Bishop Joseph Kopacz traveled to Saltillo, Mexico, Sept. 24-30 with Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III of the Diocese of Biloxi. The bishops visited communities served through the dioceses’ shared Saltillo Mission. During the trip, they visited several churches and mission communities, including San Miguel, Divina Misericordia, San José and the future chapel of El Niño de la Salud. On Sept. 27, Bishop Kopacz and Bishop Kihneman joined Bishop Hilario González García of Saltillo for a Confirmation Mass at San Miguel. The visit celebrated the longstanding mission partnership connecting Catholics in Saltillo with the dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi. Through prayer, worship and fellowship, the trip strengthened the bonds of faith and solidarity shared across the three dioceses.
Bishop Kihneman and Bishop Kopacz visit the tomb of Padre Patrick Quinn during the annual mission trip to Saltillo, Mexico, on Sept. 25.Young Confirmation candidates travel by caravan to San Francisco del Ejido Nuevo Gómez Rancho on Sept. 25.Bishop Kopacz shares a fist bump with a young parishioner at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, where he celebrated Mass on Sept. 27.Bishops bless a parade and ride alongside Confirmation candidates to San José La Ventura on Sept. 26.The bishops participate in activities with Rancho catechists during a faith formation program Sept. 26.Bishop Joseph Kopacz walks in procession from St. Miguel to the future rancho chapel of El Niño de la Salud on Sept. 28.
CRANFIELD – Parishioners and friends celebrate the 110th anniversary of St. John the Baptist Mission on Sept. 20 with Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Anthony Okwum, SSJ and Deacon Dien Hoang. (Photos by Tereza Ma) More photos: https://jacksondiocese.zenfoliosite.com
By Joanna King and Tereza Ma CRANFIELD – For Ronnie Patterson, celebrating the 110th anniversary of St. John the Baptist Mission meant returning to a place that has been part of his life for 68 years. “Being here brought back some good old feelings, you know, from when I was a kid,” Patterson said. Those memories were part of the celebration as Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz joined the community for an anniversary Mass Sept. 20, honoring more than a century of Catholic faith at the small mission church. Patterson grew up attending St. John the Baptist. Although family responsibilities have taken him in different directions and he does not get to the church as often, his affection for it remains strong. “I love it with a passion,” he said. “I sure do.”
For John Grady Burns, a member of Holy Family Parish in Natchez who also attends the Cranfield mission, the anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate a community that holds a special place in his life. “It’s a very special place. It’s both religious and spiritual and it’s beautiful here,” Burns said. “It’s a great small community and it really means the world to us that the bishop was here for the 100th and again for the 110th anniversary.” The mission’s history reflects the determination of Catholics in rural southwest Mississippi to sustain their faith. Josephite Father Matthew Morrissey began serving Holy Family in 1901 and traveled into surrounding communities to reach Catholics who could not easily attend Mass in Natchez. His encounters with the Fleming family in Cranfield led to plans for a church. After years of fundraising, Father Morrissey and older African American members of the Fleming family built it on land donated by a local Catholic identified in the historical account as Mrs. Boggart. Bishop John Gunn dedicated the church Sept. 3, 1916. Cranfield was one of four missions associated with Holy Family under Father Morrissey. St. John the Baptist is the last surviving mission of those four. During the anniversary homily, Bishop Kopacz invited the congregation to consider how faith continues to call Catholics to service today. Drawing on the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Paul, he reflected on conversion, peace and the ways an encounter with Christ can transform a person’s life. He described St. Francis’ embrace of people with leprosy as a turning point that redirected a life of privilege toward love and service. The bishop also reflected on the Gospel parable of the workers in the vineyard, emphasizing God’s continuing invitation to salvation and the responsibility of believers to respond. “He does not want to see us idle on his behalf,” Bishop Kopacz said. “He wants to see us really working on his behalf, and God does not cease to work.” That work, he explained, includes deepening love for the Lord, caring for the poor, helping people build lives of dignity and caring for creation. He encouraged those gathered to inspire and support one another along the path of salvation. Father Anthony Okwum, SSJ, pastor of Holy Family in Natchez and St. John the Baptist in Cranfield, expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the anniversary celebration possible. “Your presence, prayers, love, and support made this special occasion truly meaningful and joyful,” he said. Father Okwum offered special thanks to Bishop Kopacz, priests who previously served the mission, visiting clergy, religious, parishioners and the many volunteers and supporters who contributed their time, talents and resources. “We thank God for His faithfulness throughout the years and for the beautiful community of faith He has blessed us with,” Father Okwum said. “May God continue to guide and strengthen our mission church as we move forward together in faith, hope, and love.”
