Gulf Pine CATHOLIC www.gulfpinecatholic.com VOLUME 43 / NUMBER 9 January 30, 2026 In a moment of Vatican sweetness, Pope Leo receives lambs in ancient St. Agnes tradition BY OSV NEWS VATICAN CITY (OSV News) -- Adding some sweetness to the usual general audience-focusedWednesday, Pope Leo XIV was presented with two lambs Jan. 21 as part of an ancient Roman Catholic tradition marking the feast of St. Agnes of Rome. The presentation took place in the Vatican’s Urban VIII Chapel on the feast day of the young fourth-century martyr. The lambs were later blessed at the Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls in northern Rome, where St. Agnes is buried. Under longstanding custom, the lambs’ wool will be used to make the palliums -- white woolen bands worn by the pope and metropolitan archbishops as a symbol of pastoral authority and communion with Rome. Each pallium is decorated with six black silk crosses. The pope formally blesses and imposes the palliums on newly appointed metropolitan archbishops each year on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The tradition of blessing lambs on St. Agnes’ feast dates to at least the sixth century. It is linked to a legend that says Agnes appeared to her parents after her martyrdom holding a lamb, a symbol of purity. Reliable information about the saint is difficult to come by. It is known that she was a martyr, one of the most famous Romans to die for the faith. The story goes that she died bravely around the year 305, perhaps from a sword through the throat -- a common execution method of the day. She was little more than a child when she died, perhaps 12 or 13. Her tomb is along the Via Nomentana in Rome, where the lambs were blessed following the papal presentation Jan. 21. Historical records also show that lambs were once offered as an annual payment by monks of the Basilica of St. Agnes to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Vatican News reported. Members of the Lateran clergy would then present the animals to the pope for a blessing. For centuries, the lambs came from the Trappist Abbey of the Three Fountains in southern Rome and were brought to the pope before being sent to the Benedictine nuns of St. Cecilia in Trastevere, Vatican News said. The nuns traditionally sheared the lambs during Holy Week and wove the wool into pallia. Some elements of the practice have changed in recent years. The Trappist abbey no longer maintains a sheep farm, and the pope no longer blesses the lambs at the Vatican. The Benedictine nuns, however, continue to shear the lambs and prepare the wool for the palliums. Pope Leo XIV blesses two lambs in the Urban VIII Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 21, the feast of St. Agnes. The lambs are bound and placed in baskets to prevent them from running away. The wool from the lambs is used to make the palliums worn by new metropolitan archbishops. CNS photo/Vatican Media
2 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 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) 4181049 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 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Jazz Mass & King Cake Social: REJOICE! Worship God with joyful Dixieland Jazz on Sun., Feb. 1, 9 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Across the globe, our brothers & sisters of the Catholic faith hear the same readings & pray the same prayers on Sundays, celebrating with the music & traditions of their own cultures. The instrumentalists & singers at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church present music to glorify God in the local flavor of Dixieland Jazz. St. Thomas’ annual Jazz Mass will be followed by a King Cake Social in the community center. First Saturday Devotion: All are invited to join us for our First Saturday Devotion at St. Mary Church in Woolmarket on Sat., Feb. 7. 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. Hour of Grace: Hour of Grace is a time of encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ present to us in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar; an opportunity to lift our voices and hearts to Christ in worship as He pours His graces upon us. This Hour of Grace will be on Thurs., Feb. 12, 6 p.m., at Nativity Cathedral located at 870 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530. Come and be renewed by the Lord! Charismatic Healing Mass & Prayer Meeting: Charismatic Healing Mass & Prayer Meeting is celebrated the second Sat. of each month, 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. Couple Prayer Series: St. James Catholic Church, Gulfport, is presening a Couple Prayer Series. It is a five-week series for engaged and married couples beginning Thurs., Feb. 19, and continuing through Lent (final session is March 19). Sessions will be held in the church 6-7:30 p.m. Must preregister to attend. Use this QR code. The Couple Prayer Series was created to help engaged and married couples discover the life-changing intimacy and joy that praying together brings to a marriage. Lenten Fish Fry: St. Ann & St. Joseph Parish, 5858 Lower Bay Rd., Clermont Habor, will host their Lenten fish fries every Fri., Feb. 20-March 27, 4:30-7 p.m., dine-in or takeout. Each plate, $15, offers 3 pieces of fish with 2 sides, bread, drink, & a dessert. The child’s plate, 10, offers 2 pieces of fish, one side, bread, a drink, & a dessert.Additional drinks and desserts can be purchased for $1 each. There will be weekly dinner specials available eat-in only. At 7 p.m., there will be a 50/50 & weekly drawings. Also a main raffle & children’s raffle, 7 p.m., March 27. *Winners not be present for all drawings.* St. Joseph Altar: Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church will be hosting a St. Joseph Altar in honor of St. Joseph’s Day on March 19, 9062 Kiln-Delisle Rd. Pass Christian. This beautiful tradition, deeply rooted in faith & community is a meaningful way for us to celebrate the life & example of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers & families. The altar will be on March 19, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. The altar will be blessed at 10:30 a.m. & lunch will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For information & donations please email toniandjoe@hotmail.com. KC EVENTS Free-Throw Championship: The men of St. James Knights of Columbus are hosting a free-throw championship & exhibition basketball game on Sun., Feb. 1. These events are the major annual fundraiser for the Knights’ support of St. James’ three seminarians -- Chris Collins, Adam Tran, & Abe Goulet. The free-throw championship, which is open to all boys & girls in our community age 9-14, will start at 2 p.m. in the St. James gym, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport. The exhibition game, which is open to all boys & girls ages 6-16 plus any seminarians, priests, deacons, & consecrated religious interested in playing, will follow the freethrow championship. This game is just for fun, giving everyone an opportunity to play together & get to know our clergy, especially our seminarians. RETREATS ‘Anchored’ Youth Retreat: The ‘Anchored’ Youth Retreat will be held Sat., Feb. 