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Category Archives: Diocesan News
RETREATS
St. Mary of the Pines
Eight-day retreats – $640
Five-day retreats – $400
Weekend directed retreats – $160
Directed Retreats: The resident retreat director is Sister Dorez Mehrtens, SSND. To schedule a retreat contact Sister Dorez, 601-783-0411 or 601-810-7758 (cell), dorezm37@yahoo.com.
Private Retreats: A private retreat is a retreat without a director and may be scheduled any time space is available. The individual chooses his/her own resources and rhythm of prayer and reflection throughout the day. Suggested donation: $65 per night. Financial assistance for any retreat is available upon request.
“Annual Women’s Retreat: Encountering God in all things,” Oct. 23-25. Sister Joan Dehmer, SSND, will be the presenter. She is on the staff of Loyola Spirituality Center in St. Paul, Minn. Cost is $135 for single rooms and $115 for double rooms, per person.
Contact: St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center, 3167 Old Highway 51 South, Osyka, MS, 39657, 601-783-3494, retreatcenter@ssnddallas.org.
The Dwelling Place
“Jesus and my ego,” Sept. 25-27. Using Lectio Divina, participants will look at stories in the gospels designed to bring one’s ego out into the open. Led by Father Henry Shelton. Cost is $200.
“Hermitage Time,” Oct. 2-4.
Come, get away, be still and sort out your life under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Experience God’s presence in the quiet and a personally guided prayer experience adapted to your needs. Director: Clare Van Lent. Begins with 6:30 dinner. Cost is $80 per day.
Contact: The Dwelling Place, 2824 Dwelling Place Road, Brooksville, MS, 39739, 662-738-5348, www.dwellingplace.com.
Benedictine SISTERS
“Woman Spirit Rising,” Sept. 25-27. A gathering of women at the Red Tent, a safe place to tell your own stories, to do truth telling, and to share hopes and dreams. Led by Sister Mary McGhehee. Private rooms, $245, shared rooms $205 per person.
Contact: Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road, Cullman, AL 35055, 256-734-8302, retreats@shmon.org.
Teresa In Avila: The Life of a Saint, Thursday, Oct. 15, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. At this retreat, special attention will be paid to the place and times in which St. Teresa lived, how she was shaped by them, and how she in turn helped shape her times. We will also consider how our own places and times shape us, and we them. Led by Sister Elisabeth Meadows, O.S.B. Cost is $30.
JESUIT SPIRITUALITY CENTER
Directed Retreats: The Jesuit Spirituality Center specializes in personally directed retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Solitude and silence are important aspects of these retreats. Retreats may range from three days, five days, or eight days, to a full month.
Dates: Oct. 5 or 8, Oct. 20 or Oct. 22 – (3 & 5 days only), Nov. 12 or Nov. 15, Dec. 7 or Dec. 10. Retreats of eight-days begin on the first date. Retreats of five or three days begin on either date. Costs vary according to the length of the retreat.
“An introduction to the directed retreat,” Oct. 2-4. Cost is $160 (includes $70 non-refundable pre-registration fee).
An Introduction to the Directed Retreat is designed for someone making a silent directed retreat for the first time. Group and individual sessions will focus on how to pray, to journal, and to communicate prayer experiences with one’s director. This retreat will also prepare participants for a longer 3, 5, 8 or 30-day retreat. Led by Nelda Turner.
“Zen Practices for Christian Living,” Oct. 15-18. Led by Father Robert Kennedy, S.J. Come develop a deeper contemplative prayer life. Zazen or sitting meditation is the practice of stilling the mind through whole hearted attentiveness to the breath. Cost is $240 (commuters $180) pre-registration and a non-refundable $70 registration fee are required
Contact: Jesuit Spirituality Center, 313 Martin Luther King Dr., Grand Coteau, La. 70541, 337-662-5251.
Knights of Columbus offer yearlong family prayer and bonding program
By Maureen Smith
JACKSON –The Knights of Columbus in Mississippi have provided a limited number of resource books to parishes and families throughout the state. “Building the Domestic Church, the family fully alive,” is a year-long program for families.
