MS Catholic Feb. 9, 2024

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FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Personnel, programs at diocesan Catholic Charities agencies help feed a hungry nation

BY KIMBERLEY HEATHERINGTON

"But the reality is that – even in this prosperous area of the coun(OSV News) – "It is a scandal," try, there is significant poverty," Pope Francis said in his 2013 mesexplained Bishop Michael F. Bursage for World Food Day, "that there bidge after he blessed the Catholic is still hunger and malnutrition in Charities of the Diocese of Arlingthe world!" ton's new Alexandria regional office The pontiff further warned Jan. 5. "There are people who are against acceptance of that lethal hungry every day, every night – not truth, cautioning that "hunger and knowing where their next meal is malnutrition can never be considcoming from. And so, it's our sacred ered a normal occurrence to which duty to kind of wake people up a litone must become accustomed, as if tle bit, and say, 'No – if we're really it were part of the system. Somelooking, the need is apparent.'" thing has to change in ourselves, in The new regional office – which our mentality, in our societies." includes an expanded food pantry Listeners may readily nod in and emergency financial assistance agreement – while all too easily services – opened at a time when imagining that Pope Francis was casual observers might expect the speaking of some distant, developeconomic gaps apparent during ing nation.

COVID to be mended.

But the truth is, even in the They aren't.

United States – the richest country An estimated 200,000-plus peoin the world, if ranked by its $26.95 ple remain food insecure in the trillion gross domestic product, or Arlington Diocese, which encomGDP – 49 million Americans, one in passes 21 counties and seven cities. every six, relied on food assistance The three Catholic Charities food from charities in 2022. pantries and warehouse form an inDuring Poverty Awareness tegral part of the more than 50 panMonth, OSV News talked with tries and various distribution sites Catholic Charities offices across the A woman walks away with free groceries from the food pantry and free hot meals at a located throughout the diocese, all country – in Virginia, Mississippi coordinating together to serve the and Nevada – to learn how they help church in Boston April 14, 2020. (OSV News photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters) hungry. feed a hungry nation.

More than 59,000 food requests were made during the last year, $2.2 million in The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia – just outside the nation's capital – is home to four of America's richest locales, in terms of median income: Loudoun, Fairfax and food was distributed, and Christ House shelter served 17,627 free evening meals.

Arlington counties, and the city of Falls Church. It's a landscape distinguished by large homes, elevated rents and a highly educated workforce.

– Continued on page 8 –

Diocese launches ‘Hope Rising’ appeal for vital ministries

BY JOANNA PUDDISTER KING

blessings that we have received and are being called to share our blessings.”

“When you make a gift you become the ‘Hope Rising’ to those served by the apJACKSON – As the Diocese of Jackson kicks off the 2024 Catholic Service Appeal (CSA), director of Stewardship and Development, Rebecca Harris shared her enthu- peal,” Harris says.

She says that supporters will also find in-depth information on each of the 14 siasm for the ministries that the appeal supports across the diocese.

“The appeal sustains essential ministries that play a pivotal role in nurturing ministries supported through the appeal at csa.jacksondiocese.org by clicking on the “Ministries Supported” button. She invites all to “explore the profound impact and advancing our Catholic faith,” said Harris.

Under the theme “Hope Rising,” the diocese is inviting all to become beacons of your donations make on our faith community.” hope to 14 ministries through support and prayers for the appeal.

– Continued on page 8 – Harris says that the Catholic community can become that hope to those served by these ministries: Seminarian Education, Catholic Schools, Retired Priests, Clergy Healthcare Assistance, PermaINSIDE THIS WEEK nent Diaconate Ministry, Prison Ministry, Catholic Charities, Campus Ministry, Formation Ministry and Religious Education, Intercultural Ministry, Evangelization and Communication, Family Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry and grants for Parishes and Schools.

Each year in January Bishop Joseph Kopacz sends letters to all parishioners in the diocese asking for support of those ministries. In this year’s letter, he asks that parishioners recognize the timelessness of a piece of St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews – “Do not neglect to Youth 14 Seminarian basketball 4 From the archives 10 do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.” (Hebrews 13:16) Youth and young adult Two seminarians take part Our Mother of Mercy speBishop Kopacz reminds parishioners that “we are photos from around diocese in big tournament win cial anniversary gently being summoned to be good stewards of the

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS

BOONEVILLE – St. Francis, Bingo, Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. till 12 p.m. We play for fun, plus we help the food pantry. Bring your dollars! Details: church office (662) 728-7509.

GREENWOOD – Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mardi Gras Chili Fest, Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5-7 p.m. at the parish center. Wear your purple, gold and green. Details: church office (662) 453-3980.

HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Cocktails and Catholicism, Friday, March 8. Doors open at 6 p.m. with talk and cocktails after with Debbie Tubertini with the Office of Family Ministry for the diocese. She is speaking on marriage. Details: church office (662) 429-7851.

JACKSON – Bishop Chanche Awards, Saturday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Peter. Honoring parishioners with outstanding service to the diocese.

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School, Annual Draw Down, Saturday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. Grand prize $5,000; tickets $100 (admits 2), second chance insurance $20. Details: school office (601) 352-5441.

MADISON – St. Franics, Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5:15-7 p.m. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Mardi Gras Bingo Night, Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Bingo cards are $2 each; $1 soft drinks; $5 potato bar. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

STARKVILLE – St. Joseph, Mardi Gras party, Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. in the parish hall. Enjoy jambalaya, salad, bread and King Cake! Donations to the food pantry welcome. Details: church office (662) 3232257.

VICKSBURG – Vicksburg Catholic School, Drawdown on River, Sunday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Levee Street Warehouse. Enjoy a silent auction, food, drinks and fellowship, in addition to the $20,000 drawdown.

Tickets sell out every year – so purchase yours today.

Details: https://one.bidpal.net/2024vcsdrawdown/welcome.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Ladies Lenten Retreat

FEATURED PHOTO

– a Reflection on Grace, Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Mass will be at 11:30 am.

Presenter is Fran Lavelle, Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Jackson. Sponsored by the KC Ladies Auxiliary, lunch will be provided and there is no charge. Details: church office (601) 856-2054.

HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Lenten study of “Beautiful Eucharist” by Matthew Kelly facilitated by Sara Rauch. Deepen your relationship Jesus and experience His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. Thursdays from Feb. 15 through March 21 from 10-11 a.m. in the room beside chapel. Details: church office (662) 3421073.

JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, Lenten Day of Reflection, Saturday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. Father Nick Adam will give some prayer, fasting and almsgiving oriented talks and then have Mass and lunch. Sign up in the Narthex. All parishioners welcome to attend, just RSVP. Details: church office (601) 969-3125.

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Parish Lenten Mission, Feb. 25-27 from 6-7 p.m. Mission featuring Father Phil Krill, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

All are welcome. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.

LENTEN MEALS

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick/St. Joseph, Stations and Lenten Fish Fry, every Friday in Lent. Fry follows Stations at 6 p.m. Rotates between parishes. Begins with St. Patrick on Feb. 16. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.

NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Lenten Fish Fry, Every Friday beginning Feb. 23 from 5-7 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Cost: Catfish $12; Shrimp $12; Combo $14. Dinners include fries, hushpupppies and coleslaw. For grilled catfish call 30 minutes ahead to Darren at (601) 597-2890.

PEARL – St. Jude, Lenten Fish Fry, Every Friday beginning Feb. 16, immediately following 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross. Menu: catfish, fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw and tea. Dine-in only. Proceeds benefit Knights of Columbus community programs. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.

SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Lenten Fish

Fry, Feb. 15, March 1 and 15. Potluck Lenten meals, Feb. 23, March 8 and 22. Meals at 5:30 p.m. with Stations at 7 p.m. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

LENTEN RECONCILIATION

HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Reconciliation Service, Wedneday, March 6 at 7 p.m.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Reconciliation Service, Wedneday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Reconciliation Service, Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

JOB OPENING

JACKSON – The Department of Faith Formation is looking for a full-time administrative assistant. The successful candidate will provide administrative assistance exercising quality pastoral skills for those in pastoral and formational ministry in the Diocese of Jackson. Details: 3-5 years’ experience in an administrative role providing direct support to a multicultural intergenerational department. Understanding basic accounting a plus. High school diploma or GED certificate required; completion of college degree in business preferred. Contact fran.lavelle@jacksondiocese.org with questions or for full job description. Send a cover letter and resume no later than March 11, 2024.

2155 TERRY ROAD JACKSON MS 39204 601-373-1460/601-373-3412

... Birthday Celebration ...

Thank you for your support to our apostolate of prayer.

To donate online, please visit our website www.jacksoncarmel.com

God bless you!

Our loving prayers, Carmelite Nuns of Jackson

APPLIANCE AUDIO VIDEO BEDDING FURNITURE SUPERSTORE

TUPELO – St. James parish hosted a January birthday celebration with residents of Traceway Manor. Erin Bristow played a few greatest hits for the crowd, good food and cupcakes were served and even a bit of dancing was in order. (Photo by Michelle Harkins)

Jackson Flowood R dgeland Pearl Cl nton V cksburg Tupelo Columbus Laurel Oxford Hatt esburg

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

let there be light

Let the new decade begin

BY BISHOP JOSEPH R. KOPACZ, D.D.

ful for the energy and motivation that propel me forward each day. Another way of naming this is God’s grace in varied and splendid ways, especially implored in the Eucharistic prayer at each Mass when I am lifted up by name.

Finally, I give thanks for the countless collaborators in the ministry – ordained, religious, and lay – whose love for the Lord Jesus and the church, whose generosity and Gospel commitment are a fountain of inspiration every day. Let the new decade begin and may the bends in the road ahead continue the adventure in that sacred space between time and eternity.

Ad multos anos!

As my anniversary approached there were two events a week ago that afforded me the opportunity to deepen the understanding that the gift I have received can only be graciously lived in turn. Unexpectedly, Bishop Mario Dorsonville died from health complications after serving only 10 months as the Ordinary of Houma-Thibodaux. At his Mass of Christian burial, the shock and sadness of those in the congregation were plain to see, and at moments I could not help but be self-referential considering the timeframe of his ten months and my ten years. If he were blessed to serve ten years, he would have been my age looking back in gratitude over a decade of service in the Bayou of Louisiana. We know not the day nor the hour, only that each day is the moment at hand, and the weeks, months and years follow rhythmically under the wings of Divine Providence.

The following day, on Friday of last week I had a visitor from Northeastern Pennsylvania, who was on his way to begin a new chapter of active duty in the Army Corps Band at Fort Hood, Texas. Liam and his brother Luke, my godson, served at my Mass of consecration and installation as early adolescents. Now they are 23 and their adult lives are unfolding with energy and enthusiasm.

Over breakfast at Broad Street Bakery, he just happened to mention that he could retire after 20 years at age 42, and then floated the question – “by the way, how old will you be at retirement?” That’s a number he couldn’t even compute. As he savored his grits it struck me that over ten years a number of folks in my life have left this world, and others have come of age.

And yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and yes, someday I February 14 will retire. But JACKSON – Archbishop Thomas Rodi of Mobile lays hands Father Jofin George meanwhile I am on Bishop Joseph Kopacz during his ordination as Bishop of Holy Cross, Philadelphia still on active Jackson on Feb. 6, 2014. (Photo from archives) duty and grate-

Just shy of 47 years a priest and now 10 years as the 11th Bishop of Jackson, I give thanks to the great High Priest, Jesus Christ for the gift of serving Him, His body the church, and the Kingdom of God in this world.

The Lord pronounced that “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) This promise has been fulfilled ten-fold in my life. Indeed, abundance is the stamp of priesthood and episcopal ministry. Whether blessings or burdens, for me iIt has been a life of purpose especially over the unanticipated bends in the road.

A few days following my consecration and installation on Feb. 6, 2014, I treasured the opportunity to fly from Madison to St. Mary’s Basilica in Natchez, to St. Joseph in Greenville, to St. James in Tupelo, and to St. Joseph in Starkville, and in the process to have my first encounters with the faithful. During those 12 hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., from an ariel view of 3,000 feet a large swath of the Diocese of Jackson stretched out before me, a grand view that remains vivid to this day.

Play it forward, and 10 years and 300,000 miles later, via modern day horsepower, have given me boots on the ground experience forming a deep bond with the Diocese of Jackson and the State of Mississippi. Of course, it’s not a matter of miles, but of mission and ministries and the Catholic people who make up the communities of faith throughout 65 counties.

