Volume 42., Issue 20 www.gulfpinecatholic.com July 11, 2025 Gulf Pine Catholic Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Biloxi 15 men ordained permanent deacons for the Diocese of Biloxi Bishop Louis f. Kihneman III ordained 15 men to the permanent diaconate on May 31 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi. Pictured with their assignments in parentheses, front row, l-r, are Deacon Bill Oster (St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ocean Springs), Deacon Charles Walden (St. Clare Parish, Waveland), Bishop Kihneman, Deacon Javier Marroquin (Sacred Heart Parish, Hattiesburg), and Deacon David Hebert (Most Holy Trinity Parish, Pass Christian). Middle row: Deacon Felix Diaz (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Hattiesburg), Deacon Edgar Flores (Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish, Biloxi), Deacon Gil Diaz (Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula), Deacon Jim Balentine (Most Holy Trinity Parish, Pass Christian), and Deacon Robert Maynard (St. Fabian Parish, Hattiesburg). Back row: Deacon Walter Ascencio (St. Alphonsus Parish, Ocean Springs), Deacon Roy Leonard (Immaculate Conception Parish, Laurel), Deacon Eric Denmark (St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point), Deacon P.J. Necaise (Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis), and Deacon Mike Martin (Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula). For more photos from the ordination and biographical details on the new deacons, see Pages 14-18. Photo/Juliana Skelton
2 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 Diocese of Biloxi Bulletin Board During the summer months of July and August, the Gulf Pine Catholic will publish one issue a month. THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE IS AUGUST 15. DEADLINE FOR AD SPACE AND COPY IS AUGUST 5. We will resume two issues a month in September. Thank you for your patience as we make this necessary change. ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS CASA of South Mississippi Volunteers: Catholic Charities of South Mississippi is partnering with CASA of South Mississippi! We will host an information meeting for all those interested in seeing how they can become involved with this wonderful organization that brings a voice & impacts the lives of children in our community. We hope you can join us on August 13 at 6 p.m. at 1450 North St. in Gulfport. For questions: please contact Michelle Eleuterius at meleuterius@biloxidiocese.org or call (228) 2195995. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EVENTS Sacred Heart and the Knights of Columbus Annual Blood Drive: Sacred Heart Church, in collaboration with the Knights of Columbus Council 9094, will host a community blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. The event will take place on Fri., July 25, 1-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in d’Iberville. “Sacred Heart Church parishioners & the Knights are committed to strengthening our community by helping to meet the needs of hospitals & patients through blood donations,” said Albert Allegue, Grand Knight. “This blood drive is an opportunity for parishioners, neighbors, and local businesses to come together & save lives.” Blood is a perishable product that can only be obtained from volunteer donors. With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, it is crucial to replenish blood supplies constantly, according to the Red Cross. “We urge community members to donate blood to ensure that patients in local hospitals have a sufficient supply ready before emergencies arise. There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation could give someone a second chance at life.” The Red Cross states that donors of all blood types are needed, particularly those with types O negative, A negative, and B negative. KC Council # 11995 & Ladies’ Auxiliary Rummage Sale: The Knights of Columbus Council #11995 & Ladies’ Auxiliary will hold a rummage sale Fri., Sept. 19; Sat., Sept. 20; & Sun., Sept. 21; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 9062 Kiln Delisle Rd., Pass Christian. PARISH EVENTS Blessed Seelos Memorial BrickWalkway: Looking for a special way to commemorate your time in Biloxi at St. John Church, St. John School, St. Louis Church, or your fond memories of Blessed Seelos Parish? You can purchase a personalized memorial brick that will be engraved with your cherished memory. These bricks will be proudly displayed as part of a lasting tribute to the community & moments that mean the most to you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to create a lasting symbol of your connection to these beloved places. Engraved brick details: The bricks are 4”x8”. The cost is $100 per brick. Please note that only 169 bricks are available to purchase. Please pick up an order form at the Parish Office or online at www.seelosbiloxi.com. Please call the office for more information. Vacation Bible School: Join St. Ann, Lizana, for Splash Canyon, God’s promise on Life’s Wild Ride Mon., July 14-Thurs., July 17, 6-8 p.m. Dinner will be provided nightly. There will be craft, music, games, Bible challenge, storytelling, snacks, and more! Children in K-5th grade welcome! St. Ann Catholic Church, 23529 Hwy. 53, Gulfport. Our Mother of Mercy Healing Mass: Our Mother of Mercy will host a Healing Mass on Fri., July 18, 5 p.m. The church located at 216 Saucier Ave. Pass Christian. Healing Face of Jesus: A night of Healing with Adoration, Prayers of Deliverance, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and One-onOne Pastoral Counseling Wed., July 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 22342 Evangeline Rd, Pass Christian. St. Joseph Catholic Church $10,000 Drawdown Luau: Fun to be had by at at the St. Joseph Drawdown Luau Sat., Aug. 16, 5-10 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30. $100 admits 2 adults, must be 21 or older to attend. Hawaiian attire is encouraged! There will be a tailgating raffle & silent auction. Food, drinks, & fun! St. Mary’s 1st Annual Fandango: The 1st Annual Fandango at St. Mary’s, Woolmarket, 8343 Woolmarket Rd., Biloxi, will be held Sun., Aug. 31, noon till? There will be lawn games, bingo children’s activities, crafts, & food vendors. Live music by Hank Berumen! RETREATS Men’s Emmaus Retreat: Attend the Men’s Emmaus Retreat July 25-27. The retreat is held at the William J. Kelley Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis. The retreat is based on the scripture passage “The appearance on the road to Emmaus” (Luke 24: 13-35) & is an uplifting experience that has a profound effect on men’s lives. The retreat begins at 4 p.m. Fri. & ends after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Sun. Please contact the following men for additional information: Norm Madere (504) 481-0411, Johnny Fisk (504) 427-6601, or Steve Schulkens (504) 4016990 You can register for the retreat online at: https:// stdominicparish.com/emmaus-registration SVD Laity Mission Retreat: SVD Laity Mission Partners of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church