Gulf Pine Catholic VOLUME 34 / NUMBER 1 www.biloxidiocese.org SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 Murdered nuns recalled for their generosity, service in Mississippi Sister Margaret Held, 68, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, and Sister Paula Merrill, 68, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, are pictured in undated photos. The two women religious were found stabbed to death Aug. 25 in their Durant, Mississippi, home, police said. CNS photo/School Sisters of St. Francis and Sisters of Charity of Nazareth the death penalty that could be imposed on the person who committed this terrible crime,ˮ Father Plata said at the Mass. ‟But think of the powerful statement that Hundreds gathered for a Wake service for Sister Paula Merrill, SCN, and Sister Margaret Held, OSF, at makes. At the heart of Christianity is forgiveness. ‛Father St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., Sunday, August 28. Sisters Merrill and Held were found forgive them for they know not what they do.’ murdered in their home in Durant the previous Thursday. Presiding at the wake were (l-r) Father Gregory ‟Forgiveness isn’t something we do on our own. It is Plata, OFM, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, bishop of the Diocese of Jackson and Father P.J. Curley and Mary something we choose to do with God’s grace,ˮ the Woodward, diocesan chancellor. Photo by Maureen Smith, Mississippi Catholic Franciscan said. During a brief vigil at the sisters’ home Aug. 27, rep- BY MAUREEN SMITH Francis in Milwaukee, and Sister Paula, a member of the resentatives of the religious orders called for a period of Catholic News Service Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, were recalled reflection and remembrance. by family and friends in prayer services and Masses in Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity JACKSON, Miss. (CNS) -- The deaths of Sister the days after they were found dead Aug. 25 in the of Nazareth, and Sister Rosemarie Rombalski, of the Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill demand justice, Durant, Mississippi, home they shared. School Sisters of St. Francis, went into the womenʼs but not revenge, Franciscan Father Greg Plata said dur- Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, home prior to the ceremony for prayer, closure and ing a memorial Mass for the women religious in the has been charged with two counts of capital murder, lar- reflection. In the kitchen, they discovered a loaf of bread Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. ceny and burglary in connection with the incident. in a bread maker. The simple act -- typical of the sisters ‟I truly believe with all my heart that Margaret and The day before the Mass, representatives of the sis- who were known for being generous with their good Paula would tell us that we need to keep loving,ˮ said the ters’ religious communities and families issued a state- food -- turned into a life-giving symbol for the communi- priest during the Aug. 29 Mass. ment opposing the death penalty for the suspect charged ties. Father Plata is sacramental administrator of St. in their deaths. ‟Marge and Paula really had that sense of offering Thomas the Apostle Church in Lexington, Mississippi, ‟Many people will be dismayed, even angered at the bread to each other. The bread of life, the bread of ener- the parish in which the sisters were active. joint statement the School Sisters of St. Francis and the gy, the bread of hope,ˮ Sister Rosemarie said. Sister Margaret, a member of the School Sisters of St. Sisters of Charity made stating that they are opposed to SEE MS NUNS REMEMBRANCE, PAGE 6 2 DIOCESAN EVENTS Relief for Flood Victims NOTICE Catholic Charities-Diocese of Biloxi Every volunteer who works with AVISO THÔNG BÁO remains in contact with our partners in minors and every employee of all par- Todos los voluntarios quienes Mỗi thiện nguyện viên đang làm việc Baton Rouge. Catholic Charities agen- ishes and Catholic schools of the trabajan con menores y với các trẻ vị thành niên và mỗi nhân September 9, 2016 September cies provide immediate relief but also Diocese of Biloxi must receive a copy • empleados de las parroquias de viên của tất cả các giáo xứ và trường provide long term recovery in order of the Policy of the Diocese of Biloxi colegios Católicos de la Diócesis học Công giáo của Địa Phận Biloxi to help people return home as soon as Regarding Complaints of Abuse of de Biloxi deberán recibir una phải nhận được một bản Các Điều possible. Catholic Charities Diocese of Minors. Copies