It comes in the form of a book of prayers, activities and reflections put together by the Knights of Columbus on a national level. The program, which runs from October to September, contains a monthly theme, a suggested family movie and service projects. It also has prayer cards and suggestions for council activities.
“As the saints have shown throughout history, holiness in life leads inevitably to witness in our daily lives. In our time, the work of evangelization is not reserved only for an elite few, but is the responsibility of all baptized Christians.
“In a very real sense, we are all called to be missionaries. We are called to ‘proclaim’ the Gospel to those around us through our lives each day, and the privileged place for most of us to do this is within our own families,” writes Karl Anderson, supreme Knight in his introduction.
“To help our families better become what they are called to be, the Knights of Columbus has launched this initiative entitled ‘Building the Domestic Church, the faith fully alive.’ Through this program our families can realize more fully their mission to be an authentic domestic church through daily prayer, catechesis and Scripture reading, as well as through monthly charitable and volunteer projects they can do as a family,” he added.
For example, the theme for October, “Because the Lord is God of our ancestors, we want to strengthen the relationship between our family’s generations,” suggests families make a family tree together, visit relatives or send a letter to a loved one. The book suggests watching Disney/Pixar’s movie ‘Up’ to reflect on relationships between generations. The service project for the month is centered on providing food for a family in need.
“This initiative can help all families, whatever their difficulties, deepen their relationship with the Lord. It can especially help divorced parents meet their obligation to raise their children in the Catholic faith and reassure them that their communion with the Lord is not severed, but rather can continue to grow stronger through prayer, scripture reading, participation in the parish community, service to others, and evangelization. In these ways, they too can be a part of our initiative and grow in their faith,” wrote Anderson.
The Knights of Columbus in Mississippi provided 500 copies of the books to different parishes of the Diocese of Jackson through the Office of Family Ministry, but anyone can download a free digital copy on the national website at www.kofc.org/familyfullyalive.
Internet safety workshop registration open
Spots are still available for “Catholic Citizenship in the Digital Age,” a workshop on internet safety set for Saturday, October 3, at Madison St. Joseph High School. The workshop is free, but reservations are important because orgainzers will provide lunch to attendees.
“Technology changes daily and education is important to us as good Catholics to be respectable and appropriate users of digital and social media,” said Vickie Carollo, Safe Environment Coordinator for the Diocese of Jackson. “Additionally, it is critical that as adults, we recognize our role in keeping young people safe when using electronic communication devices,” she added.
“The diocese is fortunate to have Paul Sanfrancesco of Philadelphia as the keynote speaker for the workshop. Paul is a technology consultant for Sadlier Publishing and teaches as Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Education Department at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and Neumann University in Aston, Penn,” said Carollo.
A few years ago Sanfrancesco did a survey in his school system on how proficient teachers were at using technology. He found that many needed training not only in technology, but in online platforms such as social media. He started a summer program to train his own teachers. He now takes that program across the country
“In addition to Paul’s keynote, the workshop agenda will include an opportunity to participate in a break-out session with an education consultant from the State of Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cybercrime Unit,”she added.
The workshop is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Anyone can attend, but parents, pastors, DREs/CREs, youth ministers and school administrators are especially invited. For registration, please contact Annette Stevenson for registration at (601-960-8470) or email her at: annette.stevenson@jacksondiocese.org.
Save the Dates: Catholic Charities plans full slate of fall events
JACKSON – Catholic Charities has three upcoming events to raise money for their many services.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at noon, Father Jonathan Morris, author and news analyst, will speak at the Journey of Hope luncheon at the downtown Jackson Marriott hotel. Tickets are also still available for a meet and greet with Father Morris the evening before.
The fourth annual Purple Dress 5K run/walk benefiting Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Services Center is set for Thursday, Oct. 22 in a new location. The start and finish is at The Iron Horse Grill in downtown Jackson. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Get information about these events from Julie O’Brien, 601-326-3758 or julie.obrien@ccjackson.org.
