Gulf Pine Catholic

4 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 27, 2018 The Diocese of Biloxi has retained the law firm of Schwartz, Orgler & Jordan, PLLC. Effective June 1, Christian Strickland, Esq., is our contact at the firm. Strickland works in the firm’s Biloxi office. He is licensed to practice in various state and federal courts in Mississippi, including the United States District Court (Southern and Northern Divisions), as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Strickland is a third generation lawyer. Born in Oxford, Mississippi, Strickland grew up in Gulfport where he graduated from St. John High School. Strickland then attended Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio (Franciscan) where he double majored in philosophy and the- ology. While at Franciscan, Strickland was a member of the Fishers of Men Christian frater- nity. Following graduation from Franciscan, Strickland received his Juris doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 2013. After law school, Strickland clerked for Judge Jennifer T. Schloegel, Chancellor for the Eighth Chancery Court District of Mississippi. Christian is married to Emily Strickland and they have a daughter, Cecilia, and a 1-year-old son, Julian. They attend Most Holy Trinity in Pass Christian. Before contacting Mr. Strickland on any legal mat- ter, first contact the appropriate Chancery Office or Department Director about the matter in question. Also, Catholic Mutual has lawyers available to assist in cer- tain matters. Below is a chart of who to contact. Diocese retains services of Schwartz, Orgler & Jordan, PLLC law firm Strickland Legal Issue Contact Phone Catholic Schools Property, Personnel, etc. Superintendent of Schools 228-702-2130 Parish-related legal issues, Property, Personnel, etc. Vicar General’s or Bishop’s Office 228-702-2114 228-702-2111 Financial Issues Director of Finance 228-702-2118 Immigration for Clergy and Religious Chancellor’s Office 228-702-2136 Other Immigration Issues Office of Migration Refugee Resettlement 228-374-6554 Accidents Office of Risk Manager 228-702-2151 Youth (travel, paperwork) Office of Youth Ministry 228-702-2142 Tribunal/Canon Law Judicial Vicar’s Office 228-702-2117 A good Catholic proclaims the Gospel, Pope Francis says VATICAN CITY ( CNA/EWTN News ) -- By virtue of their Baptism, every Catholic is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- a mission which cannot be separated from the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said Sunday. “It is truly [our] Baptism that makes us missionar- ies,” the pope said in off-the-cuff comments July 15. “A baptized person who does not feel the need to proclaim the Gospel, to announce Jesus, is not a good Christian.” The first necessary element of all authentic mission- ary discipleship is the “changeless center, which is Jesus,” he said. This is because proclaiming the Gospel cannot be separated from Christ or from the Church. Announcing the Gospel “is not an initiative of indi- vidual believers, groups or even large groups, but it is the Church’s mission inseparably united with her Lord,” Pope Francis said. “No Christian proclaims the Gospel ‘on his own,’ but only sent by the Church who received the mandate from Christ himself.” Speaking during his weekly Angelus address, the pope reflected on the Christian’s mission as seen when Jesus sends out his disciples “two by two” to preach repentance. Jesus’ message to his disciples in this episode of the Gospel concerns not just priests, but every baptized person, who is “called to witness, in the various envi- ronments of life, the Gospel of Christ,” he said. Like the disciples were warned, the message may not be welcomed, but this aligns with what Jesus him- self experienced, the pope said, noting that he was “was rejected and crucified.” “Only if we are united with him, dead and risen, can we find the courage of evangelization,” Francis said. Noting that the center of the mission must always be Christ, he pointed to examples of saints from Rome who are examples of being “humble workers of the Kingdom,” such as St. Philip Neri, St. Benedict Joseph Labre, St. Frances of Rome, and Bl. LudovicaAlbertoni. They did not work to advance themselves or their own ideas or interests, but acted always as messengers sent by Jesus, he said. Pointing to the Blessed Virgin Mary as “the first disciple and missionary of the Word of God,” the pope concluded by asking her help to bring “the message of the Gospel to the world in a humble and radiant exulta- tion, beyond any rejection, misunderstanding or tribu- lation.”