DECEMBER 17, 2021
mississippicatholic.com
Justices seem willing to allow Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban BY CAROL ZIMMERMANN
could say have been wrongly decided. WASHINGTON (CNS) – In the And that discussion of previous Supreme Court's first major aborcourt decisions, the use of "stare detion case in decades – which looked cisis" came up frequently. The term, at Mississippi's ban on abortions which literally means to stand by after 15 weeks of pregnancy – the things decided, was used in refermajority of justices Dec. 1 seemed ence to previous abortion cases but willing to let that ban stay in place. also several other cases with some But it was unclear if they would justices pointing out that precedence take this further and overturn Roe. should not always be a deciding facWhile the justices considered the tor and that some cases did need to state law and the possible ramificabe overturned. tions of supporting it or not, people Justice Stephen Breyer indicated on both sides of the issue were on the court was treading on contestthe steps of the Supreme Court reed ground and was concerned that vealing the divide on this issue by its decision could be seen as merely what they were shouting or with being political. their placard messages calling aborJustice Sonia Sotomayor took tion murder or an essential right. this a step further, saying the court At several points during the arwould be seen as highly politicized gument, Chief Justice John Roberts if it were to overturn Roe and other continued to bring the focus back to related rulings. "Will this institution the question at hand: the 15-week survive the stench that this creates ban on abortions in Mississippi, in the public perception that the which was struck down by a federal District Court in Mississippi in 2018 A pro-life activist holding a crucifix joins a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court build- Constitution and its reading are just and upheld a year later by the New ing in Washington Dec. 1, 2021, ahead of the court hearing oral arguments in the case political acts?" she asked. "I don't Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, an appeal from Mississippi to keep its see how it is possible." ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. (CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters) But as the arguments continued, for the 5th Circuit. more reflection seemed to be on the A 15-week ban is not a "dramatstates cannot restrict abortion before 24 weeks or when issue of abortion itself and the possiic departure from viability," Roberts a fetus is said to be able to survive on its own. bility of bringing the issue "back to the people," as Missaid. Roberts seemed hesitant to take this further, asking if sissippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart suggested. The point of viability – when a fetus is said to be able to survive on its own – was key to the discussion the court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, if it also would – Continued on page 6 – because the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that be asked to reconsider several other cases that people
Mourning, prayer and a resolve to rebuild follow devastating tornadoes BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Vatican secretary of state, said Pope Francis "was saddened to learn of the devastating MAYFIELD, Ky. (CNS) – Mourning, prayer and a resolve to rebuild shattered lives, impact of the tornadoes" in the Midwest and the South. "He offers heartfelt prayers that almighty God will grant eternal peace to those who homes and businesses in Mayfield followed one of the most powerful twisters in U.S. have died, comfort to those who mourn their loss, and strength to all those affected by history that leveled the city of 10,000 in western Kentucky overnight Dec. 10. The Bluegrass State was the worst hit as numerous devastating tornadoes traveled this immense tragedy," it said. "With gratitude for the tireless efforts of the rescue workers and all engaged in across it and its neighboring states of Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri, levelcaring for the injured, the grieving families and those left homeless, Pope Francis ining entire communities. As of early Dec. 13, at least 34 people were confirmed – Continued on page 6 – dead, but rescue efforts were still underway in Mayfield INSIDE THIS WEEK and elsewhere. Twenty of those who perished were in Kentucky, and six died when a roof collapsed at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois. As members of two of Mayfield's faith congregations came together to pray Dec. 12 amid rubble – piles of brick, metal and glass – prayers for their city and all of those affected by the ferocious mid-December twisters came from far and wide, including from Pope Francis and the U.S. Catholic bishops, and from close to home – Mississippi Católico 9 From the archives 10 Vatican stamp 8 Bishop William F. Medley of Owensboro, whose diocese Hispanic news in the DioOur link to the ArchdioHomeless man's art is Vaticovers western Kentucky. A papal telegram conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, cese of Jackson cese of Mobile can Christmas stamp
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
Calendar of events SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Second printing of Father David O’Connor’s book – A Priestly Pilgrimage, now available. The book is described as “an autobiographical narrative told through the sub-stories of an evolving theology, ministry skills development, cultural transitions, and programs that are responsive to the pastoral needs of God’s people.” Details: His book is available at the parish offices of St. Mary, Assumption and Holy Family churches, at the Natchez Coffee Company (Franklin Street), at Locus Benedictus Retreat Center (Greenwood) or by contacting the author, doconnor.natchez@gmail. com. For a book to be shipped call (601) 442-7250. Cost: $20/plus shipping. PEARL St. Jude, Sung Mass in Extraordinary Form, first and third Sundays of each month at 6 p.m. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.
PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS
COLUMBUS Annunciation, Christmas Youth Choir performance, Friday, Dec. 24, 5:30 p.m. Details: church office (601) 328-2927 HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Weight Loss Support Group, Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Come join us each week as we support each other on our weight loss journey. Details: Liz Brown at (901) 331-3419. MADISON St. Francis, Ring in Your Faith 10k/5k, Jan. 1, 2022 at 8 a.m. at Old Trace Park in Ridgeland. They will be serving a New Year’s meal of corned beef,
black-eyed peas and cabbage. Cost: $30. Details: register at https://bit.ly/RingInYourFaith. MERIDIAN St. Patrick, “Mash Bash” Blood Drive, Dec. 28 at the KC Hall. Details: vitalant.org. NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, the choir will perform a Christmas program from 7:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, before Christmas Vigil Mass. Details: church office (601) 445-5616. St. Mary Basilica, Vanguard (Young Adult Ministy), Trivia Night, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Only $5 to play with prizes available. Also $5 potato bar and $1 soft drinks. BYOB. Details: church office (601) 445-5616. SENATOBIA Catholic Social Services offices open Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to assist with food, orientation or financial assistance. Bilingual services/staff available. Details: Please call to make an appointment (662) 560-1991. STARKVILLE St. Joseph needs volunteers for spring semester food preparation for TND (Tuesday Night Dinners), no previous cooking experience necessary. Details: Joseph Terbrack at ccm@stjosephstarkville.org. VICKSBURG St. Paul, Children’s Christmas program, Friday, Dec. 24, 5 p.m. Details: Jordan Amborn (601) 415-2524. YAZOO CITY Children’s Christmas Eve program, Friday, Dec. 24, 6:30 p.m. Details: church office (662) 746-1680.
YOUTH BRIEFS
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Wednesday night “Open Gym” 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Make plans to come Wednesdays and enjoy food, fun and games. Details: church office (662) 429-7851. TUPELO St. James, Disciple Now – Rhythms, Jan. 14-16, for 7-12 graders. Cost: $50. Details: email Cara at carambristow@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE
FLOWOOD St. Paul, Black & White Ball/Annual Drawdown, Saturday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Details: church office (601) 992-9547. MADISON St. Joseph School, Jeans, Jazz & Bruin Blues $10,000 Draw Down, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at the Country Club of Jackson. To sponsor or purchase a draw down ticket visit www.stjoedrawdown.com.
CORRECTION
In our last edition on the Thanksgiving celebration at St. Patrick Meridian, the cooks name was misspelled. His name is Gary Koca. His family traveled by car, not motorcycle – 1,450 miles is a long way on a bike! We apologize for the error.
FEATURED PHOTO Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration ...
JACKSON – On Dec. 12 at Holy Family parish, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Father Clem observe a dance performance for Our Lady Guadalupe by “Danza Azteca.” The group is a ministry of Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and is coordinated by Celia Aleman, who has studied ancestry dances of indigenous from Latin America for nine years. The dancers used incense, the sound of seashells and colorful clothing to represent scenes of the apparition of the Virgin to St. Juan Diego. Tree seeds are also worn on the ankles, that makes rattling sound that accompanies the rhythm of the drums during the dance. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
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MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
Food for the journey – His own body and blood By BIshoP JosePh R. koPaCZ, D.D.
The celebration of the Incarnation, the beginning of the culmination of God’s plan of salvation for humanity, will be celebrated throughout the Christian world over next weekend on the Solemnity of Christmas. In many countries the Lord’s birth will be commemorated at home or in smaller family clusters, but for the majority of the faithful there will be the joyful gatherings in churches with a wide range of languages and customs. For the throngs who do “go to church,” it will be for the celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass, the divine Liturgy, the holy Eucharist, to give thanks to God who so loved the world that he sent his only Son. (John 3:16) Next weekend there will be the pastoral challenge in the Catholic world of coordinating the schedule of Masses for Christmas eve, Christmas day, and the Masses for Sunday – the feast of the Holy Family. But whatever Masses we attend let us not lose sight of one of the most sublime mysteries of our faith in the Lord Jesus, the bond between his birth, the Incarnation, and the Mass, when and where we celebrate his death and resurrection.
The link between the words from the prologue of the Gospel of John and the words of consecration from the other three evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke, as well as St. Paul are enlightening. From the prologue: – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) – The Lord himself handed on to the church, beginning at the Last Supper and continuing for all time, his words of institution and consecration. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul) “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28) – Several chapters later in John’s Gospel, the Lord unwaveringly wedded his Incarnation with the Eucharist. “I am that living bread come down from heaven! Everyone who eats it will live forever. And the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) Throughout the Christmas season, the Octave of Christmas, and its sacred interval through Jan. 9, 2022 – the feast of the Baptism of the Lord – there is ample time to cherish the fullness of our faith in the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is the true light that has come into the world, so that whoever accepts him is granted the power to be children of God. Each time we gather at Mass as his Body – the church – the risen Christ reveals his glory to us, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. Whenever someone doubts or rejects the real presence of the risen Christ in the bread and wine, which can occur for many reasons, a good place to revisit is the Incarnation of the Son of God. In the power of the Holy Spirit pray for the grace and truth to see with the eyes of the heart the humanity and divinity of the child Jesus, and the crucified and risen Lord. He shines in glory in His resurrected body at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on behalf of his Body, the church, in this world. Of course, he would want to feed us with exceptional food and drink – His own body and blood – food for the journey. As, we grapple with this sublime mystery at various intervals over our life span, and we pray for one another to persevere, as individuals, families and friends with our feet firmly planted in God’s good creation as children of the Most High, who never lose sight of the beckoning horizon of eternal life. Merry Christmas and peace on earth and goodwill toward all!
Su propio cuerpo y sangre: comida para el viaje PoR oBIsPo JosePh R. koPaCZ, D.D.
