Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • November 15, 2019 3 Bishop Roger Morin remembered as a humble servant ‘filled with the love of Jesus Christ’ BY DAVID TISDALE BILOXI -- Praising his predecessor for being a true example of one “filled with the love of Jesus Christ,” Catholic Diocese of Biloxi Bishop Louis Kihneman III gave the homily at the funeral Mass for His Excellency Most Reverend Roger Paul Morin, third bishop of Biloxi, Nov. 7 from the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A native of Dracut, Massachusetts, Bishop Emeritus Morin died during a flight from Boston to Atlanta Oct. 31 as he was returning to Biloxi from visiting relatives. He was 78. Bishop Emeritus Morin served as a priest and then later in variety of other capacities in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being chosen bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi in the spring of 2009. He retired from that post in December 2016. “Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the light,” Bishop Kihneman said is his homily for Bishop Emeritus Morin. “No one can come to the father except through me. Roger embraced these words throughout his life. “He would say, ‘Do you have faith in God? Then, have faith also in Jesus Christ, for it is his love that is the center of who were are as Christians, as people of God, as priests and as bishops.’” Bishop Kihneman also blended humor into his tribute to his friend, beginning the homily by saying “Roger, it is an utter surprise [for me] to be here [giv- ing the homily]. What a way to meet [God], 30,000 feet in the air.” Bishop Kihneman also recounted how, after he was named Bishop Emeritus Morin’s successor, the two went for a walk to discuss the transition process. “I remember, before I was ordained, we were walk- ing, and talking, having a serious discussion. I was talking and then suddenly I turned, and there was no Bishop Morin. I realized then that, he had the ‘Bishop Morin walk,’” he liked to saunter. “So, I slowed down for him to share his wisdom.” Praising his work for social justice, including the key role Bishop Morin played in establishing Second Harvest Food Bank while with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Bishop Kihneman said his successor “felt a strong calling to serve the people of New Orleans and Biloxi,” and that his legacy of service will live on in the ministries he established and all of the lives he touched. Bishop Kihneman told all in attendance at the funeral Mass, including family, friends, fellow priests and religious who served with him in New Orleans and Biloxi that, “He had a heart for you, a love for you. He didn’t proclaim it in trumpets, that wasn’t his way. But he loved every one of you.” Bishop Kihneman said he and Bishop Emeritus Morin “talked a number of times about this moment [his funeral Mass]. “What we celebrate here, the Eucharist that he loved so deeply, is Jesus, the Body of Christ,” Bishop Kihneman said. “For us priests, the chalice becomes the sign of Jesus Christ, and to drink from it, to take Holy Communion, is to be filled with His love -- and that’s what happened with Roger. “We pray, in a special way, that the love of Jesus Christ touch us as it did Roger Morin.” Following the funeral Mass, Bishop Morin was interred in the Bishops Cemetery and Memorial Prayer Garden, located behind the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin May of Biloxi. About the Cover Photo Bishop Morin smiles in St. Peters Square Jan. 23, 2012, during his “ad limina” visit to the Vatican. Bishops from the southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky were making their “ad limina” visits to report on the status of their dioceses to the Pope and Vatican officials. CNS photo/Katarzyna Artymiak, Catholic Press Photo Remaining photos are Gulf Pine Catholic file photos. Left, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III preaches during the Nov. 6 Vigil for Bishop Roger Morin. Bishop Kihneman was also the homilist for Bishop Morin’s funeral. Right, Bishop Morin’s dear friend, Ben Johnson, delivers the eulogy at the vigil service. Johnson worked for decades at the Social Apostolate in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Photo Juliana Skelton