La voz de la hermana Thea resuena para las generaciones venideras

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
A principios de este mes, el 2 de octubre, se estrenó el documental “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” para la edificación pública y la inspiración tanto en la iglesia como más allá para todos los cristianos y personas de buena voluntad que anhelan algo mejor, para todos los hijos de Dios. Es una presentación dinámica de casi una hora de duración de la vida de la Hermana Thea Bowman FSPA, los tiempos en los que vivió, su impacto durante su vida y ahora más que nunca su testimonio en el presente y en el futuro profundo.

Es un momento de gran alegría para la Diócesis de Jackson, mientras celebramos la vida de esta religiosa cuya historia es un viaje de fe extraordinario. La hermana Thea es oficialmente una Sierva de Dios, la primera etapa para aquellos que son bendecidos para estar en el camino de la canonización en la Iglesia Católica. Esta es una subida empinada que sigue el camino angosto que la iglesia ha establecido para aquellos apartados como discípulos fieles que fueron extraordinarios en su caminar con el Señor durante su tiempo en esta tierra.

El Papa Francisco llama a esa constante abundancia de gracia en la vida de una persona o comunidad “momentos de desbordamiento” cuando la presencia de la providencia de Dios es palpable y el camino por delante se abre con caminos nuevos e inesperados. La oración de apertura en la Misa del pasado fin de semana expresa este deseo para todas nuestras vidas. “Señor Dios, abre nuestros corazones a tu gracia. Que vaya delante de nosotros y esté con nosotros para que siempre estemos atentos a hacer tu voluntad.”

La Hermana Thea tuvo muchos “momentos de desbordamiento” en su vida de 50 años y que ciertamente incluyen su ingreso a la Iglesia Católica a los nueve años, su decisión de formarse como Hermana Franciscana de la Adoración Perpetua en su adolescencia y su perseverancia en su batalla contra la tuberculosis, en formación temprana, pero eso no debilitó su determinación en la búsqueda de su vocación religiosa. Ella, temprano en la vida, “había hecho sus votos al Señor” y su “sí” la empoderó para celebrar y soportar todo lo que se cruzó en su camino, hasta que Dios la llamó a casa tal como una estrella fugaz. El documental celebra la abundancia de la gracia de Dios a lo largo de su vida.

Su voz resonará en las generaciones venideras de muchas y variadas formas. Era una erudita y educadora que exigía la excelencia de sus alumnos, jóvenes y mayores.Era una mujer carismática de alabanza que guiaba a las congregaciones a cantar su alegría al Señor. Tenía un amor profundo por la verdad y su voz profética ha sido escuchada y cobrará aún más fuerza con el tiempo. Amaba a la iglesia y su universalidad y nos desafiaba a ser genuinamente uno: santo, católico y apostólico.

La hermana Thea amaba de todo corazón a su pueblo y su cultura, pero no en contra de la universalidad y diversidad de la Iglesia Católica en nuestro país y el mundo. Ella defendió la dignidad de todos los hijos de Dios porque todos somos parte de la familia de Dios. Ella habría cantado, a pleno pulmón y sin piedad, el Salmo Responsorial del domingo pasado: “El Señor ha revelado a las naciones su poder salvador.”
En los próximos meses, desarrollaremos una guía de estudio para “Regresar a casa como una estrella fugaz” que arrojará más luz sobre la bendecida vida de la hermana Thea. Seguramente el Espíritu Santo abrirá nuestro corazón y nuestra mente a través de la oración, la conversación y la reflexión para seguir, más fielmente al Señor, nuestra llamada universal en el camino de la santidad. En su lápida está su lema: “Lo intenté.”

Que la Hermana Thea, Sierva de Dios, nos inspire, en la singularidad de nuestras vidas y nuestros tiempos, a intentar vivir de la abundante gracia de Dios.

Sister Thea’s voice resounds for generations to come

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Earlier this month on Oct. 2, the documentary film “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” was released for public edification and inspiration both in the church and beyond to all Christians and people of goodwill who long for something better for all of God’s children. It is a dynamic nearly hour-long presentation of the life of Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA – the times in which she lived, her impact during her lifetime, and now more than ever her witness in the present and deep into the future.

It’s a time of great joy for the Diocese of Jackson as we celebrate the life of this religious woman whose story is a remarkable journey of faith. Sister Thea is officially a Servant of God, the first stage for those who are blessed to be on the path to canonization in the Catholic Church. This is a steep climb that follows the narrow road that the church has established for those set apart as faithful disciples who were extraordinary in their walk with the Lord during their time on this earth.

Pope Francis calls such a steady abundance of grace in the life of a person or a community “overflow moments” when the presence of God’s providence is palpable, and the path ahead opens up with new and unexpected ways. The opening prayer at Mass this past weekend expresses this desire for all of our lives. “Lord God, open our hearts to your grace. Let it go before us and be with us that we may always be intent on doing your will.”

Sister Thea had many “overflow moments” in her life of 50 years and certainly would include her entrance into the Catholic Church at age nine, her decision to enter into formation as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration in her mid-teens, and her perseverance in her battle with tuberculosis early in formation that did not weaken her resolve in pursuit of her religious vocation. She “had made her vows to the Lord” early in life and her “yes” empowered her to celebrate and endure all that crossed her path until God called her home like a shooting star. The documentary celebrates an abundance of God’s grace across her lifespan.

Her voice will resound for generations to come in many and varied ways. She was a scholar and educator who demanded excellence from her students, young and older. She was a charismatic woman of praise who led congregations to sing out their joy to the Lord. She had a deep love for the truth and her prophetic voice has been heard and will gather more strength over time. She loved the church and its universality and she challenged us to be genuinely one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

She wholeheartedly loved her people and culture, but not over and against the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church in our country and in the world. She upheld the dignity of all of God’s children because we are all part of the family of God. She would have sung out full throated and unsparingly last Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm, “the Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”

In the months ahead we will develop a study guide for “Going Home Like a Shooting Star” that will shed more light on Sister Thea’s blessed life. The Holy Spirit surely will open our hearts and minds through prayer, conversation and reflection to follow the Lord more faithfully on the path to holiness, our universal call. On her gravestone is her motto: “I tried.”

