Mississippi Catholic 5 14 2021

MAY 14, 2021

mississippicatholic.com

There’s no place like Nome

BY JOE LEE

MADISON – In preparation for his retirement in June 2019, Msgr. Elvin Sunds purchased a pickup truck and a travel trailer with an eye on visiting national parks around the country. Aware of this, Bishop Joseph Kopacz alerted Sunds of ongoing pastoring opportunities in the small Alaskan town of Nome, should he want to venture that far. This year everything came together to make that road trip (actually an air trip) a reality.

“The bishop in Alaska has a real priest shortage up there, and congregations can go without Masses for long periods of time,” Sunds said. “I agreed to fill in for the pastor of St. Joseph Church in Nome for three weeks so he could visit his family in India.”

Sunds, who fills in at St. Francis of Assisi in Madison, flew out of Jackson on April 13, leaving behind muggy conditions and temperatures in the low 80s. He knew to pack a lot of clothing he would never use this time of year in Mississippi.

“Nome has a population of less than 4,000 and is a little over 100 miles below the Arctic Circle,” he said. “When I arrived, there was two feet of snow on the ground and temperatures were in the teens.

“The area is incredibly beautiful. It has mountains, valleys, tundra, coastal waters, rivers, lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. The scenery is particularly stunning in snow. It was a major site of the Alaskan gold rush of the early 1900s. Today gold mining is still the major industry.”

How utterly vast is Alaska? The annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Anchorage and finishes a jaw-dropping 1,049 miles later in Nome. To reach his destination, Sunds flew to Dallas, across the country to Seattle, then to Anchorage before a 90-minute flight (covering 540 miles) to Nome. He found the people to be friendly and warm, despite the many layers of dress.

“About half the people of Nome and St. Joseph Church are Eskimo and half

NOME – Msgr. Sunds recently returned from Nome, Alaska where he filled in for the pastor of St. Joseph Church for three weeks. Nome is about 100 miles from the Arctic circle and marks the end of the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

(Photo by Msgr. Elvin Sunds) are of European descent,” he said. “Life is simple, and people live simply. A lot of them

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Youth honored with Bishop Chanche awards

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

JACKSON – When Bishop John Joseph Chanche arrived in the newly formed Diocese of Natchez in May of 1841, there were no Catholic Churches, only a couple of missionary priests, and his flock was far flung. He rose to the challenge and laid the foundation for the Diocese of Jackson. The diocese honors his legacy and thanks those who continue to build on his foundation with the Bishop Chanche award for service.

This year, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and the Office of Youth Ministry awarded 11 young people the Bishop Chanche award. Due to COVID, awards were given at individual parishes. The brief descriptions on these pages come from the Bishop Chanche nomination forms and offer a glimpse into the young men and women who serve the church today.

CAROLINA ACOSTA – ST. JAMES, TUPELO Character: Humble, committed and hardworking Activities: Altar server, lector, Christian fellowship leader at school School: Tupelo High School, senior Acosta was nominated by Mary Frances Strange, director of youth ministry, who said that Acosta lives out her Catholic faith by being brave. “She is one of those people that is hard to describe, because there are few like her. This past year I offered the opportunity for the newly confirmed juniors to help as leaders their senior year. I had eight that were interested. She was one of these,” said Strange.

Acosta helps lead a small group at the parish and comes to all service projects. This year, she even assisted Strange with the Confirmation retreat. “I was so blown away by her, she was the most efficient and productive help I have ever had as a youth minister.”

ANNA ELISE CROUT – ST. JOSEPH, GLUCKSTADT Character: Dedicated, enthusiastic about her faith and desire for growth Activities: Youth Lead Team, parish and school cantor and pianist, school band, volunteer at Hope Hollow Ministires and MadCAAP School: St. Joseph Catholic School, junior Crout was nominated by Pam Minninger, the LEM for St. Joseph Gluckstadt, who said that she reliably serves her parish and Catholic school not only by being a dedicated and enthusiastic participant, but also serves in music ministry as a talented piano player and cantor. She promotes involvement in youth events such as DCYC to her peers and serves as a youth leader on the Youth Ministry Leadership team, which involves being an example of leadership as well as conducting (adult supervised) activities for younger teens and children in

INSIDE THIS WEEK

From the archives 9 Bishop moved to speak after civil rights leaders death

Rosary makers 12 Kentucky group provides rosary-making supplies

Youth 18 Pictures of May crowning activities around the diocese

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Calendar of events SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT DIOCESE Bishop Kopacz has given his permission to begin the application process for a new cohort of permanent deacons for the Diocese of Jackson. Applicants will only be accepted into the program if there is evidence that the community needs the service of the applicant and is willing to support the applicant through his formation period. The local pastor’s or LEM’s recommendation is also necessary because he will be working closely with the applicant before and after ordination.

The applicant’s wife must also give her consent to his participation in the program and later to his ordination.

Applications must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate no later than July 31, 2021. Details: Deacon John McGregor at john.mcgregor@jacksondiocese.org.

GRAND COTEAU, La. Our Lady of the Oaks, Ladies Annual Retreat, Dec. 2-5 for ladies of the Natchez area. Would you like to grow closer to God? Do you need some time away to listen to Him, to grow, to rest?

Experience the natural beauty of oak trees and the beautiful setting of nature. You are invited to join us to rest in the care of the Lord in silence, solitude, deep prayer and reflection. $50 deposit due as soon as possible to hold room as they fill up quickly. Details: Please contact Kot Morris at (601) 334-8339.

MOBILE, Ala. Spring Hill College, Summer Institute of Christian Spiritualty is offering courses that are appropriate with our current world situation. Those interested do not have to be enrolled in their Theology programs to take courses either for credit, audit, or easy listening. They offer both in person and virtual courses, as well as on-campus housing. One of the courses is “Black and Catholic, Faithful and Free” on Sister Thea Bowman and M. Shawn Copeland, on June 14-17, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (also available online). Emily Reimer-Barry, Ph.D. is the guest lecturer. It will explore the Black Catholic experi-

FEATURED PHOTO

ence in America, with the goal of recognizing the impact of bias, and fostering genuine-if-imperfect-solidarity in the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Details: Visit the online catalogue at: https://springhill.catalog.instructure. com/browse/sics.

PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers are needed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Please come to 711 Washington Avenue if you can help. Details: church office (662) 3355251.

TUPELO St. James, Annual Charity Concert, under Dr. Noel Garcia’s direction, Saturday, August 14, hosted by the Knights of Columbus. This year’s proceeds will go to the Roy Jaeger Into the Breach Scholarship. More information on tickets to come. Details: church office (662) 842-4881.

YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Adult Religious Education classes will meet each Sunday at 9 a.m. in the small room at the Parish Hall. All guidelines will be followed as well as the wearing of masks. Details: church office (662) 746-1680.

YOUTH BRIEFS

CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, Vacation Bible School, “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God” June 28 – July 2 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for those entering Pre-K4 through 6th grade. All VBS t-shirt orders must be paid in advance. Details: To sign up, call the church office at (662) 624-4301 or register online.

MADISON St. Francis of Assisi, if you have a child or know a child who would like to participate in St. Francis Boy Scouts Troop 716, please contact the Scout Master David Ellis at ellisd3.de@gmail.com.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, CYO (9-12 grades) meets Wednesday, May 19 for “Be Still” from 6-7 p.m.

Safe place and prayers ...

JACKSON – There was a bit of excitement outside of the Chancery building on Thursday, April 29 when a woman pulled into the lot with her car on fire. All was well after the fire department arrived and made sure the scene was safe. Prayers were said and the woman had a safe place to rest while the scene was cleared. Deacon John McGregor was first on the scene with a fire extinguisher. Pictured are passersby of the scene. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

in the youth wing of the Family Life Center. Tacos, burritos, and waters will be provided. Attending students receive service hours. Please bring your cell phone and wear face masks. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

STARKVILLE St. Joseph, Vacation Bible School, June 21-24, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Open to children ages five through fourth grade. Details: Deacon Jeff Artigues at deaconjeff@stjosephstarkville.org or (662) 323-2257.

TUPELO St. James, Vacation Bible School, June 7–11, 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Catholic Life Center. Help is needed in a variety of ways: group leaders, decorators the week before, monitors for certain activities, and extra help as needed. Teen volunteers need to fill out a registration form and adults should call Lora Beth Barrett.

Healthy food snacks (individually wrapped items only).

We also need donations of decorating and craft supplies (A detailed list of these items will be provided later. Bring items to the CLC kitchen or parish office. Registration and volunteer sign-up forms are available at the church office, in the CLC foyers, and online at https://www. saint-james.net. Children must be registered by May 16 in order to receive a free t-shirt. Details: Lora Beth Barrett at (662) 213-7959 or lorabethb@gmail.com.

YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Vacation Bible School tentatively scheduled for June 4-6. Details: contact Babs McMaster if you would like to help at the church office (662) 746-1680

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MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

Come Holy Spirit

BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.

Pope Francis often has described the upheavals across the globe, socially and environmentally, as a change of an era, not merely an era of change. At the center of his Holy Spirit driven dream contained in his most recent books, Fratelli Tutti and Let Us Dream, the Path to a New Future, is the hope that the world would not only extol liberty and equality as the ultimate values but would evolve to form the perfect triangle with the inclusion of fraternity.

The pending feast of Pentecost beckons as the culminating moment of the Easter season next weekend, when we celebrate the transforming power of the Holy Spirit who can renew the face of the earth, and the landscape of our hearts and minds. This is the divine drama whose culmination will be at the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The early church experienced a change of an era moment very quickly, a second Pentecost event, in the home of Cornelius, last Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

(Acts 10:25-48) Most Catholics can identify with the first Pentecost and the birth of the church when the Holy Spirit with a strong driving wind and tongues of fire launched the proclamation of the Gospel with the 120 disciples gathered in prayer, including the 12 apostles and the Blessed Mother. Peter, the first among equals of the apostles, stood up in the midst of the emerging community of

believers to address the devout Jews gathered from every nation who were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Weeks, the first fruits of the harvest. After Peter’s historic preaching of the Kerygma in the context of the Hebrew scriptures of salvation history, 3000 were baptized that day, all of them Jews. (Acts 2:41) The great commission of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20) to the 11 apostles before ascending into heaven, to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, was in their world view a message of salvation intended exclusively for the sons and daughters of Abraham scattered in the diaspora.

The second Pentecost moment that ushered in the change of an era did not occur at the religious, economic, and cultural center of the Jews in Jerusalem, but in the living room of a pagan. Peter, again at the center of the divine drama, was pushed and prodded by the Holy Spirit in a repetitive vision to kill and consume unclean food. (Acts 10:10-16) Peter found this repulsive and refused to indulge. Upon awakening three strangers arrived and directed him to the home of Cornelius, a centurion, where he and his family were eager to offer hospitality to the preeminent leader of the disciples of the crucified and risen Lord.

What was so dramatic about this encounter, is that Peter underwent radical conversion because mixing and mingling with Gentiles was the source of his revulsion, that which the food symbolized. He began his discourse unaware that the second downpour of Pentecost was imminent. In the middle of his preaching on the crucified and resurrected Lord of history, the Holy Spirit, more or less, went over the top of Peter and fell upon the

Ven Espíritu Santo POR OBISPO JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.

