Por Berta Mexidor TUPELO – El Certificado de Educación Continua en Teología y Ministerio de la Universidad Loyola de New Orleans fue recibido por un grupo de doce líderes Hispanos del decanato V, después de cuatro años de estudio, en Misa especial el 27 de agosto en la iglesia de St. James.
El certificado fue entregado por los profesores Tracey Lamont, PhD. directora y profesora asistente y Thomas Ryan, PhD. director del Programa del Instituto Loyola para la Extensión del Ministerio (LIMEX). La Misa fue celebrada por el padre Timothy Murphy, concelebrada por los Padres Henry Shelton (retirado) y Mario Solorzano, quien fue el Homilista y asistidos por el diácono permanente Carlos Solá.
La Universidad Loyola de Nueva Orleans ofrece programas de Maestría y Certificado a ministros eclesiales laicos (LEM) así como a líderes parroquiales que sirven a su iglesia. El certificado de LIMEX consta de seis semestres, completando un curso en cada uno de ellos.
TUPELO – Yolanda Chávez; Luis Gordillo; Magaly Heredia; María de Jesús Hernández; Mariano Hernández; Maria León; Alejandro López; Eduardo Padilla; Teresa Pena; Luis Rosales; Bernardo Sorcia y Raquel Thompson recibieron el premio Kairos del Instituto del Ministerio de la Universidad Loyola el pasado mayo. El certificado por completar sus estudios de Teología vino de las manos del Dr. Thomas Ryan, director of LIMEX en Misa especial el 27 de Agosto. (Arriba) Los doce líderes de LIMEX y su coordinadora Danna Johnson se preparan y bajan la cabeza para recibir la bendición especial proveniente de los Padres Tim Murphy, Mario Solorzano, Henry Shelton y el diácono Carlos Solá. (Debajo) La audiencia, acompaña a los sacerdotes en la bendición. (Fotos de Berta Mexidor)
Los participantes Hispanos de la Diócesis pertenecen a las parroquias del decanato V: St. James de Tupelo, St. James de Corinth, St. Christopher de Pontotoc, St. Matthew de Ripley y St. Helen de Amory y han sido auspiciados por la oficina diocesana de Formación de Fe.
El grupo, recibió el Premio Kairos, del Instituto Loyola para el Ministerio el pasado mes de mayo, durante la ceremonia de graduación de Honores de la Facultad de Enfermería y Salud de Loyola. La palabra griega Kairos significa un ‘…espíritu pleno, cuando las personas y circunstancias se unen de forma extraordinaria para cumplir la voluntad de Dios en el mundo.”
Danna Johnson, quien obtuvo una Maestría en Teología de Loyola en 2019 y es ahora LEM en Inmaculate Heart of Mary Houston, fue la facilitadora del grupo. Las hermanas Carol Ann Prenger, SSND de Ripley y Jane Wand, SSND de Boonville fueron también una fuerza de apoyo y motivación para el grupo, acompañándolos en todo momento.
En su homilía, el padre Mario Solorzano dijo que estudiar cuatro años de teología es un gran logro, pero que el caso de los laicos, a diferencia de los sacerdotes, la tarea es doble porque además de estudiarla ”…ustedes la ponen en práctica todos los días en sus vidas de familias, en el trabajo y en sus comunidades. Por eso ustedes ven la fe de una manera diferente,” y los instó a usar aún más los conocimientos adquiridos.
El Padre Timothy Murphy explicó a Mississippi Catholic que LIMEX ha ayudado a grupos desde Natchez hasta Tupelo. “Una gran parte de los fondos para la traducción de los materiales al español fue proporcionada por la familia de la Sra. Betty Montgomery. Ella fue una de las primeras partidarias de LIMEX, con un doctorado en inglés y quien falleció trágicamente en un accidente en hace unos 10 años Tupelo.”
El programa LIMEX comenzó en Tupelo en 2008. El doctor Len Pinkley, pionero de LIMEX, recordó en su intervención el apoyo que recibió y la amistad imperecedera que se creó en el grupo, formado por seis miembros de la comunidad de Tupelo, incluido uno no católico.
El Padre Tim concluye que estos doce líderes Hispanos “…son una gran historia de superación, compromiso, evangelización y colaboración.”
La doctora Tracey Lamont, profesora de LIMEX, concluyó diciendo que el grupo se ha ganado “el derecho de llamarse una ‘comunidad de aprendizaje’.”
Por Raquel Thompson TUPELO – Me pidieron que les dé un testimonio acerca de cómo este Curso de LIMEX ha impactado mi vida tanto personal como espiritual y laboral.
Mi nombre es Raquel Thompson, estoy casada con mi esposo Ted por más de 25 años. Tenemos tres hijos: Anthony, Priscilla y Emma. Soy originaria de Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato Mexico y migrante de este pais por 27 años.
