Entre los escombros de una iglesia, un capitán de bomberos de Los Ángeles encuentra el sagrario intacto

Por Ann Rodgers
LOS ÁNGELES (OSV News) – Cuatro días después de que la iglesia del Corpus Christi fuera incinerada en el incendio de Palisades, el capitán Bryan Nassour, del cuerpo de bomberos de Los Ángeles, se abrió paso entre una capa de escombros de dos metros en del santuario de la iglesia y recuperó el tabernáculo.

“Lo hice porque toda la comunidad ha quedado diezmada: parece que ha estallado una bomba nuclear y no queda nada en pie”, explicó Nassour en una entrevista con Angelus, el medio de noticias de la Arquidiócesis de Los Ángeles. Nassour es miembro de la iglesia de San Francisco de Sales de Sherman Oaks, cuyo hermano pertenece al Corpus Christi.

“Mi hermano perdió su casa. Tengo amigos íntimos que lo han perdido todo menos la camisa, y también pertenecen a esa iglesia. Así que, si pudiera salvar sólo una cosa, que sea esto, para que tengan algo en lo que creer”, dijo.

Monseñor Liam Kidney (izquierda) y monseñor Lloyd Torgerson aparecen en la iglesia de Santa Mónica con el tabernáculo recuperado de la iglesia del Corpus Christi el 11 de enero de 2025. (Foto de OSV News/Victor Alemán, Angelus)

Ese sábado por la mañana, Nassour, cuya estación en Pacific Palisades está enfrente de Corpus Christi, había estado despierto toda la noche luchando contra otros incendios. Mientras tomaba café en su escritorio y contemplaba la iglesia en ruinas, decidió comprobar si había objetos de valor. Quería protegerlos de los saqueadores y quizá devolver algo significativo a la parroquia.

Ladrillos chamuscados, tejas y montones de escombros llenaban la nave hasta tal punto que tuvo que arrastrarse por debajo de los marcos de las puertas que ya no tenían puerta. El tejado se había derrumbado y un armazón de acero quemado se tambaleaba sobre los restos retorcidos de una lámpara de araña. Los bancos se habían consumido. Sólo quedaba el altar de granito, con el tabernáculo de latón macizo encima y una cruz. El Santísimo Sacramento estaba intacto.

Nassour se sorprendió al ver que el tabernáculo pesaba más de 150 kilos. Su equipo le ayudó a meterlo en la estación.

“Fue una de las cosas más edificantes”, dijo. “No todo el mundo es religioso, pero lo vieron y pensaron: ‘Esto es increíble’. Estamos haciendo algo – al menos una cosa – que podemos salvar para la comunidad”.

Hizo muchas llamadas antes de poder ponerse en contacto con monseñor Liam Kidney, de Corpus Christi, para decirle que el sagrario estaba a salvo y sin daños.

“Estaba totalmente incrédulo”, dice Nassour.

Nassour se ofreció a buscar otros objetos sagrados y el sacerdote le dijo dónde encontrar los cálices y las patenas. Los cálices y las patenas habían sufrido graves daños. Pero los bomberos recuperaron otros objetos sagrados, incluidos tres recipientes intactos de óleo santo.

El latón resiste el calor, pero Nassour sospecha que el tabernáculo sobrevivió gracias a algo más.
“Hable con cualquier bombero. En cualquier edificio religioso, lo que suele sobrevivir es la cruz y ciertos objetos muy religiosos, a menos que se les prenda fuego”, explicó.

Gabe Sánchez, un agente especial retirado del FBI que realiza investigaciones para la arquidiócesis, fue enviado a recuperar el tabernáculo. Lo llevó a la iglesia de Santa Mónica, donde monseñor Kidney celebró una Misa para los sobrevivientes al día siguiente.

En esa Misa, el tabernáculo estaba sobre una mesa junto al altar. Mons. Kidney contó que Nassour le llamó para preguntarle: “He encontrado esta gran caja de oro. ¿Qué quieres que haga con ella?”

Los feligreses de la parroquia del Corpus Christi estallaron en aplausos.

(Ann Rodgers escribe para Angelus, el medio de noticias de la Arquidiócesis de Los Ángeles.)

El Papa recordó el caso sin resolver de un niño de 5 años desaparecido en Argentina

Por Eduardo Campos Limas
(OSV News) – En la segunda audiencia general del Año Jubilar el 15 de enero, el Papa Francisco reflexionó sobre el trabajo infantil y otras situaciones críticas que afectan a los niños en todo el mundo, y mencionó el caso de Loan Danilo Peña. Se trata de un niño argentino de 5 años que desapareció en junio de 2024, una tragedia sin resolver que conmocionó a la nación sudamericana.

