By Joe Lee JACKSON – Raised Catholic just minutes from The Bronx borough of New York City, actress Robin Givens can look back with pride on a television and film career which began with a successful audition for a guest role on “The Cosby Show.” A year later she landed the role of Darlene Merriman on the ABC smash “Head of the Class” and was a cast member for the show’s 1986-1991 duration. Unfortunately, Givens might be just as well known for her brief and turbulent marriage to then-world heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson. In an explosive 1988 interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters shortly before she and Tyson separated, Givens leveled charges of domestic abuse against her husband.
Today, Givens speaks out about the abuse she suffered, urging men, women and the African American community to educate themselves about domestic violence. She’s the keynote speaker at this year’s Journey of Hope luncheon, the largest annual fundraiser put on by Catholic Charities and an event that will take place earlier this fall than usual.
“The luncheon was moved to Aug. 11 because we want to have the event on a Friday,” said Marsha Burton, Senior Engagement and Major Gifts Officer for Catholic Charities. “We Mississippians love football, and Fridays in September are prime football days. The Hilton Jackson was available for the date and offers us a larger space with amenities conducive for celebrity speakers.
“We feel that having the entire event at one location will reduce travel for our speaker, attract a large audience through being centrally located and parking should not be an issue.”
In addition to the luncheon, Givens will appear at a reception the evening before from 6-8 p.m., which will allow attendees to meet her in a relaxed environment. The reception will also take place at the Hilton, located at 1001 E. County Line Road in Jackson.
“Robin Givens is a women’s advocate and outspoken crusader against domestic violence,” said Wanda Thomas, executive director of Catholic Charities. “She also speaks on the reality of domestic violence occurring to men as well as women, and how socioeconomic status doesn’t play a role. She’s a woman that can move and inspire all walks of life.”
To order tickets for the Journey of Hope luncheon, the reception, or to inquire about sponsoring tables, call (601) 326-3714 or visit https://bit.ly/CCJOH2023 to register for the luncheon.
ADRIAN, Michigan – Sister Elizabeth Ann Demirgian, formerly known as Sister Marie Berge Demirgian, died on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 91 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Elizabeth was born in Flushing, New York, to Edward and Ebrakce (Ekshian) Demirgian. She graduated from St. Patrick High School in Miami Beach, Florida, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and Chemistry from Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, Florida; a Master of Science degree in biology and chemistry from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; and an associate degree in science for her physician assistant license from Santa Fe Community College/University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
Sister spent over 11 years ministering in education at Visitation School in Detroit, Michigan; Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, Illinois, a sponsored institution of the Congregation; St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida. She was a physician assistant for 22 years in Rosseville and Memphis, Tennessee; Marks, Mississippi, and West Palm Beach, Belle Glade, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orange Park, Clermont, Kissimmee, and Mount Dora, all in Florida. She also served in ministry to the elderly for eight years at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community in Clermont, Florida. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2012.
Sister Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Archie and Berge. She is survived by loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
SOUTHAVEN – The Mississippi SCJs, Dehonian Associates and members of the six parishes celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and 100 years of ministry in the US with Mass and dinner at Christ the King Church in Southaven on Friday, June 16.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson was the presider and heralded the work of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, commending them on their 100th anniversary in the United States and good works in Mississippi.
Speaking on Priests of the Sacred Heart’s commitment, Bishop Kopacz said, “Going in different directions from Europe to the United States and beyond … this is really the impulse, the beating heart of Christ going out to all the nations, making disciples of all the nations. We celebrate 100 years of Dehonian commitment and charism. It has been in our midst for generations in this diocese, with ministries that respond … to the broken of the world.”
“In that spirit, we give thanks this evening, using the words of Pope Francis. He speaks of encountering, accompanying others and showing them the face of Christ. We can certainly say in the reality of Southern Missions and the 100 years (of the Priests of the Sacred Heart) in our country, that so many in the Dehonian community … have revealed the loving Sacred Heart of Christ,” said Bishop Kopacz.
