MS Catholic May 5, 2023

Not forgotten: Historical marker dedicated at former orphanage site at Cathedral School

BY SABRINA SIMMS ROBERTSON/THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NATCHEZ – Cathedral School students, officials and community members of all ages gathered around a historical marker on a hilltop behind Cathedral School on Wednesday, April 26 to celebrate the dedication of a historical marker for the former Devereux Hall Orphan Asylum, out of which the Catholic school was established.

Between 1861 and 1966, the Devereux Hall Orphanage, led by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, cared for more than 1,500 boys.

One of them was James Shaidnagle, who entered the orphanage in 1955 and graduated from Cathedral School in 1962.

“As a representative of these boys, we do not want this piece of history to (be forgotten). The brothers instilled in us an everlasting work ethic and values that allowed us to become productive citizens,” Shaidnagle said during Wednesday’s dedication.

His brothers, Donnie, Billy and Paul, were raised by the orphanage also.

Shaidnagle, a lifelong

teacher, retired from Cathedral in 2022 and turned his attention to memorializing the orphanage.

In 1855, William St. John Elliot willed his mansion, Devereux Hall, for the creation of a boy’s orphanage. His widow Anna Elliot later purchased the estate from the church in order to keep the house in the family and the proceeds were used to purchase 35.19 acres for a new orphanage on Aldrich and Pine streets, which could only accommodate 12 boys.

After the Civil War, a larger brick building was constructed and was right away filled with 41 orphans. Through the years, the building expanded in size. But in 1966, several factors, including the escalation in operational costs and a decline in the number of orphans, contributed to its closing and demolition.

With Wednesday’s dedication of a marker at the site of the former Devereux Hall Orphanage, younger generations learned about it and the impact it has had on their lives and the generations before.

– Continued on page 6 –

Upcoming ordinations, invitation to celebrate with the church

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson celebrates two ordinations this year, giving the faithful across the diocese an opportunity to join in this special chapter in the life of the church.

Deacon Carlisle Beggerly will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. The ordination is open to all. There will be reserved seating for family members and a reception will follow where all may receive a blessing from the newly ordained.

After ordination, Beggerly will celebrate his first Mass in his

home parish of Immaculate Conception in West Point on Sunday, May 28 at 9 a.m. A priestly assignment for Beggerly will be announced in the near future. On Saturday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. seminarian Tristan Stovall will be ordained to the transitional diaconate for the diocese.

– Continued on page 6 –

Pro-life safety net 7 Mississippi enacts legislation to protect life

leader 10 SHSM names Sacred Heart alum as president/CEO

NATCHEZ – On April 26, Cathedral School students gather around a historical marker that marks the location of a former orphanage for boys where the school was later built. (Photo by Sabrina Simms Robertson/The Natchez Democrat)

Deacon Carlisle Beggerly will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Jackson on Saturday, May 27.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus, “Inner Healing through Scripture” Retreat on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the retreat center on 1407 Levee Road. Presenters are Dr. Sheryl Jones and Joyce Pellegrin. Details: contact (662) 299-1232.

HOMEWOOD, Ala. Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference, July 21-22 in the Family Life Center at Our Lady of Sorrows Church at 1728 Oxmoor Road held by the Diocese of Birmingham. Conference theme is “Victory in Jesus” and will feature Father James Blount, with Father Eric Gami and Teresa Ragusa, a miracle COVID survivor. Father Blount is an internationally known healing ministry priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity (SOLT) of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Registration fee is $25 for individuals and $65 for a family of three or more. All are welcome! Details: Sally Smith at (205) 983-4150 or mustardsally14@gmail. com. To register visit www.catholiccharismaticrenewal.org.

METAIRIE, La. Five-day Silent Directed Retreat, June 26 – July 2 at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center (5500 Saint Mary Street, Metairie). Cost $500, includes room and board. Meet daily with a spiritual director, pray with scripture and spend the rest of the day in silence, prayer and rest. Register at franu. edu/retreat. Details: tyler.trahan@franu.edu or call (225) 526-1694.

PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS

HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Cocktails and Cathol-

icism, Friday, May 12 at 6 p.m. with Sister Margaret Sue Broker, OSF. Topic is “Sister says ...” Adults only. BYOB. Register at https://bit.ly/CocktailsCatholicismMay12.

JACKSON St. Richard, Bereavement Support Group, Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in the Chichester Room. Topic is “Grief, Grace and Gratitude” with speaker Kathy Devenney, pastoral care director at St. Dominic. This group is for all who are hurting from losing a loved one or for those who are trying to comfort and understand the grief of a family member or friend. Details: Nancy at (601) 942-2078 or ncmcghee@ bellsouth.net.

MADISON St. Francis, Cajun Fest Fundraiser, Sunday, May 21 from 12-4 p.m. Enjoy crawfish etou ee, jambalaya, pulled pork sandwiches, shrimp po-boys and homemade desserts. Live music by Waylon Thibodeaux, kid games, prizes and the chance to fellowship with friends, family and parishioners. Details: church o ce (601) 856-5556.

PEARL St. Jude, Pentecost International Food Fest, Saturday, May 27 following 5 p.m. Vigil Mass.

YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Mary in the Garden, Sunday, May 14 at 9 a.m. Join us for breakfast and the Rosary. Details: church o ce (662) 746-1680.

SOUTHAVEN Christ the King, Save the Date: Trivia Night, Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph, “Win the World for

Jesus!” VBS, June 5-7. Registration for children (K5fourth graders) and youth volunteers (fifth graders on up) will begin May 7. Registration forms are in the church foyer or email Karen at kworrellcre@hotmail. com.

GREENVILLE St. Joseph, VBS for grades K to fifth grades, July 16-18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Visit stjosephgreenville.org to register or volunteer. Details: Alyssa at (662) 820-0868.

MADISON St. Francis, Rocky Railway VBS express, June 19-22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All pre-K4 through fourth graders are invited. More volunteers are needed before registration will open. Details: mc. george@stfrancismadison.org.

SOUTHAVEN Christ the King, “Camping in God’s Creation” VBS for K through third grade, June 19-23 6-8 p.m. Island Luau for fourth through eighth grade, June 26-30 from 6:30-9 p.m. Details: call Donna to register at (662) 342-1073.

REMINDERS/NOTICES

JOB OPENINGS Catholic schools across the diocese have a variety of positions open from athletic directors, teachers, bookkeepers, substitutes and more. Please visit https://jacksondiocese.org/employment for an opportunity near you.

TUPELO – St. James Happy Hearts meets at the parish once a month for a healing Mass followed by a lunch and a monthly inspired activity. Pictured are Margaret Smith and Deborah Mahaffey preparing their canvases for the revealing of individual abstract painting. (Photo by Michelle Harkins)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 5, 2023

Focus on compassionate love of God

Editor's note: This column ran in Mississippi Catholic’s April 21, 2023 digital only edition. To make sure you do not miss Bishop Kopacz’s column or other important Catholic news join our email list on Flocknote. Text MSCATHOLIC to 84576 or signup at jacksondiocese.flocknote.com today!

While you are there also join the list “Bishop Kopacz” to receive video messages and other news from Bishop Kopacz direct to your inbox.

BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.

The final day of the Easter Octave is Divine Mercy Sunday. This year we celebrated the day of the resurrection of the merciful Lord from the dead for the 24th time since the Jubilee Year of 2000 with the canonization of St. Faustina when St. John Paul II called the universal church to a feast of divine mercy on the second Sunday of Easter.

Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the compassionate love of God given through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. As Pope John Paul II stated, “Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of the Christ crucified.”

The iconic symbol of divine mercy is marked by the two rays of light, red and blue, shining from the heart of the risen Lord who revealed to Sister Faustina that they represent blood and water illuminating the world.

We immediately think of the testimony given by the Evangelist John, who, when a soldier on Calvary pierced Christ’s side with his spear, sees blood and water flowing from it. (John 19:34) Moreover, if the blood recalls the sacrifice of the Cross and the gift of the Eucharist, the water, in Johannine symbolism, represents both Baptism and also the gift of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5; 4:14; 7:37-39)

The Lord Jesus in the miracle of the resurrection transformed death into life, despair into hope, and fear and shame into peace and promise. Each of the four Gospels testify to the power of the resurrection and on Divine Mercy Sunday the Gospel of John takes center stage with his Pentecost moment.

The apostles were huddled together in fear after the crucifixion with their world shattered like broken glass. Traumatized and deeply wounded by the crucifixion the risen Lord came into their midst and bathed the 11 with God’s mercy, peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He showed them his hands and his side, even inviting Thomas to touch the wounds inflicted by the

crucifixion. His wounds healed their shattered spirit. His cleansing gift of peace with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowered them to live in a way they had never known.

Before breathing the gift of the Holy Spirit into his born-again friends the crucified and risen One gave them their mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” and in these words and in this action, we see the plan of God’s salvation let loose in the world.

The church’s mandate is the same yesterday, today, and until the Lord comes again, i.e. to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of all the nations. In the light of Divine Mercy, St. Paul provides some wonderful imagery regarding the vision for our mission. All of us are called to be servants of Jesus Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries, ambassadors of Jesus Christ and ministers of reconciliation.

The gift of divine mercy we have received; we ought to give as a gift. During the synod process in our diocese those who participated voiced a strong concern for a greater unity that addresses the wounds and polarization in our church and in society. Divine mercy is that leaven in the bread that can transform this brokenness.

