By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The celebration of the Lord’s resurrection during the Easter season always bears the marks of resurgent life in the church as well as in the natural world around us. Beginning with the Easter Vigil, the waters of Baptism, the anointing with chrism, the proclamation of the Word of God, and the reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord are the ordinary and extraordinary ways that our parish communities flourish as members of the Body of Christ. The hope and joy that arise from the love of risen Lord take root all around us.

In this light it’s evident that the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV have deepened our experience of the rhythms of the Paschal mystery in the Easter season.
The passing of Pope Francis after 12 years as the Holy Father evoked a world-wide outpouring of loving gratitude on behalf of this spiritual leader whose prophetic voice inspired many within the church and beyond. The funeral liturgy and the accompanying solemn rites and processions placed the church on the world stage for an extended period of time proclaiming to all participants and observers the essence of our faith and hope in the one crucified and risen from the dead.
That Francis embodied the mind and heart of the Good Shepherd through words and gestures, through teaching and evangelizing, and through his stature as the voice of conscience and human rights across the globe, was evident in responses from across life’s spectrum, including both heads of state, and homeless. Let our hope-filled prayers from the funeral liturgy accompany this servant of God. “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to greet you on the way, and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you to the bosom of Abraham; and where Lazarus is poor no longer may you find eternal rest.”
After pausing for a suitable time of mourning and allowing the cardinal electors the opportunity to settle in and prepare for the conclave, the 24-hour news cycle kicked in once again. From churchmen to Vegas oddsmakers there was considerable speculation over who would emerge as the 267th pope.

The 700-year-old tradition of conclave was explored and dissected in every conceivable way, and indeed it gripped the imagination. Even far more impressive was the reality that the 130+ cardinals represented 71 countries, walking proof of the global Catholic Church. But would the conclave drag on, or would it be over in a matter of two to three days, its duration in recent elections, was a repeated question? The thousands of people who joyfully and prayerfully gathered in St. Peter’s Square to await the white smoke and the pealing bells represented countless others from around the globe who remained vigilant in prayer and joyful hope. At last, the moment arrived. Habemus Papam!
To the surprise of most who were glued to the proceedings, the church is celebrating the first American pope. It seems that the oddsmakers didn’t factor in the impact of the Holy Spirit.
We are at the beginning of a new day in the center of the Catholic Church with the election of Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. His Augustinian religious community, and the nations of Peru and the United States along with the entire Catholic world rejoice to welcome him as the successor of St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, the Bishop of Rome, and the Servant of the Servants of God. The name of Leo is profoundly significant for our times and speaks volumes regarding our Holy Father’s hopes and dreams for our church and world.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The following words of the prophet Isaiah resonate throughout the Easter season from the Sunday of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from through to Pentecost. ““Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (43:19)

Sometimes it is difficult to perceive the hand of Providence in our lives because God also said through the prophet, that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Let’s revisit the essential narratives of our Catholic faith. Something new was springing forth at the Last Supper when the Lord did the unthinkable in the washing of his disciples’ feet, followed by the unimaginable in his pronouncement that the bread and wine at the Passover Meal would forever be his body and blood at the Eucharist. Of course, they were unable to perceive it, nor comprehend it, and this was just the beginning of what would be a nightmare to follow. The suffering, torture, and crucifixion of the one who loved them with the heart of God shattered the foundations of their lives and scattered them to the four winds.

For them it was dreadfully obvious that it was the end of an amazing three-year run. Let’s go fishing. Wait! Another shoot from the stump of Jesse was about to break forth. Could they not perceive that God was doing something radically new?

Of course not, at least not at the entrance of an empty tomb. They were still numb, incredulous, non-believing, and afraid for their lives. Then the unexpected began to happen in the Lord’s resurrection appearances. Over time, the apostles and the company of disciples, women and men, became the new creations that God had intended when the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. We have 50 days to savor this miracle and mystery in the beloved appearances to the apostles huddled in fear in the upper room, to Mary Magdalene in the garden, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the apostles gone fishing, or on the road back to Galilee, etc.

