MS Catholic 9/10/2021

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

mississippicatholic.com

Walking with the Choctaw people at Holy Rosary Indian Mission

BY CATHOLIC EXTENSION PHILADELPHIA – In 1830 the Choctaw Native Americans signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which commenced their removal from Mississippi and the treacherous journey to Oklahoma on the infamous Trail of Tears.

Many Choctaw, however, refused to leave their ancestral land. Those who chose to stay had to become invisible to survive, hiding in swamps and working as sharecroppers. In 1884 a Catholic priest was sent to see what could be done to minister to the Choctaw, and Holy Rosary Indian Mission was established.

Catholic Extension has supported Holy Rosary Indian Mission since 1926. This includes helping build and repair two of its three mission churches: Holy Rosary in Tucker in 1969 and St. Therese in Philadelphia in 1972. Between Holy Rosary, St. Therese and St. Catherine in Conehatta, this faith community in the Diocese of Jackson spans 87 miles.

For a combined 31 years, a missionary priest has been helping the Choctaw grow closer to God in a place where He is ever so present. Father Bob Goodyear, S.T., who was attracted as a high school freshman to the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, has truly answered the PHILADELPHIA – Father Bob Goodyear visited many vendors at the annual Choctaw Indian Fair in July. religious congregation’s charism to work for the “preservaHe has been recognized as a finalists for Catholic Extension's Lumen Christi Award for his work with – Continued on page 20 – the Choctaw community. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Extension)

Catholic Charities agencies rely on virtual outreach in Ida relief

BY TOM TRACY ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CNS)– With several Northeast states now joining major metropolitan regions in the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Ida-related disaster areas, Catholic Charities agencies are using virtual deployment systems refined during the coronavirus pandemic to maximize their outreach to those in need.

Prolonged power outages or record flooding are making quick disaster response access to the greater New Orleans and New York City areas an impossibility following the remnants of Hurricane Ida as it marched north after making landfall Aug. 29 in Louisiana.

Right now, disaster response teams are turning to digital workaround solutions using staff members well outside the disaster zones.

"COVID set the stage for being able to do virtual deployment: instead of a physical person on the ground, staff can assist by doing phone calls, setting up shared documents on the internet, and taking an administrative burden off the local staff," said Kathleen Oldaker, senior director of disaster strategy for Catholic Charities USA. As it did during Hurricane Katrina, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is expected to serve as the central supporting role in recovery efforts in hard-hit New Orleans and Houma-Thibodaux.

"But we are also looking at possible virtual actions: a (staff) person in California or Indiana – if there is a way of doing things with our network that might require some bandwidth – can help the agencies on the ground can focus on their outreach," Oldaker told Catholic News Service Sept. 2.

Hurricane Ida's remnants delivered a deadly surprise punch in the Northeast, causing an estimated 41 deaths and flooding roads and cities after slogging across New

York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut. The post-tropical cyclone reportedly dropped more than three inches of rain in an hour in New York.

Catholic Charities staff have learned that text messages can be a more reliable form of communications wherever cellphone signals are knocked out, which includes a large area of Southeastern Louisiana.

In addition, email communications for one disaster area can be managed through a related diocesan office of Catholic Charities. The email for Houma-Thibodaux's Catholic Charities office, for example, was being intercepted this week by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, Oldaker said.

Each year, staff members at Catholic Charities complete a training program called the "Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence," a decade-old preparedness platform that can prepare a staff person with disaster experience in Maine, for example, to deploy to Louisiana.

But Hurricane Ida left infrastructures so badly damaged in places like Lou-

isiana that teams will have to wait for electricity and water to come back online.

"What we are really seeing in this response is the neighboring agencies offering support from Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi, Mississippi – they have had staff go and help Houma with assessments and seeing where they could do distribution sites," Oldaker said.

In the South, Houma may have experienced some of the greatest wind damage following Ida, whereas New Orleans is mostly suffering from a damaged power infrastructure. Catholic Charities staff in New Orleans have been focused on checking in on residents living in senior care homes and other residential facilities there.

"The Catholic Charities agency in Houma is trying to get on their feet a bit in a place where you walk outside and the house next door is either destroyed or damaged," Oldaker said. "We have a Houma-Charities staff – Continued on page 6 –

INSIDE THIS WEEK

F.L.O.W.cast 9 Dominican sisters launch new podcast series

Sr. Thea on film 10 Filming is underway for documentary on Sr. Thea

9/11 anniversary 12 First responder priest recalls 9/11 attack

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Calendar of events SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT MCCOMB St. Alphonsus Liguori Hall (104 South 5th Street), Women’s Retreat, “Psalm 14: He Heals The Brokenhearted, Binds Up All Their Wounds” will focus on the power of God’s healing love. The retreat takes place on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The speakers are Janet Constantine and Father Bill Henry. Janet is a licensed mental health counselor in Jacksonville, Florida and has more than thirty years’ experience in the mental health field. Father Bill retired last year after serving the diocese for 36 years. He has given many retreats and has spoken at conferences throughout the U.S. There is no charge for the retreat but registration is required. A light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Masks will be required and donations will be accepted.

Registrations should be mailed to: Marian Servants® of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1053 Riverview Drive, Summit, MS. 39666. Details: Contact Charlene Brown at (601) 276-5954 or Marion Amedee at (601) 810-8001.

Engaged Encounter Weekend Retreats offer couples the time and opportunity to question, examine and deepen their relationship with each other and with God. Retreats will resume the weekend of Oct. 15-17, 2021 at Camp Garaywa and Conference Center in Clinton. The

following weekends are scheduled for 2022: Jan. 14-16, March 11-13, July 15-17 and Oct. 14-16. Details: Online registration is open on the Office of Family Ministry page at jacksondiocese.org. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Family Ministry at (601) 960-8487 or email Charlene Bearden at Engaged.Encounter@jacksondiocese.org.

PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS

FLOWOOD Save the Date, 2nd Annual Homegrown Harvest Festival, October 2nd at St. Paul Parish. Father Nick Adam invites you to support this event which aids seminarian education and vocation promotion across the diocese. If you want to be a sponsor or to purchase individual tickets, visit: one.bidpal.net/homegrownharvest2021 GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph, Adult Faith Formation, Father Larry Richards’ series “Knowing Jesus and His Church” Sundays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. Details: church office (601) 8562054.

Germanfest is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family-oriented festival is best known for its authentic German food and music. Details: church office (601) 856-2054.

GRENADA, RICHLAND & SUMMIT Pro-life Mississippi Walk for Life, Saturday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. It is not just a walk it’s a family fun day! Food, games and more. No registration fee and prizes awarded. Details: https://bit.ly/ walk4life2021 or plm@prolifemississippi.org JACKSON St. Richard, Young at Heart will meet Thursday, Sept.

16 at 11:30 a.m. in Foley Hall. This group meets on the third Thursday of each month through May. We have speakers who will share on a variety of topics. The speaker is Judge Jess Dickinson, who can play thirty different instruments.

Everyone is invited. Lunch will be provided at $5 per person. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.

40th annual St. Richard Special Kids Day Golf Tournament, Thursday, Oct. 7 at Deerfield Golf Club.

The unique gifts of the children are recognized and applauded, and the community participates in a day full of fun, excitement and meaningful fundraising. Details: To learn more, or to find out how to participate in this event, call the church office at (601) 366-2335 or email garner@saintrichard.com.

Save the Date, Krewe de Cardinal, Feb. 25, 2022. You’re going to love the exciting new addition we Wondering what a Red Mass is? A Red Mass is a Mass celebrated an- are planning. Follow Krewe de Carnually in the Roman Catholic Church for all members of the legal pro- dinal on social media to get clues in fession, regardless of religious affiliation: judges, lawyers, law school advance of the BIG reveal! Details: professors, law students and government officials, marking the open- church office (601) 366-2335. ing of the judicial year. Through prayerful petition and thanksgiving MADISON St. Francis of Asthe Red Mass requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek sisi, Parish Mission, Wednesday, justice, and offers the legal community an opportunity to reflect on Sept. 22. Presenter: Deacon John what Catholics believe is the God-given power and responsibility of all McGregor, D.Min. will speak on in the legal profession.

“Discipleship and the Authenticity Gap” beginning with food and fellowship at 5 p.m. In his one hour presentation, Deacon John will look at what authentic discipleship means in our everyday lives and why so many people are leaving the church. Sign up for dinner on Flocknote or call the church office. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

Cajun Fest 2021, Sunday, Oct. 3. Plan to attend for a great afternoon of fun and cajun music. Committee chair needed for children’s games. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

St. Francis of Assisi, The M&M Study Group has sessions on Wednesdays from 10-11:30 a.m. in St. Thomas Hall. All ladies are invited to attend. They are studying “Learning to Pray” by Father James Martin. Details: call (601) 613-1926 or (601) 853-4187.

NATCHEZ Assumption of BVM, The Grief Share program is held every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. through Sept. 23. Details: To sign up, call the parish office at (601) 442-7250 or (318) 421-4559. You may also sign up at Griefshare.org.

OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Bible Study/ Prayer Group meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. Details: contact Wayne Miller at (901) 679-3400.

VICKSBURG St. Paul, $3000 Knights of Columbus Drawdown Sunday, Oct. 10. More information to follow.

Details: church office (601) 636-0140.

YOUTH BRIEFS FLOWOOD St. Paul, Big Deal Youth Group meets on Wednesday evenings 6-8 p.m. for 7th to 12th graders.

Please note the time change. The name comes from the Biblical truth, You are made in the image and likeness of God, and that makes you a BIG DEAL. Our Wednesday evenings generally consist of a meal, group fellowship with games, song and worship, and a breakout into small groups for a more intimate encounter with the Lord. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

MADISON St. Joseph School, Fajitas and Margaritas Fundraiser for St. Joe Swim Team, Saturday, Sept. 25 at the M7 Coffee House (111 North Wheatley Street, Ridgeland) from 5-10 p.m. Because St. Joe doesn’t have a pool of its own, the team has to rent space and time at local area pools to practice and have swim meets. The money raised will help support some of these costs. Cost: $30 per person and includes one entry for a drawing to win a new 32” TV, one fajita plate with chicken and/or steak fajitas, refried beans, rice, pico-de-gallo and a drink of your choice. Details: If you are interested in sponsoring, please text or call David Ellis at (601) 761-0315. A $150 sponsorship includes two tickets to the fundraiser and your business name or logo on the sponsors’ list.

NATCHEZ Cathedral School Fall Festival, Sept. 1819. Details: school office (601) 442-1988.

OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Wednesday night youth dinners are at 7 p.m. for grades 6-12. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

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MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Our lives are labor of love in God

BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D. After God set the world in motion through the work of creation, he fashioned man and woman from the dust of the earth in the divine image and likeness and entrusted them with the task of developing this grand handiwork. Then and now, God intends that we not lose sight of his divine presence when we apply our talents to building a world that gives glory to the creator, dignity to human life everywhere and a profound awe for the beauty of our planet. For further motivation and inspiration, we, as disciples of the Son of God, recall the words of sacred scripture that proclaim, “for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ... all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-17) Through faith we know that love is our origin, love is our constant calling and love is our fulfillment in heaven.

We also know that for as long as we live there is much to be done. Perhaps this Labor Day more than ever reminds us that throughout our lives the work of building and rebuilding is constant.

Recall the sobering yet hopeful words from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning with labor pains together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our

bodies.” (Romans 8:19-23) Are we ever groaning these days, as the pandemic grinds on in many corners of our society and world, whether it be over our children, academically and developmentally, or the loss of life and the suffering that ensues. Considerable rebuilding will be necessary.

Blessed Mother Teresa understood well the lifetime task of building a religious community to serve the dire needs of the present moment, and to endure for generations to come in a world where there are no guarantees. In a poem attributed to her entitled, “Anyway” she mused, “What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.”

Clearly, what she is saying is that when necessary, rebuild and create something better. We can apply her wisdom to the destructive drives inherent in humanity or to the overwhelming power of nature. It seems that wherever we turn, too many are caught between a rock and a hard place, Scylla and Charybdis, the rocky shoals or the churning whirlpool.

