By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – On Saturday, July 16, Bishop Joseph Kopacz ordained six men into the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The men spent the last five years in formation, studying spirituality, canon law, homiletics and learning how to administer sacraments.
To full pews and those standing behind at the entrance to the Cathedral, Bishop Kopacz acknowledged the evident joy and love for Mark Andrew Bowden of St. Jude Pearl, Dien L. Hoang of the Cathedral of St. Peter, Dixon Wesley Lindsay of the Cathedral of St. Peter, John Anh Pham of St. Michael Forest, David Preston Rouch of St. Michael Vicksburg and Anthony William Schmidt of St. Paul Flowood, being ordained to the diaconate.
JACKSON – Six men were ordained into the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Saturday, July 16. Pictured during the ordination are Tony Schmidt, David Rouch, John Pham, Wesley Lindsay, Dien Hoang and Mark Bowden. (Picture by Michael Barrett photography)
“The joy is so obvious this morning as we come together in the Lord … to celebrate so much of our tradition of faith … and in the ministries that are such a blessing for our church and our parish communities,” said Bishop Kopacz. “And this morning, we celebrate the great gift of the diaconate.” In his remarks about the readings, Bishop Kopacz pointed out the sacredness and gifts of the office of the diaconate.
“As we appreciate over a long tradition, nearly 2000 years, its service in Jesus Christ. Its His ministry and right at the beginning the Apostles realized we need to designate this and we need to select those who are going to be faithful to the Lord and to the needs of the communities with whom they are entrusted,” said Bishop Kopacz.
“So, we continue that many years later and the church has indeed worked with you over these past five years – give or take – to arrive at this moment,” Bishop Kopacz told the diaconate candidates. He also reminded the new deacons that their ministry is one of service through the word, sacrament and charity.
Drawing on their experience of marriage or family experience, Bishop Kopacz acknowledged that “all have learned how to sacrifice, serve and care up to this point their lives.”
“Now opens another door where they will serve in the midst of our parish communities, serving the Lord and serving those entrusted to them.”
Ordained deacons are assigned to parishes in the diocese and they may administer baptism, serve at the altar at Mass and distribute the Eucharist; bring the Eucharist to the dying; read the sacred Scriptures to the faithful and on occasion, to preach; to administer sacramentals; to assist at and bless marriages and to officiate at funeral and burial rites.
Another group of men have begun their formation process in hopes of being ordained to the diaconate in 2026. For more information on the permanent diaconate visit www.jacksondiocese.org/offices/diaconate.
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – On the evening of July 6, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization closed its doors for the final time, making it the first time in 49 years that the state of Mississippi has no operating abortion clinic. This coming after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its nearly five decades old decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.
The Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization handed down on Friday, June 24 held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, with the authority to regulate abortion returned to the states.
JACKSON – Jackson Women’s Health Organization – the last abortion facility in the state – closed permanently on July 7 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
The Dobbs case centered around Mississippi legislation that was passed in 2018 called the Gestational Age Act, that sought to prohibit abortions after 15 weeks gestation. The Jackson abortion clinic and one of its doctors sued Mississippi officials in federal court, saying that the law was unconstitutional.
The federal district court and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, both ruled in favor of the clinic, blocking enactment of the law.
In May 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided it would take up Dobbs, marking the first time since Roe that it would take up a pre-viability ban. More than 140 amici curiae briefs were filed with the Supreme Court on the Dobbs case, the very first being from the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi, stating that “the church has a vested interest in this matter – the dignity and sanctity of all human life.”
While originally asking the Court to hear arguments on a viability question – whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional – Mississippi changed course and argued before the Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021 that Roe should be completely overturned and the authority to regulate abortions be returned to the states.
With Associate Justice Samuel Alito writing for a 5-4 majority he states that “we hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. … The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.”
Alito’s opinion closely mirrored a leaked initial draft majority opinion, shared on May 2 by Politico.
Alito was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Chief Justice John Roberts concurred with the majority but in a separate opinion wrote that he would have taken “a more measured course” by “rejecting the misguided viability line” by Roe and Casey, but not overturning Roe completely.
The Supreme Court has six Catholics on the bench – Justices Alito, Kavanaugh, Thomas, Coney Barrett, Roberts and Sonja Sotomayor, with the latter joining Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan in dissent of the majority.
“One result of today’s decision is certain,” wrote the dissenting justices,” the curtailment of women’s rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens.”
Of major concern of the dissenting justices was the discarding of the viability balance afforded by Roe and Casey.
“Today, the Court discards that balance. It says that from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of,” the justices wrote, mentioning that some state’s already passed “trigger” laws contingent on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
Mississippi’s trigger law passed in 2007, only allowing abortion if the pregnant woman’s life is in danger or if the pregnancy is caused by a rape reported to law enforcement. Twelve other states also have trigger laws. On Monday, June 27, after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch certified that Roe had been overturned, the clock began to tick on the trigger law which was set to take effect 10 days post determination on July 7.
