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Gulf Pine

CATHOLIC

VOLUME 34 / NUMBER 10 www.biloxidiocese.org

January 13, 2017

‘Church of the Fishermen’ plans year-long centennial celebration BY TERRY DICKSON BILOXI -- St. Michael Parish is marking the 100th year of its establishment with a series of celebrations that will continue throughout 2017. “In 2017, we are looking forward with great excitement and joy at celebrating 100 years as a community of faith,” said St. Michael pastor Father Greg Barras. “There’s a rich, wonderful legacy here at the Church of the Fishermen of people establishing themselves on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, making a living off of the Gulf and also centering it in Christ. It’s just a beautiful story of heartache and growth, as well as joy and celebration, how Christ has very much been a part and is still very much a part of this community growing and learning and centering itself in prayer.” St. Michael was established in 1907 as a mission to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. In 1917, Bishop John E. Gunn, bishop of Natchez, established the southeast section of Biloxi, commonly known as Point Cadet, as St. Michael Parish.

St. Michael 100th Anniversary Calendar of Events* Jan. 22: Feb. 12: March 12: June 3-4: July 16: Oct. 12: Nov. 19: *

Opening Prayer Service, 3 p.m. Storytelling Event, 2-6 p.m. Gumbo and Tours of the Church, 11 a.m. Blessing of the Fleet Parish Picnic and Storytelling Closing Mass and Reception Closing Prayer, 3 p.m.

Events are subject to change

Since life in the parish centered on the fishing and seafood industries -- Point Cadet was at one time considered the “seafood capital of the world” -- those components have played a vital role in the parish’s history. So too has nature. In 1969, the first church was destroyed by fire. That same year, the current church, which was built in 1964 under the guidance of Father Herbert Mullin and considered an iconic Biloxi landmark because of its unique architecture, was pummeled by Hurricane Camille. However, the round church, known as the “Church of the Fishermen” survived, only to be challenged again by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Bishop Roger Morin rededicated St. Michael in 2011. Father Barras said the reason for a series of celebrations instead of one big celebration is because the planning committee “wanted to tell the story of the heritage, the legacy and the faith of this community.” “Not just a big event, but a number of events to call back people who have moved away, so that they can come back and celebrate the story with us,” he said.

Pope to bishops: Defend children from abuse, protect their dignity, joy BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Stand up and protect children from exploitation, slaughter and abuse, which includes committing to a policy of “zero tolerance” of sexual abuse by clergy, Pope Francis told the world’s bishops. Wake up to what is happening to so many of today’s innocents and be moved by their plight and the cries of their mothers to do everything to protect life, helping it “be born and grow,” he said in a letter sent to bishops commemorating the feast of the Holy Innocents, Dec. 28. The Vatican press office published the letter and translations from the original Italian Jan. 2. Just as King Herod’s men slaughtered young children of Bethlehem in his “unbridled thirst for power,” there are plenty of new Herods today -- gang members, criminal networks and “merchants of death” -- “who devour the innocence of our children” through slave labor, prostitution and exploitation, he said. Wars and forced immi-

An Indian girl sells vegetables in Amritsar, India, Aug. 3, 2016. In a letter to bishops commemorating the feast of the Holy Innocents Dec. 28, Pope Francis said children must be protected from exploitation, slaughter and abuse, which includes committing to a policy of “zero tolerance” of sexual abuse by clergy. CNS photo/Raminder Pal Singh, EPA

gration also strip children of their innocence, joy and dignity, he added. The prophet Jeremiah was aware of this “sobbing and loud lamentation” and knew that Rachel was “weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled since they were no more.” “Today too, we hear this heart-rending cry of pain, which we neither desire nor are able to ignore or to silence,” Pope Francis said. “Christmas is also accompanied, whether we like it or not, by tears,” and the Gospel writers “did not disguise reality to make it more credible or attractive.” Christmas and the birth of the son of God aren’t about escaping reality, but are a way to help “contemplate this cry of pain, to open our eyes and ears to what is going on around us, and to let our hearts be attentive and open to the pain of our neighbors, especially where children are involved. It also means realizing that that sad chapter in history is still being written today.” SEE POPES BISHOPS CHILDREN, PAGE 10

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Diocesan Events Biloxi Pro-Life Youth Rally BILOXI -- Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish is hosting a Pro-Life Youth Rally Jan 22, the 44th anniversary of Roe V Wade, with Mass at 1 p.m. followed by a procession to the Biloxi Lighthouse for a brief prayer service. According to pastor Father Stephen Benden, CSsR, the purpose of the event is to provide an opportunity for those who are unable to travel to Washington D.C. later that week for the March for Life to stand in solidarity with those who will make the trip. Father Benden said, although the event is mainly for youth, people of all ages are invited.

St. Michael Parish Mission BILOXI -- St. Michael Parish will hold a parish mission Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Father Larry Gillick, S.J., and Sister Bernadette will be the presenters.

St. Mary KC Free Throw Contest GAUTIER -- St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus will hold a Free Throw Contest for children ages 9-14 on Jan. 21. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the contest.

33 Days to Merciful Love Retreat GAUTIER -- St. Mary Parish will hold a “33 Days to Merciful Love Retreat” February 13-March 27 on Mondays from 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $30; fee must be paid by January 27 so books can be ordered. For more information, call Hannah Moran at (228) 990-5358 or Adrianne Ankerson at (817) 966-1489.

NOTICE

Every volunteer who works with minors and every employee of all parishes and Catholic schools of the Diocese of Biloxi must receive a copy of the Policy of the Diocese of Biloxi Regarding Complaints of Abuse of Minors. Copies of this policy are available from any pastor or principal. If any volunteer who serves with minors or any employee did not receive this policy, please contact your pastor or principal, or call 228-702-2126/27. A copy of the policy is also available to any interested person. In addition, a copy of the Diocesan Code of Conduct Regarding Contact with Minors and the Diocesan Policy Concerning Supervision of Youth Trips and Other Youth Functions are also available from your pastor or principal, or by calling 228702-2126/27.

How to report a complaint of abuse The clergy, religious, and laity who serve in the ministries of the Diocese of Biloxi are committed to making Church ministries safe for young people. Allegations of misconduct with minors are reported as the law requires and an internal investigation is conducted. A copy of the diocesan policy is available on the diocesan website (www.biloxidiocese. org) or by contacting your pastor. A complaint of misconduct should be reported directly to civil authorities. In addition, a complaint should be reported to the Diocese of Biloxi by calling the phone numbers on the diocesan website or by calling 228702-2112 or to the State of Mississippi’s Hot Line: 1-800-222-8000.

Garage Sale POPLARVILLE- The Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus Council 15121 will hold its third annual garage sale on January 21 from 7 am to 2 pm. St. Joseph Parish Hall, 17 Bilbo Hill, Poplarville. Lots of clothes, toys, books, appliances, etc. Sale will be held indoors. For more information, please call Margie (601) 795-6077. SEE DIOCESAN EVENTS, PAGE 9

The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi’s Pastoral Center will be closed Mon., Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

AVISO

THÔNG BÁO

Todos los voluntarios quienes trabajan con menores y empleados de las parroquias de colegios Católicos de la Diócesis de Biloxi deberán recibir una copia de la Regla de la Diócesis de Biloxi con Respecto a Quejas de Abuso de Menores. Se pueden adquirir copias de esta regla de cualquier pastor o director. Si un voluntario que trabaja con menores o cualquier empleado no ha recibido dicha regla, favor póngase en contacto con su pastor o director, o llamar al 228-702-2126/27. Cualquier persona interesada también puede adquirir una copia de esta regla. Adicionalmente, también se puede adquirir una copia del Código Diocesano con respecto a Contacto con Menores y la Regla Diocesana con Respecto a la Supervisión de Viajes de Jóvenes y Otras Funciones de Jóvenes, llamando al 228-702-2126/27.

Mỗi thiện nguyện viên đang làm việc với các trẻ vị thành niên và mỗi nhân viên của tất cả các giáo xứ và trường học Công giáo của Địa Phận Biloxi phải nhận được một bản Các Điều Luật Của Giáo Phận Biloxi Về Việc Khiếu Nại Của Những Vị Thành Niên Bị Lạm Dụng. Các cha sở và hiệu trưởng luôn có những bản Các Điều Luật này để phát cho bất cứ ai cần. Nếu tình nguyện viên nào đang phục vụ với trẻ vị thành niên hoặc nhân viên nào đã không nhận được những điều luật này, xin vui lòng liên lạc với cha sở hay hiệu trưởng, hoặc gọi số 228702-2126/27. Bất kỳ người nào quan tâm hay muốn đọc thì Địa Phận cũng sẵn sàng phát cho. Ngoài ra, Giáo Phận cũng có soạn một cuốn sách Chỉ Dẫn Của Địa Phận Trong Cách Ứng Xử Với Trẻ Vị Thành Niên và những điều luật của Giáo Phận Liên Quan Đến Việc Giám Sát Các Chuyến Đi Và Các Sinh Hoạt Cho Thanh Thiêú Niên. Xin liên lạc cha sở hay hiệu trưởng của bạn, hoặc gọi 228-702-2126/27 nếu muốn biết thêm chi tiết.

Como reportar una queja de abuso. El sector clero, los/las religiosas, y el sector de laicos quienes sirven en el ministerio de la Diócesis de Biloxi están comprometidos a hacer que los ministerios de jóvenes sean seguros. Acusaciones de mala conducta con menores son reportados como requiere la ley y se lleva a cabo una investigación interna. Se puede conseguir una copia de la regla diocesana en sitio de internet de la diócesis (www.biloxidiocese.org) o poniéndose en contacto con su pastor. Se debe reportar cualquier queja de mala conducta directamente a las autoridades civiles. Adicionalmente, se debe reportar una queja a la Diócesis de Biloxi llamando a los números telefónicos en el sitio web diocesana o llamando al 228-702-2112, o, a la Línea de Emergencia del Estado de Mississippi 1-800-222-8000.

