welcome to attend this evening and morning of prayer, adoration, spiritual talks and Mass.

... Calendar of events, continued ...

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opportunities. Details: school office (601) 366-1157.

MADISON St. Anthony School, Starry Night Gala, Friday, Dec. 9. Details: school office (601) 607-7054.

OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Tie Dye for Je sus, Sunday Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Event begins with an appetizer/dessert potluck. Sign up in the Commons area with your name and shirt size. Donations welcome. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

RIPLEY St. Matthew, 1st annual Christmas Bazaar, Nov. 18 and 19. Crafters wanted: tables available for $30. Begin making your crafts or preparing a food booth now. Details: Call Geraldine at (216) 867-8007.

TRUNK OR TREATS/FALL FESTIVALS

BROOKHAVEN St. Francis, Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival, Wednesday, Oct. 26. Details: church office (601) 833-1799.

CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, Trunk or Treat and Canned Food Drive, Sunday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. Come dressed in costume to trick-or-treat and win baked goods from the cake walk. Details: church office (662) 6244301.

CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, Halloween Carnival, Sunday, Oct. 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.

COLUMBUS Fall Festival/Trunk-or-Treat by Annun ciation, FUMC and St. Paul’s Episcopal, Sunday, Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m. on College Street. Enjoy food, fun, games and costume contest. Details: church office (662) 328-

FLOWOOD St. Paul, Trunk or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy great food and games. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

GREENWOOD CYO Halloween Carnival/Spaghetti Supper, Monday, Oct. 24. Details: church office (662) 453-3980.

GRENADA St. Peter, Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 30. More details coming soon. Details: church office (662) 226-2490.

JACKSON St. Richard School, CardinalFest, Sunday, Oct. 23 from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Enjoy games for the kids and food and music for the whole family. Ad mission fee is $20 and includes meal, unlimited games, petting zoo and cake walk ticket. Details: school office (601) 366-1157.

MADISON St. Joseph School, Trunk or Treat, Thurs day, Oct. 27 from 5-6:30 p.m. for ages under 12. Details: school office (601) 898-4800.

MCCOMB St. Alphonsus, Treats in the School Yard event, Wednesday, Oct. 26. Details: church office (601) 684-5648.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick, Halloween Carnival, Satur day, Oct. 22 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Enjoy games, haunted house and more. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Trunk or Treat, Thurs day, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. Open to families and children through fourth grade. Details: church office (662) 4455616.

OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Halloween Fam ily Bash/Trunk or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. Costume contest, trunk decorating contest, bonfire, food, games and more. Details: church office (662) 895-5007

PHILADELPHIA Holy Rosary, Trunk or Treat, Sun day, Oct. 30. from 4:30-7 p.m. at the parish hall. Cos tume contest, pumpkin carving contest, mummy wrap contest. Food and treat bags for all children and youth. Details: parish hall (601) 656 2800.

OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Trunk or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 22. 6 p.m. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

SOUTHAVEN Christ the King, Fall Festival, Satur day, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy internation al food, basket raffle, silent auction, entertainment and more. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

TUPELO St. James, Fall Fest, Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy trunk or treat, carnival games, cake walk and more. BBQ available for $10/plate. Dress as your favorite saint for the saint procession. Details: church office (662) 842-4881.

YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Witch Way Yazoo. St. Mary will participate in the event trunk-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 29.

St. Mary, All Souls/All Saints Party, Sunday, Oct. 30 from 11:30 am. to 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Details: church office (662) 746-1680.

VICKSBURG Catholic Schools, Spooky Sprint 5k run/walk, 1 mile fun run and carnival, Oct. 29. Details: visit https://bit.ly/SpookySprint2022

Florida continues with rescue efforts after Hurricane Ian

By Rhina Guidos

WASHINGTON – As authorities in Florida contin ued rescue efforts, Catholic parishes and dioceses in the U.S. moved rapidly to collect aid in the aftermath of Hur ricane Ian, and U.S. President Joe Biden said it could take

years to rebuild what was destroyed.

Though Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm af ter wrecking swaths of Florida, it regained strength and regrouped as a hurricane before heading toward South Carolina.

Biden approved an emergency declaration to send federal help before it made landfall in Charleston Sept. 30. Residents of Florida and the Carolinas face a recovery estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars.

As of Oct. 2, at least 80 people were con firmed dead, and more than 1,600 people had been rescued in parts of southwest and central Florida.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, will hold a special collection at its parishes in Octo ber to help with the damage, including in the neighboring Diocese of Venice and is asking for others to help at https://www.dosp.org/disaster relief.

“Our hearts are moved with compassion for all those who have suffered damage and de struction due to Hurricane Ian, especially our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Venice,” St. Petersburg’s Bishop Gregory L. Parkes said of the diocese that suffered the brunt of the dam age.

At the Vatican Oct. 2, after reciting the An gelus prayer with people in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said: “I am close to the populations of Cuba and Florida, afflicted by a violent hur ricane. May the Lord receive the victims, give consolation and hope to those who suffer, and sustain the solidarity efforts.”

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called on Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray for those who lost their lives in the Caribbean and the southwest United States due to Hurricane Ian.

He urged prayers “for the comfort of their grieving families and communities” as well as prayers for those who have lost their homes and businesses. “May they find peace and comfort in God’s enduring love for us, even amid these most trying circumstances,” he said.

In a statement released late Sept. 30, the archbishop also prayed the emergency respond ers would be kept “from harm as they seek to bring relief, comfort and healing” to storm vic tims.

At a news con ference Sept. 30, Biden told Florid ians that the fed eral government would do all it could to help, par ticularly to rescue people and other recovery efforts.

He also an nounced that 44,000 utility workers were working to re store electricity for those left without power since the hurricane struck.

In preparing

for Ian, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said it had coordinated with utility companies to make sure crews were prepared “to respond and restore pow er.”

As of Oct. 2, 590,000 people were still without pow er in Florida, but that figure was a significant reduction from the nearly 2 million who had no power immediate ly after Hurricane Ian struck.

“It’s not a crisis for Florida, it’s an American crisis,” Biden said during the news conference.

He said the situation on the ground was “far more devastating” than initially believed and “is likely to rank among the worst in the nation’s history.”

The president and first lady Jill Biden were visiting Puerto Rico Oct. 3 to see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Fiona, which slammed into the island a week before Ian hit Florida. The Bidens planned to visit Flor ida Oct. 5.

In the Diocese of Venice, Bishop Frank J. Dewane gave thanks via Twitter for those who prayed for people in the path of the Hurricane Ian.

“Damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that the devastation in the diocese is widespread,” he wrote. “There are several crews already at work throughout the diocese, and Catholic Charities is putting their local team into action. We are grateful for all those who have helped, and continue to help, during this difficult time.”

Catholic Charities USA is collecting donations at https://ccusa.online/Ian.

In Charleston, South Carolina, Bishop Jacques E. Fab re-Jeune offered Mass hours before the storm made land fall “for the protection of all people affected by Hurricane Ian and especially for our essential personnel working to keep us safe,” the diocese said on its Facebook page.

Ian hit close to 2:30 p.m. local time Sept. 30 as at Category 1 hurricane, flooding historic Charleston, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. The storm was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it hit North Car olina.

As the storm went through the Carolinas, about 850,000 people had no electricity but news reports said power was restored to more than half of them by the weekend.

(Editor’s note: The Diocese of Jackson will take up a sec ond collection the weekend of Oct. 15-16 as a part of the Bishops Emergency Disaster Fund. The fund will be used to support immediate emergency needs and to aid in long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.)

The Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reporting system that will enable all diocesan employees, volunteers and parishioners to anony mously (or named if preferred) make reports. Examples of this activity include fraud, misconduct, safety violations, harassment or substance abuse occurring at a Catholic parish, Catholic school or at the diocesan level. The system is operated by Lighthouse Services. Based in Deerfield, Illinois, Lighthouse Ser vices maintains ethics, safety and fraud hotlines for over 4,100 organizations between the U.S. and abroad.

To make a report visit www.lighthouse-services.com/jacksondiocese or call 888-830-0004 (English) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish).

The Association of Priests of the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi provide a small pension to our retired priests. As you consider your estate plans, please remember these faithful servants by making a donation or leaving a bequest to the Association of Priests. Our parish priests dedicate their lives to caring for us, their flocks. Let us now care for them in their retirement. Donations can be made payable to the Association of Priests and can be mailed to: Diocese of Jackson, Attn: Cathy Pendleton, P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 392252248

Herencia Hispana es celebrada por Católicos del Decanato V

TUPELO – Los niños están tomando las tradiciones de sus padres y abuelos. En cada familia los mayores se aseguran que sus hijos y nietos no pierdan sus tradiciones. Esta práctica se hace ver en cada comunidad católica con descendientes de Hispanos. Los niños se hacen protagonistas y disfrutan a la vez. (Arriba) La celebración de la Herencia Hispana fue celebrada en Tupelo con danzas tradicionales y "convivio" de máa de 300 parroquianos. (Debajo) En Corinth, niños de uno de los grupos folkloricos de la comunidad Hispana de la parroquia St. James the Less.Ellos disfrutaron la celebración de la Herencia Hispana, al lucir trajes típicos y ejecutar bailes tradicionales, el 17 de septiembre. (Fotos cortesía de Raquel Thompson y Bernardo Sorcia, respectivamente)

Por berTa MeXiDor

JACKSON – El Decanato V tiene una de las mayores concentraciones de católicos Hispanos de toda la diócesis de Jackson.

Muchas de las celebraciones se hacen con representantes de las parroquias de todo el Decanato, en colaboración guiada por los sacerdotes y en coordinación con los líderes comunitarios, que a su vez colaboran entre sí. Esta vez, el mes de la Herencia Hispana, que se extiende desde septiembre 15 a octubre 15, fue celebrado, como ya es costumbre, en St. James Tupelo el 16 se septimebre y en la parroquia de St. James the Less Corinth fue celebrado el dia 17 de septiembre.

Raquel Thompson, líder hispana

de Tupelo nos recuerda que este mes "reconoce y celebra las contribuciones que los estadounidenses con raíces en España, México, América Central, América del Sur y los países hispanohablantes del Caribe han hecho a la sociedad y la cultura de los EE. UU." Bernardo Sorcia, líder hispano de Corinth, definió la fiesta como “...una bonita tradición para nuestros hijos.”

La herencia Hispana está viva y en continuidad por parte de las nuevas generaciones. Los niños toman las tradiciones de sus padres y abuelos.

En cada familia los mayores se aseguran que sus hijos y nietos no pierdan la alegria de la Raza.

“Sirviendo a los Católicos Hispanos de la Diócesis de Jackson desde 1997”

Día de la Hispanidad o Día de la Raza desde la perspectiva de Espiritualidad Sinodal

Por Diacono carlos sola

TUPELO – El tema de la colonización española al nuevo mundo trae muchísimas controversias que, hasta ahora, no han sido resueltas y que tiene validez analizar y entender desde diferentes perspectivas históricas, reli giosas, culturales, políticas y sociales.

No cabe duda que fue un proceso impuesto y unilat eral que buscaba el beneficio de unos (los colonizadores europeos) sobre los pueblos originarios de las Américas.

De ese choque original, similar a una explosión ini cial, como el “Big Bang”, surgen las posibilidades de un desarrollo que da origen a lo que hoy somos, muchos pueblos con un cordón umbilical común, tenemos un vientre común que nos conecta con la así llamada “Madre Patria”

No niego los múltiples aspectos negativos de este choque, pero no me quiero quedar en el pasado, sino moverme al presente y futuro desde la perspectiva de la Sinodalidad, como camino de encuentro y desarrollo de lo que estamos llamados a ser como Pueblo de Dios, que peregrina con tantos pueblos, que también tuvieron su historia dolorosa, producto de la mediocridad humana, que nos es común a todos, iniciando por el que escribe.

Basta decir lo que el Papa Francisco ha exhortado a los lideres españoles a pedir perdón por los excesos de las conquistas.

El mismo Papa nos dio ejemplo de esto al ir al Canadá y pedir perdón por los excesos de la Iglesia y sus agentes, contra los pueblos originarios del Canadá. Cabe recordar que en múltiples ocasiones el Papa ha pedido perdón por los pecados de la Iglesia, incluyendo y señalando direct amente los relacionados a la pedofilia.

Este reconocimiento es sanador no solo para los pueblos sometidos, sino como medida sanadora para los que causaron el sufrimiento. La verdadera liberación ocurre cuando reconocemos la falta, pedimos perdón de corazón, decidimos luchar contra esa tendencia y nos disponemos a recompensar a las víctimas de nuestras conductas erradas.

No vale decir que aquellos actos responden a la men talidad de la época. Dicho eso también tenemos que reconocer que el encuentro de los dos mundos ha sido de beneficio mutuo en muchos aspectos.

Como parte de las tareas evangelizadoras que realizo, me he visto en la necesidad de viajar a España por lo menos una vez al año en los últimos 12 años.