After the Dobbs decision was released, many statements were released in celebration and some in outrage.
JACKSON – Officers were present to keep the peace and direct traffic in and out of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Saturday, July 2, days before the clinic closed. (Photo by Joanna King)
Bishops Joseph R. Kopacz and Louis F. Kihnemann released a joint statement commending the decision and recognizing much needs to be done to assist mothers and families.
“The church will continue to accompany women and couples who are facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies and during the early years of parenthood, through initiatives such as Walking with Moms in Need,” stated the bishops in their June 24 statement.
“Our respective dioceses will continue to collaborate with organizations such as Her Plan, Pro-Life Mississippi and many others to bring vital services to support mothers and the unborn.”
Catholic leader, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann stated that Mississippi is a leader on protecting the unborn with a law in place that prohibits abortion.
“I am pro-life,” stated Hosemann. “I am also pro-child. In addition to protecting the unborn, we must also focus on other ways to support women, children and families.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who led efforts to overturn Roe, also released a statement after the decision stating, “Now, our work to empower women and promote life truly begins. The Court has let loose its hold on abortion policy making and given it back to the people.”
The USCCB also released a statement by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
“Today’s decision is also the fruit of prayers, sacrifices, and advocacy of countless ordinary Americans from every walk of life. Over these long years, millions of our fellow citizens have worked together peacefully to educate and persuade their neighbors about the injustice of abortion, to offer care and counseling to women, and to work for alternatives to abortion.”
The environment outside of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization – also known as the “Pink House” due to the bright pink hue it was painted in January 2013 – was anything but peaceful in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. Until the clinic closed for good on the evening of July 6, pro-life and pro-choice voices clashed amid national and local news reporters from near and far.
As an effort to keep providing services, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization requested a temporary restraining order to block the trigger law from taking effect but it was denied by chancery judge, Debbra K. Halford on Tuesday, July 5, reasoning that the state Supreme Court would reverse the 1998 Pro-Choice Mississippi v. Fordice ruling that relied on the Mississippi Constitution for a right to privacy.
Abortion demonstrators are seen near the Supreme Court in Washington June 24, 2022, as the court overruled the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision in its ruling in the Dobbs case on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)
The abortion clinic filed a petition to the Mississippi Supreme Court allow it to reopen, citing Fordice where the court stated it did not “interpret our Constitution as recognizing an explicit right to an abortion, we believe that autonomous bodily integrity is protected under the right to privacy as stated in In re Brown.” On July 11, the court rejected the clinic’s plea to stop the abortion ban. The court will wait for arguments from Attorney General Fitch to be submitted before ruling on the petition.
Nationally, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday, July 8, aiming to protect access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe. The order attempts to protect access to medication abortion, access to contraception and to guarantee a patient’s right to emergency medical services.
Speaking from the White House on July 8, President Biden urged women to “head to the ballot box” to “reclaim the right taken from them by the court.” He stated that “the fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law, codifying Roe.”
In response, the USCCB released a statement from Archbishop Lori stating, “I implore the president to abandon this path that leads to death and destruction and to choose life. As always, the Catholic Church stands ready to work with this Administration and all elected officials to protect the right to life of every human being and to ensure that pregnant and parenting mothers are fully supported in the care of their children before and after birth.”
Bishops Kopacz and Kihnemann remain “grateful for the Supreme Court’s decision but are also mindful that the battle to uphold the sanctity of life is an ongoing effort.”
“Let us pray and continue to raise our voices both in our churches and in our communities in defense of human dignity and justice.”
Statement from Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz and Bishop Louis F. Kihneman on Supreme Court’s Ruling in Dobbs. v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Today, Lady Justice has turned her attention to the cry of the unborn child hidden in the refuge of his or her mother’s womb. Today, justice has not abandoned that unborn child and his or her capacity to feel pain, but there is still more work to be done.
Together with many throughout our country, we join in prayer that states are now able to protect women and children from the injustice of abortion. The Catholic Church has had a vested interest in this matter – the dignity and sanctity of all human life.
The church has a long history of service to those who are most vulnerable and remains the largest private provider of social services in the United States. Through its charity agencies, and the independent efforts of its members, the Catholic Church is supporting all women in addition to the child in the womb.
The church will continue to accompany women and couples who are facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies and during the early years of parenthood, through initiatives such as Walking with Moms in Need. With our brother bishops, we renew our commitment to preserving the dignity and sanctity of all human life by:
• Ensuring our Catholic parishes are places of welcome for women facing challenging pregnancies or who find it difficult to care for their children after birth, so that any mother needing assistance will receive life-affirming support and be connected to appropriate programs and resources where she can get help.
