Homegrown Harvest: Growing vocations in the diocese
By Joanna puddistEr King
JACKSON – The Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest began with a vision of an event to celebrate future priests of the Diocese of Jackson. Now being hosted at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, the Homegrown Harvest event has grown from its humble beginnings as an online only event in 2020, where Father Nick Adam and Bishop Joseph Kopacz talked about the call to vocations to an event that brings the community together to celebrate the Catholic faith and future priests.
The fifth annual Homegrown Harvest will kickoff at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson. The event boasts fantastic food, a silent auction, raffle and more in support of vocations in the Diocese of Jackson. Tickets admitting two to the event cost $100 and members of the Women’s Burse Club are invited to the event as well with their membership donation.
The cost of educating seminarians is far from nominal, with the estimated expenses for tuition, room and board at the college seminary and theology levels at $40,000 per year, per student. When adding in travel, summer assignments, and additional formation programs, the total annual cost per seminarian approaches $50,000.
Currently, the diocese has six seminarians – Will
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JACKSON – The Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson will be the site of the annual Jackson Seminarian Homegrown Harvest fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 12. To purchase tickets or to sponsor the Homegrown Harvest in support of seminarian education, visit bit.ly/HGHarvest2024.
(Photo courtesy of Mississippi Catholic)
Eucharistic Congress in Ecuador closes with cry for Earth; Australians overjoyed Sydney to host 2028 gathering
By Eduardo Campos Lima
(OSV News) – As Ecuador’s International Eucharistic Congress wrapped up in the country’s capital, Quito, Australians burst into joy as the announcement was made that they will host the 54th congress in 2028.
Other significant moments during the congress came when speakers focused on the church’s environmental concerns and the need to take care of the Earth – our “common home.”
The International Eucharistic Congress is held every four years, and the gathering in Sydney is expected to draw tens of thousands of faithful Catholics from across the globe.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, present
at the final Mass in Quito Sept. 15, said that this will be the largest gathering held on Australian shores since World Youth Day 2008.
“The International Eucharistic Congress is a joyous occasion that will deepen our understanding of the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist,” he said.
“It is my hope that in hosting the International Eucharistic Congress we might renew the sense of solemnity, mystery, welcome and joy in the liturgical life of our city, revitalize our Christian lives, and increase our outreach to those most in need,” Archbishop Fisher said.
The bid to host the event had the backing of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia and will see Sydney become the global capital of Catholicism for one week.
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Patriots Day 12 Schools thank local first responders on Sept. 11
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
FLOWOOD – St. Paul, “Bee Attitudes” Women’s Retreat, Oct. 18-20 at Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center in Chatawa with Father Anthony Quyet. Ladies of St. Paul, come experience the Beatitudes from the perspective of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Paula D’Arcy’s A New Set of Eyes Details: email finance@spaulcc.org.
GREENWOOD – Locus Benedictus, Healing Retreat with Maria Vadia on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The retreat is free; a love offering will be taken. Details: call (662) 299–1232.
JACKSON – St. Richard, “Inspire” – a day retreat for women of all ages, Saturday, Nov. 2 from 8:30-3:30 p.m. in Foley Hall. Suggested donation: $30. Register by Oct. 15. Details: claudiaaddison@mac.com or (601) 594-3937.
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – The OCE hosts a Zoom Rosary the first Wednesday of each month during the school year at 7 p.m. On Oct. 2, Vicksburg Catholic School will lead us in prayer. Join early and place your intentions in the chat. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/zoomrosary2024 or check the diocese calendar of events.
VIRTUAL – Healing Racism: Achiving a Eucharistic World Webinar by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m. This webinar includes presentations on raising and promoting social consciousness towards the vision of eucharistic compassion and a more racially just church. Details: register at www.katharinedrexel. org/SJCwebinar.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
ABERDEEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Parish Picnic, Saturday Oct. 5 following the 5 p.m. Mass. Details: email abstfrancis@gmail.com.
BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis, Parish Picnic, Sunday, Oct. 6, following 10 a.m. Mass. Details: church office (601) 833-1799.
COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 27 from 4-6:30 p.m. Have an amazing halloween experience for youth with trunk or treat, cake walk, games, contests, hall of saints, food and more. No pets. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.
CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, 100th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. Mass with Bishop Kopacz, followed by a luncheon. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.
FOREST – St. Michael, Feast celebration with Mass at Gaddis Park. Sunday Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. Details: church office (601) 469-1916.
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Parish Picnic and Trunk or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 26 after 4 p.m. Mass. Details: church office (601) 856-2054.
GREENWOOD – Immaculate Heart of Mary, CYO Spaghetti Supper and Halloween Carnival, Monday, Oct. 28. Spaghetti supper available for drive-thru, carry out or dine in beginning at 4:30 p.m. Carnival booths open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo at 6 p.m. Cost: $15 Details: church office (662) 453-3980.
GREENWOOD – St. Francis, Feast of St. Francis, Sunday, Oct. 6. Bilingual Mass at 12 p.m. followed by parish potluck. All are invited, bring your favorite dish. Details: church office (662) 453-0623.
HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Cocktails and Catholicism, Liturgical Music with Stacy Michael on Friday, Oct. 11. Doors open at 6 p.m. 21+ and over. BYOB. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.
JACKSON – St. Richard, Special Kids Golf Tournament, Thursday, Oct. 10 at Deerfield Golf Club in Canton. Morning and afternoon scrambles available.
Details: for more information visit https://saintrichard.com/special-kids-day or email golf@saintrichard.com.
St. Richard School, Cardinal Fest and Chili Cookoff, Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Entry cost: $20. Enjoy games, food, music and more. Chili cook-off teams needed! See more info at https://bit. ly/3TDIXFu. Details: school office (601) 366-1157.
Cathedral of St. Peter, Hispanic Heritage Potluck, Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Details: RSVP at https://bit.ly/HHPotluck2024.
LELAND – St. James, Spaghetti Dinner and Fair, Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5 p..m. Booths open at 6 p.m. Cost: $15 per plate. Details: Debbie at (662) 684-7352.
MADISON – St. Francis, A Taste of St. Francis Feast, Sunday, Oct. 6 in the Family Life Center after 10:30 a.m. Mass. Details: sign up forms at the entrance of the church or call (601) 856-5556.
St. Francis, Blessing of the Animals, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in the courtyard. Pets must be leashed or in a crate. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.
St. Francis, Parish Mission, Becoming People of the Eucharist: Encountering Christ, Oct. 7-8 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, St. Anne and St. Catherine Brunch, Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Father Vally Room. This event is for anyone who has suffered infertility, miscarriage or loss of child. Join us for a time of comfort, prayer and gentle conversation with others who understand. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.
