CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — Los fieles están llamados a dejar atrás “toda pasividad e indiferencia ante los acontecimientos que se producen, ante la historia y la vida de las personas, sobre todo ante el cambio rápido y profundo que experimentamos hoy”, dijo el Papa León XIV en su audiencia general.
“No es posible permanecer como espectadores desinteresados, es necesario, en cambio, escuchar con el corazón, dejarse interpelar, involucrarse”, dijo el Papa el 2 de septiembre en la Plaza de San Pedro.
“Con Cristo y sostenidos por la fuerza de su Espíritu, los creyentes están llamados a hacerse cargo de las dificultades de los hermanos, sobre todo de aquellos que se ven oprimidos por la injusticia, por la discriminación, por la violencia”, afirmó durante su catequesis principal.
El Papa León XIV saluda a visitantes y peregrinos desde el papamóvil mientras recorre la Plaza de San Pedro, en el Vaticano, antes de su audiencia general del 2 de septiembre de 2026. (Foto CNS/Lola Gomez)
El Papa León inició una nueva serie de reflexiones sobre la constitución pastoral del Concilio Vaticano II “Gaudium et Spes”, que examina la relación entre la Iglesia y el mundo moderno.
Recordando la advertencia de San Juan XXIII contra los “profetas de calamidades”, quienes consideraban que su propia época era peor que el pasado, el Papa León afirmó que, por el contrario, los cristianos están llamados a compartir la vida de la humanidad tal como lo hizo Cristo.
Esa cercanía a la humanidad, señaló el Papa, también abre el camino a una comprensión más profunda de los acontecimientos y de la propia Revelación.
“No se trata, de hecho, de una disposición simplemente moral”, afirmó.
Dirigiéndose a los peregrinos de habla inglesa, el Papa León afirmó que es responsabilidad pastoral de la Iglesia relacionarse con el mundo contemporáneo, compartir sus alegrías y tristezas, y defender a los pobres y marginados.
La Iglesia, dijo, también debe escrutar a fondo los signos de la época, enfrentando “problemas urgentes como el progreso tecnológico que solo beneficia a unos pocos y la persistencia de la pobreza generalizada”.
Sus comentarios se produjeron meses después de la publicación de su primera encíclica, “Magnifica Humanitas”, en la que detallaba su visión sobre las implicaciones globales de la inteligencia artificial y advertía contra permitir que el desarrollo tecnológico avance sin dar prioridad a la dignidad humana.
“En nuestros días, marcados por profundos cambios y mucha injusticia, cada uno de nosotros está llamado, pues, a desempeñar su papel al acoger y escuchar las preguntas y anhelos más profundos del corazón humano, haciendo presente ante todos el amor misericordioso de Cristo nuestro Salvador”, dijo el Papa a los angloparlantes.
Durante un período de profundos cambios que está generando “desequilibrios preocupantes”, el Papa León afirmó que la Iglesia está llamada a servir a la persona humana al escuchar “los interrogantes más profundos de su corazón y los anhelos que lo habitan”.
La Iglesia debe orientar a las personas hacia Cristo, dijo, como “la clave, el centro y el fin de toda la historia humana”.
Me pregunto dónde estaba yo que no conocía al arzobispo Fulton Sheen hasta hace relativamente poco. Fue hasta mi llegada a Chicago en el 2019 cuando su nombre empezó a ser familiar para mí, sólo eso. Su nombre.
Una noche, mientras navegaba en YouTube buscando material para mi ministerio parroquial, me topé con un video cincuentero en el que un elocuente y vivaz obispo compartía sabias palabras sobre el sentido de nuestra existencia. Se trataba del hoy venerable Fulton John Sheen en una de las transmisiones de su reconocido programa “Life is Worth Living” (algo así como “la vida merece ser vivida”). Quedé prendada inmediatamente.
Al escuchar a Fulton Sheen por primera vez sentí una nostalgia ajena; nostalgia de algo grande que no viví en su momento, pero que comprendí había sido un parteaguas para la Iglesia estadounidense del siglo pasado. Un hombre pleno, lleno de Dios, hablaba con valentía y entusiasmo sobre el Dios trinitario a través de la televisión nacional, portando con orgullo y gozo las vestiduras de un obispo católico. ¡Excelente! ¡Piel de gallina inmediatamente!
Su obra, como toda obra de Dios, perdura hasta nuestros días, expandiéndose por todo el mundo. Porque, por ejemplo, el rosario misionero yo sí que lo conocía y sí que lo había rezado con la misma intención con la que lo había concebido Sheen en 1951.
Leí por ahí una frase atribuida a la escritora chilena Isabel Allende que resonó mucho en mí: No tengo miedo a la muerte; le tengo miedo a la falta de pasión, a no haber vivido con suficiente intensidad. Ya había aludido a ello San Ireneo de Lyon en el segundo siglo del cristianismo cuando afirmó: “la gloria de Dios es el hombre viviente: y la vida del hombre es la visión de Dios”.