Happy Ordination Anniversary February 6

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz (ordained bishop)

February 7

Father Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ Catholic Parishes of Northwest Mississippi

February 19

Father Vijaya Bhaskar Madanu, SVD

Holy Ghost & Holy Family, Jackson

Thank you for answering the call!

BISHOP’S SCHEDULE Tuesday, Feb. 13, 7:30 a.m. – Mass, Carmelite Monastery, Jackson Wednesday, Feb. 14, 12:05 p.m. – Ash Wednesday, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson

Volume 70 Number 5 (ISSN 1529-1693)

P.O. Box 2130 Jackson, MS 39225-2130 Phone: 601-969-3581 E-mail: editor@jacksondiocese.org Publisher ........................................................................................... Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Communications Director ...................................................................... Joanna Puddister King Production Manager ...................................................................................................Tereza Ma Contributors ......................................................................................................... Berta Mexidor MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC is an official publication of the Diocese of Jackson, 601-969-1880, 237 E. Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201. Published digitally twice per month January – April and September – December; once per month June, July and August. Mississippi Catholic mails 14 editions per year – twice per month in December and January; and once per month February – November. For address changes, corrections or to join the email list for the digital edition, email: editor@jacksondiocese.org. Subscription rate: $20 a year in Mississippi, $21 out-of-state.

Periodical postage at Jackson, MS 39201 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Catholic, P.O. Box 2130, Jackson, MS 39225-2130.

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

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. – Rite of Election, St. Francis, Madison Friday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m. – 20th Anniversary Celebration for Dedication of Church Building, Christ the King, Southaven Saturday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m. – Rite of Election, St. John, Oxford Sunday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m. – Confirmation, St. Richard, Jackson Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. – Bishop Chanche Awards, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson Tuesday, March 12, 7:30 a.m. – Mass, Carmelite Monastery, Jackson Monday, March 25, 6:30 a.m. – Mass and Men’s Prayer Breakfast, St. Richard, Jackson Tuesday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. – Chrism Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Jackson All events are subject to change. Check with parishes and schools for further details.

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

4 VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME In John’s Gospel two disciples of John the Baptist begin to follow Jesus and ask him where he is staying. He responds with an invitation: ‘Come and See.’ (John 1:3839) We know that one of these disciples was Andrew, the brother of Peter. It is believed that the other disciple is John the Evangelist. John often makes mention of the disciple “whom Jesus loved,” and it is very possible that this is John himself. But we can also place ourselves in that position of the beloved disciple. We are all students of Jesus who are loved by him without reserve. OfFather Nick Adam ten, however, we live as if Jesus has nothing to teach us, and he’s just there to help us when we need it.

Each spring on Palm Sunday weekend, St. Joseph Seminary College hosts a ‘Come and See’ retreat for young men who are open to the call to priesthood. This retreat serves as a point on the road for young disciples as they gather information and seek to discern their vocation well.

I try to send as many guys on this retreat as possible each year because it is a great way to see what seminary life is really like. Seminarians are not ‘normal’ in many ways: they schedule their life around prayer and Mass, and that’s not the norm. But they are very ‘normal’ in other ways. They have hobbies and interests far beyond the pews.

They love to build good community and spend time having fun. In

some ways, the seminary is the place where men go to learn a more virtuous ‘normal.’ In the secular world, we learn many things that seem normal but are actually damaging to our consciences and our souls.

Bad language is thrown around like it’s nothing, and vicious behavior is talked about on a sliding scale depending on the audience.

In the seminary men are normal, but they have been invited to ‘Come and See’ a new way of living as they are challenged to rise above the small-ness of a life focused on self and move toward a life lived for God. That focus could lead them toward the ultimate end of priestly ordination, but even if it doesn’t, they are shown a way of living that helps them be the virtuous men that our society needs. At the ‘come and see’ retreat, visitors get a look at this way of life firsthand. They see the ‘normal-ness’ of the seminarians but also they are inspired by the different way of life they have voluntarily chosen.

I hope that we will have a great group of men going to the ‘Come and See’ this spring. Please pray that the men who are being called to this event have the courage to reach out to me and overcome the obstacles that can sometimes appear when something important is happening. Pray that many more men will want to follow Jesus wherever he leads them.

– Father Nick Adam, vocation director

(Father Nick Adam can be contacted at nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.)

St. Joseph Seminary wins basketball championship

By Sandy Cunningham

SAINT BENEDICT, La. – A group of seminarians from St. Joseph Seminary College won the 22nd annual Father Pat O’Malley Invitational basketball tournament in Mundelein, Illinois, this past weekend. It is the second straight year the team has won the tournament, which brings seminarians from around the country together to compete on the hardwood.

St. Joseph Seminary swept through pool play with wins over Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary (Athenaeum) from Cincinnati, 61-38, host Mundelein Seminary, 49-39 in overtime, and St. John Vianney Theological Seminary of Denver, 54-49. The Ravens defeated Mundelein in the semifinals, 3530, to advance to Sunday’s championship game, where they beat Conception College Seminary of Conception, Missouri, 75-62.

Team members are Ethan Green, Thomas Benson, Michael Bradford, Tim Talbott and Joey Piccini, Archdiocese of Mobile; Grayson Foley and Francisco Maldonado, Diocese of Jackson; Evan Lang and Jacob Zimmerer, Diocese of Fort Worth; Emmanuel Legarreta, Diocese of El Paso; and Carter Domingue and Logan Simon, Diocese of Lafayette. Zach Jolly (Saint Joseph Abbey) assisted the team, coached by Brian Cochran. Father Maurice Moon served as team chaplain.

Domingue, who scored 32 points in the championship game, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

(Sandy Cunnuingham is the communications and marketing manager for St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana.)

MUNDELEIN, Illinois – Shown with the championship trophy are, from left, kneeling, Emmanuel Legarreta and Jacob Zimmerer; and standing, Coach Brian Cochran, Francisco Maldonado, Logan Simon, Thomas Benson, Tim Talbott, Michael Bradford, Ethan Green, Zach Jolly, Grayson Foley, Evan Lang, Carter Domingue, Joey Piccini and Father Maurice Moon. (Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Seminary College)

Spirituality 5

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Breaking faith with each other IN EXILE

By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI

Sadly, today we are failing that test on both sides of the ideological and religious spectrum. We see this everywhere – from the highest levels of government, from high levels in our churches, and in public and private discourse everywhere, that is, people openly espousing disrespect, division, hatred and vengeance – and trying to claim the moral high ground in doing this. Major politicians speak openly and explicitly about hating others and about exacting revenge on those who oppose them. Worse still, churches and church leaders of every kind are lining up behind them and giving them “Gospel” support for their espousal of hatred and vengeance.

This needs to be named and challenged: anyone who

is advocating division, disrespect, hatred or revenge is antithetical to Jesus and the Gospels. As well, anyone supporting such a person by an appeal to Jesus, the Gospels, or authentic morality, is also antithetical to Jesus and the Gospels.

God is love. Jesus is love enfleshed. Disrespect, hatred, division and revenge may never be preached in God’s or Jesus’ name, no matter the cause, no matter the anger, no matter the wrong. This doesn’t mean that we cannot have disagreements, spirited discussions and bitter debates. But disrespect, hatred, division and revenge (no matter how deeply they may in fact be felt inside us) may not be advocated in the name of goodness and Jesus. Division, disrespect, hatred and vengeance are the Anti-Christ.

Is this new or are we just more aware of it? Hatred and contempt are everywhere. They are in our government houses, in our communities, in our churches and in our families. We are struggling, mostly without success, to be civil with each other; let alone to respect each other.

Why? Why is this happening and intensifying?

(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teachMoreover, on both sides, we er and award-winning author. He can be contacted are often justifying this hatred through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.) on moral grounds, even biblical grounds, claiming that the Gospel itself gives us grounds for our disrespect – My truth is so right and you are so wrong The Pope’s Corner that I can disrespect you and I have biblical grounds to hate you!

Well, even a cursory look at scripture should be enough to enable us to see this for what it is; rationalization, self-interest – and the farthest thing from Jesus. of wrath, but always for its development,” he said.

Let’s begin with something already taught long

By Carol Glatz Sometimes “it is good for anger to be vented in the before Jesus. In the Jewish scriptures, we already VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Wrath is a “dark vice” that find this text: “I have made you contemptible and destroys relationships, focuses all blame on others and right way,” he said. “Holy indignation exists,” especially at an injustice, but this is not wrath. base before all the people, since you do not keep my only worsens over time, Pope Francis said.

Jesus felt it several times in his life, but “he never ways, but show partiality in your decisions. Have we “It is capable of depriving us of sleep, of barring not all the one Father? Has not the one God creatthe way to reason and thought” because wrath com- responded to evil with evil,” the pope said.

When he entered the temple and drove out the mered us? Why do we break faith with one another?” pletely clouds thinking clearly and builds up inces(Malachi 2:8-10) Long before Jesus, Jewish spiritusantly without mercy, the pope said Jan. 31 at his chants and overturned the tables of the money changality already demanded that we be fair and never weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall. ers, Jesus “performed a strong and prophetic action, show partiality. However, it still gave us permisContinuing a series of audience talks about vices dictated not by wrath, but by zeal for the house of the Lord,” he said. sion to hate our enemies and to take revenge when and virtues, the pope reflected on the vice of wrath.

“We need to distinguish the good,” which is holy we have been wronged – “an eye for an eye.”

“If it is born of an injustice suffered or believed Jesus turns this on its head. Everywhere in his to be suffered, often it is unleashed not against the indignation, he said, from the bad, which is wrath, and person and in his teaching, most explicitly in the offender, but against the first unfortunate victim,” he to pray to correctly govern one’s passions, “to educate Sermon on the Mount, he challenges us in a radsaid, giving as an example people who can “withhold them so that they turn to the good and not the bad.”

The pope also recalled Jan. 31 was the feast of St. ically new way, telling us that, if we want to go to their rage in the workplace,” but then unleash it at John Bosco. heaven, our virtue needs to go deeper than that of home on their spouse and children.

In his greetings to visitors in other languages, the the Scribes and the Pharisees. What was their virWrath “destroys human relationships. It expresses tue? the incapacity to accept the diversity of others, espe- pope highlighted the work of the 19th-century Italian The Scribes and Pharisees of his time were cially when their life choices diverge from our own,” saint, saying he helped many young people in their difficulties and, with his apostolic zeal, brought them to very much like the church-going Christians of our he said. time. They were sincere, essentially honest, basiWhen someone is dominated by wrath, the pope Christ. “Let us also be witnesses to young people that cally good people, who kept the commandments said, “they always, always say the problem is the other Christ wants to enter our lives to fill them with the joy and practiced strict justice. But, according to Jeperson; they are unable to recognize their own defects, that only he can give.”

He invited people to imitate the saint, “educating sus, that isn’t enough. Why? If you are a sincere their own shortcomings.” person who is honest, keeps the commandments, St. Paul recommends Christians face up to the young people in the faith and training them in the difand is fair to everyone, what’s still missing? What’s problem right away and attempt reconciliation before ferent sciences and professions, for a better future in still missing lies at the very heart of Jesus’ moral the end of the day, the pope said, quoting the apostle’s which humanity can enjoy peace, brotherhood and teaching, namely, the practice of a love and forgiveLetter to the Ephesians (4:26) “Do not let the sun set on tranquility.” ness that goes beyond hatred and grievance. What your anger.” exactly is this?

“The night cannot be handed over to In justice and fairness, you are still entitled to the devil,” the pope said, repeating that it hate someone who hates you and to extract an apis important that any misunderstandings propriate vengeance on someone who has wronged be handled before the day is over since you. However, Jesus asks something else of us: this vice can keep people “awake at night, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbrooding over our reasons and the unacbor’ and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your countable mistakes that are never ours enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that and always the other’s.” you may be children of your Father in heaven. … If “In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes us you love those who love you, what reward will you pray for our human relations, which are a get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And minefield: a plane that is never in perfect if you greet only your own people, what are you doequilibrium,” he said. ing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

“We are all sinners, all of us,” with Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is peroutstanding debts or “trespasses” comfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48) mitted and experienced throughout life, This is the very essence of Christian morality. he said.