May Sister Thea, Servant of God inspire us to try in the uniqueness of our lives and times to live by God’s abundant grace.

JACKSON – Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman is the subject of a new documentary “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.” Pictured, Sister Thea Bowman emphasizes participation to music conference attendees, including the choir of Holy Child Jesus Elementary School, at Murrah High School in November of 1986. (Photo form archives)

Respect life from the beacon of eternal life

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

As Christians, we do have the inside track on the road to eternal life. The Lord Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and his appearances to the disciples, although not a matter of historical evidence and scientific proof, are breath taking in the scriptures. The wounds, the baked fish and bread, the burning Word, the breaking of the bread, the personal encounters, the forgiveness, the peace, the joy, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.

It may not be the work of the laboratory, but it is the labor of love through faith in the risen One in a bond that can never be broken, and in an eternal promise that is sealed in the Blood of the Lamb. With St. Paul we press on to the finish line (Phil 3:14) because our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil 3:20) For our eyes are fixed not on what is seen but rather on that which cannot be seen. What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal. (2 Cor 5:18)

However, our belief in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting does not place us on the sidelines of this life. Rather, the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead places us squarely in the thick of this world’s joys and sorrows, tragedies and triumphs, as we await the blessed coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, all creation groans and is in labor pains until now…(Romans 8:22), and the Christian groans and grieves with the rest of humanity, but with hope because Jesus is risen. As Jesus said to the woman at the well, the life of God within us is like a spring of water within welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

Eternal life has begun and this is the source of our hope in our commitment to respect life across all stages of the human lifespan. With all of the attention of the baseball world on Aaron Judge, a New York Yankee, as he surpasses 60 home runs, the memory surfaced for me of another superstar who packed Yankee stadium back in 1979.

St. John Paul II did not disappoint. Only two years into his apostolic ministry he launched moon shots during his presiding at Mass and preaching that carried far beyond the stadium’s confines into the hearts and minds of Catholics and people of good will around our nation and our world. From the perspective of history, we know that he was a warrior on behalf of life, unborn and throughout the lifespan, and one of his landmark encyclical letters that revealed the depth of his passion, was published around the time of his second apostolic visit to our nation in 1995. In it he warned about a culture of death that was plaguing America.

Back in 1979 with a full stadium as the launching pad, the Holy Father’s words arose from the proclamation of St. Luke’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus. St. John Paul framed his social teaching to follow in the power of evangelization.

“When we Christians make Jesus Christ the center of our feelings and thoughts, we do not turn away from people and their needs. On the contrary, we are caught up in the eternal movement of God’s love that comes to meet us; we are caught up in the movement of the Son, who came among us, who became one of us; we are caught up in the movement of the Holy Spirit, who visits the poor, calms fevered hearts, binds up wounded hearts, warms cold hearts and gives us the fullness of his gifts.”

From this fountain of God’s eternal movement, John Paul II continued: “Catholics of the United States are to walk hand in hand with your fellow citizens of every creed and confession. Unity among you in all such endeavors is essential, under the leadership of your Bishops, for deepening, proclaiming and effectively promoting the truth about human life, the dignity and inalienable rights, the truth such as the church receives it in Revelation and such as she ceaselessly develops it in her social teaching in the light of the Gospel…The parable of the rich man and Lazarus must always be present in our memory; it must form our conscience. Christ demands openness to our brothers and sisters in need — openness from the rich, the affluent, the economically advanced; openness to the poor, the underdeveloped and the disadvantaged.
“All of humanity must think of the parable of the rich man and the beggar. We cannot stand idly by. Nor can we remain indifferent when the rights of the human spirit are trampled upon, when violence is done to the human conscience in matters of truth, religion and cultural creativity.

“We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our own riches and freedom, if, in any place, the Lazarus of the twentieth century stands at our doors. In the light of the parable of Christ, riches and freedom mean a special responsibility. And so, in the name of the solidarity that binds us all together in a common humanity, I again proclaim the dignity of every human person: the rich man and Lazarus are both human beings, both of them equally created in the image and likeness of God, both of them equally redeemed by Christ, at a great price, the price of “the precious blood of Christ.” (1 Pt 1:19)

I close with the following reflection which was a beacon for St. John Paul across his long and fruitful apostolic ministry. He was the missionary disciple without parallel.

“In the cultural wars of the recent past the church has defended the fundamental values of our civilization. We must be proud of those pastors and intellectuals who led those struggles. We must, however, ask ourselves. Is it possible to defend Christian and natural values in the public arena if their root — faith in the living presence of Jesus Christ — has dried up? If the root is rotten the tree will fall; we must first of all seek to strengthen the root. We must become missionary disciples: before preaching the law we must enter the hearts of the people. Only then will we be able to speak with authority, and only then will our people feel that the law is not an external imposition, but the answer to the most profound desire of their heart.” Rocco Buttiglione, Discovering Pope Francis The Splendor of Truth, The Gospel of Life, The Joy of the Gospel!

From one generation to the next you are our hope, O, Lord.

Respetar la vida desde el faro de la vida eterna

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Como cristianos, tenemos la pista interior en el camino a la vida eterna. La resurrección del Señor Jesús de entre los muertos y sus apariciones a los discípulos, aunque no son un asunto de evidencia histórica y prueba científica, son impresionantes en las Escrituras.