A menudo, el Papa Francisco ha descrito los trastornos sociales y ambientales en todo el mundo como un cambio de era, no simplemente como una era de cambio.

En el centro de su sueño impulsado por el Espíritu Santo contenido en sus libros más recientes, Fratelli Tutti (Carta encíclica sobre la Fraternidad y Amistad Social), el libro Let Us Dream the Path to a New Future, (Soñemos Juntos, El Camino a un Futuro Mejor), está la esperanza de que el mundo no solo ensalce la libertad y la igualdad como los valores últimos, sino que evolucione para formar el triángulo perfecto con la inclusión de la fraternidad.

La fiesta de Pentecostés, momento culminante de la temporada de Pascua y pendiente para el próximo fin de semana, es cuando celebramos el poder transformador Volume 67 Number 11 (ISSN 1529-1693)

Gentile’s with the fire of God’s love. This encounter, although off the beaten path, was at least as dramatic as the first. Peter and the pious Jews from Jerusalem were shocked that the Holy Spirit could have been poured out upon the Gentiles, the uncircumcised, the pagans, the impure. (10:46) This groundbreaking moment revealed to Peter and church leadership, all Jewish at the time, that the outpouring of blood and water on the Cross and of the Holy Spirit truly was a universal gift.

The joy overflowed for many of the believers, but this revelation caused considerable division in the early church. The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) officially resolved the question of the extent of the Mosaic Law that would be incumbent upon Gentile converts, but the battle in the trenches of church life raged for generations over the necessity of circumcision for the Gentiles, the sign of the covenant that went back to Abraham.

The first and second Pentecost moments as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles manifestly displayed that the Holy Spirit, then and now, is poured out upon the entire church, especially when gathered in prayer. At times, God’s liberating actions can take everyone by surprise.

Pope Francis calls these events, an overflow of God’s grace, and the foundation for what Pope he sees as the need for active Synodality in the Church. These forums for prayer, dialogue and discernment, where the community of believers gather, ordained and laity, are as essential to the church in the third millennium as they were in the first. They give witness to the liberty we know in Jesus Christ, the equality of dignity that all people possess made in the image and likeness of God, and the fraternity that is inherent in the Great Commission to make disciples of all the nations. Indeed, come Holy Spirit in our time, and infuse the church with the breath of God, who is ever ancient and ever new.

del Espíritu Santo que puede renovar la faz de la tierra y el paisaje de nuestras mentes y nuestros corazones. Este es el drama divino que tendrá culminación con la segunda venida del Señor Jesús. La iglesia primitiva experimentó rápidamente un cambio de época, un segundo evento de Pentecostés, en la casa de Cornelio, según los Hechos de los Apóstoles, primera lectura del domingo pasado. (Hechos 10: 25-48) La mayoría de los católicos pueden identificarse con el primer Pentecostés y el nacimiento de la iglesia cuando el Espíritu Santo, con un fuerte viento y lenguas de fuego, lanzó la proclamación del Evangelio con los 120 discípulos reunidos en oración, incluidos los 12 apóstoles y la Santísima Madre. Pedro, el primero entre iguales de los apóstoles, se puso de pie en medio de la emergente comunidad de creyentes para dirigirse a los judíos devotos reunidos de todas las naciones que estaban en Jerusalén para celebrar la fiesta judía de las Semanas, los primeros frutos de la cosecha. Después de la predicación histórica de Pedro del Kerygma en el contexto de las escrituras hebreas de la historia de la salvación, 3000 fueron bautizados ese día, todos ellos judíos. (Hechos 2:41) La gran comisión del Señor Jesús a los 11 apóstoles antes de ascender al cielo de hacer discípulos de todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, Hijo y el Espíritu Santo (Mateo 28:16-20), era su cosmovisión de un mensaje de salvación destinado exclusivamente a los hijos e hijas de Abraham esparcidos en la diáspora.

– Continúa en la pág. 15 –

P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130 Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org Publisher ........................................................................................... Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Communications Director ...................................................................... Joanna Puddister King Production Manager ...................................................................................................Tereza Ma Contributors ......................................................................................................... Berta Mexidor ............................................................................................................ Cindy Wood MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published twice per month January - April and September December; one per month June, July and August. Subscription rate: $20 a year in Mississippi, $21 out-of-state. Periodical postage at Jackson, MS 39201 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130.

Website: www.mississippicatholic.com  www.jacksondiocese.org

BISHOP’S SCHEDULE Thursday, May 20, 7 p.m. – Graduation, St. Joseph School, Greenville, Football field Wednesday, May 26, 7 p.m. – Graduation, St. Joseph School, Madison, Football field Friday, May 28, 7 p.m. – Graduation, Cathedral School, Natchez City Auditorium Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m. – Graduation, St. Al, Vicksburg City Auditorium All events are subject to change. Check with local schools for further details.

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

4 VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME

Our Prediscernment Prayer Nights wrapped up in late April and I want to thank all the parishioners who came to the various parishes to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I ended up visiting ten parishes in across the diocese.

It was really incredible that our final stop on the tour brought our largest crowd as we had a packed house at St. Michael’s in Forest! A special thanks to all the pastors and parish leaders I worked with as we made these evenings of prayer available to so many.

As we continue to make changes to our COVID protocols I am excited to announce that I will be hosting a Men’s Discernment Retreat this summer at Our Lady of Hope in Chatawa. This retreat center was formally St. Mary of the Pines and has been sold to a Catholic group from the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The retreat will run from June 22-24 and is for young men ages 15-25. I’m hopeful that many of the young people who came to pray with us this winter and spring can build up bonds of friendship with one another at the retreat this summer. We will have keynote talks addressing important facts about discernment and the reality that the Lord is calling each of us to a vocation. But most of all this will be a time of fun and fellowship, helping young men from various backgrounds and at various stages in their lives get to know one another and find support.

It has been almost a year since I began as full-time vocation director, and I pray that this retreat will be a visible sign of the work that is being done in cultivating discerners from our diocese. It is so important that young people who think they might have a call to priesthood or religious life have other like-minded individuals to spend time with.

Discerning a vocation can be isolating, but the more we can support one another, the more young people will feel empowered to do God’s will.

I have been so impressed by the dedication of so many young people in our midst who are seriously considering God’s will in their life. Please continue to pray for these young men and women and pray that the young men who would benefit from attending this retreat will have the courage and the capability to sign up! If you are interested or you want to know how to refer a young man to sign up, please log onto www.jacksonpriests.com/comeandsee or simply email me at nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org for more information.

GREENVILLE – Bishop Kopacz leads an hour of prayer for vocations with Father Nick Adam at Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Photo courtesy of Father

– Father Nick Adam Nick Adam)

School Sisters of St. Francis celebrate Jubilee

In memorium: Sister Geraldine “Geri” Hoye, OP

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – More than three dozen School Sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province will celebrate milestone anniversaries of service as women religious in 2021. One sister celebrating a milestone is Sister Rose Hacker, currently serving at Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls.

Sister Rose Hacker was born in Pratt, Kansas. She received a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas; a master of arts degree in biology from Wichita State University in Kansas; and a master of arts in pastoral ministry from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Rose served as a researcher/teacher at the University of Mississippi in Oxford (1983-1987) and since 2017 has served as pastoral assistant at Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls/Olive Branch.

In the Archdiocese of Omaha, sister taught at Ryan High School in Omaha (1981-1982) and served as a researcher/ teacher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha (1987-1988).

In the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, Sister served as a pastoral minister at Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer (1990-1996) and Sacred Heart Parish in Boone (2005-2017).

In the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas, Sister served as pastoral minister at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City (1996-1998).

In the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Sister served as pastoral minister at St. Gregory Parish in Maryville, Missouri (1998-2005).

Cards and donations in honor of sister’s years of service may be mailed to sister’s attention, c/o Jubilee Committee, School Sisters of St. Francis, 1545 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215.

SINSINAWA, Wis. – Sister Geraldine “Geri” Hoye, OP, died May 4, 2021, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Her religious name was Sister Mary Geraldine. The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, May 11, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.

Sister Geri made her first profession as a School Sister of Saint Francis of Christ the King (Lemont, Ill.) Aug. 16, 1957, and her perpetual profession Aug. 16, 1962. She served in education for 30 years as teacher and principal before transferring her vows to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1990. Sister Geri remained in educational administration for another three years before moving into parish ministries, including religious education, faith formation, and pastoral ministry, for the next 23 years. She opened her heart to people as she guided them in their faith life, sharing abundant joy, kindness and humor. Sister Geri served in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky.

In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Geraldine served as pastoral minister and director of religious education at St. James Parish, Tupelo, 1992-1999.

Sister Geri was born April 4, 1938, in Chicago, the daughter of William and Angeline (Besowshek) Hoye. Her parents and two brothers, Roger Hoye and Ronald Hoye, preceded her in death. She is survived by a nephew, nieces and her Dominican Sisters.

Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.

Spirituality 5

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

The eyes of love IN EXILE

By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI

Imagine a young couple intoxicated with each other in the early stages of love. Imagine a religious neophyte in love with God, praying ecstatically. Imagine an idealistic young person working tirelessly with the poor, enflamed with a thirst for justice. Is this young couple really in love with each other? Is that religious neophyte really in love with God? Is this young social activist really in love with the poor? Not an easy question.

Whom are we really loving when we have feelings of love?

The other? Ourselves? The archetype and energy the other is carrying? Our own fantasy of that person? The feelings this experience is triggering inside us? When we are in love, are we really in love with another person or are we mostly basking in a wonderful feeling which could be just as easily triggered by countless other persons?

There are different answers to that question. John of the Cross would say it is all of these things; we are in fact really loving that other person, loving a fantasy we have created of that person, and basking in the good feeling this has generated inside us. That is why, invariably, at a given point in a relationship the powerful feelings of being in love give way to disillusionment – disillusionment (by definition) implies the dispelling of an illusion, something was unreal. So for John of the Cross, when we are in love, partly the love is real and partly it is an illusion. Moreover, John would say the same thing about our initial feelings of fervor in prayer and in altruistic service. They are a mixture of both, authentic love and an illusion.

Some other analyses are less generous. In their view, all initial falling in love, whether it be with another person, with God in prayer, or with the poor in service, is mainly an illusion. Ultimately, you are in love with being in love, in love with what prayer is doing for you, or in love with how working for justice is making you feel. The other person, God, and the poor are secondary. That is why, so often, when first fervor dies, so too does our love for its original object.

When the fantasy dies, so too does the sense of being in love. We fall in love without really knowing the other person and we fall out of love without really knowing the other person. The very phrase “falling in love” is revealing. “Falling” is not something we choose, it happens to us. Marriage Encounter spirituality has a clever slogan around this: marriage is a decision; falling in love is not.

Who is right? When we fall in love, how much is genuine love for another and how much is an illusion within which we are mostly loving ourselves? Steven Levine answers this from very different perspective and throws new light on the question. What is his perspective?