“Me gustaría recordar hoy a este pequeño, Loan”, dijo el pontífice durante su audiencia del miércoles. “Una de las hipótesis es que lo enviaron para extraerle órganos, para hacer trasplantes”.

Asimismo, expresó su preocupación por la explotación de los menores y el sufrimiento que padecen, señalando que muchos niños regresan marcados con cicatrices o, en el peor de los casos, no regresan jamás.

No es la primera vez que el Papa Francisco expresa su preocupación por Loan, quien desapareció después de almorzar con sus familiares en la casa de su abuela, cerca de la localidad de Nueve de Julio, en el noreste argentino.

Loan Danilo Peña, un niño argentino de 5 años que desapareció el 13 de junio de 2024, aparece en una foto facilitada por la alerta Sofía, un protocolo que ayuda a prevenir la trata de personas emitiendo una alerta para movilizar a las autoridades en cuestión de horas cuando desaparece un niño, aunque dicha alerta no se emitió en el caso de Loan. La tragedia de la desaparición de Loan conmocionó a Argentina, y su paradero sigue siendo desconocido. (Foto OSV News/cortesía de Alerta Sofía)

En los últimos meses, el Papa intercambió cartas con Gustavo Vera, un reconocido defensor de la lucha contra la trata de personas en Argentina, y mencionó a Loan en varias ocasiones.

“En tres o cuatro cartas, se refirió al caso de Loan, y señaló que es similar a muchos sucesos que permanecen desconocidos”, explicó Vera a OSV News.

El caso sigue sin resolverse, ya que no hay pruebas concluyentes sobre lo que le ocurrió al pequeño. Ese día, Loan acompañó a su padre a la casa de su abuela para un almuerzo especial con otros familiares y amigos. Era el día de San Antonio de Padua, una festividad importante en la región.

Después de almorzar, Loan y otros niños siguieron a su tío Antonio Benítez y a dos amigos de este hasta un naranjal cercano, sin la autorización de su padre. Desde entonces, nunca más lo volvieron a ver.
Según Vera, se cometieron una serie de errores y posiblemente otros delitos. Las autoridades locales, por ejemplo, no emitieron una alerta Sofía de manera inmediata tras la desaparición de Loan.

La alerta Sofía en Argentina, similar a la alerta Amber en Estados Unidos, activa un protocolo integral que involucra a las fuerzas de seguridad y a varios agentes del Estado. El propósito es evitar que el delito de trata de personas se concrete, especialmente en las primeras 24 horas, y localizar al menor en buen estado de salud y cerca del lugar donde fue visto por última vez.

“En cambio, el Poder Judicial asumió que se había perdido, una suposición absurda que llevó a los investigadores a perder al menos cinco días cruciales”, afirmó Vera.

Siete personas fueron detenidas en relación con la desaparición de Loan, entre ellas un oficial de policía acusado de encubrir el crimen. También fueron arrestados el tío y la tía del menor. Esta última brindó dos testimonios diferentes y contradictorios a la policía, y sus acciones parecen indicar que habría implantado pruebas falsas para engañar a los investigadores.
Vera señaló que nadie sabe qué ocurrió con el niño y aclaró que el Papa no afirmó que sus órganos fueran vendidos, sino que simplemente subrayó que esa posibilidad debería analizarse seriamente.
Grupos de la Iglesia argentina que luchan contra la trata de personas han exigido a las autoridades que el caso se resuelva de inmediato, e incluso han organizado marchas contra la trata.

El Papa Francisco ha sido una voz internacional contundente en la denuncia de la trata de personas, calificándola como un “flagelo mundial”.

“Es una llamada a no quedarnos paralizados, a movilizar todos nuestros recursos en la lucha contra la trata y por la restitución de la plena dignidad a quienes han sido sus víctimas”, dijo el pontífice el febrero pasado, al tiempo que advirtió: “Si cerramos nuestros ojos y oídos, si permanecemos inertes, seremos cómplices”. Así lo explicó el Papa en su mensaje para la X Jornada Mundial de Oración y Concienciación contra la Trata de Personas.

El padre scalabriniano Juan Antonio Ramírez, secretario de la Comisión para los Migrantes y Refugiados, conocida como CEMI, dijo a OSV News en agosto que la trata de personas no es algo nuevo en Argentina, con cientos de casos que van y vienen a lo largo de los años y nunca se resuelven por la falta de pruebas concluyentes.