This year’s Squat & Gobble event is also in a new location, the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. on Thursday, Nov. 13. Squat and Gobble benefits Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Office.
Additional information is available on the Catholic Charities website: www.ccjackson.org.
‘Many Saints, One Church’ Black Catholic Day of Reflection announced
GREENWOOD – St. Francis Parish is hosting Many Saints, Once Church, a Black Catholic weekend of Reflection Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7. The weekend is sponsored by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry.
“We are featuring M. Roger Holland on Friday evening. He will share his amazing musical gifts with all. He is a very accomplished musician and gospel artist and composer,” said Sister Kathleen Murphy, FSCC, one of the organizers. “He has worked on Broadway, been gospel music choir director at St. Patrick’s in New York and he has compositions in the new “Lead Me, Guide Me” hymnal including the Welcome Table Mass setting,” added Sister Murphy.
Dr. Timone Davis is the keynote speaker for Saturday. She has worked extensively with youth and serves as formation director for the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program based in Chicago. She employs African storytelling as she shares her message.
Father Anthony Clark, SVD, will offer breakout sessions for youth on Saturday. He is currently pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Memphis. He has served the Diocese of Memphis particularly in the area of Multicultural Ministries for many years.
The choir from St. Augustine Parish will serve as music ministers for the closing 4 p.m. liturgy on Saturday.
“The overall theme for the day, Many Saints – One Church – arose first of all from an interview done with Sister Thea Bowman,” explained Sister Murphy. “She was asked how she felt about being called a ‘living saint.’ Her reply included the idea that we all should consider ourselves to be living saints. The One Church element of the theme arose from the current events in our country which speak so sadly of divides of many types. The planning committee felt that there is a real call for unity among peoples today. It needs to be a theme for our prayer,” said Sister Murphy.
The registration fee is $15 per person which includes the T-shirt for the event, Friday evening reception, Saturday morning grab-and-go breakfast and Saturday lunch.
In addition to spiritual enrichment, the ogranizers are offering fellowship and fun. Attendees can win door prizes featuring John Richards home decor items and shop for African attire and other items from a collection of vendors. The Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer foundation will be there as well.
The Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express in Greenwood will have special rates for rooms that weekend for those who mention the Black Catholic gathering for the Diocese of Jackson when reservations are made.
Pre-registration will continue through Oct. 5. On-site registration will be available, but preregistration is preferred. To register contact Will Jemison at 601-949-6935 or will.jemison@jacksondiocese.org.
Inspirational reflections offered to educators
By Maureen Smith
MADISON – More than 300 educators for the Catholic Schools in the diocese gathered on Tuesday, September 8, at St. Joseph High School for a day of formation and reflection on this year’s school theme: Teaching Everyone About Mercy (TEAM) and the Catechetical theme for the year in the U.S.: Safeguarding the Dignity of Every Human Person.
The Office of Catholic Education partnered with the Office of Faith Formation for the event featuring Paulist Father Bruce Nieli. Father Nieli, who recently moved from Memphis to Austin, Texas, is a lively preacher and missionary who wrapped his presentation around his own experiences, some of his heroes and scriptures to inspire the group. He sang, played the guitar, danced and laughed for the entire day.
“He was a dynamic and charismatic speaker and his message was clear and concise,” said Clara Isom, principal for Holly Springs Holy Family School. “I was so thrilled because he grabbed our attention and really gave us something to listen to. He was scripturally sound and he reminded us that we have to be servants to all who enter our schools,” added Isom.
She said that while the schools are Catholic, they often serve diverse populations in terms of faith, but the mission remains the same. She added that Father Nieli offered his message to teachers and administrators of all backgrounds. “His message was pluralistic and inclusive. He gave us something we could feed on — something to think about individually and as a group,” said Isom.
This is the first time in a couple of years that the Office of Catholic Education has offered a day for all of the teachers. Groups carpooled and caravaned from every school in the system. “We felt like this would be a great way to enhance our work in strengthening Catholic identity at our schools,” said Catherine Cook, superintendent. “It also gave us a chance to get everyone together for fellowship, which is always a good thing, and we knew Father Bruce (Nieli) would get us all pumped up about the year,” added Cook.
