(OSV News) – Pope Francis congratulated Catholic Relief Services on the 50th anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl, the Catholic relief agency’s annual Lenten program dedicated to global hunger and poverty alleviation efforts.
CRS, the official international relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., is marking the 50th anniversary of its Rice Bowl program this Lent, which has raised more than $350 million to support domestic and overseas poverty relief efforts. The organization has described that effort – with its iconic cardboard donation box – as more important than ever in light of a freeze on much U.S. foreign aid.
“I was pleased to learn that the Rice Bowl program of Catholic Relief Services is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary,” Pope Francis wrote in a letter the group shared with media March 14. “On this auspicious occasion, I express my good wishes to all involved in this noble initiative as well as my gratitude for the faithful in the United States of America, who, through this service, assist the poorest and most vulnerable at home and abroad.”
Pope Francis said that for five decades, during “the holy season of Lent, when the Church invites us to pray, fast, and give alms in preparation for the Easter celebrations,” the Rice Bowl program “has offered a concrete way for Catholics to give alms as they seek to put their faith into action.”
“When caring for our neighbor, we must always remember that charity is to be given without qualifications or limits, as Jesus teaches us in the parable of the Good Samaritan,” he said, referring to the story in Luke’s Gospel. “In doing so, we reflect the closeness, compassion, and tender love of God who cares for all of his children in the one human family.”
CRS’ Rice Bowl initiative combines the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to provide humanitarian aid, spiritual renewal and increased solidarity with those in need. The funds – 25% of which help local diocesan outreaches, with 75% benefiting CRS programs abroad – support a mission that is “critical to millions,” said Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, CRS board chair, in a March 5 statement from the organization.
The iconic CRS Rice Bowl cardboard box is pictured in this file photo. Pope Francis congratulated Catholic Relief Services on the 50th anniversary of the Lenten initiative to support its overseas charitable work in the name of the Catholic Church in the U.S. (OSV News photo/Karen Kasmauski, CRS)
The campaign, launched in 1975 by Msgr. Robert Coll as a local effort in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, became a national initiative through its introduction at the Philadelphia-based 41st International Eucharistic Congress in 1976, and its subsequent adoption by the U.S. bishops through CRS.
In 2023, some 733 million people worldwide faced hunger, according to the United Nations’ 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. Hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition have devastating physical and psychosocial consequences, including insufficient height and weight in children. “It is my hope therefore that the Rice Bowl program and other initiatives offered by Catholic Relief Services will continue to serve as examples of how to fulfill the Gospel’s command to love and serve our neighbor in a communal way,” Pope Francis said. “With these sentiments, I renew my best wishes as you celebrate this anniversary, and upon all who support the Rice Bowl program, I invoke Almighty God’s blessings of wisdom, hope and strength.”
(NOTES: More information about the program can be found at crsricebowl.org/give.)
On March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Christ. It is a day that pierces the Lenten season with joyful anticipation of the birth of Christ. It also reminds us of the deep bond between Mother and Son as we move towards Holy Week, with all the pain and loss it held for them, but also harkening to the joy of Easter, when God’s promise of salvation was fulfilled in Christ’s Resurrection. There is a scene in the film “The Passion of the Christ” when Mary sees Jesus fall down during His grueling walk to Calvary. This prompts a memory, captured in a flashback, of her running to Jesus when He falls as a child. And seeing Him fall under the weight of the cross, she runs to Him again, falling to her knees beside Him and declaring, “I am here.”
Father Ed Dougherty
It’s such a beautiful and heartbreaking moment because it recalls a time when these words spoken from Mother to Son would have been enough to assuage the pain of a simple childhood accident. But those words cannot mitigate the pain of the Passion and all that has been heaped upon our Savior’s shoulders. And here, Jesus raises His bloodied face to Mary and says, “See, Mother, I make all things new.”
It’s a line spoken by Christ in Revelation, when He declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” But it is brilliantly transported here to this moment because it so perfectly captures the crux of all that is being accomplished in the Passion. And that childhood scene highlights the nature of the sacrifice because it is the most perfect earthly love between Mary and Jesus and the most perfect life ever lived that is being sacrificed on our behalf.
