By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. During the heart of the Easter season, I celebrated my 49th anniversary of priesthood. From the sanctuary of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton on May 7, 1977, to the sanctuary of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson on Feb. 6, 2014, until this present moment, I have been caught up, in the words of Pope St. John Paul II, in this “gift and mystery” of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Actually, my first celebration of ordination occurred on April 23, 1976, with the call to the diaconate. Therefore, for more than 50 years, by God’s grace, I have fought the good fight and kept the faith, but have not yet finished the race. May there be many more years ahead in the plan of God’s providence. Indeed, let us give thanks for all of our priests, past and present, mindful of those who are celebrating their anniversaries at this time of year. Ad multos annos! The Diocese of Jackson rejoices this weekend with the ordination to the priesthood of Will Foggo who will celebrate his first Mass at St. Paul in Flowood. During the Easter season, the Church also rejoices in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Our catechumens and candidates entering the Church at the Easter Vigil were the first to receive the gift of God’s loving spirit, followed by candidates in many parishes throughout the diocese. In fact, a bishop’s travels throughout his diocese in the Easter season mirror the missionary journeys portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles, when the apostles and the first evangelists traversed far and wide to carry the Gospel across the Mediterranean world and strengthen fledging Christian communities. The proclamation of the Gospel to the nations and the sanctification of existing communities and individual believers is the work of the Holy Spirit, begun at Pentecost and continuing until Christ comes again. With Pentecost on the horizon, let there be a rising tide within us to entreat an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. May we also know and understand the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence and the poverty of his absence. We are invited, therefore, to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit, both in prayer and in everyday life, listening to his voice within us. “The Holy Spirit, breath of Jesus and atmosphere of heaven, is also the breath of his body, the Church. And we are aware of his presence if the Church is itself in the full sense; that is, if it is kingdom of God, heaven come down on earth, because of unity. We are reminded that without the Holy Spirit, God is distant, Christ remains in the past, the Gospel is a dead letter, the Church is a mere organization, and ‘mission’ is mere propaganda. But being in the Holy Spirit, the cosmos is lifted up and groans in the gestation of the kingdom of God, the risen Christ is present, the Gospel is the power of life, the Church signifies trinitarian communion and ‘mission’ is a Pentecost.” (Chiara Lubich, Essential Writings) “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. Durante el corazón de la temporada de Pascua, celebré mi 49º aniversario del sacerdocio. Desde el santuario de la Catedral de San Pedro en Scranton el 7 de mayo de 1977, hasta el santuario de San Pedro Apóstol en Jackson el 6 de febrero de 2014, hasta este momento presente, he estado atrapado, en palabras del Papa San Juan Pablo II, en este “don y misterio” del sacerdocio de Jesucristo. De hecho, mi primera celebración de ordenación ocurrió el 23 de abril de 1976, con la llamada al diaconado. Por eso, durante más de 50 años, por la gracia de Dios, he luchado la buena batalla y mantenido la fe, pero aún no he terminado la carrera. Que queden muchos años más en el plan de la providencia de Dios. De hecho, demos gracias por todos nuestros sacerdotes, pasados y presentes, conscientes de quienes celebran sus aniversarios en esta época del año. ¡Ad multos annos! La Diócesis de Jackson celebra este fin de semana la ordenación sacerdotal de Will Foggo, quien celebrará su primera misa en St. Paul en Flowood.
