Monthly Archives: June 2016

Overcoming fear of death

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IN EXILE
By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI
“A common soldier dies without fear, yet Jesus died afraid.” Iris Murdoch wrote this and that truth can be somewhat disconcerting. Why? If someone dies with deep faith, shouldn’t he or she die with a certain calm and trust drawn from that faith? Wouldn’t the opposite seem more logical, that is, if someone dies without faith shouldn’t he or she die with more fear? And perhaps the most confusing of all: Why did Jesus, the paragon of faith, die afraid, crying out in a pain that can seem like a loss of faith?
The problem lies in our understanding. Sometimes we can be very naïve about faith and its dynamics, thinking that faith in God is a ticket to earthly peace and joy. But faith isn’t a path to easy calm, nor does it assure us that we will exit this life in calm, and that can be pretty unsettling and perplexing at times. Here’s an example:
The renowned spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, in a book entitled, “In Memoriam,” shares this story around his mother’s death: Nouwen, a native of the Netherlands, was teaching in the U.S. when he received a call that his mother was dying back home in the Netherlands.
On his flight home from New York to Amsterdam he reflected on his mother’s faith and virtue and concluded that she was the most Christian woman he had ever known. With that as a wonderfully consoling thought, he fantasized about how she would die, how her last hours would be filled with faith and calm, and how that faith and calm would be her final, faith-filled witness to her family.
But that’s not the way it played out. Far from being calm and unafraid, his mother, in the final hours leading up to her death, was seemingly in the grip of some inexplicable darkness, of some deep inner disquiet, and of something that looked like the antithesis of faith. For Nouwen this was very disconcerting. Why? Why would his mother be undergoing this disquiet when for all her life she had been a woman of such strong faith?
Initially this unsettled him deeply, until a deeper understanding of faith broke through. His mother had been a woman who every day of her adult life had prayed to Jesus, asking him to empower her to live as he lived and to die as he died. Well, seemingly, her prayer was heard. She did die like Jesus who, though having a rock-solid faith, sweated blood while contemplating his own death and then cried out on the cross, anguished with the feeling that God had forsaken him.
In brief, her prayer had been answered. She had asked Jesus to let her die as he did and, given her openness to it, her prayer was granted, to the confusion of her family and friends who had expected a very different scene. That is also true for the manner of Jesus’ death and the reaction of his family and disciples. This isn’t the way anyone naturally fantasizes the death of a faith-filled person.
But a deeper understanding of faith reverses that logic: Looking at the death of Henri Nouwen’s mother, the question is not, how could this happen to her? The question is rather: Why wouldn’t this happen to her? It’s what she asked for and, being a spiritual athlete who asked God to send her the ultimate test, why wouldn’t God oblige?
There’s a certain parallel to this in the seeming doubts suffered by Mother Teresa. When her diaries were published and revealed her dark night of the soul, many people were shocked and asked: How could this happen to her? A deeper understanding of faith would, I believe, ask instead: Why wouldn’t this happen to her, given her faith and her openness to enter into Jesus’ full experience?
But, this has still a further complication: Sometimes for persons of deep faith it doesn’t happen this way and instead he or she dies calm and unafraid, buoyed up by faith like a safe ship on stormy waters. Why does this happen to some and not to others? We have no answer. Faith doesn’t put us all on the same conveyor-belt where one dynamic fits all.  Sometimes people with deep faith die, as Jesus did, in darkness and fear; and sometimes people with deep faith they die in calm and peace.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross submits that each of us goes through five clear stages in dying, namely, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  Kathleen Dowling Singh suggests that what Kubler-Ross defines as acceptance needs some further nuance.
According to Singh, the toughest part of that acceptance is full surrender and, prior to that surrender, some people, though not everyone, will undergo a deep interior darkness that, on the surface, can look like despair. Only after that, do they experience joy and ecstasy.
All of us need to learn the lesson that Nouwen learned at his mother’s deathbed:  Faith, like love, admits of various modalities and may not be judged simplistically from the outside.
(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX.)

