Category Archives: Diocesan News

Durocher Summer School draws volunteers

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JONESTOWN – For a month every summer, young people in Jonestown have an opportunity to attend the Durocher Summer School, a combination of fun and academics run entirely by volunteers.
Sister Kay Burton, SNJM, has organized the school for the past four years. This year’s session ran from June 6 – July 1.
The students are going into grades six, seven, and eight in local schools. The teachers for session one – the first two weeks – are high school volunteers from Jonestown. The teachers for session two are high school volunteers from Holy Names Academy, Seattle. Wash., and from Jonestown. Holy Names Academy is run by Sister Burton’s order, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
In addition to tutoring in all school subjects, the children get to follow a theme and participate in fun activities such as swimming and music.
This year’s theme was all about the blues. Students got to take a day trip to the BB King Museum in Indianola to put some of their lessons into context. They also got guitar lessons and wrote and produced a play about the blues legend from the Delta.
Sister Burton has been developing volunteer programs, especially focused in education, for many years in Jonestown. Her efforts include seeking young people to staff the summer school and other educational programs. She also coordinates a volunteer-run community garden. She works on health issues as well, helping get a walking trail opened in the community and educating people about good health and exercise.
Finally, Sister Kay works with young women in the community, forming groups to discuss issues of concern to them, helping them build confidence and self-esteem.
Sister Burton said she is grateful for all the community members to help make Summer School a success.

Pastoral Assignments

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Father Thi Pham, SCJ, upon the recommendation of Bishop Edward  Kilianski, superior general for the Priests of the Sacred Heart, is appointed moderator of the pastoral team serving the parishes of Sacred Heart Southern Missions.

Father Zbigniew Morawiec, SCJ, upon the recommendation of Bishop Edward  Kilianski, superior general for the Priests of the Sacred Heart, is appointed a member of the pastoral team serving Sacred Heart Southern Missions.

Father Albert Lingwengwe, SCJ, upon the recommendation of Bishop Edward  Kilianski, superior general for the Priests of the Sacred Heart, is appointed a temporary member of the pastoral team serving Sacred Heart Southern Missions.

+Bishop Joseph Kopacz.
Bishop of Jackson

All appointments are effective July 1.

Voices against extremism: Bishop Kopacz joins Dialogue Institute in statement

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(Below is the full text of the statement issued by the Dialogue Institute condemning extremism in the name of religion and violence. Bishop Joseph Kopacz joined other faith leaders in signing the statement in June.)

Section 1: Statement of the Problem
Recognizing the diversity of religious beliefs and philosophical outlooks in the world community, we have come together to unite around our universal and common desire to uphold and uplift each other as neighbors and fellow human beings and to affirm and support the following statement against extremism, terror, and violence done in the name of religion.
Our global society is facing an escalating epidemic of religiously motivated violence that seeks to manipulate and control people through terror and intimidation. We speak out against all extremist groups who distort religious beliefs to inflame regimes of fear and agendas of destruction for their own self-serving purposes. We reject the use of religious and spiritual traditions to justify the abuse, oppression, and exploitation of human beings.

Section 2: The Role of Religion Regarding the Threat of Extremism
We affirm that the practice of religions at their best is to honor, respect, and love our fellow sisters and brothers as we would ourselves. We understand religious extremism to be the process whereby individuals or communities reject the civil discourse and instead use violence and terror as a means of forcing political and social change, employing religious and theological resources to justify their destructive actions.

Section 3: Fundamental Human Rights
Life, liberty, dignity, and security are fundamental human rights for every single person. No human being, or group of persons should be subjected to violence or discrimination on the basis of any physical or social distinction that is motivated and justified by religious beliefs. In this regard, all human beings should be considered as equal and free members of one human family and treated with respect and compassion.

Section 4: Response Against the Use of Violence in the Name of Religion
We affirm and advocate for fundamental human rights, as described above and as protected by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially in the First Amendment with regard to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, to be applied to all persons. Furthermore, no religious freedom should be misused to violate the fundamental human rights of other persons.
We affirm and believe that a free, independent, fair, and ethically responsible media is an indispensable prerequisite for a free and peaceful society. Threatening the free and unencumbered exchange of ideas through terror, violence, fear, and intimidation undermines the marketplace of ideas and denies the equal opportunity for religious communities and human life to flourish.
We affirm and encourage learning about different faith traditions and practices in all areas of society and for all persons, so that everyone can be well-informed about the history and ideas of religions, in order to have greater mutual understanding and cooperation among civically engaged citizens.
We affirm and advocate for positive religious values as an antidote to religious extremism. We seek to offer hospitality, empathy, and care to all people in order to build stronger and more open societies that celebrate all persons as being equal members of the human family.

