Category Archives: Diocesan News

Bishop seeks candidates for permanent diaconate

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JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz has asked pastors for candidates for a new class of permanent deacons for the Diocese of Jackson.
A permanent deacon fulfils a ministry of service, proclaimng the word, visiting the sick, serving the poor and doing the work assigned him by the local bishop. Deacons are ordained, but do not act in the same capacity as priests. They can perform weddings, baptisms and funerals, but cannot offer Masses.
A permanent deacon can be married or single, but cannot enter into marriage once ordained. A married deacon will promise not to re-marry if he is widowed.
Preparation for the diaconate takes five years and includes both academic study and spiritual formation. If a candidate is married, his wife should be a supportive part of his ministry. Last year, six men were ordained deacons. Most serve at their home parishes. One, Deacon Denzil Lobo, serves as the ecclesial minister for Jackson Christ the King Parish.
Men interested in the ministry should speak to their pastors. A pastor must recommend someone for candidacy. The applications are lengthy and are due to the chancery by August 31.

BATESVILLE –St. Mary Parish welcomed new pastor, Father Pradeep Kumar Thirumalareddy, with a parish brunch after he celebrated his first Mass in the parish on June 11. Father Pradeep came from his home in India to serve in the Diocese of Jackson. The parish also celebrated his June 14 birthday. (Photo by Robin Ridge)

Seminarian Adolfo Suarez Pasillas admitted to candidacy for ordination

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CLEVELAND – Seminarian Adolfo Suarez Pasillas was admitted to candidacy for ordination on Saturday, May 20, at Our Lady of Victories Parish. Bishop Joseph Kopacz was in Cleveland for Confirmation so the parish was able to celebrate both vocational events on one day. Suarez will be ordained as a transitional deacon next spring. Admission is when he formally asks the bishop to consider him for ordination. (Photo courtesy of Jenifer Jenkins)

National Black Catholic Congress engages younger attendees

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By Gail DeGeorge
ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) – A standing-room-only crowd of young black Catholics in a frank session that lasted more than two hours told bishops, priests and women and men religious why they stay in the church, what threatens to drive them away and that they want a stronger voice from church officials for the Black Lives Matter movement.
As the National Black Catholic Congress got underway in Orlando July 6 with more than 2,000 attendees, some 120 participants discussed ways to keep young adult black Catholics engaged in their parishes and the church – and raised criticism of, and an apology for, the church’s silence regarding the movement spawned by the killings of unarmed blacks by police.
Among the bishops attending Congress XII was Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
“How do we respond as people of faith to issues of race that have always been going on in society but especially in light of the Black Lives Matter movement? And in a lot of the police killings, a lot of people feel that the church has been almost silent in its response,” Stacy Allen, one of the facilitators, said toward the end of the session.
“The church is very vocal on a myriad of issues – immigration for instance – which are important,” Allen said. “But specifically on the issues of race, especially from the perspective of a young adult black Catholic, what should the Catholic response be?”
That prompted Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri III of New Orleans to stand. With a bow to those in the room, he said, “To the black youth, I apologize to you as a leader of the church because I feel we have abandoned you in the Black Lives Matter movement and I apologize.
“Partly, I didn’t understand it, and by the time I did understand it, it was too late – the moment was gone,” he said. “I’m very proud of you – you stood up and said enough is enough. As a leader, I want to say that to you – thank you.”
He then went on to tell of challenges in his own journey as a priest and a bishop, his outreach to bring young people, and starting choirs in parishes. “You’re going to struggle and you’re going to persevere,” he said. He counseled that young black adults reach out to each other and others within their parishes and church communities.
“No one knows how to best minister to you as young people – we’re all learning this together,” he said. “One of the reasons we have faltered when it comes to vocations from our community because when it comes to being church, we just don’t have the community working at it together and that’s the failure.”
Many at the session spoke of the need to address a lack of programs for young adults and meaningful engagement and leadership opportunities within parishes and the larger church. Young adults want more than to be tapped to set up tables, take out trash, run kids’ programs and generally do things that older parishioners don’t want to do, participants said.
Too many parishes have youth programs that end at high school – and nothing for those who come back after college with talents and skills and a willingness to get involved, participants said. A participant from New Orleans said the reason she stays Catholic is the strength of her parish community, she has encountered resistance in other parishes. “One reason young adults are leaving is that sometimes it feels like the church does not want us,” she said.
She said she’s tried to volunteer and has been told “no because of age, or no because they don’t say it, but because I’m a young adult, and they think I’m too young to know about that, or no because that’s ‘too black’ and that might be fine for your church in New Orleans but not here,” she said.
“We as young adults don’t want programs, we want a relationship,” said a participant. “We don’t want things to do – we have enough to do. We want a place to belong. Successful young adult ministries are where they feel invested to make change within their parishes.”