The Solemnity of the Annunciation reminds us of the beautiful love-filled life of Christ that was so cruelly taken from Him in the Crucifixion. But those words, “Behold, I make all things new,” remind us of all that is accomplished in the pain that beset Mother and Son in the Passion because Mary’s “Yes” to the Annunciation had the intention of mission about it. And the love Jesus and Mary shared from the moment of His conception and throughout His life had the intention of mission about it because they both knew God was calling them to a purpose that required sacrifice.
This perfect love between Mother and Son sheds light on how we should look upon those placed in our lives by God. We know there will always be a struggle when we set out to accomplish great things together, but that struggle should not mitigate the joy of the love we share when we keep our eyes set on the hope of the Resurrection.
So let us greet the Solemnity of the Annunciation with the proper pause it requires during this Lenten season and appreciate all that Mary took upon herself in her “Yes” to God and all that Christ gave up in His “Yes” to suffering for our salvation. It’s a pause that can draw us into the most beautiful contemplation of the nature of the love that existed between Mary and Jesus and point us towards a new and deeper way of loving all those God entrusts to our care.
(For a free copy of The Christophers’ Lift Up Your Hearts, e-mail: mail@christophers.org)
WALKING WITH MIGRANTS By Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio In the more than 30 articles I have written in the last three years, I have spoken from the perspective of a person with a Ph.D. in social work, concentrating on the study of migration. My doctoral dissertation dealt with research on undocumented migration as experienced in the 1970s.
Today, however, I speak more as a moral theologian focused on Catholic social teaching, whose fundamental principle is the dignity of the human person. More than 30 years ago, the Catholic bishops of the United States published a succinct description of Catholic social teaching on migration. First, every nation has a right to defend its borders. Secondly, at the same time, every nation has an obligation to take migrants when necessary to promote the international common good.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is retired bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. He writes the column “Walking With Migrants” for Catholic News Service and The Tablet. (OSV News photo/courtesy DeSales Media Group)
While it may seem challenging, a nation must engage moral principles to help define its social policies, as moral tenets have helped determine how, as humans, we relate to one another. With over 50 years of experience, first as a parish priest, then as a social worker in Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Newark, followed by six years at the U.S. bishops’ conference as the director of the Migration and Refugee Program, and founder of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the largest legal support organization in the country, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of such ethical considerations.
Now, after 27 years as a bishop, I can say that I have never seen such a deplorable and unnecessary experience in human suffering that has been caused by a dysfunctional political system.
Mass deportations are unnecessary. Of course, convicted criminals who are a threat to our communities should be deported, but not without due process. The dignity of every human being, however, must be respected, especially the dignity of the worker. Our nation is not without fault because we have used undocumented labor to fill the gaps in our labor market for at least the last 50 years.
Undocumented workers work in construction, service industries, agriculture and almost every other area where U.S. workers do not want that work even when they are available. These workers are sometimes exploited. While they pay taxes and contribute to the Social Security system, they are unable to qualify for Social Security or many federal social service programs.
It is certainly a call to the conscience of our nation that we must challenge ourselves to see how we treat the aliens among us, as the Old Testament reminds us. Various efforts have been made to rectify the situation, such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act – the legalization program of 1986. However, since that legislation was not comprehensive, it merely facilitated continued undocumented migration. Undocumented migration is a benefit for some sectors of the labor market and businesses but to the detriment of the migrants, who work in substandard conditions for below-market wages.
The current political impasse has brought us to a point where we are unable to effectively negotiate issues related to U.S. immigration history. It is as bad as it can get, almost as bad as the racist curb on migration in 1924, which has been hailed as the necessary pause keeping undesirable migrants from coming to the country.
Lucky were those whose ancestors came before that date, like mine. Before 1924, almost all healthy and able-bodied immigrants could immigrate to the United States if they had either a relative or friend as a sponsor, who would guarantee that they would not become a public charge.
The end is not in sight. What made America great was migration, and without it, we may never achieve greatness again.
There are other solutions to the inherent problems which migration causes. Our intelligence and resources as a nation could certainly solve almost every one of them. The constant humanitarian gestures of our nation have made us great: When we took refugees, when we accepted asylum-seekers, and when we gave temporary protected status to people fleeing persecution and adverse conditions in their home countries.
All of these humane gestures have given us the greatness that we can call our own. Greatness is not synonymous with wealth. Moral leadership among nations creates true greatness.