Can you love someone who hates you? Can you do “Therefore, we all need to learn how good to someone who wishes you evil? Can you forto forgive” as far as humanly possible, give someone who has wronged you? Can you forhe said. “Wrath is countered by benevogive a murderer? It’s this, and not some particular lence, openness of heart, meekness and issue in moral theology, which is the litmus test patience.” for who is a Christian and who isn’t. Can you love However, the pope said, “not every- Pope Francis greets a child after his weekly general audience in someone who hates you? Can you forgive someone thing that stems from wrath is mistaken.” the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Jan. 31, 2024. (CNS who has hurt you? Can you move beyond your nat“We are not responsible for the onset photo/Lola Gomez) ural proclivity for vengeance?

Wrath destroys relationships, pins blame on others, pope says

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

8 DIOCESE

' ... There's more need than ever ...'

– Continued from page 1 – "When we tell people within the last year there's been a 40% increase in the number of people served – that's a significant number," Bishop Burbidge said.

"Sometimes you get the word out by numbers – the pounds of food that have been delivered. So the good news is that there is a more spacious place to serve even more people. But the sad reality is, the need is just as great, too."

Synodality, Bishop Burbidge shared, is essential in serving the poor.

"Even though we may have good intentions, if it comes from above – 'We want to do good works, and this is what we're going to do' – it may not be the most effective way of serving. So it must begin with that synodality, that listening," he explained. "What are the needs – the most critical needs – at this point? And when you hear from the people you're trying to help, then you're going to be more effective."

"When people come into this place," Bishop Burbidge said of the food pantry, "one of the things that respects the dignity of the human person is that they get a cart – and they choose. That helps uplift the dignity of the person."

Mississippi – according to the Mississippi Food Network – "has the worst hunger problem in America."

The charity reports almost one in six Mississippians – about 480,600 people – don't have enough to eat, while more than one in five children (18.8%) frequently go to bed hungry.

Those are all-too-familiar statistics to Chamon Williams, community services manager at Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, which includes 65 of the state's 82 counties.

"We're always looking for different solutions or resources to support the community," Williams said.

One solution to senior hunger in Natchez – a little over 100 miles from Jackson – is a partnership between Catholic Charities and the Basilica of St. Mary. Each month, seniors in need are offered a box that includes such food staples as meat, vegetables, fruit, sugar, flour and more. An average of 40 boxes are distributed monthly.

JACKSON – St. Jude parish engaged in their Feed My Sheep ministry led by Beth Paczak. The group served lunch at Poindexter Park on Sunday, October 23, 2022. (Photos by Rhonda Bowden)

"Because they are on a fixed income," Williams explained, "the likelihood of many of these individuals receiving SNAP benefits – or even receiving SNAP benefits that would allow them to buy all of the staples that they need on a monthly basis – may be slim, based on their income." SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the largest federal food assistance program to people with low incomes.

It's an awful paradox – numerous of the box recipients are just well enough off, in the government's assessment, to not receive comprehensive food assistance, but are not well enough off to cover combined costs of rent, medicine and food.

While "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," those who live in (rath– Continued from page 1 – er than simply visit) Las Vegas, the most populous Bishop Kopacz and Harris both express city in Nevada, struggratitude for the continued trust and support gle with more than just of the Catholic community. “We assure you the lure of the Strip and that we have been diligent stewards of the its casinos. More than funds entrusted to us.”

274,000 Southern NevaTo provide transparency and accountdans – including one in ability, the graphics in the Catholic Service six children – experienced Appeal insert in Mississippi Catholic and on food insecurity in 2023. the website offer a detailed breakdown of how Deacon Tom Robevery dollar from the 2023 CSA was allocaterts – president and CEO ed, said Harris. “This visual representation of Catholic Charities of underscores our commitment to responsiSouthern Nevada – is ble financial management and demonstrates uniquely qualified to how your contributions actively promote our identify with the needs of Catholic faith.” his community. During There are several ways to give to the 2024 a 30-plus-year executive Catholic Service Appeal. Pledge cards can be mailed to PO Box 22723, Jackson, career in the gaming inMS 39225; and supporters can visit csa.jacksondiocese.org to donate online. dustry, he was ordained Additionally, giving is also open through text by texting “GiveCSA” to (601) 202a deacon for the then-Dio5979. cese of Las Vegas (now an Gifts of stocks, donor advised funds and Qualified Charitable Distribution archdiocese). When his through your IRA can also be made to support the Catholic Service Appeal. For predecessor at Catholic more information on the CSA, contact Rebecca Harris at (601) 960-8477.

Charities – Msgr. Patrick Leary – died unexpected(Editor’s note: See the special Catholic Service Appeal insert in this edition ly, Deacon Roberts was of Mississippi Catholic to learn more about all the ministries supported by this asked to step in. appeal.)

He's been there ever

' ... Catholic Service Appeal ...'

since.

"I like to say, 'Our clients never expected to be here, and neither did I,'" Deacon Roberts shared, noting Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has dealt with a "dramatic" rise in food insecurity in the last decade.

The numbers Deacon Roberts cites underscore that assertion: almost 2,500 meals on wheels delivered per day to senior citizens, with another 1,000 on a waiting list; 500-600 community meals served daily; and 150 daily visitors to the community food pantry, open five days per week.

"There's more need than ever," sighed Deacon Roberts, who – even as CEO – continues to help deliver meals. Sometimes, what he encounters still has the capacity to shock.

"I'd see the dishes that our food comes in on the floor," Deacon Roberts recalled, "and I'd say, 'Why is your dish on the ground? Didn't you like the food?' And they'd say, 'No, deacon – we're sharing our food with our pets.'"

"And so I'd go out in my car and cry," the deacon reflected, "and then we started to put donated pet food on our delivery run. Hundreds of our seniors now are as excited and grateful for the food that feeds their companion, so they're not having to share their food with that pet. It's been a complete eye-opener for me."

Deacon Roberts adds, "They're having to make that sad decision of, 'Can I afford my rent and my medicine, or do I have food?'"

At the free daily community meal, Deacon Roberts said, "so many of these people we're serving in that dining room every day are homeless – or as they get towards the end of the month, they just run out of money. Families come in – it breaks my heart to see families and little ones come in."

Other resources also are available at mealtime, with Deacon Roberts' staff and volunteers on the lookout to "connect the dots for people."

"Help and hope" is their mission, according to Deacon Roberts – optimism and assistance for all.

"I like to say we don't check religious ID cards around here," Deacon Roberts said. "So anybody that needs help and hope can get it."

(Kimberley Heatherington writes for OSV News from Virginia.)

Supporting the Catholic Service Appeal!!

2 0 2 3

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

CATHOLIC SERVICE APPEAL

Catholic Diocese of Jackson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

–Romans 8:28

Every day, those who serve in our diocese embrace the purposeful work of the Lord by providing for those in need. As you know, the work performed by the stewards of our Catholic faith through 14 Catholic Service Appeal ministries delivers assistance to our brothers and sisters who are seeking spiritual, emotional and physical help. Many in our communities are vulnerable in need; and thanks to your generosity, we are able to faithfully serve.

In the beginning of 2023, I asked you to support the work of the CSA, and over 2,600 of you responded with the largest financial backing we have received in over 10 years. Your faith and trust in these services and ministries have fueled our mission of Hope Rising.

Please take time and review the following report that illustrates the difference you made by generously sharing your financial gifts and supporting the work of the Catholic Service Appeal. Your financial partnership and generosity will be needed again in the coming year, and in future years, until the need no longer exists. With your help, we will not stop these important services. Please know that we have been good stewards with the money that you have entrusted to us. The graphics illustrated in this report provide essential information about where your gift to the CSA was allocated. With this, you can see that every dollar entrusted to us through the Catholic Service Appeal promotes our Catholic faith in action. Our first 2024 CSA mailing was sent out in January 2024.

I continue to ask for your prayers for these ministries and those we serve. As collaborators in the Lord’s vineyard let us faithfully pray for one another.

Most Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

$ 350,000

For over 60 years Catholic Charities has been a visible sign of Christ’s love to those who are unable to help themselves. With over 15 programs in Jackson, Gulfport, Natchez, Greenwood, and Vardaman. 85% of families served live below the federal poverty level and struggle to meet their basic needs. Your support helps bring hope to their lives.

YOUTH MINISTRY

$ 40,000

Our youth live in a diocese that is only 4% Catholic, Youth Ministry allows our Catholic youth to gather at retreats and conferences, so they interact with other Catholic youth, engage in their faith and learn the importance of developing a relationship with God. The Youth Office assists Youth Ministers around the diocese so that our Catholic Youth are engaged in their faith.

SEMINARIAN EDUCATION

$ 175,000

As each of our seven seminarians move closer to ordination. Your gift to the appeal helps with the cost of tuition, books and health insurance as these men prepare to become a priest in our diocese. The Office of Vocations helps to guide those who are discerning a call to a life of serving the church. It is through prayer and your support that people are responding to God’s call.

FAMILY MINISTRY

$ 30,000

The Office of Family Ministry provides programs and resources to affirm the sacredness of life and sanctity of marriage. Engaged couples attend the Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend program to prepare for their lifetime commitment to the sacrament of matrimony. Other activities include the formation and continued support in the areas of pro-life, marriage enrichment, Natural Family Planning (NFP), and family support. The mission is to promote marriage, family and the culture of life!

Mississippicatholic.com

9 de febrero de 2024

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

MFCC sigue a Familia Modelo de la Iglesia Por sUsaNa Y edWard Flores

JACKSON – El Movimiento Familiar Cristiano Católico (MFCC) de la Federación Mississippi – Alabama celebró la Misa a la Sagrada Familia el pasado viernes 19 de enero del 2024 a las 7 p.m. en la Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol en Jackson.

La Misa fue celebrada por el obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, con la solemne participación de los reverendos Padres Marco Antonio Sánchez, ST, quien fue el Homilista, Alexis Zúniga, ST, y César Sánchez, quienes cumplen la función de asesores espirituales dentro del MFCC. Los nuevos presidentes del MFCC, los esposos Miguel y Lizet Cruz, junto con sus vicepresidentes Joel y Rosalinda Montoya, los matrimonios miembros del Cuerpo Directivo, y las familias que forman parte del MFCC participaron de esta distinguida celebración.

La Misa a la Sagrada Familia también contó con la asistencia de la Hna Amelia Breton, SBS cuya importante labor dentro de la Diócesis de Jackson, fue resaltada por el obispo Kopacz durante su discurso a la comunidad latina presente en la Catedral.

Como cada año, la solemnidad de la Sagrada Familia es una de las actividades más importantes dentro del calendario del MFCC, exaltando a la Sagrada Familia como un modelo de vida familiar para todas las familias católicas, destacando sus virtudes de simplicidad, amor, humildad, trabajo, dedicación de uno para el otro, y particularmente su vida de fe, entrega y fidelidad a la voluntad de Dios. Porque, es en la familia donde se aprende a vivir en sociedad, compartiendo las mismas esperanzas y las mismas angustias.

Es en la familia donde se encuentra la identidad identidad y verdad personal. Es cierto, no se escoge a la familia, por eso se debe amarlas como don de Dios concedido a cada persona Por ello, junto con la iglesia, celebrando esta Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia de Nazaret, le pedimos a Dios su intersección por todas nuestras familias, con sus alegrías, esperanzas y también sus límites e inseguridades, de modo particular en estos tiempos difíciles, para que en nuestro medio reinen las virtudes y actitudes vividas en el hogar de Nazaret. ¡Amén!

JACKSON – Matrimonios de las diferentes etapas del MFCC Federación Mississippi-Alabama, participaron de la Misa a la Sagrada Familia en la Catedral San Pedro Apóstol en Jackson, MS el 19 de enero. (arriba) El Obispo Joseph Kopacz bendice al final de la Misa las imágenes de la Sagrada Familia que portaban algunas familias del MFCC. (debajo) Vistas de los participantes en diferentes momentos de la Misa. (Fotos de Berta Mexidor y Karina Solano, líder del Ministerio de Sociales del MFCC)

9 de febrero de 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO

'DNow, Discípulos Ahora': Retiro Espiritual para jóvenes Por Berta Mexidor

JACKSON – Con la participación de más de 100 jóvenes de St. James Tupelo y St. Christopher Pontotoc se realizó el Retiro Juvenil DNOW (Discípulo Ahora, traducción del inglés Disciple Now) los días 12, 13 y 14 de enero, organizado por Mary Frances Strange del ministerio juvenil de la parroquia de St. James.