• Helping fellow Catholics recognize the needs of pregnant and parenting moms in their communities, enabling parishioners to know these mothers, to listen to them and to help them obtain the necessities of life for their families.
• Being witnesses of love and life by expanding and improving the extensive network of comprehensive care including pregnancy help centers, and Catholic health care and social service agencies.
• Increasing our advocacy for laws that ensure the right to life for the unborn and that no mother or family lacks the basic resources needed to care for their children, regardless of race, age, immigration status or any other factor.
• Continuing to support and advocate for public policies and programs directed toward building up the common good and fostering integral human development, with a special concern for the needs of low-income families and immigrants.
In all of these ways and more, the Catholic Church witnesses to the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death, and continues to work to build a culture of life in our nation.
Our respective dioceses continue to collaborate with organizations such as Her Plan, Pro-Life Mississippi and many others to bring vital services to support mothers and the unborn.
The community can immediately accompany women and couples who are facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies through the Walking with Moms in Need initiative in the Diocese of Jackson. For more information on how to get involved or offer support to women in need, please contact the Office of Family Ministry coordinator in the Diocese of Jackson at charlene.bearden@jacksondiocese.org. In the Diocese of Biloxi, contact Deacon Jim Gunkel, director of the Office of Family Ministry and Family Life at jgunkel@biloxidiocese.org or Margaret Miller, coordinator of Walking with Moms at mrmiller@biloxidiocese.org.
Additionally, there are Catholic Charities Community Outreach Centers located in the Diocese of Biloxi in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Waveland and Pascagoula. These centers provide confidential pregnancy testing; Medicaid pregnancy confirmations; life-affirming options counseling; case management (including budgeting and goal setting); basic needs assistance; car seats and safe sleeping spaces for infants; diapers formula, clothing, blankets, socks, etc.; and representative payee services. The Diocese of Biloxi is also sharing the pro-life message through its Pro-Life Billboard initiative.
The Diocese of Biloxi will also be resuming adoptions and foster parenting services in the near future, complementing existing programs in the Diocese of Jackson that have provided those services through Catholic Charities, Inc. for over a half century.
Again, we are grateful for the Supreme Court’s decision but are also mindful that the battle to uphold the sanctity of life is an ongoing effort. Let us pray and continue to raise our voices both in our churches and in our communities in defense of human dignity and justice.
En la noche del 6 de julio, la Organización de Salud de Mujeres de Jackson cerró sus puertas por última vez, por primera vez en 49 años que el estado de Mississippi no tiene una clínica de aborto en funcionamiento. Esto se produce después que la Corte Suprema de EE. UU. revocara su decisión de casi cinco décadas en Roe v. Wade que legalizó el aborto.
La opinión de la Corte en Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization emitida el viernes 24 de junio sostuvo que la Constitución no confiere el derecho al aborto, con la autoridad devuelta a los estados para regular el aborto.
El caso de Dobbs se centró en la legislación de Mississippi que se aprobó en 2018 llamada Ley de edad gestacional, que buscaba prohibir los abortos después de las 15 semanas de gestación. La clínica de abortos de Jackson y uno de sus médicos demandaron a los funcionarios de Mississippi en un tribunal federal, alegando que la ley era inconstitucional.
La corte federal de distrito y la Corte de Apelaciones del Quinto Circuito fallaron a favor de la clínica, bloqueando la promulgación de la ley.
En mayo de 2021, la Corte Suprema de EE. UU. decidió que tomaría el caso Dobbs, lo que marca la primera vez desde Roe que se tomaría una prohibición de viabilidad previa. Se presentaron más de 140 escritos de amici curiae ante la Corte Suprema sobre el caso Dobbs, el primero de ellos de las diócesis de Jackson y Biloxi, en los que se afirma que “la iglesia tiene un interés creado en este asunto: la dignidad y la santidad de toda vida humana.”
Si bien originalmente le pidió a la Corte que escuchara los argumentos sobre una cuestión de viabilidad, si todas las prohibiciones previas a la viabilidad de los abortos electivos son inconstitucionales, Mississippi cambió de rumbo y argumentó ante la Corte Suprema el 1 de diciembre de 2021, que Roe debería anularse por completo y que la autoridad para regular el aborto sea devuelta a los estados.
Con una mayoría de 5 a 4, el juez asociado Samuel Alito escribiendo y afirma que “sostenemos que Roe y Casey deben ser anulados. … La Constitución no hace referencia al aborto y dicho derecho no está protegido implícitamente por ninguna disposición constitucional”. La opinión de Alito reflejaba de cerca un borrador de opinión mayoritario inicial filtrado y compartido el 2 de mayo por Político.