Anglican Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde recently demonstrated moral courage by confronting President Trump with truth just after Inauguration Day. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in a letter to the U.S. bishops, commends the efforts of many bishops and others to confront this crisis. The most prophetic remark in his letter was, “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”
“Fortress America” is not a country headed for greatness if it loses its moral conscience. No nation can ever survive and deserve a place among the family of nations without respecting basic human dignity. Hopefully, we will reverse course and learn this lesson before it is too late.
(Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. He writes the column “Walking With Migrants” for The Tablet and OSV News.)
By Gina Christian (OSV News) – While the season of Lent is marked by fasting and abstinence, cooking for a hungry family in this season of prayer and penance “doesn’t mean boring or ‘fish all the time,’” a Catholic chef told OSV News.
Catholics fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and forego meat on all the Fridays of Lent as well. In the Latin Catholic Church, those norms are obligatory for the faithful ages 18 through 59.
Members of the 23 Eastern Catholic churches observe their own particular restrictions during Lent, more commonly known among those churches as the Great Fast.
A gourmet crab cake prepared by certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Mich., is seen in this undated photo. Churches told OSV News that with planning, flexibility and creativity, Lenten meals can engage the entire family and every palate. (OSV News photo/Courtesy of Jim Churches)
But discipline and deliciousness aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, said certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan.
Churches – who also offers culinary instruction through Homeschool Connections, a national Catholic homeschooling course provider – said the key to Lenten cooking is to “plan ahead.”
“When you don’t think about it until it’s Friday, it’s a knee-jerk reaction of, ‘What do we have around the house?’” he said.
Instead, he advised, “take the time throughout the year to write a note” about family favorites – such as “mac and cheese, or pizza” – that can be enjoyed “without the meat component,” and cook the meatless versions on a regular basis.
“You can nail it down, and have the kids excited about it,” he said. “Get their input. And then they start to say, ‘This is really good.’”
Ditching meat – and dairy, and fish – all year long is something the nonprofit PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is hoping Christians and others will embrace.
PETA’s Christian outreach division, LAMBS (an acronym for “least among my brothers and sisters”), has issued a “40 Days of Lentils” challenge, inviting faithful to adopt a vegan lifestyle for both spiritual and ecological benefits.
The campaign includes vegan starter and creation care kits and cites numerous scriptural references to animals – with the organization noting that while Jesus is recorded in the Gospels as eating fish (and likely lamb, at least during Passover), he “would be horrified by today’s factory-farming practices.”
Although he doesn’t eschew meat, Churches admitted, “My body tells me sometimes, ‘You’ve had too much meat,’ and you just don’t crave it; you want something light.”
For millions worldwide, going meatless and eating light aren’t choices, but necessities – something Catholic Relief Services, the official humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic bishops, highlights in its annual Lenten Rice Bowl initiative.
Now in its 50th year, the campaign invites participants to prayerfully eat simple, meatless meals and donate savings toward CRS’s humanitarian and development projects, with 25% of the funds benefiting local hunger relief efforts and 75% assisting those in a number of low-income nations.
As part of Rice Bowl, CRS provides meatless recipes from the areas it serves, among them egg sauce with boiled yams from Nigeria, black bean soup from Guatemala, dahl (a lentil-based dish) from Bangladesh and crispy pancakes from Vietnam.
Churches told OSV News that some of his Lenten favorites are Polish pierogi – boiled or fried unleavened dough dumplings filled with vegetables (and, outside of Lent, meat) – as well as “really creative salads” with “strawberries, goat cheese and candied nuts.”
He describes his cooking style as “very cheese-forward and butter-forward,” heavily incorporating dairy in the style of classic French cuisine.
But even on a tight budget with limited room for dairy, Lenten meals can be flavorful and interesting, Churches said.
“You can buy dried gnocchi (Italian dumplings made of flour or potato starch), which is very inexpensive but very filling,” he explained. “You can make that with a white or red sauce … keep some of the pasta water to help thicken up your sauce a little bit, and throw your vegetables in there.”
Of course, fish and seafood are still staples of Lent, said Churches, noting the fish fry he started at his parish five years ago.
“One of our top sellers is the bang-bang shrimp,” he said, describing a popular recipe for fried shrimp in a spicy, sweet chili sauce with a mayonnaise base.
That recipe and Churches’ other signature Lenten dishes are a far cry from those listed in a late-19th century “Cookery Book for Fasting and Abstinence Days” by an author simply known as “P.O.P.”
