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Father Sebastian’s latest book focuses on roots of our beloved prayers

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By David Tisdale
GREENVILLE – To help Catholics and other Christians keep prayer from becoming mere routine, Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD offers in his latest book in invitation to how to better understand and contemplate our devotions to the Holy Trinity through his deep examination of their genesis.

Father Sebastian recently published Why We Pray What We Pray, described as a “spiritual journey of prayer, silence and aspiration” in which he examines the prayers Christians hold dear and recite in times of worship, gratitude, contrition, and in despair. He looks closely at the historical and theological foundations and significations of The Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, The Way of the Cross, The Rosary, the Mass, Lectio Divina among others, further clarifying the concepts in which they are grounded so they become even more relatable and meaningful to us.

“The more I understand the words, actions, emotions, and feelings that are attached to a particular prayer, the better it helps me to engage in it,” Father Sebastian said of Why We Pray What We Pray. “That is why I have tried to explain prayer here by looking at its meaning, historical origins, scriptural basis, and theological significance. I hope readers find these beneficial as well and come to engage in prayer in an intentional manner. “

Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD stands with his latest book – Why We Pray What We Pray. The book is available on Amazon or for a personalized copy, contact Father Sebastian at sebymy@hotmail.com. (Photo courtesy of Gulf Pine Catholic)

Why We Pray What We Pray invites readers to look at the whole of the narrative of The Word through the many prayers connecting us to it. In an excerpt from the book, referencing the Hail Mary, Father Sebastian writes:
“In our prayer, we make these beautiful words of Elizabeth our own. Today, we recognize Mary as the most blessed woman in history due to her faithful acceptance of God’s plan and her willingness to fulfill it perfectly.” The phrase emphasizes the lessons we can learn from Mary’s life and her response to God’s plan. It teaches us the value of faithful acceptance of God’s purpose, humility, and obedience. We are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the blessings in the lives of others, trust in God’s perfect timing, and utilize the power of prayer to seek spiritual support and guidance. In essence, Mary’s story inspires us to align our lives with God’s will, embrace His plan, and appreciate the blessings in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.”

In discussing the inspirations for his latest book, Father Sebastian says he values prayer and its power, and hopes what he is written also inspires more meditative and reflective moments. “It [prayer] is the force that guides and strengthens my life,” Father Sebastian explained. “It helps me to deepen my relationship with my God as I see those moments as special times between me and the One I love – God. It is also the glue that holds life together when things seem difficult and challenging.

“I truly experience the power of prayer when I intentionally engage in it and actively lead or participate in it. For the words of a prayer to become meaningful and the feelings to become real, I must immerse and involve myself totally in it – my body, soul, mind, and heart.”

Father Sebastian credits first his parents and a family atmosphere he says helped him value the importance of prayer, and later his educational formation in the seminary and daily service as a priest.
“The seminary formation and my life as a priest is centered around prayer and spirituality,” he further noted. “The celebration of the sacraments and other liturgical functions are powerful moments of prayer, and the greatest of such moments is the celebration of the Eucharist – the greatest form of prayer.

“As a priest, I am also blessed to be part of some of the most significant moments in the life of my parishioners as well as others in the community, such as through baptism, Holy Communion, matrimony, anointing of the sick, and funerals. These moments may be joyful or painful, and prayer has a way of enhancing those joyful moments or offering comfort to those experiencing pain and difficulties. In the period after Katrina, there were certainly moments of hope and love in action.”

The practice of deep contemplative, meditative, intentional prayer can, Father Sebastian believes, can utilize one’s heart and mind in ways we may not have previously considered.

“[Prayer] can help in getting in touch with one’s emotions and feelings and see them in the light of the Word of God,” Father Sebastian said. “One is able to get in touch with one’s deepest being when one is removed from the distractions of the world and is able to focus on the source of one’s existence – God.”

In a world marred by violence, war, chaos and social upheaval – events and conditions not new to humankind – prayer is our best defense against these forces, Father Sebastian contends.

“Every age has its own challenges, and when we face them for the first time, they might seem to be the greatest of all,” he said. “We are living in a digital age, and we think they pose certain challenges to faith. But I am sure our ancestors in the early industrial age or scientific age thought those [challenges facing them] to be the greatest challenges as well. I am not minimizing the challenges the modern world is presenting to our faith, but God is still in charge, and everything happens for a reason.”

With that philosophy in mind, Father Sebastian says he firmly believes in the words of the Apostle Paul when he said: ‘All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28), and, further noting, “When challenges mount, it only helps me to actively seek the source of my strength – God – and the process I use is prayer.”

