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Francesco

By Sister Hosea Rupprecht (CNS)
Award-winning documentarian Evgeny Afineevsky (“Cries From Syria”) issues a call for action with his film “Francesco” (Discovery+).
The unspoken summons comes through allowing viewers to witness the influence one man, Pope Francis, has succeeded in having over the many social and other issues of our time.
Rather than present a linear biography, the movie takes its form from the Holy Father’s own agenda. As depicted here, the pontiff’s primary goal is to bring the message of human dignity to the world by shining a light into some of the darkest corners of the globe, where political, social, economic and religious injustices have taken – and, in some cases, are still taking – place.
Afineevsky, for instance, brings his audience to the Philippines, ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, as Francis talks about climate change and the call to protect our common home.
The plight of refugees is highlighted through the pope’s visit to Lampedusa, a modern-day Ellis Island in the Mediterranean Sea through which thousands of Tunisian and Libyan migrants have passed, fleeing political upheaval in their home countries. The passage from the North African coast to Lampedusa is considered one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
The pontiff also visits the island of Lesbos in Greece to which many Syrian migrants fled in the wake of their nation’s civil war. One interviewee calls the Syrian refugee situation “the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II.” Pope Francis not only gave words of comfort to refugees – he followed them up with action, sponsoring the immigration to Italy of three Muslim families.
“Francesco” also address other hot-button topics such as clergy sexual abuse, homosexuality and the building of walls between peoples.
Where does the pontiff get the inspiration to do all he does? Afineevsky takes us back to the life of young Jorge Bergoglio, especially stressing the influence that his grandmother, Nonna Rosa, had on his growing faith and spirituality.
From his decision to become a priest, to joining the Jesuits, to becoming the archbishop of Buenos Aires and a cardinal, Pope Francis has been consistent in his action on behalf of others. In other words, the film shows that what Francis has done since his 2013 election to the papacy is just a continuation of what he had done up to that time.  
With a running time just under two hours, “Francesco” is quite long for a documentary. The film contains mature themes and some scenes of war violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

(Sister Rupprecht, a Daughter of St. Paul, is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.)

This is the movie poster for the documentary film “Francesco.” The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association. (CNS photo/Francesco Docet Film)

“Fatima” – condemned to death and the Scrutiny of Life

Theology at the movies
By James Tomek, Ph.D
Seventeenth Century philosopher Blaise Pascal describes the tragedy of the human condition. Imagine that we are in a prisoner room of people and each day a guard comes in and picks one of us to be executed. That is our fate – we know that one day our turn will come. Our tragedy is not that we will die, but that the thought of death will cause us to seek divertissement so as not to think about what life is.
Marco Pontecorvu’s 2020 film “Fatima,” about the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to three peasant children, starts with a weekly roll call of dead soldiers in the 1917 war torn town of Fatima, Portugal. “Fatima” is a Pascalian answer to Jessica Hausner’s 2012 film “Lourdes.” Mary, appearing to Lucia and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco, is asking them and us to pray for peace. In this review, I will establish a comparison of the two films, highlight Fatima’s emphasis on prayer, and conclude with an answer to the Lenten scrutiny of life and what it might mean to be religious.
“Lourdes” concentrates more on the miracle healing aspect of religious prayer while Pontecorvu’s film focuses on the need for prayer, in general, to promote peace. “Fatima” takes place in 1917 Portugal, at war with Germany and guided by a recently secular government. This is Pascal country. The film is framed by a 1980s’ interview of Lucia by a professor who wonders why God would choose to speak to a common farm girl. This frame establishes Lucia as a sane, intelligent, and witty person who can be believed. However, is she a “seer” who has “prophet” status? Some peasants visit Lucia’s home to be a witness of the “seer.” A “seer” is a prophet who can see the truth in certain situations. Our biblical prophets sometimes predict futures, but their real message is the truth of the times that they are witnessing, especially the social injustices. “Lourdes” focuses on the reality of the miracle and how to pray when afflicted with a malady. Fatima goes elsewhere.
While the crowds of peasants in Fatima are looking for some miracle in their lives, the film concentrates more on Mary’s insisting that they pray for peace. The historical sections of the film show how the children have to stand up to the protests from their parents, church, and government, always with the background of the repeated roll calls of the dead and missing.
Lucia’s mother, Maria Rosa, is the strongest character. She is the most educated in the family and the most skeptical, insisting that Lucia recant her story so as not to have her be seen as crazy. The country has recently become a republic with a wish to have a secular government. Thus, the children are confronted by the priest, then the mayor, then the bishop and finally a government psychologist who pressure them to recant their positions so that the country will remain more at ease in a secular environment.
While the mother is pictured as an antagonist, we see that she really does love and support her daughter. The film sticks to reality. The original theme of “1917 Fatima,” of praying for the conversion of Russia, has been replaced/updated to a general prayer for peace and social justice. This air is seen in the beginning when Lucia has a vision of a woman in a cave who calls herself the Angel of Portugal. This premonition will be transformed into a vision of the Virgin Mary later. She is still simply dressed. These visions could be general “feelings,” but are they not still miraculously showered on the young Lucia in the form of heavenly Mariological signs?
My mother and I would have deep religious conversations. I remember her mentioning an apparition of the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. I responded that I did not believe in that “junk” (I used a heavier word). To which she got angry. But, a few weeks later, she called me asking for my advice on some matter because she said that I was more religious than she. I realized that believing in so called apparitions really had nothing to do with being religious to her (no way I was more religious than she was for sure). I was like the skeptical mother of Lucia talking to my mother about the Blessed Mother.
We are all in that roll call of the dead and will be reported dead sooner or later. Can this thought bring us to think about what is important? That is the third scrutiny of Life that catechumens go through during Lent (5th Sunday and the Lazarus reading) – and also the theme of the recent Divine Mercy Sunday. The film opens with a vision of the Angel of Portugal, the Angel of Peace to Lucia in a cave. We hear the bombings of a plane. The angel says that they just don’t seem to want to stop. I pray the rosary frequently. Why? We have the persecution of African Americans and now Asian Americans, not to mention all the violence done by haters to those of different faith traditions. They just don’t seem to want to stop.

