The cover of the Vatican’s Christmas 2025 stamp booklet features the tapestry “Adoration of the Shepherds” by the 16th-century Flemish master weaver Pieter van Aelst. CNS photo/courtesy of the Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office December 19, 2025 www.gulfpinecatholic.com Gu l f P i n e CATHOLIC Vol. 43 No. 7 Merry Christmas
2 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 Diocese of Biloxi Bulletin Board VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Notre Dame Hospice: Notre Dame Hospice is looking for volunteers. Volunteers can provide caregiver relief, companionship for patients, run errands, play music, prepare a meal & offer whatever talents our volunteers would like to share. Hospice volunteers do not need any medical experience as they do not handle patients. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact: Janine Bonner, Volunteer Coordinator (504) 418-1049 or email jbonner@notredamehospice.com. Our Mississippi office is in Diamondhead. We need volunteers in the Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Diamondhead, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Ocean Springs, & Picayune. The amount of time you wish to volunteer is up to you. Thank you. PARISH EVENTS The New Star: “The New Star” play will be presented on Sun., Dec. 21, 10:45 a.m. The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. The play is sponsored by the Religious Education students at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula. For more information, please contact the parish office at (228) 762-1759 or email: stpeterparishpascagoula@ gmail.com. OLV New Year՚s Eve Gala: Our Lady of Victories in Pascagoula is hosting a New Year’s Eve Gala, Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m., in the OLV cafeteria. Highlights are heavy hors d՚oeuvres, DJ & dancing, silent auction, and a cash bar. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased in the parish office or from a Life Team member. Epiphany Trivia Night: Join Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis, in the Gulf Parish Community Center, as we celebrate the light of Epiphany, Jan. 3, 6 p.m., with an evening of fun, laughter, and community at Epiphany Trivia Night. Entry is to bring canned goods or non-perishable donations. Bring your friends, form a team, enjoy appetizers and drinks, and test your knowledge on Scripture, Epiphany traditions, Catholic culture, and some surprising bonus categories, all while helping support our local food pantry during the winter season. There are two chances to win: (1) Charity Champions prize awarded to the team that brings the large donation of canned goods and non-perishable items; and (2) Trivia Masters prize awarded to the team that scores the highest in our trivia competition. Appetizers and drinks will be provided. Bring a group of 8 or join a trivia team. Father Mike O’Connor will present a short Epiphany reflection. There will be prizes and bragging rights. First Saturday Devotion: All are invited to join us for our First Saturday Devotion at St. Mary Church in Woolmarket on Sat., Jan. 6. We will begin the Devotion with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:30 a.m., followed by the praying of the Scriptural Rosary at 9 a.m. During this time, Confession will be available. Together we will reflect on the mysteries of the rosary, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima, & spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament before having Benediction. At 10 a.m., Father Gillespie will celebrate Holy Mass, after which we will honor Our Blessed Mother with a Marian Procession, carrying her statue & banner from the church to Murray Hall. Our morning will conclude with a potluck lunch, refreshments, & fellowship -- a wonderful opportunity to come together as a family of faith. For more info, contact Sharon Poulette at (443) 699-8281 or email aloha7290@gmail.com. Charismatic Healing Mass & Prayer Meeting: Charismatic Healing Mass & Prayer Meeting is celebrated the second Sat. of each month: Jan. 13 & Feb. 14, at Christ the King Mission. Praise & worship is at 8:45 a.m. Mass is at 9 a.m. with prayer to follow. Christ the King Mission is located at 10601 Daisy Vestry Rd., Latimer (10 min. North of I-10. Our Mother of Mercy Drawdown: Our Mother of Mercy Parish in Pass Christian is supporting a Catholic Church being built in Indonesia, his home country. Eighty-seven percent of the population of Indonesia is Muslim, so the Catholic presence is extremely important. The Church is moving forward and construction has begun in earnest. In order to continue bringing the Catholic presence to this country, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church adopted the Catholic Church, St. Catherine’s, as it’s sister Church. Our Mother of Mercy Parish $2,000 drawdown will be held on Sat., Jan. 17, 2026, at 6 pm in the Our Mother of Mercy Hall, 216 Saucier Avenue. Tickets are $20. You need not be present to win. This is a benefit for the support of St. Catherine in Indonesia. To purchase a drawdown ticket, please contact Gail Barnes at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, (228) 234-5294. Thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity. RETREATS St. Dominic Men’s Emmaus Retreat: Men, put aside the “hustle & bustle” of daily life & be part of the upcoming men’s Emmaus retreat the weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2026. The retreat is held on the Gulf Coast at W. J. Kelly Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis. The retreat is based on the scripture passage which includes Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35) and is an uplifting spiritual experience that has a profound effect on men’s lives. The retreat begins at 6 p.m. Fri. & ends Sun. afternoon. Please don’t ignore this opportunity but pray on it instead. Something special awaits you on the Road to Emmaus. https:// stdominicparish.com/emmaus. Please contact the following men for additional information: Rick Valadie (504) 655-8932 or Norm Madere (504) 4810411 or Steve Schulkens (504) 4016990. The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi’s Pastoral Center will be closed Wed., Dec. 24, through Wed., Dec. 31, in observance of Christmas; and, Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026, in observance of Solemnity of Mary. Publication Copy Date Deadline Jan. 16 Jan. 6 Jan. 30 Jan. 20 Feb. 13 Feb. 3 Feb. 27 Feb. 17 March 13 March 3 March 27 March 17 April 10 March 31 April 24 April 14 May 8 April 28 May 22 May 12 June 19 June 9 July 24 July 14 Aug. 21 Aug.11 Publication Copy Date Deadline Sept. 11 Sept. 1 Sept. 25 Sept. 15 Oct. 9 Sept. 29 Oct. 23 Oct. 13 Nov. 6 Oct. 27 Nov. 20 Nov. 10 Dec. 11 Dec. 1 Deadlines subject to change depending on holiday schedule. Please call Shirley at 228-702-2109 for questions or adjusted deadlines. 2026 Publication Date & Copy Deadlines
Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 3 Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) December 19, 2025 Volume 43, Issue 7 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 McCusker —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: smccusker@biloxidiocese.org 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 for JAN. 16— News copy and photos: Due JAN. 6, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due JAN. 6, 10 a.m. of God being born to us as a savior, human and divine -- Christ the Lord, the anointed, the one who was promised to come by all of the prophets, the one who God revealed to us as our savior and Lord. It is a moment for us to embrace the love of God very personally because the birth of Jesus is really meant as a very personal moment. He invites us to let Him into our hearts, to let His love touch us, bless us, be with us and lift us up so that, no matter what is going on in our lives, no matter what is taking place right now in our lives, He is there for us. He is there to touch us with love, especially an infant’s love. A powerful contemporary example comes from Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Catholic survivor of the Rwandan genocide. During the months she spent hiding in a small bathroom, terrified and unsure she would live, she prayed the Rosary constantly and meditated on the mystery of Christ -- God becoming a child and entering a world marked by suffering. She later said it was the humility and mercy of Jesus, born in a manger, that helped her forgive those who had taken everything from her. That encounter with the love of Christ not only sustained her through the darkest moments but transformed her into a witness of peace and forgiveness for the world. Wow! What a moment to have that special child Jesus touch us with His love and bless us with His grace. So, as a people of God in the Diocese of Biloxi, let us share faith together this Christmas. Let us make this Christmas one in which we are filled with God’s blessing and God’s love. SEE BISHOP’S SPANISH COLUMN, PAGE 4 Dec. 24 Midnight Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 11 p.m. Jan. 6, 2026 Mass & School Visit, Sacred Heart Elementary, D’Iberville, 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8, 2026 Mass & School Visit, Sacred Heart High School, Hattiesburg, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 13-23,2026 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi The Birth of Jesus In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.* She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the Bishop Kihneman night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah 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.” (Lk 2: 1-14). St. Luke gives us a wonderful, inspiring recollection of the birth of our savior. It is truly a moment for us to celebrate, a moment for us to be reminded of the love of God being born into this life, the love “Glory to God in the Highest: Reflecting on the Birth of Our Savior”
4 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 POR EL OBISPO LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Obispo de Biloxi El nacimiento de Jesús En aquellos días salió un decreto de César Augusto* para que se empadronara a todo el mundo. Este fue el primer empadronamiento, cuando Quirino era gobernador de Siria. Todos iban a empadronarse, cada uno a su propia ciudad. Y también José subió desde Galilea, desde la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David llamada Belén, porque era de la casa y familia de David, para empadronarse con María, su esposa desposada, que estaba encinta. Mientras estaban allí, le llegó el tiempo del parto, y dio a luz a su hijo primogénito.* Lo envolvió en pañales y lo recostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en la posada. En aquella región había unos pastores que vivían en el campo y vigilaban por turno su rebaño durante la noche. Se les presentó el ángel del Señor y la gloria del Señor los envolvió en su luz, y se llenaron de gran temor. El ángel les dijo: “No teman, porque miren, les anuncio una buena noticia que será de gran alegría para todo el pueblo: hoy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido un Salvador, que es el Mesías y el Señor. Y esto les servirá de señal: encontrarán a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.” Y de repente se unió al ángel una multitud del ejército celestial, alabando a Dios y diciendo: Obispo Kihneman “Gloria a Dios en las alturas, y en la tierra paz a los hombres en quienes Él se complace.” (Lc 2, 1-14). San Lucas nos ofrece un maravilloso e inspirador recuerdo del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador. Es verdaderamente un momento para celebrar, un momento para recordar el amor de Dios nacido en esta vida, el amor de Dios que se nos da como Salvador, humano y divino: Cristo el Señor, el Ungido, aquel que fue prometido por todos los profetas, aquel que Dios nos reveló como nuestro Salvador y Señor. Es un momento para abrazar el amor de Dios de una manera muy personal, porque el nacimiento de Jesús está realmente destinado a ser un momento profundamente personal. Él nos invita a abrirle el corazón, a dejar que su amor nos toque, nos bendiga, esté con nosotros y nos levante, de modo que, sin importar lo que esté sucediendo en nuestras vidas, sin importar lo que estemos viviendo ahora mismo, Él esté allí para nosotros. Él está allí para tocarnos con su amor, especialmente con el amor de un niño. Un poderoso ejemplo contemporáneo proviene de Immaculée Ilibagiza, una católica sobreviviente del genocidio de Ruanda. Durante los meses que pasó escondida en un pequeño baño, aterrada y sin saber si