June 22, 2012 Pray, honor gift of religious freedom
This week we begin a Fortnight for Freedom June 21 – July 4. This is a two week period of prayer and reflection devoted to honoring and recognizing the gift of our religious freedom as Americans and Catholics.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has developed a special website with resources and educational materials in English and Spanish on religious liberty – www.fortnight4freedom.org. I urge you to visit that site today and learn more about our liberties as Americans and Catholics.
On our diocesan web site – www.jacksondiocese.org — there is a link to a wonderful document: Our First, Most Cherished Liberty, written by the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty. This document is very informative and addresses the ideals of religious liberty in our country and around the world.
The document begins: We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens.
To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary.
That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together.
Indeed, we are Catholic and we are American. We are grateful to be a part of this noble nation. Therefore, during this Fortnight let us remember prayerfully we are blessed with the great gift of faith and the great gift of religious liberty. I hope you will visit the above websites and enrich your faith.
God bless you and God bless America.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
April 6, 2012 He is risen as he said! Alleluia!
Easter Sunday for Catholics and believers in the divinity of Jesus is the greatest of all the religious celebrations they observe in the practice of their faith. Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
His Resurrection was the sign he promised would be the proof of his identity when he was challenged by those who refuse to believe. This was the sign even some of his disciples refused to believe at first. They had hoped and wanted to believe he was the promised Messiah but they had sadly witnessed his crucifixion and had even witnessed his burial.
Ever since that first Easter, critics and skeptics have continued to refuse to believe he had risen from the dead. Many have gone to great lengths to refute or explain it as simply the imaginations of emotional and distraught followers.
Theories and so called authentic archeological discoveries have periodically arisen and unfortunately will continue to be challenges for those who have no faith.
For all who do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God it is totally unacceptable to believe his resurrection is just a hoax. Equally unacceptable is the belief he would make a claim he could not or would not keep.
For believers to reject the resurrection of Christ is to reject the promise of their own resurrection for St. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised … then those who have died in Christ have perished,” and again, “If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is worthless.” (1Cor.15:17-18)
In regard to Catholicism, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central belief of the Catholic faith. It is the ultimate proof of Christ’s divinity. It is why from the very beginning of Christianity the Apostles who were eye witnesses to the risen Christ preached his resurrection as the fundamental basis for belief in him.
They preached not simply what they heard, but what they themselves saw. He ate with them, he walked with them and they felt his wounded hands and side.
Easter for us is what Passover was to the Hebrews. For centuries the Passover feast had been a reminder of past suffering and a promise of the future for the chosen people. Since the coming of Christ, the resurrection is the new Passover for those believing in him.
What was accomplished by the blood of the lamb in the Old Testament, in the New Testament is accomplished by the death and resurrection of Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus makes valid the faith of all believers. By his wounds, death and resurrection, he has conquered sin and overcome death for all who believe.
This Easter like every Easter is the time for all believers to proclaim in faith “Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ shall come again.”
It is my prayer the blessings of this Easter season be with all of you forever. May this Easter be the occassion for us to sing with the liturgy: “We proclaim your death, O Lord and profess your resurrection until you come again.”
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
March 16, 2012 Appeal funds crucial ministries
Dear Friends in Christ,
The year 2012 marks the 175th anniversary of our Diocese of Jackson. The diocese was officially established on July 28, 1837, as the Diocese of Natchez by Pope Gregory XVI. In 1841 our first bishop, John Joseph Chanche, SS, arrived in Natchez to find only a handful of missionary priests and no actual church building.
Bishop Chanche’s early efforts to begin building our diocese were assisted by the generosity of the local Catholic community as well as grants from and appeals to donors in other parts of the United States and Europe.
From those early days our diocese has grown to 75 parishes and over 22 missions. For the past 175 years, our parishes and missions and the ministry of our diocesan church continue to be supported by you — the local Catholic community.
A vital way in which you support important ministries in our diocese is through the Catholic Service Appeal. The Catholic Service Appeal helps fund crucial ministries that affect our church throughout the diocese.
Your support of the Catholic Service Appeal helps Catholic Charities to serve the least of our brothers and sisters. Catholic Charities served over 550 women and children in Domestic Violence Shelters and over 600 people in the Disaster Response last year. Each year they provide help and create hope in the lives of over 20,000 people.
By giving to the Catholic Service Appeal you provide necessary training for our diocesan seminarians and assistance to our retired clergy who have devoted their lives to serving the church. You also support campus ministry to young adult Catholics in colleges and universities in the diocese.
As in Bishop Chanche’s time of establishing the diocese, we still have small mission parishes and schools struggling to maintain the faith and share the Good News of the Lord in the local community.
Your generous gifts to the Catholic Service Appeal assist these mission parishes and schools to keep spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Your contributions to the Catholic Service Appeal also assist in forming lay people to take on roles of service in our church, sharing the Gospel through the internet and radio and television messages, and outreach to our growing Hispanic Catholic community.
In marking this 175th anniversary of the establishment of our diocese let us remember the great challenges faced by Bishop Chanche and the early Catholic community in our state. Through much prayer, generosity, hard work, sacrifice and solid faith, Bishop Chanche and the early Catholic community provided a firm foundation for us today.
Now it is our responsibility to build on that firm foundation so that our Catholic Church in the Diocese of Jackson will not only persevere, but will grow in an abundance of blessings as we continue to serve the least of our brothers and sisters in the Gospel-based ministries we provide; and as we continue to evangelize and form ourselves in the teachings of our Lord through the Church so that we may share our faith with all those whom we encounter.
Your generous support of our Catholic Service Appeal ensures the least ones in our diocese will continue be served, and the legacy of those who have gone before us having made great sacrifices to build upon the firm foundation of the church will be continued and passed on to the next generation.
Thank you and may God bless you.
Bishop Joseph N. Latino
February 24, 2012 Bishop honors 10 with Chance Medal
3 others named papal honorees
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
As part of our Diocese of Jackson’s 175th anniversary this year, we have established a diocesan award for laity — the Bishop John Joseph Chanche Medal.
This annual award, named in honor of the first Catholic bishop of the state of Mississippi will be given to members of the laity for exemplary service to church and community. Recipients of the Chanche Medal have been selected by a special committee representing all six deaneries of the diocese appointed by me.
This year we are announcing the recipients around the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Feb. 22, our diocesan patronal feast. A special celebration to honor them will be held on Wednesday, April 25, at 6 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.
It is my pleasure to announce this year’s recipients of the First Bishop John Joseph Chanche Medal for the Diocese of Jackson as:
+ James Guercio, Natchez St. Mary Basilica
+ Flo Chambers, Forest St. Michael
+ Tom Zettler, Meridian Catholic Community
+ Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ivancic, Tupelo St. James
+ Pearlie Otto, Canton Holy Child Jesus
+ Mr. and Mrs. Vance Lipe, Greenville St. Joseph
+ Michael Jacobs, Clarksdale St. Elizabeth
+ Lucretia Jones, Clarksdale Immaculate Conception
It is also my distinct pleasure to announce that Pope Benedict XVI in light of our 175th anniversary has chosen to confer papal honors on three members of our Catholic community who have given much service to the church, diocese and office of bishop.
Receiving the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross is Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, OP, retired president of St. Dominic Health Services, for her many years of service to the church in the diocese and the overall Mississippi community.
Receiving the Benemerenti Medal are: Judy Cannon, retired secretary to the office of bishop; and Bill Dunning, retired director of Administration and Finance for the diocese.
These three honors will be bestowed upon these individuals as part of the April 25 celebration at the Cathedral.
Over the next few weeks, we will feature more information about each recipient and the awards in Mississippi Catholic and the diocesan website www.jacksondiocese.org.
In Christ,
+Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
For more information visit www.usccb.org.
February 10, 2012 Bishop Latino expresses concern, dismay
at attacks on religious liberty (EDITOR’S NOTE: Bishop Joseph Latino sent the following letter to parishes and missions throughout the Diocese of Jackson and asked that it be read at all Masses, Feb. 11 – 12.)
Dear Friends in Christ, I write to you today to express my deep concern and dismay for the ongoing attacks by the President Obama Administration on the religious liberty of the Roman Catholic Church and indeed all faith traditions. Religious liberty is a right so esteemed by the Founding Fathers that they made it the first freedom in the Bill of Rights of our United States Constitution. Religious freedom is the lifeblood of the American people, the cornerstone of American government. The decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adopt regulations that will force Catholic health care institutions nationwide and social service agencies such as Catholic Charities to violate the teachings of our Roman Catholic Church is a direct attack by this administration on the tenets of our Catholic faith and the basic right of religious liberty of Catholics to adhere to their faith. The HHS decision was made in spite of advice, counsel and input accepted by HHS from Catholics at every level including laity in the pews, health care providers, doctors, nurses, pastors and bishops. Forcing our Catholic hospitals and agencies to provide health care that includes funding for abortions and contraception could indeed lead to the closure of these institutions thereby causing an end to quality health care grounded in Christian values and respect for the sanctity of life. Thousands of people without regard to their religious beliefs were served last year by our diocesan educational and social programs. These programs would either be forced to cease to exist, or to restrict its employees and social services to practicing Catholics alone. This decision further cuts away at the fabric of our nation by threatening our constitutional right as individuals and as a church to religious liberty. On behalf of the diocese, we again ask the HHS to rescind this mandate because it is an unprecedented federal interference in the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of the Catholic community and the diocese. Below are clarifications on the regulations offered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): The mandate does not exempt Catholic charities, schools, universities, or hospitals. These institutions are vital to the mission of the church, but HHS does not deem them “religious employers” worthy of conscience protection, because they do not “serve primarily persons who share the[ir] religious tenets.”
HHS denies these organizations religious freedom precisely because their purpose is to serve the common good of society — a purpose that government should encourage, not punish.
The mandate forces these institutions and others, against their conscience, to pay for things they consider immoral. Under the mandate, the government forces religious insurers to write policies that violate their beliefs; forces religious employers and schools to sponsor and subsidize coverage that violates their beliefs; and forces religious employees and students to purchase coverage that violates their beliefs.
The mandate forces coverage of sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs and devices as well as contraception. Though commonly called the “contraceptive mandate,” HHS’s mandate also forces employers to sponsor and subsidize coverage of sterilization. And by including all drugs approved by the FDA for use as contraceptives, the HHS mandate includes drugs that can induce abortion, such as “Ella,” a close cousin of the abortion pill RU-486.
Catholics of all political persuasions are unified in their opposition to the mandate. Catholics who have long supported this Administration and its healthcare policies have publicly criticized HHS’s decision, including columnists E.J. Dionne, Mark Shields, and Michael Sean Winters; college presidents Father John Jenkins and Arturo Chavez; and Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
The federal mandate is much stricter than existing state mandates. HHS chose the narrowest state-level religious exemption as the model for its own. That exemption was drafted by the ACLU and exists in only 3 states (New York, California, Oregon).
Even without a religious exemption, religious employers can already avoid the contraceptive mandates in 28 states by self-insuring their prescription drug coverage, dropping that coverage altogether, or opting for regulation under a federal law (ERISA) that pre-empts state law. The HHS mandate closes off all these avenues of relief.
There are times and situations in life when one may remain silent, but there are also times in life when MUST speak. As Catholics this is the time and the situation when we must speak in opposition to this immoral mandate and defend our freedom to practice our faith.
No matter your political persuasion this mandate is a direct attack on the teachings of our Church and on the right to religious liberty guaranteed by the Constitution.
In Christ,
+Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
For more information visit www.usccb.org.
January 20, 2012 Let us protect sacredness of life
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
This Sunday, Jan. 22, marks the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. In this decision in 1973, we in this country were launched, by a decree of a man-made court, into the moral struggle of “pro life” against “pro choice.”
Unfortunately the court, in order to establish a legal “right” to abortion, ignored the fact that a human life – the unborn child – would be terminated and another human life – the mother – would be damaged as well, either psychologically, physically or in some tragic cases fatally.
Because of that legal decision, today we are a part of a society that allows and even finances abortion on demand. Today innocent unborn infants are denied – by choice – a right that all of us have, namely the right to defend and preserve our life against an unjust aggressor. For reasons as little as it being an inconvenience one can choose to abort life.
The Catholic Church has always preached and espoused the sacredness of all life – from conception until natural death. The church has always approached this vital issue with prayer, sound logic, a conviction of faith and morality and the position of justice for the rights of all.
In article 5 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) entitled “The Fifth Commandment – thou shall not kill” – it states: Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end.
God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end. No one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being. (CCC 2258)
The catechism continues: Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of its existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being of life. (CCC 2270)
The authentic pro-life movement is based in peace, prayer, love, compassion and belief in the sacredness and dignity of life. Catholics have witnessed for Christ at clinics that perform abortions by peacefully praying the rosary and offering prayers for unborn children and their mothers.
The church for years has offered alternatives to abortion by providing pregnancy counseling, adoption services and housing for battered women and children. All of these efforts build the kingdom by loving our neighbor in the way Jesus Christ taught us.
The church’s position has remained unchanged and it shall remain unchanged when it comes to the sacredness of life from conception until natural death. As Catholics, let us continuously promote the culture of life where every life is valued and respected as the divine mystery it truly is.
December 16, 2011 Turn your hearts, minds to God
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
As we continue our Advent journey and anxiously anticipate the coming of our Lord – we mark this holy time with the beautiful “O Antiphons” of our church. The familiar Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” incorporates these seven epithets: O Wisdom; O Sacred Lord; O Flower of Jesse’s stem; O Key of David; O Radiant Dawn; O King of all the nations; O Emmanuel.
These antiphons found in the Liturgy of the Hours offer us seven titles of our Savior Jesus Christ that reflect who he truly is in the history of salvation and the world – the long awaited Messiah.
Let us then take a moment to turn our hearts and minds to the awesome moment when God became flesh and entered our world to bring salvation and life to all.
On that night 2000 years ago in a manger, Jesus Christ was born into the world and our world was forever changed. Shepherds guided by angels came in from their fields and gazed upon the Son of God. Christ the light of the world, born of the Virgin Mary, came to conquer sin and death for all of us.
His birth was recognized by only a few shepherds and some foreign astrologers. His place of birth was not a cozy well furnished inn, but a simple welcoming stable. In his birth, divinity was united with humanity. In his birth, the promise of old and the hope in the promise became a reality; he was Emmanuel, the God who is with us.
In a homily on Christmas Pope St. Leo the Great offers some beautiful words for us to capture this moment of wonder and awe. I share with you some of that homily below. Dearly, beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.
No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.
In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown humankind.
And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to his people on earth as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvelous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?
Indeed what indescribable joy resounded in the hearts of those gathered around that lowly manger 2000 years ago. What joy should resound continually in our hearts, minds and souls each Christmas day and every day throughout the year knowing that God who is Emmanuel has walked among us to free us from sin and death.
How sad it is that we live at a time and in a society that unfortunately appears oblivious of his presence. A society that attempts to obliterate his name and everything that refers to him and the very reasons that created the season we celebrate, namely, Christ-mas. Under the guise of not wanting to offend non-believers some would deny us the right to believe and celebrate the real reason for our belief.
The birthday of the Lord is the birth of life and peace. As Christians, let us continue to strive to bring that peace and life into our troubled and violent world – the true peace and life sent to us by the Father through the Son in union with the Spirit.
This Christmas let the antiphon from Christmas Midnight Mass resound in your heart and bring you great joy – Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Venite adoremus Dominum.
November 18, 2011 Use of new translations begins Nov. 27
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Next Sunday, Nov. 27, is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year for our church. During Advent, our beautiful Catholic liturgy is designed to focus on the anticipation of the coming of our Lord. In our churches decorations are very minimal such as a simple Advent wreath so as not to divert our longing as we await the Nativity of our Lord and again place flowers and the crèche in our churches.
This year in conjunction with Advent we will begin using the entire new English translation of the Roman Missal. We as a diocesan church and indeed all the dioceses in the United States have been anticipating this First Sunday of Advent so the full implementation of the new translation can begin.
Throughout the past several months parishes have been studying and learning the new responses that are part of this translation through workshops, training sessions, and other educational opportunities. Now the entire new text will be prayed together by celebrant and congregation.
I urge all of us to be positive and diligent in learning and praying these new responses and texts. It will involve some adjustments on all of our part. The new people’s responses as you have no doubt seen and studied have some major changes along with some more subtle changes.
For our clergy the new texts will involve a great deal of practice and patience. As bishop I ask all of you to pray for our priests as they make this transition with you. They need your support, encouragement and understanding.
We all are called to participate actively and consciously in the sacred liturgy. This transition will give us an excellent opportunity to focus anew on the texts of the Mass and how they are meant to draw us into a closer relationship with the Lord.
Language and words are so important to us as human beings. Each arena in life such as medicine, sports, law, has its own specialized language. Our Catholic faith also has its own language and indeed our worship has an even more specialized language.
