Author Archives: Tereza Ma

In Memoriam

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Father Alfred Louis “Al” Camp

JACKSON – Father Alfred Louis “Al” Camp died Sunday, Sept. 1, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. Born in Monroeville, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1931, Father Camp enrolled in the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio in 1945. After completing his seminary studies at the Josephinum in 1957, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1957 by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States. Father Camp taught Latin and served as Dean of Men in the College Division at the Josephinum from 1957-1966. While teaching, he also pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State University in Classical Languages, Physical Education and Higher Education.
Upon completion of those studies, Father Camp came to the Diocese of Jackson (Natchez-Jackson) where he was assigned to St. Paul Parish in Vicksburg and St. Aloysius School, where he began his life of service as a priest and educator. He served as teacher and principal of St. Aloysius until 1992, when he was named pastor of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez where he served until 2004. During his tenure in Natchez, St. Mary, the original Cathedral of the diocese, was named a minor basilica by Pope St. John Paul II.
Father Camp tried to retire in 2004, but his services were needed by the Bishop in Clarksdale as pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Elizabeth Parishes. He served there for two years and then retired in 2006 as Senior Priest at St. Francis Parish in Madison.
Beloved by countless numbers of people with whom he shared his wisdom, knowledge, compassion and wonderful sense of humor, Father Camp never ceased to serve by visiting the sick and comforting the dying until his health no longer allowed it. He is survived by one sister and many nieces and nephews.
As the consummate educator he was, Father Camp chose to be an anatomical donor to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, so that even in death he will continue to teach. His pupils now are numerous medical students tasked with improving the healthcare of our state for all its inhabitants.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated a Memorial Mass for Father Camp on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at St. Mary Basilica in Natchez.

Sister Judanne Stratman

MANITOWOC, WIS. – Sister Judanne Stratman, age 80, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, died Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc.
The former Mary Lou Stratman was born March 18, 1939 in West Point, Nebraska, daughter of the late Leonard and Angeline (Disher) Stratman. She entered the convent in 1956 and professed her vows in 1958. Sister Judanne earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Holy Family College, Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Masters in teaching Biology at Loyola University, Los Angeles, California; Masters Certificate in Renewal of Apostolic Religious Life, Rome, Italy; and Master of Arts in Religious Education, Notre Dame Institute, Arlington, Virginia.
Sister Judanne was involved in a variety of ministries. These included teaching at all grade levels: St Joseph, Rice Lake; Catholic Memorial, Waukesha and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, Manitowoc, all in Wisconsin; Bishop Amat, La Puente and San Roque, Santa Barbara, both in California. She also directed religious education programs at St. Anthony, Neopit; Holy Redeemer, Two Rivers in Wisconsin, and St. Mary, West Point, Nebraska. Sister Judanne studied in Rome, Italy, in preparation for her years as Directress of Novices in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For twelve years, sister Judanne served the Community as a General Administration Council Member. Later on she volunteered at the St. Gabriel Center in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
Sister Judanne also ministered to the Sisters at St. Francis Convent, Manitowoc, as well as the Sisters in St. Rita Health Center, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Sister Judanne had been a resident of St. Rita Health Center, Manitowoc, for the past month.
Survivors include the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; one sister: Susan Stratman of Williamsport, Indiana; and other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents: Leonard and Angeline (Disher) Stratman; and one brother: Brother Bernard Stratman, S.M.
Memorial contributions may be made to support retired Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, in care of FSCC Retirement Fund, Holy Family Convent, 2409 S. Alverno Rd., Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220.
Published in Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter from Aug. 16.