Las heridas, el pescado y el pan cocidos, la Palabra ardiente, la fracción del pan, los encuentros personales, el perdón, la paz, la alegría, el don del Espíritu Santo y el nacimiento de la iglesia.
Puede que no sea un trabajo de laboratorio, pero es el trabajo del amor, a través de la fe en el Resucitado, en un vínculo que nunca se puede romper y en una promesa eterna que está sellada en la Sangre del Cordero. Con San Pablo avanzamos hacia la meta (Filipenses 3:14) porque nuestra ciudadanía está en los cielos. (Filipenses 3:20) Porque nuestros ojos no están puestos en lo que se ve, sino en lo que no se ve. Lo visible es transitorio; lo invisible es eterno. (2 Corintios 5:18)

Sin embargo, nuestra creencia en la resurrección del cuerpo y la vida eterna no nos coloca al margen de esta vida. Más bien, el Espíritu Santo que resucitó a Jesús de entre los muertos nos coloca directamente en medio de las alegrías y tristezas, tragedias y triunfos de este mundo, mientras esperamos la bendita venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

En efecto, toda la creación gime y tiene dolores de parto hasta ahora… (Romanos 8:22), y el cristiano gime y se aflige con el resto de la humanidad, pero con esperanza porque Jesús ha resucitado. Como dijo Jesús a la mujer junto al pozo, la vida de Dios dentro de nosotros es como un manantial de agua que brota de nuestro interior para vida eterna. (Juan 4:14)

La vida eterna ha comenzado y esta es la fuente de nuestra esperanza en nuestro compromiso de respetar la vida en todas las etapas de la vida humana. Con toda la atención del mundo del béisbol en Aaron Judge, un Yankee de Nueva York, cuando supera los 60 jonrones, me vino a la mente el recuerdo de otra superestrella que llenó el estadio de los Yankees en 1979.

San Juan Pablo II no defraudó. Solo dos años después de su ministerio apostólico, lanzó disparos a la luna durante su presidencia de la Misa y la predicación que llegaron más allá de los límites del estadio a los corazones y las mentes de los católicos y las personas de buena voluntad de nuestra nación y nuestro mundo. Desde la perspectiva de la historia, sabemos que fue un guerrero en nombre de la vida, del no nacido y durante toda su vida y en una de sus históricas cartas encíclicas, que revelaron la profundidad de su pasión, publicada en la época de su segunda visita apostólica. a nuestra nación en 1995, él advertía sobre una cultura de muerte que azotaba a Estados Unidos.

Allá por 1979, con un estadio lleno como plataforma de lanzamiento, las palabras del Santo Padre surgieron de la proclamación de la parábola de San Lucas del hombre rico y Lázaro, San Juan Pablo enmarcó su enseñanza social para seguir el poder de la evangelización.

“Cuando los cristianos hacemos de Jesucristo el centro de nuestros sentimientos y pensamientos, no nos apartamos de las personas y de sus necesidades. Al contrario, estamos atrapados en el movimiento eterno del amor de Dios que sale a nuestro encuentro; estamos atrapados en el movimiento del Hijo, que vino entre nosotros, que se hizo uno de nosotros; estamos atrapados en el movimiento del Espíritu Santo, que visita a los pobres, calma los corazones febriles, venda los corazones heridos, calienta los corazones fríos y nos da la plenitud de sus dones”.

De esta fuente del eterno movimiento de Dios prosiguió Juan Pablo II. “Los católicos de los Estados Unidos deben caminar de la mano con sus conciudadanos de todos los credos y confesiones.

La unidad entre ustedes en todos estos esfuerzos es esencial, bajo el liderazgo de sus Obispos, para profundizar, proclamar y promover eficazmente la verdad sobre la vida humana, la dignidad y los derechos inalienables, la verdad tal como la Iglesia la recibe en la Revelación y tal como la desarrolla incesantemente en su enseñanza social a la luz del Evangelio… La parábola del rico y Lázaro debe estar siempre presente en nuestra memoria; debe formar nuestra conciencia. Cristo exige apertura a nuestros hermanos y hermanas necesitados: apertura de parte de los ricos, los adinerados y los económicamente avanzados; apertura a los pobres, los subdesarrollados y los desfavorecidos.

“Toda la humanidad debe pensar en la parábola del rico y el mendigo. No podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados. Tampoco podemos permanecer indiferentes cuando se pisotean los derechos del espíritu humano cuando se violenta la conciencia humana en materia de verdad, religión y creatividad cultural.

“No podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados, disfrutando de nuestras propias riquezas y libertad, si, en algún lugar, el Lázaro del siglo XX se encuentra a nuestras puertas. A la luz de la parábola de Cristo, las riquezas y la libertad significan una responsabilidad especial. Por eso, en nombre de la solidaridad que nos une a todos en la humanidad común, proclamo de nuevo la dignidad de toda persona humana: el rico y Lázaro son ambos seres humanos, creados ambos por igual a imagen y semejanza de Dios, ambos igualmente redimidos por Cristo, a un gran precio, el precio de “la sangre preciosa de Cristo.” (1 Pedro 1:19)

Cierro con la siguiente reflexión que fue un faro para San Juan Pablo II en su largo y fructífero ministerio apostólico. Fue el discípulo misionero sin paralelo.

“En las guerras culturales del pasado reciente, la iglesia ha defendido los valores fundamentales de nuestra civilización. Debemos estar orgullosos de esos pastores e intelectuales que lideraron esas luchas. Sin embargo, debemos preguntarnos. ¿Es posible defender los valores cristianos y naturales en la arena pública si su raíz, la fe en la presencia viva de Jesucristo, se ha secado? Si la raíz está podrida, el árbol caerá; ante todo debemos buscar fortalecer la raíz. Debemos convertirnos en discípulos misioneros: antes de predicar la ley debemos entrar en el corazón de la gente. Solo entonces podremos hablar con autoridad, y solo entonces nuestro pueblo sentirá que la ley no es una imposición externa, sino la respuesta al anhelo más profundo de su corazón.” Rocco Buttiglione, Descubriendo al Papa Francisco El Esplendor de la Verdad, El Evangelio de la Vida, ¡La Alegría del Evangelio!

De generación en generación tú eres nuestra esperanza, oh Señor.