Father Sebastian is currently serving as pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Greenville; St. Francis Church in Shaw; and Sacred Heart Church in Rosedale. A native of India, he is a member of the Society of the Divine Word (Latin – Societas Verbi Divini, SVD), also known as Divine Word Missionaries, and has been serving the SVD’s U.S. Southern Province since 1999.

He holds master’s degrees in moral theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, and in educational leadership and counselling from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. His other works include His Instruments; His Instruments – If God Could Use Them He Can Use Us and Blown Together – The Trials and Miracles of Katrina, along with a translation of His Instruments into Spanish, Sus Instrumentos.

(Reprinted with permission of Gulf Pine Catholic/Diocese of Biloxi)

Pope calls for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, laments plight of children in war in CBS interview

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By Lauretta Brown
(OSV News) – Pope Francis sat down exclusively with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell on April 24 for an interview ahead of the Vatican’s inaugural World Children’s Day. The CBS interview marks the first time a pope has given an in-depth, one-on-one interview to a U.S. broadcast network, according to the network.

In the brief portion of the interview that aired April 24, topics ranged from the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the plight of children in these areas to climate change and the decline in the number of U.S. Catholics.

O’Donnell asked Pope Francis about “pictures of starving children coming out of Gaza” and what he thought of those that “call that a genocide.”

The pope replied that he calls a Catholic parish of about 600 people in Gaza every afternoon, where he hears that the situation is “very hard” as “food goes in, but they have to fight for it. It’s very hard.”

In her report, O’Donnell noted that the pope condemned the Oct. 7 attack on Israelis by the terrorist group Hamas and also called on Israel to use restraint. Earlier this month, the pope met with the families of Israelis hostages still held by Hamas. O’Donnell referenced the pope’s past calls for peace and a ceasefire in the region and asked him if he could “help negotiate peace.”

“I can pray, I do,” he replied, “I pray a lot.”

Pope Francis sits down exclusively with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell at the Vatican April 24, 2024, for an interview ahead of the Vatican’s inaugural World Children’s Day. The CBS interview marked the first time a pope has given an in-depth, one-on-one interview to a U.S. broadcast network, according to the network. (OSV News photo/Adam Verdugo, courtesy CBS NEWS)

In advance of World Children’s Day, O’Donnell asked about the United Nations’ estimate that “over a million people will be facing famine in Gaza, many of them children.”

“Not only Gaza,” the pope replied, “we should think about Ukraine.”

“Those kids don’t know how to smile,” he lamented. “I tell them something, but they forgot how to smile. And this is very hard when a child forgets to smile. That’s really very serious.”

“Do you have a message for Vladimir Putin when it comes to Ukraine,” O’Donnell asked.

“Please, countries at war, all of them: Stop the war,” the pope said, “look to negotiate. Look for peace. A negotiated peace is better than a war without end.”

When asked about his practice of inviting children to join him in the popemobile and to visit the Apostolic Palace, the pope said that children “always bear a message. They bear a message, and it is a way for us to have a younger heart.”

O’Donnell also asked the pope about those who deny climate change.

“There are people who are foolish and foolish even if you show them research; they don’t believe it,” he replied. “Why? Because they don’t understand the situation or because of their interest, but climate change exists.”

O’Donnell cited a statistic that in the US, only 20% of adults identify as Catholic, down from 24% in 2007. She asked Pope Francis to “speak to those who don’t go to Mass anymore, or maybe don’t see a place for themselves in the Catholic Church.”

“I would say there is always a place, always,” he replied. “If in this parish, the priest doesn’t seem welcoming, I understand, but go and look.”

“There is always a place,” he emphasized. “Do not run away from the church. The church is very big. It’s more than a temple. It’s more. You shouldn’t run away.”

In addition to the brief interview segment that aired April 24, CBS will air more of the interview on “60 Minutes” May 19 and in a primetime special on May 20. O’Donnell revealed that she had also asked the pope about “the migrant crisis, gay rights, women’s role in the church and whether he’s thinking about retirement” in the remainder of the interview.

(Lauretta Brown is culture editor for OSV News. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @LaurettaBrown6.)

Sister Kathleen Dede celebrates milestone jubilee

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By Jason Moon
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. – One Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, with ties to the Diocese of Jackson is celebrating a jubilee this year.

Sister Kathleen Dede, formerly Sister Marie Arthur, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. Currently, her ministry is prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She is celebrating 70 years with the Congregation this year.

Sister Kathleen entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1954, from St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s of social work from St. Louis University. She also has a master’s of theological studies from the Franciscan School of Theology.