La celebración de la Encarnación, comienzo de la culminación del plan de salvación de Dios para la humanidad, se celebrará en todo el mundo cristiano el fin de semana en la solemnidad de Navidad. En muchos países, el nacimiento del Señor se conmemorará en el hogar o en grupos familiares más pequeños, pero para la mayoría de los fieles, habrá reuniones alegres en iglesias con una amplia gama de idiomas y costumbres. Para las multitudes que sí “van a la iglesia”, será para la celebración del sacrificio de la Misa, la Divina Liturgia, la Sagrada Eucaristía, para dar gracias a Dios que tanto amó al mundo que envió a su único Hijo. (Juan 3:16) El próximo fin de semana tendrá lugar el desafío pastoral en el mundo católico de coordinar el horario de las Misas de Nochebuena, día de Navidad y las Misas del domingo, fiesta de la Sagrada Familia. Pero sean cuales sean las Misas a las que asistamos, no perdamos de vista uno de los misterios más sublimes de nuestra fe en el Señor Jesús, el vínculo entre su nacimiento, la Encarnación y la Misa, cuando y donde celebramos su muerte y resurrección. El vínculo entre las palabras del prólogo del Evangelio de Juan y las palabras de consagración de los otros tres evangelistas, Mateo, Marcos y Lucas, así como de San Volume 68 Number 2 (ISSN 1529-1693)
Pablo, es esclarecedor. Del prólogo: – “Aquel que es la Palabra se hizo hombre y vivió entre nosotros. Y hemos visto su gloria, la gloria que recibió del Padre, por ser su Hijo único, abundante en amor y verdad.” (Juan 1:14) – El mismo Señor transmitió a la Iglesia, comenzando por la Última Cena y para siempre, sus palabras de institución y consagración. (Mateo, Marcos, Lucas y San Pablo) “Mientras comían, Jesús tomó en sus manos el pan y, habiendo dado gracias a Dios, lo partió y se lo dio a los discípulos, diciendo: Tomen y coman, esto es mi cuerpo. Luego tomó en sus manos una copa y, habiendo dado gracias a Dios, se la pasó a ellos, diciendo: Beban todos ustedes de esta copa, porque esto es mi sangre, con la que se confirma la alianza, sangre que es derramada en favor de muchos para perdón de sus pecados.” (Mateo 26:26-28) – Varios capítulos más adelante en el Evangelio de Juan, el Señor enlazó inquebrantablemente su Encarnación con la Eucaristía. “¡Yo soy ese pan vivo que ha bajado del cielo; ¡el que come de este pan, vivirá para siempre! El pan que yo daré es mi propia carne. Lo daré por la vida del mundo.” (Juan 6:51) – Continúa en la pág. 11 –
BISHOP’S SCHEDULE P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130 Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org Publisher ........................................................................................... Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Communications Director ...................................................................... Joanna Puddister King Production Manager ...................................................................................................Tereza Ma Contributors ......................................................................................................... Berta Mexidor
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published twice per month January - April and September December; one per month June, July and August. Subscription rate: $20 a year in Mississippi, $21 out-of-state. Periodical postage at Jackson, MS 39201 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130. Website: www.mississippicatholic.com www.jacksondiocese.org
Sunday, Jan. 9 – Thursday, Jan. 13 – Region V Bishops Retreat, New Orleans Retreat Center Sunday, Jan. 16, 12 p.m. – Mass of Installation for Father Adolfo Suarez, St. Michael, Forest Saturday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. – Holy Family Celebration with the Christian Family Movement, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson Monday, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m. – Catholic Schools Week Mass, St. Anthony School, Madison Monday, Jan. 31, 1 p.m. – Catholic Schools Week Mass, Sr. Thea Bowman School, Jackson All events are subject to change. Check with parishes and schools for further details.
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
4 VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME
I have been very grateful to hear from many parish groups, priests, parishioners, and others who want to send Christmas greetings to our seminarians. I spent the early days of December visiting with our six men and they are all doing very well. All of the seminarians will get a well-deserved winter break, but I’ve been very pleased that all of them want to dive into parish life while also spending time with their families and friends. Please tell our men ‘hello’ and encourage them to keep working hard if you see them in your parish this Christmas. In his book Priests for the Third Millennium, Cardinal Timothy Dolan writes about the virtues that a diocesan priest must have to properly care for his people. A man must develop virtues like humility, fidelity, courtesy, integrity, simplicity of life and joy in order to minister effectively as a diocesan priest. I am very proud of our seminarians for the dedication they have displayed to their formation. Each one of them has different gifts, strengths and weaknesses, but they are all trying to develop these virtues that are so necessary to caring for God’s people. As a short update on their status ... Grayson Foley is our youngest seminarian and will complete his 2nd year of formation this spring. His priestly ordination would be in the Spring of 2028. Will Foggo has two less years of formation than Grayson since he had already completed three years of undergraduate work at Mississippi State. Will’s priestly ordinaFather Nick Adam tion would be in the Spring of 2026. Ryan Stoer and Tristan Stovall are past the halfway mark of formation. They are scheduled for priestly ordination in Spring 2024. Our “senior” seminarians include Carlisle Beggerly of West Point. Carlisle’s diaconate ordination is set for June 4, 2022, and he will be ordained a priest in Spring 2023. Deacon Andrew Bowden’s priestly ordination is set for May 14, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. Deacon Andrew grew up at St. Jude in Pearl. Thank you for your constant prayers and encouragement for these men. I am encouraged by the way they are using their talents and are courageously offering their lives to the Lord. Pray that they continue to develop the virtues a diocesan priest needs to serve you the best they can when, God willing, they come to their ordination day. – Father Nick Adam If you are interested in learning more about religious orders or From left to right: Deacon Andrew Bowden, Carlisle Beggerly, Ryan Stoer, vocations to the priesthood and religious life, visit www.jackson- Grayson Foley, Will Foggo, Tristan Stovall and Bishop Joseph Kopacz. (Photo courtesy of Father Nick Adam) priests.com or email nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.
Spirituality 5
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
Human(Kind) – Ashlee Eiland IN EXILE By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI
I could never be a literary critic, not because I can’t tell good literature from bad, but because I lack the hard edge. If I dislike a book, I hesitate to say so. Conversely, if I like a book, I tend to be more its cheerleader than its critical assessor. Be that as it may, I want to strongly endorse Ashlee Eiland’s new book, Human(Kind) – How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together. This is not some sentimental, feel good book on how we need to be kind to each other. It’s more like a Sermon on the Mount for our time, or at least how we might work towards living the Sermon on the Mount. How do we remain soulful, warm, and human inside all the things that tend to unhealthily either inflate or embitter our hearts? Here’s how she describes her book. “This is my story – a story of a black woman who grew up in the South and who discovered some wholeness and some holes along the way. As I looked back over my life, there were moments I remembered so vividly. Upon reflection, they were vivid because they mattered. They marked me in both beautiful and painful ways. But as I sat with these moments and memories, I realized they mattered because they taught me to be kind to my own worthy self. Recalling them helped me acknowledge the good gifts I’ve been given, the gifts I now hope to give to others, and enabled me to see the painful and hard moments as opportunities to be more fully human, to remind myself to receive grace where there’s been grievance.” The book is a series of stories from her life, all of them told by a gifted storyteller and all of them written with an aesthetics that never sinks into sentimentality or self-pity. And they are stories both of being graced and being wounded. Eiland’s life has been one of contrasts. On the one hand, her life has been one of privilege – loving parents, the opportunity for a first-rate education, never economically desperate, and always with a supportive family and community around her. On the other hand, she has lived as a black woman inside a world of injustice and inequality. She has had to live as one who must forever be conscious of the color of her skin, who every time she walks into a room needs to look around to see how many others like her are in the room. She also had to endure the ultimate racial slur being shouted in her face. And so, as she says, she has been deeply scarred both in beautiful and painful ways. For example, one of her stories recounts an incident in which she went out to a restaurant with some Asian friends for a Korean specialty of pork dumplings. The evening went well and driving back from the restaurant and laughing with each other in the car, she felt a lifelong weight lift from her. “For the first time, I didn’t Wholesale and home feel as if I had to freezer service qualify the conversation with a Beef – Pork – Sausage reminder to my 109 - A Camellia Dr. friends – or to myNatchez self – of my actual 601-445-8743 race. ... Before that
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day, I felt I had to tiptoe out of one world into another. But that kind of posture, I realized, is laced with shame. It allows the ‘not fully enough’ narrative to run rampant, terrorizing what is oftentimes the best part about sharing our lives with one another.” We need her narrative. We live in a time of bitterness and division, when civil discourse and respect have broken down, where we demonize each other, where injustice, inequality, and racism still define us more than their opposites, and where kindness is often seen as a weakness. Moreover, there is an ever-intensifying hypersensitivity where even a well-intended word is a potential landmine. Paranoia has replaced metanoia, bringing out the worst in us. Ashlee Eiland gives us a formula for bringing out what is best in us. How do we react to injustice, offense,and demonization? For example, here is how she reacted after trying to be good to someone and being
repaid for her effort by the ultimate racial taunt being hurled in her face: “Humiliated, I went about my day, doing as much good as I could for an afternoon ... but knowing that sometimes even doing good is not enough. Sometimes we just have to sit with what’s hard and humiliating about the difficult work of unity and do our best not to let it kill us. Instead, we need to let it shape us in some other way that sobers us up and forces us to take off our rose-colored glasses, to admit that sometimes moving closer and trying to do good and closing the gaps between us and others doesn’t work out the way we want. But maybe it’s worth showing up anyway.” Lacking the critical edge, I’m not always sure of what constitutes “soul music,” but I can still recognize “soul literature.” (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
Christmas is time for sharing, not commercialism, pope says By Junno Arocho Esteves
Expressing his gratitude to the delegations for their gifts, the pope said the traditional garments worn by the figures in the Nativity scene “represent the people of the Andes and symbolize the universal call to salvation.” “Jesus came to the world through the concreteness of a people to save every man and woman, of all cultures and nationalities. He made himself small so that we might welcome him and receive the gift of God’s tenderness,” he said. He also said the spruce tree was a “sign of Christ” and a reminder of God’s gift of uniting “himself with humankind forever.” As Christmas festivities draw near, Pope Francis said the créche remains a symbol of hope that God “never tires of us” and that he chose to dwell among men and women “not as one who stands on high to dominate, but as the one who stoops low, small and poor, to serve.” “For it to be truly Christmas, let us not forget this,” the pope said. “God comes to be with us and asks us to take care of our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, the weakest and the most fragile, those whom the pandemic risks marginalizing even more.”