En estas fotos de archivo (izquierda) El Santo papa Juan Pablo II saluda al líder soviético Mijaíl Gorbachov en el Vaticano el 18 de noviembre de 1990. Gorbachov, de 91 años, falleció en Moscú el 30 de agosto de 2022 (CNS photo/Luciano Mellace, Reuters) (centro) Una mujer indígena mexicana sostiene incienso, mientras el Papa San Juan Pablo II observa, durante la beatificación de los mártires indígenas Jacinto de los Ángeles y Juan Bautista en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México el 1 de agosto de 2002. Un sacerdote canadiense, que ayudaba a preparar la visita del Papa Francisco a Canadá, dijo que gestos como la ceremonia de la mancha o mirar a las cuatro direcciones para orar, muestran sensibilidad hacia la cultura indígena y no son contrarios a la fe católica. (Foto del CNS de Reuters) (derecha) El Papa San Juan Pablo II intercambia regalos con la Reina Isabel II de Gran Bretaña durante su audiencia privada en el Vaticano el 17 de octubre de 2000. La Reina Isabel falleció el 8 de septiembre de 2022, a la edad de 96 años. (Foto de CNS/Reuters)

Waters of faith

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Editor’s note: Below is the homily Bishop Kopacz delivered at the Red Mass celebrated on Sept. 11, 2022, at St. John, Oxford.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

After the Israelites escaped from the Egyptians through the Red Sea, they quickly realized that they had to have water to survive in the desert. These critical moments are recounted in Exodus, chapters 15 and 17.
First, they came to Marah but could not drink the water because it was bitter, or was it turgid? And so, the Israelites said to Moses, “Got Water?” God directed Moses to throw a tree into the water and it became sweet. Maybe in Jackson we haven’t tried all of our options. Maybe a few good Magnolia trees properly placed in the water treatment facility are the answer. But I digress.

A few chapters later the Israelites received the gift of the ten commandments – the first of these as the cornerstone. “I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.” Or I will punish the iniquity of the Fathers to the third and fourth generation upon those who hate me but show mercy to the thousandth generation to those who love me and keep my commandments. This is the foundation of the Covenant that God formed with the Israelites through Moses as described in the 20th chapter of Exodus.

For the next 12 chapters, Moses the great lawgiver was given numerous laws that concerned the sabbath and slaves, violence and harm, restitution, social and religious laws. This was a long process, and the people lost patience after Moses was gone too long, and they demanded of his brother, Aaron, that they go down a different road, violating the first commandment.

The Golden Calf was a major setback. Aaron’s inability to remain resolute against the hardheartedness of the Israelites was a costly act of infidelity. But in that critical conversation that we heard in the first reading, Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites and called upon God to remember his just mercy to the 1000th generation, the source and summit of all the commandments and laws. Moses went on to rebuke his brother Aaron and called him and the Israelites to repentance, and to stand with God. Those who did went on to live and go forward as the chosen people.

The mercy of God at work with the Israelites for numerous generations came to fulfillment in Jesus Christ on the Cross. The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel which stretch our spiritual imagination and our human instincts, can only be grasped from his words and actions from the Cross.

St. Luke, the dear and glorious physician in his former life, knew that the only remedy for humanity’s sick soul and incurable wounds, was God’s merciful love. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” and to the repentant thief, “from this day forward you will be with me in paradise.”

The Cross is universal, offering equal access to God’s just mercy through faith. The Mass is our celebration of the New Covenant in God’s mercy as we recall and proclaim the Lord’s own words; “do this in memory of me.” The sacrament of reconciliation is the extraordinary way that we encounter God’s merciful love in the manner of the prodigal son.

Faithful to the tradition of law developed by the Israelites in the Covenant at Mount Sinai the church understands its extensive Canon Law developed for nearly 2000 years to be in the service of justice arising from God’s abundant mercy in the blood of the New Covenant on the Cross.

As we gather this morning, mindful of and grateful for so many professionals whose lives revolve around the law of the land, know that our church has the utmost respect for all just laws and is committed to be a voice for justice, mercy and peace in our country. We take seriously the First Amendment, our nation’s foundation, in the fullest sense. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

What we do in this church, and in all of our houses of worship, is the soul for all of our ministries in education and advocacy, in health care and social services.

Our prayer is the springboard for our commitment to realize our nation’s ideals of greater liberty and justice for all, based on the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God with an eternal destiny. The church must be aware of being too political, but we will always be a voice in the public square where we remain steadfast over the free exercise of the fullness of religion. In this very moment the church is advocating on behalf of just laws on behalf of the common good. Examples follow.
In collaboration with others, we have written an extensive letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on pending legislation regarding Access to Health Care:

“Ensuring access to health coverage and health care, and removing barriers to these, is without question a laudable goal. “Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity … [which includes] health care. …” Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2288.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have advocated longstanding moral principles in discerning health care policy: respect for life and dignity, access to all, honoring conscience rights, true affordability, and comprehensive and high quality…

Unfortunately, the proposed regulations go beyond access to care by suggesting that health care providers must provide, and that health plans must cover, procedures that are not medically indicated, may harm rather than heal, and may violate religious and moral convictions. Especially problematic is the suggestion in the preamble that Health and Human Services might be open to imposing requirements with respect to abortion.

Bishops’ Labor Day Statement: “This Labor Day, let us reflect on how we can build a more just economy by promoting the welfare of working families through both charitable works and through advocacy for improved policies such as expanding the Child Tax Credit and passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Advancing these two policies would have a profound impact on family stability, especially for families who are financially vulnerable. … This is also the first Labor Day since the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. The ruling is an incredibly significant step towards healing the deep wounds of abortion and protecting all preborn human life. But our aim as Catholics has always been, and remains, to build a society in which abortion is unthinkable. This unique moment necessitates a society and an economy that supports marriages, families, and women; it demands that all of us reach across political aisles and work diligently to reframe social policies in ways that are pro-woman, pro-family, pro-worker and, thus, authentically pro-life.”

Yes, we do have water, the waters of faith and baptism that flowed from the side of the Lord on the Cross. These waters open the fountains of God’s just mercies that renew us to fight the good fight of faith, to finish the race, to keep the faith in this generation and always.

