Category Archives: Bishop Kopacz

Moving forward through listening, addressing concerns

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
A few weeks ago, I participated in four listening/dialogue sessions around the Diocese of Jackson in response to the current crisis in the aftermath of the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the Cardinal Theodore McCarrick scandal. These sessions occurred over four consecutive days, October 4-7, in Tupelo, Cleveland, Madison and Natchez with a combined total of nearly 200 concerned Catholic parishioners in attendance. Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, who served in the Diocese of Jackson on two different occasions spanning three decades, facilitated the four sessions. She is now the Director of the Southdown Institute outside of Toronto, Canada. All in attendance were given the opportunity to respond to the following three questions.
1. What feelings, emotions, concerns surface for you at this time?
2. How do you sustain yourself as a faith filled person during this time?
3. What will help you continue to move forward?
Following the model of the 17 Envisioning Listening Sessions from two and a half years ago all participants were able to reflect quietly at table, engage in conversation, and then share the fruit of their table discussions with all in attendance. I believe that the participants, although not as numerous as the 1,100 who attended the Envisioning Listening Sessions, well represented the Diocese of Jackson as a whole. The questions gave everyone the opportunity to air in a heartfelt and respectful way the depth of their emotions, share their faith, their love for the Church, and to ask pointed questions about our diocesan structures, our polices and protocols, our support and compassion for victims of sexual abuse, our response to allegations of abuse today, our relationship with civil authorities, the voice of women and their consequential roles at all levels of diocesan life, the authentic independence of our diocesan lay boards and of those who investigate allegations, the selection of candidates for the seminary, as well as seminary formation, transparency and accountability, the current state of safe environments in our parishes, schools and ministries, and how the bishops will respond at their November meeting in Baltimore, especially regarding transparent protocols for their own accountability.
The sessions lasted between one-and-a-half and two hours, and Sister Dorothy observed, “many in attendance expressed their gratitude for having an opportunity to share concerns and frustrations and ideas with the bishop, and to have their questions answered with honesty and openness.”
I shared with the attendees that their emotions and their voices that cry out for repentance, justice and reconciliation from the center of the Catholic Church to the margins, arise from the heart of God. We all have a deep sense that abuse by an ordained cleric far surpasses the sexual abuse of a teacher, coach, trainer, neighbor or an extended family member, etc., In these instances, as brutal as it is, a victim often can find comfort, support and hope in their families. Clergy sexual abuse is more on par with the abuse by a parent because in both instances the safety and security of home, in this case one’s spiritual home, the Church, is destroyed. It’s an outrage because it can shatter one’s relationship with Jesus Christ and his saving love. Indeed, the participants expressed their visceral emotions of anger at the abusers, especially predators, and the mis-management and cover up of some in the hierarchy. Other feelings were shame, profound sorrow, confusion and uncertainty about the future of the Church, fear, overwhelming sadness, embarrassment about being Catholic, worry, compassion for the victims and families, and for all faithful clergy.
Many of the participants were midlife and older. There was a shared sentiment that this is a heavy burden for cradle Catholics whose trust in the Church and her leadership has been the foundation for their lives. Why a preponderance of attendees from the second half of life? On the one hand, many young people are not stakeholders in the Church and this is not a priority. Another observed, on a positive note, that younger families who are involved in the Church have experienced first-hand since 2002 that our ministries and programs maintain a high level of safety for their children and young people, fostering confidence in the Church’s commitment to protect within safe environments. It was reinforced for me during these four sessions that it is not inconsequential to discuss appropriately the Church’s efforts since 2002, not in a smug or matter-of-fact way, but in the context of transparency and accountability. Older Catholic who have not directly experienced safe environment protocols in recent decades were appreciative to know the positive effects of our safe environment standards, the active relationship with the District Attorney in each county, the independent and timely manner of investigating and processing allegations when they come to light, and most of all, our outreach and active concern for all victims of sexual abuse in the Church.
The deeper levels of repentance, conversion, healing and hope are always a work in progress and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord Jesus is speaking at this time through many prophets in the Church and society, most of whom are not ordained. Because the Church is a 2,000-year-old world-wide organization, change can be painfully slow. Paradoxically, because the Church is a world-wide body, at times change can happen at an accelerated pace. What evidence is there for this? In the 16-and-a-half years since the Dallas Charter our commitment to effective protocols for safe environments have transformed the landscape and culture of the Catholic Church in the United States. The entire Body of Christ, laity and ordained, has been turning the wheel of transparency and accountability since 2002.
It occurred to me last Sunday at Southaven Christ the King during the celebration of Confirmation that the vast majority of the 74 Confimandi who celebrated the gift of the Holy Spirit were born in 2002 or later. They have known the blessings of effective safe environment standards in the Church’s ministries and programs. I share this reflection as an example of what can happen when laity and ordained work together for the good of the entire Body of Christ, the Church, especially on behalf of our children and young people. I have hope and confidence, not naively, that wherever the rot of clericalism, and the resistance to conversion festers in the Church, the light of Jesus Christ will shine in this darkness, transforming the Body of Christ. All who love the Lord Jesus and the Church are called to pray and work together to this end.