cordially invite you all to join us a day of retreat “Standing Strong: Men after God’s Heart,” Sat., Aug. 30, with the opening mass at 7 a.m. Location: 216 Saucier Ave. Pass Christian. Program begins at 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Breakfast & lunch are provided. Diocesan Women’s Retreat “New”: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” -- Ezekiel 36:26 The New Retreat is a sacred invitation to encounter the transforming love of God -- whether you’re rediscovering your faith or falling in love with the Lord for the very first time. It will be held Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church, 22342 Evangeline Rd., Pass Christian. The cost is $50. This special retreat is open to all women, ages 21 and older, who are seeking renewal, healing, & deeper connection with Christ & with one another. Childcare will be provided at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School Gym, so you can fully enter into this time of rest and spiritual refreshment. Come as you are, and allow God to make all things new. SCHOOL EVENTS Basketball Skills Camp: Boys and girls aged 8 to 14 are invited to join the St. Stanislaus comprehensive Skills Camp, where they can develop and refine their basketball abilities in a supportive and structured environment. The camp focuses on building fundamental skills such as dribbling, shooting, passing, and defense. The camp will run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Tues., July 15-Fri., July 18. The tuition for this four-day session is $149. To register or learn more about the program, please visit ststan.com/athletics/ rock-camp/. SEE BULLETIN BOARD, PAGE 27
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) July 11, 2025 Volume 42, Issue 20 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/BILLING — Shirley McCusker —CIRCULATION— Robin Peeler —OFFICEHOURS— 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— Editor: 228-702-2126 Production/Advertising: 228-702-2109 Billing: 228-702-2109 Circulation: 228-702-2100 —EMAIL— News: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org Production / Advertising Billing: smccusker@biloxidiocese.org Circulation: rpeeler@biloxidiocese.org —OFFICEAND MAILINGADDRESS — 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —WEBSITE— www.gulfpinecatholic.com —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 forAUG. 15— News copy and photos: Due AUG. 5, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due AUG. 5, 10 a.m. BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). As we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, we stand at a pivotal moment in the life of our Church -- a moment of reflection, renewal, and rededication to our truest identity. The Jubilee is not only a time of thanksgiving and grace, but also a time of recommitment to the mission given to us by Christ Himself. Jesus did not leave us a vague purpose. He gave us a clear, urgent commission in the Gospel of Matthew: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations… teach them to observe all that I have commanded you… and behold, I am with you always.” This Great Commission is not optional; it is the reason we exist as a Church. It is our mission and our joy -- to evangelize, to make disciples, to share the transforming love of God with every person. Evangelization is not a program or an event; it is a way of life. It begins with a personal relationship with Jesus, and it moves outward, inviting others into that same life-changing encounter. This transformation must touch every part of us -- heart, mind, soul, and strength. And it must shape every part of our communities -- parishes, schools, families, and ministries. Bishop Kihneman The Jubilee of Hope -- A Call to Mission To live this out fully, we must undergo a significant shift -- from a mindset of maintenance to one of mission. We can no longer be content with simply maintaining structures or programs that no longer bear fruit. Instead, we must align every effort, every activity, every decision with the goal of forming disciples. If something in our parish life does not serve this mission, we must ask: Can it be transformed to serve the mission? If not, does it still have a place? This shift requires formation -- beginning with leadership. We must become faith communities where accompaniment is not the exception, but the norm. This means listening deeply to one another, sharing our stories of faith, and walking side-by-side as fellow pilgrims. This is not just pastoral strategy -- it is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus accompanied people in their journeys; so must we. Small groups are a vital part of this renewal. They create space for faith to grow, for relationships to deepen, for discipleship to take root. In small groups, people can experience the Thresholds of Conversion and Faith. But for this to work, our leaders must be trained as disciple-makers -- people who live the vision, who accompany others, and who raise up new leaders in turn. Every family, every child, every adult, every person in OCIA/RCIA should have a path of formation that includes real accompaniment. No one should walk the journey of faith alone. This is where partnerships come in -- between families, schools, parishes, and ministries. Together, in our parishes, schools, and ministries, we form communities where every person is known, loved, formed, and sent. The Jubilee of Hope is not just a celebration -- it is a turning point. It is a call to embrace and reclaim the Church’s mission, to refocus our energy, and to renew our commitment to the Great Commission. Jesus has told us what to do. Now is the time to act, together. Let us be a Church of missionary disciples. Let us be people of hope. And let us trust that the One who sends us is always with us -- until the end of the age. SEE BISHOP’S SPANISH COLUMN, PAGE 4 God looks for humble, loving hearts, not perfection, pope tells world’s priests BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world marked by growing tension, priests need to build peace and unity together by serving others, Pope Leo XIV said. When hearts are united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they are capable of resolving “not only our inner conflicts but also those that are tearing apart the world in which we live,” he said in a written message to the world’s priests, released June 27, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. In the one-page message to his “brothers in the priesthood,” Pope Leo invited them to renew the “yes” they said to God and to His holy people on the day of their ordination, so they “may be a sacrament of Jesus’ love in the world. “Do not be daunted by your personal frailty: the Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as He himself loved us,” he wrote. Also, “only in the heart of Jesus do we discover our authentic humanity as children of God, brothers and sisters of one another,” the pope wrote. Therefore, he said, “I would make this heartfelt appeal to you today: Be builders of unity and peace!”
