Monthly Archives: February 2017

Pope: Lead people to certainty of Gospel

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By Cindy Wooden
ROME (CNS) – In an age that often seems to be a “carnival of worldly curiosity,” Christians are called to lead people to the solid ground of the Gospel like St. Dominic did, Pope Francis said.
“We are moving in a so-called ‘liquid society,’ which is without fixed points, scattered, deprived of solid and stable reference points, a culture of the ephemeral, of the use-and-dispose,” the pope told members of the Dominican order.
At Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran, the pope celebrated Mass Jan. 21 with the Order of Preachers, founded 800 years ago, and with women religious and lay people who trace their spirituality to St. Dominic.
In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy and its description of proclaiming the Gospel at a time when people were “always seeking new teachers, myths, different doctrines and ideologies.”
The situation today is even more exaggerated, the pope said, because of “the seduction of subjective relativism.”
The response must be to attract people to the unchanging truth of faith in God and in the Gospel, he told the Dominicans.
When a Christian gives glory to God through his or her actions and words, Pope Francis said, people will notice and ask, “Why does that person act that way?”
The Gospel calls Christians to be salt of the earth and light for the world, he said. “Woe to a church that loses its flavor. Woe to a priest, a consecrated person, a congregation that loses its flavor.”
St. Dominic, he said, was “full of the light and salt of Christ” and preached the Gospel with “the word and his life,” helping many men and women “not become lost in the carnival of worldly curiosity,” but experience “the taste of sound doctrine, the taste of the Gospel and become, in turn, light and salt, artisans of good works.”
Closing the celebrations of the Dominicans’ 800th anniversary, the Mass came at the end of a five-day Congress on mission to examine the situations in which Dominicans are called to preach, to promote cooperation across the different Dominican branches and evaluate where the order’s missionary outreach needs strengthening.
Dominican Father Vivian Boland, vicar of the master of the order, told Catholic News Service Jan. 17 that in almost any situation of difficulty or challenge, “there are Dominicans somewhere in the world trying to respond to those questions.”
Pope Francis, he said, is an example for members of the order in helping others not just through their words, but also with concrete action.
(Contributing to this story was Junno Arocho Esteves at the Vatican.)

Taking our wounds to the Eucharist

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IN EXILE
By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Recently a man came to me, asking for help. He carried some deep wounds, not physical wounds, but emotional wounds to his soul. What surprised me initially was that, while he was deeply wounded, he had not been severely traumatized either in childhood or adulthood. He seemed to have just had to absorb the normal bumps and bruises that everyone has to absorb: some belittling, some bullying, never being the favorite, dissatisfaction with his own body, unfairness within his family and siblings, career frustration, unfairness in his workplace, the sense of being chronically ignored, the sense of never being understood and appreciated and the self-pity and lack of self-confidence that results from this.
But he was a sensitive man and the combination of all these seemingly little things left him, now in late mid-life, unable to be the gracious, happy Elder he wanted to be. Instead, by his own admission, he was chronically caught-up in a certain wounded self-absorption, namely, in a self-centered anxiety that brought with it the sense that life had not been fair to him.
Consequently he was forever somewhat focused on self-protection and was resentful of those who could step forward openly in self-confidence and love. “I hate it,” he shared, “when I see persons like Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul speak so with such easy self-confidence about how big their hearts are. I always fill with resentment and think: ‘Lucky you!’ You haven’t had to put up with what I’ve had to put up with in life!”
This man had been through some professional therapy that had helped bring him to a deeper self-understanding, but still left him paralyzed in terms of moving beyond his wounds. “What can I do with these wounds?” he asked.
My answer to him, as for all of us who are wounded, is: Take those wounds to the Eucharist. Every time you go to a Eucharist, stand by an altar, and receive communion, bring your helplessness and paralysis to God, ask him to touch your body, your heart, your memory, your bitterness, your lack of self-confidence, your self-absorption, your weaknesses, your impotence. Bring your aching body and heart to God. Express your helplessness in simple, humble words: Touch me. Take my wounds. Take my paranoia. Make me whole. Give me forgiveness. Warm my heart. Give me the strength that I cannot give myself.
Pray this prayer, not just when you are receiving communion and being physically touched by the body of Christ, but especially during the Eucharistic prayer because it is there that we are not just being touched and healed by a person, Jesus, but we are also being touched and healed by a sacred event. This is the part of the Eucharist we generally do not understand but it is the part of the Eucharist that celebrates transformation and healing from wound and sin. In the Eucharist prayer we commemorate the “sacrifice” of Jesus, that is, that event where, as Christian tradition so enigmatically puts it, Jesus was made sin for us. There is a lot in that cryptic phrase. In essence, in his suffering and death, Jesus took on our wounds, our weaknesses, our infidelities and our sins, died in them, and then through love and trust brought them to wholeness.
Every time we go to Eucharist we are meant to let that transforming event touch us, touch our wounds, our weaknesses, our infidelities, our sin and our emotional paralysis and bring us to a transformation in wholeness, energy, joy, and love.
The Eucharist is the ultimate healer. There is, I believe, a lot of value in various kinds of physical and emotional therapies, just there is immeasurable value in 12-Step programs and in simply honestly sharing our wounded selves with people we trust. There is too, I believe, value in a certain willful self-effort, in the challenge contained in Jesus’ admonition to a paralyzed man: Take up your couch and walk! We should not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by hyper-sensitivity and self-pity. God has given us skin to cover our rawest nerves.
But, with that being admitted, we still cannot heal ourselves. Therapy, self-understanding, loving friendsand disciplined self-effort can take us only so far, and it is not into full healing.
Full healing comes from touching and being touched by the sacred. More particularly, as Christians, we believe that this touching involves a touching of the sacred at that place where it has most particularly touched our own wounds, helplessness, weaknesses, and sin, that place, where God “was made sin for us”. That place is the event of the death and rising of Jesus and that event is made available to us, to touch and enter into, in the Eucharistic prayer and in receiving the body of Christ in communion.
We need to bring our wounds to the Eucharist because it is there that the sacred love and energy that lie at the ground of all that breathes can cauterize and heal all that is not whole within us.
(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser)