Para mí, el venerable Fulton Sheen es el prototipo del ser humano que cumple estas declaraciones. Fue un ser humano repleto de la gracia y la sabiduría divina capaz de afirmar, con su testimonio –pese a sus numerosas vicisitudes y altibajos–, que la vida es digna de ser vivida, apreciada y contagiada en cada segundo en que nos es donada.
En mayo de 2024, cumplí una tarea que me había propuesto antes de abandonar Chicago. Visitar el Museo del arzobispo Fulton Sheen, situado en el Centro Pastoral de la Diócesis de Peoria.
Me preparé brevemente antes de mi visita leyendo un entrañable libro de memorias escrito por Joan Sheen Cunningham (sobrina del obispo) titulado “Mi tío Fulton Sheen”. Reservé una habitación de un hotel cercano al museo por un par de días y, con el entusiasmo de Pentecostés de aquellos días, emprendí un viaje por tren a Peoria.
El museo está a pocos pasos de la Catedral de Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción, en donde el joven Fulton Sheen fuera ordenado sacerdote en 1919, y en donde reposan hoy sus restos mortales.
Aunque, en realidad, es un espacio pequeño y sencillo, yo experimenté allí una emoción desbordante que debí contener porque había hecho esa peregrinación por mi cuenta y no tenía alguien allí presente con quien compartirla.
Durante mi estancia en Peoria visité el museo y la catedral dos veces. Traté de absorber al máximo toda la información tan exquisitamente seleccionada y todos los objetos tan armónicamente exhibidos. Miré con calma el filme que se proyecta en una sala inspirada en el programa “Life is Worth Living”. Me encantó. Compré una copia de este film para compartir su contenido con mi comunidad posteriormente.
Es fácil imaginar el gozo que sentí cuando en marzo de este año el Vaticano anunció la fecha oficial de la beatificación de Sheen. Para celebrarlo, propuse “Tesoro en vasija de barro”, su autobiografía espiritual, como título para mi club de lectura católico en abril pasado.
Me gozo con toda la Iglesia. Me gozo porque otro de los nuestros es elevado a los altares. Siento muchas ganas de contagiar esta admiración por él, su fidelidad a Cristo y la manera en cómo nos enseñó a vivir. Al venerable le presento constantemente mis intenciones pastorales y profesionales, y ruego para que otras personas no pasen por esta vida –como yo por tanto tiempo– sin tener la dicha de conocer la existencia de este formidable ser humano.
Ely Segura es laica, creadora del proyecto Teófilo, una iniciativa para la formación en la fe de adultos hispanos en Estados Unidos. (www.proyectoteofilo.com)
(OSV News) – El 11 de septiembre de 2001 Joseph Connor estaba de espaldas al gran ventanal de su oficina en el piso 36 cuando “de repente sintió más de lo que escuchó” el brutal impacto de un avión comercial que se estrellaba contra la torre norte del World Trade Center, a unos 500 metros de distancia.
Mientras Connor observaba cómo páginas y páginas de papel de oficina caían lentamente como lluvia desde el rascacielos en llamas contra el cielo despejado y soleado, se dio cuenta de que su primo Steven Schlag, un corredor de bolsa en la firma financiera Cantor Fitzgerald, trabajaba trabajaba en uno de los pisos superiores de las torres.
El banquero sospechó que el número de víctimas mortales estaba aumentando rápidamente mientras intentaba frenéticamente llamar a su primo, un pariente muy cercano. Entonces, la parte central de la segunda torre estalló en una bola de fuego, al ser impactada por un segundo avión. Para Connor, esto confirmó que se trataba de un ataque terrorista.
Una mujer llora ante la inscripción del nombre de su difunto esposo en el Monumento y Museo Nacional del 11 de Septiembre en la ciudad de Nueva York, el 11 de septiembre de 2014. Veinticinco años después de los ataques terroristas del 11 de septiembre, que cobraron la vida de casi 3.000 personas, familiares católicos que perdieron a seres queridos ese día atribuyen a su fe la fortaleza ante este dolor. (Foto OSV News/Chang Lee, Reuters)
“¿Cómo pudo volver a suceder esto?”, recuerda haberse preguntado. “(Steven) tenía una esposa -una esposa de origen extranjero, como lo fue mi mamá- y tres hijos. Mi mamá tuvo dos. Pero ¿por qué, Dios? ¿Qué? ¿Cómo permitiste que esto sucediera?”
Conocía bien la angustia de una joven viuda que se quedaba con hijos pequeños. Era la historia de su madre el día en que perdió a su esposo en un atentado terrorista 26 años antes, en 1975, en una antigua taberna cerca de su oficina en Wall Street.
Mientras Estados Unidos se prepara para conmemorar el 25.º aniversario de los ataques terroristas del 11 de septiembre de 2001, Connor, de 60 años, describió recientemente a OSV News la devastación que se desató ante sus ojos ese día. Los ataques liderados por Al Qaeda en Nueva York y Washington, junto con un intento frustrado en Pensilvania, dejaron cerca de 3.000 muertos.
Connor dijo que cuestionó a Dios después de ver “pequeñas siluetas saltando” desde las torres en llamas hacia su muerte el 11 de septiembre.
