Nuevo vicario, canciller formalmente instalados

JACKSON – En febrero el Obispo Joseph Kopacz anunció varios cambios sustanciales en la estructura de la cancillería de la Diócesis de Jackson. La re-estructuración es el resultado de un largo proceso para re-idear el papel de la cancillería y a la vez re-definir las funciones de las personas que trabajan allí. Este proceso fue realizado en conjunto con el Instituto de Liderazgo Católico, una organización que ofrece consulta de dirigentes y de formación a diócesis católicas.
El Padre Kevin Slattery fue nombrado vicario general de la diócesis. El Padre Slattery, quien sirvió en el pasado como Vicario Judicial y en varias parroquias de la diócesis, fue el párroco de la Parroquia Sagrado Corazón en Canton, ministro sacramental en la Parroquia San José en Gluckstadt, y vicario judicial adjunto. Ahora también servirá como ministro sacramental en la Parroquia St. Stephen en Magee.
Woodward es la primera persona laica que desempeñará el cargo de canciller en la diócesis y estará a cargo del registro y notaria de la diócesis. La función principal del canciller es recoger, organizar y proteger las actas y los archivos de la curia diocesana. Su despacho ayuda a difundir información al clero, a las parroquias, a las personas. Ella  también es la directora de la oficina de culto y liturgia.
En 1990 Woodward comenzó a trabajar en la oficina de Mississippi Católico. En 1996 fue nombrada directora del Departamento de Evangelización; en el 2009 tomó el role de archivista y en enero del 2010 fue nombrada ministro litúrgico de ceremonias del Obispo Joseph Latino.

¿Qué otra joya puede compararse con la de ganar a Dios?