With the resurrection of the Lord time and eternity embrace. In this divine union Sacred Scriptures proclaim that “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2Peter 3:8) It’s a blessing to consider that we are only at the beginning of the third day since the crucifixion and resurrection, and that Easter 2025 is as charged with the grandeur of God in the risen Lord as was that first morning.

God is constantly at work on behalf of our salvation inviting us to go from countless shades of shadows and darkness into his own marvelous light. We are called to be pilgrims of hope during this Jubilee Year and the risen Lord seeks to roll away the stone and enter through the locked doors of our minds and hearts in order to be the community of believers God desires. During his time on earth, Pope Francis reminded us that patience and perseverance are the handmaids of hope, especially during difficult times when suffering darkens our senses and spirit. Although the hand of Providence is all around us, we may not perceive the invitation to new life because the seeds have fallen on rocky ground or on the busy footpath or among the thorns that choke the young shoots of faith and hope. Pope Francis reminded that our God is the God of encouragement and perseverance on behalf of our salvation.

On this weekend of Divine Mercy, the culmination of the Easter Octave, praying with and for one another, let us proclaim in Easter faith and hope, Jesus, I trust in you!

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The Passion of the Lord Jesus unfolds before us over the next week, beginning with the Palm Sunday commemoration this weekend. This year the passion narrative from the Gospel of Luke invites us spiritually to accompany the Lord from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper and onto his sacrificial death on the Cross. Upon departing from our churches this weekend, we leave the door to the resurrection yet unopened so that we can wholeheartedly renew our understanding of the impact of sin, suffering, violence and death that in turn reveals the power of the resurrection.

The added dimension to this year’s Holy Week observance is the relentless war that rains down destruction and misery upon the inhabitants of the land where Jesus walked the earth and loved the people of his time. Many who suffer such unspeakable crimes against humanity are our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith.

Therefore, the traditional Good Friday collection, always critically important, takes on an added urgency this year. The following excerpts are from the Franciscan Friars’ annual Good Friday letter of appeal to all of the arch(dioceses) in the United States. “This Jubilee Year is designated as a Year of Hope. Indeed, hope is a necessary virtue in a land marked by cycles of violence and relative calm. Gaza itself has been reduced to rubble. Missiles have hit many other places as well. People across the region are tasked with rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals and even churches.”

The holy places that mark the locations of our Lord’s life, death and resurrection are described as the fifth Gospel that anchor in time and place the inspired texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are destinations of pilgrimage for believers and non-believers alike, while providing a means of livelihood for the people who have inhabited the land for centuries. They have fallen on desperate times.

“Many of our faithful earn their living from pilgrimages. Still repaying debts from the pandemic shutdown, they found themselves soon assaulted by war. Now, already in debt, many have again lost jobs. Fear and despair have driven many Christians to leave the Holy Land: over the past century, Christians have gone from 23% to less than 2% of the population. And more than 90 Christian families have already left Bethlehem since Oct. 7, having lost hope in a good future for them in the land where Jesus and the church were born.”

May our prayer and generosity this Good Friday express our love for the people who deeply desire to remain on their ancestral lands. “The Collection supports the work of the Franciscans in the sacred shrines, ministers to the parishes, provides formation and education in communities and schools, and cares for the basic needs of people in the Holy Land. During such a difficult time, where we must rebuild not only buildings but so many broken lives, your support for this important collection is essential.”