(James Tomek is a retired language and literature professor at Delta State University who is currently a Lay Ecclesial Minister at Sacred Heart in Rosedale and also active in RCIA at Our Lady of Victories in Cleveland.)

Briefs

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NATION
ROSLYN, N.Y. (CNS) – Caring for the sick is a vocation and way of life shared by a mother and two daughters serving together at a Catholic Hospital in Long Island, New York. Novlet Davis-Bucknor, 59, is a nurse practitioner in the cardiothoracic department of St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Nassau County. Her oldest child, LaToya Bucknor, 39, also a nurse practitioner, works with the critical care team. Another daughter, Shekeya Washington, 31, is a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit. “It’s good to work together because we always have each other to lean on,” said Novlet, who was born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated at age 26 to the U.S., where a few years later she began her studies to be a nurse. Novlet is the ultimate role model as a mom and professional woman, LaToya and Shekeya told Catholic News Service. “She’s always there for us,” said LaToya. “She’s always loving and showing us that no matter what we go through in life, she’s always going to be there to support us.” “My mom has shown so much ambition and strength,” Shekeya said.
WASHINGTON (CNS) – President Joe Biden announced May 3 he was raising the historically low refugee cap of 15,000 left by the Trump administration, but he also warned that his administration may not be able to meet the new number of refugees it is seeking to resettle in what remains of the fiscal year: 62,500. In a statement, the president said that while the previous cap set by Trump did not reflect the country’s values “as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees,” it may be difficult for his administration to meet the new goal. “The sad truth is that we will not achieve 62,500 admissions this year. We are working quickly to undo the damage of the last four years. It will take some time, but that work is already underway,” he said in the statement. “We have reopened the program to new refugees. And by changing the regional allocations last month, we have already increased the number of refugees ready for departure to the United States.” The announcement was aimed at sending a signal, he said, “to remove any lingering doubt in the minds of refugees around the world who have suffered so much, and who are anxiously waiting for their new lives to begin.” In November, Biden said during a virtual Jesuit Refugee Service event that he would be heading in a dramatically different direction than the previous administration on refugee admissions and said he would raise the ceiling when he took office to 125,000.

VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Updating the Litany of St. Joseph, approved in 1909, the Vatican has added seven invocations, including two that address the guardian of Jesus and husband of Mary as “support in difficulty” and “patron of refugees.” The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments published the additions May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The additions were approved by Pope Francis, the congregation said, and drew the new invocations mainly from modern papal texts about St. Joseph, including Pope Francis’ December apostolic letter proclaiming a Year of St. Joseph and St. John Paul II’s 1989 apostolic exhortation, “Redemptoris Custos” (“Protector of the Redeemer”). Since Pope Francis wanted, as he wrote in his letter, “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal,” the congregation said, it seemed appropriate to update the 112-year-old litany. Providing only the Latin-language version of the invocations, the congregation said it would be up to bishops’ conferences to translate the phrases and to add others if St. Joseph is invoked by their people in a particular way. The Latin phrases are: “Custos Redemptoris” (Protector of the Redeemer); “Serve Christi” (Servant of Christ); “Minister salutis” (Minister of salvation); “Fulcimen in difficultatibus” (Support in difficulty); “Patrone exsulum” (Patron of refugees); “Patrone afflictorum” (Patron of the afflicted); and “Patrone pauperum” (Patron of the poor).
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Catholic Church’s proclamation of new saints demonstrates that it is possible for men and women to live holy lives and that God is present and at work in the world, said the prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. “It’s useful on earth, not for heaven,” said Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the prefect, when asked, “What is the use of proclaiming saints?” In an interview published May 4 in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, the cardinal noted how the Second Vatican Council spoke of the “universal vocation of holiness. To proclaim saints helps convince us that this vocation really exists, that the Gospel works, that Jesus does not disappoint and that we can trust in his word,” Cardinal Semeraro said in the interview the day after Pope Francis and cardinals resident in Rome held a consistory to approve the canonization of seven men and women. The causes took years, even decades of work: studying the lives and writings of the candidates, verifying the events surrounding the deaths of those who were martyrs and looking at cures submitted as miracles attributed to the candidates’ intercession.

