Author Archives: Melisa Munoz

Trump promete seguir luchando por la prohibición de viajar bloqueada

Posted on by
Reply

Por Andy Telli y Theresa Laurence
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CNS) – El presidente Donald Trump, durante una manifestación de campaña en Nashville, prometió luchar contra la última sentencia judicial bloqueando su orden ejecutiva suspendiendo temporalmente la inmigración de seis países de mayoría musulmana y el reasentamiento de refugiados hasta la Corte Suprema .
“Vamos a luchar contra este fallo terrible”, dijo el presidente a una multitud de simpatizantes en el Auditorio Municipal de Nashville el 15 de marzo. “El peligro es claro, la ley es clara y la necesidad de mi orden ejecutiva es clara”.
Antes de la manifestación, el presidente visitó Hermitage, el hogar del presidente Andrew Jackson, y colocó una corona de flores en su tumba en honor al 250 aniversario del cumpleaños del séptimo presidente.
Más temprano en el día, el juez Derrick Watson de Hawaii emitió una orden de restricción temporal contra la prohibición de viajar de Trump. En su orden, el juez dictaminó que el gobierno no había demostrado que la prohibición era necesaria para proteger al país de los terroristas que trataban de infiltrarse en el país a través de la inmigración legal o el programa de refugiados.
La prohibición de viajar habría prohibido a los ciudadanos de Irán, Libia, Somalia, Sudán y Siria entrar a los Estados Unidos durante 90 días y todos los refugiados durante 120 días. Fue el segundo intento de la administración Trump de implementar una prohibición de viajar. Después de que la primera orden fue bloqueada por un juez, Trump emitió una nueva orden que eliminó a Irak de la lista de países.
El orden nuevo fue bloqueado por un segundo juez federal. El juez del distrito estadounidense, Theodore Chuang, de Maryland, dictaminó que la orden de Trump estaba destinada a prohibir a los musulmanes y por lo tanto violó la Primera Enmienda.

El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump firma una orden ejecutiva revisada para una prohibición de viajar a Estados Unidos el 6 de marzo en el Pentágono en Arlington, Virginia. La orden ejecutiva prohíbe temporalmente a los refugiados de ciertos países musulmanes mayoritarios y ahora excluye a Irak. (Foto del CNS / Carlos Barria, Reuters)

El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump firma una orden ejecutiva revisada para una prohibición de viajar a Estados Unidos el 6 de marzo en el Pentágono en Arlington, Virginia. La orden ejecutiva prohíbe temporalmente a los refugiados de ciertos países musulmanes mayoritarios y ahora excluye a Irak. (Foto del CNS / Carlos Barria, Reuters)