Valencia Hall and Ronnie Patterson visit before Mass at St. John on Sept. 20.Parishioners and friends enjoy food and fellowship during St. John’s celebration, with jambalaya-style spaghetti prepared by Vic Merritt.John Grady Burns presents a gift to Father Anthony Okwum, SSJ, during the 110th anniversary celebration Sept. 20.
BATESVILLE – Batesville Main Street’s Trick-or-Trunk on the Square, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. St. Mary’s Altar Society participating with a trunk. Candy donations appreciated. CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth, Trunk-or-Treat and Canned Food Drive, Sunday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Details: church office (662) 624-4301. CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, CYO Halloween Carnival, Sunday, Oct. 25. Details: church office (662) 846-6273. COLUMBUS – Multi-Church event, Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 25 from 4-6:30 pm on College Street downtown. No pets. Details: annunciationcyo@gmail.com. GREENVILLE – St. Joseph School, Trunk-or-Treat, Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Children of all ages welcome. Enjoy games, trick-or-treating and more. Details: church office (662) 335-5251 or sduthu@stjosephgreenville.org. GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Trunk-or-Treat, Saturday, Oct. 24 after 4 p.m. Mass. Details: church office (601) 856-2054. HERNANDO – Holy Spirit, Trunk-or-Treat, Sunday, Oct. 25 from 2-4 p.m. Event for ages 0 through fifth grade. Enjoy games, face painting, costume contest, treats and more. Details: church office (662) 429-7851. JACKSON – St. Richard School, Cardinal Fest, Saturday, Oct. 24. Enjoy food, live performances, games, art, chili cookoff and more! Visit https://bit.ly/cardinalfest2026 for tickets, chili cookoff registration, sponsorship or more info. Details: school office (601) 366-1157. JACKSON – Holy Family, Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with international food booths, bingo, football watch party, bounce houses, and children’s games and activities, in addition to a two-day soccer tournament (Oct. 24-25) for male and female teams. Activities require the purchase of tickets for a small fee. The entire community is invited to attend. Come out to celebrate the first activity in our year-long celebration leading up to our 70th anniversary. Details: church office (601) 362-1888. MADISON – St. Anthony School, Fall Fest and Chili Cook-off, Sunday, Oct. 18. Details: school office (601) 607-7054. MADISON – St. Joseph School, Trunk-or-Treat, Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. Details: school office (601) 898-4800. MERIDIAN – St. Patrick School Fall Festival, Friday, Oct. 23, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Trunk-or-Treat, hayride, games, crafts, Touch-a-Truck, petting zoo and more. Details: school office (601) 482-6044. OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Trunk-or-Treat, Sunday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. Haunted trail, cake walk, music, food and more. Details: church office (662) 895-5007. SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Trunk-or-Treat, Friday, Oct. 30 from 6-8:30 p.m. Come enjoy music, games, free food and more. Details: church office (662) 342-1073. VICKSBURG – Vicksburg Catholic School, 12th annual Spooky Sprint, Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. Join us for a 5k run or walk 1 mile fun run and carnival. Event is open to all ages. Costumes are encouraged. Register at https://vicksburgcatholicschool.redpodium.com/2026-spooky-sprintor $10 cash at gate for carnival entry only. Details: school office (601) 636-2256.
