Southern Cross

10/15/2026

“Original Sin is called ‘sin’ in an analogous sense: It comes from actual sin and leads to actual sin, but it is not itself a freely and consciously chosen act. It is a ‘sin’ contracted and not committed, a state and not an action, a deprivation of grace but not a total depravity.”
—“Magnifica Humanitas on Human Nature, Part I” by Fr. Douglas K. Clark, STL

Fr. Douglas K. Clark, STL, is retired and pastor emeritus of St. Matthew, Statesboro. In this column, he begins a multi-part discussion of the Church's teaching on humanity and human dignity, based on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

Read the full column in the October 2026 issue of the Southern Cross or online at southerncrosssav.org/columns/magnifica-humanitas-on-human-nature-part-1

10/14/2026

The Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Nigeria has suspended operations at three schools, a parish, and a hospital amid persistent insecurity in the area, expressing regret that the unavoidable suspension will affect communities. ... The closure is “temporary in intent, though indefinite in duration.”

Some of the missionary priests in the Diocese of Savannah are from the Diocese of Gboko. You can read the full article on the Southern Cross Newswire at southerncrosssav.org/newswire/national-international-news/nigeria-catholic-parish-hospital-and-3-schools-suspend-activities-indefinitely-amid-insecurity

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

“Most Christians won't become martyrs. Yet all are called to a life of holiness, which includes the willingness to bear witness even unto death. Paragraph 2472 of the Catechism states that duty impels us, through words and deeds, ‘to act as witnesses of the Gospel and of the obligations that flow from it.’ This is not some mere esoteric teaching but a core principal for living as Christians in the world.”
—“Dying for the Faith” by Beverly Willett

Beverly Willett is an author and retired lawyer. Her book Disassembly Required: A Memoir of Midlife Resurrection is a story about rebuilding one's life after an unwanted divorce. She has written about marriage and faith for many publications, including National Catholic Register, First Things, The New York Times, and The Federalist. Her first novel, Nobody's Fault, will be published in the fall of 2027 by Old Fort Press. In this article, she shares the importance and challenge of martyrdom.

Read the full article in the October 2026 issue of the Southern Cross or online at southerncrosssav.org/articles/dying-for-the-faith

10/01/2026

(español abajo) In every Southern Cross, we include the month's liturgical calendar. You can also find it here, along with a Spanish version!

Want to save the calendar on your computer or phone? Here's how:

From Facebook on a computer:
- Click on the calendar to open the image in full screen.
- Click the three dots in the top right (next to the words “Southern Cross”) to open the menu.
- Click Download. The image should be in the downloads folder on your computer.

From the Facebook app (NOT the mobile site!):
- Touch the calendar to open the image in full screen.
- Press and hold on the image, or touch the three dots in the top right corner, to open the menu.
- Select Save Photo. The photo should be in your Photos app.

On Instagram:
The easiest method is to take a screenshot or go to Facebook (facebook.com/southerncrossdiosav) to save it to your phone or computer.

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En cada Southern Cross, incluimos el calendario litúrgico del mes. ¡También puede encontrarlo aquí, en inglés y español!

¿Quiere guardar el calendario en su computadora o teléfono? Así es como:

De Facebook en una computadora:
- Haga clic en el calendario para abrir la imagen en tamaño de pantalla completa.
- Haga clic en los tres puntos de la parte superior derecha (junto a las palabras “Southern Cross”) para abrir el menú.
- Haga clic en Descargar. La imagen debería estar en la carpeta de descargas en su computadora.

De la app de Facebook (¡NO el sitio móvil!):
- Toque el calendario para abrir la imagen en tamaño de pantalla completa.
- Mantenga pulsado en la imagen, o toque los tres puntos de la parte superior derecha, para abrir el menú.
- Seleccione Guardar Foto. La foto debe estar en su app de fotos.

En Instagram:
El método más fácil es tomar una captura de pantalla o ir a Facebook (facebook.com/southerncrossdiosav) para guardarla en su teléfono o computadora.

10/01/2026

With their beatification coming up at the end of this month, the October 2026 issue of the Southern Cross is about the Georgia Martyrs! Read it online at southerncross-sav.org

This month's kids' page is also about the Georgia Martyrs. Visit southerncrosssav.org/sc-kids for extra coloring pages!

09/30/2026

“Todos respiramos el mismo oxígeno, dependemos de la misma agua y compartimos el mismo planeta frágil que ha sido confiado a nuestro cuidado.”
—“El Cuidado de Nuestra Casa Común” por Padre Pablo Migone

Padre Pablo Migone es el Vicario para el Avance de la Misión de la Diócesis de Savannah y el Párroco de Corpus Christi en Pooler y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Port Wentworth. En esta columna, reflexiona sobre nuestra responsabilidad de ser buenos administradores del mundo que Dios nos ha confiado.

Lea la columna de Padre Pablo en el número de septiembre de 2026 de la Southern Cross o en línea en southerncrosssav.org/columns/caring-for-our-common-home-el-cuidado-de-nuestra-casa-comun

This column is also available in English!

09/28/2026

“‘[Approximately] 40% of food in the state of Georgia ends up in landfills. ... We're taking the food that is still good, that's going to end up in the dumpster, and we're putting it on the tables of households that are really struggling to make ends meet.’”
—“Bridging the Gap: Catholic Charities Reduces Food Waste and Hunger”

In this article, the Southern Cross spoke with Catholic Charities of South Georgia Executive Director Latacia Avila about Catholic Charities' food waste program. This program, coordinated through the food bank Second Harvest, works with grocery stores to bring unsold but still good food to Catholic Charities' food pantry for distribution to those in need.

Read the full article in the September 2026 issue of the Southern Cross or online at southerncrosssav.org/articles/bridging-the-gap-catholic-charities-reduces-food-waste-and-hunger

09/25/2026

“We all breathe the same air, depend on the same water, and share the same fragile planet entrusted to our care. As Catholics, we are called to see creation as a sign of God's goodness and an invitation to work for the common good.”
—“Caring for our Common Home” by Fr. Pablo Migone

Fr. Pablo Migone is Vicar for Mission Advancement of the Diocese of Savannah and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Port Wentworth, and Corpus Christi, Pooler. In this column, he reflects on our responsibility to be good stewards of the world entrusted to us by God.

Read the full column in the September 2026 issue of the Southern Cross or online at southerncrosssav.org/columns/caring-for-our-common-home-el-cuidado-de-nuestra-casa-comun

09/23/2026

“We were created for the tranquility of Eden, yet we live in a world filled with continuous demands and disruptions that can keep the body's alarm system stuck in the ‘on’ position.”
—“The Allostatic Load: The Weight of Environmental Stressors and the Impact on Body and Soul” by Garrett Boyer, PhD

Dr. Garrett Boyer is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Benedictus Psychological Services. In this article, he discusses the impact environmental stressors can have on our physical and spiritual wellbeing and offers advice for relieving stress.

Read the full article in the September 2026 issue of the Southern Cross or online at southerncrosssav.org/articles/the-allostatic-load