Los diáconos son llamados a una vida de servicio

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Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
Esta es la homilia que ofreció el Obispo Joseph Kopacz durante al misa de ordenación de los diáconos.
La Diócesis de Jackson por primera vez en una generación celebró la ordenación al diaconado permanente de seis hombres, que con sus esposas, han estado en formación durante los últimos cinco años. Los diáconos: Jeff, Rich, Denzel, John, John y Ted ya han comenzado a servir en sus parroquias. El texto que sigue es una parte de la homilía proporcionada por la Iglesia durante la liturgia de la ordenación y a continuación, un resumen conciso de seis destacados diáconos en la tradición de la Iglesia que nos ofrecen una comprensión más profunda de esta antigua orden, ahora siempre nueva.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas: ya que estos nuestros hijos, que son sus parientes y amigos, van a ser avanzados a la orden de los diáconos, consideren cuidadosamente la naturaleza de la jerarquía de la iglesia a la que están a punto de ser elevados.
Fortalecidos por el don del Espíritu Santo ayudarán al obispo y a sus sacerdotes en el ministerio de la palabra, del altar y de la caridad, mostrándose ser siervos de todos. Como ministros del altar, proclamarán el Evangelio, prepararán el sacrificio, y distribuirán el Cuerpo y la Sangre del Señor a los fieles.
Además, será su deber, bajo la dirección del obispo, exhortar a los creyentes y no creyentes e instruirlos en la sagrada doctrina. Ellos presidirán la oración pública, administrarán el bautismo, asistirán y bendecirán los matrimonios, llevarán el viático a los moribundos y presidirán los ritos funerarios.
Consagrados por la imposición de manos que llega hasta nosotros desde los Apóstoles y vinculados más estrechamente al servicio del altar, realizarán obras de caridad en nombre del obispo o del pastor. Con la ayuda de Dios realizarán todas estas funciones de manera tal que serán reconocidos como discípulos de aquel que no vino a ser servido sino a servir.
Ahora, queridos hijos, van a ser elevados al orden del diaconado. El Señor ha dado un ejemplo que así como él mismo lo ha hecho, ustedes también deberían hacerlo.
Como diáconos, es decir, como ministros de Jesucristo, que vino entre sus discípulos como uno que sirve, hagan la voluntad de Dios desde el corazón: sirvan a la gente con amor y alegría como lo harían al Señor. Puesto que nadie puede servir a dos amos, miren a la deshonra y la avaricia como sirviendo a dioses falsos.

Diáconos del Nuevo Testamento
De los siete originales, dos aparecen en el Nuevo Testamento: Esteban y Felipe que encontramos en los Hechos de los Apóstoles, no sirviendo en la mesa sino sirviendo en la Mesa de la Palabra. Esta realidad nos revela que san Lucas en los Hechos de los Apóstoles ve la diaconía como obra de evangelización, predicando y edificando la Iglesia.
Esteban:
Esteban fue un profeta, un hombre lleno de fe y también lleno de gracia y de poder. Su valiente predicación lo condujo a su martirio por lapidación, y como el Señor, encomendó su espíritu a Dios, pidiendo perdón por los que lo estaban matando, para que ellos pudieran encontrar paz como la había encontrado él en Cristo Jesús. San Esteban es el patrono de los diáconos y el protomártir.
Felipe:
Fue el primero en anunciar el Evangelio en Samaria, y dos de sus notables conversos fueron Simón el Mago y el etíope Eunuch cuyo Chariot corrió a lo largo del lateral, y después lo bautizó en un charco de agua. Como el Señor, Felipe predicó la Palabra, expulsó demonios, y se acercó a los marginados. Fue dirigido por el Espíritu Santo hacia la gente en necesidad y así siguió siendo diácono de diáconos a través de la predicación y el cuidado de los marginados.