Sacred scripture in life of church

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The catechetical theme for the 2019-2020 season of faith formation and evangelization beginning this month is “Stay with us.” The source for this unusual command, really an entreaty, is the Emmaus story in the Gospel of Luke 24: 13-35. After the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus the apostles and disciples were scattered like sheep without a shepherd and without a future. They were so overwhelmed with grief, bordering on despair, that they were unable to recognize their risen Lord even when he was at their side. Two unnamed disciples were walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus with heavy hearts when Jesus appeared alongside of them. He feigned not knowing what had happened on Good Friday in order to break open the Old Testament with all of the prophetic declarations that anticipated the Messiah, his life, death and resurrection. The two became so enraptured with his presence and his hope-filled words that they pleaded with him to “stay with us” because it was already dusk. While he sat at table with them Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. With that “their eyes were opened and he vanished from their sight.” (24:31) Either these were two apostles at the Last Supper, or they had been informed about the transformation of the bread and wine at the Passover Meal into the Body and Blood of the Lord. In any case, they turned to one another and exclaimed, “were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (24:32)
This is the resurrection account that established the foundation for the Eucharist, the Breaking of Bread, which the early disciples celebrated in one or another of their homes, as identified in the Acts of the Apostles (2:46). In fact, Acts 2:42-47 defines the four pillars of authentic Christian community, Word, Worship, Community and Service. The Word refers to the proclamation of the Scriptures at Mass, evangelization, or the proclamation of the Kerygma to unbelievers, and catechetical instruction, or faith formation to the baptized. It is the God’s dream that the hearts of his Son’s disciples would burn in the presence of the sacred scriptures and that every level of instruction would be evidence of a living faith seeking understanding.
The Sacred Scripture is the heart and soul of all faith formation, the cornerstone of our faith in the crucified and risen Lord. This gift was reflected upon at the recent Rite of the Installation of Lectors with our Permanent Deacon Candidates at St. Jude in Pearl on Sept. 7.
Two excerpts from the document on Divine Revelation from the Second Vatican Council were broken open during the homily. “The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture.” The priority of place of the Bible in the teaching ministry of the Church is evident in Pope Francis’ recent Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit. He refers repeatedly to the biblical figures who were instrumental in God’s plan of salvation, of course, especially with regard to the Blessed Mother.
The second reference from Dei Verbum is the exhortation to all the baptized, laity and clergy, as disciples of the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to light or reignite the fire and keep it burning within our hearts and minds. “Therefore, all the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ and others, such as deacons and catechists who are legitimately active in the ministry of the word. This is to be done so that none of them will become “an empty preacher (or catechist) of the word of God outwardly, who is not a listener to it inwardly” (4) since they must share the abundant wealth of the divine word with the faithful committed to them, especially in the sacred liturgy. The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the “excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:8). “For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
The hard-hitting quotation that completes the Dei Verbum reference is from Saint Jerome who translated the entire Bible in the fifth century from Hebrew and Greek into Latin, commonly known as the Vulgate. He allowed the Word of God to wash over him and to burn deep within. As the new catechetical year begins may we all allow the Word of God to burn in our hearts so that the Lord indeed “may remain with us” opening the eyes of our hearts so that we may recognize his real presence in his body, the church, in the gathered assembly at Mass, in his body and blood, soul and divinity, at the altar, in the breaking of the bread at the Lamb of God and in the reception of holy communion. This is our Catholic faith and we are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Escritura Sagrada, vida de la Iglesia