Bishop Kopacz schedule

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Monday, Oct. 15-17 – Catholic Extension’s Mission Bishops’ Conference, Oak Brook, Il.
Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. – Catholic Charities, Purple Dress Run, the District lifestyle center, Jackson (see page 2 for details).
Saturday, Oct. 20, 5:15 p.m. – Mass for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Jackson, St. Peter Cathedral.
Sunday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. – Mass and Blessing of pieta replica, Southaven Christ the King Parish.
12:30 p.m. – Mass in Spanish, Southaven Christ the King Parish.
4 p.m. – Confirmation, Southaven Christ the King Parish.
Monday, Oct. 22, 9:45 a.m. – School Mass, Southaven, Sacred Heart.
4 p.m. – School Mass, Holly Springs, Holy Family.
Sunday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m. – Respect Life Mass and reception, Madison, St. Catherine’s Village.
Saturday, Nov. 3-4 – Mission Appeal, Waterloo, Wisconsin, Holy Family Parish.
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 5 p.m. – Catholic Foundation Annual Dinner, Jackson, Jackson Country Club.
Wenesday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. – Mass of reparation, Cathedral and diocesan churches

Only public events are listed on this schedule and all events are subject to change.
Please check with the local parish for further details

Bishop schedule

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Sunday, Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m. – Mass of installation for Father Augustine Palimattam, Meridian St. Joseph Parish.
11 a.m. – Mass of installation for Father Augustine Palimattam, Meridian St. Patrick Parish.
Thursday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. – St. Richard Special Kids Golf Tournament, Deerfield Country Club.
Sunday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. – Mass and picnic, Forest St. Michael Parish.
Monday, Oct. 8 – Thursday, Oct 11 – Clergy formation convocation, Northeast Conference Center, Meridian.
Sunday, Oct. 14, 12:15 p.m. – Mass, Jackson Holy Ghost Parish.
Monday, Oct. 15-17, 6 p.m. – Catholic Extension’s Mission Bishops’ Conference, Oak Brook, Il.
Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. – Catholic Charities, Purple Dress Run, the District lifestyle center, Jackson.
Saturday, Oct. 20, 5:15 p.m. – Mass for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Jackson, St. Peter Cathedral
Sunday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. – Mass and Blessing of pieta replica, Southaven Christ the King
12:30 p.m. – Mass in Spanish, Southaven Christ the King
4 p.m. – Confirmation, Southaven Christ the King

Only public events are listed on this schedule and all events are subject to change.
Please check with the local parish for further details