Durante la Pascua, la Iglesia también se regocija en el derramamiento del Espíritu Santo en el Sacramento de la Confirmación. Nuestros catecúmenos y candidatos que ingresaron en la Iglesia durante la Vigilia Pascual fueron los primeros en recibir el regalo del espíritu amoroso de Dios, seguidos por candidatos en muchas parroquias de toda la diócesis. De hecho, los viajes de un obispo a través de su diócesis en la temporada pascual reflejan los viajes misioneros retratados en los hechos de los Apóstoles, cuando los apóstoles y los primeros evangelistas recorrieron todo el mundo mediterráneo para llevar el Evangelio atreves del mundo mediterráneo y fortalecer las primeras comunidades cristianas. La proclamación del Evangelio a las naciones y la santificación de las comunidades existentes y de los creyentes individuales es obra del Espíritu Santo, inicia en Pentecostés y que continúa hasta que Cristo vuelva. Con Pentecostés en el horizonte, que haya una marea ascendente en nuestro interior para suplicar un derramamiento del Espíritu Santo sobre la Iglesia. Que también conozcamos y comprendamos el poder de la presencia del Espíritu Santo y la pobreza de su ausencia. Estamos invitados por lo tanto a profundizar nuestra relación con el Espíritu Santo, tanto en la oración como en la vida cotidiana, escuchando su voz dentro de nosotros. “El Espíritu Santo, aliento de Jesús y atmósfera del cielo, es también el aliento de su cuerpo, la Iglesia. Y somos conscientes de su presencia si la Iglesia es ella misma en el sentido completo; es decir, si es el reino de Dios, el cielo desciende a la tierra, por la unidad. Se nos recuerda que, sin el Espíritu Santo, Dios está lejos, Cristo permanece en el pasado, el Evangelio es letra muerta, la Iglesia es una mera organización y la ‘misión’ es mera propaganda. Pero al estar en el Espíritu Santo, el mundo se glorifica y suplica en la gestación del reino de Dios, el Cristo resucitado está presente, el Evangelio es el poder de la vida, la Iglesia significa comunión trinitaria y la ‘misión’ es un Pentecostés.” (Chiara Lubich, Escritos esenciales) “Ven, Espíritu Santo, llena los corazones de tus fieles y enciende en ellos el fuego de tu amor.”
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. For 50 days the Church throughout the world celebrates the Easter season culminating in the great Solemnity of Pentecost. From the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning to the community of disciples – including the Apostles and the Blessed Mother – gathered in expectant faith for the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Church each year returns to her roots to rediscover our founding story.
Bishop Kopacz
The kerygma is the theological understanding that arises from an encounter with Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen one. “Repent and believe in the one risen from the dead and be baptized and your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
In the time between the resurrection and ascension into heaven – ten days before Pentecost in our finite framework of time – the Lord appeared to his apostles and disciples on numerous occasions in order to reconcile their doubts, fears, denials, trauma, and confusion, and to prepare them to be the first family of witnesses of God’s love in the world.
Pope Benedict in his concise and eloquent manner often spoke about the impact of encountering the crucified and risen Lord on our daily journey. “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”
We see this clearly in the lives of the Lord’s first followers who were scattered after the crucifixion, but by Pentecost Sunday these same lost sheep were fearless in the face of considerable opposition to proclaim the Gospel to the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Through the encounter they were at peace, alive for God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11) with a decisive direction toward a new horizon.
Our dawning Christian story reveals that the encounter with the risen Lord is always both inwardly and outwardly directed. During three resurrection appearances, the Lord rallied and gathered his disciples with the gift of his peace, Shalom. This was the inward healing that had to flourish before it was possible to bring the horizon of God’s salvation into clear focus. The gift freely received was to be given as a gift. This is the Lord’s mandate in all four Gospels, not only for the first family of disciples but for all time:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
“Repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-49)
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Ongoing conversion and evangelization are the constant markers of our life in God. Yet, there are many outside the walls and halls of the Church, and our commitment to the Kingdom of God in the world – a kingdom of justice and peace and the joy of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) – is an essential marker of the Church.
The mission continues in our own time. Last Saturday on Divine Mercy Weekend, Pope Leo XIV from Rome conducted a worldwide prayer service for peace. Like the popes of the modern era before him he is a prophetic voice for justice, peace, sanity and fraternity in a world afflicted by violence, terrorism, war and greed. This is the voice of the risen Lord, the light of the Gospel, and the power of faith, hope and love.
The Lord is risen, alleluia! May the 50 days of Easter be for us a season of refreshment and a gift of the risen Lord to align our lives with a decisive direction and with an ever-new horizon in God.
Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. Durante 50 días, la Iglesia de todo el mundo celebra la temporada Pascua, culminando en la gran solemnidad de Pentecostés. Desde la tumba vacía en la mañana del domingo de Pascua hasta la comunidad de discípulos – incluidos los Apóstoles y la Santísima Virgen – reunidos en la fe expectante para la venida del Espíritu Santo, la Iglesia regresa cada año a sus raíces para redescubrir nuestra historia fundacional.
