Volume 43, Issue 13 www.gulfpinecatholic.com March 27, 2026 Gulf Pine Catholic Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Biloxi Pascagoula-born Josephite Father William Norvel, 13th Superior General, dies at 90 BY TERRY DICKSON The Very Rev. William Norvel, S.S.J., a Pascagoula native who became a pioneering leader among Black Catholic clergy in the United States and later served as the 13th Superior General of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, died Sunday, March 8. He was 90. Father Norvel was remembered not only for his leadership in the United States but also for mentoring young men in Nigeria, helping to nurture a new generation of priests to continue the Josephite mission. Ordained to the priesthood in 1965, Father Norvel spent more than five decades serving Black Catholic communities across the United States as a pastor, teacher, author, and liturgical leader. Born in Pascagoula, MS, he maintained strong ties to his hometown throughout his life, including serving as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. In 2011, Father Norvel made history when he was elected the 13th Superior General of the Josephites, becoming the first African American to lead the religious community of priests dedicated primarily to ministry among African American Catholics. He was widely known for his leadership during the Black Catholic Movement, helping to foster the incorporation of African American spiritual traditions into Catholic worship. Father Norvel traveled extensively across the country, assisting parishes in establishing gospel choirs and strengthening vibrant liturgical life. He also helped shape the landmark hymnal Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal, a resource that continues to enrich Catholic worship today. Father Norvel’s ministry extended internationally as well. He helped establish a Josephite house of formation in Nigeria, where he guided more than 40 seminarians during his seven years there, helping to prepare priests who continue to serve in the United States and abroad. One of the seminarians he mentored there was Father Joseph Benjamin, who first met him in 2000 at the Josephite formation house in Nigeria. “He was more than a teacher,” Father Benjamin said. “He was a father, a mentor, and a guide. He made everyone feel welcome and made each person feel important.” Father Benjamin said Father Norvel’s influence was also felt in parish life, particularly through liturgical music and youth ministry. “He helped bring gospel choirs into the Church and was instrumental in shaping the hymnal Lead Me, Guide Me,” Father Benjamin said. “He touched lives not only here in the United States but also in Nigeria.” Father Benjamin also recalled spending his first vacation in Pascagoula at Father Norvel’s invitation. “The people welcomed me as one of their own,” he said. “From that moment, Pascagoula became like a home to me. I spent every vacation there until I was ordained.” Father Kingsley Ogbuji, S.S.J., pastor of Corpus Christi-Epiphany Parish in New Orleans, said Father Norvel played a pivotal role in his own vocation and early formation in the Josephite community. “Father Norvel was actually the Superior General when I entered the Josephites,” Father Ogbuji said. “He personally welcomed me into the community, and I came to know him as a man of great warmth, humility, and a truly good heart.” He recalled one of his earliest experiences with Father Norvel as especially formative. “Shortly after I joined, he took me on a trip from Washington, D.C., down through the South,” he said. “As Superior General, he personally drove me to Josephite parishes in places like New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama. Along the way, he didn’t just show me the parishes -- he shared their history, offering details and stories about each one.” “That experience really ignited a fire in me to become a Josephite,” Father Ogbuji said. “His focus was always on the poor and those who are struggling, and he was constantly thinking of ways to support and uplift them. That is the man I came to know in Father Bill Norvel, and I remain deeply grateful for his leadership of the Josephites.” SEE FATHER NORVEL OBIT, PAGE 8 Josephite Father William Norvel relates the story of the Good Samaritan to children at St. Francis Xavier Church in Baltimore July 12, 1998. Days before he had to come to the aid of a woman who was shot just outside the doors of the church. Father Norvel, a forceful voice for Black Catholic identity who spent more than six decades challenging the institutional church to live up to its claim of being universal, died at age 90 March 8. OSV News photo/Denise Walker, Catholic Review file