The volume – released in London by Burns and Oates, and in the U.S. by the New York Catholic Publication Society – features instructions for eel soups and pie, as well as anchovy toast and imitation mutton broth, dishes the author hoped would offset the “monotony” of faithful’s Lenten fare.
Yet the main ingredient for Lenten cooking isn’t something found in a grocery store, said Churches. “When you gather around the table, it’s a nourishing experience; a family-driven thing,” he said. “It’s all about family connection.”
Certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Mich., is seen in this undated photo. Churches told OSV News that with planning, flexibility and creativity, Lenten meals can engage the entire family and every palate. (OSV News photo/Courtesy of Jim Churches)
(Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posts on X March 14, 2025, about a conversation he had with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. (CNS photo/screen grab from X)
NATION TOPEKA, Kan. (OSV News) – A Satanic group’s plans for a “black mass” in the Kansas Statehouse on March 28 are sparking widespread outrage among Catholics. The Kansas Catholic Conference condemned the event as a “sacrilegious” display of “anti-Catholic bigotry” and an insult to people of goodwill. Benedictine College in Atchison is dedicating its March weekly Holy Hours, rosaries and Memorare prayers “to the intention of the conversion of those involved in the sacrilegious event and that faith will grow in Kansas.” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced March 12 that she was not planning to stop the event and it could still be held outdoors but not inside the Capitol. Despite this, Michael Stewart, founder of the Kansas-based Satanic Grotto, has vowed to defy the ban. In a March 13 statement, Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference criticized Kelly’s response, saying it “reeks of condescension and a willful ignorance about what is scheduled to happen.”
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The 2021 American Rescue Plan brought a major victory for families, lifting 3.7 million U.S. children out of poverty by increasing the federal child tax credit and making it fully refundable. For the first time, even families with little or no income could access the credit, benefitting millions, especially in minority communities. The maximum credit was raised to $3,600 for children under 6 and $3,000 for kids aged 6 to 17, with no cap for multiple children. The program had a measurable impact, reducing child poverty to 5.2%. However, this boost expired, and the existing credit of $2,000 per qualifying child is set to halve after 2025. States may offer a lifeline with their own child tax credits – currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia have such programs. As federal support wanes, some states are stepping in with their own solutions, which is “a huge policy shift (and) really an area to watch,” said Megan Curran, policy director at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy, in New York City. There are also indications that child tax credits are a pro-life asset, with Josh McCabe, director of Social Policy at the Niskanen Center in Washington pointing to research supporting the view they “can tilt the scales toward having the child” for some on the margins.
VATICAN VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As the United States continues to attempt to broker a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with the Vatican secretary of state. In a long post on X March 14, the Ukrainian leader said that during the conversation with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, “I wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia. The Holy See has received a list of Ukrainians being held in Russian prisons and camps. We are counting on support for their release,” the president posted. The Vatican released no information on the call.
ROME (OSV News) – As Pope Francis marks the 12th anniversary of his election while recovering in the hospital, his biographer, Austen Ivereigh, reflected on the pope’s enduring witness. Ivereigh compared Francis’ leadership to that of St. John Paul II, highlighting his dedication to the papacy even in frailty, including the willingness to serve while wheelchair-bound. Despite ongoing health concerns, Francis continues to embody humility and docility, focusing on mission over personal comfort, his biographer highlighted. Ivereigh, author of “The Great Reformer” and “Wounded Shepherd,” recently wrote “First Belong to God,” which guides believers to place Christ at the center of their lives and is based in part on Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s past retreats. Addressing criticism of documents such as “Amoris Laetitia” and “Fiducia Supplicans,” Ivereigh underscored Francis’ pastoral approach to complex issues, emphasizing mercy and the importance of walking with those in difficult situations. Looking ahead, he noted Francis’ unique leadership, fostering a culture of discernment and humility within the church, rather than triumphalism.