On the one hand, there is the destructive power of nature in the virus silently stalking, in raging fires, in howling hurricanes, in unforeseen flooding or in heaving earthquakes. On the other hand, destruction boils over from the abyss of human nature, alienated from our loving creator, in acts of violence, terrorism and war. What once was, is no more and people are pressed to choose.

Look ahead and rebuild in one form or another or look backward and wallow in inertia. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that in the cycle of living, “there is a time to break down, and a time to build up.” (3:3) As God’s children we want to be busy about living.

Nuestras vidas son obra de amor en Dios POR OBISPO JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D. Después que Dios puso el mundo en movimiento, mediante la obra de la creación, formó al hombre y la mujer del polvo de la tierra a la imagen y semejanza divina y les confió la tarea de desarrollar esta gran obra.

Entonces y ahora, Dios quiere que no perdamos de vista su presencia divina cuando usemos nuestros talentos para construir un mundo que dé gloria al creador, dignidad a la vida humana en todas partes y un asombro profundo por la belleza de nuestro planeta.

Para mayor motivación e inspiración, nosotros, como discípulos del Hijo de Dios, recordamos las palabras de

P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130 Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org

la Sagrada Escritura que proclaman, “En él Dios creó todo lo que hay en el cielo y en la tierra, tanto lo visible como lo invisible, así como los seres espirituales que tienen dominio, autoridad y poder. Todo fue creado por medio de él y para él. Cristo existe antes que todas las cosas, y por él se mantiene todo en orden.” (Colosenses 1: 15-17) A través de la fe sabemos que el amor es nuestro origen, el amor es nuestro llamado constante y el amor es nuestra plenitud en el cielo.

También sabemos que mientras vivamos hay mucho por hacer. Quizás este Día del Trabajo nos recuerda más que nunca que a lo largo de nuestras vidas el trabajo de construcción y reconstrucción es constante. Recuerde Volume 67 las palabras aleccionadoras Number 16 (ISSN 1529-1693) pero esperanzadoras de la carta de San Pablo a los romanos. “La creación espera con gran impaciencia

Publisher ........................................................................................... Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Communications Director ...................................................................... Joanna Puddister King Production Manager ...................................................................................................Tereza Ma Contributors ......................................................................................................... Berta Mexidor

This weekend is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 that obliterated many lives, destroyed iconic structures, wreaked havoc upon our nation’s psyche, and unleashed a 20-year war whose official ending is still spilling blood.

Indeed, all of creation groans. Yet, this crisis immediately revealed the goodness and courage of first responders and many others who put aside concern for self in the hope of rescuing their neighbor and the stranger. It took 14 years for the majestic One World Center to be built on the spot of the Twin Towers that were destroyed. It will take a lifetime or more for those who directly experienced this horror to heal. We pray that the work of reconciliation will never cease.

The Son of God, the one through whom and for whom all creation came to be, revealed life’s inevitable vulnerability on Calvary. Yet, on Easter Sunday the dawn from on high broke upon us and we who walk in the shadow of death, now walk by faith and labor with a purpose everyday of our lives, because Christ lives.

In the big questions about our lives and in our daily and familiar tasks, may we know that in God our lives are a labor of love, whether we are building something new with great confidence, or rebuilding in the face of loss. In the prologue of St. John, we know whence the power comes to regain our footing and our hope. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, all things were made through him. In him was life, and the life was the light for all. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

el momento en que se manifieste claramente que somos hijos de Dios. Porque la creación perdió su verdadera finalidad, no por su propia voluntad, sino porque Dios así lo había dispuesto; pero le quedaba siempre la esperanza de ser liberada de la esclavitud y la destrucción, para alcanzar la gloriosa libertad de los hijos de Dios. Sabemos que hasta ahora la creación entera se queja y sufre como una mujer con dolores de parto.” (Romanos 8: 19-23) Hemos estado alguna vez quejándonos en estos días, mientras la pandemia avanza en muchos rincones de nuestra sociedad y el mundo; quejas por nuestros hijos, ya sea académicamente y desde el punto de vista de su desarrollo; o quejas por la pérdida de vidas y el sufrimiento que sobreviene con esto. Será necesaria una reconstrucción considerable.

La bendecida Madre Teresa comprendió bien la tarea de toda la vida, de construir una comunidad religiosa que sirva a las urgentes necesidades del momento presente y que perdure para las generaciones venideras en un mundo donde no hay garantías. En – Continúa en la pág. 15 –

BISHOP’S SCHEDULE Thursday, Sept. 16 – Bishop’s Cup Golf Scramble, Lake Caroline Golf Club, Madison

............................................................................................................ Cindy Wood

Sunday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. – Red Mass, St. John, Oxford MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC LV DQ Rႈ FLDO SXEOLFDWLRQ RI WKH 'LRFHVH RI -DFNVRQ ( $PLWH 6W -DFNVRQ 06 3XEOLVKHG WZLFH SHU PRQWK -DQXDU\ $SULO DQG 6HSWHPEHU 'HFHPEHU RQH SHU PRQWK -XQH -XO\ DQG $XJXVW 6XEVFULSWLRQ UDWH D \HDU LQ 0LVVLVVLSSL RXW RI VWDWH 3HULRGLFDO SRVWDJH DW -DFNVRQ 06 DQG DGGLWLRQDO HQWU\ Rႈ FHV POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130.

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

Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. ² &RQÀ UPDWLRQ 0DVV 6W 0DWWKHZ 5LSOH\ Sunday, Sept. 26 – GermanFest, St. Joseph, Gluckstadt All events are subject to change. Check with local parishes for further details.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

4 VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME

A priest once told me that Vocation ministry is like watching a tree grow minute by minute; you don’t see immediate results, but that doesn’t mean the growth isn’t happening. That priest was Fr. Mark Shoffner, and he told me that just a couple of weeks ago! , DSSUHFLDWHG WKDW DJULFXOWXUDO DQDORJ\ YHU\ PXFK DQG KDYH EHHQ UHÁ HFWLQJ RQ LW HYHU VLQFH EHFDXVH LW PLUURUV my experience as I look back on the last year of vocation promotion. We just sent out our new poster to parishes and schools in the diocese featuring the faces of our six seminarians, and while there are no new additions this year, there has certainly been growth in our program. I have been so appreciative of the prayers and support of people that I run into across the diocese who know what we are doing and are offering their support in whatever way they can. I look forward to reaching out in new ways in the coming weeks and months to these stakeholders. The awareness of our need for good men from our soil and the excitement that is building among our people is palpable, and I know that growth, though sometimes silent, is occurring. :H DOVR GR KDYH RXU À UVW FDQGLGDWH IRU ZRPHQ·V UHOLJLRXV OLIH IURP RXU GLRFHVH LQ TXLWH VRPH WLPH HQWHULQJ IRU mation right now! Ms. Kathleen McMullin has just departed to begin her formation with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Father Nick Adam Martyr St. George in Alton, Illinois. The mission of this order is to “make the merciful love of Christ visible.” They do this through working in healthcare and education across the world. Kathleen continues to be a great light in our diocese even though she is now a few hours away. Bishop Kopacz and I were honored to attend a “going-away” party hosted by some friends of the McMullins in the Jackson area, and it was really inspiring to see how much love and support she has as she witnesses to the call of Christ to religious life.

Please continue to pray for vocations and also encourage people who you believe may have a call. Don’t be afraid to tell them that you see gifts in them that could serve the Church well. You’d be surprised how many young people have never been encouraged to think about priesthood or religious life and therefore have never believed they were capable of it. I also remind you to please come to our 2nd Annual Homegrown Harvest Festival on October 2nd at St. Paul’s in Flowood. This event will bring together vocation supporters from across the diocese for a night of music, food and fun with our seminarians! You can buy your tickets or sponsor the event by going to one.bidpal.net/homegrownharvest2021. I appreciate your consideration as we want to give as many excellent resources as possible to our future priests and religious.

– Father Nick Adam

Protection of

CHILDREN The Diocese of Jackson is committed to ensuring that no one being served by the church be (is) at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation by clergy, religious or lay church personnel. The spiritual well-being of all the victims, their families and others in the community is of particular concern to the church. In accordance with our policy, all victims are offered counseling and pastoral care.

Anyone who has been a victim of abuse or exploitation by clergy, religious or lay church personnel and has not yet reported it is encouraged to do so. Our victim assistance coordinator, Erika Rojas, a licensed social worker, is available to assist in making a report. Please contact her at 601-326-3760.

For more information about diocesan policies and procedures and to learn what the diocese is doing to create a safe environment for everyone, please visit the diocesan website at www.jacksondiocese.org and click on “Protection of Children.”

To report an allegation of abuse or mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse by a bishop, please visit https://reportbishopabuse.org.

+Joseph R. Kopacz D.D., Ph.D. Bishop of Jackson

RIDGELAND – Father Nick Adam gives Kathleen McMullin a blessing at her farewell party on Saturday, Aug. 21. McMullin departed the diocese to begin her formation with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, Illinois. (Photo courtesy of Father Nick Adam) If you want to know more about becoming a priest or religious brother or sister, please contact Father Nick at 601-969-4020 or nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org. You can also learn more about vocations by visiting to www.jacksonpriests.com.

Follow vocations on Facebook and Instagram: @jacksonpriests

COVID Protocols Parishes are faced with different realities as to the size and makeup of parishioners, and the size and layout of their building facilities. The diocese has decided it is still prudent to allow the local parishes to address their reality in making decisions how to address the pandemic through these protocols. These suggestions should be implemented based on the parish’s reality and the local community reality and community regulations that are in place.

• Social distancing of 3 feet is recommended.

• Masks are encouraged for everyone.

For full list of protocols visit jacksondiocese.org/public-health-concerns.

Spirituality 5

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Different ways of being spiritual but not religious IN EXILE

BY FATHER RON ROLHEISER, OMI Nothing so much approximates the language of God as does silence. Meister Eckhart said that.

Among other things, he is affirming that there is some deep inner work that can only be done in silence, alone, in private.

He’s right of course, but there’s another side to this. While there is some deep inner work that can only be done in silence, there is also some deep, critical, soul work that can only be done with others, in relationship, in family, in church and in society. Silence can be a privileged avenue to depth of soul.

It can also be dangerous. Ted Kaczynski, the unabomber, lived in silence, alone; as have many other deeply disturbed individuals. Mental health professionals tell us that we need interaction with other people to keep us sane. Social interaction grounds us, balances us, and anchors our sanity. I look at some of our young people today who are interacting with others (in person and through social media) every hour of their waking lives and worry for their depth, though not for their sanity.

We need each other. Jean-Paul Sartre once famously stated, “hell is the other person.” He couldn’t be more misguided. In the end, the other is heaven, the salvation for which we are ultimately destined.

Utter aloneness is hell. Moreover, this malevolent aloneness can sneak up on you wearing the best altruistic and religious disguises.

Here’s an example: I grew up in a very closeknit family in a small rural community where family, neighbor, parish and being with others meant everything, where everything was shared and you were rarely alone. I feared being alone, avoided it, and was only comfortable when I was with others.

Immediately after high school, I joined a religious order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and for the next eight years lived in a large community where, again, most everything was shared and one was seldom alone. As I approached final vows and permanent commitment to religious life and priesthood, what I feared most was the vow of celibacy, the loneliness it would bring. No wife, no children, no family; the isolation of a celibate life.

Things turned out very differently. Celibacy has had its cost, admittedly; and admittedly it is not the normal life God intended for everyone. However, the loneliness I feared (but for brief moments) seldom ensued – the opposite. I found my life overly full of relationships, interaction with others, flat-out busyness, daily pressures and commitments that took up virtually every waking hour. Rather than feeling lonely, I found myself almost habitually longing for solitude, for quiet, to be alone; and I grew quite comfortable with being alone. Too comfortable in fact.

For most of the years of my priesthood, I have lived in large religious communities Wholesale and home and they, like any freezer service family, have their Beef – Pork – Sausage demands.

How109 - A Camellia Dr. ever, when I became president of a Natchez School of Theology, 601-445-8743 I was assigned to live

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in a house designated for the president and for a period of time lived alone. At first, I found it a bit disorienting, never having lived alone before; but after a while it grew on me. I really liked it. No responsibilities at home to anyone but myself.

