Gulf Pine Catholic

Volume 37 No. 3 www.biloxidiocese.org October 4, 2019 Catholic U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Sept. 27 recognized St. Patrick Catholic High School as a National Blue Ribbon School. The recognition is based on the school’s overall academic performance and is awarded to the top 50 private schools each year. St. Patrick Catholic High School is the first high school in Mississippi to be honored in seven years. “St. Patrick Catholic High School is experiencing unprecedented growth, marked academic achievement, extracurricular championships, and a purposeful dedica- tion to forming intentional disciples. Our learning envi- ronment, which is steeped in our Catholic faith, provides a sanctuary for our students to reach their utmost poten- tial,” said principal Matt Buckley. “Founded in 2007, the mission of St. Patrick Catholic High School is to educate scholars, train disciples, and support champions. With the merging of two rival schools and a new location that stakeholders perceived to be distant, maintaining and increasing enrollment has been a challenge. By providing an excellent experience for our students and their families, by emphasizing mar- keting and public relations, by offering and funding free transportation, and by fostering a strong relationship with our supporting parishes and partner elementary schools, we have been able to change the declining trend of enrollment and create a most positive school cul- ture with excellence as the expectation. “Recently, St. Patrick Catholic High School has implemented a one-to-one technology initiative for the high school curriculum wherein all courses are built within a digital learn- ing environment; students are able to access resourc- es, submit assignments, receive feedback from their instructors, and collaborate with peers through a laptop and online learning management system all provided by the school. SEE BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, PAGE 15 Bishop Kihneman to celebrate Red Mass for legal community on Oct. 13 at cathedral Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III will celebrate a Red Mass for the Legal Community of the Diocese of Biloxi on Sunday, October 13, at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 870 Howard Avenue. “The Red Mass is a Mass celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for all members of the legal profession, regardless of religious affiliation. Judges, lawyers, law school professors, law students, government officials, and clerks associated with the legal profession are invited,” said cathedral rector Father Dennis Carver. “The Red Mass marks the opening of the judicial year. Through prayerful petition and thanksgiving, the Red Mass requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice, and offers the legal community an opportunity to reflect on what Catholics believe is the God-given power and responsibility of all in the legal profession.” U. S. Secretary of Education announces St. Patrick Catholic High School named to 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools St. Patrick Catholic High in Biloxi received the good news that it has been named a National Blue Ribbon School on Sept. 27. Pictured, at left, is Diocese of Biloxi Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rhonda Clark. At right, students cheer at the announcement. A celebration is planned for October 11 at the school. Photos/Aaron Hommell