4 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 POR EL OBISPO LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN II Obispo de Biloxi “Vayan, pues, y hagan discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, enseñándoles a cumplir todo lo que yo les he mandado. Y sepan que yo estoy con ustedes todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo.” (Mateo 28,19-20). Al celebrar el Jubileo de la Esperanza, nos encontramos en un momento decisivo en la vida de nuestra Iglesia: un momento de reflexión, renovación y rededicación a nuestra identidad más auténtica. El Jubileo no es solo un tiempo de acción de gracias y gracia, sino también un momento para renovar nuestro compromiso con la misión que Cristo mismo nos ha confiado. Jesús no nos dejó un propósito vago. Nos dio un mandato claro y urgente en el Evangelio de Mateo: “Vayan… hagan discípulos… enseñen… y sepan que yo estoy con ustedes.” Esta Gran Comisión no es opcional; es la razón por la cual existimos como Iglesia. Es nuestra misión y nuestra alegría: evangelizar, formar discípulos y compartir el amor transformador de Dios con cada persona. La evangelización no es un programa ni un evento; es un estilo de vida. Comienza con una relación personal con Jesús y se proyecta hacia los demás, invitándolos a ese mismo encuentro que transforma vidas. Esta transformación debe tocar cada parte de nuestro ser: corazón, mente, alma y fuerza. Y debe moldear cada aspecto de nuestras comunidades: parroquias, escuelas, familias y ministerios. Obispo Kihneman Para vivir esto plenamente, debemos hacer un cambio profundo: pasar de una mentalidad de mantenimiento a una mentalidad de misión. Ya no podemos conformarnos con simplemente mantener estructuras o programas que ya no dan fruto. En cambio, debemos alinear cada esfuerzo, cada actividad y cada decisión con el objetivo de formar discípulos. Si algo en nuestra vida parroquial no sirve a esta misión, debemos preguntarnos: ¿Puede transformarse para servir a la misión? Si no, ¿sigue teniendo un lugar? Este cambio requiere formación, comenzando por el liderazgo. Debemos convertirnos en comunidades de fe donde el acompañamiento no sea la excepción, sino la norma. Esto significa escucharnos profundamente, compartir nuestras historias de fe y caminar juntos como peregrinos. Esto no es solo una estrategia pastoral: es el corazón del Evangelio. Jesús acompañó a las personas en sus caminos; nosotros también debemos hacerlo. Los pequeños grupos son una parte vital de esta renovación. Crean espacios donde la fe puede crecer, las relaciones pueden profundizarse y el discipulado puede echar raíces. En los pequeños grupos, las personas pueden experimentar las Etapas de Conversión y Fe. Pero para que esto funcione, nuestros líderes deben ser formados como formadores de discípulos: personas que vivan la visión, que acompañen a otros y que formen nuevos líderes a su vez. Cada familia, cada niño, cada adulto, cada persona en el proceso de OCIA/RCIA debe tener un camino de formación que incluya un acompañamiento real. Nadie debe caminar solo en su camino de fe. Aquí es donde entran las alianzas: entre familias, escuelas, parroquias y ministerios. Juntos, en nuestras parroquias, escuelas y ministerios, formamos comunidades donde cada persona es conocida, amada, formada y enviada. El Jubileo de la Esperanza no es solo una celebración; es un punto de inflexión. Es un llamado a abrazar y recuperar la misión de la Iglesia, a reenfocar nuestra energía y renovar nuestro compromiso con la Gran Comisión. Jesús ya nos ha dicho qué hacer. Ahora es el momento de actuar, juntos. Seamos una Iglesia de discípulos misioneros. Seamos un pueblo de esperanza. Y confiemos en que Aquel que nos envía, está siempre con nosotros— hasta el fin del mundo. El Jubileo de la Esperanza -- Un Llamado a la Misión Dios busca corazones humildes y amorosos, no la perfección, dice el Papa León a los sacerdotes del mundo POR CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- En un mundo marcado por crecientes tensiones, los sacerdotes necesitan construir juntos la paz y la unidad sirviendo a los demás, dijo el Papa León XIV. Cuando los corazones están unidos al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, son capaces de resolver “nuestros conflictos interiores y los que desgarran al mundo contemporáneo”, dijo en un mensaje escrito a los sacerdotes del mundo, publicado el 27 de junio, fiesta del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, que es también la Jornada Mundial de Oración por la Santificación de los Sacerdotes. En el mensaje de una página dirigido a sus “hermanos en el sacerdocio”, el Papa León les invitó a renovar el “sí” que dijeron a Dios y a su pueblo santo el día de su ordenación, para que “puedan ser sacramento del amor de Jesús en el mundo”. “No le teman a su fragilidad: el Señor no busca sacerdotes perfectos, sino corazones humildes, disponibles a la conversión y dispuestos a amar como Él mismo nos ha amado”, escribió. En el corazón de Cristo, traspasado por el amor, se comprende “la verdadera identidad de nuestro ministerio: ardiendo por la misericordia de Dios, somos testigos gozosos de su amor que sana, acompaña y redime”. “La fiesta de hoy renueva en nuestros corazones la llamada a la entrega total de nosotros mismos al servicio del Pueblo santo de Dios”, escribió. “Esta misión comienza con la oración y continúa en la unión con el Señor, quien reaviva continuamente en nosotros su don: la santa vocación al sacerdocio” añadió. Además, “sólo en el Corazón de Jesús encontramos nuestra verdadera humanidad de hijos de Dios y de hermanos entre nosotros”, escribió el Papa. Por eso, dijo, “hoy quiero hacerles una invitación urgente: ¡sean constructores de unidad y de paz!”. “En un mundo marcado por tensiones crecientes, incluso dentro de las familias y de las comunidades eclesiales, el sacerdote está llamado a promover la reconciliación y generar comunión”, escribió. “Ser constructores de unidad y de paz significa ser pastores capaces de discernimiento, hábiles en el arte de recomponer los fragmentos de vida que se nos confían, para ayudar a las personas a encontrar la luz del Evangelio dentro de las tribulaciones de la existencia”, dijo en su mensaje. “Significa ser sabios lectores de la realidad, yendo más allá de las emociones del momento, de los miedos y de las modas”, escribió. “Significa ofrecer propuestas pastorales que generen y regeneren la fe, construyendo relaciones buenas, vínculos solidarios, comunidades donde brille el estilo de la fraternidad”. “Ser constructores de unidad y de paz no significa imponerse, sino servir”, escribió el Papa. “La fraternidad sacerdotal se convierte en signo creíble de la presencia del Resucitado entre nosotros cuando caracteriza el camino común de nuestros presbíteros”.