The new translation of our ancient texts was designed to further enhance our Catholic language of worship. Indeed through our words and movements in worship we enter into and participate in the sacred mystery of the sacrifice of the Mass.
The translation we have been using served us well for many years, but in studying the centuries old texts, the church decided to move to a translation that was much truer to the literal Latin and grounded much more directly in sacred Scripture and tradition. Yes, it is an adjustment, but it also is an opportunity to grow in our understanding of our faith and its wonderfully rich liturgical tradition.
The celebration of the Eucharist is our central act of worship as Catholics. It is what makes us who we are. The Mass has evolved and developed throughout the centuries and it will continue to do so. The church has a great system in place to help maintain the dignity of the sacrament so that our universal church will reflect its unity throughout the world.
As we journey through this transition as a Catholic family, we will continue the centuries old tradition of being connected to the larger worldwide church through our movements and actions in the celebration of the Eucharist.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. (Gal 6:18)
November 4, 2011
Vote based on informed conscience
No official position for or against Proposition 26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
As Bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, I appreciate very much the noble intentions of those who support the Personhood Amendment known on the Nov. 8 ballot as Proposition 26. Indeed as bishop, I share their zeal and passion for the sanctity of human life.
However, after studying the initiative and in prayerful reflection and coupled with the fact the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is working diligently on the federal level for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, I find the unintended consequences of this particular initiative deeply concerning.
Therefore, the diocese is not taking a position for or against Proposition 26. It is simply choosing to allow individual Catholics to make their own choice on the initiative based on an informed conscience.
An informed conscience is not just an opinion but a judgment in which individual Catholics, who after studying and reflecting on the initiative, cast their ballot based on that study and reflection. I do appreciate the informed dialogue regarding Proposition 26 and hope this has deepened our knowledge of the church’s teaching on the sanctity of life in order to better reach out in a spirit of love and compassion to those who do not hold this belief.
Having said this let us all be reminded the Roman Catholic Church and her bishops are unequivocally pro-life. The Roman Catholic Church, including the office of bishop to which I have been appointed and into which I have been ordained by Holy Mother Church, is firm in her belief and teaching that life begins at the moment of conception and is to be held sacred until the moment of natural death. There is no disputing this dogma of our church.
The Catholic Church in Mississippi has a long and active history of working through state legislative efforts and other community initiatives to protect life from conception to natural death.
As a church, we admire the goals of the Personhood Amendment efforts. As Catholics we remain committed to defending all human life from conception until natural death. However, we do not believe a Mississippi Personhood Amendment is the best means to pursue an end to abortion in Mississippi and our nation.
Moreover, even if Proposition 26 is passed, lower federal courts interpreting this amendment will be required to apply the permissive 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, given its current composition, will either decline to review such a case, effectively killing the state amendment, or worse, actively reaffirm the mistaken jurisprudence of Roe.
On another level, the word “person” is used over 100 times in the state constitution and over 9,400 times in the Mississippi Annotated Code. The implications for perplexity and years of legal challenges over every use of the term will further hinder efforts to reach the ultimate goal of an end to abortion.
While the church respects those promoting Proposition 26, we do not believe it provides a realistic opportunity for ending or even reducing abortions in Mississippi. Constructive alternatives to reduce abortions and advance the ultimate objective of ending abortion, however, currently exist at the state level.
Mississippi has some of the strictest abortion laws in the nation. The church actively supported each one of these legislative initiatives and will continue to support these types of initiatives in the future.
I hope this letter clears up any confusion on the diocese’s addressing of Proposition 26.
Asking God to bless you, I am yours sincerely in Christ,
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
October 7, 2011 Bishop comments on HHS preventive services (Bishop Joseph N. Latino submitted the letter below to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing our diocesan concerns about the “Preventive Services Mandate” proposed by Health and Human Services.)
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am Joseph N. Latino, Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Miss. On behalf of the diocese, I respectfully submit the following comments on the interim final rule on preventive services proposed by Health and Human Services (HHS) 76 Fed. Reg. 46621 (Aug. 3, 2011).
General Comments
The diocese is a “mission diocese” and dependent upon support from other dioceses and benevolent donors. We are home to over 48,000 Catholics in 99 parishes and missions. The diocese covers 65 counties and almost 38,000 square miles making it the largest geographical diocese east of the Mississippi River. Less than 3 percent of the population within the diocese is Catholic.
HHS is proposing that only religious employers meeting four criteria would be exempt from providing contraceptives and female sterilization through their health plans. Those requirements are that the organization “1. has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; 2. primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; 3. primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and 4. is a nonprofit organization” under specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code. The diocese finds that numbers 2 and 3 of this list are too narrowly drawn.
There is a very real risk the diocese could soon be forced to choose from three untenable options: offer contraception coverage, limit its ministries to serving Catholics only, or stop offering insurance to its employees altogether.
The diocese’s insurance plan does not include services that run contrary to church teaching. The diocese could avoid the new federal regulation on contraception coverage as long as it makes no significant changes to its insurance plan, because the health reform law allows current plans to be “grandfathered in.”
The diocese’s intention is to remain grandfathered, but the diocese reviews its health insurance coverage plan annually and sometimes makes changes — as do most employers — so there’s a risk the diocese could become ensnared in the new federal mandate within a year or two.
The unfortunate result of the HHS mandate is that it would apply in virtually every instance where the diocese serves as an employer, requiring the diocese violate its own tenets by forcing Catholic entities to provide contraception and sterilization coverage.
Diocesan Programs & Services
The diocese’s social services ministries serve thousands of people each year — and for the most part they are not Catholics. From food pantries to adoption services to shelters for battered women, and more, the diocese does not scrutinize clients’ religious tenets before they help them.
The diocese also hires people of all religious faiths, and diocesan schools enroll non-Catholic students. Parish outreach programs or services included emergency assistance, food pantries, transportation, Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets, second hand stores, after school programs, ESL classes, GED classes, tutoring programs, recreation programs, prison/jail ministry, and other similar community bases programs.
For the most part, and well over a majority of the people served by these ministries, are non-Catholics.
The educational institutions within the diocese serve and employ many non-Catholics. In fact, about half of the teachers, staff and administrators are non Catholics. Fifty-seven percent of the students at these institutions are non-Catholic. If forced to enroll only Catholics, over 2,500 children would not be educated in a Catholic school system.
Catholic Charities employs about 175 persons with about 90 percent of those being non- Catholic. In FY 2009-2010, it served 26,200 persons and 72 percent were not Catholic.
If Catholic Charities had to meet the exemption requirements proposed by HHS, Catholic Charities would have to either close the following programs or offer them only to Catholics, which would be problematic because then it would disqualify the organization from receiving funding for the programs:
1. Domestic Violence Shelters in Jackson and Natchez provide safe refuge for women and children victims of family violence. We make available emergency shelter, daycare and counseling. We also offer violence prevention education. Second Stage Housing and supportive services are available after survivors leave shelters. In FY 2009-10 we served 6,600 persons.
2. Rape Crisis Centers in Jackson and Natchez assist victims of sexual assault with medical intervention and counseling. We make sexual violence preventions presentations before school, law enforcement and community groups. 5,608 individuals were served in FY 2009-10.
3. Adoption, Maternity Care and Foster Care. Adoption services are offered to those seeking to open their homes and hearts to children. Our services include domestic and international home studies, pre and post placement services for adoptive families, services to birth parents and counseling which is available throughout the life of the adopted child.
Maternity care services are offered to women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Services include prenatal counseling, exploring parenting options, adoption planning and referrals. Infant foster care is provided on a short term basis for infants pending adoption or reunification with birth families. 274 persons were served last fiscal year.
4. Hope Haven Home-based services for children with serious emotional disturbances (SEDs) specializes in counseling and service coordination. 118 persons were served including youth and their families.
5. Hope Haven Residential services for children with SEDs provides mental health services for children in a residential therapeutic crisis center which involves a short term respite with individual, group and family therapy.
Crisis Response and Outreach offers 24 hour telephone and mobile crisis response with on-site intervention for the family in crisis. 418 persons were served in FY 2009-10.
6. Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program is a long term therapeutic foster care service for refugee children from war and disaster torn countries and persons seeking political asylum. 40 youth from around the world were served last year.
7. Solomon Counseling Services provides comprehensive, professional and affordable counseling services for individuals, couples and families. The center is a Department of Mental Health certified community out-patient counseling center for children and adults. The center served 240 persons last year.
8. Immigration Services specializes in family and employment-based immigration services including permanent residence, citizenship, work authorization, Violence against Women Act cases, and visa renewal. It also provides community education, advocacy and outreach for immigrant communities. 5,582 persons were served last year.
9. Born Free Primary Treatment is a program for pregnant/parenting women suffering from chemical addictions.
10. New Beginnings Transitional is a program for pregnant/parenting women recovering from chemical addictions. 121 persons were served in FY 2009-10.
11. Therapeutic Foster Care services for youth in DHS custody with SEDs offers intensive in-home services to help children with SEDs who are in the custody of the Department of Human Services. We help these children develop the skills needed to function in the home and community settings. 159 persons were served last year.
12. Trauma Recovery for Youth strives to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children, their families and the community. 1,064 persons were served last year.
13. Disaster Preparedness and Response (with the exception of training parishes in disaster response) provides structure, education and leadership to parishes and organizations to promote effective response to those affected by disasters. 848 persons were served last year.
14. Day treatment services for preschoolers with SEDs provides behavior management, self-esteem building and a therapeutic classroom setting for pre-school children in the Natchez area who are not able to function in a regular classroom setting. 44 children were served last year.
15. Natchez Regional Office offers an array of services including the Guardian Shelter (numbers included above), Guardian Sexual Assault Clinic (numbers included above), Counseling, Emergency Assistance (help with rent, utilities), and Guardian Thrift Store (income supports the shelter). 1,200 persons served last year (in Counseling and Emergency Assistance).
16. Northeast Regional Office, located in Vardaman, strives to inform and provide rural families, especially immigrant families, with available resources and programs to help them develop into strong, healthy and contributing citizens. Assistance is in the form of informa- tion and referral, advocacy, family support, translation services and emergency assistance. 449 persons were served last year.
The proposed HHS guidelines threaten all of these programs. If the proposed regulations are implemented, Catholic Charities may very well impose severe limitations on its services and cease to exist as we know it today. In most cases, Catholic Charities is the only agency providing these services in the community, and in some cases, the entire state.
If Catholic Charities were forced to discontinue these services because of the proposed HHS regulation, it would have a devastating impact on the quality of life for people of all faiths in our state, especially the poor and most vulnerable.
Conclusion
The proposed HHS mandate is an attack on Catholic beliefs and on the religious liberty of Catholics to adhere to their beliefs. Thousands of people without regard to the religious beliefs were served last year by diocesan educational and social programs.
If the proposed regulations are adopted as written, in order to meet the exemption standards, most of these programs would either be terminated or severely restricted to serve and employ only practicing Catholics.
On behalf of the diocese, we would ask the HHS to rescind the proposed “Preventive Services Mandate” because it is an unprecedented federal interference in the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of the Catholic community and the diocese.
September 30, 2011 Capital punishment not acceptable
By Bishop Joseph Latino
Here in the United States we still practice capital punishment. We are one of the few countries around the world that still uses the death penalty.
In our country there is a great debate as regards its justification. There are strong voices for and strong voices against. Along with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) I raise my voice as one against the practice and acceptance of capital punishment.
The penalty of death for the taking of life serves no logical purpose. The death penalty cannot, and does not return the life of a murdered victim nor does it serve any purpose other than revenge following the Old Testamen t precept of an “eye for an eye,” which Christ has abrogated in the New Testament.
In Jackson this past June, James Anderson was beaten and then murdered by being run over by a pickup truck. This brutal and senseless taking of a life was met with outcries from all over the community. In her letter to the Hinds County District Attorney, Mr. Anderson’s sister has asked that he not seek the death penalty.
“Those responsible for James’ death not only ended the life of a talented and wonderful man; they also have caused our family unspeakable pain and grief, but our loss will not be lessened by the state taking the life of another,” wrote Barbara Anderson Young in her letter.
Mrs. Young further explained her family’s opposition to the death penalty is rooted in their Christian faith. “Our Savior Jesus Christ rejected the old way of an eye for an eye and taught us instead to turn the other cheek,” she continues.
“Executing James’ killers may not balance the scales. But sparing them may help to spark a dialogue that one day will lead to the elimination of capital punishment,” she added.
What more powerful witness of justice tempered by mercy do we need as human beings and as a civilized society in the face of such evil and heinous acts?
As a deterrent, capital punishment does not prevent violent crimes. As a means to satisfy a desire for vengeance or alleviate a family’s grief, Mary Bosco Van Valkenburg, whose brother and sister-in-law were murdered has written, “Hatred doesn’t heal. Every time the state kills a person, human society moves in the direction of its lowest, most base urges.” Catholic teaching offers a unique position on crime and capital punishment. The dignity of the human person applies to victims and offenders. Catholic teaching recognizes the dignity of every human person even those who may be the cause of great harm and injustice.
Catholic teaching stems from the belief all life is a gift from God and as such is to be preserved and defended from conception until natural death with no exception.
Our late Holy Father, Blessed John Paul II in his encyclical “The Gospel of Life” emphatically states: “The dignity of human life must never be taken away.” Recourse to the death penalty as the only means to defend life against an unjust aggressor is no longer tenable.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: cases in which the execution of an offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically non-existent. (CCC, 2267)
In 2005, the USCCB in a document entitled, “A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death,” stated sentences such as “life in prison without parole” offer a humane and just alternative to the practice of the death penalty in our country.
In union with Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, who have called for the end of capital punishment, the U.S. bishops wrote: Even when people deny the dignity of others, we must still recognize that their dignity is a gift from God and is not something that is earned or lost through their behavior.
Respect for life applies to all, even the perpetrators of terrible acts. Punishment should be consistent with the demands of justice and with respect for human life and dignity.
Recognizing that we may not be able to fully understand or appreciate the pain and suffering caused to the victims and their families still now is the time for us as a nation to repudiate the belief and culture that life can only be protected by the taking of life. (USCCB 2005)
As Christians who believe that life, all life, is sacred we cannot but speak out against a penal code that is flawed.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he admonishes us, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part live at peace with all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Rom 12:17-19)
Prayer for Life
(from Blessed John Paul II’s “The Gospel of Life”)
O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
September 16, 2011 Bishop Joseph Latino’s prayer for 9/11 By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
O God, Creator of the universe, you extend your paternal concern over every creature and guide the events of history to the goal of salvation. We acknowledge your fatherly love in a world torn by strife and discord, when you make us ready for reconciliation. Renew for us the wonders of your mercy; send forth your holy wisdom that it may work in the intimacy of our hearts; that enemies may begin to dialogue; that adversaries may shake hands and people may encounter one another in harmony. May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace which will extinguish all violence.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let us sow charity;
Where there is injury, let us sow pardon;
Where there is error, let us sow truth;
Where there is doubt, let us sow faith;
Where there is despair, let us sow hope;
Where there is darkness, let us sow light; and
Where there is sadness, let us sow joy.
O, Divine Master,
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
And to quote Pope Benedict XVI,
Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.
Amen
September 2, 2011 Let us turn our hearts to prayer By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Our world seems to be inundated with so many struggles, unrest, anxieties and disasters — natural or manmade. At times we have trouble focusing our minds on all the upheavals and atrocities. We want to toss our hands in the air and wonder what terrible thing will happen next.
When we reach this point we can only turn our hearts to prayer. Therefore, I offer the following prayers for all of us to reflect upon and take to heart in the hopes our prayers may be united and offered in a spirit of humble supplication to our merciful and ever-loving Father.
For Benedict, our pope, that the Holy Spirit may guide him and give him wisdom and strength as he governs and leads the church. Let us pray to the Lord ...
For our nation as the 10th anniversary of the horrors of Sept. 11 approaches, that we as a people will be able to see in one another the dream of America and build our communities through honest dialogue, hard work and respect for the dignity of the human person. Let us pray to the Lord ...
For the unborn, the vulnerable and the marginalized, that our society may recognize the dignity of all human life - from conception until natural death - and strive to respect and protect it. Let us pray to the Lord …
For the people of Somalia, that the world may find a way to alleviate their enormous suffering through the cooperation of nations and the eradication of corruption and violence. Let us pray to the Lord ...
nFor the people of war-torn nations that God will enlighten local, national and world leaders to work together to find peaceful solutions for the good of all. Let us pray to the Lord …
For those who have endured tornados, floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis and all types of violent acts of nature, may we offer our hands to assist them in recovering and our hearts in prayer for their losses. Let us pray to the Lord …
For immigrants, exiles and refugees, that we may treat them with dignity and reflect Jesus Christ to them in our actions. Let us pray to the Lord …
For an end to terrorism, violence, hatred and bigotry, that we will work to replace these evils with peace, respect, love and understanding. Let us pray to the Lord …
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life; that assisted by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, young people will open their hearts to God’s call and serve as priests and religious in the Church. Let us pray to the Lord …
For the poor, the needy and those afflicted in body and spirit, that God may heal the sick, comfort the dying, free those unjustly deprived of liberty and rid the world of falsehood, hunger and disease. Let us pray to the Lord …
For all who have died, that they may be embraced in the arms of the loving Father and share in eternal joy with Christ their brother. Let us pray to the Lord …
Loving God, hear the prayers of your children. Help us to be your eyes, ears, hands and heart that we may better serve you by serving our neighbors. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. AMEN.