100 Years of Dehonian Ministry in the United States This year the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) celebrate their 100th year of ministry in the United States. Beginning with a Palm Sunday Mass in 1923 at St. Mary’s Church in Lower Brule, South Dakota, the ministries of the US Province now extend from South Dakota to Wisconsin, Mississippi, Texas and Florida, reaching across ethnic, social and economic lines.
Dehonians, Priests of the Sacred Heart, SCJs – several names for a religious community of priests and brothers with a single mission: bringing the love of the Sacred Heart to those in the greatest of need.
SOUTHAVEN – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, the Mississippi SCJs and Dehonian associates paused after Mass for a group photo. The group recently celebrated 100 years of Dehnonian ministry in the US. The Priests of the Sacred Heart minister to several states – from South Dakota to Wisconsin, Mississippi, Texas and Florida. (Photo by Brother Andy Gancarczyk, SCJ)
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision June 29 in favor of a former postal worker who said he was denied a religious accommodation to observe Christian precepts on keeping holy the Lord’s Day by his former employer.
The case Groff v. DeJoy concerned Gerald Groff, an evangelical Christian and former U.S. Postal Service worker, who was denied an accommodation to observe his Sunday Sabbath by not taking Sunday shifts that resulted in the loss of his job.
The Supreme Court’s ruling found that federal law requires workplaces to make appropriate accommodations for their employees’ religious practices unless those practices cannot be “reasonably” accommodated without “undue hardship.”
The court threw out its prior “de minimis” standard from its 1977 decision, Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, which had found that the “undue hardship” standard is met even at a minimal cost. In Groff v. DeJoy, the court ruled an employer denying religious accommodations must show the burden of granting an accommodation would actually result in substantial increased costs.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion that “diverse religious groups tell the Court that the ‘de minimis’ standard has been used to deny even minor accommodations.”
“Faced with an accommodation request like Groff’s, an employer must do more than conclude that forcing other employees to work overtime would constitute an undue hardship. Consideration of other options would also be necessary,” Alito wrote.
First Liberty Institute, which represented Groff, said the ruling strengthens legal protections for employees seeking religious accommodations, including schedule changes to observe holy days, is far-reaching and has an impact on employment rights at every workplace with at least 15 employees across the country.
“This is a landmark victory, not only for Gerald, but for every American. No American should be forced to choose between their faith and their job,” Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO, and chief counsel for First Liberty, said in a statement. “The Court’s decision today restores religious freedom to every American in the workplace. This decision will positively help millions and millions of Americans – those who work now and their children and grandchildren.”
Groff said in his own statement, “I am grateful to have had my case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and that they have decided to uphold religious liberty. I hope this decision allows others to be able to maintain their convictions without living in fear of losing their jobs because of what they believe.” Aaron Streett, partner at Baker Botts LLP, who argued Groff’s case before the high court, said, “We are thrilled the Court today recognized that an America that values religious pluralism should respect the religious liberty rights of every employee.”
“Our nation has a long history of protecting its employees from being treated differently at work just because of their faith,” Streett said. “This decision is consistent with that history and is a tremendous win for all people of faith.”
Groff alleged in federal court that the U.S. Postal Service failed to provide him with reasonable accommodations for his religious practices. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Postal Service, arguing it would face “undue hardship” by accommodating Groff’s request to excuse him from Sunday shifts.
The Supreme Court’s ruling vacates that finding and sends Groff’s case back to the lower court for reconsideration.
However, Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, cast the high court’s ruling for the lower court to reconsider Groff’s case as a victory, stating they “live to fight another day.”
“We’re facing an aggressive movement working to weaponize religious freedom, but religious freedom must never be a license to harm others, and that remains true in the workplace,” Laser said. She argued the court simply “clarified,” but did not overturn, its standard for granting religious accommodations.
Laser said “the court’s ‘clarified’ standard correctly allows employers to continue to consider the burdens an employee’s requested accommodation could impose on co-workers.”
The Supreme Court’s decision has religious liberty implications for working Catholics. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.”
The Catholic Church also teaches this “requires a common effort” and both public authorities and employers are obliged to “ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship.” OSV News has reached out to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for comment on the decision.