TUPELO – Raquel Thompson lee un sencillo y muy emotivo testimonio despues de recibir su certificado (derecha) de Educación Continua en Teología y Ministerio de la Universidad Loyola de New Orleans en Misa especial el 27 de agosto en St James. Lacopia de su testimonio es reproducida en esta sección.
Soy uno de los doce estudiantes de este curso del LIMEX y trabajo como Coordinadora de la Comunidad Hispana aquí en esta Parroquia de St. James Tupelo.
Voy a comenzar agradeciendo a toda mi familia por el apoyo incondicional que recibo de cada uno de ellos.
Otro agradecimiento muy especial lo doy al Padre Henry Shelton, ya que él fue quien hizo posible que en el año 2000 el Ministerio Hispano empezara aquí en St. James, con la ayuda del Padre Augusto Langenkamp y Elquin González.
Este resultado del día de hoy es uno de los tantos frutos recibidos, en esta parroquia de St. James, de las muchas semillas que ellos sembraron.
Le doy gracias además al Padre Tim Murphy por todo su apoyo, a Danna Johnson nuestra facilitadora, a la señora Fran Lavelle, directora de la oficina diocesana de formación de la fe, al Obispo Kopacz y a todas las personas en la Diócesis de Jackson que aportaron su grano de arena para que pudiéramos tener este tipo de programa en español.
Uno de los muchos impactos que surgieron, tanto en los días de estudio como en mi vida personal, en el ámbito laboral, así como en mi vida de fe, fue sensibilizarme para darme la paciencia de escuchar a las personas y a mí misma para así poder discernir y escuchar la voz de Dios.
Una de las cosas que me atrajo a este programa de LIMEX fue, sin lugar a dudas, un llamado de Dios, tocando a mi corazón para que abriera la puerta a este llamado. Recuerdo muy bien al Padre Tim y a Danna cuando me hicieron esta invitación, también al Dr. Ryan cuando vino a hacer la introducción de este programa y cuando me dije que “4 años son demasiados para mi especialmente teniendo a mi bebe pequeña.”
Después de poner, en oración, la decisión en las manos de Dios y tomarme el tiempo para discernir, me di cuenta de que era el momento de retomar estudios, después de mucho tiempo de haber dejado el estudio, Dios me estaba dando la oportunidad de aprender, de conocer y formarme más acerca de mi fe católica y de poder compartir todo lo aprendido, ponerlo en práctica en mi propia persona, en mi familia y en mi trabajo ministerial.
TUPELO – Los doctores Thomas Ryan, PhD. director of LIMEX y Tracey Lamont, PhD. profesores de Loyola University, acompañados de Fran Lavelle, directora de Formación de Fe se preparan para entregar el Ceriticado de estudios terminados, después de cuatro años de formación, a doce líderes hispanos del decanato V, en Misa especial el 27 de Agosto.
Una de las primeras cosas que recuerdo con mucho cariño de mis compañeros de clase fue la disponibilidad que se percibía tanto de la facilitadora como de cada uno de ellos, respetando los parámetros de dialogo, el respeto y la escucha durante cada clase.
Otra cosa fue que, en los tiempos de pandemia, de igual manera Danna nuestra facilitadora nos alentó para seguir adelante con nuestras clases vía Zoom y esto fue algo maravilloso para mí, ya que estoy segura que todo esto eran cosas de Dios, para que yo viera lo positivo, aún en medio de tan gran desafío que teníamos, en ese tiempo tan difícil de pandemia que pasamos.
Agradezco al Dr, Ryan, a la Dra. Tracy a todas las personas de la Universidad de Loyola porque han hecho un gran trabajo en desarrollo de este programa de LIMEX al hacerlo lo más sencillo y accesible para que todos los estudiantes pudiéramos entenderlo de la mejor manera posible, adaptado a nuestro horario y así poder tener la oportunidad de participar es este programa.
Yo exhorto a todos los jóvenes de nuestra parroquia o a las personas que quieran continuar estudiando que no pierdan la oportunidad de prepararse ya que nunca es tarde y este curso les va a enseñar a comprender más sobre su fe y crecer espiritualmente a un nivel personal, pero también para ser consientes y sensibilizarse de ver todas las cosas que pasan a su alrededor, teniendo una visión más congruente.
TUPELO – Dr. Len Pinkley, uno de los primeros alumnos del programa LIMEX en 2008, agradeció al Padre Shelton y a Loyola University y recordo a sus compañeros de estudio, vivos y ya fallecidos. (Fotos por Berta Mexidor)
Este programa del LIMEX ha influido de diferentes maneras en mi vida, me ha hecho una persona más madura en mi trabajo ministerial y más segura de mi fe católica, donde todo este estudio me llevo a experimentar, investigar, dialogar, estudiar de diferentes formas para poder comprender, sentir, pensar, percibir y compartir todos estos conocimientos aprendidos a los diferentes ministerios que tengo a mi cargo y a todas las personas que tengo a mi alrededor en especial a mi propia familia.