El 16 de marzo en Washington, el secretario de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Sean Spicer, confirmó los planes de la administración Trump de apelar las sentencias de los dos jueces.
Durante el manifestación de Nashville, el presidente dijo que su administración está “trabajando noche y día para mantener a nuestra nación a salvo del terrorismo … Por esta razón, emitió una orden ejecutiva para suspender temporalmente la inmigración de lugares que no puede ocurrir con seguridad”.
“El mejor modo de evitar que los terroristas islámicos radicales ataquen nuestro país es impedirles que vayan a nuestro país en primer lugar”, dijo Trump. “Esta decisión nos hace parecer débiles, lo que ya no somos”.
La prohibición de viajar fue uno de varios temas que el presidente abordó en su discurso, que abordó una amplia gama de temas y fue muy similar al estilo de sus manifestaciones de campaña durante la campaña presidencial de 2016.
El presidente alineó su agenda con la de Jackson. “Él entendió que el liderazgo real significa poner a Estados Unidos primero”.
“Hemos estado poniendo mucha nuestra agenda de America First en acción”, dijo Trump. “Acabamos de empezar, espera hasta que veas lo que viene, amigos.”
Antes de que se anunciara la decisión sobre la prohibición de viajar, se esperaba que el presidente hablara en apoyo de la Ley Americana de Cuidado de la Salud, el proyecto de ley republicano que derogaría y reemplazaría la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio, conocida como Obamacare. Pero fue casi 30 minutos en el discurso antes de que Trump trajo la revocación de los republicanos y reemplazar el esfuerzo.
A principios de la semana, la Oficina de Presupuesto del Congreso publicó su análisis del proyecto de ley, que proyectaba que el proyecto de ley reduciría el déficit federal en 337.000 millones de dólares en 10 años, pero dejaría 24 millones menos de personas cubiertas por el seguro de salud para 2026. Eliminar el mandato individual que obliga a las personas a comprar un seguro de salud o pagar una multa de impuestos y también poner fin a la expansión del programa de Medicaid bajo la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio.
Los cambios en el programa de Medicaid en virtud de la Ley de Atención de Salud estadounidense daría lugar a 14 millones de personas más sin seguro, de acuerdo con la oficina de presupuesto.
A pesar del feroz debate sobre el proyecto de ley entre los republicanos en el Congreso, el presidente predijo que pasaría. “Y luego vamos a la reducción de impuestos, que me gusta.”
Trump abordó varias otras áreas de su agenda, incluyendo la reducción de las regulaciones gubernamentales sobre las empresas, recortar el presupuesto, aumentar el gasto en defensa, sacar a Estados Unidos de varios acuerdos comerciales y construir un muro a lo largo de la frontera sur del país.
La aparición en el Auditorio Municipal fue organizada y pagada por la campaña presidencial de reelección, que se lanzó a mediados de febrero.
Mientras el presidente hablaba dentro del Auditorio Municipal, miles de manifestantes salieron a las calles del centro de Nashville para defender causas en las que creían, incluyendo acceso a servicios de salud, derechos de inmigrantes y refugiados, derechos de los trabajadores y más.
Junto con anarquistas vestidos de negro, los partidarios de Planned Parenthood en sombreros de color rosa brillante y Y de otros manifestantes de Trump, la gente de fe estaba en la mano protestando las políticas de Trump. Bobbi Negron estaba allí con su esposo y niño pequeño. Es profesora en la Academia St. Bernard en Nashville y cofundadora de Workers ‘Dignity, una organización sin fines de lucro que ayuda a trabajadores de bajos salarios, muchos de los cuales son latinos, a enfrentarse al robo de salarios ya los abusos en el lugar de trabajo. “Estamos aquí porque nuestros vecinos y amigos viven con miedo, no saben si serán recogidos y deportados”, dijo al diario Tennessee Register, diario de la diócesis de Nashville. Como puertorriqueña, Negron dijo que sentía que era su deber resistir a los inmigrantes, especialmente a los musulmanes y los que estaban en el país sin documentos, que se sienten especialmente apuntados en este momento. “Practicamos lo que creemos”, dijo. Tienes que salir y aparecer. – – – Telli es redactora y Laurence es escritora del Tennessee Register, diario de la Diócesis de Nashville

Deacon Miller returns to celebrate Black History Month

Posted on by
Reply

By Maureen Smith
CANTON – Deacon Art Miller wants every person he meets to know how important they are to God. The value of each individual played an important part in his homily for the diocesan Black History Month and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass at Holy Child Jesus Parish on Saturday, Feb. 25. Bishop Joseph Kopacz concelebrated the mass with Father Michael O’Brien, pastor at Canton Sacred Heart and Father Jeremy Tobin, OPraem, one of the Norbertines from Raymond. The Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver attended in regalia.
“I enjoyed this program to the highest. It was so uplifting and spiritual,” said Myrtle Otto, parishioner at Holy Child Jesus. “The speaker was dynamic and he needs to come back again, we love him. Just talking about the spirit of where we come from, our ancestors and our goal to keep going and don’t stop supporting our culture – we should always embrace that and teach our children,” she continued.
Tereza Ma, Mississippi Catholic’s production manager, attended the Mass. “Deacon Miller’s speech was intense and his firm but friendly voice danced around. I like how he engaged the audience,” she said. “He spoke about value and he used brilliant example of the $100 bill – even if it is torn in half, stepped on or shredded onto little pieces – it is still a $100 bill – it has the same value,” she continued. Deacon Miller often preaches about what he calls ‘radical love’ which has to do with accepting the grace and power offered only by Christ. “He emphasized in his homily that God sees the best of us no matter what the other people see or say,” said Ma.
Other attendees agreed. “I thought the program was absolutely wonderful. Deacon Miller did a wonderful job in reminding us how important we are. We are very important in the eyes of God and that was a point well made,” said John Conway.
The Canton gospel choir added their voices and some color to the program. The choir director’s sister made cloth flower pins out of African kente cloth for the people of the parish, explaining that these are the colors of celebration.

