e life of Sister ea Bowman celebrated in Canton
BY MADELYN JOHNSON
JACKSON – On March 29, Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church celebrated the life of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA.
Born on Dec. 29, 1937, Sister Thea converted to Catholicism at the age of nine and attended Holy Child Jesus School in Canton. A passionate educator and lover of music, she dedicated her life to teaching and advocating for faith and justice. After a courageous battle with breast cancer, she passed away on March 30, 1990, at the age of 52. Each year, Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church commemorates her life around the anniversary of her passing.
Holy Child Jesus was Sister Thea’s home parish, and the celebration drew many of her former students, colleagues, and friends. Participating choirs included Holy Child Jesus, Sacred Heart Canton and Camden combined choirs, Christ the King choir, and the Rembert Washington Memorial Chorale of Canton, led by Pastor John Woodard Jr. Soloists Frazier Riddell and Elaine Gager also performed. Artwork by Father Guy Wilson, ST, was sold to support Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in Jackson, including special ornaments featuring Sister Thea’s likeness.
The spirit of Sister Thea resonated throughout the event, especially through
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BY JUSTIN MCLELLAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis has approved the next phase of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, launching a three-year implementation process that will culminate in an ecclesial assembly at the Vatican in October 2028.
In a letter published March 15, Cardinal Mario Grech, secre-
tary-general of the synod, announced that the synod’s new phase will focus on applying its conclusions at all levels of the church, with dioceses, bishops’ conferences and religious communities working to integrate synodality into daily church life before the meeting at the Vatican in 2028.
“For now, therefore, a new synod will not be convened; instead, the focus will be on consolidating the path taken so far,” he wrote in the letter addressed to all bishops, eparchs and the presidents of national and regional bishops’ conferences.
Cardinal Grech told bishops that Pope Francis approved the three-year plan March 11 at Rome’s Ge-
melli hospital where he has been being treated since Feb. 14.
The final document of the synod on synodality, approved by Pope Francis in October 2024, emphasized synodality as essential to the church’s mission and called for greater lay participation, mandatory pastoral councils and continued study on women in ministry and seminary formation.
Over the next three years, dioceses, bishops’ conferences and religious communities will work to integrate synodal principles into church life with the guidance of a Vatican-issued document scheduled to
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CANTON – Parishioners and guests are filled with song at the annual Sister Thea Bowman celebration at Holy Child Jeus parish on Saturday, March 29. (Photo by Madelyn Johnson)
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
CAMDEN – Sacred Heart, Intercultural Competence Workshop for Parish Leaders, Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenter: Deacon Juan Pagan of the Diocese of Lafayette. Explore what is culture and more. Details: Sister Amelia at amelia. breton@jacksondiocese.org.
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Millions of Monicas – Praying with confidence for our children, each Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the church. Join with other mothers and grandmothers as we pray for our children’s faithful return to the church. Details: email millionsofmonicas@stjosephgluckstadt.com.
JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, Chrism Mass, Tuesday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. and Tenebrae Music Service on Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m.
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – The OCE hosts a Zoom Rosary the first Wednesday of each month during the school year at 7 p.m. The upcoming Rosary is on May 7. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/zoomrosary2024.
OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Divine Mercy Holy Hour, Sunday, April 27 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Details: church o ce (662) 895-5007.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
BATESVILLE – St. Mary, Live Stations of the Cross, Friday, April 18 at 2 p.m. Details: church o ce (662) 563-2273.
CANTON – Catholic Charities, Birdies for Born Free Golf Tournament, Tuesday, June 10, registration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tournament begins at 12:30 p.m. Details: register at https://www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org/event-details/birdies-for-bornfree. For more information contact deja.errington@ ccjackson.org or (601) 355-8634.
COLUMBUS – Annunciation School, Easter Festival, Sunday, April 13 from 2-4 p.m. Enjoy games, prizes, crafts, snacks and egg hunts by grade for ages infant through fifth grade. Be sure to bring your Easter basket. Details: school o ce (662) 328-4479.
CORINTH – St. James the Less, Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 20 between Masses. Details: church office (662) 331-5184.
GREENVILLE – St. Joseph, Central Grocery Mu uletta Sale, Thursday, May 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pickup location is in parish hall. Cost: $25 with
proceeds going to St. Joseph School. Tickets available in church and school o ce. Details: church office (662) 335-5251.
HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. Details: church o ce (662) 429-7851.
JACKSON – Catholic Charities, Bishop’s Ball, Saturday, July 19 at the Two Mississippi Museums, with cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and auction beginning at 7 p.m. Early bird ticket sale ends May 15. Details: https://event.gives/bb25.
JACKSON – Holy Ghost, 50th Anniversary of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Saturday, June 21. More information to come.
JACKSON – St. Richard, Men’s Prayer Breakfast with Bishop Kopacz, Monday, April 14, beginning with Mass at 6:30 a.m. and breakfast provided by the Knights of Columbus at 7 a.m. in Foley Hall. Details: church o ce (601) 366-2335.
JACKSON – St. Richard School, Flight to the Finish 5k and Fun Run, Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m. Details: Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/MS/ Jackson/FlighttotheFinish.
JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School, Drawdown 2025, Saturday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. Grand prize is $5,000. Tickets cost $120; with additional $15 for second chance. Join us for fellowship, food, entertainment, silent auction and more! Details: email stbdrawdown@gmail. com or visit https:// bit.ly/STBSDD2025.
MADISON – St. Francis, Live Stations of the Cross, Friday, April 18 at 2 p.m. Details: church o ce (601) 856-5556.
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School, Crawfish Countdown, Friday, May 2. Save the date.
OLIVE BRANCH
– Queen of Peace, Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. Details: church o ce (662) 895-5007.
PEARL – St. Jude, Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 13 at 11:45 a.m. (after Sunday School class). Details: church o ce (601) 939-3181.
PILGRIMAGES
HOLY LAND – Pilgrimage to Holy Land: Join Father Mark Sho ner, pastor of St. John Oxford, July 21-31, 2025. Details: lpjp.org, then click on “All Pilgrimages” and “Holy Land.” Details: church o ce (662) 234-6073.
MARIAN SHRINES – Pilgrimage to Marian Shrines (Fatima, Spain and Lourdes) with Father Lincoln Dall and Deacon John McGregor, Sept, 1524, 2025. Details: for more information visit www.206tours.com/frlincoln.
ROME/LISBON/FATIMA – Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Lisbon and Fatima with Father Carlisle Beggerly, Oct. 4-15, 2025. Cost: $5,799 per person (includes airfare from anywhere in the U.S.) Details: contact Pat Nause at (601) 604-0412; Proximo Travel at (855) 842-8001 or proximotravel.com. Mention trip #1181.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE of JACKSON
EXECUTIVE
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, deeply committed to Catholic education.
• Master’s degree or higher in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related eld.
• Minimum of ve years of leadership experience in Catholic school administration.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum development, accreditation processes, and instructional best practices.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Financial acumen and experience in managing school budgets and fundraising e orts.
• Ability to work e ectively with clergy, educators, parents, and community leaders.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2025 TO APPLY, EMAIL: mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org TO LEARN MORE: www.jacksondiocese.org
R dgeland Cl nton APPLIANCE
Flowood Pearl
JACKSON – Father Leon Ngandu, SVD is installed as pastor of Holy Family Church on Sunday, March 9. Pictured with Father Leon are Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Mary Woodward, Chancellor. (Photo by Madelyn Johnson)
A call to hope: Supporting the Holy Land
BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.
The Passion of the Lord Jesus unfolds before us over the next week, beginning with the Palm Sunday commemoration this weekend. This year the passion narrative from the Gospel of Luke invites us spiritually to accompany the Lord from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper and onto his sacrificial death on the Cross. Upon departing from our churches this weekend, we leave the door to the resurrection yet unopened so that we can wholeheartedly renew our understanding of the impact of sin, su ering, violence and death that in turn reveals the power of the resurrection.
The added dimension to this year’s Holy Week observance is the relentless war that rains down destruction and misery upon the inhabitants of the
land where Jesus walked the earth and loved the people of his time. Many who su er such unspeakable crimes against humanity are our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith.
Therefore, the traditional Good Friday collection, always critically important, takes on an added urgency this year. The following excerpts are from the Franciscan Friars’ annual Good Friday letter of appeal to all of the arch(dioceses) in the United States. “This Jubilee Year is designated as a Year of Hope. Indeed, hope is a necessary virtue in a land marked by cycles of violence and relative calm. Gaza itself has been reduced to rubble. Missiles have hit many other places as well. People across the region are tasked with rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals and even churches.”
The holy places that mark the locations of our Lord’s life, death and resurrection are described as the fifth Gospel that anchor in time and place the inspired texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are destinations of pilgrimage for believers and non-believers alike, while providing a means of livelihood for the people who have inhabited the land for centuries. They have fallen on desperate times.
Happy Ordination Anniversary
April 6
Father Joseph Golamari
St. Francis Madison
April 10
Father Pradeep Kumar irumalareddy
St. Mary Batesville
April 12
Father Raju Macherla
St. Elizabeth Clarksdale
Father Sleeva Reddy Mekala
St. James Leland & Immaculate Conception Indianola
April 14
Father Suresh Reddy irumalareddy
St. Alphonsus McComb
April 18
Father Vijaya Manohar Reddy anugundla
St. Francis Brookhaven
April 19
Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD
Sacred Heart Greenville
April 26
Father Jesuraj Xavier
St. Francis New Albany
“Many of our faithful earn their living from pilgrimages. Still repaying debts from the pandemic shutdown, they found themselves soon assaulted by war. Now, already in debt, many have again lost jobs. Fear and despair have driven many Christians to leave the Holy Land: over the past century, Christians have gone from 23% to less than 2% of the population. And more than 90 Christian families have already left Bethlehem since Oct. 7, having lost hope in a good future for them in the land where Jesus and the church were born.”
Thank you for answering the call!
P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130
our love for the people who deeply desire to remain on their ancestral lands. “The Collection supports the work of the Franciscans in the sacred shrines, ministers to the parishes, provides formation and education in communities and schools, and cares for the basic needs of people in the Holy Land. During such a di cult time, where we must rebuild not only buildings but so many broken lives, your support for this important collection is essential.”
In this vein, Holy Week is an opportunity to shed light upon the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher whose unique mission is to support the church’s presence and ministries in the Holy Land throughout the year. More specifically, it is the only lay institution of the Vatican State charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all the activities and initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The contributions made by its members are therefore the Patriarchal institutions’ main source. The call to holiness marked by fidelity to the Holy Father and the teaching of the Catholic Church is an essential characteristic of the Order. Arising from the member’s relationship with the crucified and risen Lord is the call to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, particularly those of and in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with which the Order maintains traditional ties. In general, the members are encouraged to support the preservation and propagation of the Faith in those lands and promote interest in this work not only among Catholics scattered throughout the world, who are united in charity by the symbol of the Order, but also among all other Christians.
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bring renew the face of the earth through the light of the Gospel proclaimed to the nations. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May our prayer and generosity this Good Friday express
Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org Volume 71 Number 9 (ISSN 1529-1693)
Publisher Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz
Communications Director Joanna Puddister King
Production Manager Tereza Ma
Contributor Madelyn Johnson
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published digitally twice per month January – April and September – December; once per month June, July and August. Mississippi Catholic mails 14 editions per year – twice per month in December and January; and once per month February –November. For address changes, corrections or to join the email list for the digital edition, email: editor@jacksondiocese.org. Subscription rate: $20 a year in Mississippi, $21 out-of-state. Periodical postage at Jackson, MS 39201 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130.
Website: www.mississippicatholic.com www.jacksondiocese.org
BISHOP’S SCHEDULE
Monday, April 14, 7 a.m. – St. Richard Men’s Prayer Breakfast, St. Richard, Jackson
Tuesday, April 15, 11:30 a.m. – Chrism Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson
Thursday, April 17, 8 p.m. – Holy Thursday, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson
Friday, April 18, 5:30 p.m. – Good Friday, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson
Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m. – Easter Vigil Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson
Sunday, April 27, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Francis, Madison
All events are subject to change. Check with parishes for further details.