Según reportaron Raquel Thompson, coordinadora del ministerio Hispano de St James tupelo y Aracely Nieves, líder Hispana de San Cristóbal Pontotoc, los jóvenes que pasaron estos tres días en retiro estuvieron muy contentos por la experiencia, por las amistades que hicieron, todas las actividades con las que pudieron ayudar al prójimo, las canciones de Erin Bristow (cantante católica) y por Chris Padgett, quien dirigió las enseñanzas y conversaciones en grupo.

Los muchachos fueron divididos en grupos por grado escolar y el sábado hicieron un proyecto de servicio donde los grupos fueron separados en dependencia por causa a la que iban a ayudar: Del grupo que trabajó en el Salvation Army, el jóven Martin Torres refiere que su servicio fue llevar comida al lugar donde se alimentan los desamparados que viven en la calle.

El grupo de Anthony, Andrés, Kevin y Bryan, entre otros, fue a limpiar y organizar una guardería de niños. Un grupo fue destinado al Asilo de Ancianos, entre ellos estaban Paola Hernández y Felicitas López, quienes platicaron con los adultos les pintaron las uñas y cantaron con ellos.Los participantes de Viste Bien (Wear it Well) fueron a un lugar donde se reciben donaciones, a organizar ropa y juguetes para los necesitados y allí ayudaron también a limpiar el lugar. Otros se dedicaron a la limpieza y a mover el mobiliario en la iglesia y el gimnasio de St James.

En resumen, Felicitas López expresó que “…ésta fue una experiencia única el poder platicar sobre ser católicos…” con sus compañeros y dijo además que se tocaron temas interesantes y algo chistosos, pero lo que más le gustó fue el poder jugar Bingo con los mayores y que el dar servicio la puso muy alegre.

Paola Hernández dijo que en el contacto con los ancianos “tuve muchos sentimientos porque aprendí cosas nuevas, conocí varias personas, yo volvería a ir otra vez.”

Martin y Bryan Torres aprendieron que hacer en “…cuanto uno está en problemas y en esos casos como resolverlos…” Ellos hicieron nuevos amigos, para ellos fue pura diversión y no querían regresar a casa.

Al joven Anthony Pizarro le gusto el poder convivir con otros jóvenes

TUPELO – Participantes del retiro "Discípulos Ahora", enfocado al servicio social, (izq) movieron los muebles de la iglesia y el gimnasio de St James y organizaron ropa y juguetes de donación para repartir a necesitados, como parte del programa local Viste Bien. (Fotos cortesía de Raquel Thompson) de su misma Fe “…Tuvimos platicas, asistimos al Santísimo e hicimos servicio y a la vez nos divertimos mucho, nos juntamos en grupos y platicábamos nuestras experiencias,” dijo. Yahira Martinez comentó” Cantamos, oramos y Chris nos platicó que tenemos que buscar a Cristo en nuestras tormentas y que no dejemos que nada nos distraiga,” según las enseñanzas del evangelio de Mateo 14:22-33, cuando los discípulos encontraron a Jesús, pero no lo reconocieron.

Todos mencionaron con cariño y admiración a Erin, cantante católica y a Chris quien fue el animador y orador principal de las pláticas y que, junto a las canciones, hicieron un retiro a recordar por los asistentes al mismo.

“Estoy muy orgullosa de estos chicos porque están alcanzando a abrir sus corazones como jóvenes de Fe y ven la importancia del servicio, no solo en sus parroquias sino fuera de ella,” dijo Aracely Nieves, coordinadora de las actividades del grupo de jóvenes en St. Cristóbal de Pontotoc.

(Aracely Nieves y Raquel Thompson colaboraron con esta historia.)

Papa Francisco Oración Sagrada Familia Oración a la Sagrada Familia Jesús, María y José, en ustedes contemplamos el esplendor del verdadero amor, a ustedes, confiados, nos dirigimos.

Santa Familia de Nazaret, haz también de nuestras familias lugar de comunión y cenáculo de oración, auténticas escuelas del Evangelio y pequeñas Iglesias domésticas.

JACKSON – Una radiante Lupita, lleva su imagen de la Sagrada Famila, junto a su esposo Gerardo, para recibir la bendición del obispo Kopacz en Misa a la Sagrada Familia del MFCC. (Foto de Berta Mexidor)

Santa Familia de Nazaret, que nunca más haya en las familias episodios de violencia, de cerrazón y división; que quien haya sido herido o escandalizado sea pronto consolado y curado.

Santa Familia de Nazaret, haz tomar conciencia a todos del carácter sagrado e inviolable de la familia, de su belleza en el proyecto de Dios.

Jesús, María y José, escuchen, acojan nuestra súplica.

Amén.

(Oración del Papa Francisco)

El obispo Kopacz va en procesión, precedido de los Padres trinitarios, Marco Antonio Sanchez y Alexis Zuñiga y el Padre Cesar Sánchez, después de concelebrar Misa con ellos a la Sagrada Familia, en la Catedral de San Pedro. (Foto de Karina Solano)

9 de febrero de 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO

'Que comience una nueva década' Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Apenas he cumplido 47 años como sacerdote y ahora 10 años como el undécimo obispo de Jackson, doy gracias al gran Sumo Sacerdote, Jesucristo, por el don de servirle a Él, a Su cuerpo, la Iglesia y al Reino de Dios en este mundo.

El Señor pronunció: “…

Yo he venido para que tengan vida, y para que la tengan en abundancia.” (Juan 10:10) Esta promesa se ha cumplido diez veces en mi vida. De hecho, la abundancia es el sello del sacerdocio y del ministerio episcopal. Ya sean bendiciones o cargas, para mí ha sido una vida con propósito, especialmente en las curvas imprevistas del camino.

Unos días después de mi consagración e instalación el 6 de febrero de 2014, atesoré la oportunidad de volar desde Madison a la Basílica de St. Mary Basilica en Natchez, a St. Joseph en Greenville, a St. James en Tupelo y hasta St. Joseph en Starkville en el proceso de tener mis primeros encuentros con los fieles. Durante esas 12 horas, desde las siete de la mañana a las siete de la noche vi, desde una vista aérea de 3,000 pies, una gran franja de la Diócesis de Jackson que se extendía ante mí, una gran vista que permanece vívida hasta el día de hoy. Siguiendo adelante, 10 años y 300 mil millas después, a través de los caballos de fuerza modernos, me han brindado la experiencia práctica en la formación de un vínculo profundo con la Diócesis de Jackson y el Estado de Mississippi. Por supuesto, no es una cuestión de millas, sino de misión, ministerios y el pueblo católico que compone las comunidades de fe en 65 condados.

A medida que se acercaba mi aniversario, hace una semana, pasaron dos eventos que me brindaron la oportunidad de profundizar la comprensión que el regalo que he recibido sólo puede vivirse con gracia a su vez. Inesperadamente, el obispo Mario Dorsonville murió por complicaciones de salud después de servir sólo 10 meses como Ordinario de Houma-Thibodaux. En su Misa de entierro cristiano, la conmoción y la tristeza de los miembros de la congregación eran evidentes, y en

algunos momentos no pude evitar ser autorreferencial considerando el período de tiempo de sus diez meses y mis diez años. Si hubiera tenido la suerte de servir diez años, habría tenido mi edad y recordaría con gratitud una década de servicio en el pantano de Luisiana.

No sabemos el día ni la hora, sólo que cada día es el momento actual y las semanas, los meses y los años se suceden rítmicamente bajo las alas de la Divina Providencia.

Al día siguiente, el viernes de la semana pasada, recibí una visita del noreste de Pensilvania, que se dirigía a comenzar un nuevo capítulo de servicio activo en la Banda del Cuerpo del Ejército en Fort Hood, Texas. Liam y su hermano Luke, mi ahijado, sirvieron en mi Misa de consagración e instalación cuando eran adolescentes. Ahora tienen 23 años y su vida adulta se desarrolla con energía y entusiasmo.

Mientras desayunaba en Broad Street, mencionó que podría jubilarse después de 20 años a los 42 años, y luego planteó la pregunta: "por cierto, ¿cuántos años tendrás cuando te jubiles?" Ése es un número que ni siquiera podía calcular.

Mientras él saboreaba su sémola, me di cuenta de que a lo largo de diez años varias personas en JACKSON – El Arzobispo Thomas Rodi de Mobile impone sus manos mi vida habían abandonado este al Obispo Joseph Kopacz durante su ordenación como Obispo de mundo y otras habían alcanzado la Jackson el 6 de febrero de 2014. (Foto de archivos) mayoría de edad. Y sí Virginia, hay un Papá Noel y sí, algún día me julaboradores en el ministerio – ordenados, religiosos y bilaré. laicos – cuyo amor por el Señor Jesús y la Iglesia, cuya Pero mientras tanto sigo en servicio activo y agragenerosidad y compromiso con el Evangelio son fuente dezco la energía y la motivación que me impulsan hade inspiración cada día. cia adelante cada día. Otra forma de nombrar esto es Que comience la nueva década y que las curvas la gracia de Dios de maneras variadas y espléndidas, del camino por delante continúen la aventura en ese especialmente implorada en la oración eucarística en espacio sagrado entre el tiempo y la eternidad. ¡Hasta cada Misa cuando soy elevado por mi nombre. muchos años mas! !Ad multos anos!

Finalmente, doy gracias por los innumerables co-

Papa: "...Digan 'no' a tentaciones del mal antes de esclavizar su alma..."

Por Carol Glatz

San Buenaventura está representado en una vidriera de la Basílica de Nuestra Señora Inmaculada en Guelph, Ontario. "Concédenos el temor, mediante el cual podamos alejarnos del mal y someternos al bien", dijo San Buenaventura.

(Foto CNS/Báculo)

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Las adicciones, el miedo, el perfeccionismo imposible, el consumismo y la incapacidad de elegir y amar la vida son sólo algunas de las trampas que el diablo utiliza para quitar la libertad a las personas, dijo el Papa Francisco.

El diablo "quiere poseer para 'encadenar nuestras almas'", dijo el Papa el 28 de enero antes de recitar la oración del Ángelus con unos 20.000 visitantes en la Plaza de San Pedro.

"Debemos cuidarnos de las 'cadenas' que sofocan nuestra libertad, porque el diablo te quita la libertad, siempre", dijo en su discurso principal.

Algunas de las cadenas que pueden encarcelar el corazón de las personas, dijo, son las adicciones, "que nos hacen esclavos, siempre insatisfechos, y devoran energía, bienes y afectos".

Otra cadena es cualquier forma de

pensar o tendencia que empujan "al perfeccionismo imposible, al consumismo y al hedonismo, que mercantilizan a las personas y desvirtúan sus relaciones", afirmó.

También hay "tentaciones y condicionamientos que socavan la autoestima, la serenidad y la capacidad de elegir y amar la vida", dijo el Papa.

El miedo es una cadena, dijo, cuando "hace mirar al futuro con pesimismo", y también lo es "la intolerancia, que siempre echa la culpa a los demás".

Una cadena terrible es "la idolatría del poder, que genera conflictos y recurre a las armas que matan, se sirve de la injusticia económica y de la manipulación del pensamiento", añadió.

"Jesús vino a liberarnos de todas estas cadenas", dijo el Papa

En esta ilustración fotográfica se ven las cabeceras de numerosos periódicos católicos. En comentarios del 1 de febrero al Catholic News Service, el Papa Francisco dijo que el mundo necesita medios que puedan ayudar a las personas a distinguir el bien del mal y desarrollar un buen juicio basado en hechos. (Foto CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

9 de febrero de 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATÓLICO

La trata de personas, un flagelo ante el que no podemos ser indiferentes Por Marietha GÓNGora V.

mente son víctimas de la trata (de personas) en todo el mundo y, lamentablemente, muchas de ellas a menudo están ocultas ante nosotros".

En el 2022, más de 115.000 habrían sido víctimas de la trata de personas, según un reporte del Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. que abarcaba 188 países, que fue presentado en Junio del 2023. Brugo Onetti, quien es trabajadora social y ha trabajado con víctimas de trata, advirtió que cualquier persona puede ser víctima sin importar su nivel educativo, género, raza, edad, condición socioeconómica, estatus migratorio, etc.