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

The choir kept the congregation moving with uplifting Gospel music.

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

Fran Lavelle, director of Faith Formation, Catherine Cook, superintendent of schools and Shae Robinson, principal of Sr. Thea Bowman School, greet Deacon Miller after Mass.

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

CANTON – Deacon Art Miller asked for affirmation from the congregation that God sees the best in all people.

Flowers made of Kente cloth to the celebration.

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus

Deacon Miller visiting Canton, Holy Child Jesus


After Mass, the community gathered for a picnic on the church grounds. This celebration was originally slated for January in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, but an ice storm made travel too dangerous. Deacon Miller made time on his first visit to visit with students at several schools and was generous enough to offer to return for a Black History Month Celebration. He stopped by several more schools on this return visit – teaching the students about black Catholic history and culture and delivering his message of God’s love for all.
His presentation at Greenville St. Joseph School made an impression on the juniors and seniors. This was “very inspirational and heartwarming. He truly has a passion for inspiring others,” said senior Christen Thompson.
“He absolutely touched these students’ hearts and minds. Hopefully – and I believe it will – this will move them in the right direction,” commented Debbie Williams, a teacher at St. Joseph.
(Missi Blackstock, public relations director for St. Joseph School contributed to this story).

Lenten sacrifice can benefit Mississippi’s poor

Posted on by
Reply

Complete the circle
By George Evans
As Lent begins what do we do about Lenten practices, deeper conversion, spiritual growth, salvation. The Scripture readings from the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday bear some reflection.
Mark 10:17-27 presents the story of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He has kept the Commandments from his youth. Jesus looked at him lovingly and said “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The young man went away sad, for he had many possessions.
The disciples were amazed when Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” Is our reaction not the same? The world tells us just the opposite. Wealth makes us happy. Things satisfy us and money lets us buy them. New cars free us and extravagant resorts pamper us. But Jesus tells us simply that neither wealth nor anything else from ourselves can possibly save us. Salvation is only possible for God.
Lent asks us to embrace this reality. We must choose God or mammon. We can’t have both. But isn’t that exactly what we want, to have both? Isn’t that our struggle, our daily temptation?
Thank God we are all still works in progress and God knows that and is merciful. He sent his son to make salvation a true possibility for us. We couldn’t do it on our own. Lent is a perfect time to embrace Jesus in order to be saved. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are traditional and proven practices to open us to embrace Jesus, to choose God over mammon.
Serving the poor among us never fails to get us out of ourselves so that we touch Jesus in the poor and thereby choose God rather than mammon. We leave a little of our selfishness behind and perhaps open ourselves enough for Jesus to come in and help our conversion to continue to mature.
Giving up something for Lent is another tried-and-true practice for deeper conversion and spiritual growth preparing us step by step for God’s salvation. Make it hurt a little. It may be alcohol if you drink or sugar if you overeat or whatever needs work in your particular situation. Make it very positive by giving the extra money saved to Catholic Relief Service (CRS) Rice Bowl. CRS serves the poor and desperate in 100 countries throughout the world and leaves 25 percent of the Rice Bowl collection in the diocese to aid the poor at home. This too is a choice of God over mammon and a step toward salvation.
In Mark’s Gospel (10:28-31) Peter, somewhat pleading, tells Jesus “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus lovingly reassures Peter and us. “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age….and eternal life in the age to come.”
Lent is the perfect time for each of us to respond more fully to Jesus’ call. He has promised us if we live our lives for the sake of the Gospel and choose him rather than mammon, we will not only have eternal life but will also be blessed NOW a hundred fold. The Kingdom begins NOW when we choose the Lord over mammon. Lent is a great time to do what is necessary to finalize that choice. We have Jesus’ promise if we do. We have his help to do it.
(George Evans is a retired pastoral minister and member of Jackson St. Richard Parish.)