Puedo dar fe de que la Iglesia Española ha acogido con entusiasmo la vibrante participación de lo hispanoamericanos que llegan buscando la acogida maternal de la Iglesia.

Creo que en algunas parroquias, si no fuera por los latinoamericanos, ya estuvieran cerradas. Al igual ten dría que decir de vecindarios completos que se han ben eficiado muchísimo de la inmigración americana, para atender la economía y los servicios que son necesarios realizar.

Ciertamente hay otros llegados de otras latitudes, de otros continentes, pero no se puede negar que los lati noamericanos estamos más sintonizados con el pueblo Español dado nuestro ADN común.

Reconociendo lo insuficiente de los que he dicho has ta este momento sobre este tema de la interculturalidad que ha provocado la colonización me dirijo a lo que des de la perspectiva del espíritu de Sinodalidad que el Papa Francisco nos invita, se trata de que además de Pueblos o individuos en conflictos, aprovechemos la ocasión para caminar juntos y enriquecernos cultural y espiritual mente en el camino.

Desde este estado de Mississippi y desde nuestra diócesis de Jackson tengo que señalar los elementos de verdad y esperanza que nos indican la dirección para vivir la sinodalidad más allá de un asunto entre europeos y latinos, entre colonizadores y colonizados, es un asunto de sanar para vivir la libertad, la justicia, el perdón, la mi sericordia y la compasión de y entre los hijos e hijas de Dios sin importar, o mejor aún, reconociendo las difer encias étnicas en la que vivimos, nos movemos y somos.

Quizás lo mejor sería servirme de un ejemplo de la vida cotidiana. Recientemente, necesite de un taller de llantas o neumáticos, para que revisaran el vehículo que uso. Mientras esperaba que acabaran el servicio, decidí irme a leer afuera del edificio y disfrutar el aire fresco - no el olor a llantas que cargan el ambiente - y me fui debajo de una sombra.

A los pocos minutos se acerca el empleado a cargo de mi unidad, un hombre afroamericano, inmenso y robusto, posiblemente en los 60 años y con un rostro que refleja una vida dura y de mucho sufrimiento. Se acer ca sigilosamente, como para no asus tarme, y con una dulzura inmensa me explica lo que encontró y lo que hay

que hacer. Esa mirada de él me hablo de él, con un sin número de preguntas sobre su pasado que me hubiera gustado conocer. Me pregunto sobre cómo ha sido su vida, sus sufrimientos y sus luchas. Me hubiera gustado entender cómo sus ancestros han vivido en este estado con una fuerte historia de conflictos raciales. ¿Cómo ha logrado mantener una semilla de esperanza en el ser humano y en el futuro a pesar de lo que ha vivido?

Al pensar en historias como estas, y tengo que decir que aquí en Mississippi hay lugares (no todo el estado) en los que se han superado la marginación y el distancia miento cultural/étnico a niveles sorprendentes, entonces es posible tener esperanza y fe en la capacidad humana para sanar, acortar distancias y más aun enriquecernos en todos los aspectos en el encuentro de unos y otros sin importar lo que nos distingue; más bien lo que nos complementa.

Al hablar de una Espiritualidad de Sinodalidad, acla ro que por espiritualidad me refiero a un camino, un seguimiento, es seguir un modelo que en el caso nuestro es Jesús de Nazaret.

Jesus supo unir todo aquello que nos separa, de una vez por todas para que desde Él y en Él se superara toda distancia.

Nos es solo superar lo que nos divide, sino descu brir que la diferencia nos hace únicos, valiosos y nos enriquece a todos.

Es por eso que, en clave sinodal, esta ocasión que nos presenta el Día de la Hispanidad, se convierte en oportunidad para enfrentar nuestro pasado y movernos al futuro con confianza y esperanza.

(El Diácono Permanente Carlos A. Solá Fonseca, tiene 31 años al servicio del pueblo Santo de Dios. Comenzó a servir en la parroquia de St. James Tupelo en noviembre 2021.)

TUPELO – Más de 350 parroquianos del Decanato V se reunieron, una vez más, en la iglesia de St. James para celebrar la Hispanidad que une a todos. (Izq.) La música y la comida crea la camaraderia y recuerda la cercania con el país distante. (Derecha) Ean y Lya Valentine ejecutan un bailable tipico del Estado de Veracruz y celebran su Raza con orgullo y alegria. (Fotos cortesía de Raquel Thompson

La voz de la hermana Thea resuena para las generaciones venideras

Por obisPo JosePh r. KoPacz, D.D.

A principios de este mes, el 2 de octubre, se estrenó el documental "Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman's Journey to Sainthood" para la edificación pública y la inspiración tanto en la iglesia como más allá para todos los cristianos y personas de buena voluntad que anhelan algo mejor, para todos los hijos de Dios. Es una present ación dinámica de casi una hora de duración de la vida de la Hermana Thea Bowman FSPA, los tiempos en los que vivió, su impacto durante su vida y ahora más que nunca su testimonio en el presente y en el futuro profundo.

Es un momento de gran alegría para la Diócesis de Jackson, mientras celebramos la vida de esta religiosa cuya historia es un viaje de fe extraordinario. La hermana Thea es oficialmente una Sierva de Dios, la primera etapa para aquellos que son bendecidos para estar en el camino de la canonización en la Iglesia Católica. Esta es una subida empinada que sigue el camino angosto que la iglesia ha establecido para aquellos apartados como discípulos fieles que fueron extraordinarios en su caminar con el Señor durante su tiempo en esta tierra.

El Papa Francisco llama a esa constante abundancia de gracia en la vida de una persona o comunidad “momentos de desbordamiento” cuando la presencia de la providencia de Dios es palpable y el camino por delante se abre con caminos nuevos e inesperados. La oración de apertura en la Misa del pasado fin de se mana expresa este deseo para todas nuestras vidas. “Señor Dios, abre nuestros corazones a tu gracia. Que vaya delante de nosotros y esté con nosotros para que siempre estemos atentos a hacer tu voluntad.”

La Hermana Thea tuvo muchos "momentos de desbordamiento" en su vida de 50 años y que ciertamente incluyen su ingreso a la Iglesia Católica a los nueve años, su decisión de formarse como Hermana Franciscana de la Adoración Perpetua en su adolescencia y su perseverancia en su batalla contra la tuberculosis, en formación tem prana, pero eso no debilitó su determinación en la búsqueda de su vocación religiosa. Ella, temprano en la vida, “había hecho sus votos al Señor” y su “sí” la empoderó para celebrar y soportar todo lo que se cruzó en su camino, hasta que Dios la llamó a casa

tal como una estrella fugaz. El documental celebra la abundancia de la gracia de Dios a lo largo de su vida.