Editor’s note: This year, Julice Curry of St. Joseph parish in Greenville has been nominated for Catholic Extension’s 2023-2024 Lumen Christi award for her volunteer work with the Sacred Heart/St. Joseph St. Vincent de Paul Society. The award, established in 1978, is given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. To read about the group of 40 other Lumen Christi award nominees, visit https://bit.ly/CELumenChristi2324
By Catholic Extension
GREENVILLE – Every moment in Julice Curry’s life has been guided by her never-ending faith and belief in living life for others. Always raised to be humble, Julice’s volunteerism and her quiet philanthropy have made a true mark on her home community of Greenville.
Julice has volunteered in her current ministry at Sacred Heart/St. Joseph St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) for over 30 years as former treasurer and now president. The mission helps in the form of a food pantry and donation center for clothing and other items. These activities take place in a parish that Catholic Extension helped build many years ago.
GREENVILLE – Julice Curry speaks to students at St. Joseph School on her work with St. Vincent de Paul and renovations completed with thanks to a gift from the Salvador Sarullo estate in the fall of 2022. Curry is nominated for a Lumen Christi award for radiating the light of Christ in her community. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
Working with over 30 volunteers to serve an average of 200 clients per week, Julice touches the lives of over 12,500 residents annually from Greenville and the surrounding Washington County area. This also comes with the help of other faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations Julice has established partnerships with. Everyone who interacts with Julice sees the “light” in her eyes and feels the love in her heart when helping these local communities, whose needs have only increased through the years.
Through her enormous vision and leadership, Julice has been able to magnify the impact of SVDP. This past year Julice led her organization and volunteers to the completion of a newly renovated space to house the necessary food storage and donation items from the community.
Her outreach has also inspired youth to learn the value of helping others and the true importance of charity and ministry to others. Students from private, public and parochial schools have joined the regular volunteers of SVDP, committing their time during school vacations, holidays and summer breaks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Julice continued to serve her friends by making home visits to ensure they had the basic necessities of life. Julice also regularly prays with residents. She makes sure the ministry is also about elevating peoples’ sense of dignity, bringing them joy and sharing the gift of faith when possible.
Julice’s dedication to her faith makes her work so meaningful: “My goal on earth is to love as Christ loves, to bring joy and comfort as He does, to be His disciple by being His eyes, His hands, and His feet.”
Leading a life with purpose and a focus on serving Christ and others in need moves Julice every day. She has never turned down anyone, “no matter how the odds are stacked against her or how stressful a project,” noted Martha Allen, executive director of SVDP’s partner organization, Extra Table. Her example touches the residents, volunteers and greater Greenville community, inspiring them to be beacons of hope to tackle the needs in their communities.
Eugene Boonie, a member of the Navajo Nation, fills up his water tank at the livestock water spigot in the Bodaway Chapter of the Navajo Nation, in Blue Gap, Ariz., Sept. 17, 2020. After a 5-4 Supreme Court decision struck a blow to the Navajo Nation’s request for federal assistance in securing water for the reservation June 22, 2023, Catholics who minister among Native Americans shared their thoughts on the historic water crisis facing the Southwest U.S. and the Indigenous populations who live there. (OSV News photo/Stephanie Keith, Reuters)
NATION MELVILLE, La. (OSV News) – Father Stephen Ugwu, the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Melville, Louisiana, is stable and recovering following a July 13 attack with a machete. The priest is at a hospital being treated for lacerations to his head and body. According to local media reports, a man wielding a machete attacked the priest at the church’s campus after Father Ugwu declined the man’s request, leaving Father Ugwu with cuts on his head and body. Melville police arrested the attacker and assisted Father Ugwu, a priest from Nigeria serving the Diocese of Lafayette. The suspect, identified as Johnny Dwayne Neely, 58, of Palmetto, is in custody, according to St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. He faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, hate crimes and home invasion and a bench warrant. Based on words used by the suspect, Melville Police Chief Phillip Lucas told local media that he believed the attack was racially motivated. Blue Rolfes, diocesan director of communications, told OSV News July 15 that Father Ugwu’s condition was improving. He has some “serious wounds,” she said, but he is receiving the care he needs, and doctors are optimistic about his recovery. “He feels blessed to be alive and that his God protected him during his time of need,” Rolfes said.
ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. (OSV News) – After a 5-4 Supreme Court decision struck a blow to the Navajo Nation’s request for federal assistance in securing water for the reservation June 22, Catholics who minister among Native Americans shared their thoughts on the historic water crisis facing the Southwest U.S. and the Indigenous populations who live there. “People line up at a community well and fill up their water containers to take out to their homesteads to be able to have water for their families for the week, sometimes for days. If it’s an older couple, it might last a little longer,” said Dot Teso, president of St. Michael Indian School in St. Michaels, Arizona – which was founded by St. Katharine Drexel in 1902. “You can imagine if you were going on a camping trip and you’re thinking about water for the trip – these people have to think of this every day.” Arizona v. Navajo Nation came before the Supreme Court when the Navajo Nation asked for the courts to require the federal government to identify the former’s water rights and needs and provide a way to meet those needs. Seeking to protect their own interest in access to the Colorado River, the states of Arizona, Colorado and Nevada intervened in the suit. While the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona dismissed the Navajos’ complaint, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision in their favor. Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley in a statement the ruling “will not deter the Navajo Nation from securing the water that our ancestors sacrificed and fought for – our right to life and the livelihood of future generations.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) – An annual procession to Father Augustus Tolton’s gravesite in Illinois will be joined next year by pilgrims walking the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage en route to Indianapolis, the Diocese of Springfield’s worship director announced July 9. Father Daren Zehnle shared the news with more than 200 pilgrims who participated in this year’s procession from a parish in Quincy, Illinois, with ties to Father Tolton, to his gravesite almost a mile away. Father Tolton (1854-1897) is the first identifiable Black priest in the United States, and he was renowned not only for his holiness and preaching, but also for the considerable adversity he faced as a Black priest in the late 1800s. Pope Francis declared him “venerable” in 2019. Will Peterson, founder and president of Modern Catholic Pilgrim, the Minnesota-based nonprofit organizing the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, said Father Tolton is the first of six Black American Catholics on the path to canonization officially to be linked geographically to the national pilgrimage. He hopes others will be as well, as the national pilgrimage’s four routes will pass through cities where several of these “Saintly Six” lived and ministered, as pilgrims make their way to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024.
VATICAN ROME (OSV News) – Venerable Lucia was only 10 years old when she and her two cousins told their friends and family that they had seen the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917. Mary first appeared to Lucia, 9-year-old Francisco Marto and 7-year-old Jacinta Marto May 13, and the apparitions continued once a month until October 1917. The church has ruled that the apparitions and the messages from Our Lady of Fatima were worthy of belief. On June 22, Pope Francis declared Sister Lucia “venerable,” with a decree recognizing the Fatima visionary’s heroic virtues. Pope Benedict XVI waived the standard waiting period for Sister Lucia’s cause, opening it in 2008. The Diocese of Coimbra, Portugal, completed its investigation and forwarded documentation to the Holy See’s Congregation (since renamed Dicastery) for the Causes of Saints in 2017, the apparitions’ centennial year.
WORLD KYIV, Ukraine (OSV News) – With Russia’s war on Ukraine now approaching its 10th year – and the full-scale invasion surpassing the 500-day mark – OSV News traveled to Kyiv to meet with Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, who shared his reflections on the war’s spiritual impact. Air raid sirens, soldiers’ funerals and endless work hours have become routine as Ukraine carries on with daily life while fighting a war for global values and security, said the bishop. Grief and confusion can break “even people really close to God,” he admitted. At the same time, “war takes off all the masks” and ultimately, the persecution inflicted by Russia against Ukrainian faithful mysteriously “crystallizes faith and faithfulness to the Gospel,” said Bishop Kryvytskyi, adding that he has learned to simply be present to those in the depths of wartime suffering. “People sometimes expect priests to have answers to all the questions,” he said. “And now we understand that our greater task is to be with our flock, even if we do not have answers for the questions, even in our hearts.”