sobreviviría, rezó constantemente el Rosario y meditó sobre el misterio de Cristo—Dios hecho niño que entra en un mundo marcado por el sufrimiento. Más tarde dijo que fue la humildad y la misericordia de Jesús, nacido en un pesebre, lo que la ayudó a perdonar a quienes le habían arrebatado todo. Ese encuentro con el amor de Cristo no solo la sostuvo en los momentos más oscuros, sino que la transformó en un testigo de paz y perdón para el mundo. ¡Qué maravilloso! Qué momento tan grande para permitir que ese Niño Jesús nos toque con su amor y nos bendiga con su gracia. Así que, como Pueblo de Dios en la Diócesis de Biloxi, compartamos la fe juntos esta Navidad. Hagamos de esta Navidad una en la que estemos llenos de la bendición y del amor de Dios. “Gloria a Dios en las alturas: Reflexionando sobre el nacimiento de nuestro Salvador” From the staff of the Gulf Pine Catholic and Social Media, have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 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. Digni ed. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Thanks to the Holy Trinity, Blessed Mother, St. Raphael & St. Jude, for prayers answered. PH Opening Reflection: History, Mystery, Majesty: This last Sunday of Advent heightens our anticipation for Jesus’ coming in history, mystery, and majesty. In history, because He has already come, foretold by the prophets, announced by John the Baptist, and born of the Virgin Mary. We celebrate that on December 25. Jesus comes in mystery during the Eucharistic prayer at Mass when the celebrant extends his hands over bread and wine, calls down the power of the Holy Spirit, and (mysteriously) transforms them into Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity. Jesus also comes in Majesty at the end of time, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, to judge the living and the dead. Our personal holiness lived out in community is necessary for the possibility of spending eternity with the Lord. Right Choices: In today’s first reading, Ahaz, King of Judah, faced an enemy attack that could have destroyed his kingdom. Isaiah, God’s prophet, advised Ahaz to trust the Lord for victory in the upcoming battle. But Ahaz, pretending to be righteous, refused to ask the Lord for help. He said, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord” (Isaiah7: 11-12). He used this ploy because he had already decided to align himself with the army of pagan Assyria, instead of Israel’s God. Ahaz went ahead with his rebellious choice, and Judah was defeated. It’s foolish to think we can fool God. If we persist in rejecting God’s will and ways, we will become godless. We ignore history at our own risk, and ignore God out of foolishness and pride. Do you believe that “nothing is impossible for God?” (Lk. 1: 37). The Lord wants to break through our stubbornness and guide us in right choices for His glory and honor, our well-being, and our eternal salvation. The Lord enters: Today’s Psalm response is, “Let the Lord enter; He is king of glory.” At the end of the previous Psalm (23), the Psalmist expresses a desire “to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In today’s Psalm, we learn who may be worthy to enter heaven. “One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean (pure, focused on and dedicated to God), who desires not what is vain but lives God’s truth” (Psalm 24: 4). Set Apart: “Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called and set apart for the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1-2). Paul’s “slavery” was a voluntary surrender of his life to the Lordship of Jesus and an “obedience of faith” through his words and actions. We make right choices when obedience to Christ is the number one priority in our lives. Faith, when added to obedience, strengthens the endurance of our life committed to Christ. Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his encyclical “Spe Salvi,” “Faith in Christ brings well-founded hope that can sustain people through the trials of this world.” Living the Sacramental life of the Church (CCC 1210 ff) builds strong faith that gives new life. Righteousness: Today’s Gospel fulfills Isaiah’s prophetic promise from the first reading. “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name Him Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The promised Lord of History, Mystery, and Majesty has come to His people, and nothing will ever be the same. But how He comes is very important. It took the willingness, faith, and cooperation of a young Jewish girl, Mary, and her betrothed, Joseph, to fulfill Jesus’ plan to become incarnate with both a human and divine nature. Today’s Gospel focuses on Joseph, an ordinary man whom God trusted with extraordinary things. He may not have understood the mystery of how our blessed mother Mary conceived a child, but with faith and docility, he accepted it and was chosen to be Mary’s spouse and the father of the Son of God. Joseph proved His love for God by keeping God’s commands and living His life in obedience to God’s will. Closing Comments and Questions: With the birth of Jesus, everything has changed. Time is divided into before and after His birth. The Catholic Church, which Jesus founded (Matthew 16:16-19), is a divine institution and will prevail in good times and hardships. Hearts of men and women are transformed to love one another and work for justice and peace. Visions are expanded to look with hope beyond an earthly existence to a new heaven and new earth where death is conquered, and we anticipate another promise fulfilled -- the Lord’s coming in Majesty to judge the living and the dead. What have you been called and set apart by God to do? What is your mission for Christ? Christmas decorations, wrappings, and carols may disappear after December 25, but the Lord of History, Mystery, and Majesty will always be with us -- worship Him every day of your life. Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Responsorial Psalm: 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 2nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 4th Sunday of Advent Prepare the Way Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries
6 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 Last Christmas, I celebrated Christmas Mass at a parish some fifty miles away from home while the pastor was away on sabbatical. On Christmas Day, this year, I will be celebrating Christmas Mass at a nursing home in our nearby town. Last year, the residents didn’t have a Christmas Mass because no priest was available to celebrate it for them. I was wondering how I might approach my homily at the Mass. The theme that sees to keep coming to my mind is that of going home for Christmas. Such a theme might seem ironic, if not misplaced. The song, “I’ll be home for Christmas.” was originally recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943, and it quickly became one of the most popular holiday songs. The song is written from the perspective of a soldier serving overseas during World War 2. “I am dreaming tonight of a place I love even more than I usually do. And although I know it’s a long road back, I promise you. I’ll be home for Christmas. You can count on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree. Christmas Eve will find you where the love light gleams. I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams. I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” “If only in my dreams.” The irony of celebrating Christmas Mass in a nursing home is that no one from there is going home for Christmas. They are basically permanent residents in a place that is not their home until they pass on to a more permanent and perfect, eternal home. I remember my first Christmas home in December 2012. Leading up to it, I would ask my, then fifteen year old niece, how do ye celebrate Christmas here? What happens? What do people do? What can I expect?” I’ll be home for Christmas. Who doesn’t want to be home for Christmas. It’s the best place to be at Christmas; home with family. During my 40 years in the States, I missed 40 Christmases at home. During those 40 Christmases, I celebrated Christmas like everyone else, but not at home. Of course, you hoped someone would invite you to their Christmas home and dinner. When all the eating and visiting was over, you went home; home alone to your own house. You tried to connect by phone with family at home. Many times, the transatlantic phone lines were busy without everyone who couldn’t be home for Christmas calling home for Christmas. So, the residents of the nursing home will not be going home for Christmas. So, what do you say to them that might connect them, even in some remote way, with Christmas and a message that might give them some hope. Above any time of year, everyone wants to be home for Christmas. People who are away from home want to be home. People recovering in hospitals want to recover at home for Christmas. People who are at odds with family want forgiveness and peace. But not everyone can be home for Christmas. The undocumented in America cannot come home; the homeless in the doorways of our towns and cities cannot come home because they don’t have one. The refugees cannot come home because they have been banished from their homeland and, in some homes, there is an empty chair, left by someone no longer with us. Isn’t it ironic that the reason home is so important and special at Christmas is because of Someone who made His home among us -- Emmanual, God is with us. Yet, that someone didn’t have a home to be born into that first Christmas; instead, He was born in a stable. Christmas is more than trees and tinsel; more than wrapped gifts and turkey slices; more than Brussels sprouts and red tablecloths. Christmas is more than silent nights and chilly days; more than Christmas cards and Christmas crackers. Christmas is less about some things and more about Someone. It is less about colourfully wrapped presents and more about a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger; not in a cozy house but in a stable warmed by the breaths of its animal occupants. Centuries ago, Someone made a promise; a promise to make His home among us. He prepared for His homecoming for centuries. Along the way, He dropped hints of His homecoming with reminders along the way. But people were too busy, too preoccupied with other things; they missed His homecoming. SEE ACROSS THE POND, PAGE 7 Going home for Christmas Across the Pond Father Tracey The Christmas season is a wondrous time of year, and it is fitting that so much festive tradition has grown around our celebration of the birth of Christ. G.K. Chesterton once wrote a delightful essay about Santa Claus in which he explained that advancing years did nothing to diminish his belief. In his essay, Chesterton writes: “Once I thought it delightful and astonishing to find a present so big that it only went halfway into the stocking. Now I am delighted and astonished every morning to find a present so big that it takes two stockings to hold it, and then leaves a great deal outside; it is the large and preposterous present of myself, as to the origin of which I can afford no suggestion except that Santa Claus gave it to me in a fit of peculiarly fantastic goodwill.” In his delightful take on belief in Santa Claus, G.K. Chesterton demonstrates how the human imagination can lead us to faith in all that is good and true. He shows how cultivating a sense of faith at Christmastime awakens us to the gifts of God’s creation. The wonder that awakens in our hearts and our imaginations at Christmas stems from gratitude -- and wonder also cultivates gratitude. In the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Jimmy Stewart’s character George Bailey experiences a crisis of faith when he loses sight of the tremendous blessings of his life. He loses sight of the gift of himself, as Chesterton so colorfully describes himself bursting out of a Christmas stocking. It’s George Bailey’s realization of God’s gifts that opens his heart to the miraculous at work in his life, gleefully celebrating the angel Clarence getting his wings in the ringing of a Christmas bell at the end of the story. Faith in the possibility of such miraculous events is not misplaced but merely a tiny foretaste of the miracles God has in store for those who make leaps of faith in their lives. So we can see how the magic of Christmastime can lead to our hearts leaping for joy throughout the year for the miracles of life itself. The film “Miracle on 34th Street” playfully tackles issues of human doubt through the angst of a girl struggling