Por la Hna. María Elena Méndez Ochoa, MGSpS.
Comenzaré esta breve historia, respondiendo a la pregunta que muchos me han hecho. ¿Cómo fue que sintió su llamado? ¿Cómo supo que quería ser religiosa? La respuesta breve es: “me sentí muy amada por Dios y ante ese amor, fue imposible no seguirlo.” La segunda, se irá explicando más adelante.
A la edad 13 o 14 años, me vino la idea de ser religiosa, aunque para entonces, no conocía a ninguna personalmente. En esa edad, esto era sólo un pensamiento inquietante, había en él una voz constante y extraña que quise ignorar. Así estuve por un tiempo, esa voz iba y venía, hasta llegué a pensar por un tiempo que había desaparecido, que todo había pasado.
A esa edad comencé entonces a ser catequista en mi comunidad, esto me hacía feliz. Cada vez más me sentía atraída, amada y llamada por Dios, quería que todo el mundo lo conociera a mí alrededor.
Entre los 15 y 16 años, este llamado era más intenso, algo que yo ya no podía descifrar y aquel pensamiento ya no se alejaba de mi mente y yo no quería escucharlo, le sugería a mi hermana pero me decía como la Virgen de Guadalupe le dijo a Juan Diego: “es preciso que seas tú”.
Vivía en medio de una lucha interior y desde ese instante tuve la certeza que Dios me estaba llamando y que seguiría insistiendo hasta que yo aceptara.
Yo quería decir sí Señor, aquí estoy, pero también quería decir no. El decir sí implicaba dejar cosas y personas queridas como mi parroquia, amistades, gente de la Joya  y a mi familia. Todo me parecía imposible, pero Dios me estaba poniendo los medios necesarios para darme la seguridad.
El 28 de octubre de 1980 llegó a mi parroquia el Padre Salvador Núñez quien por 20 años había sido formador en el seminario. Él era la persona puesta por Dios para confirmarme y ayudarme a dar los pasos necesarios en la búsqueda de la voluntad de Dios en mi vida. Él, sin siquiera platicarle de mis luchas vocacionales fue caminando conmigo en varios aspectos de mi vida, familia y de sueños. Junto con otras jóvenes me llevó a conocer diferentes congregaciones religiosas y  tener alguna experiencia con ellas. También aprovechó oportunidades a nuestro alcance para que me superara. Un buen día me dijo: “Quiero que te prepares por si un día Dios te llama a su servicio estés preparada para darle una respuesta”.
Ya habían pasado otros tres años y todo parecía claro. Dios me iba hablando cada vez más concretamente. Me estaba preparando, a la vez que seguía siendo catequista. Mi vocación se iba confirmando con la ayuda del Padre Salvador y, mi amor a Dios se iba personalizando, me motivaba a “dejarlo todo y seguirlo” ya no como una idea o sentimiento sino como una experiencia. Pero, vino un momento de prueba: mis papás y dos de mis hermanos deciden emigrar a los Estados Unidos donde se encontraban ya 7 de mis hermanos, sólo quedaríamos tres en México, después haríamos lo mismo. En este momento, parecía que mis planes de ser religiosa se venían abajo. E incluso, se lo dije a mi mamá, “si se van, mis planes se van a venir abajo”. Ella me respondió: “no, si tú te quieres ir, te vas”. ¿Qué hacer? Pensaba, ¿Me quedo? ¡ME QUEDO! decidí y asumí el papel de mamá de dos de mis hermanos menores sin saber por cuánto tiempo. ¡Sólo Dios sabía cuánto!
Hacía un mes que se habían venido mis papás a USA cuando el Padre Salvador me dijo: “Ya te aceptaron en Irapuato, entras el 25 de agosto”. Ante la noticia, me quedé callada, como quien no quiere desprenderse de algo muy querido. Preguntó, “¿Qué no te da gusto?” Sí, respondí, “pero es que voy a dejar mi Joya”. – “Sí, es verdad, pero para ganar otra mejor”, me contestó. Esta respuesta no la entendí, pero tenía razón. ¿Qué otra Joya puede compararse con la de ganar a Dios? Esta respuesta ha sido muy iluminadora y es la que me ha sostenido en momentos difíciles.
Llegó el día de partir, el 25 de agosto 1984, y aunque intente no llorar, no lo puede lograr al dejar a mis dos hermanos, mi Joya y mi comunidad. Aun así, subí al carro del padre y sin volver la vista atrás avanzamos hasta que la Joya se fue perdiendo en camino. El padre no dijo nada, sino que empezó a rezar el rosario hasta que pude contestar sin llorar. Después me dijo que ha sido el rosario más largo que ha rezado en su vida.
Entré al convento a Irapuato, Gto cuando tenía 19 años, segura y confiada de que Dios me había llamado. Por lo mismo, él me daría las gracias para seguirlo. Pensaba en mis hermanos, mi familia, pero con la certeza en el Señor, nunca pensé en regresar a casa ni en abandonar mi vocación, pues siempre estuve segura de ello.
Con este primer paso comenzó la aventura, que hasta ahora sigue en movimiento por lugares y caminos inesperados. Luego de Irapuato, estuve en Morelia por seis años. Ahí hice mi profesión religiosa en 1990 y en 1993 vine a USA donde hice mis votos perpetuos.
Hasta ahora, Dios me ha llevado a servir a Florida, Colorado, California, Pensilvania y ahora en Mississippi. En cada lugar me ha regalado personas, experiencias hermosas y  desafiantes. Me ha enviado a lugares y a circunstancias que no hubiera elegido, pero he ido confiada en que Dios tiene algo especial para mí en cada lugar y así ha sido.
Mi vocación siempre fue misionera. Al conocer a las hermanas Misioneras Guadalupanas del Espíritu Santo en mi parroquia, en los cursos para catequistas, me sentí identificada con ellas y su carisma. Las vi siempre alegres, cercanas, entregadas, creativas y adaptadas a la realidad que encontraban. Su carisma misionero y el mío tenían mucho en común: la evangelización y la catequesis entre los más pobres, en colaboración con los sacerdotes. Era catequista en un lugar pobre y tenía un aprecio y admiración por el sacerdote que me acompañaba. El carisma de la congregación es sacerdotal-guadalupano.
El 15 de agosto cumplo 25 años desde mi profesión religiosa. Hasta aquí, lo único que surge de mis labios es gratitud a Dios por su fidelidad en mi vida, por el llamado tan personal, por la importancia y el apoyo de mi familia  y por tanta gente que me ha ayudado a crecer. En especial, al Padre Salvador que acompañó mi proceso vocacional delicadamente, esperando el momento de Dios, por su amistad y por su testimonio de sacerdote alegre y entregado a su vocación sacerdotal.
Durante estos años, Dios me ha ayudado a descubrir que Él está presente más allá de mi misma, de mis caídas y triunfos. Que él es mi Dios y que su amor y su llamado sigue siendo el mismo que al comienzo. Por eso, con la certeza del primer día, digo que en mi vocación a la vida religiosa me he sentido amada por Dios, por la gente que camina conmigo y por la congregación MGSpS a que me han abierto las puertas para entregar y vivir mi vocación en la iglesia y ahora aquí en Misisipi. Agradezco inmensamente a todas las personas que han tocado mi vida, las que la han alimentado con su amor a Dios, con su fe y con su testimonio de lucha.
En el Encuentro Hispano Diocesano, el 18 de abril, tendré la oportunidad de renovar mis votos religiosos y celebrar con ustedes mis 25 años de vida consagrada. La celebración será para mi cómo en una gran familia diocesana, a la luz del año de la vida consagrada y el año de la familia. También será una oportunidad para compartir la vocación a la vida consagrada: religiosa y sacerdotal.
A los jóvenes les digo: si te sientes llamada/o a la vida religiosa, religioso o sacerdote, no tengas miedo de dar un sí a Dios. Si Dios te llama, Él te dará las gracias necesarias para descubrirlo y seguirlo. Lo más difícil es dar el primer paso, los demás son consecuencia del primero. También les  digo que alguien, en algún lugar del mundo o aquí en Misisipi, está esperando tu respuesta.
Si tienen preguntas, o dudas llaménme o escribanme a maria.mendez@jacksondiocese.org.