People wear virtual reality headsets in St. Peter’s Square during a tour at the Vatican May 1, 2021. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

WORLD
QUEBEC CITY (CNS) – Police have seized large quantities of altar wine in the province of Quebec, creating a situation where buying a bottle is nearly impossible. On April 9, police officers seized sacramental wine from Bertrand, Foucher, Bélanger, Inc. in Montreal, Procure Ecclésiastique, Inc. in Quebec City and Chandelles Tradition MB, Inc. in Saint-Constant. Sandra Dion, spokeswoman for the Quebec City Police Department, said the wine was seized following an investigation. The seizures appear related to laws governing the resale of alcohol within provinces, although some distributors claims they are within the law and have licenses. The altar wine available in Quebec comes from two Californian producers: Mont La Salle Altar Wines and Cribari Premium Altar Wines. However, since the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) – the provincial liquor board – does not sell these products, the wines had to be imported from other Canadian provinces. Although that was the practice for many years, police now says it’s illegal. “Officers from the Montreal Police Department showed up with a warrant,” said Alain Denis, general manager at Bertrand, Foucher, Bélanger, Inc., a store specializing in church goods. The warrant mentioned illegal possession and selling of alcohol. Chandelles Tradition MB did not return calls.
DUBLIN (CNS) – The Irish government said a COVID-19-related ban on Catholics attending Mass will be lifted May 10. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin made the announcement in an address to the nation April 29 as he revealed a new road map for the reopening of society. Public worship has been banned since Dec. 26 amid increased cases — a move accepted by the Irish bishops’ conference and other faith leaders. However, the government provoked controversy earlier in April when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly made it a criminal offense for a priest to plan a public Mass or a Catholic to leave home to participate in Mass. Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Northern Ireland, head of the Irish bishops’ conference, described this move as both “provocative” and “draconian.” The prime minister announced in a televised address that up to 50 people will be permitted to attend Mass beginning May 10. Up to 50 people will also be able to gather for funerals and wedding ceremonies; however wedding receptions will be restricted to just six people, or 15 people if the reception takes place outdoors.
FRANKFURT, Germany (CNS) – Instead of comfortable footwear, participants in Germany’s third ecumenical convention, or kirchentag, will need stable internet connections. Organizers had hoped to attract more than 100,000 visitors to the approximately 2,000 public events May 13-16, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that has changed. “As the people can’t come to Frankfurt, the ÖKT will come to them at home,” said Thomas Sternberg, Catholic president of the convention, using its German acronym. Bettina Limperg, Protestant president of the convention, said when its motto, “Schaut hin” (“Take a look”) was devised in 2020, organizers were still hoping to have an in-person convention. Now most people will be taking a look on computer screens. KNA reported the kirchentag will open on the feast of the Ascension with an ecumenical service on a parking deck with a view of the famous skyline of Frankfurt’s international banking center. It will be broadcast live on German television. The exact location will not be made public beforehand to avoid crowds gathering during the pandemic. The digital program, with about 80 events each day, will focus on 10 main topics, including the church and power, international responsibility and the climate crisis.


Pope prays emergency workers in India find strength to persevere

By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As India faces a massive surge in new infections and deaths caused by COVID-19, Pope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by the huge health emergency.
With so many in India suffering, “I am writing to convey my heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people, together with the assurance of my prayers that God will grant healing and consolation to everyone affected by this grave pandemic,” he wrote.
Smashing global records, on May 5 more than 412,000 new cases and 3,980 deaths were registered in India in just 24 hours; however, health experts estimate the actual numbers are much higher due to unrecorded deaths and infections. The World Health Organization said India has accounted for 46% of global cases and 25% of global deaths reported in the past week.
In a written message sent May 6 to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the pope said he was praying for all those who have become sick, for their families and caregivers and for those mourning the loss of loved ones.
“I think too of the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those working tirelessly to respond to the immediate needs of their brothers and sisters,” the pope wrote. “With deep appreciation I invoke upon all of them God’s gifts of perseverance, strength and peace.”
The pope also expressed his closeness to the nation’s Catholic communities and thanked them for their “charity and fraternal solidarity carried out in the service of all; I think especially of the generosity shown by so many committed young people.”
He prayed for the faithful who have lost their lives, including “the great numbers of priests and men and women religious,” and asked that “in these days of immense grief, may we all be consoled in the hope born of Easter and our unshakable faith in Christ’s promise of resurrection and new life.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF has warned that the deadly surge in COVID-19 cases in India “is larger and spreading more rapidly than the first,” putting an enormous strain on health and critical care facilities.
“Urgent action is needed to avert further tragic loss of life,” it said on its website, appealing for funding to deliver urgently needed testing equipment, supplies and oxygen products and other services.
The pandemic’s first wave last year resulted in major cuts to public health services in South Asia, costing the lives of an estimated 228,000 children and 11,000 mothers, said George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF’s regional director.
Essential health services, such as routine inoculations, have been disrupted and even risk being shut down with healthcare staff, equipment and facilities being diverted to addressing the ballooning pandemic, he said in a statement May 4.
Increasing numbers of children are being hurt by the pandemic as they lose parents and caregivers, witness traumatic scenes and lose vital health care, nutritional, education and support services, he said.
The current second wave throughout South Asia has the potential to cause immense devastation, Laryea-Adjei warned saying immediate assistance from the international community was “a moral imperative.”