Período Patrístico – San Lorenzo 200-258
Más de 200 años más tarde San Lorenzo fue uno de los siete diáconos de Roma, quien también sufrió el martirio. Ningún otro santo, salvo en el caso de Pedro y Pablo, fue más honrado por el pueblo de Roma que San Lorenzo. San Ambrosio elogia a Lorenzo como un ejemplo a su clero que recuerda que el prefecto de Roma le pidió a Lorenzo revelar el paradero de los tesoros de la Iglesia, porque los diáconos eran confiados con recursos para atender a los pobres. Así que Lorenzo reunió a los pobres y a los enfermos y se los presentó al prefecto diciendo, “Estos son los tesoros de la Iglesia”. Esto le costó su cabeza, pero revela el corazón y la mente del ministerio del diácono como alguien que conoce bien a los pobres y los cuida. En su ministerio de caridad Lorenzo es un diácono de diáconos.
Efrén de Nisibi 306-373
Se convirtió en un Doctor de la Iglesia y escribió teología en forma de poesía en un dialecto del arameo. Efrén veía la teología no tanto como “la fe en busca de entendimiento” sino como “la fe adorando el misterio” ya que él estaba muy consciente de las limitaciones del entendimiento humano.
Un pedacito de la poesía de Efrén dice, “Si alguien busca tu oculta naturaleza, mirad, está en el cielo en el gran seno de la divinidad. Y si alguien busca tu cuerpo, mirad descansa y se asoma desde el pequeño seno de María”. Efrén le enseña a los diáconos modernos la importancia y la belleza de las palabras y las imágenes, especialmente en la homilía. En su ministerio de la Palabra, Efrén es un diácono de diáconos.

Edad Media –
Alcuin de York: 735-804
Colaboró estrechamente con el emperador Carlomagno para lograr una reforma integral en la Iglesia alrededor de los años 800 D.C. Fue un maestro por excelencia. Instruyó a sus alumnos en las escrituras, actualizando  la Vulgata en latín de san Jerónimo, en la literatura antigua, la lógica, la gramática y la astronomía. Y aún más interesante, estuvo a la vanguardia de la reforma litúrgica cuyo fervor se manifiesta en las siguientes palabras: “examinen a los sacerdotes (y obispos) en cuanto a su manera de bautizar y celebrar la Misa para ver que mantienen la verdadera fe, para averiguar si entienden las oraciones de la misa bien, si cantan los salmos devotamente, si ellos mismos entienden la oración del Señor y se la explican a todos para que todos puedan entender lo que le están pidiendo a Dios”.
Alcuin le enseña a los diáconos modernos la importancia y belleza de servir bien en la Liturgia, y como un verdadero administrador de los misterios de Dios, Alcuin es un diácono de diáconos.

San Francisco de Asís, 1181-1226
Fue ordenado diácono y permaneció así hasta el final de su vida. Era una persona sin educación formal de inteligencia media, pero un visionario que vio toda la creación llena de vida divina. Después de él miramos con ojos diferentes la naturaleza, los animales y a las personas.
Su amor por la creación de Dios y su compartir de aquel amor con personas que tienen ojos para ver y oídos para oír, revela la armonía de la iglesia en el mundo. La simpleza espiritual de Francisco por Cristo, su sentido de libertad interior, y su fervor evangélico y misionero (se cansó de convertir al sultán de Egipto durante la Quinta Cruzada) revelan el corazón de un diácono. Al recibir las estigmas, él nos inspira a abrazar la lucha, el sacrificio y el sufrimiento en el poder de la cruz y al hacerlo es un diácono de diáconos.
A través de su intercesión y la intercesión de todos los santos que Dios, que ha comenzado la buena obra en nuestros recién ordenados diáconos, lo lleve a cumplimiento en el día de Cristo Jesús.

