Gulf Pine Catholic

2 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 20, 2024 Diocese of Biloxi Bulletin Board The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi’s Pastoral Center will be closed Tues., Dec. 24; Wed., Dec. 25; Thurs., Dec. 26; and Fri., Dec. 27; in observance of Christmas; and, Wed., Jan. 1, 2025, in observance of Solemnity of Mary. ► Notre Dame Hospice Looking for Volunteers ~ Notre Dame Hospice is looking for volunteers to serve in their Mississippi church parishes.Volunteers can provide caregiver relief, compan- ionship for patients, run errands, play music, prepare a meal & offer whatev- er talents our volunteers would like to share. Helping our staff with special events & activities is another way that you can assist. Hospice volunteers do not need any medical experience as they do not handle patients. If you are interested or would like more info, please contact: Janine Bonner, Volunteer Coordinator at (504) 418- 1049 or email jbonner@notredame- hospice.com . VOLUNTEERS ► Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, Dec. 22, Annual Christmas Concert ~ The Nativity BVM Cathedral Music & Fine Arts Ministry will present the Annual Christmas Concert featuring both sacred and secular selections of new and traditional compositions, Sun., Dec. 22, 4 p.m. All will be invit- ed to share in singing popular Christmas carols & holiday songs. The program is free & open to the public. All in the Gulf Coast commu- nity are welcome. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral is located at 870 Howard Avenue, in Downtown Biloxi. For more informa- tion, contact Terry D. Maddox, Minister of Music, Director of Fine Arts, at (251) 406-1454 or terrydale- maddox@gmail.com . ► St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Pacagoula, Dec. 22, Amazing 55 Year Vocation Journey ~ Amazing 55 Year Vocation Journey with Sister Mary Alexis Fisher, OSP, on Sun., Dec. 22, .immediately following the 9 a.m. Mass in the Rev. Charles E. McMahon Parish Life Center. ► St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Pacagoula, Dec. 24, Real Story: A Christmas Comedy ~ St. Peter the Apostle CCD program presents The Real Story: A Christmas Comedy on Tues., Dec. 24, 5 p.m. ► St. Mary Parish, Woolmarket, Jan. 4, 2025, First Saturday Devotion ~ All are invited to attend our First Saturday Devotion at St. Mary in Woolmarket on Jan. 4 to help bring devotion to the Mother of God in the new year. We will begin the Devotion with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 9:30 a.m. Then we will pray the scriptural Rosary at 10 a.m. There will also be the hearing of con- fessions, meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary as requested by Our Lady of Fatima, & Holy Mass at 11 a.m. A procession will follow in which we will carry a statue of Our Lady & a banner to honor Mary from the Church to Murray Hall where we will enjoy a potluck lunch & refresh- ► SEARCH Retreat 2025, Dedeaux Retreat Center, Jan. 3-5, 2025 ~ A SEARCH weekend is a Christian life experience. It is peer guided and peer given by a Diocesan youth and adult team. The weekend usually begins on Fri. evenings around 7:30 p.m. & ends Sun. afternoon 4 p.m. It will be held at Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Dedeaux, Pass Christian. Fee for the weekend is $100. A non-refundable $50.00 deposit is required with all applications. YOUTH MINISTRY PARISH EVENTS ► St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis, Dec. 26 & 27, Baseball Hitting Camp ~ Step up to the plate & perfect your swing at our dynamic baseball hitting camp! Open to boys & girls ages 7-13, this two-day intensive camp is designed to elevate batting skills for players of all levels. From Dec. 26-27, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., our experienced coach- es will focus on proper hitting mechan- ics, stance, timing, & bat control. Through personalized instruction, fun drills, & live batting practice, young sluggers will gain confidence & improve their performance at the plate. Register today & give your young ath- lete the gift of improved batting skills this holiday season. For more info & to secure your spot, contact ststan. com/baseball-camp-dec-2024/. ► St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis, Jan. 16, 2025, Day Student Interview Night for 2025-26 App- licants ~ St. Stanislaus is pleased to invite parents to register their sons for our upcoming Day Student Interview Night, an important step in the admis- sions process for the 2025-2026 school year. This event is scheduled for Thurs., Jan. 16, 2025, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. All new incoming day students are required to participate in this interview process, which provides an opportuni- ty for applicants to meet with a mem- ber of our admissions team. These one-on-one interviews are designed to get to know your son better and assess his fit for our academic community. Register for the Day Student Interview Night: https://ststan.com/day-stu- dent-interview/ ► St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Long Beach, March 29, 2025, An Evening with Caleb and John ~ This event will be a faith-filled concert of praise & worship with Christian Music duo Caleb & John who brought us the hit songs “Hallelujah Feeling” & “Somebody Like Me.” It will be held at St. Vincent de Paul School, 4321 Espy Ave., Long SCHOOL EVENTS ► Courage International ~ Courage International is an apostolate within the Catholic Church for men & women who experience same-sex attractions & who have made a commitment to strive for chastity. They are inspired by the Gospel call to holiness & the Catholic Church’s beautiful teachings about the goodness & inherent pur- pose of human sexuality. Through this apostolate, people who experience same-sex attraction receive pastoral support in the form of spiritual guid- ance, community prayer support, & fellowship. EnCourage is an aposto- late which provides pastoral care for families & friends of people who experience same-sex attractions &/or gender discordance. In many cases, their loved ones have adopted the LGBTQ label, & may have moved away from actively practicing their faith. Through local chapters & online support, our members receive help & encouragement to understand the experience of their loved ones more deeply, to foster healthy relationships within their families, & to deepen their own relationship with Christ. For more infor. on the Courage Apostolate & group meeting info, please contact Father Mark Ropel at Church@sttho- mas-usm.org. For more info on the EnCourage Apostolate & group meet- APOSTOLATE ing info, please contact Betsey Sawyer Estrade at esawye1@gmail.com . ments. All are welcome to join us in this Devotion! For more info, please contact Sharon Poulette at (443) 699- 8281 or email aloha7290@gmail.com . Beach, March 29, 2025, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 if purchased before Jan. 1. For more info, contact Jamie Ruoss at (352) 223-4218. Beginning with the January 3rd edition of the Gulf Pine Catholic, the paper will be published two times a month instead of every two weeks. During the months of June, July, and August, there will only be one paper printed. Deadlines will remain 10 days prior to publication except for holiday schedules.