of this policy are copia de la Regla de la Diócesis de Luật Của Giáo Phận Biloxi Về Việc Biloxi is currently collecting gift cards available from any pastor or princi- Biloxi con Respecto a Quejas de Khiếu Nại Của Những Vị Thành Niên (Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot) and pal. If any volunteer who serves with Abuso de Menores. Se pueden Bị Lạm Dụng. Các cha sở và hiệu monetary donations for Catholic Chari- minors or any employee did not adquirir copias de esta regla de trưởng luôn có những bản Các Điều ties Baton Rouge as they continue the receive this policy, please contact your cualquier pastor o director. Si un Luật này để phát cho bất cứ ai cần. long term recovery efforts. If you would pastor or principal, or call 228-702- Gulf Pine Catholic voluntario que trabaja con Nếu tình nguyện viên nào đang phục like more information, please call (228) 2126/27. A copy of the policy is also menores o cualquier empleado no vụ với trẻ vị thành niên hoặc nhân 701-0555. available to any interested person. In ha recibido dicha regla, favor viên nào đã không nhận được những addition, a copy of the Diocesan Code póngase en contacto con su điều luật này, xin vui lòng liên lạc với Cathedral Blue Mass of Conduct Regarding Contact with pastor o director, o llamar al cha sở hay hiệu trưởng, hoặc gọi số Minors and the Diocesan Policy BILOXI -- Bishop Roger Morin will 228-702-2126/27. Cualquier 228-702-2126/27. Bất kỳ người nào Concerning Supervision of Youth Trips celebrate the annual Blue Mass honor- persona interesada también puede quan tâm hay muốn đọc thì Địa Phận and Other Youth Functions are also ing first responders and public safety of- adquirir una copia de esta regla. cũng sẵn sàng phát cho. Ngoài ra, available from your pastor or princi- ficials on Sept. 11 at 11 am at Nativity Adicionalmente, también se puede Giáo Phận cũng có soạn một cuốn pal, or by calling 228-702-2126/27. of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral, adquirir una copia del Código sách Chỉ Dẫn Của Địa Phận Trong 870 Howard Avenue. All are invited to Diocesano con respecto a Contacto Cách Ứng Xử Với Trẻ Vị Thành Niên attend. con Menores y la Regla Diocesana và những điều luật của Giáo Phận How to report a con Respecto a la Supervisión de Liên Quan Đến Việc Giám Sát Các SPCHS Alumni complaint of abuse Viajes de Jóvenes y Otras Chuyến Đi Và Các Sinh Hoạt Cho Association Mass and Funciones de Jóvenes, llamando Thanh Thiêú Niên. Xin liên lạc cha sở al 228-702-2126/27. hay hiệu trưởng của bạn, hoặc gọi Kickoff Celebration The clergy, religious, and laity who 228-702-2126/27 nếu muốn biết thêm BILOXI -- The St. Patrick Alumni serve in the ministries of the Diocese chi tiết. Association will host an Alumni Mass of Biloxi are committed to making Como reportar una and Kickoff Social Event on Saturday, Church ministries safe for young Sept. 24 at 6 pm at St. Patrick Catholic people. Allegations of misconduct queja de abuso. High School, 18300 St. Patrick Road. with minors are reported as the law Làm thế nào để khiếu requires and an internal investiga- El sector clero, los/las religiosas, y St. Ann Drawdown tion is conducted. A copy of the dioc- el sector de laicos quienes sirven nại về sự lạm dụng esan policy is available on the dioc- en el ministerio de la Diócesis de CLERMONT HARBOR -- St. Ann esan website (www.biloxidiocese. Biloxi están comprometidos a Các giáo sĩ, tu sĩ, giáo dân và những Church will hold its Annual 50/50 Fall org) or by contacting your pastor. A hacer que los ministerios de người phục vụ trong Giáo phận Drawdown on Saturday, Oct. 22. Doors complaint of misconduct should be jóvenes sean seguros. Acusaciones Biloxi phải cam kết là làm cho Giáo open at 5:30 pm. Live entertainment by reported directly to civil authorities. de mala conducta con menores Hội trở nên một nơi an toàn cho các Kory Lawrence. There will be a parade In addition, a complaint should be son reportados como requiere la bạn trẻ. Các cáo buộc về những of prizes and a silent auction. $50 admits reported to the Diocese of Biloxi by ley y se lleva a cabo una hành vi sai trái với vị thành niên two adults over 21. For more info, con- calling the phone numbers on the investigación interna. Se puede được báo cáo theo luật định và một tact the Parish Office at (228) 467-5128 diocesan website or by calling 228- conseguir una copia de la regla cuộc điều tra nội bộ được tiến hành. Monday-Thursday from 8 am-2 pm. 702-2112 or to the State of diocesana en sitio de internet de Một bản sao của các điều luật của Mississippi’s Hot Line: 1-800-222- la diócesis (www.biloxidiocese.