Soon enough though, I perceived its dangers. After one year I ended the arrangement. One of the dangers of living alone and one of the dangers of celibacy, even if you are living faithfully, is that you don’t have others to call you out daily and put every kind of demand on you.

You get to call your own shots and can avoid much of what Dorothy Day called “the asceticism of living inside a family.” When you live alone, you can too easily plan and live life on your own terms, cherry-picking those parts of family and community that benefit you and avoiding the difficult parts.

There are certain things that begin as virtues then easily turn into a vice. Busyness is an example. You sac-

rifice being with your family in order to support them by your work and that keeps you from many of its activities.

Initially, this is a sacrifice – eventually, it’s an escape, an inbuilt dispensation from having to deal with certain issues inside family life. Vowed celibacy and priesthood court that same danger.

We all know the expression, ‘I am spiritual but not religious’ (which we apply to people who are open to dealing with God but not open to dealing with church).

However, we struggle with this in more ways than we might think. At least I do. As a vowed, celibate priest, ‘I can be spiritual but not religious’ in that, for the highest of reasons, I can avoid much of the daily asceticism demanded of someone living in a family. However, this is a danger for all of us, celibate or married. When, for every kind of good reason we can cherry-pick those parts of family and community we like and avoid those parts we find difficult, we are spiritual but not religious.

(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

Complaining, blaming others is a waste of time, pope says at Angelus

BY CAROL GLATZ

The first step on the path of holiness, according to VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Complaining is a poison the first fathers of the church, was “to blame yourself,” that causes anger, resentment and sadness, and closes the pope said.

“It is wisdom: learning to blame yourself. Try to do one’s heart to God, Pope Francis said.

“Let us ask in prayer for the grace not to waste time it, it will do you good. It does me good, when I manage polluting the world with complaints, because this is not to do so, but it is good for us,” he said. He prayed that Christian,” the pope told those gathered in St. Peter’s Mary would help people purify their hearts by letting go of “the vice of blaming others and complaining about Square Aug. 29 during his Sunday Angelus address.

“Jesus instead invites us to look at life and the world everything.”

After the Angelus, the pope greeted members of the starting from our heart” because, by looking inside, people will find “almost all that we despise outside,” he said. Laudato Si’ movement.

He thanked them “for your commitment to our comWhen people sincerely ask God “to purify our heart, that is when we will start making the world cleaner” mon home, particularly on the World Day of Prayer for because the best way to defeat evil is “by starting to Creation” Sept. 1 and the Season of Creation that runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4. conquer it within yourself,” the pope said.

“The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are The pope reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. Mark in which Jesus explains why he does not becoming ever more serious and alarming, and they call follow some of the rituals of purification, saying God for a decisive and urgent action to transform this crisis knows when people honor him “with their lips, but their into an opportunity,” he said. hearts are far from me.” Jesus told the crowd that the things that defile people do not come from the outside world, but from within themselves, from their hearts and “evil thoughts.”

Pope Francis said, “this also pertains to us. We often think that evil comes mainly from the outside: from other people’s conduct, from those who think badly of us, from society.”

“How often we blame others, society, the world, for everything that happens to us! It is always the fault of ‘others,’” including those who govern, misfortune and so on, he said.

But all that time spent blaming others “is wasting time,” he said.

“We become angry, bitter and keep God away from our heart,” he said.

“One cannot be truly religious in complaining: complaining poisons, it leads Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads the Angelus from the you to anger, to resentment and to sad- window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican ness, that of the heart, which closes the Aug. 29, 2021. The pope appealed for intensified prayers and fastdoor to God.” ing for the situation in Afghanistan. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

6 DIOCESE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

' ... How do you balance response with safety ...'

– Continued from page 1 –

member who lost a home down to the concrete slab there."

In the Northeast, Catholic Charities workers spent Sept. 2 contacting agencies in the Mid-Atlantic states and New York and New Jersey especially, which took some of the heaviest flash flooding.

The rapid accumulation of rainfall from Ida's remnants turned city streets into rivers, flooded basement-level residences and shut down subway services in New York.

"Right now, the agencies are not in assessment mode; we have heard of a flooded agency in one of our buildings in New York City; in the next day or two we will get a handle on the level of response," Oldaker said.

Calls also went out to agency chapters in Pennsylvania, and parts of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Across the system, Catholic Charities agencies have been inundated with calls from Ida evacuees who mostly fled the Gulf Coast region to areas across the country.

"We even had a call from Paterson, New Jersey. They reported a few evacuees there and they were wondering what they could do to help," Oldaker said of the Catholic Charities affiliate there.

"In Houston, Texas, alone, we got some 10,000 phone calls or requests from evacuees, with people lining up outside their doors even before they opened.

"People are sleeping in the car, finding hotels are not available, or the hotel bills are getting expensive for those who cannot go home for a few weeks. Those costs get pretty expensive pretty fast," she added.

When asked what may be different about the emergency response in 2021 over past years, Oldaker said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adds an additional burden to the crisis response and distribution work.

"Ten years ago, I would not have been ordering masks and gloves and personal protective gear – it wasn't something we thought about, and in Louisiana it is something they are thinking about in terms of spacing evacuees and people having to wear masks in such high heat."

"How do you balance response with safety, that is a new normal as we move forward with disaster work," Oldaker said.

September, she said, is national disaster preparedness month and getting people prepared is a good thing "because you never know when what might look like just rain could be a big event. When a river washes out it is shocking how fast you can have water coming into your home."

Patricia Cole, vice president of communications Catholic Charities USA, noted that contributions are critical right now and that 100% of the donation proceeds will be directed to the disaster areas following Ida. Theophilus Charles of Houma, La., sits inside his house Aug. 30, 2021, which For more information see: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ida. (CNS photo/Adrees Latif, Reuters)

Supreme Court rules against blocking Texas' 6-week abortion ban

BY CAROL ZIMMERMANN WASHINGTON (CNS) – In a late-night decision Sept. 1, the Supreme Court ruled against blocking a Texas law banning abortions at six weeks of pregnancy.

The 5-4 vote, issued with a one-paragraph unsigned opinion, said the challengers to the Texas law – which went into effect Sept. 1 – did not adequately address the "complex and novel antecedent procedural questions" in this case.

"This order is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas' law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts," the opinion said, leaving open the possibility that the state's abortion providers could challenge it in other ways.

The Texas abortion providers had come to the Supreme Court with an emergency appeal to stop the law, but the court initially did not respond.

The Texas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's Catholic bishops, said the Supreme Court's action marked the first time since Roe v. Wade that the nation's high court "has allowed a pro-life law to remain while litigation proceeds in lower courts."

In the Supreme Court's decision, Chief Justice John Roberts joined Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer in dissenting votes and each of them wrote separate statements expressing their disagreement with the majority.

A key part of the law that the dissenting justices took issue with is its emphasis on private citizens bringing civil lawsuits in state court against anyone involved in an abortion, other than the patient, but including someone who drives the patient to a clinic. As further incentive,

the state law says anyone who successfully sues another person could be entitled to $10,000.

Sotomayor said the majority opinion in this case was "stunning." She said that when the court examined a "flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand."

Kagan similarly called the Texas law "patently unconstitutional," for its emphasis on encouraging "private parties to carry out unconstitutional restrictions on the state's behalf."

Roberts said the "statutory scheme" involving citizens' enforcement of the law "is not only unusual, but unprecedented."

"The legislature has imposed a prohibition on abortions after roughly six weeks, and then essentially delegated enforcement of that prohibition to the populace at large. The desired consequence appears to be to insulate the state from responsibility for implementing and enforcing the regulatory regime."

He also noted that the case is not shut, saying that although the court denied the emergency relief sought by the applicants, its order is "emphatic in making clear that it cannot be understood as sustaining the constitutionality of the law at issue."

The law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, became effective at midnight central time Sept. 1.

It is one of the strictest abortion measures in the country, banning abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detectable. The law has an exception for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.

"We celebrate every life saved by this legislation. Op-

ponents of the law argue the term 'heartbeat' is misleading. They call it 'embryonic cardiac activity' or worse, 'electrically induced flickering of embryonic tissue.'

These attempts to dehumanize the unborn are disturbing," the Texas bishops said in a Sept. 3 statement.

Abortion providers in the state had argued that the law would prevent about 85% of abortions in the state and will likely cause many clinics to close.

Two months after the law was signed, abortion providers challenged it in court, saying it violated patients' constitutional right to end a pregnancy before viability, when a fetus is said to be able to survive on its own.

The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that states cannot restrict abortion before the 24-week mark. This fall, the court will take up a Mississippi abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Those appealing the state law filed a motion in late August that was denied by the district court. They turned to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which granted their request to put the district-court proceedings on hold but denied the challengers' request to expedite the appeal, which led them to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court Aug. 30.

Scotusblog, which reports on the Supreme Court, said the Texas attorney general and other defenders of the state's abortion law had urged the Supreme Court to stay out of the dispute, saying the court is limited in its power to grant relief before laws have actually been enforced. They argued that courts can bar people from doing something, but they have no power to "expunge the law itself."

Follow Zimmermann on Twitter: @carolmaczim

WORLD 7

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

As U.S. presence in Afghanistan ends, Catholics call to welcome refugees

BY CAROL GLATZ ROME (CNS) – As Aug. 30 ended in the U.S. and a new day began in a different time zone in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 31, 2021, the U.S. Central Command released a green-tinted photo of a soldier about to get on a cargo plane, a photographic coda to seal the historic moment that put an end to nearly two decades of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

Though many were quick to call it “the end” of the United States’ longest war, it’s too early to tell what, if any, involvement may continue in the now Taliban-controlled nation since some U.S. citizens remain there.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “under 200 and likely closer to 100” U.S. citizens are still in Afghanistan.

“We did not get everyone out that we wanted,” said Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command announcing the withdrawal on Aug. 30 in the U.S., reminding reporters listening that it was Aug. 31 in Afghanistan, fulfilling the date the U.S. had set for the withdrawal.

But there are some U.S. citizens in the country, he said, who because of family or other ties, did not want to leave Afghanistan. Others were not able to make it to the airport in time for the last U.S. plane out.

The administration of President George W. Bush sent troops to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that left 2,996 dead on U.S. soil, trying to pin down al-Qaida militants who planned the hijacking of airplanes, including Osama bin Laden, who was believed to be in and out of Afghanistan hiding with help from the Taliban.

U.S. troops remained there under previous administrations from both political parties and in October 2020, President Donald Trump tweeted that he would withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Christmas. Pres-

ident Joe Biden continued with the plan but with a different timeline. However, analysts have blamed the four previous administrations – from George W. Bush to Biden’s – with the unfolding drama.

Gen. McKenzie said U.S. military had evacuated 79,000, including 6,000 U.S. citizens from the Kabul airport since Aug. 14, after the Afghan military collapsed following the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops and contractors.

“The evacuation from Kabul is coming to an end. A larger crisis is just beginning,” warned the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Aug. 30.

“The evacuation effort has undoubtedly saved tens of thousands of lives, and these efforts are praiseworthy. But when the airlift and the media frenzy are over, the overwhelming majority of Afghans, some 39 million, will remain inside Af- An Afghan man evacuated from Kabul with others walks with a ghanistan. They need us – governments, girl after arriving at Naval Station Rota Air Base in Rota, Spain, humanitarians, ordinary citizens – to stay Aug. 31, 2021. (CNS photo/Jon Nazca, Reuters) with them and stay the course,” Grandi “If ‘human rights must be at the center of our foreign said in a statement.

Catholics in the U.S. joined faith leaders from the In- policy, not the periphery,’ as you stated in (your) address terfaith Immigration Coalition, who, in an Aug. 30 letter, to the American people and to the world, the United urged Biden to “take full responsibility for protecting the States must stand behind its promises...,” the interfaith lives of thousands of Afghan allies that worked alongside coalition said in its statement.

“We are called by our sacred texts to love our neighU.S. forces, as well as provide robust protections for vulbor, accompany the vulnerable, and welcome the sonerable populations in Afghanistan...”

As the Biden administration pivoted its future in journer... Our places of worship and faith communities Afghanistan from a military operation to a diplomatic stand ready to welcome all Afghans in need of refuge,” one, the interfaith coalition urged the U.S. government the group added. to help.