During her time in the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Kathleen ministered as the resident pastoral minister for St. Francis of Assisi/St. Mary Mission in Boonville from 1990-1994.

Sister Kathleen has also ministered in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, California and Florida.

The Sisters of Providence, a congregation of nearly 200 women religious, with more than 300 Providence Associates, collaborate with others to create a more just and hope-filled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy. The Sisters of Providence have their motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, located just northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind., which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 13 states, the District of Columbia and Asia, through works of love, mercy and justice. More information about the Sisters of Providence and their ministries can be found at SistersofProvidence.org.

Sister Yolanda (Paul Marie) Pomante, OP celebrates jubilee

By Barbara Kelley, OP
ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian Dominican Congregation celebrates the dedication and commitment of 43 Sisters who, in 2024, mark their jubilees, their milestone years of service and dedication to the church and the congregation. The 2024 jubilee class includes one sister celebrating 80 years, three sisters celebrating 75 years, 23 sisters celebrating 70 years, 15 sisters celebrating 60 years, and one sister celebrating 25 years. The following jubilarian has connections to the Diocese of Jackson.

Sister Yolanda (Paul Marie) Pomante, OP, a native of Roseville, Michigan, is celebrating 70 years as an Adrian Dominican sister. She graduated from Annunciation High School in Detroit and entered the congregation on Oct. 3, 1953.

Sister Yolanda’s earliest assignments – from 1955 to 1971 – took her to schools in Illinois, New York and Michigan. She spent much of her life in Florida, beginning at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach as a teacher and treasurer (1971-1974) and treasurer (1974-1986). She ended her sabbatical year at Barry University in 1986. She remained there to serve in various capacities: office manager (April to November 1987), director of housekeeping and grounds (1987-1990), and coordinator of space utilization (1990-1994).

Sister Yolanda moved to Marks, Mississippi, to serve as assistant office manager at DePorres Health Center from 1994 to 2002. From there, she returned to Barry University as a secretary and typist from 2003 to 2004. Her last years of formal ministry were as an office assistant at Coggin Motor Mall in Fort Pierce, Florida, from 2004 to 2009. She retired in 2009 and resides in Port Saint Lucy, Florida. She was inspired to enter religious life by the quotation from St. Augustine: “My heart was made for Thee, O Lord, and will be restless until it rests in Thee.”

(The Dominican Sisters of Adrian is a Congregation of about 400 vowed women religious and nearly 180 Associates whose roots go back to St. Dominic in the 13th century. The Sisters minister in 21 states, the Dominican Republic, Norway, and the Philippines. The Vision of the Adrian Dominican Sisters is to “seek truth, make peace, reverence life.”)

Progress and prayers: Sister Thea Bowman’s cause update

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By Mary Woodward
This past April, Holy Child Jesus Parish in Canton hosted a beautiful memorial celebration for Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. The celebration is normally held close to Sister Thea’s anniversary of her death on March 30, but this year that fell during Holy Week and Easter liturgies.

In light of this celebration, it is a good time to give an update on Sister Thea’s cause for canonization process. Currently the diocesan phase is underway. The historical commission is delving into the writing of Sister Thea and compiling a highly structured document that will profile her piety and include a biography. This commission meets monthly with our postulator in Rome via Zoom to address any technical questions involved in the research.

The Cause for Sister Thea Bowman continues to advance. After the historial commission’s work is complete it will be sealed and presented to the postulator to deliver to the dicastery. (Photo from archives)

As part of the historical commission’s work, all of Sister Thea’s handwritten notes and outlines must be transcribed into a typed document. This process is being coordinated by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s archives. Dozens of student volunteers are participating in this task.

I have seen Sister Thea’s writing files, and she certainly had a unique way of recording her thoughts. Therefore, this is quite an undertaking to get all this typeset. We are most grateful to the FSPA archivist, Meg Paulino, for tackling this required part of the canonical process.

Two theological experts are reviewing her work for doctrinal surety. This will require an extensive bibliography of her works.

Witness testimonies have been taken and are being transcribed and processed. A few more witnesses will be interviewed sometime later this summer or early fall.

When all is ready, Bishop Joseph Kopacz will lead a special liturgy in which the documents in triplicate, will be sealed and presented to the postulator to deliver to the Dicastery. Once that is completed, the postulator will work with the dicastery to move the cause forward.

At a certain point, once the cause is in Rome, the Holy Father may declare the Servant of God as Venerable – showing heroic virtue. After Venerable, the next step is beatification and in order to be beatified there must be a miracle. Examination of the miracle goes through a similar canonical process as the diocesan phase. If a miracle is proven and accepted, the Servant of God is put on the schedule for an official liturgy of beatification.