National Migration Week offers opportunity for encounter, faith sharing

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VARDAMAN/PONTOTOC - Dancers present samples of their culture during a night of encounter.

VARDAMAN/PONTOTOC – Dancers present samples of their culture during a night of encounter.

By Danna Johnson

VARDAMAN – National Migration Week 2017 was a great opportunity to bring people together. The Migrant Support Center of Catholic Charities, Tupelo, St. James Parish, and the Family Life Center in Vardaman, joined efforts to create a culture of encounter, following the theme Pope Francis inspired for the week.
The observance started at St. James with an Epiphany celebration followed by the documentary “The Invisibles.” More than 100 people attended. Participants were invited to tell their stories and share challenges as immigrants in Mississippi. The conclusion of this first-day event was that “migration is an act of hope.”
The following days, Amelia McGowan, immigration lawyer for Catholic Charities, and director of the Migrant Support Center, offered workshops and free legal clinics in the communities of Corinth, Ripley and Vardaman. Many families traveled from different parts of the deanery to work with her.
Pontotoc St. Christopher Parish celebrated Mass commemorating National Migration Week. Pastor Father Tim Murphy concelebrated with Father Octavio Escovar, visiting from Mexico. He invited all to reflect on Psalm 104: “The Lord remembers his covenants forever.”
On Friday, January 13, the night of cultural encounter was hosted in Vardaman. Nancy Sanchez, cultural specialist for the Migrant Support Center and a team of volunteers of Family Life Center made this first-ever gathering possible. There were demonstrations, food and dancing from various countries including Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Colombia and India.
Liza May and Sandra Lucious, both natives of Vardaman, opened the night with “Amazing Grace” and gave a presentation of their cultures: Southern and Vardaman.
“This is something to build on” said Northeast Catholic Charities Board president. Nearly 150 people of different cultures in Northeast Mississippi gathered under one roof to celebrate that what we have in common is our diversity.
Sister Gabriela Ramirez from Catholic Charities of Birmingham, Ala., closed the week with a presentation asking the question: Can we develop an inclusive culture?
“This was a powerful topic for awareness and education, and we will find the opportunity to do it again in this year,” said Dorothy Balser, director of community and social outreach ministries for Catholic Charities. Sister Ramirez closed her program by all to pray: “Father, that all of them may be one, as we are one” (Jn. 17, 21).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops celebrates National Migration Week every January to honor those who leave their homes seeking better lives.
(Danna Johnson is the head of the Family Life Center in Vardaman.)