Encuentro transformador energiza la Iglesia

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Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
Desde el Papa Francisco, con amor, a Grapevine, Texas, a aproximadamente 3,500 líderes católicos de todos los Estados Unidos. El Santo Padre alentó a los reunidos para la reunión nacional V Encuentro a “derribar muros y construir puentes…A través de este proceso de V Encuentro, usted puede promover una cultura del encuentro”, dijo el Papa Francisco. “Es una manera concreta de ir más allá de nuestras zonas de confort y buscar a aquellos que necesitan esperanza en sus vidas, especialmente los jóvenes y aquellos que están en la periferia”.
Los obispos de Estados Unidos iniciaron “Encuentro,” proceso que significa encontrarse para servir mejor a la creciente comunidad latinoamericana. El proceso continuará hasta 2020. “Para el Papa, el discipulado misionero comienza con un encuentro con Cristo”, dijo el arzobispo Christophe Pierre, nuncio apostólico de los Estados Unidos, en sus comentarios bilingües. “Nos hemos reunido para encontrar al Cristo que da sentido a nuestras vidas. Una vez que lo hayamos encontrado, lo compartiremos con quienes nos encontremos “.
En medio de la celebración, el Arzobispo García-Siller de San Antonio reconoció el dolor por el escándalo de abusos sexuales que salió a la luz en el informe del gran jurado de Pensilvania y las revelaciones sobre el arzobispo Theodore McCarrick. “Tienes razón al tener el corazón roto por las faltas de tus pastores”, dijo. “Recemos a Dios por las víctimas de los crímenes de esta crisis. Haz todo lo que puedas por las víctimas. Oren también por los perpetradores y por nosotros sus obispos “. Entonces, al momento, el arzobispo García-Siller trajo la luz y la esperanza del Evangelio. “El Espíritu Santo viene a despertarnos e inflamar nuestros corazones con un amor renovado por Dios”, dijo. “No debemos tener miedo. El Señor estará presente con nosotros. Él es el crucificado, pero él es el resucitado también “.
La Hermana de la Misericordia, Ana María Pineda, profesora asociada de la Universidad de Santa Clara y miembro fundador de la Iniciativa Teológica Hispana, compartió una reflexión sobre la historia del proyecto Encuentro, que comenzó en 1972. Encuentros posteriores en 1977 y 1985 ayudaron a la iglesia a discernir mejor sus cambios demográficos. El cuarto Encuentro, o Encuentro 2000, celebró las contribuciones de las muchas culturas que conforman la Iglesia de los Estados Unidos.
“Una vez más, Dios nos recuerda”, dijo la hermana Pineda sobre el V Encuentro, “Hoy reivindicamos nuevamente quiénes somos”. Por así decirlo “Quienes somos” es una realidad muy diferente a la de hace 46 años en el momento del primer Encuentro. La comunidad latina ha crecido y evolucionado en más de dos generaciones adicionales a través del nacimiento y la inmigración a casi el 40% de la Iglesia Católica en los Estados Unidos.
El enfoque del V Encuentro es el reconocimiento de que los latinos están llamados a asumir un mayor liderazgo en la Iglesia. Como la demografía de la Iglesia Católica en las últimas décadas se ha desplazado desde el Nordeste y el Medio Oeste hacia el Sur y el Oeste, también los descendientes de inmigrantes europeos han cedido a la inmigración de América Central y América Latina, Asia, África y las Islas del Caribe.
Desde la conclusión del Concilio Vaticano II en 1965, los laicos en virtud del llamado universal a la santidad en el Bautismo y su vocación de ejercer el ministerio en el Cuerpo de Cristo han adoptado la misión y los ministerios de la Iglesia que una vez fueron casi dominio exclusivo del ordenado y el religioso. La presencia creciente de católicos latinos y católicos asiáticos, en este momento en la Iglesia de los Estados Unidos, inevitablemente transformará la tez del liderazgo en el futuro. El V Encuentro trata de hacer esta transformación más intencional.
A pesar de las sombras que oscurecen la misión y visión de la Iglesia, Encuentro estuvo marcado por una alegría generalizada, considerable ánimo (espíritu), amor entusiasta por el Señor y la Santísima Madre, y el-sigue adelante-, esperanza para el futuro.
La oración de la mañana y la tarde, y especialmente la Misa, se celebraron con reverencia en el fuego del Espíritu Santo. Nuestros delegados de la Diócesis de Jackson estuvieron completamente involucrados en todos los procedimientos y muchos en el frente interno estuvieron presentes en oración y espíritu.
Nuestro compromiso y nuestra colaboración con el ministerio hispano a lo largo y ancho de nuestra Diócesis es notable. Esta no es solo mi humilde opinión. Este año, Extensión Católica (Catholic Extension, por su nombre en inglés) ha seleccionado a nuestro ministerio hispano como uno de sus finalistas para el premio Lumen Christi, que se otorga anualmente a un destinatario en una Diócesis Misionera, por su trabajo ejemplar al servicio del Evangelio. Con San Pablo en su carta a los Filipenses, podemos regocijarnos en el Señor, siempre y que el Señor, que ha comenzado el buen trabajo en nosotros, lo lleve a su cumplimiento en el día de Cristo Jesús.