Bishop Kopacz
El kerigma es la comprensión teológica que surge de un encuentro con Jesucristo, el crucificado y resucitado. “Arrepiéntanse y crean en el que resucita de entre los muertos, sean bautizaos, y vuestros pecados serán perdonados y recibirán el don del Espíritu Santo. (Hechos 2:38)
En el tiempo entre la resurrección y la ascensión al cielo – diez días antes de Pentecostés en nuestro marco finito de tiempo – el Señor se apareció a sus apóstoles y discípulos en numerosas ocasiones para reconciliar sus dudas, miedos, negaciones, traumas y confusión, y prepararlos para ser la primera familia de testigos del amor de Dios en el mundo.
El Papa Benedicto, en su manera concisa y elocuencia, hablaba a menudo sobre el impacto de encontrarse con el Señor crucificado y resucitado en nuestro viaje del diario. “Ser cristiano no es el resultado de una elección ética ni de una idea elevada, sino del encuentro con un acontecimiento, una persona, que le da a la vida un nuevo horizonte y una dirección decisiva.”
Vemos esto claramente en la vida de los primeros seguidores del Señor que fueron dispersados tras la crucifixión, pero para el domingo de Pentecostés estas mismas ovejas perdidas no tenían miedo ante una considerable oposición para proclamar el Evangelio a las naciones, comenzando en Jerusalén. A través del encuentro estaban en paz, vivos para Dios en Cristo Jesús (Romanos 6:11) con una dirección decisiva hacia un nuevo horizonte.
Nuestra historia cristiana al amanecer revela que el encuentro con el Señor resucitado siempre está dirigido tanto internamente como hacia fuera. Durante tres apariciones de resurrección, el Señor se reunió y reunió a sus discípulos con el don de su paz, Shalom. Esta era la sanación interior que debía florecer antes de que fuera posible enfocar claramente el horizonte de la salvación de Dios. El regalo recibido libremente iba a ser dado como un regalo.
Este es el mandato del Señor en los cuatro Evangelios, no solo para la primera familia de discípulos sino para siempre:
“Ve por todo el mundo y proclama el evangelio a toda la creación.” (Marcos 16:15)
“Así como el Padre me envió, así te envío a ti.” (Juan 20:21)
“El arrepentimiento por el perdón de los pecados debe ser predicado a todas las naciones que comienzan en Jerusalén.” (Lucas 24:46-49)
“Id entonces, y haced discípulos de todas las naciones.” (Mateo 28:18-20) La conversión y evangelización continuas son los marcadores constantes de nuestra vida en Dios. Sin embargo, hay muchos fuera de los muros y pasillos de la Iglesia, y nuestro compromiso con el Reino de Dios en el mundo — un reino de justicia, paz y la alegría del Espíritu Santo (Romanos 14:17) — es un marcador esencial de la Iglesia.
La misión continúa en nuestro propio tiempo. El pasado sábado, durante el fin de semana de la Divina Misericordia, el Papa León XIV de Roma celebró un servicio de oración mundial por la paz. Como los papas de la era moderna antes que él, es una voz profética por la justicia, la paz, la cordura y la fraternidad en un mundo afligido por la violencia, el terrorismo, la guerra y la codicia. Esta es la voz del Señor resucitado, la luz del Evangelio y el poder de la fe, la esperanza y el amor.
¡El Señor ha resucitado, aleluya! Que los 50 días de Pascua sean para nosotros una temporada de renovación y un regalo del Señor resucitado para alinear nuestras vidas con una dirección decisiva y con un horizonte siempre nuevo en Dios.
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. The Ash Wednesday admonition from the Lord Jesus to pray, fast and give alms – when done faithfully – are the driving forces that give God an opening for repentance, conversion and deep-seated change in a person’s life. The big three make fertile the soil of one’s heart and mind to welcome the grace of God in expectant faith.
When the desire to repent awakens in a person’s soul what are the signs that the hands of divine providence are at work?
Psalm 51 is the classic prayer of repentance and restored hope that the tradition says is the heartfelt plea of King David after he had sinned grievously in adultery with Bathsheba in combination with the murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite.
Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The psalm below portrays the journey of a soul as he or she passes from the stages of deep-seated sorrow to the joy of right relationship with God, with others and the proper stance in worship, all accomplished by God’s saving grace.
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt and from my sin cleanse me. For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes. Behold, you desire true sincerity, and secretly you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit. A contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn. (Psalm 51)
The rush of God’s mercy like an unfailing stream over King David is every man and every woman’s experience when brought to their knees with the weight of sin and raised up in the freedom of forgiveness.