St. Joseph, Octoberfest and Health Fair, Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning with blessing of the animals. Enjoy food, games, activities and fun for all. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School, Fall Festival, Oct. 5 and 6. Enjoy midway games, shopping, raffles, adult night, bingo and more. Details: visit @CathedralFallFest on Facebook.
St. Mary Basilica, Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Halloween Bash, Sunday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. Enjoy games, food trunk or treat and more. All are welcome. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.
Queen of Peace, 50th Anniversary Celebration for Deacon Mark White, Sunday, Nov. 10, Mass at 10 a.m. with Bishop Kopacz. Details: RSVP to queenop@shsm.org.
PEARL – St. Jude, Hispanic Heritage Potluck Fest, Sunday, Oct. 6 after 12:15 p.m. Mass. Bring your favorite dish to share. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.
PONTOTOC – St. Christopher, Outdoor Mass and Potluck at the Tanglefoot Trail Pavillion on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m. Details: church office (662) 842-4881.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christ the King, Adult Halloween Party, Saturday, Oct. 26, doors open at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a night of dancing, food, fun, fellowship and fright in the social hall. Music by DJ Fernando. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.
VICKSBURG – Knights of Columbus 898, Drawdown Dinner, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. Cost: $75 for two – dine in only and one draw for $3,000 grand prize. Details: www.kc898.square.site
DIOCESE
JOB OPENING – The Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Communications is looking for a full-
time marketing specialist. Role involves creating and promoting content across multimedia platforms, including social media, websites and promotional materials. The position requires strong communication skills, knowledge of Catholic teachings and proficiency in design and communication software. College degree required with two years experience. Send a cover letter and resume to joanna.king@ jacksondiocese.org no later than Oct. 25, 2024. If you would like a full job description, visit https://jacksondiocese.org/employment-1.
JACKSON – Homegrown Harvest for Jackson Seminarians, Saturday Oct. 12 at the Two Mississippi Museums. Tickets: $100, admits two. Details: bit.ly/ HGHarvest2024.
YOUNG ADULTS – Trivia on Tap, Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at Blaylock Photography in Ridgeland. Guest speaker will be pro-life advocate, Anja Baker. Ages 21+ are welcome.
Second Annual Kickball Tournament, Sunday, Oct. 27 from 2-4 p.m. at St. Francis Madison. All young adults ages 18-35 are welcome. Details: to join email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org.
Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, May 12-27. Father Lincoln Dall will be leading this once in a lifetime journey. Space is limited. Email amelia.rizor@ jacksondiocese.org for more information.
YOUTH – Diocesan SEARCH Retreat for tenth through twelth graders, Jan. 17-19, 2025 at Camp Wesley Pines, Gallman. Diocese High School Confirmation Retreat, Jan. 25-26, 2025 at Lake Forest Ranch, Macon. Diocese Catholic Youth Conference – DCYC for ninth through twelth grades, March 2123, 2025 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Details: contact your individual parish offices or contact Abbey at (601) 949-6934 or abbey.schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org.
CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER – CEE is our diocesan marriage prep program for couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage. The upcoming weekends for 2024/2025 are: Oct. 11-13; Feb. 21-23, 2025; August 1-3, 2025; and Oct. 24-26, 2025 at Camp Garaywa in Clinton; and April 25-27, 2025 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville. Register at https:// bit.ly/CEE2024-2025. Details: email debbie.tubertini@jacksondiocese.org.
R dgeland Cl nton
APPLIANCE AUDIO VIDEO BEDDING FURNITURE SUPERSTORE
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Jackson Flowood Pearl
110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees: “God walks with His people”
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
From the center of our church and from the heart of Jesus Christ, each year for the past 110, a succession of popes in an unbroken chain beginning with Benedict XV in 1914 and continuing with Pope Francis in 2024, have dedicated a World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Historically, it was the agonizing impact of World War I that brought about the beginning of this worthy commemoration.
In addition to the death of millions of combatants and civilians on the European continent, millions were displaced and fled from their beloved homelands. War is evil, and in every generation, it is one of the most obvious reasons that incites forced migration, a tragedy in our time that is being played out in the Ukraine, the Middle East, and in several African nations to name but a few. There are other causes. Deep-rooted poverty and natural disasters, often linked, famine, overwhelming violence from cartels and unbridled corruption are significant factors that also fan the flames of migration.
God, Almighty Father, we are your pilgrim church journeying towards the Kingdom of heaven, but as if we were foreigners.
Every foreign place is our home, yet every native land is foreign to us. Though we live on earth, our true citizenship is in heaven.
Do not let us become possessive of the portion of the world You have given us as a temporary home, together with our migrant brothers and sisters, toward the eternal dwelling you have prepared for us.
Open our eyes and our hearts so that every encounter with those in need becomes an encounter with Jesus, your Son and our Lord.
The church throughout the world is serving and suffering in these harsh realities. Reflecting on the mysteries of the Kingdom of God as is our spiritual nature, Oct. 19, 2023 marked the conclusion of the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The following are some selections from Pope Francis’ statement on this year’s commemoration. “Emphasizing the synodal dimension allows the church to rediscover its itinerant nature as the People of God journeying through history on pilgrimage, ‘migrating,’ we could say, toward the Kingdom of Heaven … Likewise, it is possible to see in the migrants of our time, as in those of every age, a living image of God’s people on their way to the eternal homeland. Their journeys of hope remind us that ‘our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.’” (Phil 3:20) For this reason, the encounter with the migrant, as with every brother and sister in need, is also an encounter with Christ. He himself said so. Every encounter along the way represents an opportunity to meet the Lord; it is an occasion charged with salvation, because Jesus is present in the sister or brother in need of our help. In this
P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130 Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org
Amen.
– Pope Francis (from his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2024)
sense, the poor save us, because they enable us to encounter the face of the Lord.”
The following is but one traumatic event in the tragic story of forced migration. Awakened in the dark of night, José’s mother told him to leave and head north to stay with his aunt who lived thousands of miles away in another country. It was not that she wanted him to go, her heart shattered with the very prospect of his departure, but ongoing threats from gangs and drug cartels in the neighborhood where they lived anticipated his death if he stayed. She would join him soon, she promised, for remaining might guarantee her the same fate if they found that she had sent him away.
Such stories could be multiplied almost endlessly and told with any number of variations with respect to their details. People like José come to this country as a stranger, often with no family ties, no friends, and just with the hope that they might find a place of safety. We know that vulnerability suffuses the worlds of refugees, migrants and immigrants, but good news is also part of the story.
Whether we look at migration and immigration pragmatically, or through the lens of the Gospel our nation has enabled many to flourish who have arrived by air, water or land. In return, we are a nation rich in diversity, flourishing from the labors of so many strangers.