Still rolling at four-score and seven

Posted on by
Reply

REFLECTIONS ON LIFE
By Father Jerome LeDoux, SVD
Four score and seven years ago, my parents brought forth, on this continent, a new person named for my mother’s twin brother, Jerome Gaston Petrie. As you can see, folks, I have finally caught up with President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Although each birthday is a genuine milestone, it is a celebration that must not be allowed to obscure the overwhelming importance of today, each solitary day of our lives. Let alone a year, we cannot grasp a month, not even a week. The most we can handle is one day at a time, and sometimes we must take one hour at a time.
Would you believe that one minute lends itself to our best management of time? I have often quoted, “Just a tiny little minute – but eternity is in it.”
Longevity can be a wonderful thing, and by far most people would like to live a long, productive, enjoyable life sporting a sound mind in a sound body. But far more important than longevity is living every moment at the peak of quality, service, fulfillment, generosity and love. Our desire for life tends to wane as its quality does.
We remain at that peak for some decades before our wonderful body begins to show signs of wear, smile lines on our face, some inset wrinkles in our brow and generous splashes of silver atop the crown of our heads. Through it all, it is of prime concern and importance for peace of mind that we feel comfortable in our own skin.
To my dismay, December 2016 brought along an ineptness in my right thumb and right index finger. No doubt a gradual development, all of a sudden I had trouble picking up a host (the bread) from the ciborium to share Communion during a Mass.
Placing the host on a person’s hand or tongue was equally difficult and hazardous. At the same time, my right thumb lost its ability to strike firmly the advance bar on my computer keyboard, so that I had to learn to compensate with my left hand. I thought back fondly to the times when I would cradle an apple in my hands, dig my thumbs in at the stem and split it in half with scarcely a ripple of my thumb muscles.
Since I have been very observant and analytical about my health for decades, I quickly associated a link between that finger-thumb weakness and a bias of my body toward the left hip that I had noticed in a mirror. That bias has also marked a mild scoliosis that has developed in my spine in the last couple of decades.
To some extent, I have succeeded in arresting that bias development, and I have even been able to reverse it a bit by making a conscious effort to stand tall and erect, pulling my left hip in and rotating my right hip out. Over the years, one tends to slump a tad as muscles weaken. With the deterioration and compression of the cartilage in our spine, we grow shorter as we age. Once 5’11,” I am now 5’8.”
My problems with the host at Mass began in December and peaked in early to mid January as folks became aware that I was on a fishing expedition each time I reached in for a host. Uncharacteristically, I dropped one or two from time to time.
Amazingly, even in real time while I was struggling to grip a host with my thumb and index finger, by rotating my right hip out and forcing myself to distend my spine by standing tall, I was able to grasp a host that I failed to grasp just moments before. By February 4, I had begun to move into a better phase of finger work and control.
When I was suffering from accidental dehydration in late January, Father Lambert insisted that I get my annual physical at Opelousas General. Slapping an IV in my left arm, and later an antibiotic IV also, the nurses ran me through the entire array of tests, measurements, X-rays, CT scans and blood analysis. Seeing all normal outcomes, the head nurse told Father Lambert, “The age of 87 cannot be right.”
Just shy of 87, February 26 changed that. I have no pains arthritic or other, no need for medication, no acidity in my breath or stomach, no memory issues, no fiber problems with bowel movements at least twice and often thrice daily, no mood changes since I was 24, and no desire to be even a partial carnivore/omnivore again.
Considering the huge health benefits that have accrued to me from eating no meats, no seafood, no dairy – nothing that has a mother – no white flour, no white rice, no salt, no sugar, no caffeine, I am not in the least tempted to even dream about consuming any of those things. In fact, the smell of most meats and seafood has become offensive to my nostrils and taste buds. Even desserts turn me off.
With Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday just past us, I am grateful that my entire life is stricter than a Lenten fast, yet happy, with two cups of water and a tablespoon of barleygreen for breakfast, an orange later, a big salad at noon, later, a heated low-sodium, spicy V-8 juice, an evening meal of beans and vegan jambalaya.
“God is love, and all who abide in love abide in God and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)
(Father Jerome LeDoux, SVD, is pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Opelousas, La. He has written “Reflections on Life” since 1969.)

