Category Archives: Bishop’s Column

Hope incarnate: Christmas and the Jubilee year

Posted on by

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

This verse from the prologue of St. John’s Gospel is the proclamation par excellence of our Christmas faith. The infancy narratives of St. Matthew and St. Luke, written a generation ahead of St. John, impart the beloved narrative of the Lord’s birth, the essence of the Christmas manger scene in all its splendor that we all know and love. But the prologue from the Gospel of John, represented by the eagle, takes us to the lofty heights of our understanding of God’s eternal Word without the participation of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds or the magi. However, in an awe-inspiring and timeless manner, the introductions to the three Gospels combine to reveal the uniqueness, the harmony and diversity of the evangelists. We are enlightened by the breath and depth of God’s Word at Christmas.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

This Christmas we are doubly blessed with the inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Hope when Pope Francis flings open the Holy Doors of the four Basilicas in Rome. Crossing the thresholds of home and church through a door opened in loving hospitality is always a moment of grace and peace.

Many bemoan the sad state of affairs over locked church doors in the modern world while understanding the need for security. Total access to God in our sacred houses of worship would bring us back to better days and provide much consolation in a world that appears to be losing its soul. In this sense the opening of the Holy Door to begin the Jubilee Year is full of meaning.

Pope Francis offers this perspective: “Sustained by this great tradition, and certain that the Jubilee Year will be for the entire church a lively experience of grace and hope, I hereby decree that the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican will be opened on 24 Dec. 2024, thus inaugurating the Ordinary Jubilee. On the following Sunday, 29 Dec. 2024 I will open the Holy Door of my cathedral, Saint John Lateran, which on the 9 Nov. this year will celebrate the 1700th year of its dedication. Then, on 1 Jan. 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother God, the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica, Saint Mary Major, will be opened. Finally, Sunday, 5 Jan. 2025, will mark the opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.”

In the Diocese of Jackson, we will inaugurate the Holy Year on the feast of the Epiphany, 5 Jan. 2025 at our Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, inviting the faithful to cross the threshold of hope imploring a year of grace and favor from the Lord. With the universal Catholic Church, the Jubilee of Hope will conclude on the feast of the Epiphany, January 2026.

What makes the opening of the Holy Door even more full of significance is that God first flung open the gates to paradise for us here on earth through the Incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God rolled out the red carpet to the heavenly banquet hall so that we can walk upon it as confident pilgrims who have been washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb. At the deepest level we do have total access to God’s presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit whose temples we are. We carry this life with us wherever we go as God-bearers and pilgrims of hope for our own lives and for the life of the world.

May we inspire one another with the conviction “that hope does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5) In the light of faith that shines in the darkness we can bless one another. Merry Christmas!

Kaleidoscope of hope

Posted on by

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The recently concluded annual Bishops’ Conference in Baltimore was packed with meetings, presentations, elections to various committees, updates and impacts regarding the aftermath of the national elections, and conversations on many levels about pathways forward for the Catholic Church in the United States. It is a very dynamic environment that has the characteristics of a colorful kaleidoscope, except in this gathering the moving parts are all clothed in black. Yet, in recent years those who plan the annual event, at the behest of the body of bishops, have incorporated more time for quiet prayer, eucharistic adoration, relaxing meals and some exercise. As always, the daily Masses provide the anchor for all activity that follows in the course of a day.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Each time the national conference of bishops gathers the apostolic nuncio addresses the assembled body. Cardinal Christophe Pierre currently occupies the office of nuncio as Pope Francis’ ambassador to the church in the United States. His message is always a window into the Holy Father’s recent teachings, pertinent events in the church in the United States and throughout the world, and an overview of the church in relationship to the modern world. Of course, a significant milestone in our time is the recently concluded Synod on Synodality, a three-year journey that produced a final document to guide the church from within and to encourage prophetic dialogue with the modern world. There will be much to unpack, study and apply for the foreseeable future.