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Christmas tree and Nativity crèche should evoke the joy and the peace of God’s love and not the selfish indulgence of consumerism and indifference, Pope Francis said. Meeting Dec. 10 with delegations from Andalo in Italy’s Trentino-South Tyrol region and from Peru’s Huancavelica region – responsible, respectively, for the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square – the pope said the traditional Christmas symbols bring an atmosphere that is “rich in tenderness, sharing and family closeness.” “Let us not live a fake, commercial Christmas! Let us allow ourselves to be enveloped by God’s closeness, by the Christmas atmosphere that art, music, songs and traditions bring to our heart,” he said. The delegations were at the Vatican for the evening ceremony to light the Vatican Christmas tree and unveil the Nativity scene. However, the Vatican announced earlier that due to less-than-favorable weather predictions for the evening, the traditional outdoor ceremony would be held inside the Paul VI hall. In the evening, despite the rain and cold temperatures, dozens gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness the lighting of the Christmas tree. In the audience hall, the sounds of festive holiday music in Quechua played as videos of a children’s choir from Huancavelica were shown to commemorate the Andean-inspired crèche. The Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square featured 30 statues depicting Mary, Joseph, the Three Kings, shepherds and various flora and fauna from Huancavelica. The figures were dressed in the traditional bright, multicolored garments of the region’s Indigenous Chopcca people. During the meeting with Pope Francis, the two delegations were joined by a group of young men and women from a parish in Padua who Figures of Joseph and Mary are seen in the Nativity scene in St. Pecreated the Nativity scene displayed ter’s Square after a lighting ceremony at the Vatican Dec. 10, 2021. in the audience hall. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
6 DIOCESE
'... We pray for those who have been injured, for those who have lost their lives ...' the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Hu- Mayfield's candle factory, where 110 employees were man Development, said the destruction and devastation working around the clock, which is customary during vokes upon all engaged in the massive work of relief was "heartbreaking" and called for prayer and assistance the Christmas season, according to news reports. and rebuilding the Lord's gifts of strength and generous for all those who were in the path of the storms. Initially, city officials feared the death toll among facperseverance in the service of their brothers and sisters," "During this Advent season where we await in joyful tory workers would reach 70. Late Dec. 12, a company said the telegram, which Cardinal Parolin sent to Arch- anticipation for the birth of our Lord, we pray for those representative told reporters that eight workers were bishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio in the U.S. who have been injured, for those who have lost their confirmed dead and eight remained missing, but the rest Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president lives, and for their grieving families and communities," had been accounted for. of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Arch- said Archbishops Gomez and Coakley. "May those who "Many of those injured in the Mayfield candle factory bishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of have been impacted by these storms find peace, comfort were parishioners, and others represented migrants and and hope in our faith and in God’s endless love. the marginalized in our communities," Bishop Medley "We also pray for the emergency responders said in his statement. and those who have begun the work of providHe added that through its Catholic Charities office, ing for the needs of the impacted in these com- the diocese planned "to offer immediate help and sermunities in the recovery efforts," they said in a vices" for those displaced by the tornado and/or need statement issued late Dec. 11. "We entrust all immediate emergency financial help. our brothers and sisters in harm's way to our "I am proud of the many ways that your generosity – Continued from page 1 – Blessed Mother, and we ask for her continued always allows the Catholic Church to respond to the sufprotection and for her intercession in comforting fering and to families in crisis," Bishop Medley said. "So I Stewart stressed that Roe and Casey court decisions "haunt those who are suffering." thank you in advance for your generous response to this our country" and "have no home in our history or traditions." The two prelates urged Catholics and all peo- terrible devastation. God will bless our generosity." Roe v. Wade is the 1973 decision that legalized abortion. ple of goodwill to donate to recovery efforts and In a Dec. 12 tweet, Bishop Medley said he visited the Casey v. Planned Parenthood is the 1992 decision that affinancial help for tornado victims by supporting Catholic community of St. Joseph Church in Mayfield: firmed Roe and also stressed that a state regulation on aborthe work of Catholic Charities USA: https:// "Fr. Eric Riley, the pastor, preached on the Advent and tion could not impose an "undue burden" on a woman "seekwww.catholiccharities.us/campaign/ccusa-disas- Our Lady of Guadalupe themes of hope and joy. Neighing an abortion before the fetus attains viability." ter-relief/c353051. boring parish St. Jerome of Fancy Farm welcomed them." Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized the court was being Bishop Medley in a Dec. 11 statement called At a news briefing Dec. 12 in Mayfield, Kentucky forced to "pick sides" on a contentious issue and questioned on the Catholic community of the diocese "to Gov. Andy Beshear noted one tornado traveled 227 why the court had to be the arbiter here. unite in prayer ... for all of the suffering that was miles. "It didn't take a roof, which is what we've seen in "The Constitution is neither pro-life nor pro-choice," he caused by this disaster." the past. it exploded the whole house. People, animals ... said, noting that it "leaves the issue to the people to resolve He asked all parishes to take up a special just gone." in the democratic process." collection over the Dec. 11-12 weekend to aid "The very first thing that we have to do is grieve Justice Clarence Thomas asked what those opposed to the tornado victims. together," he said, "and we're going to do that before we state ban thought was the constitutional right to an abortion, The bishop also took note of the leveling of rebuild together." and Justice Samuel Alito spoke of the fetus having "an interest in having a life." Julie Rikelman, of the Center for Reproductive Rights, who represented the Jackson Women's Health Organization in its challenge of Mississippi's abortion law, said keeping the law in place would cause "profound damage to women's liberty, equality and the rule of law." U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar went on to argue that overturning the court's previous abortion rulings would have "severe and swift" effects causing abortion restrictions in other states. If the court sides with Mississippi, it would be the first time the court would allow an abortion ban before the point of viability and could lay the groundwork for other abortion restrictions that other states could follow. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a court brief supporting Mississippi, stressed that abortion is not a right created by the Constitution and called it "inherently different from other types of personal decisions to which this court has accorded constitutional protection." Referring to the court's major abortion decisions, the brief warned that if the Supreme Court "continues to treat abortion as a constitutional issue," it will face more questions in the future about "what sorts of abortion regulations are permissible." Just as the arguments started, the USCCB issued a statement from Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, which said: "We pray that the court will do the right thing and allow states to once again limit or prohibit abortion and in doing so protect millions of unborn children and their mothers from this painful, life-destroying act." A ruling in the case is expected in July. Debris surrounds a badly damaged church in Mayfield, Ky., Dec. 11, 2021, after a devastating tornado ripped through the town. More than 30 tornadoes were reported across six states late (Follow Zimmermann on Twitter: @carolmaczim) Dec. 10, and early Dec. 11, killing dozens of people and leaving a trail of devastation. (CNS photo/Cheney Orr, Reuters) – Continued from page 1 –
'... We pray the court will do the right thing ...'
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
Catholic organizations voice ‘anger’ over policy that keeps migrants out
By Rhina Guidos
NATION 7
ed in June. But in August a judge with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas told administration officials to continue the policy, saying officials had not ended it properly. On Aug. 24 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the judge’s ruling and ruled the administration had to restart the policy. The administration has vowed to end MPP but said that, for now, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has to comply with the order and planned to restore the program at one location on or around Dec. 6, and then expand it. “Reinstating MPP is a stain on our nation,” said Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, in a statement from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, a group of 55 national, faith-based organizations, whose members spoke out shortly after the anChildren in Tapachula, Mexico, near the Guatemalan border look at each other nouncement of the policy’s restitution. Immigration advocates said it puts while migrants wait and hope to receive help from the Mexican government people in danger by forcing them to stay Dec. 2, 2021, to obtain humanitarian visas to pass through Mexican territory. in dangerous border towns on the Mexi(CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters) co side that are ruled by gangs and drug dealers. “It is a dangerous and deadly policy. As happened during its prior implementation, vulnerable men, women and children will suffer denigration, disrespect, assaults, rapes and murders,” said Gallagher. “It is inhumane, unjust, and violates our obligations under our own legal system and international refugee law.” Also included in the grant from Cath“Mr. President, we implore you to follow the Catholic values that form the By Julia Williams foundation of your lifelong public leadership of our country,” she said. “It is time JACKSON – Seven years ago (2015), olic Extension was additional money earto draw on those values and prioritize the lives of the suffering men, women the #iGiveCatholic campaign for #Giv- marked for training or prizes to aid in a and children waiting at our border over politics. It is time that you do what is ingTuesday took off as an initiative of the successful campaign and help generate humane and stop MPP.” Archdiocese of New Orleans, raising over excitement. Six prizes were awarded: Four In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton said the reimplementation was a a million dollars in a 24-hour period for $250 prizes in random drawings for enti“huge win for Texas” and via Twitter said it was needed to “restore safety and Catholic parishes, schools and ministries. ties who had online donors during specific order along our southern border.” Subsequently, this campaign spread to time frames; and two $500 grand prizes But faith groups, which included many Catholic advocates, reacted with other dioceses throughout the nation, with awarded to one parish and one school or great disappointment. participating dioceses increasing with each ministry who had the most online donors “We are deeply dismayed by the reimplementation of MPP,” said Auxiliary year. The 2021 #iGiveCatholic campaign overall, including the Advanced Giving Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, chairman of the U.S. Conference had a great impact, with partnerships in- phase prior to #GivingTuesday. Grand of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration for. “Unfortunately, attempts by cluding the U.S. Conference of Catholic prize winners this year were St. Francis of the Administration to make this program ‘more humane’ – however well-intenBishops and the National Catholic Educa- Assisi Catholic Church in Madison and St. tioned – will not cure its inherent faults, nor will they alleviate its inevitable toll tional Association, raising over $15 million Joseph Catholic School in Madison. The National Sponsor of #iGiveCathon human lives. We are especially concerned that this will perpetuate the existfor Catholic entities this year. ing tragedy of family separation, since many mothers and fathers are likely to The Diocese of Jackson joined the #iG- olic this year was Our Sunday Visitor, a feel compelled to part ways with their children in a desperate attempt to ensure iveCatholic campaign in 2016, making Catholic publisher that serves millions of their safety.” this year the sixth year of participation in Catholics globally through its publishing The Interfaith Immigration Coalition said in its Dec. 2 statement that it wantthe nationwide campaign, and generating and communication services. For the past ed to express its “righteous anger at this immoral decision that will continue to over $183,000 in gifts to various parishes, few years, Our Sunday Visitor has donated offertory envelopes at no cost to particideny migrants their internationally recognized right to seek asylum.” schools and ministries within the diocese. At the border, Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute The success of each organization is pating organizations, to encourage donors, in El Paso said this was time to restore protections, not taken them away. based on the amount of effort put forth in who otherwise would not want to give “We can no longer afford half-measures or backsliding and the return of publicizing their causes, or reason to raise electronically, helping to increase particiRemain in Mexico is a devastating step backwards,” one which puts people in funds, by reaching out to donors via social pation and overall total giving. Throughout history, Catholics have danger, he said. media (Facebook, Instagram, emails, webAt the event featuring Catholic women religious in front of the White House, sites, etc.) and print publications such as always been generous people. Our world and our society need to see and experience a man named Santiago from Honduras, who was helped by the Jesuit-run Kino bulletins, posters and flyers. Border Initiative in the area of Nogales, on both sides of the border, made a plea The #iGiveCatholic campaign focuses increased generosity, but more importantto Biden, saying “the border is a difficult place.” on electronic giving and includes a specific ly, they need to see the joy Catholics have Having escaped a kidnapping and praising God for guiding him, he pleaded website provided to the organizations at no as we ‘give back’ out of gratitude in return for an end to measures that he said are putting people, including his family, in cost, in hopes to encourage greater partici- for how we have been blessed. Each year, we are so grateful to the danger. pation and help generate funds. Each year, “The dead don’t need asylum, the living do,” he said.and walking with our the diocese receives a generous grant from Catholic Community as they support varbrothers and sisters.” Catholic Extension to cover half of the on- ious ministries as they continue to “Give Thanks – Give Back – Give Catholic.” “We will emerge from the present crises together,” he said, “as the church line giving platform fees. Christ has called us to be.”