For example, within the body of the church the victims of sexual abuse must be provided every opportunity for healing, peace and new life. The perpetrators and those who failed to protect need the mercy and forgiveness of God in large doses. Wherever the wounds exist in his Body, the church, the Lord stands ready to heal. In Christ we want to be new creations. As we look inward to restore the life in abundance that Jesus promised, we also live and move, and have our being in the world to announce the Gospel bringing this Good News of the Kingdom of God to our world.

In the spirit of Divine Mercy, the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi comes to mind as a beacon for the work entrusted to us.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy. O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

Volume 69 Number 11 (ISSN 1529-1693)

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

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published digitally twice per month January – April and September – December; once per month June, July and August. Mississippi Catholic mails 14 editions per year – twice per month in December and January; and once per month February – November. For address changes, corrections or to join the email list for the digital edition, email: editor@jacksondiocese.org. 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

to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”

BISHOP’S SCHEDULE

Sunday, May 14, 11 a.m. – Mass, St. Francis, Greenwood

Sunday, May 14, 1:30 p.m. – Confirmation (Spanish), St. Francis, Greenwood

Tuesday, May 16, 7:30 a.m. – Mass, Carmelite Monastery, Jackson

Tuesday, May 16, 6 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Joseph, Starkville

Saturday, May 20, 10:30 a.m. – Diaconate Ordination of Tristan Stovall, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson

Sunday, May 21, 9 a.m. – Confirmation, Sacred Heart, Camden

Sunday, May 21, 1 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Therese, Jackson

Tuesday, May 23, 7 p.m. – Vicksburg Catholic School Graduation

Wednesday, May 24, 7 p.m. – St. Joseph School Graduation, Madison

Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m. – St. Joseph School Graduation, Greenville

Friday, May 26, 7 p.m. – Cathedral School Graduation, Natchez

Saturday, May 27, 10:30 a.m. – Priesthood Ordination of Deacon Carlisle Beggerly, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson

Saturday, May 27, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Michael, Forest

Sunday, May 28, 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson

Sunday, May 28, 1 p.m. – Confirmation (Spanish), Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson

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

(Cathopic photo/Angie Menes)

CALLED BY NAME

Back in Spring 2021, I visited the Diocese of Little Rock to discover why they had so many seminarians. For the past several years the diocese had consistently large numbers of seminarians and most of those seminarians came from parishes in the diocese. This was interesting to me since the Diocese of Little Rock has a similar demographic layout to the Diocese of Jackson. The diocese spans the entire state of Arkansas, and other than the parishes in the metro area of the capital, and a couple of university towns, most of the parishes are in rural areas.

When I spoke to Msgr. Scott Friend, then the longtime vocation director of the diocese, he told me that one of the biggest unifying forces for his men was their dedication to learning Spanish and being ready to serve whatever community they needed to upon ordination. Speaking with some of the young priests of the diocese on that trip, they told me how their dedication to learning a second language had galvanized them to see their priesthood through the lens of mission, and this was helpful since they were studying for a mission diocese. They shared with me that learning Spanish created a ‘buy-in’ among the seminarians and helped them to grow in humility and trust of the Lord as they struggled to encounter the People of God in a new way.

As I processed through my visit to Little Rock and I spoke to Bishop Kopacz about the experience, I was sure that language immersion and a dedication to being ready to minister to the growing number of Hispanic Catholics in our diocese needed to be a focus in our formation program.

In Summer 2022, I visited the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of the Angels outside of Cuernavaca, Mexico in hopes of finding an immersion program that fit our needs. I visited on Fourth of July weekend as the seminarians in that year’s program in the middle of their studies led by lay teachers and monks from the Abbey. I came away very impressed by the program, and we began to make plans to implement this summer program as a part of our formation plan.

This summer, four of our seminarians and I will depart for Cuernavaca to take part in this program. We will spend two hours each day individually practicing with a teacher, then two hours in small group discussion. We will also be spending regular prayer time and attending Mass with the monastic community in the Abbey. We will also be visiting historical sites around the area, including the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the patroness of North America. I am very hopeful that this program will not only equip our seminarians with a much-needed skill in today’s church, but that it will be a great source of fraternal bonding. The Lord meets us whenever we take a risk and trust in Him, and I know that He will be with us in Mexico. Please keep myself, Ryan Stoer, Tristan Stovall, Grayson Foley and Will Foggo in your prayers this summer, and pray to the efforts of these great seminarians will bless them, and our diocese, for many years to come.

For more info on vocations email: nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.

– Father Nick Adam

Father Nick Adam

Generous orthodoxy

IN EXILE

By Father ron rolheiser, oMi

There’s a saying attributed to Attila the Hun, a 5th century ruler infamous for his cruelty, which reads this way: For me to be happy, it’s not just important that I succeed; it’s also important that everyone else fails. I suspect that Atilla the Hun was not the author of that, but, no matter, there’s a lesson here.

The Gospels tell us that God’s mercy is unlimited and unconditional, that God has no favorites, that God is equally solicitous for everyone’s happiness and salvation, and that God does not ration his gift of the Spirit. If that is true, then we need to ask ourselves why we so frequently tend to withhold God’s Spirit from others in our judgments – particularly in our religious judgments. We are blind to the fact that sometimes there’s a little of Attila the Hun in us.

For example, how prone are we to think this way? For my religion to be the true, it’s important to me that other religions are not true! For my Christian denomination to be faithful to Christ, it’s important that all the other denominations be considered less faithful. For the Eucharist in my denomination to be valid, it’s important that the Eucharist in other denominations be invalid or less valid. And, since I’m living a certain sustained fidelity in my faith and moral life, it’s important to me that everyone else who isn’t living as faithfully does not get to heaven or is assigned to a secondary place in heaven.

Well, we aren’t the first disciples of Jesus to think this way and to be challenged by him in our Attila the Hun proclivities. This is in fact a large part of the lesson in Jesus’ parable regarding an over-generous landowner who paid everyone the same generous wage no matter how much or little each had worked.

We are all familiar with this story. A landowner goes out one morning and hires workers to work in his fields. He hires some early in the morning, some at noon, some in mid-afternoon, and some with only an hour left in the workday. Then he pays them all the same wage – a generous one. The people who worked the full day understandably became resentful, upset that (while their wage was in fact a generous one) they felt it was unfair to them that those who had worked a lot less should also receive an equally generous wage. The landowner in response says to the complainant, “Friend, I am not being unjust to you. Didn’t you agree to this wage? Why are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:1-16)

Notice that Jesus addresses the one making the complaint as ‘friend.” That’s a designation for us, we, the ones who are faithfully doing the full day’s work. Note his tone is warm and soft. However, his challenge is less warm and soft: Why are you jealous because God is overly generous? Why is it important to us that because we are doing things right, that God should be hard on those who aren’t?

Full disclosure: sometimes I imagine myself, after having lived a life of celibacy, entering heaven and meeting there the world’s most notorious playboy and asking God, “How did he get in here?” and God answering, “Friend, isn’t heaven a wonderful place! Are you envious because I am generous?” Who knows, we might even meet Attila

the Hun there. One of the core values held by a certain group of Quakers is something they call generous orthodoxy. I like the combination of those two words. Generosity speaks of openness, hospitality, empathy, wide tolerance and of sacrificing some of ourselves for others. Orthodoxy speaks of certain non-negotiable truths, of keeping proper boundaries, of staying true to what you believe and of not compromising truth for the sake of being nice. These two are often pitted against each other as opposites, but they are meant to be together. Holding ground on our truth, keeping proper boundaries and refusing to compromise even at the risk of not being nice is one side of the equation, but the full equation requires us to be also fully respectful and gracious regarding other people’s truth, cherished beliefs and boundaries.

And this is not an unhealthy syncretism, if what

the other person holds as truth does not contradict what we hold – although it might be very different and may not in our judgment be nearly as full and rich as what we hold.

Hence, you can be a Christian, convinced that Christianity is the truest expression of religion in the world without making the judgment that other religions are false. You can be a Roman Catholic, convinced that Roman Catholicism is the truest and fullest expression of Christianity, and your Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus, without making the judgment that other Christian denominations are not valid expressions of Christ and do not have a valid Eucharist. There’s no contradiction there.

You can be right, without that being contingent on everyone else being wrong!

(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 Giving voice to voiceless highlights their God-given dignity, pope says

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The life and ministry of the Catholic Church is enriched by listening to everyone, especially those who are often excluded by society, and by including their experiences and perspectives, Pope Francis said.

“For the church is like a rich tapestry, made up of many individual threads that come from various peoples, languages and cultures, yet woven into a unity by the Holy Spirit,” he told a delegation from Catholic Extension.

The pope greeted the delegation during an audience at the Vatican April 26. The group included: U.S. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, chancellor of the organization’s board of governors; retired Arizona Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, vice-chancellor; and Sister Norma Pimentel, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, who received Catholic Extension’s “Spirit of Francis” Award this year for her work providing care to hundreds of thousands of people at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I congratulate Sister Norma Pimentel,” the pope said, “for her service to the many men, women and children arriving at the southern border of the United States.”

Speaking briefly in Spanish, the pope said the border was “caliente caliente,” that is, a hotbed of activity with so many people “in search of a better future.”

He thanked Catholic Extension, which had a delegation in Rome April 23-28, for its work “providing assistance to missionary dioceses, particularly in the United States, and in caring for the needs of the poor and most vulnerable,” especially in Puerto Rico “following the various hurricanes and earthquakes which brought such devastation to the island in recent years.”

“By giving a voice to those

who are frequently voiceless,” he told the delegation,”you bear witness to the God-given dignity of every person.”

As the entire church is journeying together on the path of synodality, the pope said, “listening to and including the experiences and perspectives of all, especially those on the margins of society, enriches the church’s life and ministry.”