Làm thế nào để khiếu nại về sự lạm dụng Các giáo sĩ, tu sĩ, giáo dân và những người phục vụ trong Giáo phận Biloxi phải cam kết là làm cho Giáo Hội trở nên một nơi an toàn cho các bạn trẻ. Các cáo buộc về những hành vi sai trái với vị thành niên được báo cáo theo luật định và một cuộc điều tra nội bộ được tiến hành. Một bản sao của các điều luật của giáo phận có đăng sẵn trên trang web của giáo phận (www.biloxidiocese.Org) hoặc bằng cách liên lạc với cha sở của bạn. Đơn khiếu nại hành vi sai trái cần được báo cáo trực tiếp cho chính quyền dân sự. Ngoài ra, đơn khiếu nại phải được báo cáo cho Giáo Phận Biloxi bằng cách gọi số điện thoại trên website của giáo phận hoặc gọi 228- 702-2112 hoặc cho chính quyền dân sự ‘ Mississippi’s Hot Line ‘: 1-800-222- 8000.

BY JOYCE DURIGA Catholic News Service QUINCY, Ill. (CNS) -- On the morning of Dec. 10 in a cemetery in Quincy, Father Augustus Tolton’s cause for canonization took one step further as his remains were exhumed and verified. Father Tolton, a former slave, is the first recognized American diocesan priest of African descent. In 2011, the Archdiocese of Chicago officially opened his cause for sainthood. While digging up Father Tolton’s grave may seem like a macabre undertaking and the antithesis of the prayer “may they rest in peace,” it is actually a reverent and well thought out part of church law regarding the remains of holy people. “This goes back to a very ancient tradition in the church for a number of reasons. One was to document that the person really existed and wasn’t a figment of someone’s imagination or some group’s imagination. Finding their grave was the telltale sign that the person lived, breathed and walked this earth,” said Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, who is postulator of the priest’s cause and one of the nation’s African-American Catholic bishops. “It’s basically out of our theology, our tradition that our bodies are made holy in baptism and the reception of the Eucharist and eventually they rise to glory. So while we’re treating everyone with dignity in life, even their remains are to be given a kind of a reverential handling,” said Bishop Perry. While Father Tolton died in Chicago in 1897, he requested to be buried in Quincy, which is in the Diocese of Springfield. He and his family had fled there after escaping slavery in nearby Missouri and it’s where he returned to minister after being ordained in Rome. He is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery

Bishop Morin’s Calendar Jan. 15, 29 Mass at Nativity Cathedral, 11 a.m. Jan. 22 Mass & Ground breaking at St. Fabian, Oak Grove, 10 a.m. Jan. 26

Foundation Meeting, 3 p.m.

in a plot with another Quincy priest. Today that cemetery is sandwiched in between KFC and Wendy’s restaurants and located along a commercial shopping thoroughfare. The day before the exhumation, cemetery crews from the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Springfield dug 6 feet down into the clay-based soil to about 4 inches above Father Tolton’s grave. They removed dirt from a 6-foot-by-11-foot space. Using sonar, they had already verified the grave’s location. A white tent covered the remains and sheltered the small area from the elements. At 7:30 a.m. Dec. 10 crews and diocesan officials gathered for an opening prayer service at the grave site led by Springfield Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki. The Catholic Church through the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes is very specific about how the process must go. “There is a canon law that they have to follow that lays out exactly what has to be done and how it’s done to the point that they called the workers together to swear an oath to diligence and professionalism,” said Roman Szabelski, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Canon law also requires that dioceses employ a forensic anthropologist, a medical examiner and archaeologist in the process. Those three men worked on removing the remainder of the soil and uncovered Father Tolton’s body. It didn’t take long to find the skeletal remains. Over time the earth crushed the wooden coffin in which the priest was buried. They discovered the casket had a glass top because they found a significant amount of broken glass mixed in with the remains. At the time Father Tolton died, glass-topped coffins were used for people of position or who were well known. In addition to the skeletal remains, the crews found other items such as metal handles and wood from the coffin, the corpus from a crucifix buried with him, the corpus from his rosary and a portion of his Roman collar. “The intent of all of this is preserving the remains we have of a possible saint. We want to make sure that anything that we find is preserved so it will go into a sealed casket and from the sealed casket into a sealed vault,” said Szabelski told the Catholic New World, Chicago’s archdiocesan newspaper. Father Tolton’s exhumation was slow going with a lot of hand digging with trowels and using soft brushes to unearth the remains to make sure as much as possible was preserved.

(ISSN No. 0746-3804)

January 13, 2017 Volume 34, Issue 10 The GULF PINE CATHOLIC, published every other week, is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Editorial offices are located at 1790 Popps Ferry Rd., Biloxi, MS 39532. Periodical postage paid at Gulfport, MS. — POSTMASTER — Send address changes to: The GULF PINE CATHOLIC 1790 Popps Ferry Rd. Biloxi, MS 39532

Funeral director P.J. Staab and Father Christopher House, chancellor of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., place vestments on the remains of Father Augustus Tolton Dec. 10 as they are exhumed and verified at St. Peter Cemetery in Quincy, Ill. Father Tolton, a sainthood candidate, was a former slave who died in Chicago in 1897. He is the first recognized American diocesan priest of African descent. CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World

This wasn’t the first time archaeologist Deacon David Keene removed skeletal remains from the ground but it was the first time he did it for the church. “The difference between us and regular grave diggers is we just have an image of what we’re looking for, of what it looks like under the ground,” said Deacon Keene, who serves at Chicago’s Holy Family Parish. “If this was an unknown skeleton and we were just recovering it, it would take us longer because we would want to expose it all first, map it, photograph it,” he said. “But this is being done for the church and to bring up these remains for reburial so we’re going a little faster than usual.” As the remains were unearthed, the forensic pathologist laid them out on a table in a mortuary bag under which was a new priest’s alb. He pieced the bones together anatomically. Bishop Paprocki led everyone in the rosary while that was happening. In addition to the skull, they found Father Tolton’s femurs, rib bones, vertebrae, collarbones, pelvis, portions of the arm bones and other smaller bones. The forensic pathologist verified by the skull that the remains were of a black person. By the shape and thickness of bones in the pelvic area he was able to determine that the remains were from a male in his early 40s. SEE TOLTON REMAINS VERIFIED, PAGE 4

— PUBLISHER — Most Rev. Roger P. Morin — EDITOR — Terry Dickson — PRODUCTION / ADVERTISING — Shirley McCusker — CIRCULATION — Debbie Mowrey — OFFICE HOURS — 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday - Friday — PHONE NUMBERS — Editor: 228-702-2126 Production / Advertising: 228-702-2109 Circulation: 228-702-2127 FAX: 228-702-2128 — EMAIL — News: [email protected] Production: [email protected] Circulation / Advertising: [email protected] — OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS — 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 — WEBSITE — www.gulfpinecatholic.com — SUBSCRIPTIONS — Subscription rate is $18.00 per year. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about a subscription, customer should include a recent address label with old address and new address. Allow three weeks for changes of address. — DEADLINES for JANUARY 27 EDITION — News copy and photos: Due JANUARY 19, 4 pm Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due JANUARY 19, 10 am

3 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Father Tolton’s remains exhumed, verified; his cause takes step forward

Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Cursillo #265

Thirty-six women attended the 265th Cursillo sponsored by the Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi at Dedeaux December 1-4. They were: Carlotta L. Arnsdorff, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Joanne Barthel, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Deborah Barrett, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Jeannine Blum, St. Joseph, Gulfport; Joni Broussard, St. James, Gulfport; Angela Davis, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Amelia Diaz, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Nancy Ewing, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Olivia Cox Estrade, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Shelly Gibson, Nativity BVM, Biloxi; Rebecca Freeman, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Adina Green, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Candee Goff, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Mary Hays, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Keli K. Holfield, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; June C. Harrington, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Leisa Matrone Kirkpatrick, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Barbara (Bobbi) Kittle, St. Alphonsus, Ocean Springs; Beverly G. Lansden, St. Joseph, Gulfport; Darlene B. (George) Martinez, Our Land of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Mary C. Mccarthy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Connie Mccoy, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Dixie Mcdonald, Holy Family, Pass Christian; Kathy Meaux, Annunciation; Caledonia, Ms; Rogene (Gene) Molaison, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Michele M. Myers, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Jill Miller, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Livia Mooney, St. Charles Borromeo, Picayune; Lauren Roy, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Kim Rutland, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Helani Scurfield, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Mary Louise Sheffer, St Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Lois Smith, St Michael, Biloxi; Tammy Orr, Blessed Seelos, Biloxi; Susan Penton, Holy Spirit, Vancleave; and Suyon Rhee, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg. Spiritual advisors for the weekend were Fr. Mark Ropel, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg, and Deacon Frank Martin, St. Ann, Hurley, and St. Joseph, Moss Point. Serving as team members were: Marie Gombos, Rectora, St. Michael, Biloxi; Elsie Raymond, Co-Rectora, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Karla Alexander, Sacred Heart, D’Iberville; Rita Bailey, St. John the Evangelist, Gulfport; Connie Balentine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Abby Crosby, Sacred Heart, Hattisburg; Beverly Frosch, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Michelle Cox Gibbs, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Joe Ann Herald Hall, St. John the Evangelist, Gulfport; Yvonne Husley, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Diana Kopszywa, St. Michael, Biloxi; Michele Moore, Christ the King, Latimer; Tara Morgan, St. Mary, Woolmarket; Margot Quave, Our Lady of Fatima, Biloxi; and Nichelle Schmidt, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg. The next men’s Cursillo (Dedeaux #266) will be held January 26-29 at Dedeaux. David Kopszywa of St. Michael, Biloxi, is Rector and Rusty Tisdale of Immaculate Conception, Laurel, is Co-Rector. The next women’s Cursillo #267 will be held at Dedeaux, February 23-26. Lynn Denmark of St. Joseph, Moss Point, is Rectora and Tammy Arcana of Sacred Heart, Dedeaux, is Co-Rectora. There will be a Cursillo de Cursillo for all Cursillistas at the Kelley Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis, May 4-7. For more information about the Catholic Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi, call (228) 348-0203 or write to P.O. Box 7450; D’Iberville, MS 39540 and check out the Cursillo website: www.biloxicursillo.org and Facebook groups: Catholic Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi and Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi.