Deacons called to life of service

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By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The Diocese of Jackson for the first time in a generation celebrated the ordination to the Permanent Diaconate of six men, who with their wives, have been in formation for the past five years. Deacons Jeff, Rich, Denzil, John, John and Ted have already begun to serve in their home parishes throughout the diocese. What follows is a portion of the homily provided by the church for the ordination liturgy, and then a concise summary of six outstanding deacons in the church’s tradition who offer us a deeper understanding of this ancient order, now ever new.
Beloved brothers and sisters: since these our sons who are your relatives and friends are now to be advanced to the Order of Deacons, consider carefully the nature of the rank in the church to which they are about to be raised.
Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, they will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity, showing themselves to be servants to all. As ministers of the altar, they will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful.
Furthermore, it will be their duty, at the bishop’s direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike and to instruct them in holy doctrine. They will preside over public prayer, administer baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring viaticum to the dying, and conduct funeral rites. Consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes down to us from the Apostles and bound more closely to the service of the altar, they will perform works of charity in the name of the bishop or the pastor. With the help of God, they are to go about all these duties in such a way that you will recognize them as disciples of him who came not to be served, but to serve.
Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the Order of the diaconate. The Lord has set an example that just as he himself has done, you also should do.
As deacons, that is, as ministers of Jesus Christ, who came among his disciples as one who served, do the will of God from the heart: serve the people in love and joy as you would the Lord. Since no one can serve two masters, look upon all defilement and avarice as serving false gods.
New Testament Deacons
From the original seven, two are featured in the New Testament: Stephen and Philip who we find in the Acts of the Apostles not serving at table but serving at the Table of the Word. This reality reveals to us that St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles sees Diakonia as the work of evangelization, preaching and building up the church.
St. Stephen:
Stephen was a prophet and a man full of faith, and also full of grace and power. His courageous preaching led to his martyrdom by stoning, and like the Lord he commended his spirit to God, asking for forgiveness for those were killing him, that they may find peace as he had in Jesus Christ. Saint Stephen is the patron saint of deacons, and the protomartyr.
St. Philip:
He was th e first to proclaim the gospel in Samaria, and two of his notable converts were Simon the Magician and the Ethiopian Eunuch whose Chariot he ran along side of, and afterwards baptized him in a convenient pool of water. Like the Lord himself Philip preached the Word, drove out demons and reached out to the marginalized. He was led by the Holy Spirit to people in need, and so remains a deacon for deacons through preaching and care for the marginalized.

The Patristic Period
St. Lawrence:  200-258
More than 200 years later St. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of Rome who also suffered martyrdom. No other saint, except for Peter and Paul was more honored by the people of Rome than St. Lawrence. Saint Ambrose commends Lawrence as an example to his clergy who recalls that the Prefect of Rome asked Lawrence to reveal the whereabouts of the treasures of the church because deacons were entrusted with resources to care for the poor. So Lawrence brought together the poor and the sick and told the Prefect, “these are the treasures of the church.” This cost him his head, but reveals the heart and mind of the ministry of the deacon as one who knows the poor well and who looked after them. In his ministry of charity Lawrence is a deacon for deacons.
Ephrem of Nisibis:  306-373
He became a Doctor the Church and wrote theology in the form of poetry in a dialect of Aramaic. Ephrem views theology not so much as “Faith seeking understanding” as he was all too aware of the limits of human understanding, but rather “faith adoring the mystery.” From a sliver of Ephrem’s poetry. “If anyone seeks your hidden nature, behold it is in heaven in the great womb of divinity. And if anyone seeks your body, behold it rests and looks out from the small womb of Mary.” Ephrem teaches modern deacons the importance and beauty of words and images especially in the homily. In his ministry of the Word, Ephrem is a deacon for deacons.
The Middle Ages
Alcuin of York:  735-804
Alcuin worked closely with the Emperor Charlemagne to bring about comprehensive reform in the church around 800 A.D. He was a teacher par excellence. He instructed his pupils in the scriptures, upgrading the Latin Vulgate of St. Jerome, along with ancient literature, logic, grammar and astronomy.
And even more outstanding he was at the forefront of liturgical reform whose zeal is apparent in the following words: “Examine the priests (and bishops) regarding their way of baptizing and celebrating Mass that they may hold to the true faith, to find out if they understand the Mass prayers well, if they chant the psalms devoutly, if they themselves understand the Lord’s prayer and impart an explanation of it to all so that all may understand what they are asking of God.” Alcuin teaches modern deacons the importance and beauty of serving well at Liturgy, and as a true steward of the mysteries of God Alcuin is a deacon for deacons.
Saint Francis of Assisi:  1181-1226
He was ordained a deacon, and remained so until the end of his life. He was an uneducated person of average intelligence, but a visionary who saw all creation filled with divine life. After him we looked with different eyes at nature, animals and people. His love of God’s creation, and his sharing of that love with people who have eyes to see and ears to hear, reveals the harmony of the church in the world.
Francis’ spiritual foolishness for Christ, his sense of inner freedom and his evangelical and missionary zeal (he tired to convert the Sultan of Egypt during the fifth Crusade) reveal the heart of a deacon. By receiving the stigmata, he inspires us to embrace, struggle, sacrifice and suffer in the power of the cross and in so doing is a deacon for deacons.
Through their intercession and the intercession of all the saints may God, who has begun the good work in our newly ordained deacons, bring it to fulfillment on the day of Christ Jesus.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
CHATAWA St. Mary of the Pines, ninth annual “Speak Lord I’m listening” retreat for men and women using the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Friday-Sunday, July 29-31. Led by Father Bill Henry.
JACKSON St. Richard Parish, “Putting it all together,” a DVD series titled “Divine Mercy” featuring Father Michael Gaitley, MIC, beginning Tuesday, June 21, at 6 p.m. in Foley Hall. Details: Suzan Cox, 601-366-2335.
YAZOO CITY St. Mary Parish, eight-week Level II Catechist Certification course on “Catholic Morality,” Sundays from 8:15 – 10:15 a.m. in the parish hall. Sister Michele Doyle is teaching the course. Cost is $20 plus a book fee. Details: Diane Melton, 662-746-1680.