2 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 Diocese of Biloxi Bulletin Board DIOCESAN EVENTS Is God calling you to more?: If you feel a nudge to grow deeper in your faith or lead more intentionally, the New Wine Program may be for you. This renewed diocesan formation experience invites both new participants & past graduates to be equipped as missionary disciples who walk with others toward Christ. The next cohort begins August 2026; applications are open through May 31. Learn more and apply at: www.biloxidiocese.org/new-wine. Foster Parent Support Group: Catholic Charities of South Misssissippi is holding a Foster Parent Support Group series Mon., April 13-May 4, 6 p.m., located at 1450 North St., Gulfport. This series entitled Stronger Together is a four-part series covering understanding trauma and attachment, supporting challenging behaviors, preventing burnout and building a support system, and a Self Care Social. Babysitting is available. Registration is required by April 6 or go to www.gulfpinecatholic-org Calendar and using the QR code. PARISH EVENTS Catholic in Recovery growing at Most Holy Trinity: Catholic in Recovery is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to serving those suffering from addictions & unhealthy attachments, including alcoholism, drug addiction, pornography addiction, sex & relationship addiction, compulsive overeating & food addictions, gambling addiction, codependency & its impact on family life, as well as struggles with fear, control, & anxiety. Catholic in Recovery has been meeting every Tues. evening at Most Holy Trinity in Pass Christian since July 2025. These confidential gatherings offer a safe, supportive environment for individuals seeking freedom & lasting healing through mutual care, prayer, & the Sacraments in a twelvestep format. Catholic in Recovery leaves no doubt concerning our Higher Power, Jesus Christ, in an unabashedly Catholic program. We incorporate the Mass readings, the Saints, Mary, & liturgical Calendar into the meetings. Anyone in need of healing & support is invited to attend. Through God’s grace, participants at Most Holy Trinity have begun achieving long-term sobriety discovering renewed faith, restored relationships, & a new path forward. Please contact Ryan Done at (901) 5157650 or ryan.done@mhtcatholic.org for more info. Cancellation of First Saturday Devotion in April: We will NOT have First Saturday Devotion at St. Mary Church in Woolmarket on April 4 since Holy Saturday, a day of waiting & anticipation of the Resurrection, falls on First Saturday this year. The Church does not permit morning Mass on Holy Saturday. We will resume First Saturday Devotion on May 2. You may fulfill the requirements of First Saturday Devotion as requested by Our Lady of Fatima by attending the Saturday Vigil Mass or Mass on Easter Sunday. You may go to Confession eight days before or eight days after First Saturday Devotion. All the other requirements may be done privately. We look forward to seeing you at our First Saturday Devotion on May 2! Drawdown Fundraiser: Join Stella Maris Explorers for our Second Annual Drawdown Fundraiser, April 10, 6:3010 p.m., at the D’Iberville Community Center, a lively evening supporting innovative education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Stella Maris Explorers offers a unique model of art, faith, & hands-on science enrichment where homeschool students build community while exploring creativity & discovery. Last year’s event launched the Luminous Lending Library, providing local educators free access to highquality science, art, & faith activity kits. This year’s fundraiser will help expand these resources & move us closer to our dream of a nonprofit art & science event center for the Gulf Coast. Come enjoy dinner, drinks, music, dancing, & a chance to win big while supporting a brighter future for local students. Ages 21+. Grace & Grits: Step into a space of renewal, strength, & sisterhood. You are invited to experience Grace & Grits: Reclaiming Your Power Through Faith women’s day event April 11, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, 216 Saucier Ave., Pass Christian. Breakfast & lunch will be served. Attendance is open to ladies ages 14 & up, participants under 18 must be accompanied by adult. To register, contact Bea Mitchell (901) 8575851 or email Chantelnormand@gmail. com. Registration is free but donation will be appreciated. Proceeds go to St. Catherines Catholic Church in Indonesia. Holy Infant of Good Health Feast Day & Festival: Join St. Ann Church, Clermont Harbor, April 22-26, for 3 days of prayer to the Holy Infant of Good Health, each evening beginning at 6 p.m. On Sun., April 26, for the Holy Infant’s Feast Day Celebration, 12:45 p.m. At the festival, food, music, and a pinata are available. For more info, call 228-332-3622. SCHOOL EVENTS New applications & re-enrollment open: St. Patrick Catholic High School is now accepting new student applications & re-enrollment for current families! Apply now to secure your spot for the upcoming school year at St. Patrick before space fills up! Visit stpatrickhighschool.net/apply to apply today. Summer Camps: Register today for St. Patrick Catholic High School’s Summer Camps. Led, organized, & delivered by their award-winning faculty, coaches, & staff, the summer camps continue their mission even outside of the traditional academic year. For more info, go to secure.qgiv.com/ for/spsummercamps/event/spsummercamps2026/. St. Ann Parish (Clermont Harbor) 5858 Lower Bay Road, Bay St. Louis Palm Sunday: Vigil 4 p.m.; Sunday 8:45 a.m. Holy Thursday: Mass of Lord’s Supper 5:30 p.m., Eucharistic Procession, Eucharist Adoration after Mass Good Friday: Lord’s Passion 3 p.m., Stations of Cross celebrated after Holy Saturday: 7 p.m. Easter Sunday: Holy Family Church 7 a.m.; St. Ann’s 8:35 a.m. St. Joseph Chapel 5383 Highway 604, Pearlington Palm Sunday: 10:45 a.m. Easter Sunday: 10:35 a.m. Holy Week Schedules Prayer for Vocations God our Father, We thank you for calling men and women to serve in Your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to Your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 3 Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) March 27, 2026 Volume 43, Issue 13 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 APRIL 10 — News copy and photos: Due MARCH 31, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due MARCH 21, 10 a.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. April 2 Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 6 p.m. April 3 Veneration of the Cross, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 3 p.m. April 4 Easter Vigil, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 8 p.m. April 6-10 Bishops Retreat April 11 Confirmation, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point, includes St. Ann, 4 p.m. April 12 Confirmation, Holy Family Parish, Holy Family, Pass Christian, 5 p.m. BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi What a grace-filled time it is for those being received into the Church and for those being baptized. Throughout the Lenten season, we have prayed for our Catechumens and Candidates, trusting that God, in His love, will lead them to the Easter Vigil and full communion with the Catholic Church. And that is truly what we celebrate at the Easter Vigil: the love of Jesus Christ that draws us together and makes us new (cf. John 12:32). At the Easter Vigil, we begin in darkness -- a powerful reminder of the world before Christ (cf. Isaiah 9:2). Without Him, we walk in shadow. But with His coming, light breaks forth (cf. John 8:12). The Easter candle, the candle of the Resurrection, stands among us as a sign of Christ crucified and risen (cf. Revelation 1:17-18). Marked by the wounds of His Passion (cf. John 20:27) and radiant with resurrection light, it proclaims the victory of life over death (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). As we enter the church, we hear the great story of salvation unfold. In the Book of Genesis, we are reminded that God created each of us out of love (cf. Genesis 1:27; Wisdom 11:24). Your very existence is an expression of that love. Even now, God continues to bring us into being in a Bishop Kihneman Drawn from Darkness into Light: The Gift of New Life in Christ personal and profound way (cf. Psalm 139:13–14). In Exodus, we hear of God delivering His people from oppression (cf. Exodus 14:13–14). This is not only history -- it is our story. We, too, experience forms of bondage, not only from the world around us but from our own sinfulness (cf. Romans 3:23). Yet Jesus comes to deliver us, to free us, and to give us life (cf. John 10:10; Luke 4:18). As some are baptized, we witness a powerful symbol of that new life. Whether by immersion or the pouring of water, baptism unites us with Christ. As St. Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans, we are baptized into Christ’s death so that we may rise with Him to new life (cf. Romans 6:3-4). Our old selves are buried (cf. Colossians 2:12), and we emerge renewed -- just as Christ rose from the tomb. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God longs for a relationship with us (cf. Isaiah 55:1–3; Isaiah 54:10). He desires to share His love with us each day (cf. Jeremiah 31:3). In response, we are called to be a people of prayer (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17), a people rooted in the Word (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16–17), and a people nourished by the Eucharist (cf. John 6:51). In the Gospel of St. Matthew, we hear the proclamation of the Resurrection (cf. Matthew 28:5-6). For weeks, we have reflected on Christ’s suffering and death (cf. Philippians 2:8). Now, we rejoice in His rising, the source of our hope and our life (cf. 1 Peter 1:3). A young student once asked me, “How many times have you met Jesus?” My answer was simple: many times. We encounter Him in every sacrament. In baptism, we are reborn (cf. John 3:5). In confirmation, we receive the Spirit of the Resurrection (cf.Acts 1:8). In the Eucharist, Christ gives Himself to us -- His Body and Blood, risen and alive (cf. Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). In the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, husbands and wives are called to love each other as Christ loves His church (Ephesians 5:23:32); and similarly, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the deacons, priests, and bishops love Christ, and love his spouse, the Church. We meet Him, too, in reconciliation, where He offers mercy and forgiveness when we fall (cf. John 20:22-23). In the anointing of the sick, He comes with healing power (cf. James 5:14-15) -- the same power that restored sight to the blind (cf. Mark 10:46-52), healed the suffering (cf. Mark 5:25-34), and raised Lazarus from the dead (cf. John 11:43-44). This is the Jesus who loves us, who seeks us, and who never abandons us (cf. Romans 8:38-39). SEE BISHOP’S COLUMN, PAGE 4