FAITH ALIVE By Russell Shaw (OSV News) – The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (12:1-2). This passage is a beautiful description of the communion of saints, something so fundamental to the Christian faith that all Christians express their belief in it when reciting the Apostles’ Creed. A saint is someone who is in heaven – it is as simple as that. While “saint” as a title is reserved to those whose lives the church has thoroughly investigated (typically through whose intercession two miracles can be demonstrated to have occurred), the term applies to anyone in heaven. Everyone from your saintly grandmother to the martyrs facing death for Christ: They are all part of the communion of saints. The church commemorates all these saints on All Saints’ Day. The history of the feast reveals a great deal about the church’s understanding of the communion of saints. The communion of saints is the church, both the living and dead. All Saints’ Day was not always a solemnity observed by the universal church, and is not celebrated everywhere on Nov. 1. The feast originated in the earliest centuries of the church, when Christians commemorated the many martyrs who died at the hands of their Roman persecutors. Because there were so many martyrs, they could not each have their own feast day; but they were seen as such important witnesses that the Christians did not want to leave any of them out. As a result, a single commemoration for “all the martyrs” was observed each spring, which celebrated those who did not have their own unique feast. This is the earliest observance we know about of something similar to All Saints’ Day. Many of the Eastern Catholic churches still commemorate All Saints’ Day in the spring. After Christianity was legalized throughout the Roman Empire in 313 and the violent and bloody persecutions came to an end, it was common to commemorate the martyrs in various areas around the empire. We even see this referred to in the writings of the saints, with St. Ephrem (d. 373) and St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) making reference to a commemoration of all saints. This practice spread far throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, with commemorations of all saints showing up in Antioch, Rome, England, Salzburg and more. In the early seventh century, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Roman Pantheon – formerly a shrine to all the gods of Roman mythology – as a Christian church of the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs. Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel at St. Peter’s Basilica to all the saints, as well, with an anniversary date of Nov. 1. Rome adopted Nov. 1 as the date of the feast of All Saints in the eighth century, and in the ninth century Pope Gregory IV extended that observance to the whole of the Latin Church. Now, centuries later, All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation and recognized as one of the most important feasts on the liturgical calendar. However, the celebration of Halloween typically overshadows the commemoration of All Saints’ Day. Most of us realize that Halloween is in reality the vigil of All Saints’ (“Allhallows Eve” or “Hallow E’en”), but All Saints’ Day itself has become a bit of an afterthought. It shouldn’t be this way! The saints are our friends, our intercessors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. They care deeply for us, and their lives are recognized by the church as exemplary, as models to follow. So how can we celebrate this wonderful feast of All Saints’ Day? Whether you are commemorating individually or in a group or a family, there are many ways to observe this solemnity. The most obvious is: Go to Mass! It is a holy day of obligation, and there is no more appropriate way to commemorate the saintly lives of those who have gone before us than the eucharistic sacrifice. It is also good to do other liturgical or prayerful things to mark the day: Pray the Divine Office for All Saints’ Day; read the lives of the saints; watch a movie about a saint; pray the litany of saints; think back to your confirmation saint and study that saint’s life. Similarly, if any of your children share the name of a saint, learn about that saint together: Read about the saint and pray together, asking for the saint’s intercession. There are also a number of creative and fun games that can be played to help celebrate All Saints’ Day. Try putting on a play of the life of a saint (many Halloween costumes can be repurposed to be saints costumes). There are books for all ages, coloring books and even comic books featuring the saints. All Saints’ Day is the perfect time to pray to all these holy men and women, asking for their intercession for the conversion of sinners, so that we might all become saints.
(Senz works for Ignatius Press and is a freelance writer who lives with his wife and four children in Oregon.)
COLUMBUS – Father Jeffrey Waldrep joins first grader Adeline Dye and her sixth-grade buddy, Keelynn Clapper, during Annunciation Catholic School’s 14th annual Pinwheels for Peace ceremony following Mass Sept. 24. (Photo by Kacy Haffner)VICKSBURG – St. Aloysius High School seniors pack and personalize boxes of snacks and other food for families served by Jacob’s Ladder and Micah’s Mission. (Photo by Anna Griffing)MERIDIAN – St. Patrick Catholic School fifth grader Mason Wilson explains his “Creative Contraption” to Knights of Columbus member Frank Polizzi as fellow members Larry Birzer, left, and John Harwell look on. The Knights sponsor the annual event for students in third through eighth grades. (Photo by Helen Reynolds)MERIDIAN – St. Patrick Catholic School seventh and eighth graders walk to the Meridian Animal Shelter to deliver $156, several bags of pet food and cleaning supplies collected through the school’s monthly Jeans for Green Day. (Photo by Helen Reynolds)YAZOO CITY – Manchester