By Michael O’Loughlin MILWAUKEE, Wis. – On June 21, 34 School Sisters of St. Francis in the United States will celebrate milestone anniversaries of service as women religious. In addition, one lay woman in associate relationship with the community will celebrate her 50-year Jubilee, and another will celebrate 40 years. Two sisters’ ministries include service in the Diocese of Jackson.
80 Years – Sister Frances Kloewer Sister Frances Kloewer (Mary Bennet) is celebrating 80 years of consecrated life. Sister Frances was born in Harlan, Iowa. She has a bachelor of science degree in education from Alverno College, and a master of science degree in education from the University of Nebraska. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Frances served as principal and teacher at Christ the King School in Jackson (1957-1966); taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1967-1970), and Holy Family School in Jackson (1970-1972). She now ministers through her prayer and presence at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee.
75 Years – Sister Dorothy Hegemann Sister Dorothy Hegemann (Myriam) is celebrating 75 years of consecrated life. Sister Dorothy was born in Howells, Nebraska. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee. In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister taught at St. Mary School in Holly Springs (1954-1958) and St. Francis High School in Yazoo City (1958-1959). She now ministers through her prayer and presence at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee. Note: Cards may be mailed to sister’s name, Attn: Jubilee Committee, 1515 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215.
The School Sisters of St. Francis are an international community of Catholic sisters devoted to education, healthcare, and social justice ministries around the world. Founded in 1874, they continue to serve with compassion and faith. Learn more at schoolsistersosf.org.
By Staff Reports JACKSON – St. Dominic Health, a part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, joyfully hosted the blessing and dedication ceremony for the new St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, open at the St. Dominic Center Complex in Jackson on May 14. This marks Mississippi’s third location for the pharmacy, which is licensed by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy to dispense non-controlled medication. It provides free prescriptions and wellness education to uninsured and underserved individuals. The initial collaborators are St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy and Stewpot Community Services along with individuals served at St. Dominic’s Sister Trinita Community Clinic. Other partners are welcome.
Jackson’s location of the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy operates on the ground floor of St. Dominic’s Saxony building at 3820 I-55 North Frontage Road. (Photo courtesy of St. Dominic Health)
“This endeavor reflects our ongoing commitment to compassionate healthcare,” said Jeremy Tinnerello, president of St. Dominic Health and the Jackson market. “By donating the space and supporting operations, we continue and expand our commitment to serve those most in need in our community.” The pharmacy is in the Saxony building of the St. Dominic Center Complex at 3820 Interstate 55 North Frontage Road and operates two days a week. Samuel Burke, St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy executive director, said, “Our doors are open from 9 a.m. until noon. Eligibility is done on Tuesdays and walk-in services are available on Thursdays.” A shuttle service is available from Sister Trinita Community Clinic and Stewpot Community Services to the pharmacy on Tuesdays and Thursdays during operating hours. The pharmacy serves eligible patients referred through community clinics, charitable organizations and healthcare providers. Medications are provided to individuals with current prescriptions at no cost, sourced from unused, unopened medications donated by licensed facilities. “Our volunteers are ready to assist with the qualification process and getting individuals the medicine they desperately need. The eligibility process usually takes about an hour,” Burke added. Know someone in need? Share this resource at https://svdprx.org/apply-for-assistance.
For more information about the pharmacy, its services, making referrals or volunteering call (601) 326-1717.