Su voz resonará en las generaciones venideras de muchas y variadas formas. Era una erudita y educadora que exigía la excelencia de sus alumnos, jóvenes y mayores. Era una mujer carismática de alabanza que guiaba a las congregaciones a cantar su alegría al Señor. Tenía un amor profundo por la verdad y su voz profética ha sido es cuchada y cobrará aún más fuerza con el tiempo. Amaba a la iglesia y su universalidad y nos desafiaba a ser genuinamente uno: santo, católico y apostólico.

La hermana Thea amaba de todo corazón a su pueblo y su cultura, pero no en con tra de la universalidad y diversidad de la Iglesia Católica en nuestro país y el mundo. Ella defendió la dignidad de todos los hijos de Dios porque todos somos parte de la familia de Dios. Ella habría cantado, a pleno pulmón y sin piedad, el Salmo Responso rial del domingo pasado: “El Señor ha revelado a las naciones su poder salvador.”

En los próximos meses, desarr ollaremos una guía de estudio para “Regresar a casa como una estrella fugaz” que arrojará más luz sobre la bendecida vida de la hermana Thea. Seguramente el Espíritu San to abrirá nuestro corazón y nuestra mente a través de la oración, la con versación y la reflexión para seguir, más fielmente al Señor, nuestra lla mada universal en el camino de la santidad. En su lápida está su lema: “Lo intenté.”

Que la Hermana Thea, Sierva de Dios, nos inspire, en la singular idad de nuestras vidas y nuestros tiempos, a intentar vivir de la abun dante gracia de Dios.

San Juan Pablo II, discípulo misionero sin paralelo

Por obisPo JosePh r. KoPacz, D.D. Cierro con la siguiente reflexión que fue un faro para San Juan Pablo II en su largo y fructífero ministerio apos tólico. Fue el discípulo misionero sin paralelo.

“En las guerras culturales del pasado reciente, la ig lesia ha defendido los valores fundamentales de nuestra civilización. Debemos estar orgullosos de esos pastores

e intelectuales que lideraron esas luchas. Sin embargo, debemos preguntarnos. ¿Es posible defender los valores cristianos y naturales en la arena pública si su raíz, la fe en la presencia viva de Jesucristo, se ha secado? Si la raíz está podrida, el árbol caerá; ante todo debemos buscar fortalecer la raíz. Debemos convertirnos en discípulos misioneros: antes de predicar la ley debemos entrar en

el corazón de la gente. Solo entonces podremos hablar con autoridad, y solo entonces nuestro pueblo sentirá que la ley no es una imposición externa, sino la respuesta al anhelo más profundo de su corazón.”

(Tomado del libro de Rocco Buttiglione, Descubriendo al Papa Francisco El Esplendor de la Verdad, El Evangelio de la Vida, ¡La Alegría del Evangelio!)

En estas fotos de archivo (izquierda) El Santo papa Juan Pablo II saluda al líder soviético Mijaíl Gorbachov en el Vaticano el 18 de noviembre de 1990. Gor bachov, de 91 años, falleció en Moscú el 30 de agosto de 2022 (CNS photo/Luciano Mellace, Reuters) (centro) Una mujer indígena mexicana sostiene in cienso, mientras el Papa San Juan Pablo II observa, durante la beatificación de los mártires indígenas Jacinto de los Ángeles y Juan Bautista en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México el 1 de agosto de 2002. Un sacerdote canadiense, que ayudaba a preparar la visita del Papa Francisco a Canadá, dijo que gestos como la ceremonia de la mancha o mirar a las cuatro direcciones para orar, muestran sensibilidad hacia la cultura indígena y no son contrarios a la fe católica. (Foto del CNS de Reuters) (derecha) El Papa San Juan Pablo II intercambia regalos con la Reina Isabel II de Gran Bretaña durante su audiencia privada en el Vaticano el 17 de octubre de 2000. La Reina Isabel falleció el 8 de septiembre de 2022, a la edad de 96 años. (Foto de CNS/Reuters)

Virgen Peregrina visita a familias en Houston

Por Danna Johnson

HOUSTON – En la iglesia del Inmaculado Corazón de Maria, (Immaculate Heart of Mary), en Houston, el domingo 2 de octubre comenzó el mes del Santo Rosario.

Par este tiempo se ha creado la tradición de la Virgen Peregrina con el rezo del Rosario. En el mes de octubre, familias reciben una bendicion especial y hospedan en su casa a la virgen y rezan juntos el Rosario. La Virgen peregrina permanece en el hogar de una familia por toda una semana para que en ese tiempo recen el Rosario en familia. En el domingo regresan la Virgen a la iglesia para que otra familia haga lo mismo.

En esta primera semana, la familia de Nora, Luis Miguel y su hija Yarlem, de Vardaman, recibieron la bendición del Padre Tim Murphy y llevaron con ellos la simbólica visita de la virgen María con el propósito de fomentar la devoción de rezar el Rosario en casa especialmente con los niños y jóvenes de las familias para que nunca se pierda el amor y la fe a la Madre Celestial.

(Danna Johnson es Ministra Laica Eclesial-LEM- de la iglesia Immaculate Heart of Mary en Houston. Danna Johnson posee una maestría en Estudio Pastoral de la Universidad Loyola de Nueva Orleans.)

Vírgenes y Santos

Santa Teresa de Jesús. Octubre

Día de San Juan Pablo II. Octubre

Antonio Maria Claret. Octubre

San Judas Tadeo. Octubre

Envíenos sus fotos a

Síganos

HOUSTON – (Arriba)

Luis Miguel y la pequeña Yarlem, reciben con orgullo y alegria a la Virgen Peregrina, como misionera de promover el rezo del Rosario en las familias de la parroquia del Immaculado Corazón de María, de manos del padre Tim Murphy. (Foto Danna Johnson)

Celebración de St. Mateo en Ripley

Por berTa MeXiDor

RIPLEY – La celebración de San Mateo, apóstol y evangelista se celebra cada año el 21 de septiembre. El pasado 24 de septiembre, la comunidad de Ripley realizo un Misa especial seguida de un festival para celebrar a su santo Patrón. Los parroquianos de St. Mathew se reunieron después de Misa en las inmediaciones de la iglesia.

Todos, jóvenes niños y ancianos tuvieron la oportunidad de disfrutar de juegos, comidas y bebidas típicas. Al frente de la organización y éxito de todas las actividades estuvo la Hermana Carol Ann Prenger, SSND, ministra laica eclesial y todos los lideres laicos de las comunidades anglo y latina. Los niños en general tuvieron competencias de futbol y juegos de todo tipo, incluidos los equipos inflables, que tanto gustan.

