Pastoral Assignments
Author Archives: Mississippi Catholic
Briefs
NATION
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, as the coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans. The appointment was publicized Sept. 24 In Washington by Cardinal Christophe Piere, apostolic nuncio to the United States. As coadjutor, Archbishop Checchio will assist Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and automatically succeed him upon retirement. Archbishop Checchio called the New Orleans Archdiocese a “faith-filled” community and thanked both Pope Leo and local church leaders for their warm welcome. As coadjutor, he is coming into an archdiocese faced with having to resolve hundreds of sexual abuse claims. A Camden, New Jersey, native, Archbishop Checchio brings to his new assignment decades of pastoral and administrative experience – including 10 years as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Ordained in 1992, he has led the Diocese of Metuchen since 2016, prioritizing parish visits, child protection and accountability. Notably, the diocese said in a statement, he implemented a bishop abuse reporting system before it was required by church law. Archbishop Checchio has served on national boards, including Seton Hall and the National Catholic Bioethics Center – and once ministered as chaplain to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The 2026 National March for Life theme is “Life is a Gift,” The March for Life Education and Defense Fund announced Sept. 30. Jennie Bradley Lichter, who became president of the March for Life earlier this year, noted the group chooses a theme each year for the annual pro-life march in Washington as “an opportunity to focus our attention on a key message or a timely element of the prolife mission.” “We’re now at a critical moment in our country where the March for Life and what we stand for is more important than ever,” Lichter told reporters at a launch event, adding, “This year, with this theme, we really want to speak to the heart.” The 53rd annual National March for Life is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. A pre-rally concert will feature the Christian band Sanctus Real, Lichter said, and the Friends of Club 21 Choir, comprised of individuals with Down syndrome, will lead the national anthem at the event. Georgetown University Right to Life will carry the banner at the start of the March. Lichter said the group is also launching a “Marchers’ Stories Project” where they will seek video submissions from participants to document the group’s history.
VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Loving someone who is sick requires “concrete gestures of closeness,” just like that shown in the Gospel story of the Samaritan who helps the person beaten by thieves, said a Vatican office. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced Sept. 26 that Pope Leo XIV had chosen the theme for the church’s next celebration of the World Day of the Sick: “The compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by bearing the pain of the other.” The world day is celebrated annually on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Feb. 11. A papal message for the celebration usually is published in early January.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Leo XIV announced he will proclaim St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the church Nov. 1 during the Jubilee of the World of Education. Speaking after Mass Sept. 28 for the Jubilee of Catechists, the pope said St. Newman “contributed decisively to the renewal of theology and to the understanding of the development of Christian doctrine.” The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints had announced July 31 that Pope Leo “confirmed the affirmative opinion” of the cardinals and bishops who are members of the dicastery “regarding the title of Doctor of the Universal Church which will soon be conferred on Saint John Henry Newman, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Founder of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in England.” St. Newman was born in London Feb. 21, 1801, was ordained an Anglican priest, became Catholic in 1845, was made a cardinal in 1879 by Pope Leo XIII and died in Edgbaston, near Birmingham, England, in 1890.
WORLD
BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) – The iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is nearing a historic milestone: the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ, which will make it the tallest Catholic church in the world. Designed by visionary architect and Servant of God Antoni Gaudí, the tower will stand over 564 feet tall – surpassing both the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Ivory Coast and even Germany’s Ulmer Münster. Head architect Jordi Faulí announced that the central spire is finished, and crews are now preparing to install a massive seven-piece cross atop it. “The cross is made up of seven large pieces that are assembled here and will then be lifted with the crane,” Faulí said. The cross is expected to be in place by early 2026, aligning with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Construction on the basilica began in 1882 and has weathered wars, pandemics and funding delays. While the main structure is on track for completion in 2026, artistic elements like statues and chapels will continue into the 2030s – bringing Gaudí’s masterpiece one step closer to completion.
Jabour receives Knight Commander Cross
By Michael Horten
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – On Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, Philip Jabour was invested with the Knight Commander Cross of the Order of the Fleur de Lis. Jabour was joined by four clergy members and eight lay commanders being invested. The investiture took place at St. Mary of the Springs Catholic Church in Hot Springs.