The day started with Mass to mark the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Bishop Joseph Kopacz concelebrated with retired Bishop William Houck. “We were delighted to have both Bishop Kopacz and Bishop Houck join us for the whole day,” said Cook.
Karla Luke, the coordinator for Operational and Support Services, said all of the schools have been asked to bring the Jubilee Year of Mercy into their schools in some way. “Planning this day was led by the Holy Spirit, that’s for sure,” said Luke. “We wanted everyone to leave that day with a spirit of unity that no matter what our background — religious, ethnic, socio-economic or otherwise — we can realize we are all people of God, people of Christ and we have a duty and responsibility to one another. We wanted to wrap that into the catechetical theme of Safeguarding the Dignity of the Human Person and the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” said Luke.
Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy to start in December. The year is focused on the mercy of God and includes an emphasis on reconciliation and renewal. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops selects a theme for catechists each year which is introduced on Catechetical Sunday in September.
Father Nieli spoke at length about letting the Holy Spirit into the lives of the teachers. He told personal stories of how it has enhanced his own life, for example, he was in New York just after the 9/11 attacks and wanted to visit the site. He asked to be let into the cleanup area and happened to be there when the largest collection of bodies was discovered. Rescuers asked him to bless those bodies. He had not planned on being there, he was not supposed to be the clergy person on duty and he had no connection to the recovery operation, but he let the Holy Spirit take the lead and began to pray. He felt called to use the Prayer of St. Francis with its call for peace and reconciliation.
He also told the story of speaking to children in a school in Ferguson, Mo., about Our Lady of Guadalupe and talked about being inspired by Sister Thea Bowman. By the end of the day, he had the whole audience on their feet clapping and singing.
“We got a lot of positive feedback from the day and we hope to do it again,” said Cook.
Jackson priests already empowered to absolve
By Nancy O’Brien
BALTIMORE (CNS) – Pope Francis’ Sept. 1 announcement that priests worldwide will be able to absolve women for the sin of abortion will have little effect on pastoral practices in the United States and Canada, where most priests already have such authority in the sacrament of reconciliation. Priests in the Diocese of Jackson have had the authority for many years, but ,many hope secular media coverage of the announcement may lead some to seek reconciliation who had been reluctant in the past.
“It is my understanding that the faculty for the priest to lift the ‘latae sententiae’ excommunication for abortion is almost universally granted in North America,” said Don Clemmer, interim director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“Latae sententiae” is a Latin term in canon law that means excommunication for certain crimes, including involvement in abortion, is automatic. Clemmer said it is “the fiat of the local bishop” whether to allow the priests in his diocese to absolve those sins and most bishops granted such permission when giving priests faculties to minister in their local church.
Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of Albany, New York, confirmed that in a Sept. 1 statement welcoming what he called the pope’s “wonderful gesture.”
“Any woman who has had an abortion, any person who has been involved in an abortion in any way, can always seek God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation, if they are truly sorry for their actions.”
Several prelates, including Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, emphasized that Pope Francis’ action “in no way diminishes the moral gravity of abortion.”
“What it does do is make access to sacramental forgiveness easier for anyone who seeks it with a truly penitent heart,” he said.
Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said his “hope and prayer is that all those carrying the burden of an experience of abortion would turn to the church and her sacraments and experience the Lord’s mercy and love.”
Catholic moral theologian Charles Camosy, noted that the pope’s words about abortion and forgiveness bore a striking resemblance to the words of Pope St. John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical, “Evangelium Vitae.”
Addressing women who have had abortions, Pope John Paul wrote, “If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the sacrament of reconciliation.”
New teaching or not, Albany’s Bishop Scharfenberger expressed hope that women will take advantage of this opportunity.
“The real news is that there is no need to wait,” he said. “God is ready to forgive and heal now!”
Diocese unveils Jubilee Year of Mercy Plan
By Mary Woodward
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz will seal a door in St. Peter Cathedral on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the 5:15 p.m. Vigil Mass as part of diocesan preparations for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy declared by Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday. The Pope sealed a door at St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outide the Walls in the Vatican earlier this year. Bishops around the world were invited to follow suit in their home dioceses.