Pope: Lent breathes live into world asphyxiated by sin

Posted on by
Reply

By Junno Arocho Esteves
ROME (CNS) – Lent is a time to receive God’s breath of life, a breath that saves humanity from suffocating under the weight of selfishness, indifference and piety devoid of sincerity, Pope Francis said.
“Lent is the time to say no to the asphyxia born of relationships that exclude, that try to find God while avoiding the wounds of Christ present in the wounds of his brothers and sisters,” the pope said March 1 during an Ash Wednesday Mass.
Pope Francis celebrated the Mass after making the traditional Ash Wednesday procession from the Benedictine monastery of St. Anselm to the Dominican-run Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome’s Aventine Hill.
After receiving ashes on top of his head from Cardinal Jozef Tomko, titular cardinal of the basilica, the pope distributed ashes to the cardinals, his closest aides, some Benedictines and Dominicans.
He also distributed ashes to a family and to two members of the Pontifical Academy for Martyrs, which promotes the traditional Lenten “station church” pilgrimage in Rome.
Lent, he said, is a time to say “no” to “all those forms of spirituality that reduce the faith to a ghetto culture, a culture of exclusion.”
The church’s Lenten journey toward the celebration of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection is made on a road “leading from slavery to freedom” and “from suffering to joy,” he said.
“Lent is a path: It leads to the triumph of mercy over all that would crush us or reduce us to something unworthy of our dignity as God’s children.”
The ashes, while a symbol of humanity’s origin from the earth, the pope said, is also a reminder that God breathes new life into people in order to save them from the suffocation of “petty ambition” and “silent indifference.”
“The breath of God’s life sets us free from the asphyxia that so often we fail to notice or become so used to that it seems normal, even when its effects are felt,” the pope said.
The Lenten season, he continued, is a “time for saying no” to the asphyxia caused by superficial and simplistic analyses that “fail to grasp the complexity of problems” of those who suffer most.
“Lent is the time to say no to the asphyxia of a prayer that soothes our conscience, of an almsgiving that leaves us self-satisfied, of a fasting that makes us feel good,” the pope said.
Instead, Pope Francis said, Lent is a time for Christians to remember God’s mercy and “not the time to rend our garments before evil but rather make room in our life for the good we are able to do.”
“Lent is the time to start breathing again. It is the time to open our hearts to the breath of the One capable of turning our dust into humanity,” the pope said.
(Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.)