Transformative encounter means to energize church

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
From Pope Francis, with love, to Grapevine, Texas to an estimated 3,500 Catholic Leaders from throughout the United States. The Holy Father encouraged those gathered for the V Encuentro national gathering to “tear down walls and build bridges.” “Through this V Encuentro process, you can promote a culture of encounter,” Pope Francis said. “It is a concrete way to move beyond our comfort zones and look for those who need hope in their lives, especially young people and those who are on the peripheries.”
The U.S. bishops initiated the Encuentro, which means “Encounter,” to better serve the growing Latin American community. The process will continue through 2020. “For the pope, missionary discipleship begins with an encounter with Christ,” Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, said in his bilingual remarks. “We have come together to encounter the Christ that gives meaning to our lives. Once we have encountered him, we will share him with those we encounter.”
Amid the celebration, Archbishop García-Siller of San Antonio acknowledged the sexual abuse scandal brought to light by the Pennsylvania grand jury report and revelations about Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. “You are right to be broken-hearted by the faults of your shepherds,” he said. “Let us pray to God for the victims of the crimes of this crisis. Do all you can for the victims. Pray also for the perpetrators and for us your bishops.”
Then he brought the light and hope of the Gospel to the moment. “The Holy Spirit comes to wake us up and inflame our hearts with a renewed love for God,” he said. “We must not be afraid. The Lord will be present with us. He is the crucified one, but he is the risen one, too.”
Sister of Mercy Ana María Pineda, an associate professor at Santa Clara University and a founding member of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, shared a reflection on the history of the Encuentro project, which began in 1972. Subsequent Encuentros in 1977 and 1985 helped the church better discern its changing demographics. The fourth Encuentro or Encuentro 2000, celebrated the contributions of the many cultures that make up the U.S. Church. “Once again God remembers us,” Sister Pineda said of the V Encuentro. “Today we once again claim who we are.”
“Who we are,” so to speak, is a far different reality from 46 years ago at the time of the first Encuentro.
The Latino community has grown and evolved over two additional generations through birth and immigration to nearly 40 percent of the Catholic Church in the United States. The focus of the V Encuentro is the recognition that Latinos are called to assume greater leadership in the Church. As the demographics of the Catholic Church in recent decades has shifted from the Northeast and the Midwest to the South and the West, so too have the descendants of European immigrants yielded to immigration from Central and Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Islands of the Caribbean.
Since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council in 1965 the laity by virtue of the universal call to holiness in Baptism and their vocation to exercise ministry in the Body of Christ, has embraced the mission and ministries of the Church that were once the nearly exclusive domain of the ordained and religious. The burgeoning presence of Latino Catholics and Asian Catholics at this moment in the Church of the United States will inevitably transform the complexion of leadership going forward. The V Encuentro is about making this transformation more intentional.
In spite of the shadows that obscure the Church’s mission and vision, The Encuentro was marked by widespread joy, considerable animo (spirit), enthusiastic love for the Lord and the Blessed Mother and hope for the future (sigue adelante). Morning and evening prayer and especially the Mass, were celebrated with reverence in the fire of the Holy Spirit. Our delegates from the Diocese of Jackson were fully engaged in all of the proceedings and many on the home front were present in prayer and spirit. Our commitment to and our collaboration with the Hispanic ministry throughout our Diocese is remarkable.
This is not just my humble opinion. This year Catholic Extension has selected our Hispanic ministry as one of their four finalists for the Lumen Christi award which is bestowed annually to a recipient in a mission ds iocese for exemplary work in service of the Gospel. With Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians, we can rejoice in the Lord, always and may the Lord who has begun the good work in us bring it to fulfillment on the day of Christ Jesus.

Bishop schedule

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Tuesday, Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m. – Day of Dialog, Catholic Committee of the South, St. Dominic Toulouse Center.
Thursday, Sept. 13-23 – National V Encuentro, Grapevine, Texas.
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m. – Parish Supper and RCIA class, McComb St. Alphonsus Parish.
Friday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. – Invocation at Homecoming Football game, Madison St. Joseph School.
Sunday, Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m. – Mass of installation for Father Augustine Palimattam, Meridian St. Joseph Parish.
11 a.m. – Mass of installation for Father Augustine Palimattam, Meridian St. Patrick Parish.
Thursday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. – St. Richard Special Kids Golf Tournament, Deerfield Country Club.
Sunday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – Mass, Forest St. Michael Parish.
Monday, Oct. 5- Thursday, Oct 11 – Clergy formation convocation, Northeast Conference Center, Meridian.