Así mismo, señaló que entre las señales de alerta se encuentran la imposibilidad de actuar con autonomía, de ejercer la libertad de movilidad o de trasladarse de un lugar a otro, de estar en contacto con familiares y amigos, recibir poco o ningún pago, trabajo excesivo durante largos periodos, entre otras.

"Mucha gente no sabe lo que es la trata de personas o la esclavitud moderna, no es una conversación que ocurre tanto, entonces es muy difícil para la gente identificar si son víctimas", afirmó Brugo Onetti. Ellá agregó que entre las tácticas de sometimiento utilizadas por los perpetradores están las amenazas a la víctima y su familia, cobro de deudas mediante prácticas de esclavitud y servidumbre, abuso psicológico y manipulación, inducción a adic- En una foto de archivo, varias personas frente a la estatua ciones a drogas o alcohol, entre otras. del Cristo Redentor en Río de Janeiro, iluminada de naranja Brugo Onetti abordó también la trata de para conmemorar el Día contra la Trata de Personas y las menores de edad y aseguró que "el Centro Personas Desaparecidas, celebrado por la Arquidiócesis de Nacional para Menores Desaparecidos y Explotados recibió en 2022 más de 32 millones de Río de Janeiro. (OSV News photo/Pilar Olivares, Reuters) reportes de presunta explotación sexual infantil". do desde hace muchos años por la erradicación de este En este sentido, aseguró, cerca del 99.5% de los problema moral que atenta contra la dignidad de las reportes estaban relacionados con el delito de por- personas", afirmó García. "El Papa Francisco en Fratelnografía infantil, crimen cuyos perpetradores aumen- li tutti nos dice que cada uno de nosotros seremos contaron en un 150% el reclutamiento a través de las redes frontados por personas que necesitan de nosotros así sociales durante la pandemia. que tenemos dos opciones: ser buenos samaritanos o Posteriormente intervino Yohan García, gerente de ser indiferentes ante esta realidad". educación de la Doctrina "Parte del mensaje que quisimos dar con este semSocial de la Iglesia en el inario web es crear conciencia sobre la trata de persoDepartamento de Justicia, nas que es una realidad que existe en nuestras comuPaz y Desarrollo Humano nidades", dijo García, quien recordó que "la Doctrina de la USCCB, quien de- Social de la Iglesia proclama la dignidad de la persona stacó que la respuesta de humana y la santidad de toda vida humana, ese es el la Iglesia frente a la trata principio padre de todos nuestros principios". de personas es abordada La Iglesia, dice García, ha desarrollado programas desde cuatro frentes. de servicio social para servir y proteger a las víctimas El primero es la ed- y población vulnerable como son el Departamento de ucación, donde se busca Servicios de Migración y Refugiados y el Departamendivulgar no sólo la prob- to de Justicia, Paz y Desarrollo Humano de la USCCB, lemática sino informar donde la comunidad encontrará material y herramiensobre cómo prevenirla y tas útiles. sobre aquellos recursos disponibles para las víc(Si usted es víctima de trata de personas o sospecha timas. El segundo frente que conoce a alguien que está siendo víctima de este delipara combatir este flagelo to, denuncie a la línea gratuita nacional 1-888-373-7888 es la identificación de las los siete días de la semana las 24 horas.) poblaciones vulnerables ante este delito. El tercero la invitación a sumarnos a los esfuerzos de participación Envíenos sus fotos a en las políticas contra la trata editor@jacksondiocese.org y, por último, identificar los Síganos en Facebook servicios y programas di@Diócesis Católica de Jackson sponibles para que las comuVisite Nuestra página web nidades parroMenores no acompañados provenientes de Honduras se sientan en la orilla del quiales. www.mississippicatholic.com/Español río en Roma, Texas, después de cruzar el Río Grande 9 de julio de 2021. (Foto "La Iglesia viene aboganOSV News/Go Nakamura, Reuters) (OSV News) – La eliminación de la trata de personas es una prioridad para la iglesia, dijeron expertos en el webinar "Luchando para ponerle fin al problema de la trata de personas desde la perspectiva de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia" del 23 de enero.

Este webinar – que tuvo lugar en el marco del Mes Nacional de la Prevención de la Trata de Personas, que se conmemora cada enero desde el 2010 – fue organizado por la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Mesa Redonda Asociación de Directores Diocesanos Católicos de Acción Social.

"La eliminación de la trata de personas es una cuestión prioritaria para la Iglesia católica porque cada vida es un don de Dios y es sagrada, merece ser protegida y cuidada; cada uno de nosotros tiene la responsabilidad de luchar contra la violación y degradación de nuestros hermanos y hermanas", se lee en un documento un compartido durante el webinar.

En este webinar Felicitas Brugo Onetti, coordinadora de educación y divulgación contra la trata de personas en el Departamento de Servicios de Migración y Refugiados de la USCCB, explicó la diferencia entre la trata de personas y el tráfico humano. En el primer delito se atenta contra los derechos humanos de una persona; mientras que en el segundo se atenta contra las leyes de un estado al que se ingresa irregular e ilícitamente con la mediación de traficantes de personas, dijo.

La trata de personas es un delito que "implica el uso de la fuerza, fraude o coerción a cambio de trabajo, servicios o un acto sexual comercial", dijo el sitio web del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. De otro lado, se mencionó la Ley de Protección de las Víctimas de la Trata de Personas promulgada en el año 2000 y mediante la cual se establecieron los métodos para perseguir a los traficantes, prevenir la trata de personas y proteger a las víctimas y sobrevivientes de este delito federal.

En un comunicado de prensa publicado en enero de 2023, Antony J. Blinken, Secretario de Estado, afirmó que "se calcula que 27.6 millones de personas actual-

TOME NOTA

MINISTRIES

$ 286,803

Clergy Healthcare and Assistance Program: We honor our active and retired priests by ensuring they get the best medical care by providing assistance through supplemental health insurance, long term care needs, and out of pocket medical expenses. This safeguards the health of our faithful pastors.

Operating Grants: Parish and Catholic School Operating Assistance Grants are made possible by your donations to the CSA. These grants give support to our smaller parishes and financially struggling parishes by providing priest and staff salaries, operating expenses, and faith formation programs. These grants also provide support to our Catholic Schools to help with tuition assistance, teacher salaries, and curriculum needs.

Office of Intercultural Ministry: Your gifts to the Office of Intercultural Ministry works with Black, Hispanic, Vietnamese and Native American Catholics in our diocese to develop leadership, celebrate diverse cultures, and strengthen parish engagement.

Office of Communications: The Office of Communications provides the Mississippi Catholic newspaper, in both print and digital, to all parishioners in our diocese. Bishop Kopacz uses this media to evangelize throughout the diocese and to deliver local, national and worldwide Catholic news to all parishioners, in particular those who are homebound helping them stay connected to their faith.

RETIRED PRIESTS

$ 150,000

Our 21 retired priests are very important to our diocese. We continue to care for them by providing retirement benefits. We are thankful for these priests who continue to serve our diocese.

PERMANENT DIACONATE

$ 10,000

The Permanent Diaconate program supports the seven men who are currently in spiritual enrichment and formation preparing to be ordained as a deacon to serve our church.

At this time, we have 13 active deacons and 1 retired deacon.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

$ 50,000

Together your support of Campus Ministry reaches out to our young adults at college.

Students are able to continue to practice their faith with believers who also have a desire to live out a Catholic Christian lifestyle through Bible studies, spiritual growth opportunities, Mass and social events.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND FAITH OFFICE

$ 40,000

You help bring people into a closer relationship with God through educational and experiential opportunities for encounter. Parish volunteers become certified catechists so they can work with adults and youth. Our parish lay ministers and Catholic School teachers are involved in catechesis, RCIA, Liturgy, Lay Ecclesial Ministry, and/or Pastoral Ministry. They all receive training, certification and spiritual retreats to help them better serve our parishes and schools.

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

$ 20,000

You spoke and we listened. The newly formed Young Adult Ministry provides our 18-35 year old parishioners a place to form joyful missionary disciples who continue to develop an authentic relationship with Jesus through prayer, Scripture and the Sacraments.

PRISON MINISTRY

$ 10,000

Catholic prison ministry provides Mass, the sacraments, and devotions. We provide Bible study and a religious education program for men who want to enter the church or who want to learn more about the faith.

Message from the Stewardship and Development Director As we embark on the 2024 Catholic Service Appeal, let us come together in prayerful reflection, remembering the 14 ministries supported by this annual appeal and the individuals touched by their service. The annual report provides a glimpse into the impactful work carried out by these central ministries, each playing a vital role in our Catholic faith.

Under the theme “Hope Rising,” we invite you to consider becoming a beacon of hope by supporting the Catholic Service Appeal. Your generous contribution serves as a source of hope for those benefiting from the thoseministries.

Bishop Kopacz has reached out to all parishioners in the diocese through mailed letters, urging your support for the Catholic Service Appeal. If you haven’t received your letter, please don’t hesitate to contact the Catholic Service Appeal Office. Additionally, you can make your contribution conveniently online by scanning the QR code with your mobile phone or by visiting csa.jacksondiocese.org. For those who prefer, a second collection will take place during the weekend of February 10-11.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to the committed individuals throughout the diocese who selflessly contribute their time and efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of others through these invaluable ministries. May God, in His infinite grace, bestow upon them the wisdom needed to continue their noble service with unwavering dedication and compassion.

We extend our sincere thanks to all those who have generously contributed to the Catholic Service Appeal, enabling these vital ministries to thrive and flourish. Your support plays a crucial role in fostering the growth of these ministries, allowing them to continue their impactful work within our community. May your generosity be blessed, and may these ministries continue to make a positive difference in the lives of many.

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me at 601-960-8477.

Ways to Give Please make checks payable to: Catholic Service Appeal Mail: Send your pledge to: Catholic Service Appeal P.O. Box 22723 Jackson, MS 39225 Online: Visit our secure online site at: csa.jacksondiocese.org At your parish: Place your envelope in the collection by Feb. 11.

Stock/IRA contribution: Call (601) 960-8477 Call us at (601) 960-8479 Text “GiveCSA” to (601) 202-5979 Sign up at www.jacksondiocese.org and become an ongoing monthly donor and be like St. Francis, the Patron Saint of the Enviroment by reducing paper cost normaly included with monthly postal pledges.

Warmest Regards,

Rebecca Harris

Catholic Service Appeal distributed $1,161,803 to parishes, schools and ministries throughout the Diocese of Jackson

