Updates

Springfield Dominican Sisters confirm corporate stance on migration

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By Sister Beth Murphy, OP
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Dominican Sisters of Springfield gathered in general assembly Aug. 6-7, 2020, and affirmed a statement in support of migrants that “heralds justice and non-violence” and that “speaks the urgent need for social equality and economic parity, for compassion and for reconciliation” of the world’s peoples on the move.
The full text of the corporate stance reads:
We, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Ill., express solidarity with those individuals and families who find it necessary to leave their homes or homeland in order to secure their safety and future. We commit to welcome, support, and protect all migrants: immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons. We commit to assist in their integration. We advocate for policies that protect their human rights, including family unity.
In her presentation of the statement to the sisters gathered at Sacred Heart Convent and around the Western Hemisphere via teleconference technology, Sister Sharon Zayac answered a rhetorical question about why more words were necessary on this topic. “In a world inundated with words that deny others their rights to life, liberty, and the means to provide for the needs and the future of their families, we need more words,” she said. “We need alternate words, words that herald justice and non-violence, that speak the urgent need for social equality and economic parity, for compassion and for reconciliation.”

(Left) Dominican Sisters of Springfield have been migrant advocates since their founders arrived in Jacksonville, Ill., on Aug. 19, 1873. Pictured: Springfield Dominican Sisters rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) legislation in 2017. Left to right are Sister Judith Hilbing, Veronica Espina (a Dominican associate), Sisters Elyse Marie Ramirez, Ann Clennon and Marcelline Koch. (Photo courtesy of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield)

The process of affirming this new corporate stance, the twelfth since 1994, began earlier this year with a period of communal study by the sisters on issues facing migrants in the U.S. and around the globe.
“When our founding sisters arrived in Jacksonville in 1873, they came to teach the children of the Irish immigrants whose fathers made a living doing back-breaking labor on the railroad,” said Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, the congregation’s prioress general. “Many of our own sisters were also immigrants. This statement affirms our commitment to continued concern for, ministry to, and advocacy on behalf of immigrants so deeply rooted in our own story.”
The sisters work to fulfill Pope Francis’ goal of making the Catholic church a welcoming place for migrants. In a video statement from the pope viewed before their vote on this corporate stance, the sisters heard Pope Francis say “Unfortunately, in many cases people are forced to move by conflict, natural disasters, persecution, climate change, violence, extreme poverty, and inhuman living conditions. Our shared response can be expressed by four action verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.”
The Springfield Dominican Sisters now work to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants in a multitude of ways. They serve migrants at the Dominican Literacy Centers in Aurora and Melrose Park, Ill. and at Bethany House, a Chicago shelter facility for women and children seeking asylum or awaiting adjudication of their human trafficking cases.
Sisters engaged in parish ministry often serve migrants in those parishes, and migrants attend the congregation’s three sponsored high schools. Migrants are served by Springfield Dominican Sisters at counseling centers in Illinois and are among those cared for in health care facilities where our sisters work.
In many instances, Springfield Dominican Sisters volunteer time in service of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and can often be found advocating for more just immigration policies in the seats of government. In Springfield, many sisters are engaged with the work of the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network (SIAN), an all-volunteer non-profit that provides service and advocacy for immigrants in central Illinois.
To learn more about how you can join the Dominican Sisters’ work in support of migrants contact Sister Marcelline Koch at 217-787-0481.

Catholic Extension receives 47 nominations for annual Lumen Christi Award

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By Catholic News Service
CHICAGO (CNS) – Each year Catholic Extension, based in Chicago, asks the faith communities in U.S. mission dioceses to nominate individuals or groups for the organization’s annual Lumen Christi Award, and for the 2020-2021 award, it has received 47 nominees.
Latin for the “Light of Christ,” the Lumen Christi Award is the highest honor bestowed on a missionary working in the United States. It honors an individual or group working in one of America’s mission dioceses “who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities.”
These 47 nominees for the 43rd annual Lumen Christi Award “are hidden heroes in our midst who are serving their communities selflessly to bring life and hope to the forgotten corners of our country,” Catholic Extension said in a July 27 news release announcing the nominees.
“These Catholic leaders have stepped up to the difficult task of helping their already marginalized communities battle the physical, mental and financial impacts of the pandemic,” Catholic Extension said.