Post-quake Haiti: Funerals and a daily quest for food, water, shelter

BY TOM TRACY LES CAYES, HAITI – Two weeks after Haiti’s Aug. 14 earthquake, the country’s southwest peninsula is still marked by funerals, aftershocks and a daily search for clean water, food and shelter.

“One of the things that really struck me two weeks out is the number of funerals – everywhere you go there are funerals, as people are burying their loved ones, and it brings a sense of overwhelming grief when that many people pass away; it is very striking,” said Beth Carroll, head of programs for Catholic Relief Services in Haiti.

Carroll said that while visiting Les Cayes Aug. 25, an aftershock sent her running out of a building and triggered many others in the area to “reflexively scream and run out of their homes.”

“People were already stressed about the situation in Haiti, and this (earthquake) has caused added stress for people,” she said, referring to the difficult political, economic and social crisis that has been making life in Haiti almost unbearable for the past two years.

The magnitude 7.2 quake killed more than 2,200 and injured more than 12,200 others. About 130,000 homes were damaged, including 50,000 which were completely destroyed, according to Haiti government estimates.

“It is very visible in the affected communities, where 90% of homes, schools and churches were flattened in the hot spots,” said Carroll. “There is also significant damage which is less visible: a lot of water systems are damaged and no longer functioning, or the water is dirty and not usable.”

Staffers of CRS, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency, are operating under tarps at a parking lot near their operations center in Les Cayes following damage to their

offices.

Following the tragedy, CRS has been focused on distributing emergency shelter and hygiene kits in concert with the Haiti government’s thrust to help Haitians rebuild their lives at home and discourage them from relocating to tent cities or sleeping in the streets.

CRS maintains a stockpile of emergency supplies in-country and has embellished its earthquake response resources with goods from the U.S. military along with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations and World Vision, which works in Haiti but had no presence in the Les Cayes region.

Les Cayes is Haiti’s third-largest city. Carroll said local hospitals and health clinics have done the best they can to treat the injured with their available resources and are moving toward normalcy following the crisis. They also moved many patients to other hospitals in the southern region or to Port-au-Prince.

A major concern in the Les Cayes region is damage to schools and the potential fallout for children, who already have lost significant time in the classroom due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Haiti’s dysfunctional political situation and widespread food insecurity.

“We would really like to see how we can prevent a late start to the school year, and many schools aren’t going to be able to accept children,” Carroll said. “They really can’t afford to miss further class time.”

People collect water outside a stadium used as a shelter for earthquake survivors in Les Cayes, Haiti, Aug. 18, 2021. Since the Aug. 14 earthquake, many water systems in the area are damaged and no longer functioning, or the water is dirty and not usable. (CNS photo/Henry Romero, Reuters)

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

8 DIOCESE

Sisters celebrate Jubilees Sister Angela Susalla, OP – 70 years ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian Dominican Congregation celebrates the dedication and commitment of 44 Sisters who in 2021 mark their Jubilees, their milestone years of service and dedication to the church and the congregation. The 2021 Jubilee class includes one sister celebrating 80 years, 11 sisters celebrating 75 years; 14 sisters celebrating 70 years; 17 sisters celebrating 60 years; and one sister celebrating 25 years.

One Jubilarian, Sister Angela Susalla, OP, has connections to the Diocese of Jackson.

Formerly known as Sister David Mary, she is celebrating 70 years of religious life.

A native of Detroit, Sister Angela served for more than 30 years at Catholic Social Services in Tunica, an agency of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions. She graduated from Rochester High School in Rochester, Michigan, in 1951 and entered the Adrian Dominican Congregation on June 24 of that year. She professed her first vows on December 27, 1952 and her perpetual vows on December 27, 1957.

Sister Angela earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1963 and a master’s degree in mixed science in 1970, both from Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian.

After teaching in Detroit and Aiken, South Carolina, Sister Angela taught second grade at St. Mary in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, from 1961 to 1963 and eighth and ninth grade at Blessed Sacrament in Tallahassee from 1964 to 1965. From there, she moved on to teach in Grafton, West Virginia and West Palm Beach, Florida, until 1976.

That year, Sister Angela switched gears to pastoral ministry, serving as a pastoral worker and catechist at a parish in Eleuthera, Bahamas, for one year and as a pastoral worker for the Diocese of Memphis for five years.

After studying at Regis College in Toronto, Sister Angela began her long-time service in Catholic Social Services in Tunica, Mississippi, an agency of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions. As a pastoral minister at

Catholic Social Services, she particularly remembers visiting an elderly man who was living alone in a dilapidated house. When, at her request, she read Psalm 51 to him, she remembers that both of them were in tears. “I will never forget praying with him and feeling the presence of God,” she said. “He died the next day. I’m sure God welcomed him.”

Retired since 2014, Sister Angela resides at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian and is involved in the ministry of prayer and presence.

“During my 70 years, I believe I have grown both professionally and spiritually because of being an Adrian Dominican Sister,” Sister Angela said. “The decision I made as a senior in high school was a blessing then and continues to be a blessing for me every day as I can still pray and serve our Sisters whenever I can.”

Sister Helen Strohman (M. Maurice) – 70 Years DAVENPORT, Iowa – A native of Keswick, Iowa, Sister Helen Strohman was born in 1932, entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1951 and made her first vows in 1954.

Sister Helen received a BA in elementary education from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa. She also attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport and Drake University in Des Moines.

Sister Helen’s ministry of teaching found her in Iowa at St. Alphonsus in in Davenport, St. Mary in Marshalltown, St. Mary and St. Patrick in Ottumwa, St. Donatus in St. Donatus, Assumption Grade School in Granger, Christ the King, St. Anthony and Holy Trinity in Des Moines. She also taught at St. Austin in Minneapolis and Sacred Heart in Camden, Mississippi. She was the director of the YES Program in Canton, Mississippi (1990) and a pastoral minister at St. Joseph Church in North English, Iowa. She was teacher and then director of the Rainbow Literacy Center (1994-2002) and worked for the MadCAAP educational program (2002-03) in Canton. Sister Helen taught in the Madison County Jail in Mississippi and helped create the volunteer program Seeds of Hope in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sister Helen currently lives in Canton and is on call for a storage facility.

Her parish, Sacred Heart, is the home of two retired Irish priests where they celebrate the Eucharist together each day.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Sister Betty, Elizabeth R. Tranel, SSpS; Sept. 27, 1926 – Aug. 19, 2021.

Sister Lael Niblick – 50 years Sister Betty, from East Dubuque was a Holy Spirit MisA native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, sionary Sisters for 74 years and an educator. For 25 years Sister Lael Niblick first professed vows she ministered in the Diocese of Jackson, and for 20 years in 1971 for the Congregation of Sisters in Sacred Heart Parish (Winnetka, Illinois) and St. Elizaof St. Agnes, a community that probeth Parish, Chicago. She was a zealous missionary ready motes justice and builds community. to learn in order to communicate God’s redemptive love.

Sister Lael received a BS in educaShe was preceded in death by her parents and seven tion with minors in theology and sciof her siblings. Condolences to her three brothers (Richence from Marian College in Fond du ard, Roger and Bert), her two sisters (Marge and Sister Lac, Wisconsin. She also attended St. Jean, OP) and her many nieces and nephews. Services John’s University in Collegeville, Minwere held at Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit. nesota, receiving a Masters degree in

In memorium: Sister Betty Tranell

religious education and youth minis-

try, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

In addition to her degrees, Sister Lael has received over 20 certifications. These include certifications and workshops in religious education, advanced scripture, alcohol and drug intervention for teens, prevention of child sexual abuse, satanic cult awareness, parish management, racism, prison reality, fundraising and even clown ministry.

Additionally, she spent time in Boliva on a Spanish immersion trip with the Maryknoll Institute in 1992; as well as spending time completing various spiritual and educational workshops in Honduras from 1993-1995 and Nicaragua from 1995-2009.

Sister Lael has served many ministries since 1967, including those in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Bensenville, Illinois; La Ceiba, Honduras; and Bluefields, Nicaragua before serving in the Diocese of Jackson as a Lay Ecclesial Minister for St. Helen parish in Amory, Mississippi.

What affirms Sister Lael’s lifelong commitment as a vowed religious is living life as a journey. “Sometimes it is rocky, sometimes filled with wonder. Walking with others sharing the Gospel affirms my own call,” said Sister Lael. “Each day presents a new story and recommitment.”

She approaches each person with the gifts she has to share and believes the mission of Jesus is living the Gospel. “Sharing means both giving and receiving,” says Sister Lael. “Be open to the richness of diversity and build the Kingdom of God with the whole world and creation.”

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

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9

For the Life of the World: Dominican Sisters launch first-ever podcast series on congregation's 148th anniversary

BY SISTER BETH MURPHY, OP

editor and sound engineer. He recognized the gifts Washington could bring to the SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The new Springproject. “I noticed the respect he has for field Dominican Sisters’ podcast series, the sisters, his curiosity about their lives F.L.O.W.cast, is streaming now at https:// of ministry, and his comfortable way of flowcastlisten.podbean.com. You can also relating with others, and thought he could visit https://flowcastlisten.org to subscribe share those gifts with a broader audience and receive each new episode in your inof young people like himself,” Tebrinke box every Thursday. said of Washington, who is on loan to the F.L.O.W.cast is meant to be welcoming F.L.O.W.cast team from the Sacred Heart to a younger audience that appreciates Convent housekeeping department. intergenerational conversation and an The podcast name, F.L.O.W.cast, is an eclectic mix of inspiring stories about the acronym for the phrase – For the Life of sisters’ lives and ministry. the World, which appears in John’s Gospel Each week, one-to-one conversations and is used by the sisters to summarize and roundtable discussions with SpringSPRINGFIELD –The Dominican Sisters launched their new podcast series, their response to God’s mission. field Dominican Sisters, coworkers and F.L.O.W.cast in August. The series features an eclectic mix of inspiring Completing the F.L.O.W.cast producassociates are meant to acquaint listeners stories bout the sister' lives and ministry. New episodes are released every tion team is Veronica Brown, the commuwith the lives and ministry of the sisters Thursday. Listen on your favorite podcast app or visit https://flowcastlisten. nications and advancement specialist for and share stories about how they are org. (Graphics courtesy of Sister Beth Murphy, OP) the Dominican Sisters, who designs the changing lives in hopeful ways. graphics and manages the distribution “From the day our first sisters landed in I’m happy to be able to share that with the world.” platforms.

Jacksonville (Illinois), on August 19, 1873, The inaugural episode was "Sister Bernie has a Fan Search for F.L.O.W.cast on your favorite podcast app, they fostered relationships with those they served as an expression of their desire to bring the compassion of the Club." Washington chose to launch his podcasting ca- or visit: https://flowcastlisten.org and subscribe to reGospel to people on the margins of society,” said Sister reer with Sister Bernadette Marie McGuire because he ceive the podcast in your inbox.

Beth Murphy, series producer and the communications was aware of her reputation for humor at Rosary High (Sister Beth Murphy, OP, is the communication director director for the sisters. “Launching F.L.O.W.cast today School in Aurora where she was previously the librarian. is a way of honoring their vision, courage, and commit- “Sister Bernie has a quirky sense of humor. That helped for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield and lives at Cor me escape the nervousness I was feeling as we recorded Unum House, where the Dominicans accompany young ment.” adult women on their spiritual journey.

The F.L.O.W.cast format was inspired by the relation- that first episode,” he explained.

New episodes of F.L.O.W.cast are available every ships host Jeremiah Washington began building with the sisters when he began working at Sacred Heart Convent Thursday throughout the five years ago. “I didn’t know anything about the sisters estimated 6-month podcast when I started working at the convent,” he said. “I’ve season.

Aaron Tebrinke, the enjoyed getting to know them and learning about their dedication to their ministry. They’ve inspired me a lot. project manager for the sisters, doubles as the podcast

JACKSON – The second episode of F.L.O.W.cast featured Sister Kelly Moline, OP, a chaplain at St. Dominic Hospital.

10 DIOCESE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Diocese and New Group Media shoot documentary commemorating Sister Thea Bowman

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

CANTON – New Group Media out of South Bend, Indiana is working to tell the story of Sister Thea Bowman. Filming is taking place in many locations where Sister Thea Bowman lived and worked, requiring in-depth work for both crew and community members.