In this vein, Holy Week is an opportunity to shed light upon the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher whose unique mission is to support the church’s presence and ministries in the Holy Land throughout the year. More specifically, it is the only lay institution of the Vatican State charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all the activities and initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The contributions made by its members are therefore the Patriarchal institutions’ main source. The call to holiness marked by fidelity to the Holy Father and the teaching of the Catholic Church is an essential characteristic of the Order. Arising from the member’s relationship with the crucified and risen Lord is the call to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, particularly those of and in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with which the Order maintains traditional ties. In general, the members are encouraged to support the preservation and propagation of the Faith in those lands and promote interest in this work not only among Catholics scattered throughout the world, who are united in charity by the symbol of the Order, but also among all other Christians.

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bring renew the face of the earth through the light of the Gospel proclaimed to the nations. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
At the heart of the Ordinary Jubilee of Hope, although somewhat in the background, is the Papal Encyclical, Dilexit Nos that Pope Francis released in October of last year. Literally, the title declares, He Loved Us and throughout the document the Holy Father unfolds the truth and beauty of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is the third of the pope’s Encyclicals since his Papal Inauguration on March 19, 2013, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. In June 2015 he presented to the Church and to the world his ground-breaking achievement, Laudato Si, in praise of God’s creation and, in turn, our responsibility as good stewards for the earth, our common home. In the throes of the pandemic in 2020 he published his second social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti which was a clarion call to the world and to the church for a deeper commitment to peace, justice and unity among nations and peoples, and within the Body of Christ. Nearly five years later in anticipation of the Jubilee Year of Hope, Dilexit Nos returns us to the foot of the Cross, the wellspring of all that is holy and good in our world, and the ground of our hope.

In the early stages of the Pope’s Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year, Spes non Confundit, Hope does not Disappoint, Pope Francis makes clear the unbreakable bond between the theological virtue of Hope and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the Cross.” (#3)

Therefore, because of this undying love, with Saint Paul we stand upon the conviction that “nothing or no one can separate us from the love of Christ.” (Romans 8,35) In Dilexit Nos with ample room to unfold the wisdom of the ages the pope presents the great love of the well-known saints and countless others in each generation for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the same vein he clarifies that this love for the Sacred Heart is not primarily a devotion because the sacred heart represents our saving Lord in whom we believe, hope, and love because he loved us first.

The following are the testimonies of some of the remarkable saints over the centuries. In the 12th century Bernard of Clairvaux takes up the symbolism of the pierced side of the Lord and understands it explicitly as a revelation and outpouring of all the love of Jesus’ heart. “A lance passes through his soul even to the region of his heart. No longer is he unable to take pity on my weakness. The wounds inflicted on his body have disclosed to us the secrets of his heart; they enable us to contemplate the great mystery of his compassion.” Saint Therese of the Child Jesus , the Little Flower at 15 spoke of Jesus as the one “whose heart beats in unison with my own…You know that I myself do not see the Sacred Heart as everyone else. I think that the heart of my spouse is mine alone, just as mine is his alone, and I speak to him in the solitude of this heart to heart, while waiting to contemplate him face to face.”

Saint John Henry Newman, the great intellectual of the 19th century took as his motto the phrase Cor ad cor loquitur, since, beyond all our thoughts and ideas, the Lord saves us by speaking to our hearts with his Sacred Heart. It was in the Eucharist that Newman encountered the living heart of Jesus, capable of setting us free. “O most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus, Thou are concealed in the Holy Eucharist, and Thou beatest for us still.”

Finally, more than anyone, the Blessed Mother teaches us how to live with the heart of her Son. “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, and his mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2, 51) Beyond devotion, with Mary the love of her Son inspires us to live, to serve, and to care with his mind and heart.

At the end of Dilexit Nos Pope Francis expresses the unbreakable bond among his three Apostolic Encyclicals. “The present document can help us see that the teaching of the social Encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti is not unrelated to our encounter with the love of Jesus Christ. For it is by drinking of that same love that we become capable of forging bonds of fraternity, of recognizing the dignity of each human being, and of working together to care for our common home. In a world where everything is bought and sold, people’s sense of their worth appears increasingly to depend on what they can accumulate with the power of money. Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been definitively lost.”