Symbol of the Holy Sepulchre
I’m pleased to announce that Eli McFadden from St. Paul in Flowood has been accepted as a seminarian and will begin his formation in August 2025 at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, Louisiana. Eli is a senior at Northwest Rankin High School and is a member of the youth group at St. Paul. He has also participated in two discernment groups held for high schoolers in the Jackson area in the past year. Eli’s parents, Robert and Mandy, have been very supportive and I’d like to thank them for their collaboration and the trust they put in me to take Eli through the application process. We have two more applications in process for the fall, please keep those men in your prayers as well.
Eli will be entering into the ‘propaedeutic stage’ of formation. This is that newer stage of formation that the US Bishops introduced a couple of years ago. We’ve already had three of our seminarians go through this intensive preparatory stage of formation. Wilson Locke, Francisco Maldonado and Joe Pearson all participated in this stage and they all had a positive experience.
The point of this stage is to help the men build up the habits they’ll need to live life in the seminary and the parish well without being overburdened by philosophy and theology classes. It was observed over the years that academics were becoming an outsized part of the discernment process, and so the propaedeutic stage puts the focus squarely on building up human virtues and fostering the spiritual life of the candidate before they get too
deep into the academic dimension of formation.
All of our current seminarians just completed their spring evaluations. Each year Bishop Kopacz and I drive down to Notre Dame Seminary and St. Joseph Seminary to sit for these evaluations. Father Tristan Stovall also comes down to support our guys and visit with them. The seminarians provide their own self-assessment, and the formation faculty provide their own feedback to the man and to Bishop and myself as their primary formators. This is also a great time of fraternity for all of us. It is special for the seminarians to get to spend time with the Bishop, and we take them out for a nice dinner so they can relax after their evaluations and just visit with me, Father Tristan and the Bishop.
I’m very proud of our group of men and grateful to the Lord for their openness to their formation. They are all doing very well, and it is clear to me that they are all an asset to their respective communities.
This summer four of our men will be on parish assignment in the diocese. Will Foggo and Francisco Maldonado will be on assignment at St. Elizabeth Clarksdale; and Grayson Foley will be on assignment at St. John Oxford. I would especially like to thank Father Raju at St. Elizabeth and Father Mark Shoffner at St. John for taking on this responsibility. Joe Pearson will be arriving at Our Lady of Victories in Cleveland just after Independence Day. Joe will be participating in the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) in Omaha, Nebraska up until that point, but IPF ends at the beginning of July so we wanted to fit in a shorter parish experience following the end of the program. Thanks to Father Kent Bowlds for his openness to this.
I am confident that these men will be assets to the parishes they are a part of for the summer, just as they are assets to their seminary communities throughout the academic year.
– Father Nick Adam, vocation director
Father Nick Adam
Searching for Jesus in the afternoon of Christianity
IN EXILE
By Father ron rolheiser, oMi
Where might we experience Jesus today in a world that is seemingly too crowded with its own concerns to allow a space for him?
The renowned spirituality writer Tomas Halik, in a recent book entitled The Afternoon of Christianity, makes this suggestion. As the world makes less and less explicit space for Jesus, we need to search for him more and more in those places where he is “anonymously present.” Halik’s counsel: “Let us search for him ‘by his voice’ like Mary Magdalene; let us search for him in strangers on the road like the disciples on the road to Emmaus; let us search for him in the wounds of the world like the apostle Thomas; let us search for him whenever he passes through the closed doors of fear; let us search for him where he brings the gift of forgiveness and new beginnings.”
The invitation here is to better respond to the signs of the times, given that we are living now in what he calls “the afternoon of Christianity.”
What is the afternoon of Christianity?
He distinguishes three periods in the history of Christianity. He sees the morning of Christianity as the time before 1500 AD, the pre-modern period, the time before secularization. The noonday of Christianity, for him, is the time of secularization and modernity, basically from the 19th century until our own generation. The afternoon of Christianity, for him, is our time today, the post-modern world, where we are witnessing a breakdown of much of the world as we once knew it with the effects of this on faith and religion. And for Halik, the effect of all of this is that the Christian faith has now outgrown previous forms of religion.
Wow! That’s quite a statement! However, what Halik is proposing is not that the faith is dying, that Christianity is dying, or that the churches are dying. Rather, for him, Christianity today finds itself in a certain cultural homelessness, in a time where so many social structures that once supported it are collapsing, so that the Christian faith is now needing to seek a new shape, a new home, new means of expression, new social and cultural roles, and new allies.
And how will that turn out? We don’t know. But here’s Halik’s hunch: Christianity will not, as many fear, lose its identity and become a non-religious faith. It will not disintegrate into some vague, doctrineless, boundaryless, privatized spirituality. Rather, the hope is that (paradoxically) the very dynamism and diversity that frightens many Christians is the incubation phase of the Christianity of the future.
For him, the challenges that Christianity faces today invite us to bring faith into a new space, like Paul did when he brought Christianity out of the confines of the Judaism of his day. Here is how Halik puts it: “I believe that the Christianity of tomorrow will be above all a community of a new hermeneutic, a new reading, a new and deeper interpretation of the two sources of divine revelation, scripture and tradition, and especially of God’s utterance in the signs of the times.
How is this all to happen? That’s the thesis of the book. Chapter after chapter lays out possibilities of how we might more courageously read the signs of the times and rather than water down any of the substance of the Christian faith, let the signs of the times lead us to a deeper understanding of
both scripture and tradition, especially so that we might bring together in better harmony the Christ of cosmic evolution with the Resurrected Jesus; and then recognize that they are both not just present in what is explicit in our Christian faith and worship, they are also anonymously present in the evolution of our culture and society.
Consequently, we need to search for Jesus Christ not just in our scriptures, our churches, our worship services, our catechetical classes, our Sunday schools, and our explicit Christian fellowship, though of course we need to search there. But, like Mary Magdalene, we need to recognize his voice in the caretaker at the cemetery; like the discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus, when we no longer have the answers, we need to recognize his presence in strangers whose words make our hearts burn inside us; like the doubting Thomas, we need to over-
come our doubts about his resurrection by touching his wounds as they are now manifest in the poor and the suffering; like Jesus’ first community who barricaded themselves behind a locked door out of fear, we need to recognize him whenever, inside our huddled fear, something expectedly breathes peace into us; and we need to recognize his presence inside us every time we receive forgiveness and are empowered to begin again.
This isn’t a time of dying, it’s a time of kairos, a time when we are being invited to open our eyes in a new way so as to recognize the Christ who is walking with us in some unfamiliar forms.
(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 Christian joy is trusting in God in every situation, pope writes
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Christian joy is for everyone, not just for a privileged few, Pope Francis wrote.
“Christian joy is reliance on God in every situation in life,” he said in a message to people taking part in the second synodal assembly of the Catholic Church in Italy.
The assembly, which is meeting at the Vatican March 31-April 3, is part of a synodal process the church in Italy began in 2021. About 1,000 people –including more than 440 lay men and women – were taking part, representing 219 of the 226 dioceses in the country.
“The church is not made up of majorities or minorities, but of the holy faithful people of God who walk in history, enlightened by the Word and by the Spirit,” the pope said in his text, which was read by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, during the opening session March 31.
“Christian joy is never exclusive, but always inclusive, it is for everyone. It takes place in the details of everyday life and in sharing: it is a joy with broad horizons, accompanying a welcoming style,” Pope Francis wrote.
This joy is God’s gift, he wrote. However, “it is not an easy joy, it is not born of convenient solutions to problems, it does not avoid the cross, but springs from the certainty that the Lord never leaves us alone.”
It is a joy that the pope has experienced himself during his hospitalization, he
added, “and now in this time of convalescence” as well.
The synodal assembly planned to discuss and vote on a series of concrete proposals and suggestions that emerged after a long process of listening and discerning, starting at the local church level. The bishops’ permanent council and the conference’s general assembly, which is meeting at the end of May, will finalize the proposals, which will be given to the local churches for their reception.
In his address to the assembly in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, Cardinal Zuppi said the outcome of their synodal journey will depend on their approach as “pilgrims of hope,” who set out alongside others with humble backpacks and not set apart and above others, just shining “beacons” for others to follow.
The hope is to put the Gospel back into everyday life and discourse, and to build “open communities, full of God and humanity,” he said.
Pope Francis prays with Italian bishops in the Vatican synod hall during the general assembly of the Italian bishops’ conference in this file photo from May 20, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
‘ ... Ready to give some praise and celebrate Sister Thea ...’
‘ ... Walk in a synodal style ...’
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be published in May.
Evaluation assemblies at diocesan, national and continental levels from 2027 to early 2028 will assess progress before a final ecclesial assembly at the Vatican in October 2028, where church leaders will reflect on the synodal journey and discern future steps, the cardinal said.
According to the apostolic constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis,” which governs procedures when the papacy is vacant, a council or Synod of Bishops is immediately suspended when a pope dies or resigns. All meetings, decisions and promulgations must cease until a new pope explicitly orders their continuation, or they are considered null.
In the letter, Cardinal Grech noted that implementation phase of the synod “provides the framework” for implementing the results of the 10 Vatican-appointed study groups which, since March 2024, have been examining key issues raised during the first session of the synodal assembly in 2023, such as the role of women in the church, seminary formation and church governance.
The study groups were scheduled to present their findings to the pope before June 2025; however, they can also offer an “interim report” then as they
continue their work, Cardinal Grech said.
The cardinal added that a key component of the implementation process will be the strengthening of synodal teams, composed of clergy, religious and laypeople, who will work alongside bishops to accompany “the ordinary synodal life of local churches.”
In an interview with Vatican News accompanying the letter’s publication March 15, Cardinal Grech said that this phase of the synodal process is not about adding bureaucratic tasks but about “helping the churches to walk in a synodal style.” He explained that the church must continue “a path of accompaniment and evaluation” rather than treating the synod as a one-time event.
The cardinal encouraged local churches to engage in ongoing reflection on the insights of the synod rather than simply replicating past listening sessions, warning that the synod’s implementation “must not take place in isolation.”
The 2028 ecclesial assembly, Cardinal Grech said, will be an opportunity to “gather the fruits of the journey” and offer the pope “a real ecclesial experience to inform his discernment as the successor of Peter, with perspectives to propose to the entire church.”
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songs like “I Just Wanna Praise You.” Attendees shared personal memories of Sister Thea and her ability to encourage people beyond their comfort zones.
Edd Hightower, one of Sister Thea’s former students, recounted a memorable experience:
“Sister Thea really had a way of getting everyone out of their comfort zone. She invited me on a trip to the Virgin Islands and invited me to go horseback riding. I was nervous, because I don’t like animals that are larger than me. The instructor told me how to control the horse with the reins, but I forgot it all the second he encouraged him forward. But you know what? That horse got me up the mountain and back down. I had to have faith in that horse. And I believe Sister Thea really wanted me to experience that.”
The choirs created an atmosphere of praise, with guests dancing and singing along. Frazier Riddell and Elaine Gager performed moving duets, while Pastor Woodard engaged the audience as his choir delivered a stirring performance. Pastor Woodard, a former student of Hightower, founded the Rembert Washington Memorial Chorale in honor of his mentor. Christ the King choir also delivered a dynamic performance, and in a powerful closing moment, Hightower took to the piano and invited all former students, teachers and choir members of Sister Thea to stand and sing together.
DeAsia Evans, who coordinated the choirs, also shared her memories of Sister Thea. Despite recently undergoing knee replacement surgery, she stood before the crowd, proclaiming:
“I just had a knee replacement, but Lord willing I am standing up here on two feet today ready to give some praise and celebrate Sister Thea!”