Jóvenes viven, profundizan su fe católica

JACKSON – El entusiasmo y compromiso de 55 jóvenes por su fe católica se hizo notar el sábado 14 de marzo durante un retiro espiritual de 11 horas en la Iglesia Santa Teresa. En el evento participaron jóvenes de la Catedral de San Pedro y Santa Teresa en Jackson, de la Parroquia San Martín en Hazlehurst y Santa Ana en Carthage.
Los temas fueron presentados por los miembros del grupo de oración Luz y Vida de la Catedral de San Pedro y se enfocaron en el amor de Dios, el pecado, la salvación, fe y conversión, sanación interior, y el Espíritu Santo. Después de cada tema los organizadores presentaron una dinámica para visualizar el tema expuesto.
Las actividades del día incluyeron adoración ante el Santísimo y confesiones con el Padre Odel Medina, párroco de las parroquias Santa Ana en Carthage y Santa Teresa en Kosciusko y pastor asociado en la Parroquia Sagrado Corazón en Candem.
La última dinámica del retiro fue armar un rosario con globos y luego de una corta oración, soltarlo al aire libre. Al final hubo una ceremonia donde los padres, que vinieron a recoger a sus hijos, fueron recibidos por ellos con una canción y un ramo de flores y un “los amo mucho, mamá y papá”. Jubilosos de ver a sus hijos tan alegres, muchos de los padres no pudieron contener las lagrimas y hubo un gran momento de emoción cuando padres e hijos se abrazaron.
Gerardo Hernández, miembro del grupo Luz y Vida dijo que el objetivo del retiro es que los jóvenes conozcan mejor a Dios para que le abran su corazón, y si alguna vez han experimentado una mala experiencia, sean sanados a través de la confesión y su acercamiento a él.
Hernandez dijo que la idea de ofrecer este retiro fue de Ivan Varela, miembro de la Catedral de San Pedro y encargado de preparar a los jóvenes para su confirmación. Varela le presentó la idea al grupo de oración y les pidió su colaboración para presentar los temas.
La dinámica del tema del pecado incluyó la participación de una joven vestida de blanco que a medida que experimentaba las tentaciones del pecado: la bebida, el dinero, las drogas, el sexo, etc,. su vestimenta iba cambiando de blanco a negro y mientras mas liberal era su vida más se iba alejando de Dios.