Lilaben Gautambhai Modi, 80, wearing an oxygen mask, sits inside an ambulance as she waits to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, amid the spread of the disease in Ahmedabad, India, May 5, 2021. As India faces a massive surge in new infections and deaths caused by COVID-19, Pope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by the huge health emergency. (CNS photo/Amit Dave, Reuters)

Church leaders offer prayers after Mexico City metro crash

By David Agren
MEXICO CITY (CNS) – Mexican church leaders offered prayers for the victims of a metro line collapse that left at least 23 dead and more than 70 people injured.
Bishop Andrés Vargas Peña of Xochimilco – which serves three southern boroughs in Mexico City – offered condolences to the victims, while announcing each priest in the diocese would celebrate Mass three times May 4 “for the deceased, the injured and their families.”
The bishop asked parishioners to pray for the victims and also asked diocesan priests in the affected area and hospitals treating the injured to provide spiritual support.
An elevated portion of a metro line in Mexico City collapsed at around 10:30 p.m. May 3, sending two train cars crashing onto a busy thoroughfare below and crushing at least one vehicle. Rescuers worked through the night to free trapped passengers and search for victims.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the cause of the tragedy remains unclear. Line 12 of Mexico City Metro, where the accident occurred, has been plagued by construction problems since being inaugurated in 2012.
Half the stations in Line 12 were closed in 2014 due to construction issues. A strong earthquake in 2017 also damaged columns on the metro line, but Sheinbaum said repairs were made and the inspections occur daily.
“Absolutely nothing will be hidden,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at his morning news conference May 4. “The people have to know the complete truth.”
The Mexico City Metro serves 4.6 million passengers daily, carrying armies of workers from far-flung suburbs to jobs in the Mexican capital.

The site where an overpass for a metro partially collapsed with train cars on it is seen at Olivos station in Mexico City May 4, 2021. (CNS photo/Carlos Jasso, Reuters)

Calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

DIOCESE Bishop Kopacz has given his permission to begin the application process for a new cohort of permanent deacons for the Diocese of Jackson. Applicants will only be accepted into the program if there is evidence that the community needs the service of the applicant and is willing to support the applicant through his formation period. The local pastor’s or LEM’s recommendation is also necessary because he will be working closely with the applicant before and after ordination. The applicant’s wife must also give her consent to his participation in the program and later to his ordination. Applications must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate no later than July 31, 2021. Details: Deacon John McGregor at john.mcgregor@jacksondiocese.org.
GRAND COTEAU, La. Our Lady of the Oaks, Ladies Annual Retreat, Dec. 2-5 for ladies of the Natchez area. Would you like to grow closer to God? Do you need some time away to listen to Him, to grow, to rest? Experience the natural beauty of oak trees and the beautiful setting of nature. You are invited to join us to rest in the care of the Lord in silence, solitude, deep prayer and reflection. $50 deposit due as soon as possible to hold room as they fill up quickly. Details: Please contact Kot Morris at (601) 334-8339.
MOBILE, Ala. Spring Hill College, Summer Institute of Christian Spiritualty is offering courses that are appropriate with our current world situation. Those interested do not have to be enrolled in their Theology programs to take courses either for credit, audit, or easy listening. They offer both in person and virtual courses, as well as on-campus housing. One of the courses is “Black and Catholic, Faithful and Free” on Sister Thea Bowman and M. Shawn Copeland, on June 14-17, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (also available online). Emily Reimer-Barry, Ph.D. is the guest lecturer. It will explore the Black Catholic experience in America, with the goal of recognizing the impact of bias, and fostering genuine-if-imperfect-solidarity in the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Details: Visit the online catalogue at: https://springhill.catalog.instructure.com/browse/sics.

PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS

GREENVILLE St. Joseph, Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers are needed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Please come to 711 Washington Avenue if you can help. Details: church office (662) 335-5251.
TUPELO St. James, Annual Charity Concert, under Dr. Noel Garcia’s direction, Saturday, August 14, hosted by the Knights of Columbus. This year’s proceeds will go to the Roy Jaeger Into the Breach Scholarship. More information on tickets to come. Details: church office (662) 842-4881.
YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Adult Religious Education classes will meet each Sunday at 9 a.m. in the small room at the Parish Hall. All guidelines will be followed as well as the wearing of masks. Details: church office (662) 746-1680.

YOUTH BRIEFS
CLARKSDALE St. Elizabeth, Vacation Bible School, “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God” June 28 – July 2 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for those entering Pre-K4 through 6th grade. All VBS t-shirt orders must be paid in advance. Details: To sign up, call the church office at (662) 624-4301 or register online.
MADISON St. Francis of Assisi, if you have a child or know a child who would like to participate in St. Francis Boy Scouts Troop 716, please contact the Scout Master David Ellis at ellisd3.de@gmail.com.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, CYO (9-12 grades) meets Wednesday, May 19 for “Be Still” from 6-7 p.m. in the youth wing of the Family Life Center. Tacos, burritos, and waters will be provided. Attending students receive service hours. Please bring your cell phone and wear face masks. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
STARKVILLE St. Joseph, Vacation Bible School, June 21-24, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Open to children ages five through fourth grade. Details: Deacon Jeff Artigues at deaconjeff@stjosephstarkville.org or (662) 323-2257.
TUPELO St. James, Vacation Bible School, June 7–11, 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Catholic Life Center. Help is needed in a variety of ways: group leaders, decorators the week before, monitors for certain activities, and extra help as needed. Teen volunteers need to fill out a registration form and adults should call Lora Beth Barrett. Healthy food snacks (individually wrapped items only). We also need donations of decorating and craft supplies (A detailed list of these items will be provided later. Bring items to the CLC kitchen or parish office. Registration and volunteer sign-up forms are available at the church office, in the CLC foyers, and online at https://www.saint-james.net. Children must be registered by May 16 in order to receive a free t-shirt. Details: Lora Beth Barrett at (662) 213-7959 or lorabethb@gmail.com.
YAZOO CITY St. Mary, Vacation Bible School tentatively scheduled for June 4-6. Details: contact Babs McMaster if you would like to help at the church office (662) 746-1680

There’s no place like Nome

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By Joe Lee
MADISON – In preparation for his retirement in June 2019, Msgr. Elvin Sunds purchased a pickup truck and a travel trailer with an eye on visiting national parks around the country. Aware of this, Bishop Joseph Kopacz alerted Sunds of ongoing pastoring opportunities in the small Alaskan town of Nome, should he want to venture that far. This year everything came together to make that road trip (actually an air trip) a reality.