Pope offers prayers for President Trump

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U.S. President Donald Trump places his hand on the Bible as he takes the oath of office administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts Jan. 20. At Trump's side are his wife, Melania, and children Barron, Donald, Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany during his swearing-in as the country's 45th president at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters) See INAUGURATION- Jan. 20, 2017.

U.S. President Donald Trump places his hand on the Bible as he takes the oath of office administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts Jan. 20. At Trump’s side are his wife, Melania, and children Barron, Donald, Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany during his swearing-in as the country’s 45th president at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters) See INAUGURATION- Jan. 20, 2017.

By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As President Donald Trump was being sworn in, Pope Francis told an interviewer it would be “reckless” to pass judgment on the new president before he had a chance to do anything.
“We must wait and see,” the pope told two reporters from the Spanish newspaper El Pais during a 75-minute interview Jan. 19.
The interview was published late Jan. 20 in its original Spanish with an English translation.
Asked if he wasn’t worried at least about some of the things Trump said before his election, the pope responded, “I’m waiting. God waited so long for me, with all my sins.”
“Being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite reckless,” the pope said. “We will see. We will see what he does and then we will judge always on the concrete. Christianity either is concrete or it is not Christianity.”
El Pais asked another question about Trump and populists in the United States and Europe who, the interviewer said, “capitalize on fear in the face of an uncertain future in order to form a message full of xenophobia and hatred toward the foreigner.”
“Crises provoke fear, alarm,” the pope said. “In my opinion, the most obvious example of European populism is Germany in 1933. After (Paul von) Hindenburg, after the crisis of 1930, Germany is broken, it needs to get up, to find its identity, a leader, someone capable of restoring its character, and there is a young man named Adolf Hitler who says: ‘I can, I can.'”
“Hitler didn’t steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people,” Pope Francis said.
In times of crisis, he said, large segments of the population think, “Let’s look for a savior who gives us back our identity and let’s defend ourselves with walls, barbed-wire, whatever, from other peoples who may rob us of our identity. And that is a very serious thing.”
Obviously, Pope Francis said, nations have a right and duty to control their borders, especially under the threat of terrorism, but “no country has the right to deprive its citizens of the possibility of talking with their neighbors.”

Adam, Williams announce ordination plans

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Williams

Aaron Williams

nick-adam

Nicholas Adam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Diocese of Jackson is pleased to announce the ordination to the transitional diaconate of Nick Adam and Aaron Williams. All are welcome to the celebrations.Adam, an Alabama native who considers Meridian his hometown, will be ordained Friday, March 17, at 6 p.m. at Meridian St. Patrick Parish. Williams, a Jackson native, will be ordained Saturday, March 18, at 5:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. A reception will follow both Masses.

The men will spend a year in service as deacons before being ordained priests. During that year they can preach and proclaim the Word, witness marriages, preside at funeral liturgies and baptize babies. They cannot celebrate Mass until they become priests.
Please keep our seminarians in your prayers as they make final preparation for this next step in their journey to the priesthood.