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Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
El tema catequético para la temporada de formación de fe y evangelización 2019-2020 que comienza este mes es “Quédate con nosotros”. La fuente de este comando inusual, realmente una súplica, es la historia de Emaús en el Evangelio de Lucas 24: 13-35. Después de la crucifixión del Señor Jesús, los apóstoles y discípulos se dispersaron como ovejas sin pastor y sin futuro. Estaban tan abrumados por el dolor, al borde de la desesperación, que no pudieron reconocer a su Señor resucitado incluso cuando estaba a su lado.
Dos discípulos no identificados se alejaban de Jerusalén a Emaús, con pesar en sus corazones, cuando Jesús apareció junto a ellos. Jesús fingió no saber lo que había sucedido el Viernes Santo para recordarles el Antiguo Testamento con todas las profesias en las que se anticipaba al Mesías, su vida, muerte y resurrección. Los dos discípulos se entusiasmaron tanto con su presencia y palabras llenas de esperanza que le suplicaron que se quedara “con nosotros” porque ya estaba anocheciendo. Mientras se sentaba a la mesa con ellos, Jesús tomó el pan, lo bendijo, lo partió y se los dio. Con eso “en ese momento se les abrieron los ojos y reconocieron a Jesus; pero él desapareció.” Lc 24:31. O bien estos eran dos apóstoles en la Última Cena, o ya sabían acerca de la transformación del pan y el vino en el Cuerpo y Sangre del Señor durante la Cena de Pascua. En cualquier caso, se volvieron el uno al otro y exclamaron: “¿No es verdad que el corazón nos ardía en el pecho cuando nos venía hablando por el camino y nos explicaba las Escrituras?”Lc (24:32)
Este es el relato de la resurrección y la Partida del Pan, que estableció la base de la Eucaristía, aquella que los primeros discípulos celebraron en uno u otro de sus hogares, como se reconoce en los Hechos de los Apóstoles, Hech 2:46. En efecto, en Hech 2:42-47 se definen los cuatro pilares de la auténtica comunidad cristiana: Palabra, Adoración, Comunidad y Servicio. La Palabra se refiere a la proclamación de las Escrituras en la Misa, la evangelización o proclamación del Kerygma a los no creyentes y la instrucción catequética, o formación de la fe, a los bautizados.
Es el sueño de Dios que los corazones de los discípulos de su Hijo ardan en presencia de las Sagradas Escrituras y que en cada nivel de instrucción esté la evidencia de una fe viva que busca el entendimiento. La Sagrada Escritura es el corazón y el alma de toda formación de fe, la piedra angular de nuestra fe en el Señor crucificado y resucitado. Este regalo se reflejó en el reciente Rito de Instalación de Lectores con nuestros candidatos a Diáconos Permanentes en Saint Jude, en Pearl el 7 de septiembre.
Dos extractos del documento La Revelación Divina, del Concilio Vaticano II fueron leídos durante la homilía. “Por esta razón, la Iglesia ha venerado siempre las divinas Escrituras como venera también el Cuerpo del Señor. No cesa de presentar a los fieles el Pan de vida que se distribuye en la mesa de la Palabra de Dios y del Cuerpo de Cristo.” La Iglesia siempre los ha mantenido, y continúa haciéndolo, junto con la tradición sagrada, como la regla suprema de la fe, ya que, inspirada por Dios y comprometida de una vez por todas a escribir, imparten la palabra de Dios mismo sin cambios, y hacer resonar la voz del Espíritu Santo en las palabras de los profetas y apóstoles…. Dios es el autor de la Sagrada Escritura «Las verdades reveladas por Dios, que se contienen y manifiestan en la Sagrada Escritura, se consignaron por inspiración del Espíritu Santo» … Por lo tanto, al igual que la religión cristiana en sí, toda la predicación de la Iglesia debe ser alimentada y regulada por la Sagrada Escritura.”
La prioridad del lugar de la Biblia en el ministerio de enseñanza de la Iglesia es evidente en la reciente Exhortación Apostólica del Papa Francisco, Christus Vivit. Se refiere repetidamente a las figuras bíblicas que fueron fundamentales en el plan de salvación de Dios, por supuesto, especialmente con respecto a la Santísima Madre.
La segunda referencia de Dei Verbum es la exhortación a todos los bautizados, laicos y clérigos, como discípulos del Señor para permitir que el Espíritu Santo encienda o mantenga el fuego ardiendo en nuestros corazones y mentes. “Por lo tanto, todo el clero debe aferrarse a las Sagradas Escrituras a través de la lectura sagrada diligente y el estudio cuidadoso, especialmente los sacerdotes de Cristo y otros, como los diáconos y los catequistas que son legítimamente activos en el ministerio de la palabra. Esto debe hacerse para que ninguno de ellos se convierta en ‘un predicador o catequista vacío de la palabra de Dios, expresándola externamente y que no la escuche internamente’ (4), ya que ellos deben compartir la abundante riqueza de la palabra divina con los fieles comprometidos con ellos, especialmente en la sagrada liturgia. El sínodo sagrado también urge y especialmente insta a todos los cristianos de fe, especialmente religiosos, a aprender mediante la lectura frecuente de las Escrituras divinas el “excelente conocimiento de Jesucristo,” Fil. 3:8
“La ignorancia de las Escrituras es ignorancia de Cristo” es la cita contundente de San Jerónimo que completa la referencia de Dei Verbum. San Jerónimo tradujo toda la Biblia en el siglo V del hebreo y griego al latín, comúnmente conocida como la “Vulgata”, o traducción hecha para el pueblo, “el vulgo.” San Jerónimo permitió que la Palabra de Dios lo cubriera y ardiera en lo más profundo.
A medida que comience el nuevo año catequético, que todos permitamos que la Palabra de Dios arda en nuestros corazones para que el Señor “permanezca con nosotros” abriendo los ojos de nuestros corazones para que podamos reconocer su presencia real en su cuerpo, la iglesia, en la asamblea reunida en la misa, en su cuerpo y sangre, alma y divinidad, en el altar, en la partición del pan, en el Cordero de Dios y en la recepción de la Santa Comunión. Esta es nuestra fe católica y estamos orgullosos de profesarla en Cristo Jesús, nuestro Señor.