Writer and producer, Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF said that she wanted to touch base and operate out of the spaces that Sister Thea lived in and used. “She was a brilliant, charismatic, prophetic, outspoken woman,” said Sister Judy during an interview. “And she is a force of nature.” Spaces chosen for filming include sites in Canton, Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans and in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

The film will explore Sister Thea’s life and path to sainthood through interviews and commentary from her family, sisters in community, colleagues, friends and former students. While filming in Mississippi, the crew filmed interviews with Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and those that knew Sister Thea personally, including Sister Dorothy Kundinger, FSPA; former students, Myrtle Otto and Cornelia Johnson; and childhood friends, Mamie Chinn and Flonzie Brown-Wright.

The crew began scouting sites in April 2021 and at the end of May, they filmed in Canton, Jackson and at Sister Thea’s grave site in Memphis at Elmwood Cemetery. In addition to interviews, scenes were filmed depicting young Bertha Bowman’s life before entering the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

On hand for most of the production in Canton, Flonzie Brown-Wright, a self-described “non-crier,” was moved to tears during depictions of herself, young Bertha Bowman and friend Mamie Chinn.

“She was so special to me. This morning, … when I saw the little girls sitting on the porch, I just lost it. I just lost it because it was just so reminiscent of what actually happened during those days,” said BrownWright.

Drone operator and grip, Matthew Nemeth, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and producer/writer, Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF review drone footage taken during filming of the Sister Thea Bowman Documentary on Saturday, May 29.

CANTON – Actors portray the Bowman family taking a stroll to Sunday Mass near Holy Child Jesus parish. (Photos by Joanna Puddister King) (Left) A sign sits outside of the old Bowman family home on Hill Street in Canton.

The crew filmed re-enactments at the Bowman family home on Hill Street in Canton, complete with a 1936 Grand Master roadster car parked out front. Scenes with Thea, Brown-Wright and Chinn eating cookies on the front steps, playing with dolls and socializing were filmed with local talent.

Eleven-year-old, Madison Ware of Canton was chosen to play young Bertha. “I was really excited to do the part of Thea,” said Ware.

In addition to scenes at Holy Child Jesus Canton and playing outside the Bowman family home, Ware also re-enacted young Bertha’s hunger strike after her parents forbade her to go off to Wisconsin to become a nun. Ware sat at the dining room table in the Bowman home with determination stating as young Bertha would – “I’m not hungry.”

Other scenes depicted in Canton include portrayals of young Thea, Brown-Wright and Chinn walking to school and playing dress up as nuns.

In Jackson, the crew sat down with Bishop Kopacz at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle to talk about the cause for Sister Thea and spoke about what he called “her first miracle,” when she addressed the U.S. Bishops Conference in June 1989 and led them to join arms and sing “We Shall Overcome.”

At Sister Thea’s grave site at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, the crew arranged for a beautiful white spray filled with gardenias, roses and magnolias to sit at her plot.

Re-enactment at the grave site included prayer and a hymn led by Myrtle Otto – “I’ll Be Singing Up There.”

The final day of filming in Canton concluded at Holy Child Jesus with Mass, a performance by the church choir and solo of “On Zion’s Hill” by Wright-Brown.

Life-long friends, Brown-Wright kept in contact with Sister Thea up until her passing from cancer in 1990 traveling from her home, at the time, in Ohio just two weeks – Continued on page 11 –

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

‘... She taught the world how to be a Black Catholic sister ...’

– Continued from page 10 –

before her death. She said Sister Thea told her “what I want you to do when I’m gone … [is] to come back to play and sing the song “On Zion’s Hill.” The same song Sister Thea sang at both her father and mother’s funerals.

With Wright-Brown in an African dashiki and headdress singing there was hardly a dry-eye between the crew present, as Sister Thea’s presence was felt in the moment.

Between June 20-23, the crew filmed in LaCrosse, Wisconsin at St. Rose Convent and Viterbo University, shooting re-enactments of Sister Thea at the FSPA motherhouse. Director Chris Salvador described plans to capture Sister Thea arriving at the

convent in a white pinafore dress and then using a machine to morph her.

“So, it goes in 360° and she changes from her first outfit, and she eventually comes out in her African dashiki,” said Salvador.

Brown-Wright reminisced during filming in Canton about one trip to LaCrosse to visit her friend. When she got there, Brown-Wright expected to see her friend dressed in a habit, but instead found her in “a dashiki, sandals and a natural.”

“I asked her what happened, and she said, ‘Girl, CANTON – Flonzie Brown-Wright those petticoats were just dressed in a dashiki and sang “On Zitoo hot,” laughed Brown- on’s Hill,” honoring her childhood Wright. “What she was friend, Thea Bowman. (Photos by Jodoing was preparing a anna Puddister King) culture for a yearning to understand our culture. That was her transformation from coming out of the habits ... to her natural dress because that’s who she was,” said Brown Wright.

“She taught the world how to be a Black Catholic sister.”

In New Orleans the film crew will conduct more interviews and film at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, where Sister Thea offered courses in African American literature and preaching.

The working title of the film is “Going Home Like a Shooting Star – Sister Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.” It is drawn from a quote attributed to Sojourner Truth. When Sister Thea was asked what she wanted said at her funeral, she answered,” Just say what Sojourner Truth said: ‘I’m not going to die, honey, I’m going home like a shooting star.’”

Production of the documentary was delayed about a year due to COVID. The film makers, with Bishop Kopacz as executive producer, hope to air the documentary nationwide in the fall of 2022 on ABC.

(Above) Madison Ware re-enacts young Bertha Bowman’s hunger strike to get her parents to allow her to travel to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to become a nun.

The crew sets up a scene at the old Bowman family home, from the upcoming documentary on Sister Thea Bowman to air in the fall of 2022.

N

MaHalia Calvert, playing young Flonzie Brown-Wright, and Madison Ware prepare for a scene outside Holy Child Jesus parish where the girls play dress up at sisters. The scene brought back many memories for Wright-Brown, who was on-site for filming and reminisced about her experiences with her friend Sister Thea Bowman.

12 NATION

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

New York fire chaplain says there are days when 9/11 ‘feels like yesterday’

BY GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

gency personnel. Trade Center.”

A trained firefightLike many emergency responders who served at the BLUE POINT, N.Y. – Father Kevin er, he also helped World Trade Center site on 9/11 and post-9/11, Father M. Smith, a veteran fire chaplain, trausearch for victims.

Smith developed health issues related to the toxic condima counselor and loyal friend to scores As shaken first tions of the environment. of active and retired firefighters in the responders went “I have chronic sinusitis. I have sleep apnea. I’ve had New York metropolitan area, receives about their business some skin cancer,” he said. “All have been certified as more phone calls in early September amid the mayhem, 9/11-related.” than any other time of the year. many asked Father His brother Patrick, meanwhile, was forced to retire Most of the calls are from firefightSmith to hear their from the FDNY in 2006 with a 9/11-related illness. ers who served amid the carnage and confessions.

Father Smith said he has proactively addressed the chaos in the aftermath of the terrorist “They wanted emotional scars that he bears from his time at ground attacks on the World Trade Center. absolution before zero. “I go to counseling,” he said. “It helps, especially A fire chaplain with 30 years of serheading down to on the (9/11) anniversaries. If you’re going to do trauma vice, Father Smith, 60, is commissioned ‘the pile’ because counseling, it’s not a bad thing to check in with someby Nassau County, New York, to minisyou didn’t know body from time to time. ter to members of the county’s 71 volwhat was going to “The first couple of years, I’d have nightmares, flashunteer fire departments, many of whom explode next, what backs, a lot of that stuff.” work full time with the New York Fire Father Smith’s 9/11 recollections also include posDepartment.

Father Kevin M. Smith, pastor of Our Lady of was going to fall itive memories of a time when people expressed their He also is a member of the coun- the Snow Parish in Blue Point, N.Y., is seen down,” he said.

In addition to appreciation for the firefighters, police officers, constructy’s Critical Incident Stress Manage- in his office Aug. 25, 2021. Father Smith, a ment team, which provides support Nassau County, N.Y., fire chaplain, served as ministering to the tion workers and others who pitched in at ground zero. the “At night, when you left the Trade Center, there to firefighters and emergency medical a 9/11 first responder in the aftermath of the firefighters, services workers who are dealing with 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. He is priest blessed the would be people on the streets with big signs saying: trauma associated with their duties as holding a cross crafted from steel found among bodies of many of ‘Thank You.’ They’d hand you a bottle of water or a first responders. the rubble of the World Trade Center. (CNS the FDNY’s 343 peanut butter and jelly sandwich made by a school kid.” fallen heroes, inFather Smith fondly remembers strangers chatting Father Smith’s cellphone starts ring- photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) cluding Franciscan with and helping one another, a byproduct of the coling and dinging with calls and texts from firefighters in the days leading up to and including Father Mychal Judge, the beloved FDNY chaplain and lective pain people shared and their desire for healing in the wake of the catastrophe. the 9/11 anniversary. They come from front-line heroes first certified casualty of 9/11.

For several months following 9/11, Father Smith He said he misses the post-9/11 period that was who have been emotionally and, in many cases, physiwould commute almost daily from his parish to ground marked by a heightened degree of charity and fellowcally affected by the cataclysmic event.

Father Smith – pastor of Our Lady of the Snow zero, where he continued to offer support to the fire- ship, along with intense national pride and unity.

“You wish that some of the lessons we learned from Church in Blue Point in the Diocese of Rockville Cen- fighters.

He said his faith helped sustain him through the diffi- 9/11 would have been passed on, like reaching out to tre – can empathize with the callers. He, too, was a first responder at ground zero, arriving near the scene as the cult work and grueling schedule. “Prayer, adrenaline and one another, forgiving one another, being a little more World Trade Center’s North Tower was collapsing, com- the Holy Spirit,” were the emboldening forces, he said, patient with one another.”

The most important lesson, he said: “Cherish every pleting the total destruction of the two 110-story build- adding: “I had a sense that God was with me.”

Referring to his vocation as “a ministry of presence,” single day.” ings and resulting in a mountain of crushed concrete, he said he spent time with the firetwisted steel and pulverized debris.

In an interview with Catholic News Service to mark fighters when they were working the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New at ground zero and during their York, Washington and Pennsylvania, Father Smith spoke meals and rest breaks.

Father Smith was also present about his role as a chaplain on and after 9/11.

Of God, Creator of the universe, you extend your paternal concern “I can’t believe it was 20 years ago,” he remarked. to the bereaved members of the over every creature and guide the events of history to the goal of salvafallen firefighters’ families. He es“There are days when it feels like yesterday.” tion. We acknowledge your fatherly love in a world torn by strife and For Father Smith, Sept. 11, 2001, began at St. Rose of timates that he concelebrated 30 discord, when you make us ready for reconciliation. Renew for us the Lima Church in Massapequa, some 40 miles east of the to 40 funeral Masses of firefightwonders of your mercy; send forth your holy wisdom that it may work city. An associate pastor at the time, he had been prepar- ers, sometimes two or three in a in the intimacy of our hearts; that enemies may begin to dialogue; that ing to celebrate morning Mass when a parish secretary single day. adversaries may shake hands and people may encounter one another “I knew a lot of the guys,” he told him to turn on the television where he witnessed in harmony. May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true the second of two hijacked jetliners crash into the World said. peace which will extinguish all violence.

He also had been friendly Trade Center.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace; Several minutes later, his fire pager chirped, alerting with a number of people who Where there is hatred, let us sow charity; worked inside the towers. One him about the mass casualty incident.

Where there is injury, let us sow pardon; After notifying his pastor that he was responding to of his former parishes, St. Mary Where there is error, let us sow truth; the call, Father Smith jumped into his black Chevy Trail- Church in Manhasset, lost 22 paWhere there is doubt, let us sow faith; blazer – a vehicle with emergency lights and sirens – rishioners and alumni from its elWhere there is despair, let us sow hope; and headed toward the city. Along the way he picked up ementary and secondary schools, Where there is darkness, let us sow light; and his younger brother, Patrick Smith, an off-duty New York the majority of whom Father Where there is sadness, let us sow joy.