A Alito se le unieron los jueces Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh y Amy Coney Barrett. El presidente del Tribunal Supremo, John Roberts, estuvo de acuerdo con la mayoría, pero en una opinión separada escribió que habría tomado “un curso más mesurado” al “rechazar la línea de viabilidad equivocada” de Roe y Casey, pero sin anular por completo a Roe.
La Corte Suprema tiene seis católicos en el banquillo: los jueces Alito, Kavanaugh, Thomas, Coney Barrett, Roberts y Sonja Sotomayor y esta última se unen los jueces Stephen Breyer y Elena Kagan en desacuerdo con la mayoría.
“Un resultado de la decisión de hoy es seguro la restricción de los derechos de las mujeres y de su condición de ciudadanas libres e iguales,” escribieron los jueces disidentes.
Una de las principales preocupaciones de los jueces disidentes fue el descarte del balance de viabilidad proporcionado por Roe y Casey. “Hoy, la Corte descarta ese balance. Dice que, desde el mismo momento de la fertilización, una mujer no tiene derechos de los que hablar,” escribieron los jueces, mencionando que algunos estados ya aprobaron leyes de “activación” supeditadas a que la Corte Suprema de EE. UU. revoque Roe v. Wade.
La ley de activación de Mississippi se aprobó en 2007 y solo permite el aborto si la vida de la mujer embarazada está en peligro o si el embarazo es causado por una violación denunciada a la policía. Otros doce estados también tienen leyes de activación.
El lunes 27 de junio, después que la fiscal general de Mississippi, Lynn Fitch, certificara que Roe había sido revocada, el reloj comenzó a correr en la ley de activación, que entraría en vigor el 7 de julio, 10 días después de la determinación.
Después que se publicó la decisión de Dobbs, se emitieron muchas declaraciones de celebración y algunas de indignación.
Los obispos Joseph R. Kopacz y Louis F. Kihnemann emitieron una declaración conjunta elogiando la decisión y reconociendo que queda mucho por hacer para ayudar a las madres y las familias.
“La iglesia continuará acompañando a las mujeres y parejas que enfrentan embarazos difíciles o inesperados y durante los primeros años de la paternidad, a través de iniciativas como Walking with Moms in Need”, declararon los obispos en su comunicado del 24 de junio. “Nuestras respectivas diócesis continuarán colaborando con organizaciones como Her Plan, Pro-Life Mississippi y muchas otras para brindar servicios vitales para apoyar a las madres y los no nacidos.”
El líder católico, vicegobernador de Mississippi, Delbert Hosemann, declaró que Mississippi es líder en la protección de los no nacidos con una ley vigente que prohíbe el aborto.
“Soy pro-vida”, declaró Hosemann. “Yo también soy pro-niño. Además de proteger a los no nacidos, también debemos centrarnos en otras formas de apoyar a las mujeres, los niños y las familias”.
La procuradora general de Mississippi, Lynn Fitch, quien lideró los esfuerzos para anular a Roe, también emitió una declaración después de la decisión que decía: “Ahora, nuestro trabajo para empoderar a las mujeres y promover la vida realmente comienza. La Corte ha soltado su control sobre la elaboración de políticas de aborto y se lo ha devuelto a la gente”.
La USCCB también emitió una declaración del arzobispo José H. Gómez de Los Ángeles, presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos, y del arzobispo William Lori de Baltimore, presidente del Comité de Actividades Pro-Vida de la USCCB.
“La decisión de hoy también es el fruto de las oraciones, los sacrificios y la defensa de innumerables estadounidenses comunes de todos los ámbitos de la vida. Durante estos largos años, millones de nuestros conciudadanos han trabajado juntos pacíficamente para educar y persuadir a sus vecinos sobre la injusticia del aborto, ofrecer atención y asesoramiento a las mujeres y trabajar por alternativas al aborto.”
El ambiente fuera de la Organización de Salud de Mujeres de Jackson, también conocida como la “Casa Rosada” debido al tono rosa brillante que se pintó en enero de 2013, era todo menos pacífico después de la decisión de Dobbs. Hasta que la clínica cerró definitivamente la tarde del 6 de julio, las voces pro-vida y pro-elección chocaron entre los reporteros de noticias nacionales y locales de cerca y de lejos.
Como un esfuerzo por seguir brindando servicios, la Organización de Salud de Mujeres de Jackson solicitó una orden de restricción temporal para bloquear la entrada en vigencia de la ley de activación, pero la jueza de la cancillería, Debbra K. Halford, la denegó el martes 5 de julio, argumentando que la Corte Suprema del estado revertiría el fallo Pro-Choice Mississippi v. Fordice de 1998 que se basó en la Constitución de Mississippi para el derecho a la privacidad.
