Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 24, 2021 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) December 24, 2021 Volume 39, Issue 9 The GULF PINE CATHOLIC , published every other week, is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Editorial offices are located at 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532. Periodical postage paid at Gulfport, MS. —POSTMASTER— Send address changes to: The GULF PINE CATHOLIC 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —PUBLISHER— Most Rev. Louis F. Kihneman —EDITOR— Terry Dickson —PRODUCTION/ ADVERTISING — Shirley M c Cusker —CIRCULATION— Aimee McLendon —PHOTOGRAPHY— Juliana Skelton —OFFICEHOURS— 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— Editor: 228-702-2126 Production/Advertising: 228-702-2109 Circulation: 228-702-2127 Photography: 228-201-2132 FAX: 228-702-2128 —EMAIL— News: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org Production / Advertising: smccusker@biloxidiocese.org Circulation: amclendon@biloxidiocese.org Photography: jskelton@biloxidiocese.org —OFFICEAND MAILINGADDRESS — 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —WEBSITE— www.biloxidiocese.org —SUBSCRIPTIONS — Subscription rate is $18 per year. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about a subscription, customer should include a recent address label with old address and new address. Allow three weeks for changes of address. —DEADLINES for JAN. 7 EDITION— News copy and photos: Due DEC. 29, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due DEC. 29, 10 a.m. Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule Jan. 1 Mass, Mary Mother of God, Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral, 10 a.m. Jan. 4 Vigil Mass, Epiphany, St. Ann, Clermont Harbor, 4 p.m. Jan. 4 Intentional Disciple Team Day/ Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 6 School Mass & Visit, St. Patrick High School, Biloxi, 9:40 a.m. Jan. 9-13 Region V Bishops’ Retreat, Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, (Isaiah 9:1-2a) The Prophet Isaiah writes that we, as a people, have waited in the gloom of darkness but we have seen a great light. The birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, is truly a moment of great light and abundant joy. It is the most tangible proof of God’s love for us, his peo- ple. God’s grace and God’s blessing is poured out into our lives, and it is a cause for great rejoicing! For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:11-14) Bishop Kihneman Bishop Kihneman’s 2021 Christmas Message highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” For we are “those on whom his favor rests” and all around us are the angels and saints singing, “Glory to God in the high- est….” As we celebrate Christmas Mass and we share in the Body and Blood of Christ, we share in the infant Jesus, we share in the Jesus who died on the cross, and we share especially in the Jesus who rose from the dead. We touch Heaven when we receive His body and blood. The faith that Joseph and Mary had is a tremendous example for us. Even though they did not completely understand, they trusted in God’s love and that God would bless them with a Savior. We see a powerful example of that love and trust when we look at the manger scene. As we look at the man- ger, let us ask ourselves, “Do we trust Him? Can we let Him touch our moments of dark- ness and bring light to them? Will we allow Him to take our burdens and difficulties and let Him bring joy into our hearts? It is time to let the joy of Jesus be born in our hearts. If there is darkness, especially if it is the darkness of sin, it is time to ask for forgive- ness and reconciliation. Look again into the manger and see his love poured out for each of us. Our Father has given us His son, Jesus, born as we are in flesh and blood. God’s only begotten Son humbled Himself to come to us as an infant so that we would know that He understands us, He knows our pain, He knows our hearts, and still, He loves us! Let us pray that He will lift us out of darkness and into great light, may He fill us with the abundant joy of His love, and may we celebrate that love with great rejoicing as we wait for the return of our “blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) who loves us so much that He died for our sins and rose from the dead to show us the way to heaven! MERRY CHRISTMAS! SEE BISHOP’S MESSAGE IN SPANISH, PAGE 6 We have heard the Gospel story of the Birth of Christ many times but let me chal- lenge you to read it again and read it as if it is the first time. Hear it for the first time -- how Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the world. We are invited as modern day Christians to bring Jesus into the world. Our world -- our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and those we meet -- need to feel our love and the love of God through the birth of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Do our friends and neighbors know we are Catholic Christians? Do our fellow workers know we are Catholic Christians? Can those we meet feel that we are different, that we are in love with Jesus Christ, and that His love sets our hearts on fire? Would they know that we have heard the words of Saint Luke’s Gospel, that we truly believe the word of God, and that we can hear God say- ing to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the Praying that you and your family have a happy and healthy New Year!