“Muchos de estos problemas se dan en un ámbito de delincuencia y violencia, por lo que pasan desapercibidos para la mayoría de la sociedad”, afirmó el padre Ramírez.

(Eduardo Campos Lima escribe para OSV News desde São Paulo.)

La administración Trump permitirá a ICE realizar detenciones en las iglesias

Por Kate Scanlon
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – La administración Trump dijo el 21 de enero que rescindiría una política de larga data que impide a los agentes de Inmigración y Aduanas realizar arrestos en lo que se consideran lugares sensibles, incluyendo lugares de culto, escuelas y hospitales.

Antes de su segunda toma de posesión, el equipo de transición de Trump indicó que su administración eliminaría la antigua política de ICE, que prohíbe las detenciones por parte de agentes de inmigración en esos lugares, así como en otros eventos sensibles como bodas y funerales sin la aprobación de los supervisores. Los defensores católicos de los inmigrantes expresaron su alarma ante el anuncio.

El secretario en funciones del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS), Benjamine Huffman, ordenó el 20 de enero que se derogaran esas directrices, así como otra directiva que restringía los parámetros de la libertad condicional humanitaria, dijo un portavoz del DHS.

Trabajadores agrícolas migrantes asisten a una misa al aire libre el 26 de septiembre de 2019, en Hatch, N.M. La administración Trump dijo el 21 de enero de 2025 que rescindiría una política de larga data que impedía a los agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas realizar arrestos en lo que se consideran lugares sensibles, incluidos lugares de culto, escuelas y hospitales. (Foto de OSV News/Tyler Orsburn)

“Esta medida faculta a los valientes hombres y mujeres de la CBP y el ICE para hacer cumplir nuestras leyes de inmigración y atrapar a extranjeros criminales – incluidos asesinos y violadores – que han entrado ilegalmente en nuestro país”, dijo un portavoz del DHS. “Los criminales ya no podrán esconderse en las escuelas e iglesias de Estados Unidos para evitar ser arrestados. La Administración Trump no atará las manos de nuestras valientes fuerzas del orden, y en su lugar confía en que usen el sentido común”.

El obispo Mark J. Seitz de El Paso, Texas, dijo en una declaración del 21 de enero que el cambio de política es una de las “muchas acciones drásticas del gobierno federal relacionadas con la inmigración que afectan profundamente a nuestra comunidad local y plantean urgentes preocupaciones morales y humanas”.

“El fin de la política de lugares sensibles (áreas protegidas) del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional infunde miedo en el corazón de nuestra comunidad, cubriendo cínicamente con un manto de ansiedad a las familias cuando están adorando a Dios, buscando asistencia de salud y dejando y recogiendo a los niños en la escuela”, dijo el obispo Seitz. “También hemos visto el cierre rápido e indiscriminado de la frontera a los solicitantes de asilo y el regreso de la mal concebida política de ‘Quédate en México’, violando el debido proceso y restringiendo las pocas opciones legales disponibles para los más vulnerables que llaman a nuestra puerta en busca de compasión y ayuda”.

El obispo Seitz añadió que quería asegurar a la comunidad inmigrante de El Paso que “sea cual sea su fe y vengan de donde vengan, hacemos nuestras vuestras angustias y temores en este momento”.

“Estamos con ustedes en este momento de crisis familiar y personal y les prometemos nuestra solidaridad, confiando en que el Señor, Jesucristo, traerá el bien incluso de este momento de dolor, y que este tiempo de prueba será sólo el preludio de una verdadera reforma, una sociedad reconciliada y justicia para todos los que se ven obligados a emigrar”, dijo.

La Diócesis de El Paso, añadió el obispo Seitz, “continuará educando a nuestros fieles sobre sus derechos, proporcionando servicios legales y trabajando con nuestros líderes comunitarios para mitigar el daño de la aplicación indiscriminada de las leyes de inmigración. A través de nuestro Fondo de Asistencia a los Refugiados Fronterizos, en colaboración con el Instituto Fronterizo Hope, nos estamos preparando para canalizar ayuda humanitaria adicional a los migrantes varados en nuestra ciudad hermana de Ciudad Juárez”.

Dylan Corbett, director ejecutivo de Hope Border Institute, dijo a OSV News: “La revocación de la política de áreas protegidas es gravemente preocupante y tendrá un impacto inmediato en las familias de nuestras parroquias, así como en nuestras instituciones educativas católicas y organizaciones de servicios”.

“Es un ataque a los miembros de nuestra comunidad en momentos cruciales de su vida: dejando y recogiendo a los niños, buscando asistencia sanitaria y adorando a Dios”, dijo. “Tiene graves implicaciones para la libertad religiosa y afecta al núcleo de la confianza indispensable para una comunidad segura”.