The World Day of Migration and Refugees challenges us to build upon the blessings that abound with the movement of peoples, while addressing the burdens and challenges in a manner worthy of our calling as the Lord’s disciples. It matters what we think, how we speak, and the way we respond to the strangers in our midst. God walks with his people, all of us.
Friday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m. – 150th Anniversary of founding of the School Sisters of St. Francis, Holy Spirit, Hernando
Sunday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. – 100th Anniversary Celebration and Mass, Our Lady of Victories, Cleveland
Volume 70 Number 17 (ISSN 1529-1693)
Publisher Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz
Communications Director Joanna Puddister King
Production Manager Tereza Ma
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published digitally twice per month January – April and September – December; once per month June, July and August. Mississippi Catholic mails 14 editions per year – twice per month in December and January; and once per month February –November. For address changes, corrections or to join the email list for the digital edition, email: editor@jacksondiocese.org. Subscription rate: $20 a year in Mississippi, $21 out-of-state. Periodical postage at Jackson, MS 39201 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130. Website: www.mississippicatholic.com w www.jacksondiocese.org
Saturday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. – Homegrown Harvest Fundraiser for Jackson Seminarians, Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
Tuesday, Oct. 15 and 22, 7:30 a.m. – Mass, Carmelite Monastery, Jackson
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8 a.m. – Mass and Dedication, St. Joseph School, Greenville
Saturday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m. – Confirmation, St. Anne, Carthage
Sunday, Oct. 20, 4 p.m. – Confirmation, Christ the King, Southaven
Monday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m. – Mass, Sacred Heart School, Southaven
Monday, Oct. 21, 1 p.m. – Mass, Holy Family School, Holly Spring
Friday, Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. – Mass, Annunciation Catholic School, Columbus
All events are subject to change. Check with parishes or schools for further details.
BISHOP’S SCHEDULE
Last issue I shared a little about our brand-new partnership with Vianney Vocations as we have formed a Vocation Team of priests across the diocese to start running discernment groups for young men. These discernment groups are very well organized and each of the priests running a group has gone through four sessions of training to help them understand how to make the group fun and beneficial for the men. The groups meet once a week for six weeks in the fall and in the spring, and they include one service project and one social outing.
The folks at Vianney have been very insistent that we follow their model for these groups. Speaking for myself, I know it is easy to think “well, I know that they said to do it one way, but I’m going to do it another way.” We have been strongly encouraged to avoid this thinking. These groups have been serving young men well in dioceses across the country, and they help guys build fraternal bonds and grow in their faith, whether they end up in seminary or not.
These groups have already kicked off. I know that Father Kent Bowlds has started one in Cleveland, and mine will start Sept. 29 in Jackson. The goal of these groups is to create sources of accompaniment for young men who often feel very isolated in their discernment. Not that many guys in high school or college or in the workforce are comfortable talking about their faith, and even less are seriously open to discerning a call to the priesthood. With these groups, guys will have the opportunity to walk with each other and find encouragement. It also allows them to have regular conversations with a priest who can share with them about his life.
The overarching concern that I have as vocation director is –how can we best accompany young men who are open to God’s
FROM THE HERMITAGE
By sr. alies therese
Olympic athletes are exhausted. Revive. A single mother has worked two jobs. Revive. The tent went up in the small rural town, the preacher arrived and the people filed in. Revival.
S.E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders says, “Rat race is a perfect name for it. We’re always going and going and going, and never asking where … It seems like we’re always searching for something to satisfy us, and never finding it.”
Searching for revival seems a real thing today in our political moment, in our moment when all seems lost, in a moment when we discover the message of the Scripture. Revival invites us to rest, recover, and feel something new. Maybe you celebrate the Sabbath (the Lord’s Day)? It is a day of revival. It might be Sunday when you or the family chill, play, and eat family favorites. Every Sunday, we can have a day to interrupt the rat race. Every Sunday, we can enter into the peace of God. Every Sunday. Revival. It is the day we can help, hug, and encourage one another to continue searching and learning to love. We can even take a nap! Maybe that’s why it is called Sabbath rest?
call? This is a concern that is difficult to address in a diocese that is so big, and so when Vianney Vocations approached me with their plan and offered their support, I was incredibly interested. As these groups launch, I ask for particular prayers that the priests responsible for them will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to overcome obstacles, think creatively, and be renewed by their service to the men in their groups. I really believe that this will be the key to achieving a sustainable, Spirit-led increase in vocations, and, if God wills it, even an abundance of them.
Also – we just finalized the design for our new seminarian poster, so be on the lookout for those and be sure to keep our six seminarians in your prayers.
– Father Nick Adam, vocation director
Revive, restore, replenish
“On the seventh day God finished His work.” (Gen 2:1-3) The heavens and the earth were finished. Restoration continues this notion of revival by reminding us that on that day God not only rested but He “sanctified and blest the day.” How is that going with you? We enter into this sanctification in one way by attending Mass, where we meet Jesus and our community. We are restored to health and reminded that “the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest holy to the Lord.” (Third commandment)
Restoration is gleaned by allowing ourselves to be forgiving and … forgiven. Repentance is a way to restore harmony in the family, in the town or in the country. Indeed, in God’s universe. One way to do this is to allow our Sabbath day to be a constant in our lives. If I make a doctor’s appointment and write it in my diary … unless something tragic happens, I attend. We can do the same with the Sabbath. It is God’s day … it is our day to be refreshed and restored in His love.
Finally, from paying attention to what revival and restoration do for us, we become replenished with an overflowing joy that we have distanced ourselves from anger and hatred, fear and anxiety. Yes, we open up like newborns and breathe deeply. Our hands are lifted to the Lord, our minds are refreshed, and
most importantly our hearts have been refilled with God’s loving-kindness. When we were not kind previously, we can say sorry and allow the kindness of God to fill us and we can pass it on to others. Happiness comes from allowing God, who will always replenish us with kindness, joy, and love, to overflow into the family or community.
The English American writer Frances Hodgson Burnett in The Litte Princess reminds us, “Anyone who is kind wants to know when people have been made happy. They care for that more than being thanked.”
So, begin to practice a real Sabbath day (Sunday the Lord’s Day) each week and you will deepen your love of God. Learn to read the Scriptures on that day, share them with your family, and know that this love letter from God is to restore you as He replenishes you. Gratitude will be your best prayer.
Blessings.
(Sister alies therese is a canonically vowed hermit with days formed around prayer and writing.)