All of the penitential psalms in one way or another anticipate the life, death, and resurrection of God’s beloved Son, and the power of the Cross to forgive and reconcile. Psalm 51, in the manner of St. Augustine in his Confessions, uniquely reveals the depravity of sin and the bounty of God’s mercy. It is not surprising then that the Church selects this psalm on Ash Wednesday in anticipation of the second reading from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians where the apostle assures us that we are a new creation in Jesus Christ. The gift of God’s mercy that we receive In the Sacrament of Reconciliation or in whatever moment or situation in our lives is both personal and relational.
On Ash Wednesday we heard this in St. Paul’s words:
Brothers and sisters, we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. … Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time, I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The Lord invites us today, not tomorrow, to be reconciled to God, to one another, and as his ambassadors to pray and work for peace in our world.
May we receive the grace of God in all its beauty, goodness, and truthfulness in order to bear fruit that will last as his disciples in a world crying out for peace and unity.
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. In January 2026, The Holy Land Co-ordination undertook its annual mission to the land made holy by the incarnate presence of the Lord nearly 2,000 years ago. The Holy Land Coordination was initiated by the Vatican, the Holy See at the beginning of the third millennium in order to deepen the relationship between the Christian communities in Palestine and Israel with Catholic Episcopal Conferences in Europe, the British Isles, Canada and the United States. Its defining characteristics are pilgrimage, prayer, presence, and pressure or persuasion. The theme for 2026 was: A Land of Promise – Encounter and dialogue with People of Hope.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz visited a Bedouin community outside of Jerusalem on the Holy Land Co-ordination pilgrimage undertaken by various Catholic Episcopal Conferences in Europe, British Isles, Canada and the United States. This year’s theme was A Land of Promise – Encounter and dialogue with People of Hope. (Photo by Marcin Mazur/Catholic Church of England and Wales)
The pilgrimage included a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where we celebrated Mass at the Lord’s tomb on two consecutive days. The first moment of the resurrection dawned on this site when the risen Lord Jesus blessed men and women of every age with the hope and peace that the world cannot give and for which the Holy Land hungers and thirsts. The Eucharist was the heart of each day and especially meaningful when celebrated with various communities of biblical roots. This pilgrimage did not include the traditional holy sites marking the Lord’s life, death and resurrection, but rather an experience of the sacred each time the people of Palestine and Jerusalem opened their hearts and homes to us in wholehearted hospitality.
Along with pilgrimage and prayer, another pillar of the Holy Land Co-ordination is presence. Each encounter with diverse communities on the margins was an opportunity to humbly listen to their stories of daily hardship and yet to witness their resolve not to give up hope for a life of dignity and peace. Our presence was an embrace of hope, an assurance that they are not forgotten. Who are the marginalized in Palestine and Israel whose voices are barely heard during the current din of war and catastrophic destruction in Gaza in response to the heinous act of terrorism on Oct. 7, 2023.
At the outset, we sat with a Bedouin community who are visible from the highway that leads from Jerusalem to Jericho toward the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Their ancient way of life is threatened daily by the intimidation and violence of the extremist Jewish settlers who want to drive them from the land. These nomadic tribes are recognized by law and so they seek legal recourse from the government over their plight, but their voices are barely heard, and their rights are routinely ignored. They were grateful that we spent time with them in conversation that continued over a traditional Bedouin meal. It was an affirmation of their dignity, a great gift for them and for us.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz pauses in prayer while lighting a candle at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Taybeh during the Holy Land Co-ordination pilgrimage. (Photos by Marcin Mazur/Catholic Church of England and Wales)
Throughout the West Bank many Palestinian communities have been under extreme duress and relentless pressure to leave their ancestral lands and villages either through internal displacement or external migration. We visited Taybeh – a Christian community of approximately 1,300 residents who are struggling mightily for their survival. We celebrated Sunday Mass and afterwards listened to the elders of the town who spoke about their struggle that has led to the forced migration of nearly 90% of their family members and neighbors. Extremist Jewish settlers destroy their olive trees, steal or kill the livestock, confiscate their land and cast a climate of fear over this besieged community. In the current climate especially, their voices go unheard, and their rights are relentlessly trampled. The Taybeh community is indicative of the evident diminishment of the Christian population in the Holy Land. Those who remain are long suffering and survive by relying on the generosity of those who left and have not forgotten them, as well as their own industriousness born of their love for their ancestral homeland. Courage and hope are renewed with visits such as ours. On another note, considered to be the first Palestinian brewery, Taybeh beer made on site is delicious, and provides much needed employment for some of the locals.