Historia, academia, servicio hacen grandes escuelas

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Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
La celebración de la Semana Anual Nacional de las Escuelas Católicas comienza este fin de semana y continuará de lunes a viernes con una variedad de actividades creativas, significativas y vivaces en cada una de nuestras escuelas. La educación escolar católica en la Diócesis de Jackson (la Diócesis de Natchez en aquel momento) comenzó en la parroquia de la Catedral de Natchez en 1847 y ha continuado ininterrumpidamente hasta el presente.
La población católica ha sido siempre un pequeño porcentaje de la población del estado de Mississippi, pero nuestro compromiso con la educación ha sido una luz que brilla en la oscuridad para muchos en cada generación, desde mediados del siglo 19, un gran porcentaje de ellos que no profesan la fe católica.
Nuestras escuelas católicas están en el corazón de nuestra misión diocesana, originado con el mandato del Señor Jesús de hacer discípulos de todas las naciones, enseñándoles todo lo que yo les he mandado. Aprovecho esta oportunidad para agradecerle a todos los que colaboran juntos para promover la misión de la educación católica en nuestra diócesis hasta este día: familias, profesores, administradores y personal de apoyo escolar, la oficina diocesana, párrocos y líderes parroquiales, alumnos, benefactores y feligreses en las bancas, y aquellos que ya no viven en nuestra diócesis pero continúan apoyándonos con su oración y generosidad.
Es un continuo trabajo de amor el mantener y desarrollar nuestras escuelas en cada generación al esforzarnos por la excelencia. Para mí es una alegría visitar nuestras escuelas, y la oportunidad de hacerlo abundarán durante la semana próxima. Tengo una larga relación con la educación católica. Durante muchos años enseñé en las escuelas en la Diócesis de Scranton, y muchos años antes del sacerdocio, desde kindergarten (no pre-k en ese momento) hasta mis estudios de doctorado, yo fui beneficiario de la educación escolar católica.
Cada una de nuestras escuelas tiene una identidad propia, y sin embargo todas abrazan la misión perfecta que es la razón de su existencia. En la página de internet de cada escuela hay, de una u otra forma, un propósito, una misión o declaración de visión que expresa su identidad y objetivos. Para mi beneficio y el de ustedes he seleccionado al azar ocho de estas declaraciones que hablan de manera elocuente de esta orgullosa tradición en nuestra diócesis.
• Para apoyar el desarrollo espiritual, intelectual, estético, emocional, social y el crecimiento físico de cada miembro de la comunidad.
• Dedicados a preparar a los estudiantes para ser líderes servidores a través de la excelencia académica, de la formación de la auténtica fe y de las oportunidades de la vida estudiantil dentro de un ambiente de aprendizaje seguro y de atención centrado en Cristo.
• Comprometidos con la excelencia académica y los valores enseñados por Jesucristo, procurando preparar a los jóvenes de todo el mundo mientras se preparan para el cielo.

• Busca la excelencia académica y se esfuerza por formar las mentes, los corazones y las almas de sus alumnos a semejanza de Cristo.

• Ofrece una educación basada en la fe católica que equilibra lo académico con la formación de carácter, enriqueciendo sus vidas y su relación personal con Jesucristo.

• Enseñar al niño en un ambiente centrado en Cristo, formando su carácter, fomentando comunidad, y creando estudiantes interesados en aprender.

• Existe para el doble propósito de formación de la fe y buena educación para todos los niños, con los ideales del Corazón de Cristo.

• Para proporcionar un medio ambiente amoroso, centrado en Cristo con una educación académica de calidad arraigada en el desarrollo del carácter, la compasión y los valores del Evangelio.
Los invito a que la próxima vez que disfrute de un día de nieve, cuando todas las responsabilidades al aire libre y los compromisos se retrasen o cancelen, para que busquen en el internet estas declaraciones y las hagan coincidir con sus respectivas escuelas. Las ocho representan menos de la mitad de nuestros colegios católicos de secundaria, de escuelas primarias y centros de aprendizaje de niños pequeños. Usted puede ver claramente que se esfuerzan por abrazar el Evangelio como camino de vida y por una excelente formación académica en el momento actual, con el fin de preparar a los estudiantes para su futuro y, finalmente su ciudadanía en el cielo. Y sí, cada escuela ofrece un rango de oportunidades de deportes, de servicio y actividades culturales adecuadas para cada edad que son esenciales para el desarrollo de la mente, el cuerpo y el espíritu.
El tema de la celebración para el 2016-2017 es (FAMILY) FAMILIA, una sigla que significa: fe, académico, misericordia, integridad, amor y tú. Hay mucho que reflexionar y celebrar con FAMILIA y es especialmente notable a la luz del Jubileo extraordinario de la misericordia, y de la Exhortación Apostólica del Papa Francisco Amoris Latitiae o, la Alegría del Amor (en la familia).
Este año, al comienzo de la Semana de las Escuelas Católicas me reuniré con sacerdotes, diáconos, ministros eclesiales laicos y varios de nuestro equipo de liderazgo diocesano para comenzar la aplicación del plan pastoral diocesano. Estamos orgullosos de afirmar que la declaración de nuestra renovada Visión es vivida a diario en nuestras escuelas: servir a los demás, abrazar la diversidad, inspirar a los discípulos. Como jóvenes y adultos hijos de Dios, que todos podamos seguir creciendo como discípulos intencionales a lo largo de toda la vida, deseoso de crecer en sabiduría, conocimiento y gracia.