“I am pleased to know of your concern to place those who are often victims of today’s ‘throw-away culture’ at the heart of the church’s pastoral activity; in this way, their voices can be heard, and all can benefit,” he said.

Pope Francis encouraged them to serve others with “God’s style,” that is with closeness, compassion and tender love so that “God’s loving mercy becomes visible, and the fabric of society is strengthened and renewed.”

Pope Francis uses his wheeled walker after an audience with a delegation from Catholic Extension at the Vatican April 26, 2023. The group, which included U.S. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, chancellor of the organization’s board of governors, and retired Arizona Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, vice-chancellor, was in Rome April 23-28. The pope thanked the organization for its work “providing assistance to missionary dioceses, particularly in the United States, and in caring for the needs of the poor and most vulnerable.” (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

'... keep both candidates in your prayers ...'

– Continued from page 1 –

Typically, transitional deacons spend one final year in seminary before priestly ordination. Men ordained as transitional deacons do so with the intention of becoming a priest.

Shortly after his ordination, Stovall will be joining Father Nick Adam and other diocesan seminarians on a two-month immersion trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico, located outside of Mexico City at the Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels. Father Nick says that the purpose of the trip is to aid seminarians with Spanish language fluency by the time of ordination to the priesthood.

After the immersion experience, Stovall will embark on his diaconal assignment at the Basilica of St. Mary and Cathedral School in Natchez with Father Aaron Williams.

Please keep both ordination candidates in your prayers as they prepare for entry into Holy Orders for the diocese and service to People of God.

With great joy

The Diocese of Jackson

Announces the Ordination of Tristan Stovall to the HOLY ORDER OF DEACON

Through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Excellency

The Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D., Ph.D., Bishop of Jackson

On Saturday the twentieth of May

Two-thousand twenty-three

Half past ten o'clock in the morning

Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle 123 North West Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201

First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving

Deacon Tristan Stovall

Sunday, the twenty-first of May

Two-thousand twenty-three

Half past ten o’clock in the morning

Holy Cross 406 Wilson Street Philadelphia, MS 39350

With great joy

The Diocese of Jackson Announces the Ordination of Rev. Mr. Carlisle Beggerly to the SACRED ORDER OF THE PRESBYTERATE

Through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Excellency

The Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D., Ph.D., Bishop of Jackson

On

Saturday the twenty-seventh of May

Two-thousand twenty-three

Half past ten o'clock in the morning

Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle 123 North West Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201

First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving

Rev. Carlisle Beggerly

Sunday, the twenty-eighth of May

Two-thousand twenty-three

Nine o'clock in the morning

Immaculate Conception 26707 East Main Street West Point, MS 39773

land ...'

– Continued from page 1 –

“The school, the gym, and the football field are all on the original orphanage land,” Shaidnagle said. “The cornerstone and original bell that went with this orphanage are displayed at the back of Devereux Hall Plantation located on Devereux Drive.”

Students read aloud the Mississippi Department of Archives and History marker that explains the site’s significance.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz and Father Aaron Williams, St. Mary Basilica rector, blessed the location and the marker.

(Reprinted with permission)

'... all are on original orphanage

NATCHEZ – James Shaidnagle, in the green shirt, stands among Cathedral School students at the dedication of the new historical marker outside the school on Wednesday, April 26. (Photo by Sabrina Simms Robertson/The Natchez Democrat)

Tristan Stovall will be ordained to the transitional diaconate in preparation for the priesthood for the Diocese of Jackson on Saturday, May 20.

Mississippi enacts legislative package praised by advocates as ‘pro-life safety net’

BY KATE SCANLON

(OSV News) – After its defense of a state law limiting abortion made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in the court’s subsequent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, Mississippi passed a package of bills that state o cials said demonstrate creating a safety net for both mothers and babies.

The package introduces an income tax credit for qualified adoption expenses, as well as amends the state’s Safe Haven law to increase the amount of time in which an infant can be safely surrendered to qualified personnel at designated Safe Haven locations, among other measures.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion advocates would sometimes point to statistics showing states that restricted abortion often have smaller safety nets for women facing unplanned pregnancies. But proponents of Mississippi’s package argued that the state can support mothers and children with what the o ce of Gov. Tate Reeves, R-Miss., called “Pro-Mom, Pro-Life Legislation.”

Reeves said in a statement that “Mississippi will always protect life.”

“Our state will continue to be a beacon on the hill, a symbol of hope for the country, and a model for the nation,” Reeves said. “Mississippi will be relentless in its commitment to life. We will be relentless in our support of mothers and children. And we will be relentless in our e orts to advance the New Pro-life Agenda. The

legislation I signed today is further proof that when it comes to protecting life, Mississippi isn’t just talking the talk –we’re walking the walk.”

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who defended the state’s law restricting abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy that was at issue in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, where the high court reversed its jurisprudence since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, returning the matter of regulating abortion to the legislature, said in a statement, “I applaud Mississippi for adopting legislation that supports pregnant women and new mothers, streamlines and reforms adoption and foster care systems, enhances child support enforcement, and expands tax credits for employers providing childcare for their employees.”

“These initiatives will help build healthy families and, as a result, healthy communities,” Fitch said.

Measures passed by the state also increase resources for foster parents and children, and grant what the governor’s o ce said was the largest budget in the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services’ history.

Fitch, who published a post-Dobbs legislative agenda dubbed The Empowerment Project, celebrated some of the ini-

In memoriam: Sister Rosalie Bulanda

ADRIAN, Michigan – Sister Rosalie Bulanda, formerly known as Sister David Miriam, died on Monday, March 27, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 83 years of age and in the 66th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister was born in Aurora, Illinois, to Walter and Dolores (Senneke) Bulanda. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian. Sister was also certified as a registered nurse by the Mercy School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio.

Sister Rosalie spent 15 years ministering in elementary education in Toledo, Ohio; Detroit, Farmington, and Adrian, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and Bronxville, New York. Sister later served for 30 years in nursing care

in Detroit, Dearborn and Westland, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi. In Jackson, she ministered in nursing for 17 years at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. She then spent more than 14 years as a volunteer, first with Hospice of Mississippi and then at St. Richard Parish, Jackson, Mississippi. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2020.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Edward Bulanda. She is survived by a brother, Warren Hickman of Marengo, Indiana, other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

A Funeral Mass was o ered at St. Catherine Chapel on Friday, March 31, 2023, with prayers of committal in the Congregation Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.

tiatives passed that were included in that legislative framework.

“Whether it is o ering compassionate, life-a rming options to mothers in need or providing resources to those looking to upskill and grow, Mississippi is showing the nation that we can both empower women and promote life,” Fitch said.

“We are not done yet – we can and will do more to empower women and their families – but I am encouraged by the progress we’ve made in only a few short weeks and appreciate the hard work that the Mississippi Legislature has done to demonstrate that women and children are their priority, too.”

Caitlin Connors, southern regional director for SBA Pro-Life America, said in an April 19 statement that Mississippi “makes history again today, as Governor Reeves signs eight pro-life safety net measures into law.”

“Through its Gestational Age Act, the life at conception protection that is now in e ect, and more policies and programs that help families, it’s incredible to see how much ground Mississippi has covered in the course of a year to protect the unborn and serve their mothers in the Dobbs era, Connors said. “We thank Gov. Reeves, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and legislative leaders for boldly advocating measures that carry out the full-picture pro-life mission to support women during pregnancy and beyond. The impact of these policies will be felt for generations.”

(Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on Twitter @kgscanlon)

The Mississippi State Capitol is pictured in Jackson May 23, 2021. Mississippi has passed eight bills that supporters say are part of the state’s efforts to build a better pro-life social safety net. (OSV News photo/Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters)

Sacred Heart School alum to head Sacred Heart Southern Missions

By Laura Grisham

WALLS – Priests of the Sacred Heart, Inc. dba Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM), announced that Timothy Courts has been named as president and chief executive officer. Father Jack Kurps, SCJ, who has been president and CEO for 36 years, will continue on as spiritual director of the organization.

Father Jack Kurps announced his decision to step back as President and CEO to staff last Friday at a prayer service and luncheon in celebration of the 100th anniversary of ministry the Priests of the Sacred Heart in the United States.

Courts began as Sacred Heart Southern Missions president and CEO on May 1, 2023 and is uniquely qualified for his new role. He attended Sacred Heart School in Walls, Mississippi, before attending Southaven High School. Before earning a Bachelors of Business Administration, Management Information Systems at the University of Memphis in September of 1993, he worked part-time at SHSM as a maintenance helper before transferring to computer assistant in March of 1992. He rose to information systems manager in 1995, director of management information systems in 1999 and transferred to director of operations in 2003.

Courts resigned in 2004 and began working at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital before moving to Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare in 2007 to become the micro applications implementation manager before being promoted to director of information security. He left Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and returned to SHSM as director of finance in February of 2015. In his role as director of finance he oversaw the finance, information system, human resources and facilities departments. He was promoted to executive director of corporate services in November of 2022.

Courts also earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Executive MBA program at the University of Memphis and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

Courts said: “I am honored and humbled to have been appointed to lead Sacred Heart Southern Missions. I have been affiliated with the organization my whole life and believe in its mission and that of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. I look forward to working with the SHSM team to break the cycle of poverty, as we serve the thousands of financially struggling individuals and families across northern Mississippi who depend on us and the tens of thousands of donors across the United States who support our mission.”