June 10, 2011 Bishop Latino declares year of Eucharist By Bishop Joseph N. Latino Last Advent I wrote a column in this paper raising the following questions: Have we as Catholics lost our focus on or sense of sacredness and mystery when it comes to the celebration of the Eucharist? Do we really believe Christ is uniquely, profoundly and mystically present in the Mass? Do we get so caught up in the “busy-ness” of life around us that we forget to truly remember the reason we come together and worship as a church?
vThese questions came to me as I realized in travelling around the diocese and even in the Cathedral, I am often distracted during the celebration of the Eucharist by the sound of a cell phone that someone has most likely inadvertently forgotten to turn off before Mass begins. Unfortunately this can cause us to lose focus during a sacred and prayerful moment. Therefore, as bishop of the diocese in response to the Holy Father’s request for more centered and fervent prayer around the Eucharist and with the support of the Priests’ Council, I have declared a special year dedicated to the Eucharist that will run from the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) June 26, 2011 until the solemnity of Corpus Christi June 10, 2012. I would like to ask that as a diocese, we dedicate this time to deepening our understanding of the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic faith. This special year will coincide with the 175th anniversary of the establishment of our diocese in 2012. There will be many special events planned to mark this momentous occasion of 175 years of celebrating the Real Presence of Christ. Throughout the next year Mississippi Catholic will be featuring short reflections on the Eucharist by parishioners from around the diocese. The Diocesan Continuing Formation Commission will be coordinating these reflections in an effort to share with the overall community the great gift of the Eucharist and how it is lived in the daily life of our diocesan church family. Other events will include the diocesan convocation this October, which will focus on the Eucharist; the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal; and opportunities for eucharistic adoration and processions in several areas of the diocese. Some locations are hosting the traditional Forty Hours devotion around this year’s Corpus Christi weekend. I encourage all parishes to have some kind of observance similar to this. These hours of prayer will be offered for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and as a spiritual bouquet for Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his 60th anniversary of ordination on June 29, 2011. With the implementation of a new translation of the Mass beginning in Advent of this year, we have an excellent opportunity for our parishes and missions to rediscover the beauty of the Mass and the sacred mystery of the sacrifice that occurs during the celebration. When we gather together as a faith community for the celebration of the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to encounter the Real Presence of Christ. What an awesome moment – the mystery of faith! Sadly, I am acutely aware that several of our parish and mission communities are unable to celebrate Mass every Sunday due to a lack of priests. In these locations our Catholic brothers and sisters gather for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest. At these Sunday Celebrations, the faithful in these communities come together, pray the psalms, proclaim the Sunday readings and receive Holy Communion. In this way they are able to unite their hearts and voices in prayer with the heart and voice of the universal church as it worships the Lord in the sacrifice of the Mass. As we approach the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 26, and the beginning of this year of dedication to the Eucharist, let us begin right now to reflect on the questions posed above and use this time as a chance to deepen further our understanding of the great gift of the Eucharist. Ask yourself if Jesus himself was sitting in my living room would I turn off the phone, the television, the iPad and iPod, the DVR or whatever else keeps me from truly focusing on his presence. Let us take this time to truly and prayerfully broaden our understanding of the Eucharist in the life of the church and in our daily lives. Make this an opportunity to turn off, unplug and disconnect yourself from this busy, fast-paced world so you can reconnect yourself to what is most important – the mystery of faith!
May 27, 2011 Bishop, diocese again offer apologies In a statement published May 18 on the diocesan website, Bishop Joseph Latino and the Catholic Diocese of Jackson once again offer their apologies to those who have been victimized by clergy abuse. No group has suffered more than the victims of these crimes. The sins of a few have seriously damaged the trust that must exist between bishops and priests, bishops and the laity, and between priests and their parishioners. However, an overwhelming number of priests and bishops have faithfully served God’s holy people and have lived a life of dedicated service to God and Church. The Diocese of Jackson is committed to protecting children. Sexual misconduct by church personnel violates human dignity and the mission of the church. The Diocese of Jackson is committed to ensuring children being served by the church are not at risk of sexual abuse by church personnel. The spiritual well-being of all victims, their families, and others in the community is of particular concern to the church. Beginning in 1986, the diocese implemented a written policy and procedure regarding reporting and handling of sexual misconduct claims for lay and church personnel. That policy was updated in 1994 with the addition of a Diocesan Review Board and again in 2002 so that it would reflect the U.S. Bishops’ Charter adopted in June 2002 in Dallas. In accordance with the Dallas Charter, the Diocese of Jackson wishes to encourage any victim of sexual abuse by a member of the Catholic clergy to come forward and begin the healing process. When an allegation is found to be credible, counseling will be offered, so the healing process can begin in accord with our present diocesan policy. We encourage any victim to contact Ms. Valeria McClellan, victims assistance coordinator, at 601-326-3728. For a complete description of the Protection of Children Policy and Program, please refer to the diocesan website.
April 22, 2011 Christ is Risen!
By Bishop Joseph Latino
On this feast of the resurrection of the Lord, the liturgy proclaims: This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it. Alleluia! This is the feast that sums up all the Sundays and feast days throughout the whole liturgical year. This is the feast that gives credence to all the other celebrations of our Catholic faith. This is the feast that celebrates salvation.
In his first Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul proclaims: If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised, and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless … and if Christ has not been raised you are still in your sin. (1Cor 15:14-18)
Throughout the Old Testament, the chosen people believed and expected a Messiah, one sent by God to bring salvation to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. From the time of their liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Hebrews religiously celebrated the Paschal Meal. It was the celebration of the victory in the past and the promise of the victory in the future.
It is in the resurrection that Jesus validates all he said and did. His Resurrection is his final victory over sin and death. The Resurrection is the proof of his identity. As he predicted: Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. (Jn 2-19)
Once again in the celebration of the liturgical calendar of the year, we celebrate victory, Christ’s victory. That is the final and indisputable event that makes faith in Christ valid. It is the Paschal Mystery that has procured our redemption and all those who believe that Jesus is the promised One.
This Easter, as at every Easter since the Resurrection, we, like the women who went in search of his body, celebrate the empty tomb. It is the empty tomb that causes us to joyfully sing: Dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life!
For us who believe, the resurrection is a central truth of our faith. As the ultimate proof of his divinity and the culmination of all he said and did, we join with the apostles and all the faithful in proclaiming: Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.
May the blessings and joys of this Easter be the occasion to raise our voices in singing Alleluia and celebrating what was proclaimed by the angel at the empty tomb: He is risen as he said! (Matt 28:6) ALLELUIA!
April 15, 2011 ‘And so we commence holiest of weeks’
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Holy Week begins this Sunday with the celebration of Palm Sunday. Around the world and across the Diocese of Jackson our Catholic faithful will bless palms and hear the passion narrative of St. Matthew’s Gospel read. And so we commence the holiest of weeks in our church’s tradition.
On Tuesday, April 19, at 5:45 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle we will celebrate the Mass of Chrism, where with the presbyterate gathered around me, I will bless the oils of catechumens and the sick and consecrate the sacred chrism.
These oils presented to parish representatives will be taken back to home parishes and used throughout the year to anoint the sick and baptize infants and adults. The clergy will renew their priestly commitment at this Mass as well.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, we will pray the Office of Tenebrae, an ancient part of the Liturgy of the Hours that reflects on the suffering of Jesus Christ while offering a glimmer of hope at the end in one lighted candle.
It is a very moving ceremony that features readings from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, psalms and hymns on the cross and crown of thorns. After each reading a candle on the altar is extinguished until one is left burning and offering hope. I invite everyone to the Cathedral to experience this unique tradition in our church.
The Sacred Triduum begins and Lent officially ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, April 21. This Mass is filled with rituals and symbols revolving around the true meaning of the Eucharist – sacrifice and service.
The Gospel reading is that of the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus. In the liturgy the feet of 12 people will be washed by the pastor who in the image of Christ reflects the servanthood of being a follower of Jesus. At this liturgy a second ciborium of hosts is consecrated for distribution on Good Friday.
The final movement of the Holy Thursday liturgy is the transfer of the ciborium by procession to an area separate from the main altar perhaps even in another building. This area should be decorated with flowers to reflect the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went to pray and was ultimately betrayed and also to foreshadow the garden tomb. The faithful are asked to pray with the Lord in the garden then leave in silence.
Good Friday, April 22, is one of my favorite liturgies of the church. It is once again an ancient ritual – one of the oldest in the church’s centuries-old liturgical tradition. The altar is bare, stripped of all ornamentation and the liturgy begins in silence. The starkness of the church is quite striking.
The passion narrative of St. John is read, and then the general intercessions are chanted or recited. Following these time honored prayers we venerate the cross. What a moving moment to be able to touch or kiss the cross and watch our fellow Catholics come forward and do the same knowing so many of them have had trials and struggles in their lives throughout the past year.
Once the veneration is finished, the altar is set with a simple red cloth and corporal. The ciborium of hosts consecrated the evening before is brought to the altar for distribution to the faithful. The liturgy ends in silence and we are left to contemplate Christ on the cross.
Contrasting the starkness of Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses lift us up from despair because we know the tomb is empty and the Lord has risen.
As we enter into Holy Week – this great week filled with intricate and deeply sacred liturgies – let us all focus on the journey of our Lord as he makes his way to Jerusalem, the upper room, the garden, the cross, the tomb and finally the resurrection.
Let us all open our hearts and minds to the passion of our Lord and the sacrifice he made for us all so on Easter morning we can truly sing with joyful hearts – Jesus Christ is risen today!
December 17, 2010 `Come let us adore the Lord’
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
As we enter the last week of Advent – the final days of anticipation of the coming of our Lord – we mark this time with the beautiful “O Antiphons” of our church. The antiphons offer us seven titles of our Savior Jesus Christ that reflect who he truly is in the history of salvation and the world – the long awaited Messiah.
Let us then take a moment to turn our hearts and minds to the awesome moment when God became flesh and entered our world to bring salvation and life to all.
On that night 2000 years ago in a manger, Jesus Christ was born into the world and our world was forever changed. Shepherds guided by angels came in from their fields and gazed upon the Son of God. Christ the light of the world, born of the Virgin Mary, came to conquer sin and death for all of us.
In a homily on Christmas Pope St. Leo the Great offers some beautiful words for us to capture this moment of wonder and awe. I share with you some of that homily below.
Dearly, beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.
No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.
In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown humankind.
And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to his people on earth as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvelous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?
Indeed what indescribable joy resounded in the hearts of those gathered around that lowly manger 2000 years ago. What joy should resound continually in our hearts, minds and souls each Christmas day and every day throughout the year knowing that God who is Emmanuel has walked among us to free us from sin and death.
The birthday of the Lord is the birth of life and peace. As Christians, let us strive to bring that peace and life into our troubled and violent world – the peace and life sent to us by the Father through the Son in union with the Spirit.
This Christmas let the antiphon from Christmas Midnight Mass resound in your heart and bring you great joy – Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Venite adoremus Dominum.
December 10, 2010 Let us begin now to reflect on Eucharist
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
We are now in the great season of Advent. Our beautiful Catholic liturgy is designed to focus on the anticipation of the coming of our Lord. In our churches decorations are very minimal such as a simple Advent wreath so as not to divert our longing as we await the Nativity of our Lord – Christmas – and again place flowers and the crèche in our churches.
This time next year we will be worshipping with the new translation of the Mass. Throughout these next months leading up to Advent 2011, many resources and opportunities will be provided for you as Catholic faithful to learn more about the new translation and texts of the Mass itself. We have already had two initial workshops for diocesan and parish leaders.
As part of this preparation and implementation of the new translation and as we approach our 175th anniversary as a diocese in 2012, I would like to ask that we as a diocese, observe a special year dedicated to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic faith.
This special year will officially begin on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on June 26, 2011, and go until Corpus Christi 2012.
One reason for this is in travelling around the diocese and even in the Cathedral, I am often distracted during the celebration of the Eucharist by the sound of a cell phone that someone has most likely inadvertently forgotten to turn off before Mass begins. Unfortunately this can cause us to lose focus during a sacred and prayerful moment.
This makes me wonder sometimes whether if Jesus himself was sitting in our living room would we remember to turn off the phone, the television, the iPads and iPods, the DVR or whatever else keeps us from truly focusing on his presence.
When we gather together as a faith community for the celebration of the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to encounter the real presence of Christ. What an awesome moment – the mystery of faith!
Have we as Catholics lost our focus on or sense of sacredness and mystery when it comes to the celebration of the Eucharist? Do we really believe Christ is uniquely, profoundly and mystically present in the Mass? Do we get so caught up in the “busy-ness” of life around us that we forget to truly remember the reason we come together and worship as a church.
During this year dedicated to the Eucharist, these are some of the questions we should be asking ourselves. Our Diocesan Continuing Formation Committee is coordinating resources and activities for parishes to assist us in answering these questions. More information will follow on these efforts.
As we approach Corpus Christi and the implementation of the new translation in Advent 2011, let us begin right now to reflect on these questions and use this time as a chance to deepen further our understanding of the great gift of the Eucharist.
Take time this Advent season to turn off, unplug and disconnect yourself from this busy, fast-paced world so that you can reconnect yourself to what is most important – the mystery of faith!
Come, Lord Jesus
November 19, 2010 Debate on holy orders not acceptable, bishop says
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino Recently I came across a column by Francis Cardinal George in The Catholic New World that very much struck a chord with me. Over the past several months I have read, heard and received many comments about how the shortage of priests could be solved if the church would open up ordination to women and married men. Questioning church doctrine can often be a part of one’s private faith journey, but when that questioning turns into challenging the doctrine in a public debate and causing division among us, as bishop I must respond in a manner that is firm yet teaches with the compassion of Christ. We as a diocese are continually seeking constructive ways to faithfully minister to our people and maintain Catholic identity and community. Debate over the church’s teaching on the sacrament of holy orders is detrimental to these positive efforts. Therefore in responding to these divisive comments, I would like to share with you excerpts from Cardinal George’s column, which pastorally and succinctly addresses such debate. A gift is not a gift if the recipient has a right to it. A refund on your taxes is not a gift from the IRS. Our civic order is arranged to help individuals receive their rights; this is the goal of legal justice. A gift, however, is not due in justice; it comes from love, is freely offered and can’t be manipulated by the recipient. In the order of grace, no one has rights and everything is gift from a God who loves us. Sanctifying grace, God’s life in us, is pure gift; we can’t demand it from God; nor can we tell God to change it to suit us. All that Christ has given us through the church — the Gospel, the sacraments, the church herself — comes to us from his love. It’s all gift, and it is either received as such or lost. I write this because the nature of the sacrament of holy orders has recently been publicly discussed as if it fell into the order of rights rather than the reality of gift, as if it were a matter of rules rather than a mystery of faith. Like all the sacraments of the apostolic churches, holy orders comes from Christ and is what he intends it to be. The church is not free to change it, anymore than the church can change the nature of baptism or the Eucharist or matrimony. Nor does anyone have a right to be ordained. It’s all gift. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (no. 1538) explains: “Ordination is … the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters or deacons, and goes beyond a simple election, designation, delegation or institution by the community, for it confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of sacred power which can come only from Christ himself through his church.” The power conferred is the authority to govern the church through participating in Christ’s role as head of the church, as shepherd of his flock and high priest of the redemptive sacrifice. Through this sacrament, the mission entrusted by Jesus to his apostles continues to be exercised in the church until Christ returns in glory at the end of time. If the church is considered politically, as a form of state or a company, or if the church is reduced to a personal club whose rules can be changed without reference to anyone except the individual members, then the template of individual rights is laid onto the sacrament of holy orders, its reality is distorted and it cannot be understood for what it really is. Worse, the fact holy orders can only be conferred on men becomes an infringement of the rights of women in a context of “gender equality” as a cultural imperative. Whether women can be ordained priests has been discussed regularly since the second century. Each time over the centuries, the church has said she is not free to change the gift that comes to us from Christ himself. The argument is with Jesus, not the church. The fact some theologians in every age have put forth arguments contrary to church teaching proves nothing except they are mistaken; their understanding of the sacrament is not adequate to the faith of the church. The fact there is huge social pressure to force the church to change her understanding of Christ’s gift and thereby lose the sacrament proves nothing except cultures are not adequate to the faith of the church. The church and the gifts of Christ never fit into any human culture without some discomfort and societal stretching. The Catholic Church is never a national denomination anywhere in the world; her members have to be faithful first of all to the Lord who transcends all human cultures and their demands. The claim is raised Jesus is “inclusive,” and it is certainly true he invites the whole world to follow him. The price of discipleship, however, is conversion, turning from our ways to his. It is all gift; but if you reject the gift as it is given, you reject the giver. Catholics who want to live their faith in peace should not be subjected to protests by others whose personal faith is not adequate to the faith of the church. Personal questioning of the mysteries of the faith is often part of anyone’s faith journey, and Catholics should make their concerns known to their pastors. But using (divisive) tactics to change church teaching to what one would like it to be is inconsistent with one’s continuing to claim to be Catholic. This is, finally, a matter of personal integrity. May the Lord who has given us the gift of holy orders, along with so many gifts of even greater importance in the household of the faith, keep us together in his love. (Excerpts reprinted with permission from The Catholic New World, www.catholicnewworld.com.) In conclusion, for those in our diocese struggling with this teaching I would like to offer the Serenity Prayer, originally attributed to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and subsequently adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous, as a means of sincere, prayerful reflection in accepting this teaching of our church.