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In front of the White House, a large group of women religious and their supporters shouted just a few feet away from the president’s residence Dec. 3, calling him to end a Trumpera policy that keeps migrants out. Though they were there to denounce a different policy, they called on President Joe Biden to end the Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP. Better known as “Remain in Mexico,” the Trump-era policy that forces asylum-seekers to stay on the Mexico side of the border until their cases can be heard by U.S. immigration courts is about to restart. Immigration advocates wasted no time in criticizing the restitution of MPP, saying the president has not kept a promise he made to get rid of it. The Biden administration tried to end MPP with an executive order issued by President Joe Biden shortly after he was inaugurated that temporarily halted the policy. Subsequently, it was officially end-
#iGiveCatholic makes local impact
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
8 NATION
Second chances: Vatican Christmas stamps feature work of homeless artist By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Adam Piekarski, a homeless man from Lódz, Poland, never imagined that the sketches he would draw in his free time while waiting for the public showers near Bernini’s Colonnade would lead to the opportunity of a lifetime. In November, the Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office announced that its 2021 set of commemorative Christmas stamps would feature images of the Magi and the Holy Family painted by Piekarski. “Art is my passion even though I never studied it,” Piekarski told Catholic News Service Dec. 1 from a quaint studio just across the street from St. Peter’s Square. “He went to a technical school in Poland and studied gardening in Lódz,” added Redemptorist Father Leszek Pys, known by many as Father Ruben, a fellow Pole who was among the first to realize Piekarski’s talent. Piekarski left Poland six years ago and, like many migrants, made his way to Rome seeking a better life. However, upon his arrival, the harsh reality of finding work, coupled with a fondness for Italian wine, led Piekarski down the dark path of alcoholism that he continues to fight each day. With Father Ruben serving as translator, Piekarski told CNS that his life began to change after meeting the Polish priest while waiting in line for the public showers for the poor at the Vatican. Father Ruben told CNS that, at the time, he was trying to figure out a low-cost option for a painting of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, co-founder of the Redemptorist congregation, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death. Explaining his dilemma to Pallottine Sister Anna, a nun who volunteers helping the poor at the public showers, he was introduced to Piekarski, who would often spend his time sketching while waiting for his turn at the showers. Father Ruben then provided Piekarski with paints, brushes and found a workspace in the crypt of the
Church of Santa Maria in Monterone, where the burgeoning artist honed his artistic abilities. His work drew the attention of Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, papal almoner, who then introduced Piekarski to Father Francesco Mazzitelli, then-deputy director of the Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office. Father Ruben told CNS that when asked by Father Mazzitelli to design the 2021 Christmas stamps, Piekarski’s answer was an emphatic “no.” However, the Italian priest’s persistence finally moved the Polish artist to finally do it.
than just an act of charity for the poor during the 2015 Jubilee Year of Mercy, but a fundamental gesture that gave homeless men and women dignity. “You can’t give back someone’s dignity by giving them a sandwich or a euro nor even by asking them their name. That is more of a philanthropic gesture that makes us feel good about ourselves,” the Polish priest said. “But for that person, that sandwich, that euro doesn’t change anything,” he added. “But allowing them to clean themselves means giving them back their dignity.” While he continues to paint from a small studio at Palazzo Migliori, the Vatican’s homeless shelter, Piekarski now works as an evening security guard at a property owned by the Knights of Malta, who became acquainted with him after he completed a portrait of the late Fra’ Giacomo dalla Torre, the grand knight of the order who died in 2020. “Life is a mystery and God wanted it this way,” Piekarski told CNS. “What has happened is a dream and I still can’t believe it. God has a great sense of humor.” (Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju)
An image of the Magi is featured on one of the Vatican’s 2021 Christmas stamps. (CNS illustration/courtesy Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office) For the painting of the three Magi, Piekarski based their likeness on two friends who are also homeless; the third, he explained, was an original image meant to represent all homeless men and women. Father Ruben noted that installing showers for the homeless at the Vatican was more
Adam Piekarski stands in front of his paintings in his studio at Palazzo Migliori, the Vatican’s homeless shelter, Dec. 1, 2021. Piekarski, a homeless man from Poland currently living in Rome, was commissioned to paint images for the Vatican’s 2021 Christmas stamps. (CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves)
New Orleans billboard campaign reminds all to ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ By Peter Finney Jr.
NEW ORLEANS (CNS) – Eternal hope is the overarching message of Christmas: A child born in a barn changed the world. Charlie LeBlanc was one of those hope-filled New Orleans Catholics – a regular communicant, a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and a straight shooter – who for decades ran the Christ in Christmas Committee billboard campaign with deep faith, good humor and back-of-the-envelope math. When LeBlanc’s home was flooded after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he never lost his faith that someone bigger was in control. “I don’t know,” he said in 2006 as he prepared to rebuild, shortly before his death. “I’m 85 years old, and I just got approved for a 30-year mortgage.” LeBlanc was one in a line of New Orleans Catholics who since 1952 have created the most successful Christmas billboard campaign in the country. This year, more than 60 “Keep Christ in Christmas” billboards sponsored by Catholic schools, Knights of Columbus councils and women’s auxiliaries, businesses and individuals sprouted up after Thanksgiving in the Greater New Orleans area. The billboards, emphasizing the spiritual meaning of Christmas, are put up by Outfront, the company that has been involved in the program since 1952. Another seven to 10 electronic billboards with the “Keep Christ in Christmas” message will be running around the clock near the city on the Northshore, courtesy of Lamar. “I’ve mentioned it to people in other states, and nobody’s done it to the extent that we have in the Archdiocese of New Orleans,” said Stephen Hart, who succeeded LeBlanc as committee chair in 2002 and has witnessed the number of billboards grow from the low to mid 20s to more than 60.
Former committee member Blanche Comiskey recalled being asked to join the mostly male group in the late 1960s. She said Francis Doyle, a local bank executive, had started the effort because he felt the secularization of Christmas, with the emphasis on buying things, was overshadowing the spiritual message. As a leading member of the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs – the association of parents’ clubs across the archdiocese – Comiskey recruited more schools to sponsor billboards. Dozens of schools continue to do so. “The schools really do cooperate, and if one school can’t afford a whole board, they can combine with another school,” Comiskey said. “It was wonderful to see the reaction. It means that sometimes volunteer work is rewarding. Imagine the little kids who might have put in a little money for a billboard. They had to feel special.” The cost of sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” billboard is $430. Although all reservations have been made for this year, there are always openings for next year, Hart said. “We’ve had a number of people thank us for doing the ministry – for getting the message out and for putting it at the front of people’s attention,” Hart said. “I’m hoping what the billboards do is bring back the family celebration and the real meaning of Christmas, where people can celebrate together,” he said. “This whole isolation – where parents are isolated in their home and often couldn’t visit their grandkids because they were afraid for their own safety – hopefully will all be over.” (Editor’s Note: More information on the Christmas billboard campaign can be found at www.keepchristinchristmasnola.org. Finney is executive editor/general manager of the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.)
17 de diciembre de 2021
MississippiCatholic.com
“Sirviendo a los Católicos Hispanos de la Diócesis de Jackson desde 1997”
Virgen de Guadalupe, siempre llega a todos Por berTa meXidor
de alegría. La tradición ha continuado hasta estos Siempre, la celebración días y aún para el que no de la Virgen de Guadalupe conoce mucho la historia, trae color, rosas, música, siempre recuerda que los alegría y muestras de fe en Latinoamericanos le cantodos los Latinoamericatan mañanitas a la virgen nos asentados en el estado y bailan con trajes típide Mississippi. cos, muy coloridos en la La celebración se da, celebración de su día, tal a lo largo y ancho de toda como si fuera el día de su la Diócesis, en cada una cumpleaños. de las parroquias católicas La Catedral de San Pecon población Hispana. dro en Jackson ha reconoEl obispo Kopacz, elcido a Danza Azteca como domingo 12 de diciembre, unos de sus ministerios. acompañó en procesión Celia Alemán, coorpor la tarde a los parroquidinadora de la danza, anos de la Catedral de San explica que el grupo llePedro y celebró Misa en la va nueve años de creanoche en Holy Family de dos y pocos se han ido. Jackson. Ésta es la primePor tres años recibieron ra vez que en esta iglesia, la instrucción sobre las históricamente sirviendo a rutinas de la danza, de la comunidad Afrodescenparte de una instructora diente del área, se celebra de Texas y la preparación la fiesta de la Guadalupe. espiritual en retiros con Para el padre Clem sacerdotes, para asumir Oya, director de la oficina la tarea de bailar para la Intercultural de la Diócesis virgen. Alemán explica fue también su primera que después de años de celebración Guadalupana preparación los miembros en Mississippi. El domingo saben el significado de 12 de diciembre el padre cada elemento de la Tilma Clem Oya celebró Misa en y de cada baile en espeSt Christopher de Pontotoc cífico. Alemán cuenta que y en la noche concelebró ella se enamoró mucho con el obispo Kopacz en más de la Virgen y de la la parroquia a su cargo, gran responsabilidad que Holy Family, adonde una es bailar para ella. semana antes, el pasado 5 Esta vez, como cada de diciembre, había hecho año, los danzantes se rehistoria celebrando la priunieron en un retiro para mera Misa en español. Para el Padre Odel CARTHAGE – Año tras año, los católicos Hispanos de St. Anne dan muestras de su fe celebrando a la Vir- rezar el Rosario, dar graMedina, por el contrario, gen de Guadalupe, esta vez vestida con rebozo y pom-pom en el cabello, típico de las mujeres Guatemalte- cias, hacer peticiones y después de diez años, ésta cas, que en cada ocasión toman turnos para llevar a la Virgen en sus hombros. La comunidad celebra cada prepararse para recibir la fue su última celebración año con procesión, música y Misa, no solo a la virgen de Guadalupe, sino además a Santa Ana, abuela de comunión durante las Misas de la Guadalupe. de la Guadalupe en Car- Jesus y patrona de la comunidad y al Cristo Negro de Esquipulas (Foto por Berta Mexidor) Cada una de las rutithage. Esta vez se lleva el víspera de la celebración. El día nueve, se recuerda con nas danzarías lleva el sigrecuerdo de una procesión bajo la lluvia, pero con la misma alegría de los nueve cariño al santo Juan Diego, quien recibió una orden que nificado de dar las gracias a Dios por todo, de allí, por años anteriores. “La virgen siempre llega en momentos no podía entender y que a pesar de sus dudas siguió la ejemplo, el uso de una canasta de frutas, como representación de las cosechas y las gracias a Dios por el sustento. difíciles y específicos a las personas más vulnerables, palabra de encomienda con mucha fe. Cada persona que conoce la historia de la virgen se Cada miembro en la danza Azteca asume su papel “dijo el padre Odel durante su homilía en la Misa de celebración de “nuestra madre, la bienaventurada Vir- identifica con Juan Diego, a quien se le pide evangelizar con mucha responsabilidad. El grupo cambia de roles gen Maria,” el sábado 11 de diciembre. ”Para Dios no y llegar a personas poderosas con un mensaje del cielo. cada cierto tiempo, Miguel Solano-hijo es ahora el tamhay nada imposible,” repitió el Padre Odel varias veces a Cualquiera, aún en los tiempos del internet, se hubiera borero, Esmeralda Mondragón y Sonia Granillo tocan el sus parroquianos, alentándolos a no ver los problemas y llenado de dudas, por la gran envergadura de la misión. caracol y este año la Sahumadora (portadora del incenAl final, San Juan Diego cumplió su cometido, con la sario) es Gloria Mondragon. tragedias, sino a buscar “la solución al odio, destrucción Los demás miembros del grupo son Dallanara Renk; y ambición de poder..., en la transformación de tu propio ayuda del milagro que la virgen hizo al hacerle mostrar la Tilma. Felipe, Cecilia y Estrella Mondragón; Elizabeth Orducorazón,” concluyo el padre Odel. Danza Azteca na; Araceli Peñaloza; Maria Castro; Nadia Garcia; Anita Para todos los Guadalupanos, el 12 de diciembre es Desde esos tiempos los indígenas de la región Arellano; Crystal Yañez y de la familia Arellano están un punto de encuentro, donde quiera que estén, para acercarse a Dios a través de la madre de su hijo Jesucris- mostraron su admiración a la virgen danzante y em– Continúa en la pág. 4 – to. Desde el tres de diciembre comienzan las novenas, en barazada del salvador del mundo con bailes y cánticos
17 de diciembre de 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO
Regocíjate siempre en el Señor Por Padre Clem Oya