FRONTENAC, Mo. – Sister Marie Annette Seymour, RSM, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas for 63 years, died May 20, 2025, at Catherine’s Residence in Frontenac. She was 82. Born May 14, 1943, in Meridian, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Edward and Jamie Seymour. She is survived by her sisters, Linda Foster (Steve), Connie Robert (Pete), Janice Hess (Buddy) and Luky Seymour (Gene); her brother, Sid Seymour (Liz); and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Laura Opperman (Fred), Jimmy Seymour and Leo Seymour (Nancy). Sister Annette graduated from St. Francis Xavier in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1962. She entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1962, and received the name Sister Mary Charisse. She professed her first vows in 1965 and made perpetual profession on Aug. 16, 1970. Her ring motto was “Love Conquers All.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a certificate in secondary education from Saint Louis University, a Master of Arts in communication studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a certificate in spiritual direction from Mercy Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was also certified as a Healing Touch practitioner. Sister Annette taught at St. Joseph Parish School, St. John’s Inter-Parochial High School and Sacred Heart High School, all in Mississippi. She served in campus ministry at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi; Maplewood Community College in New Orleans; the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg; and Radford University in Richmond, Virginia. She also served for four years as vocation minister for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Later in life, she offered Healing Touch therapy at Pratt Cancer Center, Mercy Hospital St. Louis and Mercy Center in St. Louis. Sister Annette enjoyed dancing, singing and cooking. She cherished time with family and friends, valued lifelong learning and supported the arts. A liturgy was held Saturday, May 31 at the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in Frontenac. Interment was private at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, Attention: Sister Christine Blair, RSM, 2039 N. Geyer Road, St. Louis, MO 63131.
As part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City process June 1, 2025, from Christ the King Catholic Church to St. Eugene Catholic Church. Pilgrimage organizers are encouraging Catholics to turn out in strong numbers for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Eucharistic processions to counter the growing number of anti-Catholic protesters who consistently have been present at the route’s public events. (OSV News photo/Avery Holt, courtesy Archdiocese of Oklahoma City)
NATION OKLAHOMA CITY (OSV News) – Catholics are being urged to attend National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events in large numbers as anti-Catholic protests grow along the 3,340-mile St. Katharine Drexel Route. Protesters – many from the Church of Wells in Wells, Texas – have targeted Eucharistic processions, denouncing Catholic beliefs, particularly Jesus’ real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Up to 50 protesters, including children, confronted pilgrims in Oklahoma from May 30 to June 2. Organizers expect increased demonstrations as the 36-day pilgrimage moves through Texas and into California. “This is walking with our Lord against attacks,” said Jason Shanks, president of National Eucharistic Congress Inc., urging Catholics to witness boldly but peacefully. He advised against engaging with protesters and emphasized prayer, humility and charity. The pilgrimage, which began May 18 in Indianapolis, includes daily stops for Mass, adoration and service. Organizers are monitoring security but have not altered the schedule. Drawing a parallel to Jesus’ journey on the Via Dolorosa, the route he took while carrying the cross in Jerusalem to his crucifixion and death, Shanks said pilgrims are walking “the Way of the Cross.” WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The U.S. Supreme Court on June 5 unanimously ruled in favor of the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, who had asked the high court to overturn a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court the agency argued discounted its religious identity. The group previously appealed a ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that Catholic Charities is not exempt from paying into the state’s unemployment insurance system because its operations aren’t primarily religious under the definition in the statute requiring certain employers to do so. However, in an opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously found the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling violated the First Amendment by creating a preference for some religious practices over others. In a statement celebrating the ruling, Bishop James P. Powers of Superior said, “At the heart of Catholic Charities’ ministry is Christ’s call to care for the least of our brothers and sisters, without condition and without exception. We’re grateful the Court unanimously recognized that improving the human condition by serving the poor is part of our religious exercise and has allowed us to continue serving those in need throughout our diocese and beyond.”
VATICAN VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Although Pope Francis already set Aug. 3 as the date to declare the sainthood of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pope Leo XIV will hold a meeting with cardinals to approve his canonization and that of seven other people. The meeting, known as an “ordinary public consistory,” is scheduled for June 13, the Vatican announced. Cardinals living in or visiting Rome are invited to participate in the consistory, which typically is a prayer service that includes the reading of a brief biography of the sainthood candidate, the pope’s solicitation of the cardinals’ approval of the canonization and, usually, an announcement of the date for the ceremony. Since the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which had been scheduled for April 27, was postponed after the death of Pope Francis, it is possible that in conjunction with the consistory the Vatican would announce a new date to proclaim him a saint. VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Leo XIV and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held their first telephone conversation June 4 with the pope encouraging Putin to make a gesture to show he is serious about peace with Ukraine, the Vatican press office said. “I confirm that this afternoon there was a telephone conversation between Pope Leo XIV and President Putin,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. While they spoke of several “matters of mutual interest,” Bruni said that “special attention was paid to the situation in Ukraine and peace. The pope made an appeal for Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, stressed the importance of dialogue for the realization of positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict,” Bruni said.