(Kate Scanlon es una reportera nacional de OSV News.)

Cuba liberará a 553 presos por el Jubileo a pedido del Papa Francisco

Por Justin McLellan

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – Retomando el espíritu del recién inaugurado Año Santo 2025, el gobierno cubano ha anunciado la liberación de 553 personas que actualmente cumplen penas de prisión.

Cuba dijo que liberaría gradualmente a los prisioneros “en el espíritu del Jubileo Ordinario de 2025 declarado por Su Santidad” después de un “análisis cuidadoso” de las vías legales y humanitarias para promulgar su liberación, anunció el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba en una declaración el 14 de enero.

La declaración no especificaba quiénes estarían entre los 553 presos designados para ser liberados.

Ese mismo día, la Casa Blanca anunció que dejaría de designar a Cuba como un país patrocinador del terrorismo y que eliminaría algunas restricciones impuestas a Cuba.

La bandera de Cuba se ve mientras el Papa Francisco llega para celebrar Misa en la Plaza de la Revolución en La Habana en esta foto de archivo del 20 de septiembre de 2015. (Foto CNS/Paul Haring)

La Casa Blanca dijo que las acciones eran pasos “para apoyar al pueblo cubano como parte de un entendimiento con la Iglesia Católica bajo el liderazgo del Papa Francisco y mejorar los medios de vida de los cubanos”.

“Tomamos estas medidas en agradecimiento a los esfuerzos de la Iglesia Católica para facilitar que Cuba tome sus propias medidas constructivas para restaurar la libertad de sus ciudadanos y permitir condiciones que mejoren el sustento de los cubanos”, dijo la declaración de la Casa Blanca.

El cardenal Pietro Parolin, secretario de Estado del Vaticano, dijo que el anuncio de Cuba “es un signo de gran esperanza al comienzo de este Jubileo”, informó Vatican News el 15 de enero, y dijo: “Es significativo que las autoridades de La Habana vinculen esta decisión directamente al llamado del Papa Francisco”.

El cardenal dijo que otros signos prometedores para el Año Jubilar incluyen la decisión del presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, de conmutar las penas de muerte de decenas de reclusos federales y la abolición de la pena de muerte en Zimbabue en 2024.

“Esperamos que 2025 continúe en esta dirección y que las buenas noticias se multipliquen, especialmente con una tregua para los numerosos conflictos en curso”, afirmó el cardenal Parolin.

Tras el anuncio, el cardenal Seán P. O’Malley, arzobispo emérito de Boston, dijo que durante los últimos años había llevado mensajes del Papa Francisco a los presidentes de Estados Unidos y Cuba “buscando la liberación de los presos en Cuba y la mejora de las relaciones entre los dos países por el bien del pueblo cubano”.

En el espíritu del Jubileo, que invita a todas las personas a fomentar el perdón, la reconciliación y diversas expresiones de compasión, “elogio y doy la bienvenida a las decisiones del gobierno de los Estados Unidos y del gobierno de Cuba de dar pasos que durante años han parecido imposibles”, dijo el cardenal el 14 de enero en un blog.

El comunicado de la cancillería cubana sobre la excarcelación de los más de 500 presos no mencionó las medidas de Estados Unidos, pero señaló las discusiones entre el presidente cubano Miguel Díaz-Canel, el canciller cubano y el Papa Francisco sobre temas internacionales  y, según el comunicado de Cuba, “se profundizó en la naturaleza injusta y el efecto nocivo de la política de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba”.

“Su Santidad ha dado muestras claras de simpatía y afecto hacia el pueblo cubano”, añadía.

En su bula de convocación en la que proclamó formalmente el Año Santo 2025, el Papa Francisco pidió a los gobiernos que pongan en marcha “formas de amnistía o de condonación de la pena”, así como “itinerarios de reinserción” para los presos. Tras inaugurar el Año Santo 2025 en el Vaticano, el Papa abrió una Puerta Santa en la prisión Rebibbia de Roma el 26 de diciembre como símbolo de esperanza para todas las personas encarceladas.

El último gran acontecimiento del Año Santo será el “Jubileo de los presos”, previsto para diciembre de 2025, durante el cual los reclusos peregrinarán a la Basílica de San Pedro y celebrarán Misa con el Papa.