CANTON – Melcenia Gilbert lights a memorial candle at Holy Child Jesus parish in front a photo of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA at the parishes annual Sister Thea Bowman celebration. (Photo by Madelyn Johnson)
Tax credit legislation helps Catholic Charities, Inc. of Jackson
By Galen Holley
JACKSON – Donors who give to philanthropic causes approved by the Mississippi Department of Revenue, like many offered through Catholic Charities, are eligible for a substantial tax credit, thanks to a unique piece of legislation.
The Children’s Promise Act (CPA) provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, up to $1,200 for individuals, and up to half of their state tax liability for businesses, for making a donation to ECOs, or Eligible Charitable Organizations. The CPA provides tax credits to corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
The Mississippi legislature passed the CPA in 2018. According to Monseigneur Elvin Sunds, interim executive director of Catholic Charities, Inc. of the Diocese of Jackson, it presents an incentive to support those on the margins of society.
“Many of the services we provide are funded by state and federal grants, but that money doesn’t always cover everything,” said Sunds. “The Children’s Promise Act helps fill in the gaps and allows us to continue those programs.”
Since the 1960s, Catholic Charities has served those in Mississippi who need a hand up. It’s a community effort, according to Sunds. “Catholic Charities has been out there, touching all aspects of community life, particu-
larly serving women and children, and families,” said Sunds. Among its numerous outreach efforts, Catholic Charities in Mississippi provides round-the-clock service for children with emotional needs, as well as care for pregnant mothers facing addiction. Catholic Charities personnel try to make sure that children are always cared for. “We want to preserve those family bonds with which children are comfortable and familiar,” said Sunds.
Michael Crandall is the president at Trustmark Bank in Canton, as well a former board member at Catholic Charities. Trustmark recently contributed $100,000 to Catholic Charities, and the bank’s core values coincide nicely with the nonprofit’s efforts, according to Crandall.
“The Children’s Promise Act is an ideal opportunity for those who might not normally give to Catholic Charities to give,” he said. “Catholic Charities actually serves more non-Catholics than Catholics. It’s a community effort. One of Trustmark’s core values is building relationships within the community, and this is a perfect example.”
Michael Thomas is director of development at Catholic Charities in Jackson and said that the nonprofit is hoping to raise half a million dollars. To date, they’ve received about $200,000.
To donate and take advantage of the tax credits offered through the Children’s Promise Act, visit https://www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org, email help@ccjackson.org, or call (601) 355-8634.
RIDGELAND – Trustmark Bank recently contributed $100,000 Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Jackson in order to provide help and create hope in the community. Pictured: Bernard Bridges, Melanie Morgan, Shannon Toth, Shantay Griffin, Kirkland Garland and Msgr. Elvin Sunds. (Photo courtesy of Michael Thomas)
Parishioners honored for service with Bishop Chanche Medals
JACKSON – When Bishop John Joseph Chanche arrived in the newly formed Diocese of Natchez in May of 1841, there were no Catholic Churches, only a couple of missionary priests, and his flock was far flung. He rose to the challenge and laid the foundation for the Diocese of Jackson. The diocese honors his legacy and thanks those who continue to build on his foundation with the Bishop Chanche medal for service.
This year, Bishop Joseph Kopacz gave 48 adults their awards on Saturday, March 29, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The brief descriptions on these pages come from the Bishop Chanche Award nomination forms and offer a glimpse into the men and women who serve the church today.
JOHN ALFORD – Christ the King, Jackson John is a dedicated leader and a gifted musician who has faithfully served his parish for over 25 years. His exceptional musical talents enrich the liturgy, and his commitment to mentoring children and adults fosters a deep love for the Mass. Through his guidance in music ministry – directing choirs, teaching, and encouraging student participation – he has strengthened both his parish and the broader faith community. His unwavering dedication, leadership, and ability to make each Mass a joyful and spiritually uplifting experience make him highly deserving of the Bishop Chanche Award.
MARIE ANTICI – Our Lady of Victories, Cleveland Marie is a devoted servant of her faith, dedicating the past 14 years to ministering to the homebound, hospitalized, and nursing home residents. As a Eucharistic minister, she ensures that the most vulnerable members of her parish receive Holy Communion, companionship, and spiritual support. Her unwavering commitment extends beyond Catholic residents, as she also provides comfort and care to non-Catholics, acting as an extra set of eyes for families who cannot always be present. Her faith-filled leadership, involvement in study groups, funeral ministries, and parish missions exemplify her deep devotion to her church and community.
HILDA BANKSTON – St. Anne, Fayette Hilda has been a dedicated and selfless servant of her parish for over ten years, serving as sacristan, volunteer secretary and bookkeeper. At 83 years old, her unwavering faith drives her to be the first to arrive at church, open the doors, set up for parish activities and stay until everything is in order. She plays a vital role in organizing church programs, ensuring smooth operations even in the priest’s absence. Her commitment extends to keeping the parish’s financial and accounting records up to date and assisting parishioners with their yearly contributions. Through her tireless dedication, leadership and deep love for the church, Hilda has made a lasting impact on her parish community, making her truly deserving of the Bishop Chanche Award.
DONALD CHARLES AND ANN JANETTE BARRIOS
– St. Alphonsus, McComb
Donald and Ann are devoted and selfless servants of their parish, actively contributing to its spiritual and communal life. As members of the Liturgy and Pastoral Committees, they help shape the parish’s worship experience. They also serve as lectors, teach Confirmation classes, and are core team members for Life-Teen, “That Man is You,” and the Men’s Group. Their musical talents enrich weekend Masses, funerals, weddings, and adoration hours – all offered freely without charge.
DONNIE AND LINDA SHERWOOD DICK
– Our Mother of Mercy Mission, Anguilla Donnie and Linda have been devoted to their Catholic faith and parish community since the 1970s. As catechism teachers, they have prepared children for First Communion and Confirmation, served as godparents and sponsors, and actively engaged in parish life. Linda is a parish council member, while Donnie dedicates himself to church upkeep and community involvement. Their generosity, joy, and welcoming spirit have inspired and strengthened the faith of manyin the community.
MICHAEL AND MARSHA DOMINO
– All Saints, Belzoni
Mike and Marsha are a devoted Catholic couple deeply involved in parish life for nine years. Mike serves as a lector and parish council member, while Marsha is active in the All Saints Altar Society. Their dedication to Mass, parish activities, and community service, including organizing cemetery blessings and supporting the Delta Farmers Association, inspires fellow parishioners, especially children.
CATHY EDWARDS – Sacred Heart, Winona
Cathy has dedicated over 20 years of faithful service, living her Catholic faith through her roles as church secretary, bookkeeper, and active participant in ecumenical services, prison ministries, and community projects. Her husband Marvin, who was awarded the Bishop Chanche Medal in 2015, has been a supportive partner in her ministry, and together, they have made a significant impact on both the parish and community.
ERICA JONES – St. Mary, Batesville
Erica has selflessly served St. Mary’s for seven years, leading music at Mass, lectoring and supporting religious ed. Despite a busy schedule, she sacrifices her time to practice and inspire the congregation, exemplifying dedication, faith and service, while mentoring her daughter.
SCOTT AND MARY LEARY
– St. John the Evangelist, Oxford
Scott and Mary have dedicated over 15 years to youth ministry and marriage preparation at St. John’s, guiding countless generations through retreats, counseling, and education. Their unwavering faith, leadership, and exemplary family life have made them pillars of the community, deeply influencing both parishioners and the wider Oxford area.
DAVID MADERE AND MELISSA MADERE – St. Joseph, Gluckstadt
KAY FARRELL – St. Michael, Vicksburg
Kay has dedicated over 50 years to St. Michael Parish, serving as an RCIA team member, lector, Eucharistic minister, and community advocate. Her theological expertise, leadership in the Synodal process, and commitment to Catholic education make her an exemplary witness of faith and service.
CHARLES HUNTER – Holy Cross, Philadelphia
Charles has dedicated over 40 years to Holy Cross Parish as an extraordinary minister, lector, usher, sacristan and altar server. His leadership as Grand Knight, active involvement in the Finance Council, and unwavering service make him a model of faith and commitment.
ROOSEVELT AND LINDA JOHNSON – Immaculate Conception, Clarksdale
Linda and Roosevelt have served their parish for over 15 years with unwavering dedication. Linda sings in the choir, teaches RCIA, and organizes events, while Roosevelt oversees church maintenance and assists with food distribution. Their commitment, service and faith make them invaluable members of our community.
VALERIA JOHNSON – Holy Family, Natchez
Valeria has dedicated eight years to serving as Director of Religious Education, preparing candidates for First Communion and Confirmation, organizing parish activities and mentoring future leaders. Her unwavering faith, leadership and selfless service have made a lasting impact on the parish and community.
David and Missy have selflessly served St. Joseph Parish for 16 years, leading adult education, OCIA, and providing music for Masses and funerals. They also contribute to charitable works through the KC Council and are known for their deep faith and community involvement.
FAGIN AND MARY ANN MAUNEY
– St. Matthew, Ripley
Fagin and Mary Ann have dedicated over 25 years to St. Matthew Parish, serving in pro-life, liturgical ministries and community building. Though retired from active service, their faithful attendance, support of parish activities, and spirit of inclusivity continue to inspire and strengthen the parish and broader community.
ROSE MCGRAW – St. Joseph, Greenville
Rose has dedicated over 30 years to St. Joseph Parish, leading ministries like bereavement, hospitality, and St. Vincent de Paul. Her selfless service, warm presence and commitment to community building make her a vital spiritual and practical leader.
DIANE MELTON – St. Mary, Yazoo City
Diane has dedicated 41 years to serving her parish, teaching catechism, leading the Altar Society, and volunteering as lector and Eucharistic minister. Her leadership as Parish Council president and commitment to charity make her an exemplary Catholic role model.
JUANA MOLLINEDO AND EDY MEZA
– St. Anne, Carthage
Juana and Edy have dedicated over 15 years of service to the parish, actively participating as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, readers and youth ministry leaders. They inspire others through their consistent Christian witness and commitment to both faith and community.
MELANIE NORWOOD – Holy Ghost, Jackson
Melanie has dedicated over five years to various parish ministries at Holy Ghost, including religious education, RCIA and youth ministry. She actively helps with sacrament preparation and supports the parish through service, demonstrating strong faith and commitment to community.
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PATRICIA POTTER – St. Therese, Kosciusko
At 85, Pat has faithfully served St. Therese for over 40 years. She is active in multiple ministries, including altar preparation, Eucharistic ministry, and Helping Hands, always showing generosity, leadership and dedication to both the parish and community.
MICHAEL AND SHARRON SCHEEL
– St. James, Magnolia
Michael and Sharron have faithfully served St. James for 50 years in numerous ministries, including finance, liturgy and outreach. Their devotion, leadership and commitment to parish life and service make them exemplary models of Catholic faith.
RICHARD AND AILEEN SEMMES
– St. Patrick, Meridian
Richard and Aileen have served their parish for over 20 years, with Richard leading the music ministry and Aileen as chair of the Liturgy Committee. Their leadership, service and commitment to charity have profoundly enriched our parish and community, inspiring others to live their faith.
BARBARA AND DANIEL SETARO
– St. Joseph, Starkville
Danny and Barbara have dedicated themselves to the parish through the food pantry, Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary. Their unwavering service, even through health struggles, has made a lasting impact on the community since 2005.
JOE MICHAEL SHAW – Holy Savior, Clinton Michael has been the inmate leader of our Catholic ministry at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility since our ministry restarted after the pandemic, back in March 2022. He kept Catholic ministry going when outside volunteers were unable to enter the facilities during the pandemic. He has helped grow the ministry tremendously as we are now the largest Christian presence at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. He is very worthy of recognition in the Bishop Chanche award.
JOAN SHELL – Christ the King, Fulton Joan’s unwavering dedication to service, leadership in Sunday school, Mass preparation, food ministry and Bible study, along with her humility and tireless commitment, make her a true embodiment of Catholic faith and an inspiration to all.