The Lumen Christi Award is seen in this undated photo. On July 27, 2020, Catholic Extension announced the list of 47 nominees for its upcoming 2020-2021 annual Lumen Christi Award. (CNS photo/Rich Kalonick, Catholic Extension)

“This diverse group of pastors, sisters, brothers, lay leaders, deacons, and community groups show the enormous breadth of the Catholic Church across the country,” it added. A full list of the nominees, their profiles and why they were nominated can be found online at https://bit.ly/3gZ2yuv.
The group includes a priest who is working for migrant rights on the U.S.-Mexico border; a religious sister from Puerto Rico serving her community on the road to recovery from natural disasters; and an ecumenical community group selflessly supporting immigrant families affected by raids in Mississippi carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“During these trying times of COVID-19, this year’s nominees have proven to truly be heroes working selflessly in our midst,” said Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension. “These faith leaders have remained committed to their community and their mission, no matter the circumstances.”
Each Lumen Christi Award nominee receives $1,000 in support of his or her ministry, and the award recipient is given a $50,000 grant with the honoree and nominating diocese each receiving $25,000 for their own community and ministry.
The 2019-2020 winner was Mack McCarter, who founded Community Renewal International in 1994 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He had one goal in mind: to rebuild his home town of Shreveport by uniting individuals, churches, businesses and civic groups and to resurrect the foundation of relationships in neighborhoods.
Catholic Extension has been supporting the work and ministries of the nation’s mission dioceses since its founding in 1905. It raises funds to help build faith communities and churches in these dioceses, which are rural, cover a large geographic area, and have limited personnel and pastoral resources.

Mississippi high school baseball coaching legend D.M. Howie dies at 90

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By Rashad Milligan The Clarion-Ledger
JACKSON – David “D.M.” Howie dedicated his life to baseball.
“He lived baseball. He didn’t have any hobbies really,” said his son, Chris. “He didn’t fish, he didn’t golf. He liked to work on the field. He loved baseball practices. A lot of coaches didn’t like that, but he loved it because then he could teach.”

File photo of Coach D.M. Howie. (Photo courtesy of St. Joseph High School)

Howie died on Monday, July 20. He was 90 years old.
Howie began coaching high school baseball in 1967 at St. Joseph. At St. Joseph, he built his first baseball field, the Bobby Jacquith Field. The venue, constructed by the help of parents and Howie’s friends, was one of the first fields in the Jackson-area to have lights.
In 1982, he became the first baseball coach in Northwest Rankin’s history. At Northwest Rankin, he also built the program’s first baseball field – the original Wesley Scarborough Field.
Howie also coached at Madison Ridgeland, before it consolidated into Madison Central, Tougaloo and had a second stint at St. Joseph. The current field at St. Joseph, is named in his honor. He had a career record of 495-231.
He was the first coach in the Mississippi High School All-Star Baseball Game in 1975. The all-star exhibition is now named after him. In 2011, the Mississippi Association of Coaches inducted Howie into its Coaches Hall of Fame.
“He was a well-respected baseball coach,” Johnny Mims, MAC executive director, said. “He was just a great person, and a big baseball fan. He loved baseball, that was his life.”
In retirement, he volunteered his services being an assistant coach and umpire. In 2016, Howie released his autobiography Rock & Fire: The Autobiography of the Coach Who Made a Difference in Mississippi High School Baseball.
“It was a life well lived,” Chris Howie said. “He was 90 years old. He worked two-thirds of those years. He took it seriously.”
No funeral service is planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Editor’s note: This article was originally published on July 22, 2020 in The Clarion-Ledger and is reprinted with permission.)

Long-time organist at St. Elizabeth Clarksdale passes at age 95

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CLARKSDALE – Evelyn Campassi Demilio was born with music in her soul in Clarksdale on Feb. 16, 1925. At Clarksdale High School she enjoyed playing the piano for assemblies and school events and went on to attend St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana and studied music, piano and the organ.
Demilio played the organ at St. Elizabeth Clarksdale for over 50 years (beginning in 1946) and taught piano lessons at St. Elizabeth School for over 25 years. She also assisted in teaching the children’s choir for many years. Additionally, she played for numerous weddings and always referred to the organ as “The King of Church Music.” The Moller organ keyboard danced when she played; you knew when Evelyn was upstairs.