This is the hope of the Holy Father and our hope.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The season of Lent is underway in this Jubilee Year of Hope and what a fitting time it is to renew our life in Jesus Christ as pilgrims of hope. The Ash Wednesday call to conversion resounded through our churches with the words that accompany the ashes: “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” Stop and pause a minute. If that’s where the invitation began and ended, a person could naturally respond, not Amen, but if that’s all there is then eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow I may be dead. This is true enough. But the accompanying Ash Wednesday exhortation takes us beyond this world. “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” The two must be taken together because the Gospel imperative takes us to the threshold of eternity through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In the end, we succumb to death, but the light of the Gospel impels us to be faithful to a different standard, one of faith, hope and love.

In the Jubilee Bull of Indiction, Pope Francis offers a splendid reflection on our Baptism, the divine life that we seek to renew throughout Lent in preparation for Easter. “The Jubilee, [and the season of Lent] offers us the opportunity to appreciate anew, and with immense gratitude, the gift of new life that we have received in Baptism, a life capable of transfiguring death’s drama … The tradition of building baptismal fonts in the shape of an octagon, as seen in many ancient baptistries, like that of St. John Lateran in Rome, was intended to symbolize that Baptism is the dawn of the ‘eighth day,’ the day of the resurrection, a day that transcends the normal, weekly passage of time, opening us to life everlasting.” (20) “For we are buried together with him by baptism into death, that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we may also walk with him in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

Newness of life encompasses the call to repentance through prayer and fasting, and the call to live as pilgrims of hope through almsgiving in its many forms. The second reading on Ash Wednesday eloquently expresses this sublime call and mystery. We are all new creations, ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of Jesus Christ. (2Cor 5:17)

In our world that has fallen prey to radical polity and civil discord, fidelity to the Gospel offers another path where reconciliation, justice and fraternity lead the way. Whatever our political persuasion may be, for the person of faith in the Catholic Church, we are called to value the things that really matter. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice … Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

Flowing from the waters of Baptism is the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation where God can lavishly pour out his merciful grace and transform hardened hearts. For the Jubilee year Pope Francis again instructs us from the Chair of Peter. “The sacrament of Reconciliation is not only a magnificent spiritual gift, but also a decisive, essential and fundamental step on our journey of faith. There, we allow our Lord to erase our sins, to heal our hearts, to raise us up, to embrace us and to reveal to us his tender and compassionate countenance. There is no better way to know God than to allow God to reconcile us to himself. Let us not neglect Confession.” (23)

In the spirit of Jubilee, this sacrament restores hope, renews our baptism, and reminds us “to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) May the 40 days of Lent be a season of refreshment in God! (Acts 3:20)

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The Jubilee Year of Hope is well underway, a year of favor from the Lord in which Pope Francis is encouraging and challenging us to be Pilgrims of Hope. What is a pilgrim anyway?

Over 40 years ago in the early years of my priesthood I participated in a biblical study tour to the Holy Lands and Rome to experience firsthand the earthly life of Jesus, the beginning of the church in Jerusalem, and its growth in Rome. In preparation for this three-week spiritual adventure the leader reminded all participating priests that we are undertaking this trip as pilgrims, not tourists. Most of us heard the call for pilgrimage and packed simply, except for one in the group who took along a large empty suitcase for souvenirs.

Later this year the Diocese of Jackson will sponsor a pilgrimage to Rome that will include passing through the Holy Door of one of the four major Basilicas. We will see ourselves as pilgrims for these ten days, all the while keeping in mind that the Holy Father is exhorting us to be pilgrims of hope in heart and mind as an enduring and defining state of life.
How? One of the prophets of old illuminates for us the path of pilgrims. “You have been told, o mortal, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) It’s a way of being in this world that overcomes and transcends all who cast their shadows over the light of faith, the power of hope and the primacy of love. As pilgrims we are called to touch lightly on this earth, not in a superficial manner, but in a way that inspires us to understand that to walk upon this earth is a miracle.