Mississippi Free Press informó que la clínica presentó una petición a la Corte Suprema de Mississippi para permitir su reapertura, citando a Fordice donde la corte declaró que no “interpretó nuestra Constitución como un reconocimiento de un derecho explícito al aborto, creemos que la integridad corporal autónoma es protegida bajo el derecho a la privacidad como se establece en ‘In re-Brown’.”
A nivel nacional, el presidente Joe Biden firmó una orden ejecutiva el viernes 8 de julio con el objetivo de proteger el acceso al aborto luego de que la Corte Suprema anulara Roe. La orden intenta proteger el acceso al aborto con medicamentos, el acceso a la anticoncepción y garantizar el derecho del paciente a los servicios médicos de emergencia.
Hablando desde la Casa Blanca el 8 de julio, el presidente Biden instó a las mujeres a “ir a las urnas” para “reclamar el derecho que les quitó la corte”. Afirmó que “la forma más rápida de restaurar Roe es aprobar una ley nacional, codificando Roe.”
En respuesta, la USCCB emitió una declaración del arzobispo Lori que decía: “Le imploro al presidente que abandone este camino que conduce a la muerte y la destrucción y elija la vida. Como siempre, la Iglesia Católica está lista para trabajar con esta Administración y todos los funcionarios electos para proteger el derecho a la vida de todos los seres humanos y para garantizar que las madres embarazadas y con hijos reciban pleno apoyo en el cuidado de sus hijos antes y después del nacimiento.”
Los obispos Kopacz y Kihnemann siguen “agradecidos por la decisión de la Corte Suprema, pero también son conscientes de que la batalla para defender la santidad de la vida es un esfuerzo continuo. Oremos y sigamos elevando nuestras voces tanto en nuestras iglesias como en nuestras comunidades en defensa de la dignidad humana y la justicia.”
(Esta es una historia en desarrollo. Al momento de la publicación, la Corte Suprema de Mississippi no ha emitido una decisión sobre su fallo anterior de Fordice. Por ahora, la Clínica de Salud de Mujeres de Jackson permanece cerrada).
By Joanna Puddister King WEST POINT – Carlisle Beggerly grew up Protestant, but an encounter with St. Augustine’s Confessions led him to seek out the church that the author belonged to.
“I felt called to the priesthood from the beginning of my conversion,” said Beggerly. He then spent some time with a religious order, but then left and attended law school, all the while still feeling a call to priestly life.
The next step toward ordination to the priesthood for Beggerly was his ordination into the transitional diaconate on Saturday, June 4 at his home parish of Immaculate Conception in West Point by Bishop Joseph Kopacz.
WEST POINT – Carlisle Beggerly lies prostrate before the altar during the Litany of Supplication. Beggerly was ordained to transitional deaconate on June 4 at his home parish of Immaculate Conception in West Point. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
Typically, transitional deacons spend one final year in seminary before priestly ordination. Men ordained as transitional deacons do so with the intention of becoming a priest.
“During the transitional [diaconate] period, we try to place our seminarians in parishes that can give them a wide range of experiences,” said vocations director, Father Nick Adam.
“This will be the first time a seminarian can baptize a baby, witness a wedding or preside at a funeral. We want to make sure they have many opportunities to delve into parish life and walk with families along the way.”
Fellow Immaculate Conception parishioner, Barbara Elliott has known Deacon Beggerly and his family since they began attending the parish more than 10 years ago.
“He’s always been very devout … and instrumental in helping the children of the parish with the liturgy,” said Elliott. “We are so proud of him.”
Those in the transitional diaconate are tried to be placed at a parish with a school so they can be a part of the day-to-day life of kids, parents and faculty. A great place for that is at St. Francis and St. Anthony School in Madison, where Beggerly will serve through some time in October.
By Joanna Puddister King A trailer has been released by NewGroup Media and the Diocese of Jackson for the upcoming documentary on Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman.
The trailer has been making the rounds on social media and gives a glimpse into the life of the future Black Catholic saint. The documentary is entitled “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” and it encompasses her life from her childhood in Canton, her rise to fame as a public speaker and evangelizer, to her death from cancer at age 52 in 1990.
The documentary features testimonies from Sister Thea’s friends, fellow sisters, former students, acquaintances and admirers. It also includes live-action reenactments from moments in her life. The reenactments were filmed in various locations around the country, including locally in Canton featuring local talent, with St. Joseph Catholic School student Madison Ware, as young Bertha Bowman.
Early reactions on social media platforms included: “These 6 minutes make me wish I had known her so much earlier! Thank you!” “She deserves this and so do the people!” “Sister Thea will hopefully one day be the first saint from Mississippi.”
The trailer can be viewed on YouTube at https://bit.ly/SrTheaShootingStar. The film will be released this fall and is due to air on ABC.