In his address Cardinal Christophe pointed to the upcoming Jubilee Year of Hope that will be inaugurated by Pope Francis on the feast of the Holy Family on Dec. 29, 2024. The Holy Father has written a marvelous document for this Year of Favor and Grace from the Lord, entitled, Spes non Confundit, or Hope does not Disappoint. (Romans 5:5)

The full context for this bold proclamation of faith is contained in the following passage. “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God … Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)

Pope Francis offers this reflection regarding St. Paul’s inspired words to the Romans. “In the spirit of hope, the Apostle Paul addressed these words of encouragement to the Christian community of Rome. Hope is the central message of the coming Jubilee that, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope proclaims every twenty-five years. My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local churches. For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. John 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope.” (1 Tim 1:1) (Spes non Confundit)

For the Christian, hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:19)

Along with the Jubilee of Hope the nuncio also drew upon the Holy Father’s most recent encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Delixit Nos, (The Lord) He loved us. “The symbol of the heart has often been used to express the love of Jesus Christ. Some have questioned whether this symbol is still meaningful today. Yet living as we do in an age of superficiality, rushing frenetically from one thing to another without really knowing why, and ending up as insatiable consumers and slaves to the mechanisms of a market unconcerned about the deeper meaning of our lives, all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart.” (Delixit Nos)

When the heart is emboldened by God’s grace, we can face an uncertain future better equipped to avoid the mine fields of unbelief, doubt and fear. Once again, the Holy Father yearns to carry on his shoulders a world mired in darkness and division into the light of a new day suffused with the heart and hope of the Gospel.

Synod on Synodality: A global call to renewal

Posted on by

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
After three years of reflection, the Synod on Synodality came to an end on the evening of Oct. 26, 2024, as the 356 members of the assembly gathered to vote on a final document. In an unexpected act, Pope Francis immediately approved this document, saying that he would not release a post-synodal apostolic exhortation, which is the type of papal document that usually follows a synod. This text thus immediately falls within the Pope’s magisterium. However, he did specify that it was non-normative. Nevertheless, this has been a remarkable pastoral process that brought together the faithful from around the world these past three years.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Led by the Holy Spirit, the conversations began in the local diocesan church and progressed to produce regional and continental documents. The nearly 400 delegates who gathered in Rome during the month of October, last year and this year, represented our One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church and were able to build upon the voices of the Catholic faithful from around the world.

At the moment, the Synod document is in Italian, but the wheels of translation are turning to disseminate it far and wide. Not surprisingly, the document does not usher in a new era of church teaching as some were anxious over. But the uniqueness of this Synod is found in the deliberative and consultative gatherings of church leadership that included the ordained, professed, and laity since its inception in 2021.

These substantive encounters brought into the light of day the themes of communion, participation and mission with ample time to take a long and loving look at reality in order to better see, judge and act. This enlarging of the space of our tent in the Body of Christ represented our universality. The photos of the assembled delegates in Rome portrayed this vision whose hard work culminated in the final document. Yet, deliberative and consultative processes cannot be limited to extraordinary processes such as the Synod on Synodality, but ought to be integrated into the life of the church at every level and in every place. Enlarging our vision, sense of mission, and scope of ministries permeates the work of the delegates, and the impact of their labors under the gaze and inspiration of the Holy Spirit will be unpacked, reflected upon, and put into practice for years to come.

Throughout the document there is a repeated call for unity in the Body of Christ, and for a renewed commitment to mission as joyful disciples of the crucified and risen Lord. On Sunday, Oct. 27, the pope presided over a final Mass for the synod in St. Peter’s Basilica. Surrounded by the summit’s global delegates, Pope Francis encouraged the church to be attentive to “the challenges of our time, the urgency of evangelization and the many wounds that afflict humanity.”

“A sedentary church, that inadvertently withdraws from life and confines itself to the margins of reality, is a church that risks remaining blind and becoming comfortable with its own unease,” said the pope. “If we remain stuck in our blindness, we will continuously fail to grasp the urgency of giving a pastoral response to the many problems of our world.”

As he officially brought the three-year synod process to its end, Pope Francis declared that it is now time for the church to “get its hands dirty” and “carry the joy of the Gospel through the streets of the world.”
The past three years of world-wide synodality are a beacon of light as we embark upon the Jubilee Year of Hope to begin during the Christmas season and continue throughout 2025. The joy of the Gospel is our gift to the world that cries out in pain for unity and peace.

(Editor’s note: At press time on Nov. 1, 2024, the final document of the XVI Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was only made available in the original Italian. Visit https://www.synod.va/en.html in the coming days for additional language translations.)

Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad: Una llamada global a la renovación

Posted on by

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Después de tres años de reflexión, el Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad llegó a su fin en la noche del 26 de octubre de 2024, cuando los 356 miembros de la asamblea se reunieron para votar el documento final. En un acto inesperado, el papa Francisco aprobó inmediatamente este documento, diciendo que no publicaría una exhortación apostólica postsinodal, que es el tipo de documento papal que suele seguir a un sínodo. Por lo tanto, este texto entra inmediatamente dentro del magisterio del Papa. Sin embargo, especificó que no era normativo. Sin embargo, ha sido un proceso pastoral notable que ha reunido a fieles de todo el mundo en estos últimos tres años.

Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Guiadas por el Espíritu Santo, las conversaciones comenzaron en la iglesia diocesana local y progresaron hasta producir documentos regionales y continentales. Los casi 400 delegados que se reunieron en Roma durante el mes de octubre del año pasado y este año, representando a nuestra Iglesia Una, Santa, Católica y Apostólica y pudieron desarrollar las voces de los fieles católicos de todo el mundo.

Por el momento, el documento sinodal está en italiano, pero el progreso de la traducción está girando para difundirlo a lo grande. No es sorprendente que el documento no marque el comienzo de una nueva era de enseñanza eclesiástica, como algunos estaban ansiosos. Pero la singularidad de este Sínodo se encuentra en las reuniones deliberativas y consultivas de los líderes de la iglesia que incluyeron a los ordenados, profesos y laicos desde su inicio en 2021.

Estos encuentros sustantivos han sacado a la luz los temas de la comunión, de la participación y de la misión, con tiempo suficiente para mirar larga y amorosamente la realidad con el fin de ver, juzgar y actuar mejor. Esta ampliación del el Cuerpo de Cristo representaba nuestra universalidad. Las fotos de los delegados reunidos en Roma retrataron esta visión, cuyo arduo trabajo culminó en el documento final. Sin embargo, los procesos deliberativos y consultivos no pueden limitarse a procesos extraordinarios como el Sínodo sobre la sinodalidad, sino que deben integrarse en la vida de la Iglesia a todos los niveles y en todo lugar. La ampliación de nuestra visión, sentido de misión y alcance de los ministerios impregna el trabajo de los delegados, y el impacto de sus labores bajo la mirada e inspiración del Espíritu Santo será desentrañado, reflexionado y puesto en práctica en los próximos años.

A lo largo del documento hay un llamado repetido a la unidad en el Cuerpo de Cristo, y a un compromiso renovado con la misión como discípulos alegres del Señor crucificado y resucitado. El domingo 27 de octubre, el Papa presidió la misa final del sínodo en la Basílica de San Pedro. Rodeado de los delegados mundiales de la cumbre, el Papa Francisco animó a la Iglesia a ser atentos a “los desafíos de nuestro tiempo, la urgencia de la evangelización y las muchas heridas que afligen a la humanidad”.

“Una Iglesia sedentaria, que se retira inadvertidamente de la vida y se confina a los márgenes de la realidad, es una Iglesia que corre el riesgo de permanecer ciega y sentirse cómoda con su propio malestar”, dijo el Papa. “Si nos quedamos atrapados en nuestra ceguera, no lograremos comprender continuamente la urgencia de dar una respuesta pastoral a los muchos problemas de nuestro mundo”.

Al poner fin oficialmente al proceso sinodal de tres años, el Papa Francisco declaró que ahora es el momento de que como Iglesia “pongamos manos a la obra” y “llevemos la alegría del Evangelio por las calles del mundo”.

Los últimos tres años de sinodalidad mundial son un faro de luz a medida que nos embarcamos en el Año Jubilar de la Esperanza que comenzará durante la temporada navideña y continuará a lo largo de 2025. La alegría del Evangelio es nuestro don al mundo que clama con dolor por la unidad y la paz.

(Nota del editor: Al cierre de esta edición, el 1 de noviembre de 2024, el documento final de la XVI Asamblea del Sínodo de los Obispos solo estaba disponible en el original italiano. Visite https://www.synod.va/en.html en los próximos días para obtener traducciones de idiomas adicionales).

