Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 27, 2019 13 as a bishop should be, one of service to the people of God. Today, fifty years later, I love to come back, because here I can re-dedicate my priesthood and my ministry as bishop to the Lord,” said Bishop Kihneman. At the end of Mass packed to capacity, both Bish- ops processed to Father Quinn’s tomb for a blessing, then listened to people share their memories of Father Quinn. On Saturday, the group hit the road again for the village of Ejido la Brecha for the consecration of a new church named San Jose. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Raúl Vera, Bishop of Saltillo, and concelebrated by Bishop Kopacz and Bishop Kihneman. The villagers had never witnessed so many bishops in one place. They were proud of their accomplishments in hav- ing a new worship space. Last year during his visit after Eas- ter, Bishop Vera and Bishop Kopacz had blessed and laid the foundation stone. Now the building is complete and will serve the village of La Brecha for many years to come. Bishop Vera preached as did Bishop Kihneman. Bishop Kopacz remarked of the great faith of the people as he had been part of the laying of the foundation stone just 15 months ago. The group returned to Saltillo in the midafternoon as Confirmations had been sched- uled at San Miguel for 6 p.m. There were sixty confirmandi. At the end of Mass, banners were presented by six of the local church commu- nities demonstrating their love and affection for Father Quinn. This was followed with a dinner with Bishop Vera at San Miguel. On Sunday, July 13 the delega- tion ventured to the village of La Ventura. On the way, stopping at San Francisco to visit with the vil- lagers and have a blessing. Once reaching La Ventura, a caravan of cars, pick-up trucks and decorated floats of all descriptions were as- sembling for the journey back to La Brecha, thirty-five kilometers away. On this journey, others dec- orated floats joined the cara- van while passing through La Purissima, Presa San Pedro and Tanque Escondido. On arrival at La Brecha, there were forty floats. Bishop Kopacz rode a horse for the last forty yards. To a packed church, Mass was celebrated along with 40 confirmations. Bishop Kihneman reminded the confir- mandi that they had a great model to follow in Father Quinn, as his spirit is very much alive in the villages served by the mission. From there the delegation headed to the village of Rocamontes for the blessing of a parish hall in honor of Father Quinn and honored with a delicious meal of goat, tortillas and rice. The arrived back at San Miguel at the end of the day, exhausted from the adventures at the Saltillo Mission, before packing up to head back home to Mississippi. Reflecting on the trip, Msgr. Flannery said, “I must admit that the visit to the Saltillo Mission was a whirl- wind tour, but a spiritually fruitful trip. The excitement and spiritual fervor of the people was contagious. The good work begun fifty years ago by Fr. Patrick Quinn continues and the evident fruit of his ministry is evident to be seen and experienced. It was a glory to behold to see both bishops of Mississippi working in unison at each village, demonstrating the unity both Dioceses of Mississippi in its commitment to the mission.” – Continued from page 12 –