Honoring Sister Thea Bowman: a monument of hope

By Mary Woodward
JACKSON – What began as a seed planted in 2007, became a reality in 2024. On a crisp Saturday morning in December, Catholics from several dioceses descended upon the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson to celebrate the installation and blessing of a life-size bronze statue of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA. Among those attending the celebration were Mary Ott Tremmel Davidson, the sculptor, and parishioners from several churches in the Montgomery and Mobile areas.

Led by Rev. Victor Ingalls, Director of Multicultural Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile and Rev. Manuel Williams, CR, Director of Resurrection Catholic Missions of the South in Montgomery, the two buses arrived in Jackson with more than 50 joyful pilgrims excited to mark the occasion honoring Sister Thea on her path to beatification and canonization.

JACKSON – A crowd gathers for the blessing of a life-sized bronze statue of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA on Saturday, Dec. 21 on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on West Street in Jackson. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)

The festivities included Mass followed by the blessing of the statue located on the Cathedral grounds then a reception at the Two Mississippi Museums.

In his homily at the Mass, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz welcomed as pilgrims those filling the cathedral to near capacity. He remarked that as Pope Francis prepares to open the Jubilee Year of Hope in a few days in Rome, today’s celebration was also filled with hope and that all present had come to honor a Servant of God who was as a beacon of light and hope in her time and who continues to inspire and challenge us to bring that light and hope to a world so in need of it.

Students from Sister Thea Bowman School in Jackson delighted the congregation when they sang “This Little Light of Mine” as the hymn of praise after Communion. Following this, the congregation processed out of the Cathedral to the statue where Bishop Kopacz blessed it with prayer and holy water.

Sister Thea is one of six African American Catholics currently on this path and many present at the celebration had known her prior to her death in 1990. Bishop Kopacz officially opened Sister Thea’s cause in November 2018.

The canonical process is in the middle of the diocesan phase which involves gathering and all her writings, interviewing witnesses, and compiling a historical and theological report on her virtues and piety. This detailed process is expected to be completed by the end of this year and then be sent to the Holy See for further examination.

The idea for the bronze statue was first planted in Mary Davidson’s mind back in 2007 when she was in Camden for the dedication of a large altar crucifix she had designed for Sacred Heart Church. A parishioner came up to Davidson during the dedication and remarked that she hoped she would create a statue of Sister Thea Bowman one day. The seed was planted.

Sister Thea Bowman Statue dedication on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, MS.

When she heard about Sister Thea’s cause, Davidson contacted the diocese in the late summer of 2022 offering to sculpt the Servant of God if the diocese would cover the cost of materials and the foundry.

Davidson enlisted the support of her former eighth grade student at Our Lady of Lourdes in New Orleans, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, who offered a generous donation to the project. Soon, Bishop Louis Kihneman of Biloxi and Bishop Stephen Raica of Birmingham committed funds to help complete the statue. These donations together with proceeds from the estate of Bishop Joseph Latino, Bishop Kopacz’s predecessor, made the statue a reality and a gift from the bishops of Alabama and Mississippi.
Bishop Kopacz commissioned Davidson to create the work of art in March of 2023. Over the next year, Davidson worked on the design. During that time, she lost her beloved husband, Kenneth, in August. It was a very difficult time but working on the project helped Davidson through some of her grief.

Davidson completed the clay mold for the statue in October 2023, from which a second mold was made by Inferno Art Foundry in Atlanta. The life-size bronze creation took a few more months to complete in the early spring of 2024.

Developing an appropriate space and pedestal for the statue on the Cathedral grounds in Jackson took several months due to the summer heat and availability of materials. Sister Thea in bronze arrived from the foundry on Dec. 12 and was installed in her new home.

Nine days later, on that crisp Saturday morning of Dec. 21, the Cathedral was filled with the spirit of Sister Thea as hymns from the Lead Me, Guide Me hymnal rang out – a hymnal she helped develop for African American Catholics. Voices young and old gave witness to her inspiration as a true servant of God.

“We are grateful to all those who have assisted in this wonderful project, especially Mrs. Davidson, who despite her personal tragedy has created an amazing work of art to honor the legacy and spirit of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman,” Bishop Kopacz said. “Many have come together to contribute to making this a statue a reality and today’s beautiful liturgy and dedication of this work of art are a testament to Sister Thea’s ministry in the church and the world,” he concluded.

(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)

Masses launching Holy Year in dioceses emphasize ‘hope that does not disappoint’

By Maria Wiering
(OSV News) – Bishops worldwide celebrated the opening of the 2025 Holy Year Dec. 29 with Masses in their cathedrals and co-cathedrals to mark the jubilee, which is themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The Masses were celebrated with the Rite of the Opening of the Jubilee Year. In the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan began Mass at the back of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan with a prayer opening what he called “the Holy Year of Hope.”