Screengrab from the trailer of the upcoming documentary on Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. The film is due to be released this fall, airing on ABC.
CLINTON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Father Thomas McGing bless the newly built McGing Hall at Holy Savior parish. Prior to the blessing, a Mass of Thanksgiving was held in honor of Father McGing, who is retiring after 51 years of service. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
Rachel Patterson is pictured with her daughter, Tristen. She began working with the Office of Catholic Education in December of 2021. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Patterson)
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – Since 2020, Rachel Patterson began praying on how she could grow in service towards her Catholic faith. Late last year, Patterson followed the path she had been praying for and was offered a role in the chancery with the Office of Catholic Education as an administrative assistant.
Patterson previously served as a grant writer and executive assistant at The Little Light House, Central Mississippi, a developmental center that works with special needs children.
“Although I was in a position that I loved, serving children with special needs, I felt called to apply,” said Patterson. “The position presented similar duties … with the added bonus of serving Catholic students within my diocese.”
Working with Karla Luke, executive director of Catholic education for the diocese, was a huge draw for Patterson.
“She has such vision for the Office of Catholic Education and what the future looks like. Her background in Catholic education and strong faith helps guide all of the amazing opportunities she plans to implement … over the next few years,” said Patterson.
Luke says that Patterson is a “bright spot” in the office. “[She’s] always enthusiastic, full of her Catholic faith which is evident in her interactions with all people she encounters.”
“We are extremely lucky and blessed to have her as a part of our team.”
Patterson is married to Rooks Patterson and the couple have a one-year-old daughter, Tristen, and are expecting their second daughter in September. Patterson and her family are members of St. Richard Jackson.
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – Even coming from the far corners of the diocese, priests, deacons and ecclesial ministers (and lay), gathered for a continuing formation workshop entitled “The Eucharist: Building Ecclesial Communion in a Polarized Church and Society” at St. Richard parish in Jackson on Feb. 15-16.
The convocation, led by Father Jim Wehner, rector/president of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, reflected on the need to create and sustain ecclesial communion with the Diocese of Jackson, recognizing the challenges to communion seen in the universal church, as well as in the U.S., the political and civic tensions in society and pastoral challenges in the diocesan church.
JACKSON – Father Kent Bowlds made the presentation from Father Jim Wehner available via zoom for religious unable to be present. Priests, deacons, ecclesial ministers (and lay), gathered at St. Richard parish for a workshop entitled “The Eucharist: building Ecclesial Communion in a Polarized Church and Society” on Feb. 15-16. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
Using biblical, ecclesial, theological and pastoral insights, Father Wehner led those present (in-person and virtual) to reflect on their common love for the church, as each uniquely lives out their calling to build up the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of Jackson.
“God plays the long game,” says Father Wehner. “The question is … can we be faithful to that long game.
Father Wehner also spoke on the three goals of new evangelization – the call to holiness, creating communion and manifesting the kingdom – and how it includes lay people, as it is our mission to act in unity as a church.
He says that every person in our community has been called by God. “Every single person is called by name … has been blessed by God with charisms and gifts,” says Wehner. “There is a pastoral calling for all of us.”
Synodality was also a theme that weaved through out the two-day gathering. Communion, participation and mission were mentioned often amid the synod listening session happening across the diocese, as Pope Francis invites all to dialogue about the future of the church.
Father Wehner asked participants “how do we create a space for dialogue,” especially for those who are disaffiliated with the church. He believes that as Christians, we need to light up the darkness.
“You can’t light up the darkness, if you are not in the dark,” says Wehner.
He pointed out that Pope Francis’ first encyclical, Lumen fidei explores the light and said that as Christians “we need to know how to find the darkness in other people because in that darkness, we can light things up.”
As for some of the ‘darkness’ or polorization in society, some of the answers from the crowd gathered were: politics, economics, immigration, the politicization of truth and science and the ‘re-writing’ of history from varying viewpoints, among others. Most felt that these topics have crept into the church.
Father Wehner asked how to ‘we’ respond as a church and not be political – the answer lies in the Mass and the Eucharist.
Bishop Kopacz visits with several priests from around the diocese after gathering for morning prayer and exposition of the blessed sacrament on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at St. Richard parish. Father Mark Shoffner of St. Mary Basilica Natchez shares a laugh with Father Frank Cosgrove, who kept throwing “bunny ears” up on other priests in pictures. Priests were able to enjoy fellowship between sessions at their continuing formation workshop at St. Richard parish.
“If there is going to be any pastoral renewal of the church – its got to begin with the Eucharist,” said Father Wehner. Jim Tomek, lay ecclesial minister for Sacred Heart Rosedale, who was present via zoom agreed. In his summary of events, he wrote that “The Eucharist is the sacrament of unity where we can partake in the discussion. We take the bread – taking Jesus as our friend and model.”