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference. The sacrament of holy orders is indeed received as a gift. That is unchanging. Let us journey together to develop creative, faithful and faith-filled ways of ministering to all our Catholic people and building up our Catholic community in the Diocese of Jackson.
September 10, 2010 Catholic Charities Sunday designated Sept. 26 By Bishop Joseph N. Latino On Sept. 25, Catholic Charities USA will celebrate its centennial. To observe this monumental anniversary I have designated Sunday, Sept. 26, as Catholic Charities Sunday in our Diocese of Jackson. I urge all parishes and missions to offer special intercessory prayers for the faithful staff of our local diocesan Catholic Charities as well as the national staff and for the people that Catholic Charities so generously assists with compassion and care. The mission of Catholic Charities is to be a visible sign of Christ’s love and concern for all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, and in particular children, women, and families. This mission is carried out every day by the dedicated staffs of Catholic Charities’ offices throughout our country and in our own diocese. Charities’ goals are: the defense of life, to strengthen families, to empower people and to build communities. NBC anchor, Brian Williams, in his commencement address this past May at the University of Notre Dame, remarked that in every disaster he covers as a newsman in our country, Catholic Charities is always there standing hand in hand with those affected offering assistance and compassion. It is Catholic Charities that is there to help people recover and rebuild their lives. When the April tornado ripped through the center of our state, our Catholic Charities’ disaster response team was on the scene soon after the storms had cleared the devastated areas. Many families and individuals impacted by the storm have been helped by our team and its network of people in those counties. Our local Catholic Charities, officially established in 1963, has a main office in Jackson and regional offices in Natchez and Vardaman. Last year over 29,000 individuals were assisted by the dedicated staff of these locations. Our Catholic Charities ministers to children through counseling, mental health services, trauma recovery, therapeutic foster care and a shelter for homeless and runaway teens. Women are assisted in domestic violence and rape crisis centers. Treatment for alcohol and drug abuse is provided for pregnant and parenting women. Other services include the unaccompanied refugee minor program, adoption and maternity care, marriage preparation and an immigration clinic. To learn more about these and more services and ministries provided by Catholic Charities visit Throughout the years countless numbers of people have been ministered to by a devoted charities’ staff. There are endless stories of those who found a caring, compassionate face when they were at a low point in life – a face that respected the dignity of the person and offered hope. There are also many stories of joy and celebration when a family was able to adopt a child or complete the path to citizenship. As a diocese, we should be very proud of the work that Catholic Charities performs for our overall community. Also on the national level we should take pride in the 100 year history that Catholic Charities USA has given to our country. As the largest human service network in the United States, Catholic Charities continually strives to be the hands and face of Jesus Christ to so many in desperate need. Let us offer our thanks and prayers for Catholic Charities on Sunday, Sept. 26, and indeed every day. We are blessed to have a visible sign of Christ’s presence serving among us.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
September 3, 2010 New translation effective Advent 2011 By Bishop Joseph N. Latino On Aug. 20, Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), announced the implementation date for the new English translation of the Mass for the First Sunday of Advent 2011. The new text was approved by the Vatican back in June of this year with the explanation that bishops’ conferences of English-speaking nations would set the implementation date. After some final edits and adaptations for feasts specific to our country, the texts are now being prepared for publication. This time for publication will take about a year. The English text we presently use has served us well for many years now and we will continue to use it until the implementation date in Advent 2011. Some have asked why we need a new translation. Upon looking at the present English translation in light of the Vatican’s publication of “Liturgiam Authenticam” in 2001, the church thought it would be prudent at this time in our history to study the Latin text and make some adjustments to the English that would be closer to the literal Latin. Many of the prayers and responses to which we are accustomed such as the Confiteor, Gloria, Creed, Eucharistic Prayers, Sanctus, etc, have changed. Each of these responses has been nuanced in a way in the new translation so as to capture the original Latin more literally and formally. The new translation will require all of us to take some time to study, prepare and reflect upon. For this next year, our diocesan Continuing Formation Committee has developed an implementation schedule for preparing parish leadership and parishioners for the new translation. Some of these resources may already be accessed through the USCCB website - www.usccb.org/romanmissal. The committee has already scheduled two presentations for parish leaders - the first will be Sept. 29, entitled: “Liturgical Leadership in a Time of Change” keynoted by Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson; the second is “Mystical Body, Mystical Voice” presented by the Liturgical Institute of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Ill., on Nov. 12-13. In the coming weeks and months resources and materials along with training workshops will be available for clergy and lay leadership. As we come closer to the implementation date, we will have a more intensively focused period of preparation for all our Catholic faithful. The celebration of the Eucharist is our central act of worship as Catholics. It is what makes us who we are. The Mass has evolved and developed throughout the centuries and it will continue to do so. The church has a great system in place to help maintain the dignity of the sacrament so that our universal church will reflect its unity throughout the world. As a diocesan church we will journey through this transition as a Catholic family. When the First Sunday of Advent 2011 arrives, all of our parishes will begin using the new translation together. In this way we will continue the centuries old Roman Catholic tradition of being connected to the larger worldwide church through our movements and actions in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
August 20, 2010 Why Catholic? retreats begin this week By Bishop Joseph N. Latino This week our diocese is offering retreat days in all six deaneries for the upcoming season of Why Catholic? and ¿Por Qué Ser Católico? This four-year journey through the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” developed by RENEW International in English and Spanish is a wonderful opportunity for our Catholic faithful to learn more about our faith through the small group experience. Many of you are already participating in these sessions in your parish and have completed the first two years of this series. I have received a lot of positive comments about the materials and faith-sharing opportunities provided. The third season of Why Catholic? focuses on the part three of the Catechism – Life in Christ. The theme of the year is morality. As bishop, I often get comments and receive letters in the mail asking why we don’t talk about sin anymore. Or, even better, I have been told “I wish you priests would quit talking about the poor and start preaching the Gospel again.” Well, this season of Why Catholic? certainly addresses these concerns and much more. Sessions will explore the church’s teaching on educating and forming one’s conscience, the virtues, sin, moral law, and safeguarding life and truth. Steeped in the official Catechism, these small groups offer Catholics an opportunity to explore many of the issues currently facing our society today, but with balanced faith-filled discussion. It would be a shame to miss such an enriching encounter. This journey through the Catechism makes a large resource book come to life and more accessible for those who do not have the time or energy to read it from cover to cover. Why Catholic? also enhances one’s knowledge of Sacred Scripture because the sessions include time for reflection on scripture verses relative to the topic being presented that moment. As Catholics, we really need to take the time to truly study and reflect on the great treasures found in Sacred Scripture and the official teachings of the church found in the Catechism. When we as a diocese began Why Catholic? two years ago there was a great deal of excitement among our people. As with some programs and projects, we have lost some of that enthusiasm. It is my hope and prayer that the faithful of our diocese will seize this opportunity to continue to learn more about their beautiful Catholic faith through these small group experiences that Why Catholic? offers. Our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters have very much embraced these sessions. ¿Por Qué Ser Católico? has been a blessing in many areas of our diocese where it has been used. It is a wonderful way to connect our Hispanic Catholics to their local Catholic community. This week’s retreat days are an integral part of the Why Catholic? experience, especially for those who already lead small groups or would like to lead a small group. Information on these days has been sent to all parishes and we hope to have a nice turnout for them. For all of you participating know that you will be in my prayers as you take on this important role of leadership in your parish. God bless you.
August 6, 2010 August has several days honoring Mary By Bishop Joseph N. Latino The month of August is now upon us and even though the temperature is boiling many teachers and students will soon be back in classrooms embarking on another year of learning. In the South, August is a month that is often described as “the dog days of summer” meaning it is so hot that one should just lie around in the shade. For the Catholic Church, August is a month containing several days dedicated to Mary, our Blessed Mother. On Thursday, August 5, we celebrated the memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Much of this beautiful church dates to the fifth century. Tradition says that the Blessed Mother appeared in similar dreams to the 4th century Pope Liberius and to a Roman named John and instructed them to build a church on the site where the snow fell the next day. As in Mississippi, snow would be a welcome sight in Rome during August. Soon after the dream, snow was on the ground of the Esquiline Hill and a church was begun on the site of this miracle. The church was dedicated to Mary and was the first church in the West to be dedicated to Mary. Every year on Aug. 5, a solemn celebration recalls the Miracle of the Snows. Before the amazed eyes of the congregation, a cascade of white petals descends from the coffered ceiling, blanketing a section of the basilica. This month’s second celebration honoring our Blessed Lady is the Solemnity of the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15. This year it will fall on a Sunday and will take precedence over the normal Sunday Masses meaning the Mass of the Assumption will be celebrated instead of the Mass for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Assumption honors Mary being assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her life. This doctrine was declared infallible by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Pope Pius XII also established the third celebration of Mary in August, the Queenship of Mary, which now is celebrated on Aug. 22, in close proximity to the Solemnity of the Assumption. Tradition through Scripture and the writings of the early Church had long held the title of Mary as Queen of Heaven, but Pope Pius officially declared it in his 1954 encyclical “Ad Caeli Reginam". He writes: In this matter We do not wish to propose a new truth to be believed by Christians, since the title and the arguments on which Mary’s queenly dignity is based have already been clearly set forth, and are to be found in ancient documents of the Church and in the books of the sacred liturgy. It is Our pleasure to recall these things in the present encyclical letter, that We may renew the praises of Our heavenly Mother, and enkindle a more fervent devotion towards her, to the spiritual benefit of all mankind. (#6-7) In establishing Mary’s Queenship, Pope Pius also renewed humanity’s consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary — a devotion he formally memorialized 12 years before in 1942 on the 25th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima and during the terrible destruction of WWII. Since we are convinced, after long and serious reflection, that great good will accrue to the Church if this solidly established truth shines forth more clearly to all, like a luminous lamp raised aloft, by Our Apostolic authority We decree and establish the feast of Mary’s Queenship, which is to be celebrated every year in the whole world on the 31st of May. We likewise ordain that on the same day the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary be renewed, cherishing the hope that through such consecration a new era may begin, joyous in Christian peace and in the triumph of religion. (Ad Caeli Reginam #47) The Church has an incredibly rich tradition of honoring and venerating Mary. This August, I ask all of you to take some time to reflect on the role of Our Blessed Lady in the life of Jesus Christ and in the life of our Church. As you reflect offer this short invocation to her: O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart. Amen. We certainly could use some Christian peace in our world. God bless you. O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart.
July 23, 2010 ‘Your generosity to Haiti overwhelming’ By Bishop Joseph N. Latino We are reaching the six month anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake that shook the economically impoverished nation of Haiti to its very core. Shortly after that day in January, we as a diocesan Catholic family participated in a special collection to help Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, minister to the people of Haiti. In these difficult economic times your generosity to this collection and through individual donations directly to CRS, has been overwhelming and inspiring. Our diocese has given over $300,000 dollars to assist CRS in providing sanitary water for drinking and cleaning, emergency shelter materials for over 100,000 people, 10.6 million rations of food for over 900,000 people including the elderly, students and orphans. According to Ken Hackett, CRS president, there are some 1.6 million people living in camps and another 400,000 are living with extended family or friends. Over 1,300 schools and 50 health care facilities were completely destroyed and more are significantly damaged. The level of destruction is extraordinary. The Inter-American Development Bank estimates the earthquake that hit Haiti has had the largest proportional impact that any country has ever experienced. Now CRS is preparing to provide 8,000 transitional shelters – tough wooden pre-fabricated homes built on a strong foundation – as secure accommodation for families until they can return to real houses. For many this will mean a decent roof over their head for the first time. This transitional shelter, as well as eventual permanent building, is part of a five-year-plus strategy that includes work in the areas of shelter and infrastructure, health and HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, food, improving livelihoods, and protection of women and children. With this strategy, CRS hopes to improve the lives of 900,000 Haitians. I thank you for your incredible outpouring of charity and love. You profound kindness is a constant reminder of how we are indeed the hands of Christ to those in need. For more information or to follow CRS’ efforts in Haiti, please visit online here. or espanol.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
June 25, 2010 Bishop thanks KCs for supporting seminarians Dear Brother Knights and Ladies:
Congratulations again to all of you for another very successful Knights of Columbus Convention! There is such a strong and vibrant presence of Columbianism among our Knights in Mississippi and I am proud and grateful to all of you for making this year's state convention such an overwhelming success.
Whether serving as honor guards or cooking and serving meals or hosting receptions, your generous and dedicated service to our dioceses and our parishes has been exemplary.
I am particularly appreciative of your constant commitment, dedication and financial support for the education of young men studying for the priesthood for our dioceses. Your interest and efforts to foster and promote vocations is a wonderful testimony of your love for the church and its mission.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, I wish to personally commend all the councils, the fourth degree assemblies and the ladies auxiliaries, and anyone else who has made a contribution toward the $48,216 to the Bishop Gerow Memorial Fund for the Education of our Seminarians for the Diocese of Jackson.
Your generosity will assist the diocese in the education and formation of these young men who will serve the church and all our families in the future. We are grateful too for the $1,639 check from the Christopher Fund which will be added to the seminarian fund. On the left is a list depicting the contributions made by the councils, assemblies and auxiliaries to the Bishop Gerow Memorial Fund for 2009-10.
I also commend those who participated in the Mississippi Memorial Pro-Life Fund. Our share for the Diocese of Jackson was $6,243 for 2009-10. We must do all we can to protect life from birth until natural death.
I again encourage you all to promote the Knights of Columbus Seminarian Education Trust Fund, which was established in 2004 and continues to grow. This perpetual trust and all future additions will be used for the education of future priests for our diocese.
Once more I express my sincere gratitude for this support and for all the many, many activities of the Knights and Ladies of Columbianism. Assuring you of my prayers, fraternal regards and best wishes, I am.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
June 11, 2010 Prayers, ordination close Year for Priests By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Friday, June 11, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus officially ends the Year for Priests in our church throughout the world. During this past year we have tried to highlight our priests and their ministry by way of articles and profiles in this newspaper, special liturgical celebrations, and other gatherings.
Indeed I hope our Catholic parishioners and faithful have had the opportunity to honor priests in their area through prayers and intentions.
This past weekend we offered prayers for vocations to the priesthood and religious life during the diocesan Corpus Christi Forty Hours devotion. As part of the Corpus Christi 40 hours, on Saturday, I had the privilege of ordaining a new, young priest to take his place among the presbyterate. Father Scott Thomas, a native of our diocese, now begins his life of service to the Lord and the church.
As bishop, I very much enjoy presiding at the ordination of a priest. It allows me the opportunity to revisit my own call to the priesthood and the day I had long awaited – my ordination. Though it was 47 years ago, I vividly remember that day when then- Archbishop John Cody ordained me a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek. I imagine every priest would have the same vivid memories. Throughout last Saturday’s ordination liturgy I could see that Father Thomas was soaking in every moment of this day that he too has awaited for so long.
On Monday of this week Msgr. Patrick Farrell celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination in Vicksburg at St. Paul Parish. This was another wonderful celebration of the gift of priesthood in the church. The church was filled with priests from the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi and with family and friends of Msgr. Farrell from the parishes in which he has served so faithfully in these past 50 years.
Looking out on the congregation during both of these celebrations I could see the joy, respect and love in the faces of so many of our people who had come to share in these important moments in the lives of these men and in the life of our church. It is incredibly reassuring to me and to all our priests to know our Catholic faithful love and admire their pastors from the very first day of their life as a priest to 50 years and beyond.