BERNARDO SORCIA – St. James the Less, Corinth Bernardo’s unwavering commitment to service through leadership in the Pastoral Council, Hospitality Ministry, and retreats, alongside his dependable, solution-oriented attitude, has made him an invaluable asset to the parish for over 11 years.
EDITH WILSON SPELLS
– St. Francis of Assisi, Greenwood
Edith exemplifies faithful Catholic leadership through her roles as Parish Council president, lector, Secular Franciscan, educator and musician, inspiring others with her dedication, positivity and unwavering commitment to service for over 60 years.
ANN SUMMERS – Holy Family, Jackson
Ann deserves the Bishop Chanche Award for over 40 years of quiet, selfless service as sacristan, lector, commentator and behind-the-scenes helper, ensuring a meaningful worship experience and supporting various parish ministries with compassion and dedication.
JULIA CRISS TARTT – St. Peter, Grenada
Julia deserves the award for her 10 years of ded-
icated service in pastoral ministry, leading music, supporting social outreach and inspiring the community through her devotion to faith and service.
ROBERT AND LYDIA TROTTER
– St. Joseph, Meridian
Robert and Lydia are devoted church leaders, serving through finance, hospitality and community outreach. As Finance Council chair, Robert ensures stewardship while actively volunteering. His work with the Knights of Peter Claver and the cooking crew fosters fellowship; while Lydia’s contributions through various ministries highlight her compassion and commitment to supporting parishioners in times of both joy and grief.
TUNNEY AND DEBRA VANDEVENDER
– St. Francis, Madison
Debra and Tunney deserve the award for their selfless, behind-the-scenes service, including leadership in scouting, Eucharistic ministry, parish communications, and community events, all while fostering faith, humility, and dedication since 2008.
FRANK AND MARCIA WEAVER – St. Paul, Vicksburg
Marcia and Frank’s lifelong dedication to St. Paul shines through their leadership in parish council, Bible studies, choir and Mass ministries. Their willingness to serve whenever needed has strengthened the parish community for decades.
EILEEN WEISENBERGER – Holy Savior, Clinton
Eileen’s lifelong devotion to faith and service is evident in her outreach to the elderly, the poor and her parish community. Through quiet acts of love, she exemplifies selfless Catholic living, inspiring generations to follow.
MYRA WOODWARD – St. Jude, Pearl
Myra’s unwavering dedication, joyful spirit and willingness to serve make her an invaluable part of St. Jude. From liturgy to teaching, decorating to hospitality, she selflessly gives her time.
YOUTH BISHOP CHANCHE AWARD HONOREES
Youth across the Diocese of Jackson were honored at the the Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference (DCYC) at the Vicksburg Convention Center on Sunday, March 23 for their service to their respective parishes and to the diocese.
ELIZABETH BEDNAR – St. Michael, Vicksburg
VANESSA ESPINO – St. Joseph, Meridian
JOSELIN FLORES – St. James, Tupelo
ANN ELISE GATLIN – St. Alphonsus, McComb
HANNAH KATE HOOKER – St. Joseph, Greenville
AVERY HORNBACK – St. Francis of Assisi, Madison
AUSTIN SEALS LOVE – St. Joseph, Gluckstadt
ANNA KAY MARTIN – Holy Cross, Philadelphia
JAMICHAEL OWENS – Holy Family, Natchez
PEYTON RAINER– St. Paul, Vicksburg
VALERIA RANGEL – St. Patrick, Meridian
ABBYGALE ROBERTS – St. Jude, Pearl
CHARLES JONATHAN VASQUEZ SEBASTIN – Holy Family, Jackson
JONATHAN SORCIA – St. James the Less, Corinth
JACKSON – Parishioners from across the Diocese of Jackson were honored for their service to the church on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the annual Bishop Chanche Awards Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson with Bishop
Joseph Kopacz. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
10 millones de cristianos en EE.UU. en riesgo de deportación masiva, según informe católico-evangélico
Por KaTe scanLon
WASHINGTON (OSV News) –
Un informe conjunto entre organizaciones afiliadas a diferentes iglesias cristianas encontró que una parte significativa de las personas impactadas por la administración Trump en su búsqueda de lo que ha llamado “la mayor deportación en la historia de EE.UU.”, son cristianos.
El informe, un proyecto conjunto de la Asociación Nacional de Evangélicos, los Servicios de Migración y Refugiados de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos, el Centro para el Estudio del Cristianismo Global del Seminario Teológico Gordon-Conwell y World Relief, encontró que muchos de los que son vulnerables a la deportación ellos mismos – o los que tienen un familiar vulnerable a la deportación – son cristianos.
“Uno no puede dejar de preguntarse cómo serían nuestro país y nuestras vidas si el mismo tipo de restricciones y medidas coercitivas que se contemplan hoy en día se impusieran a los que vienen en barco desde lug-
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Agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) detienen a un hombre después de llevar a cabo una redada en el complejo de apartamentos Cedar Run en Denver el 5 de febrero de 2025. (Foto OSV News/Kevin Mohatt, Reuters)
El Papa aprueba la siguiente fase del Sínodo, que marca el camino hacia la Asamblea de 2028
Por JUsTin McLeLLan
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – El Papa Francisco ha aprobado la siguiente fase del Sínodo de los Obispos sobre la sinodalidad, poniendo en marcha un proceso de aplicación de tres años que culminará en una asamblea eclesial en el Vaticano en octubre de 2028.
En una carta publicada el 15 de marzo, el cardenal Mario Grech, secretario general del sínodo, anunció que la nueva fase del sínodo se centrará en aplicar sus conclusiones a todos los niveles de la Iglesia, con diócesis, conferencias episcopales y comunidades religiosas trabajando para integrar la sinodalidad en la vida cotidiana de la Iglesia antes de la reunión en el Vaticano en 2028.
“Por ahora, por lo tanto, no se convocará un nuevo sínodo; en su lugar, la atención se centrará en consolidar el camino recorrido hasta ahora”, escribió en la carta dirigida a todos los obispos, eparcas y presidentes de las conferencias episcopales nacionales y regionales.
El cardenal Grech informó a los obispos de que el Papa Francisco aprobó el plan trienal el 11 de marzo
en el hospital Gemelli de Roma, donde está ingresado desde el 14 de febrero.
El documento final del sínodo sobre la sinodalidad, aprobado por el Papa Francisco en octubre de 2024, destacó la sinodalidad como esencial para la misión de la Iglesia y pidió una mayor participación de los laicos, consejos pastorales obligatorios y un estudio continuo sobre las mujeres en el ministerio y la formación en los seminarios.
Durante los próximos tres años, las diócesis, las conferencias episcopales y las comunidades religiosas trabajarán para integrar los principios sinodales en la vida de la Iglesia con la orientación de un documento emitido por el Vaticano cuya publicación está prevista para mayo.
Las asambleas de evaluación a nivel diocesano, nacional y continental de 2027 a principios de 2028 evaluarán los progresos antes de una asamblea eclesial final en el Vaticano en octubre de 2028, donde los líderes de la Iglesia reflexionarán sobre el viaje sinodal y discernirán los pasos futuros, dijo el cardenal.
Según la constitución apostólica “Universi Domi-
nici Gregis”, que rige los procedimientos cuando el papado está vacante, un concilio o sínodo de obispos se suspende inmediatamente cuando un papa muere o dimite. Todas las reuniones, decisiones y promulgaciones deben cesar hasta que un nuevo Papa ordene explícitamente su continuación, o se considerarán nulas.
En la carta, el cardenal Grech señaló que la fase de implementación del sínodo “proporciona el marco” para aplicar los resultados de los 10 grupos de estudio designados por el Vaticano que, desde marzo de 2024, han estado examinando cuestiones clave planteadas durante la primera sesión de la asamblea sinodal en 2023, como el papel de la mujer en la Iglesia, la formación en los seminarios y el gobierno de la Iglesia.
Los grupos de estudio tenían previsto presentar sus conclusiones al Papa antes de junio de 2025; sin embargo, también pueden ofrecer un “informe provisional” entonces mientras continúan su trabajo, dijo el cardenal Grech.
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Sirviendo a los Católicos Hispanos de la Diócesis de Jackson desde 1997
‘... Los inmigrantes de diversos países forman parte integral del cuerpo de Cristo ...’
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ares como Irlanda, Alemania, Polonia, Italia y otros lugares”, dijo el obispo Mark J. Seitz de El Paso, Texas, a los periodistas en una conferencia de prensa sobre el informe.
“Es increíble cómo se repite la historia de Estados Unidos, y no creo que muchos de nosotros sugiramos que la forma en que nuestros antepasados inmigrantes fueron tratados en muchos casos sea un modelo a seguir hoy en día”, dijo.
La doctrina social católica sobre inmigración equilibra tres principios interrelacionados: el derecho de las personas a emigrar para mantener sus vidas y las de sus familias, el derecho de un país a regular sus fronteras y controlar la inmigración, y el deber de una nación de regular sus fronteras con justicia y misericordia.
Los participantes explicaron que, si bien las organizaciones cristianas que respaldan el informe pueden apoyar u oponerse a determinadas políticas en función de sus creencias, comparten el objetivo común de intentar comprender no sólo cómo afectarían las deportaciones masivas a Estados Unidos, sino también a sus comunidades religiosas y a los cristianos en su conjunto.
De acuerdo con los datos demográficos a finales de 2024, según el informe, más de 10 millones de cristianos que viven en los EE.UU. serían vulnerables a la deportación bajo las políticas de la administración Trump implementadas en 2025.
Los cristianos representan aproximadamente el 80% de todas las personas en riesgo de deportación. Los cristianos con mayor riesgo de deportación son los católicos, el 61% del total.
Al mismo tiempo, alrededor de 7 millones de cris-
... la Iglesia debe continuar “un camino de acompañamiento y evaluación” ...
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El cardenal añadió que un componente clave del proceso de implementación será el fortalecimiento de los equipos sinodales, compuestos por clérigos, religiosos y laicos, que trabajarán junto a los obispos para acompañar “la vida sinodal ordinaria de las iglesias locales.”
En una entrevista concedida a Vatican News con motivo de la publicación de la carta el 15 de marzo, el cardenal Grech dijo que en esta fase del proceso sinodal no se trata de añadir tareas burocráticas, sino de “ayudar a las iglesias a caminar con estilo sinodal”. Explicó que la Iglesia debe continuar “un camino de acompañamiento y evaluación” en lugar de tratar el sínodo como un acontecimiento único. El cardenal animó a las iglesias locales a participar en una reflexión continua sobre las ideas del sínodo en lugar de limitarse a reproducir las sesiones de escucha anteriores, advirtiendo que la aplicación del sínodo “no debe tener lugar de forma aislada”.
La asamblea eclesial de 2028, dijo el cardenal Grech, será una oportunidad para “recoger los frutos del viaje” y ofrecer al Papa “una experiencia eclesial real para informar su discernimiento como sucesor de Pedro, con perspectivas que proponer a toda la Iglesia”.
tianos que son ciudadanos estadounidenses viven en el mismo hogar que alguien en riesgo de deportación. En general, según el informe, aproximadamente uno de cada 12 cristianos en Estados Unidos –incluidos uno de cada 18 evangélicos y uno de cada cinco católicos – es vulnerable a la deportación o podría ver cómo deportan a un miembro de su familia, salvo que se produzcan cambios legislativos o políticos.
Walter Kim, presidente de la Asociación Nacional de Evangélicos, señaló un reciente estudio de Lifeway Research que muestra que, si bien los evangélicos han sido un bloque de votantes consistente que apoyó a Trump durante sus tres campañas presidenciales, la mayoría apoya la deportación de individuos que han sido condenados por crímenes violentos, pero también apoya programas para ayudar a los refugiados y políticas destinadas a mantener unidas a las familias.