JACKSON – El tercer domingo de Adviento tradicionalmente se llama “Gaudete”, expresión latina que significa “regocijarse.” Toda la liturgia enfoca nuestras mentes en las razones por las cuales regocijarnos. Las vestimentas del sacerdote y el altar son de color rosa y muestran la naturaleza de la liturgia actual. También hoy se enciende el cirio rosa de la corona de Adviento. Todos estos apuntan a la naturaleza del Adviento mismo, que es un tiempo de gozosa espera del Señor. Toda la liturgia se presenta de forma resumida en un canto extraído de la carta de San Pablo a los Filipenses: “Alégrense siempre en el Señor. Repito: ¡Alégrense!" Filipenses 4: 4. ¿Por qué debemos regocijarnos? Tenemos muchas razones para regocijarnos. La principal, sin dudas, es porque el Señor está cerca. Filipenses 4: 5. El pueblo del Antiguo Testamento, que ni siquiera fue testigo de la primera venida de Cristo, se regocijó. Se regocijaron en la esperanza de la promesa de Dios. La misión del profeta Sofonías, alrededor del año 640 a. C., llegó como un mensaje de esperanza al pueblo de Israel. Este mismo mensaje es relevante para nosotros hoy. La condición humana concreta en la que algunos de nosotros estamos ahora mismo; las dificultades sociales, políticas y económicas causadas por esta pandemia (COVID-19) y el aparente caos de la vida humana en todo el mundo podría tentarnos a pensar que no hay motivo para regocijarse, pero como somos cristianos, tenemos un motivo para regocijarnos. Somos un pueblo de "gozosa esperanza" y un "gozo de esperanza." Jesús es nuestro gozo, y nada puede separarnos de él. ¡DISFRUTE! Cantar con alegría y orar a Dios por sus bendiciones es en sí mismo una fuente de gozo. La presencia de la Eucaristía en la vida de la Iglesia es una gran bendición que también llama al regocijo. Los cristianos son un pueblo de esperanza. ¿Por qué? La Escritura nos dice que Cristo es nuestra Esperanza y que nuestra Esperanza nunca nos fallará. (cf. Rom. 5: 5) La esperanza es lo que nos lleva de un día para otro. Incluso mientras seguimos viendo variantes de esta pandemia en diferentes lugares, debemos mantenernos firmes en Cristo. Debemos proyectar pensamientos positivos sobre nuestro futuro. El Señor Jesús vino a este
mundo para traer buenas nuevas, o buenas nuevas, a la humanidad y nos ha dado el mandato de proclamar estas “Buenas Nuevas” a todo el mundo. Pero ¿cómo podemos dar lo que no tenemos? Como dice el antiguo proverbio latino, "Nemo dat quod non habet," que significa "nadie da lo que no tiene," los cristianos debemos estar llenos del gozo de la venida del Señor para compartirlo con los demás. La liturgia del domingo “Gaudete”, simplemente dice: ¡DISFRUTE! Al igual que las personas que acudieron a
JACKSON – El espíritu de regocijo se presenta en las fotos compuestas de los rostros alegres y sonrientes de algunos de los asistentes después de la primera Misa en Español en la parroquia de Holy Family, el domingo 5 de diciembre de 2021. (Fotos cortesía del Padre Clem Oya)
Juan en el pasaje del evangelio y le preguntaron: "¿Qué debemos hacer?," algunos de nosotros podemos estar haciendo una pregunta similar al leer este mensaje. Juan el Bautista, en preparación para el primer advenimiento de Cristo, simplemente les dijo a las multitudes, los recaudadores de impuestos, los soldados y todos los trabajadores públicos que se abstuvieran de hacer a la gente miserable. Les dijo: "No practiquen la extorsión, no acusen falsamente a nadie y estén satisfechos con su salario." Él instruyó a las multitudes: "El que tiene comida y ropa debe compartir con los que no tienen". (véase Lucas 3: 10-14) He aquí una historia de mi experiencia en Mexico: Hace muchos años cuando estudiaba en Cuernavaca, México, aprendí algo de algunos de los estudiantes universitarios de los Estados Unidos que también habían venido a aprender español en esa ciudad. Todas las noches, después del programa de intercambio, cada uno de estos jóvenes estudiantes compraba una comida extra y una hermosa flor y caminaba hacia la
plaza del mercado, entregando tranquilamente la comida y la flor a cada mendigo, que habitualmente se queda allí, esperando la limosna de gente. Estos jóvenes, jóvenes en años, pero sabios en acción, compartieron de sí mismos. Fue algo que me tocó el corazón y llenó mis ojos de lágrimas. Tú y yo también podemos hacer algo así en este momento. ¡Qué lección tan profunda aprendí de esos jóvenes estudiantes que ellos mismos no tenían casi nada! Retiro Universal Sostengo humildemente que este período de la historia humana puede ser un tiempo en el que Dios nos está llamando a un “retiro universal”. Es una especie de viaje espiritual para todos los humanos. A medida que nos acercamos a la celebración de la Navidad en medio de este viaje espiritual, el evangelio nos desafía a usted y a mí a compartir todo lo que tengamos con los demás. Es el momento de ayudar a los demás. Es un momento para regocijarse en las bendiciones de Dios. Sería bueno si tú y yo pudiéramos poner hoy una sonrisa en el rostro de alguien. ¡Regocíjate siempre!
VATICANO – Imágenes de la Sagrada Familia y los tres Reyes Magos aparecen en los sellos navideños de 2021 del Vaticano. Las imágenes de los sellos fueron pintadas por Adam Piekarski, un vagabundo de Polonia que actualmente vive en Roma. (Ilustración del CNS / cortesía de la Oficina Filatélica y Numismática del Vaticano)
17 de diciembre de 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO
Permita el Señor preparar nuestros corazones y mentes Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
anual de Adviento / Navidad, enviada a toda la gente en casa y en la diócesis: “Espero que hayan experimentado muchas más bendiciones que cargas el año pasado. Después de la gran solemnidad de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Rey del Universo y la culminación de otro año de la iglesia, fluimos sin problemas hacia la temporada de En el gran estado de la Magnolia, en toda la Diócesis de Jackson y al igual que en muchas Adviento cuando la Palabra de Dios dirige nuestra mirada organizaciones y eventos, ha habido un regreso constante a nuestras iglesias y una mayor hacia la vida eterna, más allá del tiempo y del espacio. Es participación en varios ministerios, con nuestras escuelas a la vanguardia hasta bien entrala temporada de luz en medio de las tinieblas, cuando nos do el segundo año de la pandemia. En el tiempo que se avecina, esperamos con ansias el Año de la Eucaristía a medida que preparamos para la venida final del Señor, en todo molos feligreses regresen a la iglesia en mayor número, y durante los próximos cuatro meses mento y en Navidad. Ven, Señor Jesús, porque tú eres nuestra esperanza y a reuniones en toda la diócesis en respuesta al desafío del Papa Francisco a la iglesia de paz, el camino y la verdad que puede guiarnos a la luz de permitir que el Santo Espíritu hable a través de todos los católicos bautizados. En el ámbito personal, mi querido perro de 14 años, Amigo, tomó su último aliento el la fe, a través de la incertidumbre y la vulnerabilidad. 5 de abril, lunes de Pascua. Vivió 14 años, siete como norteño La pandemia, junto con y siete como sureño, una vida verdaderamente encantadora. otras amenazas al bienestar “Ven, Señor Jesús, porque tú ere nuestra No se necesita explicación con respecto al vacío que dejó su digno de la humanidad, conesperanza y paz, el camino y la verdad que fallecimiento. tinúa intensificando los probpuede guiarnos a la luz de la fe, a través de la Por otro lado, más tarde en octubre, estando mi hermana lemas personales y sociales, incertidumbre y la vulnerabilidad.” Mary Ellen aquí de vacaciones, hicimos un descubrimiento además de inspirar una resisasombroso entre las cartas de cortejo de mi padre a mi madre tencia asombrosa y una preocupación amorosa por los durante los años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Dentro del demás. Es una realidad que pone ante mí las atemporales palabras de Charles Dickens, en Historia de Dos Ciudades, muy adecuadas para la tem- paquete de su correspondencia de Italia, donde sirvió durante la guerra, había varias cartas con matasellos de, ¡adivinen de dónde!; ... la Base de la Fuerza Aérea en Columbus, Misporada de Adviento y para la época en que vivimos: “Era el mejor de los tiempos, era el peor de los tiempos, la edad de la sabiduría, y tam- sissippi.” ¡Sorpresa, sorpresa! Justo hasta ese momento del descubrimiento, siempre había dicho bién de la locura; la época de las creencias y de la incredulidad; la era de la luz y de las tinieblas; la primavera de la esperanza y el invierno de la desesperación. Todo lo poseíamos, que ‘nunca había conocido a nadie personalmente que hubiera vivido o viviera en Mississippero no teníamos nada; caminábamos en derechura al cielo y nos extraviábamos por el pi antes de mi asignación aquí.’ Comencé mi servicio aquí hacia fines de 2013; Papa (Pop) comenzó su servicio aquí a principios de 1943. Mis raíces en Mississippi son bastante camino opuesto.” Cómo cada uno de nosotros, sabia y justamente, elige en las circunstancias y prue- profundas, se remontan a casi 70 años después. Según la providencia y el destino, fui consagrado e instalado como el undécimo obispo bas de nuestra vida, mientras nos cuidamos unos a otros, esto hace toda la diferencia en el mundo. Nuestro Dios de salvación nos llama a buscar lo mejor de lo que este de la Diócesis de Jackson el 6 de febrero, el mismo día del cumpleaños de mi padre. ¡Carmundo tiene para ofrecer: sabiduría, fe, luz, esperanza y una visión para la vida eterna amba, eso nunca lo vi venir!“ Que el tiempo de Adviento que se ha abierto ante nosotros permita al Señor prepacuando, en verdad, lo tendremos todo. En algunos días no es fácil, pero en medio del torbellino recordamos que todo es rar nuestros corazones y mentes para esperar su venida, para que en Navidad nuestras posible para Dios. El Adviento es una temporada sagrada que nos invita a renovar voces griten sin tregua y a pleno pulmón con el coro de los ángeles: “Gloria a Dios en las alturas y paz en la tierra.” nuestro compromiso con la reconciliación, la esperanza, la justicia y la paz. La última mitad de mi columna de esta semana es una parte sustancial de mi carta
Corte Suprema parece favorecer límites al aborto en Mississippi Por Carol Zimmermann
WASHINGTON (CNS) – En el primer caso importante sobre el aborto en la Corte Suprema en décadas, que examinó la prohibición de Mississippi sobre los abortos después de 15 semanas de embarazo, la mayoría de los jueces parecían dispuestos el 1 de diciembre a dejar que la prohibición se mantenga. Pero no estaba claro si irían más allá y anularían el antecedente de Roe contra Wade que permitió el aborto en EE.UU. como un derecho. Mientras los jueces consideraban la ley estatal y las posibles ramificaciones de apoyarla o no, partidarios de ambos lados del asunto estaban en las escalinatas de la Corte Suprema exponiendo la división en este tema por lo que gritaban o con sus mensajes en pancartas calificaban al aborto como un asesinato o un derecho esencial. En varios momentos en la etapa de argumentos, el presidente de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos, John Roberts, continuó centrando la atención en el tema principal: la prohibición de abortar a las 15 semanas en Mississippi, que fue anulada por un Tribunal Federal de Distrito en Mississippi en 2018 y confirmada un año después por el Tribunal de Apelaciones de Estados Unidos para el 5º Circuito, con sede en Nueva Orleans. Una prohibición de 15 semanas no es "una desviación drástica de la viabilidad", dijo Roberts. El punto de viabilidad --cuando se dice que un feto es capaz de sobrevivir por sí mismo-- fue clave en la discusión porque el Tribunal Supremo ha dictaminado sistemáticamente que los estados no pueden restringir el aborto antes de las 24 semanas o cuando se dice que un
feto es capaz de sobrevivir por sí mismo. Roberts parecía tener dudas en cuanto a llevar el asunto más allá al preguntar si en el caso que el tribunal anulara Roe vs. Wade, también se le pediría que reconsiderara varios otros casos que la gente podría decir que se han decidido erróneamente. Y en esa discusión sobre decisiones anteriores del tribunal, el uso de "stare decisis" surgió con frecuencia. El término, que literalmente significa mantener lo que se ha decidido, se utilizó en referencia a casos anteriores sobre el aborto, pero también a otros varios casos en los que algunos jueces señalaron que el precedente no debería ser siempre un factor decisivo y que algunos casos debían ser revocados. Pero a medida que los argumentos continuaban, la mayor reflexión parecía centrarse en la cuestión del aborto en sí y en la posibilidad de devolver el asunto "al pueblo", como sugirió el procurador general de Mississippi, Scott Stewart.Stewart subrayó que las decisiones judiciales Roe y Casey "persiguen a nuestro país" y "no tienen cabida en nuestra historia ni en nuestras tradiciones". El caso Casey contra Planned Parenthood es la decisión de 1992 que afirmó el fallo en Roe y también subrayó que una regulación estatal sobre el aborto no podía imponer una "carga indebida" a una mujer "que busca un aborto antes de que el feto alcance la viabilidad". El juez Brett Kavanaugh enfatizó que el tribunal se estaba viendo obligado a "elegir un bando" en un tema polémico y cuestionó por qué el tribunal tenía que ser el árbitro aquí."La Constitución no está ni a favor de la vida ni a favor del aborto", dijo, y señaló que "deja la cuestión
al pueblo para que la resuelva en el proceso democrático". El juez Clarence Thomas preguntó qué pensaban los que se oponían a la prohibición estatal sobre el derecho constitucional al aborto, y el juez Samuel Alito habló de que el feto tiene "un interés en tener una vida".Julie Rikelman, del Centro de Derechos Reproductivos, que representó a la Organización de Salud de la Mujer de Jackson en su impugnación de la ley de aborto de Mississippi, dijo que mantener la ley en vigor causaría "un profundo daño a la libertad de la mujer, a la igualdad y al estado de derecho". La procuradora general de EE.UU., Elizabeth Prelogar, continuó argumentando que anular las sentencias anteriores del tribunal sobre el aborto tendría efectos "graves y rápidos" que provocarían restricciones al aborto en otros estados. Si el tribunal da la razón a Mississippi, sería la primera vez que el tribunal permitiría una prohibición del aborto antes del punto de viabilidad y podría sentar las bases para otras restricciones al aborto que podrían seguir en otros estados. La Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE.UU., en un escrito judicial de apoyo a Mississippi, subrayó que el aborto no es un derecho creado por la Constitución y lo calificó de "intrínsecamente diferente de otros tipos de decisiones personales a las que este tribunal ha concedido protección constitucional". "Rezamos para que el tribunal haga lo correcto y permita que los estados vuelvan a limitar o prohibir el aborto y, al hacerlo, protejan a millones de niños no nacidos y a sus madres de este doloroso acto que destruye la vida". Se espera en julio un fallo sobre el caso.
