Author Archives: Joseph Kopacz

Let us be a beacon of justice and peace

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The Word of God in Advent overflows with a vision of justice and peace, hope and reconciliation, solidarity and community in order that time may be a foretaste of eternity. At the outset of this season of expectation and preparation last weekend on the first Sunday in Advent we proclaimed God’s dream for our world from the prophet Isaiah.

The following passage from sacred scripture was heard throughout the Catholic Church soon after Pope Francis spoke with great emotion at the memorials of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the sites of the nuclear nightmares that marked the culmination of devastation at the end of World War II:

“This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come, the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.’ For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O’ house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

At the memorials where the gates of hell blew open, Pope Francis stood in solidarity with the long line of Old Testament prophets, along with the popes of the modern and post-modern era, once more to cry out for justice and peace in the human community, Saint Pope John XXIII wrote Pacem in Terris in 1963 less than two decades from the end of World War II addressing, in part, the awful waste of resources in the maddening arms race, the voracious beast of the military-industrial complex of which President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned in the 1950s. On Oct. 4, 1965 Saint Pope Paul VI, the first pope to appear before the United Nations, spoke of the horrors of war and the absolute necessity of world peace. He pleaded, with deep emotion in his voice, “No more war! War never again!”

Two years later he penned Populorum Progressio, the Development of Peoples, that addressed the terrible toll that the development, deployment and use of weaponry took on the human family, draining away much need resources for development, as well as killing the human spirit. This Apostolic teaching called for the full development of each person and the whole person. (n.14)

Saint Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict directly experienced the hell of World War II in Poland and Germany and often spoke out with prophetic zeal for the dignity of the human person, justice and peace. On the 50th Anniversary of Populorum Progressio in 2017 Pope Francis established the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, applying his passion to the vision of Isaiah cited above. Pope Francis loves the concept of integration and sees its urgent need in every dimension of life. Development cannot be restricted to material growth; it means integrating body and soul which finds its source in the Incarnation, the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Integral development gives glory to God and is in relationship with others. From the personal to the global our call is to integrate the peoples of the earth in a sustainable harmony. Solidarity and subsidiarity are at the heart of the social integration of the economy, finance, labor, culture, family life and religion in service of the web of life.

Pope Francis eloquently asserted that “human life is like an orchestra that sounds good if the different instruments are in accord and follow a score shared by all: person means relationship not individualism; it affirms inclusion, not exclusion, uniqueness with an inviolable dignity, rather than exploitation; freedom not coercion. Integral human development is the road of good that the human family is called to travel.”

In late November 2017 in Rome at an international symposium called: “Prospects for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Development” he reminded the participants that the integral disarmament called for by Saint Pope John XXIII in Pacem in Terris is yet to be accomplished. Bleak pessimism must give way to healthy realism Pope Francis stated, and cited the recent declaration of the United Nations in 2015 condemning nuclear weapons as an illegal means of warfare, joining the ranks of outlawed biological and chemical weapons. The catastrophic humanitarian and environmental effects would be unthinkable. The Holy Father pressed the point that the unrelenting arms race, nuclear and so called conventional, “divert resources away from the fight against poverty, the undertaking of educational, ecological and healthcare projects and the development of human rights. … International relations cannot be held captive to military force, mutual intimidation, and the parading of stockpiles of arms. … Progress that is both effective and inclusive can achieve the utopia of a world free of deadly instruments of aggression, contrary to the criticism of those who consider idealistic any process of dismantling arsenals.”

On the flight back from Japan, as for nuclear weapons, the pope reminded reporters after visiting Nagasaki and Hiroshima, “I said again that the use of nuclear weapons is immoral; this must go in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And not only the use, but the possession.” The United States is the lone superpower at this point in humanity’s evolution and we have the potential to be a beacon of greater justice and peace who can lead the nations of the world on the path of integral disarmament toward integral human development, or in the longing of Isaiah, “come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

In ordinary and extraordinary times

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In ordinary and extraordinary periods, by God’s grace, we are to persevere in loving all that is holy, good and worthy of praise, to do justice and to walk humbly with our God.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
The Word of God at our Saturday evening and Sunday celebrations in late autumn and early winter challenges us with a spirit of urgency to consider our daily choices and the impact they have on our relationships with God, others and ourselves. The Lord Jesus, in last Sunday’s Gospel addressed the trauma of natural disasters and the inevitable persecutions and martyrdom that will crash in upon many of his faithful disciples. Are these the telltale signs of the end times? Not really, Jesus responds, but be assured that the Holy Spirit, the pledge of eternal life, dwells within you and “by perseverance you will save your lives.” The prophet Malachi boldly pronounces that “for those who fear the name of the Lord, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Our sung or spoken response followed, “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.” Indeed! Meanwhile, Saint Paul, in harmony with the Lord’s Gospel teaching on perseverance, instructed his beloved brothers and sisters in Thessalonica, living in anticipation of the second coming, that daily life has a righteous pattern right up to the moment when the Lord comes again, or comes to take each one of you. “In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat … We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.” In ordinary and extraordinary periods, by God’s grace, we are to persevere in loving all that is holy, good and worthy of praise, to do justice and to walk humbly with our God.

Returning from the annual Bishops Conference in Baltimore, I mulled over the range of urgent matters that were addressed in the course of four days. My three year term on the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People is now complete and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve with laity, priests and bishops from around the country who are committed to the promise to protect and the pledge to heal all who have experienced the crime and suffer through the trauma of sexual abuse as minors. Likewise, I am proud of the dedication throughout our diocese for all who embrace this just cause and remain vigilant, as our recently completed audit confirmed.

During the Conference, Bishop Robert Barron offered a clear-cut path for evangelization in our post-modern culture, an urgent matter, especially in light of the heavy attrition away from religious faith among the younger generations. What is the urgent response? His research attests that works of justice, the beauty of our liturgies and church architecture, music and art, the depth and height and breath of our intellectual tradition, and the wise and savvy engagement of social media are, individually and collectively, avenues to invite those on the margins of religious faith to encounter the crucified and risen Lord. The ultimate good, beauty and truth, after-all, is a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and a life in service of God’s Kingdom. It is a way of life marked by purpose and promise, but it also invites rejection, hostility and persecution.