In her own words: My guiding principle. By Evelyn Demilio
My first priority has been to make our services liturgically correct – trying at the same time to make it a beautiful experience for all who “participate.” Next, I always kept abreast of the times in what the leaders in Catholic liturgy were doing. I never visited a church without researching a new response, acclamation – or any new, good material I heard. I always used the best of the new. It was fun to do and it keeps our congregation engaged. I wanted to elevate the taste of our community in what was the best in music. I always felt that our St. Elizabeth community could be the best – anywhere, anytime.
Of course, there have been new trends and new directions (some good, some bad) and that will always be; but, in the big picture our old, traditional Catholic music will still survive and flourish because it continues to be the best and most beautiful in praising our Lord, Jesus Christ. In retrospect after 50 plus years as organist at St. Elizabeth Clarksdale, I believe the liturgy and our congregation are best served by our traditional Catholic music and song. Without this, we lose our history and identity as “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”
Just listen to the organ and sing the music … beautiful!

She enjoyed her volunteer work at the Clarksdale Care Station and only stopping because her age dictated that she could do no more. The Mag-Pie Gift and Art Shop was a favorite workplace where she assisted brides-to-be with china and table setting selections. Frequently re-decorating the window displays was something she always anticipated.
In her 85th year, she persisted with the landscape at St. Elizabeth Church and School to get the live oak trees and crepe myrtles properly trimmed. It is still done today for all to enjoy.
At 90, driving around Clarksdale “running errands” in her Volkswagen Yellow Beetle was a thrill. She would exclaim how many people wanted to buy her “Yellow Bug,” but she always replied: “I don’t think I want to sell,” often resulting in a playful exchange.
In May 2017 at 92 years of age, Demilio agreed, with hesitation, to move into Flowers Manor for her well-being and then to the adjoining Fiser-Spradling Green House. She appreciated all the wonderful help and assistance she got from the staff of caregivers.
In October 2019 at 94 years old, Demilio moved to the Clarksdale Nursing Center for the nursing care she now needed. Alice Mayo still visited with faith and Communion and Father Raju Macherla, too.
Demilio was a happy person with a smile and she remained that way to the end.
She passed at age 95 on Aug. 2, 2020, and was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Demilio, her two brothers Louis and Willie Campassi. Demilio leaves behind six nieces and three nephews, and her son, Ronnie Demilio of New Orleans.

In memorium: Bessie Wilburn

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JACKSON – Bessie Wilburn was a native of Greenwood, Mississippi, graduating from Broad Street High School. She began coming to the St. Francis Center, meeting members of the Pax Christi Franciscans and the Franciscan Friars. She came to know and respect the work done by this Catholic community under the direction of Father Nathaniel Machesky, OFM and Kate Jordan.
She attended Xavier University in New Orleans, transferred to and graduated from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa. She obtained her master’s degree from Delta State College in Cleveland. While a member of the Delta State concert choir, she traveled to England where the choir performed numerous concerts.
In 1957, inspired by the Pax Christi Franciscan community, Wilburn began her process of formation as a member of this group of dedicated women, known in Canon Law as a Pious Union. People who belong to such groups commit themselves to following Christ in a radical way, by living a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. In 1960, Bessie made her first profession as a member of the Pax Christi Franciscans making her a consecrated member of this group.
She spent her years at St. Francis Center serving the people in that area. For many years, she taught at St. Francis school, also teaching music and directing musical plays for the entire school.
Wilburn was the director of St. Francis Center for many years. Her favorite task at the center was offering parties and programs for the senior citizens of Greenwood.
She was a true Franciscan, loving and caring for many stray animals who found their way to her.
Wilburn left this earth and joined the choir of angels on Aug. 4, 2020.
A private Mass was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 8 at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Greenwood.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Pax Christi Franciscans, 2108 Alta Woods Blvd., Jackson, MS 39204.

Catholic prayer, meditation app Hallow sees huge increase in popularity

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By Ian Alvano
WASHINGTON (CNS) – When the developers of the Catholic meditation app Hallow launched it in 2018, they hoped to attract young Catholics, but what is now the country’s No. 1 Catholic app has a bigger reach than that.
“It started as this focus on young adults but actually we’ve seen a lot more. … Parents and retired folks get really excited about it and start using it,” said Hallow’s CEO and co-founder, Alex Jones.
Hallow – https://hallow.com – has seen a dramatic increase in popularity and getting more and more users each day.