Academy football players and cheerleaders gather at St. Mary Parish for “Meal and a Message,” featuring food, fellowship and an encouraging reflection from Father Joseph Reddy Golamari. (Photo by Babs McMaster)MADISON – St. Anthony Catholic School sixth graders load donations for Hope Lodge. Pictured from left are Ada Allen, Maddox Kivlan, Seth D’Mello, Livi Jones, Leo Kosek, Mae McDaniel and Emma Kassinger. (Photo by Kati Loyacono)JACKSON – Father Andrew Bowden celebrates the Guardian Angel Mass at St. Richard Catholic School, a tradition that pairs each second grader with a sixth-grade “Guardian Angel.” Throughout the school year, the older students pray for and support their younger partners while serving as positive Catholic role models. The Guardian Angels spend time together and build friendships rooted in faith, prayer and care for one another. Pictured are Arya Loggins, Stella McArthur, Charleigh Luzardo, Addie Hamm, Nadia Jackson, Penelope Starrett, Hadley Metzger, Anna Kate Yentzen, Olivia Miller, Anna Nguyen, Dorothy White, Doe Marie Torrey, Gray Brown, Josie Ball, Margaret Rutherford, Lula McArthur, Marleigh Nance, Garrin Walker, Louise Simmons, Presley Creel, Townes Crews, Mary Ryan Nunley, Asher Jones, Juan Munoz, Aiden Moremen, Christian Jones, Thomas Smith, Micah Garner, Edmund Stanton and Jude Shannon, along with Father Andrew Bowden.TUPELO – Children celebrate their first Communion at St. James Parish. Pictured are Armando Acosta, Iker Arana, Carolina Aviña, Sophia Bernal Ocampo, Reegan Burnley, Andrea Diaz, Alexandria Dixon, Saul Escobedo, Teagan Hathorn, Alan Hernandez, Jorge Juarez Yanez, Edgar Leon Becerra, Julian Lira, Alicia Lopez Herrera, Sebastian Maldonado, Jesus Mauricio, Anthony Mejia, Frannie Nelson, Leanne Pannell, Luz Victoria Romero, Link Russell, Jacob Salgado, Sara Sanchez, Leo Silver, Sage Silver, Emma Lynn Thompson, Danny Vigil, Patton Weatherford, David Alatorre, John Austin Gonzalez, Romina Hernandez, Elizabeth Lopez, An Tran, Jonathan Corona, Jennifer Hernandez, Emilio Maldonado, Eric Santos Loaeza, Mark Gonzalez, Elizabeth Hunter, David Maldonado, Alexia Ortiz Villa, Manuel Torres and Vanessa Torres. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Harkins)
By Junno Arocho Esteves (OSV News) – The pastor of Gaza’s only Catholic parish revealed that Pope Leo XIV sent a personal condolence message following an Israeli missile strike that killed five people, including a Christian mother and daughter. In his daily video update posted to YouTube Oct. 4, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish, read the pope’s”beautiful message” he received earlier, just one day after the missile strike that killed Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar. “Good morning, Father Gabriele. Ever since hearing the painful news about Maysa and Mary, I’ve been praying for them, their families, and everyone in Gaza. ‘How long, Lord?’” Pope Leo wrote, echoing a lament from Psalm 13. “Thank you for standing by the parish and so many people who only want to live in peace. God bless, with a warm embrace,” he wrote to Father Gabriele.
Christians attend the funeral of Mary Hafez Michel Najjar and her mother, Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud, at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City Oct. 3, 2026. The Christian mother and daughter, along with three others, were killed in the early morning hours Oct. 3 in an Israeli airstrike on the residential building where they lived. (OSV News/courtesy X, @PGabRomanelli)
According to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu Agency, the two women were among five people killed in the early hours Oct. 3 in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City. “Maysa and her daughter Mary had devoted their time to serving parishioners and displaced people sheltering at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, providing support and assistance amid the devastating humanitarian conditions facing the Gaza Strip,” Ramzi Khouri, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, said. He added that the deaths of two women were “a painful loss for their families … and the parish community, and add to the growing number of martyrs among the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to endure death, destruction, and suffering on a daily basis.” The mother and daughter were laid to rest hours after their deaths, following a funeral at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza. In an Oct. 3 statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem prayed for their eternal rest, as well as “an end to the war and bombardment and for the protection of civilians. “May a just peace prevail, so that the people of Gaza may live without fear for their children and loved ones. May their memory be eternal,” the statement read. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem also issued a statement on behalf of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who expressed condolences to the families of those who died and to the Christian community in Gaza. “His Beatitude offers his prayers to the Lord, asking Him to receive the two deceased in His abundant mercy, grant them eternal rest in His Kingdom, and bestow upon their families and loved ones the grace of consolation, strength, and hope,” the patriarchate said. In his video update, Father Romanelli said he was grateful for Pope Leo’s message and said the airstrike confirmed fears “that there is not a single safe place in Gaza.” “Let us pray intensely for the Church, let us pray intensely for Pope Leo XIV, and let us pray intensely for peace between Palestine and Israel,” Father Romanelli said. “May these innocent victims from this part of the Holy Land, like Maysa and Mary and so many others, serve – united to the redeeming sacrifice of Christ – to grant us peace of soul, peace among families, peace in society, and peace throughout the world.”
(Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.)
JACKSON – Across the Diocese of Jackson, parishioners gathered with their pets for blessing ceremonies, giving thanks for the animals that bring companionship and joy to their lives. The photos on this page capture these celebrations of faith and the special bond between people and their pets. The blessing of animals is traditionally held near the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, whose love for God’s creation continues to inspire the faithful. Known as the patron saint of animals, St. Francis reminds us to recognize the goodness of all God has made and to treat living creatures with care and compassion. These gatherings offer an opportunity to thank God for the comfort, laughter and love our pets bring into our homes. They also remind us of our responsibility to care for the animals entrusted to us and to be good stewards of the world we share.
CLEVELAND – Father Kent Bowlds with Frank, his 9½-year-old English springer spaniel whose formal name is “Pup Francis,” after Pope Francis. Father Andrew Bowden suggested the name while serving in the parish as a seminarian. Father Bowlds says Frank makes him laugh every day, fetches papers from his printer — sometimes when he would rather he didn’t — and can hear a food wrapper opening from 100 yards away. (Photo courtesy of Father Kent Bowlds)SOUTHAVEN – Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, blesses Baby Girl, a puppy held by Sacred Heart School student Ben Lowery. (Photo by Laura Grisham)SOUTHAVEN – Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, blesses Kiwi, a lizard held by Sacred Heart School student Layla Cook. (Photo by Laura Grisham)TUPELO – Father Henry Shelton blesses family pets at St. James Parish on Oct. 2 in honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. (Photo by Michelle Harkins)CLINTON – Father Lincoln Dall blesses pets at Holy Savior Parish on Sunday, Oct. 4. (Photo by Robert Gatewood)MADISON – Father Will Foggo blesses pets at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Joining him are Edna Scapinello with her dog Maggie and Mary Jane Lemon and her daughter Murphy with their dogs Poppy and Daisy. (Photo by Sallie Ann Inman)GRENADA – Father Joseph Ashok Thumma joins Hans Campbell with Autumn, Kathy Everhart with Greta and Myra Liberto with Brady during the blessing of pets at St. Peter Parish in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. (Photo by Raymond Liberto)
VATICAN CITY – Christ the King Jackson parishioner Carrie Robinson greets Pope Leo XIV during an audience with a U.S. delegation from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Robinson spoke briefly with the pope and shook his hand during the group’s visit to the Vatican. Robinson shared that Pope Leo had some wonderful things to say about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. (Photo by Vatican Media)
CLARKSDALE – Former St. Elizabeth School eighth-grade classmates from 1962 reunite during the 60th joint reunion of the Clarksdale High School and Coahoma County High School classes of 1966. Pictured are Lucretia Luckett Boyle, Margaret Birdsong Johnson, Ronnie Demilio, Susan Matthews Young and Sue Haaga Craig. Classmate Carolyn Hannan Evans is not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Demilio)
JACKSON – Chancery staff serve lunch during the Shower Power event in downtown Jackson on Sept. 11. Pictured from left are Joni House, Debbie Moore, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Father Lincoln Dall and Rebecca Harris. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
RIDGELAND – Local Catholic parishioners, Brian Lott and John Dorsa joined together to serve meals to about 70 first responders Sept. 11 in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. (Photo courtesy of John Dorsa)MOBILE, AL – Monsignor Elvin Sunds is invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Fleur de Lis on June 5 in the chapel of the archdiocesan chancery in Mobile. He is joined in the investiture by Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso of Mobile and Father Robert P. Higginbotham of the Diocese of Biloxi. (Photo by Michael Horten)JACKSON – Norman McDonald, a member of the Order of the Fleur de Lis Board of Governors, presents a $1,500 check to Sister Jane at the Carmelite Monastery on Monday, Oct. 5. The gift will assist with building repairs and HVAC needs. Pictured in back from left are Knight Commanders Jim McCraw and Craig Harrell, Sister Clare, Sister Jovi, Monsignor Elvin Sunds and Sister Evelyn. (Photo courtesy of Michael Horton)OXFORD – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, accompanied by pastor, Father Mark Shoffner, teaches 160 inquirers about the sign of the cross during the opening night of OCIA at St. John the Evangelist Parish. (Photo by Jennifer Newsom)