Along with Msgr. Farrell, several other priests are celebrating significant anniversaries this year. Msgr. Joseph Koury celebrates 60 years; Father Sebastian Schalk, O.Praem, celebrates 50 years; Fathers P.J. Curley and Tom Mullaly, SVD, are celebrating 40 years; and Fathers Greg Plata, OFM, and John O’Hallaran, SSJ, celebrate 25 years. That’s 290 years of combined service to the church.
The Year for Priests has given us many opportunities to honor the men that give their lives in service of the church. In our diocese we have been blessed with many wonderful men who have answered the call over the past 173 years.
I urge all our Catholic faithful to keep these priests — past and present — in their constant prayers. Priesthood is a wonderful life filled with many joys, but also many challenges. Pray for your priests to continue to have the grace and strength to serve among you.
Pray for more young men to be open to the possibility that God is calling them to the priesthood or religious life as brothers and for more young women to be open to the call to religious life as sisters. The church, especially the Diocese of Jackson, needs to encourage and nurture more vocations from among our own families.
On behalf of my brother priests, I thank all of you from the depths of my heart for your generous love and support. We certainly do appreciate your commitment to us throughout the years. God bless all of you and God bless our priests.
May 7, 2010 New Mass translation effective 2011,
catechesis begins in fall By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
On Friday, April 30, we received word the new English translation of the Roman Missal had been given its “recognitio,” or statement of acceptance, by the Vatican. The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) now must decide when to authorize its use in dioceses and parishes in the United States.
The complete text of the Roman Missal is still undergoing final editing by Vatican officials. It is expected to be forwarded to English-speaking conferences of bishops later this spring, at which time it will be prepared for publication.
Publication of the new Missal and worship aids will take at least a year so that implementation and use of the new translation will be well into 2011. Until that time when this entire process is approved and published, parishes will continue to use the current English translation.
The English text we presently are using was developed shortly after the Second Vatican Council and has served us well for many years now. Upon looking at the present English translation in light of the Vatican’s publication of “Liturgiam Authenticam” in 2001, the church thought it would be prudent at this time in our history to study the Latin text and make some adjustments to the English that would be closer to the literal Latin. Many of the prayers and responses to which we are accustomed such as the Confiteor (penitential rite), Gloria, Nicene Creed, eucharistic prayers, Sanctus, etc., have changed. Each of these responses has been nuanced in a way in the new translation so as to capture the original Latin more literally. Many of the retranslations are very subtle, but will involve some adjustments of learning new responses by all of us.
Liturgical materials to help with the transition to the new translation have been developed by several organizations including the USCCB and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. You may access many of these resources online.
Beginning in the fall our diocese will devote much energy to providing catechesis and resources for priests, lay ecclesial ministers, pastoral ministers and parishioners. We already have two workshops scheduled for our parish leaders.
On Sept. 30, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tuscon will present “Liturgical Leadership in a Time of Change.” On Nov. 13, the diocese will host “Mystical Body, Mystical Voice,” a day-long workshop developed and offered by The Liturgical Institute from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. More information will be provided on these workshops soon.
The celebration of the Eucharist is our central act of worship as Catholics. It is what makes us who we are. The Mass has evolved and developed throughout the centuries and it will continue to do so.
The church has a great system in place to help maintain the dignity of the sacrament so our universal church will reflect its unity throughout the world.
As a diocesan church we will journey through this transition as a Catholic family. When the implementation date is set, all of our parishes will begin using the new translation together. In this way we will continue the centuries old Roman Catholic tradition of being connected to the larger worldwide church through our movements and actions in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
April 2, 2010 May we always be an Easter people! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad! Alleluia!
These are the words of the Responsorial Psalm that are sung on Easter Sunday celebrating the resurrection of the Lord. These are words that express the joy and excitement over the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets. It is in these words that humanity celebrates the victory over sin and death that Christ has won through his death and resurrection.
From the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus proclaimed he came from the Father to bring us to the Father. His critics constantly challenged and questionedhis words and actions. His promise of life and redemption were mocked and rejected. He who was just a man was making himself equal with God. He even dared to predict he would be destroyed and in three days would rise from the grave.
Even his followers tried to keep him from going to Jerusalem. Even those who knew and loved him could not accept that he had to be accused, condemned and crucified so he could rise. No one could understand and accept he was, by the will of the Father, the new lamb of the Passover feast.
For centuries the Hebrew people each year celebrated the Passover recalling their ancestors’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. For centuries the Passover feast was a reminder of the past and a promise for the future.
On the night of the Easter Vigil, the Easter Proclamation declares:
This is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers … this is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
It is right and fitting that we rejoice on Easter, it is the greatest feast day of the church and is the model of every Sunday celebration. At Easter we celebrate more than Christ’s victory over death. We come to understand that life comes from death. We learn Jesus had to die to rise to life and unless we die with him, we cannot rise with him.
St. Paul clearly stresses the importance of the Resurrection to our faith when he says:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ... For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Rom 6:3-5)
Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, is not an option for the Christian. It is the very foundation of our belief in Jesus. It is the necessary event that verifies the identity of Christ. Like Jonah who spent three days in the belly of the whale, Christ too said he would be buried in the belly of the earth and then would rise.
Had he not risen, his claim and his very life would have been a lie. Had he not risen then neither would we rise and our belief would be only in a Jesus crucified.
Of all men we would be the most foolish. As St. Paul says:
If Christ had not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only wehave hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1Cor 15:17-18)
However, we are not to be pitied, nor is our faith futile or in vain, for the Lord is risen even as he said. As the Centurion who stood beneath the cross said, “Truly this man was God’s Son.” (Mk 15:39).
As we celebrate the joy of Easter, may the blessings of the resurrected Christ be yours today and all the days of your lives. May we always be an Easter people, willing to die to self and sin so we can rise with Christ. Happy Easter! Alleluia!
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackso
February 26, 2010 ‘I thank you from depths of my heart’ By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
I never cease to be inspired and edified by the wonderful generosity of the Catholic faithful here in the Diocese of Jackson. In January, the terrible earthquake that struck the already impoverished nation of Haiti left hundreds of thousands of people dead, maimed, injured or homeless.
We asked all of our parishes to take up a second collection for disaster relief for this devastated nation. These funds have been sent and continue to be sent to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) earmarked for Haitian relief efforts.
As of Feb. 19, over $203,000 has been collected in our diocese and distributed to CRS for direct aid to the Haitian people who are struggling to survive once again from a catastrophic act of nature.
As bishop of this diocese, I thank you from the depths of my heart for your unselfish, abundant giving in a time of desperate need. It is true our state is one of the most generous in our nation when it comes to helping in times of crises.
CRS, the official overseas relief and development agency for the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was already on the ground in Haiti when the quake occurred working to alleviate poverty and helping the Haitian people to continue their recovery from recent hurricanes. Many CRS staff members in Haiti suffered losses in the quake. Our donations sent to them have been assisting in getting food, equipment and supplies to those suffering.
Below is a portion of a letter from a CRS staffer sent two weeks after the earthquake: -- We are all shouldering the loss in some way here, but I hope you can take pride in some of the burden you’ve helped to lift. As of today, Feb. 4, alongside our church and Caritas partners, we have been able to achieve the following:
-- Distribution of food to 264,200 people, and non-food items to 25,000 people.
-- Provision of medical care and treatment to a total of 4,126 people, and hygiene kits to 10,000 people.
-- Support of medical materials and supplies, volunteer doctors and nurses, food, water and other support to expand emergency medical care at St. Francois de Sales Hospital.
-- Establishment of three functioning operating rooms — conducting an average of 12 severe surgical cases per day — as well as a laboratory, X-ray room and blood bank at St. François de Sales Hospital.
-- Resumption of health care at 12 highly populated areas in Port-au-Prince and Leogane.
-- Launching of public health campaign carried out through megaphone and radio.
-- Installation of four water storage and purification units in various areas of the city, and water and sanitation assessments in another 14 locations.
-- Creation of designs to build a latrine at St. Francois de Sales Hospital, and an initial strategy for drainage, showers and sanitation at camps and temporary settlements.
-- Guidelines for sanitation and hygiene kits.
-- Initial standards and guidelines for emergency shelter kits and transitional shelters, technical standards for assessing habitability of buildings, and standards for debris-cleaning and cash-for-work activities.
It is going to be a long road to recovery, and our teams of water engineers, architects, doctors, logisticians, counselors and managers are mapping out the transitional and long-term programming that fits with the needs and context for people to rebuild their lives. We’ll be sure to share those updates and stories with you.
In the meantime, thank you for making this possible and please keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers. A saying is popular in Haiti that you can hear on the streets and in camps: “Nou bite men nou pap tonbe. We may stumble but we will not fall.”
Indeed, with your support, few things have rung so true.
During Lent many parishes participate in Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored each year by CRS to raise funds and awareness of its work worldwide. I urge all of you to continue to support CRS, through Operation Rice Bowl and the annual diocesan second collection March 13-14, as it continues its mission of bringing hope and help to struggling people throughout our world. Visit CRS for more information on various projects including Haiti.
Again, thank you for your generosity and charity for the suffering people of Haiti.
December 18, 2009 Have a blessed, holy Christmas! For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Lk 2:11-14).
The greeting Merry Christmas has taken a lot of hits over the past few years. Our society in an effort to be politically correct and not to offend anyone has relegated the Christmas season to the “holiday” season. The phrase “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” has replaced the traditional “Merry Christmas” on banners and cards.
As Catholic Christians we must remember Christmas is not a “holiday” nor is the Christmas season a “holiday” season. For us Christmas is a “holy” day and the season is a “holy” season. The season marks the coming into our world of Jesus – Emmanuel. God became flesh and walked among us to bring us a message of peace, love and forgiveness.
Indeed, the greeting of Merry Christmas is a greeting of peace. To say Merry Christmas to someone is to offer them the peace that entered the world roughly 2000 years ago in that lowly stable in Bethlehem. For one holy moment the world was at peace.
Recently someone shared with me a poem written by Dr. Maya Angelou entitled: “Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem.” In this poem Dr. Angelou captures the meaning of the greeting Merry Christmas. The closing lines of the poem which I cite below summarize the message of the peace which is Christmas:
We clap hands and welcome
the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season
to wait a while with us. ...
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty. ...
At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious
tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.
We, Angels and Mortals,
Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak
the word aloud.
Peace.
We look at our world
and speak the word aloud.
Peace.
We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.
Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
Saying Merry Christmas is not an attempt to indoctrinate or proselytize. It is an offering of peace. No one should be offended by a simple yet profound message of peace.
In our world today we certainly could use more offerings of peace. In our churches, our neighborhoods, our countries, we surely have room for peace.
Deep in our hearts we must be open to peace, the peace Jesus Christ brought when he was born into our world so many years ago and forever changed the world.
There is no denying the world was indeed changed when Jesus was born. We now need to work to restore our world to that Holy Moment we celebrate during this Holy Season.
This Christmas my prayer for you is that you receive the peace of Christ each and every moment and that you in turn offer that peace to each person you encounter, so perhaps one by one we can return the world to that Holy Instant it experienced so many years ago.
Have a blessed and holy Christmas! May the peace that is Jesus Christ be with all of you!
Bishop Joseph Latino
December 4, 2009 Bishops approve final parts of new translation By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
At their November meeting the U. S. Catholic bishops approved the final parts for the new translation of “The Roman Missal” or “Sacramentary” as it is often called. The English text we currently are using was developed shortly after the Second Vatican Council and has served us well for many years now.
Upon looking at the current English translation in light of the Vatican’s publication of Liturgiam Authenticam in 2001, the church thought it would be prudent at this time in our history to study the Latin text and make some adjustments to the English that would be closer to the literal Latin.
Many of the prayers and responses to which we are accustomed such as the Confiteor, Gloria, Creed, Eucharistic Prayers, Sanctus, etc., have changed. Each of these responses has been nuanced in a way in the new translation so as to capture the original Latin more literally.
The translations of the Our Father and Agnus Dei have not been changed. Many of the retranslations are very subtle, but will involve some adjustments of learning new responses by all of us.
This translation process was coordinated by the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and was divided into 12 sections. Each section went through a recommendation and approval period with bishops’ conferences in the English speaking countries of the world.
Now that the entire translation is approved, the Vatican must give its final approval called a recognitio. Currently the target date for the approval from the Vatican is spring 2010, though it may come sooner.
After that there will be a time for publishing companies to design the new missal and worship aids. Until that time when this entire process is approved and published, parishes will continue to use the current English translation.
Once the process is complete, our diocese as a whole will begin using the new translation on a designated date. Liturgical materials to help with the transition to the new translation are being developed.
Our diocese will devote much of 2010 to providing catechesis and resources for priests, lay ecclesial ministers, pastoral ministers and parishioners.
The U.S. bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship has some excellent resources including the text of the approved prayers and responses and a list of questions and answers that will further explain the translation process.
You may access these resources through the internet.
The celebration of the Eucharist is our central act of worship as Catholics. It is what makes us who we are. The Mass has evolved and developed throughout the centuries and it will continue to do so.
The church has a great system in place to help maintain the dignity of the sacrament so that our universal church will reflect its unity throughout the world.
As a diocese we will journey through this transition as a Catholic family. In this way we will continue the centuries old tradition of being connected to the larger worldwide church through our movements and actions in the celebration of the Eucharist.
November 27, 2009 Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
This Sunday we begin a new liturgical year with the beautiful season of Advent. Advent is a season of anticipation and penance. This season gives us the opportunity to focus more intently on our relationship with Jesus Christ in anticipation of his coming not only at Christmas but also his return at the end of time.
Advent, then, can be described and experienced as a time of longing and yearning to see the Lord.
The Advent liturgies offer us four weeks of readings from the Old Testament prophets who speak of God’s promises being fulfilled and God’s love for his people.
During the last week of the season we encounter the ancient “O Antiphons” in the Liturgy of the Hours. These seven antiphons inspired by the Prophet Isaiah are sung or recited at Evening Prayer from Dec. 17-23.
These antiphons are ancient invocations of the early church, perhaps dating back as far as the sixth century. Each antiphon includes a title of the Messiah rooted in Isaiah’s writings and a plea for the Savior to come.
The familiar Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, and Emmanuel incorporates all seven epithets – though in the hymn the titles are not always sung in traditional order. In order the antiphons and their reference in Scripture are as follows:
O Wisdom … come and show your people the way to salvation (Is 11:2-3; 28:29);
O Sacred Lord … come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free (Is 33:22);
O Flower of Jesse’s stem … come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid (Is 11:1-3, 10);
O Key of David … come, break down the prison walls of death … lead your captive people to freedom (Is 22:22);
O Radiant Dawn … come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death (Is 9:1);
O King of all the nations … come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust (Is 2:4; 9:6);
O Emmanuel … come and set us free (Is 7:14).
The “O antiphons” were originally written in Latin and they were written in a way that formed a pattern for easy remembering. This pattern also formed a symbolic Latin phrase that reflects the anticipatory nature of the season of Advent.
In Latin the titles are: Sapientia (Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix (Root), Clavis (Key), Oriens (East-Light), Rex (King), Emmanuel (God with us). When reversed using the first letter of each title we are given the Latin phrase: “ERO CRAS,” which literally translates “Tomorrow, I will be.”
Therefore, after completing the seven days of “O antiphons,” we reach Christmas Eve and realize the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah that tomorrow the Messiah will come.
During this season take time to read these passages from Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent, and prayerfully reflect on the coming of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
November 20, 2009 You make me feel ‘blessed’ Dear Friends in Christ,
It is difficult for me to put into words how deeply I appreciate your prayers and support during my recovery from neck surgery. The gifts of flowers, the countless cards and well wishes, and of course the endless prayers you have offered for me have left me feeling extremely blessed.
My spirit has been bolstered by all of the cards from parishioners, friends, Catholic school students, Confirmation candidates, and so many more of you. I am humbled by your outpouring of love and concern. I have certainly experienced the power of your prayers as they have helped me get through some bumps along the way in my recovery.
As with any surgery there are obstacles to overcome and I appreciate very much all of your support. Though I still have some work to do in physical and occupational therapy, I am grateful to be back in the diocese and on the path to healing. Each day I am making progress and am learning to be patient and practicing perseverance.
Obviously this recovery process is taking longer than I had anticipated, but with all the wonderful care I have received and continue to receive from my doctors, nurses, aids, therapists and staff, I hope to be back in the swing of things soon. Until then please continue to keep me in your prayers and be assured that all of you are in mine.
Asking God to bless each and every one of you, I am
Yours sincerely, in the Lord,
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
November 6, 2009 Bishops support reform with changes Dear Friends in Christ,
Our United States Congress is preparing to debate health care reform legislation. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) strongly supports genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all, from the moment of conception until natural death. Current bills, however, are seriously deficient on abortion and conscience rights, and do not yet provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor.
For many years, the bishops have supported decent health care for all. Health care is indeed essential for human life and dignity. Specifically, the bishops have clearly required that longstanding federal protections that restrict abortion funding and mandates and that protect conscience rights must be reflected in health reform legislation.