Of Virtue and Sin

Posted on by
Reply

IN EXILE
By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI
There’s an axiom which says: Nothing feels better than virtue. There’s a deep truth here, but it has an underside. When we do good things we feel good about ourselves. Virtue is indeed its own reward, and that’s good. However, feeling righteous can soon enough turn into feeling self-righteous. Nothing feels better than virtue; but self-righteousness feels pretty good too.
We see this famously expressed in Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee is practicing virtue, his actions are exactly what they should be, but what this produces in him is not humility, nor a sense of his need for God and mercy, but self-righteousness and a critical judgment of others. So too for all of us, we easily become the Pharisee: Whenever we look at another person who’s struggling and say, ‘There but for the grace of God go I’, our seeming humble gratitude can indicate two very different things. It can be expressing a sincere thanks for having been undeservedly blessed or can just as easily be expressing a smug self-righteousness about our own sense of superiority.
Classical spiritual writers like John of the Cross, when talking about the challenges we face as walk the way of discipleship, speak about something they call: The faults of those who are beyond initial conversion. What they highlight is this: We are never free from struggle with sin.
As we mature, sin simply takes on ever more subtle modalities inside us. For example, before initial maturity, what we’ve classically called the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, lust, anger, gluttony and sloth) express themselves in us in ways that are normally pretty crass and overt. We see this in children, in adolescents and in the immature. For them, pride is plainly pride, jealousy is jealousy, selfishness is selfishness, lust is lust and anger is anger. There’s nothing subtle or hidden here, the fault is out in the open.
But as we overcome these sins in there crasser forms they invariably take on more subtle forms in our lives. So that now, for instance, when we’re humble, we become proud and self-righteous in our humility. Witness: Nobody can be more smug and judgmental than a new convert or someone in first fervor.
But sin too, has its complexities. Some of our naïve ideas about sin and humility also needed to be critically examined. For example, we sometimes nurse the romantic notion that sinners are humble, aware of their need for forgiveness, and open to God. In fact, as a generalization, this is true for the gospels. As Jesus was preaching, it was the Pharisees that struggled more with his person and message, whereas the sinners, the tax collectors and prostitutes, were more open to him. So this can pose a question: Does sin, more than virtue, make us aware of our need for God?
Yes, when the sin is honest, humble, admitted and contrite or when our wrong actions are the result of being wounded, taken advantage of, or exploited. Not all sin is born morally equal: There’s honest sin and dishonest sin.
As human beings, we’re weak and lack the moral strength to always act according to what’s best in us. Sometimes we just succumb to temptation, to weakness. Sin needs no explanation beyond this: We’re human! Sometimes too, people are caught in sinful situations which are really not of their own making. They’ve been abused, made to live in sinful circumstances not of their own choosing, are victims of trafficking, are victims of unjust familial or social situations, or are too-deeply wounded to actualize their own moral faculties.
In situations like this, wrong action is a question of survival not of free choice. As one woman described it to me: “I was simply a dog, biting in order not to be bitten.” In these cases, generally, beneath an understandably hardened, calloused surface lies a still innocent heart that clearly knows its need for God’s mercy. There’s such a thing as honest sin.
But there’s also sin that’s not honest, that’s rationalized, that’s forever buffered by a pride that cannot admit its own sinfulness. The result then, most often, is a hardened, bitter, judgmental soul. When sin is rationalized, bitterness will invariably follow, accompanied by a hatred towards the kind of virtue from which it has fallen. When we rationalize, our moral DNA will not let itself be fooled. It reacts and punishes us by having us hate ourselves. And, when someone hates himself, that hatred will issue forth in a hatred of others and, more particularly, in a hatred of the exact virtue from which he has fallen. For example, it’s no accident that a lot of people having adulterous affairs have a particular cynicism towards chastity.
Finding ourselves as weak and sinful can soften our hearts, make us humble, and open us to receive God’s mercy. It can also harden our souls and make us bitter and judgmental. Not every sinner prays like the Publican.
Virtue makes us grateful. Sin makes us humble.
(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.
Now on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser)

Rite of election welcomes candidates, catechumens

Posted on by
Reply

JACKSON – Almost 70 catecumens signed the book of the elect at the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Sunday, March 4. Several dozen candidates also participated and got a special blessing from Bishop Joseph Kopacz.
The Rite of Election is when candidates seeking full communion in the church and catechumens seeking baptism publicly declare their intent, their sponsors speak on their behalf and the bishop of a diocese accepts them.
The tradition brings together people from across the diocese and begins an intense period of final preparation for these faithful as they approach Easter.

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

JACKSON – A young catechumen signs the book

Pastoral Priority community meetings

Posted on by
Reply

Bishop Joseph Kopacz and his Envisioning Team will roll out the new Vision, Mission and Pastoral Priorities for the Diocese of Jackson at a series of community meetings throughout March and April of this year. All are invited, but members of pastoral and finance councils are especially encouraged to attend. The meetings are not parish-specific, so anyone can attend any meeting.

Sunday March 19 6 p.m. Jackson St. Dominic Annex
(on I-55 Frontage Road)
Monday March 20 6 p.m. McComb St. Alphonsus
Tuesday March 21 6 p.m. Vicksburg St. Paul
Thursday March 23 6 p.m. Greenwood Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sunday March 26 5 p.m. Southaven Christ the King
Monday March 27 6 p.m. Oxford St. John the Evangelist
Tuesday March 28 6 p.m. Cleveland Our Lady of Victories

Tuesday April 4 6 p.m. Meridian St. Patrick
Thursday April 6 6 p.m. Tupelo St. James

***CORRECTION: Last week’s listing had an additional meeting in Meridian. There is only one meeting in Meridian. We regret the error. ***

Calendar of Events

Posted on by
Reply

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
Assisi Prayer Chain, the power of prayer is available to all those in need through the Assisi Prayer Chain. Call (601) 750-6308 or (225) 205-7455 from 5 – 7 p.m.

AMORY St. Helen, Book Discussion on “The Source” by James Michener, Monday, March 20, at noon at the parish hall. Details: call the church office (662) 256-8392.