“Ahora, a veces se piensa que muchos evangélicos apoyan esto, pero de hecho, la mayoría de los cristianos evangélicos no quieren ver deportaciones a esta escala, de inmigrantes que no han sido condenados por crímenes violentos, que son miembros de nuestras iglesias cuyas deportaciones resultarían en familias separadas”, dijo Kim.
Stephanie González, profesora de una escuela cristiana en el sur de California, cuyos padres, Gladys de 55 años y Nelson González de 59, que no tienen antecedentes penales, fueron deportados recientemente a Colombia después de más de 35 años en EE.UU. González dijo que cuando llegaron a EE.UU., trataron de seguir la ley, pero “mis padres se convirtieron en víctimas de fraude migratorio y trataron con varios abogados fraudulentos que se aprovecharon de ellos”.
“Esto fue sólo el comienzo de la pesadilla a la que se enfrentaron mis padres cuando se trataba de abogados y de un sistema migratorio defectuoso”, dijo González.
Tanto el obispo Seitz como González plantearon que separar a las familias contradice el interés de los cristianos por proteger unidades familiares fuertes.
“La separación de las familias es desgarradora, y creo que la separación rompe el corazón del Señor”, dijo González.
El informe, titulado “Una parte del cuerpo”, es una referencia a la enseñanza bíblica de que los cristianos forman un solo cuerpo, compuesto de partes distintas pero interdependientes, dijo Matthew Soerens, vicepresidente de defensa y política de World Relief, uno de los mayores ministerios evangélicos que sirven a refugiados y otros inmigrantes.
“Cuando una parte del cuerpo sufre, todos debemos sufrir juntos, del mismo modo que una mano no puede seguir con sus quehaceres sin verse afectada si un pie sufre un dolor debilitante y atroz”, afirmó. “Con ese principio bíblico en mente, nos propusimos entender y cuantificar con este informe cómo las propuestas de la administración Trump para la mayor deportación en la historia de Estados Unidos podrían impactar a la iglesia en Estados Unidos. Los inmigrantes de diversos países forman parte integral del cuerpo de Cristo en Estados Unidos.”
(Kate Scanlon es una reportera nacional de OSV News que cubre Washington. Síguela en X @kgscanlon.)
NOTAS: El reporte “”One Part of the Body” está disponible aquí: https://worldrelief.org/onepart/
El Papa Francisco y los miembros del Sínodo de los Obispos sobre la sinodalidad asisten a la última sesión de trabajo del Sínodo, el 26 de octubre de 2024, en el Aula Pablo VI del Vaticano. (CNS photo/ Vatican Media)
Una llamada a la esperanza: Apoyando Tierra Santa
Por obisPo JosePh r. KoPacz, D.D.
La Pasión del Señor Jesús se desarrolla ante nosotros durante la próxima semana, comenzando con la conmemoración del Domingo de Ramos este fin de semana. Este año, el relato de la pasión del Evangelio de Lucas nos invita a acompañar espiritualmente al Señor desde su entrada triunfal en Jerusalén, a través de la Última Cena y hasta su muerte sacrificial en la cruz. Al salir de nuestras iglesias este fin de semana, dejamos la puerta a la resurrección aún sin abrir para que podamos renovar de todo corazón nuestra comprensión del impacto del pecado, el sufrimiento, la violencia y la muerte que a su vez revela el poder de la resurrección.
La dimensión añadida a la observancia de la Semana Santa de este año es la guerra implacable que hace llover destrucción y miseria sobre los habitantes de la tierra donde Jesús caminó por la tierra y amó a la gente de su tiempo. Muchos de los que sufren estos crímenes indescriptibles contra la humanidad son nuestros hermanos y hermanas palestinos en la fe católica. Por lo tanto, la tradicional colección del Viernes Santo, siempre de vital importancia, recauda un nivel adicional este año. Los siguientes extractos son de la carta anual de apelación del Viernes Santo de los Frailes Franciscanos a todas las arquidiócesis de los Estados Unidos. “Este Año Jubilar ha sido designado como un Año de Esperanza. De hecho, la esperanza es una virtud necesaria en una tierra marcada por ciclos de violencia y relativa calma. La propia Gaza ha quedado reducida a escombros. Los misiles también han impactado en muchos otros lugares. La gente de toda la región tiene la tarea de reconstruir casas, escuelas, hospitales e incluso iglesias”.
Los lugares santos que marcan los lugares de la vida, muerte y resurrección de nuestro Señor están escritos en el quinto Evangelio el tiempo y el lugar de los textos son inspirados por Mateo, Marcos, Lucas y Juan. Son destinos de peregrinación tanto para creyentes como para no creyentes, al tiempo que proporcionan un medio de vida para las personas que han habitado la tierra durante siglos. Han caído en tiempos desesperados.
“Muchos de nuestros fieles se ganan la vida con las peregrinaciones. Todavía pagando las deudas del cierre por la pandemia, enseguida se vieron atacados por la guerra. Sin embargo, ya endeudados, muchos han vuelto a perder sus empleos. El miedo y la desesperación han llevado a muchos cristianos a abandonar Tierra Santa: en el último siglo, los cristianos han pasado del 23% a menos del 2% de la población. Y más de 90 familias cristianas ya han abandonado Belén desde el 7 de octubre, habiendo perdido la esperanza de un buen futuro para ellos en la tierra donde nació Jesús y la Iglesia”.
Que nuestra oración y generosidad en este Viernes Santo expresen nuestro amor por las personas que desean profundamente permanecer en sus tierras ancestrales. “La Colecta apoya el trabajo de los franciscanos en los santuarios sagrados, ministros y a las parroquias, proporcionando formación y educación en las comunidades y escuelas, y se ocupan de las necesidades básicas de los habitantes de Tierra Santa. En un momento tan difícil, en el que debemos reconstruir no solo edificios, sino tantas vidas rotas, su apoyo a esta colección importante es esencial”.
En este sentido, la Semana Santa es una oportunidad para arrojar luz sobre los Caballeros y Damas del Santo Sepulcro, cuya misión única es apoyar la presencia y los ministerios de la Iglesia en Tierra Santa durante todo el año. Más concretamente, es la única institución laica del Estado Vaticano encargada de proveer a las necesidades del Patriarcado Latín de Jerusalén y de todas las ac-
tividades e iniciativas para apoyar la presencia cristiana en Tierra Santa. Las contribuciones de sus miembros son, la fuente principal de las instituciones patriarcales. La llamada a la santidad, marcada por la fidelidad al Santo Padre y a la enseñanza de la Iglesia Católica, es una característica esencial al llamado. En la relación con el Señor crucificado y resucitado nace la llamada a sostener y ayudar a las obras e instituciones caritativas, culturales y sociales de la Iglesia Católica en Tierra Santa, en particular las del Patriarcado Latino de Jerusalén, con las que la Orden mantiene vínculos tradicionales. En general, se anima a los miembros a apoyar la conservación y propagación de la fe en esas tierras y a promover el interés por esta obra no sólo entre los católicos esparcidos por todo el mundo que están unidos en la caridad por el símbolo de Orden, sino también entre todos los demás cristianos.
Que el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo haga renovar la faz de la tierra a través de la luz del Evangelio proclamado a las naciones. ¡Orad por la paz de Jerusalén!
La Esquina del Papa
El Señor siempre va en busca de los que están perdidos, dice el Papa
by cinDy WooDen CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS)
– Incluso cuando una persona parece totalmente perdida e incapaz de encontrar un camino de regreso a Dios, el Señor ya la está buscando, dijo el texto para la audiencia general semanal del Papa Francisco.
“Cultivemos nuestro deseo de ver a Jesús y, sobre todo, dejemos que nos encuentre la misericordia de Dios, que siempre viene a buscarnos, en cualquier situación en la que nos hayamos perdido”, decía el texto preparado para el 2 de abril.
Mientras el Papa Francisco no celebraba audiencias por encontrarse aún convaleciente de una doble neumonía y múltiples infecciones, el Vaticano ha ido publicando cada miércoles los textos preparados para sus audiencias generales.
Durante el Año Santo 2025, las audiencias del Santo Padre se han centrado en “Jesucristo, nuestra esperanza”. El texto del 2 de abril fue el tercero de una serie de relatos evangélicos sobre el encuentro de Jesús con diferentes personas y cómo su encuentro cambió sus vidas.
Después de Nicodemo y la Samaritana en el pozo, el texto de principios de abril se centró en la historia de Zaqueo de Lucas 19,110.
Zaqueo oye que Jesús viene a Jericó y quiere verlo, pero es demasiado bajo para ver por encima de la multitud.
A todos nos puede pasar algo parecido, dijo el Papa. “Es nuestra realidad, tenemos límites con los que debemos lidiar”.
Para encontrar una forma de superar esas limitaciones, dijo, “hay que tener valor y no avergonzarse, se necesita un poco de la sencillez de los niños y no preocuparse demasiado por la propia imagen. Zaqueo, como un niño, se sube a un árbol”.
Podría haber pensado que podía ver a Jesús sin ser visto, dijo el Papa, pero el Señor se fija en él.
Un grupo de peregrinos camina por la Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano de camino a la Puerta Santa de la Basílica de San Pedro el 2 de abril de 2025. El Papa Francisco está convaleciente tras su estancia en el hospital y no puede reunirse con los peregrinos. (Foto CNS/Pablo Esparza)
El Papa Francisco, quien a menudo habla de cómo Dios está esperando que la gente vuelva a Él, escribió que la historia de Zaqueo “ocupa un lugar especial en mi camino espiritual”.
Zaqueo era el jefe de los recaudadores de impuestos, por lo que probablemente era vilipendiado por sus vecinos. El Evangelio también dice que Zaqueo era rico, “dando a entender que se ha enriquecido a costa de los demás, abusando de su posición”, dice el texto del Papa.
Zaqueo – y la gente de la multitud – probablemente esperaban que Jesús le reprendiera por ser recaudador de impuestos, pero Jesús le pide que baje y le dice que quiere ir a su casa.
El relato evangélico muestra que Dios no pasa de largo sin buscar a los que están perdidos, dijo el Papa.
Y “Lucas destaca la alegría del corazón de Zaqueo”, dijo el texto. “Es la alegría de quien se siente mirado, reconocido y, sobre todo, perdonado”.
“La mirada de Jesús no es una mirada de reproche, sino de misericordia”, continuó el Papa. “Es esa misericordia que a veces nos cuesta aceptar, sobre todo cuando Dios perdona a quienes, en nuestra opinión, no se lo merecen”.
Después de ser perdonado por Jesús, Zaqueo jura devolver cuatro veces la cantidad de dinero que ha extorsionado a cualquiera, dice el Evangelio.
“No se trata de un precio a pagar, porque el perdón de Dios es gratuito”, dijo el Papa, “sino del deseo de imitar a Aquel por quien se ha sentido amado”.
Varias personas permanecen cerca del lugar donde se derrumbó un edificio en Bangkok, Tailandia, el 28 de marzo de 2025, tras el fuerte terremoto que sacudió el centro de Myanmar, según informaron los servicios de vigilancia sísmica. El seísmo de magnitud 7,7 sacudió Myanmar y la vecina Tailandia, causando al menos 150 muertos y más de 700 heridos. Destruyó edificios, un puente y una presa y dejó cientos de desaparecidos. (Foto de OSV News/Ann Wang, Reuters)
NACIÓN
INDIANAPOLIS (OSV News) – Una investigación de la Archidiócesis de Indianápolis sobre un supuesto milagro eucarístico en una parroquia de Indiana ha indicado que «causas naturales, no milagrosas» provocaron que una hostia mostrara una decoloración roja, dijo la archidiócesis en un comunicado del 24 de marzo enviado a OSV News. «Un análisis bioquímico de una hostia de la Iglesia Católica de San Antonio en Morris, Indiana, que mostraba una decoloración roja reveló la presencia de una bacteria común que se encuentra en todos los seres humanos», dice el comunicado. «No se descubrió presencia de sangre humana». El comunicado del 24 de marzo confirmaba que la hostia «se había caído de un kit de misa utilizado en la parroquia, y cuando se descubrió, presentaba manchas rojas». Siguiendo la política establecida por la Santa Sede, la hostia fue sometida a un análisis bioquímico profesional en un laboratorio local”, decía. «Los resultados indican la presencia de hongos y tres especies diferentes de bacterias, todas las cuales se encuentran comúnmente en las manos humanas». Los católicos creen que, al ser consagrados en la misa, el pan y el vino se convierten en Jesucristo -cuerpo, sangre, alma y divinidad-, aunque siguen conservando las apariencias del pan y el vino. La Iglesia lleva a cabo investigaciones científicas sobre supuestos cambios milagrosos en las apariencias de la Eucaristía, como manifestarse como verdadera sangre y tejido humano. La declaración de la archidiócesis del 24 de marzo añadía: «A lo largo de la historia de la Iglesia católica, ha habido milagros y apariciones bien documentados, y cada uno de ellos ha sido revisado a fondo y cuidadosamente.»