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (OSV News) – A group of Brazilian missionaries announced July 3 they have left their post in Nicaragua, becoming the latest community of women religious to leave the country, where some Catholics are facing increasing persecution by the government of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. The Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ posted their statement on Facebook, announcing the community’s departure from Nicaragua and its arrival in El Salvador, along with photos showing sisters getting off a bus carrying a crucifix. “We want through this statement to express our gratitude for the seven years of mission in the lands of Nicaragua, we appreciate the welcome of the church and its people during that time in which our charism remained in the country serving the poor in their multiple facets,” said the statement posted in Spanish and Portuguese on the Fraternidade O Caminho page. The sisters’ announcement, reported by Global Sisters Report, came just ahead of Reuters reporting July 5 that Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua – sentenced in February to 26 years after being accused of treason – had been released from prison late July 4. But Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Baez of Managua, Nicaragua, who has been living in exile in Miami for some time, tweeted July 5 that he has received no information about Bishop Álvarez’s reported release. In news reports, Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes of Managua denied July 5 that the bishop had been freed.
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a church that “bears the signs of serious crises of mistrust and lack of credibility,” members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be asked to find ways to build community, encourage the contribution of every baptized person and strengthen the church’s primary mission of sharing the Gospel, said the working document for the October gathering.
“A synodal church is founded on the recognition of a common dignity deriving from baptism, which makes all who receive it sons and daughters of God, members of the family of God, and therefore brothers and sisters in Christ, inhabited by the one Spirit and sent to fulfil a common mission,” said the document, which was released at the Vatican June 20.
However, it said, many Catholics around the world report that too many baptized persons – particularly LGBTQ+ Catholics, the divorced and civilly remarried, the poor, women and people with disabilities – are excluded from active participation in the life of the church and, particularly, from its decision-making structures.
The people who presented the working document for the Synod of Bishops pose for a photo in the Vatican press office June 20, 2023. From the left are Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler, a synod participant from Switzerland; Sister Nadia Coppa, president of the women’s International Union of Superiors General; Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the synod; Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the synod; and Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, a consultant to the synod. (CNS photo/Cindy Wooden)
Based on the input from listening sessions held around the world since October 2021 and, especially, from reports submitted from continental and regional synod sessions earlier this year, the working document asks members of the synod to focus their prayer, discussion and discernment on three priorities:
– Communion, asking: “How can we be more fully a sign and instrument of union with God and of the unity of all humanity?”
– “Co-responsibility in mission: How can we better share gifts and tasks in the service of the Gospel?”
– “Participation, governance and authority: What processes, structures and institutions are needed in a missionary synodal church?”
The first synod assembly, scheduled for Oct. 4-29, “will have the task of discerning the concrete steps which enable the continued growth of a synodal church, steps that it will then submit to the Holy Father,” the document said. Some questions, perhaps many of them, will require further discernment and study with the help of theologians and canon lawyers, which is why a second assembly of the synod will be held in October 2024.
Even then, resolving every issue raised in the synod listening sessions is unlikely, the document said. But “characteristic of a synodal church is the ability to manage tensions without being crushed by them.”
The working document includes worksheets with questions “for discernment” that synod members will be asked to read and pray with before arriving in Rome.
One of them asks, “What concrete steps can the church take to renew and reform its procedures, institutional arrangements and structures to enable greater recognition and participation of women, including in governance, decision-making processes and in the taking of decisions, in a spirit of communion and with a view to mission?”
“Most of the continental assemblies and the syntheses of several episcopal conferences,” it said, “call for the question of women’s inclusion in the diaconate to be considered. Is it possible to envisage this, and in what way?”
A printed copy of the “Instrumentum Laboris,” or working document, for the world Synod of Bishops on synodality is seen in the Vatican press office June 20, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
As the synod process has taken place, questions have been raised about the relationship between participation in the life of the church and the call to conversion, the document said, which raises “the question of whether there are limits to our willingness to welcome people and groups, how to engage in dialogue with cultures and religions without compromising our identity, and our determination to be the voice of those on the margins and reaffirm that no one should be left behind.”