Knight Commander Jabour and his wife, Linda, reside in Brandon, and attend St. Paul Catholic Church. Jabour is very active in the Knights of Columbus. He created a program to donate coats for kids to Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Jackson. He also serves on the board of the Castlewoods Homeowners Association and has been a Eucharistic minister for 30 years and a member of the parish council for 10 years.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis is an organization of Catholic men incorporated under the laws of Louisiana as a not-for-profit organization. The order’s domain covers a five-state region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The objectives of the order include supporting and defending the Catholic Church and its teachings; promoting patriotism and good citizenship; encouraging public morality and unselfish service to God and country; assisting and publicizing the activities of other organizations that share these goals; and honoring the memories and achievements of Catholic leaders in religion, the arts and sciences, philanthropy, education, exploration and archaeology, government and international relations, medicine, jurisprudence and other established professions.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis encourages and recognizes leadership in living the values and principles of the Catholic faith by presenting the Msgr. Joseph Susi Award of Honor to individuals who have excelled as Catholic leaders.
Other Knight Commanders in the Diocese of Jackson include Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Very Rev. Aaron Williams, William “Bill” O’Connor and James McCraw.
Calendar of Events
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
DIOCESE/VIRTUAL – The Office of Catholic Education hosts a quarterly Zoom Rosary. Join them from across the diocese on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. to pray the Glorious Mysteries. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/OCERosaryOct25.
DIOCESE/MADISON – Fall Faith Formation Day, Saturday, Nov. 15 at St. Francis, Madison from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Department of Faith Formation welcomes all formation leaders and volunteers for a keynote by Robert Feduccia and a variety of breakout sessions to with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope Journeying Together.” Cost: $10. Register at https://bit.ly/FFFDay2025. Deadline is Nov. 5. Details: email fran.lavelle@jacksondiocese.org.
DIOCESE/MOBILE, Ala. – Sister Thea Bowman Jubilee of Hope Bus Pilgrimage, Nov. 15-16 to Mobile and Montgomery, Ala., for a powerful journey of faith, history and fellowship. Highlights include visits to the Africatown Heritage Center, the Equal Justice Initiative and more. Details: Visit https://bit.ly/srtheapilgrimage2025 for more info and to register.
DIOCESE/NATCHEZ – Diocesan Young Adult Pilgrimage to St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, Nov. 8. Register by Nov. 1. Cost $25. Fee does not include transportation, meals or optional overnight stay. Details: https://jacksondiocese.flocknote.com/signup/222556 or email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org.
CAMDEN – Sacred Heart, “Living our Best Life in Christ” Women’s Retreat, Saturday, Oct. 25, registration at 8 a.m. with retreat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will engage in a series of enriching guest speakers, group discussions, prayer sessions, and interactive workshops designed to inspire and uplift. Cost: $25 before Oct. 20 or $30 at the door. Registration includes lunch. Details: call Dr. Kathy McMurty, Ph.D. at (601) 566-2769.
CLINTON – Holy Savior, Parish Ladies Retreat, Saturday, Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Join us for a time of fellowship, reflection and prayer. Retreat includes Mass, presentations and lunch. Details: Register at https://bit.ly/HSLadiesRetreat112025.
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Millions of Monicas – Praying with confidence for our children, each Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the church. Join with other mothers and grandmothers as we pray for our children’s faithful return to the church. Details: email millionsofmonicas@stjosephgluckstadt.com.
JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, “Gratitude Through All Life’s Mysteries” – a Reflection for Women on the Holy Rosary, Saturday Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don’t miss this spiritual event with speaker Ann Cook. Details: to sign up email lnblaylock@me.com.
VIRTUAL – The North American Vocation Team (NAVT) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) invites young adults to a monthly prayer on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CST via Zoom. Remaining dates in 2025 are Oct. 28, Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. Details: visit ssnd.org/events.
PARISH & YOUTH EVENTS
CLINTON – Holy Savior, Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat, Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the upper parking lot. Details: church office (601) 924-6344.
COLUMBUS – Annunciation, Parish Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 26 from 4-6:30 p.m. Join us on College Street in downtown Columbus for fun for all with trunk or treat, cake walk, games, food and more. No pets please. Details: church office (662) 328-2927.
JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Parish Gala, Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Capitol Club Rooftop. Join us for this no tie occasion to raise funds for the Cathedral kitchen and promote community in the parish. Details: church office (601) 969-3125.
JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School, Adopt-A-Student Scholarship Program – Consider sponsoring a full or partial tuition for a child to experience the benefit of a Catholic education. Donations are tax deductible. Details: email Chris Payne at principal@theabowmanschool.com.
JACKSON – St. Richard, Cardinal Fest and Chili Cookoff, Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the football field. Enjoy food, music, games, art and more! Details: purchase your tickets here https://bit.ly/StRCardinalFest2025.
MADISON – St. Francis, Parish Mission “Hope and Pilgrimage,” Oct. 26-27 from 5:30-7:45 p.m., with speaker and author Joan Watson. All are welcome. Please RSVP. Details: church office at (601) 856-5556.
NATCHEZ – St. Mary Basilica, Trunk or Treat and Halloween Carnival, Thursday, Oct. 30 in the parking lot on Union Street across from Memorial Park. Details: church office at (601) 445-5616 or secretary@stmarybasilica.org.
PEARL – St. Jude, Feast Day Potluck, Sunday, Oct. 26. Games for all ages from 2-4:30 p.m., procession and rosary at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. Details: church office (601)-939-3181.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss this fun day of fellowship filled with international foods, games, cake walk, live music, white elephant sale and more! Details: church office (662) 342-1073.
Can’t afford a Catholic college? Think again. Many offer full tuition options
By Kimberley Heatherington , OSV News
(OSV News) – It’s often said that death and taxes are two of life’s most enduring certainties. To that duo, anxious parents of teenagers might add another: rising college tuition.
For high school students yearning to attend a Catholic college, there is an encouraging development: Many Catholic institutions of higher learning are increasingly committed to making academia accessible through free, full tuition programs.
“There’s probably a significant number of students who would be interested in St. Mike’s,” said Brigid Lawler, until recently the vice president for enrollment management at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. “But they see that initial sticker price and think, ‘I’m not even going to have the conversation because I don’t think I can’t afford that.'”
With about 1,100 undergraduate students from 21 states and 15 countries, St. Michael’s College is the only Edmundite college in the world – founded in 1904 by the French order of priests known as the Society of St. Edmund.
Boasting more than 40 majors and a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, the college has a history of social justice commitment, with more than 70% of students participating in service opportunities.
For the 2025-2026 school year, tuition, food and housing at St. Michael’s College totals $70,990, excluding books, supplies and incidental costs. However, over 90% of its students receive financial aid – and “The St. Mike’s Community Commitment” gives families whose income falls at or below $100,000 a total aid package covering full tuition after federal grants. In addition, all admitted students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
Because the St. Mike’s Community Commitment launched in late 2024, it’s still difficult to judge the impact of the new financial aid program. But Lawler is both enthusiastic and emphatic.
“We are a campus that has this very strong sense of community, and there is this idea that we want to take care of the folks that are here and help them to stay,” she said, “because we all know that should be a huge part of the mission.”
St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, launched its Anselmian Community Commitment in 2024, “a program that allows New Hampshire students with a family income of $100,000 or less and a GPA of 3.25 or higher to attend the college tuition-free,” according to its website, with school leaders citing the school’s Catholic and Benedictine mission.
Also in 2024, College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, also announced that students whose families have a total income of $100,000 or less “and reasonable assets” will receive a full tuition grant. The move was an expansion of the school’s current financial aid program, which in the 2022-2023 academic year stated that families with a total income of $75,000 or less were eligible for the full tuition coverage.
At Regis University in Denver, undergraduate students in 2025-2026 can expect to pay $47,490, excluding fees and living expenses. However, all first-year students received financial aid in 2023-2024.
“We strive to continue to evolve each year and meet students where they are,” said Catherine Rohde, assistant vice president of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
“We know how transformative a Jesuit Catholic education is, and we hope that these initiatives, including ‘Road to Regis,’ build awareness and excitement about the possibility of attending Regis University,” she continued. “While specific financial aid strategies may shift, especially in light of federal and state budget conversations, our goal of partnering with families to provide support stays the same.”
Unveiled in Oct. 2024, the “Road to Regis” program – through federal, state and Regis funding – provides a financial aid offer of full tuition for up to four years for eligible traditional first-year or transfer college students.