PARISH, SCHOOL & FAMILY EVENTS
CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories homebound parishioner needs a ride to Mass on the weekend. Anyone who can help, even if just occasionally, call the parish office, 662-846-6273.
COLUMBUS Annunciation School, Fine Arts Camp, June 20-24 and July 18-22, from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. for students entering Kindergarten – sixth grade. Hands-on camp focused on visual and physical arts, music, and theatre. Cost is $100 for first child, $90 for each additional child. Details: Jenni Browing, jbrowningx3@gmail.com.
– Work day to get the campus prepared for the first day of school, Saturday, July 16, beginning at 8 a.m. Bring work gloves. Lunch will be provided.
JACKSON St. Richard Parish, “Catholics Come Home,” a four-week program to explore returning to the church, beginning Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Foley Hall, 1242 Lynnwood Drive. A nursery will be provided upon request. Details: 601-366-2335 ext. 107 tubertini@saintrichard.com.
– Mississippi Catholics Against Human Trafficking (MCAHT) meeting, Tuesday, June 14, at 1 p.m. in Mercy Room. Membership with MCAHT offers hands-on opportunities to be involved in fighting human trafficking. Details: email dorothy.balser@ccjackson.org.
MADISON St. Joseph School, first annual summer evening prayer and potluck dinner, Monday, June 27, at 6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium.
– Used uniform sale, Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the cafeteria.
ROSEDALE Sacred Heart Parish will have Mass on the fourth Saturday of every month at 4 p.m. Details: Jim Tomek, 662-846-7136.
SHAW St. Francis of Assisi Parish, summer socials, cookouts on Sundays, June 26 and July 31, at 6 p.m. and a potluck on Sunday, Aug. 28, at noon.
TUPELO St. James Parish, annual pilgrimage walk and celebration of the parish’s patron, Saturday, July 23.

FATHER SOMERS’ CELEBRATION
JACKSON Mass of Thanksgiving for the jubilee celebration of Father Richard Somers 50th ordination anniversary, Saturday, June 25, at 11 a.m. at St. Richard Parish followed by a reception in Foley Hall. All are invited. No formal invitations will be sent.

SAVE THE DATE
GREENWOOD – Life in the Spirit Seminar, “Take the grace of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit into the Heart of the church,” Saturday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Locus Benedictus Retreat Center, 1407 Levee Road, Greenwood. Speakers are: Father Bill Henry, Camille Leatherman, Ann Leatherman, Mark Davis, Mike and Charlene Brown. Details: Magdalene Abraham, 662- 299-1232.

IN MEMORIAM
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sister Cecilia Mahriam of the Holy Family, OCD, died May 5. She was 92. She was a professed Carmelite nun who had been a Chapter Sister at the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Little Flower in Jackson since Jan. 28, 1998.
Sr. Cecilia Mahriam entered religious life in 1951 at the age of 27, eventually professing solemn vows on Oct. 15, 1954, at the Carmel by the Sea in Long Beach, Calif.
Before her transfer to Jackson Carmel, Sister Mahraim visited numerous Carmelite monasteries with a special interest in preserving Russian liturgy with the goal of eventually returning it to Russia once the church could freely practice again. While in residence at Jackson Carmel, Sister Mahriam helped organize a Lebanese society in Mississippi.
NOTE: A Funeral Mass for Sister Mahraim will be celebrated at the Carmelite Monastery in Jackson Thursday, June 16, at 10 a.m. followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery in Gluckstadt. A reception will follow at St. Joseph Parish.