to believe in Santa Claus. We see what a weight is lifted when those in her life help her to move beyond doubt into a spirit of belief. It’s a story that shows how the wonder of Christmas flows around the hopes and dreams of childhood but ultimately affects everyone. These stories awaken us to the spark kindled in the human heart by the Christmas spirit. We can never have too much awe over the tremendous gift of Christ’s birth. It is so astounding that it requires the exercise of the imagination to allow ourselves to be properly moved by its reality. So let’s never hesitate to embrace all the wonder attached to this time of year because the Christmas spirit can help us to grow in faith, hope, and love for one another. As we gather together with friends and family, let’s share our hopes and dreams and inspire each other to believe that God can touch our hearts and make all good things possible in our lives. It has happened already in the birth of our Savior. All that is needed to kindle the spark of that gift in our hearts is to believe. Fr. Ed Dougherty, M.M., serves on The Christophers’ Board of Directors. For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, write: The Christophers, 5 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org. The wonder of Christmas Light One Candle Fr. Dougherty
Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 7 THANKSGIVING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. Publication promised. LCL So, this Christmas, forget about the gifts under the tree and remember the reason why they are there. This Christmas, forget about dashed hopes and remember the greatest hope given to our world. This Christmas, forget the past family squabbles and remember that peace can be a reality. This Christmas forget about the things you didn’t get and remember the greatest gift you got -- God is with us. So, our wish for you this Christmas is very simple. May you find a home this Christmas, not built of blocks and bricks but one that is built on faith, hope and love because of Someone who made His home among us -- God is with us. 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 Across the Pond From page 6 Barker Mausoleum Builders LLC specializes in designing and constructing high-quality mausoleums and columbaria for churches, cemeteries, and memorial grounds. We focus on providing durable, dignified structures that honor loved ones and serve families for generations. Barker Mausoleum Builders LLC Ron Barker 601-722-4156 Barkersmb1@gmail.com Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi Pre-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration I am Father Ken Ramon-Landry, pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hattiesburg. As a commissioner on the Hattiesburg and Forrest County Interfaith Commission, I am writing you about an event that our organization, that we formed some months ago, will sponsor. Our first celebration will be on January 12, 2026, beginning at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, celebrating the visit of Dr. King to Hattiesburg two weeks before his assassination. Dr. King preached at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he dined with the Dwight family on Spencer Street, and rested with his friend, Father Peter Quinn, at Holy Rosary Catholic rectory. Our service will focus on unity and working for the good of all those who still suffer from various indignities. Please join us, if you can’t join us then please invite the members of your community to let us know if they desire to attend. All faiths are welcome! Please share with other churches in the area and help us get the word out. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me at (601) 466-0958 or email me at holyrosary1949@aol.com.
8 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 His latest book takes that mission into one of the most emotionally delicate areas of faith: what happens after we die. “The reason I wrote this book,” he explains, “is because so much is said these days about there being no purgatory. Nobody prays for the dead in any way, shape or form.” Living and ministering in heavily Protestant regions of Mississippi, he often encountered the belief that the dead go “straight to heaven,” a comforting sentiment that, he notes, subtly undermines a core Catholic practice. As he reminds readers, praying for the dead is not a medieval invention but an ancient tradition. “Praying for the dead goes all the way back to 160 before Christ,” he said. “The Jews pray for the dead for about eleven months after a person dies…The Catholic Church has always taught about the importance of praying for the dead.” Modern reluctance to pray for the deceased, he argues, arose only with the Reformation. “Everyone prayed for the dead before that, but then the idea of not praying for the dead came along. Living in a Protestant area, that mindset kind of seeps into us too.” The danger, in his view, is pastoral as well as doctrinal. “It is devastating to hear someone tell a grieving person that their loved one is in heaven… People conclude that they don’t have to pray for them, and those souls could be in purgatory suffering purification…and nobody prays for them because somebody said they’re in heaven.” Such assurances, though offered in kindness, assume a knowledge no priest or believer can claim. As Father Noone shares candidly, “I’ve been a priest for almost 60 years. God has never told me that anybody I’ve ever done a funeral for, including my own mother and brother, was already in heaven.” Instead, he invites readers to see death as a continuation of family bonds and mutual love. “Even though somebody has gone ahead of us, they’re still members of our family…We help them if they need our help in the next life and they can help us.” Drawing from Scripture, tradition, saints, mystics, and pastoral experience, You Are on This Path But Where Are You Going? offers what one reviewer calls “a wealth of treasures” that illuminate death, judgment, mercy, and hope. Another praises its logical, easy-to-understand defense of purgatory, noting its usefulness for catechists and those discovering the Catholic faith. In this latest work, Father Noone once again does what he has done throughout his ministry: he teaches gently and clearly, leading readers to