La iglesia de St. Mathew tiene como ministro sacramental al Padre Jesuraj Xavier y ofrece Misas en español cada domingo a la una y treinta de la tarde.

(Los líderes hispanos Maria Ruedas y Eduardo Padilla contribuyeron con esta historia)

NATION

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Catholic immigration advocates are emphasizing that the Oct. 5 ruling by a federal appeals court – finding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is unlawful – sends anoth er signal that permanent legislation is needed to protect young immigrants from deportation and put them on a path to U.S. citizenship. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed a lower court’s ruling last year that said the Obama admin istration did not have the legal authority in 2012 to cre ate DACA in the first place. This appeals court decision, similar to the ruling last summer from a federal judge in Texas, prevents the Biden administration from enrolling new participants in the program. The new court decision continues to leave DACA in limbo. It did not say the pro gram had to completely shut down or stop processing re newal applications, but it leaves in place last year’s order from U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen that said DACA could continue only for current recipients with no new participants. The 5th Circuit also returned the case to the lower court asking the judge to review new DACA reg ulations the Biden administration announced in August and set to go into effect Oct. 31. “DACA, like asylum, the border – immigration policy writ large – doesn’t belong in the courts,” Dylan Corbett, executive director of Hope Border Institute, tweeted after the ruling was announced. “Congress and the White House need to pass legislation that honors our values, the rights and dignity of those who migrate, and the contributions of those who make America home.”

WASHINGTON (CNS) – A federal court in Indiana sided with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and one of its Catholic high schools in a lawsuit filed by a former guid ance counselor who said her contract was not renewed because of her same-sex union. The Sept. 30 ruling in Fitzgerald v. Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, relied on previous Supreme Court rulings that have emphasized a ministerial exception protecting a religious school’s hiring and firing practices from gov ernment intrusion. The recent decision echoes a nearly identical ruling from a year ago based on a lawsuit filed against the same school and archdiocese from another school counselor whose contract was similarly not ex tended due to her same-sex union. The decisions in both cases were issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Young for the Southern District of Indiana. Young said the In dianapolis Archdiocese and its schools can select, retain or dismiss faculty according to their religious standards, something he also stressed a year ago. The current case involved Shelly Fitzgerald, former co-director of guid ance at Roncalli High School for 15 years. Her employ ment was terminated in 2018 after she confirmed to the school that she was in a same-sex union and the school declined to renew her contract for the following year. School officials said her conduct was prohibited by the agreement she signed with the school.

VATICAN

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The refusal to help desper ate migrants “is revolting, it’s sinful, it’s criminal,” Pope Francis said as he canonized a bishop dedicated to assist ing migrants and a Salesian brother who had immigrated with his family to Argentina. “The exclusion of migrants is criminal. It makes them die in front of us,” the pope said Oct. 9, referring to the deaths of migrants and refu gees crossing dangerous seas in search of freedom and a dignified life. At the beginning of the liturgy in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis formally recognized the holiness of St. Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, an Italian who founded the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo to care for mi grants, and St. Artemide Zatti, an Italian immigrant in Ar gentina who became a Salesian brother, pharmacist and nurse. The prayers at the Mass included one for “those

forced to leave their homeland,” and asking God to teach people to share “his welcoming gaze toward all people” and “heal the throwaway culture of indifference.” Pope Francis focused much of his homily on the day’s Gospel reading about the 10 lepers healed by Jesus and, there fore, allowed back into society. “When we are honest with ourselves, we realize that we are all sick at heart, all sinners in need of the Father’s mercy,” the pope said. “Then we stop creating divisions on the basis of merit, social position or some other superficial criterion; our interior barriers and prejudices likewise fall. In the end, we realize once more that we are brothers and sisters.” Pope Francis asked the estimated 50,000 people at the Mass to think about whether in their families, at work and in their parishes, they are willing to walk with oth ers and listen to them, “resisting the temptation to lock ourselves up in self-absorption and to think only of our own needs.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As thousands of people sat in the dark in St. Peter’s Square, they watched fish jump from the facade of the basilica, saw the word “no” form and dissolve three times and heard an actor reciting the part of St. Peter speak about the overwhelming love and mercy of Jesus. They also heard tenor Andrea Bo celli sing four songs, including “The First Noel” from the soon-to-be released Christmas album he made with his children Matteo and Virginia. The nighttime event Oct. 2 was the premiere of “Follow Me,” an eight-minute film about the life and faith of St. Peter. Using “video map ping,” images of St. Peter from the basilica’s collection and that of the Vatican Museums were turned into 3D video clips and projected onto the facade of the basilica, which is built over the presumed tomb of the apostle. The film was to be shown every 15 minutes between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. until Oct. 16.

WORLD

FULDA, Germany (CNS) – The president of the German bishops’ conference demanded an apology from a Swiss cardinal at the Vatican over comments that brought up Germany’s Nazi past. Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference, demand ed an apology from Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who seemed to compare what is underlying the German bishops’ Syn odal Path process with a mistaken Christian ideology that underpinned the rise of Nazism. Cardinal Koch said

he had been misunderstood. At the end of the German bishops’ plenary assembly Sept. 29, Bishop Bätzing said that, with his remarks, Cardinal Koch had “disqualified himself from the theological debate” about the Synodal Path. “If a public apology does not happen immediately, I will file an official complaint with the Holy Father,” Bishop Bätzing said. Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch apolo gized for offending people and said he never intended to imply that supporters of the German church’s Synodal Path were doing something similar to what a group of Christian supporters of the Nazis did in the 1930s. At a meeting Oct. 4 in Rome with Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference, “Cardinal Koch expressly emphasized that it was completely far from him to want to impute the terrible ideology of the 1930s to the Synodal Path,” said a statement published the next day by the bishops’ conference. “Cardinal Koch asks for forgiveness from all those who feel hurt by the comparison he made,” the statement continued.