Love, he says, is not a “dualistic emotion.” For him, whenever we are feeling authentic Wholesale and home love we are, at that freezer service moment, feeling Beef – Pork – Sausage our oneness with 109 - A Camellia Dr. God and with all Natchez that is. He writes, 601-445-8743 “The experience of love arises when we

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surrender our separateness into the universal. It is a feeling of unity ... It is not an emotion, it is a state of being ... It is not so much that ‘two are as one’ so much as it is the ‘One manifested as two.’” In other words, when we love someone, in that moment, we are one with him or her, not separate, so that even though our fantasies and feelings may be partially wrapped up in self-serving affectivity, something deeper and more real than our feelings and fantasies is occurring. We are one with the other in our being – and, in love, we sense it.

In this view, authentic love is not so much something we feel; it is something we are. At its root, love is not an affective emotion or a moral virtue (though these are part of it). It is a metaphysical condition, not something that comes and goes like an emotional state, nor something that we can choose or refuse morally. A metaphysical condition is a given, something we stand within, that makes up part of what we are, constitutively, though we

can be blissfully unaware. Thus, love, not least falling in love, can help make us more conscious of our non-separateness, our oneness in being with others.

When we feel love deeply or passionately, then perhaps (like Thomas Merton describing a mystical vision he had on a street corner) we can awake more from our dream of separateness and our illusion of difference and see the secret beauty and depth of other people’s hearts.

Perhaps too it will enable us to see others at that place in them where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes.

And wouldn’t it be wonderful, Merton adds ... “if we could see each other that way all the time.”

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

The Pope’s Corner

Welcoming migrants, refugees is opportunity for growth

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As countries become more culturally and ethnically diverse, their Catholic communities become more “catholic” and their societies can increasingly reflect the fact that all people are brothers and sisters, Pope Francis said.

“In encountering the diversity of foreigners, migrants and refugees, and in the intercultural dialogue that can emerge from this encounter, we have an opportunity to grow as church and to enrich one another,” the pope wrote in his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be marked Sept. 26 in most countries.

“All the baptized, wherever they find themselves, are by right members of both their local ecclesial community and the one church, dwellers in one home and part of one family,” the pope wrote in the message, which was released May 6 at the Vatican.

The message called on all Catholics to build up the church by welcoming and getting to know Catholic migrants and refugees and reaching out with a witness of charity to members of other religions, and it called on all people to enrich the diversity of their countries by accepting newcomers and ensuring they are not left languishing in poverty.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, undersecretary of the Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees Section, was asked about people who fear, for example, that continuing migration will bring more Muslims to Europe, contributing to a further decline of Christianity on the continent.

“It is a real problem if one feels insecure or threatened or vulnerable in one’s faith life because of others,” he said. “We need to get beyond the ‘wall,’ beyond the barrier,” and a first step could be to ask, “Have I ever spoken with or even listened to someone from that other faith? Do I know what I am talking about or am I relying on images and slogans and hearsay?”

A Christian has an obligation to seek the truth, the cardinal said, “and not rely on these fear-mongering cliches which are not only baseless but are, in fact, serving other motives.”

The theme the pope chose for the day is “Toward an ever wider ‘we,’” and it builds on the teaching in his encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship.”

In the encyclical, his message said, “I expressed a concern and a hope that remain uppermost in my thoughts: ‘Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumer-

ism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation.”

“God willing,” he said, “after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us.’”

God created human beings different from one another but as members of one family, the pope said. “When, in disobedience we turned away from God, he in his mercy wished to offer us a path of reconciliation, not as individuals but as a people, a ‘we,’ meant to embrace the entire human family, without exception.”

In today’s world, though, “this ‘we’ willed by God is broken and fragmented, wounded and disfigured,” he said.

“Our ‘we,’ both in the wider world and within the church, is crumbling and cracking due to myopic and aggressive forms of nationalism and radical individualism,” Pope Francis said. “The highest price is being paid by those who most easily become viewed as others: foreigners, migrants, the marginalized, those living on the existential peripheries.”

For Catholics, he said, bucking the trend and welcoming others is part of “a commitment to becoming ever more faithful to our being ‘catholic,’” or universal.

Catholics, he said, are called to work together “to make the church become ever more inclusive as she carries out the mission entrusted to the Apostles by Jesus Christ” to proclaim the Gospel and care for those in need.

“In our day,” the pope said, “the church is called to go out into the streets of every existential periphery in order to heal wounds and to seek out the straying, without prejudice or fear, without proselytizing, but ready to widen her tent to embrace everyone.”

The global movement of people, he said, means “our societies will have a ‘colorful’ future, enriched by diversity and by cultural exchanges. Consequently, we must even now learn to live together in harmony and peace.”

“We must make every effort to break down the walls that separate us and, in acknowledging our profound interconnection, build bridges that foster a culture of encounter,” the pope insisted.

Joining the Vatican news conference from England, Auxiliary Bishop Paul McAleenan of Westminster said people in wealthy nations that extract resources from poorer countries and contribute heavily to climate change must recognize “that we are not blameless” in causing people to flee their homes.

In response, he said, “the aim of the church is to welcome, protect and promote all, knowing that human life and well-being are at risk, not national security.”

6 WORLD

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Pope prays emergency workers in India find strength to persevere With so many in India suffering, "I am writing to convey my heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people, together with the assurance of my prayers that God will grant healing and consolation to everyone affected by this grave pandemic," he wrote.

Smashing global records, on May 5 more than 412,000 new cases and 3,980 deaths were registered in India in just 24 hours; however, health experts estimate the actual numbers are much higher due to unrecorded deaths and infections. The World Health Organization said India has accounted for 46% of global cases and 25% of global deaths reported in the past week.

In a written message sent May 6 to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, the Lilaben Gautambhai Modi, 80, wearing an oxygen mask, sits inside an pope said he was praying for all ambulance as she waits to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, those who have become sick, for amid the spread of the disease in Ahmedabad, India, May 5, 2021. their families and caregivers and As India faces a massive surge in new infections and deaths caused by for those mourning the loss of COVID-19, Pope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by loved ones. the huge health emergency. (CNS photo/Amit Dave, Reuters) "I think too of the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those workBy Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As India faces a massive ing tirelessly to respond to the immediate needs of their surge in new infections and deaths caused by COVID-19, brothers and sisters," the pope wrote. "With deep apprePope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by ciation I invoke upon all of them God's gifts of perseverance, strength and peace." the huge health emergency.

The pope also expressed his closeness to the nation's Catholic communities and thanked them for their "charity and fraternal solidarity carried out in the service of all; I think especially of the generosity shown by so many committed young people."

He prayed for the faithful who have lost their lives, including "the great numbers of priests and men and women religious," and asked that "in these days of immense grief, may we all be consoled in the hope born of Easter and our unshakable faith in Christ's promise of resurrection and new life."

Meanwhile, UNICEF has warned that the deadly surge in COVID-19 cases in India "is larger and spreading more rapidly than the first," putting an enormous strain on health and critical care facilities.

"Urgent action is needed to avert further tragic loss of life," it said on its website, appealing for funding to deliver urgently needed testing equipment, supplies and oxygen products and other services.

The pandemic's first wave last year resulted in major cuts to public health services in South Asia, costing the lives of an estimated 228,000 children and 11,000 mothers, said George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF's regional director.

Essential health services, such as routine inoculations, have been disrupted and even risk being shut down with healthcare staff, equipment and facilities being diverted to addressing the ballooning pandemic, he said in a statement May 4.

Increasing numbers of children are being hurt by the pandemic as they lose parents and caregivers, witness traumatic scenes and lose vital health care, nutritional, education and support services, he said.

The current second wave throughout South Asia has the potential to cause immense devastation, Laryea-Adjei warned saying immediate assistance from the international community was "a moral imperative."

Church leaders offer prayers after Mexico City metro crash

By David Agren

MEXICO CITY (CNS) – Mexican church leaders offered prayers for the victims of a metro line collapse that left at least 23 dead and more than 70 people injured.

Bishop Andrés Vargas Peña of Xochimilco – which serves three southern boroughs in Mexico City – offered condolences to the victims, while announcing each priest in the diocese would celebrate Mass three times May 4 "for the deceased, the injured and their families."

The bishop asked parishioners to pray for the victims and also asked diocesan priests in the affected area and hospitals treating the injured to provide spiritual support.

An elevated portion of a metro line in Mexico City collapsed at around 10:30 p.m. May 3, sending two train cars crashing onto a busy thoroughfare below and crushing at least one vehicle. Rescuers worked through the night to free trapped passengers and search for victims.

Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the cause of the tragedy remains unclear. Line 12 of Mexico City Metro, where the accident occurred, has been plagued by construction problems since being inaugurated in 2012.

Half the stations in Line 12 were closed in 2014 due to construction issues. A strong earthquake in 2017 also damaged columns on the metro line, but Sheinbaum said repairs were made and the inspections occur daily.

"Absolutely nothing will be hidden," President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at his morning news conference May 4. "The people have to know the complete truth."

The Mexico City Metro serves 4.6 million passengers daily, carrying armies of workers from far-flung suburbs to jobs in the Mexican capital.

The site where an overpass for a metro partially collapsed with train cars on it is seen at Olivos station in Mexico City May 4, 2021. (CNS photo/Carlos Jasso, Reuters)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

DIOCESE 7

CDC director gives nod to indoor worship services for masked, vaccinated

By Carol Zimmermann

WASHINGTON (CNS) – When the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said April 27 that fully vaccinated people who wear masks can safely attend many indoor events such as worship services, the announcement likely did not catch many Catholics by surprise.

That’s because most Catholic parishes nationwide have been having in-person indoor Masses since last summer, although often with limited congregation sizes requiring parishioners to sign up in advance.

The setup of these Masses varies in each diocese and even at different parishes within a diocese. Some parishes are still following strict protocols; others are not requiring masks indoors, and some are offering indoor and outdoor Masses.

Parishes are also following state and county health guidelines that determine how many people may attend indoor services.

At the beginning of the pandemic, most bishops issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, but in recent months a growing number of bishops have lifted that dispensation. Last fall, Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, lifted the dispensation, then reinstated it two weeks later because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

Also, across the country, many parishes that quickly figured out how to livestream their Masses last spring are now continuing to provide this service, even as their congregations are starting to return.

A Catholic News Service reporter’s unofficial Twitter poll April 28 showed a mixed response about what Catholics planned to do for Sunday Mass the weekend after the green light for indoor worship was given – for those who are masked and vaccinated – by Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director.

Most said they would attend Mass in person, and the next largest number of respondents said they had barely stopped going to Sunday Masses in person this past year.

Those who gave specific responses offered a variety of reactions, from saying their parish does a good job with safety protocols to not feeling comfortable going to Mass at their parish, since face masks are not required.

One woman said her parish offers indoor, outdoor and livestream Masses and, for now, she would continue attending the outdoor services.

John Kraemer, who attends Christ the Good Shep-

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington March 18, 2021. (CNS photo/ Susan Walsh, Pool via Reuters)

herd Parish in Saginaw, Michigan, said that as soon as churches reopened, he was “one of the first ones in the door.”

