16 Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 On Sunday, January 18, the Nativity Cathedral Vocations Team hosted its second annual “Wanna Taco ʻBout Vocations” parish lunch at the Sacred Heart Center. Members from the Vocations Team decorated tables, served chips and salsa and were on hand to discuss vocations within the Cathedral՚s parish. Lauren Ellis, director of campus ministry, was excited to host this fun event again. “Vocations look different for all individuals,” explained Ellis. “Whether you՚re called to religious life or marriage, vocations start with families. Coming together as a parish family is the perfect way to further support parish vocations.” For Cobie Martino, the Vocations lunch was especially meaningful this year, as Martino is currently discerning on behalf of the Diocese of Biloxi. “Seeing everyone come together to support vocations in our parish is awesome,” remarked Martino. “It՚s been really exciting to see all of the people who are supporting me and my journey to become a priest. The encouragement has helped with my discernment and I like being able to celebrate this decision with my parish family.” Many families were present to learn more about vocations, as well as numerous students from Nativity BVM School. The students got to choose from a fun variety of keychains, books and prayer cards to help them support the different types of vocations. For Father Bartoz Kunat, the lunch was especially wonderful for the children. “Having our youth come together in an exciting and friendly environment to support vocations is a fun way for them to learn and raise awareness about vocations,” stated Father Bart. The Taqueria Olvera food truck was on site and has become a staple participant in this event. “I enjoy seeing our parish community come together,”remarked Father Bart. “And who doesn՚t love coming together over food?!” Thank you to the vocations team for another incredible event. We can't wait to Taco ՚Bout Vocations again soon! Father Bart, along with students from Nativity BVM School, attend the Let’s Taco ‘Bout Vocations lunch. Members of Nativity Cathedral’s Vocations Team work to decorate the Sacred Heart Center for the lunch. Let’s Taco ‘Bout Vocations with Nativity Cathedral The pope’s words on personal freedom echoed similar remarks by Pope Francis, who, in 2014, warned the ecclesial reality against the dangers of pressuring its members and to respect their choice “to seek, outside the Way, other forms of Christian life that may help him or her to grow in their answer to the Lord’s response.” Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_ journalist. Pope Neocatechumenal Way From page 13 To know God, we must welcome Jesus՚ humanity, pope says BY JOSEPHINE PETERSON Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV said that God is revealed through Jesus’ humanity, not solely through a “channel of transmission of intellectual truths.” It is through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that one can come to know God. Pope Leo continued his series of talks during his weekly general audience Jan. 21, revisiting Vatican Council II with a speech on “Dei Verbum,” the church’s teaching on divine revelation. By knowing Jesus, the pope said we can enter into a relationship with God as his adopted children, which was revealed through Jesus’ humanity. “In order to know God in Christ, we must welcome his integral humanity: God’s truth is not fully revealed where it takes something away from the human, just as the integrity of Jesus’ humanity does not diminish the fullness of the divine gift,” he said. “It is the integral humanity of Jesus that tells us the truth of the Father.” He went on further to say that in becoming man, Jesus “is born, heals, teaches, suffers, dies, rises again and remains among us. Therefore, to honor the greatness of the incarnation, it is not enough to consider Jesus as the channel of transmission of intellectual truths.” God communicates with us, the pope said, and at the same time, Jesus is the Word of God incarnate. Through this corporal form, the truth of God is revealed. “Jesus Christ is the place where we recognize the truth of God the Father, while we discover ourselves known by him as sons in the Son, called to the same destiny of full life,” he said. In closing, Pope Leo said, “Brothers and sisters, by following the path of Jesus to the very end, we reach the certainty that nothing can separate us from God’s love.” Bishop Kihneman’s homilies are available in video and audio form on the Diocese of Biloxi’s website. To access these homilies, visit www.biloxidiocese.org.
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