WORLD SÃO PAULO (OSV News) – Two Brazilian nuns have gone viral worldwide after a May 28 video showed them beatboxing and dancing hip hop on Catholic TV – drawing comparisons to a real-life “Sister Act.” Sisters Marizele Isabel Cassiano Rego and Marisa de Paula Neves, of the Sisters of the Copious Redemption, were promoting a vocational event on the Pai Eterno network when they broke into a lively, faith-filled performance. The video, filmed May 20 in Goiás state, caught the attention of celebrities like Viola Davis and Whoopi Goldberg, who praised their joyful witness on ABC’s “The View.” Known for using music and dance in their ministry to drug addicts, both sisters say creative evangelization helps break stereotypes and connect with youth. “People think nuns are rigid,” Sister Marizele told OSV News. “But when they see us sing and dance, they see who we really are.” Their vibrant approach is now inspiring the youth to get in touch with the church. NAMUGONGO, Uganda (OSV News) – In Uganda, ten of thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Namugongo shrine June 3 to honor the Uganda Martyrs – 45 Christians killed for their faith between 1885 and 1887. Among them, Catholic convert St. Charles Lwanga was burned alive at the very site of the annual pilgrimage. This year’s Martyrs Day marked a return to pre-COVID crowds, with the faithful trekking hundreds of miles from across East Africa, many praying for healing, peace and hope. Despite the joy, security was tight after Ugandan forces thwarted a terror attack just hours before the feast. Suspected extremists, armed with explosive vests, were killed near the Munyonyo Basilica. President Yoweri Museveni and church leaders called the 19th-century martyrs, who died at the order of the king, a symbol of resilience and a challenge to live out courageous faith. Pilgrims, carrying water from the shrine’s healing spring, left with renewed hope. As one said, “I arrived empty, but I’m leaving full – something will change.”
Reflections on Life By Melvin Arrington Among the countless fictional detectives on TV and in the movies, one stands out above all the others for his rock-solid faith, his vast knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal mind, and his unyielding efforts to catch lost souls and lead them back into the fold. This detective also happens to be a priest. Of course I’m referring to Father Brown, created by Catholic convert G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) who, oddly enough, had not yet converted when Father Brown made his first appearance in a 1910 short story, “The Blue Cross.” Chesterton based his immortal amateur sleuth on Father John O’Connor, a parish priest who would come to play a major role in his conversion to the Catholic faith. From conversations with Father O’Connor, Chesterton devised the notion of “constructing a comedy in which a priest should appear to know nothing and in fact know more about crime than the criminals.” This basic irony, which persists throughout the stories, has a startling explanation: Father Brown has intricate knowledge of criminal behavior because he has heard all the sordid details in the confessional. Chesterton wrote more than fifty short stories scattered across five volumes about his famous crime-solving clergyman. In the first collection, “The Innocence of Father Brown” (1911), he describes his most celebrated creation as “a very short Roman Catholic priest [with] a face as round and dull as a Norfolk dumpling [and] eyes as empty as the North Sea.” He also makes reference to “his quaint blending of Essex flatness with saintly simplicity” and the “large, shabby umbrella” he carries. With this minimal description Chesterton leaves it to his readers’ imagination to fill in the details of what this man of the cloth looks like. As a result of the lack of more specific information about the character’s appearance, the manner in which he has been portrayed has varied considerably. To date, at least ten actors have interpreted Chesterton’s mystery-solving cleric on the large and small screens. The first was an American, Walter Connolly, who starred in “Father Brown, Detective,” a movie released in 1934, during Chesterton’s lifetime. One of the most notable performances was given by Kenneth More, who took on the role for a 1974 British TV series lasting thirteen episodes, each of which bears the title of a Chesterton story and is, generally speaking, faithful to the source material. Also worth noting is a 1979 film, “Sanctuary of Fear,” a typical made-for-TV movie of that period. Set in New York City, far removed from the fictional universe of the original stories, it stars Barnard Hughes, who gives a competent performance but, unfortunately, he bears little or no resemblance to the way Father Brown’s creator imagined him. The performer who currently plays the part, the likeable English actor Mark Williams, has starred in the long-running British TV series about the priest/detective since 2013. It’s paradoxical that Williams has been so successful because he is a large man, over six feet tall, playing a character who is, by all accounts, “very short.” All the versions mentioned so far, except the 1934 film, are in color. A black-and-white production, however, seems more appropriate for creating the atmosphere of the shady world of crime. Although I wouldn’t brand these movies and TV episodes as film noir, it seems logical that the dramatization of detective stories, normally associated with the realm of shadows and the interplay of light and darkness, would achieve greater stylistic effect in black-and-white. With these technical aspects in mind, let’s move on to the screen version that captures the essence of Chesterton’s creation better than any of the other adaptations: the 1954 black-and-white film “The Detective,” starring the distinguished English actor Alec Guinness as Father Brown. Guinness, by the way, would go on to receive a Best Actor Academy Award three years later for “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and gain lasting fame for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the “Star Wars” cinematic franchise.