Only public events are listed on this schedule and all events are subject to change.
Please check with the local parish for further details

Corazón de la Iglesia: palabra, adoración, comunidad, servicio

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Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
El anuncio del Evangelio de Marcos, proclamado el domingo 9 de septiembre, de la curación del hombre que sufría de sordera, acompañada por un impedimento del habla, revela la misión del Señor Jesús y de la Iglesia. “El Verbo se hizo carne y vivió entre nosotros” (Prólogo del Evangelio de San Juan). En este milagro único, la humanidad y la divinidad de Jesús brillan. En resumen, Jesús respondió a la súplica de la multitud bulliciosa al separarse con el hombre para lograr su cura. Jesús tocó sus oídos y escupiendo, tocó su lengua y mirando al cielo, gimió y dijo: “que sean abiertos”. En ese momento el cielo y la tierra estaban en armonía y la curación física conducía a alabanzas de gratitud que no podían ser silenciadas.
Desde el principio, la misión de la Iglesia, con la mente y el corazón de Jesucristo y en el poder del Espíritu Santo, trajo su mensaje salvador a todos los que tenían oídos para escuchar. De la carta de Santiago, también de las escrituras del último fin de semana, escuchamos que las divisiones surgieron al principio en la incipiente comunidad cristiana. A los ricos se les dio un tratamiento de primera clase y los pobres se quedaron en los márgenes de la comunidad reunida. Inmediatamente, el Espíritu de Dios convenció e iluminó a los discípulos para cambiar su forma de pensar y actuar. En virtud de la sangre salvadora del Señor que une a los que están lejos y los que están cerca (Efesios), todos los bautizados tienen igual dignidad alrededor de la mesa del Señor, ricos y pobres, judíos y griegos, hombres y mujeres, esclavos y libres (Gálatas) Los primeros cristianos aprendieron rápidamente en Jerusalén, cuando recordamos los Hechos de los Apóstoles, que la orden de los diáconos se estableció por Diakonia – servicio amoroso – para satisfacer las necesidades crecientes de la comunidad de Jerusalén. La acción del Señor en la Última Cena, cuando lavó los pies de sus discípulos, fomentó la visión de los primeros cristianos quienes se cuidaban unos a otros de una manera totalmente desconocida en el Imperio Romano. En contraste con la cultura brutal del primer siglo, el cristianismo y los primeros cristianos fueron cálidos, acogedores, amables y generosos y la cultura cristiana primitiva fue profundamente personal. Extendieron el toque salvador y sanador del Señor sin costo para muchos al margen de la sociedad
La palabra, el culto, la comunidad y el servicio marcaron a estos primeros cristianos y, de hecho, se abrieron los oídos para escuchar la Palabra salvadora, las bocas se unieron en alabanza y las manos en servicio amoroso. Con el tiempo, a los diáconos se les confió la administración de los recursos materiales de la Iglesia, y el rapaz Imperio Romano pensó que podría enriquecer sus arcas confiscando la propiedad y la riqueza de los cristianos. A mediados del siglo III, el Diácono Lawrence, quien en su martirio se convirtió en el patrón de Roma, recibió la orden de entregar la riqueza de la Iglesia al gobernador. Reunió a los pobres, a los cojos, a los ciegos, a los leprosos, etc. y los exhibió ante el gobernador, anunciando que éstos eran la riqueza y la fortuna de la Iglesia. Esto no lo impresionó y martirizaron a Lawrence sobre un carbón ardiente. De maneras creativas, en diferentes momentos y escenarios mundiales, la Iglesia ha encarnado la misión de Jesucristo de tocar el mundo con la curación, la esperanza y una nueva vida en el Reino de Dios.
El viernes 7 de septiembre por la noche, Jim Caveizel hizo una aparición especial en Jackson en nombre de Caridades Católicas (Catholic Charities, por su nombre en inglés) e inspiró a todos por su profundo compromiso con el Señor y su fe católica. Comenzó su presentación con un clip de la Madre Teresa en el discurso de aceptación del Premio Nobel de la Paz en 1977. La piedra angular de su inspirador discurso fue que nunca habrá paz mientras el aborto haga estragos a la vida en el útero. Eso hizo que más de unos pocos en el público se sintieran incómodos en esa ocasión, pero Santa Teresa de Calcuta no se disculpó porque la dignidad de la vida está en todas las etapas. Ella capturó la imaginación de todo el mundo cuando se adentró en la suciedad y la miseria de los peores barrios de Calcuta, India. Cada día que se despertaba, trabajaba con los olvidados, con los más pobres entre los pobres, las víctimas del HIV, y los cuidaba como si fuera el mismo Jesús. A partir de esta introducción, Jim Caveizel resaltó el trabajo de Caridades Católicas como un ejemplo vivo que respira lo que significa pertenecer a Jesucristo y aceptar su misión. Escuchar y seguir el llamado del Señor, observó Caveizel, puede tener un gran costo, pero ¿de qué sirve ganar todo el mundo y perder el alma? Cuando el Señor nos toca, entendemos los versículos finales de las escrituras del último domingo de la carta de Santiago, “somos llamados a ser ricos en fe, herederos del Reino, que Dios prometió a los que lo aman”. Durante estos días de angustia por muchas víctimas de abuso sexual y sus familias, y por aquellos que aman a la Iglesia, que nuestras oraciones gimientes dirigidas al cielo y nuestras acciones de servicio amoroso abran los corazones y las mentes de todos los que sufren y reciban la curación del Señor, la esperanza y la paz.

