JACKSON – The diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry is inviting Hispanic youth and adults and anyone interested to a Year of Mercy retreat. “God calls us, heal us and sends us to proclaim his mercy” is the theme of the retreat, set for Saturday, April 30, at the Leflore County Civic Center in Greenwood.
The event will open at 8:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments and will end at 5 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz and several attending priests.
Juan Pablo Chávez, from Florida, will lead the adult retreat and Verónica López, coordinator of the diocesan Hispanic young adult ministry, will meet with the youth 13 and older.
Hispanics are encouraged to invite their friends and family members to participate in this retreat which will take the place of the traditional annual “Encuentro Hispano.” Sister María Elena Méndez, in a personal invitation to the event, said that this retreat “will give us the opportunity to experience the mercy of God and inner healing to then apply it to our daily living.”
Sister Méndez said that one of the benefits of participating is to meet other Hispanics from the diocese and “realize that they are not walking alone in their Catholic faith, that there are others walking with them.” Citing Pope Francis in her invitation she wrote, “a little mercy makes the world less cold and more just … that our parishes and communities become islands of mercy in this sea of indifference.”
Details: Brother Ted Dausch, 601-949-6931.