Diocese well represented at regional Catholic conference

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By Ruby Thomas
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – More than 500 Catholics from 10 dioceses across the country gathered at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville for the Interregional African American Catholic Evangelization Conference (IAACEC) June 10-12. The Diocese of Jackson sponsored the event. Will Jemison, director of Black Catholic Ministry, was a speaker and 42 representatives from the diocese attended. Bishop Joseph Kopacz presided at the closing Mass.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, who celebrated the opening Mass June 10, called the gathering a “great blessing” and thanked those in attendance for their “commitment to the church and the announcement of Jesus Christ.”
Archbishop Kurtz touched on the conference’s theme — “You Are My Witness” — and discussed the importance of leadership in the Gospel’s call to evangelize.
“We’re not going to evangelize unless we call forth and support leaders,” he said.
The conference provides a way for black Catholics to support each other, especially, he noted, “those who are on the edge” looking for their place in the world and wondering if they are being called.
The archbishop called on his listeners to cultivate the spirit of a “servant leader” who “feels chosen” and to feel their job is to witness to their encounter with Jesus.
Gatherings such as the IAACEC are important because they serve as a source of strength for the faithful, Archbishop Kurtz told participants.
“On our own we can’t do it,” said the archbishop. “We’re weak. We’re tempted to give up.”
The IAACEC, organized this year by the Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Multicultural Ministry, has been held 10 times since it began in the early 1990s.
Carrie Stivers, a member of St. Monica Church in Bardstown, Ky., who attended this year’s conference, said she drew strength from the gathering and others like it in the past.
The sense of togetherness she feels at the event is “inspiring” and stays with her long after the event is over, she said.
“Seeing all the black Catholics who share my belief makes me feel like I can keep going,” she said. “They inspire me to stay in the church.”
Stivers said she attended the first IAACEC and that the conference has been a part of her faith journey since. She said she always returns to her parish “on fire” and inspired to share her experience.
Dr. Eliza Young, a member of Christ the King Church, said the advantage of attending the event is the “support, love and insight” she receives from Catholics from different regions of the country. “It’s good for us to interact, to share opinions and ideas in order for us to grow,” said Young.
The event is also about renewal, she noted. “It renews my spirit, it renews my faith and it renews my insights into the Catholic Church,” said Young, following the opening Mass.
“Look at all the young people,” she said, pointing to a group of youth rehearsing for a dance performance. “I’m excited by the number of young people who are here. It lets us know our future is bright.”
Young noted that she was also encouraged to see people of other races at the conference. It meant, she said, that “we’re working together.”
M. Annette Mandley-Turner, executive director of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Multicultural Ministry and one of the founders of the IAACEC, said the gathering “is a boost for the people as they anticipate the National Black Catholic Congress,” set for July 2016.
“It helps to keep the fire burning in such a way that people will want to go out and share with others about their relationship with Christ,” she said.
The IAACEC is important, said Turner, because it “provides an opportunity for people to look at their role of spreading the Good News and reexamining their relationship with Jesus.”
This could only bode well for the future of the church, considering the present “perception of declining membership” and closure of parishes, said Turner said.
The conference brought Catholics from the Archdiocese of Louisville together with those from the Diocese of Lexington, Ky.; the Diocese of Miami, Fla.; the Archdiocese of Baltimore; the Archdiocese of Richmond, Va., the Archdiocese of Cleveland, Ohio; the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio; the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio; the Diocese of Jackson, Miss.; and the Diocese of Memphis, Tenn.
In addition to Archbishop Kurtz, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington attended, as did Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz of Jackson, Miss.
The conference included more than 40 workshops, including “We Can Build if You Know How to Give,” “Becoming an Inviting and Welcoming Church,” “Apologetic without Apologies” and “How to Reach Inactive Black Catholics.” Kuumba Camp for youth and young adults was a new addition to the conference this year.
Jackson diocese representatives came from Clarksdale, Fayette, Greenwood, Jackson and Natchez.
(This story was reprinted with permission from the Record, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Louisville.)