MEXICO CITY (CNS) Nicaraguan President Dan iel Ortega blasted Catholic leaders as a “gang of mur derers,” in comments amping up persecution of the church and scorning Pope Francis’ call for dialogue in the Central American country. In a fiery address, Ortega took aim at Nicaragua’s Catholic bishops for promoting democracy as an exit from the country’s political crisis, alleging without proof that they called on protesters to kill him during the 2018 protests – which his regime vi olently repressed. He called the bishops and Pope Fran cis “the perfect dictatorship,” then asked, accusatorially, “Who elected the bishops, the pope, the cardinals?” He continued in the Sept. 28 speech marking the 43rd an niversary of the National Police: “With what moral au thority do they speak of democracy? Let them start with the Catholic vote. ... Everything is imposed. It’s a dicta torship, the perfect dictatorship. It’s a tyranny, the perfect tyranny.” Catholic clergy in Nicaragua have remained mostly silent as Ortega – who won elections in 2021 af ter disqualifying and imprisoning opposition candidates – has persecuted priests and bishops speaking out on is sues of human rights and democratic deterioration. The government also has closed church-run charitable and education initiatives, along with Catholic radio stations, and expelled priests and nuns, including the Missionaries of Charity. Ortega claimed in his comments that he was Catholic, but did not feel “represented,” partly because, “We hear talk of democracy, and they don’t practice de mocracy.”

Projected images detailing the life of St. Peter the Apostle are seen on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 2, 2022. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang for thousands in St. Peter’s Square as the Vatican inaugurated a two-week showing of a short film about the life of St. Peter. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Archives include more than dusty documents

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Mary WoodWard

JACKSON – In this installment from the archives, I would like to do two commercials.

First, October is American Archives Awareness Month. Ar chive collections around the country feature treasures of his torical documents, artifacts and visual images. More and more, digital-born images are becoming common place inhabitants of archive collections. This is creating new and challenging ways to manage our collective memory.

The Gulf South region of the United States loves its history and that is reflected in those states attention to maintaining archives. I am proud to say that the State of Mississippi has one of the finest archives in the entire country. Alabama and Louisiana have fine systems as well.

Mississippi State University is home to the papers of Presi dent and General Ulysses S. Grant; the University of Southern Mississippi has an excellent library and information science program that trains future archivists. The archives at Ole Miss house a fantastic blues collection along with the “Rowan Oaks” papers of William Faulkner and papers of many other Mississippi authors.

In terms of Catholic archives, our diocesan archives could be considered a national treasure because of its content dating back to Spanish Colonial times. Our documents on the Civil Rights Movement give witness to the church’s involvement in the struggle for justice during those most turbulent times.

Having visited the archives of the Archdioceses of Mobile and New Orleans, both have similar collections to ours spread throughout entire floors of buildings. The three collections put together capture the history and development of the region through the unique lens of the church dating back to the 17th century.

Archives are repositories of history, kept in a way that re veal history as it was and not as we think it was. Archives prevent us from being nostalgic and seeing the “good ole days” through the proverbial rose-colored glasses. Archives are liv ing, breathing, organic insights into the soul of a community illuminating human nature in its most honest state. I like to call it the Kingdom of Memory.

NEW ORLEANS – Mary Woodward served on the environment committee for the “Ars Celebrandi: Something More is Required” gathering of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) the first week of October. Pictured is the mosaic of ars celebrandi moments in liturgy featuring Re gion V bishops and archbishops. (Photo by Mary Woodward)

Bishop Kopacz. A highlight of the conference for me was to be able to serve Mass in St. Louis Cathedral as the miter bearer for Archbishop Gregory Aymond. I am grateful for this honor and will certainly file it in my kingdom of memory.

What we do not often think about is each one of us is a walking archive collection. We keep family photos, birthday cards, love letters, diaries, etc., in our collections. Some of us have drawers neatly organized with our archive while others have refriger ators covered with a collection held together by eclectic magnets. But more important ly our hearts, minds and souls are filled with recollections and even scars of a lifetime. Each moment carefully tucked away in the repository of the kingdom of memory.

The second commercial is for the Diocesan Eucharistic Revival event being held Oct. 28-29, at St. Joseph Church in Gluckstadt. The U.S. bishops conference has creat ed a three-year national Eucharistic Revival journey that began this past Corpus Christi and will culminate with a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in 2024.

Our diocesan event will include prayer, adoration, opportunities for the sacrament of penance, and conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Joseph Kopacz. This Eucharistic renewal journey naturally flows out of a desire by all of us to deepen our ongoing understanding of the Eucharist.

This past week, I participated in the national gathering of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, FDLC, which is a partner entity of the U.S. bish op’s conference engaged in formation of laity and clergy in fully implementing Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

Our region hosted the gathering in New Orleans and the theme was “Ars Cel ebrandi: Something More is Required,” which is taken from paragraph 11 of the Constitution. Ars celebrandi is simply translated as the art of celebrating.

The full paragraph is worth noting here: But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper disposi tions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain. Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.

As part of the environment committee, we created a mosaic of ars celebrandi moments in liturgy featuring our region’s metropolitan archbishops and our own

During the Mass in the cathedral, I reflected on paragraph 11 and how much more is required of all of us in understanding the great gift of the Eucharist. Do we really understand the communal nature of worship and the importance of the postures and actions of liturgy as the Body of Christ? Do we know what actually is happening in the sacred mysteries when heaven and earth meet on the altar?

Throughout the next two years in tandem with our synodal encounter journey, we will strive to offer “something more” in an effort to profoundly increase our under standing of these questions. Please join us Oct. 28-29 in Gluckstadt and if you are not able to be there physically for this inspiring event, join us through prayer.

(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)

Pope meets group that prepared text for next phase of synod

By CatholiC News serviCe

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis personally expressed his thanks to the four dozen people who read through hundreds of reports about the listening phase of the Synod of Bishops and, after 12 days of prayer, reflection and discussion, drafted a working document for the continental stage of the synod process.

The pope welcomed the cardinals, bish ops, priests, religious and lay participants to the Vatican Oct. 2, the last day of their work.

At the heart of the work were the 112 syntheses submitted by national bishops’ con ferences from around the world, as well as syntheses from the Eastern Catholic church es, religious orders, church organizations and movements, offices of the Roman Curia and individuals. Each of the 25 people appoint ed to the drafting committee read a dozen reports before joining the others in Frascati, outside of Rome, Sept. 21.

“We come to you at the end of a unique and extraordinary ecclesial experience that has made us aware of the richness of the fruits that the Spirit is awakening in the holy people of God,” Cardinal Mario Grech, sec retary-general of the Synod of Bishops, told Pope Francis, according to the synod office.

“We truly feel a sense of awe at the won ders God is working in his church,” the car dinal said. And, returning home, members of the drafting group “will be able to say that the church offers itself as a home for all, because the experience of synodality that we are living leads us to ‘widen the space of the tent’ to truly welcome everyone.”

This is the official logo for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Originally scheduled for 2022, the synod will take place in October 2023 to allow for broader consultation at the diocesan, national and regional levels. (CNS photo/courtesy Synod of Bishops)

Neither the Vatican press office nor the synod office said whether the pope made

any remarks to the group.