In addition, the bishops have focused on efforts to insure that coverage is affordable to families and that immigrants have better health care as a result of reform. We seek reform that protects the life, dignity and health care of all.
In a letter to Congress on Oct. 8, Bishop William Murphy, chair of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice; Cardinal Justin Regali, chair of the USCCB Pro-Life Committee; and Bishop John Wester, chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration sent a joint letter to Congress stating:
On behalf of the USCCB, we are writing to express our disappointment that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform that we have conveyed previously to Congress. In fact, the Senate Finance Committee rejected a conscience rights amendment accepted earlier by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
If final legislation does not meet our principles, we will have no choice but to oppose the bill. We remain committed to working with the Administration, Congressional leadership, and our allies to produce final health reform legislation that will reflect our principles.
We continue to urge you to:
1. Exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test.
2. Adopt measures that protect and improve people’s health care. Reform should make quality health care affordable and accessible to everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable and those who live at or near the poverty level.
3. Include effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society. Ensure that legal immigrants and their family members have comprehensive, affordable, and timely access to health care coverage. Maintain an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered.
We sincerely hope that the legislation will not fall short of our criteria. However, we remain apprehensive when amendments protecting freedom of conscience and ensuring no taxpayer money for abortion are defeated in committee votes. If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously.
Catholic moral tradition teaches that health care is a basic human right, essential to protecting human life and dignity. Much-needed reform of our health care system must be pursued in ways that serve the life and dignity of all, never in ways that undermine or violate these fundamental values. We will work tirelessly to remedy these central problems and help pass real reform that clearly protects the life, dignity and health of all.
Therefore I urge all of you, if you have not already done so, to contact your Senator and Representative and voice your deep concern on abortion, conscience rights and providing adequate access to health care for legal immigrants and the poor. Even if you know your Congressmen to be pro-life, let him hear your concerns.
Let him know not to accept any bill that threatens these longstanding federal restrictions on abortion funding and longstanding protections on conscience.
Thank you and God bless you!
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
May 22, 2009 Year for Priests opens June 19 By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
As the Easter Season continues to draw closer to its culmination with the celebration of the great solemnity of Pentecost, the birth of the church, I would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of two upcoming events in the life of our diocesan church and their connection to the universal church.
Pope Benedict has declared June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010 as a Year for Priests. This is to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the patron of priests. June 19, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been declared a day of prayer for the sanctity of priests throughout the world. Please see the related article (on page 3) in this paper on indulgences and the Year for Priests.
I ask all our Catholic faithful in the diocese to devote some extra time on June 19 to pray for our priests. As a diocese we will officially open the Year for Priests on Sunday, June 21, with the celebration of Solemn Evening Prayer in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle at 6 p.m. I invite everyone to come to this opening celebration and pray together with me in support of our priests.
The weekend before the opening of the Year for Priests, June 12-14, is the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — traditionally called Corpus Christi. During this weekend, I am asking all parishes and missions to make this a time of prayer for vocations in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
At St. Peter Cathedral I will be leading an adapted version of the traditional Forty Hours devotion beginning with the celebration of the Eucharist at noon on Friday, June 12, followed by Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The celebration will close with a procession and Mass on Sunday, June 14, beginning at 10 a.m.
The most significant application of the Forty Hours devotion is that the Lord’s body reposed in the tomb for a period of about 40 hours between his death and resurrection. Therefore, the Forty Hours devotion is linked quite closely with the adoration of the Lord’s body.
The focus of Forty Hours devotion has always been to direct the faithful to the celebration of the Eucharist as the center of the life of the church. Because of its emphasis on the Eucharist, Forty Hours devotion reminds us of the primacy of this sacrament within the life of our diocese in our parishes and the individual lives of each one of us.
In the Second Vatican Council’s document Lumen Gentium (#11), the Council Fathers declare the Eucharist as the “source and summit” of the whole Christian life. St. Thomas Aquinas stated, “The Eucharist occupies a unique place as the sacrament of sacraments: All of the sacraments are ordered to it as their end.”
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in a monstrance on the main altar of the cathedral during these three days, except during the cathedral parish’s Corpus Christi weekend Masses at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. There will be Evening Prayer on Friday, June 12, at 6 p.m.; a sacred music offering on Saturday, June 13, at noon; and the procession and closing Mass at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
More detailed information will be available in the next Mississippi Catholic and on the diocesan website — www.jacksondiocese.org — by June 1.
I invite everyone to come and share in this weekend at the cathedral and encourage all parishes and missions to offer a local time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the faithful to come and pray for vocations and the needs of the church.
Let us use this time and indeed the entire Year for Priests to reinvigorate our dedication to the sacrament of the Eucharist in all its sacredness and to join our hearts and prayers together as a diocesan family gathered around this most Blessed Sacrament in prayer for vocations to serve our church now and in the years to come.
April 10, 2009 Christ has died, He has risen! By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, verse 1 and following, the sacred author tells us: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. All these various times the author refers to are times we experience in our physical lives. They are all part and parcel of everyday living. They are all times that form and direct and develop our human and physical relationships.
There are also times that direct and form our spiritual growth and our relationship with each other and our God. For example, in the liturgical year, we Catholics observe and celebrate Advent as the season of preparation and anticipation to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Lent is the spiritual season when through our prayers and acts of penance we journey with Christ to Jerusalem for his arrest, conviction and death. Easter is the time and season we celebrate Christ’s final victory over sin and death and rejoice over our future resurrection through him.
Easter and the celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death validates all that Christ said and did. It is the fulfillment of the prediction: destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days. (Jn 2:19) His resurrection not only verified his true identity, it also guaranteed resurrection to all who believe in him. Whoever believes in me even though he should die will live forever. (Jn 17-33)
Down through the ages, unbelievers and skeptics have rejected Christ’s resurrection. Even from apostolic times there were those who claimed it was just a hoax conceived by his followers who simply stole his body to perpetuate a lie.
For us and all Christians to believe it is a lie, we would be guilty of rejecting the promise St. Paul gave to his beloved Corinthians: If Christ has not been raised … then those who have died in Christ have perished and if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is worthless. (1 Cor 15:17-18)
Christ’s conquest over sin and death gives meaning and justifies all the other seasons and times we celebrate during our liturgical year. Had Christ died and stayed dead, we would have no reason to yearly anticipate his birth. Had he not risen but stayed dead, we would have no reason to celebrate anything beyond Good Friday.
But we are a resurrection people and it is in the celebration of Easter that we realize and understand that true and lasting life comes through death, the death of Christ. In his letter to the Romans (6:3-5) St. Paul clearly stresses the importance of Resurrection to our faith when he says: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? For if we have been invited with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
In the liturgy for Easter, we joyfully sing: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This Easter, like all Easters, is the time for us who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection to proclaim: Christ has died, Christ has risen. Alleluia.
May the blessings of the Risen Lord be with you all forever. May you always be an Easter people, recognizing the death of Christ but celebrating his resurrection. May the joy, peace and blessings of this Easter season be with all. Alleluia!
March 20, 2009 Bishop Latino urges all to stand for life By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
In last week’s Mississippi Catholic there was an article from Catholic News Service (CNS) about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) accepting public comments on its move to rescind the regulation protecting medical providers’ conscience rights.
On Monday, March 16, Cardinal Francis George, speaking on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), released the following statement:
On Friday afternoon, Feb. 27, the Obama Administration placed on a federal website the news that it intends to remove a conscience protection rule for the Department of Health and Human Services. That rule is one part of the range of legal protections for health care workers — for doctors, nurses and others — who have objections in conscience to being involved in abortion and other killing procedures that are against how they live their faith in God.
As Catholic bishops and American citizens, we are deeply concerned that such an action on the government’s part would be the first step in moving our country from democracy to despotism.
Respect for personal conscience and freedom of religion as such ensures our basic freedom from government oppression. No government should come between an individual person and God — that’s what America is supposed to be about. This is the true common ground for us as Americans.
We therefore need legal protection for freedom of conscience and of religion—including freedom for religious health care institutions to be true to themselves.
People understand what really happens in an abortion and in related procedures — a living member of the human family is killed — that’s what it’s all about — and no one should be forced by the government to act as though he or she were blind to this reality.
With the recent repeal of the ban on public funding for embryonic stem cell research and the impending vote on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), I urge all Catholics in the Diocese of Jackson to stand up for life and freedom. Send your concerns to HHS through mail or e-mail. The mailing address is Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW, room 716G, Washington, DC 20201. The deadline for submitting comments to HHS is April 9. So please do not delay.
The following words are a suggested guide by the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment: Please retain the conscience regulation, and enforce current laws protecting the right of health care providers to serve patients without violating their moral and religious convictions. The right of conscience protected by existing federal laws is inviolable.
Weakening protection for this right will harm the ethical integrity of our healing professions, drive caring people out of these professions, and reduce patients’ access to much-needed basic health care.
More information on this pro-life issue is available from the U.S. bishops’ website. A video of Cardinal George’s statement is also available at this site along with the comments of a Catholic health care professional in English and Spanish.
February 20, 2009 The Lenten Season By Bishop Joseph Latino
In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes the sacred author says “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven.” (Eccl 3:1)
Just as surely as there are seasons of the calendar year that are recognized and observed by us and there are events and dates that we celebrate in history so too are there seasons, events and occasions that we Catholics observe in our liturgical calendar each year.
Lent is the liturgical time of the church year when we Catholics are invited and encouraged to express interior penance in various ways. Sacred Scripture and the Fathers of the Church insist that prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the three best ways to express conversion in relation to self, to God and to others.
According to the fifth law of the church, “You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence…,” the faithful also have “the obligation of providing for the material needs of the church, each according to his abilities.” (Catholic Catechism 2043)
In the past the church mandated certain days and seasons that were to be special days of penance and even identified the manner in which our penance was to be expressed. Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent were and still are days of fast and abstinence. On these days those of age (14 years to 60) are prohibited from eating meat and limited to only one full meal.
The season of Lent is patterned after Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert. If Lent is to be understood and appreciated we must see it as a time of change and transformation from sin and the attachments to sin. It is our time to repent through our self-imposed acts of prayer, fasting, good works, almsgiving and whatever else we choose.
Contrary to the misunderstanding and misinformation of some, the church has not only not taught that penance is no longer necessary but rather she calls us to observe not only the imposed fast and abstinence days of Ash Wednesday and all Fridays, she also calls and encourages us to good works, actions or whatever draws us closer to Christ and further away from our sins.
Lent can best be observed and beneficial if it is not seen simply as a time for us to give up something unless the something we give up is sin. Lent is a grace time for us in our efforts to reject sin, to commit ourselves to do something more to deepen our personal relation with Christ.
Some practical positive suggestions are: attend Mass besides Sunday worship; read a chapter of Scripture daily; recite the rosary or a part each day; visit the sick; befriend someone who needs a friend; patch up broken relations; help the needy, the poor, the stranger; read a spiritual book, receive the sacraments of penance and Eucharist.
Lent is a very special time and we should experience it in a special way. The reception of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday should not only remind us “that we are dust and to dust we shall return,” it should also call us to “repent and believe in the Good News of our salvation.”
January 23, 2009 Year of St. Paul offers indulgences By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Though, as of this writing, the situation in Gaza has calmed down somewhat in terms of fighting, the results of that horrific violence are still being realized with more casualties being found in the rubble of what used to be homes and shops. These tragic scenes remind us of the desperate need to seek peace in this volatile part of our world.
In a recent statement by representatives from bishops’ conferences from Europe and North America, the church once again has called for an end to the killing and violence and an opening of diplomacy that will lead to a just resolution and reconciliation of that region.
The following are a few quotes from the statement:
The message of the Prince of Peace, born in this land, reminds us that peace is possible. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) The darkness of this time will give way to light.
To the leaders of the international community we say: Work with Israelis and Palestinians to stop the violence in Gaza and provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance. To the people of God in our countries we say: Intensify your prayer for the welfare of the Mother Church and the peace of Jerusalem.
To the Christians of the Mother Church in the Holy Land we say: We see in you the suffering face of Christ who lost everything for our sake. You are not alone. We are one family, a worldwide communion in Christ. We hear your cries as you suffer alongside your brothers and sisters in the wider community. We assure you of our love, our prayer and our continued solidarity. We ask you to pray for us.
In solidarity with the people of Gaza and the Holy Land, I have asked that the following intercession be offered at all parish liturgies in our diocese through the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2:
For a true and lasting peace in Gaza and in the Holy Land, that will bring about justice, reconciliation and healing for all people of faith.
I ask all of us to fervently pray this intercession in our personal prayers as well. May our prayers unite us with all of those suffering from these violent acts and bring us to a better understanding of the history and life of the land where our Lord Jesus Christ brought the Father’s message of peace, forgiveness and love.
Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson
November 14, 2008 Year of St. Paul offers indulgences By Bishop Joseph N. Latino We are now well into the church’s Year of St. Paul, marking the 2000th anniversary of the Apostle’s birth. During this jubilee year, Catholics around the world are making pilgrimages to holy sites where St. Paul traveled to spread the Gospel. As part of this jubilee, the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary announced a plenary indulgence could be obtained by the faithful for making such a pilgrimage.
Conditions for obtaining a plenary indulgence are: participation in the sacrament of penance during or within a few days of the pilgrimage; reception of Holy Communion; prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father; a spirit of detachment from inclination to sin; and a desire to join in a jubilee celebration in honor of St. Paul.
Therefore, the faithful who are properly disposed and who adhere to the conditions attached may receive this indulgence.
For the Year of St. Paul in the Diocese of Jackson, a plenary indulgence may be obtained by making a pilgrimage to: St. Paul Parish in Vicksburg; St. Paul Parish in Flowood; the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson; St. Mary Basilica in Natchez; St. James Parish in Tupelo; Christ the King Parish in Southaven; or Our Lady of Victories Parish in Cleveland on any of the following dates: Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25, 2009), the Shipwreck of St. Paul (Feb. 10, 2009), the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 19, 2009), or the Vigil/Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul (June 28-29, 2009).
In the Catholic Church there is a long standing, approved and clearly defined tradition of praying for and receiving indulgences. We believe the church, as the minister of the Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the graces won by Christ and the saints to the faithful.
According to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (#1471), an indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven.”
An indulgence can be partial – remove part of the temporal punishment due – or plenary – remove all the temporal punishment due (CCC 1471). A plenary indulgence is a special gift offered by God through the church to help us attain purity of heart and holiness of life.
The church believes and teaches that although the forgiveness of sin restores union with God and includes complete forgiveness from eternal punishment due to sin, the temporal punishment due to sin remains.
The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of penance. To fully understand the true meaning and value of indulgences, one should first understand the sacrament of penance or reconciliation.
Forgiveness of personal sins committed after the sacrament of baptism is received normally through the sacrament of penance, or what we popularly call confession or reconciliation.
We believe Jesus gave this power to the church when he said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (Jn 20:22-23)
Sin affects the individual, the church and the whole world. The consequence of grave sin is the loss of union with God and the loss of eternal life. The consequence of venial sin although it does not separate one from complete union with God, it indicates a contrary commitment to total union with God and an unhealthy attachment to someone or something less than God.
Regardless of the seriousness of sin, however, whether mortal or venial, the ordinary means of forgiveness for Catholics is the worthy reception of the sacrament of penance.
Moreover, since we believe all who have been forgiven and have died in God’s grace, although assured of eternal life after death, experience a time of purgation, then it is in the context of the Catholic Church’s belief and teaching concerning the souls in purgatory and their temporal punishment that the church’s belief and teaching concerning indulgences and the mercy of God also can be found and understood.
Purgatory is that time between death and eternal life when a final purification from the sins committed in life occurs. It is not vengeance imposed by God, but rather the desire and need of the souls of the just to achieve complete forgiveness by repairing the harm caused by personal sin. We, the living, are able to offer prayers, works of charity and self-sacrifice to God on behalf of the souls in purgatory.
During this month of November, the church in a special way has been devoted to praying for the souls in purgatory. In our prayers, works of charity and sacrifice we are able to offer these actions to God for those souls in the hope that God will hear our petitions on their behalf and that God will have mercy on them and on us.
In addition to any special intentions an individual may bring on the pilgrimage, I ask that prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life for our diocese be offered as well.
Any member of the faithful prevented from making a pilgrimage by illness or another legitimate and important cause, may, always in a spirit of detachment from any inclination to sin and with the intention of fulfilling the conditions as soon as possible, obtain the plenary indulgence, as long as they spiritually join in one of the jubilee celebrations in honor of St Paul.
November 14, 2008
Bishop congratulates president-elect By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
As Bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, I offer my sincere congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama. Through our democratic process, our country has chosen him to lead our nation in a world filled with uncertainty and strife, but it is also a world full of hope for a better future for our children.