All the doors will be symbolically closed until Sunday, Dec. 13, when cathedrals around the world will open them as “holy doors” for the Jubilee. The opening ceremony will be celebrated in the Diocese of Jackson at the cathedral’s 10:30 a.m. Mass. Pilgrims can use the Holy Doors to gain indulgences during the year.
In the communiques from the Holy Father’s office and from the Pontifical Commission for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, which is coordinating the worldwide planning for this special jubilee, it was strongly suggested that there be one holy door in a diocese with that being at the cathedral. As distance may be a factor for some, Bishop Kopacz has designated several pilgrimage sites around the diocese as places of prayer, mercy and reconciliation.
In a letter to pastors at the designated sites, Bishop Kopacz wrote: “Since pilgrimage is a key element of any jubilee year and to allow the faithful who may not be able to make it to the cathedral to participate in the pilgrimage of walking through a holy door, I have designated numerous pilgrimage sites around our diocese. In several places I have designated all parishes in a town as “stations” to make up the whole pilgrimage site.
“Pilgrims will need to make a visit to all stations as part of the one pilgrimage. I think asking the faithful to make pilgrimages to several stations in one site reflects the spirit of mercy and forgiveness intended by the Holy Father in declaring this Jubilee of Mercy,” wrote Bishop Kopacz.
In announcing the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis explained in Misericordiae vultus, the papal bull declaring the special jubilee: “We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity and peace. Our salvation depends on it. Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us. Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life. Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.
“At times we are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives. For this reason I have proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a special time for the Church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective.” (Misericordiae vultus, 2-3)
A diocesan calendar in conjunction with the official Vatican calendar has been established with several days designated as pilgrimage days and also days of mercy. These days offer opportunities for pilgrims to visit diocesan pilgrimage sites and receive an indulgence.
Pilgrims may gain an indulgence for visiting the pilgrimage site, praying for the Holy Father’s intentions, participating in adoration and/or Mass if available and then going to confession within eight days of the visit.
In his letter explaining the special Jubilee indulgence, Pope Francis states: “It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy…. It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.”
Designated days of mercy are occasions for parishes and individuals to find specific ways they can perform the corporal works of mercy. The Pope outlined in the bull suggestions for jubilees to celebrate people with specific ministries, such as priests and religious, catechists, youth and other groups.
Other opportunities for growing in a better understanding of mercy and being a people of mercy are being developed to make the year a real occasion of grace-filled growth for our parishes, organizations and families. These opportunities coincide with the Holy Father’s themes of mercy to prisoners, those with disabilities, and so on. More on these activities will be communicated to parishes later in autumn.
When our Holy Father declared a Jubilee of Mercy this past spring, one has to wonder if he knew it would come at a time when our world really needs mercy more than anything else.
The world is a very scary place. European leaders are struggling to find a way to handle an influx of people from parts of an embroiled section of our world. Every day we face a barrage of media reports featuring shootings at schools, senseless killings, and angry voices. Yes, a year to focus on mercy and our faith as Christians in the face of this world will be a welcome moment in the life of our church and our communities.
I cannot think of a better time for there to be a Jubilee of Mercy. May we not waste this gift of a jubilee. For more information on the Jubilee of Mercy visit: https://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/en.html. A list of pilgrimage sites is available on the diocesan website, www.jacksondiocese.org.
We, as the community of faith, are the hands and face of God …
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
It is hard to believe 10 years have passed since Hurricane Katrina cascaded onto the shores of the Gulf Coast leaving a path of destruction unlike any many of us had ever seen before. Those of us who experienced the storm even as far north as Jackson often define our lives as before and after Katrina – it was a life-changing storm for millions of people.
What many may not remember about Katrina is she first made landfall on the Atlantic coast of Florida close to Miami. I remember this because I was in Miami for a meeting of SEPI – the Southeast Pastoral Institute, which develops leadership among the Spanish-speaking Catholic community in our region.