‘Los esperamos a todos en el Encuentro Hispano’

JACKSON – En el año 2002, cuando se celebró el primer Encuentro Hispano en la Diócesis de Jackson, el Hermano Ted Dausch dijo que ese era un día para celebrar lo que ellos son como hispanos. Sus palabras textuales en esa oportunidad fueron: “Ya es tiempo que ellos se levanten y digan, ‘aqui estamos, somos gente buena y tenemos muchos dones que ofrecer y compartir con el resto del país’”.
El Hno. Dausch, director de la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano, ha continuado celebrando este evento, algunos años seguidos y otros cada dos años. El primer encuentro se celebró el la Parroquia San Francisco de Asís en Madison con el lema “Unidad en Diversidad” que hasta hoy en día sigue enfocando lo que es el ministerio de esta comunidad en la diócesis, la cual es “unirse para explorar y examinar la diversidad que hay entre ellos mismos y los muchos dones que hay dentro de esa diversidad”.
Volviendo a leer la información que El Mensajero Católico de Mississippi, como se llamaba en ese entonces esta publicación, me doy cuenta que el motivo de realizar este evento es tan real hoy como lo fue hace 12 años, en el sentido de que una de sus metas es hacerle saber a los hispanos que aunque estén fuera de sus países nativos, no están solos en este país, de que hay muchos hispanos en la diócesis y que la iglesia los quiere ayudar a mantenerse unidos.
El encuentro se ha realizado en Tupelo, Jackson y en los últimos años Greenwood ha sido su sede por su localidad, en la mitad de la diócesis, lo cual se le facilita a las parroquias que quedan al sur y al norte del estado.
Este año también se celebrará en el Centro Cívico de Greenwood el sábado 18 de abril, comenzando a las 8:30 a.m. con registración y música. El evento terminará con una misa celebrada por el Obispo Joseph Kopacz y varios sacerdotes.
Adolescentes de 13 años en adelante, jóvenes y a adultos están invitados a dedicarle este día al Señor con júbilo y un corazón abierto para escuchar su “Llamado a ser, pertenecer y servir”, el lema del encuentro.
Los siguientes son testimonios de tres personas que han participado en este evento los años anteriores.
“Mi experiencia del Encuentro Hispano fue muy hermosa porque pude conocer a muchas personas de todas las diferentes comunidades de la Diócesis de Jackson. El poder compartir experiencias con personas de diferentes países es muy bonito y enriquecedor. El estar ahí todos juntos y unidos como hispanos, me hizo olvidar las fronteras y darme cuenta que al final todos somos iguales, que todos somos hermanos e hijos de Dios y que debemos estar unidos y apoyarnos sin importar el color ni la raza. ¡Yo invito a todos a vivir este encuentro y a apoyarlo porque es una experiencia muy hermosa! María B. Del Cid (Hazlehurst).
“Para mí el Encuentro Hispano fue algo increíble ya que muy pocas veces tenemos algo tan bonito. Nos conocimos mejor, hablamos de muchos sueños que ojalá se hagan realidad y de la fe del bautismo. Yo en lo particular me vine muy contento, muchas bendiciones a los padres que están trabajando con nosotros y a los que asistieron”. Anselmo García (Clarksdale)
“Mi experiencia en el Encuentro Hispano fue muy divertida. Aparte de conocer a gente nueva y convivir con gente de nuestra tierra, la mejor parte fue alabar al Señor con hermanos en Cristo de diferentes países. La verdad no me arrepiento de haber asistido y se lo recomiendo a cualquier persona.” Karlo Martínez (New Albany).
Para información llamar al Hno. Dausch, 601-949-6931.