Bishop Barron offered this reflection through the lens of last Sunday’s Gospel from Saint Luke. “Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus describes the world’s violent resistance to the establishment of God’s kingdom. From the earliest days until the present, the community of Jesus Christ has been the focus of the world’s violence. The old principle of “killing the messenger” applies here. The Church will announce until the end of time, that the old order is passing away, that a new world of love, nonviolence and life is emerging. This announcement always infuriates the world of sin — always. The twentieth century proved this by being the bloodiest on record and the century with the most martyrs.”

Therefore, in ordinary time we witness, through service, worship, teaching and by employing the latest in communications. In extraordinary times, we die for the faith, knowing that the blood of the martyrs, more than all other efforts of evangelization combined, will guarantee that the Church, the Body of Christ, will endure to the end of time. In the vast landscape in which the church lives and moves and has its being, both in longevity and in our manifold mission, there is potentially a home for many at the banquet of life. A personal faith that sees the urgency of a life well lived in the Lord can manifest itself in his mandate to make disciples through Word, Worship, Service and Social Justice, from the foundation of life in the womb until eternity dawns through the door of death. Along with Bishop Barron, Bishop Nauman, the Chair of the Committee on Pro-Life spoke eloquently about the commitment to create a culture of life where every unborn child can find a home. Likewise, Bishop Mark Sis and Bishop Shelton Fabre addressed the urgent necessity for just immigration reform and a nation free of the scourge of racism.

There are many forces that work to undermine perseverance in the faith, but there are many paths that lead to life. The greatest assurance for the believer is the promised Holy Spirit whose loving power endures forever. May the crucified and risen Lord grant us a season of refreshment and hope, individually, in our families, and in all of our communities of faith, a spirit of perseverance that will enable us to save our lives.

Giving thanks for those who serve

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Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
A large number of Mississippians continue to be affected by the recent raids and roundups of the undocumented in communities and workplaces across the center of our state by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The families directly impacted are scrambling to address immediate needs while trying to make sense over what will follow in the weeks and months ahead.
On the other hand, the grassroots response to the crisis has been rapid and far-reaching. Within two days of being set up, donations were made by individuals from 40 states on the dedicated Catholic Charities web page for donations to those affected by the raids. These donations were expeditiously tallied and prepared for distribution to the requests that inevitably will come from the families whose breadwinner(s) are sidelined. This massive response, statewide and throughout the country demonstrates the generosity of the American people on behalf of children and families in crisis due to natural or man-made disasters. It is also an indication that many Americans are concerned about our broken immigration system and desire a just and humane solution.
All honorable citizens know that respect for law is an indispensable gage of a civilized society. The laws of our nation are the fruits of nearly 250 years of striving and struggling for a more just society for all. In the case of immigration at our southern borders, the rule of law regularly is at odds with itself and the resolution appears to be on an ever-receding horizon. This is evident in the conflict among the laws of asylum, of lawful entry into our country and of birthright citizenship. It will not be easily resolved, because it has been at an impasse for three- and one-half decades ever since Ronald Reagan granted amnesty in the 1980s. But we are Americans and optimism is embedded in our DNA. Moreover, we are Christians along with people of various faith traditions, and hope springs eternal.
Another indispensable gage of a civilized society that makes it possible to pursue our inalienable rights is the security and safety that law enforcement provides on the local, state and national levels. In our nation in most locales, law and order reigns because of law enforcement and an honorable citizenry. Rightly, abuse of power and corruption within law enforcement, must always be brought to the light of day in every organization, including the church. However, respect is crucial toward those who serve in law enforcement because the chaos would be unimaginable without their presence in our communities and nation. So, thank you to the men and women, who serve the citizenry through your vigilance over our expansive shores and borders, for your active preserve on behalf of law and order in countless communities throughout the land.
Another vital gage of a civilized society is the safeguarding of religious freedom that was so esteemed by our founding elders that it was enshrined in the first amendment of the constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…or the right of the people to peaceably assemble.” The wisdom embedded in the First Amendment envisions a partnership between government and religion on behalf of the common good or the general welfare.
In this spirit, at the Federal Building in Jackson on Tuesday, Aug. 13 Homeland Security sponsored an open forum sponsored by the Subcommittee for the Prevention of Targeted Violence Against Faith-Based Communities. The following is the memorandum that the Acting Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, Kevin K. McAleeman issued on May 20. “In light of the recent attacks against synagogues, churches, temples and mosques, I request you swiftly re-establish a Subcommittee under the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) focused on the security of faith-based organizations across the country. Houses of worship and faith-based non-profit organizations dedicate resources to local communities and often serve as the social and moral beacons people rely on in times of trouble. The right to practice our respective religions free of interference or fear is one of our nation’s most fundamental and indelible rights. Therefore, the targeting of violent extremists of any ideology is particularly abhorrent and must be prevented. While the Department of Justice is responsible for investigating and prosecuting attacks against faith-based institutions, DHS’s missions include preparedness, prevention, and mitigation of such attacks. In support of these missions, DHS provides information, training, exercises, and expertise on protective security measures to faith-based organizations.”
The concern over violence against faith-based communities is not political posturing at this time in our nation’s history. Just last weekend the FBI and other law enforcement colleagues averted an attack against a Jewish Community Center in Youngstown, Ohio, an hour west of the killings in the synagogue in Pittsburgh. As is the case in 80% of such threats and mass shootings, the home-grown terrorist, had his plans not been thwarted, would have been a young white male supremacist. We appear to have a growing cancer in the social fabric of our nation and faith-based communities find themselves in the crosshairs of this reckless hate.
I was grateful to be part of the panel of religious leaders who were on hand with elected officials at the national and state levels along with law enforcement from Natchez, Vicksburg and Jackson at the forum. It was informative and inspiring to hear about the concerns and hopes of the speakers and the questions of the panelists who sought to refine the discussion for the eventual report that will be published by Homeland Security next month. Without a doubt, we need to build bridges in our society for the good of all, and government and faith communities can be effective partners in addressing the pressing issues of our time.
As stated above, “houses of worship and faith-based non-profit organizations dedicate resources to local communities and often serve as the social and moral beacons people rely on in times of trouble.” As Catholic faith communities throughout the Diocese of Jackson, in close collaboration with our Catholic Charities, we are proud to be the social and moral beacons to many, in ordinary times, and in times of crisis in the aftermath of the raids and roundups. The breakdown in the social fabric of our nation would be unimaginable without the presence of faith-based communities and individuals across our nation. Let us build and rebuild together on the foundation of our nation’s strengths.