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (OSV News) – Un hombre de 30 años, presuntamente sin hogar, fue arrestado y acusado de cometer un acto de terrorismo tras una amenaza que supuestamente envió por correo electrónico a un ministro de música de la Iglesia Católica de San Luis en Memphis, Tennessee, afirmando que
quería «descuartizar» a la gente en la iglesia con un machete. Zachary Liberto se encuentra detenido en la cárcel del condado de Shelby bajo fianza de 200.100 dólares. Está pendiente la fecha de la vista. En Tennessee, el crimen es un delito de clase A y una condena puede resultar en una pena de prisión de 15 a 60 años. El 20 de marzo, la policía de Memphis dijo que Liberto había estado en «un altercado verbal» en la iglesia con un ministro de música que involucró Liberto supuestamente tirar basura en la pila bautismal. La acusación penal se deriva de un correo electrónico que Liberto supuestamente envió más tarde. Decía: «Necesito un vídeo de (uno de los pastores) recibiendo una bofetada tuya en 24 horas antes de descuartizar a la gente de esa iglesia con un machete». Rick Ouellette, portavoz de la diócesis de Memphis, dijo que el incidente ocurrió «después de las horas de escuela y trabajo». Añadió que St. Louis «cuenta con un sólido plan de seguridad y protección, al igual que nuestras 46 parroquias y 13 escuelas del oeste de Tennessee.»
VATICANO
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Mientras el papa Francisco continúa su convalecencia, el Vaticano publicó un calendario com-
11 de abril de
pleto de liturgias de Semana Santa y Pascua sin ninguna indicación de quién presidiría o sería el celebrante principal. La lista de misas y otras liturgias, publicada por el maestro de ceremonias litúrgicas papales el 27 de marzo, sólo decía que los servicios serían celebrados por la «Capilla Pontificia», que incluye al Papa, los cardenales residentes en Roma y los altos funcionarios del Vaticano. Preguntada sobre el papel del papa Francisco en las celebraciones, la oficina de prensa vaticana respondió que «será necesario ver la mejoría de la salud del papa en las próximas semanas para valorar su posible presencia, y en qué términos, en los ritos de Semana Santa.»
MUNDO
MANDALAY, Myanmar (OSV News) – Un fuerte terremoto de magnitud 7,7 sacudió la región de Mandalay-Sagaing en Myanmar el 28 de marzo, causando destrucción generalizada y un creciente número de muertos. Hasta el 28 de marzo por la tarde, hora del este, al menos 150 personas habían muerto y cientos más estaban desaparecidas. El temblor, seguido de una réplica de magnitud 6,4, provocó el derrumbamiento de edificios, incluido un puente histórico de la región. Los efectos del seísmo se dejaron sentir en países vecinos como Tailandia y Bangladesh.El Papa Francisco expresó su pesar, ofreciendo oraciones por las víctimas y los equipos de emergencia en Myanmar y Tailandia.Mientras tanto, los esfuerzos de socorro se ven obstaculizados por la guerra civil en curso en Myanmar, con pocos recursos que llegan a las zonas afectadas. Las iglesias católicas de Mandalay y alrededores también sufrieron daños, siendo la de San Miguel una de las más afectadas. En algunas regiones, las comunidades locales están organizando actividades de socorro, ya que la respuesta estatal sigue siendo limitada. La junta militar declaró el estado de emergencia y pidió ayuda internacional.
TOME NOTA
Vírgenes y Santos
San Estanislao. 11 de abril
Domingo de Ramos de la pasión del Señor. 13 de abril
Semana Santa. Del 14 al 17 de abril
Viernes Santo. 18 de abril
Pascua de Resurrección. 19 de abril
Domingo de Pascua de la Reaurrecctión del Señor. 20 de abril
Domingo de la Divina Misericordia Domingo. 27 de abril
Santa Catalina de Siena. 29 de abril
Envíenos sus fotos a editor@jacksondiocese.org
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LÍNEA DIRECTA DE PREVENCIÓN DE FRAUDE El Departamento de Asuntos Temporales de la Diócesis de Jackson ha contratado a Lighthouse Services para proporcionar una línea directa anónima de fraude financiero, cumplimiento, ética y recursos humanos. Esta línea directa permite un método adecuado para reportar sucesos relacionados con la administración temporal dentro de parroquias, escuelas y la oficina de cancillería.
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Please be generous! April 26 & 27, 2025
People stand near the site of a collapsed building in Bangkok, Thailand, March 28, 2025, that collapsed after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar, earthquake monitoring services said. The 7.7 magnitude quake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, killing at least 150 people and injuring more than 700. It destroyed buildings, a bridge and a dam and left hundreds missing. (OSV News photo/Ann Wang, Reuters)
NATION
INDIANAPOLIS (OSV News) – An investigation by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis into an alleged Eucharistic miracle at an Indiana parish has indicated that “natural, not miraculous causes” resulted in a host displaying a red discoloration, the archdiocese said in a March 24 statement sent to OSV News. “A biochemical analysis of a host from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Morris, Ind., that was displaying red discoloration revealed the presence of a common bacteria found on all humans,” the statement said. “No presence of human blood was discovered.” The March 24 statement confirmed that the host had “fallen out of a Mass kit used at the parish, and when it was discovered, red spots were present. Following policy established by the Holy See, the host was submitted for professional, biochemical analysis at a local laboratory,” it said. “The results indicate the presence of fungus and three di erent species of bacteria, all of which are commonly found on human hands.” Catholics believe that upon their consecration at Mass, bread and wine become Jesus Christ – body, blood, soul and divinity – while still retaining the appearances of bread and wine. The church conducts scientific investigations into alleged miraculous changes to the appearances of the Eucharist, such as manifesting as truly blood and human tissue. The archdiocese’s March 24 statement added, “Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, there have been well-documented miracles and apparitions, and each has been thoroughly and carefully reviewed.”
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (OSV News) – A 30-year-old man believed to be homeless was arrested and charged with the commission of an act of terrorism following a threat he allegedly emailed to a music minister at St. Louis Catholic Church in Memphis, Tennessee, claiming he wanted to “butcher” people in the church with a machete. Zachary Liberto is currently being held at the Shelby County Jail on a $200,100 bond. A hearing date is pending. In Tennessee, the crime is a Class A felony and a conviction can result in a prison sentence of 15 to 60 years. On March 20, Memphis police said Liberto had been in “a verbal altercation” at the church with a music minister that involved Liberto allegedly throwing trash into the baptismal font. The criminal charge stems from an email Liberto allegedly sent later. It stated, “I need a video of (one of the pastors) getting slapped by you in 24 hours before I butcher people in that church with a machete.” Rick Ouellette, a spokesperson with the Diocese of Memphis, said the incident occurred “after school and work hours.” He added that St. Louis “has a solid safety and security plan in place, as do our 46 parishes and 13 schools in West Tennessee.”
VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world rose in 2023, while the number of seminarians, priests, men and women in religious orders, and baptisms all declined, according to Vatican statistics. However, the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook of the Church said, 9.1 million people received their first Communion in 2023, up from 8.68 million people the previous year, and almost 7.7 million people were confirmed, up from 7.4 million peo-
ple in 2022. At the end of 2023, the number of Catholics in the world reached 1.405 billion, up 1.15% from 1.389 billion Catholics at the end of 2022, according to the Vatican’s Central O ce of Church Statistics, which publishes the yearbook. The Vatican published its statistical yearbook o ering data “on the life and activity of the church in the world in 2023” at the end of March. Catholics represented about 17.8% of the global population at the end of 2023, it said. The highest proportion is in the Americas with 64.2% of its population being baptized Catholic. Europe follows with 39.6% and Oceania with 25.9%. In Africa, 19.8% of the population is Catholic and the lowest proportion of Catholics by continent is Asia with 3.3%. While the number of Catholics is increasing, the administration of the sacrament of baptism has continued to decrease worldwide, according to the yearbook.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) –As Pope Francis continues his convalescence, the Vatican published a full calendar of Holy Week and Easter liturgies with no indication of who would preside or be the main celebrant. The list of Masses and other liturgies, released by the master of papal liturgical ceremonies March 27, said only that the services would be celebrated by the “Pontifical Chapel,” which includes the pope, the cardinals residing in Rome and top Vatican ocials. Asked about Pope Francis’ role in the celebrations, the Vatican press office responded that “it will be necessary to see the improvements in the pope’s health in the coming weeks to assess his possible presence, and on what terms, at the rites of Holy Week.”
WORLD
KINSHASA, Congo (OSV News) – Catholic religious sisters in Congo have become the latest victims of violence as the country grapples with ongoing conflict tied to mineral resources. On March 18, the Missionary Sisters of Santo Domingo in Kinshasa was targeted by attackers who broke into the congregation’s residence, stealing money, phones and computers. The attack highlights the growing dangers faced by religious groups in Congo, where poverty and perceptions of wealth make church leaders prime targets. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa condemned the attack and urged religious communities to stay vigilant while remaining hopeful. This incident follows a string of similar attacks on women religious, including kidnappings and murders. The violence coincides with rising tensions in the east, where M23, or Movement 23, rebels are making gains. The Catholic and Protestant churches have been engaged in shuttle diplomacy, promoting peace e orts despite growing opposition from the government. Church leaders, including Msgr. Donatien Nshole Babula, secretary general of Congo’s bishops’ conference, face increasing backlash for their peace e orts.
MANDALAY, Myanmar (OSV News) – A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Mandalay-Sagaing region March 28, causing widespread destruction and a rising death toll. As of March 29, at least 1,000 people had died in Myanmar, with hundreds more missing. The death toll may surpass 10,000 according to U.S. Geological Survey’s estimates. In neighboring Thailand, Bangkok city authorities said so far six people had been found dead, 26 injured and 47 were still missing, according to The Guardian. The tremor, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock, caused buildings to collapse, including a historic bridge in the region. The earthquake’s impact was felt across neighboring countries, including Thailand and Bangladesh. Pope Francis expressed his sorrow, o ering prayers for the victims and emergency responders in Myanmar and Thailand. Meanwhile, relief e orts are hindered by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, with few resources reaching a ected areas. Catholic churches in Mandalay and beyond were also damaged, with St. Michael’s Church among the hardest hit. In some regions, local communities are organizing relief e orts as state response remains limited.
BY MARY WOODWARD
History chronicled in November bus tour
JACKSON – Back in December, Bishop Joseph Kopacz blessed and dedicated a statue of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA. The statue was a gift from the bishops of the Province of Mobile, which consists of the Metropolitan Archdiocesan See of Mobile and the Dioceses of Jackson, Biloxi and Birmingham. These four venerable dioceses encompass the Catholic Church in Mississippi and Alabama.
Since then, the statue has been seen by a multitude of people from around the South and beyond. We have several pilgrimage groups coming to visit the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and the statue throughout this Jubilee Year of Hope.
