Gulf Pine Catholic • March 13, 2026 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) March 13, 2026 Volume 43, Issue 12 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 MARCH 27— News copy and photos: Due MARCH 17, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due MARCH 17, 10 a.m. March 13 Diocese of Biloxi Youth -15 Conference, MS Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, Biloxi March 14 Mass for Father Mike Somers’s 40th Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Gulfport, 4 p.m. March 17 Foundation Meeting, Pastoral Center, Biloxi, 3 p.m. March 18 Confirmation, St. Fabian Parish, Hattiesburg, 6 p.m. March 19 St. Joseph Altar Blessing & Lunch, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 11:30 a.m. March 19 Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Gulfport, 6 p.m. March 21 Mass & Rite of Lector/ Reader for Deacon Candidates, Kelley Retreat Center at St. Augustine, Bay St. Louis, 5 p.m. March 22 Mass & Lunch, Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula, 10:30 a.m. March 24 Mass, Region V Youth Directors Conference, Sacred Heart Retreat Center, Dedeaux, 9 a.m. March 25 Confirmation, St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, White Cypress, 6 p.m. March 26 Finance Council Meeting, Pastoral Center, Biloxi, 2 p.m. March 28 Confirmation, Sacred Heart Parish -- Hispanic Community, Hattiesburg, 10 a.m. March 29 Palm Sunday Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 11 a.m. March 31 Chrism Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 10:30 a.m. BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” -- Galatians 3:27 Jesus asks us to follow His word, and as we do, we open ourselves to the love of the Father and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. As we continue our journey through this holy season of Lent, it is good to recall the moment we first “put on” Jesus -- at our baptism. At baptism, we made a profession of faith or our parents made a profession of faith on our behalf, and the Easter water, the water of the Resurrection, was poured over us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:19). That was our first encounter with Jesus Christ -- an encounter with the gift of God’s grace poured into our lives. St. Paul tells us that through baptism, we “put on Christ” (cf. Romans 13:14). The white garment given at baptism symbolizes being cleansed from original sin and “shows that the newly baptized have put on Christ and have risen with Him” (CCC 1243), and are placed on the path toward God and heaven. As we journey through Lent, we would be wise to take seriously St. Paul’s words about what it means to put on Christ. Each time we renew our baptismal promises or receive the Sacraments, we are, in a sense, clothing ourselves once again with that white garment -- embracing our identity as God’s beloved children. The white garment, like the vestments worn by bishops, priests, and deacons, is a visible reminder that we are called to open ourselves to grace, to be a people filled with the virtues of heaven. St. Paul calls us to embrace peace, patience, kindness, compassion, and gentleness -- and to put on love above all these virtues (cf. Colossians 3:12–14). This is the life we are invited to live each day -- in our families, at work, at school, in our parishes, and wherever God places us. We are to be living signs of Christ’s love to the world. We are also invited to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs -- lifting our hearts in praise to God, entering deeply Bishop Kihneman “Put on Christ”: Living the Grace of Baptism through Lent into prayer, and celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (cf. Colossians 3:16). In doing so, we open ourselves again to the love of Jesus present in His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. It is Jesus in Holy Communion who strengthens us to live out these virtues, to practice these graces, and to bring His presence into the world -- to our families, workplaces, schools, and parishes. During this Lenten season and beyond, let us pray for the grace to truly put on Christ -- to receive Him into our hearts and souls so fully that we may bear Him to the world in all we do. And let us hold in prayer all those preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 SEE BISHOP’S SPANISH COLUMN, PAGE 4 Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule
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