Justicia, misericordia y la pérdida de nuestras hermanas

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Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
Si un miembro sufre, todos sufren con él; si un miembro es honrado, todos se alegran juntos. 1Cor 12:26.
El majestuoso testimonio de San Pablo sobre la unidad orgánica de la iglesia, el Cuerpo de Cristo en este mundo, anuncia el dolor y la tristeza, la gratitud y la esperanza que han brotado desde el trágico asesinato de la Hermana Paula Merrill, de la congregación de las Hermanas de la Caridad de Nazaret, Ky., y la Hermana Margaret Held de la congregación de las Hermanas de San Francisco de Milwaukee, Wisc., el jueves, 25 de agosto en Durant, Miss. Todos estamos sufriendo a raíz de estos horribles asesinatos; sin embargo, nos alegramos por su larga vida de servicio amoroso y el legado de sus vidas.
En los últimos años, la vida de las hermanas había estado dedicada a curar y a velar por la esperanza de las personas vulnerables en los márgenes de la vida que iban a la clínica en Lexington donde trabajaban como enfermeras profesionales. Antes de su trabajo actual, ellas había sido parte del territorio de la Diócesis de Jackson y del estado de Mississippi durante muchos años en su misión con sus comunidades religiosas y en estrecha colaboración con ellas en sus diversas funciones.
Su fidelidad al Señor crucificado y resucitado como hermanas religiosas, junto con su amplia experiencia en el cuidado de la salud y pastoral, las facultó para cuidar a los residentes del Condado de Holmes y más allá de una manera profesional y compasiva. Lamentablemente, con el paso de cada día, se hace más evidente como las van a extrañar. Sus muertes abren una brecha en los servicios de atención médica a los pobres donde servían.
Cuando nos detenemos a reflexionar durante estos tristes días, nos damos cuenta de que hay muchas personas cuyas vidas han sido afectadas. Naturalmente, sus familiares están sufriendo, respaldándose mutuamente y luchando por darle sentido a su pérdida. Vinieron de todas partes de los Estados Unidos para participar en los servicios funerarios. Asimismo, las hermanas de sus respectivas comunidades religiosas, sus familias por medio de la fe y de los votos, están tristes por la pérdida de sus amigas y compañeras de trabajo en la viña del Señor, relaciones que se remontan a 50 años.
Los feligreses de la pequeña y unida comunidad parroquial de Santo Tomás en Lexington, donde la Hermana Paula y la Hermana Margaret habían participado activamente, están aturdidos por la pérdida de dos miembros de su familia parroquial.
El impacto de su violenta muerte se hace evidente también en sus compañeros de trabajo de la clínica de salud donde trabajaban, en los residentes de Lexington, en otras comunidades en el Condado de Holmes y más allá, entre sus amigos y benefactores y en personas de buena voluntad.
Una enorme lamentación ha descendido sobre nosotros y  no se disipará pronto. Sin embargo, la mano salvadora del Señor está ya trabajando en nuestras vidas. Recordamos cuán verdaderas son las inspiradoras palabras del Libro de Lamentaciones en el Antiguo Testamento mientras continuamos luchando con esta dura realidad. El amor del Señor no tiene fin, ni se han agotado sus bondades. Cada mañana se renuevan; que grande es su fidelidad. (Lamentaciones 3:22-23)
Durante el servicio de vigilia en la Iglesia Santo Tomás en Lexington el domingo por la noche, y durante la misa conmemorativa en la Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol, el lunes por la mañana, la fidelidad del Señor fue evidente. Familiares y amigos de la Hermana Paula y la Hermana Margaret se reunieron para orar, para conocerse, consolarse mutuamente, para relatar historias personales de las dos hermanas y escuchar nuevamente la historia que nos restaura en la curación y en la esperanza de vida, la muerte y la resurrección de nuestro Señor crucificado. Como cristianos regresamos al pie de la cruz, porque esto es lo que somos.
Al pie de la cruz sabemos que por medio de su misericordia Dios nos ha perdonado nuestros pecados y los fracasos de amar. Al pie de la cruz recordamos que nuestro moribundo Señor confió a su fiel madre María y a su amado discípulo Juan, el uno al otro, incorporando sus palabras en la Última Cena, que debemos amarnos unos a otros como él nos ha amado.
Durante esta semana la presencia del Señor ha sido vertida como la sangre y el agua de su costado abierto en la cruz en el cuidado, la compasión y el consuelo que la gente estaba extendiendo mutuamente a la sombra de la muerte.
Al pie de la cruz vemos el cuerpo herido y destrozado del Señor y escuchamos sus palabras dirigidas a Dios, Padre, en nombre de sus verdugos, “Padre, perdónalos porque no saben lo que hacen”.
Cuando estamos al pie de la cruz, el Señor nos revela su mente y su corazón, que creemos que es la voluntad de amor de Dios revelada en Cristo crucificado. El don de la misericordia que hemos recibido es para ser dado como un regalo. El amor que conocemos en el Señor Jesús es el signo visible de su presencia en nuestro amor del uno por el otro. Y sí, debemos amar incluso a nuestros enemigos, como lo sabemos del Sermón de la Montaña y de la sangre de la cruz, evidente en el perdón que extendemos a los que nos persiguen, a los que nos hacen daño, incluso a los que nos matan.
Esto es cierto en el caso de Rodney Sanders y quienquiera puede haber perpetrado un crimen devastador. La justicia debe ser promulgada, la sociedad debe ser protegida, pero la violencia no debe ser perpetuada exigiendo la pena de muerte por estos delitos capitales.
Un gran profeta asesinado en su mejor tiempo en nuestra sociedad moderna, dio un testimonio elocuente de la sabiduría de la no violenta de la Cruz con sus palabras y su propia sangre. “La debilidad fundamental de la violencia es que es una espiral descendente, provocando lo mismo que busca destruir. En lugar de disminuir el mal, lo multiplica. A través de la violencia pueden asesinar al mentiroso, pero no pueden asesinar la mentira ni restablecer la verdad. A través de la violencia se puede asesinar al que odia, pero no se asesina el odio. En efecto, la violencia sólo aumenta el odio. Así va. Devolver violencia con violencia multiplica la violencia, añadiendo más oscuridad a una noche ya desprovista de estrellas. La oscuridad no puede expulsar la oscuridad: sólo la luz puede hacerlo. El odio no puede expulsar al odio: sólo el amor puede hacerlo”. Martin Luther King, Jr.
El Cuerpo de Cristo está sufriendo por la tragedia sucedida a la Hermana Paula y a la Hermana Margaret, pero nos regocijamos por sus vidas y su legado derramada en su amoroso servicio, dos luces que vencieron la oscuridad.