Father Nick Adam
Being rich, but in a hurry
IN EXILE
By Father ron rolheiser, oMi
Several years ago, I went with another priest to visit a mutual friend. Our friend, a successful businessman, was living on the top floor of a very expensive apartment overlooking the river valley in the city of Edmonton. At one point during our visit, he took us out on his balcony to show us the view. It was spectacular. You could see for miles, the entire river valley and much of the city. We were in awe and told him so. Thanking us for the compliments, he shared that, sadly, he seldom came out on the balcony to drink in the view. Here are some of his words: “You know, I should give this place to some poor family who could enjoy it. I could live in a basement apartment since I never have time to enjoy this. I can’t remember when I last came out here to watch a sunset or a sunrise. I’m always too busy, too pressured, too preoccupied. This place is wasted on me. About the only time I come out here is when I have visitors and want to show them the view.”
Jesus once said something that might be paraphrased this way: What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and are forever too much in a hurry and too pressured to enjoy it.
When Jesus talks about gaining the whole world and suffering the loss of your own soul, he isn’t first of all referring to having a bad moral life, dying in sin and going to hell. That’s the more radical warning in his message. We can lose our soul in other ways, even while we are good, dedicated, moral people. The man whose story I just shared is indeed a very good, dedicated, moral and kind man. But he is, by his own humble admission, struggling to be a soulful person, to be more inside the richness of his own life because when you live under constant pressure and are perennially forced to hurry, it isn’t easy to get up in the morning and say: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.” We are more likely to say: “Lord, just get me through this day!”
As well, when Jesus tells us that it’s difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, he isn’t just referring to material riches, money and affluence, though these are contained in the warning. The problem can also be a rich agenda, a job or a passion that so consumes us that we rarely take the time (or even think of taking the time) to enjoy the beauty of a sunset or the fact that we are healthy and have the privilege of having a rich agenda.
Full disclosure, this is one of my struggles. During all my years in ministry, I have always been blessed with a rich agenda, important work, work that I love. But, when I’m honest, I need to admit that during these years I have been too hurried and over pressured to watch many sunsets (unless, like my friend, I was pointing out their beauty to a visitor).
I have tried to break out of this by conscripting myself to regular times of quiet prayer, regular walks, retreats, and several weeks of vacation each year. That has helped, no doubt, but I’m still too much of an addict, pressured and hurried almost all the time, longing for space for quiet, for prayer, for sunsets, for a hike in a park, for a glass of wine or scotch, for a contemplative cigar. And
I recognize an irony here: I’m hurrying and tiring myself out in order to carve out some time to relax!
I’m no Thomas Merton, but I take consolation in the fact that he, a monk in a monastery, was often too busy and pressured to find solitude. In search of that, he spent the last few years of his life in hermitage, away from the main monastery except for Eucharist and the office of the church each day. Then, when he found solitude, he was surprised at how different it was from the way he had imagined it. Here’s how he describes it in his diary:
Today I am in solitude because at this moment “it is enough to be, in an ordinary human mode, with
The Pope’s Corner
one’s hunger and sleep, one’s cold and warmth, rising and going to bed. Putting on blankets and taking them off, making coffee and then drinking it. Defrosting the refrigerator, reading, meditating, working, praying. I live as my ancestors lived on this earth, until eventually I die. Amen. There is no need to make an assertion about my life, especially so about it as mine … I must learn to live so as to forget program and artifice.”
And to check out the sunset from my balcony!
When we are rich, busy, pressured and preoccupied, it’s hard to taste one’s own coffee.
(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.)
Encountering, following Jesus changes everything, pope says
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – It is not enough to know about Jesus, one must encounter him, be changed by his Gospel and follow him, Pope Francis said.
“I can know many things about Jesus, but if I have not encountered him, I still do not know who Jesus is,” the pope told visitors and pilgrims who joined him in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 15 for the midday recitation of the Angelus prayer.
“It takes this life-changing encounter; it changes one’s way of being, one’s way of thinking, it changes the relationships you have with your brothers and sisters, your willingness to accept and forgive, it changes the choices you make in life,” he said.
In the day’s Gospel reading from St. Mark, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
Peter responds correctly, saying that he is the Christ, the pope said. However, Peter still has a “worldly” way of thinking that believes the Messiah must be strong and victorious, and can never suffer or die.
“So, the words with which Peter responds are
‘right,’ but his way of thinking has not changed,” Pope Francis said. “He still has to change his mindset; he still has to convert.”
This is the same message for all Catholics, who must ask themselves, “Who is Jesus for me?” he said. It is not enough to respond with something learned in catechism class, to know doctrine and to recite prayers correctly.
“In reality, to know the Lord, it is not enough to know something about him, but rather to follow him, to let oneself be touched and changed by his Gospel. It is a matter of having a relationship with him, an encounter,” he said.
The faithful, he said, should be “bothered” by the questions and ask “who Jesus is for me, and what place does he occupy in my life? Do I follow Jesus only in word, continuing to have a worldly mentality, or do I set out to follow him, allowing the encounter with him to transform my life?”
“Everything changes if you have truly come to know Jesus!” the pope said.
Pope Francis greets visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus at the Vatican Sept. 15, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
' We are called to cultivate fraternity in a world with so many divisions'
Australians burst into joy in Quito, Ecuador, Sept. 15, 2024, the last day of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress, as they learn that the 54th congress will be held in Sydney in 2028. (OSV News photo/courtesy International Eucharistic Congress)
– Continued from page 1 –
The highlights of the event will be the large opening and closing Masses and a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Sydney.
The IEC in Quito concluded with such a procession Sept. 14 and with a closing Eucharistic celebration Sept. 15 with presider Cardinal Baltazar Porras Cardozo, retired archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, and pontifical legate for the congress. On both occasions, as well as in several moments of the congress, the need to take care of the Earth – our “common home” – was emphasized.
The message was especially timely as South America faces some of the most serious wildfires in its history.
According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, as of September, there have been more than 346,000 wildfires in South America this year, especially in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay. The figure surpassed the previous annual record set in 2007. The monitoring study of fires began in 1998.
A serious drought in most of the region has created the ideal conditions for the spread of wildfires. In many cases, ranchers begin a fire in order to clear the terrain and prepare the soil for the seeds. With the lack of humidity, the flames end up spreading throughout the vegetation, provoking broad devastation. That has been the case in the Amazon rainforest, especially in Brazil.
In his homily, Cardinal Porras said that “care for the common home is a fruit of fraternity.” He added that Latin America is “a continent devastated by the irrational exploitation of nature,” recalled the Synod for the Pan-Amazon region, promoted in 2019, and said that nature is a dimension that cannot be ignored.
On the previous day, Archbishop Luis Cabrera of Guayaquil, Ecuador, who led the Eucharistic procession, said that “God loves this earth, many times contaminated and exploited.” By believing in Jesus, he said, the faithful have the strength to feel they are
the “administrators and not owners of the Earth’s goods.”