Aguas de fe

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Nota del editor: A continuación, se muestra la homilía que pronunció el obispo Joseph Kopacz en la Misa Roja celebrada el 11 de septiembre de 2022 en St. John, Oxford.

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Después que los israelitas escaparon de los egipcios a través del Mar Rojo, se dieron cuenta rápidamente que debían tener agua para sobrevivir en el desierto. Estos críticos momentos se relatan en Éxodo, capítulos 15 y 17.

Primero, cuando llegaron a Marah no pudieron beber el agua porque estaba muy amarga, o ¿estaba turbia? Y así, los israelitas le dijeron a Moisés: “¿Tienes agua?” Dios ordenó a Moisés que arrojara un árbol al agua y ésta se volvió dulce.

Tal vez, nosotros no hemos probado todas nuestras opciones en Jackson. Tal vez unos buenos árboles de Magnolia, colocados adecuadamente en la planta de tratamiento de agua, sean la respuesta. Pero yo divago.

Unos capítulos más adelante los israelitas recibieron el regalo de los diez mandamientos y el primero de todos ellos como piedra angular. “Yo soy el Señor tu Dios; No tengas otros dioses aparte de mí … porque yo soy el Señor tu Dios, Dios celoso que castiga la maldad de los padres que me odian, en sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos; pero que trato con amor por mil generaciones a los que me aman y cumplen mis mandamientos.” Este es el fundamento del Pacto que Dios formó con los israelitas a través de Moisés tal como se describe en el capítulo 20 de Éxodo.

Durante los 12 capítulos siguientes, Moisés, el gran legislador, recibió numerosas leyes relacionadas con el sábado (sabbath) y los esclavos, la violencia y el daño, la restitución, las leyes sociales y religiosas. Este fue un proceso largo, y el pueblo perdió la paciencia después que Moisés se había ido demasiado tiempo, y le exigieron a su hermano, Aarón, que siguiera por un camino diferente, violando el primer mandamiento.

El Becerro de Oro fue un revés importante. La incapacidad de Aarón para permanecer resuelto contra la dureza de corazón de los israelitas fue un acto de infidelidad costoso. Pero en esa conversación crítica que escuchamos en la primera lectura, Moisés intercedió en favor de los israelitas y llamó a Dios a recordar su justa misericordia a la generación 1000, la fuente y cumbre de todos los mandamientos y leyes.

Moisés pasó a reprender a su hermano Aarón llamando al arrepentimiento y a permanecer con Dios a él y a los israelitas, a todos aquellos que continuaron viviendo y avanzando como el pueblo elegido.
La misericordia de Dios, obrando con los israelitas durante numerosas generaciones, se cumplió en Jesucristo en la Cruz. Las palabras de Jesús en el Evangelio que desafían nuestra imaginación espiritual y nuestros instintos humanos solo pueden captarse de sus palabras y acciones en la Cruz.

San Lucas, el querido y glorioso médico en su vida anterior, sabía que el único remedio para el alma enferma y las heridas incurables de la humanidad era el amor misericordioso de Dios cuando clama “Padre, perdónalos porque no saben lo que hacen,” y al hablarle al ladrón arrepentido, “desde hoy en adelante estarás conmigo en el paraíso.”

La cruz es universal y ofrece acceso equitativo a la justa misericordia de Dios a través de la fe. La Misa es nuestra celebración del Nuevo Pacto en la misericordia de Dios al recordar y proclamar las propias palabras del Señor; “haced esto en memoria mía”. El sacramento de la reconciliación es la forma extraordinaria en la que nos encontramos con el amor misericordioso de Dios a la manera del hijo pródigo.

Fiel a la tradición de la ley desarrollada por los israelitas en la Alianza del Monte Sinaí, la iglesia entiende que su extenso Derecho Canónico desarrollado durante casi 2000 años está al servicio de la justicia que surge de la abundante misericordia de Dios en la sangre de la Nueva Alianza en la Cruz.

Mientras nos reunimos esta mañana, conscientes y agradecidos por tantos profesionales cuyas vidas giran en torno a la ley del país, sepa que nuestra iglesia tiene el mayor respeto por todas las leyes justas y está comprometida a ser una voz por la justicia, la misericordia y la paz en nuestro país. Tomamos muy en serio la Primera Enmienda, la base de nuestra nación, en el sentido más completo. “El Congreso no hará ninguna ley con respecto al establecimiento de una religión, o que prohíba el libre ejercicio de esta.”
Lo que hacemos en esta iglesia, y en todos nuestros lugares de culto, es el alma de todos nuestros ministerios en educación y defensa, atención médica y servicios sociales.

Nuestra oración es el trampolín de nuestro compromiso de realizar los ideales de nuestra nación, de mayor libertad y justicia para todos, basados en la dignidad de la persona humana, hecha a imagen y semejanza de Dios con un destino eterno.

La iglesia debe ser consciente de ser demasiado política, pero siempre seremos una voz en la plaza pública donde nos mantengamos firmes en el libre ejercicio de la plenitud de la religión.

En este mismo momento, la iglesia aboga por leyes justas en nombre del bien común. Los ejemplos siguen:

En colaboración con otros, hemos escrito una extensa carta al Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos sobre la legislación pendiente con respecto al Acceso a la Atención Médica, pidiendo:
“Garantizar el acceso a la cobertura de salud y la atención médica, y eliminar las barreras a estos, es sin duda una meta loable.” “La preocupación por la salud de sus ciudadanos exige que la sociedad coadyuve en el logro de condiciones de vida que les permitan crecer y alcanzar la madurez… lo que incluye, el cuidado de la salud…” Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, n. 2288.

Los obispos católicos de EE. UU. han defendido principios morales de larga data al discernir la política de atención médica: respeto por la vida y la dignidad, acceso a todos, honrar los derechos de conciencia, asequibilidad real y calidad integral y de alta.