Rohde explained the funding mix that enables Regis to assist students.
“Although we are a private institution, we rely on federal grants and campus-based funding, and we are incredibly thankful for the grant support from the Colorado Department of Higher Education that we receive for our Colorado Residents pursuing a Jesuit Catholic education,” she said.
“Like other financial aid opportunities, we utilize federal and state grant allocations, but we also optimize institutional dollars. Most are unfunded tuition discount incentives, in order to help, particularly our financially neediest families,” Rohde added. “While our endowment dollars are a piece of the puzzle, many endowments are geared towards specific students or programs, per donor wishes. Therefore, these endowments, while critical for our overall budget conversations, do not directly correlate to our Road to Regis offer.”
As the only Jesuit Catholic university in the Rocky Mountain region, Regis offers 83 degree programs to 5,754 enrolled students, with a 9:1 student to faculty ratio. Designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution – 39% of full-time undergraduates identify as “Hispanic/Latine” – Regis is also moving toward becoming a bilingual campus.
According to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, “On average, the published tuition at a Catholic college or university was $37,500 in 2023-2024, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. After financial aid, the average net tuition is $25,220.”
ACCU additionally reports that “84% of students enrolled at Catholic institutions receive any kind of financial aid, with an average amount of $23,771 per student in 2022-2023. Over 91% of students at Catholic institutions received institutional aid.”
There are 230 Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. – distributed throughout 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – attended by some 675,000 students as of fall 2023. In the United States, Catholic schools founded by the Dominican, Franciscan, and Jesuit orders dominate the higher education field.
“A lot of times, students never even considered us because we are a private university and they just automatically think, ‘Unaffordable; expensive; can’t do it,'” said Lynda McKendree, dean of scholarships and financial aid at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
“So when we started getting more information about why maybe some of the Catholic students in our community weren’t looking at our school, that was the reason,” she explained. “And we knew that some of these families would qualify for very strong financial aid packages.”
Tuition and fees are $35,754 before scholarships and financial aid, but more than 85% of new freshmen – both domestic and international – receive a University of St. Thomas scholarship upon enrolling.
“The St. Thomas Promise” – launched three years ago, with approximately 6% of the student body benefitting – also offers help to prospective scholars.
“If you have a 3.4 or higher high school GPA – and if your family income is $50,000 or less – you qualify for the St. Thomas promise,” said McKendree. “And that is free tuition and fees for four years.”
Founded in 1947 by the Basilian Fathers – a congregation launched in France in the wake of the French Revolution – the University of St. Thomas provides more than 40 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate degrees to 3,600 students, offering a 13:1 faculty to student ratio.
“One thing that’s at the core of our mission at the University of St. Thomas is being able to bring students into that awareness of what is the Catholic university,” said Sara Nevares Johnson, the university’s dean of admissions.
Nevares Johnson said that both the values of “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” – an apostolic constitution issued in 1990 by St. John Paul II regarding Catholic colleges and universities – and the Basilian Fathers’ charism of “goodness, discipline and knowledge” contribute to student formation.
“We bring that into the conversation not only in the classroom, but before they even enter the classroom,” Nevares Johnson said. “When we’re outreaching and recruiting students and families, we’re talking about what it means to grow and thrive in a university community at the University of St. Thomas.”
(Kimberley Heatherington writes for OSV News from Virginia.)
St. Patrick’s Cathedral mural honors immigrants, first responders, NY saints
By Steven Schwankert / The Good Newsroom , OSV News
NEW YORK (OSV News) – A new 25-foot-high mural that covers the walls of the entrance to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was officially dedicated before Mass Sept. 21 celebrates New York’s sacred and secular history.
The largest permanent artwork commissioned in the 146-year history of “America’s Parish Church,” the painting depicts the apparition at Knock in Ireland, along with New York saints, servants of God, immigrants and first responders.
At a morning press event Sept. 18, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Brooklyn artist Adam Cvijanovic unveiled the mural, and the cardinal discussed how his initial vision for a representation of the Knock apparition evolved.
“This became not only an ode to Jesus and Mary and Joseph and St. John and the faith of the Irish people who were so instrumental in this archdiocese, it also became an ode to those who followed them and found in this city, this country, and yes, in this Holy Mother Church, an embrace of welcome,” Cardinal Dolan said.