Climbers exist inside the church

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By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – People who race to get top positions often feel superior to others, an attitude that destroys the possibility for fellowship and communion, Pope Francis said.
“We all know these people: climbers, always trying to climb up, up. They hurt brotherhood, they damage brotherhood,” the pope said Sept. 1 during his Sunday Angelus address.
Thousands of pilgrims waited outside St. Peter’s Square to listen to and pray with the pope. However, the pope was late, which is unusual for his Angelus appointment.
Excusing himself for the delay, the pope explained that he was stuck in an elevator for almost a half-hour.
“Thank God the firefighters came – I thank them very much – and after 25 minutes of work they were able to get (the elevator) working. An applause to the firefighters,” he said.
In his address, the pope focused on the Sunday Gospel reading in which Jesus recounts two parables while dining at the house of a leading Pharisee.
Noticing how many guests rushed to take the place of honor at the table, Jesus exhorted them to be humble and take the last place because “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The pope said that the desire to rise to the top in both “civil and ecclesial” circles happens even today “and not just when someone is invited to lunch.”
Instead of seeking to be first, the pope added, Christians are called to follow Christ who “always shows us the way of humility” because it is “the most authentic one that also allows us to have authentic relationships.”
In the Gospel reading, Jesus also encourages his host to invite the poor, the lame and the blind to his banquet so that he may receive “a divine reward that is much greater” than giving and receiving favors from others, which “usually distorts relationships and commercializes them,” the pope said.
“Humble generosity is Christian,” Pope Francis said. “Jesus invites us to selfless generosity, to open the way for a much greater joy, the joy of being part of the very love of God that awaits us, all of us, in the heavenly banquet.”
After praying the Angelus prayer, the pope announced that he will create 13 new cardinals from around the world Oct. 5, including Canadian Jesuit Father Michael Czerny, undersecretary of the Section for Migrants and Refugees at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Pope Francis also commemorated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, an observance begun by the Orthodox Church and now celebrated by many Christians.
The ecumenical day of prayer, he said, “is a favorable time to praise God for all his creatures and the assumption of responsibility in front of the cry of the earth.”

(Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju)

Then there is the music

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Sister alies therese

From the hermitage
By Sister alies therese
People “go to Mass” for a variety of reasons. Some go because they are compelled by some notion of obligation or see the community value in it. Others are afraid of committing a mortal sin by not attending. Some understand and respect the transubstantiation process. And others, indeed, who like the preaching or music.
Perhaps you have a few additional thoughts on what you consider “go to Mass” means, or as it has been said “hear Mass.” We know about the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Excellent preaching is rarely found and music can vary from one place to another, full-blown Cathedral choirs to small mission church pianists, all trying their best to assist us in our worship.
In my almost 50 years, I have been many places in one form of ministry or another and there’s not much I haven’t seen or heard. I suppose we have our favorite niggle … one of mine is singing all the verses (most of the time).
Music and art are very important to the reverential and special way that liturgy might be celebrated. In particular, music knits the Mass parts together, gives a flow to the delicacy of the Eucharist and gives us, the worshippers, the opportunity to sing out our praise to God and to be reminded of an important part of the story.
If you consider some of the hymns you might favor you might leave out verses three and four, for example. This seriously diminishes the fullness of the text that the author was so inspired to write.
Here are two examples …
The highlights of the verses of “Softly & Tenderly,” published by Will Thompson in 1880, are rooted in Matthew 11:28. For me the whole point of the hymn is in verse four, “Oh, for the wonderful love.”
(1) Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling/ … see on the portals He’s waiting and watching
(2) Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading/ …Why should we linger and heed not His mercies?
(3) Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing/ … shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming …
(4) Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised/ …Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon …
Another example is “Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise,” by Edward Caswall (1841-1878).
(1) Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the holy anthem rise …
(2) … Like the sun from out the wave …
(3) … Christ has burst our prison bars …
(4) … Blessed Jesus, make us rise …
As in any well-written piece, the author of the text wants us to travel somewhere with our musical storytelling so that the lessons we need to learn about the truths of faith might be presented in a robust and satisfying way. In this case, the author wants us to go from our attempt at understanding that Jesus was raised from the dead, how powerful that was and what it might look like, in order to get us to the final verse where we now ask … “make us rise.” From what God has done to what we need. From what God has done to what God now promises us. When we cut off the latter two verses, we almost miss the point Caswall was making.
You might think this is a bit petty. I’ve heard others complain it makes the “Mass too long” to sing all the verses. OK. But it is really only once a week (minimum). For me, if we are going to include music in the liturgical celebrations then we need to have great respect for both text and music.
There is a lot of energy used in singing and there are so many hymns and parts to choose from. We have seen over the years the changes in style, some coming back, some fading out. What we might need to be reminded of is that in the very act of singing, or with other forms of musical accompaniment, are at least two things: 1) that the community is inspired to cooperate with the Spirit to praise God and 2) that our worship of God is serious enough to be careful about our art and music so that as we leave our celebration, we are indeed prepared to welcome the stranger, the neighbor, the other because the message of a hymn sings sweetly in our hearts.
It is not necessary to sing every verse all the time, as it is not necessary to sing all the Mass parts (especially if the presider feels a bit challenged). However, when the liturgy team chooses for us what best expresses the liturgy and prayer of the day, we might consider more carefully how we participate with abandon and joy so that our God might be joyously worshipped and praised.

(Sister alies therese is a vowed Catholic solitary who lives an eremitical life. Her days are formed around prayer, art and writing. She lives and writes in Mississippi.)

40 Days for Life begins Sept. 25

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Pro-lifers will join peacefully in prayer in the name of the unborn as part of 40 Days for Life, a national campaign, Sept. 25-Nov. 3 in dioceses and archdiocese across the nation. The national campaign is held during the fall and at Lent to encourage people to pray and fast for the end of abortion and to take a stand for life.
Pro-Life Mississippi will hold a prayer gathering at the public right-of-way near Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a state-licensed abortion facility, located at 2903 N. State St., Jackson. Prayerful plan to gather on the sidewalks at the spot from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
For information, contact Barbara Beavers or Tammy Tillman 601-956-8636 or 601-940-5701 or plm@prolifemississippi.org. For more information, visit Jackson 40 Days for Life on Facebook.

Mental Health First Aid workshop provides insights and skills

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By Charlene Bearden
TUPELO – Do you know how to identify when someone is struggling with a mental health problem? Where would you send someone for help?
Participants learned just that at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) workshops held on Aug. 22 and 23, a collaboration by the Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Family Ministry and Catholic Charities Office of Parish Health, sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Health and Belhaven University. Workshops on the opening day focused on adult mental health, while the second day focused on youth mental health.