The next step would be canonization and that requires a second miracle. That miracle would have to happen after the beatification. All in all, the Roman side of the process takes a long time.

During the Roman Phase, we hope to begin to create local guilds in our diocese and around the region. These guilds will help promote Sister Thea’s cause through prayer for the cause and by hosting various spiritual and educational events designed to raise awareness about the cause.

As for now, we need many prayers for the cause, especially for those involved in working through the fine details of the diocesan phase.

We also can use donations to the cause as it does have several financial costs for travel, translations, experts and administration.

Donations may be made out to the Diocese of Jackson and sent to the Chancellor’s Office, 237 E. Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201. Make sure you mark the donation for Sister Thea’s Cause.

Or to donate online and learn more about the Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, visit our website at: https://www.jacksondiocese.org/thea-bowman. From this site you also may watch the wonderful documentary on her life “Going Home Like a Shooting Star” and find a link to the cause’s official site with photos and tributes to her.

Presenting a cause for canonization is one of the noblest things a diocese can undertake as an official act of the church. It is exciting to know that over the next several months we are participating in this ancient tradition and moving forward in completing the diocesan phase of this esteemed process.

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

May’s Marian feasts

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By OSV News
The Catholic Church has dedicated numerous feast days throughout the year to events in the life of Mary and her various titles. The following are some of the feasts of Mary in the month of May:

Feast of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (May 13): Mary was called Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament by St. Peter Julian Eymard in 1868. In 1905, St. Pius X granted an indulgence to those who prayed to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Vatican in 1921 designated May 13 as her feast day (but the celebration is not on the church’s universal calendar).

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13): This feast commemorates the first of six apparitions of Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal on May 13, 1917. The feast has become a cultural celebration for Portuguese Catholics around the world and is celebrated in many parishes throughout the United States, often with a procession through the streets surrounding the church.

Feast of Mary, Help of Christians (May 24): After praying to Mary for his safe release from captivity when taken prisoner by the French, Pope Pius VII instituted this feast day in 1815. The feast venerates Mary for her intercession on behalf of those who pray to her. Many Catholics will traditionally mark this day by performing their own charitable deeds to help others in need.

Feast of the Visitation (May 31): Originally celebrated in July, the feast of the Visitation marks Luke’s Gospel account of Mary, having been told by the Angel Gabriel that she would bear the son of God, visiting her cousin Elizabeth. The feast, which originated in the 13th century, was transferred to its current date in 1969 after the feast of the Queenship of Mary, previously celebrated on May 31, was moved to Aug. 22 to follow the feast of the Assumption.

Catholic Olympic champion swimmer awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

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By Maureen Boyle
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Adding another distinguished medal to her already sizable collection, Katie Ledecky – the most decorated woman in swimming history – was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 3 in a White House ceremony.

A native of the Washington area and a parishioner of the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Maryland, Ledecky received the nation’s highest civilian honor, along with 18 other Americans who have “made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to a White House statement.

Ledecky, 27, is a three-time U.S. Olympic swimmer, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, a 21-time world champion and a 16-time world-record breaker in her sport.

“Thank you, Mr. President and everyone at the White House today for this honor and an incredibly special day!” announced Ledecky, who also shared photographs of the event on her social media pages, following the Friday afternoon ceremony held in the East Room of the White House before hundreds of guests.

Ledecky was among 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. The group included Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, an intervention and rehabilitation program for gang members in Los Angeles; Elizabeth Dole, a former U.S. senator, U.S. secretary of labor and president of the American Red Cross; Medgar Evers (awarded posthumously), a pioneering civil rights leader murdered in 1963; and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

“Powered by faith, family, and teamwork, Katie Ledecky is a symbol of perseverance and strength with a heart of gold that shines for the nation and for the world,” President Joe Biden said before presenting the honor to the swimmer.

U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Olympic champion swimmer Katie Ledecky, a Catholic, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington May 3, 2024. (OSV News photo/Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters)

A graduate of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington, Ledecky plans to compete in her fourth summer Olympic Games July 26-Aug. 11 in Paris.

During the summer of 2012, Ledecky was a rising 15-year-old sophomore at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda when she was the youngest athlete on the U.S. Olympic swim team and won her first gold medal in the women’s 800-meter women’s freestyle race during the London Olympics.

Before she headed off to her inaugural Summer Games, Ledecky told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington, that to calm her nerves she always prays right before a race.

“The prayer I say is the ‘Hail Mary,’” said Ledecky, adding that her faith and the sacraments give her a welcome opportunity to pause in her busy routine. “I also love going to Mass every week. It’s a great chance to reflect and connect with God. (My faith) has been a big part of my life since I was born.”