Dozens of countries were represented at this year’s Taste of St. Francis on Sunday, Oct. 4. Teresa Karki, left, serves chicken momos with tomato sauce from Nepal, while Alejandro Banda serves Oaxacan tamales from Oaxaca, Mexico. (Photos by Sallie Ann Inman)
By Joanna Puddister King and Tereza Ma MADISON – A kind word, a listening ear or an invitation to share a gift can become a powerful expression of faith. That message connected art, storytelling and practical ministry workshops during the Diocese of Jackson’s Fall Faith Formation Day Sept. 19 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Centered on the theme “Formed to Serve, Sent to Lead,” the gathering brought together catechists, youth ministers and other parish leaders for prayer, fellowship, two keynote presentations and breakout sessions addressing the opportunities and challenges of sharing the faith today. Keynote speaker Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, used his colorful artwork and personal stories to encourage participants to recognize God’s presence in everyday encounters. An artist, author and retreat leader based in Camden, New Jersey, Brother Mickey belongs to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and has worked in full-time art ministry since 1994. Throughout his presentations, he returned to the influence of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, whose life and witness helped him discover a new purpose for his artistic gifts.
MADISON – Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, speaks to a room full of catechists during Fall Faith Formation Day at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. More photos are available at https://jacksondiocese.zenfoliosite.com. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
Brother Mickey recalled first encountering Sister Thea through a magazine interview while his father was seriously ill. Later, watching a video about her life inspired a series of paintings and set him on a path of sharing her story through art. Over more than three decades, that inspiration has continued to grow. Forty-seven of his paintings inspired by Sister Thea are now part of the materials gathered for her canonization cause. For Brother Mickey, Sister Thea’s example offers a lesson in transforming grief into hope and using personal gifts to build others up. He encouraged those working in faith formation to see their ministry as an opportunity to accompany people and help them recognize their own worth. “It’s just saying to somebody, ‘I’m here. You’re not alone,’” he said. His afternoon presentation expanded that message through stories of community mural projects and friendships formed through art. He described people finding moments of peace, connection and renewed confidence while painting together, including those experiencing grief or hardship. Creativity, he suggested, can open a door to relationships that might otherwise never develop. For Timothy Roberts of St. Alphonsus Parish in McComb, the presentation deepened an existing interest in Sister Thea. “It just enhanced everything I already knew about her, and I want to learn more,” said Roberts, who teaches fourth-grade parish religious education with his wife, Mary. The day’s breakout sessions gave participants opportunities to connect that spirit of accompaniment with their own ministries. Topics included mental health, artificial intelligence, Confirmation preparation, engaging teaching methods, youth summer experiences, young adult discipleship, Catholic social teaching and immigration. Sessions on Catholic social teaching and immigration were offered in English and Spanish. In “Created in His Image: Faith, Human Dignity & A.I.,” Joni House, executive director of Catholic education for the diocese, invited participants to consider how technology can serve people while preserving human dignity and relationships. Her presentation offered six areas for discernment: dignity, truth, relationship, responsibility, the common good and mission. Participants considered whether information is trustworthy, whether a human person remains accountable for decisions and whether technology helps people love God and serve their neighbors. Small-group exercises applied those questions to situations such as using AI to draft parish messages or formation materials and using AI-generated information in decisions affecting a person. Jeanne Setzer, who serves in a book group at St. Francis of Assisi in Madison, said the workshop addressed an increasingly important part of daily life. “I think it’s very important for us to learn how to use AI responsibly,” Setzer said, emphasizing that human connectedness should remain central. “AI should help enhance our relationships with each other.” Amy Chaney of St. Michael Parish in Vicksburg also valued the discussion, along with the chance to learn from other catechists. Having taught First Communion preparation for about three years, she came seeking ideas for educating children and sharing the faith.