Inviting all to God’s Banquet

Posted on by

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
World Mission Sunday, which is always celebrated on the second to last Sunday of October, was undertaken on Oct. 20 this year. Instituted in 1926 by Pope Pius XI as a mandatory, global second collection, the banquet that is World Mission Sunday has since then been hosted by the Pope, and the table set by those who answer Christ’s call to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” (Mt 28:19) extending an inclusive invitation to all corners of the earth. Meant to be held in every parish in the world, the proceeds benefit 1,150 territories where the Gospel has not yet been received, has been only recently embraced, or is courageously upheld in the face of persecution. It is a special commemoration that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity and support for the church’s mission efforts.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Francis, is rooted in the Gospel of Matthew: “Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet,” reflecting the inclusive and urgent call to bring God’s love to everyone. This is the universal mission to spread the Gospel and invite all to experience the joy of Christ’s message! In recent times the world-wide pandemic weakened our church’s missionary efforts, and the annual Mission Sunday collection was adversely affected. This created a ripple effect whereby many throughout the world in the mission churches felt the pain of diminished resources coming their way. The past couple of years have seen a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels and we are hopeful that we continue to trend in the direction of greater generosity and prayerful solidarity.

Recently, Pope Francis undertook an amazing pastoral journey, considering his age, to several countries in Asia, including Indonesia, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. During his homily in Papua New Guinea, he touched upon various themes that provide for us a deeper understanding of God’s providence for all nations and peoples. In the recalling of the pioneer missionaries in their country, Pope Francis shared these thoughts. “Our forebearers in the faith had the courage to begin, the commitment to share their lives in the beauty of being present, and the profound hope of growing what they began. They did this in a spirit of closeness to the people with compassion and tenderness.” This is the Gospel worldview that galvanizes the mission fields of evangelization and re-evangelization. Although we cannot be physically transported to the far-flung corners of our universal church with the Holy Father, we can be there through prayer, generosity, and a more thoughtful understanding of the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ.

The Diocese of Jackson’s direct connection to the mission experience has been our relationship with San Miguel (Perpetuo Socorro for the first 30 years) in the Diocese of Saltillo, Mexico for 55 years. Although they are not a church undergoing persecution, nor are they a young church; nonetheless, they need our financial assistance throughout their chapels and desert ranchos where economic development is marginal. My recent annual trip to San Miguel with Bishop Louis Kihneman of Biloxi reenforced for us the strong bond that we share with our brothers and sisters in another country and culture. In the works of Pope Francis ours is a relationship marked by closeness, compassion and tenderness.

This year’s theme for Mission Sunday, “Go and invite everyone to the Banquet” harmonizes well with the Eucharistic Revival. The banquet of God’s abundant love is proclaimed each time we gather around the table of God’s Word, and his Body and Blood, and one of the earthly goals of Mission Sunday is to gather all the nations at the Eucharistic banquet, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Thank you to all for your prayer and generosity on behalf of the universal call to bring the Gospel to all the nations.

Invitando a todos al banquete de Dios

Posted on by

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
El Domingo Mundial de las Misiones, que siempre se celebra el penúltimo domingo de octubre, se llevó a cabo el 20 de octubre de este año. Instituido en 1926 por el Papa Pío XI como una segunda colección obligatoria y global, el banquete que es la Jornada Mundial de las Misiones ha sido desde entonces organizado por el Papa, y la mesa puesta por aquellos que responden al llamado de Cristo de “Por tanto vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones” (Mt 28:19) extendiendo una invitación inclusiva a todos los rincones de la tierra. Destinado a celebrarse en todas las parroquias del mundo, lo recaudado beneficia a 1.150 territorios donde el Evangelio aún no se ha recibido, ha sido acogido recientemente o se defiende con valentía frente a la persecución. Es una conmemoración especial que une a los católicos de todo el mundo en oración, solidaridad y apoyo a los esfuerzos misioneros de la Iglesia.

El tema de este año, elegido por el Papa Francisco, tiene sus raíces en el Evangelio de Mateo: “Ve e invita a todos al banquete”, reflejando el llamado inclusivo y urgente a llevar el amor de Dios a todos. Esta es la misión universal: difundir el Evangelio e invitar a todos a experimentar la alegría del mensaje de Cristo. En los últimos tiempos, la pandemia mundial debilitó los esfuerzos misioneros de nuestra iglesia, y la colecta anual del Domingo de Misiones se vio afectada negativamente. Esto creó un efecto dominó por el cual muchos en todo el mundo en las iglesias misioneras sintieron el dolor de la disminución de los recursos que se les presentaban. En los últimos dos años se ha producido un retorno gradual a los niveles anteriores a la pandemia y tenemos la esperanza de que sigamos tendiendo en la dirección de una mayor generosidad y solidaridad en oración.