Provincial Superior of the Priests of the Sacred Heart US Province Father Vien Nguyen, SCJ, said to the SHSM staff, “With the approval of the Provincial Council of the US Province and the approval of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions board of directors, I appoint Tim Courts as president and CEO of Sacred Heart Southern Missions. With this appointment, Tim will collaborate with you and with the Priests of the Sacred

Heart, and the Diocese of Jackson to carry out the mission of church, the mission of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and the mission of Sacred Heart Southern Missions.”

“On behalf of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and the board of directors of Sacred Heart Southern Missions,” Father Nguyen continued, “I would also like to thank Rev. Jack Kurps’ ministry to carry on the Dehonian mission in northern Mississippi and for his love and dedication to the people and the staff.”

Father Jack became executive director of SHSM in 1987. “As I look back on 36 years of ministry here in Mississippi, there is much that has been accomplished,” he said. “Our HIV/AIDS ministry began in the early 90s when a diagnosis was a death sentence. The program continues to serve a very important need with all the stigma that is often associated with the disease. Our Dehon Village and the Dehon Learning Center provides affordable housing and adult life skill development. Our food pantry has become a major program and serves a tremendous need. Our volunteer program matches the desire of individuals to give of themselves with people who need help and our volunteer housing makes it possible for groups to come from around the country to assist others. Merging Sacred Heart League back into Sacred Heart Southern Missions removed some of the duplication of efforts and made us a stronger organization.

I will take credit for some ideas – but often my contribution was to green light the ideas and suggestions of others. SHSM is blessed with a dedicated staff. I look forward to continuing to be part of SHSM and I will assist Tim in any way he asks. With Tim, SHSM is in good hands. SHSM is in his blood.”

Since 1942, Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM) with the help of generous volunteers and donors, has been helping those living in poverty experience God’s love and mercy through food, clothing, housing, education, spiritual enrichment and other assistance.

From their humble beginnings, with one priest in one church in one small town, they have grown to include six parishes, two Catholic elementary schools, eight social services offices, housing, a thrift store and food pantries serving thousands of people each year.

For more information visit: www.shsm.org.

WALLS – Timothy Courts was named president and chief executive officer of Sacred Heart Southern Mission (SHSM) on Monday, May 1. Courts is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty, as the organization serves families across northern Mississippi. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart Southern Missions)

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

Día de la Madres"

Este ícono de María y el Niño Jesús fue escrito por la hermana melquita Souraya Herro para el santuario de María, Madre de los cristianos perseguidos, ubicado en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y San Gregorio en el centro de Londres. (Foto de CNS/cortesía del padre Benedict Kiely)

Disminución de Latinos en EE.UU. que se identifican como católicos

Por Maria-Pia nEGro Chin (OSV News) – El número de latinos en Estados Unidos que se identifican como católicos sigue disminuyendo constantemente, con sólo alrededor del 43% ahora auto-identificándose como católicos, según un nuevo análisis del Pew Research Center. El porcentaje de latinos sin afiliación religiosa también ha aumentado.

En su estudio, publicado el 13 de abril, Pew señala que el porcentaje de adultos hispanos que se identifican como católicos ha descendido del 67% en 2010 al 43% en 2022.

Durante el mismo período, los latinos estadounidenses que se identifican como no afiliados religiosamente (describiéndose a sí mismos como ateos, agnósticos o "nada en particular") aumentaron del 10% en 2010 al 30% en 2022.

Hosffman Ospino, un profesor del Boston College que tiene años de experiencia examinando el papel de los católicos hispanos en el futuro de la Iglesia católica en Estados Unidos, dijo que este declive ha estado "en marcha" durante décadas y que las generaciones más jóvenes de latinos son menos propensas a identificarse como católicos.

"Hay que tener en cuenta que la población hispana está creciendo en Estados Unidos. Y la mayor fuente de crecimiento de la comunidad hispana no es la comunidad inmigrante, como solía ser en los años 80 y 90", dijo Ospino. "Ahora la mayor fuente de crecimiento de la comunidad latina es la generación nacida en

Estados Unidos, que está siendo criada en gran parte tanto por inmigrantes como por latinas nacidas en Estados Unidos. ... Es una población muy joven, por lo que las tendencias que Pew está observando reflejan las tendencias más amplias entre todos los jóvenes de Estados Unidos a través de los diferentes grupos raciales, étnicos y culturales."

– Continúa en la pág. 2–

HOUSTON – Un grupo de 41 jóvenes Hispanos fueron confirmados por el obispo Joseph Kopacz, en Misa concelebrada con los sacerdotes Alexis Zuñiga y César Sánchez, el 22 de abril en la iglesia del Inmaculado Corazón de María. Los confirmantes posan, certificado en mano, para una fotografía junto al obispo. (Foto de Danna Johnson, LEM)

"Felíz

5 de mayo de 2023 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO

Iglesia de Costa Rica acoge dos religiosas expulsadas de Nicaragua

Por rhina Guidos (OSV News) – Las autoridades eclesiásticas de una diócesis del norte de Costa Rica confirmaron que dieron la bienvenida a dos religiosas, miembros de las Hermanas Dominicas de la Anunciata, después de que fueran expulsadas de la vecina Nicaragua a mediados de abril.

En un video publicado en la página de Facebook de la Diócesis de Tilarán-Liberia, el diácono Gustavo Wattson dijo que dos religiosas – las hermanas Isabel y Cecilia Blanco, ambas de nacionalidad costarricense y hermanas biológicas – salieron de Nicaragua el 12 de abril por el punto fronterizo de Peñas Blancas.

Funcionarios del gobierno nicaragüense no han dicho por qué las religiosas fueron expulsadas.

Pero en octubre de 2020, la asamblea general del país aprobó una controvertida ley de "agentes extranjeros" que obliga a las organizaciones que reciben dinero del extranjero a registrarse ante el gobierno, exponiéndolas a grandes multas, a la vigilancia del gobierno e incluso a la "cancelación" de su estatus legal en el país. El Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. ha denunciado la medida, al igual que la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la Organización de los Estados Americanos.

Tras entrar en el norte de Costa Rica, las hermanas fueron recibidas por su hermana Violeta Blanco, su marido, Carlos Vargas, y un sacerdote local que representaba al obispo Manuel Eugenio Salazar Mora, que dirige la Diócesis de Tilarán-Liberia, dijo Wattson. Las hermanas revelaron una foto en la que se las ve de buen humor, con una de ellas en

silla de ruedas. El obispo reconoció el trabajo y sacrificio de las hermanas, que formaban parte de una comunidad que atendía a ancianos en la localidad de Rivas (Nicaragua), dijo Wattson, aunque se fueron "en circunstancias lamentables". También pidió oraciones por una tercera religiosa de la orden a la que supuestamente se le pidió que se marchara, pero cuyo paradero se desconoce.

"Además, el obispo Salazar pide oraciones por la Iglesia en el país vecino, especialmente por el obispo Rolando Álvarez", dijo Wattson, refiriéndose al prelado que fue detenido por las autoridades gubernamentales en agosto del año pasado. En febrero, el obispo Álvarez, que dirige la Diócesis de Matagalpa, fue condenado a más de 26 años de prisión tras ser declarado culpable de traición a la patria, menoscabo de la integridad nacional y difusión de noticias falsas, entre otros cargos.

Una religiosa pasa frente a la Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María en Managua, Nicaragua, el 12 de agosto de 2022. Autoridades eclesiásticas de una diócesis en el norte de Costa Rica confirmaron que acogieron a dos religiosas, miembros de las Hermanas Dominicas de la Anunciata, tras ser expulsadas de la vecina Nicaragua el 12 de abril de 2023, en el punto fronterizo de Peñas Blancas. (Foto OSV News/Maynor Valenzuela, Reuters)

El año pasado, el obispo Salazar acogió a otro grupo de religiosas también expulsadas por el gobierno de Ortega. Más de una docena de Hermanas de la Caridad fueron expulsadas de Nicaragua en julio, donde también gestionaban un hogar para ancianos, muchos de ellos abandonados por sus familias.

La Diócesis de Tilarán-Liberia acogió a más de una docena de las hermanas expulsadas, que al parecer planean abrir un hogar para ancianos en el norte de Costa Rica.

A finales de febrero, un grupo de hermanas trapenses anunció que abandonaba Nicaragua "voluntariamente", alegando la falta de vocaciones para mantener la comunidad. Según la prensa nicaragüense, el gobierno se ha apoderado de sus propiedades.

en 2021 ...

Los datos de la Oficina del Censo de EE.UU. muestran que la población hispana de EE.UU. alcanzará los 62.6 millones a mediados de 2021, lo que representa el 18.9% de la población total. Desde la década de 2000, según el estudio del 13 de abril, los nacimientos en Estados Unidos han impulsado el crecimiento de la población hispana en Estados Unidos, con cuatro de cada cinco (79%) de los latinos estadounidenses entre 18 y 29 años nacidos en Estados Unidos. El estudio de Pew también indica que cerca de la mitad (49%) de los latinos estadounidenses de 18 a 29 años se identifican como no afiliados religiosamente, mientras que el 30% se identifica como católico y el 15% como protestante. En comparación, sólo uno de cada cinco latinos de 50 años o más no tiene afiliación religiosa, y la mayoría de ellos (56%) nació fuera de Estados Unidos. La encuesta también señaló que los latinos nacidos en EE.UU., en general, son casi dos veces más propensos (39%) que los latinos nacidos en el extranjero (21%) a identificarse como no afiliados religiosamente, con los jóvenes latinos impulsando el crecimiento entre ese grupo. "Lo que revela (el estudio de Pew) en muchos sentidos es que la Iglesia católica contaba con el gran crecimiento de los hispanos inmigrantes que son católicos", dijo Ospino. "Ahora la pregunta es: ¿estamos preparados para afrontar la realidad de que la evangelización en las próximas décadas se va a centrar en gran medida en esos hijos y nietos de inmigrantes de América Latina, la generación nacida en Estados Unidos?".