truth, comfort, and renewed responsibility. For information on all his books, visit frjohnnoonebooks.org or frjohnnoonebooks.wordpress.com. Father John Noone is shown here with his latest book, You Are On This Path But Where Are You Going? Father John Noone’s seventh book shines light on Purgatory and the power of praying for the dead BY TERRY DICKSON PICAYUNE -- Father John Noone’s newest book -- his seventh and perhaps his most urgent -- invites readers to confront a teaching often forgotten or dismissed in modern Christian conversation: purgatory. In You Are on This Path But Where Are You Going?, the retired priest, former director of Catholic Social Services, and longtime Mississippi pastor seeks to restore a practice deeply woven into Catholic tradition: praying for the dead. Born in Ireland in 1941 and ordained in 1967, Father Noone served parishes throughout the Dioceses of Natchez-Jackson and Biloxi until 2002, ministering in pulpits, schools, and homes while also leading Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services. After decades of pastoral and social work, he turned increasingly toward writing, shaping his homilies, classroom materials, and parishioner questions into books designed to teach with the same clarity and compassion that marked his ministry. His works have become trusted tools for families, catechists, and parishes seeking accessible explanations of Catholic faith and practice. Rather than academic tomes, they take a friendly, question-and-answer form that mirrors the simple, honest way parishioners naturally ask about their faith. Among them is his most widely circulated volume, The Whole Truth About the Catholic Church and the Holy Bible. First printed in 2000 and reissued in 2013, more than 14,000 copies have been distributed. The book traces 2,000 years of Christian history through controversy and continuity, helping readers grasp the scriptural and historical foundations of Catholic belief. Other titles include 250 Questions About Confession (2020), a concise and approachable guide to the theology and practice of the sacrament; Explain That to Me: Signs & Symbols of the Catholic Church (rev. 2021), which unlocks the meaning of Catholic rituals; I’m Glad You Asked That! (2019; rev. 2021), collecting answers to common parish questions; and Thanks for All the Love: God’s Promises Fulfilled (2023), a reflection on sacrifice, divine love, and God’s fidelity. Teachers and religious educators frequently praise his books for their clarity, visual aids, and usefulness in classrooms across age groups. For Father Noone, this work has always been united under a single mission: “to get the truth out to all who are looking for it.”
Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 9 228-539-9800 www.RiemannFamily.com Gulfport Pass Christian West Jackson County Biloxi Long Beach Hancock County Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Visiting two countries over six days on his first foreign papal trip, Pope Leo XIV preached unity, dialogue and respect for differences as the only paths to peace. Spending time with Catholics, other Christian leaders and top Muslim clerics in Turkey Nov. 27-Nov. 30 and Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2, the pope made formal speeches about how believing in God as the father of all means recognizing one another as brothers and sisters. But he also set aside time in a packed schedule for private talks, lunches and late evening meetings with the leaders. “The more we can promote authentic unity and understanding, respect and human relationships of friendship and dialogue in the world, the greater possibility there is that we will put aside the arms of war, that we will leave aside the distrust, the hatred, the animosity that has so often been built up and that we will find ways to come together and be able to promote authentic peace and justice throughout the world,” he told reporters flying back to Rome with him Dec. 2. The three iconic moments of the trip were his prayer with top Christian leaders Nov. 28 at the site of the Council of Nicaea, his visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Nov. 29 and his prayer Dec. 2 amid the rubble of the Beirut port explosion in 2020. The whole trip was planned to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and its drafting of the Creed that mainline Christian communities still recite today. Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople hosted the ecumenical prayer service and the common recitation of the Creed on a platform overlooking the ruins of a Christian basilica in Iznik, site of the ancient Nicaea, about 80 miles southeast of Istanbul. With the Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem or their representatives and with representatives of other Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches, Pope Leo said that at a time when humanity is “afflicted by violence and conflict,” the world “is crying out for reconciliation.” “The desire for full communion among all believers in Jesus Christ is always accompanied by the search for fraternity among all human beings,” he said. “In the Nicene Creed, we profess our faith ‘in one God, the Father.’ Yet, it would not be possible to invoke God as Father if we refused to recognize as brothers and sisters all other men and women, who are created in the image of God.” The desire to reach out and form relationships with others also was on display when Pope Leo, like his two immediate predecessors, removed his shoes and entered the so-called Blue Mosque in Turkey’s capital; he spent about 20 minutes inside but did not appear to pause for prayer as Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had done. Instead, he listened to Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque’s muezzin who calls people to prayer five times a day, explain the building, its construction and how Muslims pray. And the pope asked questions. The Vatican press office said afterward that Pope Leo visited the mosque “in a spirit of reflection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer.” On his last morning in Beirut, he laid a wreath, lighted a candle and prayed silently at a memorial to the more than 200 people killed when improperly stored chemicals exploded at the port; the blast also injured some 7,000 people