“The bishop in Alaska has a real priest shortage up there, and congregations can go without Masses for long periods of time,” Sunds said. “I agreed to fill in for the pastor of St. Joseph Church in Nome for three weeks so he could visit his family in India.”

Sunds, who fills in at St. Francis of Assisi in Madison, flew out of Jackson on April 13, leaving behind muggy conditions and temperatures in the low 80s. He knew to pack a lot of clothing he would never use this time of year in Mississippi.

“Nome has a population of less than 4,000 and is a little over 100 miles below the Arctic Circle,” he said. “When I arrived, there was two feet of snow on the ground and temperatures were in the teens.
“The area is incredibly beautiful. It has mountains, valleys, tundra, coastal waters, rivers, lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. The scenery is particularly stunning in snow. It was a major site of the Alaskan gold rush of the early 1900s. Today gold mining is still the major industry.”

How utterly vast is Alaska? The annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Anchorage and finishes a jaw-dropping 1,049 miles later in Nome. To reach his destination, Sunds flew to Dallas, across the country to Seattle, then to Anchorage before a 90-minute flight (covering 540 miles) to Nome. He found the people to be friendly and warm, despite the many layers of dress.

“About half the people of Nome and St. Joseph Church are Eskimo and half are of European descent,” he said. “Life is simple, and people live simply. A lot of them are grateful for Mass being available, even once a month.”

“Houses are small and well-insulated because of the cost of heating. Winter temps often reach more than 30 below zero. Food and supplies are expensive because everything must be flown in. Fuel oil and gasoline is brought in by barge twice a year. Snowmobiles and four-wheelers outnumber cars and trucks, and all must be brought in by barge.”

The average attendance for the three weekends Sunds celebrated Mass at St. Joseph was 25, down due to COVID. Remarkably, the tiny parish serves three mission churches. The community of Teller is 71 miles from Nome by dirt road and impassable from October through May because of snow; they have Mass weekly from June to October.

Then there’s Kotzebue, 180 miles away by plane and offering Mass once a month. Finally. St. Joseph serves Diomede, an island 130 miles out on the Bering Sea and one mile from Russian territorial waters. Diomede has Mass twice a year since the island is only accessible by helicopter.

“What attracted me to the Jackson Diocese many years ago was Jackson being a mission diocese—only two percent of the population across the area was Catholic. The Diocese of Fairbanks is almost eleven times the area of the Diocese of Jackson, but most it is wilderness. It has 12,300 Catholics and only two active diocesan priests.

“There are sixteen other priests serving the diocese who are either members of a religious order or on temporary loan from other dioceses. This was a whole new experience of mission diocese.”
Sunds said his volunteer pastoring in Alaksa has given him a better understanding of the mission work of the church outside Mississippi and a deeper appreciation of the work of our own diocese. And he didn’t lose his sense of humor while pastoring in The Last Frontier.

“The only way to Nome is by plane or dogsled,” he said. “While all roads may lead to Rome, no roads lead to Nome.”

Featured photo Safe place and prayers …

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JACKSON – There was a bit of excitement outside of the Chancery building on Thursday, April 29 when a woman pulled into the lot with her car on fire. All was well after the fire department arrived and made sure the scene was safe. Prayers were said and the woman had a safe place to rest while the scene was cleared. Deacon John McGregor was first on the scene with a fire extinguisher. Pictured are passersby of the scene. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Youth

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Science is fun

COLUMBUS – Annunciation first grade teacher, Shaine Donoho oversees a “sink or swim” science experiment, where students determine which rocks will sink or float. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

B-I-N-G-O

GREENVILLE – Ronnie Evans volunteered his time at Magnolia Gardens nursing home for a round of BINGO on Wednesday, April 21. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)

Spring duckling

SOUTHAVEN – Second grade teacher, Monica Winans, moves the first hatched duckling from the incubator to its temporary home. (Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)

In service to others

COLUMBUS – Pastor Brandt Dick of St. James Episcopal Church helps Clayton Hensley and Davin Anderson load up supplies that were donated by St. Joseph Greenville students for St. James’ childrens program. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)

Atrium exploration

JACKSON – St. Richard Pre-K5 students, Peyton Smith and Henry Hospodor explore items during their Atrium class. (Photo by Chelsea Hamilton)

Planting seeds

COLUMBUS – Annunciation kindergarten students, Addison Moser and Joanna Bragg, plant tomato seeds. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

The archives vault, a ‘national treasure’

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From the Archives
By Mary Woodward
JACKSON – This week I thought I would share some photos of the diocesan archives vault. This space was built into the ground floor of the diocesan chancery building during its construction in 1947.