Local advocates decry ruling

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By Maureen Smith
GREENWOOD – Amelia McGowan, head of Catholic Charities’ Migrant Support Center, was disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to put a halt on new applications for immigrants seeking work permits and protection from deportation.
“Hopefully this is just a temporary setback,” said McGowan. She and her staff were so hopeful they would get a favorable decision, they hosted a workshop for parish leaders in Greenwood Saturday, June 18, to train them on the issue.
The Migrant Support Center partnered with Texas-based advocacy organization “United We Dream” to provide the free, eight-hour training. Speakers Carolina Ramirez and Adonias Arevalo presented an overview of DACA/DAPA, “Know Your Rights” training, screening for immigration remedies, understanding and combatting the unauthorized practice of law, and the importance of client engagements/retainers. United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. The network, made up of more than 100,000 immigrant youth and allies and 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states, advocates for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status.
Forty-two people from Clarksdale, Greenville, Greenwood, Jackson, Vicksburg and members of the Redemptorist community serving in the Delta attended the workshop. They included pastors, community leaders and catechists. “One of the problems we are having is that many people don’t even know or understand their rights,” said Nancy Sanchez, a staff member at the Migrant Support Center. She and McGowan said despite the Supreme Court ruling the center hopes to continue to offer training on immigration rights.
“We will keep working, keep collaborating. It is really important to build these networks and build and strengthen our partnerships,” said McGowan. Her office has been working for several years to educate not only the immigrant community, but also collaborate with law enforcement and the business community to make sure all the communities understand the complex issues involved. In an earlier interview, she explained that when immigrants are scared to report crimes or seek help, the whole community suffers.
Many immigrants in Mississippi live under constant threat of removal from the United States. The president’s proposed expanded Deferred Action program (otherwise known as “Expanded DACA” and “DAPA”) could have provided relief to many undocumented Mississippians by allowing them to obtain work permits and receive limited protection from deportation.
On June 24, the nation’s high court upheld an earlier ruling that determined President Obama did not have the constitutional authority to enact DAPA and expanded-DACA, two executive actions designed to provide temporary deportation relief and work permits for four million undocumented immigrants.
Immigrants granted protection in 2012 are not impacted by this ruling.

Women in recovery build prayer labyrinth

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By Andrew Morgan
JACKSON – The residents of The McCoy House for Sober Living, led by director Denise Marsters, built a prayer labyrinth on their property in June.
The McCoy House is a private home which offers a transitional living space for women dealing with addictions of any kind. All the residents have completed inpatient rehabilitation programs. The house gives them a place to stay in preparation for independent living. Many of the residents have dealt with various degrees of trauma, neglect and abuse. Part of their recovery is separating themselves from the destructive behaviors of their past and finding new, positive ways to live. The residents are required to work or volunteer during their time at the house and attend regular meetings to support one another.
Marsters hopes that the labyrinth, in addition to all that is offered at the McCoy House, will help the ladies deal with whatever issue they are facing, providing a meditative, contemplative exercise for them.
“They can take any issue they have in their heart, anything on their mind, and they can take it into the labyrinth with them and leave it there at the foot of the cross in the center,” Marsters explained. “A labyrinth is not the same thing as a maze, where the goal is to get lost and find your way out. Our path is clear and easy to follow, and the end destination is found in the center. With the labyrinth, whoever walks it has a chance to lose themselves without ever losing the path in order to find themselves.”
The practice of walking labyrinths has existed for many centuries, prominently exercised in the Medieval Church. Many notable labyrinths are found in some of the most famous churches and cathedrals.
The McCoy House labyrinth is formed out of twelve interconnected circles that wind inwardly towards the cross in the center. It was constructed with bricks taken from a neighboring property of the McCoy House, known as the Mercy House, named for the contributions of Sister Mary Paulinus Oakes, R.S.M. The materials for the labyrinth were salvaged. The inspiration for the labyrinth came to Marsters, in fact, when she went to visit Sister Paulinus in her order house.
“When I visited Sister Paulinus in Michigan they had a fabulous labyrinth, and sister and I agreed that such an addition would be beneficial for the McCoy House ladies. I took the very same, basic design, drew it on paper, and brought it back the House.”
Perhaps what is most remarkable is that the labyrinth was built entirely by the ladies of the McCoy House.
“They laid every brick themselves and it really is a testament to each of them and what they have accomplished here at the McCoy House,” said Denise Marsters. “How soothing it is for our ladies to behold and interact with something they built. It’s beautiful, and has been an absolute success.”
Donations to the McCoy House for Sober Living can be made online at www.themccoyhouse.com. For more information contact Denise Marsters at info@themccoyhouse.com or 601-946-0578.
(Andrew Morgan is a rising sophomore at The Catholic University of America and a graduate of Madison St. Joseph School.)