I am writing this column on the 11th anniversary of my consecration and installation as the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Jackson. Applying the lens of Pilgrims of Hope I have experienced my episcopal ministry at its core as pilgrimage, journeying to many holy sites, i.e. our parishes, schools and ministries, and back again to the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. In ordinary and extraordinary moments, in season and out of season, my life is filled with encounters with the sacred. Recognizing this gift is the key. Each of us in has to do the personal work to “stir into flame” (2Timothy 1:6) our baptismal call to be alive and active as the Lord’s anointed and pilgrims of hope. Our identity as God’s children flourishes through prayer, through the sacraments, through works of justice and goodness accomplished in a spirit of humility. When we fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:12) “each of us may be able to offer a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed, in the knowledge that, in the Spirit of Jesus, these can become, for those who receive them, rich seeds of hope.” (Jubilee Document)

As this edition of Mississippi Catholic circulates throughout the diocese, I will be in India for my second pastoral visit to this amazing country from where we have 15 priests serving in our diocese. Truly, this is a pastoral visit to spend time with the bishops and provincial who have priests on mission in the Diocese of Jackson. But at its core it is a pilgrimage to many holy sites and ministries in the land where St. Thomas the Apostle first proclaimed the Gospel.

Wherever we are in this world, St. Paul reminds us that in the end “our citizenship is in heaven.” Yet, the journey begins here and the blessing and challenge is to see this world as God sees it, and to accompany one another as pilgrims with an abiding concern for justice, goodness and solidarity for all.

As Bishops of the Province of Mobile, encompassing Alabama and Mississippi, we feel called to speak to the pressing issue of immigration in our nation and in our province. Our faith compels us to view each human being as a child of God, endowed with dignity and worth, and our nation’s history reminds us of the transformative power of hope and opportunity.

America’s beauty and genius have long been the result of doors open to those yearning for a better life for their families, those longing to “breathe free,” and those seeking safety, security and liberty. This openness has enriched our amazing society, strengthening the fabric of our communities and renewing the spirit of the American dream for new and future generations. Even in Alabama and Mississippi, many of our civic and faith communities are experiencing growth and vibrancy because of immigrants who long to create a better life for themselves and their families, while experiencing a taste of opportunity and freedom.

At the same time, we recognize that nations are sovereign entities with the right and responsibility to establish immigration laws and policies that protect their citizens and ensure the orderly movement of peoples at their borders. A just and compassionate approach to immigration must balance respect for these laws with the imperative to uphold the dignity of every person including their dreams and noble aspirations.

We call for respect and understanding toward those who find themselves in our country due to a broken immigration system. Many have come seeking a refuge from poverty, violence, dictatorships, or persecution. As a nation, we must make accommodations to keep families together, ensuring that children are not separated from their parents. Due process must be afforded in the processing of immigration claims, ensuring fairness and justice for all especially regarding time and expense. Furthermore, we must presume goodwill for those who strive to work within our system, improve their lives, and contribute to the unique tapestry that is America.

Immigration reform is not only a legal issue but also a profoundly moral one. As Catholics and as Americans, we are called to stand in solidarity with the vulnerable, advocating for policies that reflect the values of compassion, justice, and mercy. Impelled by Christ’s call to care for all, we advocate for the dignity and just treatment of immigrants, affirming their worth and contributions to society. We urge lawmakers, community leaders, and all people of goodwill to engage in this issue with the seriousness and humanity it deserves.

May we, as a nation, continue to welcome the stranger with open hearts, honor the rule of law with integrity, and strive always to be a beacon of hope and welcome for those seeking a better tomorrow.

In Christ,

Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi
Archbishop of Mobile

Most Reverend Steven J. Raica
Bishop of Birmingham

Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz
Bishop of Jackson

Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III
Bishop of Biloxi

Bishops of the Province of Mobile