Vacation Bible schools
– Brookhaven St. Francis Parish, “Barnyard Roundup,” June 12-15, from 5:30 (meal) – 8 p.m. Details: Erin Womack, 601-754-0963.
– Clarksdale St. Elizabeth Parish, “Deep Sea Discovery,” June 13-17, from 8 a.m. – noon for children entering K4 through 6th-grade. Details and to volunteer: Sarah Cauthen, 662-645-6260.
Corinth St. James Parish, there will be two different sessions. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12-13, and  Thursday and Friday, July 14-15, from 9 a.m. – noon. Register for one session only.
Gluckstadt St. Joseph Parish, Monday – Wednesday, June 13-15, from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Details: Karen Worrell, 601-672-5817, kworrellcre@hotmail.com.
–Greenville St. Joseph Parish, “Birthday Blast: A celebration of Life!” June 13-16, from 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Greenwood Immaculate Heart of Mary, June 13-16.
– St. Francis, “Discovery Zone 2016,” June 27-30.
Jackson St. Therese, June 20-24, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish, June 20-24 from 9 a.m. – noon for preK-fourth graders.
– Creative art camp for fifth and sixth graders at the same time. Details: Mary Catherine, mc.george@stfrancismadison.org.
– Tupelo St. James Parish, June 13-17.

Mercy Center administration reorganized

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By Maureen Smith
MOUND BAYOU — St. Gabriel has been a school, a parish and a community service center. This year, it started a new chapter in its history as a community center run by the community.
When the Sisters of Mercy left the center in 2015, a community of four Franciscans took over. They found a set of vibrant programs, a capable staff and an appreciative clientele. What was lacking, according to executive director Sister Monica Mary DeQuardo, OSF, was a sense of ownership. The sisters launched a reorganization aimed at moving the people already on staff into the right spots.
The new organizational model is based on an administrative team. Trena Robinson, a nine-year veteran of the St. Gabriel team has been promoted from administrative assistant to director of advancement, communications and public relations.
“I was hesitant initially when Sister approached me, I had never written grants, but I was wiling to try,” said Robinson. She holds an MBA and has experience as a paralegal.
Tiffany Mitchell has been advanced from GED instructor to Administrative Assistant. Mitchell studied at both Clark Atlanta and Xavier University, earning a masters in biology and teaching. When a position opened at St. Gabriel to teach GED classes she took it. The new job is a full time position, but still gives her the flexibility she needs as a mom. “It’s very important when you can help people – even if its just something simple like sending a fax. The closest place may be the library in Cleveland and many people don’t have transportation,” Mitchell said. She added that the thrift store and social service programs are big helps to the people in the area.
Mavis Honorable has been named Chief Operating Officer in addition to her responsibility as assistant director. Sister DeQuardo continues to serve as the Executive Director. Honorable grew up in Mound Bayou, but spent much of her career in Chicago. “I started at SoftSheen hair care products for five years. I was looking in the paper and I saw that DePaul University had this program for continuing education. After I finished that I started at a steel company as a consultant.
“Then, again, I was reading in the paper and saw an ad from Allstate saying ‘if you think you can do this, call’ and I thought I could do it! I worked there for 10 years in their technology program; I helped implement their agency programs,” she said. She returned home when her father and sister became ill, taking a job at Monsanto. When that operation closed, she found a job at the Mercy Center.
The team meets weekly to discuss long-term goals as well as day-to-day operations and challenges. Sister DeQuardo believes these meetings have opened up lines of communication that help the staff work better together.
The center offers almost a dozen programs. A senior outreach coordinated by Dwana Lyles, provides activities and meals to senior citizens in the area. A sewing class gives women a skill they can use to make money and a boutique where they can sell their creations. In some cases, people come pick their fabrics and have items custom made.
Candace Chase runs an emergency assistance office, distributing nearly 200 bags of food every month as well as helping people who might need assistance to pay emergency utility and medical bills. She also oversees the volunteer operations. Service groups from around the country come to Mound Bayou to help around the community every year.
Volunteers staff a thrift shop where people can buy low-cost clothing and household items. The center still operates a computer lab for people who want to take online classes or need access to a computer. GED classes help those who left school early get back on track. On the wall of fame for that program is a photo of a student who went on to earn a college degree.
Families in the area can enroll in the Parents as Teachers program to have an educator come to their home once a month from a child’s birth until three years of age. The educators help the mothers give their babies the best possible start in life.
“We encourage them to read to the children, talk to them, listen to them and how empowering this is to the child,” explained Clestine Davis, one of the educators.
“If you do this, the child will grow to know their mom is always there and they can talk to their moms. Communication skills start at the early age of three months, even though the baby can’t talk back, they are looking at you and they are listening!”
She and Martha Black record data on their visits to provide to the national Parents as Teachers program. If they notice a possible delay, the pair can refer the parents for professional help early. Parents in the program are invited to a monthly meeting at the center for an educational program as well.
Davis worked at St. Gabriel school before it closed in 1990. She said she and many in the community miss the school, but the center continues to offer resources to strengthen Mound Bayou- and for many, a way to come home.
To learn more about the programs and staff or to contribute to the programs, visit www.saintgabrielmc.org.