Compassion takes on many forms

Guest Column
Sister Margie Lavonis, CSC
We have a loving and compassionate God and Jesus calls us to practice these virtues in our lives. This is our mission as Christians.  Here are some practical ways to be more holy and compassionate so as to fulfill Christ’s command.
When I was growing up we learned about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  They were tools for living a good Christian life. They show us how to be loving and compassionate.
Jesus tells us about the corporal works of mercy in chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew.  He challenges us to feed the hungry; to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to visit the imprisoned; to shelter the homeless; to visit the sick and to bury the dead. We will be judged by how we do these things.
At first glance we might think that we are rarely presented with opportunities to exercise these many of these good works. But, if we look a little closer, we might be surprised how often we are presented with ways to do some of these actions.  For instance, feeding the hungry and the thirsty does not have to be limited to literal food and water. People have all kinds of hungers and often thirst for many things. A common hunger that we all share is the hunger for love. We can help satisfy that hunger by reaching out to people, especially the lonely and being kind and generous to others when it would be easier not to be involved. Maybe there is someone at work or at a place I volunteer who needs my time and/or friendship. It could even be a family member who I tend to neglect or overlook.
Another hunger that we all share is the hunger to be listened to and have people really care about what we say. This hunger is often so great that some people resort to paying for this service in therapy when all they might really need is a listening ear. Begin by giving your whole attention to people who are speaking to you.
There are also people who thirst for affirmation.  How many times are you presented with opportunities to affirm the gifts of others, to let them know that you notice the good that they do, but never get around to it?
We can also clothe the naked. It might be as easy as opening my closet and deciding I don’t need 20 pairs of slacks and several dresses that I haven’t worn for years. A priest told me that he has a ritual he does every Good Friday. He goes through his clothes and gives away everything he hasn’t worn for the past two years.
The next question is how do we visit the imprisoned?  We don’t have to literally go to prisons or jails. That is good, if the opportunity arises, but there are other ways people can be imprisoned. Maybe I could confront those who are imprisoned by drugs or alcohol or other addictions and encourage them to get help. Another group of “imprisoned” persons are the elderly or disabled who could use a visit, call, or e-mail.
To shelter the homeless might mean volunteering at a shelter. Sometimes you may have opportunities to visit the sick but something holds you back. I may not like hospitals and funeral homes? If so, maybe we can at least send get well or sympathy cards.
Even more challenging are the spiritual works of mercy. They call us to admonish the sinner; to instruct the ignorant; to counsel the doubtful; to comfort the sorrowful; to bear wrongs patiently; to forgive all injuries and to pray for the living and the dead!
At first glance these seem very overwhelming. You may feel hypocritical admonishing a person when I do many things that are not great. One way might be to point out another’s destructive behavior — not in a righteous way but out of true care or by saying something or at least changing the subject when we find ourselves in a negative conversation. To instruct the ignorant might mean sharing my beliefs with people who have little or no knowledge of Christianity. And one way to comfort the sorrowful is to acknowledge their pain and to be there for them.
To bear wrongs patiently is not easy. It takes much strength not to lash out against those who treat us unjustly. Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek is down right hard and takes a lot of practice. A suggestion is to pray for them.
A related spiritual work of mercy is to forgive all injuries, even if we have been hurt deeply. There are times when I have felt this to be impossible. I try to remember what one of my spiritual directors said. Sometimes we are so hurt that we have to pray for the desire to forgive.
Finally, compassionate people express their concern for others in prayer. During these days of Lent it might be helpful to focus on one or two of these works that needs to be strengthened in our lives.
(Sister Lavonis is a freelance writer for the Sisters of the Holy Cross.)