Father Wehner’s passion for ministry through the event was evident.
“That’s what gets me up in the morning. The love of Christ urges me on. Why? It is no longer I who live. It is Christ who lives in me.”
By Joanna Puddister King CANTON – New Group Media out of South Bend, Indiana is working to tell the story of Sister Thea Bowman. Filming is taking place in many locations where Sister Thea Bowman lived and worked, requiring in-depth work for both crew and community members.
CANTON – Actors portray the Bowman family taking a stroll to Sunday Mass near Holy Child Jesus parish. (Photos by Joanna Puddister King)
Writer and producer, Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF said that she wanted to touch base and operate out of the spaces that Sister Thea lived in and used. “She was a brilliant, charismatic, prophetic, outspoken woman,” said Sister Judy during an interview. “And she is a force of nature.” Spaces chosen for filming include sites in Canton, Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans and in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
The film will explore Sister Thea’s life and path to sainthood through interviews and commentary from her family, sisters in community, colleagues, friends and former students. While filming in Mississippi, the crew filmed interviews with Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and those that knew Sister Thea personally, including Sister Dorothy Kundinger, FSPA; former students, Myrtle Otto and Cornelia Johnson; and childhood friends, Mamie Chinn and Flonzie Brown-Wright.
The crew began scouting sites in April 2021 and at the end of May, they filmed in Canton, Jackson and at Sister Thea’s grave site in Memphis at Elmwood Cemetery. In addition to interviews, scenes were filmed depicting young Bertha Bowman’s life before entering the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
On hand for most of the production in Canton, Flonzie Brown-Wright, a self-described “non-crier,” was moved to tears during depictions of herself, young Bertha Bowman and friend Mamie Chinn.
(Left) A sign sits outside of the old Bowman family home on Hill Street in Canton.
“She was so special to me. This morning, … when I saw the little girls sitting on the porch, I just lost it. I just lost it because it was just so reminiscent of what actually happened during those days,” said Brown-Wright.
The crew filmed re-enactments at the Bowman family home on Hill Street in Canton, complete with a 1936 Grand Master roadster car parked out front. Scenes with Thea, Brown-Wright and Chinn eating cookies on the front steps, playing with dolls and socializing were filmed with local talent.
Eleven-year-old, Madison Ware of Canton was chosen to play young Bertha. “I was really excited to do the part of Thea,” said Ware.
In addition to scenes at Holy Child Jesus Canton and playing outside the Bowman family home, Ware also re-enacted young Bertha’s hunger strike after her parents forbade her to go off to Wisconsin to become a nun. Ware sat at the dining room table in the Bowman home with determination stating as young Bertha would – “I’m not hungry.”
Other scenes depicted in Canton include portrayals of young Thea, Brown-Wright and Chinn walking to school and playing dress up as nuns.
In Jackson, the crew sat down with Bishop Kopacz at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle to talk about the cause for Sister Thea and spoke about what he called “her first miracle,” when she addressed the U.S. Bishops Conference in June 1989 and led them to join arms and sing “We Shall Overcome.”
Drone operator and grip, Matthew Nemeth, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and producer/writer, Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF review drone footage taken during filming of the Sister Thea Bowman Documentary on Saturday, May 29.
At Sister Thea’s grave site at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, the crew arranged for a beautiful white spray filled with gardenias, roses and magnolias to sit at her plot. Re-enactment at the grave site included prayer and a hymn led by Myrtle Otto – “I’ll Be Singing Up There.”
The final day of filming in Canton concluded at Holy Child Jesus with Mass, a performance by the church choir and solo of “On Zion’s Hill” by Wright-Brown.
CANTON – Flonzie Brown-Wright dressed in a dashiki and sang “On Zion’s Hill,” honoring her childhood friend, Thea Bowman. (Photos by Joanna Puddister King)
Life-long friends, Brown-Wright kept in contact with Sister Thea up until her passing from cancer in 1990 traveling from her home, at the time, in Ohio just two weeks before her death. She said Sister Thea told her “what I want you to do when I’m gone … [is] to come back to play and sing the song “On Zion’s Hill.” The same song Sister Thea sang at both her father and mother’s funerals.
With Wright-Brown in an African dashiki and headdress singing there was hardly a dry-eye between the crew present, as Sister Thea’s presence was felt in the moment.
(Above) Madison Ware re-enacts young Bertha Bowman’s hunger strike to get her parents to allow her to travel to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to become a nun.