4 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 POR EL OBISPO LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Obispo de Biloxi ¡Qué tiempo lleno de gracia es para aquellos que son recibidos en la Iglesia y para los que se bautizan! Durante toda la temporada de Cuaresma, hemos orado por nuestros catecúmenos y candidatos, confiando en que Dios, en Su amor, los guiará hacia la Vigilia Pascual y la plena comunión con la Iglesia Católica. Y eso es verdaderamente lo que celebramos en la Vigilia Pascual: el amor de Jesucristo que nos une y nos renueva (cf. Juan 12:32). En la Vigilia Pascual, comenzamos en la oscuridad, un poderoso recordatorio del mundo antes de Cristo (cf. Isaías 9:2). Sin Él, caminamos en sombras. Pero con Su venida, la luz irrumpe (cf. Juan 8:12). La vela pascual, la vela de la Resurrección, se encuentra entre nosotros como signo de Cristo crucificado y resucitado (cf. Apocalipsis 1:17-18). Marcada por las heridas de Su Pasión (cf. Juan 20:27) y radiante con la luz de la resurrección, proclama la victoria de la vida sobre la muerte (cf. 1 Corintios 15:54-57). Al entrar en la iglesia, escuchamos desarrollarse la gran historia de la salvación. En el Libro del Génesis, se nos recuerda que Dios nos creó a cada uno por amor (cf. Génesis 1:27; Sabiduría 11:24). Nuestra propia existencia es una expresión de ese amor. Incluso ahora, Dios continúa dándonos vida de una manera personal y profunda (cf. Salmo 139:13-14). En el Éxodo, escuchamos cómo Dios libera a Su pueblo de la opresión (cf. Éxodo 14:13-14). Esto no es solo historia: es nuestra historia. Nosotros también experimentamos formas de esclavitud, no solo del mundo que nos rodea, sino de nuestra propia pecaminosidad (cf. Romanos 3:23). Sin embargo, Jesús viene a liberarnos, a darnos vida (cf. Juan 10:10; Lucas 4:18). Cuando algunos son bautizados, somos testigos de un símbolo poderoso de esa nueva vida. Ya sea por inmersión o por el derramamiento del agua, el Obispo Kihneman bautismo nos une a Cristo. Como escribe San Pablo en su Carta a los Romanos, somos bautizados en la muerte de Cristo para que podamos resucitar con Él a la vida nueva (cf. Romanos 6:3-4). Nuestro viejo yo es sepultado (cf. Colosenses 2:12), y emergemos renovados, tal como Cristo resucitó del sepulcro. El profeta Isaías nos recuerda que Dios anhela una relación con nosotros (cf. Isaías 55:1–3; Isaías 54:10). Él desea compartir Su amor con nosotros cada día (cf. Jeremías 31:3). En respuesta, estamos llamados a ser un pueblo de oración (cf. 1 Tesalonicenses 5:17), un pueblo arraigado en la Palabra (cf. 2 Timoteo 3:16-17), y un pueblo alimentado por la Eucaristía (cf. Juan 6:51). En el Evangelio de San Mateo, escuchamos la proclamación de la Resurrección (cf. Mateo 28:5-6). Durante semanas hemos reflexionado sobre el sufrimiento y la muerte de Cristo (cf. Filipenses 2:8). Ahora, nos regocijamos en Su resurrección, fuente de nuestra esperanza y nuestra vida (cf. 1 Pedro 1:3). Un joven estudiante me preguntó una vez: “¿Cuántas veces has encontrado a Jesús?” Mi respuesta fue sencilla: muchas veces. Lo encontramos en cada sacramento. En el bautismo, renacemos (cf. Juan 3:5). En la confirmación, recibimos el Espíritu de la Resurrección (cf. Hechos 1:8). En la Eucaristía, Cristo se nos da a sí mismo -- Su Cuerpo y Sangre, resucitado y vivo (cf. Lucas 22:19-20; 1 Corintios 11:23-26). En el Sacramento del Matrimonio, esposos y esposas son llamados a amarse mutuamente como Cristo ama a Su Iglesia (Efesios 5:23-32); de manera similar, a través del Sacramento del Orden Sagrado, los diáconos, sacerdotes y obispos aman a Cristo y a Su Esposa, la Iglesia. También Lo encontramos en la reconciliación, donde ofrece misericordia y perdón cuando caemos (cf. Juan 20:22-23). En la unción de los enfermos, viene con poder sanador (cf. Santiago 5:14-15), el mismo poder que dio vista a los ciegos (cf. Marcos 10:46-52), sanó a los sufrientes (cf. Marcos 5:25-34) y resucitó a Lázaro de entre los muertos (cf. Juan 11:43-44). Este es el Jesús que nos ama, que nos busca y que nunca nos abandona (cf. Romanos 8:38–39). Lo que celebramos en la Pascua no es simplemente un evento del pasado, sino una realidad viva. Cristo ha resucitado, y nos invita a cada uno a Su vida (cf. Apocalipsis 3:20). Nos llama a caminar con Él (cf. Miqueas 6:8), a crecer en Su amor (cf. Efesios 3:17-19) y a acercarnos cada vez más a la promesa del cielo (cf. Juan 14:2-3). Que podamos acoger ese llamado con corazones abiertos. Que caminemos de la mano con Cristo, atraídos cada vez más profundamente a Su amor, hasta encontrarlo plenamente en las puertas