Another tension highlighted in the process involves shared responsibility in a church that believes its hierarchical structure is willed by Christ and is a gift.
The working document reported a “strong awareness that all authority in the church proceeds from Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit. A diversity of charisms without authority becomes anarchy, just as the rigor of authority without the richness of charisms, ministries and vocations becomes dictatorship.”
But the document asked members to discuss, think and pray about ways that authority can be exercised more as leadership that empowers shared responsibility and creativity.
“How can we renew and promote the bishop’s ministry from a missionary synodal perspective?” it asked.
“How should the role of the bishop of Rome (the pope) and the exercise of his primacy evolve in a synodal church?” the document said. The question echoed St. John Paul II’s invitation in his 1995 encyclical, “Ut Unum Sint,” (“That They May be One”), for an ecumenical exploration “to find a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation.”
The working document also asked synod members to consider ways more priests, religious and laypeople could be involved in the process of choosing bishops.
Throughout the listening sessions at every level, the document said, people recognized that Catholics cannot share fully in the spiritual discernment needed for true co-responsibility without further education in the Christian faith, Catholic social teaching and in the process of discernment itself and how it differs from simply discussing a problem and voting on possible solutions. In particular, it said, “all those who exercise a ministry need formation to renew the ways of exercising authority and decision-making processes in a synodal key, and to learn how to accompany community discernment and conversation in the Spirit.”
“Candidates for ordained ministry must be trained in a synodal style and mentality,” it said, and the seminary curriculum must be revised “so that there is a clearer and more decisive orientation toward formation for a life of communion, mission and participation.”
FLORENCE, Italy – Jeffery Walton, a life-long member of St. Paul Flowood, was consecrated to the vocation of Clerical Oblate with the Institute of Christ the King at its international seminary in the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy, on July 3, 2023. Abbé Jeffery received his vestments for ministry as a sign of offering his life to God in service to the Catholic Church. Oblates serve as assistants to priests, with various functions in liturgical celebrations and charitable work within the Institute. Jeffery completed his formation at St. Frances de Sales Oratory in St. Louis, Missouri, and will receive his new assignment on Aug. 1. (Photo by Monica Walton)
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT MADISON St. Francis, Diocesan Fall Faith Formation Day, Saturday, Aug. 19. Theme is “Renewing the church with families of faith.” Registration begins at 9 a.m. with first session beginning at 10 a.m. Event will conclude at 3 p.m. The featured speaker is Dr. Tim Hogan, co-author of “The Gift of Spiritual Hurricanes: Tools to Rebuild Authentic Spirituality.” Details: register at https://bit.ly/FFFDay2023 or questions to (601) 960-8473.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. “Come and See” weekends at Dominican Sisters of Springfield for single Catholic women ages 21-45. Eleven events scheduled in 2023-2024, first is Sept. 15-17. Events are in person or “Zoom and See” (virtual) and provide a brief immersion in the day-to-day lives of the sisters. Event is free, but responsible for your own transportation expenses. Housing and meals provided. Space is limited. Register at https://springfieldop.org/come-see-registration/. Details: call Sister Denise Glazik at (217) 652-5881 or visit https://springfieldop.org/come-see-dominican-sisters-vocation-event-schedule-for-2023-2024/ for more information.
WASHINGTON D.C. Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, Sept. 30 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Join with Catholics from around the country to seek the intercession of Our Lady. Hear life-changing talks; celebrate Mass and pray the rosary. Details: for more information visit rosarypilgrimage.org.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS BATESVILLE St. Mary, Rummage Sale, Aug. 4-5 at the parish center. You are welcome to start bringing your gently used items to the center. Details: parish office (662) 563-2273. GLUCKSTADT St. Joseph, German Fest, Save the date: Sunday, Sept. 24.
GREENWOOD MARC (Mississippi Association for Returning Citizens), Lunch and Learn, Saturday, July 29 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Locus Benedictus (1407 Levee Road #2134). Sign up and help build a brighter future for those affected by the criminal justice system. Details: visit marcreentry.org or email dorothy@marcreentry.org.
NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Thursday Night at the Movies, July 27 “The Scarlet and the Black” at 6:30 p.m. Suitable for adults and older teens. Soft drinks, snacks and popcorn available for small donation. No admission fee, donations to Miss-Lou Pregnancy Center accepted. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.
St. Mary Basilica, Blood Drive, Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 12:30-6 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Details: contact church office if you would like to reserve an appointment time now – (601) 445-5616.
Assumption BVM, Assumption Feast Day Celebration, Saturday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. in Tuite Hall. Menu by Mascagni brothers – spaghetti and meatballs, tortollini, chicken salad, meat tray, desserts and more. No cost, donations welcome. Details: call (601) 445-5616.
OLIVE BRANCH Queen of Peace, Back Pack Blessing at Mass, Sunday, July 30.
SENATOBIA St. Gregory, Back Pack Blessing at Mass, Sunday, July 30.
TUPELO St. James, Knights of Columbus Charity Gala Concert, Saturday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. in Shelton hall. Tickets are $25 per person and includes heavy hor d’oeuvres. Details: David at (662) 213-3742.
REMINDERS/NOTICES/OTHER EVENTS JOB OPENINGS Catholic schools across the diocese have a variety of positions open. Please visit https://jacksondiocese.org/employment for an opportunity near you.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. EWTN Free Family Celebration, Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Enjoy talks by EWTN TV and radio hosts. Shop religious items, attend Holy Mass and be part of a televised show. Details: ewtn.com/familycelebration.
INDIANAPOLIS Eucharistic Congress, July 17-21, 2024. Registration is now open. See what Our Lord has in store for this next chapter for the Catholic Church in United States. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3ydav9Q. Details: EucharisticCongress.org.
JACKSON Catholic Charities Journey of Hope Luncheon, Friday, Aug. 11 at the Hilton Jackson at 12 p.m. Featured speaker is actress Robin Givens, sharing her experience of abuse and urging all to educated themselves on domestic violence. To order tickets for the Journey of Hope luncheon, the “Meet and Greet” reception, or to inquire about sponsoring tables, call (601) 326-3714 or visit https://bit.ly/CCJOH2023 to register for the luncheon.
NASHVILLE Billings Ovulation Method Teacher Training, Oct. 19-21. Learn the science of fertility in order to monitor reproductive health and wellness. Cost: $750. Details: events.boma-usa.org.
INDIANAPOLIS National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), Nov. 16-18, 2023 at the Indiana Convention Center. This distinctly Catholic three-day conference will include opportunities for spiritual growth, prayer, learning and service. For more information, visit ncyc.us.
Nota del editor: A continuación se encuentra la homilía que el obispo Joseph Kopacz pronunció con motivo del centenario del Seminario de San Agustín el sábado 24 de junio en la parroquia del Sagrado Corazón en Greenville. Para no perderse la columna del obispo Kopacz y otras noticias católicas importantes, únase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico en Flocknote. ¡Envíe un mensaje de texto con MSCATHOLIC al 84576 o regístrese en jacksondiocese.flocknote.com!
Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
La Gran Comisión del Señor Jesús de hacer discípulos a todas las naciones, a través de la enseñanza y el bautismo, fue adoptada por el Santo Padre Arnoldo Jansen, fundador de la Sociedad del Verbo Divino (SVD) establecida el 8 de septiembre de 1875.
Nosotros proclamamos la Gran Comisión en el Evangelio esta mañana y durante los últimos casi 148 años, la Sociedad del Verbo Divino ha levantado su tienda en aproximadamente 70 países, para aplicar la frase del Prólogo del Evangelio de San Juan sobre el Hijo de Dios, y ahora con un número de 6.000 sacerdotes y hermanos, es la orden religiosa más grande de la Iglesia Católica.