Between June 20-23, the crew filmed in LaCrosse, Wisconsin at St. Rose Convent and Viterbo University, shooting re-enactments of Sister Thea at the FSPA motherhouse. Director Chris Salvador described plans to capture Sister Thea arriving at the convent in a white pinafore dress and then using a machine to morph her. “So, it goes in 360° and she changes from her first outfit, and she eventually comes out in her African dashiki,” said Salvador.
Brown-Wright reminisced during filming in Canton about one trip to LaCrosse to visit her friend. When she got there, Brown-Wright expected to see her friend dressed in a habit, but instead found her in “a dashiki, sandals and a natural.”
“I asked her what happened, and she said, ‘Girl, those petticoats were just too hot,” laughed Brown-Wright. “What she was doing was preparing a culture for a yearning to understand our culture. That was her transformation from coming out of the habits … to her natural dress because that’s who she was,” said Brown Wright.
The crew sets up a scene at the old Bowman family home, from the upcoming documentary on Sister Thea Bowman to air in the fall of 2022.
“She taught the world how to be a Black Catholic sister.”
In New Orleans the film crew will conduct more interviews and film at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, where Sister Thea offered courses in African American literature and preaching.
The working title of the film is “Going Home Like a Shooting Star – Sister Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.” It is drawn from a quote attributed to Sojourner Truth. When Sister Thea was asked what she wanted said at her funeral, she answered,” Just say what Sojourner Truth said: ‘I’m not going to die, honey, I’m going home like a shooting star.’”
Production of the documentary was delayed about a year due to COVID. The film makers, with Bishop Kopacz as executive producer, hope to air the documentary nationwide in the fall of 2022 on ABC.
MaHalia Calvert, playing young Flonzie Brown-Wright, and Madison Ware prepare for a scene outside Holy Child Jesus parish where the girls play dress up at sisters. The scene brought back many memories for Wright-Brown, who was on-site for filming and reminisced about her experiences with her friend Sister Thea Bowman.
Sister Thea Bowman Documentary interview with Bishop Joseph Kopacz at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary interview with Bishop Joseph Kopacz at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior shots for film with 1936 Grand Master Deluxe in Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior front steps scene. The crew works to ready the set. Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Flonzie Brown Wright outside of the Bowman Family Home in Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Flonzie Brown Wright and Dr. LaShunda Calvert walk down the street to the Bowman Family Home to view filming. Canton, Miss. Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Myrtle Otto on the steps of the Bowman Family Home. Canton, Miss. Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior front steps scene. Crew works to set scene. Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior front steps scene. Left to right: Mattalia Calvert (playing Flonzie Brown Wright), Morgan Gates (playing Mamie Chinn) and Madison Ware (playing young Bertha Bowman) practice their cookie eating scene on the front steps of the Bowman family home in Canton, Miss. Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior front steps scene. Cast performingscene of Mrs. Bowman bringing cookies. Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sister Thea Bowman Documentary – Bowman home exterior front steps scene. Cast performingscene of Mrs. Bowman bringing cookies. Canton, Miss. on Saturday, May 29, 2021.
Through June 22-24 the Department of Vocations hosted our first ever Quo Vadis? Young Men’s retreat. As I’ve shared in previous columns this is a retreat that has been fruitful in other dioceses, and I was anxious to see how the participants responded. Well, they had a great time, and so did I!
The retreat was held at the new Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center, which is on the former site of Our Lady of the Pines in Chatawa. We first gathered for hamburgers and hotdogs grilled by Knights of Columbus Council #8054 (McComb) as men from high school up through young professionals got to visit with one another. Then I provided the opening talk, explaining our theme: Quo Vadis? or where are you going? I explained to each retreatant that the Lord was asking each of them this question, and I hoped they would respond generously to whatever call they received. Our seminarians each spoke to the group at points of the week, and they all did an excellent job. I was so proud to see each of them bring their gifts to the table throughout the retreat.
Father Nick Adam
The retreat was marked by fun. We didn’t spend the entire time just talking about vocations and our need for priests, we spent time building brotherhood among young men in our diocese who need to be supported as they live their faith. I would like to thank Bishop Kopacz for supporting this effort, as well as the parents, chaperones, and young adults who either took part or supported this retreat is some way. Also, a great thanks to the Knights of Columbus for that great kickoff to the event. It was especially great that the McComb Council got to meet Will Foggo, the seminarian that they have been supporting through the RSVP program. This was a great example of how this event doesn’t just bring together discerners, but supporters of vocations from various backgrounds and parts of the diocese.
This is just the beginning. I certainly believe that we can build off the momentum of this event and I look forward to offering more opportunities for community building soon. This summer is flying by as our seminarians will be finishing up their parish assignments at the end of the month. Deacon Andrew Bowden will continue his scheduled internship at St. Mary’s in Natchez until mid-October. Please continue to pray for our seminarians and for the young men and women who are seriously discerning whether the Lord is calling them to serve with an undivided heart.