del cielo. Amén. La Vigilia Pascual es la “madre de todas las vigilias” y la “más grande y noble de todas las solemnidades” (Misal Romano EV 2). ¡Si no has experimentado la Vigilia Pascual, te animo encarecidamente a hacerlo! Sacados de la Oscuridad a la Luz: El Don de la Nueva Vida en Cristo Bishop’s Column From page 3 What we celebrate at Easter is not simply an event of the past, but a living reality. Christ is risen, and He invites each of us into His life (cf. Revelation 3:20). He calls us to walk with Him (cf. Micah 6:8), to grow in His love (cf. Ephesians 3:17-19), and to move ever closer to the promise of heaven (cf. John 14:2-3). May we embrace that call with open hearts. May we walk hand in hand with Christ, drawn ever deeper into His love, until we meet Him fully at the gates of heaven. Amen. The Easter Vigil is the “mother of all vigils” and the “greatest and most noble of all solemnities” (Roman Missal EV 2) -- if you have not experienced the Easter Vigil, I strongly encourage you to do so!
Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 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. Digni ed. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Transformed By a Dare -- Story: The Archbishop of Paris told the story of three young men who visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. On a dare, one of them entered the confessional and made a false confession to the priest. Not fooled by the arrogant atheist, the priest gave him an unusual penance: “Stand in front of the crucifix in the sanctuary, look into the eyes of Jesus, and say three times, ‘All this you did for me, and I don’t give a damn.’” The young man and his friends entered the sanctuary. “Might as well carry the dare through,” he told the others. However, as he looked into Jesus’ eyes, he struggled to find his voice. He announced, “All this you did for me, and I don’t give a damn.” The second time, his voice faltered as he repeated the phrase. But the third time, overwhelmed with sorrow, his voice failed him completely. He returned to the priest and made a sincere confession. Later, that same young man became a priest and then became the Archbishop of Paris. Whether driven by a dare, love, desperate need, or the desire to experience the fullness of life that only God can provide, only a fool would refuse the offer of new life given through the Church Jesus founded (Matthew 16:13-20). Fools say in their heart, “There is no God” -- Psalms 14:1 and 53:1. Rouse the Weary: “The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue that I might speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” (Isaiah 50:4). Today’s first reading from Isaiah is the third of four “Servant of the Lord” oracles. The “Suffering Servant,” despised and mistreated by his persecutors, experienced the Lord’s mercy and victory. Although we may experience physical suffering, emotional stress, or hurt from those we love, we do not carry these burdens alone. Jesus knows every tear, heartache, loss, or pain we have ever felt, and walks with us through our trials, transforming despair into hope. Therefore, we can speak to those in despair with the courage of the Lord’s prophetic voice. My God, My God, Why? Psalm 22 is a lament of someone in dire distress. Jesus prayed this Psalm just before He died on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” From pain and suffering, the Psalm shifts to thanksgiving, praise, and action. “I will proclaim your name in the assembly; I will praise you.” Some may think it disrespectful to rail at God when in distress, but the Psalms contain laments from faithful believers in need of God’s help. Here are a few in case you need them. Psalms 3, 27, 31, 62, 70, 91, 124. Jesus chose: InGethsemane’s Garden, Jesus said, “My soul is sorrowful even to death,” then cried out in prayer, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as you will.” When soldiers came to arrest Him, Jesus stopped Peter from using a sword and refused to call down legions of angels for His defense. Instead, motivated by love and the desire to fulfill the Father’s will, He chose to endure suffering and death (Matthew 26:5154). Sincere sacrificial love, when exercised by anyone, transforms the world. Our Model: In our second reading, Paul presents Jesus as the model of Christian behavior, in contrast to worldly values. Jesus was worthy of exaltation but became poor, humbled Himself, and was obedient to the Father. Jesus prayed this model prayer: “Not my will, but your will be done.” If our desire to please God follows Jesus’ example, we will always surrender our will to the Lord. Accordingly, we can then love the Lord and love others unconditionally. Love Conquers: Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, riding a donkey amid shouts of, “Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Knowing that the same crowd would soon shout, “Crucify Him.” He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets (Isaiah, Zechariah) (Matthew 21:1-11). What an excellent solution for those of us who struggle with decisions about morality, faith, forgiveness, and other life issues. Put simply, learn what is the will of the Father through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, apostolic tradition, the teaching magisterium, and the Scriptures, and act accordingly. Even when the crowds turned against Him, Jesus responded with love. On the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34). We should always strive to be like Jesus. Therefore, pray for your persecutors, act mercifully, and forgive without holding grudges. We can be transformed and influence others when our love surpasses all other emotions and actions. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Tennessee. Visit his website: www.homilypearls. com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 Responsorial Psalm: 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66 Palm Sunday Passionate love Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi
6 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 As we enter Holy Week and commemorate the days leading up to and including Jesus’ crucifixion, I want to share a few reflections to ponder from some wise writers: ■ Each Palm Sunday, we recall the image of the crowds praising God and celebrating Jesus as He rode a donkey into Jerusalem. But why did He enter the holy city on an animal considered a “beast of burden” rather than a more regal creature, such as a horse? Writing in The Tablet, the newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, Rita Piro explained, “The horse was the animal of war and violence, adorned with grandeur, ready to do battle among warriors and kings. The lowly donkey…was considered the animal of peace, unity, and friendship. The steady, faithful friend of the common man. Any man, king, or peasant alike who came riding on a donkey was seen as a symbol of gentleness, humility, and service.” Piro continued, “The master has need of us, too. Like the donkey of Palm Sunday, we are all called to carry Jesus to others. The way we act, speak, look, and even think must always reflect Jesus, His ways, and His teachings. Whether or not we consider it a burden to do so is up to us.” ■ In Jesus’ day, people wore sandals as they walked the dirt roads, so their feet quickly became filthy. Washing the feet of a guest in your home, therefore, qualified as a dirty job. Yet washing the feet of the apostles is exactly what Jesus did at the Last Supper, asking, “Do you realize what I have done for you?” So, why would the Savior of the world do such a thing? “What Jesus did stands before us as a defining example of humility and sacrifice, of service and love,” observed Deacon Greg Kandra at TheDeaconsBench. com. “It tells us that to be an apostle of Christ means we must be willing to get down on our knees for another. In one sense, to wash the feet of someone else is to remove the dust and debris and the grit of life -- to cleanse, to renew, to restore. But in a deeper sense, it challenges us to something more. It says the Christian life is not about standing above anyone. It is about bending. Giving. Serving. Restoring newness and hope.” ■ Author and spiritual director Becky Eldredge got a phone call from a friend who had suffered greatly in her life. But on this particular day, this friend conveyed a spirit of hope, saying, “Becky, I had a huge ‘aha’ this morning. It matters to Jesus what I have gone through. Every bit of it. It matters to Jesus.” Writing at IgnatianSpirituality.com, Becky recalled feeling joy for her friend. Becky also thought back to her own ‘aha’ moment while practicing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius some time ago. She said, “As I hear and pray with the moments of Jesus’ suffering during the Lenten season, my understanding of how much Jesus understands suffering widens. He not only gets physical pain, betrayal, and abandonment, but He also understands being misunderstood, what it feels like not to belong, and what it’s like to forgive…There is something that changes in us when we let the wounds of our lives touch the wounds of Jesus. It is as if Jesus were gazing at us with eyes of love and understanding, inviting us to tell Him everything we are seeing and feeling.” Tony Rossi is the radio host/producer for The Christophers. 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. Light One Candle Rossi Reflections for Holy Week Propped up on pillows, ice packs piled on my aching chest, I watched our parish livestream of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. After the painful biopsy earlier that morning, I could not make it to church -- one more loss in an unexpectedly hard Holy Week. Two weeks earlier I had found a lump in my breast. The routine exam turned into a mammogram, then an ultrasound, then the biopsy. That year Lent turned into a physical suffering I carried in my body. During Holy Week, caught in the harrowing in-between, all I had was Christ’s own passion to hold my anxiety and fear. On that Good Friday, my husband had taken our five boys to church alone -- and since our youngest had just turned three (3), we were still firmly frontrow-people: the only pew where we knew our brood had the best chance to pay attention. But the angle of the live-stream camera between the altar and the ambo was also aimed at the front pew. So for the entire solemn service, I watched my beloved family somber-faced without me at their side. Wincing from my incisions, I wrestled with my worst fears: It looked like I was watching my own funeral. My bereaved spouse. My motherless children. Needless to say, I wept through that Good Friday. Holy Saturday brought extra weight as we waited for the biopsy results. Even Easter felt hard that year -- especially when Easter Monday brought the news that the tumor was cancer. How could I rejoice when I felt my own mortality breathing down my neck? Three years later, cancer-free and preparing for another Easter on the horizon, I look back on that hardest Holy Week with unexpected perspective. Not a blithe and bright “everything happens for a reason” cliche. But a bone-deep gratitude for a faith that never shies away from the hardest parts of living, that embraces Christ’s own suffering as a transformation of our grief and loss. There is nowhere we can go that God has not gone before us. This Lent has felt extra Lenty, personally and communally. In my home state of Minnesota, friends and neighbors are still reeling from unexpected chaos, suffering, fear and violence. Our world has once again descended into the chaos of war. At home, my own list of petitions runs long and hard: a couple struggling with infertility, parents and children estranged because of mental illness, families grieving for grandparents and a community suffering from the latest gun violence. Nearly every day I pray the same plaintive plea: “How long, O Lord?” Yet the reality of resurrection remains the bedrock of my faith. Our family, our home and our hopes are built on this firm ground. I will not let seasons of suffering define who we are forever. As St. John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.” Christ’s suffering and dying transform our own, but it is His rising that gives us eternal life. No matter how long our seasons of Lent stretch, Easter is waiting for us. In the years when life becomes extra Lenty, the gift of the Triduum becomes even more clear. As a Church we enter completely into the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. We hold nothing back. All our personal losses and griefs are gathered into Christ’s embrace on the cross -- only to be transformed by the astonishing joy of Easter morning. If this Lent, this year, or what feels like your whole lifetime has been hard and heavy, may you and those you love find hope in the promise of what Holy Week holds. When everything looks like death, God is already at work to bring new life. Even the longest Lents pale in comparison to the stunning light that Easter brings. Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker and founder of Mothering Spirit. Her latest book is “Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection.” She writes the “Faith at Home” column for Catholic News Service. OSV News photo photo/courtesy Laura Kelly Fanucci Guest Columnist Fanucci When Lent is extra Lenty, you need Holy Week even more
Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 7 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 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. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI JOB OPENING MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST Catholic Charities of South Mississippi is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Mental Health Therapist to join our team. The ideal candidate will provide high-quality mental health services including individual therapy, family therapy, group counseling, and community outreach. This position requires a commitment to serving others with dignity and respect while upholding the mission and values of Catholic Charities of South Mississippi and the teachings of the Catholic Church. To see full job posting and qualifications visit: catholiccharitiesofsouthms.org/counseling-program. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Bethel Free Health Clinic in Biloxi is in immediate need of volunteers to assist with data entry and records management. On-the-job training is available. Clinic days and hours are Tues./Thurs., 8 -11 a.m. For more information or to volunteer, please call (228) 594-3640 or email bethelkatclinic@gmail.com. Communion of faithful, not just clergy, shares role in safeguarding faith, pope says Pope Leo XIV greets a child from the popemobile while riding around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience March 18. CNS photo/Lola Gomez BY JOSEPHINE PETERSON Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- All baptized Christians share in the Church’s mission and, guided by the Holy Spirit, are fit for renewing and building up the Church, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience. Every person who has been baptized is called to bear witness to Christ, and the whole