Leaving the West Bank, we visited the St. James Vicariate of the Latin Patriarchy which is comprised of Hebrew speaking Christians in Israel. They were eager to point out that they have lived peacefully for generations in the midst of their Jerusalem Jewish neighborhoods. Whereas Arabic is the mother tongue of the Palestinian population, the Hebrew speaking Catholic Christian is a rarity – 1,000 to 2,000 in the dominant culture of 8 million. They work tirelessly to teach the faith to the next generation of their children and youth, as well as to serve the Catholic migrants in Israel who come from the Philippines and other countries to shore up Israel’s work force.
We had the privilege of a lengthy visit with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and his staff that included the Eucharist, a sumptuous meal and presentations that provided a broader perspective of the besieged Christian population in the Holy Land that includes Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. His ardent prayer and hope are to see the return of the flow of pilgrims and tourists to the holy sites from around the world because the locals suffer greatly in their absence.
On the final day of the Holy Land Co-ordination pilgrimage, Bishop Kopacz and the group had an opportunity to visit the St. John Paul II Foundation, an educational institution for Christian youth, located in Bethlehem.
In the midst of our visit to the Latin Patriarchy, we heard from Father Gabriel Romanelli via Zoom. He is the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza who has lived with the daily devastation since the war began. No one can reverse the unimaginable loss of life and the destruction of essential structures and infrastructure, but he is hoping that governments and NGOs can collaborate to begin the rebuilding process without delay. In his experience, each day that passes without the distribution of food, medicine and water is a death sentence for many who are extremely vulnerable. All people of good will are hoping against hope that the peace plan takes hold, and the weapons are put aside.
Another key facet of our pilgrimage were gatherings with those dedicated to reconciliation, justice and peace. In these dark times of war and devastation, voices for peace in Israel are given little credence from the majority of the population and have no chance at all among the hardliners and extremists. In many sectors of society, the peacemakers are not considered blessed, but treasonous for deviating from the prevailing standard of uncompromising retribution. This goes for the majority on both sides. Nonetheless, the voices and witness of The Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, of Rabbis for Human Rights and the Defense of Human Dignity, and of the Parents Circle – Family Forum whose members, Palestinian and Israelis, have lost children to war and terrorism, and yet walk side by side, were all points of light and hope. Against all odds, they persevere with their vision for a sustainable and humane future and tirelessly work to impact the hearts and minds of the young, especially in the education system and other forums.
The final day for the Holy Land Co-ordination pilgrimage was in Bethlehem where the Christian population is greatly diminished, having been scattered to the four winds in recent decades. Many have left the city of the Lord’s birth and now live in the Diaspora, so to speak, likely never to return to their homeland. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to visit a school for the deaf, the St. John Paul II Foundation, an educational institution for Christian youth, and the Latin Patriarch seminary that has recently reopened its doors to candidates from Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. In these three diverse educational settings, hope is renewed in the eager faces of the children, youth and candidates for the priesthood. Of course, the generosity from Christians from afar is crucial for the survival of these institutions.
In conclusion, each evening the bishops and staff gathered for reflection, conversation and prayer. From this hour of prayerful listening to one another and to the Holy Spirit the accompanying statement was written to be distributed by our Episcopal Conferences and through our (arch)dioceses. In doing so, the fourth pillar of pressure/persuasion of the Holy Land Co-ordination is addressed. May the seeds that are planted through this unique pilgrimage in solidarity with many who cry out in this tortured land, produce a harvest of justice and peace.
“You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world” Matthew 5:13-14
Our pilgrimage was to a Land where people are suffering trauma. We began with a visit to Bedouin communities living on the margins of society in the Occupied West Bank. They shared their experiences of a life on the periphery, being observed but often not encountered, their movement heavily restricted by rapidly expanding settlements encircling them on the surrounding hills.
We heard stories about Israeli settler attacks and their continual violence and intimidation, theft of livestock and demolition of property, leaving many unable to sleep at night for fear of further violence. When we asked them who sees their struggles and their cry to live in peace with their neighbors, they replied: “Nobody sees us.”