WORLD MEXICO CITY (OSV News) – The Mexican bishops’ conference condemned the discovery of an extermination camp operated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, calling it “one of the cruelest expressions of evil and human misery.” The camp, found by a group of people searching for their missing relatives in Teuchitlán, included cremation ovens, bone fragments, and over 200 pairs of shoes. The bishops expressed concern that similar sites exist across Mexico, violating the dignity of the human person. The discovery highlights the ongoing crisis of over 120,000 missing persons in the country, a tragedy fueled by cartel violence and government inaction. The bishops praised the families, particularly the “Madres Buscadoras,” for their efforts to uncover the truth despite facing danger and indifference from authorities. They criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum’s claims of a drop in homicides, pointing out a 40% increase in disappearances. At a press conference, Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega of Guadalajara questioned why local authorities failed to properly inspect the area. Sheinbaum responded to the bishops’ statement March 13 during a press conference, saying, “They don’t have the correct information, the episcopal conference.” She continued, “There’s this idea that there are more disappearances than homicides. That’s not true.”
SAN SALVADOR (OSV News) – Catholic sisters in El Salvador are leading the charge against a new law allowing metal mining in the country, supporting the church’s “Yes to Life, No to Mining” campaign. The law, passed in December 2024, permits exploration and extraction of gold and other minerals like lithium, despite a 2017 ban. The church, inspired by Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi, has urged unity in opposing the law, which critics argue threatens the environment and human health. On Feb. 7, Catholic groups, including the Conference of Religious of El Salvador, organized fasting, prayers, and signature collection to present to lawmakers. The bishops, along with local activists, have rallied against mining, citing risks to water sources and public health. President Nayib Bukele supports mining for economic reasons, but Catholics argue it threatens the poor and the environment. Despite threats and political persecution, the church remains resolute in its opposition, calling for a united effort to protect El Salvador’s natural resources. Natividad Chicas Rivera, a Catholic from Osicala, El Salvador, told Global Sisters Report that all Salvadorans will be left with from mining is pollution.
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a stamp honoring the late William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), a lifelong devout Catholic who was an intellectual, provocative commentator well-known for his sharp wit. Buckley is considered a founder of modern conservatism. The Postal Service said March 6 that the Buckley stamp is being issued along with other new stamps celebrating the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and one previewing the 2026 World Stamp Show in Boston. Additional stamps in the Postal Service’s 2025 program will be announced later.
The new stamp from U.S. Postal Service features William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), a lifelong devout Catholic who was an intellectual, provocative commentator well-known for his sharp and who is considered a founder of modern conservatism. (OSV News photo/U.S. Postal Service)
One of the most influential public intellectuals in modern U.S. history, Buckley defined the conservative movement of the mid-20th century and was one of its most recognizable spokesmen. He was the founder of National Review magazine, hosted the weekly “Firing Line” television program for 33 years and wrote more than 50 books.
Greg Breeding, an art director for the Postal Service, designed the stamp, which bears a portrait of Buckley. Dale Stephanos created the original art by hand with graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, then refined it digitally.
Born in New York City, Buckley served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Afterward he attended Yale University, where he engaged in debate and conservative political commentary. Upon graduating from Yale with honors in 1950, he worked at the CIA for two years, then went on to found National Review.
He died at his desk in Stamford, Connecticut, Feb. 27, 2008, at age 82. That April more than 2,000 people attended a memorial Mass for him. It was concelebrated by 18 priests at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. He was remembered as a man of deep faith and unfailing confidence in the Catholic Church who brought people to believe in God and inspired vocations to the priesthood.
“His tongue was the pen of a ready writer” and his “words were strong enough to help crack the walls of an evil empire,” according to Father George W. Rutler, principal celebrant and homilist. “His categories were not right and left, but right and wrong. What graces he had to change a century came by his belief in Christ, who has changed all centuries.”
Buckley’s “life testified that there can be no concord with evil, for evil always seeks to devour the good, and peace at any price is very expensive,” the priest added.
VICKSBURG – St. Paul Parish hosted its first ever Mardi Gras party on Sunday, March 2, after the 10:30 am Mass. It was very well attended, and every one was very well fed with gumbo, jambalaya, hot dogs and King Cakes from New Orleans with Cajun music playing in the background. (Photo by Connie Hosemann)
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT CAMDEN – Sacred Heart, Intercultural Competence Workshop for Parish Leaders, Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenter: Deacon Juan Pagan of the Diocese of Lafayette. Explore what is culture and more. Details: Sister Amelia at amelia.breton@jacksondiocese.org.
GLUCKSTADT – St. Joseph, Millions of Monicas – Praying with confidence for our children, each Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the church. Join with other mothers and grandmothers as we pray for our children’s faithful return to the church. Details: email millionsofmonicas@stjosephgluckstadt.com.