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 9062KilnDelisle Rd., Pass Christian. The retreat is designed specifically for teenagers to be anchored in their faith & to help to be OK & except who God created them to be. There will be worship, adoration, talks, small groups & fellowship. SCHOOL EVENTS Suspect Hollywood: Join St. Stanislaus & Our Lady Academy on Sat., Jan. 31 at 6 pm for Suspect Hollywood, an interactive mystery dinner filled with intrigue, laughter, & suspense. When a movie director’s broken promises lead to scandal -- and possibly murder -- guests become expert sleuths tasked with solving the case. A spaghetti dinner is included. Tickets are $25 per person. Details at www.ststan.com/suspect-hollywood/. Marine Science Night: Marine Science Night will be held Thurs., Feb. 26, 5-9 p.m. at the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. Presented in partnership with St. Stanislaus, the event invites boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade to explore the exciting world of marine science through engaging activities and exhibits. The cost is $5 per participant. For additional information and registration, visit www.msaquarium.org/events/2025/marine-science-night.
Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) January 30, 2026 Volume 43, Issue 9 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 FEB. 13— News copy and photos: Due FEB. 3, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due FEB. 3, 10 a.m. Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi When Mercy Cross Center first opened its doors in Biloxi, we did so with a carefully crafted plan. We studied best practices from across the country, listened to research and testimony, consulted experienced day-center operators, and designed thoughtful systems rooted in compassion and dignity. Our goal was clear: to offer respite from the elements and from despair -- showers, laundry, meals, phone and internet access, a mailing address, and a safe, welcoming place where partner organizations could serve people onsite. As He so often does, God had something more in mind. Through the voices and experiences of our guests, the Lord gently redirected our path. Mercy Cross Center became far more than a place to meet basic needs. It became a place of encounter, restoration, and transformation. God also sent partners we never anticipated -- individuals and organizations who stepped forward with open hearts and willing hands. His blessings continue to pour out, quietly and consistently, day after day. Bishop Kihneman A vision and a call to something more in 2026 Since opening, Mercy Cross Center has welcomed hundreds of guests -- some who stay for a season, others who pass through briefly. Each comes with a different story, a different burden, a different hope. Yet we hold fast to one core belief: no one is defined by their circumstances, and everyone is capable of a hopeful future. Along the way, we have witnessed countless quiet miracles. Often they unfold so quickly that one story is still being told when another is already underway. Consider a Vietnamese gentleman who suffered a severe stroke, leaving him with limited mobility and speech. He lost his Green Card, which made it impossible to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. With the help of a Catholic Charities case manager who speaks Vietnamese, he completed the application for a replacement card. Mercy Cross Center staff coordinated his appointment with Immigration Services and secured transportation and an escort to New Orleans. He is now awaiting his replacement card, the key that will unlock the next steps toward stability. Or think of a blind man who had lived unhoused for years and came to believe a tent was the only future available to him. Complications with his Direct Express card made accessing his disability benefits nearly impossible. Our case managers helped him open a bank account, arrange direct deposit, and gather the documentation needed to apply for housing. Last week, he moved into his own home. When he returned to visit, he spoke through tears about making a cup of instant coffee and sitting in a chair -- his coffee, his chair, his home. That moment, simple as it sounds, was sacred. There was also the young father who traveled from Florida to Louisiana after being promised a job that would support his growing family. When the job fell through, he was left stranded and broke. While trying to hitchhike home, he found Mercy Cross Center. Our team offered rest, a hot shower, nourishing meals, and safe transportation so he could return to his family and hold his newborn child again. Dignity is restored not only through big victories, but through small, human moments: someone needing a listening ear after a rough night; a bandage; reassurance that their clothes match. A grown man beaming with pride after passing a computer class and earning a certificate, asking if we might frame it. The joy of receiving a long-awaited ID in the mail. These moments matter. They remind people -- sometimes for the first time in a long while -- that they have value. This year, Mercy Cross Center welcomed Loaves and Fishes into the Catholic Charities of South Mississippi family. As a result, hot meals increased from three days a week to five. Guests now receive healthy, nourishing meals, with third meals distributed daily and weekend food bags provided through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus at St. Thomas the Apostle. SEE BISHOP’S COLUMN, PAGE 8 Jan. 25 Mass/Rosary Rally/Walk for Life, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 2 p.m. Jan. 28 Installation Mass for Bishop Mario Avilés, Corpus Christi, TX Jan. 30 Mass & School Visit, Nativity Elementary, Biloxi, 9 a.m. Jan. 31 Mass/Altar Server Awards, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis, 11 a.m.