“For someone who has a disability, it was important for me to attend no matter what. So, in that respect, other than when the parishes were closed, I never stopped going. Masked or otherwise,” he said in an email.

A Twitter response from the Hawaii Catholic Herald, archdiocesan newspaper of Honolulu, said: “We’ve been back to in-person attendance for a while now here in Hawaii. Bishop Silva actually lifted the dispensation on attending Mass as of Easter Sunday, so you have to attend unless you have just cause, like a health complication.”

Bishop Larry R. Silva wasn’t the only bishop to lift the Mass dispensation originally made at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dioceses in Texas, South Dakota and Wisconsin began telling Catholics this past fall that they were once again obligated to attend Sunday Mass unless they felt they could not attend because of health reasons or concerns.

The trend continued in February when Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron announced he was lifting the dispensation for Mass on Sundays and holy days effective March 13. He said he would grant “particular dispensations” to those in need, including those at high risk of COVID-19.

Churches in several states this past year defended their right to worship indoors or with fewer restrictions in court battles that ultimately were resolved by the Su-

preme Court.

Most recently, a Supreme Court decision in late February allowed indoor worship services in Santa Clara County, California. Earlier that month, the nation’s high court had given California churches the go-ahead to resume indoor worship services with a ban on singing and chanting and a limit of 25% capacity.

“Banning indoor worship and yet allowing people to gather at airports, personal services establishments and retail shopping is unconstitutional – and the Supreme Court has said so several times,” said Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, the diocese in the county where the ban had been in effect.

He said in a statement that he was grateful for the work of these churches in the county and their “efforts to uphold our right to worship” as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

“As we continue to protect the most vulnerable among us, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is still in effect. Parishes will continue to offer outdoor and livestream Masses wherever possible for parishioners who are vulnerable to COVID-19 or hesitant about indoor worship,” he added.

He also urged the Catholic community to “move forward in hope, continuing all necessary safety precautions” and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine when they could.

(Follow Zimmermann on Twitter: @carolmaczim)

Updated COVID-19 protocols for the Diocese of Jackson Editor’s note: The following is an abbreviated list of updated COVID-19 protocols from the diocese, as of April 30, 2021.

JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson acknowledges that the size and demographics of each parish community, as well as the size and layout of church buildings and parish facilities, will shape the way their repective priests and parish leaders decide with prudence and care the way to implement these policies and norms.

For Masses: • Social distancing will be at 3 feet rather than 6 feet.

• Masks are still required.

• Communion will be received in the hand, not directly in the mouth.

• Hymnals and missalettes may be used in pews.

• Hand sanitizer should still be used by parishioners upon entrance to the church.

• Offertory should be collected using a basket placed in an accessible place, such as a table near the entrance to the church.

• Bulletins can be handed out to parishioners at Mass, but we also encourage our parishes to email bulletins to parishioners using Flocknote.

For meetings, gatherings, parish groups and outside groups, the local community will make the decision as to what it can accommodate in its facilities.

• Awareness of safety protocols needs to be followed when serving meals. Meals should still not be buffet style or self-serve.

• Social distancing should be observed in meetings, a minimum of 3 feet.

• The local community can decide if it is safe and prudent to allow non-parish outside groups to meet in the facilities at this time.

• The local community will decide the sanitizing and cleaning procedures needed at parish facilities.

• At these gatherings, masks should be worn as the norm but the particular situation can be evaluated.

Many parishes will be holding events for youth during the summer, including Vacation Bible School.

These things should be kepts in mind: • Outdoor activities for children and youth will minimize the risk of exposure.

• For trips, a preference should be made for local trips and trips of three hours or less, rather than long-distance trips.

• Service projects are feasible, as long as safety procedures and protocols are kept in mind.

• Meals and snacks should not be self-serve or buffet style. Individually wrapped snacks and food items minimize the safety risk.

We want to thank all of you for your efforts in keeping our parishioners safe during the pandemic.

We can modify our protocols and procedures as described above to allow more flexibility, but this is not the time to let our guard down completely. We will get through the summer months with the hope that things will continue to improve. These modified procedures will allow us more flexibility. We will be constatntly monitoring the situation as reality changes.

(For a complete list of updated protocols, visit https:// jacksondiocese.org/public-health-concerns/. Bishop Joseph Kopacz continues to dispense the faithful from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. Please stay home if you are feeling unwell or do not feel safe attending Mass.

At this time, many parishes are still offering live streaming services.)

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

8 DIOCESE

Race participants run for Charities foster care program RIDGELAND – Catholic Charities held their fourth annual "Run Foster Run" fundraiser event on Thursday, May 6, at The Township at Colony Park.

All proceeds from the event, which honors National Foster Care Month in May, went to benefit Catholic Charities' foster care programs such as adoption, therapeutic foster care for children with emotional disorders and the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program. To learn more visit www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org.

RIDGELAND – Youth and adults had a grand time at Catholic Charities Run Foster Run race on Thursday, May 6. (Photos by Berta Mexidor)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

DIOCESE 9

Bishop pierces ‘cloud of hate and fear’ with statement after 1963 assassination of civil rights leader, Evers As a point of information, the

By Mary Woodward Evers sent their JACKSON – June 12, 1963, is a date that every Mis- children to Christ sissippian should remember for it was on this day that the King Catholic Medgar Evers was gunned down outside his home in School because Jackson upon returning home at night after meetings of they felt they would the NAACP. It was just before midnight of June 11. Evers be safer there. was the local Field Secretary and was a target of the Ku Bishop Gerow Klux Klan (KKK). writes on June 14, Normally, Evers’ routine upon arriving at home was 1963: “Naturalto walk around the front of his car and into his house, ly, the city is very thus putting the car between himself and the darkness much upset over where someone could be hiding. That fateful night be- the assassination of cause of items in the back of the car to be unloaded he Medgar Evers. Up went the opposite direction and a gunman shot from the to this time, I have bushes and killed him. refrained from One of the bullets went through Evers’ body through making any public the window of the house and into the kitchen. He bled statements in the to death in his driveway in front of his wife and children. newspaper. HowThe driveway still holds the stain of his blood. Byron de ever, now the time la Beckwith was convicted of the crime some 30 years has arrived for later. Evers is buried in Arlington National Cemetery as some sort of statehe was a veteran of WWII. ment, so with the During this same time, the diocesan priests and Bish- help of Father Law op Gerow were on retreat in Bay St. Louis. Word of the and Bill Minor, one assassination arrived there later that morning. The fol- of our fine Catholic Early 1960s portrait of civil rights activist and NAACP Field Secretary, Medgar Evers, lowing accounts are taken from the diary of Bishop Ge- newspapermen in from the TV documentary, “Southern Justice: Murder of Medgar Evers,” 1994. (Photo courtesy of the Everett collection) row. It was a very volatile time. the city, we draft“While everything is going so beautifully here at the ed a statement and must be shared by all of us. Responsible leadership in retreat, currently, it is not going so well in Jackson in sent it to the local newspapers...and gave it to the nation- some instances has been singularly lacking. reference to the race question. I got news over the radio al press and radio. Then as an act of charity...we visited “I entreat our leaders and men of good will of both that today Medgar Evers, who has been the Field Secre- the wife of the murdered man.” races to find some common ground on which to build tary for the NAACP, and who, according to Father Gas“The assassination of Medgar Evers is certainly a a civic order based on human dignity and a concept of per, was a fine, honest and respectable gentleman, was shocking and saddening occurrence in our community justice under God’s law. Rights which have been given to murdered. This murderer shot him at a distance when he and is more meaningful than the death of one man. I all men by the Creator cannot be the subject of conferral was going from his automobile to his home. So far, the personally extend my heartfelt sympathy to the wife and or refusal by men. identity of the murderer is not known. I know that this is children of Mr. Evers and convey to them my blessing “The Declaration of Independence of this great nagoing to cause much trouble.” and assurance of my prayers. tion has given us the proper attitude in this regard, in the “I am sad- words, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all dened when men are created equal, that they are endowed by their I review the Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among events of re- these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ cent days and “Our conscience should compel us all to acknowledge weeks. As a the deep moral implications of this problem, and to take loyal son of some positive steps towards recognizing the legitimate Mississippi and grievances of the Negro population. In the name of our a man of God, common faith in God the Father let us all join together I feel in con- in prayer that the clouds of hate and fear may be pierced science com- by the light of justice and fraternal love.” pelled to speak Bishop Gerow received hate mail and phone calls out in the face from people, including Catholics, around the state and of the grave ra- country for his visit to Mrs. Evers and for his statement. cial situation in To one of these who expressed dismay that Bishop Gewhich we now row had visited Mrs. Evers, he replied: “I did it; I wanted find ourselves. the world to know it, and I was proud of the fact that I “This prob- had done it because the family had suffered a tremenlem is un- dous injustice and it was really a national disgrace.” mistakably a The words of Bishop Gerow’s statement if put in moral one. We modern terms would be very fitting to today’s climate. need frankly to It seems we really are still in a climate where we need admit that the the cloud of hate and fear to be pierced by the light of guilt for the justice and love. murder of Mr. Next issue a visit to New Orleans...

Evers and the JACKSON – The home of Medgar and Myrlie Evers was made a national monument in other instances (Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the 2020. Evers was murdered in his driveway on June 12, 1963. Shortly after, Bishop R. O. of violence in Diocese of Jackson) Gerow issued a statement regarding the murder of Evers saying the “rights which have our commubeen given to all men by the Creator cannot be subject of conferral or refusal by men.” nity tragically (Photo by Tereza Ma)

FROM THE ARCHIVES

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

12 NATION

Kentucky group provides rosary-making supplies locally, globally

By Ruby Thomas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CNS) – From a low brick building on a commercial stretch of highway in Louisville, Our Lady's Rosary Makers packages enough beads and other supplies to make 6.5 million rosaries each year.

The lay apostolate was born of Xaverian Brother Sylvan Mattingly's desire in 1949 to do something special for the Blessed Virgin Mary, said Michael Ford, who serves as its general manager.

Seven decades later, the apostolate is still providing millions of rosary-making supplies at a low cost to groups of rosary makers locally, nationally and globally.

It started as a grassroots effort by Brother Mattingly, who would make rosaries and teach others to make rosaries to send to missionaries around the world. Brother Mattingly died in 1951, but his mission "took root," said Ford.

The endeavor, as it continues today, is a local one.

Advantage Plastics and Engineering molds each of the plastic components of the rosaries – beads, crucifixes and centerpieces.

Once the pieces arrive at the Rosary Makers facility, workers spend their days operating machinery that seals the pieces into plastic bags. Each packet contains enough materials to make 10 rosaries – beads, cording, crucifixes and center pieces. Finally, workers fulfill orders – packaging and preparing them for shipping.

Ford said he saw an uptick in orders for rosary supplies in the 1990s that didn't really wane until the pandemic brought everyday life to a halt.

In 2020, the apostolate shipped supplies to make about 5 million rosaries, said Ford, noting that "people

were not able to gather in rosary-making groups."

But he also believes the rosary-making supplies sent during the pandemic helped individuals find some "purpose and something to occupy their time in a good way" during the months of isolation.

The apostolate received a letter of thanks from a woman in New Jersey for the supplies she'd received.

