Gulf Pine Catholic

12 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 6, 2024 In many married couples, the expectations of what a good marriage is and the reality of what actually occurs sometimes complicates the institution. We come into it with grand ideas of what is going to happen, then BAM!!! In order to overcome the unexpected circumstances that affect all of our lives, there are remedies. I would like to share with you an excerpt from the Catholic Couples Bible that may shed light on how we should respond to adversities. Our vision of what a perfect marriage might be is often shaped more by what the world thinks it should be, than by our own ideas and experiences. However, our decisions should not be to live as the world intends us to, but as GOD intends us to, accepting of what is given to us. This is why acceptance is so important to sustaining a healthy and happy marriage. The most meaningful applications of acceptance in a marriage come long after you have resolved as a couple to recognize and respect each other for who you are. As time passes, you will be given many opportunities to accept circumstances, situations and events in your lives that you might never have anticipated. A sudden death, an unexpected health problem or simply not becoming who “you thought you’d be” are just a few examples of these kinds of events or circumstances. In accepting each other for who we are, we not only extend kindness, but we acknowledge each other as unique beings created in God’s own image. However, we should recognize that God permits good and bad things to happen to us in life, but that does not always mean that they are directly “willed” by Him. Even successes can threaten your marriage if not recognized as a gift from God. Raising beautiful children, achieving financial success, and exper- iencing career advancement, all should be things that make life even happier and more rewarding. Yet, how many times do you see couples that are miserable even in success? Often, what they have forgotten to do is accept this good fortune as God’s blessing in their lives. Without acknowledging God in your marriage and in your family, success will feel hollow and good fortune empty. Our acceptance to any of these is the first step in recognizing that God is able and willing to work through all the events of our life, both good and bad. Our challenge after that is to use the experiences as lessons of His love for us to strengthen the bond between us. Our reward for this acceptance of each other and of God’s will in our lives is contentment and peace of mind. God will also bless us with a sense of happiness about who we are both as individuals and as a couple. May God Bless you all and God Bless your marriages. Deacon Justin Mitchell is the Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Biloxi. Marriage & Family Life Mitchell Acceptance in Marriage Knight of Columbus councils on the coast joined together November 16 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gulfport to give out 288 coats for the Coats for Kids Campaign to Catholic Charities of South MS, Catholic Charities of Jackson Kinship Program and K nights of C olumbus Bay St. Louis Police Dept. Brother Knights came from along the coast representing Fr. Harry O. Wade Council of St. Joseph Parish, Gulfport; Bishop Gunn Council of St. John Parish, Gulfport; and Pere de Luc Council of Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis. Father Joseph Uko blessed the coats and all of the Knights! John Barnes, the State Community Director, was in charge of the state-wide program. Barnes said 768 coats were given away across the Mississippi! WLOX covered the event and inter- viewed John Barnes and Jennifer Williams of Catholic Charities of South Mississippi. Coats for Kids Campaign Council #7910 honors Veterans on Veterans Day Father Harry O. Wade Knights of Columbus Council #7910 from St. Joseph Parish, Gulfport, honored veterans and celebrated Veter- ans Day in the parish with cakes, donuts and refreshments. Flag pins were given out and special veterans pins also. Blood Drive Most Holy Trinity pastor Father Paddy Mockler donates blood at October 26 Blood Drive. Knights of Columbus Council 11995 Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Pass Christian, held a blood drive at the church. MS Grand Knight Reid Parker and Deputy Grand Knight Clark Lizana assist Red Cross in set-up for October 26 Blood Drive.