City firefighter, and dropped him off at his firehouse in Smith had known personally. He O’ Divine Master, concelebrated several of those futhe Bronx.

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; When he eventually arrived in lower Manhattan, Fa- neral liturgies.

To be understood as to understand; “I remember a year or two afther Smith encountered a surreal scene. The devastation To be loved as to love; ter 9/11 looking at a list of victims was overwhelming.

For it is in giving that we receive; “The whole place was filled with smoke,” he recalled. to see how many people I actualIt is in pardoning that we are pardoned; “There was a lot of stuff coming out of the air. Fire trucks ly knew,” Father Smith said. “It And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. and Emergency Service Unit vehicles were catching fire was about 60. Sixty friends that I Amen. had contact with and knew their from the falling debris and exploding.”

Throughout the day and into the early hours the families. They were firefighters, (Bishop Joseph Latino delivered this prayer during a memorial service for following day, Father Smith offered prayers, emotional guys from Cantor Fitzgerald and the 10th anniversary of 9/11) support and assistance to firefighters and other emer- the other financial groups at the

Prayer for 9/11

BRIEFS 13

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

NATION

CHICAGO (CNS) – Father Andrew Liaugminas of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been appointed to serve as an official for the doctrinal section of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The 37-yearold priest will serve with the congregation for five years and will support the congregation's work promoting the church's teachings on faith and morals. The oldest of the Roman Curia's nine congregations, the CDF was founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III to promote and safeguard the church's teachings throughout the world. Today, the CDF is responsible for fostering a greater understanding of the faith, aiding bishops in their role as teachers of the faith and answering difficult questions that arise on faith and morals.

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick pleaded not guilty Sept. 3 in a Massachusetts court, where he is facing three counts of sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1970s. He was not taken under custody but was ordered to post $5,000 bail and have no contact with the alleged victim or children. The former high-ranking, globe-trotting church official also was ordered not to leave the country and surrendered his passport. His next court appearance is Oct. 28. The day before the arraignment, a former employee and a former priest of the Archdiocese of Newark filed lawsuits alleging unpermitted sexual contact by McCarrick for incidents in 1991. The Massachusetts case is the first time, however, that McCarrick has faced criminal charges for assault of a minor, which is alleged to first have taken place at a wedding reception in 1974 and continued over the years in different states.

WASHINGTON (CNS) – The "present ills of our economy" invite Catholics to reflect on ways to propose new and creative responses to vital human needs in a post-pandemic world, said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in the U.S. bishops' annual Labor Day statement. Acknowledging that the economy is showing signs of recovery despite the continuing pandemic, Archbishop Coakley said the current time presents an opportunity to "build a consensus around human dignity and the common good."

But despite signs of an economic recovery, he said in the statement released Sept. 2, millions of Americans continue to struggle financially because of unemployment, poverty and hunger made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. "There are still many uncertainties around this pandemic; however, we do know that our society and our world will never be the same," the archbishop said.

Archbishop Coakley credited and thanked the many workers "who have kept our country functioning during these trying times and worked under difficult and often underappreciated conditions."

VATICAN

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While financial reforms in the Vatican are progressing steadily, cases involving corruption and malfeasance in the Eternal City are "a disease that we relapse into," Pope Francis said. In a wide-ranging interview broadcast Sept. 1 by COPE, the Spanish radio station owned by the Spanish bishops' conference, Pope Francis said changes made in the Vatican's financial laws have allowed prosecutors to "become more independent" in their investigations. "Let's hope that these steps we are taking ... will help to make these events happen less and less," he said. During the interview, the pope was asked about the Vatican trial against 10 individuals and entities, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, former prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, on charges ranging from embezzlement to money laundering and abuse of office. The charges stemmed from a Vatican investigation into how the Secretariat of State used $200 million to finance a property develop-

Father Andrew Liaugminas, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, is seen in this undated photo. He has been appointed to serve as an official for the doctrinal section of the Holy See's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (CNS photo/Handout, courtesy Chicago Catholic) ment project in London's posh Chelsea district and incurred millions of dollars in debt. At the time, then-Archbishop Becciu served as "sostituto," the No. 3 position in the Vatican Secretariat of State. Cardinal Becciu was forced to offer his resignation to the pope in September 2020, after he was accused of embezzling an estimated 100,000 euros of Vatican funds and redirecting them to Spes, a Caritas organization run by his brother, Tonino Becciu, in his home Diocese of Ozieri, Sardinia.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis offered prayers to the victims and families affected by Hurricane Ida, which devastated the southern and northeastern United States. Pope Francis also offered prayers for countless refugees fleeing Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's Aug. 15 takeover of Kabul and expressed his hope that "many countries will welcome and protect those seeking a new life." "I assure my prayers for the people of the United States of America who have been hit by a strong hurricane in recent days," the pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square Sept. 5 during his Sunday Angelus address. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall Sept. 1, carrying 150-mph winds in Louisiana and knocking out power, water and cellphone service. The remnants of Hurricane Ida later struck the northeastern United States, causing an estimated 41 deaths and flooding roads in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut. Speaking about Afghanistan, Pope Francis said he prayer "for the internally displaced persons and that they may receive assistance and the necessary protection," he said. "May young Afghans receive education, an essential good for human development. And may all Afghans, whether at home, in transit, or in host countries, live with dignity, in peace and fraternity with their neighbors."

procedure very often does not follow therapeutic aims," Kopp said. "On the contrary, in the view of the church, these tests promote an alarming trend in the direction of a regular selection." What was needed was early information, counseling and support in which the issue of termination of pregnancy was not the focal point, he said. A joint federal parliamentary committee gave the approval for the change, which is expected to take effect in the spring of 2022, KNA reported.

LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) – The Catholic bishops of Nigeria have called on the priests and the lay faithful to make the Eucharist central to the life of the church rather than placing a premium on money or other transient things. In a statement at the end of their weeklong plenary meeting, they also advised priests to always ensure that "monetary matters do not distract the faithful or detract from the solemnity of the celebration." Priests are to "celebrate the Eucharist as 'servants' of the mystery and not 'masters' of it," the bishops said. In their Aug. 27 statement, the bishops also condemned the increasing insecurity and violence in Nigeria and called on the government to show respect for the sanctity of human life with a more strategic commitment to the fight against insecurity. The bishops urged government officials to take full responsibility for the prevailing culture of violence and impunity in Nigeria. "We recognize the efforts being made by government to fight insecurity in the land," they added, appealing to the citizens to be law-abiding, vigilant, live by sound moral principles and shun violence and crime.

SEOUL, South Korea (CNS) – The mortal remains of the first three Korean Catholic martyrs have been recovered more than two centuries after their deaths, announced the Diocese of Jeonju. Ucanews.com reported that following historical research and DNA tests, it has been confirmed that the remains are of Paul Yun Ji-chung and James Kwon Sang-yeon, both beheaded in 1791, and Yun's brother, Francis Yun Ji-heon, who was martyred in 1801. Bishop John Kim Son-tae of Jeonju made the announcement during a news conference Sept.

1. During his visit to South Korea in 2014, Pope Francis beatified the three along with 121 other martyrs persecuted and killed during the rule of the Joseon dynasty in Korea. Bishop Kim said the remains were recovered in March in Wanju, on the outskirts of Jeonju, near the burial ground of family members of another beatified person that was being converted to a shrine. "The discovery of the remains is a truly amazing and monumental event," the bishop said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

WORLD

BERLIN (CNS) – German bishops are concerned that a decision guaranteeing German health insurers will pay for pregnant women's blood tests to detect Down syndrome will lead to abortion. Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German bishops, said that already about 90% of cases in which an embryo has an extra chromosome result in termination of pregnancy, reported the German church news agency KNA. He expressed concern that the prenatal test eventually would be applied on a routine basis.

"We as a church are observing with concern that the new, noninvasive prenatal diagnostical test

A painting depicts 103 Korean martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984, seen in this Aug. 19, 2008, photo.

The remains of the first three of 124 other Korean martyrs, beatified in 2014, were recently identified. (CNS photo/ courtesy Archdiocese of Seoul)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

DIOCESE 14

Bishop Gunn chronicled experience during 1918 influenza pandemic and end of world war FROM THE ARCHIVES

BY MARY WOODWARD JACKSON – Rev. John Edward Gunn, a Marist priest and native of County Tyrone, Ireland, was appointed the sixth Bishop of Natchez by Pope Pius X in 1911. He was ordained a bishop at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta where he was serving at the time on August 29 of that year.

Bishop Gunn was known as a brilliant orator and for having tremendous energy. He cultivated the diocese’s relationship with Catholic Extension to help in the building of chapels throughout the state. By the time of his death in 1924, almost every Catholic in Mississippi was able to reach one of these chapels for Mass at least once a month. Catholic churches grew from 75 to 149 during his administration, and Catholics grew in number from 17,000 to more than 31,000.

He also helped found St. Augustine Seminary with the Society of the Divine Word in Greenville for the formation of African American clergy in 1923. The seminary later moved to Bay St. Louis.

It is rumored that Bishop Gunn preferred Pass Christian to Natchez and had hoped to move the diocesan offices there.

Bishop Gunn’s 13 years of service to the Diocese were marked by the difficult four years of the first World War and the ravages of Spanish influenza.

Not only was he a gifted orator, but he was a fine chronicler of daily life as is proven in his diary. From his diary we find an interesting entry from Nov. 8-10, 1918, that is very relevant to today’s ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Red Cross Motor Corps are on duty in October 1918 during the pandemic atmosphere. It also contains a noteworthy bit of informa- influenza epidemic. Mary Woodward reveals an excerpt from Bishop John Edward Gunn’s diary chronicling his travels to St. Louis in November of 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic. tion about the end of the war.

“I left [Nov. 8] for St. Louis to assist at the consecration of the (Photo/Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ds-01290) new Bishop of Galveston, Bishop Byrne. When I reached St. Louis, I doors that were not officially closed, with the result that the consecration took place on got into the midst of the flu. Not only were the churches, schools, and public buildings Nov. 10. The crowd was small, the ceremonies were beautiful, the dinner was as heavy closed but all the stores, soda water fountains and everything.” as the oratory and there was an atmosphere of unrest everywhere.”

“On Saturday night I walked the streets of St. Louis for more than an hour and “The papers were filled with the flu conditions of the country; the war conditions could not buy a cigar and the question was – how could the consecration take place in were reaching a climax, and everybody was on edge.”

St. Louis Cathedral on November 10th when it was forbidden to open a church door?”

“I left St. Louis on Sunday night [Nov. 10] and on my way home, at Fulton [Missou“I went ‘round on Saturday night to see Archbishop Glennon and found Bishop ri], I thought that the world had come to an end. I was in the Pullman compartment Allen with him. The Archbishop seemed to take everything very quietly and said that when noise broke loose in the form of whistles, bells, bands and every kind of thing it was forbidden to open the main door of the Cathedral but there were several other that could make a rattle and a screech at the time when ghosts are supposed to appear and graves yawn, etc.”

“It was occasioned by the fake news that had gone over the world that the Germans had signed the armistice. When the real news of the Armistice came nobody believed it.”

“I managed to get to New Orleans on the 11th and the city looked like the morning after Mardi Gras. The people had shouted themselves hoarse over the fake armistice and had no voice for the real one.”

Although WWI was a very complex time for those of Irish heritage due to British rule and treatment of them, the Bishop believed strongly in service to one’s country. “In life and death, I am proud of three things: my Irish birth, my Catholic faith, and my American citizenship,” he said. “I tried to translate my love for all three into service and sacrifice,” he wrote in his will.

Bishop Gunn died at Hospital Hotel Dieu in New Orleans on Feb. 19, 1924, and is buried beside his fellow Irishman Bishop Thomas Heslin on Catholic Hill in the Natchez City Cemetery. His portrait hangs in the dining room of the Cathedral rectory in Jackson. As in any good portrait, Bishop Gunn’s eyes follow you as you move through the room.

In his will the Bishop also wrote, “I believe in God. I believe all He has said because He said it and because His infallible Church heard Him and told me what He said. I love Him with my whole heart and soul and strength and for His sake I love others.”