Recientemente, el Papa Francisco emprendió un increíble viaje pastoral, teniendo en cuenta su edad, a varios países de Asia, entre ellos Indonesia, Singapur y Papúa Nueva Guinea. Durante su homilía en Papúa Nueva Guinea, tocó varios temas que nos proporcionan una comprensión más profunda de la providencia de Dios para todas las naciones y pueblos. Al recordar a los misioneros pioneros en su país, el Papa Francisco compartió estos pensamientos. “Nuestros antepasados en la fe tuvieron el coraje de comenzar, el compromiso de compartir sus vidas en la belleza de estar presentes y la profunda esperanza de hacer crecer lo que comenzaron. Lo hicieron en un espíritu de cercanía a la gente, con compasión y ternura”. Esto es lo que impulsa los campos misioneros de evangelización y reevangelización. Aunque no podemos ser transportados físicamente a los rincones más remotos de nuestra iglesia universal con el Santo Padre, podemos estar allí a través de la oración, la generosidad y una comprensión más reflexiva de la misión que nos ha confiado Jesucristo.

La conexión directa de la Diócesis de Jackson con la experiencia misionera ha sido nuestra relación con San Miguel (Perpetuo Socorro durante los primeros 30 años) en la Diócesis de Jackson.

En Saltillo, México desde hace 55 años. Aunque no son una iglesia en persecución, tampoco son una iglesia joven; Sin embargo, necesitan nuestra ayuda financiera en todas sus capillas y ranchos desérticos donde el desarrollo económico es marginal. Mi reciente viaje anual a San Miguel con el Obispo Louis Kihneman de Biloxi reforzó para nosotros el fuerte vínculo que compartimos con nuestros hermanos y hermanas en otro país y cultura. En la obra del Papa Francisco, la nuestra es una relación marcada por la cercanía, la compasión y la ternura.

El tema de este año para la Jornada Misionera, “Ve y invita a todos al banquete”, armoniza bien con el renacimiento Eucarístico. El banquete del amor abundante de Dios se proclama cada vez que nos reunimos en torno a la mesa de la Palabra de Dios, su Cuerpo y su Sangre, y uno de los objetivos terrenales de la Jornada Misionera es reunir a todas las naciones en el banquete eucarístico, el santo Sacrificio de la Misa. Gracias a todos por vuestra oración y generosidad en nombre de la llamada universal a llevar el Evangelio a todas las naciones.

Supporting mental health with hope and dignity: a call to action during October’s focus on life

Posted on by
Reply

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
In the heart of the month of October dedicated to human life at every stage, i.e. the dignity of the human person as the corner stone for the common good, the church also raises up the struggles that surround mental health. The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign is a year-round initiative, and each year, the U.S. Bishops engage in a concerted effort beginning on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10 (since 1992), and continuing to the feast of St. Luke, patron of health care (Oct. 18). During this concentrated period three primary goals are promoted: (1) to raise awareness of the mental health crisis, (2) to combat stigma surrounding the topic of mental health, and (3) to advocate for all those impacted by the crisis. The message of the campaign is straightforward: Everyone who needs help should receive help.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Our nation faces a dire mental health crisis. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in five adults live with mental illness. Apparently, half of Americans are expected to have some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Yet, it retains a pernicious stigma. It can interfere with individuals seeking treatment and finding an understanding community to support them.

A review of data from 144 studies of participants from around the world revealed that the stigma of mental illness remains one of the top barriers to accessing mental health care. There is particular concern about the mental health state of adolescents. Almost all indicators of poor mental health among high schoolers increased over the past decade. In 2021, 42% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, up from 28% a decade earlier. 22% seriously considered attempting suicide, up from 16%, and 18% made a suicide plan, up from 13%.
The data further reveals disparate mental health outcomes based on race. It further shows that while boys and girls are suffering deeply, they can face distinct challenges. The data is also troubling regarding a disproportionate number of individuals who identify as LGBTQ who face mental health difficulties. “As a church we must pay particular attention to these differences in our pastoral work and advocacy efforts,” the U.S. Bishops encourage. Compounding this issue is the shortage of mental health resources in far too many communities in our nation.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the faithful to participate in an Oct. 10-18, 2024, novena for mental health, as part of the second year of its National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. (OSV News photo/courtesy USCCB)

We are not alone in this struggle as mental distress spans the globe. The World Health Organization estimates nearly a billion people are living with a mental disorder worldwide. Global rates of depression and anxiety increased by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. Sister Carneiro, the new superior general of the Sisters Hospitallers, who serve nearly 1 million people with mental disorders across 25 countries, told Catholic News Service that the church “has an important role of hope, of offering a new horizon” to people struggling with mental illness.” She is qualified to speak for the church at home and abroad. While society must be active in addressing mental health issues, she explained that the church has a “unique differentiating element, because it is motivated by faith, with a dimension of hope and recognition that each person is more than their illness and has human dignity. When there is a mental health problem, it is not only the mind that is ill, but also all the being, the entire sense of life,” she said. “For the church and for us as a congregation, what is most important is to help vulnerable people who are suffering to again find a sense of life and hope.” Her message resonates well with the impending jubilee year whose theme is a Jubilee of Hope.