Illness prompts Lenten reflection

Complete the Circle
By George Evans
A funny thing happened as I started Lent. I was geared to lose substantial weight and started my diet on Monday before Ash Wednesday. Daily Mass after exercise was on the program. Ash Wednesday and Thursday went fine until about 7:30 p.m. when I was overwhelmed with severe stomach pains and related gastro-intestinal problems. I had never had anything like this before. My wife, Carol, called an ambulance and I finally got to the ER at St. Dominic where I lay in the hallway for a while until a treatment room became available.
An IV was finally started (two paramedics had given up because veins seemed to have disappeared due to severe dehydration), merciful morphine was given and finally I went for a CT scan around midnight and they thought I had diverticulitis. By 3 a.m. I reached a room for the rest of a sleepless night. I saw a wonderful hospitalist the next morning and he wasn’t sure of the diagnoses and wanted to watch things. Toward the end of the day he still wasn’t sure and I was still sick and not sure the Lord wasn’t calling me home. He ordered an abdominal sonogram for Saturday morning. That was the trick.
He immediately diagnosed badly infected gall bladder with sepsis and e-coli in the blood stream. I selected a general surgeon from the three on weekend call. He came and agreed wholeheartedly with the internist and got my attention by scheduling surgery for 7:30 a.m. Sunday. I knew they saw something that needed immediate attention. I felt so bad I was pleased with the urgency. I think prayer and desperately clutching the Lord had gotten me to that point.
The surgery went well except the trip to surgery on Sunday morning at 7:30 almost scared me to death because everything was so dark and utterly quiet. I felt like I was going to the morgue and never was so happy to see a surgical nurse and the bright surgical lights on arrival.
The surgical pain upon awakening was very tolerable (laproscopic) and I thanked God again for medical advances and a great surgeon. I still felt terrible otherwise. Sepsis will knock you for a loop. It took another three days in the hospital before I began to feel like a human again. I had eaten nothing but ice chips and a little juice and liquids for six days. After two days I improved enough to go home after a week of hospitalization.
I have now been home a week. I have thought and prayed a lot. I have thanked God, the doctors, health care folks, Father Dan Gallagher and Father Mike O’Brien and other visitors. Even though I hope I am never that sick again, I can honestly say I have had  a positive experience. To be knocked low and down with time to pray and read good commentaries and God stuff is not all bad. To be utterly dependent on God and others brings the Lenten message home with force and reality. To experience the care and concern of health providers and spouse and children is nothing to belittle and helps frame suffering as God may see it. I have never invited suffering and never will but what I experienced I believe will help me in the future to face it again if come it will.
If you have to get sick, Lent is not a bad time for it to happen. The daily scriptures and the wonderful reflections available help improve the closeness with God which the sickness and pain initiate. I share just one example. The Lazarus story is one of my favorites.  The rich man, dressed in purple, and Lazarus, who had lain at his door with his sores, both died.  Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham and the rich man was in torment begging for help. But what had the rich man done for his punishment.
He had not been mean to Lazarus. He had not kicked him or abused him. He knew who he was. He had simply ignored him. He had not been generous as the biblical tradition that Abraham had exemplified and taught and as Lent brings home to us every year.
Does not this parable challenge us directly to respond to the enormous need we see locally and world wide. In his commentary on this gospel in “This Day,” John Klassen, OSB, abbot of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota reflects:
One of the scourges of globalization is the maldistribution of wealth. In 2014 the relief agency Oxfam reported that just one percent of the world’s population now controls nearly half of the planet’s wealth. The study says this tiny slice of humanity controls $110 trillion, or 65  times the total wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion people. In the U.S., the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country: the top one percent captured 95 percent of post-recession  growth (since 2009), while 90 percent of Americans became poorer.
The numbers are staggering. Abbott Klassen  suggests that sometimes we don’t see the needy people in front of us. Sometimes our mental constructs impair our vision, and we don’t help. Is this not reminiscent of the rich man? Maybe if we all first see the needy person in front of us and start by helping him/her then we begin to address the global situation. Back on my feet and close to God by suffering and prayer, and even having lost a few pounds, I hope to start anew.
(George Evans is a pastoral minister at Jackson St. Richard Parish.)

Youth Briefs & Gallery


JACKSON – St. Richard School students will lead the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27, at 2:15 p.m. in the church.

MADISON – St. Joseph School students will stage the smash hit musical “The Little Shop of Horrors” in the St. Joe Fine Arts theater Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
– The school’s grandparents Mass honoring grandparents of ninth-through 12th-graders will be celebrated on Friday, March 27, at 9:15 a.m. in the Fine Arts theater.

MERIDIAN Council 802 of the Knights of Columbus is offering scholarships to the children and/or grandchildren of members of the council. The $500 awards are based on academic achievement and financial need to be used at their college of choice. The application is available at their website, kofc802.org. Previously awarded students need to submit only a recent college transcript. Details: Tom Zettler, 601-482-7350. Application deadline is May 1.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica youth rehearsal for the Seder Supper Sunday, March 22, from 4 – 4:45 p.m. followed by a presentation by Lisa Ward on unleavened bread, snacks and social time. All sixth-8th graders are welcome.
– Living Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday, March 29, at 5 p.m. The program will begin in front of St. Mary Basilica and will move throughout the downtown area.