Prior to writing the first draft, participants met in a succession of small groups ordered, for example, by geographic region or eccle sial status. They even spent time in all-male or all-female working groups, identifying key themes in the national reports, praying about voices that seemed to be missing and noticing tensions or suggestions.

After reading, discussing and correcting the draft, they were joined by the bishops who are members of the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops. The council approved the document, which will be published in late October, according to the synod general sec retariat.

The document will be the subject of prayer and discussion at continental assem blies, which are scheduled to be held be tween January and March 2023.

According to the synod office, “The in tent of the continental stage is to deepen our discernment on what has emerged from the previous stage of local and national listening, with the aim of formulating open questions more accurately and to better substantiate and flesh out the insights coming from the local churches.”

Although they are being called “conti nental assemblies,” the gatherings are more aligned with regional bishops’ conferences. Six assemblies – which are to include bish ops, priests, religious and laypeople – are planned: Europe; Latin America and the Ca ribbean; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Canada and the United States; and the Middle East, including the Eastern Catholic churches.

St. Luke, saint of many talents – Feast day Oct. 18

STEWARDSHIP PATHS

By Julia williams

JACKSON – Christianity has a saint for everything, literally everything. Not only is St. Luke one of the Four Evangelists, and there fore one of the most important saints, but he is also the patron saint of artists. Commonly, saints are patrons to several things and Luke is no exception. In fact, he was a physician, hence he is considered their patron saint as well.

St. Luke appears to also have been a ca pable historian, recording careful details about the many people and places visited by Jesus and His Apostles. Many biblical scholars study this Gospel to understand the historical context of Jesus and first-century Judaism.

For iconographers, St. Luke is revered as the first (according to tradition) to write an icon of the Blessed Mother. In iconography, the verb “to write” is used rather than “to paint,” as an icon is considered visual theology. The oldest painted images of Jesus and Mary are attributed to St. Luke, including Our Lady of Vladimir and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Icons (like those painted by St. Luke) are important because they raise our hearts and minds to heavenly things. They are “windows” that open our hearts and remind us of the presence of God and His saints.

Lastly, stewardship is a major theme in Luke’s Gospel. Indeed, what emerges from Luke’s writings is a sophisticated theology of stewardship that is unique to his Gospel and not addressed so pro foundly by other New Testament writers. St. Luke’s work was no small achieve ment, and through the centuries it has served the church well.

Excerpts: wordonfire.org; catholiccompany. com; catholicstew ardship.com

Pictured is “The Virgin of Vladimir” icon. According to Russian sources the original Hodegetria was transferred from Constan tinople to Vladimir in 1115 and remains one of the most popu lar images of the Virgin Mary in Russia. (Public domain)

St. Luke the Evangelist by Vladimir Borovikovsky; c. 1804-1809. (Pub lic domain)

{— There are 9 counties without a church building and 28 counties without a resident priest.

— Forty percent of the people in the 65 counties are African-American; less than one percent share the Catholic faith.

— There are 33 public and private universities, colleges and community colleges; there are no Catholic colleges.

— Twenty parishes cover at least two counties.

— Thirty-one counties have neither a religious sister, brother or lay volunteer in ministry.

{

The Diocese of Jackson covers 65 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, making it the largest diocese east of the Mississippi River.

Catholics in the diocese are 2.3 percent of the total population.

St. John the Baptist Mission in Cranfield. (Photos by Mary Woodward)

Reflections on St. Martin de Porres and racial reconciliation

REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

By Melvin Arrington

Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas, knew bigotry and racial discrimination firsthand. Born

in 1579 in Lima, Peru, he was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a black woman from Panama. He and his sister Juana were socially stigmatized for being of mixed race. For many years their father refused to ac knowledge them as his children, mainly because of their dark skin. Lacking his support, they spent their childhood in poverty.

Discrimination based on race has a long and shameful history. Unfortunately, our country appears in several chapters of that history, with our state comprising an entire chapter of its own. During my childhood, there was no meaningful so cial interaction between the races, so I was blissfully ignorant of the struggles of people of color.

I grew up in the 1950s in the North west section of Jackson on a little street off of Northside Drive. This was during the era of separate facilities for schools, hotels, restaurants – everything. And this included housing. There were five houses on my street, all occupied by white families. Adjoining my house, the fifth one, was a huge, overgrown vacant lot functioning as a barrier separating whites from the black families that lived on the other side of it. Families on the two ends of the street didn’t socialize in any way; it was as if they lived on sepa rate planets. I knew there were boys my age who lived beyond that weedy field, but we couldn’t play together. That was just the way things were.

As an illegitimate, mixed-race child, Martin de Porres faced a bleak future be cause of the way things were during his era. At age 12 he had the good fortune to became apprenticed to a barber-sur geon (a person skilled at bloodletting), an experience that taught him about medi cine and how to care for the sick. At 15 he had a vision of Mary, who told him to go to the local Dominican friary and ask to be admitted. He did so, and the Order accepted him as a lay helper, the most he could expect given his color and lack of social standing. In 1603, after serving nine years, he was finally allowed to take full vows as a friar.

Martin worked in the kitchen, laun dry, and infirmary and also distributed alms to the poor. Always willing to do any menial chore, he was assigned the task of sweeping floors, earning him the nickname Brother Broom. People also called him Martin of Charity because of his love and passion for service. In ad dition to devoting much time to caring for the sick and the poor, he founded an orphanage, and took on the task of tend ing to black slaves brought from Africa,

because they had no one to care for them. He even set up a shel ter/hospital for stray dogs and cats. Martin never judged a person by his race or social class; in looking at someone in need, he only saw Jesus.

Martin had the gift of healing, sometimes performing an instant cure just by walking into a sick per son’s room. Like his good friend, Rose of Lima, he often experienced mystical ecstasy during prayer. Other gifts included the ability to levitate and also to be in two places at once (bilocation). It was said that any room where he went to pray would be come filled with light. Another rare talent was his ability to communicate with animals. According to one wellknown story, he taught a dog, a cat, and a mouse to eat from the same bowl at the same time.

The beloved Brother Broom died in 1639, surround ed by the Dominican friars. All of Lima turned out to mourn his death. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1962. His feast is Nov. 3. He is the patron of barbers, hairdressers, black and mixed-race peoples, and social justice. This black saint, who endured the bitter reali ties of racial prejudice and discrimination and struggled throughout his life to bring diverse peoples together, is also our patron of racial reconciliation.