(Raquel Thompson ha recibido el Premio Kairos de la Universidad de Loyola y es líder del Ministerio Hispano de la parroquia de en St. James Tupelo)
Este es un póster promocional oficial del documental “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood”. El documental se transmitirá en las estaciones de ABC de todo el país a partir del 2 de octubre de 2022. (Foto de CNS/cortesía de NewGroup Media)
La hermana Anna Bakutara riega su brassica en el invernadero de la granja de St. Mary’s Abbey, una orden cerrada de cistercienses, en Glencairn, Irlanda, el 30 de agosto de 2022. El monasterio utiliza energía verde y agricultura sostenible para tratar de hacerse auto- suficiente para calefacción y comida. (Foto del CNS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters)
El cardenal Adalberto Martínez Flores de Asunción, Paraguay, saluda a un hombre durante la ceremonia de bienvenida frente a la Catedral Metropolitana de Asunción, el 1 de septiembre de 2019. 1 de enero de 2022. El cardenal Martínez se convirtió en el primer cardenal del mundo. 27 consistorio. (Foto del CNS/César Olmedo, Reuters)
Un hombre camina por una carretera a lo largo de la costa dañada por el tifón Hinnamnor en Ulsan, Corea del Sur, el 6 de septiembre de 2022. Corea del Sur fue azotada por fuertes lluvias y fuertes vientos, pero evitó la extensa destrucción que muchos temían cuando el tifón Hinnamnor, uno de los las tormentas más fuertes que jamás hayan llegado a sus costas, se abrieron paso hacia el mar más rápido de lo que esperaban los meteorólogos. (Foto del CNS/Agencia de Noticias Yonhap vía Reuters)
Los pakistaníes buscan ayuda alimentaria luego de las fuertes lluvias durante la temporada del monzón en Sehwan, Pakistán, el 1 de septiembre de 2022. Catholic Relief Services está trabajando con socios para distribuir ayuda a miles de personas afectadas por las inundaciones que han devastado la región. (Foto CNS/Yasir Rajput, Reuters)
Un hombre sostiene una foto del Papa Juan Pablo I antes de la celebración por el Papa Francisco de la beatificación del Papa Juan Pablo I en la Plaza de San Pedro en el Vaticano el 4 de septiembre de 2022. (Foto de CNS/Paul Haring)
Mujeres jóvenes a favor de la vida aparecen en una foto de archivo durante una protesta contra un proyecto de ley sobre el aborto en Madrid. La Conferencia Episcopal Española criticó un proyecto de ley respaldado por el gobierno que permitiría a mujeres de 16 años o más abortar sin el conocimiento o consentimiento de los padres e impondría multas e inhabilitaciones por objetar al personal médico. (CNS photo/Dani Cardona, Reuters)
Los nuevos cardenales salen en procesión después de la Misa del Papa Francisco con los nuevos cardenales en la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano el 30 de agosto de 2022. En la foto de izquierda a derecha están el cardenal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner de Manaus, Brasil, el cardenal estadounidense Robert W. McElroy de San Diego, el cardenal italiano Oscar Cantoni de Como y el cardenal brasileño Paulo Cezar Costa de Brasilia. (Foto del SNC/Paul Haring)
Los partidarios de la opción “Rechazo” reaccionan a los resultados del referéndum sobre una nueva constitución chilena en Concepción el 4 de septiembre de 2022. Los obispos chilenos piden un nuevo acuerdo inclusivo luego de que se rechazara la constitución propuesta. (Foto del CNS/Rodrigo Garrido, Reuters)
La ventana trasera de un taxi con la imagen de la reina Isabel II se estaciona cerca del Palacio de Buckingham en Londres el 8 de septiembre de 2022, mientras la gente se reúne después del anuncio de que la monarca con el reinado más largo de Gran Bretaña y la figura decorativa de la nación durante siete décadas murió a la edad de 96 años. (Foto CNS/Peter Nicholls, Reuters)
By Fran Lavelle He estado llamando a una revolución laica durante años. Antes de que alguien llame al Vaticano para que me arresten por incitar a una insurrección contra la iglesia, permítanme ser muy claro sobre lo que quiero decir.