The USCCB recommends that each U.S. parish promote the annual novena within their communities. The novena officially goes from October 10 to 18, 2024. The daily texts for the novena can be found online at https://www.usccb.org/mentalhealth. First and last, may we never overlook the power of prayer in the service of health and hope.

For all the individuals who are impacted by issues of mental health, especially within our local community, that God may bless them with his grace and consolation, and that Catholics everywhere will accompany and support women and men and children who experience mental health challenges and promote mental and spiritual wellness. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Apoyar la salud mental con esperanza y dignidad: un llamado a la acción durante el enfoque de octubre a la vida

Posted on by
Reply

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
En el corazón del mes de octubre, dedicado a la vida humana en todas sus etapas, es decir, a la dignidad de la persona humana como piedra angular del bien común, la Iglesia plantea también las luchas que rodean la salud mental. La Campaña Nacional Católica de Salud Mental es una iniciativa que dura todo el año, y cada año, los obispos de los Estados Unidos participan en un esfuerzo concertado que comienza en el Día Mundial de la Salud Mental, el 10 de octubre (desde 1992), y continúa hasta la fiesta de San Lucas, patrón de la atención médica (18 de octubre). Durante este período concentrado, se promueven tres objetivos principales: (1) crear conciencia sobre la crisis de salud mental, (2) combatir el estigma que rodea el tema de la salud mental y (3) abogar por todos los afectados por la crisis. El mensaje de la campaña es sencillo: todos los que necesiten ayuda deben recibirla.

Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Nuestra nación se enfrenta a una grave crisis de salud mental. Según el Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, más de uno de cada cinco adultos vive con una enfermedad mental. Aparentemente, se espera que la mitad de los estadounidenses tengan algún tipo de enfermedad mental durante su vida. Sin embargo, conserva un estigma pernicioso. Y puede interferir con las personas que buscan tratamiento para encontrar una comunidad comprensiva que los apoye.

Una revisión de los datos de 144 estudios de participantes de todo el mundo reveló que el estigma de las enfermedades mentales sigue siendo una de las principales barreras para acceder a la atención de la salud mental. Existe especial preocupación por el estado de salud mental de los adolescentes. Casi todos los indicadores de salud mental entre los estudiantes de secundaria aumentaron en la última década. En 2021, el 42% de los estudiantes experimentó sentimientos persistentes de tristeza o desesperanza, comparado al 28% de la década anterior. El 22 % consideró seriamente intentar suicidarse, el 16 %, y el 18% hizo un plan suicida, a comparación del 13% anterior.

Los datos revelan además resultados muy distintos entre sí de salud mental basados en raza. Además, muestra que, si bien los niños y las niñas sufren profundamente, pueden enfrentar distintos desafíos. Los datos también son preocupantes con respecto a un número desproporcionado de personas que se identifican como LGBTQ que enfrentan dificultades de salud mental. “Como Iglesia, debemos prestar especial atención a estas diferencias en nuestro trabajo pastoral y nuestros esfuerzos de defensa”, recalcaron los obispos de Estados Unidos. Este problema se agranda por la escasez de recursos de salud mental en demasiadas comunidades de nuestra nación.