40 Days for Life campaign will build on successes

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JACKSON – “On Sept. 28, the highly successful 40 Days for Life campaign returns to Jackson with 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach,” said Judy Batson, who is coordinating the local campaign. “We pray that these efforts will help mark the beginning of the end of abortion in Jackson.”
“We know 40 Days for Life has made a difference here. Our volunteers have made extraordinary sacrifices to expose the abortion industry and to protect children and their mothers from abortion,” added Batson. She mentioned just a few of the positive results of the last Jackson campaign which includes: 11 lives saved from abortion, 12 churches working together and 250 volunteers contributing 480 hours of service to the community
40 Days for Life is a peaceful, highly-focused, non-denominational initiative that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout biblical history.
The campaign will feature a peaceful 40-day prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside Jackson Women’s Health Organization at 2903 N. State St., Jackson. All prayer vigil participants are asked to sign a statement of peace, pledging to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner at all times.
“40 Days for Life has generated proven life-saving results since its beginning in 2004 in Bryan/College Station, Texas,” said Shawn Carney, president of 40 Days for Life. “During 18 previous coordinated campaigns, 636 communities have participated in this effort. More than 700,000 people – representing some 18,500 churches – have committed to pray and fast. And we know of at least 11,796 unborn children whose lives were spared from abortion during 40 Days for Life campaigns.”
For information about 40 Days for Life in Jackson, visit: www.40daysforlife.com/Jackson-2.
For assistance or for more information, contact Judy Batson at plm@prolifemississippi.org or 601-956-8636.

El obispo se une a esfuerzo interreligioso

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Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
Pórtense como personas libres aunque sin usar su libertad como un pretexto para hacer lo malo. Pórtense más bien como siervos de Dios. 1 Pedro 2:16.
La complejidad del origen y desarrollo de nuestro amado país, los Estados Unidos de América, ha evolucionado ahora, 240 años desde la firma de la Declaración de Independencia, en tal diversidad de ciudadanía en este año del Señor, 2016, que, sin duda los padres y madres fundadores de esta notable nación estarían sorprendidos.
Usted no se sorprendería al saber que la mayoría de la gente con la que me relaciono son católicos, sin embargo, los casi 80 millones de católicos esparcidos alrededor de los Estados Unidos, aproximadamente el 25 por ciento de la población, reflejan la diversidad de la nación. Algunos son de la primera generación de inmigrantes; otros pueden rastrear sus orígenes antes de la primera mitad del siglo 19.
Esto no es menos cierto aquí en Mississippi. Aunque somos un porcentaje marginal de la población católica en todo el país y un pequeño porcentaje de la población del estado, somos un rico tapiz de diferencias raciales, étnicas y discípulos geográficos.
Aunque la mayor parte de mi tiempo y energía se dirige hacia nuestro mundo católico, hay significantes oportunidades que me llevan al camino ecuménico, inter-religioso y el mundo secular. Aquí encuentro y acompaño a personas de diversas creencias, o sin ninguna fe religiosa, que colaboran juntos por el bien común de la sociedad.
Un proyecto destacado ha sido la declaración titulada, “Voces contra el extremismo”. Esta edición de Mississippi Catholic incluye el texto completo. A la vanguardia de esta empresa están los miembros del Instituto del Diálogo que surgió de la necesidad de abordar la pregunta, “¿Cómo pueden los ciudadanos de todo el mundo vivir en paz y armonía? El Instituto fue establecido en el 2002 como una organización educativa sin fines de lucro (501-c-3) por Turcos-Americanos y sus amigos en el período de un año después de los ataques terroristas del 9-11. Permítanme presentarlos brevemente.
Muchos de los participantes de las actividades del instituto son inspirados por el discurso y por las iniciativas pioneras de diálogo del erudito musulmán turco, escritor y educador Fethullah Gulen. Con sede en Houston, Texas, el instituto tiene sucursales en cinco estados y representantes a través del sur-centro de los Estados Unidos. Su misión es promover el mutuo entendimiento, respeto y cooperación entre personas de diferentes religiones y culturas mediante la creación de oportunidades para la comunicación directa y significativa de experiencias compartidas.
Su visión es la de una sociedad donde cada persona considera y trata a los demás con dignidad, donde la gente comparte sus valores comunes para promover el bien común de sus comunidades y los de todo el mundo. Todos los años durante el mes de Ramadán, la comunidad musulmana turca que vive en Jackson invita a los que no son musulmanes que viven en el área de Jackson a participar en una comida al final del día de ayuno. Estos encuentros fomentan su misión y visión por la sociedad mediante la creación de amistades basadas en el conocimiento y el respeto. Estos son pequeños rayos de luz que traen esperanza al rostro de la incesante oscuridad del terrorismo y muertes injustificadas.
Consideremos lo que ha sucedido en las últimas semanas. Continuamos lamentando y tambaleándonos por la masacre ocurrida en Orlando, Florida. Pocas horas después de nuestra experiencia espiritual de Ramadán aquí en Jackson, el terrorismo golpeó el Aeropuerto Internacional Atatürk, en Estambul, Turquía.
Nuestros amigos turcos aquí en Jackson y en Starkville están afligidos por su pueblo. Lo que siguió ha sido aún peor, en su mayor parte, ataques directos al Islam por los terroristas. Un atentado en un café en Dhaka, Bangladesh, atentados con bombas en Bagdad, y una cadena de ataques suicidas contra los musulmanes en la culminación del Ramadán cuando se reunieron para orar. Incluso peregrinos musulmanes que viajaron a Medina a la tumba de Mohammed no fueron eximidos de estas agresiones.
Dos tweets en respuesta a esta pronunciación de desprecio absoluto por la vida humana y todas las cosas santas, expresan el corazón y el alma de los devotos musulmanes.
– Lo qué sucedió en una de nuestras ciudades, en nuestro más sagrado mes, no está justificado por ninguna religión. Estoy realmente devastado.
–  Un lugar que cualquier musulmán nunca se hubiera atrevido a dañar ha sido atacado. El terrorismo no tiene una religión.
Cuando nos complacemos en las celebraciones que rodean el 4 de julio, y para mí de vacaciones, que incluyen reuniones con familiares y amigos, y un Triple A juego de béisbol, seguido por una exhibición de fuegos artificiales, dos realidades acuciantes se mueven dentro de mí. Estamos obligados a cuidar y proteger nuestra forma de vida como nación, y estar agradecidos por todos lo que se han sacrificado para defenderla, especialmente con el derramamiento de su sangre.
Asimismo, tenemos la oportunidad de ser un faro para las naciones custodiando y promoviendo la unidad en medio de la asombrosa diversidad que caracteriza a nuestra nación. Somos únicos en este sentido y podemos dar ejemplo dentro de nuestras propias costas y exportando lo mejor de lo que somos al mundo mediante la educación, la buena voluntad, el respeto y el comercio que es mutuamente beneficioso, manteniendo al mismo tiempo la creación de Dios.
“Consideramos que estas verdades son evidentes por sí mismas” y oramos para promoverlas en el hogar y en nuestra aldea global. Qué podamos crecer como un pueblo católico a través de la libertad que viene a través de la fe en Jesucristo y la libertad como ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos, 240 años jóvenes.

