Gulf Pine Catholic

P ine C atholic Gulf APRIL 14, 2023 > VOLUME 40, NO. 17 > WWW.BILOXIDIOCESE.ORG THE NEWSPAPER OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BILOXI Bishop Kihneman appoints Ray Lacy as Director of the Office of Evangelization DIOCESE OF BILOXI -- Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III has appointed Ray Lacy as Director of the Office of Evangelization. Lacy, who is currently the Director of the Office of Youth Ministry, will take over this summer for Deacon Richard Smith who will serve as Director of Pastoral Services. “We are called to be evangelists. We are called to share our faith and to invite others into a personal relationship with God that will transform them completely inside and out,” said Bishop Kihneman. “This is a very critical role because many people do not know how to share their faith with others. Ray, relying on the assistance of my Senior Evangelization Team, will work with our parishes, schools, and diocesan ministries to develop pro- grams to enable people to live out the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples. He will also work to identify and train lay leaders who will work to Form Intentional Disciples.” Lacy started out working as a youth minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Long Beach in July of 1999. “We began Life Teen Youth Ministry on March 12, 2000. I worked at St. Thomas until 2005,” he said. “In the fall of 2005, I began teaching at St. John High School. I taught religion to seventh, ninth and twelfth grade. I coached girls’ softball, junior high basketball and junior high baseball. In 2007, I moved to the newly opened St. Patrick High School. I taught ninth grade religion and coached junior high baseball until 2011. In 2011, I went back to St. Thomas to work in youth ministry with the Life Teen program there. In 2016, I took the posi- tion of Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Biloxi.” Lacy received his certification in youth ministry from Life Teen and Franciscan University in 2010. He completed the Theology of the Body certifica- tion and went through the New Wine formation course from 2001-2003. Lacy completed a two- week formation track from The St. John Bosco Conference at Franciscan University. “I enjoy leading and attending conferences and trainings to continue to grow in discipleship and evangelization,” said Lacy. “My vision for the Office of Evangelization is to form outreach teams to accompany parishes, schools, and families in their efforts in forming dis- ciples to be sent on mission,” he said. “We discuss often how important it is to make disciples to build up the Church and this is one of many ways in which I think will bear the most fruit. I hope to increase evangelization in our Diocese by working alongside of our priests and serving as a resource and encouragement in using formation and encounter programs and processes that support the Mission of making disciples. I think it is most important that we send the disciples on mission to become disciple-makers themselves. There are a lot of really good things happening in our diocese and my hope is to continue to give the tools needed to continue the mission of making disciples.” Lacy is a strongly devoted family man. “I am married to my amazing and talented wife, Dr. Mandy Lacy. She has worked for the Pass Christian Public School District her entire 20-year career in education. She has been a teacher, inter- ventionist, assistant principal, and principal,” he said. “Her most recent accomplishment was being recognized as the 2021 Mississippi Administrator of the Year. She currently serves as the district’s Professional Development and Early Childhood Coordinator.” Ray and Mandy have three children: Mackenzie (19), Peyton (17) and Mia Clare (12) “Mackenzie is completing her sophomore year at Jones College and plans to attend USM in the fall of 2023. She loves theater and singing and leading worship. Peyton is a senior at Pass Christian High School. He also plans to attend USM in the fall, where he will play baseball for the Golden Eagles. Mia Clare is in the seventh grade at Pass Christian Middle School. She enjoys playing softball, basket- ball, soccer, and participating in the Life Teen Edge program at St. Thomas in Long Beach. She is also a member of the Gulf Coast Wave 12U travel team,” said Lacy. “I have three brothers, Guy (Marla), Trey (Elizabeth) and Joey (Laura), that all still live here on the coast. My mom, Beverly, is our glue. As a mom of three amazing boys, we kept her on her knees praying quite often. She is never far from a ballfield with her spray bottle full of holy water. We couldn’t do what we do without the love and sup- port of my mom and Mandy’s parents, Roger and Cristel Hudson. My dad, Gary Lacy, passed away in September of 2019. We miss him very much, but we know he is praying for us and watching all of his grandkids grow up. I am sure he is proud. I have four nieces and three nephews.” A search will be conducted for a new Director of Youth Ministry. Ray Lacy