TUPELO – Dr. Bradford Smith speaks about the importance of recognizing a mental health crisis on Aug. 22 at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) workshop. (Photo by Charlene Bearden)


Created in 2001 by Betty Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education and Anthony Jorm, a mental health literacy professor, the MHFA program is designed to teach individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in a community.
It is vital for parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human service workers, law enforcement officers and caring citizens to learn how to offer initial assistance to someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis or addiction challenge. Introducing participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illness, building understanding of their impact and providing an overview of common supports are hallmarks of the MHFA program. The goal is to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.
Participants in the workshops led by licenses psychologist, Dr. Bradford Smith, Ph. D., Provost and Vice President of academic affairs at Belhaven University, felt that they received vital insights and skills to handle mental health emergencies and the ability to offer support to someone who appears to be in mental distress. In addition to the hands-on training by Dr. Smith, participants in the program received a comprehensive MHFA reference manual and certificate of completion, valid for three years.
Sister Pat Clemen, program coordinator of parish health ministry at Catholic Charities said that “the MHFA training was well received. The participants were very much engaged in the training. Their insights and experience enhanced the learning for all attendees. Comments from the trainings lead us to believe that more Mental Health First Aid trainings are a must.”
The Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Family Ministry and Catholic Charities are in talks to offer additional MHFA workshops in other areas of the diocese, the first of which will be in spring 2020.

(Charlene Bearden is Coordinator for the Office of Family Ministry for the Diocese of Jackson and a member of Jackson Holy Family Parish)

Youth news

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CORINTH – On July 19 and 20 St. James Parish children and teachers hopped on the Jesus train. Children (not in order pictured) – Aaron, Yuri, Briana, Emmanuel, Kimberly, Karely, Yoselin, Dilan, Cristian, Marlene, Carlos, Maylin, Mia, Evolet, Kelly, Maiying, Ashley, Jeshua and Ailyn. Teachers (not in order pictured) – Tania, Maria, Edith, Roberto, and Luisa. (Photo by Luis Rosales)

MERIDIAN – Recently the Catholic Youth of Meridian participated in Love out Loud, a week long mission event where local churches come together to serve the people of Meridian. Youth and adults volunteered their time in various ways, such as completing random acts of kindness, visiting nursing homes, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Care Lodge, Hope Village and various schools. Catholic student representatives included Jekalah Keyes, J’Nae Keyes, Carter Eakes, Edwar Hernandez, Macarena Frias, Elena Stroot, Aaliyahmarie Nance, Zemaree Hampton, Wes Pritchard, Zane Pritchard, Reed Gorgas, Ryann Gorgas, Star Cayer, Alana Frias, Miller Hodge, Tom Tom Nguyen, Cassandra Klutz, Hannah Kidd and Sha Hare.Adults who helped included Marvin Nance, Edna Blanks, Ginny Parsons, Liz Bartlett, Janet Reece and Catrina Kidd.
The highlight of the service week was on Wednesday, July 17 when 15 youth and four adults worked at St. Patrick School painting in the main hallway, the cafeteria and in the Pre-K4 classroom.
All together more than 25 churches and over 600 volunteers brought the love of Jesus around the community of Meridian.

CORINTH – St. James Parish, July 19-20. Teachers and kids playing on church grounds during the “Summer School Vacation with Jesus” program. (Photos by Luis Rosales)

CORINTH – St. James Parish, Aug. 4, children getting ready for a back to school blessing from Father Mario Solórzano. (Photo by Luis Rosales)
Pope Francis arrives for an audience with thousands of Scouts in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Aug. 3, 2019. Young men and women from 16 to 21 years of age who belong to the International Union of Guides and Scouts in Europe attended the event with the pontiff. (CNS photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)