History of Saltillo mission focus of new book

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(Editor’s note: Msgr. Michael Flannery has penned a book, “Saltillo Mission,” detailing the history of collaboration between the Diocese of Jackson and the missions in Saltillo, Mexico. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit Madison St. Anthony school. Father Michael O’Brien offers the following review.)
By Father Michael O’Brien

The cover of Msgr. Michael Flannery’s book features Perpetual Help Church, the main parish for more than 30 years. While the Diocese of Jackson no longer sends pastors or youth groups to the missions, the church in Mississippi still takes up a collection and Bishop Joseph Kopacz has visited several times.

Inspired by the Second Vatican Council and the call for the “first world” to reach out to the “third world” and share their resources, Father Patrick Quinn was selected by then Bishop Joseph Brunini to open a mission for the diocese of Natchez-Jackson in Saltillo, Mexico. Msgr. Mike Flannery’s book chronicles the history of this mission since its inception in 1969 to the present day (2017). As a young priest Father Flannery spent three wonderful years (1971-1974) working with Father Quinn at the mission. His book captures the excitement, challenges, faith and creative spirit of this great mission and particularly the charisma and vision of Father Patrick Quinn. The mission in Saltillo was, in my opinion, the most significant and inspiring program ever undertaken by the Catholic community in Mississippi.
Father Patrick Quinn was truly an amazing priest. He made everyone feel special and loved. He particularly loved the poor. He loved America and especially Mississippi. He loved his native Ireland, but he laid down his life every day for the people of Saltillo, Mexico. He served as pastor of four churches in the city and approximately 50 mission churches in the surrounding mountain villages. He built 2,250 cinder block homes for poor families. He established the “Saltillo Summer Program” where high school and college youth from Mississippi and beyond were invited to spend a week at the mission. More than 20,000 youth participated in this program over a 40-year period. It was a life-changing experience for most of them as they experienced poverty, faith and the rich Mexican culture.
The mission inspired many vocations, both in Saltillo and at home in America. Father Serio Balderas from Saltillo is serving as pastor of St. Elizabeth parish in Ocean Springs. Father Quinn’s ministry continues through him in Mississippi. Many young priests from our diocese served with Father Quinn in Saltillo. They learned to speak Spanish and it has laid the foundation for our present outreach ministry to the Hispanic community in Mississippi.
Two years ago, a reporter from Saltillo, Jesus Salas Cortes wrote a book on the life of Father Quinn. Father Flannery’s book builds on this and compliments it nicely. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Father Quinn and 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the mission. Writing this book “Saltillo Mission” is a wonderful way to celebrate these occasions.
Finally, a personal story. I was at home in Ireland one summer about 30 years ago. I stopped at Father Quinn’s home in Ballaghlea, Co. Galway. Father Quinn was at the table working. I asked him later what he was doing. He told me he was writing Christmas cards (in July) to all the supporters of his mission in Saltillo. Even on his vacation in Ireland, when he should be visiting with family or playing golf, he was thinking about his poor parishioners at his mission in Mexico!
This book is filled with inspiring stories, life-changing stories, faith stories, and stories told by many of the priests and lay people who visited and worked at the mission in Saltillo, Mexico.
The book is available at the chancery office on Amite Street in Jackson, Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the Carmelite Monastery gift shop on Terry Road in Jackson and Downtown Marketplace, Main Street, Yazoo City.
Father Flannery is also planning to bring the book to the Diocese of Bioxi later in the fall to offer at several parishes and the chancery office there. The cost is $15 plus shipping.
(Father Michael O’Brien is the pastor of Canton Sacred Heart Parish.)

