Gulf Pine Catholic

Volume 35 No. 18 www.biloxidiocese.org MAY 4, 2018 Catholic Guardian Angel….helping others receive the gift of Catholic Education DIOCESE OF BILOXI -- By donating to the Guardian Angel program, you can now help others receive the gift of a Catholic education. The Guardian Angel program is the vision of the Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III, Bishop of Biloxi, and its mission is to provide financial assistance for children to attend Catholic schools in the Biloxi Diocese. Many children in the Biloxi Diocese long to receive a Catholic education but simply cannot afford it. The purpose of the Guardian Angel program is to provide needs-based scholarship assis- tance to allow all children who want to receive a Catholic edu- cation to be able to receive a Catholic education. Parents/ guardians apply for assistance through the Guardian Angel program, and the pastor and principal at each school will review the applications and make award determinations. The scholarship is available to all students in the Diocese from kindergarten through twelfth grade. “As Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi, I am deeply touched by the commitment of the local Church to enable our Catholic schools to meet our mission to teach, preach and make holy,” said Bishop Kihneman. “I express my deepest appreciation to our pastors, adminis- trators, staff, faculty and the faithful of our diocese who support our Catholic schools. I thank the parents, fami- lies and Guardian Angels who sacrifice in order for chil- dren to attend Catholic schools. Your commitment, dedi- cation and love will impact our children throughout their lives.” The benefits of a Catholic education are well estab- lished. Students in the Biloxi Diocese consistently per- form several grade levels ahead of their peers, and the average ACT score for the Biloxi Diocese’s Class of 2017 was 24.4, compared to the state average of 18.6 and a national average of 21.0. Graduating seniors in the Biloxi Diocese receive an average of $30,000,000 in scholarships annually. In addition, Catholic schools in the Biloxi Diocese teach religion daily, offer Mass weekly, and incorporate religion into all aspects of the curriculum. The schools encourage open prayer throughout the school day, have prayer tables present in class- rooms, promote social justice projects, and participate in the May Crowning each year. The Biloxi Diocese schools have also won over 100 Mississippi High School Activities Association state championships. Students attending schools in the Biloxi Diocese can expect to receive a well-rounded superior education that is based on the Diocese’s mission to teach, preach, and make holy. Anyone donating at least $300 per year will be recognized by the Biloxi Diocese as a Guardian Angel. Donations may be paid annually, semiannually, quarterly, or monthly. Donations are made directly to the school of the Guardian Angel’s choice to be used for scholarships at that school. The average tuition for elementary schools in the Diocese is $4,000 Catholic/$5,000 non-Catholic while the average tuition for middle and high schools is $5,500 Catholic/$6,500 non-Catholic. The Guardian Angel’s goal is to allow all children in the Biloxi Diocese to receive a Catholic education regardless of their ability to afford this tuition. To find out more about the Guardian Angel program and how to make a donation, please con- tact a Catholic school principal, pastor or email to guardianangel@biloxidiocese.org. Pictured are students representing schools in the Diocese of Biloxi. Bishop Kihneman envisions the Guardian Angel Program as a way to help others receive the gift of a Catholic education. To find out more about the Guardian Angel program and how to make a donation, please contact a Catholic school principal, pastor or email to guardianangel@biloxidiocese.org . Photo/Juliana Skelton