A pesar del descenso en los números en la última década, los católicos siguen siendo el grupo religioso más numeroso entre los latinos de Estados Unidos,

según el informe Pew. Los latinos también siguen siendo aproximadamente "el doble de propensos que los adultos estadounidenses en general a identificarse como católicos y menos propensos a ser protestantes".

El estudio del Pew también indicaba que "el catolicismo ha experimentado las mayores pérdidas debido al cambio de religión entre los hispanos", siendo casi una cuarta parte de todos los hispanos de EE.UU. ex católicos. La encuesta en la que se basó el estudio afirmaba que, mientras que cerca de dos tercios de los adultos hispanos (65%) dijeron haber sido criados como católicos, el 43% lo son actualmente. El informe también señala que el protestantismo ha experimentado un crecimiento más modesto debido al cambio de religión. .

Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, director adjunto de la Pastoral Hispana del Secretariado para la Diversidad Cultural en la Iglesia de la USCCB, habló del contexto histórico en el que los latinos de Estados Unidos abandonan la fe católica. En décadas pasadas, durante lo que Aguilera-Titus describió como una época de "proselitismo agresivo" por parte de otras denominaciones religiosas que se acercaban a los nuevos inmigrantes hispanos, los obispos estadounidenses respondieron con el primer proceso de Encuentro, que ayudó a formular un plan pastoral nacional para el ministerio hispano en 1987. "Ese plan (de 1987) realmente abrió de par en par la puerta para que miles de parroquias comenzaran a comprometerse con la pastoral hispana", dijo a OSV News.

Para Ospino, la secularización es el mayor desafío al cristianismo católico y a la cristiandad católica. "La generación más joven, particularmente, no siente que la religión organizada sirve para algo en sus vidas", dijo. Según el análisis de Pew, la desafiliación de la re-

ligión es más común entre los hispanos nacidos en Estados Unidos: Alrededor de una cuarta parte de los hispanos nacidos en EE.UU. (23%) que dicen que fueron criados dentro de una fe ahora no están afiliados religiosamente, en comparación con el 16% de los hispanos nacidos en el extranjero. Pero, según el estudio, "el catolicismo ha experimentado pérdidas igualmente grandes tanto entre los hispanos nacidos en EE.UU. como entre los nacidos en el extranjero".

Estos cambios constantes y graduales podrían tener amplias implicaciones en el futuro. Los católicos hispanos representan cerca del 45% de todos los católicos del país. Sin embargo, cerca del 60% de todos los católicos menores de 18 años son hispanos. Lo mismo ocurre con casi la mitad de los jóvenes adultos católicos (de 18 a 39 años)

Una estimación reciente del equipo de investigación del V Encuentro Nacional de Pastoral Hispana/Latina, que cuenta con el apoyo de los Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos, calculaba que en 2021 había 31 millones de católicos hispanos. Ospino calificó este dato de "signo de esperanza", pero – combinado con el actual análisis de Pew – es también una llamada a "cambiar de marcha". "Sigamos invirtiendo en en la comunidad inmigrante, pero redoblemos la energía y los recursos para llevar el Evangelio entre los nacidos en Estados Unidos y tratar de retenerlos. De lo contrario, los perderemos", afirmó.

(Para leer el estudio del Pew, vaya a : https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/04/13/ among-u-s-latinos-catholicism-continues-to-decline-butis-still-the-largest-faith/.)

... 31 Hispanos, de un total de 62 millones, eran católicos

– Viene de la pág. 1 –

5 de mayo de 2023 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO

Divina Misericordia

Nota del editor: Esta columna se publicó en la edición digital exclusiva de Mississippi Catholic del 21 de abril de 2023. Para asegurarse de no perderse la columna del obispo Kopacz y otras noticias católicas importantes, únase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico en Flocknote. ¡Envíe un mensaje de texto con MSCATHOLIC al 84576 o regístrese en jacksondiocese.flocknote.com!

Por oBisPo JosEPh r. KoPaCZ, d.d.

El último día de la Octava de Pascua es el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia. Este año celebramos el día de la resurrección de entre los muertos, del Señor misericordioso, por 24ª vez desde el Año Jubilar del 2000 con la canonización de Santa Faustina cuando San Juan Pablo II convocó a la iglesia universal a una fiesta de la Divina Misericordia en el segundo domingo de Pascua.

El Domingo de la Divina Misericordia se enfoca en el amor compasivo de Dios dado a través de la muerte, sepultura y resurrección de Cristo. Como dijo el Papa Juan Pablo II, “La Divina Misericordia llega a los seres humanos a través del Corazón de Cristo crucificado”.

El símbolo icónico de la misericordia divina está marcado por dos rayos de luz: rojo y azul, que brillan desde el corazón del Señor resucitado que se reveló a Sor Faustina y que representan la sangre y el agua que iluminan el mundo. Pensamos inmediatamente en el testimonio que da el evangelista Juan, quien, cuando un soldado en el Calvario atravesó con su lanza el costado de Cristo, ve brotar sangre y agua de él. (Juan 19:34) Además, si la sangre recuerda el sacrificio de la Cruz y el don de la Eucaristía, el agua, en el simbolismo de Juan, representa tanto el bautismo como el don del Espíritu Santo. (Juan 3:5; 4:14; 7:37-39)

El Señor Jesús en el milagro de la resurrección transformó la muerte en vida, la desesperación en

esperanza, el miedo y la vergüenza en paz y promesa. Cada uno de los cuatro Evangelios da testimonio del poder de la resurrección y en el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia el Evangelio de Juan ocupa un lugar central con su momento de Pentecostés.

Los apóstoles estaban acurrucados con miedo después de la crucifixión con su mundo hecho añicos como vidrios rotos. Traumatizado y profundamente herido por la crucifixión, el Señor resucitado vino a ellos y bañó a los 11 con la misericordia de Dios, la paz y el don del Espíritu Santo. Les mostró sus manos y su costado, incluso invitando a Tomás a tocar las heridas infligidas por la crucifixión. Sus heridas sanaron su espíritu destrozado. Su don purificador de paz, con el derramamiento del Espíritu Santo, les dio poder para vivir de una manera que nunca habían conocido.

Antes de insuflar el don del Espíritu Santo en sus amigos renacidos, el Crucificado y Resucitado les confió su misión: “Como me envió el Padre, así os envío yo”, y en estas palabras y en esta acción, vemos el plan de salvación de Dios desencadenado en el mundo.

El mandato de la iglesia es el mismo ayer, hoy y hasta que el Señor venga de nuevo, es decir, anunciar la Buena Nueva de Jesucristo y hacer discípulos a todas las naciones. A la luz de la Divina Misericordia, San Pablo proporciona algunas imágenes maravillosas con respecto a la visión de nuestra misión. Todos nosotros estamos llamados a ser servidores de Jesucristo y administradores de los misterios de Dios, embajadores de Jesucristo y ministros de la reconciliación.

El don de la misericordia divina que hemos recibido; lo debemos dar como regalo. Durante el proceso del sínodo en nuestra diócesis, quienes participaron expresaron una fuerte preocupación por una mayor unidad que aborde las heridas y la polarización en nuestra iglesia y en la sociedad. La misericordia divina es esa levadura en el pan que puede transformar este quebrantamiento.

Por ejemplo, dentro del cuerpo de la iglesia, las víctimas de abuso sexual deben recibir todas las oportunidades de curación, paz y vida nueva. Los perpetradores y los que fallaron en proteger necesitan la misericordia y el perdón de Dios en grandes dosis. Dondequiera que existan heridas en su Cuerpo, la iglesia, el Señor está listo para sanar. En Cristo, queremos ser nuevas criaturas.

Mientras miramos hacia adentro para restaurar la vida en abundancia que Jesús prometió, también vivimos y nos movemos y tenemos nuestro ser en el mundo para anunciar el Evangelio que trae esta Buena Nueva del Reino de Dios a nuestro mundo.

En el espíritu de la Divina Misericordia, la oración atribuida a San Francisco de Asís viene a la mente como un faro para la obra que nos ha sido encomendada.

ORACIÓN DE SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS

Oh, Señor, hazme un instrumento de Tu Paz .

Donde hay odio, que lleve yo el Amor. Donde haya ofensa, que lleve yo el Perdón.

Donde haya discordia, que lleve yo la Unión.

Donde haya duda, que lleve yo la Fe. Donde haya error, que lleve yo la Verdad.

Donde haya desesperación, que lleve yo la Alegría.

Donde haya tinieblas, que lleve yo la Luz.

Oh, Maestro, haced que yo no busque tanto ser consolado, sino Consolar; ser comprendido, sino Comprender; ser amado, como Amar.

Porque es:

Dando, que se recibe; Perdonando, que se es perdonado; Muriendo, que se resucita a la Vida Eterna. Amén.

Papa: "Pasa tiempo con Jesús cada noche para reflexionar sobre el día"

Por JusTin MCLELLan

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Jesús sabe cómo convertir cada dificultad o caída en un paso adelante, dijo el Papa Francisco.

Con el amor de Cristo "incluso lo que nos parece fatigoso e inútil puede aparecer bajo otra luz", dijo el 23 de abril.

Antes de recitar la oración del mediodía "Regina Coeli" con unas 30,000 personas reunidas en la Plaza de San Pedro, el Papa Francisco habló sobre la lectura del Evangelio del día, Lucas 24:13-35, que describe el encuentro de Jesús resucitado con los discípulos que se dirigían a Emaús.