Knights of Columbus offer sweet treat to Hope Haven

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Knights of Columbus throughout Mississippi hold Tootise Roll drives during the year to raise money for people with intellectual disabilities. It may seem like a small gesture, but when all the knights join forces, their work has a substantial impact.
On Tuesday, July 11, Jim McCraw, the past state deputy, presented a check to Hope Haven at Catholic Charities headquarters in Jackson. Hope Haven is a residential program for teens in crisis. It offers temporary shelter as well as counseling and a way for families to get back on track.
The donation could not have come at a more perfect time. “Each year Knights’ councils nation wide host fundraising drives for people with intellectual disabilities – the tootsie roll drive is kind of our mainstay — and the councils in Mississippi do the same thing,” said McCraw. “Seventy-five percent of what the council raises goes back to an agency of their choosing, but 25 percent of that money is pooled together collectively and the board of directors identifies 501c3 agencies throughout Mississippi that we fund,” said McCraw. “This year, with the budget cuts that have happened, particularly in the area of mental health we felt like this Hope Haven program is a very worthwhile thing to get some of that money so we set aside $2,500 to go to that,” he added.
Michelle Hamilton is the program director for Hope Haven. She explained that the service aims to be a turning point for young people and families facing mental health crises. “They stay for 14 days at a time. We are a crisis residential so they come and receive individual and group therapy and then they move on to a longer-term placement,” said Hamilton. In addition to treating the teens, counselors offer sessions with the parents while the teens are staying at Hope Haven. Once the 14 days are done, counselors don’t just release the teens, they work with the family on the next appropriate step. It might be a different in-patient program or out-patient counseling or perhaps a counselor will make home visits.
This way, the teens and their families have a new path forward.
This year has been hard for all Mississippi mental health programs because of drastic budgets cuts coming from the legislature. “General funding by Medicaid has been cut and it has greatly affected us. Currently we have seven residents, so we are full,” said Hamilton.
Hope Haven is just one of many programs at Catholic Charities facing steep cuts. Directors hope to maintain as many services as they can, but many of these programs are already working on lean budgets. “We don’t like to turn anyone away,” said Amy Turner, director for childrens’ services. Learn more about Catholic Charities programming on their website, www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org.

Diocese of Jackson delegates inspired by convocation, Pastoral Priority connections