Fran Lavelle
No estoy pidiendo una revolución laica contra la iglesia; más bien uno dentro de la iglesia en colaboración con los ordenados y consagrados. Durante generaciones y generaciones, Hermanas y Hermanos religiosos catequizaron a nuestros hijos, el Padre hizo visitas por enfermedad al hospital y a los hogares de ancianos. El Padre dio instrucciones para aquellos que buscaban entrar a la iglesia. También preparó parejas para el matrimonio. Los laicos tenían roles como cocineros, amas de casa y conserjes, pero el trabajo pesado del ministerio lo realizaban el clero y los religiosos. En los últimos casi 60 años desde el Vaticano II, hemos visto una fuerte disminución en el número de clérigos y religiosos que sirven a la iglesia. Tal vez los laicos no hayan sido empoderados o alentados a hacerlo, pero el Sínodo dejó en claro que todos deben participar en la realización del trabajo de la iglesia. Los ordenados y los religiosos ya no pueden asumir esa responsabilidad solos. La revolución laica de la que estoy hablando es para nosotros, los laicos, dar un paso al frente y asumir la responsabilidad de nuestra fe y los ministerios de la iglesia de una manera transformadora. Hemos mirado al liderazgo de la iglesia para que nos diga qué hacer. Las sesiones de escucha de nuestro Sínodo demostraron que nosotros, los laicos, sabemos lo que se necesita para ir más allá de una fe transaccional. Las personas de esta diócesis pidieron una mejor formación en la fe de jóvenes y adultos, pidieron el fin de la política partidista, pidieron una mayor unidad y pidieron sanación. Usted pidió que hiciéramos un mejor trabajo manteniendo a la iglesia joven comprometida y activa. Todo lo que escuchamos, todo lo que buscan los fieles está a nuestro alcance. Hay más programas, podcasts, series de videos, sitios web y recursos de los que uno podría haber imaginado. No necesitamos mejores recursos. No necesitamos un mejor libro de texto para educar a nuestros hijos en la fe. Necesitamos invocar al Espíritu Santo para que nos llene de pasión para usar los recursos y las herramientas que se nos han dado y convertirnos en líderes dentro de nuestras parroquias y comunidades. Lo que necesitamos son hacedores de la Palabra. Necesitamos personas que digan en serio: “Aquí estoy Señor, vengo a hacer tu voluntad.” ¿Cómo te conviertes en un líder transformador en la iglesia? Si ve una necesidad, hable con otros en su comunidad sobre lo que ven. Obtenga información de personas que no se parecen a usted ni piensan como usted. Si es válida la necesidad, desarrolle un plan para presentar al consejo parroquial o a tu párroco/LEM. A menudo, los feligreses acuden a la oficina de la iglesia para plantear una necesidad al párroco, pero no tienen ideas constructivas sobre cómo abordar el problema. No estoy abogando por que todos actuemos como vaqueros urbanos y destrocemos la oficina del pastor empeñados en hacer lo que queremos. Sugiero que cuando veamos una necesidad, desarrollemos soluciones, busquemos aportes, escuchemos a los demás y presentemos un plan bien formado para abordar el problema. Nos hemos aferrado a nuestras perlas durante demasiado tiempo. Hemos recurrido al clero o a otra persona para abordar los problemas que enfrenta la iglesia. Tengo una placa en mi oficina que dice. “El trabajo en equipo divide la tarea y multiplica el éxito. “ Si queremos comunidades de fe vibrantes y dinámicas, tenemos que ser personas de fe dinámicas y vibrantes. Multiplique el éxito de su comunidad parroquial. Sé parte de la solución. Aumenta. Esté presente. Comparte el viaje. (Fran Lavelle es directora de Formación de Fe.)
Welcome back to school and to the 2022-2023 school year. This summer has undoubtedly been the hottest one in my recollection. Still, the Office of Catholic Education and your school principals have been working diligently to ensure that students have the best start to this new school year.
“Serve the Lord with gladness” is the theme for Catholic schools across the diocese this school year. (Artwork by Katie Fenstermacher)
We want to welcome four new administrators to the diocese this year. They bring a wealth of experience and a heart for service to their local schools. Robin Branton will serve as high school principal for Cathedral School in Natchez. Robert Calcote will serve as principal at St. Patrick School in Meridian. Christopher Payne will serve as principal of Sister Thea Bowman School in Jackson. Finally, Jon Graham will serve as assistant principal for St. Aloysius in Vicksburg. We are excited to have them with us for this new school year! Returning to Catholic education to support the new leaders at their schools are Pat Sanguinetti for Cathedral School in Natchez and Dr. Virgil Strickland for St. Aloysius Vicksburg. We sincerely thank them for their dedicated service to Catholic education and are excited they are with us, even if they are only with us temporarily.
Our committees have been busy reviewing test scores, evaluating programs and making plans to address the responses received in our surveys at the end of last year. We will soon share our findings in the Office of Catholic Education annual report and the plans for this school year.
Our 2022-2023 theme comes from Psalm 100:2; Serve the Lord with Gladness. “Serve Others” is one-third of the pastoral priorities for the Diocese of Jackson. This year, we have chosen to acknowledge the National Eucharistic Revival and the Catechetical theme “This is my Body given for you,” through the loving act of service to each other and our communities. From the young children at the early learning centers to the high school seniors, our students, faculties, staff and administrators will be looking this year for opportunities to serve each other and their communities meaningfully.