Jesús aparece junto a los dos discípulos y les pide que le cuenten lo que les ha sucedido y entristecido. Y, mientras caminan, Jesús "les ayuda a releer los hechos de modo diverso, a la luz de las profecías, de la Palabra de Dios", dijo el Papa.

"El Evangelio de hoy nos invita a contarle todo a Jesús con sinceridad, sin temer molestarlo – Él nos escucha – sin tener miedo de decir algo equivo-

cado, sin avergonzarnos de lo que nos cuesta comprender", dijo.

"El Señor está contento cuando nos abrimos a él", dijo. "Solo de este modo puede tomarnos de la mano, acompañarnos y hacer que vuela a arder nuestro corazón".

El Papa dijo que una buena manera de hacerlo es dedicar un tiempo cada noche a un breve examen de conciencia y releer el día con Jesús, "abrirle el corazón, llevarle las personas, las decisiones, los miedos, las caídas, las esperanzas, todas las cosas que han sucedido; para aprender gradualmente a mirar las cosas con ojos diversos, con sus ojos y no solo con los nuestro".

"Así podremos revivir la experiencia de aquellos dos discípulo", dijo. "Una cruz difícil de abrazar, la elección de perdonar una ofensa, una victoria no alcanzada, el cansancio del trabajo, la sinceridad que cuesta, las pruebas de la vida familiar… nos aparecerán bajo una luz nueva, la luz del Crucificado Resucitado, que sabe transformar cada caída en un paso adelante".

Mural de mosaico de María Magdalena y Jesús en una capilla del Duc In Altum en Magdala, 31 de marzo de 2023. (Foto de OSV News/Debbie Hill)

Felíz Día de las Madres

5 de mayo de 2023

(izq. arriba) Una mujer sostiene a su hija durante la Misa de apertura de la Vigilia Nacional de Oración por la Vida el 19 de enero de 2023 en la Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepción en Washington. (Foto de noticias OSV/Bob Roller)

(der. arriba) Una madre juega con sus trillizos y otro hijo en un parque en St. Louis el 24 de abril de 2017. Este Día de la Madre, volvamos a conectarnos con el "cableado" predeterminado que Dios instaló en nosotros, para ser sostenidos con amor. (Foto CNS/Lisa Johnston, St. Louis Review)

(izq. debajo) Vidriera que representa a San Agustín y su madre, Santa Mónica, adorna la pared de la Iglesia de San Agustín en Washington el 25 de julio de 2019. Santa Mónica es la santa patrona de la maternidad, conocida por su resiliencia y dedicación a la oración. (Foto del CNS/Elizabeth Bachmann)

TOME NOTA

Vírgenes y Santos

Nuestra Señora de Lujan. Mayo 8

Dia de las Madres. Mayo 9

Virgen de Fátima. Mayo 13

Nuestra Señora de la Evangelización. Mayo 14

San Isidro Labrador. Mayo 15

Solemnidad de la Ascensión del Señor. Mayo 18

Santa Rita de Casia. Mayo 22

Virgen Auxiliadora. Mayo 24

Fiesta de Pentecostés. Mayo 28

Visitación de la Santísima Virgen María. Mayo 31

Jesucristo, sumo y eterno Sacerdote. Junio 1ero

Santísima Trinidad. Junio 4

Envíenos sus fotos a editor@jacksondiocese.org

Síganos en Facebook @ Diócesis Católica de Jackson

(centro) Santa Gianna Beretta Molla se ve con sus hijos en esta foto de 1959. La médica y madre italiana, que sacrificó su propia vida por la vida de su hijo, fue canonizada por el Papa Juan Pablo II en 2004. (Foto de CNS/cortesía de la Diócesis de Springfield) (der.) En una foto de archivo, una madre sostiene a su hijo durante una misa en Juba, Sudán del Sur. Un funcionario de Human Life International, una organización católica con sede en EE. UU., dijo el 13 de marzo de 2023 que la lucha de Occidente contra la violencia de género en África tiene una agenda oculta de promover el aborto. (Foto OSV News/archivo CNS, Paul Jeffrey)

El Programa “Esperanza Creciente” de Diaconado Permanente es un programa de estudio de cinco años. En el primer año, los hombres son llamados aspirantes a diáconos, luego, después del Rito de Candidatura, son candidatos a diáconos por los cuatro años restantes. Después de completar todos sus estudios, ya voluntad del obispo, son ordenados al diaconado permanente. La creciente demanda de ministros en la Iglesia hace que el trabajo del diácono sea más necesario hoy que en los últimos años.

“La formación diaconal ha ayudado en mi discernimiento del llamado de Dios para mi vida espiritual, en darme una forma más formal de orar, aprender cómo puedo servir mejor a la comunidad, ser más humilde y a tener más amigos.” – Enrique Amador

“Su donación a la CSA ayuda a los hombres que actualmente están en formación espiritual para ser ordenados diáconos en 2026.”

CSA . JACKSONDIOCESE . ORG

Please, give generously!

June 10 & 11, 2023

Half of your donation stays here in the diocese in support of MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC. W E APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT !

Holy Week happenings

Fifth graders from several Catholic schools in the diocese attended the annual Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 4 with Bishop Joseph Kopacz and got a chance to speak to diocesan seminarians and Sister Amelia Breton about vocations. Students also received a tour of the Cathedral of St. Peter with Chancellor Mary

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 888-830-0004 (English) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish).

The Association of Priests of the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi provide a small pension to our retired priests. As you consider your estate plans, please remember these faithful servants by making a donation or leaving a bequest to the Association of Priests. Our parish priests dedicate their lives to caring for us, their flocks. Let us now care for them in their retirement. Donations can be made payable to the Association of Priests and can be mailed to: Diocese of Jackson, P.O. Box 22723, Jackson, MS 39225-2723

PEARL – Parishioners process behind Father Jofin George on Palm Sunday at St. Jude. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

JACKSON – The Holy Spirit enters the Chrism at Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

PEARL – The Paschal candle is lit at St. Jude parish by Deacon John McGregor. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

HERNANDO – Father David Szatkowski, SCJ washes feet on Holy Thursday at Holy Spirit Church. (Photo by Sister Rose Hacker)

Woodward. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

May hosts a myriad of ordinations

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Mary WoodWard

JACKSON – The month of May is traditionally the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother in our church. Countless May crownings, novenas, rosaries, and a myriad of other celebrations occur in parishes throughout the diocese and indeed the world.

May also is the month when many of our ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate occur. This year is no different when in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on May 20, Bishop Joseph Kopacz will ordain Tristan Stovall to the transitional diaconate, and on May 27, he will ordain Deacon Carlisle Beggerly to the priesthood. This is definitely an exciting time for our diocese to celebrate Holy Orders being conferred on two young men.

Looking at our current clergy and many of the past, May was the month to get ordained. Bishop Kopacz himself was ordained on May 7; Bishop Joseph Latino was ordained on May 25, and Bishop William Houck was ordained a priest on May 19 and a bishop on May 27.

Noting this, I decided to look in Bishop Richard O. Gerow’s diary back to his early days to possibly find something on his ordination. He narrowly missed being ordained a priest in May as he was ordained June 5; and he was ordained a bishop on Oct. 15. He was born on May 3, so in a way he was ordained into life in May.

But in looking at his entries in May 1927 while doing some research on the Great Flood of that year, I found a unique entry about the ordination of Thomas J. Toolen as the Bishop of Mobile on May 4, of that year. Bishop Toolen would have been the bishop to ordain Bishop Houck to the priesthood in 1951, so we have a definite connection to him.

Bishop Houck often shared many wonderful stories about Bishop Toolen, who uniquely was given the title of Archbishop prior to Mobile becoming an archdiocese. Anyway, I would like to share Bishop Gerow’s warm account of the celebration and his love for his hometown.

“At the time that I received the request of Bishop-Elect [Thomas J.] Toolen to serve as his Junior Co-Consecrator I felt highly honored and elevated. Naturally it made me happy to think that I was to have a very important part in raising to the dignity of the

Episcopacy the new Bishop of my own native Mobile for I still love Mobile.

“I had not known personally the new Bishop-Elect, but since he was to be the new Bishop of Mobile where I had been born and which had been my childhood home and where I had spent fifteen happy years of my priestly life, I felt that we belonged together. Accordingly, I immediately accepted the invitation.

“On May 4, the date of the Consecration, I was in Baltimore for the ceremony. Archbishop Curley was the Consecrator, Bishop Keyes was the Senior Co-Consecrator, and I did my part as Junior Co-Consecrator.

“The Consecration of a Bishop is a beautiful and impressive ceremony. In order to give it dignity it takes place within the ceremony of the Mass. I still remember the ceremony of my own Consecration –just three years ago – and this ceremony now brings back most vividly to my memory all that took place on that occasion.

“The reading of the Papal document that called him to the Bishop’s office, the Litany of the Saints calling upon the blessed in Heaven to join us in prayer, the imposition of hands by the Consecrator and the two Co-Consecrators, the anointing of the head with chrism, the receiving of the mitre and the blessing of the people, and many other beautiful parts of the ceremony made me live over again the happy occasion of my own Consecration.”

These next few paragraphs are from the 1924 entries to Bishop Gerow’s diary and feature his memories of his own consecration celebration in Immaculate Conception Ca-

thedral in Mobile on Oct. 15, 1924.