The most important moment of the congress when the church’s environmental concerns were addressed occurred Sept. 13, when Bishop Rafael Cob of Puyo, Ecuador, who heads the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network, known by its Spanish acronym REPAM, talked about the rainforest.
“The contemplation of God in the Eucharist may lead us to see that the human being is devastating his creation,” Bishop Cob told OSV News.
The Eucharist must lead us not only to a commitment to our brothers and sisters, but also to our common home, he added.
“God’s creation, manifested in the Amazon, needs to be taken care of and defended from its destroyers,” Bishop Cob said.
He added that REPAM has been working in that direction since its foundation in 2014, with the goal not only of protecting the environment but also of being side by side with the Amazonian peoples, whose rights have been continually violated.
Bishop José Adalberto Jiménez of the Aguarico Vicariate, Ecuador, who attended the whole event, felt that the theme of the protection of the Amazon and of the “common home” as a whole should have been
mentioned with more intensity at the Eucharistic congress, given the seriousness of the current crisis.
“We have been facing a strong drought in Ecuador and there are wildfires in several provinces. River Napo, which begins in Ecuador, crosses Peru and reaches River Solimões in Brazil, “is terribly low now,” Bishop Jiménez told OSV News.
In Aguarico, the church has been continually denouncing the presence of 300 backhoes near River Punino. The machines are operated by illegal miners connected to large drug trafficking gangs. Illegal mining has been severely impacting the region and the local communities, but the authorities haven’t taken any measure against it, Bishop Jiménez lamented.
“We also have to deal with oil drilling in the area. More than 500 lighters have been burning without pause, causing many problems for the environment and for the people’s health,” he added.
Bishop Jiménez stressed that REPAM has launched several initiatives to protect the environment and help the Amazon to recover.
“But we certainly don’t have any power to deal with illegal miners. They have equipment and guns, and the authorities fail to act. We denounced them, but we feel impotent,” he lamented.
In the opinion of Bishop Cob, the fact that people from almost 60 countries attended the congress and heard the reports concerning the Amazon’s devastation generates hope.
“As Christians, we are called to cultivate fraternity in a world with so many divisions. We are also invited to struggle for the environment, to struggle for the Amazon. I think people from several countries are taking back with them that message,” Bishop Cob concluded.
(Eduardo Campos Lima writes for OSV News from São Paulo.)
' Send out laborers for his harvest'
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Foggo of St. Paul Flowood; Grayson Foley of St. Richard Jackson; EJ Martin of St. Richard Jackson; Wilson Locke of St. Paul Vicksburg; Francisco Maldonado of Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood; and Joe Pearson of St. Richard Jackson.
Foggo is the “most senior” of the seminarians for the Diocese of Jackson. Father Nick says that he is scheduled to be ordained a deacon next year and ordained a priest in the spring of 2026. Attendees at Homegrown Harvest will hear from Foggo about his time in seminary and from others.
Father Nick says that the six current seminarians are “just the type of men who we need to be considering the priesthood.” With some parishes in the diocese without a full-time pastor and others with priests nearing the age of retirement, he realizes the need to grow the vocations office to reach more young men, who may need a nudge to accept the call from the Lord to consider priesthood.
“So many incredible priests have served us throughout the years, but we continue to need more men from our diocese to serve,” said Father Nick.
To assist in growing “homegrown” vocations, the newest priest of the diocese – Father Tristan Stovall – was appointed by Bishop Joseph Kopacz as assistant vocations director and the office recently announced a new partnership with Vianney Vocations through an initiative called “Vocation Pathway.”
“We are excited about this new chapter,” said Father Nick. “Please keep us in your prayers and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers for His harvest.”
To purchase tickets or to sponsor the Homegrown Harvest in support of seminarian education, visit bit.ly/HGHarvest2024.
Pope thrives, hits main themes of his pontificate during Asia-Pacific trip
By Cindy Wooden
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE (CNS) – The 87-year-old Pope Francis not only survived the longest trip of his pontificate, but he drew energy from the crowds who came to see him, and he seemed to enjoy his 12-day visit to Asia and the Pacific.
Unity, respect for one’s culture, interreligious dialogue, care for the poor and for the environment were the main themes of his talks in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore Sept. 2-13.
Except for in Jakarta, Indonesia, his last event in each country was a meeting with young people. And despite his age, all the meetings he already had sat through, and changing time zones with each country, Pope Francis seemed to draw the most energy from the young.
He did not follow a single prepared text for his gatherings with teens and young adults, and none of the meetings finished on time. Instead, picking up on a phrase or two of what he heard from his young hosts, he’d launch a dialogue, revving up the crowd with “I can’t hear you” when they didn’t respond loudly enough.
The 45th trip of his pontificate took him from predominantly Muslim Indonesia to predominantly Christian Papua New Guinea and from poverty-stricken Timor-Leste to super-affluent Singapore.
While poverty, development and the consolidation of democratic institutions are still challenges for the country, which won its independence in 2002, Pope Francis said he was impressed by how young the pop-
ulation was, by the people’s enthusiasm and by their faith.
In fact, an estimated 600,000 people showed up for Mass with the pope Sept. 10 in a park in Tasitolu; the country itself has a population of only 1.3 million people – 96% of whom are Catholic. Excluding Vatican City State, it was the largest percentage of a local population ever gathered for a single Mass, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, told reporters.
With government leaders Pope Francis addressed some of the key challenges each country faces, and with churchworkers he pleaded for ministry that was close to the people, willing to share their struggles and always conveying the joy of knowing one is loved and forgiven by God.
Pope Francis waves to young people gathered for a meeting on interreligious dialogue at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore Sept. 13, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
He did not shy away from talking about the serious divide between rich and poor in Indonesia.
Dignity and rest for deceased embryonic children
GUEST COLUMN
By Geralyn Gray-leWis, rn
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” – Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss.
Many of our friends and family find themselves on the unexpected and sorrowful pilgrimage of infertility. We know as the cost of adoption rises, the availability of infants for adoption has also declined, as many women in crisis turn to abortion in their pains. adoption, likewise, has also declined as many women in crisis turn to abortion in their pain.
Thus, many couples find themselves pursuing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a means to build their family. However, as many embryos are often created and then frozen for future use, there exists an unintended consequence: surplus.
It is estimated that between 600,000-1 million embryos are frozen in reserve. However, life is fluid and often goals for family size are regrettably not realized, cost of continued freezing unsustainable or the embryos died before transfer. Ordinarily, such deceased tiny humans in IVF labs are disposed of as “medical waste.”
What should be our proper response to the “disposal” of deceased human embryos?