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Three delegates from the Diocese of Jackson attended the Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America, in Orlando, Bishop Joseph Kopcaz, whose column on the event is on page 3, Abbey Schuhmann, coordinator for the office of youth ministry and Charlene Bearden, coordinator for the office of family ministry.
Schuhmann and Bearden both said they felt like the Pastoral Priorities currently rolling out throughout the diocese align very well with the driving ideas behind the convocation. The Priorities were the result of a year-long process enacted by Bishop Kopacz. Earlier this year, the bishop introduced a new vision for the diocese to: embrace diversity, serve others and inspire disciples.
The bishop has asked all parishes to form teams to reflect on how they can support three priorities: creating inviting and reconciling communities, facilitate the life-long formation of intentional disciples and proclaim Jesus Christ and our Catholic faith. Bearden and Schuhmann heard these themes repeated and affirmed at the convocation.
“There are a lot of challenges that we face in the church and the challenges we face here in Mississippi are very similar to the ones in a lot of other places,” said Schuhmann. “What we are doing with our re-envisioning process and the pastoral priorities are right in line with what I feel the church as a whole in the United States is really focusing on,” she added.
“In his homily (at the opening Mass), Cardinal (Timothy) Dolan reminded us that Jesus calls all of the baptized to be a ‘missionary disciple.’ That there are no exceptions,” said Bearden. “He said we are all called to encounter Jesus Christ personally, and to become His evangelizing disciple, to help Him to build His kingdom here on earth, and for eternity,” she added.
The keynote speaker during the plenary session on diversity was Dr. Hosffman Ospino, Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College. “He pointed out that the Church has always been a fluidly changing Church, in culture and in diversity. He also reminded us that each person in the Church is called by Jesus Christ to reach out to the peripheries of society to heal and welcome others, as Jesus did when he was here on earth,” explained Bearden.
Schuhmann said the convocation brought to the surface a lot of good energy surrounding ministry in the church today, but the leaders also challenged the delegates. “How can we reach out to serve those who are on the peripheries? Those people might even be in our pews, but they could be beyond the walls of our parishes as well and so we need to really take a step back and look at who we are called to serve. Those people may look different than we do, but we are called to serve everyone and to reconcile those differences because we are a diverse church and we are becoming more diverse every day,” she said.
She said one of the key messages focused on evangelization, again, an echo of the current diocesan Pastoral Priorities. “We heard a lot about the notion of lifelong faith formation — that we are called to go out. The word ‘go’ is mentioned in the Bible something like 1,200 times and that is what we are called to do – to go out and share our faith with everyone. That was the theme of many of the talks and plenary sessions that we had. We opened up and we looked at the landscape of the church – where we are today. We looked at who we are called to serve and how we can do that,” said Schuhmann.
Bearden said the convocation offered some tools to help with that effort. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. called the convocation a Pentecost moment for the church as lay members and church leaders take on today’s challenges together. “He described the five characteristics of a missionary disciple. They are: meeting people where they are with truth and trustworthiness, having boldness and urgency about the mission, staying connected to the Church, being compassionate and merciful, and being joyful because of service to God,” said Bearden.
Schuhmann plans to bring the key messages from the convocation to all the youth ministers in the diocese and into her own ministry. “It may take us out of our comfort zones and it may push us to our limits, but we really need a shift in our vision of what it means to minister. We have got to take a new approach if we want things to change if we want to better serve,” Schuhmann added.
Bearden also left empowered. The final speaker, Bishop Robert Barron, shared statistics and information, but also offered some pastoral encouragement to delegates, according to Bearden. “One thing really clicked. He asked us to show people the beauty of Catholicism, by showing them the truth, goodness, love, and mercy of God!”

Social Justice workshops announced

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JACKSON – Sue Allen, Coordinator for Parish Social Justice Programs has announced a series of Social Justice workshops for the diocese called “Living our Faith.” Any parish representative is welcome at any workshop. They are aimed at helping parishes form Faith in Action Teams to embrace and support Catholic Social Teaching in their communities. The workshops will include an overview of Catholic Social Teaching as well as suggestions for how to do outreach and advocacy projects.
There is no charge, but representatives should register so organizers have enough materials on hand. Contact Sue Allen to register by email at
sue.allen@catholiccharitiesjackson.org.

The workshops are all on Saturday
mornings, from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

  • September 16 St. Therese, Jackson
  • September 23 St. Elizabeth, Clarksdale
  • September 30 Sacred Heart, Louisville
  • October 14 St. Francis of Assisi, Greenwood
  • October 28 St. Helen, Amory
  • November 4 St. Alphonsus, McComb