17 de diciembre de 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO
'... Guadalupe en Mississippi y en Roma ...' – Viene de la pág. 1 – Cecilia, Yamin y Lisbeth. La población Hispana del estado crece, los números de católicos Hispanos también. Danza Azteca de la Catedral estuvieron ocupados este fin de semana en St. Anne Carthage, la Catedral y Holy Family de Jackson; no pueden estar en cada una de las celebraciones guadalupanas en el área de Jackson. Celia comenta además que el grupo planea ampliarse con más miembros para poder asistir a otras iglesias. Este mismo esfuerzo se realiza por los danzantes en el norte del estado, Los Matachines de Tupelo y de Southaven. Por el momento, en St Therese de Jackson se fortalece el grupo Danza Santa Teresa dirigido por Jorge y Patricia Balderas con las danzantes folclóricas Lupita Resendiz, Silvia Mazy, Rosalva y María Balderas. Las celebraciones a la Virgen de Guadalupe continuarán y cada iglesia encuentra poco a poco el camino para seguir los pasos de San Juan Diego, cumplir la Misión que le ha pedido la Virgen a cada uno de sus hijos.
JACKSON – La parroquia de Holy Family celebró, dos veces en una semana, por primera vez, Misa en Español y Virgen de Guadalupe. Arriba Izq. Los penachos descansan antes que los danzantes vayan a buscarlos. Arriba Der (i-d) Celia Aleman, coordinadora de Danza Azteca de la Catedral San Pedro y Miguel Solano- hijo portan gallardete y rosas. Der. Los adultos muestran a los niños la tradición de ofrendar rosas a la Virgen. (Fotos de Tereza Ma) JACKSON – La parroquia de Santa Teresa celebró con Mañanitas, procesión, Misa y bailes a la virgen de la Guadalupe. Izq. Danzantes folclóricas Lupita Resendiz, Silvia Mazy, Rosalva y Maria Balderas. (Foto cortesía de Rosalinda Montoya)
TOME NOTA Vírgenes y Santos Santa María Madre de Dios. Enero 1ro Epifanía del Señor. Enero 6 Solemnidad del Bautismo. Enero 10 Milagroso Señor de Esquipulas. Enero 15 Nuestra Señora de Altagracia. Enero 21 Conversión de San Pablo. Enero 25 San Juan Bosco. Enero 31
!FELIZ NAVIDAD! !BENDICIONES PARA EL 2022!
VATICANO, Roma – Monjas y peregrinos de América Latina, en la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, festejan con canciones y el rezo del rosario encabezado por el cardenal Marc Ouellet, presidente de la Pontificia Comisión para América Latina y el arzobispo Edgar Peña Parra, secretario suplente de asuntos generales en la Secretaría de Estado del Vaticano, en la Plaza de San Pedro, en el Vaticano, el 12 de diciembre de 2021. (CNS foto / Junno Arocho Esteves)
BRIEFS 9
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
NATION
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) – Jim Liston believes his idea of emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas is so simple that he wonders why it took him so long to think of it. The idea came to Liston as he traveled through the neighborhoods around his Indianapolis home and saw how many people decorated their houses with brilliant light displays and filled their lawns with large, inflated Santas, reindeer and snowmen. It suddenly hit him that he rarely saw another kind of Christmas display. “It’s almost an anomaly when you see a Nativity scene,” said Liston, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis. “We’re in a society where everything about Christmas is glitz and consumerism. The simplicity of the Nativity scene struck me right in the heart. This is what Christmas is all about. I thought, ‘Why don’t I get one?’” Liston not only got one – and loved it – he also had the grand idea to make central Indiana the “Outdoor Nativity Scene Capital of the United States.” He set his plan in motion this year with a two-part approach. He contacted the manufacturer that made his Nativity scene to see if he could negotiate a reduced price for a large order. He also reached out to all the Catholic schools in the Indianapolis deaneries and in nearby Hamilton County to have them ask their families who would be interested in buying a Nativity scene to display in front of their homes. CLEVELAND (CNS) – As an author and lecturer, Father Donald B. Cozzens, a Cleveland diocesan priest and former seminary rector, shared candid insights on the priesthood, challenging the Catholic Church to confront clericalism and renew its structure. Despite criticism privately and publicly from fellow clergy, Father Cozzens maintained that it was his love of the priesthood that prompted his outspokenness for positive change. Father Cozzens, 82, died Dec. 9 of complications from pneumonia caused by COVID-19. It was Father Cozzens’ book, “The Changing Face of the Priesthood,” published in 2000, that set the course for much of his life after he stepped down as president-rector of St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in the Diocese of Cleveland a year later to focus on teaching and writing. He spent more than 20 years tackling the issues he believed church officials needed to address including transparency in decision-making and welcoming women into a wide role in the church. Other works included “Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church,” “Faith That Dares to Speak,” and “Freeing Celibacy.”
VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Although Italy no longer has a 10 p.m. curfew in force as part of its measures to stem the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis will celebrate the “Christmas Mass at Night” at 7:30 p.m., as he did in 2020. On Dec. 13, the Vatican published the list of Pope Francis’ liturgies for the Christmas season. The schedule begins with what many people refer to as “midnight Mass” although the Mass has not been celebrated at midnight at the Vatican since 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI moved it to 10 p.m. Pope Francis moved it to 9:30 p.m. in 2013, his first Christmas as pope, and to 7:30 p.m. in 2020. ROME (CNS) – Pope Francis will turn 85 years old Dec. 17. And according to his nephew, Jesuit Father José Luis Narvaja, he is still rarin’ to go. “I see him doing very well, with so much strength; really, he doesn’t seem to be 85,” the Argentine priest told the Italian Catholic magazine, Famiglia Cristiana, for its Dec. 12 issue. Father Narvaja, who is the son of the pope’s youngest sister, the late Marta Regina Bergoglio, said he visited his uncle, the pope, right after his colon surgery in July. Even then, “he was doing well but he was still in a bit of pain, and he told me, ‘Don’t make me laugh, the stitches hurt!’” he said. “He is very active, enthusiastic, he doesn’t stop. He said some people had hoped his illness would make
him shut up a little, but it didn’t. He’s doing very well,” said Father Narvaja, who teaches patristics and divides his time between Rome and Cordoba, Argentina. Speaking about his uncle’s approach to his ministry as pontiff, the fellow Jesuit said, “He does what he feels the Spirit is asking of him.”
WORLD
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) – When restoration on the Church of the Nativity’s wooden beams and leaking roof began in 2013 with the blessing of the three custodial churches, everyone involved was aware of the historic significance of the venture. It was the first time in 540 years that any repair work was done on the church on the site where Jesus was born. But what the team of workers – including local Pope Francis blows out a candle on a 13-foot-long pizza as he Palestinian committees and engineers celebrates his 81st birthday at the Vatican in this Dec. 17, 2017, and international restoration experts – file photo. The pope will celebrate his 85th birthday Dec. 17. (CNS did not know was the true impact of the photo/Vatican Media) initial ecumenical cooperation. Historically the Franciscans, Greek Orthodox and The Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reArmenians jealously guarded their rights in porting system that will enable all diocesan employees, the church, under the 1852 Status Quo agreevolunteers and parishioners to anonymously (or named ment that regulates the ownership of spaces if preferred) make reports. Examples of this activity inin various holy sites as well as the times and clude fraud, misconduct, safety violations, harassment or duration of religious liturgies. As recently as substance abuse occurring at a Catholic parish, Catholic 2011, Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks school or at the diocesan level. came to blows over cleaning rights in a cerThe system is operated by Lighthouse Services. Based tain area in the church. But with the leaking in Deerfield, Illinois, Lighthouse Services maintains ethof the roof endangering the ancient structure, ics, safety and fraud hotlines for over 4,100 organizations all agreed to undertake the necessary work. between the U.S. and abroad. And a new era began. “Along the way the To make a report visit www.lighthouse-services. three churches noticed the good results that were coming from the cooperation and that it com/jacksondiocese or call 888-830-0004 (Enwould be good to continue,” said Khouloud glish) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish). Daibes, the new executive director of the Bethlehem Development Foundation. SOMERSET, England (CNS) – Through The Association of Priests of the Dioceses of Jackson the heavy oak door of a 15th-century manand Biloxi provide a small pension to our retired priests. sion set in a sweeping, frosty valley comes the As you consider your estate plans, please remember these sound of singing, backed by a mix of violins, faithful servants by making a donation or leaving a beconcertinas and woodwinds. “Almighty God, quest to the Association of Priests. Our parish priests dedwho hast given us thy only begotten Son to icate their lives to caring for us, their flocks. Let us now take our nature upon him – at this time born care for them in their retirement. Donations can be made of a pure virgin.” When Thomas Clark, a cobpayable to the Association of Priests and can be mailed bler, composed his Christmas Day liturgical to: music around 1830, he probably never expected it would still be performed two cenDiocese of Jackson, Attn: Cathy Pendleton, turies later. Halsway Manor, in Somerset’s Quantock Hills, has been a center for English P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225-2248 folk arts since the 1960s and includes “West Gallery” music by Clark and others on its annual Christmas program. “Although long neglected and forgotten, this music has an intrinsic quality,” explained Dave Townsend, co-founder of Britain’s West Gallery Music Association. “Beneath the surface simplicity of some West Gallery settings, there’s a depth of feeling not found in more expansive music from the period. It was central to people’s lives and deserves historical recognition.”