Bishop joins interfaith effort condemning violence

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By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
The complexity of the origin and development of our beloved country, the United States of America, has now evolved, 240 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, into such a diverse citizenry in this year of the Lord, 2016, that, without doubt, the Founding Fathers and Mothers of this remarkable nation would be astounded.
You would not be surprised to know that most of the people I hang around with are Catholic, yet the nearly 80 million Catholics scattered around the United States, about 25 percent of the population, mirror the nation’s diversity. Some are first generation immigrants; some can trace their roots well back into the middle of the 19th century. This is no less true here in Mississippi. Although we are a marginal percentage of the Catholic population nationwide, and a small percentage of the State’s population, we are a rich tapestry of racial, ethnic and geographical disciples.
Although most of my time and energy is directed toward our Catholic world, there are significant opportunities that take me into the ecumenical, interfaith and secular world.
Here I encounter and accompany people of diverse faiths, or no outward religious faith, who collaborate together for the common good of society. One noteworthy project has been the statement entitled, “Voices against Extremism.” Find the full text of this document on page 4 of this edition of Mississippi Catholic.
At the forefront of this undertaking are the members of the Dialogue Institute which grew out of the need to address the question, “How can citizens of the world live in peace and harmony?” The Institute was established in 2002 as a 501-c3 non-profit educational organization by Turkish-Americans and their friends within one year of the terroristic attacks of 9-11. Allow me to briefly introduce them.
Many participants of the Institute’s activities are inspired by the discourse and pioneering dialogue initiatives of the Turkish Muslim scholar, writer and educator Fethullah Gulen. Headquartered in Houston, Tex., the Institute has branch offices in five states and representatives throughout the South-Central United States. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among people of diverse faiths and cultures by creating opportunities for direct communication and meaningful shared experiences.
Its vision is a society where every person views and treats each other with dignity, where people come around shared values to promote the common good of their communities as well as the world as a whole. Each year during the month of Ramadan, the Turkish Muslim community who live in Jackson invite non Muslim members of the Greater Jackson area to participate in a meal at dusk at the end of the daily fast. These encounters foster their mission and vision for society by building friendships based upon knowledge and respect. These are small points of light that bring hope in the face of the relentless darkness of terrorism and wanton killing.
Consider what has happened in recent weeks. We continue to grieve and reel from the massacre in Orlando. Within hours of our spiritual experience of Ramadan here in Jackson terrorism struck the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Our Turkish friends here in Jackson and Starkville grieve for their people. What followed has been even worse and, for the most part, direct assaults upon Islam by the terrorists. An attack at a café in Dhaka, Bangladesh, bombings in Baghdad, and a string of suicide strikes against Muslims at the culmination of Ramadan as they gather for prayer. Even Muslim pilgrims who traveled to Medina to the tomb of Mohammed were not spared from these assaults. Two tweets in response to this utter contempt for human life and all things holy express the heart and soul of the devout Muslim.
• What happened in one of our holiest cities, in our holiest month, is not justified by any religion. I am truly devastated.
• A place that any Muslim would never DARE harm has been attacked. Terrorism doesn’t have a religion.
As we bask in the celebrations that surround the 4th of July, and for me on vacation, it involved cookouts with family and friends, and a Triple A baseball game followed by a fireworks display, two pressing realities stir within me.
We are compelled to cherish and protect our way of life as a nation, and to be grateful for all who have sacrificed to defend it, especially with the shedding of their blood. Likewise, we have the opportunity to be a beacon for the nations by cherishing and promoting unity amidst the amazing diversity that characterizes our nation.
We are unique in this regard and we can lead by example within our own shores and by exporting the best of who we are to the world through education, good will, respect and commerce that is mutually beneficial while upholding God’s creation.
“We hold these truths to be self evident” and we pray to foster them at home and throughout our global village. May we thrive as a Catholic people through the freedom that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and the liberty as citizens of the United States, 240 years young.