A family praises God at Taybeh Parish – Christ the Redeemer Church, located in the center of the West Bank. Bishops from the Holy Land Co-ordination pilgrimage attended Mass in January 2026 and visited with the community. (Photo by Marcin Mazur/Catholic Church of England and Wales)
Our journey continued with Mass in the only completely Christian town in Palestine. They, too, told us of their suffering: endless attacks from extremist settlers, uprooting of their olive trees, the seizure of their land and intimidatory acts that make their daily life unbearable, driving many into mass emigration. In the twelve months since our last visit, the Land of Promise is being diminished and challenged. Gaza remains a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The people of the West Bank we encountered are demoralized and fearful. The courageous Israeli voices which speak out for human and civil rights are increasingly threatened; advocating for marginalized voices is a costly solidarity. We fear that soon, they too will be silenced.
As Christians, it is our calling and duty to give a voice to the voiceless, and to bear witness to their dignity, so that the world may know their suffering and be moved to advocate for justice and compassion. The settlements in the West Bank, illegal under international law, continue to expand by commandeering the land of others. The universality of human rights applies to all without exception. Instead, it is relentlessly replaced by a system where dignity and protection depend on one’s civil status.
We affirm Israel’s right to exist and for Israelis to live in peace and security; equally, we call for these same rights to be upheld for all those rooted in this land. We hope that efforts for peace will prevail over violence, and that there will be no more acts of terrorism and war. We also urge our governments to exert pressure on Israel to uphold the rules-based international order and to revive meaningful negotiations toward a two-state solution for the benefit and security of all.
We were deeply moved by the faith and steadfastness of local Christians and also by people of other faiths who work to sustain the hope of their communities. They remind us that it is our shared vocation to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” and to strive for peaceful coexistence and security across the Holy Land.
We also witnessed the courage of those Jewish and Palestinian voices who, despite immense challenges and their own trauma, continue to advocate for justice, dialogue and reconciliation. Hearing from parents who have lost a child to conflict and can still find a way to forgive, offers a powerful witness to the possibility of peace and reconciliation. Few experiences are more devastating. When such a mother or father pleads for an end to violence, the world must listen – and act.
The people of the Holy Land cry out for our help and prayers; they long for an end to their suffering. Stand with them. Recognize their plea for dignity. Help foster genuine dialogue between communities. Heed the call of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to come on pilgrimage as a sign of our love, support and solidarity with them.
As we leave this Land, we do so with our hearts full of compassion for those who are suffering and inspired by those who, by their pursuit of justice, keep the hope of peace alive. Our Lady Queen of Palestine and of all the Holy Land, pray for us.
Rt. Rev. Nicholas Hudson Bishop of Plymouth Moderator of the Holy Land Coordination Chair of the International Affairs Department, Bishops’ Conference England and Wales
Rt. Rev. Nicolo Anselmi Bishop of Rimini Italy
Most Rev. Udo Bentz Archbishop of Paderborn Germany
Rt. Rev. Peter Burcher Bishop Emeritus of Reykjavik Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
Rt. Rev. James Curry Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster International Affairs Department, Bishops’ Conference England and Wales
Rt. Rev. Paul Dempsey Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Ireland
Rt. Rev. Michel Dubost C.I.M. Bishop Emeritus of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes France
Most Rev. Antoine Herouard Archbishop of Dijon Co-President of Justice & Peace, Europe Vice-President of COMECE France
Rt. Rev. Joseph Kopacz Bishop of Jackson International Justice and Peace Department, Bishops’ Conference United States of America
Most Rev. William Nolan Archbishop of Glasgow Justice and Peace Scotland Scotland
Rt. Rev. Christian Rodembourg M.S.A. Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe Canada
Most Rev. Joan Enric Vives Sicilia Bishop Emeritus of Urgell Spain
Rt. Rev. Abdallah Elias Zaidan Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, Bishops’ Conference United States of America
“All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:10)
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. For nearly two thousand years, the Good News of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection has been proclaimed to all the nations. Now more than ever, through modern channels of communication, the message goes out to the ends of the earth for people to hear this Good News and to see the church in their midst serving their Lord in manifold ways.