Heart of the Church: word, worship, community, service

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The proclamation from the Gospel of Mark of the healing of the man who suffered from deafness and an accompanying speech impediment, the one proclaimed on Sunday, Sept. 9, reveals the mission of the Lord Jesus and of the Church. “The Word became flesh and dwells among us.” (Prologue of Saint John’s Gospel) In this unique miracle, the humanity and divinity of Jesus shine forth. In summary, Jesus responded to the plea of the raucous crowd by going apart with the man to accomplish the cure. Jesus touched his ears, and spitting, touched his tongue and looking up to heaven he groaned and said, “be opened.” In that moment heaven and earth were in harmony and the physical healing led to praise and gratitude that could not be silenced.
From the beginning, the mission of the Church, with the mind and heart of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, brought his saving message to all who had ears to hear. From the letter of Saint James, also from last weekend’s scripture, we hear that divisions emerged at the outset in the fledging Christian community. The rich were given first class treatment and the poor were left to stand on the margins of the gathered community. Immediately the Spirit of God convicted and enlightened the disciples to change their manner of thinking and acting. By virtue of the saving blood of the Lord who unites those who are far off and those who are near (Ephesians), all of the baptized have equal dignity around the table of the Lord, rich and poor, Jew and Greek, male and female, slave and free. (Galatians)
The early Christians learned quickly in Jerusalem when we recall in the Acts of the Apostles that the order of deacons was established for Diakonia, loving service, to meet the growing needs of the Jerusalem community. The action of the Lord at the Last Supper when he washed his disciples feet fostered the vision for the early Christians who cared for one another in a manner totally unheard of in the Roman Empire. In contrast to the brutal culture of the first century, Christianity and the first Christians were warm, inviting, kind and generous, and early Christian culture was deeply personal. They extended the saving and healing touch of the Lord without cost to many on the margins of society.
Word, worship, community and service marked these early Christians, and indeed, ears were opened to hear the saving Word, and mouths followed in praise, and hands in loving service. Over time, the deacons were entrusted with the administration of the Church’s material resources, and the rapacious Roman Empire thought that they could enrich their coffers by confiscating the property and wealth of the Christians. In the middle of the third century, Deacon Lawrence, who in his martyrdom became the patron of Rome, was ordered to cough up the Church’s wealth to the governor. He gathered up the poor, the lame, the blind the leprous, etc. and paraded them before the governor announcing that these are the Church’s wealth and fortune. Not amused, they martyred Lawrence over a hot coals. In creative ways in different times and in worldwide settings, the Church has embodied the mission of Jesus Christ to touch the world with healing, hope and new life in the Kingdom of God.
On Friday evening, Sep. 7, Jim Caveizel made a cameo appearance in Jackson on behalf of Catholic Charities and inspired all with his deep commitment to the Lord and his Catholic faith. He began his presentation with a clip from Mother Teresa’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. The cornerstone of her inspiring speech was that there will never be peace as long as abortion ravages life in the womb. That made more than a few in the audience uncomfortable on that occasion but she was unapologetic about the dignity of life at all stages. She captured the imagination of the whole world when she went into the filth and squalor of the worst neighborhoods of Calcutta, India. Each day she woke up, she worked with the forgotten ones, the poorest of the poor, the HIV victims, and cared for them as if there were Jesus himself.
From this intro, Jim Caveizel affirmed the work of Catholic Charities as a living and breathing example of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ and to embrace his mission. Hearing and following the call of the Lord, Caveizel noted, can come at great cost, but what good is it to gain the whole world and to lose one’s soul. When the Lord touches us, we understand the closing verses of last Sunday’s Scripture from the letter of James, “we are called to be rich in faith, heirs of the Kingdom, that God promised to those who love him.”
During these days of anguish for many victims of sexual abuse and their families, and for those who love the Church, may our groaning prayers directed to heaven, and our actions of loving service, open the hearts and minds of all who are suffer with the Lord’s healing, hope and peace.