Desafortunadamente, las regulaciones propuestas van más allá del acceso a la atención al sugerir que los proveedores de atención médica deben brindar y que los planes de salud deben cubrir, procedimientos que no están médicamente indicados, pueden dañar en lugar de curar y pueden violar las convicciones religiosas y morales.

Especialmente problemática es la sugerencia en el preámbulo de que los Servicios Humanos y de Salud podrían estar abiertos a imponer requisitos con respecto al aborto.

Declaración del Día del Trabajo de los obispos: “…reflexionemos sobre cómo podemos construir una economía más justa al promover el bienestar de las familias trabajadoras a través de obras de caridad y abogando por políticas mejoradas como la expansión del Crédito Tributario por Hijos y la aprobación de la Ley de equidad de las trabajadoras embarazadas.

Avanzar en estas dos políticas tendría un profundo impacto en la estabilidad familiar, especialmente para las familias que son financieramente vulnerables…”

Este es también el primer Día del Trabajo desde que la Corte Suprema anuló Roe v. Wade. El fallo es un paso increíblemente significativo hacia la curación de las heridas profundas del aborto y la protección de toda vida humana antes de nacer. Pero nuestro objetivo como católicos siempre ha sido, y sigue siendo, construir una sociedad en la que el aborto sea impensable. Este momento único requiere una sociedad y una economía que apoye matrimonios, familias y mujeres; exige que todos crucemos los pasillos políticos y trabajemos diligentemente para reformular las políticas sociales de manera que sean pro-mujer, pro-familia, pro-trabajador y por lo tanto, auténticamente pro-vida”.

Sí, tenemos agua, las aguas de la fe y del bautismo que brotaron del costado del Señor en la Cruz. Estas aguas abren las fuentes de las justas misericordias de Dios que nos renuevan para pelear la buena batalla de la fe, para terminar la carrera, para mantener la fe en esta generación y siempre.

Pope’s “penitential pilgrimage” aims to bring healing, hope

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Beginning in the heart of the believer, the Holy Spirit can bring about divine renovation, a new creation on all points on the compass of human relations.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Canada during the last week of July was self-described as a “penitential pilgrimage” in the service of forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, hope and new life for the Indigenous Peoples of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples who suffered greatly in the residential schools throughout Canada for nearly a century and a half. What occurred in these schools was government policies with which the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations collaborated.

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission heard over 7,000 testimonies from former students of residential schools in Canada “that recalled in painful detail the way our language was suppressed, our culture taken from us, our spirituality denigrated and our families torn apart” according to Chief Wilton Littlechild, one of the members of the Commission.

At the outset of the pilgrimage Pope Francis entered straightforwardly into the caldron of pain that afflicts the memories and the lives of the indigenous today. “The overall effects of the policies linked to the residential schools were catastrophic. What our Christian faith tells us is that this was a disastrous error, incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ … I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the indigenous peoples. Dear brothers and sisters, many of you have stated that begging pardon is not the end of the matter. I fully agree that it is only the first step, the starting point to assist the survivors of the residential schools to experience healing from the traumas they suffered.”

A constant theme throughout his apostolic visits, homilies and addresses was the reconciling power of the Cross and Resurrection, the only power on earth that can bring about lasting healing and hope in the lives of the victims. “In the face of evil, we pray to the Lord of goodness; in the face of death, we pray to the God of life. Our Lord Jesus Christ took a grave which seemed the burial place of every hope and dream, leaving behind only sorrow, pain and resignation, and made it a place of rebirth and resurrection, the beginning of a history of new life and universal reconciliation. Our own efforts are not enough to achieve healing and reconciliation: we need God’s grace. We need the quiet and powerful wisdom of the Spirit, the tender love of the Comforter … to advance together on our journey.”

The Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples designated in 1991 as Canada’s national indigenous parish is also a point of reference for the Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Croatian and Eritrean communities. On this holy site, Pope Francis reflected that the church is the house of reconciliation for everyone, but most words and deeds of reconciliation take place at the local level, in communities like this where individuals and families travel side by side, day by day. To pray together, to help one another, to share life stories, common joys and common struggles: this is what opens the door to the reconciling work of God.

In proposing that reconciliation is local, Pope Francis embodied the Gospel conviction of St. Paul that all believers are ambassadors for Jesus Christ, and therefore, ministers of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5) Beginning in the heart of the believer, the Holy Spirit can bring about divine renovation, a new creation on all points on the compass of human relations. Beyond Canada and reaching out to the ends of the earth, the Synod on Synodality is the dream of Pope Francis for the church and for the world. Whenever and wherever the church can model and live communion, participation and mission, there will be an overflow that could be a fountain of life, light and love for the world.

During the synod process in our diocese, there was a repeated call for greater unity built upon forgiveness, healing, reconciliation and hope. Whether the source of the brokenness was rooted in personal sin, a diminishment in physical or mental, health, the impact of the pandemic or scandals in the church, divorce, drug overdose or despair, as Pope Francis said in the Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Nation, the universal Catholic Church and each parish and ministry are intended to be a house of reconciliation.

May the Holy Spirit awaken in us the heart and mind of the One who draws us out of darkness into the marvelous light of God’s love.

Bishop schedule

Saturday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m. – LIMEX Awards Ceremony, St. James, Tupelo

Sunday, Aug. 28, 10:30 a.m – Confirmation, St. Elizabeth, Clarksdale

Sunday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m. – Red Mass, St. John, Oxford

Thursday, Sept. 15 – 40th Annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament, Lake Caroline Golf Club, Madison

Saturday, Sept. 17, 4 p.m. – 75th Anniversary Mass, Sacred Heart School Gymnasium, Southaven

Monday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. – Catholic Charities Journey of Hope Meet & Greet with David Magee, Sal & Mookies, Jackson

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 12 p.m. – Catholic Charities Journey of Hope Luncheon with David Magee, Jackson Convention Complex

All events are subject to change. Check with parishes and schools for further details.