She was able to drop off supplies to the home of elderly rosary makers who had no connection to the outside world during the state's 100 days of lockdown, Ford said. The letter noted that the isolation "may have destroyed" the women had they not had rosary-making to keep them connected to their faith.

Over the years, Our Lady's Rosary Makers has shipped supplies near and far and Ford and his staff have heard from several individuals about the impact their efforts have had. Ford said he realized the far-reaching impact of Our Lady's Rosary Makers a few years ago when a woman visiting from the Philippines stopped by to see the facility.

"It blew my mind," Ford told The Record, archdiocesan newspaper of Louisville.

The letters sent from priests, religious sisters and grateful individuals have also shown the impact the apostolate has had around the world.

"We've heard from priests in missions who've said the rosary has done more than anything else to bring people back to the church. That sticks in my mind," he said.

Chuck Mitchell, the group's mission director, said the letters of appreciation he receives, are a highlight of his service. While the apostolate provides rosary-mak-

ing supplies, Mitchell's office is dedicated to fulfilling requests for rosaries that are already made. They are needed in missions as far away as Pakistan, India and Africa.

Rosary makers across the country – elderly individuals in nursing homes and parish groups, for instance – are dedicated to making rosaries for these missions.

Mitchell said he sends about 100,000 of these rosaries abroad each year.

In many instances, they are given to children receiving their first Communion or being confirmed, he noted.

Some of the religious sisters from India he's heard from travel to villages teaching children how to pray the rosary.

People in India are particularly grateful for rosaries right now, because of the toll the pandemic has taken in that country, he said. He's heard from priests who fear the lockdown in that country may lead to a rise in unemployment and hunger.

"The rosaries mean more to them now," said Mitchell.

Mitchell's office also sends materials such as prayer cards and guides to the sacraments in English, Spanish and French along with the rosaries.

The rosary isn't only what the apostolate produces, it's also an important part of their lives, added Ford.

From a "faith and family tradition" it was always part of his life, he noted, and it's taken on an even deeper meaning over the years as he serves at Our Lady's Rosary Makers.

"It's a prayer for a child, it's a prayer for an adult, it's a prayer for any and all times. ... The rosary is something you can pick up – from under your pillow at night to when you're driving or while you are walking or sitting," said Ford.

He prays the rosary daily with the 10 employees on staff.

Each morning at around 10, Ford rings a bell that tells them it's time to gather to pray the rosary. The facility's chapel has ceiling to floor windows that provide a view of an outdoor grotto housing a life-size image of the Blessed Mother. In the chapel, the business of the day slows and Ford leads workers in the rosary.

The chapel is also open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day and offers exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday afternoons.

To learn more about Our Lady's Rosary Makers https://www.olrm.org/.

(Thomas is a staff writer at The Record, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Louisville.)

(Top) A worker at Our Lady's Rosary Makers in Louisville, Ky., assembles a rosary in between calls with customers May 6, 2021. The group provides low-cost rosary supplies to Catholics across the country with the goal of providing tools for evangelization. (CNS photo/Katie Rutter) (Right) Assembled rosaries, ready to be shipped to international missions, are seen at Our Lady's Rosary Makers in Louisville, Ky., May 6, 2021. The group provides low-cost rosary supplies, which Catholics across the country purchase, assemble and then send back so the sacramentals can be freely provided to missions around the world. (CNS photo/Katie Rutter)

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

DIOCESE 13 © 2019/www.nbccongress.org

2021 Catholic Service Appeal Embrace - Serve - Inspire The Catholic Service Appeal supports so many ministries throughout our diocese. Ministries that no parish alone could support. We invite you to join those who have already made a pledge. Your generosity allows us to educate our seminarians. One of our seminarians, Andrew Bowden, from St. Jude in Pearl will be ordained to Transitional Deacon on May 15. Your gift also supports Catholic Charities, Retired Priests, Campus Ministry, Intercultural Ministry, Family Ministry, Lay Ministry, Youth Ministry, Mission Parishes and Schools, and Communications. If you would like to make an online gift, please scan the QR code or go to csa.jacksondiocese.org. You can also mail your check to Catholic Service Appeal; PO Box 2248; Jackson, MS 38225. Your gift does make a difference for so many that are supported by these ministries.

Warmest Regards, Scan to Give

PARISH (‘green’ equals or exceeds goal ) Aberdeen, St. Francis of Assisi Amory, St. Helen Anguilla, Our Mother of Mercy Mission Batesville, St. Mary Belzoni, All Saints Booneville, St. Francis of Assisi Brookhaven, St. Francis of Assisi Parish Bruce, St. Luke the Evangelist Camden, Sacred Heart Canton, Holy Child Jesus Canton, Sacred Heart Carthage, St. Anne Charleston, St. John Chatawa, St. Teresa of Avila Clarksdale, Immaculate Conception Clarksdale, St. Elizabeth Cleveland, Our Lady of Victories Clinton, Holy Savior Parish Columbus, Annunciation Conehatta, St. Catherine Mission Corinth, St. James the Less Crystal Springs, St. John Fayette, St. Anne Flowood, St. Paul Forest, St. Michael Fulton, Christ the King Mission Gloster, Holy Family Mission Gluckstadt, St. Joseph Greenville, Sacred Heart Greenville, St. Joseph Greenwood, Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood, St. Francis of Assisi Grenada, St. Peter Hazlehurst, St. Martin of Tours Hernando, Holy Spirit Hollandale, Immaculate Conception Holly Springs, St. Joseph Houston, Immaculate Heart of Mary Indianola, Immaculate Conception Indianola, St. Benedict the Moor Iuka, St. Mary Mission Jackson, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Jackson, Christ the King Jackson, Holy Family Jackson, Holy Ghost Out of Diocese Jackson, Saint Dominic Health Services

PARISH GOALS $3,069 $5,848 $1,287 $6,004 $2,932 $1,949 $15,112 $5,046 $3,233 $16,065 $3,651 $1,221 $5,369 $2,698 $19,363 $19,246 $22,254 $30,581 $465 $7,745 $4,078 $2,200 $62,284 $4,084 $2,302 $1,437 $40,022 $6,127 $26,527 $12,914 $5,511 $6,135 $3,238 $17,651 $1,177 $3,295 $2,535 $4,598 $1,928 $1,766 $20,056 $10,038 $8,636 $8,063 $5,000 $25,000

# OF TOTAL PLEGDES PLEGDES 5 21 2 11 7 7 23 8 4 27 1 1 15 4 22 43 54 40 0 13 7 5 113 10 8 3 78 15 23 23 20 24 2 50 1 12 4 5 7 0 42 27 20 30 14 0

$1,140 $6,084 $600 $6,114 $2,990 $775 $3,515 $955 $1,215 $17,383 $354 $50 $2,145 $1,842 $4,886 $14,452 $25,165 $7,976 $2,845 $3,875 $657 $42,349 $1,676 $632 $350 $25,442 $2,162 $14,676 $6,506 $2,245 $4,268 $610 $18,465 $500 $1,717 $1,585 $2,100 $1,368 $26,061 $5,626 $3,935 $7,137 $4,532 $25,000

PARISH GOALS

PARISH Jackson, St. Richard of Chichester Jackson, St. Therese Kosciusko, St. Therese Leland, St. James Lexington, St. Thomas Louisville, Sacred Heart Macon, Corpus Christi Mission Madison, St. Francis of Assisi Magee, St. Stephen Magnolia, St. James Mission McComb, St. Alphonsus Meridian, St. Joseph Meridian, St. Patrick Natchez, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Natchez, Holy Family Natchez, St. Mary Basilica New Albany, St. Francis of Assisi Newton, St. Anne Mission Olive Branch, Queen of Peace Oxford, St. John Paulding, St. Michael Pearl, St. Jude Philadelphia, Holy Cross Philadelphia, Holy Rosary Indian Pearl River, St. Therese Pontotoc, St. Christopher Mission Port Gibson, St. Joseph Parish Raymond, Immaculate Conception Ripley, St. Matthew Mission Robinsonville, Good Shepherd Rosedale, Sacred Heart Sardis, St. John the Baptist Mission Senatobia, St. Gregory the Great Shaw, St. Francis of Assisi Shelby, St. Mary Southaven, Christ the King Starkville, St. Joseph Tupelo, St. James Vicksburg, St. Mary Vicksburg, St. Michael Vicksburg, St. Paul Walls, Sacred Heart Southern Missions West Point, Immaculate Conception Winona, Sacred Heart Mission Woodville, St. Joseph Yazoo City, St. Mary

Totals

# OF TOTAL PLEGDES PLEGDES

$120,978 $13,747 $2,607 $4,885 $1,727 $4,355 $2,681 $78,520 $3,090 $21,686 $11,218 $34,115 $4,923

85 20 6 2 0 15 0 87 7 28 14 46 6

$70,560 $4,964 $1,273 $105 $11,179 $84,052 $405 $10,387 $1,371 $16,918 $1,278

$7,572 $33,373 $4,929 $20,241 $35,530 $21,500 $7,450 $3,598 $2,332 $5,648 $2,734 $1,734 $1,529 $4,053 $937 $4,105 $2,450 $2,918 $1,337 $19,100 $30,950 $41,000 $6,388 $23,942 $19,558 $65,000 $7,554 $1,436 $3,578 $6,906

8 46 13 78 53 54 25 16 2 8 6 6 4 6 1 8 7 7 6 52 32 52 21 48 24 0 18 6 6 13

$950 $30,079 $3,310 $25,004 $14,482 $20,035 $6,255 $3,384 $106 $2,938 $2,218 $1,505 $220 $1,265 $100 $2,573 $865 $1,140 $745 $8,797 $7,153 $21,647 $2,223 $19,046 $8,373 $6,410 $580 $680 $2,130

$1,153,654 1793

$700,688

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

14 REVIEWS

"Fatima" – condemned to death and the Scrutiny of Life for my advice on some matter because she said that I was more religious than she. I realized that believing in so called apparitions really had nothing to do with being religious to her (no way I was more religious than she was for sure). I was like the skeptical mother of Lucia talking to my mother about the Blessed Mother.

We are all in that roll call of the dead and will be reported dead sooner or later.

Can this thought bring us to think about what is important? That is the third scrutiny of Life that catechumens go through during Lent (5th Sunday and the Lazarus reading) – and also the theme of the recent Divine Mercy Sunday. The film opens with a vision of the Angel of Portugal, the Angel of Peace to Lucia in a cave. We hear the bombings of a plane. The angel says that they just don’t seem to want to stop. I pray the rosary frequently. Why? We have the persecution of African Americans and now Asian Americans, not to mention all the violence done by haters to those of different faith traditions. They just don’t seem to want to stop.

THEOLOGY AT THE MOVIES

By James Tomek, Ph.D

Seventeenth Century philosopher Blaise Pascal describes the tragedy of the human condition. Imagine that we are in a prisoner room of people and each day a guard comes in and picks one of us to be executed. That is our fate – we know that one day our turn will come. Our tragedy is not that we will die, but that the thought of death will cause us to seek divertissement so as not to think about what life is.