Declaración del Obispo Joseph Kopacz sobre el informe del gran Jurado de Pensilvania sobre abuso sexual del clero:

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“El reciente informe del Gran Jurado de Pensilvania que detalla casos de abuso sexual desde fines de la década de 1940 en seis diócesis católicas de Pensilvania, incluyendo Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Allentown, Scranton y Erie, saca a la luz un comportamiento horrible dentro de nuestra iglesia. El informe es un claro recordatorio, para todos a quienes se les confían niños y jóvenes en la Diócesis de Jackson y empezando por mí , que debemos redoblar nuestros esfuerzos para crear entornos seguros para todos los vulnerables de Dios – niños, jóvenes y mayores.
Del mismo modo, debemos comprometernos a exponer los abusos del pasado y alentar a las víctimas a presentarse. Nunca debemos cansarnos de sanar y reconciliar el dolor que las víctimas y las familias han sufrido a través del comportamiento de personal de la iglesia, especialmente los ordenados. Todos los perpetradores de abuso sexual deben ser removidos del ministerio. Debido a que serví en la Diócesis de Scranton durante el período relevante y estoy relacionado con el manejo de tres denuncias de abuso, creo que es esencial, de acuerdo con nuestro compromiso con la transparencia, que les informe sobre mi papel en esos casos.
Fui Vicario de sacerdotes durante ocho años en la Diócesis de Scranton de 1998 a 2006 durante el tiempo en que estalló la crisis de abuso sexual. Como Vicario, era mi responsabilidad responder a todas las denuncias de abuso sexual que involucraban al clero, junto con otros funcionarios diocesanos. Trágicamente, durante ese período, me pidieron que respondiera a muchas acusaciones. De ellas, el informe hace referencia a tres casos de los que se me encomendó la tarea de responder a las quejas de los feligreses.
En la primera referencia, la víctima inicialmente me confió que había sido abusada, pero declaró que quería que fuera confidencial. Mantuve esa confianza y no hice ningún informe. Aunque su solicitud de mantener la confidencialidad de su denuncia fue documentada en un memorando preparado para el gran Jurado, el informe del gran Jurado excluye este hecho. Sin embargo, el informe confirma que una vez que la víctima eliminó la restricción de la confidencialidad, yo y otros funcionarios diocesanos actuamos rápidamente para denunciar el abuso a las autoridades civiles y destituir del ministerio al sacerdote ofensor. En la segunda referencia, que involucra a un sacerdote fallecido que había sido removido del ministerio, la víctima solicitó asesoramiento y yo aprobé que él recibiera consejería. En la tercera referencia, interrogué al exsacerdote infractor y, a pesar de sus negativas (y al hecho de que anteriormente había sido removido del ministerio), informé sobre esta acusación adicional a las autoridades locales.
Forjadas en el fuego de la crisis del abuso, la gran mayoría de las diócesis en los Estados Unidos, incluida la Diócesis de Jackson, han trabajado arduamente durante los últimos 16 años para ser fieles a la Promesa de Proteger y el Compromiso de Sanar, el documento que se conoce como la Carta de Dallas. El documento completo está disponible a través del sitio web de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE. UU.
Es mi gran esperanza que alguien que ha sido abusado por un miembro del clero o un empleado o voluntario de una iglesia se presente. La coordinadora de asistencia a las víctimas en nuestra diócesis, Valerie McClelland, es trabajadora social autorizada y está disponible para ayudar a hacer un reporte. Puede contactarla al (601) 326–3728. Siempre repiro que el sufrimiento no tiene estatuto de limitaciones.
Con mis hermanos obispos, ofrezco mis disculpas por el grave pecado de abuso sexual y me comprometo a continuar el trabajo necesario para crear y mantener un entorno seguro dentro de nuestras parroquias, escuelas y centros de servicio “.