Historia de la iglesia llena de diáconos ejemplares

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Por Obispo Joseph Kopacz
Esta es la homilia que ofreció el Obispo Joseph Kopacz durante la misa de ordenación de los diáconos.
La Diócesis de Jackson por primera vez en una generación celebró la ordenación al diaconado permanente de seis hombres, que con sus esposas, han estado en formación durante los últimos cinco años. Los diáconos: Jeff, Rich, Denzel, John, John y Ted ya han comenzado a servir en sus parroquias. El texto que sigue es una parte de la homilía proporcionada por la Iglesia durante la liturgia de la ordenación y a continuación, un resumen conciso de seis destacados diáconos en la tradición de la Iglesia que nos ofrecen una comprensión más profunda de esta antigua orden, ahora siempre nueva.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas: ya que estos nuestros hijos, que son sus parientes y amigos, van a ser avanzados a la orden de los diáconos, consideren cuidadosamente la naturaleza de la jerarquía de la iglesia a la que están a punto de ser elevados.
Fortalecidos por el don del Espíritu Santo ayudarán al obispo y a sus sacerdotes en el ministerio de la palabra, del altar y de la caridad, mostrándose ser siervos de todos. Como ministros del altar, proclamarán el Evangelio, prepararán el sacrificio, y distribuirán el Cuerpo y la Sangre del Señor a los fieles.
Además, será su deber, bajo la dirección del obispo, exhortar a los creyentes y no creyentes e instruirlos en la sagrada doctrina. Ellos presidirán la oración pública, administrarán el bautismo, asistirán y bendecirán los matrimonios, llevarán el viático a los moribundos y presidirán los ritos funerarios.
Consagrados por la imposición de manos que llega hasta nosotros desde los Apóstoles y vinculados más estrechamente al servicio del altar, realizarán obras de caridad en nombre del obispo o del pastor. Con la ayuda de Dios realizarán todas estas funciones de manera tal que serán reconocidos como discípulos de aquel que no vino a ser servido sino a servir.
Ahora, queridos hijos, van a ser elevados al orden del diaconado. El Señor ha dado un ejemplo que así como él mismo lo ha hecho, ustedes también deberían hacerlo.
Como diáconos, es decir, como ministros de Jesucristo, que vino entre sus discípulos como uno que sirve, hagan la voluntad de Dios desde el corazón: sirvan a la gente con amor y alegría como lo harían al Señor. Puesto que nadie puede servir a dos amos, miren a la deshonra y la avaricia como sirviendo a dioses falsos.

Diáconos del Nuevo Testamento
De los siete originales, dos aparecen en el Nuevo Testamento: Esteban y Felipe que encontramos en los Hechos de los Apóstoles, no sirviendo en la mesa sino sirviendo en la Mesa de la Palabra. Esta realidad nos revela que san Lucas en los Hechos de los Apóstoles ve la diaconía como obra de evangelización, predicando y edificando la Iglesia.
Esteban:
Esteban fue un profeta, un hombre lleno de fe y también lleno de gracia y de poder. Su valiente predicación lo condujo a su martirio por lapidación, y como el Señor, encomendó su espíritu a Dios, pidiendo perdón por los que lo estaban matando, para que ellos pudieran encontrar paz como la había encontrado él en Cristo Jesús. San Esteban es el patrono de los diáconos y el protomártir.
Felipe:
Fue el primero en anunciar el Evangelio en Samaria, y dos de sus notables conversos fueron Simón el Mago y el etíope Eunuch cuyo Chariot corrió a lo largo del lateral, y después lo bautizó en un charco de agua. Como el Señor, Felipe predicó la Palabra, expulsó demonios, y se acercó a los marginados. Fue dirigido por el Espíritu Santo hacia la gente en necesidad y así siguió siendo diácono de diáconos a través de la predicación y el cuidado de los marginados.
Período Patrístico – San Lorenzo 200-258
Más de 200 años más tarde San Lorenzo fue uno de los siete diáconos de Roma, quien también sufrió el martirio. Ningún otro santo, salvo en el caso de Pedro y Pablo, fue más honrado por el pueblo de Roma que San Lorenzo. San Ambrosio elogia a Lorenzo como un ejemplo a su clero que recuerda que el prefecto de Roma le pidió a Lorenzo revelar el paradero de los tesoros de la Iglesia, porque los diáconos eran confiados con recursos para atender a los pobres. Así que Lorenzo reunió a los pobres y a los enfermos y se los presentó al prefecto diciendo, “Estos son los tesoros de la Iglesia”. Esto le costó su cabeza, pero revela el corazón y la mente del ministerio del diácono como alguien que conoce bien a los pobres y los cuida. En su ministerio de caridad Lorenzo es un diácono de diáconos.
Efrén de Nisibi 306-373
Se convirtió en un Doctor de la Iglesia y escribió teología en forma de poesía en un dialecto del arameo. Efrén veía la teología no tanto como “la fe en busca de entendimiento” sino como “la fe adorando el misterio” ya que él estaba muy consciente de las limitaciones del entendimiento humano.
Un pedacito de la poesía de Efrén dice, “Si alguien busca tu oculta naturaleza, mirad, está en el cielo en el gran seno de la divinidad. Y si alguien busca tu cuerpo, mirad descansa y se asoma desde el pequeño seno de María”. Efrén le enseña a los diáconos modernos la importancia y la belleza de las palabras y las imágenes, especialmente en la homilía. En su ministerio de la Palabra, Efrén es un diácono de diáconos.

Edad Media –
Alcuin de York: 735-804
Colaboró estrechamente con el emperador Carlomagno para lograr una reforma integral en la Iglesia alrededor de los años 800 D.C. Fue un maestro por excelencia. Instruyó a sus alumnos en las escrituras, actualizando  la Vulgata en latín de san Jerónimo, en la literatura antigua, la lógica, la gramática y la astronomía. Y aún más interesante, estuvo a la vanguardia de la reforma litúrgica cuyo fervor se manifiesta en las siguientes palabras: “examinen a los sacerdotes (y obispos) en cuanto a su manera de bautizar y celebrar la Misa para ver que mantienen la verdadera fe, para averiguar si entienden las oraciones de la misa bien, si cantan los salmos devotamente, si ellos mismos entienden la oración del Señor y se la explican a todos para que todos puedan entender lo que le están pidiendo a Dios”.
Alcuin le enseña a los diáconos modernos la importancia y belleza de servir bien en la Liturgia, y como un verdadero administrador de los misterios de Dios, Alcuin es un diácono de diáconos.
San Francisco de Asís, 1181-1226
Fue ordenado diácono y permaneció así hasta el final de su vida. Era una persona sin educación formal de inteligencia media, pero un visionario que vio toda la creación llena de vida divina. Después de él miramos con ojos diferentes la naturaleza, los animales y a las personas.
Su amor por la creación de Dios y su compartir de aquel amor con personas que tienen ojos para ver y oídos para oír, revela la armonía de la iglesia en el mundo. La simpleza espiritual de Francisco por Cristo, su sentido de libertad interior, y su fervor evangélico y misionero (se cansó de convertir al sultán de Egipto durante la Quinta Cruzada) revelan el corazón de un diácono. Al recibir las estigmas, él nos inspira a abrazar la lucha, el sacrificio y el sufrimiento en el poder de la cruz y al hacerlo es un diácono de diáconos.
A través de su intercesión y la intercesión de todos los santos que Dios, que ha comenzado la buena obra en nuestros recién ordenados diáconos, lo lleve a cumplimiento en el día de Cristo Jesús.

