Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments.

Effective May 25

• Rev. Frank V. DuPreez relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff; Holy Cross Church in Sheridan and St Mary Church in Plum Bayou, to cover St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fayetteville from May 25-June 14, after which time he will return to South Africa to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Cape Town.
• Rev. Joseph Marconi appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, Holy Cross Church in Sheridan, St. Mary Church in Plum Bayou and prison ministry in Pine Bluff. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.

Effective June 14

• Rev. Leon Ngandu Wa Tshianga, SVD, relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock and as hospital chaplain at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock (effective June 1) to continue his ministry with the Society of Divine Word.
• Rev. Jack Vu appointed pastor of St. Patrick Church in North Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and as minister to the Vietnamese community in Little Rock.
• Rev. Francis Damoah, SVD, appointed pastor of St. Mary Church in North Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock, and St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as hospital chaplain at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock (effective, June 1.)
• Dc. Charles “Chuck” Ashburn appointed assistant director for development and academic advising in the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as deacon at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, Catholic High School for Boys and the House of Formation. He is relieved of his responsibilities as diocesan director of faith formation and diocesan director of permanent diaconate formation.
• Rev. Erik Pohlmeier appointed director of faith formation and permanent diaconate formation in the Diocese of Little Rock, with residence at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. John Marconi appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
• Rev. Anthony Robbins appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Louis Church in Camden; and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia.
• Rev. Alfhones Perikala, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
• Rev. Mariadass Vallapaneni appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Balaraju Desam, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Rajasekhar Chappidi relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern, Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce and St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia, to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Phillip Reaves appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern, Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce and St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Slovak.
• Rev. Shaun Wesley appointed pastor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Slovak and from administrator to pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Carlisle and Holy Trinity Church in England.
• Rev. Clayton Gould appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Michael Church in Van Buren.
• Rev. C. Richard “Rick” Hobbs, III, appointed administrator of St. Michael Church in Van Buren. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Stephen Church in Bentonville; and as administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville.
• Rev. Francis Madanu, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed associate pastor of St. Stephen Church in Bentonville.
• Rev. Mathew Vianney Malapati Santhaiah relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Albert Church in Heber Springs. He remains pastor of St. James Church in Searcy and St. Richard Church in Bald Knob.
• Rev. Felix Chirapurahtel, O. Praem., appointed administrator of St. Albert Church in Heber Springs and associate pastor for Hispanic Ministry at St. Mary Church in Batesville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville and St. Matthew Church in Osceola.
• Rev. Thomas J. "T.J." Hart appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville and St. Matthew Church in Osceola. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche).
• Rev. Rubén Quinteros appointed administrator of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche). He is relieved of his responsibilities as prefect of the House of Formation in Little Rock.
• Dc. Richard Taryn Whittington, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 28, appointed prefect of the House of Formation in Little Rock.
• Dc. Norman McFall, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 28, appointed associate pastor for Hispanic Ministry at Christ the King Church in Fort Smith, and hospital chaplain at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith.
• Dc. Mario Jacobo, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 28, appointed associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock.
• Dc. Joseph Tan Chan, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 28, will study at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., this summer from June 2-Aug. 4. He is appointed associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock and St. Patrick Church in North Little Rock, effective Aug. 5.
• Rev. Ravi Gudipalli relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron, to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Alejandro Puello appointed administrator of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Dc. Stephen Joseph Gadberry, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 28, appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. John Miranda appointed administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. Lourduswamy Dhanraj Narla relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia in Newport to cover St. Louis Church in Camden and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia from June 14-30, after which time he will continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Polycarp Ssebbowa appointed administrator of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate of St. James Church in Searcy, St. Albert Church in Heber Springs and St. Richard Church in Bald Knob.
• Rev. Thomas C. Marks appointed chaplain at Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus in Little Rock, hospital chaplain at UAMS and VA Hospitals in Little Rock, with residence at Catholic High in Little Rock. He remains associate pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock.

Effective July 1

• Rev. Robert Cigainero appointed administrator of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia and St. Louis Church in Camden. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway effective June 13.

Effective Aug. 5

• Rev. Silvio D’Ostilio, CSSp, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge, to return to his religious community.
• Rev. Joseph Shantiraj appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith, effective June 20. He will be covering St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville from June 21-Aug. 4.

Effective Aug. 22

• Dc. Marcelino Luna appointed associate director of faith formation in the Diocese of Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry.
• Sr. Norma Edith Muñoz, MCP, appointed director of Hispanic ministry in the Diocese of Little Rock.

The Holy Father Pope Francis has chosen a theme for the jubilee year that is close to his heart: mercy.

He announced an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy from Dec. 8, 2015 to Nov. 20, 2016. 

“Dear brothers and sisters, I have thought about how the Church can make clear its mission of being a witness of mercy,” he said. “It’s a journey that starts with a spiritual conversion. For this reason I have decided to declare an extraordinary jubilee that has the mercy of God at its center. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy.”

The biblical passage for the holy year’s theme comes from Luke 6:36, in which Jesus tells his disciples, “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.”

Pope Francis said, “I am convinced that the whole Church will be able to find in this jubilee the joy of rediscovering and making fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are all called to give consolation to every man and every woman of our time.”

Mercy is the central topic of the pope’s episcopal motto “miserando atque eligendo.” One translation of motto, taken from a homily given by St. Bede on Jesus’ calling of St. Matthew, is “with eyes of mercy.” In his first Angelus address on March 17, 2013, he spoke of “feeling mercy … this word changes everything.”

Mercy “is the best thing we can feel: it changes the world,” he said. “A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just. We need to understand properly this mercy of God, this merciful Father who is so patient.”