4 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 POR EL OBISPO LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Obispo de Biloxi Cuando el Mercy Cross Center abrió por primera vez sus puertas en Biloxi, lo hicimos con un plan cuidadosamente elaborado. Estudiamos las mejores prácticas de todo el país, escuchamos investigaciones y testimonios, consultamos a operadores experimentados de centros de día y diseñamos sistemas reflexivos arraigados en la compasión y la dignidad. Nuestro objetivo era claro: ofrecer un respiro de los elementos y de la desesperación -- duchas, lavandería, comidas, acceso a teléfono e internet, una dirección postal y un lugar seguro y acogedor donde las organizaciones asociadas pudieran atender a las personas en el lugar. Como tantas veces ocurre, Dios tenía algo más en mente. A través de las voces y experiencias de nuestros huéspedes, el Señor redirigió suavemente nuestro camino. Mercy Cross Center se convirtió en mucho más que un lugar para satisfacer necesidades básicas. Se transformó en un espacio de encuentro, restauración y transformación. Dios también envió colaboradores que nunca anticipamos -- personas y organizaciones que dieron un paso al frente con corazones abiertos y manos dispuestas. Sus bendiciones continúan derramándose, silenciosa y constantemente, día tras día. Desde su apertura, Mercy Cross Center ha recibido a cientos de huéspedes -- algunos que permanecen por una temporada, otros que solo pasan brevemente. Cada uno llega con una historia diferente, una carga distinta, una esperanza única. Sin embargo, nos mantenemos firmes en una creencia fundamental: nadie está definido por sus circunstancias y todos son capaces de un futuro lleno de esperanza. En el camino, hemos sido testigos de innumerables milagros silenciosos. A menudo se desarrollan tan rápidamente que una historia aún se está contando cuando otra ya está en marcha. Pensemos en un caballero vietnamita que sufrió un derrame cerebral severo, lo que le dejó con movilidad y habla limitadas. Perdió su tarjeta de residencia permanente (Green Card), lo que hizo imposible solicitar beneficios por discapacidad del Seguro Social. Con la ayuda de una administradora de casos de Caridades Católicas que habla vietnamita, completó la solicitud para una tarjeta de reemplazo. El personal de Mercy Cross Center coordinó su cita con los Servicios de Inmigración y aseguró transporte y acompañamiento a Nueva Orleans. Ahora está esperando su tarjeta de reemplazo, la llave que abrirá los siguientes pasos hacia la estabilidad. O pensemos en un hombre ciego que había vivido sin hogar durante años y llegó a creer que una tienda de campaña era el único futuro disponible para él. Las complicaciones con su tarjeta Direct Express hacían casi imposible acceder a sus beneficios por discapacidad. Nuestros administradores de casos lo ayudaron a abrir una cuenta bancaria, orgaObispo Kihneman nizar el depósito directo y reunir la documentación necesaria para solicitar vivienda. La semana pasada, se mudó a su propio hogar. Cuando regresó a visitarnos, habló entre lágrimas sobre preparar una taza de café instantáneo y sentarse en una silla -- su café, su silla, su hogar. Ese momento, por sencillo que parezca, fue sagrado. También estuvo el joven padre que viajó de Florida a Luisiana después de que le prometieran un trabajo que sostendría a su creciente familia. Cuando el empleo no se concretó, quedó varado y sin dinero. Mientras intentaba regresar a casa haciendo autostop, encontró Mercy Cross Center. Nuestro equipo le ofreció descanso, una ducha caliente, comidas nutritivas y transporte seguro para que pudiera volver con su familia y sostener nuevamente a su hijo recién nacido. La dignidad se restaura no solo a través de grandes victorias, sino también mediante pequeños momentos humanos: alguien que necesita un oído atento después de una noche difícil; una venda; la tranquilidad de saber que su ropa combina. Un hombre adulto irradiando orgullo tras aprobar una clase de computación y obtener un certificado, preguntando si podríamos enmarcarlo. La alegría de recibir por correo una identificación largamente esperada. Estos momentos importan. Le recuerdan a las personas -- a veces por primera vez en mucho tiempo -- que tienen valor. Este año, Mercy Cross Center dio la bienvenida a Loaves and Fishes a la familia de Caridades Católicas del Sur de Misisipi. Como resultado, las comidas calientes aumentaron de tres a cinco días a la semana. Los huéspedes ahora reciben comidas saludables y nutritivas, con una tercera comida distribuida diariamente y bolsas de alimentos para el fin de semana proporcionadas gracias a la generosidad de los Caballeros de Colón de San Tomás Apóstol. En el corazón de Mercy Cross Center se encuentra la administración de casos. La vivienda no es el final del camino; es el comienzo de la estabilidad, la sanación y la esperanza. Los administradores de casos ayudan con presupuestos, banca, empleo y solicitudes para el Seguro Social, SNAP, seguros y programas de vivienda. Cuando es necesario, conectan a los huéspedes con atención médica, servicios de salud mental y tratamiento para adicciones. Caminan junto a las personas no solo para obtener vivienda, sino para sostenerla. Los servicios diarios en el lugar incluyen lavandería, duchas, áreas seguras para descansar, computadoras, servicios de correo, ropa y suministros esenciales. Las alianzas semanales brindan atención psiquiátrica, clases de habilidades laborales, apoyo entre pares, servicios médicos, consejería, cortes de cabello y -- a partir de 2026 -- acceso ampliado a atención médica a través de Coastal Family Health. Desde su apertura en mayo de 2024, Mercy Cross Center ha registrado a más de 700 nuevos huéspedes, brindado casi 4,000 servicios de administración de casos, servido más de 15,000 comidas y ayudado a 208 personas a salir de las calles de Biloxi. Solo seis han regresado a la situación de calle a nivel local -- un testimonio del cuidado proactivo y relacional. Sin embargo, los números por sí solos no cuentan la historia. La verdadera medida de Mercy Cross Center se encuentra en vidas