Good Friday collection helps Holy Land Christians

“Pro Terra Sancta”
Why, we might ask, do we take up a collection for the Holy Land during the Good Friday service of Holy Week?
This collection is upheld each year by the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, who sends out a pastoral letter to each diocese over the entire world, describing the needs of the church in the Holy Land. The collection is allocated in portions to the Franciscans for their pastoral and social work and to other institutions that work in the Holy Land.
The Franciscans first established a presence in the Holy Land in 1217. Over the next century, they were allowed by the Sultans to occupy sites in Jerusalem, including the Cenacle, or Upper Room, on Mount Zion and later, the site of the Holy Sepulchre and the site of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
In 1974, Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Exhortation “Nobis in animo” (The Needs of the Churches in the Holy Land), elevated the work of the Franciscans. He wrote the following:
1. That in all churches a collection shall take place on Good Friday or on any other day, that shall serve the purpose of “maintaining not only the Holy places above all, but also all pastoral, welfare, educational and social works that the Church carries out in the Holy Land to the benefit of the Christian brothers and the local population;”
2. “the collection shall be delivered to the nearest Commissary of the Holy Land, whose activity, so worthy in the past, is still valid and functional, or it shall be delivered by any other appropriate means;”
3. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches shall grant that “the Custody of the Holy Land and the local hierarchy, with respect to its competences, may continue their work, consolidate it and develop it further.”
The Franciscans’ mission was and still is to acquire and maintain the sites associated with Jesus’ ministry and to make significant investment into the Christian people’s life in the Holy Land. Their ‘custody’ has resulted in orphanages, schools, universities, seminaries, parishes, healthcare institutions, all open to those of all faiths. The organization also builds new homes for Christian families and aid in housing rehabilitation. The procurement and maintenance of the 79 holy sites are part of the mission. There are many international groups of religious who come to care for the holy sites. These missionaries are given the title of ‘Procurators or Commissaries of the Holy Land”. The present Custos of the Holy Land is Father Pierbattista Pizzabella, OFM.

Knights and Ladies of the
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
This order was founded by Sir Geoffrey de Bouillon, of the first Crusade, whose knights liberated Jerusalem. The Order is the only lay institution of the Vatican State charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all the activities and initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The contributions made by the members of this Order are the main source of funding for the Latin Patriarchate.

Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land
This non-profit organization, based in New York City, is headed by Father Peter Vasko, OFM.  Father Vasko travels to the U.S. twice a year. The main object of the mission is to fund scholarships for the higher education of Christian youth. An education at Bethlehem University, for instance, costs about $6,000 a year. So the price of four years of school in Israel is about the cost of one year at a state university in the U.S. In order to stem the emigration of young adults from Israel, it is crucial to give them a quality education. In the job market, the Jewish citizen in the State of Israel will be chosen over the young Christian adult (or Muslim). Therefore, a good education and skills are imperative. See www.ffhl.org for more information.
(Sara Weisenberger, a member of the EHOS, edited and contributed to this story using materials made available from the Franciscans who work in the Holy Land.)