CLEVELAND St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1227 Deering St., “Life After Loss.” Are you or someone you know struggling with a personal loss or tragedy? Beginning Wednesday, March 8, and continuing through April 12, a series of six sessions will be held. The sessions are free and last one hour (6:30-7:30 p.m.) Presenter: Larry L. Lambert, NCC, LPC-S. Larry, an Our Lady of Victories parishioner and Licensed Professional Counselor. Details: contact Larry at (662) 719-8756, lamb5999@bellsouth.net.

GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus, come experience “Inner Healing through the Stations of the Cross,” Sunday, March 19, 2-3:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Mercy. Presenters: Father Scott Katzenberger, C.Ss.R and Magdalene Abraham. Participants will meditate on the passion and death of Jesus allowing Him to heal past wounds and brokenness in our lives. Details: (662) 299-1232.

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., A Men’s Morning of Spirituality, Saturday, April 1, Incarnation Catholic Church. Keynote speaker: Father Mike Schmitz, Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adults and Newman Center Chaplain for the Diocese of Duluth, Minn. Details: www.mensmorning.com or (901) 853-7468.

PARISH, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EVENTS
GRENADA St. Peter, Lenten Mission, Monday, March 27, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 29, after 6 p.m. Mass. Speaker: Paul George. Paul holds a master of theological studies from the University of Dallas. He directs the campus ministry program at University of Louisiana/Our Lady of Wisdom Parish and serves as a professor of theology at the Aquinas Institute on campus. Details: (662) 226-2490.

GREENWOOD Immaculate Heart of Mary, Knights of Columbus catfish supper, Fridays throughout Lent, fried and grilled catfish plates from 5-7 p.m. in the IHM Parish Center. Cost is $10 per plate. Proceeds benefit Priest Education Fund. Details: (662) 453-3980.

MADISON St. Catherine’s Village, Lunch & Learn, St. Thomas Hall, Wednesday, March 22 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn about St. Catherine’s Village and the great health benefits in volunteering. Lunch will be provided. Details: RSVP to St. Francis of Assisi (601) 856-5556.
– St. Francis of Assisi, Save the Date for Cajun Fest 2017, Saturday, May 21. Details: (601) 856-5556.

TUPELO St. James, Lenten Soup Supper, Friday, March 24, following Stations of the Cross (both led by the Confirmation students). $1 per bowl and dessert available. Entertainment provided by Erin Bristow and several members of the Corpus Christi Choir. $1.00 raffle for chance to win one of 12+ prizes. Proceeds will benefit local, state, national and international charities. Details: Jessica Vaughn (662) 842-4881.

JACKSON Sr. Thea Bowman School, the Eleventh Annual Draw Down, Saturday, April 29. Grand Prize: $5,000. Ticket Cost: $100 and Second Chance: $20. Details: Shae Goodman-Robinson, (601) 352-5441 for tickets.

  • Pro-Life Mississippi Annual Spring Banquet and Silent Auction, Thursday, April 6 at First Baptist Church on State Street. Keynote speaker: Governor Phil Bryant. 5:00 p.m. Table Sponsor cost is $200 (includes eight people). Details: email plm@prolifemississippi.org or (601) 956-8636.

VICKSBURG St. Paul, Christ Life: Discovering Christ. program will be offered again on Wednesdays, beginning March 29 through May 10. Details: Mary Margaret Halford, (601) 994-4856.

Youth Briefs

Posted on by
Reply

HERNANDO Holy Spirit, Labor of Love, Saturday, March 11. All 7-12 graders are invited to join us as we help a SHSM client who needs assistance with home repair. Adult helpers are needed as well. Deadline for registering is Sunday, March 5. Details: contact Amanda at (662) 429-3467or holyspiritchurch@shsm.org.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., St. Francis Hospital, mother/daughter program to learn about God’s plan for growing up, becoming a woman and His gifts of sexuality, fertility and chastity, Sunday, March 19, for 10 – 12-year-old girls and Sunday, March 26 for 13 – 16-year-old girls and their mothers. All programs begin at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Francis Hospital, 5959 Park Avenue in Memphis. $25.00 per family. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.cdom.org. Go to bottom of page and click “2017 Mother/Daughter Programs”. Details: Mary Pat Van Epps at Diocese of Memphis NFP Center (901) 373-1285.