Bishop Kopacz addresses Grand Jury report

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(Bishop Joseph Kopacz released the following statement regarding the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report of Clergy Sexual Abuse on Aug. 14, the day the report was made public:)
“The recently released Pennsylvania Grand Jury report detailing cases of sexual abuse going back to the late 1940’s in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses, including Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Allentown, Scranton and Erie brings to light more horrific behavior within our church. The report is a stark reminder to all to whom children and young people are entrusted, starting with me in the Diocese of Jackson, that we must redouble our efforts to create safe environments for all vulnerable children of God, younger and older. Likewise, we must recommit ourselves to exposing past abuse and encouraging victims to come forward. We must never tire of healing and reconciling the pain that victims and families have suffered through the behavior of church personnel, especially the ordained. All perpetrators of sexual abuse must be removed from ministry. Because I served in the Diocese of Scranton during the relevant period and am referenced in connection with my handling of three complaints of abuse, I feel it is essential — in keeping with our commitment to transparency — that you be informed of my role in those cases.
I was the Vicar for Priests for eight years in the Diocese of Scranton from 1998 to 2006 during the time that the sexual abuse crisis exploded on the scene. As the vicar, it was my responsibility to respond to all allegations of sexual abuse that involved clergy, along with other diocesan officials. Tragically, during that period, I was called upon to respond far too many times to such allegations. Of those, the report references three instances where I was tasked with responding to the complaints of parishioners.
In the first reference, the victim initially confided in me that she had been abused but stated that she wanted it to be held in confidence. I kept that confidence and made no report. Though her request to maintain the confidentiality of her report was documented in a prepared memo that was available to the Grand Jury, the Grand Jury report excludes this fact. The report does however confirm that once she removed the restriction of confidentiality, I and other diocesan officials, quickly acted to report the abuse to civil authorities and remove the offending priest from ministry. In the second reference, which involved a deceased priest who had been removed from ministry, the victim requested counseling and I arranged for him to receive counseling. In the third reference, I questioned the offending former priest and despite his denials (and the fact that he had previously been removed from ministry), reported this additional allegation to local authorities.
Forged in the fire of the abuse crisis, the vast majority of dioceses in the United States, including the Diocese of Jackson, have worked hard during the past 16 years to be faithful to the Promise to Protect and the Pledge to Heal, the document we know as the Dallas Charter. The fostering of safe environments in our ministries is now the norm, and the steadfast support for victims of sexual abuse who struggle for healing and hope in their lives, has been an unflagging commitment.
The full document is available through the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website. The Charter directs action in all the following matters:
– Creating a safe environment for children and young people;
– Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors;
Making prompt and effective response to allegations;
– Cooperating with civil authorities;
– Disciplining offenders;
– Providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board.
It is my great hope that anyone who has been abused by a member of the clergy or an employee or volunteer of a church come forward. Our victim’s assistance coordinator, Valerie McClelland, a licensed social worker, is available to assist in making a report. You can contact her at (601) 326-3728. Suffering has no statute of limitations. Sexual abuse is an evil and a crime that wreaks havoc, destruction and despair, and the enemy, the Evil One, loves it, because it is shrouded in darkness, lies and shame. It unleashes the power of hell upon victims and their families and it often spreads from one generation to the next unless the cycle is broken by the light of truth, healing and reconciliation.
With my brother bishops, I offer my apology for the grave sin of sexual abuse and I pledge to continue the needed work to create and maintain a safe environment within our parishes, schools and service centers.”