In Oxford, one of the stained-glass windows at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church honors St. Martin de Porres. Fittingly, the window was placed in the south east corner of the building facing University Avenue at precisely the spot where, in the fall of 1962 (the year of Martin’s canonization), U.S. Marshals lined up to begin escorting James Meredith to the Ole Miss campus. After several failed attempts to gain admission to the Univer sity, Meredith ultimately enrolled following a night of ri oting that left two dead and hundreds injured. All of this bloodshed resulted from the state’s refusal to allow Mer edith, an African American U. S. Air Force veteran and native Mississippian, to enroll in one of its institutions of higher learning.

Our state has made much progress since that inci dent. By way of illustration, here is the rest of my sto ry. In my early thirties, I accepted a teaching position at Ole Miss and moved with my family to Oxford. One day, while having lunch at a civic club meeting, I met an African American gentleman who was a high-ranking administrator at the University. In talking, we discovered we had grown up in the same city and even in the same part of town! When we learned that we had actually lived on the same street, we were shocked! As a child he had lived on the other side of that infamous vacant lot! We had long ago been neighbors and yet, because of segregated housing, we had never met until that day at the civic club. My new-found friend should have been someone I grew up playing baseball with. As a child, we had been deprived of each other’s friendship because that was “the way things were.” Today, when my friend tells our story, he calls it a “Mississippi story.”

St. Martin de Porres, you taught the dog, the cat and the mouse to get along with each other. Pray for us that we might learn how to treat everyone with dignity and respect and live in peace with all our broth ers and sisters, regardless of race. Amen.

OXFORD – A stained glass window at St. John the Evangelist Church depicts St. Martin de Por res. Columnist, Melvin Arrington writes the col umn “Reflections of Life,” this week he reflects on his childhood in segregated Mississippi and the life of this very special saint. (Photo courtesy of Melvin Arrington)

(Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeri tus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Ox ford.)

SOUTHAVEN – Matthew made sure that both of his pups received a blessing from Father Timothy Gray, SCJ at Sacred Heart. (Pho tos by Laura Grisham)

CLINTON – Greta Nalker holds Valentine the snake while Father Lin coln Dall and Hunter Yentzen pet him after Blessing of the Pets at Holy Savior. (Photo by Lacey Nalker)

NATCHEZ – (Right) Father Aaron Williams blesses pets in the St. Mary Basilica prayer garden on Oct. 2. (Photo by Regina Mardis)

VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent blesses Jennifer Nelson's cat "Merle;" while Syd Johnston with his dog wait in the background at St. Paul parish.(Photo by Connie Hosemann)

Lucy seems more interested in posing for a picture than her blessing from Father Gray at Sacred Heart..

CLARKSDALE – St. Eliza beth held their blessing of the pets on Thursday, Oct. 6. (Photo by Catelin Britt)

Saving lives

learning

VICKSBURG – Lydia Nettles and Father Rusty Vincent donated blood to help save lives through a blood drive for Mississippi Blood Services. Blessings to all the Flash es family who participated in this life-saving event. (Pho to by Lindsey Bradley)

JACKSON – PreK-3 students at St. Richard School harvested vegetables from their class gardens and made their own salsa. Pictured is Oliver Metzger adding cilantro to the mix. (Photo by Tammy Conrad)

COLUMBUS – At Annunciation School, chess club members practice their skills ahead of their first competition. (Photo by Logan Waggoner)

face-off

MADISON – The Jr. Bruins and the Jr. Flashes face off in a game on Monday, Sept. 26 on Bill Raphael Field at St. Joseph School. The teams are made up of fifth and sixth graders at St. Anthony, St. Richard and St. Francis Xavier Schools. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

MADISON – Cheerleaders perform in a pep rally at St. Anthony School on Thursday, Sept. 29. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

New Sister ea Bowman lm open for viewing

Thea worked tirelessly to proclaim this message until her untimely death from breast cancer in 1990.

The film features interviews and commentary from her family, Sisters in community, colleagues, friends, and former students. Input from African-American scholars, clerics and bishops will speak to the ongoing issue of systemic racism in the church and country. Extensive use is made of archival media that portrays Thea in action–photographs, film, video and audio recordings recorded in locations of significance to her life.

The program title is drawn from a quotation attributed to Sojourner Truth. When Thea was asked what she wanted said at her funeral, she answered, “Just say what Sojourner Truth said: ‘I’m not going to die. I’m going home like a shooting star.’”

The film, part of the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission’s fall documentary season, began airing on ABC stations nationwide on Oct. 2, 2022. As of Oct. 11, the following Mississippi stations have scheduled showings of the film: WLOX Biloxi – Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.; and WAPT Jackson – Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. Contact your local ABC affiliate station for additional dates and times.

This is an official promotional poster for the documentary “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.” The documentary is currently availabling for airing by ABC stations nationwide. The film can also be viewed on the Diocese of Jackson's YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/SisterTheaFilm. (Artwork courtesy of NewGroup Media)

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

JACKSON – A new documentary from NewGroup Media and the Diocese of Jackson, Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood, presents the riveting life of Sister Thea Bowman, an African American Catholic Franciscan Sister who used her powerful gifts to educate and challenge the church and society to grow in racial inclusivity. Her skills of preaching, music, and teaching moved many Catholics to begin to confront their own racism while she urged her African American brothers and sisters to claim their gifts and share their “fully functioning” personhood.

The film can also be streamed on the Diocese of Jackson’s YouTube channel at https://bit. ly/SisterTheaFilm. The film is free to view, with donations requested to the Cause for Sister Thea Bowman.

The film makes a strong connection between Thea’s Gospel call for justice, love and unity and the current effort of Black Lives Matter activists and efforts to combat systemic racism. Many in the film cite Thea’s voice as an influence on their ongoing efforts to achieve social and racial justice.

Production of "Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood" was made possible with funding from the Catholic Communications Campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as support from various foundations and congregations of U.S. men and women religious.

ank you for your support of the Catholic Service Appeal

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

JACKSON – Director of Stewardship and Development, Rebecca Harris would like to personally thank everyone for their prayers for the annual Catholic Service Appeal and to those who made a financial commitment. This year, the diocese is excited to announce that the yearly goal has been reached.

"Each year I am amazed at the outpouring of support for our yearly appeal. Your commitment to the provides the needed funding for the ministries served by the appeal," said Harris.

The diocese is also pleased to announce that through the Synod process they heard the need for a young adult ministry. Harris said that the diocese now has a Young Adult/Campus Ministry Office that will now receive funding from the CSA.

All are invited to visit the diocese website to see a complete list of the ministries supported by the annual Catholic Service Appeal. To see a complete list of ministries please go to csa. jacksondiocese.org or scan the QR Code.