“I thought when I started making this painting, that the important thing to do was to make it about people and portraits,” Cvijanovic said of his work, which is titled, “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding.”
“So, everybody in this painting is an actual person. They’re all portraits. Even the angels,” he said. “And that seemed to me to be a really, really important thing to do, to talk about the people of the city, all of them, and to have it in some place that people could go in New York and feel themselves recognized in the context of respect and hope.”
Father Enrique Salvo, himself an immigrant from Nicaragua, said that the story told on the panels was particularly meaningful for him.
“If you would have told me that I was going to be the rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, when I came to this country, I would have never believed it,” he said. “But with God, all things are possible, and hopefully it’s an inspiration for everyone that walks in, that we’re not only welcome, but we’re also invited to make a difference and to let God shine through us.”
Cardinal Dolan noted that he originally wanted the mural as part of the last major renovation of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 2012, but the cathedral’s trustees advised that he wait. He thanked them for their wise advice.
“I’m kind of glad now, because it matured – it was like a crock pot,” he said.
Cardinal Dolan said that major benefactors covered the cost of the mural, and expressed his gratitude that no further funds needed to be raised to complete the project.
“My wife and I support a lot of causes that are more direct, such as education, feeding the hungry, healthcare, social services, and things like that,” said Kevin Conway, who with his wife, Dee, were major benefactors of the mural. “But this struck me as a project that we could honor a good friend, His Eminence (Cardinal Dolan), but more importantly, you could make an impact and tell a story to the millions of people who come through these doors, and tell an important story.”
Each panel tells a different part of the New York story, along with the apparition at Knock — an 1879 vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, angels and the Lamb of God – witnessed by more than a dozen townspeople in County Mayo, Ireland, the same year St. Patrick’s Cathedral was consecrated.
One panel depicts early immigrants to New York and features a likeness of a young girl – for whom an image of Cardinal Dolan’s late mother, Shirley, served as the model.
“I am thrilled that she is here among those,” he said, pointing out that his mother herself was not an immigrant.
Another panel features New Yorkers of consequence to the church, including Archbishop John Hughes, the first archbishop of New York; St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American and the church’s first Indigenous from North America; former New York Gov. Al Smith; Servant of God Dorothy Day; and Venerable Pierre Toussaint.
(Steven Schwankert is senior editor of The Good Newsroom, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of New York. This story was originally published by The Good Newsroom and is distributed through a partnership with OSV News.)
Santos hispanos que debes conocer
San Luis Bertrand, OP, fiesta: 9 de octubre
Luis se convirtió en dominico a los 18 años y fue ordenado sacerdote en 1547. Fue maestro de novicios en su España natal durante 30 años y se ganó una reputación de santidad al cuidar a las víctimas de la peste en Valencia en 1557. En 1562, se fue como misionero al Caribe, trabajando en Colombia y en las islas de Sotavento, las Vírgenes y de Sotavento durante seis años. Su celo apostólico, ayudado por el don de lenguas y otros acontecimientos milagrosos, dio como resultado 15 000 conversiones entre las poblaciones indígenas. Después de regresar a España, formó a predicadores para las misiones, diciendo que la única preparación eficaz era la oración humilde y ferviente. Fue canonizado en 1671 y es el principal santo patrón de Colombia. San Luis Bertrán es el patrón de Buñol, Nueva Granada y Colombia.
Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor DeepL.com
San Martín de Porres, día de fiesta: 3 de noviembre
Springfield IL
Este hijo ilegítimo de un esclavo panameño liberado y una caballero español se convirtió en un héroe para el pueblo de Lima, Perú, su lugar de nacimiento, por su compasivo cuidado de los enfermos y los pobres.
Aprendiz a los 12 años de un barbero-cirujano, Martín también aprendió medicina herbal de su madre. Después de trabajar durante varios años en un monasterio dominico como miembro de la Tercera Orden, profesó como hermano lego en 1603. Fundó un orfanato y un hospital para expósitos, atendió a esclavos africanos, practicó grandes penitencias y experimentó dones místicos. Martín fue llevado a la tumba por prelados y nobles, y todos los peruanos lo aclamaron como su querido santo. Es el patrón de los peluqueros y de la justicia interracial.