“¿Cómo es posible que las personas tengan que elegir entre quemarse o caer 1.000 pies?”, preguntó Connor. “Eso es algo con lo que he luchado. Pero creo que, con el tiempo, mi fe se ha fortalecido mucho más, y sin duda en la última década, creo que se ha fortalecido aún más”.
Connor, quien asiste regularmente a Misa, atribuye en parte el fortalecimiento de su fe tras esas pérdidas a su hijo, un fraile agustino que se está preparando para el sacerdocio. Dijo que la fe de su hijo lo ha ayudado a “reflexionar más… y a comprender lo que significa ser católico… a acoger verdaderamente a Dios y a Jesús”.
Connor, quien reside en Nueva Jersey y ahora es un activista contra el terrorismo, perdió a su padre días después de cumplir nueve años. El 24 de enero de 1975, Frank Connor, de 33 años, estaba almorzando en Fraunces Tavern, en el corazón del distrito financiero de Manhattan, cuando él y otros tres hombres murieron, y casi 60 resultaron heridos en un atentado con bomba. Las Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN), un grupo separatista puertorriqueño, se atribuyó la responsabilidad.
Connor dijo que nunca ha tenido la intención de alejarse de Dios, a diferencia de otras personas que conoce y que perdieron a seres queridos el 11 de septiembre. La experiencia, dijo, de perder a su padre y ser criado por una madre y una abuela que eran mujeres irlandesas devotas lo mantuvo con los pies en la tierra y le permitió sobrellevar mejor la pérdida de su primo cercano, a quien describió como un hombre fuerte y divertido.
“Íbamos a la iglesia y todo eso, pero la abuela Connor siempre nos inculcó que nunca nos criáramos con odio”, dijo Connor.
Su prima Jean Schlag Nebbia, de Naples, Florida, también se aferró a su fe poco después de que su hermano mayor Steven, de 41 años, muriera en el ataque.
“Nunca culpé a Dios por el 11 de septiembre. Sentí que se te da el regalo de la vida y luego se te da el regalo de la libre elección. Y a veces hay gente mala que toma malas decisiones, y otras personas resultan lastimadas por esas malas decisiones”, dijo Nebbia a OSV News.
Tres meses después de los ataques, llegó a una conclusión.
Nebbia, de 63 años y ex-auxiliar de maestros de educación especial, describió cómo veía obsesivamente las imágenes de las torres en llamas en las noticias, tratando de encontrar a su hermano entre quienes saltaban de los edificios. Tras pasar tres meses viéndolas sin parar, su esposo le dio un consejo que un compañero de trabajo cristiano le había dado a él: “decir ‘voy a poner esto en manos de Dios'”.
“El momento en que me dijo eso fue el momento en que empecé a vivir… dejando de lado mis preocupaciones y aceptando lo desconocido”, dijo Nebbia a OSV News. “Ya sabes: ‘Dios, necesito dormir bien esta noche. Voy a poner esto en tus manos’. Eso, para mí, fue un punto de inflexión. Y no sé si hubiera podido hacerlo si no contara con mi base católica”.
Nebbia dijo que sus 12 años de educación católica y el hecho de haber crecido asistiendo regularmente a Misa le dieron una base sólida en la fe en la providencia de Dios. Dijo que recurre a Dios en oración para casi todos los aspectos de su vida porque “él me respalda”, tal como “siempre lo hizo” su hermano mayor, con quien era muy unida.
Vera Murphy Trayner también se apoyó firmemente en su fe tras perder a su esposo, Patrick Murphy.
La mañana del ataque, Trayner rezó el rosario con fervor mientras se apresuraba a regresar a casa desde la guardería de su hijo, empujando su carriola. Murphy, de 36 años y vicepresidente de tecnología en la firma de consultoría de recursos y gestión Marsh McLennan, se encontraba en el piso 97 de la primera torre, que fue impactada tres pisos más abajo. Su departamento se había mudado allí apenas unos meses antes.
La oración a la que Trayner recurría “siempre” le había dado resultados, ya que sus oraciones eran escuchadas.
“Recé y recé y recé para que Patrick encontrara una salida. Era tan inteligente… y atlético y joven… y fue la primera oración que hice que no fue escuchada”, dijo Trayner a OSV News.
Dijo que “se sintió decepcionada”, pero también se mantuvo firme en la creencia de que la muerte de su esposo “sucedió por una razón” y que “tenía que aceptarla”.
“Bueno, es el libre albedrío. Los terroristas, obviamente, están guiados por el mal y pudieron cometer un acto tan malvado”, dijo Trayner. “No quiero compadecerme de mí misma porque, a lo largo de la historia, ha habido traumas, guerras. Hay muerte. Hay incendios”.
Trayner, quien ahora tiene 60 años, dijo que sus estudios en el Boston College, una institución dirigida por jesuitas, la acercaron aún más a la fe durante los momentos difíciles.
“Pude hacer preguntas y, como mujer de fe católica, como viuda de fe católica y como madre, leí bastantes libros diferentes… para responder a mis propias preguntas y hablar con la gente”, dijo.
