Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 4, 2018 19 D iocesan H appenings St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs welcomed the following people, pictured l-r, into the Church during the EasterVigil: Deacon JimGunkel; BrianHolliman; Emily Anne Conner, Sponsor; Kayla Smith, Joseph Haaf, Sponsor; Avery King, Father Mike Snyder, Suzanne King, Chandra Nicholson, Brandon Roth, Casey Nicholson and Trent Hartzog, Not pictured: Kristie Rushing, and Haley Verdin. St. Alphonsus Parish, Ocean Springs Eight new Catholics were welcomed into the Church during the Easter Vigil at Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Bay St. Louis. Pictured, l-r, are Instructor Deacon Mike Harris, Megan Conn, Zach Favre, Kristen Delatte, Madison Grindall, Mary Bravo, Brett Barrett, Stephanie Malcolm, Cory Haydel, and instructor Lesli Toepfer. Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis Annunciation Parish in Kiln recently held a retreat for RCIA members. Pictured, at left, are Trish McCarthy, Father Bob Higginbotham and Kelly Henley. At right are Alfredo and Eugenia Corona. Annunciation Parish in Kiln welcomed new Catholics into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Pictured, l-r, are Eugenia and Alfredo Corona, Issac Corona, Angelo Burgos Lacayo, Elaine Lege, Rebecca Hoffman, Debbie Peterson, William Alligood and Father Bob Higginbotham. Annunciation Parish, Kiln St. James Parish, Gulfport The Divine Mercy Cenacle from St. James in Gulfport has finished its first year of formation. A Mass and Induction of the members as Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy was held at St. John the Evangelist Church with their current spiritual mentor, Fr. Ryan McCoy on Thursday, February 15. Fr. Jacob Matthews served as the groups’ first spiritual mentor. The Cenacle, which met at St. James, is the only Divine Mercy Cenacle registered from the state of Mississippi with the Marians of Immaculate Conception as Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy. The meeting format followed is that of a typical “small Christian community. These groups gathering to learn and share their faith is a major form of evangelization throughout the world. The focus is on the message of Divine Mercy as found in Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Diary of St. Faustina , with a special emphasis on the Eucharist. A facilitator leads the group, but their role is not to teach but to keep the discussion on topic and let all speak and share. More is gotten out of each lesson if the member comes prepared and does the readings beforehand. Also, groups are to reach out through small corporal works to those in need. “As Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy, we believe that learning more about Jesus and His Church will compel us to share His love with others. We are to be His hands, and feet, and a light on a mountaintop” (Association of Marian Helpers, “Becoming a Eucharistic Apostle” ). If you are considering forming a group in your parish, call the Marians of Immaculate Conception at 1-877-380-0727, for a free packet on the ministry. Pictured, l-r, front row: Neva Lewis, Rachelle Cleveland, Fr. Ryan McCoy, Elizabeth (Boots) Moran, and Mary (Terri) Walker; back row: Linda Jermyn, Ralph Shankweller, Cathy Shankweller, Wanda Lizana, and Debra (Debbie) Beach, facilitator.