MEMPHIS – St. Michael, St. John Paul II Biographer George Weigel Event, Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. Weigel will reflect on writing St. John Paul II and stories about the great saint. Details: email khira.rotty@stmichaelmemphis.org.
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – The OCE hosts a Zoom Rosary the first Wednesday of each month during the school year at 7 p.m. The upcoming Rosary is on April 2. Details: Join the rosary via zoom at https://bit.ly/zoomrosary2024.
VIRTUAL – Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Stay with Me: Lenten Prayer for Disciples virtual event, Wednesdays through April 9 at 7 p.m. Register once for participation in any or all of the sessions at springfieldop.org/events. Hear reflections on the theme, enjoy periods of silence and sharing, and build a community of prayer for Lent. Details: call Sister Denise at (217) 787-0481.
VOCATIONS – Come and See Weekend, April 11-13 at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. Father Tristan Stovall is hosting an opportunity for young men age 16-18 to learn more about the priesthood, to begin discernment of a vocation and to connect with other teens who love their faith. Details: visit https://jacksonvocations.com/events for more information and to register. Deadline is April 3.
PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS CANTON – Holy Child Jesus, Musical Celebration in honor of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, Saturday, March 29 at 3 p.m. Details: “Cherie” at arievans29@yahoo.com or (601) 259-1363.
CLINTON – Holy Savior, Youth Bake Sale, Sunday, March 30 after 10:30 a.m. Mass. Details: church office (601) 924-6344.
HERNANDO – Cocktails and Catholicism will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hernando on April 11th. 21 years old+ event.
JACKSON – St. Richard, Men’s Prayer Breakfast with Bishop Kopacz, Monday, April 14, beginning with Mass at 6:30 a.m. and breakfast provided by the Knights of Columbus at 7 a.m. in Foley Hall. Details: church office (601) 366-2335.
JACKSON – Holy Family Catholic Church is holding a three day Lenten Revival from April 7th through April 9th. The theme is the Power of Prayer. Revivalist is Father Leon Ngandu, SVD. Contact the parish office for more information.
JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School, Drawdown 2025, Saturday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. Grand prize is $5,000. Tickets cost $120; with additional $15 for second chance. Join us for fellowship, food, entertainment, silent auction and more! Details: email stbdrawdown@gmail.com or visit https://bit.ly/STBSDD2025.
SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Six Parish Youth event – Team Scavenger Hunt and Trivia, Sunday, March 30 from 3-7 p.m. Event begins with Mass, then activities and dinner. Details: call (662) 895-5007.
PILGRIMAGES HOLY LAND – Pilgrimage to Holy Land: Join Father Mark Shoffner, pastor of St. John Oxford, July 21-31, 2025. Details: lpjp.org, then click on “All Pilgrimages” and “Holy Land.” Details: church office (662) 234-6073.
MARIAN SHRINES – Pilgrimage to Marian Shrines (Fatima, Spain and Lourdes) with Father Lincoln Dall and Deacon John McGregor, Sept, 15-24, 2025. Details: for more information visit www.206tours.com/frlincoln.
ROME/LISBON/FATIMA – Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Lisbon and Fatima with Father Carlisle Beggerly, Oct. 4-15, 2025. Cost: $5,799 per person (includes airfare from anywhere in the U.S.) Details: contact Pat Nause at (601) 604-0412; Proximo Travel at (855) 842-8001 or proximotravel.com. Mention trip #1181.