Our mission to serve and educate: Bishop Kopacz addresses bill concerns

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“The Diocese of Jackson supported and would continue to support a religious exemption on behalf of the mission of the Catholic Church with regard to education and social services. We would like to continue to provide these services while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The diocese had no involvement in the other portions of the bill that addressed business and government operations. The church will continue to work to protect its First Amendment right to worship, to educate and to serve in the public domain while respecting the dignity of all citizens.”

I responded to the recent inquires and feedback with the above statement regarding diocesan support for religious freedom that was signed into law in Mississippi with HB 1523 (Letter to Legislators). This law is wide ranging and it affects not only First Amendment Rights for recognized religious denominations, but also supports individual citizens with respect to freedom of conscience. The controversy, as we know, surrounds the conflict between religious freedom and freedom of conscience vs. discrimination. Most notably, although not exclusively, this has focused upon same sex civil unions and the redefinition of marriage in the law of the United States. For me as the Bishop of Jackson it is important to address this matter of vital importance as follows.

Parish Life and Worship The unchanging teaching of the Catholic Church regarding marriage for nearly two thousand years has been the indissoluble and faithful union of one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage between two baptized Christians. This is one of our seven Sacraments. I first wrote about it last summer after the Supreme Court ruling. Read it here. This unchangeable teaching has been restated by Pope Francis in his just released Post Synod Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, (The Joy of Love). “Marriage is between a man and a woman, and homosexual unions cannot be placed on the same level as Christian marriage.” (AL250) That said, it is important that we all learn to imitate God’s unconditional love for everyone. Pope Francis wholeheartedly continues: “The Church makes her own the attitude of the Lord Jesus, who offers his boundless love to each person without exception.” (AL250) Furthermore, everyone is a son or daughter; everyone has a family history; everyone has bonds of love with family members; and everyone has friends in difficult and painful situations. “It is a matter of reaching out to everyone, or needing to help each person find his or her proper way of participating in the ecclesial community, and thus to experience being touched by an unmerited, unconditional, and gratuitous mercy.” AL297

Pope Francis is beloved by many because he is able to reaffirm the teachings of the Church with fidelity, compassion, and hope, a standard for the entire Church. Some want to frame the debate surrounding the Church’s teaching as discrimination and hostility toward homosexual persons. On the contrary, we are being faithful to our mission to “speak the truth in love” and to live with the heart and mind of our risen Lord who came that all might be reconciled to God.

The Mission to Educate At the end of Saint Matthew’s Gospel, in the great mandatum directed to his apostles, Jesus said: “Go and baptize all the nations, teaching them everything I have commanded you, and know that I am with you until the end of the age.” The Church has been faithful to this mission for nearly two thousand years in a myriad of ways: most notably in the family, in parish communities, and in formal education. The Catholic Diocese of Jackson has been part of this mission to educate since its inception in 1837 in all manners of teaching, including in our Catholic School system begun in 1847. I provided a broader overview of our proud legacy of education in the State in my letter to the State Legislature. You can read the letter here. All teachers who formally represent the Catholic Church in our schools or parishes must teach what the Church believes, and must live in a manner that is in harmony with Church teaching. With respect to marriage in our mission to teach a Catholic must be married in the Church. If a Catholic is living with another – even if the couple is a man and woman – without benefit of marriage, or married civilly without benefit of a Church marriage, then they would not be hired, or their employment would be terminated. Same sex civil unions are seen in this light and the standards that underlie our Catholic ethos would apply. This is not a matter of discrimination but of being faithful to the mission and Gospel teachings entrusted to the Church by the Lord Jesus. My letter to the Legislature concerns the right of the Church to hire and commission educators without animus or prejudice to our tradition of faith. Lastly, it is essential to point out that the Catholic Church in Mississippi has educated all who have come through our doors, beginning with the children of slaves in the 1840s. Non Catholics comprise a significant percentage of those who occupy the seats in our school system, both as students and teachers, and diversity has been our hallmark since desegregation.

The Mission to Serve In the same letter to the State Legislators I made an appeal to the First Amendment Right to serve with regard to Catholic Charities which has been at the forefront of outreach to vulnerable populations in Mississippi since the mid 1960s. Currently there are 23 programs or ministries that serve homeless veterans, victims of domestic violence and rape, legal immigrants, unaccompanied refugee minors, and children in the state foster care system, to name a few. We serve all who are in need or in crisis situations with expertise, compassion, confidentiality, and respect. The dignity of each person is upheld, and no one is turned away. The two areas of concern of which I wrote surrounded adoption and foster care, asking the legislators to uphold our desire to serve while remaining faithful to our tradition of marriage in the placement of children. Throughout the country these programs have been addressed differently by state. At this time an accommodation for religious organizations is not needed in Mississippi with HB1523. (Should this law be repealed, we would again request these specific exemptions.) Although we are receiving public funds to carry out these programs, I still believe that it would be beneficial to our State for all sectarian and non-sectarian organizations to work together to serve vulnerable children. If a sectarian organization, like the Catholic Church, can only go so far because of their beliefs, other organizations can then address this gap in service. I believe that legislators can apply First Amendment common sense to support the service of the Church in society when by far and away it is a legacy of service for the common good.

In conclusion, I hope that it is clear that the Catholic Church in Mississippi is committed to building up the quality of life for all Mississippians, treating all with dignity and respect while remaining faithful to our tradition of faith, education, and service. Our role in supporting this bill was limited to the specific issues outlined above. This is invoked with malice toward none. Likewise, there is certainly a place for freedom of conscience in the public domain, an inviolable attribute of human dignity, but it should never be employed to discriminate against any person, a direct assault against human dignity.

