mississippicatholic.com
NOVEMBER 19, 2021
Trinity Missions celebrate centennial in Camden BY BERTA MEXIDOR
Missions to representatives of Sacred Heart Camden, St. Therese Kosciusko, CAMDEN – “There is no truer proof St. Anne Carthage, Holy Rosary Indiof a great love of God than a great love an Mission, Sister Mary Anne Poeschl, of our neighbor.” Father Thomas Judge, RSM and Bishop Kopacz. Father Barth Founder of Trinity Missions also blessed the renovated cross in Hundreds of parishioners from four front of the Sacred Heart Camden parishes gathered at Sacred Heart CamChurch; and Father Guy Wilson, ST den to celebrate 100 years of Trinitarcreated a ceramic necklace in memory ian Missions with a Mass celebrated by of the centennial celebration for each Bishop Joseph Kopacz and concelebratattendee. ed by the Trinitarian priests, Fathers Foundation of the Trinitarians Mike Barth, general custodian of TrinIt only takes a tiny spark from the ity Missions, Odel Medina, Guy Wilson, Holy Spirit to ignite a fire that grows Gustavo Amell, Raul Ventura, Alexis into something magnificent. And for Zuniga Velasquez, Robert “Bob” Goodthe Trinitarians that spark grew into an year; in addition to Father Mike O’Brien institution that has helped millions of of Sacred Heart Canton. people over a 100-year period. Bishop Kopacz recognized the TrinIn this case, the Holy spark came itarian's servants’ deeds serving four in 1909 from six female volunteers in Bishops before him, Bishops Gerow, Brooklyn, who met with Father ThomBrunini, Houck and Latino, and thouCAMDEN – On Nov. 13, the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity celeas Judge to discuss their interest in assands of Catholic Mississippians for brated 100 years of their founding. The Trinitarian Missions have been a part of sisting Catholic immigrants. They bemore than 77 years. “We have the spirit Mississippi history for 77 years. Pictured left to right: Father Guy Wilson, Father gan an outreach program to visit homes of awe, for all what God has done for Mike Barth, Father Bob Goodyear, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Odel Medina, and offer what help they could. This us ... The Holy Spirit is flying above this Father Alexis Zuniga Velasques, Father Mike O'Brien and Father Gustavo Amell. was the beginning of the Missionary assembly ... because we are children of (Photo by Berta Mexidor) Cenacle Apostolate (lay missionaries). God. We have a spirit of hope and gratiFather Judge, a son of Irish immitude,” Bishop Kopacz said in his homily. more years,” Bishop Kopacz concluded. grants, arrived in Opelika, Alabama, an area with very The apostolic Spirit, that Father Judge envisioned At the end of the Mass, Father Mike Barth gave rec100 years ago makes “missionary disciples offer the fire ognition plaques for their contribution to the Trinitarian – Continued on page 6 – of God to all. This celebration is the first day of 100
Synod opening Mass invokes guidance of Holy Spirit BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING
facilitators to conduct parish listening sessions. Then, to be followed by regional meetJACKSON – Pope Francis launched preparations Oct. 9-10 at the Vatican for the ings to be held in the first few months of 2022. “Beyond the mainstream of our parishes, schools and other ministries we will also World Synod of Bishops, which will take place in 2023. On the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” the church is seeking input from dioceses invite many more to participate through social media platforms in order to reach out around the world, with most bishops kicking off the local listening process with open- to the unchurched, the marginalized and the alienated,” said Bishop Kopacz. “From across the diocese, we hope to receive a very good response – potentially ing Masses beginning Oct. 17. In the Diocese of Jackson, Bishop Joseph Kopacz launched the Synod of Bishops thousands of responses,” said Bishop Kopacz. “It will be work bringing this together into a 10-page synthesis. But what a story; on Oct. 24 with an opening Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. Since the Second Vatican Council, the church has held Synods of Bishops, most that we can understand on a deeper level, who we are as a people of God in the Body recently focusing on topics such as the family and young people. This synod focuses of Christ, in the Diocese of Jackson.” Fran Lavelle, director of faith formation for the diocese, was selected to lead the on the topic of synodality itself. “The undertaking is called Synod on Synodality, which can sound like ‘church planning for the synod in the diocese, along with an advisory council. She says that the speak’ when you first hear it,” said Bishop Kopacz at the opening Mass for the synod synod is “not a pastoral planning process, nor is it a free for all ‘gripe session.’” in the diocese. – Continued on page 6 – “But it has deep roots in our church tradition as a INSIDE THIS WEEK people of faith, as baptized Catholics, as disciples of the Lord.” In his homily, Bishop Kopacz challenged us to reimagine the birth of the church on the first Pentecost, nearly 2000 years ago. With disciples of the Lord Jesus, praying intensely for the faith-filled gift of the Holy Spirit. “This is the image of synodality,” said Bishop Kopacz. “Pope Francis wants the church to gather in prayer for a number of months leading into a year and then a second year, so there will be time to absorb all that the Spirit is speaking to the church.” Joint statement 8 From the archives 10 #iGiveCatholic 4 Bishop Kopacz says that during the next two months, Bishops issue statement on Read Bishop Gunn's ac#GivingTuesday – Nov. 30 the diocese will be laying the groundwork for the synod execution of David Cox count of poisoning attempt is almost here process in the diocese – preparing materials and training