Although the medals, records, accolades and commercial endorsements have mounted up in the ensuing years, Ledecky is very much the same humble, hometown athletic phenom she was 12 years ago.

Following the Tokyo Summer Games, Ledecky returned to Stone Ridge in the fall of 2021 to a hero’s welcome, speaking to students and answering their questions for two hours. Wearing her new, shiny gold and silver swimming medals around her neck, Ledecky spoke about her Olympic experiences and her intense swim regime, while encouraging the students to work hard and follow their own dreams.

At the time, she told the Catholic Standard she was grateful for her lifelong Catholic faith – something she especially relied on during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it remained very important in her life, especially the during the difficult challenges of the global shutdown – which led to a year’s postponement of the 2020 Summer Games. She recalled attending Mass virtually every week with her family whom she hadn’t seen in person since December 2019.

“My faith is strong, and I realized more how important that is,” she said.

Ledecky told the students her proudest moments are not the Olympic medals, but rather the happiness she found in and the gratitude she has for the communities she has been a part of and which have supported her throughout the years – including her Catholic school alma maters, Stanford University, Bethesda and the entire Washington region.

“Yes, (the medals) are heavy, but they are small relative to all the hard work from my family, my parents (David and Mary Gen), my brother (Michael),” she said. “(The medals) are a great symbol (of the work). It takes a village. I wish I could give medals to all of you.” Ledecky began swimming at age 6 at her neighborhood community pool.

During her years swimming for the Stone Ridge Gators, Ledecky set many records there, and after her initial triumph in the London Olympics in 2012, she went on to even greater success at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. At the Tokyo Games, then 24-year-old Ledecky won her 10th Olympic medal for swimming, adding two gold and two silver medals to her collection. She also won the inaugural gold in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle swim, a first-time Olympic event.

At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Ledecky won gold medals in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle and 800-meter freestyle and silver medals in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter freestyle.

Following the White House ceremony, tributes flooded Ledecky’s Facebook and Instagram pages, with many followers offering their hearty congratulations for her recent honor. Other messages included those of support, pride and gratitude from individuals all over the United States.

In one Facebook comment, a mother wrote, “You are such an inspiration for my little girl! We are so lucky to have you as a role model not only in the pool, but outside as well. Congratulations, Katie!!”

Maureen Boyle writes for the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Calendar of events

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PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
CAMDEN – Sacred Heart, 80th Celebration of Sacred Heart Camden, St. Anne Carthage and Holy Child Jesus Canton and Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, May 18 from 3-6 p.m. Custodian general, Father Jesus Ramirez, ST will preside and preach the liturgy at 3 p.m. followed by food and music. Details: church office (662) 468-2354.

CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, Pentecost Parish Picnic, Sunday, May 19 after 10 a.m. Mass. Including cookout and games for the whole family. Bring your own chairs and a side dish or dessert to share. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Annual Pentecost International Food Festival, Sunday, May 19 from 5 p.m. to sunset in the area behind the church. All are welcome to join for fun, fellowship and fantastic food as we celebrate the birth of the church. Please bring a dish to share. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.

COLUMBUS – Annunciation School, Sportsmania Camp, June 10-14 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the school gym. Basketball, soccer, football and other fun activities for upcoming second through sixth grades. Cost: $135 per child. Details: register by emailing pfarrell@annunciationcatholicschool.org. $50 non-refundable deposit is due for registration.

Annunciation School, Dinosaurs to Luaus: Good Times! from June 24-28; Around the World from July 15-19. Camps from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for students entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Enjoy these hands-on camps focused on music, theatre and physical arts. Cost: $135 per child. All supplies and snacks included. Details: email Ms. Staggers at music@annunciationcatholicschool.org.

FLOWOOD – St. Paul, Bingo Night, Saturday, June 15 after 4:30 p.m. Mass. Play begins at 6 p.m. Enjoy a hotdog dinner celebrating Father’s Day. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph School, Paul and Wade Abide Memorial Golf Classic, Friday, May 17 at the Greenville Golf and Country Club with shotgun start at 1 p.m. Four-person scramble; $150 per golfer, includes cart fee, two drink tickets and entry to social event. Details: Bonda at (662) 931-0490.

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph, Pentecost Sunday Multi-cultural Lunch, Sunday, May 19 after 10 a.m. Mass. Enjoy flavors of Mexican, Filipino, Italian, Lebanese, French, German, Indian and more. Details: contact Judy at (662) 820-4966 for more details.