Finally, we welcome you to the mission of Catholic education. As baptized Catholic Christians, we graciously accepted the responsibility to evangelize during the sacrament of Confirmation. You can support this mission by praying, volunteering in your parish schools and supporting school fundraisers. Our Catholic schools are not only an investment in society’s future but the future of our church as well.
Sincerely,
Karla Luke, Executive Director of Catholic Schools
Four new principals for our Catholic schools
Robin Branton – Cathedral School, Natchez
Robin Branton is a native of Baton Rouge who attended Louisiana State University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science degree with a concentration in secondary english education. She obtained her Master’s of Education degree in educational leadership from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She has eighteen years of educational experience, eleven of which have been spent in the Catholic school system including teaching English at St. Joseph’s Academy for six years before relocating to the Natchez area. She joined Cathedral School as an English teacher in 2017 before serving as the Middle School/High School Assistant Principal from 2020-2022.
Branton is married to John and they have five children – Tate (MSU c/o 2022), Searcy (Cathedral c/o 2024), Quin (Cathedral c/o 2029), Harrison (Cathedral c/o 2031) and Suzannah (Cathedral c/o 2033). Together they enjoy traveling, sports and family time. They are active members of St. Mary Basilica.
Catholic education and tradition is important to Branton, which is what brought her to Cathedral. It reminds her of her childhood schools and the educational background she received throughout her life. She hopes to continue to build on this wonderful, Catholic foundation, education and tradition that Cathedral carries with the trust and support of the school community.
Robert Calcote – St. Patrick School, Meridian
Rob Calcote is a native of Meridian. He received his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and an undergraduate and masters degree in education from Mississippi State University.
Calcote has been married to his wife Melissa for 30 years. They have one daughter, Claire Calcote, that is a registered pharmacist practicing in a second year residency program at CHI St. Joseph in Lexington, Kentucky.
Recently retired with 30 years of public education experience as a teacher and administrator with a background in four different grade levels, Calcote is ready for the task of leading St. Patrick School. Calcote says, he has always had the desire to lead a school that has a spiritual foundation with a tradition of academic excellence.
“My hope for St. Patrick Catholic School Meridian is that it will be a safe nurturing place where the dignity of each individual child is valued and the love of Christ is evident in everything we do,” says Calcote.
Jon C. Graham – St. Aloysius High School, Vicksburg
Jon Graham comes to St. Aloysius High School with a passion for preparing the minds, hearts and souls of young disciples for their academic success, future life endeavors, and meaningful opportunities to grow deeper in their faith in a Christ-centered environment enriched with Catholic values and traditions.
Graham has an extensive educational background with experiences in general education, special education, STEAM, curriculum development and management, and academic leadership and administration. He was honored in 2016, 2018 and 2020 as an educator of the month, and most recently was recognized as Vicksburg Daily News’ 2022 Swimming Coach of the Year.
Graham received a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a M.A. in education and teaching from Belhaven University, and an Ed.S. in educational leadership and administration from Delta State University. He is currently pursuing a Ed.D. in educational instruction and curriculum at Delta State University.
Graham, a Marine Corps veteran, is an active member of St. Paul of Vicksburg where he attends Mass with his supportive wife of 23 years, Christina and their three children – Noah (22), Jonah (14) and Emma Kate (12). As a family, they enjoy attending various sporting events and taking road trips to explore historical sites and trying out new foods.
Jon expressed, “I appreciate the rich traditions and esteemed reputation of St. Aloysius and I have great expectations for our future as we move forward into taking the school from good to great! My vision is to work collaboratively with all teachers, parents and stakeholders to strengthen our Catholic faith and the rigorous academics St. Aloysius already possesses as well as developing new opportunities to enrich our school, parish, community and, most importantly, our phenomenal students.”
Christopher Payne – Sister Thea Bowman School, Jackson
Christopher Payne was born and raised in Jackson. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. After graduation, Payne began his career as a teacher at Sister Thea Bowman School.
Payne says he is committed to being a positive role model for my students. “Because of the promise I made to God, my family, my principal, Mrs. Shae Robinson and mostly to my students, I stayed ready in my position as their teacher to now transitioning as principal. It is indeed surreal, yet aligned by God.”
Payne’s vision for Sister Thea Bowman School is one with substantial growth in enrollment and community relations with the city of Jackson. “Within my first year, I hope to continue the quality academic education that has been established here and bring new ideas and customs that will increase the perspective of my school within our community,” said Payne.