La Gran Comisión del Señor Jesús es la culminación de los cuatro Evangelios antes de ascender al cielo. Hoy la escuchamos de Mateo. Fácilmente podríamos haberla escuchado de Marcos, Lucas y Juan. “Id por todo el mundo y predicad el evangelio a toda criaturas.” (Marcos 16:15) “Y he aquí, yo enviaré sobre vosotros la promesa de mi Padre…” (Lucas 24:49) “…como el Padre me ha enviado, así también yo os envío. Después de decir esto, sopló sobre ellos y les dijo*: Recibid el Espíritu Santo. A quienes perdonéis los pecados, estos les son[f] perdonados; a quienes retengáis los pecados, estos les son[g] retenidos.” (Juan 20:23)
Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz
San Padre Jansen vivió proféticamente bajo el lema de que “anunciar el Evangelio es el primer y más grande acto de caridad”. Proporcionó esta visión para la Sociedad del Verbo Divino en los siguientes extractos de sus escritos.
“El fin último de nuestra misión hoy es el mismo que ha sido desde los tiempos de nuestro fundador, ‘anunciar el Reino del amor de Dios’ como destino común de toda la humanidad y horizonte hacia el cual caminamos”.
“Es del diálogo interior amoroso del Dios uno y trino que surge esta misión, diálogo de amor y de perdón con toda la humanidad. No inventamos nuestra propia misión, es Missio Dei, somos llamados por el Padre, enviados por la Palabra y guiados por el Espíritu”.
Sería negligente pasar por alto el impacto de la vida familiar del Padre Janssen en su formación en la fe, vocación y visión final para la Sociedad del Verbo Divino. Gerhard y Anna Katharina Janssen, sus padres eran personas de gran fe y vivían la iglesia doméstica al más alto nivel.
El padre del Padre Arnold Janssen fue bendecido con ojos que veían y oídos que escuchaban la Palabra de Dios mientras la ponían en práctica. Tenía un gran amor por la Trinidad y por las Sagradas Escrituras, y con firmeza construyó una casa sobre roca para su hijo Arnold, el segundo de 10 hijos. De los escritos de los miembros de la Sociedad del Verbo Divino, se nos dan cuatro carismas o características para su comunidad religiosa mundial. “Muchas órdenes y congregaciones religiosas tienen ciertas características o rasgos que las hacen conocidas. Somos reconocidos por las cuatro dimensiones características: la Biblia; Animación Misionera; Justicia y Paz; e integridad de la creación”.
En parte, el compromiso con la justicia y la paz llevó a la Sociedad del Verbo Divino al Sur Profundo y a Mississippi a principios del siglo XX. Uno de sus logros singulares fue lanzar el seminario Sacred Heart en 1920, la primera escuela para candidatos afroamericanos al sacerdocio en los Estados Unidos.
Este fue un logro intrépido en el Delta de Mississippi en los alrededores de Jim Crow. De hecho, después de unos años se hizo evidente que el seminario tendría más posibilidades de sobrevivir y prosperar si los SVD lo trasladaban a Bay Saint Louis, donde había muchos más católicos y recursos. Comprenda que en ese momento la Diócesis de Jackson abarcaba todo Mississippi. En 1923 se produjo el cambio y el seminario pasó a llamarse San Agustín.
Estamos aquí hoy para reconocer que, aunque la celebración del 100 aniversario del seminario se celebrará a finales de este año, sus comienzos fueron en el Sagrado Corazón en estos terrenos. En ese momento, la Sociedad del Verbo Divino aún no había alcanzado la marca de medio siglo desde su fundación, lo que solo se suma a este notable esfuerzo por ir a todas las naciones.
Bendiciones a todos los que son parte de la Sociedad del Verbo Divino, y mucha gratitud por su continua presencia en la Diócesis de Jackson, ahora por más de 100 años. Concluyo con un sentido anhelo y una oración personal desde la espiritualidad personal de San Padre Arnoldo Janssens.
“Que las tinieblas del pecado y la noche de la incredulidad se desvanezcan ante la Luz de la Palabra y el Espíritu de la Gracia, y que el corazón de Jesús viva en el corazón de todos”.
Oh Dios, verdad eterna, creo en ti. Oh Dios, fortaleza y salvación nuestra, en ti confío. Oh Dios, bondad infinita, te amo con todo mi corazón.