LENTEN RECONCILIATION BATESVILLE – St. Mary, Penance Service, Thursday, April 3 from 6-7 p.m. CLINTON – Holy Savior, Reconciliation Service, Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. FLOWOOD – St. Paul, Penance Service, Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. GREENVILLE – St. Joseph, Penance Service, Monday, April 7 at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. JACKSON – St. Richard, Reconciliation, available every Saturday during Lent from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Confession practicum by Father Joe Tonos at 10 a.m. every Saturday during Lent in Foley Hall. OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Penance Service, Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, Penance Service, Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
Un minero muestra una piedra con mineral de oro en la mina San Sebastián, en Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador, el 26 de abril de 2017. Grupos católicos, autoridades eclesiales y las religiosas de El Salvador se oponen a una ley de diciembre de 2024 que deroga otra de 2017 que prohíbía la minería metálica en todo el país. (Foto: OSV News/Reuters/José Cabezas )
NACIÓN TOPEKA, Kansas (OSV News) – Los planes de un grupo satánico de celebrar una “misa negra” en el Palacio de Gobierno de Kansas el 28 de marzo han provocado la indignación generalizada de los católicos. La Conferencia Católica de Kansas condenó el evento como una muestra “sacrílega” de “intolerancia anticatólica” y un insulto a las personas de buena voluntad. El Benedictine College de Atchison está dedicando sus Horas Santas semanales de marzo, rosarios y oraciones de Acordaos “a la intención de la conversión de los implicados en el sacrílego acontecimiento y para que crezca la fe en Kansas.” La gobernadora demócrata Laura Kelly anunció el 12 de marzo que no pensaba suspender el acto y que podría seguir celebrándose al aire libre, pero no dentro del Capitolio. A pesar de ello, Michael Stewart, fundador de la Gruta Satánica de Kansas, ha prometido desafiar la prohibición. En una declaración del 13 de marzo, Chuck Weber, director ejecutivo de la Conferencia Católica de Kansas, criticó la respuesta de Kelly, afirmando que “apesta a condescendencia y a ignorancia deliberada de lo que está previsto que ocurra”.
VATICANO ROMA (OSV News) – Mientras el Papa Francisco celebra el 12º aniversario de su elección mientras se recupera en el hospital, su biógrafo, Austen Ivereigh, reflexionó sobre el testimonio perdurable del Papa. Ivereigh comparó el liderazgo de Francisco con el de San Juan Pablo II, destacando su dedicación al papado incluso en la fragilidad, incluyendo la voluntad de servir mientras estaba en silla de ruedas. A pesar de los continuos problemas de salud, Francisco sigue encarnando la humildad y la docilidad, centrándose en la misión por encima de la comodidad personal, destacó su biógrafo. Ivereigh, autor de “El Gran Reformador” y “Pastor Herido”, escribió recientemente “Primero pertenecer a Dios”, que guía a los creyentes a colocar a Cristo en el centro de sus vidas y se basa en parte en los retiros pasados del padre Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Abordando las críticas a documentos como “Amoris Laetitia” y “Fiducia Supplicans”, Ivereigh subrayó el enfoque pastoral de Francisco ante cuestiones complejas, haciendo hincapié en la misericordia y en la importancia de acompañar a quienes se encuentran en situaciones difíciles. De cara al futuro, destacó el liderazgo único de Francisco, que fomenta una cultura de discernimiento y humildad dentro de la Iglesia, en lugar de triunfalismo.
MUNDO SAN SALVADOR (OSV News) — Las hermanas católicas de El Salvador están liderando la lucha contra una nueva ley que permite la minería metálica en el país, apoyando la campaña de la Iglesia “Sí a la vida, no a la minería”. La ley, aprobada en diciembre de 2024, permite la exploración y extracción de oro y otros minerales como el litio, a pesar de una prohibición de 2017. La Iglesia, inspirada por el Papa Francisco y San Francisco de Asís, ha instado a la unidad para oponerse a la ley, que según los críticos amenaza el medio ambiente y la salud humana. El 7 de febrero, grupos católicos, incluida la Conferencia de Religiosos de El Salvador, organizaron ayunos, oraciones y recogidas de firmas para presentar a los legisladores. Los obispos, junto con activistas locales, se han manifestado en contra de la minería, alegando riesgos para las fuentes de agua y la salud pública. El Presidente Nayib Bukele apoya la minería por razones económicas, pero los católicos sostienen que amenaza a los pobres y al medio ambiente. A pesar de las amenazas y la persecución política, la Iglesia se mantiene firme en su oposición y pide un esfuerzo conjunto para proteger los recursos naturales de El Salvador. Natividad Chicas Rivera, católica de Osicala (El Salvador), declaró a Global Sisters Report que lo único que la minería dejará a los salvadoreños será contaminación.
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LÍNEA DIRECTA DE PREVENCIÓN DE FRAUDE El Departamento de Asuntos Temporales de la Diócesis de Jackson ha contratado a Lighthouse Services para proporcionar una línea directa anónima de fraude financiero, cumplimiento, ética y recursos humanos. Esta línea directa permite un método adecuado para reportar sucesos relacionados con la administración temporal dentro de parroquias, escuelas y la oficina de cancillería.