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Just do it! After cycles of infidelity, rebellion, and idolatry during their forty-year desert trek (Exodus 12:27- 18:27; Joshua 5:6-9), where many of the original sojourners died, Moses (Deuteronomy chapters 27-34) addresses the remnant who will take possession of the promised land. With Egypt’s slavery and their desert experiences behind them, God provided everything they needed to shape their future as a nation. Their new land offered fertile soil for physical nourishment and the promised presence of God, as revealed through the commandments, patriarchs, judges, and prophets. God intended Israel’s resources to shine as a light to surrounding nations that would observe their actions and conclude that their (one, true, living) God was greater than gods made by human hands. But history tells us there were challenges. Have their past mistakes taught them to rely on the Lord, or treat freedom as a license to do as they please? Will they live according to Mosaic Law (the Commandments); maintain a life of prayer, praise, and worship of God, and act with mercy and love toward their neighbors? Moses addresses these and other questions with a plea to center their lives around God and return to the covenant blessings with their heart, mind, and soul. Success in their new life will rely on not repeating past sins, learning God’s statutes and commandments, fixing them in their minds and hearts, and, most importantly, carrying them out. What about me? God gave the commandments to His beloved people to keep them in His love and allow them to know when they were offending Him -- He loved them too much to leave them in the dark. We can view God’s commandments and church teaching as burdens that impose restrictions, or as gifts of our Lord’s loving care. In what ways have you demonstrated belief that God’s commandments speak truth? How has your life reflected that God always wants what is best for you? Lord, open my eyes to see clearly your ways but dimly mine. Jesus first! Tensions emerged in the Colossian community between teachers promoting cultic practices and strict dietary rules and those advocating the primacy of Christ. Our priority of worldly pursuits, pleasures, and practices distracts us from focusing on Christ’s call to discipleship. Paul, in today’s second reading, urges them to return to their earlier progress in spiritual wisdom and live in a manner worthy of the Lord. Duplicity and compromise in lifestyle must give way to the supremacy of Christ. Their challenge and opportunity are to live and proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord. What tensions do you face as you struggle with these same choices? My neighbor? It was common for rabbis and scholars in Jesus’ time to debate how 613 commandments, developed as Pharisaical law, could be summarized into a few that were highest in priority. In that context, today’s Gospel features a scholar engaging Jesus in a test of wits and attempting to humiliate Him publicly. Our Lord replied to the question, “What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” with a question: “What is written in the law, how do you interpret it?” The scholar’s answer showed a good understanding of the commandments and the ability to articulate his beliefs clearly. Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But we know that eternal life cannot be attained through selective listening, minimal engagement, or knowledge alone -- action is necessary. Thus, the repartee continues with Jesus responding to the ‘Who is my neighbor’ question by telling the ‘Good Samaritan’ parable. Samaritans were Jews who intermarried with pagans during the seventy-year Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10-14a) and broke away fromMosaic ritual. Jewish leaders regarded them as traitors and despised them. The helpless victim represented an opportunity for passersby to put God’s laws into practice. The priest, a likely choice to promote adherence to God’s laws, passed the victim by. The Levite, a minister of the Temple, also avoided acting. However, a Samaritan, the least expected to connect love of God with love of neighbor, responded with compassion and generosity, demonstrating the true meaning of encountering God through serving others. “The proof of love is in its works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when love ceases to act, it ceases to exist.” -- Saint Gregory the Great “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care” -- various authors Reflect and Act: 1. When deciding whether to ignore or follow God’s commands, do you base your judgment on personal prejudices, whims, lifestyle choices, or the teachings from Scripture and the Church? 2. This week, dedicate yourself to a deeper study of God’s word and perform at least one Good Samaritan act. Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading:Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Responsorial Psalm: 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 2nd Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Living truth Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries To include your parish and school events and activity information on Bulletin Board, email that information to: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org or submit on our website: www.gulfpinecatholic.com.