10 DIOCESE
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
Rich tradition links Archdiocese of Mobile and Jackson FROM THE ARCHIVES By Mary Woodward
JACKSON – Recently, I spent a few days in the Mobile area getting some spiritual guidance and refueling after some interesting months. As I sat in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I began to think about the historic connection our diocese has with Mobile. To give a brief history of the region, I have taken the following from the Archdiocese of Mobile’s website history section. The Archdiocese of Mobile was established as the Vicariate-Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas in 1825 and became the Diocese of Mobile on May 15, 1829, with Bishop Michael Portier, D.D., as the First Bishop of Mobile. The newly created Diocese of Mobile encompassed the entire State of Alabama and the entire State of Florida. In the 1850’s new dioceses were created in the State of Florida, nonetheless, the Diocese of Mobile still retained the panhandle of Florida until 1968 when the panhandle of Florida became part of the Diocese of St. Augustine and later the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. On Oct. 8, 1969, the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham was divided into two separate dioceses with the newly created diocese in the state known as the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. In 1980 the Diocese of Mobile was Bishop Michael Portier, D.D., first raised to the status of an archdiocese and bishop of Mobile. (Photos courtesy Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb was appointof The Catholic Week/Archdiocese of ed the First Archbishop of the newly created Mobile) Archdiocese of Mobile. Today the archdiocese encompasses 22,969 square miles and includes the lower 28 counties of the State of Alabama. The arrival of Catholicism in the region traces its origins to the early Spanish and French explorations and permanent settlements at Pensacola, Florida in 1696, and in Mobile in 1702, where a parish was erected on July 20, 1703, with Henry Rolleaux de la Vente as first pastor. At the time of the creation of the new Diocese of Mobile in 1829, most Catholics were centered in the principal towns of Mobile, Pensacola and St. Augustine. I have such fond memories of Archbishop Lipscomb who died July 15, 2020. He was a consummate man of the church who exuded priesthood and the office of bishop and had a deep, abiding love for the history and tradition of the Catholic faith in our region. A man of gentle voice and spirit, he was the principal consecrator of Bishop Joseph N. Latino on March 7, 2003. After the ceremony, we were headed back to the bishops’ vesting area, where he asked me to summon the miter and crozier bearers who had served him that day. When brothers Garrett and Gordon McMullin arrived, the Archbishop presented each of them with two gold Sacagawea dollars stating it was an ancient tradition in the church for the bishop to present two gold coins to them because they were considered part of the bishop’s household. That was such a special moment to witness, and it testified to the Archbishop’s love for history and the church’s rich traditions. Oftentimes as Mississippi Catholics, we connect ourselves to New Orleans because we share the River with Louisiana. Our diocese originally was cut from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which is the Mother See of the United States. In 1850, New Orleans was elevated to an archdiocese and became our longtime province and metropolitan see until 1980, when Mobile was elevated to an archdiocese. We then were reunited with our sister territory of Alabama into the Mobile province as mentioned in the last article. So, in reflecting on our history as a combined U.S. territory with Alabama in the early days of America, we have a lot of extraordinary connections to Mobile not only ecclesially, but also through the air we breathe, the soil upon which we trod and the beaches we enjoy MOBILE – The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was consecrated by Bishop Portier on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1850. The Diocese of Jackson is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mobile.
year-round. We are sisters and brothers in one of the most unique territories in the country – Spanish West Florida. In another profound way we are linked to Mobile through the office of bishop. Both Bishop Richard O. Gerow (1924-1966) and Bishop William R. Houck (1984-2003) were Mobile natives and Bishop Joseph L. Howze (auxiliary of our diocese from 19721977) was from Daphne. Bishop Houck had a unique connection to Archbishop Lipscomb in that the Archbishop’s uncle, Msgr. Hugh Lipscomb, was Bishop Houck’s first pastor to serve under as a newly ordained priest in 1951. Bishop Houck often remarked that the Monsignor was quite the mentor. Therefore, as I sat in the Cathedral in Mobile, I pondered on the rich tradition of Catholicism in the region and offered a prayer for Archbishop Lipscomb, who is buried in the crypt below the altar there, and for Bishops Gerow and Houck – sons of Mobile. Then I prayed for the laity, religious and clergy of our diocese and the archdiocese along with our current bishops – Joseph Kopacz and Thomas Rodi, who carry on the ministry of those 19th-century bishops of the region – John Joseph Chanche and Michael Poitier. May God continue to bless our region with strong faith and a deep connection to our mission to serve the Lord in this distinctive corner of God’s kingdom. I pray you all have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year. See you from the archives in 2022. (Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb was the first Archfor the Diocese of Jackson) bishop of the newly created Archdiocese of Mobile in 1980.
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
dIOCESE 11
Re–presenting Bishop Robert Barron’s Eucharist hungry human race, famished for the right kind of food. (30) By James Tomek, Ph.D Bishop Barron goes through the entire story of creThe Eucharist, being the theme of this liturgical year, ation, the fall, the formation of Israel, the passover to inspired Bishop Joseph Kopacz to send priests, deacons freedom, Isaiah’s holy mountain to Jesus’s table fellowand lay ecclesial ministers Bishop Robert Barron’s Eu- ship and the Last Supper, pointing to the sacred meal’s charist, a study of the Mass, an elaboration on the aspects goal of universal fellowship (eschatological banquet – of meal, sacrifice and real presence of Christ. the word we use for how we want things to end), which Reading Bishop Barron’s book will help us be bet- is made present to us at Mass. ter Mass attenders. While Father Dennis Gill’s Ars CeleThe table for the meal is also the altar for the sacribrandi details the structure of Mass; Bishop Barron con- fice. Covenants in the Old Testament were sealed with centrates more on three basic themes: the sacred meal, some forms of sacrifice. Jeremiah wanted the covenant where “communion” takes place; sacrifice, that makes to be written on our hearts, where we would know inthe communion possible; and the real presence of the stinctively the right things to do (sacrifice means “holy host, that makes the meal possible. doing”). Bishop Barron reminds us that at the Last SupAfter Bishop Barron’s comparison of Babette’s Feast per, Jesus invites his disciples to “ingest” his sacrifice – to and the Mass, this review will expound the themes of imitate Jesus’s actions. (66-8) meal, sacrifice and real presence, hopefully to sit us betIn my studies of controversial issues of the Mass, the ter at the table with Christ – like the disciples at Emmaus concept of “sacrifice” was more controversial than that of in Luke’s Gospel. “real presence.” Does Jesus have to die again? Bishop Barron opens his thesis with a comparison of Bishop Barron reminds us that we really “re-present” the Mass and Isak Dinesen’s Babette’s Feast, a short sto- Jesus’s sacrifice, with our intention to imitate it. ry and a 1987 film about how a servant, saved by two “I am suggesting that pain, consciously aligned to the sisters, rewards them and their puritanical diminishing sacrifice of Jesus can be spiritually transfiguring. Thus, the congregation with a lavish meal. sufferer becomes not simply the person in pain, but AbraThe two sisters took in a starving Babette. Their ham giving away what he loves the most, Moses enduring father was the pastor of a small Lutheran community. the long discipline of the desert ... or the crucified Messiah When Babette, who was a chef at the “three star” Café wondering why he has been forsaken by the Father.” (71) Anglais in Paris, wins a lottery, she decides to use all the The Liturgy is the re presentation of the sacrifice of money to cook a fabulous haute cuisine dinner, with mul- the Lord. At Mass, we, if paying attention, not only wittiple courses, for the remaining community. The dinner, ness the event of the Cross, we participate in it. (71-2) which slowly pleases their bodily senses, also increases With the sacred and sacrificial meal, we are at a place their soul senses as they become better acquainted with where sins can be forgiven and friendship restored. each other. (72) Babette’s sacrificial meal inspires Robert Barron to In the chapter on real presence, Bishop Barron cites compare her to Christ, as her real sacrificial chef pres- the great “Catholic” writer Flannery O’Connor’s reence transfigures the dinner into a sacred meal where sponse to the Eucharist as a symbol saying, that if it is all the guests’ lives are raised physically and spiritually. a symbol, to hell with it. (73) O’Connor and Barron, in Bishop Barron compares the meal to God’s creation this chapter, are defining “symbol” in its arbitrary sense (20) as God showed Adam and Eve how and where to (for example, the bulldogs of Mississippi State point to eat (Genesis 2:15-17), with the meal being God’s plan for their tenacity). There are other uses of symbols as exunity. (24) Citing many biblical references, like the Pass- pressions of meaningful experiences that Bishop Barover, Bishop Barron shows that the meal is also the place ron uses throughout the book, but, here, he is stressing for teaching. Divine teaching takes place with Jesus. (27) the real presence of Jesus and wants to avoid the term The feeding of the five thousand stands for nourishing a “symbol.” Bishop Barron explores chapter six of John’s gospel where Jesus says that he is the bread of life and tells his disciples that they must follow him by eating his flesh. (78-9) He contends that the Incarnation of God into the world requires the real presence of Christ. (81) Is it the actual flesh and blood of Jesus that we consume at Mass? I was taught that it is the glorified real presence of Jesus. To help us, Barron explains Aquinas’s interpretation of sacrament and real presence. All sacraments are designed to place the spiritual life within human beings. Just as we digest material food for our bodies, the Eucharist is ingested for our life of grace. Aquinas calls Jesus’s flesh “proper species,” which become the “sacramental species” that we consume at Mass. (91-3) The Mass is the prolongation of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron is shown in an undat- the Incarnation. Jesus’s real presed photo. (CNS photo/courtesy Word on Fire) ence is in all parts of the Mass. Bish-
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op Barron includes the scripture readings at Mass too as he cites Origen’s thesis that the real presence of Jesus is also in the “Word” of God, which can stand both for Jesus and the Bible itself. (82) Sacred meals end with a mission. Bishop Barron concludes his thesis referring to Jesus appearing to the disciples at Emmaus in Luke’s Gospel. The two disciples meet the “glorified” Jesus, who explains to them the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. They invite Jesus to dinner and finally recognize him when he breaks the bread. Jesus then disappears. Bishop Barron sums up the Mass by placing us back in time at Emmaus. (111) We come to Mass like the two disciples and beg for Jesus’s mercy. Jesus forgives us by opening up the scriptures for us. We need the meal to fully be conscious of who Jesus is, and we see him in the breaking of the bread. Jesus then disappears and we are sent to continue his mission. Thank you for the lesson, Bishop Barron. (James Tomek is a retired language and literature professor at Delta State University who is currently a Lay Ecclesial Minister at Sacred Heart in Rosedale and also active in RCIA at Our Lady of Victories in Cleveland.)