Father Aaron Williams leads the senior class in the traditional last first day of school sunrise prayer service on the Cathedral school football field.Beth Foster leads her kindergarten class into the cafeteria for the first time with a little instruction. Shhh! (Photos by Cara Moody)
COLUMBUS
rincipal Joni House welcomes Kindergartener Milo Parish and her mom at Annunciation school. Second grader, Mila Hardy says her prayers for a blessed first day of school. (Photos by Logan Waggoner)
GREENVILLE
Jennings let band students try out their new instruments that were received through the St. Cecilia Foundation. (Photos by Nikki Thompson)
SOUTHAVEN
Father Jack Kurps, SCJ, was the celebrant for Sacred Heart School’s first Mass of the school year. He reminded students that in addition to working and studying hard, they should always be kind and respectful.Sister Margaret Sue Broker, OSF and Sacred Heart School alum and parent, David Delgado, pose for a photo after the eighth grade jersey ceremony. (Photos by Laura Grisham)
HOLY SPRINGS
Breanna Sumlar, Kira Faulkner and Teyuana Reaves take a break from the day’s activities at Holy Family school. (Photo by Phyllis Parker)
VICKSBURG
St. Francis Xavier first grader, Kemper Maxwell is ready to learn on her first day of school.St. Aloysius interim principal, Buddy Strickland celebrates with the class of 2023 as they walk in for their “last, first day of school.” (Photos by Lindsey Bradley)
VICKSBURG – Father Rusty blesses backpacks at St. Paul parish. (Photo by Connie Hosemann)
MERIDIAN St. Patrick
Third graders Ladarius Ransom, Reese Washburn and Nolan Alexander play “uno” during a break on their first day at St. Patrick school. (Photos by Emily Thompson)
JACKSON
Sister Thea Bowman
Students get “write” to work in language arts class at Sister Thea Bowman school.Director of Catholic Schools, Karla Luke assists Khamyra Powell on her first day of PreK-3 at Sister Thea Bowman School. (Photos by Rachel Patterson)Riya GrayAshley MasonYohan Fulgham and Yanela Yedjou
St. Richard
Kay Sibley’s classMs. Morris and her new Kindergarten students get ready to learn on the first day of school at St. Richard. (Photos by Rachel Patterson)
MADISON
St. Anthony students draw self portraits on their first day of second grade. (Photos by Rachel Patterson)
VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent celebrates Vicksburg Catholic School’s faculty and staff Mass. All hope to find God’s grace in each other as they start the new school year with fresh hope, joy, forgiveness and love. They will serve the Lord with gladness. (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)COLUMBUS – Mrs. Ferraez and Mrs. Young learn about the new technology program at Annunciation school and work on assigning new devices (iPads and Chromebooks) to all students for the year. (Photo by Logan Waggoner)JACKSON – Parents and students gathered at St. Richard school for the “Meet the Teacher” event on Thursday, Aug. 4. (Photo by Tereza Ma)GREENVILLE – Father Sanchez prays over high school faculty before their first classes with students. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)MERIDIAN – Father Augustine blesses backpacks. (Photo by Emily Thompson)
In the Lord’s Army
YAZOO CITY – Youth at St. Mary parish participated in Vacation Bible School with the theme “Armor of God.” The children dressed as knights and sang “In the Lord’s Army” at the close of event. (Photo courtesy of Babs McMaster)
JACKSON – In Mississippi, the month of August stirs a myriad of thoughts of the “3-H’s” for which we are so well-known – heat, humidity and hurricanes. This August is no different. I would like to share a couple of memories of Augusts gone by.
Two of the worst hurricanes to make landfall in the history of the state and country were August hurricanes named Camille (Aug. 17 and 18, 1969) and Katrina, which actually made landfall first across Miami on Aug. 23, 2005, then again in Mississippi on Aug. 29.
Well, let me now date myself. I remember Hurricane Camille. We grew up on Millsaps College campus in Jackson in faculty housing. When Camille came ashore 170 miles south of our house, the old-style metal two-inch green Venetian blinds stood out from the windows rattling in the wind all night long. That image is forever etched in my mind.
Destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina is seen in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 6. Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding left more than 500,000 people homeless. Catholic churches, organizations and schools were among the institutions taking in evacuees and providing temporary shelter and schooling. (CNS photo by Ed Foster, Jr.) (Sept. 8, 2005)
Prior to destroying all wind measuring tools, Camille was clocked at a one minute sustained 175 mph winds with a 25-foot storm surge. She was fierce and became the benchmark of storms for years to come until 2005, when Katrina made her way toward the Gulf Coast.
What many may not remember is Katrina had already made landfall near Miami and caused widespread flooding and power outages there a week before. I remember because Bishop Joseph Latino was in Miami when the first landfall occurred. He had that kind of luck throughout his life.
As I watched the path of Katrina develop, it became eerily similar to Camille’s path straight up the Gulf. When I picked up Bishop Latino at the airport upon his return from Miami a few days after the initial landfall, I made the remark that Katrina was following him. There was definitely a bad feeling about this storm.