The following three excerpts have been chosen from different eras in the church’s history to affirm that while the world may be continually in flux, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The following is taken from the profound works of the one who was esteemed as “golden mouth” for his brilliant preaching:
“That invisible and eternal nature has not disdained for our sakes to take to itself the infirmities of our flesh. The Son of God, who is the God of all things, is born a man in body. He permits himself to be placed in a crib, who holds the heavens in his hands. He is confined in a manger whom the world cannot contain; he is heard in the voice of a wailing infant, at whose voice in the hour of his passion the whole earth trembled.” – St. John Chrysostom, Epiphany Homily
Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
This fourth-century saint was exiled three times and suffered immensely at the hands of the Arian heretics of his day. He not only persevered; he thrived as a living witness to the power of the Word made flesh.
In the fifth century, Pope Leo the Great, who resisted Attila the Hun at the gates of Rome, convincing him not to sack the city, was one of the most eloquent Fathers of the early church. The following comes from a Christmas homily of his and adorns the contemporary Christmas prayer of the Catholic Church in the Liturgy of the Hours:
“Today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death is swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternity. No one is shut out from this joy. Let the just rejoice, for their reward is at hand. Let sinners be glad, for they are offered mercy. Let pagans take courage, for they are summoned to life. … In this mystery of the Word made flesh, a new dignity is bestowed upon human nature. O Christian, recognize your dignity. Make a partner in the divine nature. Do not return by sin to your former baseness. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member, and by whose blood your freedom was purchased.” – Pope St. Leo the Great
In our own time, we struggle to allow the eternal light of the Word made flesh to shine in the darkness and shadows of our fallen world. The following is taken from the Focolare “Word of Life” series for December 2025, whose mission is unity and whose path is love:
“To a world like ours, where the law of the strongest, the cleverest, the most unscrupulous prevail, and where sometimes everything seems paralyzed by materialism and selfishness, we receive the unarmed innocence of the Christ Child, and once again recognize God’s patient and merciful presence in human history.”
As we celebrate the culmination of the Jubilee Year of Hope this Christmas on Epiphany, we proclaim that the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, because the love of God was first poured into our world on that first Christmas night nearly 2,000 years ago.
May the Wise of our time continue to seek the One who is the way, the truth and the life, who reveals that sacrificial love for all is the only way to fulfill our dreams.
Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. “Todos los confines de la tierra verán la salvación de nuestro Dios.” (Isaías 52:10)
Durante casi dos mil años, la Buena Nueva del nacimiento, vida, muerte y resurrección de nuestro señor Jesucristo ha sido proclamada a todas las naciones. Ahora más que nunca, a través de los canales modernos de comunicación, el mensaje llega hasta los confines del mundo para que la gente escuche esta Buena Nueva y vea a la iglesia en su entorno sirviendo a su Señor de múltiples maneras.
Los siguientes tres extractos han sido seleccionados de diferentes épocas de la historia de la iglesia para afirmar que, aunque el mundo se encuentre en constante cambio, Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, hoy y mañana.
Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz
Lo siguiente se extrae de las profundas obras de aquel que fue considerado “boca de oro” por su brillante predicación:
“Que la naturaleza invisible y eterna no ha despreciado por nosotros tomar para sí las debilidades de nuestra carne. El Hijo de Dios, que es el Dios de todas las cosas, nace hombre en cuerpo. Se permite ser colocado en una cuna, que sostiene el cielo en sus manos. Está confinado en un pesebre que el mundo no puede contener; se le oye en la voz de un bebé llorando, ante cuya voz en la hora de su pasión tembló toda la tierra.” – San Juan Crisóstomo, Homilía de la Epifanía
Este santo del siglo IV fue exiliado tres veces y sufrió enormemente en manos de los herejes arrianos de su época. No solo perseveró; prosperó como testigo viviente del poder de la Palabra hecha carne.