Access to the sacrament of confession should be expanded by having parishes open their doors for extended periods with priests available. Sunday readings during Ordinary Time for the holy year will be taken from Luke’s gospel, who is known as “the evangelist of mercy.” Luke’s mercy stories include the lost sheep, the lost coin and the merciful father.

Doors of mercy will be opened in Rome and worldwide. Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a holy door, which are sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened. The doors are only opened during jubilee years so that pilgrims can enter through them in order to gain the plenary  indulgence during the jubilee year.

The rite of the opening of the holy door is intended to illustrate the idea that the Church’s faithful are offered an “extraordinary path” toward salvation during a jubilee.

As an ancient Hebrew tradition, the jubilee year was celebrated every 50 years to restore equality in Israel by providing opportunities for families who had lost their property and personal freedom to regain them, and the wealthy were reminded that their Israelite slaves would again become their equals and regain their rights.

The holy year tradition in the Church began with Pope Boniface VIII in 1300, and since 1475 an ordinary jubilee has been celebrated every 25 years in order to allow each generation to experience at least one during their lifetime. An extraordinary jubilee, such as the Year of Mercy, can be called for a special occasion or special event.

The holy year is traditionally a year of forgiveness of sins and also for the punishment for one’s sins. It is also a year for reconciliation between enemies, conversion and confessing sins.

The first extraordinary jubilee was held in the 16th century, and the most recent one was held in 1983 when St. John Paul II proclaimed one to honor 1,950 years of redemption.

MAUMELLE — Nearly 140 golfers took part in the 20th Bishop McDonald Catholic Charities Golf Classic Sept. 29 at Maumelle Country Club. Players from as far away as Illinois were on hand to raise money for Catholic Charities of Arkansas.

“It’s a beautiful day, it’s couldn’t be better,” said Catholic Charities executive director Patrick Gallaher of the event, which teed off under clear skies and mild temperatures. “Everybody is enjoying a round of golf in some lovely September weather.”

Winning teams in the morning flights included St. Bernards Healthcare of Jimmy Cooper, Kevin Hughes, Ben Overmen and Steve Tricarrico who topped Sacred Heart of Jesus #1 and Bray Sheet Metal Co. Father John Marconi’s team, which also included Clem Kordsmeier, Phil Kordsmeier and Matt Mallett of Conway, won a three-way tiebreaker with Baltz Team and Sacred Heart of Jesus #3.

In the afternoon flights, the Regions Bank team of Kevin Brown, David Gardner, Brett Kirkman and Kevin Rodgers won over CHI St. Vincent #3 and Metro Appliances & More; and Sacred Heart of Jesus Knights of Columbus comprised of Al Bilgischer, Gene Caprio, Gene Loper and Tom Powell topped the field ahead of Koenig Team and Bogoslavsky Law Firm.

The player headcount, while down slightly over 2013, has remained relatively constant over the past three years, Gallaher said. Meanwhile, the number of sponsorships has remained strong, led by CHI St. Vincent, underwriter sponsor; Dr. Brad and Amy Baltz and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village, champion level sponsors: and the Arkansas state council of the Knights of Columbus, eagle level sponsors. 

Nearly 50 other sponsors across various levels lent financial or in-kind support to the event. Two of these entities, Flake & Kelley Commercial of Little Rock and St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, afforded several clergy the opportunity to play in the tournament, including Fathers Robert Cigainero, Thomas Keller, James Savery, John Marconi, YC Irudayaraj and Bill Elser.

Gallaher estimated the tournament, Catholic Charities of Arkansas’ biggest fundraising event of the year, would take in about $50,000 to support the organization’s programs across the state, specifically to provide services to immigrant victims of sexual assault, domestic and date violence and stalking.

Domestic abuse is a problem that reaches across racial, cultural and socioeconomic lines. But for all of the recent attention the issue has received through highly publicized incidents involving professional athletes, such violence against immigrant women is still fixed largely in society’s shadows.

The National Latino Network, based in Minnesota, reports about 25 percent of Latino women are abused in their lifetime; 63 percent of these are abused more than once. In a study of pregnant Latino women, 10 percent reported being abused physically and 19 percent abused emotionally. Half never report such incidents to authorities and those who do tell someone overwhelmingly tend to confide in family members instead of health care workers, clergy or someone else outside her immediate circle.

San Francisco-based non-profit Futures Without Violence reports immigrant women are often more susceptible to abuse and more hesitant to report, due to restricted access to legal or advocacy services, because they come from countries where such behavior is accepted or they fear being deported if they come forward.

Gallaher said CCA’s ministry helps provide education for groups connected to immigrant communities on how to recognize abuse, refer victims accordingly and other services.

“This is a longstanding and ongoing ministry we have that we cannot fund fully through our annual budget,” Gallaher said, noting the golf tourney will help make up the budget shortfall.

The golf tournament also helps fund CCA’s successful and ongoing efforts in the area of human trafficking in Arkansas. Over the past two years, diocesan-driven initiatives have resulted in new laws carrying stiffer penalties for traffickers. It also led to the creation of a task force overseen by the Arkansas secretary of state’s office to help coordinate state and federal law enforcement efforts against human trafficking.

Reagan Stanford, CCA’s crime victims service coordinator who actively lobbied such bills into law, co-chairs the task force and is considered one of the state’s leading authorities on the subject.

Besides being the 20th anniversary event, this year’s tournament is also the first to be held since the death of its namesake, Bishop Andrew J. McDonald, who died April 1. When asked if the event carried a certain poignancy given this fact, Gallaher smiled.

“(Bishop McDonald) was a very happy man and that’s what he would want for us today,” he said. “He would want us to enjoy this and be happy.”