Tolton Remains Verified From page 3

Once all of the remains and artifacts were collected, the process to reinter Father Tolton began. Priests from Springfield vested the remains with a white Roman chasuble and maniple, amice and cincture. They were then placed in a new casket bearing a plate that identified him as “Servant of God Augustus Tolton,” along with his dates of birth, ordination and death. A document was placed on top of the remains attesting to the work done that day. Then they wrapped a red ribbon around the casket and sealed it with a wax seal of the Diocese of Springfield. The coffin was in turn placed in a burial vault with

another inscription. A second vault held the broken glass and coffin parts and both containers were reinterred in the grave. A closing prayer service wrapped up the solemn process. Father Tolton received the title of “servant of God” when his cause was officially opened and a postulator was named. If the Vatican determines he led a heroic life of Christian virtues, the church bestows the title “Venerable.” After that stage, the next steps would be beatification and canonization. In general, two miracles determined to have occurred through the candidate’s intercession are needed for sainthood -- one for beatification and the second for canonization. His grave will only be opened again if Father Tolton

is beatified, said Bishop Perry. So far two miracles are possible and have been sent to Rome, where they are being looked into, he noted. “We received about 50 some testimonials of people from all over the country testifying to favors from God through Tolton’s intercession. Remarkable things -- everything from needed employment to illness in the family to all kinds of problems,” the bishop said. “These people are really just excited about their prayers being answered because of him. He’s been pretty active up there, I think. He probably needs a secretary up there to handle all that has been put on his lap.” Duriga is editor of Catholic New World, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Here am I, Lord…

At the celebration of his 25 anniversary of priesthood, the pastor of our parish in New Jersey was asked, “When did you decide that you wanted to be a priest?” He replied, “About an Sunday hour ago!” Then he continued, “I Scripture have to decide to be a priest every Commentaries moment of every day of my life, it is an ongoing decision that I must declare and act on.” Today’s readings provide a strong emphasis on God’s call to do his will, on our sin as an obstacle to a positive response, and on the necessity of seeking God’s saving power for our wellbeing in life. Can we admit that we are sinners -- I hope so! Deacon Torrelli Should that make us feel discouraged, hopeless or wretched -- I hope not! Paul wrote, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Romans 5:20). However, if we let it go unchecked, sin will put a breach between us and God and fracture the implementation of God’s plan for our lives. In today’s first reading the Lord affirms Isaiah’s call to be herald of good news to the chosen people: salvation comes from God alone who is their strength and hope for a fuller more meaningful life. It is a message to return (“be brought back”) to the Lord and then lead back their contemporaries who have strayed away. But, it doesn’t end there. As we

have come to expect from God who continually takes the initiative to empower us for the greater good, Isaiah’s prophetic words raise the bar with the promise, “I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” In saying “yes” to being missionary disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ -we do not simply keep the good news to ourselves, or share it with a chosen few, we spread it to everyone. 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Responsorial Psalm: 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Gospel: John 1:29-34 Including those (we deem) too far away to ever come back, those who have fought God at every turn, the drunkard, the prostitute, the abortionist, those in (so called) same sex ‘marriages’ etc. All who need to experience the light of salvation. But before we can be that light leading others, we have to come out of our own darkness. If anything is preventing you from a positive response, coming back, converting, or giving up sinful thoughts and habits, quickly bring these to the Lord through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While Isaiah’s prophecy states God’s purpose in calling his people to holiness, “you are my servant, through whom I will show my glory” (Isaiah 49:3), today’s Psalm declares how that mission is to be carried out. Our Psalm response is David’s personal reply of God’s grace bestowed on him and his household. “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” The Psalmist lays out the progression for surrender and service; “he stooped toward me and heard my cry” (God’s response to a contrite heart), “set my feet upon rock” (unwavering Midway Family Care Walk-In Clinic is a primary care medical facility offering an affordable alternative...

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dedication to God), “put a new song in my mouth” (gave a new way of thinking, speaking and living) and “I did not restrain my lips” (freely and openly declared God’s goodness). This is more than a one-time declaration or commitment it is a daily response to God’s call with the desire to grow in holiness. Paul speaks to the Corinthians of his call to discipleship which required his willingness to give up sin, rebellion and selfishness and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:13). Paul’s mission, the church’s existence, and our salvation are grounded in God making the first move, then waiting for our response. Jesus said, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” (John 15:16). By selecting today’s gospel from John (rather than Matthew -- the cycle “A” standard) the Church does not yet want us to drift too far from the Epiphany (Jesus being made know to the world). John the Baptist declares that his highest and singular purpose is to point others to Jesus. By preaching, baptizing and calling sinners to repentance, John’s mission was to turn hearts and minds to the Lord. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Fr. Killian McDonnell, OSB wrote; “Some Evangelical preachers are highly successful in producing conversions -- including converts from Catholicism, because Evangelicals get people to admit that they are sinners who need to turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. People do not recognize Christ if they do not recognize themselves as sinners. If you are not a sinner, then you have no need of Christ. One cannot celebrate the mystery of the joy of redemption in Jesus Christ if one will not first recognize that he or she is a sinner.”

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Reflect and Act: What creative means and ways do you use to turn hearts and minds to Jesus? When have you last made someone a disciple of Jesus Christ? What is your highest priority in life? Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www. homilypearls.com.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

2nd Sunday of Time A

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Pro-life groups set to travel long distances for annual March for Life BY KURT JENSEN Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Participants in the annual March for Life always have two identical memories: the brisk January chill on the streets of the nation’s capital, and the long bus ride. For some, such as the 600 marchers affiliated with the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, the march will be a culmination of successful organizing and youthful enthusiasm in addition to substantial outside donations. Other groups though, struggle with raising money for just a single busload of about 50. Pro-life groups and Catholic parishes have organized the bus journeys for most of the of the 44 years of the march, which marks the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion virtually on demand. This year’s rally Jan. 27 on the Washington Monument grounds followed by a march up Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Supreme Court will be the first for St. Clair County Right to Life in Fort Gratiot, Michigan. “We hope for a full bus, which would be 55 people, but are expecting about 45,” said Roger Thomas, the organization’s treasurer. “This is the first year we’ve actually run the bus, so we’re still learning. A party from a neighboring county has been running a bus every January for years, and that seems to be the way it works, at least here in Michigan. Parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, right-to-life groups and such will sponsor the buses and word gets around that the bus is going, so it fills up.” Right to Life of Michigan in the past sponsored buses from venues around the state, but when it ran short of funds, “the initiative was thrown back on the local affiliates,” Thomas said. That’s when he learned of the many challenges involved in getting even a single busload of marchers. “The vendors with whom you contract need payment, or firm commitment, by a certain date. But that date is usually well before the trip itself, sometimes as much as six weeks. We’re finding out that a good number of people don’t even think about registering for a bus until after Christmas,” Thomas explained. So if the sponsoring organization is counting on registration fees, “they

Pro-life advocates walk past the Supreme Court building during the March for Life in Washington Jan. 22, 2016. This year’s march is set for Jan. 27, starting near the Washington Monument. CNS photo/

Gregory A. Shemitz

won’t have enough in time, and will have to cancel, just before people start calling to ask, ‘Are you still sending a bus?’” For this year’s march, St. Clair County Right to Life raised enough money to fund the full trip in advance and do not have to worry about canceling the trip unless the weather conditions are too severe -- like last January, when a snowstorm stranded dozens of buses on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the return journey. The Venango County chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, based in Oil City, faces a similar struggle. “We have been taking a bus from the Oil City area for 36 years,” said Judy Anderton, who heads the chapter. “We used to fill two buses, which included students from Venango Catholic High School. We are down to one bus and it is getting harder to fill.” SEE MARCH FOR LIFE PREVIEW, PAGE 7

Letter to the Bishop Vatican City, December 16, 2016 Your Excellency, On the occasion of your resignation from the Office of Bishop, I would like to convey to you the appreciation of Pope Francis for your years of episcopal service first as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and then as Ordinary of the Diocese of Biloxi. The Holy Father also expresses to you his closeness in prayer that you may continue to enjoy pastoral ministry in ways your health and God’s providence permit. You led the Diocese of Biloxi for over seven years doing your best to live your episcopal motto “Walk Humbly and Act Justly” and to make the voice of Christ heard and heeded. It is the hope of the Holy Father that, free from the burdens of administration, you will experience serene joy in the years ahead, united in faith and charity with the Bishop, priests, deacons, religious and laity of Biloxi. His Holiness wishes you the joy and satisfaction which come through an awareness of the manifold graces which the Lord has accomplished through your forty-five years of priestly ministry. May you draw spiritual strength in reflecting on that privilege which is yours as a successor to the Apostles. Commending you to the loving intercession of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, and with fraternal affection in our Lord Jesus Christ, His Holiness imparts to you his Apostolic Blessing, invoking upon you grace and peace. With sentiments of fraternal esteem and kind personal regards, I am Sincerely yours in Christ, Marc Cardinal Ouellet Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

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Closing date: Applications accepted until January 28, 2017 How to apply: 1. S ubmit an Administrator Application Form, which may be downloaded from the Office of Catholic Schools website as follows: • Go to ocs.arch-no.org • Click on tab “Career Opportunities” • Click “Job Openings” 2. Submit a résumé. 3. S ubmit three current letters of recommendation; one each from an individual who has knowledge of your: a. Moral character (Pastor/Clergy) b. Prior teaching experience c. Administrative ability 4. Submit the above and any additional supporting materials to: Office of Catholic Schools 7887 Walmsley Avenue New Orleans, LA 70125-3496 Phone: (504) 866-7916 ocs.arch-no.org Profile: St. Margaret Mary Catholic School has served the educational and faith formation needs of students in the greater Slidell area for over fifty years. The school has a current enrollment of 485 students in grades PK3 through seventh, and offers a wide variety of services, educational opportunities, and activities. St. Margaret Mary is nationally accredited, and has established itself as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

BY TERRY DICKSON BILOXI -- This year marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to an abortion. Later this month, as in years past, diocesan youth and their adult chaperones, will travel by bus to Washington D.C. to participate in the March for Life, joining hundreds of thousands of people from all fifty states and countless countries to testify to the beauty of life and the dignity of each human person. However, since not everyone can travel to the Nation’s Capital, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish in East Biloxi is hosting a local event that will give those who are unable to make the trip, an alternative closer to home. The parish’s pro-life rally will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22, five days before the national march, beginning at 1 p.m. with Mass, followed by a procession to the Biloxi Lighthouse for a brief prayer service. “The event is a great opportunity to stand up for the Christian value of life from conception to natural death,” said Redemptorist Father Steven Benden, pastor of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos and Our Mother of Sorrows Parishes in Biloxi,

who will lead the march. “The event will mirror the Pro-Life March in Washington D.C. later this same week as we stand in solidarity with them. This is an opportunity for all the faithful to stand as one in the face of the Culture of Death of our world. The event is particuFr. Benden larly geared for the youth of the diocese, although all are invited, to stand as one for the Life God has given us. We sincerely hope that you can join us for this event.” Ray Lacy, diocesan director of youth ministry, has made numerous trips to Washington D.C. for the national march and Lacy believes the experience has a lasting impact on those who attend. “But I often wonder how we can be more active in our own community,” he said. “This is a wonderful way to do just that. Our hope is that all our students who will be making the trip to D.C. will also attend this event as well, as an effort to impact our own community. I hope to see everyone there.”