The prayer called God “the hope that does not disappoint, the beginning and the end” and asked him to bless the “pilgrim journey this Holy Year.”

“Bind up the wounds of hearts that are broken, loosen the chains that hold us slaves of sin, and grant your people joy of the Spirit so that they may walk with renewed hope toward their longed-for destiny, Christ, your son, our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever,” he prayed.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan celebrates Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City Dec. 29, 2024, to mark the kickoff of Jubilee 2025, with similar celebrations taking place in dioceses around the world. In homilies, bishops emphasized the Holy Year’s theme of hope. (OSV News photo/Jeffrey Bruno)

That prayer was followed by a Gospel reading from John 14, in which Jesus explained to his disciples his relationship to God the Father, and then a reading from the papal bull announcing the Jubilee Year. Then, Archbishop Dolan said, “Hail, O Cross of Christ, our only true hope,” to which the congregation replied: “You are our hope. We will never be confounded.”

Jubilee prayers were repeated across the United States as bishops opened the Jubilee Year on the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which is celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas Day. In some dioceses, the opening rite preceded a procession of the faithful to or within the cathedral for Mass. The procession was to include a jubilee cross, a cross of significance for the local church designated for a special liturgical role during the Jubilee Year.

A jubilee or holy year is a special year in the life of the church currently celebrated every 25 years. The most recent ordinary jubilee was in 2000, with Pope Francis calling for an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015-2016.

Jubilee years have been held on regular intervals in the Catholic Church since 1300, but they trace their roots to the Jewish tradition of marking a jubilee year every 50 years.

According to the Vatican website for the jubilee, these years in Jewish history were “intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.”

On Dec. 24, Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to launch the holy year. Coinciding with other diocesan celebrations Dec. 29, Cardinal Baldo Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, opened Holy Doors at St. John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral.

Holy Doors also opened at Rome’s other two major basilicas, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls, Jan. 1 and Jan. 5, respectively. Pope Francis also opened Holy Doors Dec. 26 at Rome’s Rebibbia prison, which Vatican officials said was a papal first. Unlike the practice in the Year of Mercy, diocesan cathedrals will not designate their own holy doors.

At the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral Dec. 29, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich began his homily with an explanation of the origins of the jubilee year.

“It is rooted in the Book of Leviticus, in which the people come together and realized that they needed a fresh start. They needed an opportunity to begin again,” he said. “And so debts were forgiven, sentences were commuted, enemies who fought each other were asked not to engage in battle but in reconciliation – and the church has taken that same spirit and each 25 years proclaims a jubilee year because we all need a fresh start.”
“It’s kind of a religious mulligan,” he said, referring in golf to a second chance after a poor shot. “We get to start all over again. We get to have a fresh moment, a new beginning, in which we allow the mercy of God to uproot and invade our otherwise very human sense of justice that focuses on retribution rather than reconciliation. We need a fresh start, a new moment in life, and that is what this year is to be for us.”
Cardinal Cupich said that it is the “Holy Family themselves that give us an example of what it means to be those pilgrims of hope.”

“In the Gospels, the only time that we see the entire Holy Family together is when they’re going someplace, when they’re on pilgrimage. They’re defined by being pilgrims,” he said. “They are the ones who remind us that we always have to take another step in life. We can never become complacent about our faith, about becoming more human.”

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan focused on the “three families” established by God – the human family, the natural family into which each person is born, and the supernatural family of the church which is entered through baptism and includes the communion of saints.

As with natural families, members of the church may drift away from, get mad at or become embarrassed or hurt by their “spiritual family, the church,” he said.

“But that’s also true of our natural, earthly families, isn’t it?,” he asked. “Our identity as a member of this family, the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church, cannot be erased.

“I’m as much a Catholic as I am a Dolan – as much as, at times, both of those family names might exasperate me,” he added with a smile.

Like a natural family, the church is also always a home ready to welcome its members, he said.
Some Masses around the country included the hymn “Pilgrims of Hope,” which the Holy See commissioned for the Jubilee Year.

More than 30 million pilgrims are expected in Rome over the course of the Jubilee Year, with many of them seeking a special indulgence offered in the Holy Year. However, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, the Jubilee indulgence may be obtained in Catholics’ local dioceses by visiting cathedrals or other churches or sacred places designated by the local bishop.

Some bishops offered the Holy Year’s plenary indulgence during the Dec. 29 Masses. The Holy Year will end at St. Peter’s Jan. 6, 2026, with diocesan celebrations ending Dec. 28, 2025.

(Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News. Maria-Pia Negro Chin, OSV News Spanish editor, contributed to this article.)

CSA feature: Father Tristan Stovall

Father Tristan Stovall began his journey with the Vocations Team on the day of his ordination when the Bishop appointed him as assistant vocation director. “It was an unexpected but deeply humbling moment, and I am truly excited to collaborate with Father Nick Adam and serve in this ministry on behalf of the Bishop. This role offers an incredible opportunity to nurture and support future leaders of our church,” says Father Tristan.

Currently, Father Tristan is assigned to St. Joseph in Starkville and works with the students at Mississippi State University, which has proven to be fertile ground for vocations ministry. “I believe our diocese is brimming with potential, and we are witnessing a growing interest among young men in the priesthood and religious life. For instance, at least two young men who were involved at MSU are now applying to the seminary. It’s inspiring to walk alongside these individuals, guiding them as they discern God’s call,” he shares.

Father Tristan highlights the impact of open conversations about vocations. “So much happens when people openly discuss the possibility of religious vocations. Often, one young person’s openness to exploring this path inspires others to consider it as well,” he explains. He encourages parishioners to play a vital role by asking young men if they have ever considered becoming a priest. “The power of conversation cannot be overstated in fostering a culture that encourages vocations,” he adds.

Your contributions to the Catholic Service Appeal are vital for the growth of the Office of Vocations. “Your generosity ensures that our diocese will continue to have holy and dedicated priests to serve future generations. By supporting the CSA, you are investing in the spiritual leadership that will sustain and nurture our parishes for years to come,” says Father Tristan.

Together, we can create a vibrant community that encourages and supports those called to serve. Let us continue to pray for and support vocations so that the church may flourish with dedicated leaders committed to God’s mission.

The annual Catholic Service Appeal brings together people from across the Diocese of Jackson to support the vital ministries that serve our community. Through this appeal, we hope you will be moved by the inspiring stories of those who have been touched by these ministries and the impactful work being done throughout the diocese. When we unite as one, we carry the Gospel message of hope, spreading faith and compassion to those in need. 

Youth

Youth Photos from Around the Diocese

JACKSON – St. Richard students, Thomas Ueltschey and Andrew Compretta, enjoyed popsicles and an outdoor bubble party that they earned for reaching their fundraising goal during #iGiveCatholic. (Photo by Caitlin Burkes)
PEARL – St. Jude parish celebrated Las Posadas on Dec. 18, 2024. Posada is the Spanish word for lodging, it is religious celebration in Latin America that commemorates Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (Photo by Jessica Sullivan)

TUPELO – Elementary faith formation students at St. James parish dressed up as the Three Kings who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. Pictured above are Patton Weatherford in red, Christian Orostico in purple and Thomas Weatherford in blue, with Father Octavio Escobar on Jan. 4. Pictured below are Jones Bridges, Peter Morton and Reagan Burnley on Jan. 5. (Photo by Rhonda R. Swita)

JACKSON – Sixth graders at St. Richard School offer several gift options to the residents at the Manhattan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for Christmas. All items are donated, and the residents “pay” with pretend money. The Manhattan Mall is one of the biggest service projects that the St. Richard sixth grade class participates in throughout the year. Everything is decorated, set up and organized by the students. Pictured is Michael Turner assisting a resident shop for Christmas gifts, as Nicholas Morisani looks on. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)
TUPELO – St. James parish held a Christmas VBS program on Dec. 15, 2024, in conjunction with their monthly family faith formation program. It was the first time all parents attended a VBS event! The theme for the program was: “The Wonder and Awe of Our Lord.” Parents worked together coming up with “I Wonder” statements, and created a family heart to place in their home manager scene, or a star to place on their Christmas tree. For games, families played a “memory” card game matching up the mysteries of the rosary. It was a special time for family and faith interaction. The Bible adventure also included three students dancing to the song “Mary Did You Know.” Pictured are Carolyn Gan Lim (in back), Emma Thompson (in front) and Elizabeth Sheffield (on right with doll). (Photo by Rhonda R. Swita)
MAGEE – Children at St. James parish enjoyed a visit from Santa. (Photo by Kirby J. Rivere)

God’s Word: a lamp for our feet and light for our lives

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Each year on the third Sunday in Ordinary Time the Church celebrates Sunday of the Word of God. This annual commemoration began with Aperuit illis an apostolic letter, by Pope Francis issued on Sept. 30, 2019, the feast of St. Jerome instituting this annual observance. Sunday of the Word of God is devoted to the raising up of the Sacred Scriptures throughout the Catholic world while fostering a more widespread love for God’s Word on a daily basis.