“The ceremony was in the Cathedral of Mobile, and this was proper. Within its shadow I had been born; within its walls, baptized; here I had served for many years as an altar boy; here I had been confirmed; and since my ordination to the priesthood, here had been my only appointment; here was the only parish in which I had ever had a domicile.

“The Consecrating Prelate was Bishop Edward Allen, who had always been to me as a father. He had sent me to college to try my vocation; he had kept me near him during my years as a priest; and I feel that his example and training have done much to mold my priestly life.

“The Co-Consecrators were Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard and Bishop James A. Griffin, the latter a close companion during my years of study in Rome. A magnificent sermon was preached by Very Reverend Edward Cummings, S.J. Provincial, with whom I had been closely associated during his years at Spring Hill College.”

I often find myself in Mobile and visit the cathedral. After reading these two entries, I now have an even deeper connection to this sacred space. All are invited to our beautiful cathedral on May 20 and May 27 to celebrate these young men entering into Holy Orders. This May is a fine time for our diocese.

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

MOBILE – Photo from Bishop Gerow’s Ordination as Bishop in October 1924 in Mobile taken on the steps of the Bishop’s residence. Bishop Gerow is in white shoes in the center. On his left is Bishop Edward Allen of Mobile; and on his right is Bishop Jules Jeanmard of Lafayette. (Photos courtesy of archives)

Bishop R.O. Gerow

NATION

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The U.S. Supreme Court said April 21 it would block a lower court’s restrictions on an abortion pill, leaving the drug on the market while litigation over the drug proceeds. The court’s order was an apparent 7-2 vote, with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissenting. The decision froze a lower court’s ruling to stay the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug. The Justice Department and a pharmaceutical company that manufactures the abortion pill mifepristone previously asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the case after an appeals court allowed portions of the ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk to take e ect. A coalition of pro-life opponents of mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in a medication or chemical abortion, had filed suit in an e ort to revoke the FDA’s approval of the drug, arguing the government violated its own safety standards when it first approved the drug in 2000. However, proponents argued mifepristone poses statistically little risk to women using it for abortion early in pregnancy, and claim the drug is being singled out for political reasons. In an April 21 statement, President Joe Biden said he would continue “to stand by FDA’s evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my Administration will continue to defend FDA’s independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs.” On April 22, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called the Supreme Court’s interim order “a tremendous disappointment, both for the loss of innocent preborn life from chemical abortion, and for the danger that chemical abortion poses to women.”

SAN FRANCISCO (OSV News) – On the very day Elon Musk launched SpaceX rocket Starship on its ill-fated maiden voyage toward space, that final frontier, Musk’s company Twitter did boldly go purging

blue verification check marks from users who had not signed up for its paid Twitter Blue service on April 20, including Pope Francis’ Twitter accounts. The nine papal Twitter accounts, first set up under Benedict XVI in 2012, tweet a daily message from the Holy Father in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Latin, French, Polish, Arabic and German. The Vatican press o ce, noting that the nine @Pontifex accounts have a total of more than 53 million followers, told CNS Rome April 21 it understood Twitter was changing some of its policies. But it added, “the Holy See trusts that they will include certification of the authenticity of accounts.” That same day, following the loss of its blue checkmark, each papal account received a new gray verification checkmark designating “a government or multilateral organization account.” Other religious entities and organizations that have lost their blue checkmark include the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Catholic Reporter, Catholic News Service Rome and Protestant televangelist Joel Osteen. There is now a triad of checkmark colors on Twitter. Blue marks mean an account has an active subscription to Twitter Blue, gold indicates an o cial business account through Twitter Verified Organizations, and gray indicates a government or multilateral organization. There also are affiliate account badges for each, as well as automated account labels for bots.

BALTIMORE (OSV News) – For every Dorothy Day – or St. Teresa of Kolkata, St. Oscar Romero or St. Pope John Paul II –there may be hundreds, even thousands, of anonymous potential saints who are not raised to the altars for a very simple reason: Their advocates just can not afford it. The sainthood process entails expenses for research, travel, translation and, if the cause progresses, beatification and canonization ceremonies. On average, costs total about $250,000 – with high-profile causes potentially topping $1 million. While ultimately conducted by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, causes are typically initiated by a diocese, religious order or nonprofit lay group. The intricacies of the canonization process – with stages marked by the titles servant of God, venerable, blessed and saint – also poses a challenge for under-resourced dioceses. In addition to undisputed holiness, there is intense research, reams of paperwork, continuous fundraising, potential discrimination – and sometimes, a few unanticipated roadblocks. Ralph E. Moore Jr., a lifelong Catholic and African-American parishioner of St. Ann Catholic Church in Baltimore and a member of its Social Justice Committee, has organized a canonization letter writing campaign to Pope Francis, urging him to advance the sainthood causes of six African Americans, noting that a lack of finances has played a role in denying Black Catholics their own recognized saints.

VATICAN

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

– At least three dozen women will be voting members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has decided. In a decision formalized April 17, “the Holy Father approved the extension of participation in the synodal assembly to

‘non-bishops’ – priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, lay men and women,” the synod o ce said in a statement April 26. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the synod, told reporters that about 21% of the synod’s 370 members would not be bishops and at least half of that group would be women. Adding women and young people to the membership will make sure “the church is well represented” in the prayer and discussions scheduled for Oct. 4-29 at the Vatican, the cardinal said. “It will be a joy to have the whole church represented in Rome for the synod.” “As you can see, the space in the tent is being enlarged,” Cardinal Mario Grech, synod secretary-general, told reporters. “The Synod of Bishops will remain a synod of bishops,” Cardinal Grech said, but it will be “enriched” by representatives of the whole church.

WORLD

BERDYANSK, Ukraine (OSV News) – Russian forces have reportedly seized a Roman Catholic church in Ukraine, according to published accounts. The nonprofit, nonpartisan Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released an April 22 assessment stating that Viktoria Halitsina, head of the Ukrainian military administration of the port city of Berdyansk, wrote on her agency’s Telegram channel April 22 that Russian troops had seized the city’s Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her post, Halitsina said that the church “was not only a religious community,” but a place where “the needy could receive support.” In November 2022, two priests based at the church, who served both Latin-rite Catholics and Ukrainian Catholics, were abducted, and their fates remain unknown. ISW noted April 9 that Russia has engaged in widespread religious persecution in Ukraine, targeting a number of Catholic, Christian and Islamic communities.

NAIROBI, Kenya (OSV News) – Catholic bishops in Kenya have expressed shock and strongly condemned the mass “starvation suicide” in Shakahola, a remote forest-ranch area in eastern Kenya, where a pastor led congregants to fast to death. Kenyan authorities still continue to retrieve bodies from shallow graves in the 800-acre ranch in Kilifi County near the town of Malindi. On April 27 the o cial death toll was 95. All victims were followers of the Good News International Church Pastor Paul Mackenzie. He told his followers to pray and fast to meet Jesus and that the world would end April 15. As families arrived in the town of Malindi in search of their relatives following the Shakahola tragedy, the Kenyan Red Cross Society in Kilifi County said April 26 that o cials had recorded 322 missing persons. Some of the devastated families that arrived in Malindi had lost several relatives to the cult. “We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the cultic preaching orchestrated by (the) pastor ... which induced his followers to fast to death,” said Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa, president of the Kenyan bishops’ conference, in a statement April 24.

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Berdyansk, Ukraine, is seen in this undated photo. Ukrainian officials reported April 22, 2023, that Russian forces seized the church in occupied Berdyansk, part of what the Institute for the Study of War calls an ongoing persecution of Catholics. (OSV News photo/courtesy Primorka City)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC MAY 5, 2023

Men’s Holy Week prayer breakfast at St. Richard builds on decades of tradition

By Joe Lee JACKSON – For Antho-

ny Thomas and the guys who put on the annual St. Richard men’s prayer breakfast on the Monday of Holy Week, an especially early start to the day carries on a tradition that’s in its seventh decade. It’s the opportunity to see old friends, make new ones, and grow in their faith together that keeps these men coming back.

“I moved to the parish in 1974 and got involved in the breakfast the following year,” Thomas said after a group of over 40 enjoyed a tasty, balanced meal of pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee in Foley Hall. “We’ve had only four chefs over the years: Joe Daschbach, Jay Potter, David Evers and Mike Prince, who’s doing it now. We’re fortunate to have had people who can cook that know what they’re doing.”

Bishop Joseph Kopacz, who celebrated a pre-dawn Mass while Thomas and his team of volunteers were next door preparing the meal, also spoke at the breakfast and described his recent pastoral trip to Ireland, a journey that included visits with retired Irish priests who pastored in the Diocese of Jackson and family members of deceased priests who pastored here.

“The presiding bishop has always been the Holy Week speaker since I’ve been in charge of the speakers, which goes back to the mid-1980s,” Thomas said.

“I think anybody you talk to who attends enjoys the fellowship as much as the message, but we don’t ever want to book a speaker and then have a small crowd. We enjoy Bishop Kopacz, and there’s always a good turnout for him. We had a nice group this morning.”

“For me to be here as bishop, with the privileged position to be able to go to Ireland, represent the diocese, visit these retired priests and offer a word of thanks and affirmation, that’s a beautiful thing,” Bishop Kopacz said. “And to come back and share the experience with (the breakfast attendees) gives them a perspective and the understanding that the church here has a lot of life. We never need to take that for granted; it’s a gift of faith that we have to keep alive.”

Bishop Kopacz noted that many of the breakfast attendees have had personal relationships for decades with the bishops he and Msgr. Elvin Sunds visited in Ireland, such as Father Michael O’Brien and Father P.J. Curley. (Visit mississippicatholic.com/category/bishop to read Bishop Kopacz’s column about the trip, “May the road rise up to meet you,” his first to Ireland since before the Covid pandemic.)