“Peregrinación Penitencial” y Sínodo sobre Sinodalidad: perdón, sanación, reconciliación y esperanza

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
La visita apostólica del Papa Francisco a Canadá, durante la última semana de julio, fue autodescrita como “peregrinación penitencial.” La misma fue dada al servicio del perdón, sanación, reconciliación, esperanza y vida nueva para los Pueblos Indígenas de las Primeras Naciones, Metis y Pueblos Inuit que sufrieron mucho, durante casi un siglo y medio, en las escuelas residenciales de todo Canadá. Lo que ocurrió en estas escuelas fueron políticas gubernamentales con las que, la Iglesia Católica y otras denominaciones cristianas colaboraron.

La Comisión de la Verdad y Reconciliación de Canadá escuchó más de 7000 testimonios de exalumnos de escuelas residenciales en Canadá “…que recordaron con doloroso detalle la forma en que se suprimió nuestro idioma, se nos arrebató nuestra cultura, se denigro nuestra espiritualidad y se desgarraron nuestras familias,” según el jefe Wilton Littlechild, uno de los miembros de la Comisión.

Al inicio de la peregrinación, el Papa Francisco entró de lleno en la caldera de dolor que aflige hoy la memoria y la vida de los indígenas. “Los efectos generales de las políticas vinculadas a las escuelas residenciales fueron catastróficos. Nuestra fe cristiana nos dice que esto fue un error nefasto, incompatible con el Evangelio de Jesucristo… Humildemente pido perdón por el mal cometido por tantos cristianos contra pueblos indígenas.”

“Queridos hermanos y hermanas, muchos de vosotros habéis dicho que pedir perdón no es el fin del asunto. Estoy completamente de acuerdo en que es solo el primer paso, el punto de partida para ayudar a los sobrevivientes de las escuelas residenciales a experimentar la sanación de los traumas que sufrieron.”

Un tema constante, a lo largo de sus visitas apostólicas, homilías y discursos, fue el poder reconciliador de la Cruz y la Resurrección, el único poder en la tierra que puede traer sanación duradera y esperanza en la vida de las víctimas.

“Ante el mal, roguemos al Señor del bien; ante la muerte, roguemos al Dios de la vida. Nuestro Señor Jesucristo tomó una tumba que parecía el lugar de sepultura de toda esperanza y sueño, dejando solo tristeza, dolor y resignación. Hizo de ella un lugar de renacimiento y resurrección, el comienzo de una historia de vida nueva y de reconciliación universal. Nuestros propios esfuerzos no son suficientes para lograr la curación y la reconciliación: necesitamos la gracia de Dios. Necesitamos la sabiduría serena y poderosa del Espíritu, el tierno amor del Consolador… para avanzar juntos en nuestro camino.”

La Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de los Primeros Pueblos, designada en 1991 como parroquia nacional indígena de Canadá, es también un punto de referencia para las comunidades italiana, portuguesa, española, croata y eritrea. En este lugar sagrado, el Papa Francisco reflexionó que la iglesia es la casa de la reconciliación para todos, pero la mayoría de las palabras y los hechos de reconciliación tienen lugar a nivel local, en comunidades como esta, donde las personas y las familias viajan juntas, día a día. Orar juntos, ayudarnos unos a otros, compartir historias de vida, alegrías y luchas comunes: esto es lo que abre la puerta a la obra reconciliadora de Dios.

Al proponer que la reconciliación es local, el Papa Francisco encarnó la convicción evangélica de San Pablo de que todos los creyentes son embajadores de Jesucristo y por lo tanto, ministros de la reconciliación. (2 Corintios 5) Comenzando en el corazón del creyente, el Espíritu Santo puede producir una renovación divina y una nueva creación en todos los puntos de la brújula de las relaciones humanas.
Más allá de Canadá y alcanzando los confines de la tierra, el Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad es el sueño del Papa Francisco para la iglesia y para el mundo. Siempre y donde la iglesia pueda modelar y vivir la comunión, la participación y la misión, habrá un desbordamiento que podrá ser fuente de vida, luz y amor para el mundo.

Durante el proceso del sínodo en nuestra diócesis, hubo un llamado repetido a una mayor unidad basada en el perdón, la sanación, la reconciliación y la esperanza. Ya sea que la fuente del quebrantamiento tenga sus raíces en el pecado personal, una disminución de la salud física o mental, el impacto de la pandemia o los escándalos en la iglesia, el divorcio, la sobredosis de drogas o la desesperación, como dijo el Papa Francisco en la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de la Primera Nación, de la Iglesia Católica universal, y cada parroquia y ministerio está destinado a ser una casa de reconciliación.

Que el Espíritu Santo despierte en nosotros el corazón y la mente de Aquel que nos saca de las tinieblas a la luz maravillosa del amor de Dios.

The will of God isn’t rocket science

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The parable of the Good Samaritan, last Sunday’s Gospel from the tenth chapter of St. Luke, arose from the question asked of Jesus, “who is my neighbor.” Pope Francis often refers to this biblical masterpiece (Luke 10:25-37) as the divine image of the church’s mission in this world.
Across many lands and nations, the church does serve as a field hospital encountering and caring for those who are battered, bruised and beaten and left half dead on the side of the road.
The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are testimony to the fidelity of the church’s ministries. Jesus concluded the parable with his own question. “Who was neighbor to the man who fell in with robbers?” The answer was obvious and echoes through time, “the one who treated him with compassion.” “Go and do likewise” are the final words of Jesus addressed to the doctor of the law and to us.
The ultimate Good Samaritan, of course, is Jesus Christ who demonstrated the heart of service when he washed his disciples feet at the Last Supper. He concluded this astounding action with the mandate, “If I then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done, so you must do.” (John 13: 14-15).