Although of average height and thus much taller than Chesterton’s extremely short priest, Guinness fits the part perfectly because on screen he strikes the viewer as a small and insignificant figure, just the type to blend into the background and be overlooked and underestimated by lawman and lawbreaker alike. Guinness takes upon himself Father Brown’s humor, charm and eccentricities to such a degree that I can’t imagine anyone else improving on his performance. The strong supporting cast includes Peter Finch as the infamous international art thief, Flambeau, and Bernard Lee as Inspector Valentine, the police detective who obstinately chases after Father Brown while the latter stays hot on the trail of Flambeau. “The Detective,” very loosely based on “The Blue Cross,” opens with a police car racing to the scene of a crime. There, we see a man hiding in the darkness. As soon as the police enter the building, this shadowy figure manages to make his exit undetected. What the officers discover is truly shocking: a priest in front of an open safe with stacks of money in his hands. But rather than taking the money out of the safe, he was actually putting it back in. We quickly learn that when the priest had first become aware of the theft, he had convinced the real burglar to let him return the money to the safe. Later, he sets up the would-be robber in an honest job as a chauffeur to one of his parishioners. This captures the essence of Father Brown: he will go to any extreme to win over the sinner and turn him away from a life of crime. Father Brown’s primary concern in “The Detective” involves the capture of Flambeau, but, oddly enough, he has no desire to put the thief behind bars; his only concern is for the state of his quarry’s soul. Like the “Hound of Heaven” going after His prey, the little priest is relentless in his pursuit of the famous criminal. He never gives up because, as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen says, “unless souls are saved, nothing is saved.” Little children also have a part to play in this drama of salvation. Although on camera only briefly, their appearance speaks volumes, especially if one calls to mind the prophecy that “a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6) and the words of Jesus: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) In order not to give away the climactic scene, I’ll not say anything else on this subject. As a postscript, it’s worth noting that while the film crew was shooting on location in France a dramatic episode occurred involving Guinness and a little child. This scene was definitely not in the script. During a break in filming, Guinness, rather than changing clothes, decided to remain in clerical attire. A little boy spotted him, grabbed him by the hand, and called out “Father, Father” in French. Although Guinness’ French was inadequate to carry on a conversation, the actor was, nevertheless, deeply moved that the child, a total stranger, felt a close attachment to him simply because the boy thought he was actually a priest. Not long after this incident, Guinness converted to Catholicism. Father Brown’s tenacity paid off. He caught another one. You can catch “The Detective” now streaming for free on Tubi.
(Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Oxford.)