This is a rendering of the Catholic prayer and meditation Hallow App, which has experienced a dramatic increase in popularity. (CNS graphic/courtesy Hallow)

The No. 1 rating is based on “Apple’s algorithm, which they don’t disclose,” Jones told Catholic News Service in a July 21 interview. “It’s based on how many people have reviewed it in the last few weeks, how many people are downloading it, how many have viewed. We started off on the bottom of the list, went to No. 3, then jumped to No. 1 about six months ago.”
Hallow is based out of Chicago even though the company started off in California’s Silicon Valley. Creation of the app is integrated with Jones’ own faith journey. His family raised him as a Catholic, but he strayed from the faith in high school and college. He went to the University of Notre Dame but he was going through a “relatively dark time in life,” he told Catholic News Service.
After he graduated from college, he wanted to figure out what he believed in. One thing that had always fascinated him was meditation. He noticed that whenever he meditated, his mind would be pulled to something spiritual.
He said he’d ask priests, nuns and others in religious life if there was a specific connection between meditation and faith. They told him that indeed there was a connection: It was called prayer.
When he was growing up, Jones said, he only thought of prayer as a way to ask for certain things or that it was just basic memorization of words. He only felt that he was talking to himself and going through the motions.
A priest friend encouraged him to listen more during prayer, Jones said, and he began to study the Catholic faith more and he tried “lectio divina,” a meditative reflection on the Scriptures.
Jones said this process actually led him to tears and eventually brought him back to his faith.
“It was a beautiful combination of this deep sense of peace and love, deeper than any other secular mediation or mindfulness meditation. It was this deep sense of peace combined with this real purpose that calms our head space,” he said.
Jones recalled meditating on the Lord’s Prayer and the word that stuck out to him was “hallow” from the beginning of the prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” He knew what hallow meant, to make holy or sacred, but he didn’t know how it pertained to his life. He pondered if he should be helping others grow in holiness.
That’s how the Hallow app came to be.
“If Headspace and Calm can be successful helping people learn secular meditation and (be) done through an app’” he thought, “why can’t the same thing be done and be done better through teaching Catholic contemplative prayer?”
Headspace is an app that teaches you how to meditate; Calm is a leading app for meditation and sleep.
“It’s very important to us that everything on the app is 100% authentically Catholic and in line with church teachings,” Jones told CNS about Hallow.
He said the app’s developers have worked with priests, bishops and theologians to ensure they are conveying Catholic teachings correctly. He added that Hallow is a resource to people of all backgrounds, especially people who have fallen away from the faith. Its primary audience is Catholic, but users of the app include Protestants, Jews and even atheists.
It also is hard to ignore the impact of COVID-19 on Hallow’s popularity. According to Jones, there was a large increase in usage and downloads when Easter came around since everyone was advised to stay at home.
While the pandemic has been terrible and brought so much sadness to people’s lives, with loved ones and friends dying from COVID-19, Jones said, it provides us with an opportunity to work on our spiritual lives from home. The app has a “Family” feature that allows users to connect with family and friends and share prayers, reflections and prayer intentions with them even while being physically separated.
It also has a feature called the “Daily Minute Prayer Challenge.” Users are encouraged to build a habit of prayer by spending at least one minute in guided prayer with Hallow each day.
“The hardest part about praying is just doing it. It’s easy in the seasons of Lent and Advent when it’s top of mind, but over the summer when you’ve got a lot of other things going on,” Jones said, “it’s easy to fall off that. We do a bunch of things. You can set goals on the app. You can add members of your family and friends to the app to hold yourself accountable. You can set daily reminders.”
Hallow, which has over 5,000 five-star reviews, tries to be “an app that helps you disconnect from apps and technology,” according to Jones, which he admitted sounds like a contradiction.
But he explained that while other religious apps have users glued to their screen to read the Bible, Hallow allows its users to press “play,” close their eyes and listen to audio of a prayer.

