Gulf Pine Catholic • March 13, 2026 17 The only child in a military family, Katherine was raised Catholic and received her First Holy Communion at St. John Parish in Gulfport. Later, the family moved to St. Mary Church in Woolmarket, and were very involved in the Parish. “Beginning in seventh grade, I became an assistant CCD teacher and sang in the choir,” she said. “My dad was on the parish Altar Society, so I would often join him in cleaning the church.” After receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, Katherine served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister, and was involved in the high school youth group and diocesan youth events. As a young girl, she wanted to be a teacher, but she wound up studying Speech Communication at the University of Southern Mississippi. Katherine’s desire to be a Bride of Christ actually first began when she was only in second grade. Then, in seventh grade, another spark was ignited. “Sister Mary Kealy at St. John Church told me that I would make a good religious sister,” Katherine recalls. “That always stuck with me, and the desire to become a Bride of Christ intensified.” Still, she went to college and continued the path she had chosen, but all the while held that desire close to her heart. After college, she worked as the Youth Minister at St. Mary Church for a few years, until the desire grew so strong that she quit her job and applied to a discernment home in Wisconsin. Katherine lived there for two years and finally found her way to her true vocation. “I am so incredibly thankful for the people of the Diocese of Biloxi who supported me financially and spiritually during those two years at the home,” she said. “It was during my time there that I first met a Consecrated Virgin and began to learn more about this vocation.” At first, she was curious, but not ready to commit. Katherine moved back home and began researching and discerning Consecrated Virginity. “It was well known that I had gone to a discernment home to pursue religious life,” said Katherine. “Several religious and priests in the diocese approached me and asked if I had considered the vocation of Consecrated Virginity. Each time I quickly said, “Yes, I discerned it, and it’s not for me.” But privately, she continued praying, asking Jesus if He was calling her to it. Since there are no Consecrated Virgins in Mississippi, she participated in a virtual discernment retreat to meet women who were living this vocation and gain insight into their lives. “I began to realize that everything they were saying was resonating with me,” she recalls. “It excited me yet terrified me!” In June 2022, Katherine made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, led by Father Braxton. Before leaving the U.S., she prayed that this trip would help her know God’s will for her life. Katherine describes how that prayer was answered. “As we arrived at the site of the Annunciation, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace,” she said. “I asked the Blessed Mother to intercede for me, so that I could say yes just as she did. I told God that I was completely surrendering to Him and that I would do whatever He asked. I told Jesus that I was His and that I loved Him. In that exact moment, the bells for the Angelus rang. I sobbed and could barely get the words out as we prayed together as a group. Throughout the pilgrimage, I kept hearing Jesus say, ‘The time has come. I love you. The time has come for you to be my Bride.’” Almost a year later, Katherine attended a Consecration. “As the Candidate for Consecrated Virginity walked down the aisle, I could see myself as her!” she said. “I sobbed and wept the whole time. The Rite was so beautiful and intricate, and it expressed my very own heart! I knew it was time to apply.” While attending the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Katherine met many Candidates and Consecrated Virgins in person, and has been able to stay in touch with some of them. When Chris began to consider the priesthood seriously, he contacted that same priest who had called him out in Theology class. “I went to him for advice,” said Chris. “And he walked with me through my discernment.” Chris’s decision to enter seminary straight out of high school came as a surprise to his family and friends. “It was something that I had never really shown interest in before, so they were surprised,” he said. “They have all been very supportive, though.” If he hadn’t gone to seminary, Chris figures he probably would have gone to Southern Miss with all of his friends. To study what? He has no idea! There have been times when Chris was scared that he wasn’t good enough to be a priest. “I’ve questioned if I will be holy enough or prepared enough to fulfill all of the duties of the priesthood,” he said. “But seeing how much I’ve grown throughout my time in seminary has been a great surprise. I trust that the Lord will provide what I need.” Seminary allows men to live in community, studying, discerning, and praying with other men who are also striving for holiness. “Since being in seminary, I have grown substantially both in my spiritual life and all around as a Catholic man. My desire to serve God as a priest has also grown, and I’ve been able to see myself in the role.” Chris is nearing the end of his seminary journey. He teaches in a local high school and enjoys being able to share what he has learned with the students. “It has been really cool to put into practice all that I have learned throughout my time in seminary,” he said. “In my ministry as a priest, I hope to save as many souls as possible! I hope to help people come to know that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that will fulfill them. He is the only one who can bring true healing and peace to their heart.” The Anima Christi is Chris’s favorite prayer, and when it’s sung, his favorite hymn. He prays it every day after Mass. He still enjoys watching and playing sports, especially golf and disc golf these days. He is very thankful for the people of the Diocese of Biloxi and all of the ways you have supported him and will continue to support him. “Please continue to pray that I will be a holy priest,” he asks. “I can’t wait to serve you as a priest in a couple of years!” To any young man who is seeking a deeper purpose or has had a thought of being a priest, Chris has sound advice. “Trust the desire that the Lord has put on your heart,” he says. “Commit to a daily routine of prayer and frequent reception of the Sacraments. If the desire remains or grows, take the next step and pursue it more seriously.” Katherine wholeheartedly agrees. “I encourage anyone feeling a tug to the religious life or consecrated virginity to frequent the Sacraments as much as possible, surrender each day and your lives to God, and spend time in prayer,” she advises. “If the nudge increases, reach out to the Vocations Office so that we can provide resources and walk with you in your discernment. Do not be afraid.” Katherine also encourages parents to pray for their children to have the courage to say yes to whatever vocation God might be inviting them into. “Parents, support your children in their discernment,” she advises. “If they come to you and say they want to enter the seminary or convent, support them and walk with them. The greatest gifts my parents ever gave me were their saying yes to giving me life, and giving me their love and support in my discernment.” Katherine shares this inspiring quote by St. Augustine: “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him the greatest achievement.” Vocations Inspirations From page 9 Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi
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