restauradas y esperanza renovada. No todos los caminos conducen a una vivienda permanente, y no cada paso hacia adelante es lineal. La condición humana es compleja, moldeada por el trauma, la enfermedad, la adicción y la pérdida. Lo que permanece constante es nuestro compromiso. Mercy Cross Center -- y todas las Caridades Católicas del Sur de Misisipi -- continuarán caminando junto a quienes servimos con compasión, paciencia y fe, encontrándolos donde están y honrando su dignidad en cada paso del camino. Estoy profundamente agradecido a nuestros huéspedes que confían en nosotros, a nuestro personal y colaboradores que sirven fielmente, y a los donantes y benefactores que hacen posible esta labor. Gracias por ser parte de este camino. La Gala Anual del Obispo es un importante evento de recaudación de fondos para el Mercy Cross Day Center para personas sin hogar. La próxima Gala del Obispo está programada para el 17 de octubre de 2026. Gracias a todos los que ayudan a que el Centro sea una bendición tan grande para todos. Como nos recuerda la Sagrada Escritura: “El Señor está cerca de los quebrantados de corazón y salva a los de espíritu abatido” (Salmo 34,18). Una visión y un llamado a algo más en 2026
Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 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 Opening Remarks: When I think of spiritual poverty, what comes to mind are the ‘Nones.’ “Nones” is a term derived from surveys taken on religious affiliation, where “None” (none of the above) is typically the box a nonreligious person would check. Overview of the Readings: Zephaniah warned the Israelites to repent, renounce pride and idolatry, and turn to God, but they rejected his message. Their spiritual bankruptcy led them to lose friendship with God. Today’s Psalm response relates to our Gospel. St. Paul teaches that human wisdom is radically inferior to God’s wisdom. On today’s gospel, Saint Ambrose wrote, “The Beatitudes are meant to be directed inward toward our internal poverty and the attainment of spiritual peace as preparation for the spiritual combat necessary to save our souls.” Remnant: Following prophetic warnings to those who failed to return to God, Zephaniah interjects a note of hope. Happiness will come to those willing to seek the Lord with a humble heart and to observe God’s law through just actions and a humble spirit. Even if most people do not respond favorably to God’s initiatives, Zephaniah promises that a humble remnant, hungry for truth, will embrace the Lord, trusting that their witness will turn others from pride and rebellion to rely on the God who saves. Poverty of spirit opens our hearts to God, allowing God to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. Trust in God: Psalm 146 is a hymn of one who has learned that our greatest source of strength is our merciful and loving God, who desires everyone to be with Him in heaven for eternity. God stirs the hearts and minds of believers to present the Gospel message by demonstrating it in their lifestyle as they lead others to heaven. In this way, we are the beneficiaries of God’s faithfulness. For the oppressed, the Lord secures justice; for the spiritually or materially hungry, God gives food (bread from heaven and His living Word). The doors of the kingdom of heaven are open to the poor in spirit -- those who recognize that, no matter how much they have materially, they are bankrupt unless Christ is at the center of their lives. Lasting Happiness: In our second reading, Paul explains four ways Christ is for us. 1) He is wisdom. When we listen to Him, we hear the truth. 2) He is righteousness. Through Him, we have a right relationship with God. 3) He is holy. As we walk with Him, we grow in faith, hope, and love. 4) He is our redemption. Jesus delivers us from past sin, present helplessness, and fear of the future. The Beatitudes: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. In giving us the Beatitudes, Jesus doesn’t offer a new version of the Ten Comma n dme n t s ; instead, He extols the blessings (blessedness) of those who follow His way of life. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7) contains Jesus’s declarations of what kingdom living looks like. Therefore, the Beatitudes are more than new ways of framing what we must do and what we must not do to earn God’s favor; they are the very means by which we embrace and practice kingdom living while still here on earth. How great is that! Closing Comments and Questions: Linus, Lucy, and Charlie Brown were building sandcastles at the beach. They did so well that people gathered around them, marveling at the many beautiful sandcastles of different sizes and shapes. At noon, they left the beach for an hour to get food. When they returned to their spot to build more sandcastles, they were devastated to find not a single sandcastle in sight. The tide had come in and washed them all away. What are your sandcastles? What are you working feverishly to build that could be wiped out in an instant? In perspective, the sandcastle metaphor represents those things we build on our own strength and inspiration. It is necessary to build relationships with people, get a good education, build a career, care about your life and the lives of those we love, and provide food, shelter, and security. But building and maintaining all of these and other good things without having Jesus as the center of our life, guiding our decisions and actions, can be like building temporary castles in the sand. True happiness resides in those who deliberately choose to spend a greater part of their lives building a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which stores up treasures in heaven that no thief can steal. Oh, how truly and abundantly blessed are the poor in spirit (those who recognize they are living in deep poverty if the Holy Spirit is not directing and empowering their lives), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Tennessee. Visit his website: www. homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Responsorial Psalm: 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Spiritual poverty Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries
6 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 St. Francis of Assisi has been quoted as saying, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” It’s a statement that so perfectly captures the spirit of hope that he strove to live by and that we all are called to cultivate within our hearts. We are called to be light to the world by inviting Christ into our lives to allow His light to shine through us in all that we do. And spreading hope is most vital in trying times because that’s when our light is most needed. “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” is the ancient Chinese proverb that Father James Keller, M.M., adopted as a motto in founding The Christophers back in 1945. It’s a bit of wisdom that reminds us to always be positive amid the challenges of life. Father Keller said, “Rebellion against difficulties and obstacles that cannot legitimately be avoided only makes a bad situation worse. Ordinary common sense recommends that we ride the storm, not buck it.” Though we must certainly be realistic about the challenges we face, Father Keller understood that we’ll never overcome our obstacles if we don’t stay positive. A quote attributed to St. Catherine of Siena states, “Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” Catherine and Francis were separated by over a century in time, but they lived in cities less than a hundred miles apart in central Italy -- and their actions had ripple effects felt throughout the world to this day. This is the legacy of those who devote their lives to God. They become the fertile ground upon which good fruit can flourish. Francis was so humble that he interpreted the command from God, “Rebuild my Church,” as a simple instruction to repair stonework in a hillside chapel. That may have been God’s first and simplest intention for Francis, but the world now knows that Francis was also called to lead a renewal of devotion to Christ. Catherine followed in his footsteps over a hundred years later. Although she started by confining herself to a cloister to grow in devotion to God, she eventually felt called to ministry to the poor and sick, and her mission just kept growing until her counsel was sought by leaders on the world stage. Another quote attributed to St. Catherine states, “Be who you were born to be, and you will set the world on fire.” She and Francis both answered the call to simply be themselves. In each case, it was a humble path that led to great things. Two centuries after the time of St. Catherine of Siena and a thousand miles away in Spain, St. Teresa of Avila set the world on fire by charting a path of prayer and contemplation. St. Teresa also understood the importance of staying positive. She once said, “From somber, serious, sullen saints, save us, O Lord.” Like Catherine and Francis, St. Teresa knew she was called to bring light into the world. These saints teach us that the path to accomplishing great things for God is forged in hope and a positive outlook on life. So let’s resolve to stay positive, knowing God will meet us in our hope and transform it into a seed from which good fruit will blossom in the world around us. 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. Living with a Spirit of Hope Light One Candle Fr. Dougherty ʻTruly historic՚: Kuwait՚s first church elevated to minor basilica BY JOSEPH TULLOCH OSV News (OSV News) -- Kuwait’s Catholics witnessed a historic moment as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, presided over Mass at Kuwait’s Our Lady of Arabia Church Jan. 16 as it was raised to a minor basilica. The cardinal said that the church built on the desert stands is a reminder that “Mary herself once found refuge in those same desert lands.” The title of minor basilica that the church now holds is conferred on churches that have special liturgical or pastoral importance and stand out for their historical, spiritual, or architectural value. In his homily, delivered to a congregation including local Catholics, politicians, diplomats, and representatives of the Kuwaiti Oil Company, Cardinal Parolin described the occasion of elevating the church to a minor basilica as “truly historic,” not only “for the Church in Kuwait, but for the Church throughout the entire Arabian Peninsula.” “Built upon the sands of the desert,” the cardinal said, “this basilica reminds us that Mary herself once found refuge in those same desert lands, where she cared for, raised, and safeguarded the one Mediator between God and the human family, Jesus Christ.” In the year 1948, a small group of Catholics -- foreigners who had recently arrived in Kuwait to work in the burgeoning oil industry -- opened a small chapel in Al-Ahmadi, the country’s second city. Just a few years later, a church took its place and was decorated with an image of the Virgin Mary blessed by the pope himself. As the oil industry took off, and ever greater numbers of foreign workers began to arrive in Kuwait, the church -- dedicated, as the original chapel had been, to Our Lady of Arabia -- continued to grow in importance. The church was completed in 1957 “as a generous gift of the local donors, whose care and support for the church complex continue to this day,” the Vatican Jan. 15 press release said. Cardinal Parolin in Kuwait reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which Jesus asks His disciples the “decisive question”: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Reflecting back on the recently-concluded Christmas period, the cardinal stressed that “we cannot welcome the Child Jesus into our homes … unless we recognize His true identity and all that it implies.” Christians, he emphasized, “are called to recognize and bear witness that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.” In a joint Jan. 15 press release published by the Vatican, the State of Kuwait reaffirmed “its steadfast principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among religions, which are values that are enshrined in its ideals from its inception and were later codified in its Constitution.” Christians now make up some 20% of Kuwait’s population, although almost all are migrant workers without Kuwaiti citizenship. The situation is similar in many other oil-rich Persian Gulf countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Of these countries, Kuwait and Bahrain are unique in also having a small number of Christian citizens, almost all of them descendants of immigrants from Arab countries, such as Lebanon and Palestine, with sizable Christian populations. SEE KUWAIT CARDINAL PAROLIN, PAGE 8 Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, speaks with the press after the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report compiled by the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need and released Oct. 21, 2025, during a conference at Rome’s Augustinianum Patristic Institute. CNS photo/Lola Gomez
Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 7 Getting to Know the Servants in the Diocese of Biloxi who answered God’s Call to a Religious Vocation BY MONICAWALTON BILOXI -- While every person serving in a religious vocation has their own journey to hearing and answering God’s call, sometimes you meet a priest and think, he was just built for this vocation from the start! Father Bernie Farrell is one such man who just seems to have been built for priestly ministry. He had an openness toward the path to the priesthood from an early age and never seemed to have wrestled with whether or not to pursue it. Born and raised in County Galway, Ireland, Father Bernie grew up in a large Catholic family with nine children. He served as an Altar Server from an early age, completed his early education at the local Primary and Secondary School, and then went to study philosophy at the Jesuit college in Limerick. It was there that teenage Bernie was offered the opportunity to attend seminary at Carlow College. “A priest came and asked me if I had ever thought about being a priest,” said Father Bernie, retired since 2015. “I had certainly thought about it in my younger years, but as a teen I had the usual interests, which included playing sports, looking at girls, and a brief consideration of being a police officer,” he laughs. “But when that priest offered the chance to study theology at Carlow College in St. Patrick’s, I decided to go ahead and give it a try.” Father Bernie tried and succeeded, and chose to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Msgr. Patrick Farrell, and his priest cousins, Father Patrick Quinn and Father Peter Quinn, who all dedicated their lives in service to Mississippi. Father Bernie was trained in Pre-Vatican II when the Latin Rite was still the order of Mass. He was ordained at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow, Ireland, on June 13, 1965, for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, MS, just as the Second Vatican Council drew to a close. Two months later, he arrived in America and had to say his first-ever English Mass facing the congregation on Saturday night. But he had no problem adjusting. Father Bernie smiles as he talks about his life of ministry, saying it has been a very happy life. “I served 50 years as a priest and have nothing but good memories filled with great people,” he said. For his first five years, Father Bernie served as Assistant Pastor at Nativity, Biloxi, then St. Joseph, Greenville. In 1970, he was moved to Starkville. It was there that he earned a Master of Counseling at Mississippi State while assisting the pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Starkville. From there, Father Bernie moved to another college town and was assigned his first role as pastor for St. Thomas Parish, Hattiesburg. Later, he was named Director of Campus Ministry for the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Originally, Mississippi had only one diocese, the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, to serve the entire state. In 1977, the Diocese of Biloxi was established, and Father Bernie was named pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula. His brother, Father Patrick, remained in the Diocese of Jackson. Father Bernie was pastor at Sacred Heart, Pascagoula, for 12 years, then was assigned to St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs for 12 years. Finally, he moved just a few miles down Highway 90 to be the pastor of his final parish assignment, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Ocean Springs. During his tenure, Father Bernie also served the diocese and his fellow priests as a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board, Dean of the East Coast Deanery, and he represented the Biloxi-Pascagoula area as a member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council. “I never had an assignment I didn’t enjoy,” said Father Bernie. “Everywhere I went, there were such nice people, and those were all good years.” He says the most challenging work he encountered was when Bishop Rodi appointed him to lead the fundraising drive to build the new St. Patrick High School. “I was scared to death going from parish to parish to gain support for the project,” Father Bernie admitted. “I didn’t always have a good reception, and that was the first time I ever had to face real opposition,” he said. “But in many ways, it was a great experience for me. We really worked with the people and reached agreements for them to retain some of the money raised to help with the needs of their parish. So it all worked out for the best.” In 2015, Fatjer Bernie’s brother, Msgr. Patrick Farrell, who is four years older, was diagnosed with dementia. Although Father Bernie was still thriving at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, he requested and received permission to retire. Father Bernie moved to Canton to live with his brother and take care of him. After all of those years in separate dioceses, the two brothers became roommates once again. In recent years, the elder Father Farrell has required skilled nursing care and now resides at nearby St. Catherine’s Village. Father Bernie continues to visit frequently and oversees his brother’s care. During his