History, academics, service make great schools

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By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The Annual national celebration of Catholic School Week begins this weekend, and will continue Monday through Friday with a variety of creative, meaningful and spirited activities in each of our schools. Catholic School education in the Diocese of Jackson (The Diocese of Natchez at the time) began in the Cathedral parish in Natchez in 1847, and has continued uninterruptedly to the present. The Catholic population has always been a small proportion of the State of Mississippi’s population but our commitment to education has been a light shining in the darkness for many in every generation since the mid-19th century, a large percentage not of the Catholic faith. Our Catholic schools are at the heart of our diocesan mission, originating with the mandate of the Lord Jesus to make disciples of all nations, teaching them everything I have commanded you. I take this opportunity to thank all who collaborate together to promote the mission of Catholic education in our diocese to this very day: families, teachers, administrators, and school support staff, the diocesan office, pastors and parish leadership, alumni, benefactors, and parishioners in the pew, and those who no longer live in our diocese who continue to support us with prayer and generosity. It is a continual labor of love to sustain and develop our schools in each generation as we strive for excellence. It is a joy for me to visit our schools, and the opportunity to do so will abound during the week ahead. I have a life long relationship with Catholic education. For many years I taught in our schools in the Diocese of Scranton, and for many more years before priesthood, from Kindergarten (no pre-k at the that time) through doctoral studies, I was a beneficiary of Catholic School education.
Each of our schools has a distinctive identity, and yet all embrace the seamless mission that is the reason for their existence. On each school’s website there is, in one form or another, a purpose, mission, or vision statement which expresses its identity and goals. For my edification and yours, I have randomly selected eight of these statements that speak eloquently to this proud tradition in our diocese.

• To support the spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social, and physical growth of each member of the community.

• Dedicated to preparing students to be servant leaders through academic excellence, authentic faith formation, and student life opportunities within a Christ-centered, caring and safe learning environment.

• Committed to academic excellence and the vaues taught by Jesus Christ, striving to equip young people for the world while preparing them for Heaven.

• Seeks academic excellence and strives to form the minds, hearts, and souls of its students in the likeness of Christ.

• Provides a faith based Catholic education that balances academics with character building, enriching lives and personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

• To teach the whole child in a Christ-centered environment, by building character, fostering community, and creating life-long learners.

• Exists for the dual purpose of faith formation, and quality education for all children, with the ideals of the Heart of Christ.
• To provide a loving, Christ-centered environment with a quality academic education rooted in the development of character, compassion and Gospel values.
I invite you the next time you enjoy a snow day when all outdoor responsibilities and appointments are delayed or canceled to go online and match up the above statements with their respective schools. The eight represent less than half of our Catholic high schools, elementary Schools, and early childhood learning centers. You can clearly see that they strive to embrace the Gospel way of life and excellent academic formation in the present moment, in order to prepare students for their future, and ultimately for their citizenship in heaven. And yes, each school offers a range of age appropriate athletic, service, and cultural opportunities that are essential in the development of mind, body and spirit.
The Catholic School theme for 2016-2017 is FAMILY, an acronym that signifies: faith, academics, mercy, integrity, love,and you. There is much to ponder and celebrate with FAMILY and it is especially noteworthy in light of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, Amoris Latitiae, or in English, the Joy of Love (in the family).
This year at the outset of Catholic School’s Week I will be gathering with priests and deacons, Lay Ecclesial Ministers and several of our diocesan leadership team to begin the implementation of the diocesan pastoral plan. We are proud to affirm that our renewed Vision statement is daily lived out in our schools: to serve others, to embrace diversity, to inspire disciples. As younger and older children of God, may we all continue to grow as life long intentional disciples, eager to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace.