Furthermore, some anniversaries of key events in the history of the region have occurred. March 7 marked the 60th anniversary of what is referred to as Bloody Sunday, when civil rights marchers were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; March 30 was the 35th anniversary of Sister Thea’s death in Canton; and on April 4 we reached the 57th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis at the Lorraine Motel, which now serves as the National Civil Rights Museum.
Our diocesan archive contains a chronicling of the Catholic Church’s role in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Bishop Richard Gerow’s diary describes many events and e orts by the local church to be a voice for justice in a very di cult, tumultuous time, including a visit to the White House in July 1963 to meet with President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy to discuss how the administration could help with the volatile situation in Jackson after the assassination of Medgar Evers in June.
Some of the earliest meetings between local clergy – black and white –happened in our diocesan chancery building prior to 1963. Bishop Joseph Brunini, who had been ordained and appointed something similar to an apostolic administrator to assist Bishop Gerow in 1957 worked alongside Black Pastors, the bishops of the Episcopal and Methodist church, and the local Rabbi to speak out against intimidation and the bombing of black churches.
During this time, Sister Thea would be finishing up her undergraduate studies at Viterbo University in LaCrosse in 1965 and heading o in 1966 to Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to get her M.A. in 1969 and her Ph.D. in 1972. All the while she was keeping a close eye on her home in Mississippi.
Then in 1978 after Sister Thea had returned to Canton to care for her aging parents, Bishop Brunini invited and hired Sister Thea to serve as the Diocesan Consultant for Intercultural Awareness. From this role she was able to travel and inspire myriads of people by being a beacon of truth, justice and hope in a world in need of such light.
This past week we received word that a biography of Sister Thea by Mary Verrill entitled Thea Bowman: A Story of Triumph has been approved for use in Mississippi schools as a fourth-grade elective textbook for social studies. So, Sister Thea will be able to inspire another generation of young minds.
Looking back to the statue installation, there was a great deal of enthusiasm
and interest in Sister Thea’s cause for beatification and canonization. At the reception following the dedication, the desire to form a province-wide guild to help promote the cause and educate others on Sister Thea’s legacy was introduced. In the months since that introduction, we have been in dialogue with Rev. Victor Ingalls, director of the O ce of Multicultural Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile, about launching the guild this November during Black Catholic History Month.
In conjunction with celebrations in Mobile, the Diocese of Jackson through the Archives and Chancellor’s o ce will be sponsoring a bus tour to Mobile and Montgomery the weekend of Nov. 15-16. We are calling it The Sister Thea Bowman Jubilee of Hope Tour.
Details will be released soon but the trip will include a visit to Africatown where the Clotilda, the last slave ship, arrived in 1860, 52 years after the international slave trade had been outlawed; after that we will participate in a Black Catholic History Month Mass in Mobile where the guild will be formally launched; then on to Montgomery to visit St. Jude Parish where civil rights marchers were housed during the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 mentioned above; finally we will tour the Equal Justice Initiative Museum and grounds.
The province guild will be the charter guild for Sister Thea’s cause and will be open to Catholics and friends in Mississippi and Alabama who want to support and promote Sister Thea’s Cause. Other guild branches will be formed around the country as we move forward as well. We still are working on a basic set of guidelines and responsibilities for membership, but we hope the guild will be a place to share the excitement around and the beauty of Sister Thea’s inspiring life and legacy.
Sister Thea Bowman, pray for us!
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)
Pastoral Assignments
Rev. Augustine Palimattam Poulose appointed Administrator Pro Tempore of St. Michael Parish Forest and its mission, St. Anne in Newton; St. Michael Parish Paulding and Centro Católico in Morton, e ective April 1, 2025.
Bishop of Jackson
The Chancellor’s office will be sponsoring a “Sister Thea Bowman Jubilee of Hope Tour” to Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama the weekend of Nov. 15-16 during Black Catholic History Month. (Photo courtesy of archives)
MEMPHIS – Pictured is the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The historic site now serves as the National Civil Rights Museum. (Photo courtesy of archives)
Heart of a Deacon: From discernment to ordination
GUEST COLUMN
By Deacon Wesley linDsay
There is a saying I have heard all my life, and it still rings true: “The Lord moves in mysterious ways.” My faith journey is a living testament to this truth. When I look back on each misstep, each wrong turn, and every encounter, both good and bad, I can now see that they all prepared me for the calling I answered more than seven years ago. At each of the three levels of my progression – discernment, formation and ordination – God has revealed more and more of Himself and His plan.
When I was much younger, I believed I was ready to understand the “real” message of the Almighty. However, Hebrews 5:12-14 compares followers of God to children who must be fed with milk because they are not yet mature enough for solid food. I thought differently about myself and craved the solid food of spiritual maturity. Be careful what you ask for – you just may get it.
Discernment
God’s hand was moving in my life, even when I had no clue. A friend and Brother Knight encouraged me to apply for the permanent diaconate. There was just one problem: the application process was already closed. However, I decided to test a core Christian tenet: faith. I submitted my application anyway, just to see what would happen. To my surprise, it was accepted despite being late! I was admitted to aspirancy.
Obuntubotho
FROM THE HERMITAGE
By sister alies therese
The aspirancy period is when prospective candidates begin to learn about the ministry and duties of the permanent deacon. For married men, their wives are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings, usually held on Saturdays. This step is crucial because a wife’s active support and consent are required at each stage of her husband’s progression toward ordination. She must write a letter indicating her support for his journey. If the wife is not fully on board, the permanent diaconate is not in that man’s future.
Formation
After about nine months of aspirancy, my six brother candidates and I had to write a letter to our bishop requesting admission to candidacy. This is when our real formation began. We embarked on a Master’s degree-level religious education program directed by Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. This was our seminary of Christian education. Along the way, we completed practicums specific to our Catholic faith, such as homiletics and the sacraments of baptism and marriage.
A funny thing happened at each of these steps: I began to notice a change not only in myself but in my fellow candidates as well. This is no slight to them – from the start, they were already good, God-fearing men of service! Yet somehow, their goodness was magnified, and they became, in my opinion, even stronger in the faith.
The hardest part of formation, in my experience, was keeping an open mind. I thought I knew the Bible and the ways of the Almighty. Boy, was I
I learned from Elizabeth Lesser (The Seeker’s Guide, pg. 397), that “When Bishop Desmond Tutu introduced Nelson Mandela at his inauguration … he described him as a man who had obuntubotho … the essence of a human being. It speaks of humanness, gentleness, putting yourself out for others and being vulnerable, embracing compassion and toughness.” I would add that he was a man of shalom, one for whom things were as they ought to be. This would be our goal, our calling – our obuntubotho
Lent has stirred us, challenged us, or gone quickly and unremarkably. Dionysius the Areopagite (5-6C CE), though his real identity remains unknown, as do his exact writing dates. He was known for ‘the rapt impotence of the mind before God,’ a spirituality of self-emptying. To discover the essence of the human person is to find this spirit of the Christ, the anointed One, and not to pay so much attention to ourselves. Did you come to know Jesus better this Lent? Did you discover what Jesus has done for you and what you are called to do for others? Are you willing to surrender all and enter the darkness?
Dionysius writes, “Entering the darkness that surpasses understanding, we shall find ourselves brought, not just to brevity of speech, but to perfect silence and unknowing.” And what good is that you ask? Well, in that silence, the fullness of God resides! He goes on, “Emptied of all knowledge, man is joined in the highest part of himself, not with any created thing, nor with himself, nor with another, but with the One who is altogether unknowable, and in knowing nothing, he knows in a manner that surpasses understanding.” Once we have let go of ourselves, entered into prayer and silence, we can move to be of some small service to others.
In the Pirke Avot 5:27 (a collection of rabbinic sayings compiled between 250 and 275 CE), though many sages lived long before and very little is known about them. They seem to “speak in one great sane voice of the necessity of enact-
mistaken! Isaiah 55:8-9 made this point abundantly clear to me. This is where Spring Hill College truly shined. All our instructors provided the help and support we needed, making the educational experience second to none. Reading a variety of Christian authors and texts was fundamental, and now I have an extensive theological library. Formation also taught me valuable time management skills – we all learned to appreciate the blessing of a 45-minute time gap!
Ordination
July 16, 2022, will forever be one of the happiest days of my life. Almost five years of preparation had led me to that moment. Another chapter had begun, filled with the promise and expectation of serving God and His people.
In the nearly three years since my ordination, my eyes have witnessed so much – some good, some bad. At this stage of my journey, I hold onto the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:12-13: “I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.” Thanks be to God!
For more information on the permanent diaconate visit https://jacksondiocese.org/office-of-the-permanent-diaconate.
(Deacon Wesley Lindsay was ordained in 2022 and serves at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Jackson.)
ing holiness and making prayer real in the service of others, bringing things into harmony.” (Wisdom of the Jewish Sages, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, 1993). Here is an example:
“Ben Hei Hei said: Effort is its own reward.
“We are here to do. And through doing to learn; and through leaning to know; and through knowing to experience wonder; and through wonder to attain wisdom; and through wisdom to find simplicity; and through simplicity to give attention; and through attention to see what needs to be done.”
What have you discovered that needs to be done? Wash, rinse, repeat … deal with your family issues, care for a sick neighbor, tutor a child, give money to a disaster fund or children’s hospital. You have found the one that works for you. Lent helps us find the one best suited to us.
Consider all the ways Jesus was a man of prayer and service! A man of shalom … everything about Him spoke of the deep relationship He had with the Father, so that he might do the work the Father had given Him. That gives us clues as to how we might grow. Even if we can list the seven deadly sins, the beatitudes, and the commandments, they are worthless if we do not want to allow shalom to fill our lives. We grow by prayer and action.
Mother Teresa, the saint of the slums, did not have an easy life. After she had gone back to God, folks opened her diaries and found great darkness and difficulty, and some even complained that she should ‘not be considered a saint.’ Really? No, it was her suffering and surrender that brought her ever deeper into God’s heart so that she might minister to those in distress. She gave us this to help remind us: “Loving as He loves, helping as He helps, giving as He gives, serving as He serves, rescuing as He rescues, being with Him twenty-four hours, touching Him in His distressing disguise.” It is that disguise that we have to pay attention to. Just as we could be ‘entertaining angels.’ we might also be serving Jesus in distress. There is still time to allow Lent to be moments of deep conversion and a new beginning, well on the way to shalom, on the way to obuntubotho.
Joseph Campbell, the philosopher, reminded Elizabeth Lesser that “from sacrifice comes bliss.” She says, “that is a liberating concept if learned from the real-life experience of following one’s heart.”
Blessings.
(sister alies therese is a canonical hermit who prays and writes.)
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE
By Melvin Arrington
When the subject of prayer comes up, many people immediately think of petition, that is, asking God for a favor. But petition constitutes only one type of what the church calls “raising of one’s mind and heart to God” (CCC 2559); other categories include penitence, praise, thanksgiving, intercession, and silence in the form of meditation and contemplation. The Mass, which is often referred to as “the great prayer of the church,” contains all of these. It is, in essence, one long sustained prayer.
Bishop Robert Barron calls prayer “intimate communion and conversation with God.” I like that definition because it highlights the element of intimacy, which suggests both closeness and privacy. Here’s a story that may or may not be true. In a certain Baptist Church there used to be an old gentleman, a deacon, who was often called upon to pray during the service. But he always prayed so softly that it was difficult for other members of the congregation to hear him. Once, after the service, a young man went up to the deacon and told him, “You need to speak louder when you pray. I couldn’t hear you.” The old gentleman looked at him and said in a gentle voice, “I wasn’t talking to you.” That deacon must have had an intimate personal relationship with the Lord.
Another indispensable aspect of prayer is an attitude of humility. When we address our Creator and Lord, it’s always from a position of dependence. He is God and we are his creation, his creatures. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what’s best for us. So, we should pray, “Thy will be done.” And yet, there are things that we want, and God, the source of all goodness, wants to give us good things, but He wants us to ask for them.