Hallow App co-founders Alex Jones, Alessandro DiSanto and Erich Kerekes pose together for this undated photo. Hallow — a Catholic prayer and meditation app — has experienced a dramatic increase in popularity. (CNS photo/courtesy Hallow)

Calendar of events

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

VIRTUAL First Homegrown Harvest Fundraiser, Friday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to raise awareness and funds for the seminarian trust. This will be a live online event. You can go to https://one.bidpal.net/homegrownharvest2020 to be a part. You will hear from the six men who are studying for the priesthood, as well as hear a talk from Father Jim Wehner, the President/Rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and throughout the evening you will hear from Father Nick Adam, our seminarians and more. Details: Father Nick Adam, Vocation Director (601) 969-4020 or nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.
VIRTUAL Dominican Sisters of Peace presents “Listening to God’s Call with Open Hearts,” a virtual discernment retreat for single women ages 18-45, Sept. 11-13. This retreat will give single Catholic women an opportunity to meet and talk with Sisters and women in formation, as well as other women who are discerning their own call to religious life. Details: Sister Bea Tiboldi, OP, (614) 400-1255 or BTiboldi@oppeace.org.
JACKSON Catholic Charities’ Journey of Hope postponed. Out of an abundance of caution, Catholic Charities has postponed its Journey of Hope for this year and has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 at 12 p.m. There will be a meet and greet the night before, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. The luncheon speaker will be Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted in 2002 as a 14-year old from her family’s home and was one of the most followed cases of our time. She was rescued nine months later. Through her traumatic experience, Smart has become an advocate for change relation to child abduction, recovery programs and legislation. She will appear to share her story of perseverance and hope. This inspirational event will raise money for the vital programs of Catholic Charities. Details: Catholic Charities (601) 355-8634.
JACKSON 40 Days for Life kickoff rally, 2903 North State Street, Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. Join in prayer and fasting as they go to the abortion facility to be a public witness for God. There will be no speaker this year, but they are asking that you pray and sing. Details: plm@prolifemississippi.org.
MAGNOLIA St. James Mission, you are invited to embark on a journey towards faith and racial healing sometime in the first week of Sept. via Zoom meetings. It is an opportunity to further and deepen our desire to follow the way of Jesus. This program is not specifically Catholic. It is universal. All are welcome. The program is not about religion; it is about human dignity and respect. If you are interested, please call or email. Details: Chris Ingrassia (301) 266-0433, gracie_eddie@yahoo.com. Website: https://justfaith.org/faith-and-racial-healing/.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS

HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Weight loss support group meets Tuesdays at 9 a.m. All are welcome to come each week to become healthier and happier. Details: Liz Brown (901) 331-3419.
JACKSON St. Richard, Save the Date, Special Kids Golf Tournament, Thursday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Deerfield Golf Club, Canton. Sponsorships and donation opportunities are available. Details: church office (601) 366-2335 or www.saintrichard.com.
MERIDIAN, Catholic Community of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, Father Augustine leads a novena to the Lady of Our Perpetual Help on the parish’s Facebook page Saturdays at 11 a.m. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.
VICKSBURG St. Mary, Knights of Columbus Drawdown, Sunday, Oct. 11. This event will be a “virtual” drawdown with takeout food. Cost: tickets are $75 each. Details: church office (601) 636-0115.

COVID-19 REMINDER

In person Masses are now open at many parishes within the Diocese of Jackson. Check with your local parish for details and follow guidelines in place for attendance. All over the age of two are required to wear a mask.
The obligation to attend Mass continues to be dispensed by Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, so if you do not feel safe attending, or have an underlying health condition, or feel sick, please stay home. Be safe and stay vigilant!

Fe se mantiene más fuerte ante el miedo

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Por Berta Mexidor y Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – El 7 de agosto de 2019, al menos cuatro parroquias católicas fueron sacudidas después de que agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos allanaron plantas procesadoras de pollo en todo el estado y arrestaron a 680 trabajadores indocumentados. El día dejó a muchos niños con miedo y dolor en su primer día de escuela, ya que se quedaron sin un lugar adonde ir con sus familias arrebatadas.
Cuando algunos fueron liberados de la custodia de ICE para cuidar a sus hijos, se estableció una nueva realidad. La pérdida de ingresos, junto con un futuro imprevisible y preguntas sobre cómo sus familias pueden sobrevivir sin sus seres queridos bajo la custodia de ICE.