Clarksdale project aims to build, strengthen community health

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By Maureen Smith
CLARKSDALE – A year ago Henry White started work on an idea to turn the unused field behind Immaculate Conception Parish into a community garden. Today, seven acres are plowed and planted. A half-acre section of that is a model garden where anyone can learn how to plant their own container or raised-bed garden. The parish has already hosted a farmer’s market, secured several grants and services from local farmers and the plan continues to evolve and expand. It was part of a larger project spearheaded by a group he calls the “Community Engagers” to make the community healthier and establish relationships with the neighbors. White is a member of the parish’s Faith in Action team. He credits Immaculate Conception and St. Elizabeth as the core partners in his effort.
“Torrential rains may have delayed spring planting, nevertheless, relationship building and identifying resources became priority number one. With the generosity of Immaculate Conception and Ladies Auxiliary as well as donations received from people like you, Community Engagers launched several programs and activities that truly embraced the ideology of our mission: “forging ideas into opportunity, sustaining neighborhoods and community through action and service,’” wrote White in an emailed update to supporters.
Partners in the effort include Bowing Flowers’ farm, Catholic Charities and Alcorn State University. Grants have come from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Porch Society, the Kathryn Donahue Foundation and Positive Change in Mississippi.
The project began with the establishment of a grow-room in the former school, where toddlers planted seeds and watched them sprout. While the seeds germinated 130 graduating seniors created the model garden as part of a service project. They transferred some of the seedlings into the beds and containers and helped care for them. In May, the group distributed more than 2,000 seedlings to individuals, families and first-time gardeners. White said he could see a sense of pride and renewed interest as members of the entire neighborhood participated in the plan to live healthier lives and grow some of their own food.
“Community Engagers is not just a community garden but a means of providing a sustainable food source that promotes nutritional awareness and overall health and wellness for the community. Henry (White) has a holistic approach to health and wellness – and is integrating the values of inclusiveness, diversity and culture through engagement with community members,” said Dorothy Balser, who works for Catholic Charities in north Mississippi and helped found the Faith in Action Team.
On July 2, the parish hosted a First Harvest Family & Friends Farmer’s Market. Community Engagers purchased locally and regionally sourced eggs, fruits and vegetables to sell at cost. White said the group hopes to be able to sell crops from the seven acres when they are harvested, but he wanted to introduce the idea of a farmer’s market to the neighborhood. He has started paperwork to be able to accept EBT cards for people who receive government assistance. He also hopes to organize volunteer groups to glean fields donated by local farmers to add to his inventory and distribute to people in the area who may need food. He will rely on local social service agencies to identify families in need.
The group is even sprucing up the former Immaculate Conception school building, which sits in front of the field, by painting murals on the walls. The students who planted and transferred seeds this spring have completed one of the murals on the garden side and White has asked for help from other locals to paint more.
White has his eye on more grant opportunities and always welcomes volunteers. Those interested in getting involved can contact him at (443) 939-0575.

Calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
BROOKSVILLE Dwelling Place Retreat Center, Associate Weekend, August 18-20. It will be a time to share our common vision and ministry, support one another in prayer, renew our commitments for another year, welcome new friends & plan for the future. Begins with supper at 6:30. Details: (662) 738-5348 or email dwellpl@gmail.com.
CULLMAN, Ala. Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, Introduction to Centering Prayer, September 1-3. This workshop/retreat is designed for those new to centering prayer and silence is required. Details: (256) 734-8302, retreats@shmon.org or www.shmon.org.
TUPELO St. James, Catholic Book Club, meets the second Wednesday of each month at noon in the library. The next meeting is September 13. The selection will be “The Complete Father Brown Mysteries” by G.K. Chesterton. Details: church office (662) 842-4881.
VICKSBURG St. Michael “You Can Understand the Bible,” Sundays at 9:45 a.m. The Bible Timeline is a Catholic Bible study that can help you make sense of the Bible. Facilitators: Karla and David McHan. Details: contact Karla at mchanfam@bellsouth.net or the church office, (601) 636-3445.
GRENADA St. Peter, Save the Date, Saturday, October 7, Adult Retreat. More details will be forthcoming. Details: church office (662) 226-2490.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, July Fellowship Luncheon at A La Carte on Court Street, Tuesday, July 25 at 11 a.m. Details: Ellen Duplantis, (662) 402-9722.
JACKSON St. Richard, Diocesan Church History Course: Level II, 9:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. on the following Tuesdays in August: 15, 22 and 29. Facilitator: Mary Louise Jones. The class will use The Catholic Church through the Ages by John Vidmar, OP. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.
MADISON St. Francis of Assisi, Discovering Christ 2017, begins Thursday, September 7, and lasts for seven weeks. An opportunity to deepen your faith and grow closer to your fellow parishioners. Free and includes a meal and live music. Complimentary child care is provided. Space is limited so register early. Details: (601) 856-5556, christlife@stfrancismadison.org or www.stfrancismadisonchristlife.org/register.html.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Knights of Columbus spaghetti dinner to benefit, family life center, Sunday August 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eat in or take out. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
– Natchez Convention Center, Mae and Friends’ 10th Annual Lemonade Stand, Friday, July 28 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Selling lemonade, cookies, pottery and t-shirts. All proceeds benefit the Natchez-Adams County Society of Mississippi Spray and Neuter “Natchez Fund”. Details: Basilica church office (601) 445-5616.
ROBINSONVILLE Save the Date, Tunica National Golf and Tennis, 1 Champions Lane, 11th Annual Coahoma Community College Morgan Freeman Scholarship Gold Tournament, Friday, October 27, Details: LaShasa Griffin, (662) 621-4146, lsgriffin@coahomacc.edu or https://www.ccc.cc.ms.us/golftournament/index.
TUPELO St. James, Benefit Concert for the Eschete Family, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Saturday, August 26, in Shelton Hall, 7-9 p.m. Social hour from 6-7 p.m. which will include hors d’ouevres and beverages. Eight or more classically trained musicians and vocalists will perform. Tickets are $20 for ages 12+; children under 12 are $5. Childcare available. All proceeds will go to the Eschete Family. Details: Keith Merritt at (662) 322-1427 kmerritt@hotmail.com or David Friloux at (662) 213-3742 david.friloux@yahoo.com.

YOUTH EVENTS
MADISON St. Anthony School, Bruin Burn 5K race, benefitting St. Joseph School Booster Club. The course winds through Madison, ending at Saint Anthony Catholic School. Details: Christy Campbell christy@msracetiming.com, (601) 209-4619, https://www.stjoebruins.com/apps/news/article/724408
St. Anthony School, 3rd – 6th graders interested in playing football. Details: Sean Meredith or Scott Glorioso at athletics@stanthonyeagles.org.
TUPELO St. James, Homework, July 26-29. Open to youth going into grades 6-12. They will have games, service projects, guest speakers, and more. There is no cost. Details: Dori Stearns, (662) 842-4881 or st-james-cyo@comcast.net.

JUBILEES
DUBUQUE, Iowa. Two Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) who served in the Diocese of Jackson will celebrate diamond jubilees in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sept. 10, with a liturgy of thanksgiving. They entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1947. They professed first vows on March 19, 1950, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1955.

Sister Mary Paul Francis Bailey

Sister Mary Paul Francis Bailey, BVM (Luellen) was born in Springfield, Ill. Sister taught at Immaculate Conception ES/HS in Clarksdale, Miss. Sister is retired and lives at Mount Carmel, Dubuque.

 

 

 

 

Sister Granville Jeanne

Sister Jean Granville, BVM (Suzette) was born in St. Louis. She was principal at Holy Ghost School in Jackson. Sister is retired and lives at Mount Carmel, Dubuque.
To send a congratulatory message to either sister on her jubilee or to donate to the BVM congregation on behalf of these sisters, please go to www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_jubs.cfm.

 

 

Convovation format: part retreat, part pep-rally aimed to inspire leaders

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By Carol Zimmermann
ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) – From July 1-4 the main floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Orlando was transformed into a huge parish hall with places for worship, prayer, discussion, and even coffee and doughnuts during the “Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America.”