MERIDIAN – Members of Knights of Columbus Council 802 gathered Monday, May 26, at St. Patrick Cemetery to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States. The small, dedicated group raised the American flag before lowering it to half-staff, shared personal stories of loved ones who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts, and reflected on the freedoms secured through their sacrifices. The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt testimony from Vietnam War veteran Ken Woodward and a group rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Pictured (l-r): William Nix, John Harwell, Robert Leo, Donna Polizzi, Denise Huntley, John Bennett, Frank Polizzi and Robert Connor. (Photo by David Stephens)
The two Mississippi graduates of the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, pictured from left are Liz Rooks-Barber (St. Francis of Assisi, Madison), Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology, and John Lebert Smith, Sr. (West Point, Immaculate Conception), Master of Arts in Theology with a Concentration in Sacred Scripture. They were part of the largest graduating class in the Institute’s 20-year history and the first to graduate from the new Florissant, Missouri campus on May 3, 2025. Both are dedicated parish volunteers who found joy and purpose in this labor of love. (Photo courtesy of Liz Rooks-Barber)
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference “Come Holy Spirit With Your Fire” on July 25 and 26, featuring Ralph Martin as the main speaker. Details: email Jeannie at Jwade3585@outlook.com or call Ray at 205-999-8947. Register at www.catholiccharismaticrenewal.org. DIOCESE – Pilgrims of Hope in a Multicultural Church, June 21 at St. Francis Greenwood with speaker Deacon Ted Schreck and June 28 at St. James Tupelo with speaker Sister Carol Prenger. Programs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a light lunch. Please register one week before events at https://bit.ly/4jFn7Mi. Details: Sister Amelia Breton at (601) 949-6935 or email amelia.breton@jacksondiocese.org. GREENWOOD – Locus Benedictus, Inner Healing Retreat – “I have called you by name,” Saturday, June 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenters: Dr. Sheryl Jones and Joyce Pellegrin. Details: Register via email to contactlocusbenedictus@gmail.com or call (662) 299-1232. JACKSON – St. Richard, ChristLife: Discovering Christ, begins Wednesday, Sept. 10 and ends Oct. 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Foley Hall. Retreat on Saturday, Oct. 11. Enjoy a delicious meal, listen to a dynamic teaching that helps people enter into or renew a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, experience the love of God the Father and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as God’s children and join in a small group discussion. Register at https://bit.ly/3HvRKGE. Details: call Tiffany at (601) 842-0151. TUPELO – St. James, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level II Adult Formation Course beginning July 17. Mixed format with dates in July and September of 2025 and January, April and June 2026. Course cost $650 per participant; discounts available for parishes sending more than three participants. Details: email karen@stjamestupelo.com.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis, “True North” Vacation Bible School, July 13-16 from 5:30-8 p.m. Details: email office@stfrancisbrookhaven.org. CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, “True North” Vacation Bible School for PreK-3 through third grade, June 16-18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Details: register online: www.myvbs.org/olvcleveland. FLOWOOD – St. Paul, Annual Jose’ Lopez Texas Hold’em Tournament, Saturday, June 28 at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Buy-in is $25. Details: church office at (601) 992-9547. GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, “True North” Vacation Bible School, June 23-27 from 5:15-8 p.m. in the parish hall. Dinner and games from 5:15-6 p.m. Open to all children entering K through sixth grade. Cost: $15 per child/$30 max per family. Details: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/stjosephgluckstadt – select one-time donation and then VBS 2025 as the fund. JACKSON – Holy Ghost, 50th Anniversary of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Saturday, June 21 in the parish life center. Details: Please RSVP for luncheon by call or text to Sandra Lynn at (601) 505-1679. JACKSON – Catholic Charities, 20th annual Bishop’s Ball, Saturday, July 19 at the Two Mississippi Museums. Cocktail hour at 6 p.m. with an auction at 7 p.m. Live music by the Patrick Harkins Bank. Details: call (601) 355-8634 or visit https://event.gives/bb25. MADISON – St. Francis, Vacation Bible School, June 23-26 from 9 a.m. till noon. Students ages four through fourth grade are welcome to join the “Prayer Safari” and students in grades fifth through eighth are invited to the “Creativity Kingdom” VBS Creative Arts camp. Details: email mc.george@stfrancismadison.org. MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, “True North” Vacation Bible School for K through sixth grades, June 23-27 from 8 a.m. to noon in the gym, with lunch provided. Details: register at vbspro.events/p/meridian.