Bishop R.O. Gerow moved the bishop’s office to Jackson from Natchez and brought most of the files with him. Our archives have documents dating back to the 1780s and has some books that date back farther than that.

To be honest we have one of the most complete archives of Mississippi history in the state albeit a history through the unique lens of the development of the Catholic Church in the region. The collection is a national treasure.

As a meticulous historian who knew the importance of maintaining proper records and information, Bishop Gerow, assisted by various chancellors along the way, built this comprehensive collection we have in the vault over a period of 42 years.

He kept a detailed diary as did his predecessors of the daily events in the life of the church as he lived them. His diary is several thousand pages typed up neatly and bound in volumes. His last entry details his retirement in 1966.
He also oversaw the indexing of his predecessors’ papers and correspondence along with all the official acts of the office of bishop and the diocesan church.

These photos show the enormous amount of work he did and the work that continues today. The vault is stacked to the ceiling and records since 1966 are slowly being indexed for future research. There is a great need for space and the vision is to one day have a building for the diocesan archives that can serve as a research center and small museum for educational purposes. Right now, we manage the best we can with the allotted space for our treasure. And we hope one day to be able to better share that treasure in a more appropriate environment.

Until then, I hope you will continue to appreciate the history we share in the space provided in this column.

(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)

Working together to protect God’s children

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By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson recognizes April as Child Abuse Awareness Month to spread awareness of the importance of protecting children. Child abuse is an unthinkable crime, yet it happens to hundreds of thousands of our children every year.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) states on their website “The Catholic Church is absolutely committed to the safety of children. Together we can make a Promise to Protect, and a Pledge to Heal.” The same is true for the Diocese of Jackson.
Since, 1986 the diocese has had a policy to respond to credible allegations of sexual abuse, long before the USCCB released the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002. The early document was less detailed than today’s version but delineated the commitment of the diocese on responding to abuse, removing offenders, assisting victims and promoting a safe environment. The policy was revised in 1994 when an Independent Review Board of lay Catholics was established.
The review board is a consultative body that assesses the credibility of all allegations of sexual abuse against minors and advises the bishop accordingly. This board remains an essential resource for Bishop Joseph Kopacz, as it was for Bishop William Houck and Bishop Joseph Latino. The current board includes one pastor, two physicians, two lawyers and one professional businessperson, one of which also serves on the National Review Board of the USCCB on the protection of children and young people.
The diocese, as well as Catholic Charities, requires that all employees and volunteers working with children and young people undergo a criminal background screening and participate in a safe environment training session with a training facilitator, including clergy. Nationally, over 2.65 million background checks were conducted on those working within the Catholic church in 2019.
Many of the trainings mentioned above are now virtual explained, safe environment coordinator, Vickie Carollo. “With COVID restrictions, virtual trainings have worked well,” said Carollo. “To accomodate adults who work during the day, virtual trainings can be scheduled in the evenings. Training sessions are facilitated through the local parish or school.”
The diocese also provides ongoing training in a monthly safe environment bulletin format through VIRTUS, a program and service of The National Catholic Risk Retention Group. All clergy, religious, employees and volunteers having contact with children and young people are required to participate in ongoing training. The safe environment monthly bulletins provide adults the education and prevention information they need to keep our children safe. Bishop Kopacz says that the monthly bulletins are helpful in learning about the changing landscape of threats to children, especially due to our “mushrooming digital world.”

Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal signals the bishops’ pledge to resolve the crisis of sexual abuse of children. More information on the USCCB committe for the Protection of Children and Young People can be found at www.usccb.org/committees/protection-children-young-people. (Photo from archives)

Bishop Kopacz brought the idea of using VIRTUS to the diocese in 2014 soon after being ordained and installed as the 11th bishop of Jackson.
“The Diocese of Scranton, where I was a priest for 36 and a half years, incorporated the VIRTUS Safe Environment program soon after the Dallas Charter and norms were promulgated for the Catholic Church in the United States. At that time, I served as Vicar for Priests and pastor, and it was opportune for me to become a trainer in order to promote this excellent program throughout the diocese. It was evident to the leadership in the Diocese of Scranton, ordained and lay, that the VIRTUS package was excellent for fostering and maintaining safe environments in service to our children and young people, and their families,” said Bishop Kopacz.
The diocese also uses VIRTUS for safety training geared to children, that includes material that is developmentally appropriate for each age group and includes content and activities that reinforce the message. Some of the topics include what to do and how to react when someone’s touch is confusing, scary, or makes the child feel uncomfortable; learning about personal boundaries and giving the self-assurance needed to speak up; learning about who to tell when something or someone makes them feel uncomfortable or confused; and how to recognize grooming by an abuser.
On June 16, the diocese will be holding a “train the trainer” workshop with VIRTUS executive director, Pat Neal. “With the upcoming workshop, we look forward to reviewing with facilitators the most notable updates within the latest 4.0 version of the Protecting God’s Children program for an ease of transition in facilitating the material during awareness sessions,” says Neal.
“The most fundamental update throughout the 4.0 program is an overall focus to relay the essential concept of hope that all of us work for in our various positions – that hope is an element of child protection, that healing for survivors is possible, and that all of us are part of the solution to prevent child abuse. An always-present goal of the Protecting God’s Children program is to provide every organization with the tools needed to prevent abuse, respond appropriately if it does occur, and, in this latest version, review boundaries and how to address inappropriate behavior before it can escalate.”
This latest version maintains the core message of teaching caring adults about the context and prevalence of child sexual abuse, as well as equipping caring adults to follow five research-based steps to protect the vulnerable in any environment. The steps have been revitalized with clearer messaging and easy to follow protocol for any caring adults. The steps are: know the warning signs of adults; screen and select employees and volunteers; monitor all environments, including activities involving technology; be aware of children and youth; and communicate your concerns.
Now, seven years after bringing VIRTUS to the diocese, Bishop Kopacz said “We can say unreservedly that our decision to transition to the VIRTUS program has been of great benefit to our diocese. It is the cornerstone for our commitment to maintain safe environments for our children and young people.”
Additionally, the Protection of Children program at the diocese goes through an onsite audit process every three years, of which the diocese has been in compliance with every year.
Along with the program and audits, Carollo also travels to parishes and schools monitoring their programs and loves to share how powerful the program is at protecting God’s children. “Child abuse is certainly a challenging topic to address but we keep in mind that providing education and safe environment education to our adults and children – if we can save one child from a horrific incident, we are certainly doing our job. It is a collaborative effort in our churches and in our schools in providing a safe environment for all of our children,” says Carollo.
Before long, Carollo will cease her traveling and monitoring of the program as she will retire in June after working with the diocese as the safe environment coordinator since 2003. When asked why, Carollo said, “It is just time. I am convinced that the Protection of Children program is in good hands. Everyone has strengthened my faith through their work to provide a safe environment for our children. We all play a part in the eradication of child sexual abuse.”