Chrism Mass demonstrates how CSA unites parishes

By Mary Woodward
If you have ever participated in the annual Chrism Mass at St. Peter Cathedral then you have seen how your Catholic Service Appeal donations assist the ministry of the diocesan office of worship.
The Chrism Mass or Mass of the Oils is a concrete example of how your sharing of your gifts builds up the prayer life of our diocesan Catholic family. Celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz on Tuesday of Holy Week (this
year on March 31), the Chrism Mass brings together the priests in the diocese, lay ecclesial ministers, representatives from the parishes and missions and our diocesan seminarians.
Preparation for the Mass begins weeks before with worship office staff members, yours truly as director, and Sue Anne Booth, coordinator of the oil team, counting bottles, bottle caps and boxes to make sure there are enough for the 100 units of three bottles per box. Booth coordinates a team of a dozen volunteers who mete out the blessed oils of the sick and catechumens and consecrated chrism into 300 individual bottles – all during the Mass so the representatives can take them back to their parishes at the end of the liturgy. She recently took over leadership of the team from long time coordinator, Lucy Lovertich, member of Pearl St. Jude Parish.
The volunteers are a great gift to our diocese as they are tasked with the important job of making sure each parish has its oils for the next year. These oils are used in baptisms, anointing of the sick, confirmations, ordinations and consecrations of new altars. The volunteers provide an essential service to our diocese and many have done this for years. We are very grateful for them.
Catholic Service Appeal gifts help the diocese purchase the materials for the Chrism Mass including 20 liters of extra virgin olive oil as well as boxes and labels to hold one bottle each of oil of catechumens, oil of the sick and sacred chrism. It may seem rather mundane but these material goods actually become sacred objects once the oils are blessed and consecrated.
The Chrism Mass begins with a beautiful procession led by incense and metered out to the majestic tempo of the Cathedral organ played by music director James Scoggins. Following the incense comes the processional cross leading in our diocesan seminarians who serve at the Mass. Next comes the Book of the Gospel carried by the deacon. Our priests follow, walking two-by-two as the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The bishop, vested in the symbols of his office – miter, crosier, ring and pectoral cross – culminates the procession as it approaches the cathedral’s altar.
After his homily the bishop asks the priests to stand and renew their promises of service and fidelity made at their ordination. The Chrism Mass is one of the fullest signs of the church’s unity as the bishop is surrounded by his priests who are an extension of his ministry in the parishes and they are surrounded by the gathered assembly as the Body of Christ.
The oils are then carried in by individuals who are associated with the use of that particular oil. Normally a member of the St. Dominic pastoral ministry team brings in the oil of the sick. A member of the Elect who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil carries in the oil of catechumens. The oil that will be consecrated as Sacred Chrism is brought up by a seminarian who will be ordained in the upcoming year. The oil for chrism is accompanied by its “essence” which is a perfume poured into the oil.
Bishop Kopacz blesses the oils of sick and catechumens and consecrates the chrism using ancient prayers of the church. Each oil is processed out for distribution into the bottles and boxes. Following the prayer after Communion, the oils are given to representatives of each parish while the litany of the saints is sung.
The representatives then bring the oils back to their parishes for reception at the Mass for the Institution of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Many parishes display them in the church in an appropriate location so they may be seen and accessed for sacraments in the parish.
Your gifts through the Catholic Service Appeal provide some very necessary items for the beautiful celebration of the Chrism Mass.
Moreover, your gifts also help the diocesan worship office provide resources throughout the year for pastors, lay ecclesial ministers and liturgical ministers in parishes, including workshops for lectors and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, answering questions about the bishop’s visit to parishes and helping plan special celebrations such as anniversaries and confirmations.
The diocesan office of worship coordinates all diocesan liturgies at which the bishop is the celebrant and we assist seminarians in planning their ordination liturgies. This year two of our seminarians, Jason Johnston and Joseph Le, will be ordained to the diaconate in separate celebrations.
We appreciate all of your gifts and we put them to good use as we strive to grow and build the prayer life of our diocesan church family. We are all connected to one another through the liturgy. The liturgy is what makes us who we are and what leads us along the path to salvation.
In Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, the Church Fathers write:
“… every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree.” (SC#7)
Our diocesan worship office works hand in hand with liturgical ministers throughout our diocese to make this vision a reality. Your Catholic Service Appeal gifts are vital to this mission.
(Mary Woodward is the Chancellor for the Diocese of Jackson and the head of the Office of Worship and Liturgy.)

Pastors unite with focus on prison reform

Dear Fellow Prisoner of Christ,
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the name of Jesus Christ. It’s my great pleasure to invite you to join Clergy for Prison Reform (CPR), a new Christian organization made up of servant leaders like you called to address the current state of Mississippi’s corrections system.

CJ Rhodes, MDiv

CJ Rhodes, MDiv

In Mississippi, we lock up more people per capita than China and Russia combined and have the second highest incarceration rate in the country. There are numerous reasons for this development – harsh sentencing guidelines, lack of rehabilitation, etc. – but one of the most disturbing to me is the corporatization of the prison system and the profit-driven incentive to lock up as many people as possible, keep them there as long as possible, and make sure they return to prison as many times as possible.
Our for-profit prison industry has received recent attention with the indictment of now former Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps for his accepting bribes from these same companies.
These for-profit companies in Mississippi also have abysmal records of inhumane conditions, lack of supervision, poor mental health and other healthcare services, prisoner abuse and violence – all while raking in $77 million per year of Mississippi taxpayer funds for their shareholders. Currently, legislators and other leaders are rightly looking into these companies and asking whether Mississippi should be doing business with them at all.
Several weeks ago, I helped organize a breakfast for a diverse and dedicated group of pastors and lay leaders to discuss how we may advocate for a better system. Though several civil and human rights groups are actively engaged in this fight from political and economic vantages, it will be the presence of the church that will change the conscience of Mississippi. This is a debate in which your moral voice matters.
Over the next few months, Clergy for Prison Reform hopes to raise a collective chorus of Mississippi’s faith leaders from across political, racial and denominational backgrounds. I hope you will be in that number.
Prayerfully, Clergy for Prison Reform will advocate in the power of Christ’s Spirit for a more just and righteous and humane criminal justice system. Time is of the essence. We cannot wait. Please join me in this good fight for the least of these.
Please also forward this invitation to all in your network who might be interested in joining our efforts.
In the name of the convicted, crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ,
CJ Rhodes, MDiv
Pastor, Mount Helm Baptist Church
Director of Student Religious Life
Alcorn State University