“For Anthony, this is a niche,” Bishop Kopacz said. “It requires others who are setting it up, doing the cooking. He’s an old pro; he’s up early and bringing it together.”

St. Richard parishioner Jeff Cook, who served as an altar server during Mass before enjoying the breakfast, was an attendee for several years before returning after the pandemic to begin helping in the kitchen. He’s one of many regulars who has known Thomas for years and finds his energy and leader-

ship inspiring.

“If it wasn’t for Anthony, I wouldn’t be here,” said current breakfast chef Mike Prince. “I’ve cooked for fifteen years, and the breakfast is a sacrifice, but I learned to keep my head up, keep a positive attitude and trust in the Lord. The first one I ever did, (Foley Hall) was brand new. I forgot to turn the oven hoods on, and in the prayer before breakfast, all the fire alarms in the building went off.

“We always pray before we serve, and God always seems to blaze the trail. In our heyday, 50 was a good crowd, but today was a good crowd. I think the breakfast is a good outreach program for the church, and a great opportunity for the men of the parish to get together to share faith, hear positive stories, and just fellowship.”

Anthony Thomas

JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz speaks at the annual men's prayer breakfast at St. Richard parish on Monday, April 3. (Photo by Joe Lee)

Plant one seed

FROM THE HERMITAGE

BY ALIES THERESE

On earth day I planted one seed, a giant sunflower sent to me by a friend in California. If it sprouts and is nourished it might grow to 15’14” across. Oh my. That’s a lot for one seed. While thinking about this one seed (and she sent me seven) I recalled the wonders God has done and was drawn to Psalm 104 where we encounter God as provider and creator.

In this springtime some of our readers are su ering perhaps from illness or accident, aging or loneliness. You might be reading from a prison or a nursing home, from your den or garden. What I learned from this Psalm is how rich and bountiful our God is and no matter where I make this meditation, (34) I can sing (33) praise to God. This is a seed of hope.

What is the one seed you will plant today? Is it an actual seed like mine, or will it be a seed of happiness or healing? Will it be a seed of thanksgiving or peace, or gratitude or friendship? See each day as the opportunity to plant one seed. Maybe it will be a phone call, or kindness to a visitor, or writing an email to someone who is sick. One seed can change things greatly. This God knows and shows God’s graciousness to us. Our favorite ‘one seed’ is Jesus. One seed planted and grown and rescued from permanent danger by being raised from the dead. Not all seeds seem to flourish like Jesus … they pop up and then whither. I do not want to wither, and Psalm 104 shows me how God, our provider wishes the same.

We remember the story about the seeds on the path, the seeds in the thorns, the seeds on rich soil. Maybe only one seed prospered … the rich soil made it possible. The birds and creeping things each come from one seed. Out of all the reproductive possibilities, one seed is available, one seed blossoms, one seed provides nourishment. And what did Jesus say that seed was? The Word of God. Are you reading your Bible? Are you finding new ways to grow in God? Are you praying in thanksgiving for the treasures of God?

In the footsteps of Mary

LIGHT ONE CANDLE

BY FATHER ED DOUGHERTY, M.M., THE CHRISTOPHERS’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 14, just one day after the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Together, these two days make up a special weekend in this month already dedicated to our Blessed Mother. It is fitting that our celebrations of motherhood and Mary coincide because she is the guardian of mothers in this world. Mary is the model for motherhood in both joy and sorrow, and she shows the way of mercy at all times.

The story of Mary standing at the foot of the cross resonates with mothers in their deepest moments of su ering. When Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son!” He was entrusting her to the care of John. He followed that by saying to John, “Behold, your mother!” So, He was entrusting John to her care as well, and by extension, He was entrusting us all to Mary’s care.

The numerous and well-documented Marian apparitions that have occurred over the years confirm Mary’s role as mother to us all and her profound connection to God. Credible Marian apparitions have occurred in many cultures at important moments in history, and the apparitions at Fatima remain among the most astounding.

Mary’s final apparition at Fatima made international news, and it was reported that somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 people made pilgrimages to the Cova da Iria, a field where Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto pastured their families’ sheep. There, the pilgrims witnessed Mary’s promised sign as the sun broke through dark rain clouds and defied the laws of physics, dancing in the sky and, at one point, appearing

In this Psalm, I am happy to read about all of creation and also about how I can respond. I can rejoice, sing and mediate and my love for God is deepened, and I increase my wonder and awe of all that God created. I can also be alert to the ways human beings are not generous with the creation of God.

Russell Baker, a US journalist who remarked in an article in the New York Times on Feb. 22, 1968, “We live in an environment whose principal product is garbage.” I dare say we have not become more responsible in all these years. Rachel Carson, environmentalist, and writer, in her work Silent Spring, noted: “For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.”

What is this garbage besides the obvious plastic? Well, when it is a seed of resentment or anger, hatred or regret the ‘garbage’ in our souls grows. When our focus is on the things of this world that keep us from God, chemicals surround us … dangerous and contaminating. What breaks the cycle of negativity? What causes us to be transformed into peacemakers and children of such a gracious Father? Well, plant the seeds, even if only one of charity within and all the others will fall into place. Consider St. James 1:21 , who sets the seeds of welcome and meekness against those of sordidness and wickedness. They are like smog in the throat keeping one from singing.

“ ‘Once-ler!’ He cried with a cru ulous croak.

‘Once-ler! You’re making such smogulous smoke! My poor Swomee-Swams… why they can’t sing a note! No one can sing who has smog in his throat.” (Dr. Seuss, The Lorax).

That includes the smog in our hearts. Plant something today that will bring joy and healing to hearts and minds. It could be green things that drive out the smog and invite us into the refreshment of God.

Blessings.

(Sister alies therese is a canonically vowed hermit with days formed around prayer and writing.)

to fall to earth before finally returning to its normal position, leaving the ground the people were standing on and their previously wet clothes completely dry.

In her appearances to Lucia, Francesco and Jacinta, Mary asked for prayers, reparations and devotion to her Immaculate Heart, and she made statements about war and peace that proved prophetic throughout the 20th century. At every turn, her intervention at Fatima was marked by a profound care for humanity and the hope that we would follow Christ and discover the Mercy of God.

Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus is the lens through which to understand why she is such a powerful intercessor for us. Consider the story of the Wedding at Cana, when Jesus turned water into wine at His mother’s request. Midway through the gathering, she said to Him, “They have no wine,” and Jesus answered, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” At this point, Mary turned to the servants and said, “Do whatever He tells you.”

What amazing confidence Mary had that Jesus would do as she asked even after He expressed displeasure at the request. This is the type of confidence we should have in asking for Mary’s intercession because she will always bring our needs to the foot of the Cross where all good things have been made possible in Christ.

In His actions at the Wedding at Cana, Jesus demonstrates the tremendous loyalty and respect we all owe to our mothers, who walk in the footsteps of Mary in the countless selfless acts they perform on our behalf. We should turn to the intercession of Mary to ask Christ to bless us with the same devotion to our mothers that He showed to His, so we can honor them this Mother’s Day and throughout our lives.

(For a free copy of The Christophers’ LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS, e-mail: mail@christophers.org)

A Mother’s Day Prayer

Author Unknown

I said a Mother’s Day prayer for you to thank the Lord above for blessing me with a lifetime of your tenderhearted love.

I thanked God for the caring you’ve shown me through the years, for the closeness we’ve enjoyed in time of laughter and of tears.

And so, I thank you from the heart for all you’ve done for me and I bless the Lord for giving me the best mother there could be!

Onehundred percent of this collection is for the Diocese of Jackson vocations/seminarians. It costs more than $40,000 per year to educate each college seminarian, and more than $50,000 for each graduate theology student. The blessing of more seminarians also brings a tremendous financial challenge.

Though critically important, the Easter season special collection provides only a small portion of the vocations budget. If you are interested in making a large donation, bequest or setting up an annuity, please contact: nick.adam@ jacksondiocese.org.

Around our Catholic Schools

JACKSON – On your mark! Get set! Go! The St. Richard Catholic School Cardinal Men’s Club hosted its annual Flight to the Finish 5K and One Mile Fun Run on Saturday, April 22. It was perfect weather for a run/walk, and everyone was invited to stick around for a delicious crawfish boil after the race. (Photo by Tammy

COLUMBUS – Fourth grader Kylie Christ presents her famous Mississippian. Guess who? (Photo by Logan Waggoner)

COLUMBUS – Mrs. Williams and her Pre-K class say morning prayer before starting their day. (Photo by Logan Waggoner)

JACKSON – St. Richard students enjoy catching beads and good ies at their annual Mardi Gras parade on Fat Tuesday. (Photo by Christiana Williams)

Conrad)

JACKSON – St. Richard sixth graders made authentic Lebanese tabouleh using ingredients grown from their own edible garden.

(Photo by Tammy Conrad)

Students around the diocese

VICKSBURG – (Above) Vicksburg Catholic School fifth grade students attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)

(Left) MERIDIAN – St. Patrick students enjoy sno-cones as a reward for academic achievement after the third nine weeks of school.

(Photo by Emily Thompson)

HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family School’s PK-4 students were delighted to receive Easter baskets from their teachers. (Photo by Laura Grisham)

JACKSON – Mrs. Watson’s Kindergarten class made Resurrection rolls. Students stuffed the pastry with cinnamon and marshmallows and after baking they discovered that the marshmallow was not there (it melted) ... the tomb is EMPTY! (Photo by Tammy Conrad)