San Juan Diego Cuāuhtlahtoātzin, festividad: 9 de diciembre
Bautizado a los 50 años, este indígena se dirigía a misa el 9 de diciembre de 1531 cuando María se le apareció en el cerro del Tepeyac, cerca de la Ciudad de México. Ella le pidió que solicitara al obispo que se construyera un santuario en ese lugar. Pero el obispo pidió una señal.
El 12 de diciembre, Juan regresó al Tepeyac; María le dijo que recogiera las flores que florecían en la cima del cerro y las pusiera en su manto para llevárselas al obispo. Cuando Juan abrió el manto, las flores se cayeron y la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe adornaba su prenda. Esta imagen milagrosa se conserva en la famosa basílica de la Ciudad de México. Juan vivió el resto de sus días como ermitaño cerca de la primera capilla construida allí; fue canonizado en 2002.
San Juan Diego es el patrón de los pueblos indígenas.
San Toribio de Mogrovejo, día de fiesta: 23 de marzo
Toribio, nacido en España, enseñó derecho en Salamanca hasta 1574, cuando fue nombrado inquisidor de Granada. En 1580, aunque aún no era sacerdote, fue nombrado arzobispo de Lima, Perú, y recibió la ordenación episcopal en Sevilla.
Tras llegar a Lima en 1581, sus 25 años de servicio misionero incluyeron sínodos diocesanos y provinciales, visitas por la vasta diócesis, reformas del clero y catecismos en lenguas indígenas. También introdujo las órdenes religiosas europeas en Perú, abrió el primer seminario en el Nuevo Mundo y animó a los indígenas a convertirse en sacerdotes.
San Toribio de Mogrovejo es el patrón de los obispos latinoamericanos, los derechos de los indígenas y Lima, Perú.
San Cristóbal Magallanes Jara, día de celebración: 21 de mayo
Este santo mexicano comparte su festividad con otros 21 sacerdotes y tres laicos martirizados entre 1915 y 1937, cuando las autoridades mexicanas persiguieron a la Iglesia católica.
Muchos de estos mártires cristeros, canonizados en 2000, fueron torturados y ejecutados cuando fueron detenidos. El padre Magallanes, un pastor celoso en su estado natal de Jalisco, también realizó labores misioneras entre los indígenas huicholes. Antes de que les dispararan, le dijo a su compañero sacerdote: «Ten paz, hijo mío; solo será un momento, luego estarás en el cielo».
San Cristóbal Magallanes Jara y sus compañeros son los santos patronos de los cristianos perseguidos.
San Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, festividad: 26 de junio
Nacido en Barbastro, España, en 1902, Josemaría Escrivá fue ordenado sacerdote en 1925. En 1928 fundó el Opus Dei, que en latín significa «obra de Dios», como apostolado en las circunstancias ordinarias de la vida, especialmente el trabajo, centrándose en la llamada universal a la santidad. Incluye a laicos, sacerdotes y seminaristas.
Su publicación más conocida es «Camino», que vendió millones de ejemplares.
En 1975, monseñor Escrivá falleció a los 73 años en Roma, donde había vivido dirigiendo la organización internacional desde 1946. En 1982, el Opus Dei recibió el estatus de prelatura personal, equivalente a una diócesis no territorial. Su fundador fue beatificado en 1992 y canonizado en 2002 por el papa Juan Pablo II.
San Josemaría Escrivá es el patrón del Opus Dei y de las personas con diabetes.
Todas las fotos y descripciones son de CNS Saints.
Los migrantes y los refugiados son a menudo modelos de esperanza y fe, dice el Papa León
By Cindy Wooden
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Los migrantes y refugiados suelen ser “testigos privilegiados de esperanza a través de su resiliencia y su confianza en Dios”, afirmó el Papa León XIV.
“A menudo conservan su fuerza en la búsqueda de un futuro mejor, a pesar de los obstáculos que encuentran”, dijo el 2 de octubre durante una reunión con los participantes en la conferencia internacional “Refugiados y migrantes en nuestra casa común”, organizada por la Universidad de Villanova, dirigida por los agustinos, en las afueras de Filadelfia.