The fourth-century monk Evagrius Ponticus said, “Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask Him, for He desires to do something even greater for you while you cling to Him in prayer.” Those words are particularly meaningful to me because of something that happened many years ago during my job- hunting days. A certain job that I wanted and needed badly came open. Upon learning that the position was given to someone else, my spirit sank very low, and I felt like abandoning my job search. However, two or three days later an offer came in for a much better position, one that I could not have accepted had the first one worked out. As a friend of mine once said, “His will is much better than my plan.” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen really knew what he was talking about when he remarked, “Some day we will thank God not only for what He gave us, but also for that which He refused.” Amen!
The gift of prayer
Worshippers attend a prayer service in St. Peter’s Square March 2, 2025, while Pope Francis was under treatment for double pneumonia after being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital Feb. 14. (OSV News photo/Dylan Martinez, Reuters)
I’ve always felt nervous and uneasy around hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
And then something marvelous happened. The more I visited the facility the more comfortable I felt being around the sick. Gradually, I began to make friends with many of the nursing home residents. Before long, I was helping them get around the building in their wheelchairs and participate in various group activities. I had become a volunteer! God had answered my prayer, but in a totally unexpected way because a nursing home was way outside of my comfort zone, and it would have been the last location I would have chosen. Nevertheless, He chose that place for me, and now I see the wisdom of His plan. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
What a wonderful gift prayer is! What an amazing privilege we have! Almighty God, our Maker, is calling us to intimate communion with Him. Just the very thought of what this means is awe-inspiring! Why would anyone who hears Him reject the call? Right now, during Lent, we are all being invited to enter into that relationship. We need to make time for prayer. This is not the kind of gift to be put up on the shelf and forgotten. The church has a wealth of prayers to draw upon. The saints are ready to pray for us and with us. And God is waiting for us to have a conversation with Him.
(Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Oxford.)
The Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reporting system that will enable all diocesan employees, volunteers and parishioners to anonymously (or named if preferred) make reports. Examples of this activity include fraud, misconduct, safety violations, harassment or substance abuse occurring at a Catholic parish, Catholic school or at the diocesan level. The system is operated by Lighthouse Services.
And then there’s perseverance. Several years ago, in preparation for retirement, I began asking the Lord to reveal to me a place where I could serve after retiring. This was an ongoing part of my daily prayer for two or three years. In the meantime, I had convinced my mother, who had been living in a nursing home in Madison, to move to a similar facility in my hometown, so I could check on her more frequently. My first few visits were painful because
The old saying, “prayer changes things,” remains true. But it doesn’t change God; it changes us. We learn to call on Him for help rather than relying solely on ourselves. We learn to shift the worries and cares of this world from ourselves to our Heavenly Father. Instead of agonizing over things we can’t control, we take them to the Lord, confident that He will answer them in His own time and according to His perfect will. As Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)
To make a report visit www.lighthouse-services.com/jacksondiocese or call 888-830-0004 (English) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish).
The Association of Priests of the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi provide a small pension to our retired priests. As you consider your estate plans, please remember these faithful servants by making a donation or leaving a bequest to the Association of Priests. Our parish priests dedicate their lives to caring for us, their flocks. Let us now care for them in their retirement. Donations can be made payable to the Association of Priests and can be mailed to:
Diocese of Jackson, P.O. Box 22723, Jackson, MS 39225-2723
Simple Holy Week customs transcend cultures, continents
By Lorene HanLey Duquin (OSV News)
– From baking sweet breads to blessing baskets, Holy Week is full of long-standing traditions that transcend cultures and continents. The following list includes a quick overview of family favorites.
– Palm crosses: From medieval times, people have believed that blessed palms formed into the shape of a cross would protect them from danger. The easiest way to make a cross from blessed palms is to cut two pieces of the palm, arrange in the shape of a cross, put a thumbtack in the middle, and attach the cross to a doorway or a bulletin board. Check the Internet for directions on how to braid or weave palms into more decorative crosses.
– Housecleaning: In many cultures the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week are designated as days for vigorous housecleaning in preparation for Easter. This custom probably evolved from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover.
– Coloring eggs: Decorating eggs was a pagan symbol of rebirth at springtime for the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Persians and even the Chinese. Christians adopted the colored egg as a symbol of new life which comes with the Resurrection.
– Easter lilies: The tradition of buying Easter lilies during Holy Week for use as decorations in homes and churches came into practice in the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity and new life that heralds the resurrection of Jesus.
– Visiting churches: The custom of visiting several churches to say a prayer on Holy Thursday was a tradition that evolved from the practice of making pil-
grimages to holy places.
– Sweet breads: In many cultures, Holy Week was traditionally a time for baking sweet breads, cakes and pastries that would be served on Easter Sunday.
– Blessing of Easter baskets: In many cultures, families bring food that will be eaten on Easter Sunday to church in a basket for a special blessing on Holy Saturday.
– New clothes: From the time of the early Christians, the newly baptized wore white garments made from new linen. In medieval times, it became a tradition for people to wear new clothes on Easter Sunday, symbolizing the “new life” that comes with the Resurrection. In some places it was believed that bad luck would come to those who could afford new Easter clothes but refused to buy them.
– Holy Water blessings: Some families bring holy water containers to Mass on Easter so they can bring home some Easter water, which is blessed during the Easter Vigil, to bless their homes.
Many people and families also participate in the full cycle of Triduum liturgies, from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, walking with the Lord through his passion, death and resurrection. However you mark Holy Week, intentionally set it apart from the other 51 weeks of the year, because this one is truly special.
(Lorene Hanley Duquin is a Catholic author and lecturer who has worked in parishes and on a diocesan level.)
What are the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross?
By D.D. emmons
(OSV News) – Permanently affixed, the 14 stations adorn parishes around the world. They are visible reminders of the last hours of Christ on earth, but, moreover, the Way of the Cross is symbolic of our lifelong journey filled with difficulties and marked with personal crosses. Unlike the followers of Christ on that Good Friday, we know that the 14th station is not the end, that death does not win; rather, in his sacrifice, we find the sure knowledge of eternal life.
Some of the 14 traditional stations are not found in the Gospels but have been passed down through tradition:
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death (Mk 15:6-15).
Second Station: Jesus carries his cross (Jn 19:15-17).
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time.
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother.
Fifth Station: Simon the Cyrene is made to bear the cross (Mk 15:21).
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time.
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Lk 23:27-31).
Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments (Mt 27:35, Lk 23:34).
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross (Lk 23:33-43).
Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross (Lk 23:44-46).
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross (Jn 19: 38).
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb (Jn 19: 38-42).
While the three falls of Jesus are not found in the Gospels, it is likely that he fell from the weight of the cross beam, which typically weighed more than 100 pounds, and because of his weakened condition from the scourging. That Jesus met his mother as he struggled along is most probable since she was always near him; finally, that some brave Christian stepped out
of the crowd to wipe the blood, spit and sweat from his face also is likely.
The stations entered church devotion as Christians who could not visit Jerusalem began to erect local replicas of the holy sites based on information from people who had been to the city, such as the crusaders. Initially there was no continuity or standardization among these structures; some included as many as 37 stops, others as few as seven. Finally, in 1731, Pope Clement XII established the number of stations as 14.
In 1991, Pope St. John Paul II introduced a version of this devotion based entirely on the Scriptures. All 14 stations and the accompanying meditations can be found in the Bible. The Scriptural Stations are an alternative to the traditional Way of the Cross.
(D.D. Emmons writes from Pennsylvania.)
An image of the Stations of the Cross at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington shows the sixth station, “Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.” (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
A woman holds a palm frond cross during Palm Sunday Mass outside St. Mary’s Chapel at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Md., April 2, 2023. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
DCYC – Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference
By Madelyn Johnson
VICKSBURG – DCYC was a huge hit for the youth groups across the Diocese of Jackson. Games, speakers and Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz were the highlights of the weekend held at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Each youth group had a stuffed animal mascot, and had the chance to win the grand prize stuffed animal, a highland cow. Each session had small groups where the students would break out with thought-provoking questions to get the youth out of their comfort zones. Attendance was at the highest it has been, with projections to grow every year.
For additional photos visit https://jacksondiocese.zenfoliosite.com.
is
– The highland cow
for the
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of
VICKSBURG
grand prize
“Mascot Showdown”
pictured with youth from Holy Savior Clinton. (Photos by Madelyn Johnson)
(Above)
fun game
“Pocket, Purse or Person” requested gum for winning game points for one of the “Mascot Showdown” competitions. Pictured are representatives from each youth parish presenting their gum for points.
(Above) The youth group from Holy Family Jackson socialize at St. Paul Parish in Vicksburg during the DCYC weekend.
(Left) The parish youth group from St. Anne Carthage were all smiles during the annual DCYC Conference in Vicksburg.
During small group sessions Jesus’ love was present ... even in a tote bag.
GREENVILLE – St. Joseph student, Minnie Kate Greco receives ashes from Father Gabriel on Ash Wednesday. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)
COLUMBUS – Annunciation third grade students Lyle Rosenblatt, Louisa Wills and Levi Struber watch anxiously as their teacher Cory Sanders tests their vehicle created to keep their egg inside safe from cracking! (Photo by Jacque Hince)
SOUTHAVEN – The entire cast of “Firefly create” theater group dance under the flag they expertly moved into position. The group, made up of youth between 11-15 years old, performed “Schoolhouse Rock” for first through fifth graders at Sacred Heart School. (Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)
(Left) JACKSON – During Read Across America Week, first graders worked together during centers to build a tower of cups, while focusing on balance, weight, height, gravity and teamwork. Pictured: Federico Diaz, Jones Carr and Thomas Morisani. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
(Right) FLOWOOD – The St. Paul Early Learning Center “older-2’s” students paint shamrocks. Pictured: Holt Foster, Carson Fede, Harlin Rae Barnett and Tucker Watts. (Photo by Susan Irby)
CSA feature: Campus Ministry
For Gri
n Mahoney, ministry at Mississippi State University’s Cowbell Catholic was a natural step. Involved from the beginning of his time at Mississippi State, he immediately felt at home. e friendships, faith formation and
strong community made a lasting impact on him. When the opportunity arose to serve as interim campus minister, he gladly stepped in, seeing it as a way to give back to the ministry that had shaped him so deeply.
“I had a gap semester, and Father Jason (Johnston) asked if I would be interested in the role while they searched for a fulltime minister,” Mahoney shared.
“It allows me to serve the parish and the students and contribute to it being a haven for Catholic students.”
For Mahoney,
the role is about serving the Lord and contributing to the church. He sees ministry as a daily call to trust in God’s plan and remain open to His will.
“I must always ask for the Holy Spirit to grant me wisdom and help me surrender all things to His greater glory,” he explained. “I feel the Lord answering that prayer when the students love our events, or they appreciate my advice.”
Mahoney credits his rst campus minister, Joe Terbrack, as an inspiration.
“Joe was a role model for me, always o ering guidance. When he le , we gave him a St. Joseph Challenge Coin, a tradition for Men’s Campus Ministry leaders. Seeing his joy in that moment was incredibly moving.”
Encouragement also comes from students he has mentored.
“One student told me that reaching out to him and inviting him to co ee meant so much that he now does the same for other new students. His a rmation reminds me of the incredible power an invitation can be, and being present to others.”
Mahoney is grateful for those who support the Catholic Service Appeal.
“Your sacri ces help us build our Campus Ministry program and deepen our relationship with God. Being a part of Campus Ministry has formed me into a man of Christ, a man of the church – a man for others. Even the smallest sacri ce will do – the Lord will do the rest.”
Pictured is Griffin Mahoney, interim campus minster at Cowbell Catholic through St. Joseph Parish in Starkville. The Cowbell Catholic ministry is designed to promote and support the spiritual growth of Catholic college students in the Golden Triangle area (including Mississippi State University in Starkville, East Mississippi Community College in Mayhew, and the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus) and inspire all college students to live in accord with Gospel values.