Courts rule on three cases impacting Mississippians

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By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – Federal court decisions in three cases in the last weeks of June directly impact the work of the church in Mississippi. Federal Judge Carlton Reeves blocked the implementation of HB 1523, also known as the religious liberty law, hours before it was to go into effect Friday, July 1. Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a proposed law that would have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. Turning away the case means the last abortion clinic in Mississippi remains open. In the third case, a tie vote in the Supreme Court blocked a plan to protect millions of immigrants from deportation.
The coincidence that the rulings all came during Fortnight for Freedom was not lost on local church leaders. “The U.S. bishops set aside these weeks for us to reflect on threats to religious liberty and to celebrate our protected American freedoms,” said Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “There is a certain irony to the fact that these all happened during the fortnight,” he added.
The bishop released a statement relating to the religious liberty law and the abortion case on Friday, July 1. “We must strike a just balance between church and state, not just for our own protection, but for the protection of other faiths and society as a whole,” wrote Bishop Kopacz. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), in its statement on religious liberty states “‘This is not a Catholic issue. This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue.’ Once the state begins to limit rights of people of one faith, we must be concerned for people of all faiths and beliefs,” he added.
The bishop has emphasized from the start of the HB1523 debate this is not an issue of whom the church serves, but how.
“The Catholic Church welcomes everyone in our parishes, schools and service centers. We have and will continue to help anyone in need through Catholic Charities, schools and parish ministries, regardless of your faith, beliefs or background. And we will continue to raise our voices both in our churches and in our communities in defense of human dignity and justice,” he wrote. The full text of his statement is available on page 9.
The religious liberty law was originally meant to protect religious organizations from violating their beliefs regarding marriage. The church sought exemptions from performing civil unions between gay partners, placing foster children or adopting children to gay couples and from being forced to hire people in ministry or education positions whose lifestyles contradicted church teachings. Lawmakers added a host of provisions to the original bill and critics called the resulting legislation discriminatory. Earlier in the year, Bishop Kopacz released a statement explaining the stance of the Diocese of Jackson on the issue.
“The Diocese of Jackson supported and would continue to support a religious exemption on behalf of the mission of the Catholic Church with regard to education and social services. We would like to continue to provide these services while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church,” said the bishop in April. “The diocese had no involvement in the other portions of the bill that addressed business and government operations. The church will continue to work to protect its First Amendment right to worship, to educate and to serve in the public domain while respecting the dignity of all citizens,” he continued.
State Attorney General Jim Hood said he would have to think ‘long and hard’ before filing an appeal. “I believe in the free exercise of religion and there will be a case in the future in which the U.S. Supreme Court will better define our religious rights. This case, however, is not that vehicle,” he said. Governor Phil Bryant, however, has called for an appeal.
In his ruling, Judge Reeves called HB1523 unconstitutional because, he says, it “grants special rights to citizens who hold one of three “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” reflecting disapproval of lesbian, gay, transgender, and unmarried persons. That violates both the guarantee of religious neutrality and the promise of equal protection of the laws.” He goes on to say the rights of religious institutions are already protected under the First Amendment and do not need an additional protection. Another part of his ruling calls HB1523 unclear in its instructions in too many cases to which it might be applied.
In the second case, a lower court had blocked a Mississippi law requiring doctors at abortion clinics to be able to admit patients at local hospitals. “We are saddened at this country’s insistence on abortion, the destruction of innocent lives, and the laws that have been passed to support this continued destruction,” said Bishop Kopacz. “The laws requiring doctors to have admitting privileges, although seen as a roadblock for abortion facilities, are in reality a commitment to the good health of all,” he added. There is only one abortion clinic left in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization. For more on this case, see the related story on page1.
The final court action involves the work of immigrants’ rights advocates in Mississippi. Advocates have reported an uptick in law enforcement raids in Hispanic communities in the state since January and they expect those raids to continue so the center is stepping up its efforts to make sure immigrants know their rights. See page 8 for more on the ruling and what the Migrant Support Center is doing to address the rights of immigrants here. See related stories on page 8.
Bishop Kopacz said the church in Mississippi will continue to work for justice for all through political involvement and social justice outreach, especially on behaf of those on the margins of our communities while respecting the dignity of each person. “People of faith are called to be active in the political process – to protect the dignity of each human being and to make our communities stronger overall.”