Six deacons ordained for diocese

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON — Saturday, June 4, Bishop Joseph Kopacz ordained six men into the permanent diaconate in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The men have spent the last five years in formation, spending weekends in Memphis studying spirituality, cannon law, homiletics and learning how to administer sacraments. The Diocese of Memphis partnered with Jackson to bring professors down from St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana to teach the classes.
Each of the men will serve in his home parish. The new deacons are: Jeff Artigues of Starkville St. Joseph Parish, Richard Caldwell of Vicksburg St. Mary, Denzil Lobo from Madison St. Francis, John McGinley, also from Starkville, John McGregor of Pearl St. Jude Parish and Ted Schreck of Southaven Sacred Heart. Read more about the men and their wives on pages 9-13.
Father Sam Messina, pastor of Batesville St. Mary Parish, oversaw their formation. “They went to St. Meinrad’s last summer and studied homiletics – preaching. I got some of their DVDs of their practice,” he explained during an interview this past winter. “A deacon’s thrust of ministry is service and the Word. They work with charity, visit hospitals, visit prisons, helping with food pantries, that sort of thing, as well as assisting at the altar,” he added.
Permanent deacons are ordained and can administer baptisms, marriages and perform funerals. In hospital ministry, they can pray over someone in the name of the church. They cannot consecrate the Eucharist, although they can preach at Mass and Communion services. “They can teach, prepare a couple for marriage, they can work on marriage cases, preparing them for the tribunal. Of course they work in the field of charity. When people come to the parish for help they can size up the needs of the people, share with the pastor and reach out to the people in need,” said Father Messina.
They can be married when they are ordained, but cannot remarry, even if they become widowers. The wives of those ordained play an important part in the preparation and ministry. Father Messina said all of the wives were required to take a year of the classes and could attend more if they wanted. Families have to prepare themselves for a ministry of service to the church. An unmarried man ordained into the permanent diaconate cannot marry.
“The diaconate is a supplement to what the priest does. It goes back centuries. There were deacons in early churches. As you well know, in the acts of the apostles they talk about ‘we can’t wait on tables and take care of the spiritual needs of the people so we’re going to have men (to do that),’ and they chose eight men – and all their names are in the Acts of the Apostles and they will help us ministering to the tables and preaching- supplement what we priests can do, what the bishops can do,” said Father Messina.
The formation period is more than just education. Those who enter it must be fully aware of their life-long commitment. “An ordained deacon is not a volunteer. He’s committed for life. He’s a great asset to the community, in my opinion,” said Father Messina.
Father Kevin Slattery, vicar general for the Diocese of Jackson, said the diocese hopes to have another class of deacons, but is still working out the logistics. The age limit to enter is 45. Anyone who feels called to this ministry should first go to his parish priest.