Calendar of Events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus retreat center presents a silent retreat: “Mary in the Mystery of Christ and the Church,” on Saturday, February 11, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. The presenter is Brother Daniel Korn, C.Ss.R., noted Redemptorist author. Cost is $35 which includes lunch. Details: contact Magdalene Abraham at (662) 299-1232.
MERIDIAN St. Patrick, Pathways of Prayer Retreat, Saturday, February 11, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Enrich your prayer life by exploring different approaches to growing closer to God. Registration fee of $20 includes breakfast, lunch and all materials for the day. Space is limited; bring registration fee to the church office by February 1. Details: Mary Billups marybillups@bellsouth.net, (601) 693-1321.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
AMORY St. Helen, Book Discussion Group on “Small Great Things” by Jody Picoult on Monday, February 13, noon in the parish hall. Everyone is invited to read the book and plan to join in the discussion. Details: call the parish office at (662) 256-8392.
GREENVILLE St. Joseph Parish, St. Monica’s Prison Ministry visits the Washington Co. Correctional Facility on the second Monday of each month to share our Catholic faith. Next visit is February 7. Details: contact Sandra Cirilli or Frank Dantone at the church office, (662) 335-5251.
– St. Joseph “Sharing Christ,” Tuesdays in the parish hall, 6:30 – 8 pm, February 21 – April 4. It is a seven week journey focusing on personal evangelization and sharing our relationship with Jesus in our daily life. Registration forms in back of church. Details: call the parish office, (662) 335-5251.
GREENWOOD Mardi Gras Celebration to benefit St. Francis School, Saturday, February 18, 7 p.m. – midnight, Leflore County Civic Center. Adults only. Featuring: Steve Azar and the Sensation Dance Band of Memphis. Tickets: $35. Includes, buffet, party favors, set-ups. Bar available. Details: (662) 453-0623 or info@deltatics.net
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, weight loss support group. Come join us each week as we support each other on our weight loss journey. Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am for weigh-in and sharing. Details: Liz Brown, (901) 331-3419.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Young at Heart Senior Social, Saturday, February 18, for parishioners and friends aged 65+. Volunteers (youth and adults) and door prizes needed. Bingo, food and great prizes. Details: Charlene Rushing, (601) 431-9127.
– Grief and loss support group, second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.. Next meeting February 13. Compassion Care Hospice Office, Suite A, 113 Jefferson David Blvd. Open to the public. Details: (601)442-6800.
MADISON St. Francis of Assisi, Hospice Ministries Winter Volunteer Training Program, Feb. 3 – Feb. 5. Details: call (601)898-1053, ext. 258.
TUPELO St. James, Knights of Columbus Super Bowl Potluck Party, Sunday, February 5, 4 p.m. in Shelton Hall. Big-screen TV and everyone is invited. Details: Keith Merritt, (662) 322-1427.
VICKSBURG St. Paul, Meals on Wheels chairperson needed. St. Paul sincerely thanks Camille Atwood for her service of 22 years. Meals on Wheels meets the first Saturday of the month and feeds approximately 30 people. Details: (601) 636-0140

YOUTH BRIEFS
Greenville, St. Joseph School, Mardi Gras Fling, Saturday, February 25, at the Washington Co. Convention Center, 6:00 pm to midnight. Must be 21 or older. Cost: $100, admits two for dinner, music from the sounds of Yazoo Gold, “get-down” dancing and drinks, as well as a chance to win $10,000 worth of prizes in the annual draw-down. Details: Tickets on sale in both school offices, the church office or from any school advisory council member. To donate a tax-deductible door prize, contact Missi Blackstock at (662) 378-9711
HERNANDO Holy Spirit, “Souper” Bowl of Caring, youth will be collecting after all masses on the weekend of February 4-5. Goal is to raise $800.00.

TUPELO, Parkgate Pregnancy Banquet, Tuesday, February 21. Any student age 15 or older is invited to volunteer. You will need to be at the Orchard by 5 p.m. and dinner is provided. Details: call or text Jessica Vaughn (662) 871-5033.