Marco Pontecorvu’s 2020 film "Fatima," about the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to three peasant children, starts with a weekly roll call of dead soldiers in the 1917 war torn town of Fatima, Portugal. "Fatima" is a Pascalian answer to Jessica Hausner’s 2012 film "Lourdes." Mary, appearing to Lucia and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco, is asking them and us to pray for peace. In this review, I will establish a comparison of the two films, highlight Fatima’s emphasis on prayer, and conclude with an answer to the Lenten scrutiny of life and what it might mean to be religious.

(James Tomek is a retired language and literature professor at Delta State University "Lourdes" concentrates more on the miracle healing aspect of religious prayer who is currently a Lay Ecclesial Minister at Sacred Heart in Rosedale and also active in while Pontecorvu’s film focuses on the need for prayer, in general, to promote peace. RCIA at Our Lady of Victories in Cleveland.)

"Fatima" takes place in 1917 Portugal, at war with Germany and guided by a recently secular government. This is Pascal country. The film is framed by a 1980s’ interview of Lucia by a professor who wonders why God would choose to speak to a common farm girl. This frame establishes Lucia as a sane, intelligent, and witty person who can be believed. However, is she a “seer” who has “prophet” status? Some peasants visit Lucia’s

By Sister Hosea Rupprecht (CNS) home to be a witness of the “seer.” A “seer” is a Award-winning documentarian Evgeny Afprophet who can see the truth in certain situations. ineevsky ("Cries From Syria") issues a call for Our biblical prophets sometimes predict futures, action with his film "Francesco" (Discovery+). but their real message is the truth of the times that The unspoken summons comes through they are witnessing, especially the social injustices. allowing viewers to witness the influence one "Lourdes" focuses on the reality of the miracle and man, Pope Francis, has succeeded in having how to pray when afflicted with a malady. Fatima over the many social and other issues of our goes elsewhere. time.

While the crowds of peasants in Fatima are Rather than present a linear biography, the looking for some miracle in their lives, the film movie takes its form from the Holy Father's own concentrates more on Mary’s insisting that they agenda. As depicted here, the pontiff's primary pray for peace. The historical sections of the film goal is to bring the message of human dignity show how the children have to stand up to the proto the world by shining a light into some of the tests from their parents, church, and government, darkest corners of the globe, where political, soalways with the background of the repeated roll cial, economic and religious injustices have takcalls of the dead and missing. en – and, in some cases, are still taking – place.

Lucia’s mother, Maria Rosa, is the strongest Afineevsky, for instance, brings his audience character. She is the most educated in the family to the Philippines, ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan and the most skeptical, insisting that Lucia recant in 2013, as Francis talks about climate change her story so as not to have her be seen as crazy. and the call to protect our common home.

The country has recently become a republic with a The plight of refugees is highlighted through wish to have a secular government. Thus, the chilthe pope's visit to Lampedusa, a modern-day dren are confronted by the priest, then the mayor, Ellis Island in the Mediterranean Sea through then the bishop and finally a government psycholwhich thousands of Tunisian and Libyan miogist who pressure them to recant their positions grants have passed, fleeing political upheaval so that the country will remain more at ease in a in their home countries. The passage from the secular environment.

North African coast to Lampedusa is considered While the mother is pictured as an antagonist, one of the world's deadliest migration routes. we see that she really does love and support her The pontiff also visits the island of Lesbos This is the movie poster for the documentary film "Francesdaughter. The film sticks to reality. The original in Greece to which many Syrian migrants fled co." The Catholic News Service classification is A-II – adults theme of “1917 Fatima,” of praying for the conin the wake of their nation's civil war. One in- and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Associaversion of Russia, has been replaced/updated to a terviewee calls the Syrian refugee situation "the tion. (CNS photo/Francesco Docet Film) general prayer for peace and social justice. This air greatest humanitarian crisis since World War is seen in the beginning when Lucia has a vision a cardinal, Pope Francis has been consistent in his action II." Pope Francis not only gave words of comfort to refuof a woman in a cave who calls herself the Angel on behalf of others. In other words, the film shows that gees – he followed them up with action, sponsoring the of Portugal. This premonition will be transformed what Francis has done since his 2013 election to the immigration to Italy of three Muslim families. into a vision of the Virgin Mary later. She is still papacy is just a continuation of what he had done up to "Francesco" also address other hot-button topics such simply dressed. These visions could be general that time. as clergy sexual abuse, homosexuality and the building “feelings,” but are they not still miraculously showWith a running time just under two hours, "Francesof walls between peoples. ered on the young Lucia in the form of heavenly co" is quite long for a documentary. The film contains Where does the pontiff get the inspiration to do all Mariological signs? mature themes and some scenes of war violence. The he does? Afineevsky takes us back to the life of young My mother and I would have deep religious Catholic News Service classification is A-II – adults and Jorge Bergoglio, especially stressing the influence that his conversations. I remember her mentioning an apadolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association. grandmother, Nonna Rosa, had on his growing faith and parition of the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje, Yuspirituality. goslavia. I responded that I did not believe in that (Sister Rupprecht, a Daughter of St. Paul, is a guest reFrom his decision to become a priest, to joining the “junk” (I used a heavier word). To which she got viewer for Catholic News Service.)

Jesuits, to becoming the archbishop of Buenos Aires and angry. But, a few weeks later, she called me asking

Francesco

MOVIE REVIEW

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

dIOCESE 15

‘... While all roads may lead to Rome ...’

– Continued from page 1 – are grateful for Mass being available, even once a month.”

“Houses are small and well-insulated because of the cost of heating. Winter temps often reach more than 30 below zero. Food and supplies are expensive because everything must be flown in. Fuel oil and gasoline is brought in by barge twice a year. Snowmobiles and four-wheelers outnumber cars and trucks, and all must be brought in by barge.”

The average attendance for the three weekends Sunds celebrated Mass at St. Joseph was 25, down due to COVID. Remarkably, the tiny parish serves three mission churches. The community of Teller is 71 miles from Nome by dirt road and impassable from October through May because of snow; they have Mass weekly from June to October.

Then there’s Kotzebue, 180 miles away by plane and offering Mass once a month. Finally. St. Joseph serves Diomede, an island 130 miles out on the Bering Sea and one mile from Russian territorial waters. Diomede has Mass twice a year since the island is only accessible by helicopter.

“What attracted me to the Jackson Diocese many years ago was Jackson being a mission diocese—only two percent of the population across the area was Catholic. The Diocese of Fairbanks is almost eleven times the area of the Diocese of Jackson, but most it is wilderness. It has 12,300 Catholics and only two active diocesan priests.

“There are sixteen other priests serving the diocese who are either members of a religious order or on temporary loan from other dioceses. This was a whole new experience of mission diocese.”

Sunds said his volunteer pastoring in Alaksa has given him a better understanding of the mission work of the church outside Mississippi and a deeper appreciation of the work of our own diocese. And he didn’t lose his sense of humor while pastoring in The Last Frontier.

NOME – Alice Irrigoo (left) and Helen Yuppa (right) appear with Msgr. Elvin Sunds “The only way to Nome is by plane or dogsled,” he said. “While all roads after Mass at St. Joseph parish in Nome, Alaska. About half of the parishioners may lead to Rome, no roads lead to Nome.” (and townspeople of the town of 4,000) are Eskimo. (Photo courtesy of Msgr. Elvin Sunds)

The Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reporting system that will enable all diocesan employees, volunteers and parishioners to anonymously (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 Services 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 888-8300004 (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 39225-2248

‘... Infunde a la iglesia el aliento de Dios ...’

– Viene de la pág. 3 – El segundo momento de Pentecostés que marcó el comienzo del cambio de era no ocurrió en el centro religioso, económico y cultural de los judíos en Jerusalén, sino en la sala de estar de un pagano. Pedro, nuevamente en el centro del drama divino, en una visión repetitiva fue empujado y aguijoneado por el Espíritu Santo a matar y consumir alimentos inmundos. (Hechos 10:10-16), pero Pedro encontró esto repulsivo y se negó a consentir. Al despertar, llegaron tres extraños y lo dirigieron a la casa de Cornelio, un centurión, donde él y su familia estaban ansiosos por ofrecer hospitalidad al líder preeminente de los discípulos del Señor crucificado y resucitado.

Lo dramático de este encuentro es que Pedro sufrió una conversión radical porque reunirse y mezclarse con los gentiles era la fuente de su repulsión, simbolizada por la comida. Comenzó su discurso sin darse cuenta de que el segundo aguacero de Pentecostés era inminente. En medio de su predicación sobre la historia del Señor crucificado y resucitado, el Espíritu Santo, pasó por encima de Pedro y cayó sobre los gentiles con el fuego del amor de Dios. Este encuentro, aunque fuera de lo común, fue al menos tan dramático como el primero. Pedro y los judíos piadosos de Jerusalén se sorprendieron de que el Espíritu Santo pudiera haber sido derramado sobre los gentiles, los incircuncisos, los paganos y los impuros. (Hechos 10:46) Este momento revolucionario le reveló a Pedro y al liderazgo de la iglesia, todos judíos en ese momento, que el derramamiento de sangre y agua sobre la Cruz y del Espíritu Santo era verdaderamente un don universal.

El gozo se desbordó para muchos de los creyentes, pero esta revelación causó una división considerable en la iglesia primitiva. El Concilio de Jerusalén (Hechos 15) resolvió oficialmente la cuestión del alcance de la Ley Mosaica que incumbiría a los gentiles convertidos, pero la batalla en las trincheras de la vida de la iglesia se prolongó durante generaciones por la necesidad de la circuncisión de los gentiles, la señal del pacto que se remontaba a Abraham.

El primer y segundo momento de Pentecostés, según se registra en los Hechos de los Apóstoles, muestra claramente que el Espíritu Santo, entonces y ahora, se derrama sobre toda la iglesia, especialmente cuando se reúne en oración. A veces, las acciones liberadoras de Dios pueden tomar a todos por sorpresa.

El Papa Francisco llama a estos eventos un desbordamiento de la gracia de Dios y el fundamento de lo que el Papa ve como la necesidad de una sinodalidad activa en la Iglesia. Estos foros de oración, diálogo y discernimiento, donde se reúne la comunidad de creyentes, ordenados y laicos, son tan imprescindibles para la Iglesia en el tercer milenio como en el primero. Dan testimonio de la libertad que conocemos en Jesucristo, la igualdad de dignidad que poseen todas las personas hechas a imagen y semejanza de Dios, y la fraternidad inherente a la Gran Comisión de hacer discípulos de todas las naciones. En efecto, !Ven Espíritu Santo, en nuestro tiempo, e infunde a la iglesia el aliento de Dios!, quien siempre es antiguo y siempre es nuevo.

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

16 Columns

The lost art of self-control REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

BY MELVIN ARRINGTON

In this series of articles we have examined the Fruits of the Spirit enumerated in Galatians 5:22-23. Previously, we have considered love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and gentleness. We now conclude with the ninth fruit, self-control, referred to as temperance in some translations. This is perhaps the most problematic of all from the perspective of our modern culture because it calls for avoiding the near occasions of sin as well as disciplining and taming the ego.