CANTON – Incluso hoy en día, los niños todavía están preocupados que ICE les quite a sus padres. Los efectos sicológicos y emocionales son palpables en todos, niños y jóvenes. El año pasado, después de las redadas de ICE en todo el estado, los hijos de inmigrantes indocumentados realizaron una demostración de sus sentimientos en la histórica plaza de Canton, el 11 de agosto de 2019. En la misma participaron, en solidaridad, niños y jóvenes no hispanos. (Foto de archivo por Joanna Puddister King)

Aproximadamente siete meses después, entre comparecencias ante el tribunal, posible deportación e incertidumbre legal, volvió el dolor para estas comunidades, ahora en forma de una enfermedad que afecta a todos, sin discriminación de estatus legal. Pero para las familias afectadas en Canton, Forest, Morton y Carthage, el miedo al COVID-19 era menor que el miedo a los funcionarios de inmigración.
Cientos se han enfermado; amigos y familiares han muerto debido al COVID-19. Muchos inmigrantes indocumentados están evitando exámenes y visitas a hospitales, a pesar de las promesas de las autoridades de no verificar su estatus legal durante los exámenes médicos.
La situación no se localiza solo en Mississippi, sino también en todo el país. Varias de las familias afectadas por las redadas emigraron a otros estados para evitar otra redada. La membresía de la iglesia también se redujo por esta migración.

FOREST – Esta comunidad se ha visto seriamente impactada y las familias que quedan tratan de recuperarse a la adversidad. El domingo 9 de agosto se ve a varias familias, con máscaras y practicando el distanciamiento social, en Misa celebrada por el padre Roberto Mena, ST en la parroquia de St. Michael. (Foto cortesía del Padre Roberto Mena y Agua Tibia Radio)

Inmediatamente después de las redadas en agosto pasado, la iglesia se convirtió en un centro humanitario de alimentos, bienes y recursos financieros para pagar el alquiler y los servicios públicos. En ese momento, los inmigrantes notaron que Dios estaba enviando varias manos de ayuda, incluso un Cardenal de Guatemala.
El 7 de noviembre de 2019, el representante Bennie Thompson celebró una audiencia del Congreso, en Tougaloo College en Jackson. Lo acompañaron dos representantes más; así como, líderes estatales, comunitarios y religiosos, incluido el padre Odel Medina, ST de St. Anne Carthage, para interrogar al agente especial de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional Jere Miles sobre el presunto mal manejo de la redada masiva de ICE meses antes.
Durante la audiencia, el padre Medina aprovechó la oportunidad para leer la carta de un niño de su parroquia, que se sentía herido y traumatizado a raíz de las redadas.
Poco antes de Navidad, el cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini Imeri de Guatemala, visitó las comunidades parroquiales afectadas con un mensaje de que “Dios nunca los abandona”. Consoló a las familias afectadas por la redada con palabras del Evangelio y las acompañó durante tres días de la temporada de Adviento, participando en “Las Posadas”, una recreación del intento de María y José de encontrar alojamiento antes del nacimiento de Jesús.

Hoy, el Padre Odel y Edgar Morales llevan máscaras para continuar la ayuda a todas las familias afectadas. (Fotos cortesía de Apoyo Latino MS y Edgar Morales, respectivamente)

Mientras estaba en Mississippi, el cardenal Ramazzini habló con los medios de comunicación, defendiendo una “política migratoria con rostro humano” y habló de las condiciones económicas que obligan a muchos a abandonar su país de origen y pidió la eliminación de la costumbre de que los inmigrantes sean tratados como criminales. sin tener antecedentes penales.
Durante la visita del cardenal Ramazzini, Catholic Extension, que patrocinó la estancia del cardenal, anunció su Fondo Sagrada Familia, (Holy Family Fund), un programa de ayuda a las familias en los Estados Unidos que dependen económicamente de un padre que ha sido detenido o deportado por motivos de inmigración. A través del fondo, Catholic Extension ha sido fundamental para garantizar el flujo de ayuda que entrega recursos básicos a las iglesias que atienden las necesidades humanitarias y espirituales de las familias en Mississippi afectadas por las redadas de ICE.
La ayuda de Catholic Extension, Catholic Charities y muchos dentro de la comunidad católica ha ayudado a las familias afectadas en las parroquias de las comunidades de Canton, Carthage y Forest-Morton.