No estamos solos en esta lucha, ya que la angustia mental se extiende por todo el mundo. La Organización Mundial de la Salud estima que casi mil millones de personas viven con un trastorno mental en todo el mundo. Las tasas mundiales de depresión y ansiedad aumentaron más del 25% en el primer año de la pandemia, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud. La hermana Carneiro, la nueva superiora general de las Hermanas Hospitalarias, que atienden a casi 1 millón de personas con trastornos mentales en 25 países, dijo al servicio de noticias católicas que la Iglesia “tiene un papel importante de esperanza, de ofrecer un nuevo horizonte” a las personas que luchan con enfermedades mentales. Está calificada para hablar en nombre de la iglesia en el país y en el extranjero. Si bien la sociedad debe ser activa en el tratamiento de los problemas de salud mental, explicó que la iglesia tiene un “elemento diferenciador único, porque está motivada por la fe, con una dimensión de esperanza y reconocimiento de que cada persona es más que su enfermedad y tiene dignidad humana. Cuando hay un problema de salud mental, no es solo la mente la que está enferma, sino también todo el ser, todo el sentido de la vida”, dijo la hermana Carneiro. “Para la Iglesia y para nosotros como congregación, lo más importante es ayudar a las personas vulnerables que están sufriendo a encontrar de nuevo un sentido de vida y esperanza”. Su mensaje resuena bien con el inminente año Jubileo, cuyo tema es un Jubileo de la Esperanza.

La Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB, por sus siglas en inglés) recomienda que cada parroquia de los Estados Unidos promueva la novena anual dentro de sus comunidades. La novena va oficialmente del 10 al 18 de octubre de 2024. Los textos diarios de la novena se pueden encontrar en línea en https://www.usccb.org/mentalhealth. En primer y último lugar, que nunca pasemos por alto el poder de la oración al servicio de la salud y la esperanza.

Por todas las personas que se ven afectadas por problemas de salud mental, especialmente dentro de nuestra comunidad local, que Dios los bendiga con su gracia y consuelo, y que los católicos de todo el mundo acompañen y apoyen a las mujeres, hombres y niños que experimentan problemas de salud mental y promuevan el bienestar mental y espiritual. Oremos a Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.

110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees: “God walks with His people”

Posted on by
Reply

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
From the center of our church and from the heart of Jesus Christ, each year for the past 110, a succession of popes in an unbroken chain beginning with Benedict XV in 1914 and continuing with Pope Francis in 2024, have dedicated a World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Historically, it was the agonizing impact of World War I that brought about the beginning of this worthy commemoration.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

In addition to the death of millions of combatants and civilians on the European continent, millions were displaced and fled from their beloved homelands. War is evil, and in every generation, it is one of the most obvious reasons that incites forced migration, a tragedy in our time that is being played out in the Ukraine, the Middle East, and in several African nations to name but a few. There are other causes. Deep-rooted poverty and natural disasters, often linked, famine, overwhelming violence from cartels and unbridled corruption are significant factors that also fan the flames of migration.

The church throughout the world is serving and suffering in these harsh realities. Reflecting on the mysteries of the Kingdom of God as is our spiritual nature, Oct. 19, 2023 marked the conclusion of the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The following are some selections from Pope Francis’ statement on this year’s commemoration. “Emphasizing the synodal dimension allows the church to rediscover its itinerant nature as the People of God journeying through history on pilgrimage, ‘migrating,’ we could say, toward the Kingdom of Heaven … Likewise, it is possible to see in the migrants of our time, as in those of every age, a living image of God’s people on their way to the eternal homeland. Their journeys of hope remind us that ‘our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.’” (Phil 3:20) For this reason, the encounter with the migrant, as with every brother and sister in need, is also an encounter with Christ. He himself said so. Every encounter along the way represents an opportunity to meet the Lord; it is an occasion charged with salvation, because Jesus is present in the sister or brother in need of our help. In this sense, the poor save us, because they enable us to encounter the face of the Lord.”

The following is but one traumatic event in the tragic story of forced migration. Awakened in the dark of night, José’s mother told him to leave and head north to stay with his aunt who lived thousands of miles away in another country. It was not that she wanted him to go, her heart shattered with the very prospect of his departure, but ongoing threats from gangs and drug cartels in the neighborhood where they lived anticipated his death if he stayed. She would join him soon, she promised, for remaining might guarantee her the same fate if they found that she had sent him away.

Such stories could be multiplied almost endlessly and told with any number of variations with respect to their details. People like José come to this country as a stranger, often with no family ties, no friends, and just with the hope that they might find a place of safety. We know that vulnerability suffuses the worlds of refugees, migrants and immigrants, but good news is also part of the story.

Whether we look at migration and immigration pragmatically, or through the lens of the Gospel our nation has enabled many to flourish who have arrived by air, water or land. In return, we are a nation rich in diversity, flourishing from the labors of so many strangers.

The World Day of Migration and Refugees challenges us to build upon the blessings that abound with the movement of peoples, while addressing the burdens and challenges in a manner worthy of our calling as the Lord’s disciples. It matters what we think, how we speak, and the way we respond to the strangers in our midst. God walks with his people, all of us.