Self-control is rapidly becoming a lost art. Restraint, self-discipline, and self-denial are all antithetical to the spirit of the modern age, which promotes self-indulgence and self-expression over and above the traditional virtues.

Well-ordered passions are good, but when they become inordinate, that is, excesses or perversions, then what was once a virtue is quickly transformed into a vice. For example, eating and drinking are good things because they are necessary to sustain life.

We eat and drink to live. But if we overindulge in these activities, if we live to eat and drink, then we are guilty of the sin of gluttony.

Likewise, we need money to pay for the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter, but when money is valued as an end in itself, when it is excessively accumulated and hoarded, then this inordinate love of money becomes the sin of avarice.

The same process of transformation produces the other deadly sins of anger, envy, lust, pride and sloth.

Clearly, temperance, or moderation, should govern our behavior. But when there is a failure to exert self-control over inordinate appetites and desires, sin enters the picture. We should not allow ourselves to be controlled and dominated by the passions of the will, which invariably result in immoderate behavior. When sin gains the upper hand, that means that egotism or self-love has replaced true charity. If we let temptation overwhelm us, then these deadly sins can become, in the words of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the “seven pallbearers of the soul.”

According to St. Dominic, “a man who governs his passions is master of his world.

We must either command them or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.” Governing our passions is easier said than done. Even more challenging

and demanding than self-control is self-mastery, which the Catechism calls “a long and exacting work. One can never consider it acquired once and for all. It presupposes renewed effort at all stages of life” (CCC 2342).

Archbishop Sheen says we can’t really drive out evil habits on our own. Instead, we crowd them out by loving something else more. If we are filled with the love of God, then there’s no room for anything else to get inside of us. God will give us that extra measure of grace we need to overcome temptations if we only ask Him for it.

The Confessions of St. Augustine, who was a slave to the sin of lust before he turned his life around, is a classic conversion story. Augustine became convicted of his sin when he read in the 13th chapter of Romans: “Not in revelry and drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lusts.” He discovered that he could love God more than the sinful life he was leading.

Temperance is based on the idea of exchange. We give up one thing in order to get something else. For example, we choose between the flesh and the spirit. We give up certain things during Lent (e.g. coffee, desserts, television), not because they are bad but so that by practicing self-restraint we can draw closer to God. Similarly, there is a huge difference between dieting and fasting; we diet for the sake of our physical appearance, but we fast for the sake of our spiritual welfare. Everything depends on what we value most highly.

In this out-of-control world we live in we have a choice to make. Do we want to follow the crowd and become like dead fish floating downstream, carried along by the current of popular opinion concerning what is right and wrong and totally at the mercy of our passions, or do we want to boldly swim upstream, against the current, fully alive, self-possessed, with our egos in check, and filled with God’s love. Our modern world can’t understand the latter option, but it’s really the only one that leads to genuine happiness.

(Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Oxford.)

A mother’s prayer for ordinary time ON ORDINARY TIMES

BY LUCIA A. SILECCHIA

I saw them in the department store – a mother and a little girl about five years old. The child, in her restlessness, sought to wander away during what must have struck her as a very dull way to spend time. Sifting through a clearance rack is not the excitement five year olds appreciate.

Whenever the little girl strayed too far, her mother would say, with care and concern, “Please don’t get lost.”

I smiled to myself when I heard this. I am blessed with a good sense of adventure but a horrible sense of direction. That combination means that when I was five – and now that I am much older than five! – getting lost was and remains a routine state of affairs.

But when I heard that mother say to a beloved daughter “Please don’t get lost,” it struck me that this is not merely a mother’s plea to an unwilling young shopping companion. It may also be the prayer that loving mothers say for their beloved children every day of their lives. It may be a prayer that goes something like this ...

When you lie in your crib alone and the darkness of your room and the shadows on the wall frighten you and the night seems long, please don’t get lost.

When you take your first steps and you fall not just once, but over and over again, and your knees and your pride get bruised, please don’t get lost.

When I leave you alone at school for the first time and you glance back toward me and ahead toward a roomful of strangers and uncertainty overwhelms you,

please don’t get lost.

When a schoolyard bully ruins your day, when you fail your first exam, when you lose the spelling bee and when you don’t get picked for the baseball team or the school play and you never want to go to school again, please don’t get lost.

When you are discerning your vocation in life and deciding how best to spend your love and the future seems exciting and frightening, boundless and burdensome all at the same time, please don’t get lost.

When your heart gets broken in all the large and small ways that happens and you think life will never hold joy for you again, please don’t get lost.

When illness or injury strikes you – or someone you love – without warning and the suffering is more than you ever thought possible and each day is a stunning new struggle, please don’t get lost.

When you pray and God seems far away and so you stop praying for a time, please don’t get lost.

When life is going well and you stop realizing how much you need God and, once again, you stop praying for a time, please don’t get lost.

When your cherished plans fall apart or a lifelong friend betrays you or a dearest dream is dashed, please don’t get lost.

When success surrounds you and you let it go to your head, please don’t get lost.

When you make a stunningly bad mistake and no one is angrier at you than you are at yourself, please don’t get lost.

When your heart, your home, your bank account and your stomach are all full and you neglect gratitude and compassion, please don’t get lost.

When you start to feel, for the very first time, that you are growing older and might not accomplish all that you hoped to do in this life, and that emptiness hurts your heart a bit, please don’t get lost.

When I myself grow old and the painful privilege of walking me home falls on your shoulders, just as care for you once fell on mine, do the best you can, and please don’t get lost.

When you yourself grow older and with grace and dignity – or, perhaps, against your own will -- you start to shed the outward signs of success and strength by which we too often measure our worth, please don’t get lost.

But most of all, when your journey through this life draws to an end, then, more than ever, please don’t get lost.

When you are scared, hold onto all I tried to teach you, the faith I tried to share with you, and the love I left behind for you. Please don’t get lost – because I want to see you again on the other side of eternity, when we have both left behind our ordinary times.

On Mother’s Day and always, may God bless all our mothers in this world and the next. And thanks, Mom, for all the times you prayed for me.

(Lucia A. Silecchia is a Professor of Law at the Catholic University of America. “On Ordinary Times” is a biweekly column reflecting on the ways to find the sacred in the simple. Email her at silecchia@cua.edu.)

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BRIEFS 17

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

NATION

ROSLYN, N.Y. (CNS) – Caring for the sick is a vocation and way of life shared by a mother and two daughters serving together at a Catholic Hospital in Long Island, New York. Novlet Davis-Bucknor, 59, is a nurse practitioner in the cardiothoracic department of St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Nassau County. Her oldest child, LaToya Bucknor, 39, also a nurse practitioner, works with the critical care team. Another daughter, Shekeya Washington, 31, is a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit. "It's good to work together because we always have each other to lean on," said Novlet, who was born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated at age 26 to the U.S., where a few years later she began her studies to be a nurse. Novlet is the ultimate role model as a mom and professional woman, LaToya and Shekeya told Catholic News Service. "She's always there for us," said LaToya. "She's always loving and showing us that no matter what we go through in life, she's always going to be there to support us." "My mom has shown so much ambition and strength," Shekeya said.

WASHINGTON (CNS) – President Joe Biden announced May 3 he was raising the historically low refugee cap of 15,000 left by the Trump administration, but he also warned that his administration may not be able to meet the new number of refugees it is seeking to resettle in what remains of the fiscal year: 62,500. In a statement, the president said that while the previous cap set by Trump did not reflect the country's values "as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees," it may be difficult for his administration to meet the new goal.

"The sad truth is that we will not achieve 62,500 admissions this year. We are working quickly to undo the damage of the last four years. It will take some time, but that work is already underway," he said in the statement.

"We have reopened the program to new refugees. And by changing the regional allocations last month, we have already increased the number of refugees ready for departure to the United States." The announcement was aimed at sending a signal, he said, "to remove any lingering doubt in the minds of refugees around the world who have suffered so much, and who are anxiously waiting for their new lives to begin." In November, Biden said during a virtual Jesuit Refugee Service event that he would be heading in a dramatically different direction than the previous administration on refugee admissions and said he would raise the ceiling when he took office to 125,000.

VATICAN

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Updating the Litany of St. Joseph, approved in 1909, the Vatican has added seven invocations, including two that address the guardian of Jesus and husband of Mary as "support in difficulty" and "patron of refugees." The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments published the additions May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The additions were approved by Pope Francis, the congregation said, and drew the new invocations mainly from modern papal texts about St. Joseph, including Pope Francis' December apostolic letter proclaiming a Year of St. Joseph and St. John Paul II's 1989 apostolic exhortation, "Redemptoris Custos" ("Protector of the Redeemer"). Since Pope Francis wanted, as he wrote in his letter, "to A statue of St. Joseph is seen as Pope Francis leads his increase our love for this great saint, to encour- general audience at the Vatican March 24, 2021. With the age us to implore his intercession and to imitate approval of the pope, the Congregation for Divine Worhis virtues and his zeal," the congregation said, it ship and the Sacraments has published several additions seemed appropriate to update the 112-year-old to the Litany of St. Joseph. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) litany. Providing only the Latin-language version be imported from other Canadian provinces. Although of the invocations, the congregation said it would be up to bishops' conferences to translate the phrases that was the practice for many years, police now says it's and to add others if St. Joseph is invoked by their people illegal. "Officers from the Montreal Police Department in a particular way. The Latin phrases are: "Custos Re- showed up with a warrant," said Alain Denis, general demptoris" (Protector of the Redeemer); "Serve Christi" manager at Bertrand, Foucher, Bélanger, Inc., a store (Servant of Christ); "Minister salutis" (Minister of salva- specializing in church goods. The warrant mentioned tion); "Fulcimen in difficultatibus" (Support in difficulty); illegal possession and selling of alcohol. Chandelles Tra"Patrone exsulum" (Patron of refugees); "Patrone afflicto- dition MB did not return calls.

DUBLIN (CNS) – The Irish government said a rum" (Patron of the afflicted); and "Patrone pauperum" COVID-19-related ban on Catholics attending Mass (Patron of the poor).

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Catholic Church's will be lifted May 10. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Marproclamation of new saints demonstrates that it is possi- tin made the announcement in an address to the nable for men and women to live holy lives and that God tion April 29 as he revealed a new road map for the is present and at work in the world, said the prefect of reopening of society. Public worship has been banned the Congregation for Saints' Causes. "It's useful on earth, since Dec. 26 amid increased cases -- a move accepted not for heaven," said Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the by the Irish bishops' conference and other faith leaders. prefect, when asked, "What is the use of proclaiming However, the government provoked controversy earlier saints?" In an interview published May 4 in L'Osserva- in April when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly made it tore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, the cardinal noted a criminal offense for a priest to plan a public Mass or a how the Second Vatican Council spoke of the "universal Catholic to leave home to participate in Mass. Archbishvocation of holiness. To proclaim saints helps convince op Eamon Martin of Armagh, Northern Ireland, head us that this vocation really exists, that the Gospel works, of the Irish bishops' conference, described this move as that Jesus does not disappoint and that we can trust in his both "provocative" and "draconian." The prime minister word," Cardinal Semeraro said in the interview the day announced in a televised address that up to 50 people after Pope Francis and cardinals resident in Rome held a will be permitted to attend Mass beginning May 10. Up consistory to approve the canonization of seven men and to 50 people will also be able to gather for funerals and women. The causes took years, even decades of work: wedding ceremonies; however wedding receptions will studying the lives and writings of the candidates, verify- be restricted to just six people, or 15 people if the receping the events surrounding the deaths of those who were tion takes place outdoors.