Hispanic ministry seeks local participation in national Encuentro

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By Sister María Elena Méndez, MGSPS
The Office of Hispanic Ministry is inviting everyone to participate in the Fifth National Hispanic Encuentro, set for Sept. 20-23, 2018, at the Gaylord Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.
Work toward this national Encuentro is already underway. Much of it was started at the recent diocesan Encuentro in Greenwood. A team of pastoral leaders also met in early June at Winona Sacred Heart to begin training.062416encuentro02
The “V Encuentro,” as it is called, is a process rather than an event; it is more than a meeting of pastoral leadership and more than a series of documents on how to minister to the Hispanic community. Its main objective is to discern the pastoral response of the church toward the Hispanic/Latino presence in the U.S. and enhance the response of the Hispanics/Latinos as a church.
We need this Encuentro because we are growing in the country and there is a need for thousands of new leaders; because there is not capacity to meet this growth in leadership and ministerial response in parishes, dioceses, schools and Catholic institutions.
The V Encuentro will have an enormous impact among Hispanics in the United States, in our dioceses and in our parishes since in it will be involved more than 5,000 parishes, 175 dioceses, more than a million people in the suburbs, millions of committed leaders and more than 100 Catholic organizations.
It is imperative to engage the largest group of the Hispanic/Latino presence – youth of second and third generation in this process. New immigrants and their families offer missionary potential and the church needs to keep new Catholic immigrants and help them progress in all dimensions of their  lives.
The Encuentro process is motivated by the reading of the signs of the times and convened by the bishops, who are calling on the Hispanic/Latino people to raise their prophetic voice.

WINONA – Maribel and Juan Melo, members of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, are part of the diocesan organizing team of the V Encuentro, representing the Christian Family Movement. The first meeting for this process was held at Sacred Heart Mission on Saturday, June 4. (Photo by Elsa Baughman)

WINONA – Maribel and Juan Melo, members of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, are part of the diocesan organizing team of the V Encuentro, representing the Christian Family Movement. The first meeting for this process was held at Sacred Heart Mission on Saturday, June 4. (Photo by Elsa Baughman)

This encounter will take place within a process at various levels: parish, diocesan, regional and national. With the support of the Office of Hispanic Ministry, I am creating a diocesan team to facilitate this encounter. The team will be trained by the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) in the coming months. Members will be responsible for raising awareness about the process in local communities, as well as implementing the plan that will come out of the process.
They will also be responsible for providing training to parish teams in the implementation of the resulting plans. This process of evangelization and consultation has its foundation in five sessions inspired by Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel.”
The guide for the parishes, lay movements and Catholic organizations who will participate in this transformative missionary process will be available in the fall.
All of us will be working under the direction of ENAVE, (a representative group of National Catholic Organizations) and with the support and direction of SEPI.
This encounter will work from the base, this means that everyone in the diocese is important. This process will begin at the parish level, then at the diocesan level, at the regional level and finally to the national level. We are making efforts to involve ecclesial movements and organizations. The greater the contribution of Hispanics and other nationalities, the richer the process will be.
According to the national team, the V Encuentro hopes to reach millions of people who will become missionary disciples – witnesses of the love of God, especially to the young people and families who are living in the margins of society.
We can only accomplish this mission through the participation of a great number of people. Look for announcements about activities in your parish, volunteer through the Office of Hispanic Ministry and pray for those involved in this process. This missionary action is part of our baptismal call to mission and holiness, because we are called to build community and to be responsible for the gifts that God has given us.
With the support of our Bishop, Joseph Kopacz, the Office of Hispanic Ministry, the parish leaders – priests, ministers and ecclesial leaders – lets undertake together and with enthusiasm this path and let ourselves be transformed as the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus, saying that our hearts are burning with joy “by what happened on the way.”
(Sister María Elena Méndez, MGSPS is a pastoral associate in the Office of Hispanic Ministries. She can be reached at maria.mendez@jacksondiocese.org)

Friars on Foot making their way across diocese

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By Andrew Morgan
MADISON – Fathers Francis Orozco and Thomas Schaefgen, O.P., also known as the Friars on Foot, celebrated Mass at Madison St. Francis Wednesday, June 15, at 7 a.m., about halfway through their three-state pilgrimage from one end of their territory in New Orleans to the other in Memphis. Their route began in New Orleans on May 29, taking them around Lake Pontchartrain, and then north through Mississippi. They hope to reach Memphis by June 29.