VOCATION RETREATS FOR WOMEN
HOLLY SPRINGS The Sisters of the Living Word, the Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association CAVA), and Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM)
are jointly hosting “Hands-ON + Hearts-IN: A discernment experience for women at their residence in Holly Springs. Young women will be accompanied by vocation ministers for the Monday through Friday experience, providing a hands-on opportunity to assist those in need while discerning life as a sister. Attendees will reside with sisters from various communities. Service projects include: tutoring children, assisting at a food pantry,cleaning homes for the elderly, repairing damaged homes, serving meals at a soup kitchen. The only cost to attend is the travel to the residence. Available dates: February 6-10 or 20-24; May 15-19 or 22-26; August 29 – Sept. 1; September 18-22
Applicants need to book a spot one month prior to the start of a week-long event. Details: Sister Sharon Glumb, SLW sglumb@slw.org; 847-577-5972 ext. 233 (office); 601-291-6738 (cell).
MOBILE, Ala., Little Sisters of the Poor presents “Listening with Our Lady” retreat Friday, March 24, at 6 p.m.- Sunday, March 26 at 1 p.m., at Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters in Mobile. This retreat is for single Catholic women aged 17-35 who may wish to discern a call to religious life. The weekend includes Mass, talks, question and answer sessions, service opportunities and adoration. Meals provided. Register by March 21. Details: vocmobile@littlesistersofthepoor.org or (251) 591-3700.

Go: Celebrating 35 years of catechetical formation

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KENNER, LA, - Bishop Kopacz, center, celebrated the closing Mass for the conference with diocesan priests Father Arokia Savio, right of the bishop, pastor of Grenada St. Peter Parish, and Father Paneer Arockiam, pastor of Yazoo City St. Mary Parish. Two local deacons assisted. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

KENNER, LA, – Bishop Kopacz, center, celebrated the closing Mass for the conference with diocesan priests Father Arokia Savio, right of the bishop, pastor of Grenada St. Peter Parish, and Father Paneer Arockiam, pastor of Yazoo City St. Mary Parish. Two local deacons assisted. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Hundreds of delegates from Southhaven to Natchez descended on Kenner, La., to participate in the recent Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference. More than 1,200 participants from Region V, in which this diocese is located, came for all or part of the three-day conference. The diocesan delegation included Bishop Kopacz, who celebrated the closing Mass on Saturday.
In its 35th year, the conference was previously known as the Hofinger Conference, named for Fr. Johannes Hofinger, S.J., a world-renowned missionary, evangelizer, teacher, and catechetical leader. “This year’s theme, ‘Prayer: Our Faith Prayed and Lived,’ reminded us of our need for prayer and to experience prayer in new ways. There really was a little bit of something for everyone as the topics covered were quite varied,” explained Fran Lavelle, director of the department of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Jackson and one of the conference organizers.
“In addition to the areas one would expect, topics like ministry for special needs and the elderly were covered. A track for liturgy was also provided as well as a track for those working with high school students,” she added.
Members of her team and diocesan representatives, including Will Jemison, coordinator for Black Catholic ministry for the diocese, Abbey Schuhmann, coordinator for Youth Ministry, Catherine Cook, Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Karla Luke, coordinator for operations for the schools, also attended.
In addition to the keynote speakers and breakout sessions, participants had access to exhibits and liturgies. “One of my favorites was a beautiful exhibit on icons and their use in personal and communal prayer. It was a great feature,” said Lavelle.
Lori Arreola agreed. She was a first-time attendee from Grenada St. Peter Parish. “I liked the transforming of icons for catechesis and prayer workshop because it takes me to a closer intimate relationship with the Lord as well as deeper understanding level,” she explained.

Fathers Aroika and Savio, pictured at the closing Mass, brought people from their parishes to the conference. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

Fathers Arockiam and Savio, pictured at the closing Mass, brought people from their parishes to the conference. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)