As the rain poured down and wind blew ferociously, I remember wondering if the waters of Biscayne Bay just 100 feet away would soon be in the house where I was staying. The next day after things had calmed down, I flew back to Jackson and was picked up at the airport by Mary Woodward, our diocesan chancellor, who remarked: “I think she’s following you.”
Sure enough, one week later Katrina smashed into the tip of southeastern Louisiana and the full brunt of the storm plowed through the Mississippi Gulf Coast crushing almost everything in her path with a 30 foot surge and spawning tornadoes all the way up to Jackson.
A few days later the levees gave way in New Orleans and the city of my birth and childhood was inundated with water filled with refuse, debris and at times dead bodies of those who did not or could not get out of the storm’s path. My Gentilly neighborhood took a huge hit from the flood.
The day before the storm made landfall, I celebrated Sunday Mass in St. Peter Cathedral. The church was packed with evacuees from the coast and New Orleans. Many looked as if they only had the clothes on their backs; many were in tears, but they had come to seek comfort and strength in the Eucharist in the face of what felt like impending doom.
I will never forget that Mass as there was not a dry eye in the Communion line. We all felt a sense of helplessness in the face of nature, but we took solace in knowing that no matter what happened the Eucharist was the one constant to which we could cling.
In Jackson, the next day and the morning of the storm – a Monday – our chancery staff gathered for morning prayer as usual and I informed them they should be wherever they needed to be to ride out the storm by 11 a.m. The chancery then shut down and the storm moved in as hurricanes do with strong headwinds, rain, tornadoes and ultimately downed power lines.
Most of our chancery staff was without power for several days, some for weeks. I could tell who did not have power by the time they arrived for work because I was right there with them at 6:30 and 7 a.m.
In retrospect I do not think any of us imagined the storm would wreak so much havoc this far north, but the city of Jackson, especially the old neighborhoods, suffered a great deal of damage. Ninety-seven percent of the city was without power for days, which meant very few gas stations were functioning, no banks, not much of anything. Our diocesan cathedral was damaged as well.
However, there was no complaining by our staff because we had seen the helicopter flyover of the Gulf Coast and we knew that whatever we saw here paled in comparison to what was left behind along the coast. Soon the phone calls from all over the country began to pour in to the chancery and Catholic Charities. Since communication lines were down all across the coast, people and organizations with offers of help turned to us to coordinate relief efforts.
Our response to the storm reflected to the world that indeed we, as the community of faith, are the hands and face of God and God’s love, which is given to us through Christ. And this love was shared by people of faith in all those communities devastated by the storm as individuals helped one another unselfishly. Neighbors took in neighbors and churches served as places of refuge.
One storm survival story I like to tell to epitomize the generosity of people and the faith of people is about the rescue of an elderly woman from her home. It seems the woman was trapped for several days by flood waters in New Orleans. A rescue boat came to get her and she shouted out for them to leave her because, “God is going to take care of me.” The rescuers shouted back, “God sent us to get you.” She got in the boat and was rescued. This reminded me of an old joke, but this was no joke and a woman was saved by people serving as the hands and face of God.
I still am extremely proud of the way our parishioners and parish staffs and diocesan staff at Catholic Charities and the Chancery brought hope to so many in the way we handled the situations that arose immediately following Katrina. There was so much to do and we put our hearts, minds and bodies into the work that needed to be done to meet the tremendous needs of those to the south of us as well as those who had evacuated to our cities and towns in the Diocese of Jackson.
Now 10 years later we have learned so many lessons from this catastrophic event in our lives. First, we all must be prepared for future disasters – natural and man-made – as individuals, as families, as parishes, and as a diocese.
Second, Katrina did a great deal of damage but the storm also reminded us of what is important in life – our family, friends and neighbors. Throughout this whole ordeal of Katrina, which in fact continues today, we have learned anew what it means to be a neighbor in the tradition of Jesus’ Good Samaritan.
(Bishop Joseph Latino was the bishop for the Diocese of Jackson. He is now retired, but continues to minister in the diocese.)