(If you suspect abuse or are a victim of abuse, please call victim assistance coordinator, Erika Rojas, who is here to assist in making a report. Contact her at (601) 326-3760. Additional information regarding how the Diocese of Jackson addresses child abuse may be found at https://jacksondiocese.org/offices/child-protection.)

Let us shepherd with His mind and heart

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By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Last weekend throughout the Catholic world marked Good Shepherd Sunday at the turning point in the Easter Season. The 23rd psalm is one of the beloved pieces in the psalter in praise of God’s shepherding of his people.
Jesus embraced this image as the cornerstone to portray his mission in our world. In fact, the earliest surviving fresco of Jesus was discovered in the catacombs in the 2nd century depicting the Lord as the Good Shepherd. In last Sunday’s Gospel from John the Lord proclaimed: “I am the Good Shepherd. A Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd and I know mine and mine know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15)

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

As the Lord shepherds us, He commands that we shepherd with His mind and heart, washing one another’s feet (13, 1ff) and loving one another. (13:34) This standard, first and foremost, is intended for his disciples in all walks of life, but it can be a cornerstone for all who exercise authority, in the home, in society on every level, and, of course, in the church.
Within most groups of people we know there are good shepherds; there are hired hands, and there are wolves. This is true of the clergy, police officers, teachers, parents, healthcare workers, etc. Many genuinely care and lay down their lives for the sheep. Others are working for the paycheck or biding their time, and some are wolves.
Consider the tragic events surrounding the death of George Floyd at the hands of Derrick Chauvin and other officers. They have degraded the badge and the reputation of many in law enforcement who are good shepherds. One reporter opined that there was a look of indifference on the face of former officer Chauvin, devoid of empathy or remorse. Pope Francis often rails against the pernicious virus of indifference. “Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should be devout, filled with empathy and mercy.” All who lay down their lives to protect the citizenry from the criminal element who have no regard for life or decency, are owed a debt of gratitude. Those in law enforcement who are just collecting a check and biding time must see the urgency of becoming good shepherds. Those who are wolves must be removed.
From the title of Pope Francis’ latest Apostolic Exhortation, Fraternity and Social Friendship, a conversion of mind and heart that breaks down the walls of racism, and indifference to the plight of people’s suffering is humankind’s best hope. There are parallels in the ranks of the clergy and in every profession. In the sexual abuse crisis in the church it became apparent that there were wolves among the many good shepherds. The good news is that this hidden corruption has been brought into the light of the Gospel and the demands of justice, and genuine conversion and change are transforming the church. The Good Shepherds continue to serve well. Those who may feel like hired hands working for a paycheck are called to stir into a flame the gift they received at ordination. All known wolves are removed.
During this year of St. Joseph we recall the words of Pope Francis who describes the foster father of Jesus’ assent to the Angel Gabriel as a total gift of self in service to Mary, his betrothed, to the Christ child, and to God’s plan of salvation. This silent saint is an outstanding model of a good shepherd. The Christ child was the Good Shepherd who laid down his life as pure gift for the salvation of the world. In turn, we are God’s children now and the gift of self finds its source in our identity as God’s sons and daughters, members of his Son’s body and temples of the Holy Spirit. This is the cornerstone over and against pervasive violence, hatred and indifference.
May the words of the 23rd psalm resonate in our minds and hearts: “The Lord is my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose … He prepares a table before me; he anoints my head with oil, my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall live dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Pastoreemos con su mente y corazón

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“El Señor es mi pastor;nada me falta.
En verdes praderas me hace descansar,
a las aguas tranquilas me conduce,
me da nuevas fuerzas
y me lleva por caminos rectos,
haciendo honor a su nombre.
Aunque pase por el más oscuro de los valles,
no temeré peligro alguno,
porque tú, Señor, estás conmigo;
tu vara y tu bastón me inspiran confianza.
Me has preparado un banquete
ante los ojos de mis enemigos;
has vertido perfume en mi cabeza,
y has llenado mi copa a rebosar.
Tu bondad y tu amor me acompañan
a lo largo de mis días,
y en tu casa, oh, Señor, por siempre viviré.”