early years of retirement, Father Bernie stayed busy filling in for parish priests in the Jackson area, particularly Flowood, Canton, and Camden. He continued celebrating baptisms and weddings, providing counseling, and playing weekly games of tennis and golf. “I especially love celebrating Mass with the predominantly Black parishes, like Holy Child Jesus,” he said. “They really lift your spirits right from the start of Mass. The whole congregation sings, and it’s so beautiful.” Father Bernie turned 85 this year. Reflecting on his life well-lived, he humbly states, “I didn’t deserve it. God took great care of me.” Due to some recent health issues of his own, Father Bernie has had to slow down a bit. In this, he also finds great joy and beauty in his priesthood. “Whatever troubles I experience, I simply add it to the Cross,” he said. “Nothing compares to what Jesus went through.” Retirement also allows more time for broader contemplation since he’s no longer preparing for weekly preaching as was the case in active parish ministry. “I concentrate on prayer now,” he said. “I pray one or two rosaries a day, and focus on the breviary.” He continues to play a little golf, offers counseling to some individuals, and celebrates a Daily private Mass in his home. Sometimes friends join him for his home Mass. “It’s nice when groups of friends come visit from the Coast,” he added. “It’s like having a little congregation again.” Father Bernie said he has always turned to Scripture, particularly John 3:16-17. He closes his eyes and recites the sacred words that have captured his heart and fueled his ministry: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” “I keep that in mind always,” said Father Bernie. “It’s the Father and Son in a communion of love.” His story is such a good example of a joyful, fulfilling life as a Catholic priest. God continues to call young men to this very special vocation. “I pray every day for more vocations,” said Father Bernie. When asked for words of wisdom for young men who may wonder if they have a calling, he replied, “God is the one who gives the vocation. It’s up to us to cooperate with Him. If you have any inkling at all that you have this vocation, pray about it and talk to a priest. God won’t dupe you!” He also advises that, above all, one is to be thankful, whatever the outcome in discerning a Religious Vocation. “If the answer is ‘Yes’, thank God,” he said. Then he added, “If not, thank God, too! And be the best you can at whatever you do!” Father Farrell ~ Hearing and Answering the Call
8 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 You Are Invited To Join Fr. Godfrey Andoh on a 12-day Marian Shrines Pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain & France. Sanctuary of Lourdes Including: Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, Santiago de Compostela, Avila, Madrid, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Montserrat & Barcelona! June 1 - 12, 2026 $5,995 All-inclusive from New Orleans, LA DAILY MASS AT THE HOLY SITES Contact Deacon Norm Cantrelle 228-563-4127 ncantrelle@gmail.com Bishop’s Column From page 3 Bringing his homily to a close, Cardinal Parolin asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, “Our Lady of Arabia, Patroness of the entire Peninsula that bears her name.” May she “guide us always to her Son,” the cardinal prayed. “To her I entrust the protection of the State of Kuwait, its citizens, and all Christians.” During the Jan 14-16 visit of the Vatican’s secretary of state, an official round of talks were held with Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, prime minister of Kuwait. Joseph Tulloch is a writer for Vatican News, where the story was originally published. OSV News contributed to this report. KuWait Cardinal Parolin From page 6 At the heart of Mercy Cross Center is case management. Housing is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of stability, healing, and hope. Case managers assist with budgeting, banking, employment, and applications for Social Security, SNAP, insurance, and housing programs. When needed, they connect guests to medical care, mental health services, and addiction treatment. They walk alongside people not just to obtain housing, but to sustain it. Daily onsite services include laundry, showers, safe napping areas, computers, mail services, clothing, and essential supplies. Weekly partnerships bring psychiatric care, job skills classes, peer support, medical services, counseling, haircuts, and -- beginning in 2026 -- expanded healthcare access through Coastal Family Health. Since opening in May 2024, Mercy Cross Center has registered more than 700 new guests, provided nearly 4,000 case management services, served over 15,000 meals, and helped 208 individuals move off the streets of Biloxi. Only six have returned to homelessness locally -- a testament to proactive, relational care. Yet numbers alone do not tell the story. The true measure of Mercy Cross Center is found in lives restored and hope renewed. Not every journey leads to permanent housing, and not every step forward is linear. The human condition is complex, shaped by trauma, illness, addiction, and loss. What remains constant is our commitment. Mercy Cross Center -- and all of Catholic Charities of South Mississippi -- will continue to walk alongside those we serve with compassion, patience, and faith, meeting them where they are and honoring their dignity every step of the way. I am deeply grateful to our guests who trust us, our staff and partners who serve faithfully, and the donors and supporters who make this work possible. Thank you for being part of this journey. The annual Bishop’s Gala is a major fundraiser for the Mercy Cross Day Center for the homeless. The next Bishop’s Gala is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2026. Thank you to everyone who helps make the Center such a blessing for all. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). SEE BISHOP’S SPANISH COLUMN, PAGE 4 To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information. Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi.
Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 9
10 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 Rev. King led ʻrevolution of conscience՚ on racism, discrimination, cardinal says BY RICHARD SZCZEPANOWSKI Catholic Standard, OSV News ROCKVILLE, MD (OSV News) -- The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a “revolution of conscience” and sought “the conversion of hearts,” Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy said during a Jan. 18 Mass remembering the late Civil Rights leader. “Dr. King was truly a dreamer and a prophet,” the cardinal said. “He came to echo the message of Jesus Christ that we are all truly brothers and sisters.” Cardinal McElroy was the principal celebrant of the Archdiocese of Washington’s annual Mass honoring the life and legacy of Rev. King. Held at the Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church in the Washington suburb of Rockville and sponsored by the archdiocesan Secretariat for Evangelization and Synodal Renewal’s Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach, this year’s Mass honoring Rev. King had as its theme, “The Church and the Dream: Building Peace through Justice.” More than 500 people attended the Mass that was concelebrated by Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr. and Father Paul Lee, pastor of the parish. “We live in a blessed country, … but the persistence of the problem of racism and ethnic discrimination continues,” Cardinal McElroy said. While “tremendous progress has been made on so many levels” to combat the evil of racism, he said it continues because “the problem is in essence a problem of the heart.” Washington’s archbishop called on the faithful to “constantly be seeking the conversion of human hearts,” and to “see each other as brothers and sisters,” because “we all come here as the children of the same God -- the Father of us all.” The cardinal praised Rev. King’s nonviolent approach to combat racism and discrimination because “we cannot advance the fight for racial justice with an eye for an eye.” In welcoming the cardinal and the faithful to his parish church, Father Lee noted the varied ethnicities among the congregation and said, “We rejoice in the rich diversity of our Church.” Cardinal McElroy called the diversity of the congregation “an example and testimony of the Catholic faith.” Father Lee also pointed out that the Mass was being offered at the start of a week that included the federal holiday commemorating the birthday of Rev. King (Jan. 19 this year), the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (Jan. 22) and the annual March for Life (Jan. 23). He said the Mass would be an opportunity to pray for “the protection of human dignity, solidarity and the healing of our world.” The prayers of the faithful included the petition that the Catholic Church would always be “a courageous witness to the dignity of every human person.” On Aug. 28, 1963, Rev. King was among the leaders who organized the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march included a rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that opened with an invocation by then-Washington Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle. It was there that Rev. King offered his “I Have a Dream” speech. In that “I Have a Dream” speech, Rev. King spoke of his dream where “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day … little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” In his homily, Cardinal McElroy referenced that “I Have a Dream” speech and urged those at the Mass and all of society to “redouble our efforts to eliminate the evil of racism … like Dr. King, we must be dreamers to seek change … and more importantly to dream what our God wants for us.” In 1964, Rev. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end racial discrimination and segregation through nonviolent means. He was, at that time, the youngest-ever recipient of that prestigious honor. During the Mass, Cardinal McElroy also prayed that God would bless peacemakers who seek to “establish justice to bring about a true and lasting peace.” Rev. King was assassinated in 1968 because of his efforts to secure justice and equality for oppressed persons. In late March of that year, he traveled to Memphis, TN, to support black sanitary public works employees who were on strike seeking higher wages and better working conditions. On April 4, Rev. King was standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel when he was mortally wounded by a gunshot fired by James Earl Ray. He was taken to St. Joseph Hospital, where after emergency surgery he was pronounced dead. He was 39 years old. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and first observed three years later. It is celebrated each year on the third Monday of January, close to Rev. King’s Jan. 15 birthday. Born in 1929, the late Civil Rights leader would have been 97 this year. Richard Szczepanowski is managing editor of the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington. This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News. People participate in a Mass Jan. 18 at the Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church in Rockville, MD, that was offered in remembrance of the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. More than 500 people attended the annual celebration of the legacy of the late Civil Rights leader. OSV News photo/ Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard
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