110ª Jornada Mundial del Migrante y del Refugiado “Dios camina con su pueblo”

Posted on by
Reply

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Desde el centro de nuestra iglesia y desde el corazón de Jesucristo, cada año durante los últimos 110 años, una sucesión de papas en una cadena ininterrumpida que comenzó con Benedicto XV en 1914 y continuó con el Papa Francisco en 2024, han dedicado una Jornada Mundial de los Migrantes y Refugiados. Históricamente, fue el impacto agónico de la Primera Guerra Mundial lo que provocó el inicio de esta digna conmemoración.

Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz

Además de la muerte de millones de combatientes y civiles en el continente europeo, millones fueron desplazados y huyeron de sus amadas patrias. La guerra es mala, y en cada generación, es una de las razones más obvias que incita a la migración forzada, una tragedia en nuestro tiempo que se está desarrollando actualmente es Ucrania, el Medio Oriente y en varias naciones africanas, por nombrar solo algunas. Hay otras causas. La pobreza profundamente arraigada y los desastres naturales, a menudo vinculados, la hambruna, la violencia abrumadora de los cárteles y la corrupción desenfrenada son factores importantes que también avivan las llamas de la migración.

La iglesia en todo el mundo está sirviendo y sufriendo en estas duras realidades. Reflexionando sobre los misterios del Reino de Dios como es nuestra naturaleza espiritual, el 19 de octubre de 2023 marcó la conclusión de la Primera Sesión de la XVI Asamblea General Ordinaria del Sínodo de los Obispos. A continuación, algunas selecciones de la declaración del Papa Francisco sobre la conmemoración de este año. “Subrayar la dimensión sinodal permite a la Iglesia redescubrir su naturaleza itinerante como Pueblo de Dios que camina a través de la historia en peregrinación, ‘emigrando’, podríamos decir, hacia el Reino de los Cielos … Del mismo modo, es posible ver en los emigrantes de nuestro tiempo, como en los de todos los tiempos, una imagen viva del pueblo de Dios en camino hacia la patria eterna. Sus viajes de esperanza nos recuerdan que ‘nuestra ciudadanía está en los cielos, y es de allí que esperamos un Salvador, el Señor Jesucristo’. (Filipenses 3:20) Por eso, el encuentro con el migrante, como con todo hermano y hermana necesitado, es también un encuentro con Cristo. Él mismo lo dijo. Cada encuentro en el camino representa una oportunidad para encontrarse con el Señor; es una ocasión cargada de salvación, porque Jesús está presente en la hermana o en el hermano que necesita nuestra ayuda. En este sentido, los pobres nos salvan, porque nos permiten encontrarnos con el rostro del Señor”.

Lo que sigue no es más que un acontecimiento traumático en la trágica historia de la migración forzada. Despertada en la oscuridad de la noche, la madre de José le dijo que se fuera y se dirigiera al norte para quedarse con su tía, que vivía a miles de kilómetros de distancia en otro país. No era que ella quisiera que se fuera, su corazón se rompía con la mera perspectiva de su partida, pero las continuas amenazas de las pandillas y los cárteles de la droga en el vecindario donde vivían anticipaban su muerte si se quedaba. Ella pronto se reuniría con él porque quedarse podría garantizarle el mismo destino para ella si descubrían que José había partido.

Tales historias podrían multiplicarse casi infinitamente y contarse con cualquier número de variaciones con respecto a sus detalles. Personas como José vienen a este país como un extraño, a menudo sin lazos familiares, sin amigos, y solo con la esperanza de encontrar un lugar seguro. Sabemos que la vulnerabilidad impregna los mundos de los refugiados, migrantes e inmigrantes, pero las buenas noticias también son parte de la historia.

Ya sea que miremos la migración y la inmigración de manera pragmática o a través del lente del Evangelio, nuestra nación ha permitido que florezcan muchos que han llegado por aire, agua o tierra. A cambio, somos una nación rica en diversidad, que florece gracias al trabajo de tantos extraños. La Jornada Mundial de las Migraciones y los Refugiados nos desafía a aprovechar las bendiciones que abundan con el movimiento de los pueblos, al tiempo que abordamos las cargas y los desafíos de una manera digna a nuestro llamado como discípulos del Señor. Importa lo que pensamos, cómo hablamos y cómo respondemos a los extraños que nos rodean. Dios camina con su pueblo, con todos nosotros.