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
El pasado fin de semana marcó el Domingo del Buen Pastor, para todo el mundo católico, en el punto de inflexión de la temporada de Pascua. El salmo 23 es una de las piezas amadas del salterio en alabanza del pastoreo de Dios a su pueblo.
Jesús abrazó esta imagen como piedra angular para reflejar su misión en nuestro mundo. De hecho, el fresco más antiguo de Jesús que se conserva se descubrió en las catacumbas en el siglo II y representa al Señor como el Buen Pastor. En el Evangelio de Juan del domingo pasado, el Señor proclamó: “Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas; pero el que trabaja solamente por la paga, cuando ve venir al lobo deja las ovejas y huye, porque no es el pastor y porque las ovejas no son suyas. Y el lobo ataca a las ovejas y las dispersa en todas direcciones. Ese hombre huye porque lo único que le importa es la paga, y no las ovejas. Yo soy el buen pastor. Así como mi Padre me conoce a mí y yo conozco a mi Padre, así también yo conozco a mis ovejas y ellas me conocen a mí. Yo doy mi vida por las ovejas.” (Juan 10: 11-15)
A medida que el Señor nos pastorea, nos manda que pastoreemos con su mente y corazón, lavándonos los pies unos a otros (Juan 13, 1-20) y amándonos unos a otros. (Juan 13:34) Este estándar está destinado, ante todo, a sus discípulos, en todos los ámbitos de la vida, pero puede ser una piedra angular para todos los que ejercen una autoridad, en el hogar, en todos los niveles de la sociedad y, por supuesto, en la iglesia. Dentro de la mayoría de los grupos de personas, sabemos que hay buenos pastores; hay jornaleros y hay lobos. Esto es cierto para el clero, los oficiales de policía, los maestros, los padres, los trabajadores de la salud, etc. Muchos se ocupan genuinamente y dan su vida por las ovejas. Otros están trabajando por el cheque de pago o esperando un momento oportuno y algunos son lobos.

Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Considere los trágicos eventos que rodearon la muerte de George Floyd a manos de Derrick Chauvin y otros oficiales. Han degradado la insignia y la reputación de muchos que son buenos pastores en las fuerzas del orden. Un periodista opinó que en el rostro del ex oficial Chauvin había una expresión de indiferencia, sin empatía ni remordimiento. El Papa Francisco a menudo critica el pernicioso virus de la indiferencia. “En medio de una cultura de indiferencia que no pocas veces se vuelve despiadada, nuestro estilo de vida debe ser devoto, lleno de empatía y misericordia.” Todos los que dan su vida para proteger a la ciudadanía del elemento criminal, que no tiene en cuenta la vida o la decencia, tienen una deuda de gratitud. Aquellos, en las fuerzas del orden, que solo están cobrando un cheque y esperando su momento, deben ver la urgencia de convertirse en buenos pastores. Los que son lobos deben ser removidos.
Desde el título de la última exhortación apostólica del Papa Francisco, “Fraternidad y Amistad Social,” una conversión de corazón y mente, que derribe los muros del racismo y la indiferencia ante el sufrimiento de las personas, es la mejor esperanza para la humanidad. Hay paralelos en las filas del clero y en cada una de las profesiones. En la crisis de abuso sexual en la iglesia, se hizo evidente que había lobos entre los muchos buenos pastores. La buena noticia es que esta corrupción oculta ha sido traída a la luz del Evangelio y las demandas de justicia, la conversión y el cambio genuino están transformando la iglesia. Los Buenos Pastores continúan sirviendo bien. Aquellos que se sientan como jornaleros y que trabajan por un cheque, son llamados a encender la llama del regalo que recibieron en el día de la ordenación. Todos los lobos conocidos son removidos.
Durante este año de San José, recordamos las palabras del Papa Francisco que describen el consentimiento del padre adoptivo de Jesús al ángel Gabriel como una entrega total de sí mismo en servicio a María, su prometida, al niño Jesús y al plan de salvación de Dios. Este santo silencioso es un modelo excepcional de buen pastor. El niño Jesús fue el Buen Pastor que entregó su vida como don puro por la salvación del mundo. A su vez, somos hijos de Dios y ahora la ofrenda de uno mismo encuentra su fuente en nuestra identidad como hijos e hijas de Dios, miembros del cuerpo de su Hijo y templos del Espíritu Santo. Esta es la piedra angular sobre y contra la violencia, el odio y la indiferencia generalizados.
Que las palabras del salmo 23 resuenen en nuestras mentes y corazones: “El Señor es mi pastor; nada me falta. En verdes praderas me hace descansar, a las aguas tranquilas me conduce, me da nuevas fuerzas y me lleva por caminos rectos, haciendo honor a su nombre. Aunque pase por el más oscuro de los valles, no temeré peligro alguno, porque tú, Señor, estás conmigo; tu vara y tu bastón me inspiran confianza. Me has preparado un banquete ante los ojos de mis enemigos; has vertido perfume en mi cabeza, y has llenado mi copa a rebosar. Tu bondad y tu amor me acompañan a lo largo de mis días, y en tu casa, oh, Señor, por siempre viviré.”