Our Lord’s actions, teachings, and parables ultimately point to the Cross and flow from it, where in the shedding of his blood he seeks to lift up all people who are assaulted by sin and remain half dead, or half alive on the margins of life. He is the divine physician and the church is his living body in this world, led by the Holy Spirit, to give freely of the gift of the Lord’s love that we have received.” (Matthew 10:8)
Moses, the great teacher of the Old Law, spoke blatantly to the Israelites in the first scripture reading from last Sunday, a teaching in accord with the Good Samaritan narrative. “This command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you … It’s not up in the sky that you should say who will go up to the sky to get it for us. Nor is it across the sea. No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you only have to carry it out.” (Deuteronomy 30:10-14)
To apply a well-known and likely over-used modern rendering of Moses’ words, the will of God is not rocket science, fellas; rather it is patient, kind and persevering and secured in the Lord’s instructions “to love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
As an aside, at this time one million miles from earth, after a six-month journey, the James Webb telescope is spreading its wings to probe into the depths of the universe, past and present, in ways hitherto impossible to imagine. Women and men will take another giant step forward to unfold the mysteries of God’s creation, because this telescope, 25 years in the making, is 100 times more powerful than the Hubble telescope which ruled the roost since 1990, but only 340 miles above the earth’s surface.
Telescopes are absolutely essential to explore the mysteries of the physical universe, and it’s exciting to anticipate the pending discoveries. But they have no worth when exploring the mind and heart of Christ. As Moses said, we don’t have to go up into the sky to discover the will of God for our lives. We know it; we only have to carry it out.
On this weekend at our Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, we will celebrate Christ the Servant with the ordination of six men to the permanent diaconate who will serve in various parishes throughout our diocese. Specifically, the ministry of the deacon is a labor of loving service at the table of the Word of God, at the Altar of Sacrifice, and at the table of charity or compassion in daily life. The heart and soul of the diaconate is the call to make visible the love of Christ.
We give thanks to God for the deacons, spouses and families who have sacrificed these past five years in preparation for this ministry that has its roots in the apostolic life of the early church. But let us keep in mind that we are all called to fulfill our baptismal promises, the call to holiness, and the Lord’s mandatum to serve with his mind and heart because the risen Lord is in our midst “as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
The ugliness of this world regularly gets the headlines, and well before and during our Lord’s time, there were robbers and muggers around, but then and now we give thanks for the Good Samaritans of our lives who are vigilant in their care for others. May the Lord strengthen our resolve to be a light in the darkness at every turn in the road.

Saltillo Mission trip brings joyous adventure

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The return after three years to our Saltillo Mission was a high-spirited and joyful adventure after nearly three years since the previous visit for the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Father Patrick Quinn’s missionary work in 1969. But many of you know of this pastoral visit through the social media networks of the Diocese of Jackson and the Diocese of Biloxi. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then you have already enjoyed multiple portrayals of the whirlwind of four days. It is amazing to consider the high volume of activity that occurs in such a compact timeframe. It can be exhausting and exhilarating over every bump on the road.

Let me digress a moment to treasure the source of the spiritual bond that continues to thrive between Mississippi and Saltillo even in the absence of overland mission trips.

In our Catholic world we are in the midst of celebrating the golden triangle of exceptional Solemnities beginning with Pentecost Sunday and the culmination of the Easter season, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

The gift of the Holy Spirit received in faith and celebrated uniquely at Pentecost opens up a world of mystery with our God who is love, the Holy Trinity of persons who overflowed in love in the gifts of creation and salvation. The celebration of Corpus Christi continues this outpouring of love poured out on the Cross and commemorated and lived each time we gather for Mass, the holy Eucharist.

The three feasts together reveal the nature of love within the Trinity which manifests itself in Christian community, unity, communion and fraternity in the Body of Christ throughout the world bonded by one faith, one baptism, one God who is Father who is over all and in all. Thus, the joy of solidarity and unity can overflow with every liturgy, with every fiesta, with every meal and with every conversation in all parts of our world.

From this fountain of faith, hope and love, we all cherish the history of these past 53 years, the memory of Father Quinn, and all who have given of themselves, from here and over there, whether for years or for weeks.

The Sacrament of Confirmation with 80 candidates was the culminating liturgy with Bishop Hilario Gonzales Garcia, the recently installed Ordinary of the Diocese of Saltillo. It was heartening to concelebrate with him around the altar, and to spend time at table afterwards.

One year into his episcopal ministry and he already has experienced the blessings of the relationship that Jackson and Biloxi have with his diocese. He fully supports what we are doing and hopes that we will accompany one another well into the future. We all hope that the day will come when the overland mission trips are able to resume, enabling the a new generation of Mississippi Catholics to be missionary disciples, evangelizing and being evangelized by our Mexican brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Amidst the many grace-filled moments, meals and ministries from Monday to Thursday evening’s Confirmation, there were various signature events. On Tuesday we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation two hours out at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Garambullo and then bounced back to a special liturgy at San Miguel’s that honored all fathers in attendance with a special blessing as the Mariachis played and sang full throated and unsparingly.

Afterwards, a fiesta followed honoring the young people who raised the most money for their individual parish communities. Various groups of entertainers, mostly young, performed splendidly in song, dance and gesture in a religious and cultural festival. Que Buena noche!

Wednesday saw another memorable event unfold before us in amazement. In route to St. Pedro’s for the Sacrament of Confirmation we gathered at St. Joseph’s Chapel which was dedicated three years ago on the last pastoral visit. After prayer and blessings, cars and trucks were organized into a procession that grew into a ‘flotilla on the road’ to San Pedro. You have seen some of the photos, and the entire experience was as joyful as it looked. The fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit were in abundance at the Confirmation that followed.

On Thursday prior to the Confirmation Bishop Kihneman and I, along with the other pilgrims from Jackson and Biloxi, visited the tomb of Father Quinn in the Church of Perpetuo Socorro. Over the past year the back walls of the church above his tomb have been covered with the photos that provide a panorama of the events, the people and the places of the Father Quinn years. It is well done and very touching.

While I stood there in admiration, I felt so grateful to have a part in this amazing story whose chapters are still being written, and to represent the faithful of our diocese who further the mission through prayer and generosity.

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of San Miguel, the cornerstone parish of the mission since Father Quinn’s death, and the dates are on the calendar for the September 2023 anniversary celebration. Stay tuned!

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