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From page 6 The cost of the bus, she noted, “has gone from under $1,000 to about $2,600 this year, and it is getting harder to cover the cost with low passenger numbers. This may have to be our last bus.” Many bus trips from Midwestern states are nonstop drives of nearly 24 hours, but that usually depends on the average age of the group, Thomas said. “Because we’re trying to accommodate an older base of registrants, we’re doing a double-overnight stay, driving down the day before, spending the night, participating in the march on Friday, spending the night again, and driving back the day afterward. Ours is a very sparse trip -- no sightseeing tours, no extra time for shopping,” he said. The University of Mary group is making a nonstop trek. And they will be proud to do so, because march organizers selected them to hold the banner and lead the parade in their orange and blue knit caps. “I think they noted the faithfulness of the University of Mary pro-life movement and our effort to support that,” said Anne Dziak, a Chicago native and recent graduate of the university who now works as an admissions counselor at the school. Last year, the university sent 100 marchers. This year, the number swelled with additions of pro-life groups from Bismarck-area high schools and groups from Fargo and Minnesota. It will take 14 buses to hold them all. This will be Dziak’s 12th march and the seventh time the university, which has an enrollment of about 3,100, has sent a group. “We have a lot of practice staying warm,” she said. The caravan will leave the morning of Jan. 25 and ride through the night to arrive in Washington at 3 p.m. the following day, giving them just one overnight stay. She concedes that nonstop trips aren’t for everyone, but said there are benefits. “It’s a good opportunity to allow the students to grow to know each other and make it more of a pilgrimage for us,” Dziak said. She advised students “to take it all in. Some of the best conversations I’ve had are on the bus at 2 or 3 a.m.” March organizers do not announce attendance estimates, preferring to give the number only as in the tens of thousands. Please pray for the five busloads of youth and adults from the Diocese of Biloxi who will travel to the March for Life in Washington D.C. later this month.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Biloxi parish to hold Pro-Life Mass, rally on Jan. 22

March For Life Preview

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Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Maternity leave: Why the pope wants the church to be a loving mother The Holy Father Speaks

Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Mother’s Day came early this year at the Vatican. A number of feast days over the Advent and Christmas seasons gave Pope Francis a fresh opportunity to pay homage to the world’s mothers and insist further on how and why he wants the entire church to become more maternal. But who is this archetypal mother figure the pope upholds? Pope Francis pointed to a few of his favorite biblical heroines, praising the seemingly contradictory qualities of

each: Like Mary, she is silently compliant to God’s will; like Rachel, she weeps inconsolably, drawing God’s and the world’s attention to a reality people would rather ignore; and like the persistent widow, she doesn’t let being a nobody stop her from speaking up against injustice, making a fuss and pestering the one who does have power to make things right. So how and why does the church need to be this loving, humble, hard-as-nails champion? Let’s count the

With Fr Louis Lohan

ways: ? A cold, careless, selfish world thirsts for a tender warm home. Speaking on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, Jan. 1, Pope Francis said it’s the maternal instinct to hold, hope and help that make up the “strongest antidote” to the selfishness, indifference and intolerance in the world today. He went on to say that God chose to be “knit” inside and born of a woman, so that he could experience a mother’s tenderness, hear the cries of and joys of their people, and make everyone his brother and sister in the faith who belong to a family. ? When times get tough, who are you going to call? Everyone, especially the lost, forgotten and marginalized, need a strong-willed, faithful advocate on their side. The pope said Jan. 1 that in his pastoral ministry, he learned so much about the meaning of true unconditional commitment from the mothers he met whose kids were in jail, addicted to drugs or victims of war. Neither cold nor heat nor rain, he said, could stop these women from fighting for something better. Much like the persistent widow, the mothers he met were the ones who were able to offer love and support

to their suffering children “without wavering” through thick and thin. Mary shows that humility and tenderness aren’t virtues of the weak, he said, but of the strong, and that we don’t have to mistreat others in order to feel important and make a difference. ? To change the world, it starts at home. Speaking on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, he again highlighted “those fighting mothers” he knew back in Latin America. Often alone and with no help, they were able to raise their children right, he said. Mary is our “female fighter” facing off a mistrustful, lazy, distracted world -- “a woman who fights to strengthen the joy of the Gospel, give flesh to the Gospel” in the world. ? To help people, you must be in touch with a hard reality. In a letter to the world’s bishops marking the feast of the Holy Innocents Dec. 28, the pope said they must listen for the sobbing of today’s mothers because there are so many new Herods today, killing the young with their tyranny and “unbridled thirst for power.” SEE HOLY FATHER SPEAKS, PAGE 10

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Financial Peace Is Coming! Having issues with spending and saving? Did you overspend (or go into debt) for Christmas? Do you wish you gave more? Need help developing a budget, or saving for retirement? Are you tired of all the monthly debt payments? Need to save for your kids’ college? Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) class addresses these concerns and much more. The class will be offered at St. Joseph’s Church (Orange Grove) in Depew Hall on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. starting on Jan. 16 and lasting 9 weeks. Cost is about $100 per family. Contact Ed Brennan at (228) 234-7601 for details. Former students are welcome back!

St. Fabian Mardi Gras Drawdown HATTIESBURG -- St. Fabian Parish will hold its 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Drawdown on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. at Brewsky’s. Tickets are $100 each and

admits 2 people to the party. We will have a silent auction, as well as a live auction. One of our live auction items will be a bottle of O.F.C. Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery valued at $10,000, and the other live auction item is dinner for 6 at the Wine Room at Crescent City Grill prepared by Robert St. John and special guests will be Father Tommy Conway, Brett and Deanna Favre. Tickets can be purchased at saintfabian.ourdrawdown.com

CSA Charismatic Renewal Retreat HATTIESBURG -- The Southern Miss Catholic Student Association of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish invites everyone to experience the Holy Spirit who opens us to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and the love of the Father at a Charismatic Renewal Retreat which will be held at the parish on January 2729. There is no cost to attend the event. The theme of the event is “Game changer: the role of the Holy Spirit in the New Evangelization”. Join Pete Burack, Sean

Breeden and Rachel Herbeck of Renewal Ministries, and singer/song writer, Cody Roth, as they lead the church in a weekend full of inspirational praise and worship to our Lord. St. Thomas is located at 3117 West 4th Street, Hattiesburg, MS. For more information regarding this event please contact Daphne Creel at (601) 470-4202.

KC Free Throw Contest OCEAN SPRINGS -- The St. Alphonsus Knights of Columbus will hold their annual local KC Free Throw Contest on Sat., Jan. 14 in the St. Alphonsus gym. All children between the ages of 9 and 14 are invited to participate. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with shoot off starting at 9 a.m.

Picayune KC Ladies Auxiliary Marketplace PICAYUNE -- The Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus Council 6872 will hold its 4th Annual Marketplace of Crafts, Collectibles and Art with food

and a parade of prizes on March 10-11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ladies Auxiliary is searching for anyone interested in selling their crafts, collectible goods and art work on these dates. For more information please contact Marion Hebbler at (601) 749-8317 or via email at [email protected].

Memorial Mass for Sister Julia Marie Burke A Memorial Mass for Sister Julia Marie Burke, RSM, will be held on Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 10446 Lemoyne Blvd, where she Sister Julia Marie served as DRE from 1993 until her retirement in 2015. Refreshments will be served following Mass.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Diocesan Briefs (cont. from page 2)

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Popes Bishops Children From page 1

Given such challenges, Pope Francis told the world’s bishops to look to St. Joseph as a role model. This obedient and loyal man was capable of recognizing and listening to God’s voice, which meant St. Joseph could let himself be guided by his will and be moved by “what was going on around him and was able to interpret these events realistically.” “The same thing is asked of us pastors today: to be men attentive, and not deaf, to the voice of God, and hence more sensitive to what is happening all around us,” he said. Like St. Joseph, “we are asked not to let ourselves be robbed of joy. We are asked to protect this joy from the Herods of our own time. Like Joseph, we need the courage to respond to this reality, to arise and take it firmly in hand.”