Por Joe Lee MADISON – Ed Donohoe no tuvo que viajar tan lejos como los familiares del padre Frank Cosgrove, que vinieron desde Irlanda para ver al querido sacerdote celebrar la misa y conmemorar el 60.º aniversario de su ordenación, un evento que tuvo lugar el 2 de junio en la iglesia de San Francisco de Asís, en Madison. Pero 1200 millas era un largo viaje para Donohoe, y no era un viaje barato. ¿Por qué era tan importante para él unirse a la celebración al otro lado del país? “Porque el padre Frank era como de la familia”, dijo Donohoe, un residente de Colorado que acababa de presentarse para el servicio en la Estación Aérea Naval Meridian en 2008 cuando se conocieron. El padre Frank, entonces párroco de la iglesia de San Patricio, conducía media hora hasta la capilla de la base para celebrar la misa. No tardaron mucho en hacerse amigos.
MADISON – De izquierda a derecha, el diácono John McGregor, Keith Comish, el padre Frank Cosgrove, Cathy Comish y el diácono Denzil Lobo escuchan las lecturas de la misa durante la celebración del 60.º aniversario de la ordenación sacerdotal del padre Cosgrove en la iglesia de San Francisco, en Madison, el lunes 2 de junio de 2025. (Fotos de Tereza Ma)
El padre Frank Cosgrove se prepara para cortar un pastel especial en celebración de su 60.º aniversario de ordenación, acompañado por el padre Albeen Vatti, párroco de St. Francis of Assisi en Madison, y Frances Patterson.
Los miembros de la familia Cosgrove, entre ellos el hermano del padre Frank, Eamonn, su hermana Ruth y sus sobrinos nietos, que visitaban Estados Unidos por primera vez, volaron más de 4000 millas para participar en la misa y disfrutar de la recepción. Más de 50 sacerdotes de todas las diócesis católicas de Jackson y Biloxi acudieron para apoyarlo, y católicos de todo Misisipi (y un número sorprendente de no católicos) abarrotaron el santuario de San Francisco. Escucharon una homilía basada en sus nuevas memorias, “Sir, Do You Know Where You Are Going?” (Señor, ¿sabe adónde va?), en la que se refirió a menudo a la unidad. “La celebración significa mucho para mí”, dijo Ralph Eubanks, quien conoce al padre Frank desde que era estudiante en Ole Miss hace dos generaciones, cuando el padre Frank era párroco de la iglesia St. John. “Era un hombre dedicado a la verdad, denunciaba el pecado del racismo y creía en unir a las personas”. “Casó a mis padres (Ed y Cindy Hannan) hace 48 años”, dijo Anabeth Hannan Duncan, feligresa de St. Francis. “Me bautizó hace 31 años y me casó hace tres años. Pasamos la Nochebuena con él todos los años. Cuando pienso en Dios, veo al padre Frank, imaginándolo unos centímetros más alto”. “El padre Frank y yo nos conocemos desde 1969, cuando era vicario en St. Peter”, dijo Charlene Bearden. “Me ayudó a conseguir una audiencia con el papa San Juan Pablo II en 1987, cuando estuvo en Nueva Orleans. Lo hizo a través de la National Black Catholic Leadership. Ha influido en la vida de muchas personas de muchas maneras”. “Lo conozco desde que era adolescente, cuando era nuestro párroco en Ole Miss”, dijo Mary Johnson Coyle. “He sido su amiga durante toda mi vida adulta. Estando con él, uno quería ser mejor católico. Es un hombre encantador y maravilloso que une a todo el mundo”. “Mi marido John y yo fuimos miembros fundadores de St. Francis”, dijo Mary Kraft. “El padre Frank ha sido maravilloso con nuestra familia. Nuestra hija y otra niña pequeña comenzaron en la CYO en St. Francis bajo su tutela. Nos pidió que fuéramos ministros eucarísticos, pero le dije que nos gustaría ser monaguillos, y fuimos los primeros monaguillos adultos”.
En la recepción celebrada en el centro familiar St. Francis, el padre Frank dedicó tiempo a todos los que querían un abrazo, una selfie o un minuto o dos para darle las gracias. La celebración se prolongó hasta bien entrada la noche. El padre Frank, que ahora tiene más de ochenta años y está afectado por el Parkinson, seguía en pie con una gran sonrisa en el rostro. Las memorias tuvieron un gran éxito, vendiéndose casi 200 ejemplares en el evento. Están disponibles por 20 dólares hasta agotar existencias en las oficinas parroquiales de San Patricio en Meridian, San Juan en Oxford, San Pablo en Brandon y San Francisco de Asís en Madison.