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

BRIEFS 9

Oblate Sisters of Providence one year later as the world’s first sustained women’s religious congregation for Blacks.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – An upcoming webinar series hosted by a U.S. bishop explores synodality through the prism of Jesus Christ’s words to his disciples at the Last Supper. Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, leads three “John 14 and Synodality” webinars, with the sessions taking place over Zoom Feb. 14 (Ash Wednesday) at 4 p.m. EST, March 6 at 3 p.m. EST and March 19 at 4 p.m. EDT. A separate Jan. 31 webinar titled “Conversation in the Spirit” at 11 a.m. CST features U.S. Jesuit Father David McCallum, executive director of the Discerning Leadership Program in Rome. Participants can obtain more information about and register for the Performers exhibit a traditional dragon and lion dance to welcome in sessions at the U.S. Conference the Chinese New Year, which begins Feb. 10, during an audience at of Catholic Bishops’ dedicated the Vatican Feb. 2, 2024. The audience included a delegation from the webpage for the Synod on SynodNational Federation Italy-China and the Chinese Martial Arts Academy ality at usccb.org/synod. Bishop Flores, who serves as chairman of Vercelli in northern Italy. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, has shepherded the synodal process in the U.S. Launched by Pope FranPALM BAY, Fla. (OSV News) – A retired Florida cis, the first session of the 16th Ordinary General AsCatholic priest and his sister were killed in a multi-losembly of the Synod of Bishops organized around the cation rampage that also took the life of another man, theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participaleft two police officers injured and ended with the death tion, Mission,” commonly known as the Synod on Synof the suspect. Father Robert Hoeffner and his sister, odality, took place Oct. 4-29, 2023, in Rome. Concluding Sally Hoeffner, were found slain at their Palm Bay, sessions of the synod will take place in Rome this OcFlorida, residence on the evening of Jan. 28, as police tober. were investigating a domestic disturbance at another area home that turned deadly. Their car had apparently been stolen by 24-year-old suspect Brandon William Kapas, who loaded the car with a cache of weapons and drove it to a family gathering nearby. Police were VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Ten children from Gaza in called to the home after Kapas became agitated and de- need of medical attention arrived in Rome on a milistructive, and in the course of his flight, Kapas killed tary plane late Jan. 29, the first group of young patients his grandfather and injured two police officers before who will receive treatment in Italy thanks to the lobhe himself was shot and killed. No motive for has been bying of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and given. In a statement, Orlando Bishop John Noonan negotiations involving the governments of Italy, Israel, said the diocese is mourning the loss of life and will Palestine and Egypt. The 10 children and a young man, miss Father Hoeffner’s “grace-filled presence.” Father described as being just over 18 years old, were taken Hoeffner had celebrated his 50th jubilee in 2023, re- to the Vatican-run Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital calling decades that included becoming a pastor, cele- for assessment, Vatican News reported. The patients brating Mass on television regularly, and establishing include children seriously injured in the ongoing war a multicultural parish council at his final assignment. between Israel and Hamas as well as chronically ill “I’ve had a glorious ride. I’m proud to serve and do children who can no longer receive the necessary treatwonderful things for wonderful people. I enjoy doing ment in Gaza because of the war. Four of the patients that,” Father Hoeffner said in his jubilee reflection for will stay at Bambino Gesù while the young man will be the diocese. “I’ve spent 50 years doing absolutely in- treated at St. Camillus Hospital in Rome and the othcredible things and I am thankful to God for it.” ers will be cared for at hospitals in Genoa, Bologna and BALTIMORE (OSV News) – The one-and-only Florence. known photograph ever taken of Mother Mary Lange VATICAN CITY held a place of prominence during a special Jan. 30 (CNS) – Pope Francis Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori at St. expressed his hopes Frances Academy in East Baltimore. Resting at the foot that Lunar New Year of an altar set up inside the school’s gymnasium, the celebrations would ofmore than 140-year-old black-and-white image seemed fer opportunities for to stare stoically at a congregation of more than 300 people to experience that had gathered to celebrate Mother Lange’s recent warm friendships and advancement along the path to canonization. Pope to show care. “This Francis declared the foundress of St. Frances Academy coming Feb. 10, in East “venerable” June 22, 2023 – recognizing Mother Lange’s Asia and various parts heroic virtues. Mother Lange is one of six Black Cath- of the world, millions olics in the U.S. who are candidates for sainthood, four of families will celeof whom have been declared “venerable.” Baltimore brate the Lunar New Archbishop William E. Lori, who called St. Frances Year,” he said during Academy “holy ground” during his homily, elicited ap- his greetings after the plause when he said the recognition of Mother Lange midday Angelus prayer as venerable is “something of great importance, not with visitors in St. Peonly for this school and not only for the Archdiocese ter’s Square Feb. 4. The of Baltimore, but for the Catholic Church throughout holiday is widely celethe United States.” St. Frances Academy was founded brated in China, South in 1828 as the first Catholic school in the country to Korea, Vietnam and educate Black students. Mother Lange co-founded the countries with a signif-

NATION

VATICAN

icant number of people from China. “I send them my warm greetings, with the hope that this feast may be an opportunity to experience relationships of affection and gestures of care, which contribute to creating a society of solidarity and fraternity, where every person is recognized and welcomed in his or her inalienable dignity,” he said. “I invite you to pray for peace, for which the world longs so much,” he said.

WORLD

MEXICO CITY (OSV News) – Catholic peace group Pueblo Creyente marched through the colonial city of San Cristóbal de las Casas Jan. 26 to remember the late Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, who promoted a vision of an autochthonous church in the largely Indigenous state of Chiapas. The march also called for an end to the rising violence in Chiapas, where rival drug cartels are disputing territory in the southern Mexican state, prompting entire villages to flee. “It is urgent that the Mexican state implement measures to guarantee the comprehensive protection of the civilian population, including servants of the church and defenders of territory,” Pueblo Creyente (People Who Believe) said in a Jan. 25 statement. Residents of the municipality of Chicomuselo hid in their homes as bullets pierced the walls during a seven-hour gunfight on Jan. 4, which killed 20 people – including two locals, whose relatives were unable to retrieve the bodies – according to a statement from the community. “They’re killing us, they’re forcing us to leave our homes and others to be part of them,” the statement said. “Communities are stuck in the middle of this,” said a priest who works in the area and spoke on condition of anonymity.

DUBLIN (OSV News) – Ireland’s most-senior churchman has hailed an agreement that sees a Catholic take the top political job in Northern Ireland for the first time in its history as an “opportunity for a fresh start and a new beginning.” Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, president of the Irish bishops’ conference, made the comments as a power-sharing government was restored Feb. 3, after two years of deadlock.

The executive branch is a key plank of a 1998 peace agreement that ended 30 years of bloody sectarian violence, but has struggled to take root with sporadic boycotts from political parties. Michelle O’Neill of the Sinn Féin party is the first Catholic to head the region’s government. Her title is “First Minister.” “The days of second-class citizenship are long gone, and today confirms that they will never come back,” O’Neill, 47, told the legislative assembly upon her election Feb. 3.

“This is an assembly for all: Catholic, Protestant and dissenter. … the public rightly demand that we work and deliver together, and also that we build trust and confidence in our ability to collectively do that.” Archbishop Martin told The Irish Catholic newspaper that he felt there was a “sense of relief” from citizens “who are so anxious that we can have appropriate representation to deal with the very pressing problems that we have in the North at this time.”

10 DIOCESE

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Centennial faith: the enduring spirit of Our Mother of Mercy

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Mary Woodward

JACKSON – Last Saturday, Jan. 27, was a cloudy damp day in the Mississippi Delta, but the joy and the warmth flowing from the pews filled with the faithful and friends of Our Mother of Mercy Mission in Anguilla dispelled any thoughts of the atmospheric conditions outside. The church was marking the 100th anniversary of the first Masses celebrated in people’s homes.

Anguilla is situated on Highway 61 in Sharkey County. In the early 1900s, Father Andrew Gmelch would come from Merigold. Father Gmelch served the Austrian Catholic farmers in that town, but the continual flooding challenges caused this small contingent of Catholic farmers to move away. Around 1912 Anguilla became a mission of Cleveland and Belzoni All Saints became a mission of Greenwood where Msgr. John Clerico, known as the pastor of the Delta, based himself.

Msgr. Clerico roamed the entire Delta tending to the flock scattered across the Alluvial plain. In 1927, Anguilla became a mission of Greenwood and Msgr.

Clerico made regular visits to celebrate Mass in homes of the faithful and share meals and conversations in Italian with those who shared his Italian heritage and birth.

With donations from its faithful and a nice grant from Catholic Extension, Anguilla bought a small piece of land in March 1929 and built Our Mother of Mercy Church. Bishop Richard Gerow dedicated the church on Aug. 6, 1929.

Belzoni and Anguilla became missions of Leland in 1944 when Msgr. Clerico’s Greenwood parish was divided. A few years later in 1953, Belzoni was elevated to a parish and Anguilla became its mission. Today, Anguilla is served by Father Panneer Arockiam Selvam from Yazoo City.

This is a brief history of Our Mother of Mercy and its journey taken from Cleta Ellington’s book Christ the Living Water written for the 150th anniversary of the diocese in 1987. These excerpts capture only a small

Linda Alford gets a hug from her former pastor, Father P.J. Curley at the anniversary celebration at Our Mother of Mercy on Saturday, Jan. 27.

glimpse of the closeness of this small Catholic community in the Delta.

To get an eyewitness account of the dedication day festivities, I looked up Bishop Gerow’s account of the day in his diary and below is his entry for Aug. 6, 1929.

“This morning at 9 o’clock, assisted by Father Clerico and in the presence of a large number of people, I dedicated the new Church of Our Lady of Mercy at Anguilla.

“The lot on which this church is situated was bought with funds raised by the people of Anguilla and thereabout. Extension Society gave the people $2,500 for the building of the church and $400 worth of equipment, vestments, etc. It is quite a nice little church and substantially built, and the people are very justly proud of it.

“Joe Prestiano, a zealous and enthusiastic member of the congregation at Anguilla, was determined to make this a big day. He had, therefore, advertised it very extensively.

Through his efforts the Knights of Columbus band came up from Vicksburg for the occasion. Father Clerico brought his Greenwood choir over and a great many friends from Vicksburg, Greenville, Greenwood and surrounding cities and towns were in Anguilla for the dedication; besides a great number of the faithful from the small towns who will attend Anguilla as their mission church.

“The dedication started at 9 o’clock. A procession formed at the ANGUILLA – Our Mother of Mercy Church was filled with joy and home of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, headwarmth during a celebration on Saturday, Jan. 17, marking the ed by the Knights of Columbus band playing lively march music – the pro- 100th anniversary of the first Masses celebrated in people’s homes cession made up of the men of the in the community. (Photos by Tereza Ma) congregation and a few altar boys, sential Delta brunch. with Father Clerico, and the Bishop dressed in cope, Even though there was no Knights of Columbus miter and carrying his crozier – and marched to the Band or big choir, those present filling the church to front of the church. capacity offered beautiful hymns, prayers and respons“After the dedication Father Clerico sang the high es of which they could be proud. I find I am as inspired Mass – the Greenwood choir did itself proud – and the by these celebrations in smaller communities as much bishop preached a sermon to the people; and after the as any Cathedral Mass. The love and joy that flows in church ceremonies a general picnic was held, the peo- and around the sacred mysteries is a powerful witness ple remaining upon the grounds all day, the Knights to the vibrancy of our faith in the diocese. Who knows of Columbus band supplying very good music for the what the landscape will be in another 100 years, but on occasion. It was a great day for the people of Anguilla. a cloudy day in January 2024, Anguilla bore witness to “Although the congregation of Anguilla itself is that vibrant faith. very small, yet Anguilla is centrally situated and people from many other places, such as Rolling Fork, Hol(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for landale, etc., come to church at this point.” the Diocese of Jackson.)

I was struck by how much of that same zeal and flavor was present this past Saturday in January.

Bishop Joseph Kopacz was the celebrant; Father P.J. Curley, former pastor, provided an inspiring homily only he could deliver; several former pastors were present; friends came from all over the region; and the reception after Mass in the parish hall (now occupying those original grounds) was adorned with fabulous food, fellowship and memories – a quintes-

WORLD 11

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

As season four premieres around world, ‘The Chosen’ actors talk faith, life struggles

Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” series, poses for a selfie during a Warsaw, Poland, premiere of season four Jan. 26, 2024. The event attracted 1,600 fans of the show, which has been seen by 200 million viewers worldwide. “The Chosen” launched in 2017 as crowdfunding project and is the first multiseason series about Jesus’ life and ministry. (OSV News photo/Chosen Poland)

By Paulina Guzik

WARSAW, Poland (OSV News) – When the creators of “The Chosen” started with a crowdfunding project in 2017, they would not have thought in their wildest dreams they would be walking the red carpets from Los Angeles to New York and from London to Warsaw, with screaming fans begging for selfies.

Five years since the premiere of the first season, the series about the life of Jesus of Nazareth is now garnering over 770 million views of its episodes and has more than 12 million social media followers. Season four will debut in theaters across the U.S. and Canada Feb. 1, followed shortly by debuts in several other locations worldwide.

“I wasn’t expecting any of this. I think it was one of the most enthusiastic receptions we’ve had for our premieres,” Elizabeth Tabish, who portrays Mary Magdalene in the series, told OSV News in Warsaw Jan. 27, the day after two episodes from season four were shown on big screen in the Polish capital, with 1,600 fans filling four rooms of one of the city’s biggest theaters.

“It was very exciting, you could just sense the warmth and love from the Polish people, and it just was very encouraging,” Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, told OSV News, days after the crew got a spectacular reception at the London premiere Jan. 22.

“The Chosen” is a groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ extraordinary life and teachings. It is set to run seven seasons.

“The Chosen” is now one of the most-watched shows in the world, consistently a top performer across streaming platforms Prime Video, Peacock and Netflix.

Tabish said the series “changed every aspect” of her life, but she did not see that coming. She almost didn’t make it to the audition for the role.