In 2018, Sacred Heart Guardians began offering a free, dignified, simple Christian cemetery burial for deceased embryonic children. This ceremony occurs every third month and to date 1,611 small humans have been cared for. Parents and family can attend the service in person headquartered in Minnesota or virtually. “This process provides a perpetually cared for place in this world for these special children and their families.”
In so, doing the Sacred Heart Guardians provide dignity to the child and great comfort to families.
For more information, visit www.sacredheartguarduians.org.
(Gerry Gray-Lewis is a parishioner of St. Richard Church in Jackson.)
“Some people want to deal with this” by resorting to “a law of death, that is, limiting births, limiting the greatest wealth a nation has – new births,” he said, referring to a long-running government program promoting the use of contraceptives.
The pope elicited smiles and laughter when he told government and civic leaders Sept. 4 that in some countries, “families prefer to have a dog or a cat.”
Pope Francis visited Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque – the largest mosque in southeast Asia – Sept. 5, and he and Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam, signed a short document committing members of their religious communities to defending human dignity, especially when threatened with violence, and to defending the integrity of creation.
But recognizing the sensitive situation of Indonesia’s Catholic community, Pope Francis told churchworkers that the Christian call to share the Gospel is not about trying to win converts at all costs, but about living in a way that exudes Christian joy and always treats others with respect.
“Proclaiming the Gospel does not mean imposing our
faith or placing it in opposition to that of others, but giving and sharing the joy of encountering Christ, always with great respect and fraternal affection for everyone,” the pope told bishops, priests, religious and catechists at a meeting Sept. 4.
He made the same point, in a slightly different and less precise way Sept. 13, when he spoke extemporaneously to young adults engaged in interreligious dialogue in Singapore – a country where many religions coexist but where a significant portion of the population follows no religion at all.
“If we always say, ‘My religion is more important than yours’ or ‘My religion is true and yours is not,’ where will that lead us?” he asked the young people.
“Every religion is a path toward God,” who is the creator and father of all, the pope said. And if there is only one God and father, then all people are brothers and sisters.
In Papua New Guinea, where some 98% of the population is Christian, Pope Francis asked for a greater focus on “the peripheries of this country” with “people belonging to the most deprived segments of urban populations, as well as those who live in the most remote and abandoned areas, where sometimes basic necessities are lacking.”
“I think too of the marginalized and wounded, both morally and physically, by prejudice and superstition, sometimes to the point of having to risk their lives,” the pope said. “The church desires especially to be close to these brothers and sisters, because in them Jesus is present in a special way.”
A group of missionaries – priests and sisters –from Argentina were ministering in the jungle, and Pope Francis decided to pay them a visit.
The Australian Royal Air Force flew him 600 miles to Vanimo near Papua New Guinea’s border with Indonesia Sept. 8 for a meeting in a field with about 20,000 people and then a short drive to the missionaries’ church and school in Baro.
Father Tomás Ravaioli, one of the Argentine Incarnate Word missionaries working in Baro, told reporters, “at his age, in his condition, this is an enormous sacrifice. But it shows that what he says, what he writes, he also demonstrates” in his closeness and service to people.
The glory of ordinary time
ON ORDINARY TIMES
By Lucia a. SiLecchia
Last weekend, the morning glories took me by surprise – as they always do.
During the all-too-brief months of this past spring and summer, I bought some plants and tried my best to give them the attention they needed so that they would grow into the plants I wanted and the plants I planned. I am too impatient to be a serious gardener, so I was not attempting anything more than keeping the flowers in a few pots alive and well throughout the season. Some did not make it. To my pleasant surprise, others did.
As August rolled around and the plants that thrived were reaching peak bloom, I felt the satisfaction that comes from seeing the tangible beauty of plans realized and effort rewarded. The fruit of my carefully laid botanical plans were blossoms that burst forth looking at least a little bit like the pictures in the garden shop.
Yet, just as the plants I tended were reaching primetime, their beauty was eclipsed by the bright bold explosion of vibrant pink morning glories bursting forth from previously nondescript vines along my fence and in my neighbors’ yards.
We did not plant them, and they received no care all season – except for the sun and rain freely
bestowed on them. They were not planned, paid for, or cultivated. Indeed, many serious gardeners rail against morning glories as aggressive, invasive trespassers. Nevertheless, I must admit that the most beautiful blooms in my yard right now are not those I planned. Rather, it is the morning glories – my uninvited interlopers – that catch my eye and warm my heart.
Lowly, often reviled morning glories may point to something important about life itself. So often, the plans we make – even when they are realized – pale in comparison to the joy that comes our way unexpectedly and uninvited.
So often, we can plan a well-organized and costly vacation only to find when we return home that our favorite memory is an unplanned ice cream cone bought on a beautiful night.
So often, we can meticulously plan a business trip and find that the most valuable time was not the conference we duly attended but a seemingly random conversation that began an important collaboration.
So often, we can plan the perfect Thanksgiving meal and find that decades later it was a culinary disaster that gave the family a wealth of happy memories.
So often, we can plan a specific career path and then pivot to a whole new plan because, unexpectedly, someone or something unanticipated inspired us
GUEST COLUMN
to try something new.
Appreciating that the unexpected may be better than our own plans is not easy. For a planner like me, it is uncomfortably uncertain. In those moments, though, when I find a new, beautiful, delightful surprise in my path, it may be time to remember the lowly morning glory.
The same God who made the morning glory sees every other beautiful thing for which I have not planned, worked, or sought. The same God who freely offers the beauty of the morning glory also freely offers all the other unexpectedly beautiful gifts that are waiting to be discovered every day.
There is great joy in seeing plans realized as intended – and in seeing the flowers bought, cultivated and cared for bloom on schedule. But there is a very special joy that comes from those beautiful, unhoped for surprises that fill our lives. They are the glory of ordinary time.
(Lucia A. Silecchia is Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research at the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. “On Ordinary Times” is a biweekly column reflecting on the ways to find the sacred in the simple. Email her at silecchia@cua.edu.)
What an autumn poem teaches us about God’s love
By Father Patrick BriScoe, oP
As the long days of summer fade and autumn’s cool, crisp air starts to settle in, it’s hard not to feel a shift in our spirits, too. I’m not one to have a favorite season; I love them all. But there’s so much to praise about fall. The vibrant colors of the leaves, the shorter days and the cozying up with a warm drink all invite us to slow down, to take stock of where we are in life and to savor our many blessings. Fall naturally draws us to reflection. What better way to do that than through the lens of our faith? And the Catholic poet Rainer Maria Rilke can help.
Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem, “Autumn,” really nails the essence of this season. He writes, “The leaves fall, fall as from far, / Like distant gardens withered in the heavens; / They fall with slow and lingering descent.” The leaves, with their acquiescing descent, are more than just leaves – they are symbols of a fundamental principle in the spiritual life: surrender. Tempted to clutch the boughs of their trees, the leaves give in, however reluctantly, to nature’s summons. When they begin their descent, they let go of the branches they cling to. Entrusting themselves to wind and breeze, they yield to the whims of current and weather. Whether tossed violently or permitted to descend gracefully, leaves accept it all as it comes. Each leaf relents and falls.
Rilke’s words remind us that this reluctance to let go isn’t just about the leaves. It’s something we all experience, isn’t it? Life is full of changes, and sometimes we resist them, even though we know they’re part of God’s plan. Rilke says in his poem that the Earth itself is falling – “And in the nights the heavy Earth, too, falls / From out the stars into the Solitude.” We’re falling, too, sometimes feeling like we’re drifting into precarity or uncertainty. And it’s so tempting to feel like we’re alone. But here’s the thing: God is found only in the solitude.
“The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people,” writes the Trappist monk Thomas Merton. “But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to
know the invisible companionship of God.” Solitude isn’t emptiness or darkness.
Rilke doesn’t leave us hanging in despair. The beauty of his poem is that it leads us right back to God. In the midst of all this falling – whether it’s leaves, the Earth, or our own lives – there’s One who holds everything “infinitely softly in His hands.” The poem concludes, “Thus all doth fall. This hand of mine must fall / And lo! the other one: – it is the law. / But there is One who holds this falling / Infinitely softly in His hands.” How comforting is that? In a world that’s constantly changing, where everything seems to be in motion, God is the steady hand holding it all together. He’s unchanging, always there, gently guiding us through the ups and downs, the letting go, and the holding on.
So, as we move into the heart of autumn, let’s take a moment to really see the falling leaves for what they are – a summons to surrender. But even in that surrender, we’re never abandoned. Each leaf that falls is held by the same God who holds us. He’s there in every season, every transition, guiding us with a love that never fails.
(Father Patrick Briscoe, OP, is editor of Our Sunday Visitor. Follow him on X @PatrickMaryOP)
NATION
DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. (OSV News) – James Earl Jones, a distinguished actor known for his resonant voice and a Black Catholic, died Sept. 9 in Dutchess County at age 93. His numerous and versatile roles over an illustrious 70-year career included the voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars,” beginning in 1977, and Mufasa in “The Lion King” (1994); a reclusive author in “Field of Dreams” (1989); and Admiral James Greer in “The Hunt for Red October” (1990), as well as Broadway and Shakespearan plays. He was also the dramatic voice behind CNN’s tagline “This is CNN.” A convert to the Catholic faith as a young man while serving in the U.S. Army, Jones wrote in 1993, “Perhaps my greatest honor came when I was asked to read the New Testament on tape,” pointing to an unabridged recording of the King James Version of the New Testament he made in the 1980s that was remastered for CD in 2002. His talent earned him the elusive “EGOT,” having garnered Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. The Oscar was an honorary Academy Award granted in 2011. Jones’ passing coincided with the feast of St. Peter Claver, a patron saint of Black Catholics.
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, repeated –without evidence – claims about Haitian immigrants eating the pets of residents in Springfield, Ohio. But Vance’s fellow Ohio Republican officials have said such claims are false, and Catholic leaders have called for respect for migrants. At a Sept. 10 debate, former President Donald Trump also repeated the viral, unverified claims – refuted by local authorities – about Haitian migrants, a largely Catholic population, living in the city of Springfield, Ohio, that accuses them of abducting pets and eating them. In a Sept. 15 interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Vance was confronted by anchor Dana Bash about that claim, which he has also repeated. “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do, Dana, because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast,” Vance said. Vance’s fellow Ohio Republicans including the state’s governor and Springfield’s mayor, called the claims that Haitian migrants are kidnapping and eating pets false. “We have a big-hearted community, and we’re being smeared in a way we don’t deserve,” said Mayor Rob Rue, also a Republican. Credible estimates vary, but a few thousand immigrants from Haiti have settled in Springfield, Ohio, city officials said, and most have legal status. Most came as a result of a local Chamber of Commerce effort to revive Springfield as a manufacturing hub.
VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The second session of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, set to bring 368 bishops, priests, religious and laypeople to the Vatican, will begin by asking forgiveness for various sins on behalf of all the baptized. As synod members did before last year’s session, they will spend two days on retreat before beginning work; that period of reflection will conclude Oct. 1 with a penitential liturgy presided over by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced. The liturgy will include time to listen to the testimonies of three people: one who suffered from the sin of abuse, one from the sin of war and third from the sin of indifference to the plight of migrants, according to a Vatican statement announcing the liturgy. Afterward, “the confession of a number of sins will take place,” said the statement, released Sept. 16. “The aim is not to denounce the sin of others, but to acknowledge oneself as a member of those who, by omission or action, become the cause of suffering and responsible for the evil inflicted on the innocent and defenseless.” The liturgy is open to all but is specifically geared toward young
people, as it “directs the church’s inner gaze to the faces of new generations,” the Vatican said.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Maybe it is a sign of aging, Pope Francis said, but he is increasingly concerned about what kind of world he and his peers will leave for younger generations – and the prognosis is not good. “This isn’t pessimism,” the pope told about two dozen representatives of popular movements and grassroots organizations meeting Sept. 20 at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Pope Francis said he feared adults are leaving behind “a world discouraged, inferior, violent, marked by the plundering of nature, alienated by dehumanized modes of communication,” and “without the political, social and economic paradigms to lead the way, with few dreams and enormous threats.” But, he said, if people join forces, especially with those who are most often the victims, things can change.
WORLD
HANOI, Vietnam (OSV News) – More than 100 people, including a Catholic religious sister, are still listed as missing after Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, left at least 233 dead in northern Vietnam. Sister Maria Nguyen Thi Bich Hang from the Lovers of the Holy Cross congregation is believed by her family to have been killed in the storm. On Sept. 9, heavy rain collapsed the Phong Chau Bridge over the Red River in Phu Tho province and eight people, including 35-year-old Sister Maria Nguyen, were washed away. With winds of up to 92 mph, Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful typhoon to hit Asia in 2024, wreaked havoc in northern Vietnam Sept. 7-11. Besides the death toll, the subsequent landslides and floods also left 807 people injured and 103 missing, according to government figures. In a Sept. 12 telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the pope said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the destruction wrought by Typhoon Yagi, offering his “spiritual solidarity to the injured and to all those suffering the continuing effects of this disaster.” The church and the government agencies have provided aid to victims of the storm that hit 20 out of Vietnam’s 25 northern provinces. In the Hung Hoa Diocese in Phu Tho province, Caritas workers were distributing instant noodles, milk, rice and clean water to flood victims.