JACKSON – Sister Susan Karina Dickey, OP, (right) talks with the friars while they eat a light lunch before departing to Madison accompanied by four parishioners from Flowood St. Paul.

JACKSON – Sister Susan Karina Dickey, OP, (right) talks with the friars while they eat a light lunch before departing to Madison accompanied by four parishioners from Flowood St. Paul.

Priests, lay ministers and parishioners have welcomed them at every stop so far, often walking part of their journey with them. Anyone is welcome to walk and pray with them. They also welcome donations of food, water, bandages and especially sunscreen.
Earlier in the week, they spent the night at Jackson St. Therese Parish and celebrated Mass Monday at 8 a.m., followed by a light breakfast. From there they walked to St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson, visiting with the only other Dominicans in the diocese. They enjoyed lunch with the sisters and employees before they continued on their way to Madison, accompanied by four women from Flowood St. Paul Parish.
Their mission statement, as found on their website, reads: “We will encounter people of goodwill from many denominations and faith traditions, some who will be glad to see us, most will be curious, some will want to join us, and many will have questions. Direct and personal encounters with the people we meet on the way show an Order and Church that is not afraid to go outside of its doors. Our mission is simple yet far reaching.”
Father Schaefgen echoed this in his homily at Saint Francis, describing their desire to walk in the footsteps of the masters. “That is our desire, to walk in the footsteps of St. Dominic, who walked in the footsteps of the Apostles, who walked in the footsteps of Jesus.” Jesus never walked through Jackson, but he does now, through all of us in his Holy Church.

MADISON – Father Richard Goodin, OFM, records fathers Francis Orozco and Thomas Schaefgan alongside fellow Franciscans Eric, Richard, and Michael. (Photo by Paula Morgan)

MADISON – Father Richard Goodin, OFM, records fathers Francis Orozco and Thomas Schaefgan alongside fellow Franciscans Eric, Richard, and Michael. (Photo by Paula Morgan)

He described how the prophet Elijah was followed so closely by his student that Elisha was covered in the dust which fell from his master’s feet. In many ways, Father Schaefgen remarked, he and his fellow friar hope to walk in the dust of the master. “Our goal is much more to build an awareness of the Order, of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. It’s a different kind of mission, at least in appearances, to Dominic’s.”
Father Orozco explained that such a contemplative experience, albeit a suffering one, could appeal to someone who seeks more than simply going to church every Sunday. “Something else, too, is that this is a very traditional thing. Jesus made pilgrimages and so do many Jewish people,” he noted. “That’s one reason why we’re doing it, going back to our roots as Dominicans. We are here to spread the message of Christ, on foot, on the move and in person.”
The friars enjoyed breakfast provided by Saint Francis parishioners, after which six young men from Jackson St. Richard’s ALIVE youth group arrived with youth minister Amelia Rizor and volunteer Paula Morgan. They joined the friars for their two-hour walk along Old Canton Road to Hoy Road until they reached Highway 59 towards Canton.
Upon reaching a store in Madison, the group was stopped by a passing vehicle on the road. Inside were four Franciscan friars of St. John the Baptist Province who were making their way back to Galveston, Texas. The Franciscans had been following the friars on social media and were delighted their paths crossed. The group parked at a nearby gas station and spent some time chatting. Among them, Father Richard Goodin, OFM, recorded a video for his own YouTube channel. The group said their goodbyes, promising to keep Fathers Orozco and Schaefgen in prayer and went on their way.
“We’re doing something challenging,” Father Schaefgen said. “And I think that is what the youth need to see. See that the faith is something radical and active, and that even just by walking you are following Christ.” Father Orozco added that he thinks it is a challenge that the youth are more than willing and able to embrace.
Keep up with the friars at: https://friarsonfoot.wordpress.com/ or on social media by searching #friarsonfoot.
(Andrew Morgan is a rising sophomore at The Catholic University of America and a graduate of Madison St. Joseph School.)