Los dicasterios vaticanos para el Desarrollo Humano Integral y para la Cultura y la Educación, así como los Servicios de Migración y Refugiados de los obispos estadounidenses, fueron algunos de los copatrocinadores de la conferencia, celebrada en Roma del 1 al 3 de octubre, justo antes del Jubileo de los Migrantes y el Jubileo del Mundo Misionero, del 4 al 5 de octubre.
El Papa León animó a los participantes a compartir las historias de fe y esperanza inquebrantables de los migrantes y refugiados, para que puedan ser “una inspiración para otros y ayudar a desarrollar formas de abordar los desafíos que se les han presentado en sus vidas”.
Antes de la conferencia, Villanova celebró la inauguración oficial de su Instituto Madre Cabrini sobre Inmigración, que promueve programas de becas, defensa y servicio a los migrantes en la universidad y con la comunidad local.
El Papa León elogió el objetivo del proyecto de reunir “las voces más destacadas de diversas disciplinas para responder a los urgentes desafíos que plantea el creciente número de personas, estimado actualmente en más de 100 millones, que se ven afectadas por la migración y el desplazamiento”.
La hermana Norma Pimentel, misionera de Jesús y directora ejecutiva de Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley en Brownsville, Texas, dijo que los migrantes “son misioneros de esperanza para nosotros, porque su presencia entre nosotros santifica honestamente quiénes somos y dónde estamos”.
Las personas que temen a los migrantes y refugiados o están convencidas de que emigran solo para quitarles el trabajo a los ciudadanos deben tomarse el tiempo de conocer realmente a un recién llegado, dijo la hermana Pimentel. Entonces, “dejarán de verlos como alguien que invade mi espacio, sino como alguien a quien tengo la oportunidad de mostrar la presencia de Dios”.
En su intervención en la conferencia del 1 de octubre, afirmó que “en un mundo marcado por el miedo, la división y la incertidumbre, se nos invita a ser personas de esperanza, peregrinos de esperanza, de esa esperanza que proviene de nuestra confianza en el Señor. Es una fuerza viva, que moldea nuestra forma de ver a los demás, de actuar y de responder”.
“En este Año Jubilar de la Esperanza, estamos llamados a encontrar en nosotros mismos bondad, compasión y valentía, especialmente valentía”, dijo la hermana Pimentel.
Breves de la Nación y el Mundo
NACIÓN
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – El papa León XIV ha nombrado al obispo James F. Checchio, de Metuchen, Nueva Jersey, arzobispo coadjutor de Nueva Orleans. El nombramiento fue anunciado el 24 de septiembre en Washington por el cardenal Christophe Piere, nuncio apostólico en Estados Unidos. Como coadjutor, el arzobispo Checchio asistirá al arzobispo Gregory M. Aymond y le sucederá automáticamente cuando este se jubile. El arzobispo Checchio calificó a la Arquidiócesis de Nueva Orleans como una comunidad “llena de fe” y agradeció tanto al papa León como a los líderes de la Iglesia local por su cálida bienvenida. Como coadjutor, llega a una arquidiócesis que se enfrenta a la necesidad de resolver cientos de denuncias de abusos sexuales. Nacido en Camden, Nueva Jersey, el arzobispo Checchio aporta a su nuevo cargo décadas de experiencia pastoral y administrativa, incluidos 10 años como rector del Pontificio Colegio Norteamericano en Roma. Ordenado en 1992, ha dirigido la diócesis de Metuchen desde 2016, dando prioridad a las visitas a las parroquias, la protección de los niños y la rendición de cuentas. Cabe destacar, según ha declarado la diócesis en un comunicado, que implementó un sistema de denuncia de abusos por parte de obispos antes de que lo exigiera la ley eclesiástica. El arzobispo Checchio ha formado parte de juntas nacionales, entre ellas la de Seton Hall y la del Centro Nacional Católico de Bioética, y en su día fue capellán de los Philadelphia Eagles de la NFL.