Father Aroika Savio, pastor of Grenada St. Peter Parish has attended several of these conferences, but none of his catechetical staff had the opportunity until this year when a delegation of six went with him. Rosa Buzzarde, took the Liturgy track. She said she learned how to write the prayers of the faithful to include all people. She also learned about new rites of ceremony for weddings that have additions and exclusions written into them.
Annette Tipton, took the family evangelization and spirituality track. “I learned about the need for Spiritual Coaches in our parishes and how to accompany people in their faith walk,” she said. She added that she enjoyed not just the academic and logistical side, but got a lot from the spiritual offerings. “In a different venue, Dr. Brant Pitre of Gray, La, powerfully taught a deeper understanding of Lectio Divina – keeping a dialogue with Christ in prayer,” said Tipton.
Nancy Oswalt also attended the lectio breakout. “I learned about Lectio Divina, scripture and prayer and how important it is to our faith, and then some ways to actually pray and have a conversation with Christ. For the youth I now have some new ways to lead ‘guided prayer’ and modeling prayer,” she said.
Father Savio said he values conferences such as this one. “I wanted my people to see how other parishes are celebrating liturgy, offering catechesis and doing other things,” he said.
This was the first year the faith formation directors in this region took a lead role in both content and logitics for the conference.
“For several years the conference was planned by a professional meeting planner. We were given the opportunity last year to continue with an outside planner or taking on the role as a region,” said Lavelle. “With more input from the region felt we are able to address our local needs better.”
The diocesan directors for the region have already begun planning for next year’s conference. “It has been a learning experience that paid off,” Lavelle added.
As the faith formation directors plan the next conference, they would like to use feedback from this year. Those who attended the conference should submit an evaluation online at www.go4th.faith. “We want to hear from you so we can continue to provide a first rate Conference,” said Lavelle.

The team from Pearl St. Jude Parish enjoyed the vendor area where attendees could look at the latest in church supplies and catechetical material.

The team from Pearl St. Jude Parish enjoyed the vendor area where attendees could look at the latest in church supplies and catechetical material.

Inaugural Pilgrimage for Life celebrates Respect Life month

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By Elsa Baughman
GREENWOOD – The first “Pilgrimage for Life” in the Diocese of Jackson, was held Saturday, Jan. 14, at Locus Benedictus Retreat Center. January is Respect Life Month.
During the three mile walk around the retreat center and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Delta, the pilgrims, flanked on both sides by dancers from Tupelo and Jackson, prayed the rosary, sang songs and prayed after each mystery. Leading the way were four people carrying the cross, (the source of salvation) the banner of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe (source of conversion) and the banner of the event. The dancers took turns dancing after each mystery.
“We want to present God our needs and pray for justice, for life and hope,” said Father Michael McAndrew, CsSR, before starting the walk. “This is why we walk in pilgrimage, it is a very Catholic tradition. And on this day we are going to celebrate life, from conception to natural death, and we’re going to pray for the honor and dignity of every person and every race,” he said.
The petitions after each mystery were offered for the healthy and happy conception of all infants and for the end of abortion; for all migrants and immigrants of the world; for all elderly people so that they may always be treated and cared for with gratitude and love; for all the youth and young people of the world so that they live their lives with purpose and be brave men and women of God; and for the care and respect of our environment, our home.
“This is something beautiful, I loved it,” said Ernestina Mata, of Jackson, who attended the pilgrimage with her teenage daughter. “I was not planning to come,” she added, “but God wanted me to come. I saw myself in need to accompany my daughter because my husband didn’t want her to come alone.” Mata commented that the event reminded her of something that she witnessed as a child in the village where she grew up in Mexico. “On special occasions the people of the town gathered in the field to ask God or give him thanks for something in particular, such like that it rains or for a good harvest,” she said. “Today, these childhood memories came to my mind.”
The closing Mass was celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Delta by the priests of the Redemptorist community living in Greenwood.
In his homily, Father McAndrew said that the Mass was celebrated for all the families affected by the migratory situation in the country and especially by migrants who do not have a house, who are not welcomed and for the success of the Fifth National Encuentro. During Mass, a family whose father is facing deportation, offered their testimony.
Veronica Lopez, coordinator for Hispanic young adult ministry for the diocese, said she thinks this first Pilgrimage for Life was very good and successful. “We were able to gather 150 people; whole families, including children, youth, young adults, grandparents and even Father Ted’s dog,” she said, adding that “precisely, all of these people, human beings, were the focus and objective of our pilgrimage. And we prayed for the human rights of each one of us, from the youngest to the oldest.
Lopez said she was very pleased for the support and help she received from the young Hispanic adults of the diocese and the Redemptorist priests who guided and led the pilgrimage. “It was great,” she said. She noted she wants to continue having this pilgrimage every year and hoped that more people attend it. “I would like to see more than 500 people attending next year.”
Salomón Esparza, from Greenwood, attended the event with his wife and children and said he liked that people from other areas of the diocese took the day to attend the event. “This is something very nice to experience and I think the children will always remember it. I would like to continue attending and that it becomes an annual tradition.”