Trayner, una orientadora universitaria de Tampa que se volvió a casar en 2006, ha confiado en el Espíritu Santo “para que me dé las palabras adecuadas”, en la Santísima Virgen para que interceda en la crianza de sus hijos, y en los santos, especialmente en Santa Juana de Arco, para que la guíen a través de cada desafío importante.
Aun así, dijo, mientras describía cómo le brotaba el sudor al hablar con OSV News, sigue atormentada por la idea de cuánto debió haber sufrido su primer esposo cuando la torre norte quedó envuelta en un infierno y se derrumbó.
Nebbia admitió que, como católica, en las últimas semanas ha comenzado a tener dificultades para perdonar a los terroristas.
“Simplemente siento que no necesito perdonarlos. Ese no es mi trabajo. Así que ahora me cuestiono a mí misma, pensando: ‘Bueno, ¿cómo hago para perdonar a estas personas? ¿Cómo?’. Ese era su objetivo. Lo lograron. Ahora, me cuestiono esa parte de mí”, dijo.
Connor dijo que ha llegado a aceptar las trágicas pérdidas de su familia.
“Quizás no entendía la razón, y quizás no entiendo la razón por la que mataron a Steve y a las otras 3.000 personas, pero sí siento que Dios tiene una razón para ello”, dijo.
JACKSON – Student Wilder Webb kicked off the first day of school by bringing Principal Russ Nelson a special breakfast treat! Principal Nelson was all smiles as he welcomed Wilder with a big high five to start the new school year. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)MERIDIAN – Father Carlisle Beggerly blesses St. Patrick Catholic School students and their backpacks Friday, Aug. 7. (Photo by Helen Reynolds)SOUTHAVEN – Sacred Heart School staff members Mr. Maclin, Ms. Jones, Mrs. Grillo and Mrs. Jimenez practice CPR during first aid and Stop the Bleed training before the start of the school year. (Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)JACKSON – Deacon Denzil Lobo blesses students and their backpacks at Christ the King Parish as they begin a new school year. Father Joseph Dyer, left, joins in the blessing. (Photo courtesy of Deacon Denzil Lobo)PEARL – Father Vijaya Madanu blesses students and their backpacks at St. Jude Parish as parishioners extend their hands in prayer for a safe and successful school year. (Photo by Tereza Ma)CLARKSDALE – Teens play cornhole during an evening of faith and fellowship at St. Elizabeth Parish. Youth in grades 7-12 from St. Elizabeth, St. Mary in Helena, Arkansas, St. Joseph in Greenville and Our Lady of Victories in Cleveland gathered for prayer, Eucharistic adoration, reconciliation, dinner and fellowship. (Photo by Catelin Britt)CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth Parish celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. Pictured from left are Father Raju Macherla, Thomas Curcio, Grayson Burleson, Graysen Harlow, Harris Stonestreet, Isabel Walker, Kalyn Matthews, Colton Dixon and Bishop Joseph Kopacz.St. Elizabeth Parish welcomed new members into the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Pictured from left are Parker Mazelin, Layne Hayes, Rylan Ferracci, Colby Gibbons, Gavin Jennings, Karleigh Jennings and Richard Sherman, OCIA catechist, with Father Raju Macherla, front. (Photos courtesy of parish)JACKSON – St. Richard Parish celebrated First Communion with children pictured in three rows. From back, from left, are Will Norris, Pierce Malouf, Shep Hildago, Robert Salem, Manse Hosemann, Federico Diaz Motato, Thea Saucier and Cecilia Brown. Middle row, from left, are Winn Nicholas, Lucy Hidalgo, Elizabeth Johnson, Beau White, Thomas Morisani, Corinne Thomas, Marilee Nelson and R.B. Carlson. Front row, from left, are Rosemary Benefield, Evelyn Arnold, Jones Carr, Seitz Henry, Jude Marks, Locke Baker, Damon Cochran, Maddie Vandiver, Vivian Smith and Zara White. (Photo by Ron Blaylock)
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson has launched United In Mission – Forming Shepherds, Strengthening Parishes, a $21.5 million capital campaign for the Diocese of Jackson.
The campaign will direct $10 million toward parish needs, $10 million toward a permanent seminarian education endowment and $1.5 million toward the 2027 Catholic Service Appeal. “Through parish gatherings, listening sessions and conversations rooted in faith and prayer, one message became clear: We must invest in the future of our Church by forming strong spiritual leaders and strengthening our parish communities,” Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz said in a letter introducing the campaign.
“As one diocesan family, we are called to move forward together,” Bishop Kopacz said. “United by our faith and guided by the Holy Spirit, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our Church today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.”
Parishes will conduct their campaigns in one of two phases. Block 1 campaigns will continue through December 2026, while Block 2 parishes will participate from January through June 2027. Pledges may be fulfilled over five years.
The Catholic Foundation will oversee gift processing, pledge fulfillment, donor stewardship, campaign reporting and the long-term management of endowment funds. It is working with Guidance In Giving to provide pastors, parish leaders and volunteers with campaign training, materials and individualized support.
“United In Mission gives every parishioner an opportunity to help address the needs of the Church both now and well into the future,” said Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Catholic Foundation. “Through one unified effort, we can strengthen individual parishes, provide lasting support for the formation of future priests and sustain the diocesan ministries that serve people across the state. The Catholic Foundation is honored to help ensure that every gift is managed responsibly and according to the intentions of our donors.”
