Gulf Pine Catholic

6 Gulf Pine Catholic • February 21, 2020 Thank you, St. Jude, for prayers answered. LCL “As Mothers we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.” thehomemaderenegade.com I have been struggling with my place in this world. Sometimes I feel invisible. (I know that it’s not only women who feel invisible but traditionally women have been the ones that fight the wars of life in the privacy of the home. And I am a woman so it’s my only reference…) It’s been hard to discern what God wants from me and so I have been a bit lazy and complacent. I have studied a lot about Mary over the years and much has been written about how she contemplated the things that were happening around her. I once read that if an answer isn’t apparent then just wait and something will reveal itself to guide the decision being made. Well, I have been waiting and praying and contemplating and I am getting on my own nerves. I am tired of always being the support staff and yet I don’t feel energized about my options. I’m middle aged and it’s my reality, so I deal with minutiae all day. Even though I feel invisible, I know that I am not. All of this has me thinking about life. I think of all the people that continue to do the things that are necessary for life to go on. Mostly I have been thinking about the other invisible people out there doing menial yet important tasks that our society expects. EVERYDAY. I think of the custodial workers and service industry employees that keep our community functional, clean, and beautiful. EVERY DAY. I think of the volunteers that feed our homeless and visit our sick and imprisoned and take care of our orphans. EVERY DAY. I think of the researchers that create new treatments for our chronically ill and handicapped so that they can engage in our world through new discoveries and technologies. EVERY DAY. So much happens quietly and behind the scenes that supports life. EVERY DAY. Why is being humble and steady and reliable so hard? I have seen so many people destroy the good in their life while they are chasing something better. You know, in the operating room we often said that the enemy of good is -- better. Sometimes you just need to stop. When a surgeon pushes too hard and too long, a multitude of problems can be created that might threaten the patient’s health. Yet, you want a surgeon that is confident and thorough and willing to do all that is necessary to help the patient. Everyone needs to know when to act and when to wait. It can be so hard to know. Spring is about to bust out all over our beautiful area and I pray that God will continue to guide me through these gray days and show me the value in feeling invisible. I pray that I fulfill God’s purpose with my life, and I hope that He continues to use me to support the lives I am blessed to know. It is said that God can be known through nature. I like that imagery. After the drab days of winter, the shocking beauty of spring affirms that God has been present all the while behind the scenes waiting to reveal Himself at just the right moment. “The waiting is the hardest part” Tom Petty LIVE MAS! Michele Pisciotta is a retired obstetrician and gynecologist who heads up the Diocese of Biloxi’s Pro- Life Ministry and Natural Family Planning education initiative. She can be contacted at gulfpinecatholic@ biloxidiocese.org . Living Large Pisciotta Living large behind the scene Las Misas Celebradas en Español / Masses Celebrated in Spanish Sábado/Saturday Pascagoula: Sacred Heart Parish, 6 p.m. Domingo/Sunday Laurel: Immaculate Conception Parish, 4 p.m. Hattiesburg: Sacred Heart Parish, 1:30 p.m. Ocean Springs: St. Alphonsus Parish, 2 p.m. Picayune: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 11:30 a.m. Gulfport: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 2 p.m. Lunes/Monday Biloxi: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 6 p.m. Monsignor Leech Council 4472 Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Frys February 28, March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27 and April 3. Domestic catfish plates, shrimp plates and combination plates. We will also serve a chil- dren’s plate. Plates consist of catfish or shrimp, hushpuppies, fries and coleslaw. Dinners will start at 5 p.m. each Friday at the St. Vincent de Paul’s Catholic School cafeteria in Pass Christian. Cost will be $10 per plate and $6 for chil- dren’s plate. For information, call Greg at (228) 493-5740 or Tony at (228) 363- 3349.