President-elect Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of our country at a time when we as a nation are facing dangerous and trying times. Loss of jobs for many; increasing cost of living; nation and world experiencing disastrous economic conditions; bankruptcies; wars and threats of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Africa; growing threats of terrorism; etc., all of which are great challenges for him, our nation and the world.
His election as the first African American president is an historic moment in the life of the United States. So many people have suffered and even died so that this day would come and we cannot help but be moved by this moment. May the memory of those struggles by countless numbers of people – known and unknown – be a source of inspiration and guidance for him as he takes on this heavy responsibility.
We look to him to provide the leadership that will unite and not divide. Now is the time for American Catholics to join with all American religious denominations to help promote justice and foster the common good for all. This being said, I believe we – even in these difficult times – need to continue to speak clearly and persuasively that this is our duty as a people under one God.
It is our fervent prayer that he will use the powers of the office which has been entrusted to him by the people of this great country to heal the wounds of division and bring about a world of peace and justice, especially for the most vulnerable members of our society – the unborn, the poor, the marginalized and the elderly.
Our prayer for our new president and for all of us is that we all may one day be truly one!
+Joseph N. Latino
Bishop of Jackson.
October 17, 2008
Americans, our vote is a responsibility By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
In the introduction to the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: The U.S. Bishops’ Reflection on Catholic Teaching and Political Life,” the bishops state:
We are a nation founded on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but the right to life itself is not fully protected, especially for unborn children, the most vulnerable members of the American family.
We are called to be peacemakers in a nation at war. We are a country pledged to pursue “liberty and justice for all,” but we are too often divided across lines of race, ethnicity, and economic inequality. We are a nation of immigrants, struggling to address the challenges of many new immigrants in our midst.
We are a society built on the strength of our families, called to defend marriage and offer moral and economic supports for family life. We are a powerful nation in a violent world, confronting terror and trying to build a safer, more just, more peaceful world.
We are an affluent society where too many live in poverty and lack health care and other necessities of life. We are part of a global community facing urgent threats to the environment that must sustain us.
These challenges are at the heart of public life and at the center of the pursuit of the common good.
As American citizens we not only have the right to vote, it is a responsibility – one not to be taken lightly or handled casually. As Catholics, we must educate ourselves on the many issues that face our nation and world and reflect seriously on those issues.
During his homily at Yankee Stadium last April, Pope Benedict XVI said the following: “How many ‘spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God’ have been offered up in these two centuries!
“In this land of religious liberty, Catholics found freedom not only to practice their faith, but also to participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square and cooperating with their neighbors in shaping a vibrant, democratic society.”
“Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means… rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, ‘there is no human activity – even in secular affairs – which can be withdrawn from God’s dominion’ (Lumen Gentium, 36).
“It means working to enrich American society and culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel, and never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives.”
For the Catholic Church, faithful citizenship includes responsible voting that is based in moral principles not the platform of any one political party; moral principles rooted in Scripture and Catholic social teaching; principles centered on some very fundamental ideals, i.e., the life and dignity of the human person, the call to family and community, the rights and responsibilities that come with freedom, the option for the poor and vulnerable in our midst, solidarity with the suffering, and caring for God’s creation.
The responsibility of voting calls us to prayerfully form our hearts and minds on these moral principles, which echo God’s design for the common good. It calls each individual to form his or her own conscience.
Pope John Paul II defines the conscience as: “the most secret core and sanctuary of a person, where we are alone with God. In the depths of our conscience, we detect a moral law, which does not impose itself on us, but which holds us to a higher obedience.”
As part of our prayerful formation for the upcoming election I am asking all the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Jackson to pray the novena prayer below. This prayer may be prayed individually or in groups or even at the end of Mass.
However you choose to pray it, please include it as part of your daily preparation as we approach Nov. 4. Our country needs much prayer. Let us offer this novena as a prayer for justice, peace and life.
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship continues a long tradition by the bishops to help Catholics prayerfully form their consciences in order to vote in a national election. Forming Consciences and the entire election novena may be found at www.faithfulcitizenship.org.
September 26, 2008
Put `compassionate face’ on situation By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
The issue of immigration continues to cause many challenges for our state and country. It is most unfortunate that mentioning this subject brings out the worst in some people. We must remember that human beings not just abstract ideals are involved in immigration.
Our country has laws and policies in place to regulate immigration. These laws and policies are difficult to enforce. Laws and policies can be cold and impersonal.
As people of faith we believe justice should always be tempered with mercy. Respect for human dignity and compassion for human life, especially the innocent lives caught in the middle, should always be at the forefront in the enforcement of laws and policies.
The recent use of raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in workplaces clearly demonstrates the need to develop a more just and humane system of enforcing our immigration laws and policy.
The use of raids does not address the real causes of illegal immigration nor does the use of raids provide any just solution to the entire situation. The raids very much are an affront to basic human dignity and cause the separation of families – husbands from wives, parents from children.
The Catholic Church in no way supports or encourages illegal immigration. Illegal immigration does not benefit the common good of our society. Because undocumented immigrants are often paid lower wages than U.S. workers, illegal immigration can drive the cost of wages down for everyone. This increases poverty among more and more people in our country.
Pastorally speaking, illegal immigration also causes human beings to live a life lacking in dignity due to constant hiding, fear and abuse of basic human rights. Our church’s social service agencies, such as Catholic Charities, serve people from all walks of life because they are in need. We do not ask for documentation from individuals because the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors.
The reality is that under the current system individuals are being exploited in poor working and living conditions and families are being painfully separated. Respect for the sacredness and dignity of human life is what is at the heart of the church’s position on immigration. The church has always and will always speak for this fundamental universal value.
The church also always respects the rights of a sovereign nation to enforce its laws. The United States is a nation built on a system of laws and principles.
However, if a law or the means used to enforce that law violates human dignity and basic human rights, then it is not just. The current immigration enforcement policy is indeed unjust.
Yes, we should be concerned about laws being broken and our national security. Societies crumble when laws are ignored and broken. We should also be concerned that the current system of using raids to enforce immigration laws eats away at the fabric of our nation and the fabric of humanity.
Our church by her very nature is an immigrant church. Because of our experience throughout the life of our church we are compelled to work for reform and voice the need for an immigration enforcement policy that benefits the entire human community.
Let us remember to put a compassionate face on this situation – the face of Jesus Christ.
May 2 , 2008
Ask Mary to strengthen vocations By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
For Catholics the month of May is dedicated in a special way to our Blessed Lady, mother of Jesus and our mother in the order of grace. Through her “fiat” (let it be done unto me) she became the first disciple and the first to accept Jesus Christ in her heart even before he came into her womb.
In the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” #973, it states: “By pronouncing her ‘fiat’ at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body.”
At the end of her life the church teaches in the doctrine of the Assumption that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven where her “intercession continues to bring us to the gifts of eternal salvation” (“Lumen Gentium” 62). In the Byzantine liturgy, there is a beautiful prayer in the liturgy for the feast of the Dormition or what we celebrate as the feast of the Assumption that describes this intercession: In giving birth you kept your virginity;
in your Dormition you did not leave the world,
O Mother of God,
but were joined to the source of Life.
You conceived the living God and,
by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.
Throughout the history and life of the church, the faithful have turned to our Blessed Lady for her intercession calling upon her under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactor and Mediatrix. (cf. LG 62)
In light of these roles attributed to Mary, this May I am asking that we in a dedicated way invoke the intercession of our Blessed Lady to open the hearts of young men and women to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood and religious life and a life of service to her Son through the church.
This intercession also could be added to all weekend liturgies during May:
“May the intercession of Mary, mother of the church and mediatrix, create in the hearts and minds of young men and women in our diocese an openness to serve Christ and his Church as priests and women and men religious. We pray to the Lord.”
Many of you already participate in rosary circles and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I ask that you would incorporate this simple yet profound intercession as part of your ongoing prayer efforts.
For those of you, who participate in the most venerable act of praying the Liturgy of the Hours, contemplate adding this intercession to those listed in the Hours. After the closing prayer consider adding the “O Sanctissima.”
As many of you may know we will have one ordination to the priesthood this year. Deacon Lincoln Dall will be ordained on Saturday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. I invite all of you to come and show your support that day for Lincoln as he commits himself to our diocese and a life of service through the ordained ministry.
Through much prayer Lincoln discerned his vocation and heard the Lord calling him. How many more of our young people through prayer and gentle nudging could be encouraged by each of us to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?
Often all it takes is a suggestion from a mother, father, brother, sister, friend, teacher, pastor, etc., to make a young person truly and prayerfully consider a life of service in this unique way. It is the responsibility of all of us to nurture and to nudge vocations for our church.
Let us invoke Mary, our Mother, to provide receptive hearts and minds in our young people and wisdom in each of us to recognize that receptiveness and in turn encourage these young people to sincerely and prayerfully be open to her Son’s call to follow him.
March 21, 2008 ‘He is risen. Alleluia!’ He is risen as he said! Alleluia! Throughout his public ministry, Jesus was constantly challenged by skeptics who disbelieved in his identity. They were never convinced nor satisfied. Whatever signs he worked, they wanted more. They even accused him of having power that came from the devil. Even his own disciples did not understand and fully believe who he was and what he came to accomplish. To the skeptics and critics who demanded a sign he said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Even his disciples tried to question his decision to go to Jerusalem when he said he must go so the Son of Man could be betrayed, convicted, crucified and buried so that in three days he could rise again. For the disciples, Jerusalem was perceived as the end of their dreams and hopes and not the beginning of his victory over sin and death. Even his disciples did not fully understand or believe he was truly the Lamb of God sent by the will of his Father to be the sacrificial victim of the new covenant. For we who do believe he is indeed the Son of God come to purchase our salvation by the price of his blood, Easter is indeed the day the Lord has made and gladly we rejoice in it. It is his Resurrection from the dead that guarantees even if we die, we too shall rise again with him. It is right and fitting that we rejoice on Easter Day, the greatest feast of our liturgical year for this is the day that gives meaning and sense to all of our Sunday celebrations. As the beautiful Easter Proclamation that is sung at the Easter Vigil says, “This is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true lamb is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers . . . this is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. What good would life have been to us had Christ not come as our Redeemer?” Celebrating and rejoicing in the Easter Mystery is necessary if we really believe in Jesus for it is his resurrection that verifies his identity as the Christ, the Lamb of God. Had he only died and not risen then our belief would be only in a Jesus who was crucified. Such a belief would make us the most foolish of all men as St. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor 15:17-18) As we celebrate the joy of this Easter victory, may the blessings of the resurrected Christ be yours and your families today and all the days of your lives. May we always be an Easter people, willing to die to self and sin so we can rise with Christ. May we this Easter proclaim the same words spoken to Mary by the Angel as she approached the empty tomb: “He is risen as he said! Alleluia!” (Mt 28:6)
– Bishop Joseph N. Latino
12/21/07 ‘O come all ye faithful’ By Bishop Joseph N. Latino These are the lyrics of a well known and well loved Christmas carol. Once upon a time this carol, along with displays of cribs and statues and decorations proclaiming Christmas time and the Christmas seasons and exchanges of Merry Christmas greetings, were welcomed and expected generally by everyone. Today however, we live in a society that is directed by the attitude which rejects everything that is politically incorrect. Under the pretext of not wanting to offend anyone, certain symbols are no longer allowed or acceptable in public places. Traditional and familiar greetings identifying the season and the reason for all the cards, good wishes, the exchanging of gifts, visiting of friends and families are now reduced to simply wishing a “happy season” to those we meet. Christmas, however, is not just a “happy season” time. It is the celebration of a particular birth – the birth of Christ the Messiah, the eternal Son of God. It is not just a time limited to tinsel, colored lights and good meaningless feelings and secular reasons to party. How tragic it is that today we are living in a very vocal society that would strip us of our faith, our beliefs and our traditions. It seems to me that one who does not believe what I believe is free to choose not to believe. However, it is not true, or just, to refuse or deny me my right to believe. I refuse to accept the idea that my religious practices should be relinquished simply to avoid offending anyone; just as surely as I believe that I should not be offended by another’s faith or lack of faith. We who choose to believe, celebrate the birth of one who came into a world that was sadly oblivious of his presence. He was recognized only by a few and shortly after his birth, he was sought by someone who tried to destroy him. Sadly it seems to me our society today would prefer us to also be oblivious of his presence. It seems our society wishes to obliterate his name or anything and everything that suggests or refers to him, even to the absurdity of changing the name of a tree from “Christ-mass” to simply festival tree. May we who boast and claim the name “Christ”-ian, always profess the reason we celebrate and never deny or accept any other reason. We wish you all a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and may you and your families be worthy recipients of the Child Jesus’ greatest blessings. May we who believe and practice our beliefs, regardless of those who do not nor want to believe, be the ones who eagerly and faithfully respond to the invitation: O come all ye faithful!
12/14/07 Survey shows our concerns, bishop says By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
In November all of our parishes were sent surveys for parishioners to complete involving their concerns on current social issues. The survey was designed by the diocesan Poverty Task Force and will help us develop an advocacy strategy for the 2008 legislative session.
According to the task force, your response to the survey was overwhelming. I truly would like to thank all of you who participated and made the survey such a success. Your thoughts and views are important in creating a sense of where the needs are in each area of the diocese.
The results of the surveys show the great commitment we as Catholics have to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the church. This was evidenced in responses citing as important issues related to the dignity of human life, education, and health care.
The task force in conjunction with the Parish Social Ministry Office at Catholic Charities will now be able to better monitor proposed legislation and make these concerns known to elected officials. Surely your participation in the survey has assisted greatly in our efforts as a church to address issues that affect the lives of all in Mississippi.
As Catholic Christians we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to be a voice for the voiceless, to work for justice for those who are poor and marginalized and to reflect God’s mercy to all.
In St. Luke’s Gospel (4: 16-21), Jesus reads from Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free….” Jesus goes on to proclaim “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
As the season of Advent continues, I suggest we all read prayerfully that chapter in St. Luke and consider how we as Christians may carry on the mission of Christ proclaimed by him in that synagogue in Nazareth so many years ago.
Our state continually ranks at the bottom of many crucial categories. As a church let us dedicate ourselves to working for the improvement of all of God’s children. An important way to do that is to be educated on issues that affect us and those around us.
In January Mississippi Catholic will be publishing its annual Legislative Preview: A Catholic Perspective. In the preview there will be more information on the issues highlighted in the survey as well as some other issues that we have been monitoring for several months now.
I hope you will take the time to read the preview and learn how you can become involved in carrying out the mission of Christ and the church by bringing the Gospel into the lives of our fellow Mississippians.”
10/19/07 Second century Mass
very close to current rite By Bishop Joseph Latino On Thursday evening, Oct. 4, I attended a very significant gathering here in Jackson at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road. I, along with leaders and representatives of Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, was the guest of Mr. Sabri Agachan. Mr. Sabri is the local representative of the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue sponsored by Muslims in Turkey. Unfortunately, the gathering and the occasion for the banquet attracted no attention from the written or visual press. The Institute of Interfaith Dialogue (IID) is based on the belief that dialogue and mutual respect can build lasting relationships and bonds among people of various ideologies and cultures and ultimately promote peace. The IID believes dialogue is the tool which can dispel prejudices where all others have failed. Dialogue can bring about a serenity, understanding and harmony in which all peoples of all faith convictions can live in peace. The pursuit and growth of dialogue between all faiths is vital, especially in both educational and cultural dimensions, so that our younger generations do not become cultural or religious bigots in conflict with each other, but genuine brothers and sisters in one humanity. It is in and through sincere dialogue, regardless of our particular religious creed, we will finally come to the realization that we are all made by the one God and share in the one image of that God. On the occasion of the end of the observance of Ramadan, ‘Id al-Fitr, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Church, issued the following statement in the document, “Promoting a Culture of Peace”: As religious believers, it is up to us all to be educators of peace, of human rights, of a freedom which respects each person, but also ensures increasingly strong social bonds, because man must take care of his brothers and sisters without discrimination. No individual in the national community should be excluded on the grounds of his or her race, religion or any other personal characteristics. Together, as members of different religious traditions, we are called to spread a teaching which honors all human creatures, a message of love between individuals and peoples. With the tensions that have arisen at this time because of the extremism of some who falsely misinterpret and misuse their own creeds, it is essential at this time that there be honest and open dialogue. Christians, Jews and Muslims and people of all faiths must work together through dialogue and mutual respect that peace and an harmonious future can be achieved. It is through honest, open dialogue that young people will find hope for their future. Honest, open dialogue is more urgent than ever to teach younger generations of the fundamental human, moral and civic values which are necessary to both personal and community life. It is the common good of every society and of the future of the entire world which is at stake. May what was shared by all those present at that gathering on Oct. 4 continue to develop increasingly friendly and constructive relationships among all of us. It is the common good of every society and the entire world which is at stake. We cannot, we dare not, neglect to try what may be the last and best chance for the peace and harmony that we all individually say we long for. It is my prayer and hope, quoting from my own motto taken from the beautiful prayer Jesus prayed for us in John 17:21: “That they all may be one.”
