Gulf Pine Catholic

10 Gulf Pine Catholic • October 1 2021 Gulf Pine Catholic • October 1 2021 11 D’IBERVILLE – Sacred Heart Parish will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish’s establishment on Oct. 3 with Mass at 11 a.m. followed by a luncheon. Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III will be the principal celebrant. In 1859 Bishop William Elder responded to the spiritual needs of about 300 Catholics living around Biloxi’s Back Bay area with the establishment of a mission parish, which was served throughout its first years by priests from Nativity B.V.M. (Biloxi), St. Alphonsus (Ocean Springs), and St. Michael (Biloxi) Parishes. On October 6, 1921, Bishop John Gunn appointed Father Patrick Carey as Sacred Heart Parish’s first resident pastor. Under his leadership, the parish school named for St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus, was opened in 1927 staffed by Vicksburg Sisters of Mercy. Father Carey was succeeded by Father Dennis O’Sullivan, 1931-1938, and Father Isidore Fussnecker, 1938-1939. During Father Patrick McAlpine’s pastorate, 1939-1967, the parish began to grow rapidly with the advent of World War II and the expansion of Keesler Air Force Base. Still in use during Father McAlpine’s pastorate was the wood frame church, dedicated on October 22, 1884, to accommodate 300 people. Bishop Joseph Brunini dedicated the new church on November 23, 1970. The new Sacred Heart Elementary School and parish hall were also constructed and dedicated on February 10, 1974, and a parish gym/recreation center was constructed in 1980, all under the pastorate of Msgr. Francis Farrell. In 2005 Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary received extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina. The school was renovated and re-opened their doors January 2007. Most recently the bell tower which was damaged in Hurricane Katrina was rededicated December 24, 2017. The bell tower was originally commissioned in 1969, during Msgr. Farrell’s pastorate, but not erected until the church was completed in 1971. Since 1980, Father Gerald Cleary, Father Patrick McDermott, and Father Bob Higginbotham have served as pastors. Father Domi- nic Pham became pastor in March of 2017. The Sisters of Mercy have been a part of the parish staff since 1927. Sister Kim Lajoie, RSM has served in the parish since 1972. Photos/File Photos Sacred Heart Parish in D’Iberville celebrates 100th Anniversary Father Francis Farrell, pastor, and H.F. “Buddy” Fountain, architect (right), examine the polished surface of the marble altar in the new Sacred Heart Church with Tabernacle and Resurrection-Crucifix in the background. Father Patrick McAlpine served as pastor of Sacred Heart from 1939 to 1967. Sacred Heart associate pastor Father Henry McInerney, left, listens as pastor Father Gerard Cleary shares a few remarks during Father McInerney’s going-away celebration in 1988. Father Patrick McDermott is pictured with first responders after the 2004 Blue Mass. At right is Deacon John Jennings. Father Bob Higginbotham leads a prayer service for the unborn. Bishop Roger Morin installed the current pastor, Father Dominic Pham, in 2017.