Por Kate Scanlon WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Este 30 de mayo, la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos permitió que la administración Trump pusiera fin a las protecciones de deportación para más de 500.000 inmigrantes de Cuba, Haití, Nicaragua y Venezuela – típicamente países de mayoría católica – mientras que una apelación de la orden del presidente sigue pendiente. Anteriormente, la administración Biden concedió a algunos migrantes de esos cuatro países la posibilidad de entrar legalmente en Estados Unidos por motivos humanitarios, alegando condiciones peligrosas en sus países de origen. Tras el regreso del presidente Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, su administración revocó ese permiso (conocido como “parole humanitario), lo que provocó un desafío legal. Un juez federal bloqueó previamente que la administración Trump pusiera fin al programa. La orden no firmada no explicaba el razonamiento de la mayoría.
Venezuelan migrants arrive on a deportation flight from the U.S. at Simon Bolivar International airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Feb. 10, 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court on May 30, allowed the Trump administration to end deportation protections for more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. (OSV News photo/Gaby Oraa, Reuters)
En una opinión disidente, el juez Ketanji Brown Jackson, junto con la juez Sonia Sotomayor, reprendió a la mayoría del alto tribunal en la decisión, argumentando que “claramente estropearon” su evaluación. “No exige casi nada al Gobierno con respecto al daño irreparable”, escribió Jackson. “Y subestima las devastadoras consecuencias de permitir que el Gobierno ponga fin precipitadamente a las vidas y medios de subsistencia de casi medio millón de no ciudadanos mientras sus reclamaciones legales están pendientes”. “Incluso si es probable que el Gobierno gane en los méritos (del caso), en nuestro sistema legal, el éxito lleva tiempo y las normas de suspensión requieren más que una victoria anticipada”, escribió Jackson. Ya en marzo, la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos calificó la terminación del programa CHNV, como se le conoce por las letras de los países de los migrantes en ese programa, de “contraproducente” para los objetivos declarados de la administración Trump de promover el respeto por el estado de derecho y reducir la presión sobre las comunidades estadounidenses. “Instamos a la Administración a considerar el impacto adverso de esta acción sobre los ciudadanos y no ciudadanos por igual, especialmente teniendo en cuenta las condiciones actuales en varios de los países implicados”, dijo la portavoz de la conferencia episcopal de EE.UU., Chieko Noguchi, en una declaración proporcionada a OSV News. La doctrina social católica sobre inmigración, explicada por la la conferencia (USCCB por sus siglas en inglés), equilibra tres principios interrelacionados: el derecho de las personas a emigrar para mantener sus vidas y las de sus familias, el derecho de un país a regular sus fronteras y controlar la inmigración, y el deber de una nación de regular sus fronteras con justicia y misericordia. J. Kevin Appleby, investigador principal de política del Centro de Estudios sobre Migración de Nueva York y ex director de política migratoria de la USCCB, dijo a OSV News: “Es particularmente preocupante que la administración se dirija a inmigrantes que fueron invitados a los Estados Unidos y entraron legalmente”. “También provienen de países con regímenes opresivos y podrían ser objeto de persecución cuando sean devueltos”, dijo Appleby. “Muestra cierta hipocresía, ya que la administración califica a los inmigrantes de criminales pero sigue deportando a los que cumplen las normas”. Appleby dijo que los individuos de otras naciones podrían haber sido tratados de manera diferente. “Seamos sinceros, si este programa sirviera a inmigrantes de Noruega, Suecia o a los afrikaners de Sudáfrica, la administración no estaría intentando ponerle fin”, dijo. En efecto, la decisión de la Corte Suprema significa que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional puede revocar el estatuto de protección de estas personas mientras la Corte de Apelaciones del 1er Circuito de EE.UU. sopesa un recurso contra la propia orden. El fallo de ese tribunal sigue pendiente.
(Kate Scanlon es una reportera nacional de OSV News que cubre Washington D.C. Síguela en X @kgscanlon.)