“Before I booked it, I was trying to quit acting. I wasn’t getting the sort of roles that I really wanted to be doing, and I told my agent to just stop submitting me. I need to switch gears, do something more practi-

cal,” she said of a time of her life where she was struggling to even pay rent.

But the agent insisted she audition for the series, “and I read the script for the first episode, and I was so connected to her character, it was so beautifully written – just so much backstory and emotional depth and complexities. And I thought, this is what I would love to be doing,” she said.

Now, she told OSV News, “we get to make something that is affecting people in wonderful ways, bringing hope to viewers and creating something that has purpose.”

Tabish now feels deeply connected to St. Mary Magdalene, one of the best-known personalities surrounding Jesus but also the most mysterious.

“The fact that she was there, the first to see him resurrected, was like, this woman is so special to this story – and of course, she’s sort of captured the imagination of people for thousands of years,” Tabish told OSV News.

For Roumie, a practicing Catholic, the role of Jesus also came as a surprise. Years before “The Chosen” project started, he was supposed to play a good thief in a production filmed for a Good Friday church service.

But at the last minute the director changed his role to Jesus.

“And I said, oh, man, Jesus has like five lines in this film. But, you know, I love Jesus. I’m a huge fan of Jesus. And I thought, well, look, this is an opportunity to play Jesus,” he recalled.

When the same director, Dallas Jenkins, invited Roumie to play Jesus in “The Chosen” series, he wanted to take the role, even though Jenkins told him the series “probably won’t go anywhere, but at least it’ll be a little bit of work.”

Roumie, like Tabish, had his own struggles before he started filming.

“I struggled in Los Angeles for eight years before ‘The Chosen’ came along, and three months before ‘The Chosen,’ I committed to to giving everything over to God, to letting go of the reins of control over my career, over my concept of how I thought my life should go, how I thought my career should go,” he said.

“And when I did that, everything changed in the span of 24 hours,” he continued. “And then three months after that one specific day where I let it all go, Dallas (Jenkins, the director) called me up and said, ‘We’re going to do this show.’ And since then, it’s just been a journey towards growing deeper and deeper into my faith.”

From the beginning, the challenge of playing Jesus was not easy for him. When a scene in the first season required Roumie to preach directly from Scripture, he felt it was a heavy burden to carry, he recalled.

“At that moment, I started to become overwhelmed, like, ‘What am I even doing here? How am I even saying these words? I’m not worthy to be preaching these words that Jesus preached and now to be portraying him for the entire world that’s going to see this.’ It was completely overwhelming,” he told OSV News.

“I had a conversation with our director, and he just reminded me that we’re meant to be here, we’re here to do this story for a reason. And that kind of gave me a lot of comfort,” Roumie continued. “And I’ve continued to just pray and discern and really stay rooted in the fact that God has me on this path for a specific reason.”

During Roumie’s stay in Poland he visited and prayed in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy and the neighboring Sanctuary of St. John Paul II in Kraków.

“It was really beautiful,” he said.

Asked about the recipe for the series’ success, Tabish said that “it starts with the writers and it starts with the script – our writers know the Bible so well.”

Writing the scriptural characters as personable, funny and smart, she added, “infuse this sort of modern sensibility into the whole thing, where modern audiences can relate to these characters. Because if you take it off the page and into real life, they are relatable. They are actually going through the same sort of struggles that we go through.”

Oftentimes biblical characters have been treated as people “floating above the ground everywhere you go,” and “people can’t relate to that,” Roumie added.

In the series, however, they see Jesus who “suffered, he had troubles the way I have troubles and struggles and trials,” Roumie said. “And so I think because of that, people see themselves in each one of the characters and then it draws them closer to their faith, knowing that all of these people, even Jesus, experienced the fullness of humanity. Jesus (was) obviously without sin, but still he experienced the entire spectrum of emotions.”

For Tabish, “Mary (Magdalene) is such a representation of all of us – flawed people who need help, who need Jesus, who need to be rescued.”

“Rescue” is not an exaggeration for people affected in real time by “The Chosen” series. He gets hundreds of testimonies of people changed by the series, including coming back to the church. He knows of people who “were going to take their own life and decided not to because there was a moment where a friend interceded and showed them this show. And after watching the first episode of the show, they were overcome with this sense that, you know, God has a purpose for them. So they decided not to go ahead and take their own life.”

Roumie met a couple who told him the show helped them restore their marriage and begin going to Bible studies. Another fan of the show is discerning priesthood, “and he said this (show) has had a direct impact.

So glory to God! It’s just that. It’s incredible how much of an impact a television show can have on a person.

So you, you really begin to realize that there is a sort of a hidden responsibility that we have as actors on this particular show,” he said.

Asked whether it’s challenging to be an actor whose face millions of people associate with the face of their

– Continued on page 13 –

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

12 Column

Valentine’s Day, life as a couple and Ash Wednesday GUEST COLUMN

By Silvio Cuéllar

This February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the day of love and friendship. February 14 is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. At first glance, many will think that we will not be able to celebrate with our partners, but there are interesting parallels between true love as a couple and Lent. During Lent, we focus mainly on three important things: prayer, fasting and charity. Likewise, to have a successful and holy marriage, it is also required to have a prayer life with Christ at the center, make many sacrifices and be generous in giving ourselves to our family as Christ offered up himself for the church.

---Prayer--Prayer is essential for a Catholic home and a couple’s relationship to last and bear much fruit. When we look at the lives of the saints, many were the fruit of their parents’ lives of prayer.

We have the example of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, who persevered in prayer for many years for the conversion of her son, who, despite having had a non-exemplary life, decided at one point to embrace the faith, becoming a doctor of the church.

My in-laws, Paul and Barbara, are examples of prayer, sacrifices and charity. I have always admired their great faith and commitment to serving others.

They adopted a child from the foster care system and, over the years, helped many single mothers financially. From them, I learned what it means to live the faith, not just in the parish, but Monday through Sunday. I remember that, at every family gathering, they would begin with a family prayer. They always led by example and never missed going to church.

One suggestion during this Lent would be to take

on (or pick back up) the practice of praying the rosary as a family, giving the children the opportunity to lead a decade. Let us remember that “The family that prays together, stays together.”

---Sacrifices--For Catholics, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence. Likewise, the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence; on those days, we abstain from eating meat. That may not be a sacrifice for you so there are many other ways in which we can practice sacrifice and fasting. For example, we can fast by limiting or eliminating social media and technology use during the 40 days of Lent.

Sacrifice is also very important for a couple. Spouses should love and make sacrifices for each other as Christ sacrificed himself for the church. This concept goes against the modern culture of instant gratification, where the “I” comes first.

At the beginning of a marriage, we go through the honeymoon or infatuation stage, where everything is rose-colored. Then comes the maturity stage, where every day we make the decision to love the person God has placed in our lives. That implies making sacrifices for the sake of our partner and family, putting them ahead of our needs.

I remember recently, the night after a very exhausting weekend, I was very tired on my way to bed when I received a call from my son at 10:30 p.m. He was at the gym and had no way to get home. Even though my body was telling me to go to bed, without a moment’s hesitation, I answered, “I will be there in 15 minutes.”

As parents, we may have countless examples of how we have sacrificed for our children, including our time and income.

Another important way to make sacrifices and an excellent investment is, for example, to enroll our

Lent with ‘The Chosen’ GUEST COLUMN

By Sister Hosea Rupprecht

Season four of “The Chosen,” the wildly popular series on the life of Jesus that began its existence as a crowd-funded streaming series, is finally here, much to the delight of fans around the world. This time around, all episodes will enjoy a theatrical release before debuting on streaming and broadcast outlets.

At nearly the same time as season four is released, Catholics begin the liturgical season of Lent. “The Chosen” provides much inspiration that could kick start your Lenten reflection on how God might be inviting you to metanoia, or conversion, during this penitential season.

The first episode deals with the death of John the Baptist (David Amito) and the fallout of that for Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) and the apostles, especially Andrew (Noah James), one of John’s early followers. John’s faithfulness to his God-given vocation, even through imprisonment and death, encourages us to reflect on our own responses to God’s invitations. How have we responded to God’s prompting?

How do we even recognize how God summons us to follow him on a daily basis? Are we courageous in the face of persecution, whatever form that may take, or do we shrink from it?

In episode two, things heat up for Jesus following John’s execution. More than that, though, there is dissension in the ranks when Jesus declares that Simon (Shahar Isaac) is no longer Simon but Peter, the rock upon which his church will be built.

That night around the campfire, the apostles start to bicker with comments like, “Is Peter the best?” and “He doesn’t act like a rock.” Have you ever felt disappointed in those in leadership positions? How did you respond? What place does humility have in your life? How might God be inviting you to deepen your humility?

Fans of the show will remember that Matthew (Paras Patel) is depicted as having some form of autism. He’s extremely precise – that made him a good tax collector – and he really doesn’t like physical contact. There’s a small scene in episode two

children in a Catholic school, where they can receive an excellent education and formation in the faith. I sometimes joke that I could be driving a luxury car with what I pay for my daughter in high school. But the truth is that as parents we know that any material sacrifice is not enough to give the best to our children.

---Charity--Finally, Lent is a time to practice charity more intensely.

Many of our parishes participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl campaign to support the efforts of the U.S. bishops’ international relief agency, which helps the world’s most disadvantaged with development programs and emergency assistance. Diocesan Service Appeal campaigns also help fund diocesan ministries and local relief. Let us be generous with these opportunities and offer our generosity in our parish community.

In married life, we can focus on giving more of our time this Lent, seeking to strengthen the relationship between spouses and with our children by being more present in their lives and activities.

We can also make time to reconnect with family members with whom we have not spoken for a long time, call them to reconcile, ask forgiveness if we have offended them, give them a word of support and offer to pray for them.

This Lent, let us seek to focus on habits of prayer, fasting and charity, using our resources, time, treasure and talents to volunteer in ministries that serve and help others.

(Silvio Cuéllar is a liturgical music composer and journalist. He is a former coordinator of the Hispanic Ministry and editor of El Católico de Rhode Island newspaper in the Diocese of Providence.)

when Matthew encounters his old friend, the Roman, Gaius (Kirk B.R. Woller). Gaius observes that Matthew seems different, more relaxed and at peace. Matthew’s response is all about trust in Jesus and surrender to God’s will. He says, “I have only one thing to do today: Follow him. The rest takes care of itself.”

What if every Christian could have that attitude? What would happen if we could let go of the problems that worry us and give them all over to God? Is there one thing in my life right now that I need to let go of and relinquish to God? How might I do that this Lent?

Lent is a time to think about the need for reconciliation and forgiveness. In “The Chosen,” the ongoing tension between Matthew and Simon (now Peter) started way back when Matthew almost turned Peter over to the Romans for unpaid taxes. Matthew has never apologized for his actions, and Peter holds onto his resentment. With hostility increasing all around them, Matthew feels unsettled and seeks out Jesus. Jesus helps him to see the need to own up to his actions and reach out to Peter. Jesus tells Matthew that one apologizes to repent, but that forgiveness is a gift from another person. It cannot be demanded.

The thing is, neither Matthew nor Peter is ready to reconcile. Jesus is gentle in his prodding saying, “There is no peace when two of my followers hold resentment against one another.” Since there are over 2 billion Christians in the world, it can be assumed that there are enough resentments to displace the peace that comes with following Jesus. What is one resentment that you could let go of this Lent? Do you need to apologize to anyone? Do you have the power to offer the gift of forgiveness to someone who has hurt you? What’s holding you back?

Yes, “The Chosen” is a made-up television series and not the Gospel itself. Yet, the power of media stories is that they show real, flawed humans, just like you and me, interacting in an imaginative way. “The Chosen,” in particular, can inspire us to take what we see on screen and prompt us to look at our inner selves and the quality of our own following of Christ, especially during this Season of Lent.

(Sister Hosea Rupprecht, a Daughter of St. Paul, is the associate director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies.)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

WORLD 13

‘... This is where God has put me ...’

– Continued from page 11 – Savior, Roumie said he tries to take it with humility.

“I’ve come to accept the fact that this is where God has put me. And I’m just trying to be a good steward of the gifts and the responsibility of playing this role and ultimately, surreally becoming what people kind of imagine as the face of Jesus for their modern era. So I try not to think about that too much. … It’s humbling and it’s an honor,” he said, adding he’s just “a flawed human being.”