KRAKOW, Poland (OSV News) – Poland’s government is preparing a decree of a state of natural disaster as the southwestern part of the country was severely flooded by torrential rains caused by Storm Boris. Throughout the weekend of Sept. 14-15, the storm continued to wreak havoc across Central and Eastern Europe. In Austria, Poland and Czech Republic, 11 people were confirmed dead in the regions affected. “I want to express our sympathy to those who have experienced this great drama, but at the same time assure them that they are not left alone,” Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda of Gdansk, president of the Polish bishops’ conference, said in a Sept. 16 statement as thousands of people were evacuated from the flood-affected region of the country. “Water, after heavy rains, flooded many houses, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. Many homes and public buildings have been destroyed, and the entire road infrastructure in that area has been badly damaged,” the archbishop said. A 17th-century Franciscan monastery in Klodzko was dramatically affected by the flood. “The whole main church was flooded,” said Father Ignacy Szczytowski, guardian of the monastery. “We’re located right at the curve of the Nysa Klodzka River. There were no chances that with this amount of water we would manage to stop it from coming,” he said, estimating the monastery’s losses at $3.5 million.
James Earl Jones, poses for photographers as he stands next to Darth Vader at the premiere of the film “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” at the TriBeCa Film Festival in New York City May 12, 2002. The late actor, a Catholic with a storied career that included voicing the character Darth Vader, died the morning of Sept. 9, 2024. (OSV News photo/Chip East, Reuters)
rats in class. Pictured: Brittany Smith, Ella
and
NATCHEZ – Dual enrollment students in Anatomy and Physiology dissected
Skates, Ally Blanton
Molly Shirley. (Photo by Sarah Welch)
MADISON – St. Anthony second grader, Lawson Griffin reads with his sixth grade reading buddies Liza McCarthy and Channing Smith. (Photo by Celeste Tassin)
JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman students, JaKauzi Brown, Joelle Carpenter and Amirah Wilson play the game “Monkeys in a Barrel” to see how many “monkeys” they can get, then worked on creating a bar graph for a graphing lesson. (Photo by Christopher Payne)
CLARKSDALE – Students at St. Elizabeth School joined around the American flag for a Patriots Day prayer service on Sept. 11. (Photo by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)
(Below) FLOWOOD – Ms. Betty Taylor reads to nursery babies at St. Paul Early Learning Center. (Photo by Susan Irby)
Around the diocese
– (Above) Second grader, Henry Hince receives a blessing from Father Jeffrey Waldrep at Annunciation School.
HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family School student Sophia hands first responders her “thank you” card for Patriots Day on Sept. 11. (Photo by Laura Grisham)
GREENVILLE – First Communion, St. Joseph, May 5, 2024. Pictured: Ryker Ruggeri of St. James, Leland; Father Jose Sanchez; Luke Jones of Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Village, Arkansas; Matthew Cannatella of Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Village; Cesare Wilson and Owen Swafford of St. Joseph Church. (Photo courtesy of Mary Lynn Powers)
MERIDIAN – (Above) Fifth graders at St. Patrick School try out their balloon rocket in science class. Pictured (l-r): Patrick Pittman, Kayleigh Johnson and Nolan Alexander. (Photo by Kasey Owen)
JACKSON – St. Richard students
George Rutherford, Gabriel Sullivan and Joseph (Reeves) Buckley that are part of Cub Scout Pack 30 led the procession for Patriots Day Mass on Sept. 11. During this Mass students, families and supporters sang “God Bless America,” said the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke about the significance of our country’s flag and its symbolism. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
COLUMBUS
(Photo by Jacque Hince)
Patriots Day: Honoring service, unity and sacrifice in our community
By Laura Grisham
WALLS – Patriots Day is a significant moment to reflect on the values of service, unity and sacrifice. It commemorates the lives lost and the heroism displayed during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. More than a remembrance of loss, Patriots Day reminds us of the resilience and courage shown by everyday people – firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, and ordinary citizens who responded selflessly in the face of unimaginable danger.
Last week, our schools celebrated first responders. Sacred Heart School extended an invitation to the school’s weekly Mass to Southaven Police, Fire and EMT staff, as well as the parents and family of students who are first responders, for a special blessing. Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, who is a volunteer chaplain for the Southaven Police Department and a Mississippi Area Representative to the International Conference of Police Chaplains, was the celebrant.
About his service as a volunteer chaplain, Father David said, “I support officers emotionally and spiritually. I also assist with death notifications, prayer and other support as requested.”
Father David is also involved in recruiting new chaplains, encouraging law enforcement agencies to have chaplains, and facilitating the training of chaplains through the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
Holy Family School also celebrated Patriot Day by inviting the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Holly Springs Police and Fire Department to a prayer service and breakfast in their honor. Father Guy Blair, SCJ, offered a special prayer of thanks and extended a special blessing on those in attendance.
Each guest was invited to introduce themselves, share where and in what capacity they serve and how long they have been in service to the community. Some of the first responders attended Holy Family or were the sons or daughters of our graduates, each proudly announcing that distinction. Many of the guests also had words of encouragement for our students, emphasizing their support and extending their friendship to the young people.
Michael Holmes, a five-year veteran of the Holly Springs Fire Department,
shared the ultimate commitment of each of the first responders. “I just want to thank you all for everything you are doing for us and I want you all to remember that just as those (police and) firefighters laid down their lives of protect people in New York, that we, here at the Holly Springs Fire Department, would do the same for each of you.”
Addressing the students and guests, teacher Lisa Milan shared that often these first responders go unnoticed for their hard work and heroism. Referencing Matthew’s Gospel, she reminded students, “Jesus said that one who wants to be the greatest is not the one with the biggest house, is not the one with the most expensive car, but the one who is the greatest among you is the one who serves others.”
Holy Family students wrote poems, created patriotic artwork and wrote notes of support for all of the law enforcement, fire and EMT attendees. Following the prayer service, the special guests lined up across the gymnasium as every child in the school presented them with their handmade masterpieces. The gesture brought several to tears.
Service on Patriots Day goes beyond just honoring those who served that day; it’s a call to action for all of us to serve our communities in big and small ways. Whether through volunteer work, supporting veterans, or simply helping a neighbor, every act of service strengthens the fabric of our community, our nation, and our world. It’s about standing together and building a future where unity and compassion prevail over division and fear.
(Laura Grisham is the PR and Communications manager for Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls, Mississippi.)
HOLLY SPRINGS – Holy Family student Gilberth hands out cards of thanks to Holly Springs first responders during the school’s Patriot Day celebration on Sept. 11, 2024. (Photo by Laura Grisham)
SOUTHAVEN – With all hands outstretched, a prayer and special blessing was offered at Sacred Heart School’s Patriot Day Mass for all first responders. (Photo by Laura Grisham)