FRANKFURT, Germany (CNS) – Instead of commartyrs and looking at cures submitted as mirafortable footwear, participants in Germany's third ecucles attributed to the candidates' intercession. menical convention, or kirchentag, will need stable internet connections. Organizers had hoped to attract more than 100,000 visitors to the approximately 2,000 public events May 13-16, reported the German Catholic news QUEBEC CITY (CNS) – Police have seized agency KNA. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that has large quantities of altar wine in the province of changed. "As the people can't come to Frankfurt, the Quebec, creating a situation where buying a bot- ÖKT will come to them at home," said Thomas Sterntle is nearly impossible. On April 9, police officers berg, Catholic president of the convention, using its Gerseized sacramental wine from Bertrand, Foucher, man acronym. Bettina Limperg, Protestant president of Bélanger, Inc. in Montreal, Procure Ecclésiastique, the convention, said when its motto, "Schaut hin" ("Take Inc. in Quebec City and Chandelles Tradition MB, a look") was devised in 2020, organizers were still hopInc. in Saint-Constant. Sandra Dion, spokeswom- ing to have an in-person convention. Now most people an for the Quebec City Police Department, said will be taking a look on computer screens. KNA reported the wine was seized following an investigation. the kirchentag will open on the feast of the Ascension The seizures appear related to laws governing the with an ecumenical service on a parking deck with a resale of alcohol within provinces, although some view of the famous skyline of Frankfurt's international distributors claims they are within the law and banking center. It will be broadcast live on German telehave licenses. The altar wine available in Que- vision. The exact location will not be made public bebec comes from two Californian producers: Mont forehand to avoid crowds gathering during the pandemLa Salle Altar Wines and Cribari Premium Altar ic. The digital program, with about 80 events each day, People wear virtual reality headsets in St. Peter's Square Wines. However, since the Société des alcools will focus on 10 main topics, including the church and during a tour at the Vatican May 1, 2021. (CNS photo/ du Québec (SAQ) – the provincial liquor board power, international responsibility and the climate crisis.

Paul Haring) – does not sell these products, the wines had to

WORLD

18 youth

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

May Crowning

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick Catholic School first grade students Kayleigh Johnson and Kyler Hill place rosGREENVILLE – St. Joseph senior, Madison Cain crowns VICKSBURG – Camilla Jeffers crowns Mary es in front of Mary during the May Crowning ChilMary with the help of Simar Thomas. (Photo by Nikki at Vicksburg Catholic Schools. (Photo by dren’s Mass on Thursday, May 5, 2021. (Photo by Thompson) Lindsey Bradley) Emily Thompson)

COLUMBUS – May Crowning was held on Monday, May 3 at Annunciation School. Eighth graders and prekindergartners brought flowers to adorn Mary.

Pictured is eighth grader, Armando Leyva placing Mary's crown. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 14, 2021

YOUTH 19

Crowning Mary

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick School first grader Valentina Espino places a crown of flowers on Mary during the May Crowning Children’s Mass Thursday, May 5, 2021.(Photo by Emily Thompson)

Survival in the Arctic

JACKSON – St. Richard students learn about how animals can survive in the Arctic region. Pictured is first grade teacher Rachel Caver with Garrett Fridge, Asher Smith and Mia Nasif. (Photo by Chelsea Hamilton)

NATCHEZ – Cathedral School second graders Skylar Huff, Alexa Hardy, Kate Carlton and Clifford Tillman place flowers in front of Mary during the traditional May Crowning. (Photo by Amy Gamberi)

20 DIOCESE – Continued from page 1 – St. Joseph’s parish ministries.

“We can always count on Anna to not only participate and share her talents, but to also take a lead in her role as a Youth Lead Team member and also with a genuine enthusiasm for her faith and a desire to share her love of faith with peers,” said Minninger.

EMMA ROSE DICKERSON – ST. ALPHONSUS, MCCOMB Character: Responsible, honest and compassionate Activities: Vacation bible school volunteer, gift bearer, Jag2jag mentoring program, Life Teen, St. Alphonsus social committee, Volunteer at many school events and at WINGS and St. Andrew’s mission School: North Pike High School, senior Dickerson was nominated by William Jarvis, youth minister at St. Alphonsus McComb, who described her as having a sensitive heart to those who suffer.

“Emma’s level of commitment is something that we can rely on. We know that if we need someone trustworthy and reliable, that Emma can be called upon,” said Jarvis.

MARIA GARCIA – ST. THERESE, KOSCIUSKO Character: Dedicated, loyal, dependable Activities: Altar server, bilingual lector, Rosary leader, CYO president, Beta club, Spanish club, book club, member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and volunteer at Shepard’s Touch Clinic School: Kosciusko High School, senior Garcia was nominated by Father Odel Medina, ST, pastor of St. Therese Kosciusko. “Maria deserves the Bishop Chanche award for youth because she is dedicated to help bridge the language gap between our Spanish and English-speaking congregational members. She is loyal to her duties and is dependable in all that is asked of her. She is a roll model for her family, church and community,” said Father Medina.

Garcia makes herself available to translate either verbally or written from English to Spanish or vice versa.

She has a servants heart.

Father Medina also said that Garcia has encouraged and taught the younger children of the parish how to serve and participate in Mass. “She has taught several other children of the church how to serve as an altar server, say the rosary and participate in Stations of the Cross. Her positive outlook on life is infectious and others want to be around her and like her,” said Father Medina.

KIRSTIE GRAVES – ST. JOSEPH, MERIDIAN Character: Integrity, honesty and selfless Activities: Lector, choir, Panther Reads, Beta club, member of HOSA, soccer team, softball team, volunteer at Love’s Kitchen School: Quitman High School, senior Graves was nominated by John Harwell, office manager of St. Joseph Meridian. Harwell describes Graves as one of the most active youth at the parish and said that she helped rebuild the youth program at the parish. “She made is a priority in her life and she would always be here for the youth Mass and as many activities, programs that she was able to make. ... When she starts a task, she does not stop until it is finished.”

MAY 14, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC “Kirstie is going to go on to do outstanding things as an adult but more importantly she will do her life's work as a backdrop to her Catholic faith. I am proud to nominate her for the Bishop Chanche Youth Award,” said Harwell.

“Her assistance in our children's events and youth program has been beyond helpful to me, to our staff, and to the volunteer ministers she has worked with. She makes time to serve in various ways and expects nothing in return,” said George.

ANNA MARIE LAMANILAO – ST. MICHAEL, VICKSBURG Character: Kind, generous, and faith-filled Activities: Violinist in choir, altar server, band, retreat team, key club, Mu Alpha Theta, mentoring team, Chickfil-A Leader Academy, camp counselor at Camp Silver Cloud School: St. Aloysius Catholic School, senior Lamanilao was nominated by Father Robert Dore of St. Michael Vicksburg, who describes her as a wonderful example of how today’s Catholic teenager should live her life. “She is proud to say she has faith in God and is aware of His infinite love and mercy and the blessings he has bestowed upon her,” said Father Dore.

A member of St. Michael parish since birth, she has been involved in the parish in many ways, including Bible school, youth volunteer, CYO, choir, altar server and more.

CHRISTOPHER TONOS – ST. JOSEPH, GREENVILLE Character: Honest, dependable and committed to his call to serve as a disciple Activities: MC at Mass, Youth group, St. Vincent de Paul volunteer, tennis School: St. Joseph Catholic School, senior Tonos was nominated by Father Aaron Williams and Alyssa Ingram, director of youth ministry. Ingram explained that the parish has a Confirmation class outside of the youth program, so those candidates do not generally return to the program after Confirmation but Tonos did. “He comes back every week and meetings between regular scheduled events as well, [He] does more than ‘show up,’ he steps up. The example and honest heart that he has poured out and into the youth this year has been better than I deserve,” said Ingram.

“His authentic heart for Jesus pours out of him and into whatever he is doing.”

NATE LEARY – ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, OXFORD Character: Compassion, enthusiasm and self-discipline Activities: Eagle scout, tennis, altar server, volunteer at Lovepacks and veterans home School: Lafayette High School, senior Leary was nominated by Camille Bianco of St. John Oxford and she describes him as a natural leader. “He is always willing to volunteer to help others, willing to be a ‘speaker’ for the prayer service, and willing to ask and answer questions at youth group. His enthusiasm for all he does, especially his faith, is easy to denote. The years it took him to obtain his Eagle Scout award shows that he is persistent and has self-discipline. He is fun-loving, yet serious about his faith. This combination makes him unique and he will be much-missed next year at youth group,” said Bianco.

ALIDA PEREZ – ST. JOSEPH, STARKVILLE Character: Faithful, leadership and pious Activities: Youth group, altar server, church choir, school choir, food pantry volunteer School: Starkville High School, senior Perez was nominated by Deacon Jeff Artigues at St. Joseph Starkville, who says that she lives her Catholic faith through her active participation in the parish’s youth group. “She’s involved ... because she wants to strengthen her bond with God and her Catholic peers,” said Deacon Artigues.

CHASE WALTER – ST. JUDE, PEARL Character: Steadfast in faith, humble and leader Activities: Altar server, usher, Vacation Bible School volunteer, Youth Alpha, Richland Mayor’s Youth Council, Mu Alpha Theta, baseball School: Richland High School, senior Walter was nominated by Stacy Wolf, DRE for St. Jude Pearl. Wolf describes Walter as a young man with the heart of St. Joseph. “Chase stands out not because he draws attention to himself, but because of his quiet, steady faith and dependability. He sets an example for his peers and our younger children, not by his words, but by his deeds and actions. He leads by example with strength and courage,” says Wolf.

Even during the pandemic, Walter has continued to serve the parish with grace. In addition to serving as an usher and alter server on Sundays, Wolf said that he has also continued to take part in Zoom Sunday School and youth activities, despite having a very busy senior year.

KATHERYN PRATER – ST. FRANCIS, MADISON Character: Genuine, generous, leader Activities: Vacation bible school team member, hospitality minister, Life Teen, cantor, music team member, Beta club, National Honor Society, volunteer at Our Daily Bread and Why Not Now School: Madison Central High School, senior Prater was nominated by Mary Catherine George, director of religious education at St. Francis Madison, who says it has been a privilege to work with Prater at the parish and witness her growth as a strong Christian. “She is a dependable, generous and service-oriented young lady. From my perception of her, she has shown leadership and moral character in all areas of her life,” said George.

In 2020, Prater spent countless hours preparing supplies and take-home kits for the parish’s Vacation Bible School “At-Home” program and even GREENVILLE –Chris Tonos accepts the Bishop Chanche worked on a craft demonstration video with the Youth award from Father Aaron Williams. (Photo courteprogram. sy of Father Aaron Williams)