The first funds raised by each parish will fulfill its 2027 Catholic Service Appeal goal. Once that goal is met, half of the funds raised up to the parish’s United In Mission target will return to the parish, while the other half will support the seminarian education endowment. If a parish exceeds its campaign target, 70% of the additional funds will return to the parish.
Parishes may use their shares for locally identified needs such as building improvements, deferred maintenance, debt reduction, ministry expansion, outreach or preparation for future growth. Block 1 parishes are expected to begin receiving quarterly distributions in January 2027, followed by Block 2 parishes in June 2027.
The Catholic Foundation Shepherds for Tomorrow Seminarian Education Endowment will provide a permanent source of funding for the spiritual, academic and pastoral formation of men preparing to serve as priests in the Diocese of Jackson.
The diocese has experienced increased interest in priestly vocations, bringing both hope and a need for greater financial resources to educate and form future priests.
“God continues to bless us with young men answering the call to discern the priesthood, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the resources are available to prepare these future shepherds to serve the People of God throughout our diocese,” Bishop Kopacz said.
Campaign leaders are encouraging every Catholic household to pray for the campaign and consider a sacrificial commitment. Gifts may be made as one-time contributions or through five-year pledges fulfilled monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. “Together, we can ensure that the Diocese of Jackson remains strong, vibrant and faithful for generations to come,” Bishop Kopacz said.
From the Archives By Mary Woodward “From the Archives” is back after a short hiatus that can be attributed to many wonderful events going on in our diocese, travel, the World Cup, and the dentist. The summer heat is upon us full force and once again we find ourselves thanking the Lord for sturdy HVAC systems.
Last week I was talking with a friend who had just returned from an Alaskan cruise with family. I was rather envious hearing of the cool temperatures and whale sightings on that great Northwestern adventure.
Providentially, this conversation sparked a memory of a transatlantic cruise Bishop Richard Gerow took in September 1929. So, for the next couple of columns, let us transport ourselves back almost 100 years and journey with Bishop Gerow together with five seminary classmates as he sails on ocean breezes to exotic ports-of-call in Europe, Africa, and the Holy Land.
The voyage began on Sept. 21 from New York and ended with his arrival back in Natchez on Dec. 22 to several inches of snow and diocesan financial woes due to the collapse of the stock market in October while the Bishop was in Sicily.
So … let’s get sailing. We begin on the deck of the “Augustus,” an Italian cruise liner who along with her sister ship “Roma” were the premier sailing vessels for transatlantic crossings from North and South America. The Augustus was diesel-powered and could make the crossing in five days if the seas cooperated.
The Augustus was the most powerful motorship of her day. She was also the first ocean liner with a completely outdoor swimming pool. Bishop Richard Gerow – along with five seminary classmates – traveled to exotic ports-of-call in Europe, Africa and the Holy Land in the fall of 1929 on the premier Italian cruise liner. (Photos from Wikipedia)
At one time it was the largest motorship in the world, according to Wikipedia. Unfortunately, the Augustus meets a sad end. It was converted into an aircraft carrier by the Italian navy during World War II, then it was seized by the occupying Germans and was sunk in the Port of Genoa as a blockade. After the war, it was raised but eventually turned into scrap.
To think it once majestically ferried six 1909 graduates of the North American College in Rome and countless thousands from New York to all parts of the Mediterranean only to meet such an undignified ending.
Bishop Gerow begins his travel log with this description of the view from the deck:
“There is a thrill in watching a great steamer leave its berth for an ocean voyage. This morning we stood at the deck rail of the Augustus looking down upon the surging mass of people on the pier who had come to see the great ship depart.
“The ship’s gong had already sounded the notice ‘all ashore who are going ashore,’ and we but waited for the moment of departure. Friends ashore called to those aboard, and their calls were answered with showers of confetti. …
“Soon the great gangplank was lowered to the wharf. The great ropes which had held the ship were loosed, and … slowly, almost imperceptibly at first the great ship began to move. The crowd ashore shouts, handkerchiefs are waved from the pier. We see a silent face looking tenderly towards the moving ship, while a tear lingers on the eyelid.
“And in the midst of it all, seamen and wharf hands, officers and policemen move about as if this event, so important to many another, is merely a matter of routine in their lives.”
Bishop Gerow goes on to describe the first moments when all on the shore were no longer in sight. He and his classmates began to explore the Augustus to learn more about it. According to his description of the ship, it was about 700 feet long and around 32,500 tons. The open upper deck had a tennis court, shuffleboard courts, and a pool filled with blue salt water.
“On the decks are long promenades with comfortable steamer chairs. And inside, what gorgeous apartments – the great lounging saloon, the dining room, the smoking room, fitted with the most luxurious furniture, ornamented with beautiful tapestries and paintings.
“And spacious bedrooms with private bath, instead of the little rooms of olden days. All the arts of man seem to have been called upon to make this ship comfortable and luxurious. Certainly it is a far reach from the old sailing vessel that once carried our forefathers from Europe to America to the modern palatial Atlantic liner.”