6 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 Confirmation 2025 Holy Spirit Parish, Vancleave Father Adam Urbaniak, Vicar General, confirmed five confirmand at Holy Spirit, Vancleave on June 7. Posing with back row l-r: Deacon Norbert Lloyd; Father Adam Urbaniak, Vicar General; Deacon John Jennings; and Father Vincent Ajayi are front row;-4: Kayla Nguyen, Beau Brown, Joseph Morgan, Lyn-Elise Quave, and Brenda Davis. Photo/Juliana Skelton Adult / Diocesan Confirmation Father Adam Urbaniak, Vicar General, confirmed the following adults Sunday, June 8, at the Nativity BVM Cathedral. They are Hannah Brian, Frances Crawford, Sergio Garcia, Philip Gruich, Katherine Harper, Shanna Hobson, John Bradley Hobson, William Marsh, Juliana Moore, James O’Neill, and Dawn Burk Smith. Photo/Juliana Skelton Sacred Heart Parish, D’Iberville FatherAdamUrbaniak, VicarGeneral, confirmed the following parishioners from Sacred Heart Parish in D’Iberville: Breanna Baltodano, Logan Callegari, Gary Decossas, Ethan Dimitry, Garrett Dobson, Alexis Galle Jr., Kinney Jurich, Kaitlyn Le, Ethan Luong, London Martinez, Elizabeth McGonagle, Sylvania Moore, Lane Necaise, Abby Nguyen, Alex Nguyen, Presley Paige, Michael Pleasant, and Amanda Tran. Photo/Juliana Skelton St. John the Evangelist Parish, Gulfport FatherAdamUrbaniak, VicarGeneral, confirmed the following confirmands from St. John the Evangelist Parish in Gulfport on June 11: Erick Bellorin, AmilcarDominguez, SantiagoEsparza, EdwinFigueroa, Katherine Johnson, Humberto Lopez, Jennifer Martinez, Mayra Martinez, Sarah Matthews, Cameron McGuire, Romualdo Morales, Barbara Muzquiz, Daniela Ojeda, Maria Angelica Rivera, Marcela Rodriguez, and Juan Carlos Rodriguez. Photo/Juliana Skelton
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 7 Thank you, Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, St. Anthony, & St Jude, for prayers answered. CS The Official 2026 Directory of the Diocese of Biloxi $14 Place Your Order Now! To receive your copies, you must pre-order. Deadline for pre-orders Dec. 12/13/25. Delivery January 2026! Directory includes information about diocesan ministries and services, parishes, Mass schedules, schools, priests, deacons, seminarians, sisters, and brothers. Mail coupon & check to: Gulf Pine Catholic, 1790 Popps Ferry Rd., Biloxi, MS 39532 NAME _________________________________________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________________ CITY___________________ STATE_________ ZIP___________ No. of directories ordered _______ Amount enclosed______ Make checks ($14 per directory) payable to: Gulf Pine Catholic clip & mail # 7-11-25 To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information. On June 24, St. Clare KC Council 16433 installed their new officers for the 2025-2026 fraternal year. They are: Grand Knight Ricky Manieri, Chaplin Father Charles Authur, Deputy Grand Knight Joey Celino, District Deputy Larry Smith, District Warden Mak Kersanac, Chancellor Troy Simpson, Lecturer Charles Walden, Treasurer Thomas Lundin, Financial Secretary Dwayne Punch, Warden Maconall Piazza, Outside Guard Jimmy Bourgeois, Inside Guard Dominic Pitts, Recorder Terry Rutledge, 1st Year Trustee Steve Landry, 2nd Year Trustee Gilbert Tosso, and 3rd Year Trustee Ed Pendergast. St. Clare (Waveland) Council 16433 installs new officers KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS We want to print your news! Please send your parish, student, and school news items to: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org; mail to: Gulf Pine Catholic, 1790 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532; or submit online at gulfpinecatholic.com. Advertising deadline is 10 am, news deadline is 4 pm Tuesdays, 10 days before publication date. Please see page 3 banner for deadlines pertaining to holidays.