The church weeps not only for children suffering the pain of poverty, malnutrition, lack of education, forced displacement, slavery and sexual exploitation, the pope said, she weeps “because she recognizes the sins of some of her members: the sufferings, the experiences and the pain of minors who were abused sexually by priests.” “It is a sin that shames us,” he said, that people who were responsible for caring for children, “destroyed their dignity.” Deploring “the sin of what happened, the sin of failing to help, the sin of covering up and denial, the sin of the abuse of power,” the church also begs for forgiveness, he said. “Today, as we commemorate the feast of the Holy Innocents, I would like us to renew our complete com-

mitment to ensuring that these atrocities will no longer take place in our midst. Let us find the courage needed to take all necessary measures and to protect in every way the lives of our children, so that such crimes may never be repeated. In this area, let us adhere, clearly and faithfully, to ‘zero tolerance,’” he said. The pope urged the bishops to remember that Christian joy doesn’t ignore or sugarcoat reality, but “is born from a call” to embrace and protect life, “especially that of the holy innocents.” He asked they renew their commitment to be shepherds with the courage to acknowledge what so many children are experiencing today and to work to guarantee the kind of conditions needed so their dignity will be respected and defended.

trite or insensitive speeches. Rachel’s refusal to be consoled shows how delicately one must approach a person in pain, the pope said. When people are hurting, “it is necessary to share in their desperation. In order to dry the tears from the face of those who suffer, we must join our weeping with theirs. This is the only way our words may truly be able to offer a bit of hope,” he said. Often it’s only tears that can open one’s eyes to the realities of life that need attention, he said. When Pope Francis dedicated his audience talk to mothers Jan. 7, 2015, the feast of the Nativity for the Orthodox Church, he lamented how people had plenty

of poems and “beautiful things” to say about moms, but at the end of the day “the mother is rarely listened to or helped in daily life.” Not only are they “rarely considered central to society in her role,” he said, “the mother is not always held in the right regard, she is barely heard” in the church, too. With his many reflections on motherhood, the pope is trying to bring that maternal warmth back to the church. But he has also called for the courage “to knock at the door” like the persistent widow because “the Lord himself says, ‘Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.’”

Holy Father Speaks From page 8

Listen to where the cries are coming from, he said; they are not to be ignored or silenced. It’s going to take courage to first acknowledge this difficult reality and work to ensure “the bare minimum needed so that their dignity as God’s children will not only be respected but, above all, defended.” ? Sometimes the best answer is no answer. Pope Francis again advocated the importance of using the heart over the head, and the church’s need to be more sensitive to another’s pain in order to bring God’s hope and compassion. During his general audience Jan. 4, he talked about Rachel’s tears being seeds of hope and the futility of

Cardinal Tobin looks to bridge chasm between faith, life in anxious world BY BETH GRIFFIN Catholic News Service NEWARK, N.J. (CNS) -- The chasm between faith and life is the greatest challenge facing the Catholic Church today, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin said at his installation Mass, and he urged the church to be salt for the earth so that the presence of Christ does not become “a comforting, nostalgic memory.” Delivering the homily during the liturgy Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, Cardinal Tobin said he wanted to head off “a growing trend that seems to isolate us, convincing us to neatly compartmentalize our lives” as people attend Mass on Sunday and then doing “whatever we think we need to do to get by” the rest of the week. Cardinal Tobin said his appointment reminded him “that stakes are incredibly high” as he assumes leadership of the richly diverse Archdiocese of Newark. “If we permit the chasm between faith and life to continue to expand, we risk losing Christ, reducing him simply to an interesting idea of a comforting, nostalgic memory. And if we lose Christ, the world has lost the salt, light and leaven that could have transformed it,” he said. He recalled how the church is “the place where

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin smiles while speaking to the congregation at the end of his Jan. 6 installation Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J. CNS photo/Bob Roller

believers speak and listen to each other, and it is the community of faith that speaks with and listens to the world. The church senses a responsibility for the world, not simply as yet another institutional presence or a benevolent NGO, but as a movement of salt, light and leaven for the world’s transformation. For this reason, our kindness must be known to all.” The installation took place before more than 2,000 people at Newark’s towering Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Cardinal Tobin concelebrated the Mass with six other cardinals and more than 60 archbishops and bishops. Five hundred priests and deacons also participated. After a 30-minute processional, Archbishop John J.

Myers, retired archbishop of Newark, welcomed participants and took special note of members of Cardinal Tobin’s religious community, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, his mother, Marie Terese Tobin, and his extended family. Cardinal Tobin, 64, is the eldest of 13 children. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, recalled when St. John Paul visited Newark in 1995, he described the nearby Statue of Liberty as a symbol of “the nation America aspires to be.” Archbishop Pierre told Cardinal Tobin, “We are confident that in imitation of the Good Shepherd, your episcopal ministry will be both hospitable and welcoming.” The nuncio read the apostolic mandate from Pope Francis to the College of Consultors to authorize Cardinal Tobin as the new archbishop of Newark. The letter noted that Cardinal Tobin carried out his episcopal responsibility to his flock in Indianapolis for four years “with prudence, decision-making and much learning.” It also commended him to the protection of St. Patrick and St. Elizabeth, patrons of the archdiocese. Carrying the unfurled scroll with the mandate raised high in front of him, Cardinal Tobin walked down the main aisle and was greeted with sustained applause.

11 DAYS: NOVEMBER 7-17, 2017

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Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Spain Pilgrimage with Fatima and Lourdes

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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St. Fabian to break ground on new church building BY LICI BEVERIDGE Hattiesburg American

at the same time we realize the wear and tear on their building and their school, The day many members so we’re anxious to get out of St. Fabian Catholic of their way.” Church have been waiting The church in its first for is almost here. year began with purchasing The church will hold a the items it needed for daygroundbreaking ceremony to-day operations -- candleJan. 22 to celebrate the sticks for the altar, chalices, beginning of construction robes, tables, office supof its first building. plies and more. The second St. Fabian pastor, Father year, the church phased in Tommy Conway, said the its ministries -- outreach parish life center is planned and ministering to the poor, for the first phase of conyouth education and prostruction because it can be grams, a church choir, etc. used for many functions -- and worked on filling from weekly services to leadership roles for those special events like wedministries. dings, funerals and bapThis year, it is time to tisms. build. The building also will Members amassed more have office and meeting than $2 million for the spaces. building fund, even before “I’m looking forward to any formal fundraising the first phase because until began. we have a building, a lot of The church this year St. Fabian pastor Father Tommy Conway and Deacon Truett Roberts are pictured during the 2016 people don’t believe we’re began a capital campaign, Christmas Vigil Mass, which was held at Oak Grove Middle School. The parish, which currently holds real,” Father Conway said. asking members to commit Masses at Benedict Day School in Sumrall, will break ground on a parish life center on January 22. Photo/ “Having a building in some to long-term support for the Steve Coleman way gets us off the ground project. Members were as a church -- we’ll have a place to call our home. We’ll great source of personal joy,” he said in an email. “I asked to make a three-year giving commitment that have our own address at the location where we’ll be look forward to joining Father Tommy Conway and the begins this year. people of St. Fabian Parish next month as they break forever more.” Country music star Tim McGraw performed in Several years ago, the Diocese of Biloxi identified ground on a new multipurpose center, which will serve Hattiesburg at a fundraising event to help with this the need for a new Catholic church in Lamar County. as both a place of worship and fellowship, until that day phase of fundraising. Soon after, a parcel of land was donated for the new when they are able to gather in a permanent worship Father Conway said St. Fabian was required by the space, ever mindful that it is the people who constitute Biloxi diocese to have at least half the funds in hand church by Richard Fabian McCarthy. The parish was named St. Fabian in honor of the the church.” before construction could begin. And that day has The facility was designed by Albert & Associates come. Bishop Morin said he is looking forward to helpMcCarthy family, as well as in acknowledgement of the saint, who had led the church as pope and later died a Architects of Hattiesburg. Clearpoint Consulting ing St. Fabian parishioners celebrate. Father Conway Engineers of Hattiesburg also has been hired for the estimates church membership at between 600 and 800 martyr. The 25-acre tract near Mississippi 589 and Valley project. The parish life center is expected to take about people. Lane close to Willow Pointe Baptist Church has been a year to complete. The first phase also will include “A building dedicated to the glory of God is a sigundergoing site preparation this year in anticipation of parking, landscaping, drainage and other site develop- nificant honor,” Bishop Morin said. “But it is the peoment. building construction. ple who undertake the vital work of ‘being Church’ by “We’re getting very close to building our first build- sharing God’s infinite love and boundless mercy with “I think everybody is looking for that first shovel going into the ground, knowing that several months ing,” Father Conway said. “It’s like having your first those most in need. from then, they’ll be in their own church,” longtime house. It will be very exciting to have a building to call “So, again, I look forward to being with the people our own.” parishioner Lester Dalme said in an earlier story. of St. Fabian on Jan. 22 for this important milestone in Soon after the parish was established, the church the history of this young parish, which I established on Retiring Bishop Roger Morin, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Biloxi, will attend the ground- began meeting at Benedict Day School, just off Jan. 20, 2014, the Memorial of St. Fabian.” breaking as one of his last events before he retires in Mississippi 589 in Sumrall. “We’ve been in our present location squatting for February. (Reprinted with permission of the Hattiesburg “During my eight years as bishop of Biloxi, I have three years,” Father Conway said. “And we’ll be cele- American) presided over numerous special occasions that have brating our third anniversary in January. “(Benedict) has been very, very gracious to us, but been cause for tremendous celebration, as well as a

BY MARIA WIERING Catholic News Service ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) -- A newborn child found on the doorstep of the Cathedral of St. Paul was in good health and being cared for by local children’s services officials. Nathan Leonhardt, a custodian at the cathedral, discovered the child Jan. 4 as he was locking the building about 6 p.m. following evening Mass. The baby was left in a plastic laundry basket between the exterior and interior doors of a church entrance. Leonhardt and Father John Ubel, cathedral rector, cared for the infant boy in the church sacristy until emergency responders arrived. The priest said he baptized the child while waiting for police and an ambulance to arrive. Father Ubel said he hopes the boy, whom he christened Nathan John, will be adopted by a Catholic family. He finds it significant that the baby was left at a Catholic parish. The baby was placed in the care of Ramsey County Child Protective Services. Police are not pursuing the case as a criminal matter, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, St. Paul police spokesman. Minnesota law allows a mother to leave a newborn in a safe place within seven days of birth, such as a hospital or urgent care clinic without having to answer any questions. However, a church is not classified as one of

Nathan Leonhardt, a custodian at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., poses near the spot where he found an abandoned newborn baby after evening Mass Jan. 4. CNS photo/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit those safe places. Father Ubel believes, however, that the baby was left at the cathedral because the mother knew her son would be safe and cared for with the parish’s help. When he first saw the basket with a blanket on top, Leonhardt thought someone had left laundry on the steps to the church foyer. He then heard a noise from the basket and thought it might be a puppy. When he removed the blanket, he saw the baby’s face. “I was speechless,” he said. “I froze for what seemed to be 10 seconds, but it was probably more.”