Bishop Gunn’s diary is so rich that we will share some more gems from it in the future.

(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson) NATCHEZ – In this photo from the archives, Bishop Joseph Latino visits the resting place of Bishop John Edward Gunn, on Catholic Hill in the Natchez City Cemetery. Bishop Gunn died in New Orleans on Feb. 19, 1924 and is buried beside his fellow Irishman Bishop Thomas Heslin. (Photo from archives)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

dIOCESE 15

Peaceful, prayerful, effective 40 Days for Life campaign coming to Jackson “on site gives insight” JACKSON – “40 Days for Life, the nation’s most innovative, peaceful prayer outreach, is coming to Jackson,” said Laura Duran, who is coordinating the local campaign. “We are eager to join together with people of faith and conscience from over 600 cities from coast to coast, and beyond, to pray for an end to abortion.” 40 Days for Life begins Sept.

22 to Oct. 31. “Abortion takes a tremendous toll in our city,” said Laura Duran, “but many people aren’t even aware of it. We will share the facts with as many people as possible during the 40-day campaign,” she said.

The campaign will feature a peaceful 40-day prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside Jackson Women’s Health Organization at 2903 North State Street, in Jackson. All prayer vigil participants are asked to sign a statement of peace, pledging to conduct themselves in a Christlike manner at all times. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful, highly-focused, non-denominational initiative that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout Biblical history.

“40 Days for Life has consistently generated proven life-saving results,” said Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life’s president. “During 26 JACKSON – Participants gather and pray at “40 Days for Life” outside the Jackson Wominternationally coordinated campaigns, over 8,000 communities have en’s Health Organization in 2017. This year, the event will take place from Sept. 22 to Oct. taken part. The efforts of over 1,000,000 people of faith helped have 31. (Photo from archives) made a tremendous difference.”

Carney said numerous cities reported a significant drop in abortions.

“Over 110 abortion facilities have closed following 40 Days for Life efforts,” he said. “Churches across denominational lines have worked together to work for an end to abortion in their cities. Many post-abortive women begin programs to heal from the pain caused by previous abortion experiences. And more than 18,000 babies – and their mothers – have been spared from the tragedy of un poema atribuido a su autoría y titulado abortion.”

– Viene de la pág. 3 – “De todos modos”, ella reflexionó, “Aquel“We’ve seen what 40 Days for Life has accomplished elsewhere,” said Laulo que pasas años creando, otros lo pueden destruir de la noche a la mañana. Crea de ra Duran. “We can’t wait to begin. It is our prayer that this campaign will help todos modos.” mark the end of abortion in Jackson.”

Claramente está diciendo que cuando sea necesario, reconstruya y cree algo mejor.

For information about 40 Days for Life in Jackson, visit: www.40daysforPodemos aplicar su sabiduría a los impulsos destructivos inherentes a la humanidad o al life.com/Jackson. For assistance or for more information, please contact Laura poder abrumador de la naturaleza. Parece que dondequiera que miremos, demasiados Duran at plm@prolifemississippi.org or 601-956-8636 ext. 1. están atrapados entre la espada y la pared, Escila y Caribdis, los bajíos rocosos o el remolino agitado.

Por un lado, está el poder destructivo de la naturaleza en el virus que acecha silenThe Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reporting ciosamente, en los incendios furiosos, en los huracanes aulladores, en las inundaciones system that will enable all diocesan employees, volunteers and imprevistas o en los terremotos. Por otro lado, la destrucción brota del abismo de la naparishioners to anonymously (or named if preferred) make turaleza humana, alienada de nuestro amoroso creador, en actos de violencia, terrorismo reports. Examples of this activity include fraud, misconduct, y guerra. Lo que una vez fue, ya no existe y la gente se ve presionada a elegir. O mira safety violations, harassment or substance abuse occurring at hacia adelante y reconstruye de una forma u otra o mira hacia atrás y se deja llevar por a Catholic parish, Catholic school or at the diocesan level. la inercia. El Libro de Eclesiastés nos recuerda que en el ciclo de la vida, “Un momento The system is operated by Lighthouse Services. Based in para destruir y un momento para construir.” (3: 3) Como hijos de Dios, queremos estar ocupados viviendo.

Deerfield, Illinois, Lighthouse Services maintains ethics, safety Este fin de semana es el vigésimo aniversario del 11 de septiembre que arrasó con and fraud hotlines for over 4,100 organizations. muchas vidas, destruyó estructuras icónicas, causó estragos en la psique de nuestra naTo make a report visit www.lighthouse-services.com/ ción y desató una guerra de 20 años cuyo final oficial sigue derramando sangre. De hecho, toda la creación gime. Sin embargo, esta crisis reveló de inmediato la bondad y jacksondiocese or call 888-830-0004 (English) or 800el coraje de los socorristas y muchos otros que dejaron de lado la preocupación por sí 216-1288 (Spanish). mismos con la esperanza de rescatar a su vecino y al extraño. Se necesitaron 14 años para que el majestuoso One World Center se construyera en el lugar de las Torres Gemelas que fueron destruidas. Los que experimentaron directamente este horror tardarán toda una vida en sanar. Oramos para que la obra de reconciliación no cese nunca.

El Hijo de Dios, aquel a través de quien y para quien llegó a existir toda la creación, reveló la inevitable vulnerabilidad de la vida en el Calvario. Sin embargo, el Domingo de Resurrección, el amanecer de lo alto amaneció sobre nosotros, quienes caminamos en la sombra de la muerte y que ahora caminamos por fe, trabajando con un propósito todos The Association of Priests of the Dioceses of Jackson and los días de nuestra vida, porque Cristo vive.

Biloxi provide a small pension to our retired priests. As you En las grandes preguntas sobre nuestra vida y en nuestras tareas cotidianas y familconsider your estate plans, please remember these faithful iares, sepamos que, en Dios, nuestras vidas son un trabajo de amor, ya sea que estemos servants by making a donation or leaving a bequest to the construyendo algo nuevo con gran confianza o reconstruyendo ante la pérdida. En el Association of Priests. Our parish priests dedicate their lives Prólogo de San Juan, sabemos de dónde viene el poder para recuperar nuestro equilibrio y nuestra esperanza. “En el principio ya existía la Palabra; y aquel que es la Palabra estaba to caring for us, their flocks. Let us now care for them in their con Dios y era Dios. Él estaba en el principio con Dios. Por medio de él, Dios hizo todas retirement. Donations can be made payable to the Association las cosas; nada de lo que existe fue hecho sin él. En él estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz of Priests and can be mailed to: de la humanidad. Esta luz brilla en las tinieblas, y las tinieblas no han podido apagarla”.

Diocese of Jackson, Attn: Cathy Pendleton,

‘... En Dios, nuestras vidas son un trabajo de amor ...’

P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225-2248

16 Columns

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

The art of listening: the two-sentence rule GUEST COLUMN

BY REBA J. MCMELLON, M.S., LPC A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time. Ecclesiastes: 20:6 Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling ignored or brushed aside? It usually happens when we tell someone something about ourselves that is either exciting, sad or upsetting. You share something big only to find yourself on a completely different subject about the other person moments later. Have you ever wondered how or why this happens?

It’s happens when information you are sharing triggers a thought in the listener about themselves. That is normal enough and even to be expected. However, it can prevent opportunities to truly listen to one another.

Immediately changing the subject is an ineffective form of communication.

In training to be a counselor, I was taught listening skills. There are entire textbooks devoted to listening skills. I doubt any of us would want to ‘listen’ to all that. I think it can be reduced to what I refer to as: the two-sentence rule.

• When somebody shares something about them-

selves, ask at least two sentences that has to do with what they just said. Ask them before moving on to what that reminds you of – namely, yourself. Try asking questions beginning with who, what, where, when or how; but never why. For example: When did it start? How did it go? Who else was there? What got you interested in that? Or, where were you? Those are called open ended questions.

• Starting a sentence with ‘why’ puts the other person on the defensive. Most of us don’t know why it happened, why it made us so upset or excited or sad. ‘Why’ often shuts down the conversation.

• Remember, a conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. When people interrupt too quickly with, “Well I…” – the subject is about to shift. A conversation is an exchange of thoughts, feelings, or ideas between two or more people – a two-way street.

• The two-sentence rule is easy to remember and a good way to catch yourself. Any more than two sentences could seem like probing. Any less than two sentences could seem uninterested. Pay attention to how many times you start a sentence with, “Well, I ...” If a horn honked every time you start a sentence with “I,” would it

sound like a car alarm was going off? I ... I ... I ... I • If you don’t care to listen, don’t ask the person a question.

The two-sentence rule is not meant to be complicated or rigid. In fact, you can skip the two-sentence rule if you check your mindfulness. Check and see if you are listening and genuinely care. If so, slow down thoughts of yourself enough to be mindful of the other person, at least for two sentences.

Wonder who, what, where or how they are feeling, when they come away from a conversation with you. We can all learn more from truly listening rather than simply hearing.

season, though not always as dramatic in one place as in another, was set to help us, to nourish us, to provide for all of Creation. We can see the drastic interruption of seasons both by the long-term picture of normal global development, and the constant contribution to climate change by our (my) unwillingness to cut back, change plans, see the truth, and stop calling it something else.

The twisties prevail.

A U.N. report gives us a ‘red card’ for irresponsible, unsafe behavior. Normal global development is well authenticated over millions of years ... once we were under ice, a volcano sits deep under Jackson Stadium, and various aspects of nature seemed to disappear of their own accord. Today, however, we are also aware that portions of God’s marvelous Creation are exterminated, eliminated, and endangered because of our (my) failure to look at the truth and act. COVID asks us (me) to move from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ If vaccinations are necessary to protect others, get one. If masks are helpful to mitigate symptoms and decrease the power of the virus, wear one. No brainer. Do not let ‘the twisties’ get you.

Part of the dilemma might be – how do I know the truth? How do I find out? One way, not unlike our gymnastic friends ... is to step away from all our flying about, sit quietly and consider.

Pray. There are plentiful definitions of prayer in the Catechism and Compendium. As the gymnasts want to freely fly in the air all the time; we want to always pray and act for the common good. Like this definition in the Compendium: “576. Praying is always possible because the time of the Christian is the time of the risen Christ who remains ‘with you always.’ (Matthew 28:20) Prayer and Christian life are therefore inseparable: ‘It is possible to offer frequent and fervent prayer even at the marketplace or strolling alone. It is possible also in your place of business, while buying or selling, or even while cooking.’ St. John Chrysostom.”

The truth is unmasked by the actual things we do, think or say. With God’s help, we can work our way out of a twistie if we find ourselves entrapped. Others might choose to complain and create spinning stories that unfortunately affect more people than we would like to believe. What was once just an idea over a cold drink

became something with legs that ran downhill, full of twisties. And people died. (Consider January 6, 2021.)

Do we use the phrase ‘practicing our faith’ with ease?

Does it need more attention? Ask a gymnast or any athlete (or musician), what ‘practicing’ means. And what is the cost? If you run into ‘the twisties’ step back, breathe and pray. It is indeed the ‘truth’ that sets us free.

A ‘twisties’ take over?

FROM THE HERMITAGE BY

SISTER ALIES THERESE

Must say I am grateful that my prayers do not take as much time to reach the ear of God as the post takes to travel from Jackson to my hermitage less than two hours away! Somehow even the post has been attacked by ‘the twisties.’

I read plenty this summer and was filled with great excitement, mystery, several sides of politics, spiritual action and joy. I also spent time drafting short stories – my favorite format. For recreation I took in some Olympics (both). The sheer determination, perseverance and desire of athletes outweighed any gold, silver or bronze medal.

The bravery of Simone Biles, a Black Catholic, to come forth despite ‘the twisties’ was impressive and showed real Olympic gold, despite her bronze. She and others admitted the truth (i.e., human with limitations) and reminded me that expectations of others can also be set aside in favor of a deeper truth.

I re-read, The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz and Don José Ruiz. At the end of the second chapter, they state: “What is real we cannot change, and it doesn’t matter what we believe.” Quite powerful, especially with the political and church discourses currently in flow. They explained it this way: “The truth does not need you to believe it; the truth simply is, and it survives whether you believe it or not. Lies need you to believe them. If you don’t believe lies, they don’t survive your skepticism, and they simply disappear.” (page 99) With ‘the twisties’ a gymnast cannot tell up from down. Other than being in the air, there is no truth for them and that causes the danger. Body, mind and soul are muddled and no matter where the athlete thinks is up ... it may not be so.