8 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 St. Louis native, auxiliary bishop named third archbishop of Mobile, bringing a heart for mercy and service to the peripheries BY JENNIFER BRINKER St. Louis Review Pope Leo XIV has appointed St. Louis Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso as the 10th bishop and third archbishop of Mobile, AL. Archbishop-elect Rivituso succeeds Archbishop Thomas Rodi, who submitted his letter of resignation in March 2024 at the age of 75, the age at which bishops are required by canon law to submit their retirement to the pope. He has served the archdiocese since 2008. The appointment and resignation were announced in Washington on July 1 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Archbishop-elect Rivituso, 63, will shepherd an archdiocese with about 107,000 Catholics in 83 parishes and parish missions along the lower 28 counties of the state of Alabama. The Province of Mobile includes the dioceses of Biloxi and Jackson, MS, and the Diocese of Birmingham, AL. As a native St. Louisan who has spent the majority of his priesthood here, he immediately thought of how much the Church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been like family to him. The people of St. Louis have helped him to “answer the call of Christ in my own life and to grow in greater holiness,” Archbishop-elect Rivituso said. “I’ve been so blessed by His disciples and so many people of goodwill who have helped me to grow in my own life of faith and also a life of trusting in the Lord that He will give me what I need to be (as) that shepherd for others.” In a letter to clergy, Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski described Archbishop-elect Rivituso’s ministry as having a “positive effect on so many lives, and his outreach to those on the peripheries has truly brought the presence of Christ to those who are most in need.” “While I personally will miss the collaboration and support that I have felt from Archbishop-elect Rivituso since my arrival here and know that you will too, it is a blessing that the Holy Father has recognized his gifts and talents for service to the Church of Mobile, AL,” Archbishop Rozanski said. Archbishop-elect Rivituso has served as an auxiliary bishop for St. Louis since the late Pope Francis appointed him to the role in 2017. Prior to that, he served as vicar general for the archdiocese, as well as a parish priest and a canon lawyer with the archdiocese’s Metropolitan Tribunal. He was born in St. Louis on Sept. 20, 1961, the sixth of eight children toAugust (Gus) and Rosemary Rivituso. He was baptized in 1961 at St. Wenceslaus Parish in south St. Louis and attended St. Wenceslaus School, which later became Notre Dame Elementary School. His father worked three jobs -- as a barber, providing a television service at the former Missouri Pacific Hospital and as a bottler for Anheuser-Busch Brewery -- to support the family, who lived in a two-family flat in south St. Louis. As a student at St. Mary’s High School, Bishopelect Rivituso prayed daily before the Blessed Sacrament in the school chapel, which solidified his call to the priesthood. He knew he wanted to become a diocesan priest, so he could serve in St. Louis. His parents, who were supportive of his vocation, taught him the value of family and the importance of being generous of heart, even when they didn’t have much growing up. The family attended Holy Hours and Perpetual Help devotions, and toured churches on Holy Thursdays to visit the Blessed Sacrament. Archbishop-elect Rivituso attended Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He also earned a master’s degree and a licentiate in canon and civil law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese at the St. Louis Cathedral (now Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis) by the late Archbishop John L. May in 1988. (Of note: Archbishop May served as bishop of Mobile prior to his appointment in St. Louis.) Pope Benedict XVI named him a monsignor in 2005. He served as a confessor for the Little Sisters of the Poor and was a chaplain for the Veterans Administration in St. Louis. He has been long involved in prison ministry, including to those on Missouri’s death row, and in advocacy to end the death penalty in the state of Missouri. SEE MOBILE’S NEW ARCHBISHOP, PAGE 13 St. Louis Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso appointed third archbishop of Mobile, AL Courtesy of the Archdiocese of St. Louis Statement from Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III of Biloxi I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi for his steadfast leadership and dedicated service to the Archdiocese of Mobile and the wider Province of Mobile. His pastoral care, particularly during times of challenge, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, has left a lasting imprint on our Church and our hearts. As we bid farewell to Archbishop Rodi, I extend a warm welcome to Archbishop-elect Mark S. Rivituso. I have known Archbishopelect Rivituso since I was named Bishop of Biloxi and I know him to be a man of deep faith who loves the Church. I look forward to working with him in our Province of Mississippi and Alabama as he embarks on this new chapter of service to our shared Church. May his ministry be marked by grace, wisdom, and a deep commitment to the people of our region. Please join me in praying for bothArchbishop Rodi as he enters a well-deserved retirement, and Archbishop-elect Rivituso as he begins this new and important mission. With gratitude and prayers, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III Diocese of Biloxi
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 9 First Holy Communion 2025 228-539-9800 www.RiemannFamily.com Gulfport Pass Christian West Jackson County Biloxi Long Beach Hancock County Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula, held their 2025 Hispanic First Communion for the following children:AlanAndrade, Cesar Barajas, Maya De Los Santos, Yezebelle Torres, Kalani Esquilin, Irene Ferrer, Andrea Galvan, Gustavo Gonzalez-Valle, Romel Arroyo, Ximena Del Pilar, Jacob Salinas, Kevin Argueta, Yramazeel Acosta, Shianira Maysonet, and ltzayana Trinidad. Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula St. Francis Xavier of Wiggins, children receive their First Holy Communion, on June 18. Bottom row: Lyla Byrd, Isabella Phillips, and Hadlee White. Back row: Terry Rose, Deacon Steve Beckham, and Father Michael Mariscalco. St. Francis Xavier Parish, Wiggins St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Pascagoula, Vacation Bible School The theme of St. Peter’s VBS, June 10-12, was I’ve got this with Jesus. Vacation Bible School was a very good outreach to our parish and the community; a great tool for evangelization. The program consisted of Bible stories, songs, Bible trivia, arts, crafts, games, snacks and a pizza party. Special thanks to the Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary, Fourth Degree Division for their assistance with an educational grant to fund the program, directors Violet F. Lett and Teresa Ducksworth, and Father Emmanuel Awe, SSJ, pastor.