He said the infant appeared to be recently born because he was still covered in blood and mucus and had not been washed. The umbilical cord was cut and clamped with a binder clip. Father Ubel visited the hospital later in the evening but was unable to see the child. Police informed him that the baby was likely born slightly premature, weighed about 5 pounds, and is in good health. The priest said he is grateful that the mother chose not to abort the baby. His is also proud of Leonhardt’s quick actions. “The fact that this child was left off at a Catholic church is not an insignificant detail to me,” Father Ubel said. “Absent any other information forthcoming, I think it’s important that this child be given up for adoption, and there would be many willing Catholic couples who would welcome this child into their home.” Like Father Ubel, Leonhardt also hopes the baby can go to a good home. “They picked a good spot to drop him off,” said Leonhardt, 26, a parishioner of St. Patrick Church in suburban Inver Grove Heights. “It’s a church. We love children.” Wiering is editor of The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Bishops mention immigration policy, heritage in National Migration Week statement BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Urging Americans to look at their families for stories of immigration, the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called attention to the hardships and contributions of immigrants to American society as the U.S. church prepared to observe National Migration Week. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles also said in a Jan. 6 statement that the week is “an opportunity to embrace the important work of continuing to secure the border, to welcome the stranger and serve the most vulnerable” as components of “a humane immigration policy.” National Migration Week was to be observed Jan. 8-14. “This year, we are invited to create a culture of encounter where citizens old and new, alongside immigrants recent and long-standing, can share with one another their hopes for a better life,” said the statement marking the observance, which began 25 years ago as a

A woman holds a child’s hand as they arrive for a rally in support of immigrants’ rights in New York City Dec. 18, 2016. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles called attention in a Jan. 6 statement the hardships and contributions of immigrants to American society as the U.S. church prepared to observe National Migration Week. CNS photo/Gregory

A. Shemitz

way to reflect on how immigrants and refugees have contributed to the church. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph

knew life as refugees, so let us also begin this encounter within our very own families.” The prelates said migration is “an act of great hope” and those who are forced leave their homelands “suffer devastating family separation and most often face dire economic conditions to the point they cannot maintain a very basic level of living.” War and persecution force refugees to leave their homelands, they said. They urged Catholics to seek stories from their families about how their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents left their homelands. “Let us remind ourselves of those moments when our loved ones were forced to seek the mercy of others in a new land,” the statement said. Though the United States has a great national heritage of welcoming the stranger, “fear and intolerance have occasionally tested that heritage,” the statement said, adding that “whether immigrating from Ireland, Italy or countless other countries, previous generations faced bigotry. Thanks be to God, our nation grew beyond those divisions to find strength in unity and inclusion.”

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Infant safe after being found abandoned at Minnesota cathedral

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Catholics in Congress: one-third of House, one-quarter of Senate BY CAROL ZIMMERMANN Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The religious makeup of the 115th Congress is significantly Christian -- 91 percent -- with Catholics comprising one-third of the House of Representatives and about a quarter of the Senate. Overall, there are six fewer Christians in the new Congress, at 485 members. But there are four more Catholics, who now total 168. The high percentage of Christians in Congress is similar to the 87th Congress in 1961, when such information was first collected. At the time, 95 percent of Congress members were Christian. The data on the religious makeup of the current senators and representatives was collected by Pew Research Center and announced Jan. 3. The Pew report notes that the large number of Christians in Congress has shifted in recent years with a decline in the number of Protestants. In 1961, Protestants made up 87 percent of Congress, compared with 56 percent today. Catholics, conversely, made up 19 percent of the 87th Congress, and now are 31 percent of the legislative body. Looking at each party, two-thirds, or 67 percent, of Republicans in the new Congress are Protestant and 27 percent of Republicans are Catholic. The breakdown between Protestants and Catholics is more evenly

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., raises the gavel during the opening session of the new Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington Jan. 3. Ryan, who is Catholic, was re-elected speaker of the House of Representatives earlier in the day.

CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

divided among the Democrats: 42 percent are Protestant and 37 percent are Catholic. Of the 293 Republicans in the new Congress, all but two, who are Jewish, are Christian. Democrats in Congress also are predominantly Christian -- 80 percent -- but they have more religious diversity among non-Christians. The 242 Democrat Congress members include 28 Jews, three Buddhists, three Hindus, two Muslims and one Unitarian Universalist in addition to one religiously unaffiliated member and 10 who declined to state their religious affiliation. Overall, the new Congress has seven fewer Protestants than the last Congress. Baptists had the big-

gest losses -- down seven seats -- followed by Anglicans and Episcopalians -- down six seats. Among non-Christian religious groups, Jews and Hindus had the biggest gains -- an increase of two seats each. Jews now hold 30 seats in Congress. The number of Hindus rose from one to three and the number of Buddhists increased from two to three. The number of Muslims in Congress -- two -remained unchanged. The new legislative group also has the smallest freshman class of any Congress in the past 10 years with 62 new members joining the 473 returnees. Of the new members, half are Protestant and roughly a third are Catholic. The Pew report points out that some religious groups, including Protestants, Catholics and Jews, have greater representation in Congress than in the general population. Jews, for example, make up 2 percent of the U.S. adult population but account for 6 percent of Congress. Other groups -- including Buddhists, Mormons, Muslims and Orthodox Christians -- are represented in Congress in roughly equal proportion to their numbers in the U.S. public. Another significant finding is that the most notably underrepresented group in Congress is the religiously unaffiliated. This group -- also known as religious “nones” -- account for 23 percent of the general public but makes up just 0.2 percent of the 115th Congress.

Diocesan Happenings St. Ann Parish, Clermont Harbor Immaculate Conception Parish, Laurel

CCD students from St. Ann Parish performed a Christmas program for parishioners. Performers, front, l-r, are Presley Green, Chaslyn MonJu, Harlen Graves, Alexander Peterson, Addison Dickinson, Cale Fryer, Dominic Peterson, Bella Ladner and Mason Fryer; back: Nettie Butsch (director of religious education), Hailey Sellier (teacher), Karisa Schneider, Jonathan Celino, Joshua Celino, Levi Green (teacher), Sherrie Mauffray and John Klein.

To include your parish and school events and activity information in the “Gulf Pine Catholic”, email that information to: [email protected].

On Dec. 21, CYO members from Immaculate Conception in Laurel took a day trip to New Orleans for some fun and fellowship. The trip has become an annual tradition for the group as they continue to build amazing friendships and experience life long memories while developing their faith and love for their church. A total of 30 teenagers varying from ages thirteen to eighteen visited and prayed together at St. Louis Cathedral (pictured at left). They also explored the sights, sounds and food in the world famous French Quarter, and were blessed to have shared a nice warm meal at Cafe Maspero, a local restaurant with a young homeless man that they had invited to dine with them. They also met a group of nuns, the Sisters of St. Joseph (pictured at right). The group went to the Audubon Zoo prior to heading back home to Laurel. Immaculate Conception is proud of the many young men and women members of their CYO for their strong witness to the faith and their tireless efforts to help serve the church through different ministries. Every year, the group continues to grow in membership. More and more non-Catholic teenagers have been attending CCD classes on a regular basis and participate in CYO activities due to the vital and vibrant witness of its members. To participate in CYO activities at ICC contact: Suzie Middleton at (601) 426-3473.

St. Fabian Parish, Hattiesburg

Members of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis and other churches from Pascagoula to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, visited the Vatican and other cities in Italy including Venice, Padua, Florence, Assisi and Rome for eleven days. The trip was hosted by Fr. Michael O’Connor, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. Also on the trip was Fr. Satish Adhav, pastor of St. Matthews Catholic Church in northern Hancock County. The group of 46 attended Pope Francis’ audience. Papal audiences are held on Wednesday mornings. There was at least a two-hour wait to go through security into St. Peter’s Square. The square was packed. “The Papal audience was a grand experience of the true ‛Catholic’ nature of the Church. Our pilgrimage group was mingled with people from all over the world. Of course, there were lots of Americans too. We all formed part of a vast crowd which filled St. Peters Square,” said Fr. Michael O’Connor. Pope Francis arrived in his Pope Mobile and zoomed around the square, up and down the aisles kissing babies and children. When he arrived at the stage,

he addressed the crowd. “The Pope spoke about the need to live the corporal works of mercy, and a list of those works along with the spiritual works were listed on the back of our tickets”, said Fr. O’Connor. “It was the last week of the Holy Year of Mercy and I was thinking these works-of-mercy must have been part of his preaching all year.” Fr. Satish Adhav said, “Since this year was a Holy Year of Mercy, it was nice to go through the Holy Door of Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica and receive the blessing of Holy Father at his audience.” Both priests say their favorite place to celebrate Mass was in a small chapel in the Papal Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. “When you see all the beautiful churches and basilicas and ask me which one is my favorite, it is hard to make a choice,” said Fr. Satish. “Fr. Michael and I celebrated the Holy Eucharist in St Francis of Assisi Basilica. He is the patron Saint of Italy and our Holy Father took Francis as his name. It is nice to know all about St Francis and read about him.” Photos/Father Mike O’Connor

The weekend before Thanksgiving was a special one for parishioners from St. Fabian’s Catholic Church in Hattiesburg. The Catholic Social Services Committee, lead by Patrick Brophy, gathered on Friday evening, Nov. 18, to sort and fill boxes of food for people in need of a Thanksgiving dinner. Everything from the sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, corn and carrots, gravy, cake mixes and frosting, cranberry sauce as well as onions and bread were included in the boxes. Whole (frozen) turkeys were also included and shared with the people who had signed up for the meals when they came by to pick up the ingredients (Sat. morning, Nov. 19) and take them to their homes to prepare for their own day of giving thanks. This is the first annual collection of food for Thanksgiving from St. Fabian’s Catholic Church for those in need. Approximately 25 families were provided with a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.