At the convocation 3,500 church leaders – men and women religious, bishops and laypeople – gathered to set a new course for the U.S. Catholic Church.
Following a retreat format, each day started and ended with group prayer. Mass was celebrated each day in the hotel ballroom, and there were plenty of scheduled times for the sacrament of reconciliation and private prayer in a large room turned into an adoration chapel.
Many of the keynote sessions took the form of pep talks encouraging delegates to share their faith boldly with the world at large and within their own families and parishes. The numerous breakout sessions provided the working aspect of the gathering: closely examining what the church is doing and where it can do more.
More than 155 bishops attended the gathering, sitting with their delegations for meals and breakout sessions. Cardinals and bishops who spoke at keynote sessions or in Mass homilies encouraged participants that this was their time, their moment, stressing the urgency to bring God’s message of love to a divided world.
At the final Mass, described as a “Mass of Sending,” Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said the church is called to achieve great things in the face of the impossible – to unite people together by going to the peripheries of society and sharing the good news of Jesus through action rooted in faith.
“Sisters and brothers, we are in a very, very significant time in our church in this country,” said Cardinal DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and he urged the delegates to receive God’s grace for the work ahead.
None of the homilists or keynote speakers sugarcoated the challenges for the modern church and more than once speakers pointed out that Catholics are leaving the church in greater numbers, particularly young adults, than those joining the church.
But as Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles pointed out: “The saints always loved a good fight and we should like a good fight too.”
The bishop, who addressed the crowd through a video hookup July 4, told them it was an “exciting time to be an evangelist” but that they also should pick up their game to evangelize effectively.
Throughout the convocation Pope Francis was pointed out as a model for modern Catholics to follow in inviting others, especially those on the peripheries, to Christ. Speakers also were quick to quote his 2013 apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), which lays out a vision of the church dedicated to evangelization – or missionary discipleship – in a positive way, with a focus on society’s poorest and most vulnerable, including the aged, unborn and forgotten.
Two homilies during the convocation specifically quoted the pope’s admonition in “Evangelii Gaudium” that Catholics shouldn’t be “sourpusses” but should reflect joy.
Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl acknowledged that Catholics are not always comfortable with the idea of evangelizing, but said they need to be willing to step out of themselves and talk with people about their faith as part of an encounter the pope speaks about.
Part of this simply involves listening to people, caring for them and leading them to Jesus, said speaker Sister Miriam James Heidland, a sister of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.
Delegates were repeatedly encouraged to reach out to the peripheries especially to immigrants and the poor, but also to all members of the church’s diverse family – people of all races, women and young people.
Hosffman Ospino, associate professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, said it is time for the church to start building a “language of communion” rather than dividing the church community into different groups and individually responding to those needs.
“It’s the church serving the church,” he said. “We all are the church.”
That message inspired Sister Kathleen Burton, a Sister of St. Joseph who is co-director of the Office of Faith Formation, Family Life and Lay Ministry Formation in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, who said: “The walls need to come down.”
“There’s a renewed sense of evangelization and re-evangelization,” the delegate told Catholic News Service. “We’re being challenged that we don’t wait for people to come to us, but we’ve got to go out to them.”
For many delegates, seeing the church’s diversity – Latinos, African-Americans and Africans, Native Americans, and Asians from across the continent at the convocation – was an inspiring sight, helping them better understand the idea of the church as family.
Vanessa Griffin Campbell, director of the Office of Ministry to African American Catholics in the Diocese of Cleveland, said the key to embracing diversity and going to the peripheries will be teamwork among laypeople, clergy and diocesan staff.
The church should “not just open the doors on Sunday,” she said, “but make sure our doors are open Sunday to Sunday.”
At the end of the closing Mass, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, who attended all four days of the convocation, congratulated attendees for the invigorating discussion.
He called it a “kairos,” or opportune moment, in the life of the U.S. church and said he would tell Pope Francis: “the Spirit is alive in the church in the United States.”
“I will tell him of the commitment of many missionary disciples and their love for the church,” he added.
(See related stories on pages 3 and 6. Contributing to this report was Dennis Sadowski in Orlando.)