Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • July 27, 2018 15 D iocesan E vents ( cont . from page 2) September 14-15 Author, apologist Gus Lloyd to speak at St. Thomas Aquinas HATTIESBURG -- Gus Lloyd, world renowned apologist, author, and Catholic speaker from Sirius XM radio will speak at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, 3117 West 4th Street on September 14 at 7 p.m. and September 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lloyd is the author of the A Minute in the Church series. No charge and open to the public. For more information visit: www.st.thomas-usm.org . October 6 OMS Church $2,500 Drawdown BILOXI -- Our Mother of Sorrows Church will have their annual $2,500 draw- down on Saturday, October 6, at the Gruich Community Center in Biloxi. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and admits 1 adult. We will have a silent auction and door prizes! For tickets, please call Mamie Hardy at (228) 327-1875 or the parish office at (228) 435-0007. Golden Jubilee From page 1 “He has been a loyal and trusted friend since 1971 when we met in Pascagoula,” said Father Lohan, who served as pastor in Long Beach for 22 years before retiring to Ireland in 2015. “He was associate pastor at Sacred Heart and I was his neighbor at Our Lady of Victories. He has been a friend of youth, encouraging them to reach for the stars. He gave great hope and confidence to many young people, especially in the encourage- ment he gave them in their sporting activities.” In fact, Father O’Shaughnessy is an avid golfer and, in his younger days, ran the Boston Marathon and finished the Ironman Triathlon. More on his sporting endeav- ors later. Father Tommy Conway was a seminarian when he first met Father O’Shaughnessy, but the two eventually became close friends and still are to this day. “When I first came to Mississippi in 1984 I met Father Pat a few times. But when I was ordained a priest and assigned to Sacred Heart Hattiesburg, in 1986, we got to be good friends, as he was then pastor at St. Thomas, and was in charge of the college students. He introduced me to college life and even brought me to some parties on Fraternity row and some other places. “I was a little jealous because he drove a fancy 280z and drove around as if he owned the campus. He always had lots of friends, but I noticed they were all female and good looking,” Father Conway joked. “I was with Monsignor John Scanlon at Sacred Heart and scared to ask him any questions about how to fill out annulment papers and marriage licenses, but Father Pat was always available and most helpful.” Father Lohan said one of the things that St. Thomas parishioners love about Father O’Shaughnessy is his preaching style. “He has the gift of delivering a memorable homily,” he said. “His preaching is always direct and to the point. His use of short stories, and oftentimes jokes to get the Gospel message across is another of his great gifts in his ministry.” St. Thomas parishioner Phyllis Seale agreed. “St. Thomas parishioners, especially those attending the 7:30 a.m. Mass each Sunday, are very blessed to have Father Pat S. celebrate Mass for us each week,” she said. “Each week we leave Mass with a great message from Father Pat’s homily.” Father Lohan said Father O’Shaughnessy is also a very caring priest, especially in dealing with those who are suffering. “In his regular visits to the sick and home bound he always presents a kind, caring and loving Jesus,” Father Lohan said. Seale considers Father O’Shaughnessy a friend, but said he’s really like part of their family. “Over his years at St. Thomas our families have grown to love him so much they have asked him to baptize our babies, celebrate our weddings, and stand with us as we bury our loveed ones,” she said. St. Thomas parishioner Jason Green said Father O’Shaughnessy has been ‘a tre- mendous gift’ to the parish. “Following his retirement from active ministry, he moved to Long Beach and began celebrating the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass while we were still in the temporary skating rink following Hurricane Katrina. From then to now, he has become the face of the 730 people,” said Green. “Father Pat enjoys the interaction with the parishio- ners, especially the kids. Each week during the offertory when the kids place their offerings in the pickle jar and give him a hug, he always tells the people what was said, which always creates a good laugh! We are also kept informed of his tee times and scores on the course -- some good and some not so good! Even though he is considered retired, we at St. Thomas consider him to be an active role in our lives. We love Fr. Pat at St. Thomas are grateful for his ministry to us.” There is one area of his life where Father O’Shaughnessy hasn’t really up to his potential, according to Father Lohan. “I am disappointed in his golfing achievements. He should have represented our Catholic Diocese of Biloxi in at least some of the great world golfing events,” Father Lohan said. “I say this because I know firsthand of his great love and many per- sonal sacrifices for this awesome and challenging activity. He regularly goes without rest, food, time off; rearranging schedules in order to improve his golfing skills. He should be a better golfer, but he is a wonderful priest.” First Holy Communion 2018 Five young people received First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 6, at St. Joseph the Worker in Moss Point. Pictured left to right: Christopher Moore Jr., Anna Laurie Linton, Zatoria Young, Evan Johnson and Samuel Felts. St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point