Holy Spirit Parish, Vancleave

St. Joseph Parish, Gulfport

On Dec. 10, parishioners of Holy Spirit Parish and Christ the King Mission were treated to a traditional Polish Christmas dinner by Fr. Adam Urbaniak. Salad and soup were served first, then Hunter’s stew, poppy seed noodles, fried fish, and pierogi. Dessert was poppy seed cake. After the meal, Christmas songs were sung. A silent auction was also held. Pictured, Fr. Adam giving serving instructions to the cooks and servers in the kitchen.

Members of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 2347 from St. Joseph Parish in Gulfport recently lent a helping hand at the Morning Star Pregnancy Center. Left, Fourth Degree Knights Butch Plitt and Bill Mann are pictured pressure washing the building. Right, Fourth Degree Knight Craig Henderson ascends a ladder to pulls vines out of the roof gutter.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis

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Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Holy Spirit Parish, Vancleave

Our Lady Academy, Bay St Louis

Judy Lamey lights a candle for her daughter at the ceremony as Deacon John Jennings looks on.

OLA parents and students enjoying Christmas Luncheon BAY ST. LOUIS -- In celebration of the season of sharing, Our Lady Academy (OLA) students invited parents and family to share a special Christmas luncheon with them on the OLA campus on December 9.

OLA chemistry teacher, Julie Cranford demonstrating an experiment with the sixth grade visitors.

OLA students, Caroline Samson and Grace Breisacher, assisting students with the experiment.

BAY ST. LOUIS -- Our Lady Academy (OLA) opened their doors to local coastal sixth grade students who were interested in attending the 2017/2018 School Year. The invitation extended to all girls who were interested in spending a day with OLA students and faculty. The day began with a prayer service, followed by classrooms visits and campus tours. Sixth graders were given the opportunity to explore the biology lab and

work on an actual chemical experiment in the chemistry lab. The day included a spaghetti and meatball lunch shared with OLA students. The girls were afforded the opportunity to listen to current students discuss their experiences at OLA and ask questions about all the sports, clubs, and honor programs that OLA has to offer new students. The visit concluded with one lucky sixth grader winning a basket full of OLA goodies.

The 19th Annual Compassionate Friends Candlelight Memorial Service was held Dec. 11 at the Holy Spirit Community Center in Vancleave. The service unites family and friends around the globe as they light candles for one hour to honor and remember sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left to soon. Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, it creates a 24 hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. It is a symbol that their light may always shine. The Holy Spirit youth choir sang for the event and Ty Ford, from Fourth Day Ministries, gave words of encouragement. Refreshments were enjoyed by all at the close of the event. The event is always held on the second Sunday in December. If you would like to receive an invitation to the service for next year, please contact JoAnn Catchot at (228) 218-3982.

St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point

The CYO members from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moss Point collected donations of nonperishable goods and helped the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Pascagoula with Thanksgiving food distribution. Pictured, front, l-r, are Aiden Felts, Riley Kempner, Jessica Hatfield, Deacon Gayden Harper, Isabella Burgett, and Brandt Linton; back: CYO sponsor Bridget Hammond, Maggie Walden, Noah Wieniewitz, Jonathan Burgett, and Ally Massey.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

School News

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Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Our Lady Academy, Bay St Louis

Hancock Board President, Blaine LaFontaine, Board of Supervisors, OLA Principal Darnell Cuevas, Coach Mike Meyers, Coach Steve Reboul, and the OLA Varsity Volleyball Team OLA Cast of Seniors on the OLG Altar BAY ST. LOUIS -- Our Lady Academy (OLA) students highlighted the meaning of Christmas by performing the story of the Nativity of Jesus on the altar of Our Lady of the Gulf Church. Narrated by Lydia Cates and Grace Breisacher, OLA seniors Emily Hollingsworth and Mathilde Gagnet portrayed the roles of the Blessed Mother and Joseph, respectively. The cast of angels, shepherds and wise men were supported by the entire senior class. The production was orchestrated by music teacher Jan Jarrell and harmonized by the seventh, eighth and ninth grade students. Opening with “He Sent His Son” was soloist, Olivia Alarcon, followed with Katharine Newman performing “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem”.

Duet, Sara Hollingsworth and Amelie Rimmer performed “Angels We Have Heard on High” and duet, Ava Gordon and Abbie McGehee sung “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. “We Three Kings” was sung in harmony by Hannah Roth, Camille Newman, and Avery Kearny. Leading “Joy to the World” were Tina Roberts and Madison Burrell. The choir accompanied Aly Theobold, Hannah Necaise and Grace Rester in singing “Away in the Manger”. Cali Reinhart, Danielle Dey and Elena Lucore ended the performance with the ultimate Christmas hymn, “Silent Night”. The program concluded with the choir and entire congregation singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

OLA art students holding portraits of the children they selected from The Memory Project, a non-profit organization.

BAY ST. LOUS -- Our Lady Academy’s (OLA) art students utilized their artistic talent by participating in a project that benefited underprivileged children. OLA art teacher, Karli Renz, introduced the class to a special program entitled The Memory Project. The Memory Project is a non-profit organization, which invites student participation by creating portraits of children who face considerable challenges in their young life, such as abuse, neglect, homelessness and extreme poverty. The Memory Project organization paired OLA art students with children in the South American country of Columbia. The organization provided a snap shot of each child, their first name, and their favorite color. Each OLA art student selected a photograph from the collection and painted a portrait of each individual child. The finished

portraits were then mailed to the children. The organization will capture the children’s reactions on video, as they open their gifts. The video will be then sent to OLA to be shown to the art students, the student body and faculty. These portraits help the children feel important, thereby giving them a sense of value, and also help them understand that there are many people who care about them and their future. “The completed portraits give these children a sense of hope, a piece of happiness and a memory for them to keep always,” added Renz. For more information on the Memory Project or to participate, send an email to portraits@memoryproject. org.

BAY ST. LOUIS -- On December 5, Hancock County Board President, Blaine LaFontaine, and the Board of Supervisors honored and commended Our Lady Academy’s volleyball team, coaches Mike Meyers and Steve Reboul, for capturing the State Championship. Board President Blaine LaFontaine presented the commendation in recognition of OLA’s championing achievements, winning Region 8 Championship, South State Championship and remaining the State Champions for five (5) consecutive years under the helm of Coach Mike Meyers and Coach Steve Reboul. Our Lady Academy Crescents honored were Carson Cuevas, Sarah Deano, Emma Funk, Olivia Gelpi, Hanna Gest, Cassidy Ketchum, Abby Koons, Lizzy Mirandy, Mary Rimmer, Alia Tayara, Rebecca Walk and Margaret White.

Sacred Heart High School, Hattiesburg

On December 6, Sohbian Thriffiley was recognized as the first place winner of the Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Contest sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3036 in Hattiesburg. Sohbian is an eleventh grader at Sacred Heart High School. His essay and oral presentation was on the topic of ‟My Responsibility to America.” He received a certificate and a check for $200. He is pictured with Louis George, the VFW Post 3036 Commander.

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Left, National Junior Beta Club members are back row: Faith Anderson, Lauren Bennett, Abby Bosarge, Camille Newman, Kayla Broome, Grace Greer, Camille Cottone, Trista Ray, Danielle Dey, Aubrey Wawrek, and Kate Funk; second row: Sara Hollingsworth, Grace Koons, Gabbie Mikhail, Ashlyn Necaise, Emma Nehlig, Chloe Cornell, Katharine Newman, Reagan Fairley, and Natalie Garcia; and first row: Tina Roberts, Cali Reinhart, Gracie Saucier, Anna Schmidt, Olivia Breisacher, Ava Gorden, Sofia Schuyler, Kaylee Hardenstein, and Sarah Simpson. Not pictured are Katelyn Casey and Claire Housey.

Right, Mu Alpha Theta Group members are back row: Grace Nicaud, Cayce Russo, Meredith McRaney, Kati Albright, Rosie Beckham, Cecilia Cottone, Hanna Dawley, Marguerite Gelpi, Katie Ingram, Isabelle Gelpi, Olivia Gelpi, and Kennady Hertz; front row: Wallace Mortillero, Taylor Slade, Madden Trapani, Margaret Spencer White, Isabel Wolf, Victoria Wolf, Madison Wypyski, Georgia Zanca, and Maggie Kergoisen.

Our Lady Academy (OLA) inducted 31 eighth grade students into the National Junior Honor Society the first quarter. Students are required to maintain an academic average of 3.5 and must demonstrate academic performance, service, leadership, and character. Twenty-one sophomore, junior and senior students were also recognized and inducted into the National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematical

honor society. Mu Alpha Theta is co-sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. This organization is designed to stimulate interest in mathematics by providing public recognition of superior mathematical scholarship and by promoting various

mathematical activities. To be eligible students must have completed at least 2 years of college preparatory mathematics, be currently enrolled in Algebra II or a higher level mathematical course and hold an academic grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The members also must demonstrate the ability to work with others, conduct independent research, and possess qualities of industry, initiative, and reliability.