MADISON – St. Francis of Assisi, 36th Annual Cajun Fest, Sunday, May 19 from 12-4 p.m. Laissez les bon temps roulez! Enjoy some of the best cajun fare around, raffles, games and live music – featuring Gypsy Heart. Details: church office (601) 856-5556.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Yard Sale, Saturday, June 1. Please bring your donations and leave them in the classrooms labeled “Yard Sale Donations.” Details: church office (662) 895-5007.

PEARL – St. Jude, Pentecost International Food Fest, May 19 at 11:30 a.m. (after a multilingual outdoor Mass at 10 a.m.) Come commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church, as well as the cultural and ethnic diversity of our parish. Bring lawn chairs or blanket for seating. Bring a dish the shows off your family’s cultural or ethnic heritiage to share. After lunch enjoy games for the youth and young at heart soccer, basketball, volleyball and cornhole. Sign-up sheets located on talbe outside the front door of the church. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.

STARKVILLE – St. Joseph, Pentecost Parish Celebration, Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Details: church office (662) 323-2257.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
PRAYER – Locus Benedictus, Would you be willing to commit to one day per week to pray the Rosary for priests and religious? Details: email your day of choice to contactlocusbenedictus@gmail.com or call (662) 299-1232.

NEW ORLEANS – Directed Retreat with the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at the Cenacle on Lake Pontchartrain, June 28-July 3. Cost $500 – includes lodging, meals and personal spiritual director. To register call (504) 861-3254. Details: for more information call Melinda at (601) 597-7178.

SAVE THE DATE
JACKSON – Catholic Charities Bishop’s Ball, Saturday, July 13 at the Old Capitol Inn.

BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vacation Bible School, July 14 – 17.

GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Vacation Bible School – Scuba: diving into friendship with God, June 24-28 from 6-8 p.m. in the parish hall, with dinner and games beginning at 5:15 p.m. Open to all children entering K through sixth grade. Cost $15 per child/$30 max per family. Pick up registration card by the SCUBA display in the church foyer. Details: Karen at kworrellcre@hotmail.com or (601) 672-5817.

JACKSON – St. Richard, Vacation Bible School, June 3-6 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for rising PreK-3 to sixth graders of St. Richard School and parishioners.

MADISON – St. Francis, Vacation Bible School, June 17-20.

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Vacation Bible School, June 24 –28 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Vacation Bible School, July 15-19, evenings at the Family Life Center. More information to come.

TUPELO – St. James, Vacation Bible School, July 15-18 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for ages 4-years through sixth grade. Theme: “The Chronicles of Narnia – God’s Surely Alive!” Register before June 8 for a shirt. Details: register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6WHPDQQ or for more information email rhondaswita13@gmail.com.

Briefs

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NATION
CASHION, Arizona (OSV News) – St. William Catholic Church in Cashion, Arizona, was destroyed in an overnight fire May 1. The fire broke out just before 1 a.m. Local station Fox 10 Phoenix reported that firefighters arrived and found flames coming from the attic of the church. The roof of the church ultimately collapsed as firefighters fought the flames. “This is a devastating loss to this community,” Avondale Fire Battalion Chief Steve Mayhew said. Father Andres Arango, pastor of St. William, wrote on the parish’s website, “as many of you know, we had a major fire on campus very early this morning and it appears the church has been totally destroyed. Thankfully no one was injured and everyone is safe.” “An official investigation on the cause of the fire is being handled by local officials,” he added. “The campus is closed off during this investigation.” He wrote that “plans for a location for future Masses are currently being developed.”

NEW ORLEANS (OSV News) – The Louisiana State Police and the FBI are investigating whether Archdiocese of New Orleans officials – including previous archbishops – covered up child sex trafficking by clergy over several decades, with some alleged victims reportedly taken out of state to be abused and marked for further exploitation among clergy. On April 25, the state police executed a comprehensive search warrant on the archdiocese for documents related to a widening investigation into how the archdiocese has handled allegations of abuse. The warrant – a copy of which OSV News obtained following the document’s April 30 release – cites the felony of “trafficking of children for sexual purposes” as the reason for its sweeping access to archdiocesan records, including the diocese’s canonically required secret archive and archdiocesan communications with the Vatican. Probable cause for the warrant, based on the testimony of a state police investigator also assigned to the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, details reports of clergy marking out victims for abuse on archdiocesan and out-of-state properties, with complaints ignored or paid off and withheld from law enforcement. The warrant also claims several unnamed New Orleans archbishops were aware of the abuse but overlooked or obscured allegations. A spokesperson with the Archdiocese of New Orleans told OSV News the archdiocese “has been openly discussing the topic of sex abuse for over 20 years. In keeping with this, we also are committed to working with law enforcement in these endeavors.”