That weekend, the Cathedral in Jackson experienced standing room only congregations – filled with evacuees from the Gulf Coast and Louisiana. As people came forward in the communion line, there was not a dry eye in the house.
While Katrina was making landfall early Monday morning, we in the chancery office were sent home and told to be where we needed to be for the next 12 hours by 11 a.m. When I arrived home after dropping off a couple of cases of Catholic Extension Bibles for evacuees at the Coliseum, I hunkered down with my pimento cheese and Zapp’s. Taking comfort in the fact that my 70-year-old house had survived Camille, I watched the news until the power was knocked out around noon.
Still, I was confident in the structure of my house even when the attic turbine snapped off, bounded down the roof and landed at my feet on the back porch. I was losing confidence when I took my nearly decapitated self into the attic to put a bucket under the hole in the roof left by the now absent turbine. I recall thinking “next stop Oz.”
After what seemed like a 10-hour tornado in slow motion, the next morning I ventured out following the sounds of the chainsaw to get neighbors to put me on their list of tree removal. They came and dispatched the tree on the fence, shared some cold water I had in an ice chest (I was prepared because of the really bad feeling about the storm), and moved on to the next neighbor.
We all pulled together to help because we knew if it was this bad in Jackson, it had to be 1000 times worse on the Coast. I recollect seeing the helicopter flyover of the Gulf Coast – we were wrong – it was a million times worse. Who could have ever imagined worse devastation than Camille? Those thoughts entered my mind in the attic the night before, but the reality of it in one flyover report removed all doubt. After a day of clean up in the neighborhood, the next day provided a chancery office with electricity and air-conditioning. It also became a hub for evacuees to come and use email and Facebook on our computers to let family and friends around the world know they were ok.
Indeed, it was quite the time in Jackson, but nothing in comparison to our friends at the chancery office in Biloxi whom we did not know whether they were ok or not for a full two days due to shattered communication lines and towers.
From an archive’s perspective, after dealing with the humanitarian needs of these disasters, thoughts turn immediately to sacramental registers in destroyed churches. These registers contain our sacramental lives, which are often used to establish identity, get a passport and obtain pensions. In our diocese, every 10 years we bring in these registers and make copies of the contents in the event of such a disaster. Because there were microfilm copies of registers in 1969, parishes that may have lost registers to the storm were able to get copies of them. Ideally, these registers would be stored in secure environments, but that is not always possible.
As we move through August and the Gulf continues to heat up, this is a prime time for parishes to reexamine plans for sacramental register safekeeping. Simple things such as large Ziploc bags on hand and portable watertight containers available can go a long way in protecting these lifelines for parishioners and the church.
Another handy thing to have is a disaster clean up kit in a bucket that includes bleach, gloves, masks and scrubbing brushes. As I write this, I remember there is a bucket is still in my attic… Take care and stay safe.
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)
PEARL – On Saturday, June 25 the St. Joseph and St. Therese of Lisieux Order of Discalced Carmelite Seculars welcomed three Aspirants to the group at the Rite of Admission at St. Jude Parish in Pearl. The Aspirants are Father Lincoln Dall, Michael McFadden and Gabriela Thompson. They now enter a deeper level of study and formation into Carmelite spirituality and Community life that will continue for the next two years. Each one was given a Bible and the brown scapular of the Order. (Photo by Rhonda Bowden)
NATION WASHINGTON (CNS) – Decrying President Joe Biden’s new executive order on abortion, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee said Aug. 5 that “continued promotion of abortion takes lives and irreparably harms vulnerable pregnant mothers, their families and society. Even preceding the Dobbs decision, my brother bishops and I have implored the nation to stand with moms in need, and work together to protect and support women and children,” Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said in a statement. “It is the wrong direction to take at a moment when we should be working to support women and to build up a culture of life,” added the prelate, who heads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-life Activities. On Aug. 3, Biden signed an executive order instructing the Department of Health and Human Services “to advance access to reproductive health care services, including, to the extent permitted by federal law, through Medicaid for patients traveling across state lines for medical care.” In his statement, Archbishop Lori said: “I continue to call on the president and all our elected officials to increase support and care to mothers and babies, rather than facilitate the destruction of defenseless, voiceless human beings,” he said.