“I’m just a person that, you know, has a really, really interesting job and playing this character. So I’m grateful for that,” he said.

The financial commitment of people in the first stages of “The Chosen” production indicates the series’ great meaning for the audience, the actors told OSV News.

“We’ve been provided for because, I think, the people who want to see it are desperately wanting to see it,” Tabish said.

People wanted to crowdfund the show because it has “this ring of authenticity to it and this honesty and this desire to bring something that we know to be true to the world,” Roumie added.

When the producers decided to unlock the series and stream it for free, “it exploded the minute they did that,” Roumie said. “We got like four times as many people contributing to help us fund the next phase, the next season, after we made it free.”

In season four, with stirring scenes including ones featuring John the Baptist and Lazarus, Tabish

said, “We kind of come to this point of no return. Everything is a little bit more dangerous, the stakes are all higher. … There’s no turning back. It’s a painful season in a lot of ways.”

Asked whether he feels the anxiety of knowing of Jesus’ coming crucifixion as an actor portraying him, Roumie said, “I am looking forward to telling the story, but performing that is – I know – it’s going to be challenging for me personally as an actor and as a Christian. It’s a painful part of this story, but it’s not the end of the story. The end of Jonathan Roumie and Elizabeth Tabish, who play Jesus and Mary Magdathe story ends in life and light lene in “The Chosen” series, are seen during its season four premiere in and truth and salvation and Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 26, 2024. The event attracted 1,600 fans of the eternity. That’s the end of the show, which has been seen by 200 million viewers worldwide. “The Chostory.” sen” launched in 2017 as crowdfunding project and is the first multiseason For Roumie, season four series about Jesus’ life and ministry. (OSV News photo/Chosen Poland) was “for a while, completely challenging to film on a technical level, and on a narrative is the beauty that I think people will walk away with level was painful and sorrowful and difficult at times,” when they leave the theaters.” but “what ultimately comes out of it and the message behind season four – and the faith and the encourage(Paulina Guzik is international editor for OSV ment and the hope and the message to trust and put News. Follow her on X ( formerly Twitter) @Guzik_Paufaith in God and that he has your back – ultimately lina.)

Around the Diocese TUPELO – High school students from St. James parish, step up and lead by example, in service to their parish. Pictured: Marcela Tiscareno and Alexandra Villanueva wash dishes and clean the parish kitchen with their fellow senior classmates with a smile. (Photo by Michelle Harkins) The Diocese of Jackson has launched a third-party reporting system that will enable all diocesan employees, volunteers and parishioners to anonymously (or named if preferred) make reports. Examples of this activity include fraud, misconduct, safety violations, harassment or substance abuse occurring at a Catholic parish, Catholic school or at the diocesan level. The system is operated by Lighthouse Services. Based in Deerfield, Illinois, Lighthouse Services maintains ethics, safety and fraud hotlines for over 4,100 organizations between the U.S. and abroad.

To make a report visit www.lighthouse-services.com/jacksondiocese or call 888-830-0004 (English) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish).

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

ANGUILLA – Our Mother of Mercy celebrated their 100-plus anniversary on Saturday, Jan. 27. Pictured: Reed Mahalitc and his sister Charley Rose bring the gifts up to Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Father Panneer Selviam Arokiam. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

14 YOUTH

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

Confirmation retreat

MACON – A group from St. Peter Grenada participate in the annual Confirmation retreat at Lake Forest Ranch. (Photos courtesy of Fran Lavelle)

MACON – A group of youth from St. Michael parish in Forest participate in group circle time at the annual diocesan Confirmation retreat.

SEEK with CCM/Ole Miss

By Alex Barfield

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – College students from Mississippi joined approximately 20,000 others for a five-day conference focused on faith in St. Louis from Jan. 1-5.

The University of Mississippi brought a group of 18 students, and Mississippi State brought about 80 students.

SEEK is a national conference organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

Each day, students attended Mass in the former hockey arena, listened to speakers like Father Mike Schmitz, and formed community with the universal church.

“SEEK was the most incredible experience that I had no idea I needed so much!

Getting to hear the most amazing speakers, meeting so many people on fire for the Lord, and singing and worshipping alongside 20,000 other students truly made me fall in love with the Catholic Church in a whole new way,” said Olivia DeGravelle, sophomore.

“SEEK 24 was yet another reminder to me that the Catholic Church is alive and thriving! I encountered Christ through the many interactions I had with fellow college students, through powerful speakers, and through the sacraments. The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly doing incredible things,” said, Frank Galeziewski, senior.

A yearly event, the SEEK conference will be held in Salt Lake City, UT as its main location in January 2025.

(Alex Barfield is the campus minister at The University of Mississippi through St. John the Evangelist parish in Oxford.)

ST. LOUIS, MO – Ole Miss students from the College Campus Ministry through St. John Oxford participated in the annual SEEK24 Conference. The group is pictured at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. (Photo courtesy of Alex Barfield)

MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 9, 2024

YOUTH 15

Catholic Schools Week

COLUMBUS – Annunciation School second grader, Garrison Westby celebrated "In Our Nation" day during Catholic Schools Week. (Photo by Jacque Hince)

CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth School students celebrated their community during Catholic Schools Week. Pictured are members of the sixth grade class volunteering at a Local Care Station. (Photo by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet) MADISON – St. Anthony School celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a special Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz on Wednesday, Jan. 31. (Photo

by Kati Loyacono)

FEBRUARY 9, 2024 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC

16 NATION

Ash Wednesday's significance

BY D.D. EMMONS

sat in the ashes." (Jonah 3:6) And the Maccabees army prepared for battle: "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their garments." (1 Mc 3:47) Ashes were imposed on the early catechumens when they began their preparation time for baptism. Confessed sinners of that era were also marked with ashes as part of the public penitential process. Other baptized Christians began asking to receive ashes in a manner similar to catechumens and penitents. Christian men had ashes sprinkled on their heads while ashes were used to trace the cross on the forehead of women. Thus the use of ashes as the sign of penance, in readiness for Easter, was becoming a churchwide practice.

During the papacy of St. Gregory the Great, the practice was further expanded and is mentioned in the sixth-century Gregorian Sacramentary. Around the year 1000, Abbot Aelfric of the monastery of Eynsham, England, wrote: "We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the new that men who repented of their sins bestowed on themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent, that we strew ashes upon our heads, to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten feast." This same rite of distributing ashes on the Wednesday that begins Lent was recommended for universal use by Pope Urban II at the Synod of Benevento in 1091.

So when we go to that early Mass on Ash Wednesday morning and receive the blessed ashes on our forehead, we are repeating a somber, pious act that Catholics have been undergoing for over 1,500 years. As "The Liturgical Year, Septuagesima," by the Benedictine Abbot Gueranger, written in the middle decades of the 1800s, puts it: "We are entering, today, upon a long campaign of the warfare spoke of by the apostles: forty days of battle, forty days of penance. We shall not turn cowards, if our souls can but be impressed with the conviction that the battle and the penance must be gone through. Let us listen to the eloquence of the solemn rite which opens our Lent. Let us go whither our mother leads us, that is, to the scene of the fall."

Like all those before us, we unhesitatingly embrace this invitation to sanctity, this time to turn away from sin. We are part of that great cloud of witnesses who through all the ages have donned the ashes, publicly acknowledging that we are Christians, Christians who have sinned and seek to repent. We acknowledge that "we are dust and to dust we shall return."

(OSV News) – Among the beautiful, meaningful and solemn ceremonies of the Catholic Church is the gathering of the faithful on Ash Wednesday.

This special day begins our Lenten journey. It is the start of 40 days of prayer, penance and almsgiving as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. But why does Lent begin on a Wednesday, and what is the significance of ashes?

Ash Wednesday was added to the liturgical calendar well after the 40-day penitential season of Lent became the norm throughout the Latin Church. Lent, in turn, was universally established only after the early church sorted out the date of Easter.

The issue was clarified at the famous Council of Nicaea in 325 where "all the Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox." (Catechism, No. 1170) The vernal (spring) equinox generally falls on March 21, thus the date of Easter in the Western Church can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25.

The word "Lent" is from an Old English term meaning "springtime," and by the second century the term was being used to describe the period of individual fasting, almsgiving and prayer in preparation for Easter. Among the Christians of the first three centuries, only those aspiring for baptism – the catechumens – observed a defined period of preparation, and that time lasted only two or three days.

The idea of Lent being 40 days in length evolved over the next few centuries, and it is difficult to establish the precise time as to when it began. Among the canons issued by the Council of Nicaea, the church leaders, in Canon Five, made reference to Lent: "and let these synods be held, the one before Lent that the pure gift may be offered to God after all bitterness has been put away, and let the second be held about autumn." The language of this canon seems to validate that Lent, in some fashion, had by the fourth century been established and accepted by the church.

While the exact timing and extent of Lent both before and after the Nicaea council is unclear, what is clear from historical documents is that Christians did celebrate a season of Lent to prepare themselves for Resurrection Sunday and used a variety of ways to do so.

That Lent evolved into a period of 40 days in length is not surprising, as there are numerous biblical events that also involved 40 days. Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving instructions from God for that number of days (see Ex 24:18); Noah and his entourage were on the Ark waiting for the rains to end for 40 days and 40 nights (Gn 7:4); and Elijah "walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb." (1 Kgs 19:8) Mostly, though, the 40 days of Lent identify with the time our Lord Jesus spent in the desert fasting, praying and being tempted by the devil.

(Mt 4:1-11) "By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself It was just a nudge, to do something more meaningful, it was the nudge that each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert." (Catechism, No. 540) uncovered the servant’s heart of Fran Lavelle. Twenty-seven years ago, she followed There is, therefore, evidence that by the end of the fourth century the call and to this day expresses gratitude for all of those who make the diocesan Christians were participating in a 40-day Lent before Easter. The dilemministries come to life and for the privilege of being able to serve as the Director of ma now became how to count the 40 days. In the Latin Church, six weeks were used to identify the Lenten period, but one doesn't fast on Sundays, Faith Formation. so six Sundays were subtracted and there remained only 36 fasting days.

“When I am giving a retreat or doing a workshop, I feel a great responsibility to In the early seventh century, St. Pope Gregory I the Great (pope from give my very best, because of the people who support our ministries. They enable 590-604) resolved this situation by adding as fast days the Wednesday, us to serve God’s people. There are so many good people we work with in faith forThursday, Friday and Saturday before the first Sunday of Lent. Thus the Lenten 40-day fast, or the Great Fast as it was known, would begin on a mation that are so grateful for the services we provide.” After a big event, Fran loves Wednesday. recalling the ways that attendees were able to encounter Christ. The energy at the Initially, people fasted all 40 days of Lent. They ate one meal a day end of the day says it all. and only an amount of food that would sustain survival. But the church Every office in the Department of Faith Formation takes taught, and people believed (then as now), that fasting is not about what we eat, it is about stewardship seriously, because Fran recognizes that every changing hearts, interior conversion, recondollar given to her ministry is a sacrifice, used to mulciliation with God and others. It's about living tiply the Good News. She is grateful for the support in an austere way, giving from our abundance they receive through the Catholic Service Appeal; to the poor. St. John Chrysostom (347-407) explained it this way: "Do you fast? Give me every gift allows for greater works in each minisproof of it by your works! … If you see a poor try under the umbrella of faith formation. man, take pity on him! If you see an enemy, be reconciled to him! If you see a friend gaining honour, envy him not! If you see a handsome woman, pass her by!" (Homily on the Statutes, III.11) The church has long used ashes as an outward sign of grief, a mark of humility, mourning, penance and morality. The Old Testament is filled with stories describing the use of ashYou can mail your check to: es in such a manner. In the Book of Job, Job repented before God: "Therefore, I disown Catholic Service Appeal what I have said, and repent in dust and ashPO Box 22723 es." (42:6) Daniel "turned to the Lord God, to Jackson, MS 39225-2273 seek help, in prayer and petition, with fasting, (Please put your parish name in sackcloth and ashes." (Dn 9:3) Jonah preached the memo section of your check) conversion and repentance to the people of Nineveh: "When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and

“I feel a great responsibility to give my very best, because of the people who support our ministries.

They enable us to serve God’s people.”

Your gift to the Catholic Service Appeal helps Fran to multiply the Good News across the Diocese of Jackson.

Donate today at: csa.jacksondiocese.org