Pope Francis greets members and new recruits of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican May 6, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Loneliness causes tremendous harm, including to families, Pope Francis told international leaders of the Teams of Our Lady lay movement. “With your charism, you can become rescuers attentive to those who are in need, those who are alone, those who have family problems and do not know how to talk about them because they are ashamed or have lost hope,” he said during an audience with the leaders at the Vatican May 4. “In your dioceses, you can make families understand the importance of helping each other and forming a network; building communities where Christ can ‘dwell’ in the homes and in family relations,” he said. “Without Christian communities, families feel alone, and loneliness does a great deal of harm!” The lay movement, which formed in France in 1938 and has spread to numerous countries, is dedicated to improving married couples’ spiritual lives. Pope Francis said, “The Christian family is going through a genuine ‘cultural storm’ in this changing era and is threatened and tempted on various fronts.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Meeting members of the Swiss Guard, including 34 new recruits, Pope Francis thanked them for their dedication and generous service protecting the pope every day. He told them they stand out for their professionalism and their “kind, attentive, indeed scrupulous style,” during an audience at the Vatican May 6, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the new guards later that day. The men have built “a positive and respectful atmosphere in the barracks,” the pope said, and they show great courtesy toward “superiors and guests, despite sometimes long periods of intense and strenuous service.” Serving in the Swiss Guard, an enlistment that lasts at least two years, means it is “an important and formative time for you,” he said. “It is not just a period of work, but a time of living and relating, of intense fellowship in a diverse company.”

WORLD
CUERNAVACA, Mexico (OSV News) – A retired Mexican bishop known for brokering deals with drug cartel bosses was located in a hospital bed after being incommunicado for two days, though local officials say he was briefly abducted in an “express kidnapping” by unknown assailants. Retired Bishop Salvador Rangel Mendoza of Chilpancingo-Chilapa was reported missing April 29, sparking an outpouring of concern amid widespread violence in Mexico. The bishop has long been famous for trying to diminish violence in the southern state of Guerrero – which includes his former diocese – through dialogue with crime bosses and more recently helping to negotiate a peace pact between rival drug cartels. The Mexican bishops’ conference said in an April 29 statement that Bishop Rangel was hospitalized in the city of Cuernavaca, where he has resided since resigning as bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa in early 2022. The conference provided no details on Bishop Rangel’s condition or the circumstances of his disappearance. Morelos state prosecutor Uriel Carmona showed reporters a cellular phone picture of Bishop Rangel lying in a hospital bed and said officials were investigating an “express kidnapping,” in which victims are briefly abducted and robbed.

KYIV (OSV News) – The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has denounced Russia’s seizure of a Catholic church in Ukraine’s Kherson region, calling the structure’s rededication for the Russian Orthodox Church a “sacrilege.” The Church of St. Archstrategist Michael, located in the village of Oleksandrivka in the occupied Kherson region, was captured and joined to the ROC during Holy Week of the Julian calendar, said Major Archbishop Sviatslav Shevchuk. Construction on the church began in 2017, some 11 years after the formerly Orthodox parish was officially received into the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The seizure is part of a steady campaign by Russia to suppress the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, along with Catholicism in general and other faiths, in occupied areas of Ukraine.

Retiros de Emaús en las cárceles, una misión evangelizadoraque toca y cambia corazones

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Internas de la cárcel Santa Martha Acatitla frente al Santísimo en uno de los retiros de Emaús organizados por la asociación privada de fieles María Madre del Amor, con sede en México, una comunidad mixta de laicos y consagrados cuyo carisma es vivir las obras de misericordia del pasaje bíblico del camino a Emaús. (Foto OSV News/cortesía de madre María Elena Martínez) Editors: Best quality available

Por Marietha Góngora V.
(OSV News) – La madre María Elena Martínez forma parte de la asociación privada de fieles María Madre del Amor, con sede en México, una comunidad mixta de laicos y consagrados cuyo carisma es vivir las cuatro obras de misericordia del pasaje del encuentro de Jesús con los discípulos camino a Emaús que son: dar consuelo, instruir, acoger y compartir y llevar a la gente a la Eucaristía.

“Lo hacemos a través de retiros espirituales de Emaús en las parroquias, en centros penitenciarios y también tenemos un retiro de jóvenes que se llama ‘Sicar’, que está basado en el pasaje de la samaritana en el pozo de Sicar”, explicó la madre Elena, quien fundó la comunidad en el 2015, con aprobación por parte de la Arquidiócesis de México.