Bishop Gerow would have gone to seminary in Rome and would have been in one of those “little rooms of olden days.” Now 20 years later he and his classmates have embarked on one of the finest ships on the sea. He has gone from steerage to upper decks. If anyone has flown on a long flight lately, you can somewhat imagine the difference of being in the main cabin versus being in the front.
So next time, we will be on the open seas and arriving off the coast of Spain as the adventurers make their way across the world.
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)
By Joanna Puddister King FOREST – When Father Adolfo Suarez-Pasillas learned that a change in immigration requirements would force him to leave the United States for a year, his first reaction was uncertainty.
“At the beginning I panicked a little bit, because that was not within my life’s plan,” he said.
Father Suarez-Pasillas, a priest of the Diocese of Jackson who is originally from Mexico, had expected that after five years in the United States he would be able to obtain permanent residency. Instead, changes in immigration requirements meant he would have to leave the country, with no guarantee, at least in his mind, that he would be able to return.
“My future was uncertain,” he recalled.
But as he has learned to do throughout his priesthood, Father Suarez-Pasillas tried to look for God’s will in the unexpected turn. “I always try to see God’s will in every event in my life,” he said. “Once I accepted it, I was at peace with this situation.”
That unexpected year would ultimately take him to the Diocese of Saltillo in Mexico, a longtime mission partner of the Diocese of Jackson, where an immigration challenge became an opportunity for ministry – and for Father Suarez-Pasillas to experience firsthand a relationship Mississippi Catholics have supported for years.
At the time of his departure, Father Suarez-Pasillas was serving as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Forest, St. Anne Parish in Newton and St. Michael Parish in Paulding, as well as administrator of Centro Católico in Morton. Leaving those communities was difficult.
SALTILLO, Mexico – Father Adolfo Suarez-Pasillas, left, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz and Father David Martinez participate in a celebration of the Holy Infant Jesus of Good Health (Santo Niño de la Salud) at San Miguel on Oct. 17, 2025. Father Suarez-Pasillas spent a year serving in the Diocese of Saltillo, a longtime mission partner of the Diocese of Jackson, after visa requirements necessitated his temporary departure from the United States. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
“We were all sad and disappointed,” he said, but he reminded his parishioners that they must trust that what was happening was within God’s will for both them and him.
The communities had experienced periods of time without a pastor before Father Suarez-Pasillas arrived, he said, and knew how to keep parish life moving forward. Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz appointed Father Augustine Palimattam administrator pro tempore during Father Suarez-Pasillas’ absence, allowing him to leave knowing the communities would be cared for.
The longstanding relationship between the dioceses of Jackson and Saltillo also provided Father Suarez-Pasillas with a place to continue his priestly ministry during his year away. Because the two dioceses were already in regular communication through their mission partnership, Bishop Kopacz was able to work with Bishop Hilario González García of Saltillo to arrange for him to serve there.
Returning to his native Mexico did not mean returning to familiar ministry.
Father Suarez-Pasillas grew up in Mexico and completed part of his seminary formation there, but he had never served there as a priest. Saltillo was also different from the parts of Mexico he knew, and much of his ministry took him into rural communities.
He found himself learning to be more flexible – traveling to remote areas, entering people’s homes and adapting to the pastoral needs and customs of the communities he served.
That experience, he said, deepened his understanding of the priesthood.
“Traveling to those remote communities and coming into people’s houses, experiencing the way they live and their values, was for me like living the Gospel,” Father Suarez-Pasillas said.
He compared the experience to Christ going from place to place, preaching, healing and encountering people where they were. The faith of the people also left an impression on him.
“Overall, it was a great experience,” he said. “I am always edified by people’s faith and deep respect for the priest.”
One priest in particular provided an example Father Suarez-Pasillas said will remain with him.
Father David Martinez, the pastor with whom he served, continues an active ministry despite serious health problems following COVID-19. Father Suarez-Pasillas described him as a hardworking priest deeply dedicated to the communities entrusted to him. “Basically, he is giving his life to the ministry,” Father Suarez-Pasillas said.
Despite health challenges and difficulty sleeping at night, Father Martinez continued serving his communities without complaint, he said.
His pastor’s example, along with the faith of the people Father Suarez-Pasillas encountered, helped turn what began as an unwanted interruption into a formative chapter of his priesthood.
Throughout the year, his connection to Mississippi remained strong.
Parishioners sent messages and gifts, and the continued support of the Diocese of Jackson allowed him not only to continue his ministry in Mexico but also to assist his family.
“I am grateful to them because due to their support, I was able to continue my ministry in my homeland,” he said. He also knew that his bishop and diocese wanted him home.
“I felt that Bishop and the Diocese really wanted me to be back, which I really appreciate,” Father Suarez-Pasillas said.
A year after leaving, he was able to return to the Diocese of Jackson – and to the same communities he had reluctantly left behind. He resumed his ministry as pastor of the parishes in Forest, Newton and Paulding and as administrator of Centro Católico in Morton.
His year in Saltillo also gave Father Suarez-Pasillas a new perspective on the importance of the mission partnership between the two dioceses.