En el siglo V, el papa León el Grande, que resistió a Atila el Huno en las puertas de Roma, convenciéndole de no saquear la ciudad, fue uno de los padres más elocuentes de la iglesia primitiva. Lo siguiente proviene de una homilía navideña suya y adorna la oración navideña contemporánea de la Iglesia Católica en la Liturgia de las Horas:
“Hoy nace nuestro Salvador; Regocijémonos. La tristeza no tiene lugar en el cumpleaños de la vida. El miedo a la muerte se abrasa; La vida nos trae alegría con la promesa de la eternidad. Nadie se queda excluido de esta alegría. Que los justos se regocijen, porque su recompensa está cerca. Que los pecadores se alegren, porque se les ofrece misericordia. Que los paganos tomen valor, porque son llamados a la vida. … En este misterio del Verbo hecho carne, se otorga una nueva dignidad a la naturaleza humana. Oh cristiano, reconoce tu dignidad. Haz un compañero en la naturaleza divina. No vuelvas por pecado a tu antigua maldad. Recuerda quién es tu cabeza y de quién eres miembro, y por cuya sangre fue comprada tu libertad.” – Papa San León Magno
En nuestro tiempo, luchamos por permitir que la luz eterna del Verbo hecho carne brille en la oscuridad y las sombras de nuestro mundo caído. Lo siguiente está extraído de la serie “Palabra de Vida” de los Focolares de diciembre de 2025, cuya misión es la unidad y cuyo camino es el amor:
“A un mundo como el nuestro, donde prevalece la ley del más fuerte, del más inteligente, de lo más inescrupuloso, y donde a veces todo parece paralizado por el materialismo y el egoísmo, recibimos la inocencia desarmada del Niño Jesús, y reconocemos una vez más la presencia paciente y misericordiosa de Dios en la historia humana.”
Al celebrar la culminación del Año Jubilar de la Esperanza esta Navidad en la Epifanía, proclamamos que el amor de Dios ha sido derramado en nuestros corazones por medio del Espíritu Santo que nos ha sido dado, porque el amor de Dios fue derramado por primera vez en nuestro mundo en aquella primera noche de Navidad, hace casi 2,000 años.
Que los Sabios de nuestro tiempo sigan buscando aquel que es el camino, la verdad y la vida, que revela que el sacrificio y amo por todos es el único camino para cumplir nuestros sueños.
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, grant us peace in our days that with the help of your mercy we may be free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
This is the magnificent intercessory prayer that the priest pronounces during the Communion Rite of each Mass throughout the year after the Lord’s Prayer and prior to the sign of peace on behalf of all the faithful, a proclamation of the fullness of faith and hope in the Lord’s promises. This is the spirituality of Advent that looks to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, all the while knowing in our hearts that he is Emmanuel, God with us already. This is the mystery of our faith that celebrates his first coming in the Incarnation, the majestic Christmas story, and looks beyond – awake and alert – to the end of time for his second coming. This is also our hope for all who have died in the Lord and gone before us. “Arise, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph. 5:14)
Meanwhile, we rejoice with Christians knowing that he is always near in the fullness of Jubilee faith “through the Holy Spirit who has been poured into our hearts,” celebrated sacramentally and recognized wherever two or three are gathered in his name in prayer and loving service.
An Advent wreath is depicted in a stained-glass window at Christ the King Church in Commack, N.Y. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
Although Advent has a different aura than Lent, the call to conversion is just as real. The voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord is not merely a suggestion among different options. This is our faith that is proclaimed above, “that with the help of your mercy we may be free from sin.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always the gold standard to know the Lord’s mercy and peace, and during the culmination of the Jubilee Year of Hope in the heart of Advent it really shines.
We also pray “to be free of all distress” because anxiety over many of life’s uncertainties casts a long shadow over the love of God and the light of the Gospel, eclipsing the virtues of faith, hope and love. Persistent distress and anxiety are in opposition to the hope that does not disappoint. We do believe, and we ask the Lord to increase our faith to know the fullness of God’s peace during this season of joyful expectation as we await the “blessed hope and the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
The Blessed Mother as the Immaculate Conception and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the paradigm presence during our Advent longing. God prepared her from the first moment of her conception to be the mother of the Savior, and with a pure heart and a willing spirit open to divine providence, she fulfills the yearning of her people for the Messiah. “The dawn from on high broke upon the world to shine on those who dwelled in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet on the way to peace.” (Luke 1:77-79)
Her apparitions to Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago brought a people back from the brink of annihilation to the light of a new day. Yes, she is the great mother who reveals the tender compassion of our God. With the Blessed Mother and all the saints, the church in every age fulfills the Lord’s commission to work for the salvation of all as a beacon of hope.
Let us rejoice because the Gospel is preached, the sacraments are celebrated, and works of charity, justice and peace abound. May we inspire one another as Advent advances to believe, hope and love. Indeed, the Lord is near! Come, Lord Jesus!