“El primer retiro lo hicimos en 2016 en la cárcel de Santa Martha, en Ciudad de México. Después empezamos a ir a la cárcel de Morelos Femenil Federal,” conocida como Cefereso 16 que es la única prisión federal para mujeres hay en todo el país, comentó la madre Elena.


Según la página web de Emaús de México, este retiro católico se basa en el pasaje bíblico del Evangelio de San Lucas donde Jesús resucitado acompaña a dos discípulos de camino a Emaús, donde los consuela, les explica las Escrituras y los discípulos lo reconocen al partir el pan. El retiro – que es mundialmente conocido – muestra a personas la cercanía de Jesús y permite “a los caminantes la oportunidad de reconciliarse con Dios”. Las personas que imparten el retiro son personas que también lo experimentaron y a los oradores del retiro se les conoce como servidores.

Susy Servalli, representante de Emaús de la Arquidiócesis de México y miembro de la asociación María Madre del Amor, explicó las complejidades de realizar el retiro en las cárceles ya que las reclusas no pueden ser servidoras.

“Tú sabes que el retiro de Emaús solo se vive una vez y si quieres continuar tienes que hacerlo como servidora, ellas no pueden hacerlo como servidoras, entonces por eso tenemos que ir siempre”, afirmó la madre Elena, quien junto a Servalli coordina estos retiros.

JACKSON – Para las mujeres en libertad, Emaus brinda también esperanza y sanación. En la foto, Liliana Quiroga, servidora de Emaus, en Houston Texas se despide de Valeria Gaitan, caminante de Mexico, al final del retiro #3 de Emaus Jackson, los días 12-14 de abril en Wesley Pines. (Foto de Berta Mexidor)


A pesar de lo difícil que puede ser el ingreso – pasar seis filtros de seguridad en la cárcel federal la logística anticipada para informar quienes ingresarán y los elementos que utilizarán, el hecho de realizar el retiro con menos recursos de los acostumbrado – todo ese esfuerzo vale la pena totalmente para estas voluntarias.

“Es un equipo de mujeres, con unos corazones muy generosos, llenos del amor de Dios, que quieren traspasar aquello que un día Dios hizo en ellas”, añadió Servalli, refiriéndose a las servidoras que colaboran para que cada retiro siga moviendo corazones tras las rejas.

“Hay que suprimir algunas cosas, tienes menos tiempo y aún así ves como el Señor toca los corazones de ellas”, comentó la madre Elena sobre estas reclusas quienes deben cumplir condenas de 40 y 50 años.

“Si afuera tú ves a Cristo Vivo caminar entre las mujeres, ahí – en las prisiones – lo ves completamente porque tú dices en dos días y medio imposible que un grupo de mujeres hagan nada para que esos corazones se restauren, sanen, renuncien a la santa muerte, que quieran bautizarse, confesarse, dejar la homosexualidad, es impresionante poder verlo con tus ojos”, afirmó Servalli, quien dijo que estos retiros los han llevado a lugares como Perú, España, México, Panamá, Londres, Chile, Paraguay y Roma, entre otros.

La madre Elena y Servalli explican que las internas están divididas por módulos según su peligrosidad y su comportamiento.

Entre los testimonios que más recuerdan está el de una mujer condenada por ser una sicaria de un cartel de narcotráfico mexicano. Ella, como las demás del módulo de máxima seguridad, ve la luz del sol solo una hora al día. “En una dinámica ella se paró y dijo ‘ustedes saben quién soy yo y lo que he hecho, pero ya no soy la misma de antes. En tres ocasiones tuve la oportunidad de vivir este retiro y no quise y le doy gracias a mi amiga porque me insistió”, recordó la madre Elena.

Madre Elena dijo que durante el retiro el punto de inflexión, aunque no pudo dar detalles, es una dinámica seguida de la confesión. “A partir de allí, ellas se quiebran y ya son otras. El último día es un sentimiento de paz, de alegría, de liberación y gozo, de sentirse sanadas, amadas y sobre todo de saberse, que el Señor las puede perdonar, si es que ellas realmente se arrepienten”.

“Gracias, yo pensaba que estábamos olvidadas por la sociedad. Tanto tiempo le pedí a Dios un sacerdote para poder confesarme. No somos personas malas, somos personas que hemos cometido errores”, dijo una vez una interna a la madre Elena.

A veces ella solo puede abrazarlas y decirles que a pesar de los errores que hayan cometido, “aun así Dios tiene un propósito para ti. Y tienes que encontrarle sentido a esta vida”.

(Marietha Góngora escribe para OSV News desde Washington D.C.)