 

Holy Week invites us to embrace mercy

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By Bishop Joseph Kopacz
(Editor’s note: This week’s column is the homily Bishop Kopacz delivered at the Mass of Chrism on Tuesday of Holy Week.)
At the outset of this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy we have observed the ancient tradition of the opening of the Holy Door and have entered upon a pilgrimage with the Church throughout the world into the heart of God’s mercy that we, in turn, may become merciful like the Father.  This is the abundant life promised by the Lord, announced by the prophets, Isaiah this evening, realized in His death and resurrection, celebrated passionately during these holy days, and intended to be lived every-day.
From Rome anticipating the Jubilee of Mercy Pope Francis offered these words. “With these sentiments of gratitude for everything the church has received, and with a sense of responsibility for the task that lies ahead, we shall cross the threshold of the Holy Door fully confident that the strength of the Risen Lord, who constantly supports us on our pilgrim way, will sustain us.”
At the center of the Jubilee Prayer of Mercy are the words spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well in John’s Gospel. “If you only knew the gift of God!” What a powerful and life changing encounter that was between her and the Lord, and our gathering today at the Mass of Chrism proclaims that Jesus Christ encounters us in many ways through God’s life giving mercy.
At one of the 17 listening sessions that were held throughout the diocese, at which more than a thousand people participated, one person fervently spoke out that we need to do a better job living and teaching the wonder and awe of our Catholic faith, the gift of God handed down for nearly 2,000 years. Perhaps another way of saying that if we only knew the gift of God handed on to us.
The Mass of Chrism is an inspiring Eucharist that brings us together as faithful disciples of the Lord from across the diocese to celebrate the gift of God in manifold ways  In particular, we who are priests, gather to renew our life in Jesus Christ, the High Priest in a way that celebrates our communion with one another that flows from the Blessed Trinity, and our unity through faith and baptism with all of God’s people who have a share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ through faith and baptism as proclaimed earlier from the Book of Revelations.
We are so grateful for your prayers, good will, and collaboration with us throughout the year, and through the years. For many of us who were able to be here in the cathedral for Bishop Houck’s funeral liturgies, and for all of us who were here in spirit, we had a prelude to the Mass of Chrism in the celebration of his life as a priest and bishop, and the priesthood of the faithful throughout the Diocese of Jackson. He was with us 37 years as a bishop, auxiliary, ordinary and emeritus. What a gift!
At the listening sessions around the diocese, the gift of the priesthood through the cultivation of vocations, was a dominant theme. This consensus from the people of God revealed their love for the priesthood, and a desire to participate in the Eucharist on the Lord’s Day, as the cornerstone and the source and summit of our faith, our prayer, our service and our unity.
Many people throughout our diocese know the gift of God given to the church in the life-giving death and resurrection of the Lord, and many expressed their gratitude to be able to participate in the Mass on a daily or a regular basis.
Moreover, out of a deep hunger and thirst for knowledge of God through the Mass, people often expressed their desire that they want the Word of God proclaimed with zeal, and followed by homilies that inspire and guide their daily lives. The Eucharist, the gift of God, a fountain of life flowing from Word and sacrament.  As priests, this is our privilege and responsibility.
Uniquely, at this Mass of Chrism, the presence of the holy oils is a transcendent sign of the gift of God. Today they are blessed through the invocation of the Holy Spirit. As we know, the oils of catechumens, chrism, and the sick will be used in Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Ordination to Priesthood, and for the Consecration of new altars and churches. In each and every celebration of the sacraments we pass through the holy door of God’s mercy to encounter the crucified and risen Lord, to be forgiven and to be strengthened to live as his Body in this world.
During my recent pastoral visit to Saltillo Bishop Raul, Don Raul, and I celebrated the consecration of the newly constructed church, Divina Misericordia, built upon the largesse of the people from the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi. As I was incensing and anointing the walls of the Church, Don Raul, was consecrating the altar lavishly with chrism. The scent and sight of the altar’s bathing in the oil of Chrism is permanently impressed in my memory. I thought that the altar might flow right out of the sanctuary.
The Mass went nearly three hours, and Don Raul spoke for nearly 50 minutes. I am confident that we can come in under those parameters today. Regardless, we know that, our sacramental life in the church, the gift of God, is the door to the sacred, and the call to faithfully serve the Lord as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Pope Francis wrote in his Bull of Indiction: “Mercy is the very foundation of the church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love. The church “has an endless desire to show mercy” With a different set of symbols, words and gestures, the sacrament of reconciliation remains the most personal path to mercy for all of us.
“I will never tire of insisting that confessors be authentic signs of the Father’s mercy. We do not become good confessors automatically. We become good confessors when, above all, we allow ourselves to be penitents in search of his mercy. Let us never forget that to be confessors means to participate in the very mission of Jesus to be a concrete sign of the constancy of divine love that pardons and saves.
We, as priests, have received the gift of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins, and we are responsible for this. None of us wields power over this sacrament; rather, we are faithful servants of God’s mercy through it.” It’s not a matter of water and oil, bread and wine, but words of contrition, words of compassion and mercy, gestures of repentance and blessing, coming from the face of God’s mercy, Jesus Christ.
On this day then and every-day, may we as priests know the mercy of God in our lives and in our encounter with the Lord, the Gift of God we have received in our priesthood.
At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper as preserved in John’s Gospel, the institution of the priesthood, we have the Mandatum of the Lord to be a people of the towel and the water, as he has done, so we must do. The gift of God’s mercy which we receive and celebrate in each Eucharist is to be given as a gift in manifold ways in our daily lives.
Worship and service can never be separated. We heard that his evening at the outset of the Lord’s public ministry in Luke’s Gospel when the Lord announced a Year of Favor, a time to set captives free, to give sight to the blind, and release to those in dungeons of unspeakable injustice.
The Lord is discovered at the altar, and likewise in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, in the quest for greater justice and peace, and in bearing the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters. Pope Francis is teaching us that “mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life, and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope.” The oils of gladness are intended to flow into the lives of all people.
I believe that together this evening at this Mass of Chrism, we know the gift of God, we do recognize and know our saving Lord, and with full and active participation, we are celebrating our identity as His Body, the church. We are co-workers in the mission called to announce the gospel to all the nations, and to work in the Church for the salvation of all.
With this sacramental vision of life, we are truly Catholic, because we recognize that our faith in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is a Holy Door to the sacred, the way to restore a fallen world, so that every year is a Year of Favor from the Lord.
With this sacramental vision before us, I invite my fellow priests to stand for the renewal of their vocation as ordained ministers in the Church.