September is a glorious month, on the edge of summer and fall, contributing to weather changes. Each

(Reba J. McMellon, M.S. is a licensed professional counselor with 35 years of experience. She worked in the field of child sexual abuse and adult survivors of sexual abuse for over 25 years. She continues to work as a mental health consultant, public speaker and freelance writer in Jackson, Mississippi. Reba can be reached at rebaj@bellsouth.net.)

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

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MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

BOOK REVIEW 17

Analysis of church's diplomatic efforts should be a must-read for many

BY STEPHEN M. COLECCHI (CNS)

Church as a "sovereign" entity, describes its his"God's Diplomats: Pope Francis, torical basis and then Vatican Diplomacy and America's outlines its operating Armageddon" by Victor Gaetan. principles.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Although his focus (Lanham, Maryland, 2021). 476 pp., is often on formal dip$49. lomats and seems at Catholic social teaching has often times clerical, it is clear been called the church's best-kept sefrom his accounts that cret. the term "diplomats" inIn "God's Diplomats," Victor Gaecludes many beyond the tan illuminates its active application Vatican diplomatic corps in the church's international diplomaand hierarchy. Men and cy and humanitarian work, unveiling women religious, lay another well-kept secret. He argues men and women and that the church's dialogic approach to numerous Catholic ordiplomacy contrasts sharply at many ganizations and instipoints with our nation's more powtutions are part of the er-based and militaristic responses to church's diplomatic netinternational crises. work.

But his critique of U.S. foreign polUnlike many comicy applies to many other nations and mentators, Gaetan national leaders. points out continuities In Part 1, Gaetan contrasts U.S. among Pope Francis, and Vatican diplomacy. For me, the Pope Benedict XVI and most poignant indictment of U.S. policy was the lead up to the invasion of This is the book cover of "God's Diplomats: St. John Paul. Each has Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy and Amerunique gifts and styles, Iraq, which occurred under St. John Paul II. The Holy See had warned ica's Armageddon" by Victor Gaetan. The but the long history of that an invasion would stoke the fires book is reviewed by Stephen M. Colecchi. the Holy See's diploof extremism, fan the flames of sec- (CNS photo/courtesy Rowman & Littlefield matic engagement is a thread that runs through tarian strife, contribute to regional Publishers) their papacies. Gaetan's instability and endanger the presence of Christians and other minorities in the region. All of love of the church, embrace of its teachings and respect for its leaders comes through clearly, even when he this came to pass.

He goes on to describe the church's diplomatic net- points out failures.

Gaetan makes a case for the effectiveness of what work, its mission for both the church and the common good of all and the education of formal Vatican diplo- he calls the political "neutrality" of the church or what mats. Gaetan explores the unique nature of the Catholic I might call its nonpartisan and nonaligned stances. He lifts up the church's long-term patience, an unrelenting

commitment to dialogue and a commitment to serving the common good.

His writing style captures complex diplomatic principles in accessible language. A good example is his diplomatic rules of thumb: 1) "Avoid creating winners and losers"; 2) "Remain impartial in the face of conflict"; 3) "Refrain from partisan conflict"; 4) "Pursue dialogue ... with everyone"; and 5) "Walk the talk: Show faith through charity."

The book's second part explores specific international crises of recent years. Gaetan devotes a chapter each to Ukraine, Cuba, Kenya, Colombia, the Middle East, China and South Sudan.

I do not entirely agree with his understanding of the roles of Russia in Ukraine and the Middle East, but he is spot-on regarding the church's various actors. Each international situation is well documented, giving credence to his analysis. I found the chapter on South Sudan particularly moving.

Gaetan has written a sympathetic and sweeping primer on the church's diplomatic efforts. The author's journalistic research is reflected in over 100 pages of footnotes that offer supplementary insights and anecdotes, lending credibility to his analysis. His extensive acknowledgments is a "who's who" of key church diplomats.

"God's Diplomats" will appeal to many audiences. It is a must read for secular diplomats and church leaders at every level engaged with the church's diplomatic efforts. It should also be required reading for trained diplomats. In-the-pew Catholics and other people of goodwill will find it affirming of the positive role that religion can play in the public square.

Colecchi served as director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2004 to 2018. In that role, he frequently engaged diplomats at every level of the church in many regions of the world.

Book seeks to correct record on church's role in key historical period

BY DANIEL S. MULHALL (CNS) "The Church and the Middle Ages (1000-1378): Cathedrals, Crusades and the Papacy in Exile" by Steve Weidenkopf. Ave Maria Press (Notre Dame, Indiana, 2020). 192 pp., $17.95.

There are many ways to write about history. Some authors present a chronological progression of events while others offer the "great man" approach in which they tell how specific actors shaped the world.

Some wish to tell a coherent story, to show that because of this string of events a climactic outcome was destined to occur, while others present just the facts allowing the reader to make her or his own decisions about the significance of events.

Steve Weidenkopf in "The Church and the Middle Ages" presents a mostly chronological look at the Catholic Church's role in shaping the years between 1000 and 1378, through the lens of the men and women who played key roles. Because the major emphasis is on the role of the church, the focus is primarily on Western European events.

Although he has written a short book, Weidenkopf covers a great many important events, including a brief overview of life and worldview of people living during the period covered, the reform of the papacy, the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western branches of Catholicism, the Crusades and the Inquisition.

As books have been written on each of these topics

separately, telling their combined stories well in under 200 pages is a challenge that the author meets, often very well.

This book is part of the publisher's Reclaiming Catholic History series, which aims to "bring church history to life, debunking the myths one era at a time," according to its introduction.

Thus, Weidenkopf includes a "You Be the Judge" feature in each chapter that seeks to clarify the motive for various events. Also included in each chapter is a longer feature on one person who played a significant role. As one might expect from a series that seeks to correct the record, there is a pro-church bias in how events are portrayed. The Inquisition is even portrayed in a positive light and justified.

A danger in covering so much ground in so few pages is that some topics get little attention or comments are left unexplained.

For example, while the creation of the great Catholic universities is mentioned, little is said about the almost explosive development of thought that occurs during this period that led to the amazing flourishing that was the Renaissance. Another example appears on page 60 when the author writes about "a grueling four-month death march" without explanation.

This is an amazing period in the history of the world in which the Catholic Church played a major part.

The foundations of the modern world were laid during this period, so to understand what is happening today it is vital to understand what happened then, warts and all.

For those seeking an introduction to the history of the medieval period, this book provides an "engaging primer," as the front-cover blurb asserts.

This is the book cover of "The Church and the Middle Ages (1000-1378): Cathedrals, Crusades and the Papacy in Exile,"

by Steve Weidenkopf. The book is reviewed by Daniel S. Mulhall.

(CNS photo/courtesy Ave Maria Press)

18 youth

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

School is back in gear

(Above) SOUTHAVEN – Kindergarten students with their teacher, Amber Hayes, work on "cheer them up" posters to send to the hospital.

(Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker) (Left) VICKSBURG – Lizzie McSherry receives communion from Bishop Joseph Kopacz at a special "Back to School" Mass at Vicksburg Catholic School. (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman first grade student, Ja'Kayla Davis, along with her other classmates, work on one of their first class assignments during the first week of school. In the background, teacher, Ashanti Moses works with class member, Caliyah Hopson. (Photo by Shae Robinson)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

YOUTH 19

School days MADISON – At St. Joseph School, Diane Waldon explains a chemistry experiment to sophomore, John Eatherly, on Tuesday, Aug. 10, the first day back to school.

(Photo by courtesy of St. Jospeh Catholic School)

LELAND – Father Sleeva Mekala blessed backpacks at St. James parish on Sunday, Aug. 22. (Photo by Deborah Ruggeri)

NATCHEZ – Seventh grader, Julia Claire Jex strikes the right combination at Cathedral School. (Photo by Cara Moody Serio)

COLUMBUS – Third grade student, William Marrett takes his star pre-assessments for math and reading in the computer lab at Annunciation School. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick School volunteer, Frank Washington, helps fourth grader Halle Smith with her backpack on her first day of school, on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. (Photo courtesy of St. Patrick Catholic School)

20 DIOCESE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

'... Father Bob Goodyear is so successful in his ministry because he walks with the people every step of the way ...'

– Continued from page 1 –

tion of the faith among the poor and abandoned” in his ministry.

“Father Bob Goodyear is so successful in his ministry because he walks with the people every step of the way,” said Diocese of Jackson Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz. “Father Bob has remained stalwart in his love for the people and in his commitment to foster their Catholic faith in our loving God.” Language is the doorway to the soul In his seminary formation, Father Goodyear never imagined serving a Native American community. After arriving at Holy Rosary Indian Mission in 1975, he spent his first years learning everything he could about Choctaw culture.

This included the Choctaw language — despite being told not to bother because non-natives had never been successful doing so.

“That’s the wrong thing to say to me,” said Father Goodyear. “Because now I’m going to try.”

With the help of three Choctaw, he was able to learn the language. After eight years of study, his education reached its culmination: translating the Catholic Mass into the Choctaw language. On May 1, 1983, Father Goodyear celebrated his first Mass in Choctaw at St. Catherine, with a Vatican-approved text.

During the homily, he delivered this inspiring message: “Language is more than words and how you put them together. Language tells you your history. It tells you your dreams.”

Along with learning the Choctaw language, Father Goodyear has had his hands in several of what he calls “non-traditional” ministries. He established the Choctaw Suicide Council and its corresponding “Suicide Counseling Manual.” Additionally, he opened a youth recreation center.

Father Goodyear served Holy Rosary Indian Mission from 1975 to 1990. After two assignments away from the reservation, he returned in 2006. Upon returning to the Mississippi Choctaw, the tribal chief told him, “I am very worried about the spiritual life of my people.”

Forming Choctaw Catholic leaders for the future In Father Goodyear’s time away, the Catholic Church lost some of its footing among the Choctaw. His focus in his last 15 years of ministry and counting has been on developing lay leadership at the three mission churches. These lay leaders will help teach and pass on the faith to future generations.

“My most exciting moment is confirmation,” Father Goodyear said. “I’m the catechist for confirmation because I want them to get everything they need. Kids that have been confirmed have gone on to be eucharistic ministers.”

Father Goodyear, 72, has eucharistic ministers playing a vital role at Holy Rosary Indian Mission. He developed a training manual that teaches eucharistic ministers not only how to serve during Mass, but also how to lead Communion services in the absence of a priest and how to deliver the Eucharist to the sick and shut-ins. The manual is used throughout the Diocese of Jackson and

PHILADELPHIA – Father Bob Goodyear stands in front of Holy Rosary Indian Mission. He is a finalist for the Catholic Extension 2021 Lumen Christi Award.

For a combined 31 years, Father Goodyear has been helping the Choctaw community grow closer to God. (Photos courtesy of Catholic Extension) at parishes in other states.

Father Goodyear had been pleased with the progress made in developing lay leaders. That progress, however, was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having performed three to four funerals a week at the height of the pandemic — the average number for a single month in previous years — he has shifted his ministry in these unprecedented times toward helping the Choctaw grieve.

“Their beliefs about death are very special,” Father Goodyear said. “They have a close relationship with the spirits who have died.”

Now, as the Choctaw hopefully emerge from the pandemic, Father Goodyear aims to renew the church on the reservation by continuing to develop lay leaders and by helping the Choctaw believe in themPastoral Assignments selves.

“I preach that you can’t really believe in God if you don’t believe in yourself, because you’re made in His image,” Father Goodyear said. “God not only created you, He believes in you.”

Rev. Nick Hein Nguyen appointed Pastor, Holy Ghost Parish in Jackson, effective July 1.

Rev. Aaron Williams appointed Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parishes in Meridian, effective September 7, 2021.

Father Bob Goodyear stopped for a photo op with members of the Choctaw community at the 71st annual Choctaw Indian Fair in July. He is one of seven finalists for a Lumen Christi Award. The award is Catholic Extension’s highest honor given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Diocese of Jackson