Participants discuss artificial intelligence during a workshop led by Joni House at Fall Faith Formation Day.
“I’m enjoying communicating with other people in the diocese and meeting people that I’ve talked to on the phone and being able to connect with them in person,” Chaney said. Other workshops explored how ministers can care for themselves and accompany people through important transitions. Dr. Kayla Acklin led “You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: Mental Health and Ministry,” addressing personal well-being as an essential part of caring for others. Dr. Edgar Meyer facilitated “Beyond Graduation: Accompanying Young Adults into Lifelong Discipleship,” which included a panel of young adults sharing their experiences. Deacon Bill Vautrot, ordained in July and assigned to St. Gregory the Great in Senatobia, attended both sessions. “I really learned how important it is to take care of yourself so you can take care of others,” he said. The young adult panel also helped him better understand the challenges people face after college and how the church can support their continued growth in faith. Attendees were also able to leave with resource guides on building a young adult ministry program and campus ministry programs for local colleges. For those teaching children and teenagers, workshops offered ideas to bring home to parish classrooms and youth groups. Mary Roberts attended April Moore’s session on bringing joy and energy into faith formation. She said the discussion offered ways to use visuals, games and interaction to engage students while continuing to teach the faith. Lauren Cotting, youth minister and Confirmation catechist at St. Alphonsus in McComb, attended Abbey Schuhmann’s session on Catholic camps, conferences and service experiences. Schuhmann and the panel introduced opportunities ranging from service-centered experiences to summer programs combining recreation and faith formation, giving Cotting options to share with her parish team. Amy Le and Cindy Tran, youth ministry leaders at St. Michael Parish in Forest, said the day offered encouragement for a growing ministry. Le recalled beginning with only two or three students; the group now consistently draws at least 15. They came away with ideas for developing leadership, involving young people in service and strengthening relationships within the parish. “It’s just nice to have another perspective on how to do things,” Tran said. For Le, the gathering reinforced the possibilities ahead as their young people continue to grow together in faith. “I think it’s beautiful to be here today,” she said.
(Editor’s note: This is an abridged version of the Holy Father’s message for World Mission Sunday 2026. Read the full text at https://bit.ly/4zi5bPO)
Dear brothers and sisters, For World Mission Day 2026, I have chosen the theme ‘One in Christ, united in mission.’ I wish to encourage the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit. One in Christ – Missionary disciples united in him and with our brothers and sisters The mystery of union with Christ lies at the heart of mission. Before his Passion, Jesus prayed to the Father, ‘that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us’ (John 17:21). These words reveal Jesus’ deepest desire, as well as the identity of the Church as a community of his disciples. That is, a communion … at the service of fraternity among all human beings and in harmony with all creation. The Church’s primary missionary responsibility is to renew and sustain spiritual and fraternal unity among its members. The evangelising mission that Christ entrusted to his disciples requires, above all, hearts that are reconciled and eager for communion. Being ‘one in Christ’ calls us to keep our gaze fixed on the Lord, so that he may truly be at the centre of our lives and communities, the centre of every word, action and interpersonal relationship, leading us to say with amazement: ‘It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, the more united we are in Christ, the better able we will be to carry out the mission that he entrusts to us. United in mission – That the world may believe in Christ the Lord The unity of disciples is not an end in itself; it is directed towards mission. Jesus states this clearly: ‘So that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (John 17:21). It is through the witness of a reconciled, fraternal and united community that the proclamation of the Gospel acquires its full communicative power. No baptised person is exempt from or indifferent to mission: everyone … participates in the great work that Christ has entrusted to his Church. I would like to thank Missio (the Pontifical Mission Societies) for their service to missionary cooperation, which I experienced with gratitude during my ministry in Peru. Missio continues to nurture and form missionary awareness for the faithful of all ages, and to promote a network of prayer and charity that connects communities throughout the world. The annual offerings collected on this day are distributed by Missio on behalf of the Pope, to support the various needs of the Church’s mission. The global Missio network plays a valuable role for the entire Church. They are a living sign of unity and ecclesial missionary communion. I invite everyone to work with them in a spirit of gratitude. LEO PP XIV Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