What to do in face of reckless hate

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The Catholic world view of faith and morals, of anthropology and human nature, without wavering, has taught that original sin has pierced the heart, mind and will of men and women. Combined with sin and temptation lurking at the door, our good intentions and behavior are often overwhelmed and swept along currents of madness and ruin. To better understand the forces that work against us from within and without, the Church has reflected upon and brought to the light the seven deadly sins. They are like the furies from hell who arise from our corrupted human nature to reveal the potential depth of our depravity. Pause and close your eyes at this point and see how many of them you can recall before continuing. Anger, avarice or greed, lust, pride, gluttony, sloth and envy. To one degree or another they afflict us all, and unbridled, one or any combination of them can ensnare us in the swamp of violence and destruction, even to the point of unleashing the power of the enemy, the evil one.
On Sunday morning, August 4 the following memorandum came via email blast from the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in response to the massacre in El Paso, Texas the day before.
“This Saturday, less than one week after the horrific instances of gun violence in California, yet another terrible, senseless and inhumane shooting took place, this time at a shopping mall in El Paso, Texas. Something remains fundamentally evil in our society when locations where people congregate to engage in the everyday activities of life can, without warning, become scenes of violence and contempt for human life. The plague that gun violence has become continues unchecked and spreads across our country.
Things must change.
Once again, we call for effective legislation that addresses why these unimaginable and repeated occurrences of murderous gun violence continue to take place in our communities. As people of faith, we continue to pray for all the victims and for healing in all these stricken communities. But action is also needed to end these abhorrent acts.”
The Bishops’ Conference obviously had prepared this heartfelt response the night before to be released at the beginning of the Lord’s Day. As most people were preparing for bed or already sound asleep late Saturday evening, the bullets flew again in downtown Dayton, Ohio and in the time it takes to prepare a cup of coffee the body count of the dead and wounded mounted. Phew! Now it is true that each year far more lives are lost on our nation’s road ways, or through the destructive power of opioids and far more through the destruction of life in the womb than by gun violence, but I believe it is true to say that most of these actions are not the end result of unbridled anger or rage. More often, it’s force or fear, carelessness or addiction, arrogance or selfishness, albeit in the end lives are lost and it is tragic. The litany of the destruction of life is endless and no one escapes the shroud of its darkness. But what do we do as a society in the face of reckless hate? It is true that mental illness correlates significantly with gun violence, but when does destructive rage hit critical mass and pass over into the realm of evil? In either case, as the poet, John Dunne, astutely penned, “never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee,” because who among us has not gathered with others in churches or in schools, at festivals or in shopping malls or at Saturday evening restaurants or night clubs or simply strolling while window shopping or people watching in the cooler evening breeze? As we consider the current state of affairs, let us not forget the victims, their families and friends, and the first responders who are amazing in their commitment to the common good. Do I believe that there are far more people in our nation, even today, who are inherently good and upstanding citizens and neighbors because of their faith in the God of love, or by God’s grace, whether or not they are aware, of God’s divine action? I do; but are we seeing an erosion of the solid mass of people a nation needs to prosper, one family and one community at a time? I hope that this is not the reality.
As a balance to where this column began, our Catholic faith and tradition also inspire us to know that we are God’s children now because we have faith in God’s beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit works overtime to guide our thoughts, words and actions. Thanks be to God who has given us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are indeed saved. In Baptism we have died with him and in our rising to new life we can crucify the passions that can easily derail our good intentions, hopes and dreams. At times, it is spiritual warfare but let us not grow faint in fighting the good fight of faith and running the race in our daily lives. We don’t have easy answers to the complex problems and challenges of our time, but we can choose to be intentional disciples of the Lord in countless ways each day and that makes all the difference.
I return to the simple, yet profound wisdom of Saint Mother Teresa in her beloved poem, Do It Anyway. “What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.” How and why could she insist on this amid intractable poverty and misery on the streets of Calcutta? She concludes her poem with eternal wisdom: “in the final analysis, it is between you and God.” Go and do the same. (Luke 10:37)