‘... Feliz Navidad y paz en la tierra ...’ – Viene de la pág. 3 – A lo largo de la temporada navideña, la octava de Navidad y su intervalo sagrado hasta el 9 de enero de 2022, la fiesta del Bautismo del Señor, hay tiempo suficiente para apreciar la plenitud de nuestra fe en el Hijo de Dios. Jesucristo es la verdadera luz que ha venido al mundo para que a quien lo acepte se le conceda el poder de ser hijo de Dios. Cada vez que nos reunimos, la iglesia como su Cuerpo, en la Misa Cristo resucitado nos revela su gloria, la gloria como del Hijo único del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad. Siempre que alguien dude o rechace la presencia real de Cristo resucitado en el pan y el vino, lo que puede ocurrir por muchas razones, un buen lugar para volver a visitar es la Encarnación del Hijo de Dios. En el poder del Espíritu Santo, oren pidiendo la gracia y la verdad de ver con los ojos del corazón la humanidad y la divinidad del niño Jesús, y del Señor crucificado y resucitado. Él brilla en gloria en su cuerpo resucitado a la diestra del Padre e intercede en nombre de su Cuerpo, la Iglesia en este mundo. Por supuesto, él querría alimentarnos con comida y bebida excepcionales, su propio cuerpo y sangre, comida para el viaje. Mientras, lidiamos con este sublime misterio en varios intervalos a lo largo de nuestra vida; oramos unos por otros para perseverar, como individuos, familias y amigos con los pies firmemente plantados en la buena creación de Dios y creer como hijos del Altísimo, que nunca pierden de vista el horizonte desde donde se te hace señas de vida eterna. ¡Feliz Navidad y paz en la tierra para con todos los hombres de buena voluntad!
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DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
St. Nicholas is coming to town
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE By Melvin Arrington
St. Nicholas (270-343), whose feast day is December 6, is one of the most popular saints among children and adults alike, undoubtedly due to his association with Santa Claus. In spite of his renown, few facts are known about his life, and much of what we do know is probably legendary. Born into a wealthy family, Nicholas became famous in his time for his anonymous acts of charity. When he learned of members of his community who were in great need, he would, under the cover of night, secretly enter their house and leave bags of gold. The most-often recounted story of his generosity involved a poor man’s three daughters who, because they lacked dowries, were unable to marry. This meant they were facing the only other option available to them: a life of prostitution. On three separate nights Nicholas threw a bag of gold through the man’s window, thereby providing the means for each of the three girls to marry. Nicholas served as bishop of Myra, a city located on the Mediterranean Sea in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). During the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian, he was imprisoned for his faith, but released when Constantine rose to power. In the 11th century, after the Saracens took control of Myra, his relics were secretly removed from the Myra Cathedral and transferred to Bari, Italy. Over the centuries his popularity continued to grow and spread throughout Europe. At the Council of Nicaea (325) Nicholas condemned Arianism and, according to legend, confronted Arius, the promoter of this heretical doctrine, striking him in the face. Whether he punched him in the nose or, more likely, slapped him, it was a bold gesture of righteous indignation, indicative of his zeal for defending the truth. Countless miracles have been attributed to him,
among them stories of sailors rescued at sea, corn multiplied in order to feed starving people, and children who had been murdered being brought back to life. It is said that a sweet-smelling oil with healing properties exudes from his remains to this day. So, how did this fourth-century bishop evolve into the Santa Claus and Father Christmas of modern times? Much of it has to do with tales of the saint’s fabled generosity. Those accounts became a primary source, along with the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, for our custom of giving gifts during the holidays. Linguistics also played a role in this makeover. Over time “Saint” became “Santa” and the last two syllables of his name, “cholas,” turned into “Claus.” My notion of what Santa Claus looks like was formed by depictions of the jolly ole fellow in Coca-Cola advertising in the 1950s and by the huge Santa that would miraculously appear in the display window at the old McRae’s department store in downtown Jackson during the Christmas shopping season. Both showed him to be a plump, jovial, white-haired old man with a prodigious beard, dressed in a flashy red suit. I’m almost certain the original St. Nicholas looked nothing like those figures. Popular culture preserves this link between the saint and the North Pole’s most celebrated resident, as seen in the much-loved poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore (1823), which begins: “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; / The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, / In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” By 1953, when the singing cowboy Gene Autry released the version of the Yuletide classic, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” that I remember hearing as a child, the transformation to Santa Claus was complete. Traditionally, much of the talk during the holidays
is focused on acquisition of material goods: “What did Santa Claus bring you?” or “What did you ‘get’ for Christmas?” Our modern culture, through the media, preaches the message over and over, non-stop, that the more things we accumulate the happier we will be. Just consider all the advertising we see this time of year for luxury items. But more is really less because we eventually grow weary with what we have and seek to acquire different, newer, better products. We want more and more but can never get enough. Worldly goods just can’t satisfy the longings of the human heart. They may give us a temporary feeling of fulfillment and contentment, but that quickly fades, and soon we’re looking for something else to feed the hunger of our acquisitive nature. St. Nicholas, on the other hand, teaches that we should place the emphasis not on receiving, acquiring and accumulating, but on giving – a concept that makes no sense at all from a worldly perspective. Rather than just counting what I have received, perhaps I should reflect instead on what I have given this year. My reflection should also include the question, “Did I give from the heart or just out of a sense of social obligation?” Love of God and neighbor will motivate us not only to make monetary donations but also an offering of ourselves, that is, our time and talents. There are no substitutes for giving and service. These are the only ways we will find fulfillment and true happiness. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He’s real, and his true name is Nicholas. On Christmas Eve Ole St. Nick is coming to town and, like the Magi, he’s bearing gifts. May we all join in the spirit of the season and be gift-bearers as well. Merry Christmas to one and all! (Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Oxford.)
My Advent pilgrimage to the gravesite of Sister Thea Bowman GUEST COLUMN
By Shannen Dee Williams (CNS)
On Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, the third day of Advent and the last day of Black Catholic History Month, I visited the historic Elmwood Cemetery in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and gazed upon the gravesite of “Servant of God” Sister Thea Bowman, one of six African Americans currently under consideration for sainthood. Although I grew up Black and Catholic, I did not learn about the existence of African American nuns until 2007, while enrolled in graduate school. Two years later, a conversation in Memphis with then-Bishop J. Terry Steib directed me to the principal’s office of the diocese’s Holy Names of Mary and Jesus School for an interview with Sister Donna Banfield. During our meeting, Sister Donna, who led Holy Names from 2006 to 2010, informed me of Sister Thea’s final resting place in the city. I also learned that Sister Donna, a former president of the National Black Sisters’ Conference, led her students on an annual trip to Sister Thea’s gravesite to pay their respects and bear to witness to the lived reality of Black Catholic saints in our midst. Inspired by Sister Donna’s leadership, I decided to make my own pilgrimage to Sister Thea’s
gravesite but not until I completed my planned book on the largely hidden history of the nation’s Black sisters. I wanted the visit to be special, and it truly was. Reflecting on Sister Thea’s short but powerful epitaph, “She tried,” etched onto her family’s headstone, I thanked her for championing the intellectual, spiritual and cultural gifts of the African American community in the face of discrimination and resistance in our church. I also thanked Sister Thea for being a model of excellence and compassion for all humankind. “Be woman. Be man. Be priest,” Sister Thea liked to say. “Be single, be married. ... Be Irish American, be Italian American, be Native American, be African American, but be one in Christ.” In these trying times, one can only wonder what Sister Thea, an unapologetic champion of Black life, mothers, families and social equality, might say about the current state of our bitterly divided nation and church. From the various attempts to stop the teaching of Black history and the nation’s original sins of racism and colonialism to the global climate crisis to the current attempts to roll back the civil rights victories of the middle decades of the 20th century – especially voting rights – I also wonder what advice Sister Thea, a member of the pioneering generation of Black Catholic women and girls who desegregated the nation’s white sisterhoods, would give those fearful of the uncertain future ahead. In her final years, Sister Thea, a Mississippi native who was also the granddaughter of enslaved people,
made it clear where she stood on all forms of injustice. “I will never reconcile myself with ... racism ... sexism ... classism ... anything destructive,” she stated. Too often those who champion Sister Thea and her canonization cause erase her clear understanding of the interconnected dimensions of oppression. In so doing, they do a terrible disservice to her and other freedom fighters, who always understood that any demand for racial and educational justice not connected to the larger fight for human rights and justice was insincere and illegitimate. As this nation seems poised with a return to a society that Sister Thea, and so many Black sisters like her fought to bury, I pray for the strength and grace to meet the stark challenges ahead. During this Advent season, I also pray for the wisdom to remember Sister Thea’s great sacrifice for her beliefs and the courage to seek new ways of living that no longer require martyrdom to convince opponents of human equality to uphold the church’s most basic social teaching of affirming the lives and dignity of all people. (Shannen Dee Williams is a cradle Catholic and associate professor of history at the University of Dayton. She is the author of “Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle,” which will be published by Duke University Press on May 27, 2022. Follow her on Twitter at @BlkNunHistorian.)
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 17, 2021
DIOCESE 13
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14 youth
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
From the heart
HOLLY SPRINGS – (Above) Delivering hot Thanksgiving meals to senior living facility across from the school in Holly Springs is a Holy Family tradition. SOUTHAVEN – (Below) Sarita Stewart checks boxes to ensure they are not missing any items. Sacred Heart School students helped pack food baskets during this year’s mammoth operation at Sacred Heart Southern Missions. The group handed out 1,449 boxes this year for Thanksgiving. (Photos courtesy of Laura Grisham)
HOLLY SPRINGS – PreK and Kindergarten classes at Holy Family worshiped 'body and soul' with Brother Diego Diaz, SCJ. After listening to the lives of the saints, the children sang and danced to the song "Te Amo (I love)" by Israel and New Breed.
MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC DECEMBER 3, 2021
Mass – Motion – Friction
COLUMBUS – Annunciation fifth graders, Amy Cancellare, Josalyn Lee and Jack Clemons, work to finish their unit on forces and motion. They did a lab to test how the mass of an object affects its motion. They started by forming hypotheses, measuring the mass of four different balls, completing a test of rolling each ball down a slide and timing its motion. They finalized the lab results by creating graphs and forming conclusions. Turns out, mass does affect motion, but friction can change your results! (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)
DIOCESE 15 109 and counting
CLARKSDALE – This year St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Clarksdale stepped it up a notch to celebrate their parish feast day. Father Raju Macherla invited Bishop Joseph Kopacz to join in on the celebration with Mass on Friday, Nov. 12. Reconciliation was held on Saturday, then a closing Mass with a thanksgiving meal was provided on Sunday, Nov. 14. Many families came to the event to reflect on the 109th anniversary of the parish. Pictured is Luke Agostinelli assisting Father Raju Macherla. (Photo by Derrick Faucheux)
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Merry Christmas
DECEMBER 17, 2021 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
JACKSON – This scene from Italy has been a staple at Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle for more than 75 years. This exact Nativity set can also be seen PHILADELPHIA – The Nativity scene at Holy Rosary Indian Mission was in- at Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura, commonly known as St. Paul's herited from Father Judge Mission Seminary in Monroe, Virginia, after the Outside the Walls (Rome). (Photo by Mary Woodward) seminary closed. Father Bob Goodyear embellished the Nativity scene by building a platform to raise it up, adding the background (Bethlehem at night), Christmas trees, lights around the outside of the platform over the icicle lights covered with gossamer. (Photo courtesy of Father Bob Goodyear)
The Holy Family at the Nativity is depicted in this painting by artist Laura James. Christmas, a holy day of obligation, is celebrated Dec. 25. (CNS/Bridgeman Images)