CANTON – Desde los primeros días, las donaciones fueron llegando de varios lugares del país. Blanca Peralta y todos los voluntarios, convocados por el Padre Mike O’Brien, convirtieron el centro comunitario de la parroquia no solo en almacén de cajas, más en lugar de reunión para la distribución de la ayuda y dar apoyo emocional. (Foto por Berta Mexidor)

Diócesis tiene línea directa para reportar posibles fraudes

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Por Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – En enero de 2020, la Diócesis de Jackson estableció un sistema de línea directa para que las personas informen posibles fraudes, problemas de cumplimiento, violaciones de la ética y problemas de recursos humanos.

Carolyn Callahan

El uso de una línea directa se ha discutido durante varios años en la Conferencia Nacional Diocesana de Administradores Fiscales, a la que asisten miembros de la diócesis. Una línea directa se considera una “mejor práctica”, ya que tener una línea independiente puede ayudar a alertar y reducir la posibilidad de acciones inapropiadas o ilegales.
Carolyn Callahan comenzó a investigar plataformas de línea directa después de presentaciones en la conferencia, incluso antes de ingresar a su función actual como directora de asuntos temporales en la diócesis en mayo de 2019. Anteriormente, actuó como contralora, auditora interna y coordinadora de proyectos especiales para la diócesis, director de finanzas de la escuela St. Joseph en Madison, y como persona de apoyo contable para todas las escuelas católicas.
“Aunque siempre hemos tenido procedimientos para manejar quejas, los eventos de los últimos años nos ayudaron a ver más allá de cualquier posible uso indebido de la línea directa, por lo que nuestros feligreses y empleados tienen una manera confidencial y efectiva de informar problemas”, dice Callahan.
El sistema de línea directa de la diócesis es operado por Lighthouse Services. Durante los últimos 15 años, Lighthouse Services ha mantenido líneas directas de ética, seguridad y fraude y ahora presta servicios a más de 4,100 organizaciones entre los EE. UU. y el extranjero.
Cualquier inquietud relacionada con mala conducta financiera, fraude, problemas de cumplimiento o problemas de recursos humanos dentro de la diócesis puede informarse de forma anónima llamando al número gratuito de la línea directa o archivada en línea. Lighthouse Services presentará y procesará la información reportada.
Inmediatamente después de recibir una queja, Lighthouse Services enviará un correo electrónico a tres destinatarios designados., “Dos son empleados de la cancillería y uno es un sacerdote diocesano que no trabaja para la oficina de la cancillería”, dice Callahan.
“Si uno de los tres destinatarios se menciona en la queja, esa persona no recibe la notificación por correo electrónico y no puede acceder al informe”.
Una vez recibida, los tres destinatarios designados acceden a la queja a través del portal web seguro de Lighthouse Services. Si el denunciante presenta la denuncia de forma anónima, las personas designadas solo ven un número PIN, pero nunca un nombre. La comunicación se produce entre el reportero y las personas designadas a través del portal en línea Lighthouse. Se pueden cargar archivos y otra documentación para su revisión.
“Se produce una discusión y se crea un plan para investigar el reclamo, ya sea internamente o con un investigador externo”, dice Callahan. “Dependiendo de los resultados de la investigación inicial, se notifica al abogado diocesano y / o la policía”. La esperanza de Callahan es que cualquier persona preocupada por el fraude, los problemas de cumplimiento, las violaciones éticas y los problemas de recursos humanos se sienta cómodo sabiendo que tiene una plataforma objetiva y confidencial para presentar una reclamación que será investigada de inmediato.
“Las preguntas formuladas dentro del proceso de presentación nos da la capacidad de conocer y responder a las quejas de manera oportuna y efectiva,” dice Callahan.
Para hacer un informe, visite www.lighthouse-services.com/jacksondiocese o llame sin cargo al 888-830-0004 (inglés) o al 800-216-1288 (español).
El vicario general, el padre Lincoln Dall, que trabaja en estrecha colaboración con Callahan, dice: “La línea directa de Lighthouse es parte de nuestra estrategia general de fortalecer nuestros procedimientos de control y supervisión de los bienes y dones que Dios y su pueblo han confiado a nuestra diócesis, nuestras parroquias, y escuelas. Hemos estado mejorando tales políticas, procedimientos y controles en los últimos dos años y continuamos haciéndolo a través del acuerdo actual que tenemos con el gobierno federal.”
La información de la línea directa se publica regularmente en Mississippi Catholic y al menos trimestralmente en los boletines parroquiales. También se puede encontrar en www.jacksondiocese.org.