Sacred Heart High School, Hattiesburg Sacred Heart Catholic School was named a winner of the Hattiesburg area POWERADE® Power Through Campaign during a presentation at basketball games on December 8. The program was created by Powerade and Coca-Cola UNITED to help high school athletic programs across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia power through to the next level. Additional sponsors for the program are Wal-Mart and iHeart Radio. Sacred Heart’s entry was submitted by Athletic Director Brian Kern and detailed the school’s need for upgrades to basketball dressing rooms. As the winner of the POWERADE® Power Through™ campaign, Sacred Heart basketball received a check for $2,000. Pictured with the girls and boys basketball teams at the presentation are Earl Hayes, Russ Hendley, Candy Hawkins and James Coward of Hattiesburg Coca-Cola, Brian Kern, girls basketball coach Jessica Hayes, Devin ‟Big Daddy” Cole of iHeart Radio, boys basketball coach Brian Butler and Sacred Heart Headmaster Brian McCrory.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Our Lady Academy, Bay St Louis

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Sacred Heart High School, Hattiesburg Sacred Heart Catholic School senior Cade Slaughter has been selected as one of two students from Mississippi to attend the US Senate Youth Program in Washington, DC March 4-11, 2017 as a delegate. The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is an intensive week-long educational experience and scholarship sponCade sored by the United States Senate for outstanding high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in public service. It brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government together with an outstanding group of high school students during the intensive educational program week. Cade will receive a $10,000 college scholarship as a delegate. Cade serves as Student Body President and Vice President of the senior class. He has been elected to student council every year since 7th grade and served in various leadership roles. He is a member of the National Beta Club, National Honor Society, FBLA and Mu Alpha Theta Math Society, where he serves as president. Cade was a recipient of the National Beta Club’s John W. Harris National Leadership Award and has been named as the school’s DAR Good Citizen Award recipient. He attended the Trent Lott Leadership Institute’s Summer Program for high school students

and the Apex Leadership Summit at The University of Mississippi in 2016. He is a scholar athlete and has been a member of the varsity tennis team at Sacred Heart since 7th grade. As a member of the Sacred Heart Campus Ministry Team, Cade organized retreats for elementary students and was honored as the 2016 recipient of the Bragg Moore Good Shepherd Award. Earlier this year, Cade founded Crusaders in the Community which organizes volunteer opportunites for Sacred Heart students in the community. Cade is a talented artist and the owner of Half Moon Art by Cade. He has donated 28 paintings to various fundraising events and founded “Supply the Art” to collect various art supplies for schools in the Hattiesburg area. He has collected over 5,000 supply items and $1,300 in donations to date. Cade serves on Hattiesburg’s DREAM Youth Leadership Council and the Mayor’s Youth Council. He has been a camp counselor for Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp for children with disabilities for two years. He is a staff member of Happening Mississippi, a church youth organization, and serves as a youth member of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church’s Leadership Board. Cade has participated in Service Over Self for three years, roofing houses in underprivileged neighborhoods in Memphis with other church volunteers. Cade plans to pursue a degree in political science. He is the son of Susan and Jay Slaughter of Hattiesburg.

St Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Long Beach St. Vincent de Paul School’s wax museum project is an educational, fun, way to learn about historical figures. Fifth graders spent several weeks researching famous people from history who could be heroes. They wrote reports showing what they learned about the historical figures and made a project board and costume. They portrayed the figure they studied. As visitors came to their project, the fifth graders spoke about the figure as if he/she was really the character. One of the parents even recorded and posted the kids doing the Mannequin Challenge as their characters! Some of the characters this year were Vincenzo Jeanfreau as Harry Houdini (pictured), Ella Nguyen as Annie Oakley, and Richard Niolet as Milton Hershey.

St. James Elementary School, Gulfport Pictured are members of Team Belize: Sarah Thomas, Madison Owen, Kyle Compretta, Kaitlyn Makamson and Maryanne Balch.

St. James Knights of Columbus recently sponsored an art contest with the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas”. The winners of the contest were excited to receive a monetary prize. Pictured are the winners: top row l-r: Morgan Heffner, first place ages 11-14; Ashlyn Stegall, third place ages 8-10; Emily Moran, second place ages 8-10; Mia Sharp, third place ages 11-14; Taylor Stawarski, second place ages 11-14; and Paige Pittman; first place ages 8-10; bottom row l-r: Austin Stolarski, third place ages 5-7; Tenley Helton, first place ages 5-7; and Finley Olsen, second place ages 5-7.

The St. James Lego League, Team Tornadoes, received first place in Robot Performance and Robot Design at the recent Lego League competition at St. Patrick Catholic High School. They will attend the state competition in Vicksburg in February. The team has worked so hard and we are so proud of them! Thank you to their coach, Robert Morris, and their teacher mentors, Mandy Moran and Tricia Harvey who spent countless hours working with this wonderful group of students! Pictured, front, l-r, are Paige Pittman, Ana Hebert, Chloe Santiago, Sophia Pisciotta, and Emerson Morris; back: Luke Meyers, Thomas Owen, Bryon Shepard, Landon Miller, Ben Kirby, Landon Atkinson, John Michael Moran, Kellen Vann, Lane Burroughs, and Luke Harris. Not pictured: Mason Laville

Fifteen sixth graders from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School participated in the International Economic Summit held at MS College in Clinton. They were one of only 3 schools along the Coast to do so. The International Economic Summit is held every year and is available to all middle and high school students in the state. It is a face-to-face, day-long competition where students (in teams of five) act as economic advisors to a county they chose. Their job is to raise the standard of living for the citizens of their country by earning points in the competition. They do that by joining alliances, trading for valuable resources, and debating global issues. They also earn points on a geography quiz and an economics test, as well as for wearing costumes that represent their country and making table displays that showcase that country. St. Vincent students represented the countries of Belize, Colombia, and El Salvador. Team Belize was one of only seven countries chosen to debate their global proposal; Team Colombia earned extra points for having the Best Costume, and Team El Salvador garnered extra points for having the Best Table Display. To learn how your school can participate, contact the MS Council for Economic Education at: MSCEE. org.

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Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School, Biloxi

OLF Elementary distributed new t-shirts to all students and faculty. The new t-shirt features the new falcon logo that matches the marquee. Principal Cindy Hahn said “it was time for a new look on the campus and t-shirt. Our students enjoy wearing our Fatima t-shirts and we wanted a new design and a new look.” Students, parents, and interested parties may purchase additional shirts by contacting the business office.

Santa Claus paid a visit to Our Lady of Fatima Elementary prior to Christmas. Santa met with the students, faculty, and guests during his visit to the school. Children gave him one final reminder about their wish for this Christmas.

The OLF Elementary school board held a special Christmas party for the faculty and staff on December 7. Rob Meyers, president of the school board, thanked the staff for their work and their commitment to providing a high quality education to our students. “We appreciate the impact you’ve made on our children’s lives,” Meyers told the faculty and staff. After his opening remarks, the teachers and staff were presented with a Christmas bonus and served a holiday meal.

Sacred Heart Elementary School, D’Iberville

The OLF elementary choir marched over to Brookdale Senior Living for a Christmas performance. The choir sang some of the Christmas classics for the residents assembled in the dining hall. Jacqueline Coale, choir director, said it was great to see the interaction between the students and the residents of Brookdale. “I enjoy watching our children perform for the seniors,” said Coale. “You can tell by watching the interaction between the residents and the children how much the residents enjoy the performance. Some of the residents were singing right along with the choir.”

It's a ‟sibling thing” at Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School in Biloxi. Teams of siblings worked together to place in Fatima's Reading Fair. First place winners advanced to the Diocesan Reading Fair held at St. Pats on December 1. Pictured (back row l-r) , Kadence (fifth) and Logan (third) Sheppard, Dale (third) and Dean Smith (first), Luke (sixth) and Lillianna DeRoche (second), Addison (fifth) and Emerson Yelverton (second). Richard (Kindergarden) and Amani Jones (first), Mathis (first) and Noah Jarecke, and Elizabeth (second) and Linda Mustered (fifth).

Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary honored their military families by inviting them to the morning assembly on Veterans Day. Patriotic banners decorated by the students and pictures of family members who are currently serving or who have served in the military were displayed. The Veterans in attendance were recognized by calling them to the stage, and the students gave them a special “thank you” and sang the Star Spangled Banner. Pictured, l-r, are Robert Kearns, Frank Baum, Dorothy Turner, Sally Stevenson, Daniel Bell, Harold Mayfield, Brittani West, Rex Fetters, Roger Pradelli, Jackie Dungey and Roy Smith.

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One of the many community service projects which Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary takes part in is the collection of Thanksgiving food items for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The collected food is used to help fill the Thanksgiving food boxes distributed by the Sacred Heart Parish St. Vincent de Paul Society. Pictured (L-R) Bryson Todaro, Jayven Sanchez, Colbie Fayard-Diotte, Elliot Hebert, Morgan Patti, Aurora Franklin, Lillian Rizzo, Emma Hargrove, Kendall Byrd and Brendon Turner.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

Sacred Heart Elementary School, D’Iberville

Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary held its annual Spelling Bee on December 2 for grades first through sixth. Congratulations to first place winner -- sixth grader Aiden Mowrey, and second place winner -- fourth grader Gabrielle Gray. The first and second place winners will compete in the County Spelling Bee in February. Pictured (L-R) Aiden Mowrey and Gabriella Gray.

St. Alphonsus Elementary School, Ocean Springs

Collection Jan. 21 & 22 Learn more at www.usccb.org/latin-america

A small portion of collection pays for this advertisement.

Eleanor Hartzog’s second grade class at St. Alphonsus Catholic School recently studied a unit on local, state and federal government in Social Studies. The class visited City Hall in Ocean Springs on a field trip. They were given a short tour of City Hall. The class also had the opportunity to interact with the staff as well as Mayor Connie Moran in the city council meeting room. Pictured, l-r, are Nathan Rimmer, Brynne DeHart, Alexandrea Patino, Olivia Karcher, Carolina Stadthagen, Ryleigh Merriman, Kaitlyn Fountain, Mayor Connie Moran, Trey Zorn, Londyn Mai, Gabriella Sinopoli, Foster Krebs, Eleanor Hartzog, Parker McKenzie, Anna-Clare Bourgeois, Olivia Blanchfield, Alyssa Kate Lowery, and Bailey Roth.

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 13, 2017

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Mass, music and fiesta mark Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration at Fatima A diocesan-wide celebration marking the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was held on Dec. 12 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Biloxi. The celebration began with a procession from the parish hall to the church, with members of the diocesan-wide Hispanic community carrying pictures, statues and icons, including a large icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which led the procession. A Hispanic choir provided music. Bishop Roger Morin, shown wearing a beautiful chasuble bearing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was principal celebrant. Deacon Ronald Alexander, at left, assisted the bishop. Several priests concelebrated the Mass, including Father Everardo “Lalo” Mora-Torres, Father Sergio Balderas, Father Henry McInerney, Father Thomas White and Msgr. James McGough. A fiesta was held afterwards in the parish hall. Photos/Terry Dickson

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