10 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 Members of the Divine Word Missionaries Southern Province gathers for their annual retreat BY TERRY DICKSON BAY ST. LOUIS -- Members of the Divine Word Missionaries Southern Province gathered June 2-6 at St. Augustine Seminary for their annual retreat. According to Father Augustine Wall, SVD, Southern Provincial, the retreat presents members “an opportunity to rejuvenate the members and to give them a chance to interact with each other.” This year’s retreat was led by Bishop William Wack, CSC, bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, who spent the week focusing on the Hopeful Mysteries of the Rosary, which were written by a local parishioner in the Diocese of PensacolaTallahassee. Bishop Wack gave the Hopeful Mysteries his imprimatur in August 22, 2024, the Queenship of Mary and the anniversary of his episcopal ordination. Bishop Wack promulgated the Hopeful Mysteries on December 8, 2024, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which also happens to be the Fifth Hopeful Mystery. For more info about the Hopeful Mysteries, visit h t t p s : / / p t d i o c e s e . o r g / t h e - h o p e f u l - m y s t e r - ies-of-the-rosary or click on the QR Code. Bishop Wack speaks to the SVD priests and brothers. Bishop Wack and Father Wall Father Mike Somers, SVD, speaks to a confrere, Father Anderson Desouza, SVD. Members of the SVD: Father. Leon Ngandu, SVD; Lambert Lein, SVD; Father Rofinus Jas, SVD; Father Agustine Seran, SVD; and Father Emmanuel, SVD Photos/Terry Dickson
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 11 Last weekend, I took the place of a priest in one of our parishes. He was in his 80’s and hadn’t been able to take a weekend off in years. Previously, he had spent decades serving in the missions. Now he was tasked with serving the main parish church as well as two mission parishes about ten miles away from each other. On Saturday evening, I celebrated Mass for twenty-two parishioners who attended at one of the missions. Not one of them seemed to be below the age of seventy. The next morning, following celebrating Mass in the other mission parish, I drove to the main urban parish for Mass. I was expecting good attendance, given it was the main town parish but was shocked when just twenty showed up for the only weekend Mass there. The participants were all in their late sixties if not older. On my journey home -- some fifty miles away -- I had lots to ponder about my weekend experience. Basically, the sparce attendance and those who attended being older, I began to wonder how relevant the church was to the rest of the community. The following morning, I drove to concelebrate the funeral Mass of my brother-in-law’s sister at a parish in the south of the country, some one hundred and fifty miles away. I met the pastor in the sacristy some time before the funeral. Following some introductory exchanges, we began to talk about the church, especially from his area and point of view. He began by indicating that his congregation, even though an urban parish, was an elderly one. On average, he had over fifty funerals a year there. As a priest for thirty-three years, he began to share his perspective and vision of church and priesthood. Locally, parishioners saw him as a priest who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and that he was a “straight-shooter” and always “shot from the hip.” He began by indicating that, at present, his diocese had no seminarians studying for the priesthood. Nor were any young people interested in committing a lifetime of service to the church. “The church must change and change radically and our church leaders don’t see it or are willing to face it. We cannot go on as functionaries. Business as usual cannot continue. We have no visionaries in the church among its leadership that are willing to go out on a limb and forge a new path. “The answer isn’t women priests or married clergy. That is not going to solve anything. Here is this area, take the Episcopal church, they have women priests and they have married clergy and still they have vacancies they cannot fill. The nearest Episcopal priest to here is over fifty miles away and he has to cover a few counties. So, that’s not the answer. “No one wants to make a lifelong commitment to anything anymore. Look at our young people, they find it more convenient to cohabit rather than get married. If it doesn’t work out, they can break up because there is no real commitment. Look at these young people cohabiting? Very few, if any want to bother with the church and get married in it. For them, it just adds another layer of complications. “The same is true of the work environment. How many young people stay in the same job all their lives, like their parents probably did? Not anymore! No one wants to be married to the same job for the rest of their lives.” “So, what do you think needs to happen?” I asked him. “What I think needs to happen,” he continued, ”is that priesthood should not be permanent. For example, a person could commit to being a priest for ten years and, then, after ten years, let them decide if they want to continue for another ten years or however many they feel like doing.” As he said this, I remembered attending a talk given by sociologist and author, Fr, Andrew Greeley in New York almost thirty years ago. Back then, from his sociological study of priesthood, he concluded that the option of term limits of commitment to priesthood should be advocated and pursued. Our conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the church bells indicating that the funeral procession had arrived outside the church for the funeral Mass. Following the burial, I sat beside my, over eighty, brother-in-law who lives in England. Over a cup of tea and some ready-made ham sandwiches, I shared with him part of the conversation I had with the local pastor. Interestingly, he agreed with the suggestion of the pastor. On my long journey home, my mind had much to ponder. What was the answer? Women priests? Married clergy? Ordain more deacons to continue the clerical caste system? Become a lay church instead of a clerical church? Or do we embrace term limits and replace the ever forever approach? . Father Michael Tracey is retired and lives in Ireland. He can be contacted by email at mtracey1@ bellsouth.net. His website is www.michaeltracey.net Radical change Across the Pond Father Tracey On Wednesday evening, June 18, Father Satish Adhav, pastor at St Thomas the Apostle in Long Beach, led parishioners in a Eucharistic Procession to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. The procession moved from the church to the beach, where Father Braxton Necaise, carrying the monstrance, waded into the water and blessed the waters of the Gulf with prayers for Christian unity, end to violence, and protection from storms. Father Satish and Father Braxton were assisted by Deacons Buddy Vancourt and Jerry Dubuisson, Seminarians Jacob Lott, Ricky Molsbee, Adam Tran and Abraham Coulet. Knights from Council 4898 provided an honor guard. The procession was followed by a reception held in the parish community center. St. Thomas in Long Beach celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi with Eucharistic Procession and Blessing of the Sea
12 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 Catholic Charismatic Renewal of South Mississippi holds Pentecost celebration The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of South Mississippi held a Pentecost Celebration on Saturday, June 7, at St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport. The theme was “Jubilee of Hope.” We are all pilgrims of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Father Vincent Ajayi, Father Rofinus Jas and Father Maxwell Quaye concelebrated the Mass. Assisting Deacons were Norbert Lloyd Jr. (Diocesan Director of the Charismatic Movement), Frank Martin, Robert Wescovich, Karl Koberger, Eric Denmark and Rod Fonseca. Photos/Terry Dickson Father Quaye anoints Monica Blilie, a parishioner of St. Mary Parish in Gautier. Deacon Martin leads Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Father Maxwell Quaye was homilist for the Mass. Left to right are Father Quaye, Deacon Martin, Father Ajayi and Father Jas.
Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 13 In conversations I have had with individuals about marriage, I get a variety of responses. Some are, “I’ll try it out to see if it works for me”, or, “I hope this first one last a long time, but if not, I’ll try again”, or “I’ll give it a chance.” It appears that many go into the institution of marriage with an “escape plan.” But as a Deacon, I ask myself this question, “How well am I preparing them for this momentous event and what are my expectations in the preparation?” Am I giving them the beauty of the Sacrament so they can understand the gift of Matrimony or am I glossing over the Spiritual significance? In other words, am I as clergy, doing my part in a society where the Sacrament of Matrimony seems undervalued? In this article, I am doing something that I think is important for all members of our society to understand, and that is what, the importance and dignity of the Sacrament of Matrimony. These excerpts are from the Order of Celebrating Matrimony. 1. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish a lifelong partnership between themselves, derives its force and strength from creation, but for the Christian faithful it is also raised up to a higher dignity, since it is numbered among the Sacraments of the new covenant. 2. A marriage is established by the conjugal covenant, that is, the irrevocable consent of both spouses, by which they freely give themselves to each other and accept each other. Moreover, this singular union of a man and a woman requires, and the good of the children demands, the complete fidelity of the spouses and the indissoluble unity of the bond. 3. Furthermore, the institution of Marriage itself and conjugal love are, by their very nature, ordered to the procreation and formation of children and find in them, as it were, their ultimate crown. Children are thus truly the supreme gift of Marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. 4. The intimate community of life and love, by which spouses “are no longer two, but one flesh,” has been established by God the Creator, provided with its own proper laws, and endowed with that blessing which alone was not forfeited by punishment for original sin. This sacred bond, therefore, does not depend on human choice, but rather on the Author of Marriage, who ordained it to be endowed with its own goods and ends. 5. Indeed, Christ the Lord, making a new creation and making all things new, has willed that Marriage be restored to its primordial form and holiness in such a way that what God has joined together, no one may put asunder, and raised this indissoluble conjugal contract to the dignity of a Sacrament so that it might signify more clearly and represent more easily the model of his own nuptial covenant with the Church. The Sacrament of Matrimony is a gift. Abeautiful indicator of God’s love for us. But, as a faith-based community, we must hold each other accountable to make sure the beauty and the dignity of the sacrament is upheld and promoted. And those of us in Clergy must boldly and forcefully support this most important Gift of God so that we may turn the tide on a society that demeans and diminishes this most wonderful sacrament. Today, and every day, let’s put the love back in the Sacrament of Matrimony, Love of spouse, Love of children, Love or community and Love of the Church established for our eternal benefit. And most of all, Love of Christ, the author of this sacrament. God Bless you all! Deacon Justin Deacon Justin Mitchell is the Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Biloxi. Marriage & Family Life Mitchell Dignity of the Sacrament of Matrimony Mobile’s New Archbishop From page 8 Being involved in the Church’s works of mercy, especially in those places along the peripheries, has been an important part of his service to the Church, which he hopes to continue in Mobile, he said. “The late Pope Francis really taught me about making sure that we’re mindful of those who are on the peripheries,” he said. “I feel like that’s always something that’s going to be important in my heart and ministry. The Church is so blessed to be involved in the works of compassion, and I think that’s where we truly live what Jesus has called us to do about living his works of mercy.” Archbishop-elect Rivituso also said he was surprised to move from the role of an auxiliary bishop to a metropolitan archbishop with oversight of an ecclesiastical province. The Province of Mobile includes the dioceses of Biloxi and Jackson, MS, and the Diocese of Birmingham, AL. “I’ve been very blessed that I’ve had wonderful archbishops who gave me good examples and were good mentors, and I think that will help me,” Archbishop-elect Rivituso said. “I did tellArchbishop Rozanski and Archbishop (Robert J.) Carlson, that I will have them in my contact list, so they haven’t heard the last from me.” He also said he is mindful of the next auxiliary bishop to be appointed for St. Louis, whenever that happens. “I want to make sure that he has my prayers, whoever that might be,” he said. The installation Mass is expected to be in about two months, although no date or location has been finalized. The Archdiocese of Mobile will held a news conference at 10 a.m. on July 1 at the Archdiocese of Mobile chancery. Archbishop-designate Rivituso celebrated the 12:10 p.m. Mass July 1 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Both the news conference and Mass will be livestreamed at YouTube.com/@CatholicArchdioceseofMobile and the Archdiocese of Mobile’s Facebook page. Archbishop-elect Rivituso biography Bishop Mark S. Rivituso was born in St. Louis on Sept. 20, 1961, the sixth of eight children to August (Gus) and Rosemary Rivituso. He was baptized in 1961 at St. Wenceslaus Parish in south St. Louis and attended St. Wenceslaus School, which later became Notre Dame Elementary School. He is a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. Bishop Rivituso attended Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He earned a master’s degree and a licentiate in canon and civil law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese at the St. Louis Cathedral (now Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis) by Archbishop John L. May in 1988. Pope Benedict XVI named him a monsignor in 2005. He was associate pastor of St. Ambrose in south St. Louis (1988-90), part-time associate pastor of Immaculate Conception in Dardenne Prairie and on the faculty of St. Dominic High School (1990-93), part-time associate pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland in south St. Louis and staff member of the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal (1993-94). After returning from studies in Canada in the mid-1990s, he was appointed to the Metropolitan Tribunal staff (1993-94, 1996-2004) and named part-time associate pastor at St. Jerome in Bissell Hills (1996-2004). He also had assignments as act Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi.
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