The first Sunday of the Word of God occurred on Jan. 26, 2020, and this year’s observance will occur on Jan. 25-26. The pope said that he wrote the apostolic letter in response to requests from around the world to celebrate the Word of God in an extra special manner. In time, it is the desire of Pope Francis and many in the church that Sunday of the Word of God will be as central to the Catholic culture and imagination as is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

This earnest desire was expressed 60 years ago at the Second Vatican Council. “The treasures of the bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium) The Council Fathers pointed out that Sacred Scriptures already permeate the entire liturgy, often a treasure hidden in plain sight. “Sacred Scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. For it is from scripture that lessons are read and explained in the homily, and psalms are sung; the prayers, collects, and liturgical songs are scriptural in their inspiration and their force, and it is from the scriptures that actions and signs derive their meaning. Thus, it is essential to promote that warm and living love for scripture to which the venerable tradition of both eastern and western rites gives testimony.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium)

The Word of God is essential for Eucharistic Revival because through its proclamation and hearing in the assembly of the faithful the Holy Spirit inspires faith and prepares our hearts and minds for communion with the Body and Blood of the Lord and empowers us in our daily lives to live with the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. The period of fasting before Mass and the reception of Holy Communion is intended to sharpen our attention and focus, and to cultivate a hunger and thirst for the living Word of God, and for the reception of the Eucharist.

Indeed, the quest for renewal in the church finds its power in the Mass. “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.” Hearing the Word of God and putting it into practice is the heart of fully conscious participation.

The sacred scriptures that will be proclaimed on Sunday of the Word of God this year are outstanding. From the Book of Nehemiah, the assembly of Israel gathered to renew their Covenant with God through the proclamation of the law. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians illustrates the church as a living organism, the body, comprised of many members. In light of this passage, we know that at every gathering in our churches, we proclaim to the heavens that the church is a living body giving glory to God.

Lastly, the Gospel of St. Luke situates Jesus in then synagogue in Nazareth where he had grown up, announcing a Jubilee Year of Hope for all of the people with an outpouring of glad tidings, liberty and sight. May God’s Word accomplish its purpose in our lives as a lamp for our feet and a light for the eyes of our hearts and minds.

Called by Name

The new year is upon us and we continue to build on the momentum that we started back in the summer. Our partnership with Vianney Vocations continues and we have some work to do!

More than 130 names were submitted back in November during our first-ever Called By Name weekend, when parishioners took part in encouraging young men in their parish to think about the priesthood and to help the Department of Vocations connect them with resources to help their discernment. Our Vocation Team, which is a group of priests from across the diocese, will begin reaching out to all of those young men this month and inviting them to take part in a discernment group.

You may remember that we launched a few six-week discernment groups last fall and more than 30 young men took part. We expect that those numbers will greatly increase this spring. I would like to thank all of those who participated in the Called by Name campaign. Think about it: the Department of Vocations has over 130 more contacts than we had before. That is God at work.

The next big discernment trip will be hosted by assistant vocation director Father Tristan Stovall. Father Tristan is taking college age and above guys to Notre Dame Seminary at the end of January. The men will tour the seminary, take part in classes and visit with our seminarians as well as the other men at NDS. We will have a seminary trip to St. Joseph College Seminary a little later in the spring for our younger discerners. These trips are always important and thanks to Called by Name and other initiatives, more men are being invited to participate.

Our goal continues to be ambitious, but full of confident faith in the Lord: 33 seminarians by the year 2030. We have two applicants for the coming year so far, and we will see what the Lord has in store when our discernment groups launch, and God continues to work on the hearts of the young men who are participating.

As you discuss our vocation efforts with possible discerners, parents and your Catholic friends, help them to understand that seminary formation is not just for men who know they are called to be priests. Seminary formation is for any man who is open to the will of God and thinks that priesthood might be his call. Too many people dismiss the possibility of going to seminary off hand because they misunderstand what the seminary is for.

The seminary exists primarily to form young men, and many of them become priests, but not all. Many of the guys who start seminary formation don’t end up getting ordained, and that is ok. If a man has the requisite maturity and the correct attitude and openness to formation, he will end up being a better Catholic professional and husband than he would have been without that formation.

Thank you all for your incredible support of our programs. I have been inspired by the amount of phone calls, letters and gifts that we’ve received to keep our programs going and to support our men in priestly formation. Thank you, and Happy New Year. Let’s go find some more seminarians!

(For more information on vocations, visit jacksonvocations.com or contact Father Nick Adam at (601) 969-4020 or nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.)