LAFAYETTE, La. (CNS) – The annual Fête-Dieu du Têche in the Diocese of Lafayette took place on the feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15, and this year’s 40-mile eucharistic procession by boat down the Bayou Têche coincides with the U.S. Catholic Church’s three-year National Eucharistic Revival now underway. “In an effort to cultivate a deeper devotion to Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, boaters will be able to choose a patron from a list of 50 eucharistic witnesses – saints and blesseds “who exemplified a life totally dedicated to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist,” according to a news release about this year’s event. Saints known for their love of the Eucharist were highlighted, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Jean Vianney, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Teresa of Kolkata, as well as Blessed Carlo Acutis. “The intention for the all-day spiritual and cultural celebration will be for a ‘Renaissance Eucharistique’ in Acadiana and beyond,” the release said. Acadiana refers to the French Louisiana region – composed of 22 parishes – that is home to the Cajun people. Cajuns are descendants of the Acadians, a people exiled from present-day Nova Scotia by the British during the French and Indian War. They settled along the bayous and prairies of southwest Louisiana.
VATICAN VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis plans to make his long-awaited visit to Ukraine before his trip to Kazakhstan in September, said Andrii Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See. In a series of tweets posted Aug. 6 after meeting with the pope, Yurash said the people of Ukraine “have been waiting for the pope” since the start of the war and will “be happy to greet him before his trip to Kazakhstan.” “I am very close to Ukraine and want to express this closeness (through) my visit to Ukraine,” the pope said, according to the Ukrainian ambassador. “Moments of communication with (the) Holy Father are always inspirational,” he said in a follow-up tweet. “Especially when there is a chance to discuss and promote subjects that are ‘on the table’ for a long time, like the pope’s visit to Ukraine.” The pope expressed on several occasions his desire to not only visit Ukraine, but also Russia to plead for an end to the conflict. In an interview with Catholic News Service July 18, Yurash said that while Ukraine was ready for a papal visit, he doubted the pope would be able to visit Moscow.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Hungarian Father Péter Oros, who was killed at the height of the Cold War by Soviets in Ukraine. During a meeting Aug. 5 with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the pope also signed decrees advancing the sainthood causes of four other men and one woman. According to the dicastery’s website, Father Oros was born in Biri, present-day Hungary, in 1917 and was ordained a priest for the Ruthenian Eparchy of Mukachevo in 1942. Some records indicate a Byzantine bishop born in the same year with a similar name. Although the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints states Father Oros was an Eastern-rite Catholic priest, it was not unusual at the time for an auxiliary bishop to be named clandestinely. After the annexation of the Transcarpathian territory in present-day Ukraine, the suppression of Eastern Catholic churches forced Father Oros into hiding. After a warrant for his arrest was issued in 1953, he was shot and killed by a police officer at a train station in Siltse, Ukraine, while attempting to flee.
WORLD LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) – Nigerian officials identified six suspects arrested in connection with the June 5 attack that killed 40 people at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo. Maj. Gen. Jimmy Akpor, defense department spokesman, said all were linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province group. He said the arrests were made through a joint effort of military and defense officials. Akpor said a preliminary investigation showed that “Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Catholic Church in Owo as well as the attack on a police station” in Kogi state June 23. In the second attack, a police officer was killed and weapons were stolen. Omeiza is sometimes known as Bin Malik. Police also arrested Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi for the Owo attack, in which attackers sneaked into a Pentecost Mass with explosives. Akpor confirmed Aug. 10 that the four were arrested Aug. 1. On Aug. 11, Akpor said officials had arrested two more suspects: Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris. Officials did not release a motive for the attack.
AACHEN, Germany (CNS) – Missio, one of Germany’s Pontifical Mission Societies, marked the third World Day Against Witch Hunts Aug. 10 by warning that the phenomenon is on the increase worldwide. The German Catholic news agency KNA said that in at least 43 countries, women, but also men and children, are in mortal danger because they are being persecuted as alleged witches, according to the 2022 World Map of Witch Hunts published by missio Aachen. Missio said it had added Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe to the map since last year. Most of the countries affected are in Africa, but the phenomenon also exists in Southeast Asia as well as Mexico, Bolivia, Guatemala and Haiti. The current missio world map is based on conservative estimates. Other lists put the number of affected countries near 60, KNA reported. Experts said more people had been killed as alleged witches and sorcerers worldwide in the past 60 years than in the 350 years of European witch hunts. The accusation of witchcraft often is triggered by sudden and inexplicable deaths or illnesses, but also by weather phenomena, Swiss Franciscan Sister Lorena Jenal said in a recent interview with KNA.
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cuban bishops and Pope Francis asked for prayers as a major fire has caused at least one death, more than 100 injuries and left 17 firefighters missing in Cuba. The fire initially began with a lightning strike that hit a tank at an oil facility Aug. 5 and has since spread along the port city of Matanzas. Thousands were evacuated from the region as the fire spread from one tank to three. Some feared wind was spreading the contamination to other parts of the island, including to the capital, Havana, about 60 miles away. Pope Francis, in a telegram sent to the Cuban bishops via Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said he was following news about the “unfortunate accident. May the Lord grant you strength in this moment of pain and sustain the work of extinction (of flames) and (of) search and rescue,” the telegram said.