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – El tema de la Marcha Nacional por la Vida 2026 es “La vida es un regalo”, según anunció el 30 de septiembre el Fondo para la Educación y la Defensa de la Marcha por la Vida. Jennie Bradley Lichter, que asumió la presidencia de la Marcha por la Vida a principios de este año, señaló que el grupo elige cada año un tema para la marcha anual en favor de la vida que se celebra en Washington como “una oportunidad para centrar nuestra atención en un mensaje clave o un elemento oportuno de la misión provida”. “Nos encontramos en un momento crítico en nuestro país en el que la Marcha por la Vida y lo que defendemos es más importante que nunca”, declaró Lichter a los periodistas en un acto de presentación, y añadió: “Este año, con este tema, realmente queremos llegar al corazón”. La 53.ª Marcha Nacional por la Vida está prevista para el viernes 23 de enero de 2026. Según Lichter, el concierto previo a la marcha contará con la participación de la banda cristiana Sanctus Real, y el coro Friends of Club 21, formado por personas con síndrome de Down, interpretará el himno nacional en el evento. Georgetown University Right to Life llevará la pancarta al inicio de la marcha. Lichter dijo que el grupo también está lanzando un “Proyecto de historias de los marchistas”, en el que solicitarán vídeos a los participantes para documentar la historia del grupo.
MUNDO
BARCELONA, España (OSV News) – La emblemática Sagrada Familia de Barcelona está a punto de alcanzar un hito histórico: la finalización de la Torre de Jesucristo, que la convertirá en la iglesia católica más alta del mundo. Diseñada por el visionario arquitecto y Siervo de Dios Antoni Gaudí, la torre tendrá una altura de más de 172 metros, superando tanto a la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Paz en Costa de Marfil como a la catedral de Ulm en Alemania. El arquitecto jefe Jordi Faulí anunció que la aguja central está terminada y que los equipos se están preparando para instalar una enorme cruz de siete piezas en lo alto de la misma. “La cruz está formada por siete grandes piezas que se ensamblan aquí y luego se elevan con la grúa”, explicó Faulí. Se espera que la cruz esté colocada a principios de 2026, coincidiendo con el centenario de la muerte de Gaudí. La construcción de la basílica comenzó en 1882 y ha superado guerras, pandemias y retrasos en la financiación. Aunque la estructura principal está en camino de completarse en 2026, los elementos artísticos, como las estatuas y las capillas, continuarán hasta la década de 2030, lo que acercará un paso más la obra maestra de Gaudí a su finalización.
VATICANO
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Amar a alguien que está enfermo requiere “gestos concretos de cercanía”, tal como se muestra en la historia evangélica del samaritano que ayuda a la persona golpeada por los ladrones, dijo una oficina del Vaticano. El Dicasterio para el Servicio del Desarrollo Humano Integral anunció el 26 de septiembre que el papa León XIV había elegido el tema para la próxima celebración de la Jornada Mundial del Enfermo: “La compasión del samaritano: amar llevando el dolor del otro”. La jornada mundial se celebra cada año el 11 de febrero, festividad de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes. El mensaje papal para la celebración suele publicarse a principios de enero.
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – El papa León XIV anunció que proclamará a San John Henry Newman doctor de la Iglesia el 1 de noviembre, durante el Jubileo del Mundo de la Educación. Tras la misa del 28 de septiembre por el Jubileo de los Catequistas, el papa dijo que San Newman “contribuyó de manera decisiva a la renovación de la teología y a la comprensión del desarrollo de la doctrina cristiana”. El Dicasterio para las Causas de los Santos había anunciado el 31 de julio que el papa León “confirmó la opinión afirmativa” de los cardenales y obispos miembros del dicasterio “respecto al título de Doctor de la Iglesia Universal que pronto se conferirá a San John Henry Newman, cardenal de la Santa Iglesia Romana, fundador del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri en Inglaterra”. San Newman nació en Londres el 21 de febrero de 1801, fue ordenado sacerdote anglicano, se convirtió al catolicismo en 1845, fue nombrado cardenal en 1879 por el papa León XIII y murió en Edgbaston, cerca de Birmingham, Inglaterra, en 1890.
Tome Nota
Vírgenes y Santos
Día de Cristobal Colón.
13 de octubre
Santa Teresa de Jesús.
15 de octubre
San Ignacio de Antioquía.
17 de octubre
San Lucas.
18 de octubre
San Pablo de la Cruz.
20 de octubre
San Juan Pablo II.
22 de octubre
Santos Simón y Judas, Apóstoles.
28 de octubre