07/20/07
Pope’s letter defines celebration of Mass in Roman Rite By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
On Saturday, July 7, Pope Benedict issued as Motu Proprio an ApostolicLetter entitled Summorum Pontificum (Of the Supreme Pontiffs). This document, which sets down norms for the celebration of Mass in the Roman Rite, is set to take effect on Sept. 14, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Much talk preceded the release of this document. Some expressed great joy, while others felt the church would be taking a step backward. Now that it is published I think we can see that the Holy Father is genuinely and sincerely concerned about the historical and spiritual continuity of our ancient liturgy and also the proper celebration of it.
In Summorum Pontificum the Holy Father addresses the hurt and confusion regarding the Missal of St. Pius V or Tridentine Mass, casually called the Latin Mass, and the fact that it is no longer in regular use even though it was never abrogated by the Second Vatican Council Fathers.
He reaches out to those communities that may have been marginalized by this fact and by some of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council and ultimately left the church, for example those who followed Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
Summorum Pontificum better defines for us the Roman Rite, which is the sacred liturgy of the Western Catholic Church. The Mass and Missal of Pope Paul VI promulgated in 1970 is to be considered the ordinary form of the Roman Rite; the Mass and Missal of St. Pius V, in the edition promulgated in 1962 by Blessed John XXIII is to be considered the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. These ordinary and extraordinary forms make the one Roman Rite.
In developing and publishing these regulatory norms, Pope Benedict has set about to deepen an appreciation for the beauty of both forms in the hopes that each form will benefit from and contribute to the other.
We must be careful, as our Holy Father explains in his letter to bishops that accompanied Summorum Pontificum, not to be guilty of thinking one form is better or more sacred than the other form.
Both forms keep the liturgical continuity of our ancient rites. Both forms are to be considered a worthy part of our tradition.
In the letter, Pope Benedict also has given me as a diocesan bishop some foundational guidelines regarding the pastoral care of the diocese and the Rite. As the diocesan bishop, I have a great responsibility to ensure that the worship of the local diocesan church is done with great reverence and respect.
In the Church’s Code of Canon Law, Canon 835 §1 states: The bishops in the first place exercise the sanctifying function; they are the high priests, the principal dispensers of the mysteries of God, and the directors, promoters, and guardians of the entire liturgical life in the church entrusted to them.
Canon 835 §2 defines the role of the priest and his relation to the bishop when it comes to liturgy: Presbyters also exercise this function; sharing in the priesthood of Christ and as his ministers under the authority of the bishop, they are consecrated to celebrate divine worship and to sanctify the people.
I hold the rites of our church in great esteem and expect them to be celebrated properly and in a way that brings unity and growth to our people. Both forms of the Roman Rite require careful study and dedication to the ancient tradition of our church.
For a priest, the extraordinary form requires knowledge of Latin – both meaning and pronunciation – and the intricate movements of this particular form. We may not be able to respond immediately to situations because of this.
Our priests have many responsibilities in covering their current assignments. As a diocese, we will try our best to meet the needs of all our faithful in a way that builds and strengthens the prayer life of the local church.
An unofficial translation of the document from the Vatican is on our diocesan website, www.jacksondiocese.org, under Current News. In the upcoming issues of Mississippi Catholic, I hope to share more with you on the continuity, history and development of our ancient liturgy.
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07/20/07
More unites us as Christians than divides us’ By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Many of you either read or saw news reports last week with headlines stating that Pope Benedict XVI had released a statement saying the only way to salvation is through the Catholic Church. These media reports were misleading and filled withmisinformation – basically false. No where in the document is the statement or any similar wording that the only way to salvation is through the Catholic Church.
I pray that any hurt or anger you may have experienced or which you might have received from non-Catholic friends and family members will be healed in a Christian compassionate way. We have contacted the media sources responsible for this and expressed our dismay and disappointment in such poorly done articles.
It is irresponsible to oversimplify and misinterpret a complex theological discussion into a short news story for an audience not always familiar with the theological language of the Catholic Church.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document July 10, entitled “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church.” The document clarified questions that had been the subject of theological debate for many years.
The document did not express any new doctrine or teachings. It made clear what church teaching already was concerning how the Catholic Church defines itself as the Catholic Church.
In paragraph 8 of “Lumen Gentium” (LG), the “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church” from the Second Vatican Council, the Church Fathers restate a long held definition of our Church:
This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Savior, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as “the pillar and mainstay of the truth” (1Timothy 3:15).
This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure.
The document from the congregation merely clarifies that the Church which Jesus established on earth “subsists in” the Catholic Church. This means the “perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church, in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.”
In other words, the fullness of everything that Jesus meant for his Church to be on earth is found in the Catholic Church.
The document does not in any way attempt to denigrate other Christian denominations. The document is clarifying what the Catholic Church teaches that the Catholic Church believes to be the Church of Christ. It is a theological clarification filled with terms that if read on the surface level might indeed be perceived as harsh or offensive to non Catholic Christians.
In terms of the incorrect statement that “salvation is only through the Catholic Church,” the document basically says that because of the elements of truth and sanctification that are present in these churches and ecclesial communities they are indeed used by Christ as instruments of salvation for their members.
Apparently the media was not working from the actual document and developed an incorrect summary. This mistake has caused some most unfortunate misunderstandings by many in the community.
Cardinal Walter Kasper of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity has an excellent thought on reading this document: “A thorough reading of the text makes clear that the document does not say that the Protestant churches are not churches, but that they are not churches … in the sense in which the Catholic Church understands itself as church. For anyone even partly informed, this is purely self-evident.
“The Protestant churches do not want to be a church at all in the sense of the Catholic Church; they speak strongly of having another understanding of church and ministry in the church which, on the other hand, Catholics frankly do not consider to be the original one.
“The foundation of the dialogue is that there is more that unites us than divides us. Therefore we should not miss reading the positive statements of the declaration about the Protestant churches, namely, that Jesus Christ is effectively present within them for the salvation of their members (Unitatis redintegratio, 22).
“Therefore, the declaration is not taking back anything of the ecumenical progress already reached, but drawing attention to the ecumenical task that still lies ahead. We should be offended by these differences, and not by those who point them out. The declaration is rather an urgent invitation to an objective dialogue that will help us move ahead.”
The document from the congregation may be accessed through our diocesan website, www.jacksondiocese.org, under Current News. It is not a long document at all and a prayerful and thoughtful reading of the document in its proper context should alleviate many of the hurts that may have been felt over the past few days.
Let us remember as Cardinal Kasper so eloquently states that there is more that unites us as Christians than divides us.
07/06/07 Second century Mass
very close to current rite From Bishop Joseph N. Latino The other day I was glancing through the Gulf Pine Catholic, Biloxi’s diocesan newspaper, and found Bishop Thomas Rodi’s column with a great explanation of why we celebrate the Mass the way we do today.
Bishop Rodi used St. Justin’s First Apology written around the year 155 A.D. to give a picture of the Christian liturgical celebration in the second century. St. Justin’s description of the second century celebration is very close to our current liturgical rite.
I would like to share this explanation with all of you and I thank Bishop Rodi for his insight and thoughtfulness in researching this important subject.
I hope this will help all of us as Catholics to realize what a wonderful and ancient liturgical tradition we have in the church and that decisions to modify our rites are steeped in that tradition, a tradition which goes back to the Upper Room where Jesus instituted the Eucharist with his disciples around him. Bishop Rodi’s column follows. Did you ever wonder how the structure of the Mass came about? The manner in which we Catholics worship God is very different than the manner in which God is worshipped in some other Christian faith communities. Where did the manner in which we Catholics celebrate Mass come from? We know from the Gospels in the Bible that the first Mass, the Last Supper, was the celebration of the Passover Meal. At the Passover Meal, sacred Scripture is read and unleavened bread and wine are part of the meal. At the Last Supper Jesus took the unleavened bread and wine and said “This is my body . . . This is my blood … Do this in memory of me.” The Apostles did as the Lord commanded. The reading of sacred Scripture and the consecration of the unleavened bread and wine were the central parts of the early church worship of God. St. Paul (probably around the year 57 A.D.) explained to the Corinthians how they were to worship God: “I received from the Lord what I handed on to you, namely, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ “In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup; you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes!” (1 Cor 11:23-26) That the early church worshipped God in this manner is recorded in the Bible and in other sources as well. In the year 155 A.D., for example, a man named Justin wrote to the pagan Roman emperor, Antoninus Pius, asking him to stop persecuting Christians. He explained to the emperor that, although the emperor had heard many strange things about Christians, the members of the early church were no danger to anyone.
Justin described the manner in which Christians worshipped when they gathered together. Read carefully this description of the manner in which the early church worshipped and compare it to the Sunday Mass in your parish. You will see the Mass is celebrated in basically the same way as the early Christians celebrated their faith. Justin’s letter is in bold. I have added in parentheses the parallels to our modern Mass. On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. (We call this day Sunday.) The memoirs of the apostles and writing of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. (Justin refers to the “memoirs” of the apostles and “writings” of the prophets. The word “bible” would not be used for another 300 years until the Catholic Church collected all these writings into one book.) When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. (We call this the sermon or homily.) Then all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves … and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments so as to obtain eternal salvation. (We call this the General Intercessions or Prayers of the Faithful) When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss of peace. (We call this the sign of peace. It has been moved in the modern Mass to just before sharing Communion.) Then someone brings the bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. (We call this the presentation of the gifts or the offertory procession.) He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistan) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. (We call this the Eucharistic Prayer, the core of which is the words of consecration.) When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: “Amen.” (We call this the Great Amen which is at the end of each Eucharistic Prayer.) When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those who are called deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and taken them to those who are absent. (We call this Communion. After Communion the consecrated or “eucharisted” bread is reserved in the tabernacle so it may be brought during the week to those too sick to come to Mass.) Comparing Justin’s description of the Mass in the year 155 A.D. with our Mass today, it is obvious from where our Mass comes. The manner in which the early Christians worshipped God has come down through the generations to us today. Although different times and cultures have added some traditions to the Mass, it is basically the same and unchanged in its most essential elements. The next time someone asks you why Catholics celebrate Mass the way we do, you can tell them that it was not something just thought up recently, but has come to us from the apostles as what Jesus, at the Last Supper, asked us to do in his memory.
06/08/07 Look at immigration reform as just solution By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
Over the past several months the immigration issue has certainly ignited some fierce debate and kindled some deep feelings of resentment among our Catholic faithful. Indeed the immigration issue is an emotional and divisive one. The complexities of the issue evoke concern, anger and confusion for many.
Right now our national leaders are attempting to compromise on desperately needed immigration reform legislation. Some have called this legislation an “amnesty” agreement for people who have broken the laws of our country.
I would like to recommend that we pause for a moment and look at the issue from a pastoral perspective. Surely, the fact that the debate has become so heated reflects the real need for change and reform in our immigration laws. A just solution must be achieved that benefits our country and at the same time respects the fundamental human rights and dignity of all people.
The U.S. bishops in no way condone or encourage illegal immigration. Illegal immigration does not benefit the common good of our society. Because undocumented immigrants are often paid lower wages than U.S. workers, illegal immigration can drive the cost of wages down for everyone. This increases poverty among more and more people in our country.
Pastorally speaking, illegal immigration also causes individuals to live a life lacking in dignity because of constant hiding, fear and abuse of basic human rights. Our church’s social service agencies serve people from all walks of life because they are in need. We do not ask for documentation from individuals because the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors.
The church always respects the rights of sovereign nations and their laws. The United States is a nation built on a system of laws and principles, but if a law violates human dignity and basic human rights it is not just. Our current immigration laws indeed are unjust.
The U.S. bishops support an earned legalization process that would require undocumented workers to pay a fine and work their way down a path to legalization. Earned legalization is not amnesty. There are several stipulations and eligibilities that must be met by the individual seeking it.
This position of the bishops, which is well grounded in the Gospel and in church teachings, recognizes a law has been broken and sets about a way to make amends for that in a just and humane manner.
The position of the bishops also exhibits the reality that under the current system individuals are being exploited in poor working and living conditions and families are being painfully separated.
Respect for the dignity of human life is what is at the heart of the church’s position on immigration reform. The church has always and will always speak for this fundamental universal value.
The current legislation that the Senate is debating is not perfect, but it is a necessary step forward toward overall reform. In a recent statement, Bishop Gerald Barnes, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, urged Congress to “ensure that any final legislation contains a legalization program which is workable and includes family unity and a fair and realistic path to citizenship, a new worker program which provides participants a meaningful opportunity to obtain permanent residency, and the preservation of family unity as an integral part of the U.S. immigration system.”
Another reason the church is so involved and interested in the whole immigration debate is because by nature we, ourselves, are an immigrant church. Because of our experience throughout the life of our church we are compelled to work for reform and voice the need for a system of immigration laws that benefit the entire human community.
Yes, we should be concerned about laws being broken and our national security. Societies crumble when laws are ignored and broken. We should also be concerned that the current system of immigration laws eats away at the fabric of our nation’s ideals and the fabric of humanity. It is time for a reformed system of laws that promote the human person as well as the economy.
Let us remember to put a face on this situation – the face of Jesus Christ.
The Justice Prayer Come, O Holy Spirit!
Come, open us to the wonder, beauty,
and dignity of the diversity found in each culture, in each face,
and in each experience we have of the other among us.
Come, fill us with generosity as we are challenged to let go
and allow others to share with us the goods and beauty of earth.
Come, heal the divisions that keep us from seeing the face of Christ
in all men, women, and children.
Come, free us to stand with and for those who must leave their
own lands in order to find work, security, and welcome in a new land,
one that has enough to share.
Come, bring us understanding, inspiration, wisdom,
and the courage needed to embrace change and stay on the journey.
Come, O Holy Spirit, show us the way.
(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Justice for Immigrants Campaign 202-541-3352, www.justiceforimmigrants.org)
04/06/07 Easter mystery cause for all our celebrations By Bishop Joseph Latino
This is the day the Lord has made. Alleluia!
Each and every Easter Season we who believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ celebrate his victory over sin and death. It is in his Resurrection that the promise of our victory over sin and death is fulfilled.
Easter and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection is not an option for Christians. It is at the very foundation of one’s belief in Jesus as savior. From the very beginning of his public ministry even his disciples were not quite sure who he was or who he claimed to be.
Many of his critics even though they witnessed first hand the miraculous signs he performed demanded bigger and better signs. Even though they saw him giving back sight to blind eyes or hearing to deaf ears or even returning life to some who had died, they still wanted a definitive and ultimate sign.
“If you are who you claim to be, give us proof.” The challenge was given, the ultimatum was made and the response was definite, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Jn 2:19.
Resurrection from the dead was the indisputable and definitive proof he promised to verify that he was who he claimed to be. Not only did it verify him, it was also the guarantee of the promise made to all who would believe in him. This was the life he said he came to give, “whoever believes in me even though he should lose his life will live forever.” Jn 17:33.
The Easter mystery is not only a fitting occasion to celebrate, it is the very cause for all our celebrations. It is at the very foundation of all we believe in Christ. It is the necessary event that makes our faith in Christ not in vain. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says so aptly, “If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and our faith has been in vain.” 1 Cor 15:14. So important to our faith is the resurrection of Christ, St. Paul further says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people the most to be pitied.” 1 Cor 15:17-19.
Each Easter regardless of da Vinci Codes or fake and bogus ossuaries, we like the faithful women and the Apostles Peter and John believe that he has risen and we joyfully sing, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.”
It is in the celebration of the Easter mystery that we celebrate all the promises of both the Old and the New Testament. It is in Christ’s resurrection that the Father verifies that “he was indeed the Son of God.”
As we celebrate this Easter Sunday and the whole Easter Season, may the blessings of the Risen Lord be with you and your families. May we always be an Easter people recognizing death but always celebrating life saying forever “This is the day the Lord has made. Alleluia!”
Copyright 2006-2007. Mississippi Catholic.All rights reserved.
Copyright 2013-2014. Mississippi Catholic. All rights reserved.
Throughout last Saturday’s ordination liturgy I could see that Father Thomas was soaking in every moment of this day that he too has awaited for so long. 
Many of the prayers and responses to which we are accustomed such as the Confiteor (penitential rite), Gloria, Nicene Creed, eucharistic prayers, Sanctus, etc., have changed. Each of these responses has been nuanced in a way in the new translation so as to capture the original Latin more literally. Many of the retranslations are very subtle, but will involve some adjustments of learning new responses by all of us. 
St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says so aptly, “If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and our faith has been in vain.” 1 Cor 15:14. So important to our faith is the resurrection of Christ, St. Paul further says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people the most to be pitied.” 1 Cor 15:17-19.