and left an estimated 300,000 people without homes. Standing amid mountains of rubble, piles of burnt-out cars and heaps of tattered clothing and cloth, the pope was joined by family members of those killed and by people still bearing the scars of injuries they suffered that day. They carried photos of the loved ones they lost and signs appealing for the government to seriously investigate who was at fault for allowing the chemicals to be stored there. A young woman, crying, asked Pope Leo for a hug, which the pope gave her before putting his hand on her head and blessing her. At Mass afterward, he said, “I prayed for all the victims, and I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country.” And after Mass, before heading to the airport, he told the people, “During these days of my first apostolic journey, undertaken during this Jubilee Year, I wanted to come as a pilgrim of hope to the Middle East, imploring God for the gift of peace for this beloved land, marked by instability, wars and suffering.” Even when it seems peace is far off, Pope Leo said, “I invite you to lift your gaze to the Lord who is coming! Let us look to him with hope and courage, inviting everyone to set out on the path of coexistence, fraternity and peace. Be artisans of peace, heralds of peace, witnesses of peace!” Pope Leo XIV kneels to speak to a boy holding a photo of a loved one lost in the deadly explosion in 2020 at the port in Beirut Dec. 2. CNS photo/Vatican Media
10 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 Christmas Mass Schedules 2025 >BILOXI ~ Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 870 Howard Avenue Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m. in Cathedral, 4 p.m. in Sacred Heart Center, 7 p.m. in Cathedral, 11 p.m. Cathedral Christmas Day: 10 a.m. in Cathedral New Year’s Eve: 6 p.m. in Cathedral, 11 p.m. in Cathedral New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. in Cathedral >BILOXI ~ Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish 2356 Lameuse Street Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Spanish Christmas Day: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. Spanish New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. Spanish > BILOXI -- Our Lady of Fatima Parish 2090 Pass Road Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. Parish Hall, 6 p.m., 11 p.m. Christmas Day: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve: 6:20 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 6 p.m. (Vigil) New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m. >BILOXI ~ Our Mother of Sorrows Parish 803 Division Street Christmas Eve: 5:30 p.m. Christmas Day: 10:30 a.m. New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m. > BILOXI -- St. Mary Parish 8343 Woolmarket Road Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >BILOXI ~ St. Michael Parish 177 First Street Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >BILOXI -- Vietnamese Martyrs Parish 171 Oak Street Christmas Vigil: 5 p.m., 9 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m., 8 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >BASSFIELD -- St. Peter Parish 301 South Necaise Avenue Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: Midnight, 10 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >BAY ST. LOUIS -- St. Rose de Lima Parish 301 South Necaise Avenue Christmas Vigil: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. English; 12 noon Spanish; 7:30 p.m. Christmas Carols; 8 p.m. Christmas Vigil Christmas Day: 9 a.m. English; 12 noon Spanish New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. English >CLERMONT HARBOR -- St. Ann Parish 5858 Lower Bay Road, Bay St. Louis Christmas Vigil: 4:40 p.m.; 8 p.m. Holy Family, Pass Christian Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Day: 8:35 a.m. >COLUMBIA -- Holy Trinity Parish 1429 North Park Avenue Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: 11 a.m. New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >GAUTIER -- St. Mary Parish 809 De la Pointe Drive Christmas Vigil: 5 p.m. Christmas Day: 9:30 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 5 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9:30 a.m. > GULFPORT -- St. John the Evangelist Parish 2414 17th Street Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. English; 7:30 p.m. Spanish Christmas Day: 10:30 a.m. English; 12 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Vigil: 6 p.m. English; 7:30 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Day: 7:30 a.m., 12 p.m. English; 7:30 p.m. Spanish > GULFPORT -- St. Joseph Parish 12290 DePew Road Christmas Vigil: 3:30 p.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant; 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Vigil Mass; 6:30 p.m. Choir Concert; 7 p.m. Vigil Mass Christmas Day: 8 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8 a.m. > GULFPORT -- St. Therese of Lisieux Parish 3521 19th Street Christmas Caroling: 6 p.m. Christmas Vigil: 6:30 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >HATTIESBURG -- Holy Rosary Parish 900 Dabbs Street Christmas Day: 9:15 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 6 p.m. >HATTIESBURG -- Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish 313 Walnut Street Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m.; 12 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Vigil: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m.; 12 p.m. Spanish >HATTIESBURG -- St. Fabian Parish 9 St. Fabian Way Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >HATTIESBURG -- St. Thomas Aquinas Parish 3117 W. 4th Street Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., Midnight Christmas Day: 8 a.m.; 10:15 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 11:30 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8:15 a.m. > HURLEY -- St. Ann Mission 21400 Hwy. 613 Christmas Vigil: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 6 p.m. > KILN -- Annunciation Parish 5370 Kiln-Delisle Road Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: 8 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8 a.m. > LATIMER -- Christ the King Mission 10601 Daisy Vestry Road Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: 9:15 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9:15 a.m.
Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 11 Christmas Mass Schedules 2025 > LAUREL -- Immaculate Conception Parish 833 West 6th Street Christmas Vigil: 5 p.m. English; 8 p.m. Spanish Christmas Day: 9 a.m. English; 4 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Vigil: 5 p.m. English; 8 p.m. Spanish New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. English; 4 p.m. Spanish >LEAKESVILLE ~ Holy Trinity Mission 911 Jackson Avenue, Wiggins Christmas Day: 1:15 p.m. Christmas Day: 1:15 p.m. >LIZANA -- St. Ann Parish 23529 Highway 53, Gulfport Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., Midnight Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 7 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. > LONG BEACH -- St. Thomas the Apostle Parish 720 East Beach Boulevard Christmas Vigil: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. Mass; 11:30 p.m. Midnight Mass with Music Christmas Day: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >LUCEDALE ~ St. Lucy Mission 125 Scott Road Christmas Vigil: 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 11 a.m. New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. > LUMBERTON -- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish 379 West Seneca Road Christmas Vigil: 6 p.m. followed by snacks/social in Parish Hall Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. >MOSS POINT -- St. Joseph the Worker Parish 4114 First Street Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Day: 12 p.m. >OCEAN SPRINGS -- St. Alphonsus Parish 502 Jackson Avenue Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 11 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m. >OCEAN SPRINGS -- St. Elizabeth Seton Parish 4900 Riley Road Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 5:45 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >PASCAGOULA -- Our Lady of Victories Parish 503 Convent Avenue Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. Children’s Mass in Church; 4 p.m. Vigil Mass in Chapel; 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass in Church; 11 p.m. Midnight Mass in Church Christmas Day: 10:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. >PASCAGOULA -- Sacred Heart Parish 3702 Quinn Drive Christmas Eve: 5 p.m. Children’s Choir Mass Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 6 p.m. Bilingual New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >PASCAGOULA -- St. Peter the Apostle Parish 1715 Telephone Road Christmas Eve: 4 p.m.; 11:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling; 12 a.m. Midnight Mass Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >PASS CHRISTIAN -- Holy Family Parish 22342 Evangeline Road Christmas Eve: 3:30 p.m. Christmas Concert; 4 p.m.; 5:30 Christmas Concert; 6 p.m.; 8 p.m. Vietnamese Mass; 11 p.m. Christmas Concert; Midnight Mass Christmas Day: 10 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. Vigil Mass; 10:30-11:30 p.m. Chapel; 11:30 p.m. Chapel New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. >PASS CHRISTIAN -- Most Holy Trinity Parish 9062 Kiln-Delisle Road Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. Christmas Day: 7:30 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m. >PASS CHRISTIAN -- Our Mother of Mercy Parish 216 Saucier Avenue Christmas Eve: 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >PEARLINGTON -- St. Joseph Chapel 5383 Highway 64 Christmas Eve: 3 p.m. New Year’s Day: 10:30 a.m. >PICAYUNE -- St. Charles Borromeo Parish 1000 Goodyear Boulevard Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Hispanic New Year’s Eve: 4 p.m. New Year’s Day: 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Hispanic >POPLARVILLE -- St. Joseph Mission 17 Bilbo Hill Drive Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. followed by Christmas social in parish hall Christmas Day: 8 a.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >TYLERTON -- St. Paul the Apostle Mission 702 Union Road Christmas Eve: 6:30 p.m. Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Day: 8 a.m. >VANCLEAVE -- Holy Spirit Parish 6705 Jim Ramsay Road Christmas Vigil: 6 p.m., Midnight Christmas Day: 11 a.m. New Year’s Vigil: 6 p.m. New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. >WAVELAND -- St. Clare Parish 236 South Beach Boulevard Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 8 p.m. Christmas Day: 8:30 a.m. Christmas Eve: 5:30 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m. >WAYNESBORO -- St. Bernadette Parish 401 Mississippi Drive Christmas Eve: 6 p.m. Christmas Day: 11:15 a.m. New Year’s Day: 11:15 a.m. >WHITE CYPRESS -- St. Matthew the Apostle Parish 27074 St Matthew Church Rd., Perkinston Christmas Eve: 5 p.m.; 11:30 p.m. Midnight Christmas Day: 9 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 5 p.m. New Year’s Day: 9 a.m. >WIGGINS -- St. Francis Xavier Parish 1026 Central Avenue E., Wiggins Christmas Eve: Midnight Christmas Day: 8:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve: 5 p.m. New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m.
12 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 19, 2025 Bishop Kihneman visits Christ the King Mission in Latimer for feast day Bishop Louis F. Kihneman was principal celebrant and homilist of Mass at Christ the King Church in Latimer on Saturday, November 22, for the Solemnity of Christ the King. Pictured, at left, from l-r, are Father Kingsley Chiemeka Mgbojirikwe, Deacon Norbert Lloyd, Bishop Kihneman, Deacon John Jennings, and Father Vincent Ajayi, pastor. Top right, the bishop greets Christ the King parishioners during a dinner at the Latimer Community Center. Photos/Terry Dickson Father Vincent Ajayi installed as pastor of parishes in Vancleave, Latimer Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III installed Very Reverend Vincent Ajayi as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Vancleave and Christ the King Mission in Latimer on November 30 at Holy Spirit Church. Left, Bishop Kihneman and Father Vincent sign the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity. Bottom right, Father Vincent receives the parish seal from parish secretary Grace LeBlanc. Photos/Terry Dickson
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