Many mission communities, he said, do not have the financial resources necessary to bring priests to their communities or maintain their chapels. Support from Catholics in the Diocese of Jackson helps make that ministry possible.
For Father Suarez-Pasillas, supporting the mission is also part of the call to discipleship.
“This is important because that is the Lord’s command: to bring the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” he said.
Mission, he emphasized, involves both those who go and those who make it possible for them to go.
“To make a mission possible, we do not only need those who are going, but we also need those who support it,” he said. “Both are important, and both make sacrifices.”
Father Suarez-Pasillas said those who support the mission also receive something in return. He recalled a lesson he learned while volunteering at St. Dominic Hospital: People sometimes believe they are the ones doing the helping, when those they serve are actually providing them with an opportunity to encounter and serve Christ.
“We often forget that when we are ministering to our brothers and sisters, we are ministering to Him,” he said.
Now back in Mississippi, Father Suarez-Pasillas hopes more Catholics – including his brother priests – will have an opportunity to experience the Saltillo mission firsthand.
“We hear about it, but if we are able to experience it firsthand, then it will become something real and not just something we hear over and over again,” he said.
He points to Christ’s invitation: “Come and see.”
“See how the Lord is living in a different place than yours,” Father Suarez-Pasillas said.
Looking back, he sees his unexpected year away as another lesson in something he began learning during his seminary years: God sometimes places people where they would not choose to go, but where they may need to be.
“At the beginning we try to resist, we complain,” he said. “But once we accept it and try to live it, we will enjoy it.”
What began with uncertainty ultimately brought Father Suarez-Pasillas back to Mississippi with a deeper understanding of his priesthood – and of a mission partnership that, for one unexpected year, became his home.
MADISON – St. Joseph School hosted a professional development day for teachers on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Executive director of Catholic Education, Joni House delivered the opening remarks, welcoming educators from across the Diocese. Teachers from St. Joseph, Madison; St. Anthony, Madison; St. Richard, Jackson; Sister Thea Bowman School, Jackson; St. Joseph, Greenville; Vicksburg Catholic School; St. Patrick School, Meridian; and Cathedral School, Natchez, participated in the training and collaborative learning sessions. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
By Joanna King and Tereza Ma JACKSON – Catholic school educators from across the Diocese of Jackson gathered in early August for prayer, fellowship and professional development as they prepared to welcome students for the 2026-2027 school year.
Hosted by the Office of Catholic Education, professional development days were held Aug. 3 at Annunciation Catholic School in Columbus, Aug. 5 at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison and Aug. 7 at St. Richard Early Learning Center in Jackson. Each gathering began with Mass and continued with presentations, breakout sessions and grade-level discussions.
The diocesan theme for the new school year is “Live by the Spirit,” inspired by Ephesians 4:32 and its call to kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
Joni House, executive director Catholic Education, connected the theme to the daily work of Catholic schools, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technology. She encouraged educators to consider not only whether technology can accomplish a task, but whether its use serves the human person and supports the mission of Catholic education.
“Our Catholic identity is not something we add to education,” House said. “It is the foundation of everything we do.”
She emphasized that while technology can assist educators, it cannot replace relationships, faith formation, moral discernment or the personal witness at the heart of Catholic education.
In his homily during the opening Mass in Madison, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz reflected on the trust parents place in Catholic school educators and their shared desire to see children flourish.
“We see them. We know them. We know them by name,” Bishop Kopacz said. “It is very personal. It’s not invisible. It’s not impersonal. We’re building communities once again of faith, hope and love as the Lord calls us to.”
He encouraged educators to help students become “more alive with each passing day in body, mind and spirit, in faith, hope and love.”
Veteran Kentucky educator and speaker Gerry Brooks served as the keynote presenter through a special video created for Diocese of Jackson educators. Brooks, whose humorous videos draw upon everyday experiences in education, has served as a classroom teacher, intervention specialist and school administrator. His presentations encourage teachers and administrators to build positive and constructive school cultures.
Brooks challenged educators to care for their own well-being, avoid becoming distracted by unnecessary conflict and place relationships at the center of their interactions with students, parents and colleagues.
“Always choose to build a relationship over being right,” Brooks said.
The message complemented the diocesan theme by reminding educators that kindness and compassion are expressed through everyday choices and encounters.
As faculty and staff returned to their schools, they carried with them practical resources, renewed connections with fellow educators and a common call to “Live by the Spirit” in their classrooms and school communities.
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – A comprehensive assessment of Catholic education in the Jackson metropolitan area recommends bringing four Catholic schools under a unified governance and administrative structure designed to strengthen their shared mission and ensure their long-term sustainability.
The assessment encompasses St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison, serving grades seven through 12, along with St. Anthony Catholic School in Madison, St. Richard Catholic School in Jackson and Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in Jackson, each serving prekindergarten through sixth grade.
The proposed system would provide students with a more seamless path from early childhood through high school while allowing the schools to coordinate resources, leadership, enrollment, advancement, communications and academic planning. The area’s three early learning centers are expected to join the organization after the new structure is fully operational.
Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz authorized the assessment in April 2025 with the unanimous approval of the 10 pastors serving on the Canonical Board of Pastors. A 23-member committee of clergy, educators, school leaders and lay representatives from Metro Jackson parishes guided the process. In his letter authorizing the study, Bishop Kopacz described Catholic education as a responsibility shared by the entire Catholic community. “While each parish has traditionally supported its own school, it is worth noting that Catholic education is a significant ministry of the entire Church,” he wrote. “It is the responsibility of every Catholic parish in the metro area to ensure the vitality of our Catholic schools.”
The committee selected Partners in Mission to conduct the assessment. Its work included 395 surveys completed by Catholic school and non-Catholic school families, 50 confidential narratives, interviews with stakeholders, meetings with school principals and on-site visits conducted in October and November 2025.
The assessment identified Catholic identity, dedicated and caring faculty and staff, academic quality and strong school communities among the schools’ greatest strengths. It also examined enrollment, finances, governance, facilities, demographic changes and competition within the Jackson-area education market.
The report’s central recommendation is the creation of a unified Catholic school system governed by a board of directors composed of clergy and lay members. The board would provide strategic direction, oversee governance and fundraising, and ensure the schools’ financial sustainability and fidelity to their Catholic mission.
A founding president would lead the system and oversee a central administrative office. The schools would also work toward greater alignment in areas including admissions, curriculum, staffing, marketing, communications, advancement and alumni engagement.
In a June 23 letter included with the full assessment, Bishop Kopacz accepted the committee’s recommendations and authorized the formation of the new entity. Legal and canonical work has begun, while the committee continues its work on the organization’s structure, formation of its board and the search for a president.
“We will move forward thoughtfully and faithfully, with both urgency and prudence, trusting always in the Lord’s guidance,” Bishop Kopacz wrote.
The assessment does not call for the four schools to surrender their individual histories or communities. Rather, it presents a structure through which the schools can build upon their existing strengths while working together more effectively.
Lester Diamond, chairman of the Metro Jackson Catholic Schools Assessment Committee, said the work should not be understood solely as an examination of organizational and financial matters.
“It would be easy to view this assessment as simply another report focused on enrollment, finances, governance and facilities,” Diamond wrote in a message to the Catholic community. “While those matters are important, this work is about far more than organizational structure.
“At its heart, this assessment is about mission.”
Diamond described Catholic schools as places where children encounter Jesus Christ, faith and reason are united, character is formed and young people are prepared for lives of faith, service and leadership.
“The assessment before you presents a vision for strengthening our schools so they may faithfully serve that mission for generations to come,” he wrote. “It reflects careful research, broad consultation across our Catholic community, and a shared commitment to excellence in both faith formation and academics.”
The report outlines five strategic priorities for the proposed system: Catholic identity, price transparency, diverse excellence, career exposure and facility modernization. It also identifies opportunities to reach families seeking a smaller, faith-based alternative to large public schools and a more affordable option than other private schools in the area.
The transition will include the establishment of the board of directors and selection of a founding president, followed by a three- to five-year strategic planning process involving additional community participation and professional guidance.
Bishop Kopacz said the work remains rooted in the Church’s mission of forming young people in the light of Jesus Christ and nurturing the whole person.
“I am confident that these efforts will strengthen our schools and serve our families well for many years to come,” he wrote. “Above all, it is my hope that our students will come to know, love and follow Jesus Christ, living lives of faithful intentional discipleship.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As our committee has completed this assessment of Catholic education in the Jackson Metro area, I would like to thank the many pastors, educators, parents, parishioners, diocesan leaders, and consultants who have contributed their time, wisdom, and prayers throughout this important process. Together, we have carefully examined the strengths, opportunities, and future of our Catholic schools because we share a common belief: Catholic education is one of the Church’s greatest ministries. It would be easy to view this assessment as simply another report focused on enrollment, finances, governance, and facilities. While those matters are important, this work is about far more than organizational structure. At its heart, this assessment is about mission. Our Catholic schools are places where children encounter Jesus Christ, where faith and reason are united, where character is formed, and where young people are prepared to live lives of faith, service, and leadership. They are among the Church’s greatest instruments for evangelization and for forming future generations of faithful Catholic disciples. The assessment before you presents a vision for strengthening our schools so they may faithfully serve that mission for generations to come. It reflects careful research, broad consultation across our Catholic community, and a shared commitment to excellence in both faith formation and academics. The future of Catholic education in our Diocese will depend upon all of us – our clergy, educators, parents, alumni, parishioners, benefactors, and friends – working together with faith, generosity, and hope. This is an opportunity not merely to preserve what has been entrusted to us, but to strengthen it so that more young people may come to know Christ through an outstanding Catholic education. As you read this assessment, I invite you to do so prayerfully. Let us approach this moment with humility, courage, and confidence, trusting that the Holy Spirit continues to guide His Church. Together, may we build a Catholic school system that is faithful to our mission, distinguished by excellence, and prepared to serve future generations throughout the Jackson Metro area.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Respectfully in Christ,
Lester Diamond Chairman, Metro Jackson Catholic Schools Assessment Committee
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” – Psalm 127:1