Church, beyond its leaders, has a role in preserving the truth of the faith, the pope said March 18 in St. Peter’s Square. Continuing his series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council, the pope focused on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (“Lumen Gentium”), and the participation of the lay faithful in Jesus Christ’s “priestly, prophetic and royal offices,” that is, the offices of teaching, sanctifying and governing. Everyone enters the Church as a layperson, he said. Through Baptism and Confirmation, the faithful are “more perfectly bound to the Church” and are endowed “with special strength” by the Holy Spirit, so that they are “more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith, both by word and by deed, as true witnesses of Christ,” he said, quoting the document. “This consecration is at the root of the common mission that unites the ordained ministries and the lay faithful,” Pope Leo said. In fact, everyone is called to bear witness to the truth of the faith. The Doctrinal Commission of the Council specified that the sense of faith “belongs to individual believers not in their own right, but as members of the People of God as a whole,” the pope said. The function of the Holy Spirit is to lead Christians to the truth, and because the entire body of the faithful is anointed by “the holy one,” he said, “the Church, therefore, as the communion of the faithful -- which naturally includes the pastors -- cannot err in matters of faith.” “From this unity, which the Magisterium of the Church safeguards, it follows that every baptized person is an active agent of evangelization, called to bear consistent witness to Christ in accordance with the prophetic gift which the Lord bestows upon His whole Church,” he said. The Holy Spirit, who comes from the Risen Christ, he said, distributes”special graces” among all the faithful, who are then able to contribute to the renewal and building of the Church. “Dear friends, let us rekindle in ourselves the awareness of and gratitude for having received the gift of being part of God’s people; and also the responsibility that this entails,” he said.
8 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 Father Dominic Njoku, S.S.J., pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, said he first encountered Father Norvel during his own formation. “I first got to know Father Norvel in 2012 when I was admitted to the formation program,” Father Njoku said. “He was there -- very humble -- speaking to us about the community and the great need to serve.” Father Njoku recalled a moment that left a lasting impression during his philosophy studies. “One experience that really stayed with me was when he came back to visit us,” he said. “He attended one of our choir rehearsals, where I was singing the Responsorial Psalm. For the first time -- and I think the only time -- a superior or formator asked me, ‘Can I correct you?’ I was surprised, and so were the other brothers.” After the rehearsal, Father Norvel offered gentle guidance. “After I finished, he gently offered his correction,” Father Njoku said. “It completely shifted the tone and improved the sound. That moment left a deep impression on me.” He said Father Norvel’s humility defined his approach to ministry and leadership. “He was a very humble man, always ready to listen,” Father Njoku said. “He never turned anyone away. Whenever brothers came to him with questions or needed clarification, he was always willing to help, pouring out his heart in his mission.” Father Njoku also offered words of consolation to Father Norvel’s family. “To his family, I know this is a difficult time of grief,” he said. “But I encourage them to reflect on the good he was able to do -- how he served God and saw Christ in those he ministered to. He traveled to many places, both within this country and beyond, all for the sake of Jesus.” “I hope that brings them some consolation: that he served Jesus faithfully, and now he is with Him,” Father Njoku said. Andrew “Jackie” Elly, former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver and a parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, remembered Father Norvel as a powerful spiritual leader and community builder. Elly himself had been the 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver -- mirroring Father Norvel’s role as the 13th Superior General of the Josephites. “He was a dedicated man of God and to his mission as a priest,” Elly said. “He was strong in that he Father Norvel Obit From page 1 fought for African American participation in the Church. I remember conversations with him when he visited -- back in the early ’70s, when we still had the old church. He came and brought gospel music to St. Peter’s. He created the gospel choir and introduced songs and hymns we had never heard before, and he got more people involved. To me, he was a galvanizer.” “Wherever he went, he brought people together, and people supported him in most places he went,” Elly said. Elly also recalled a story Father Norvel shared from his early priesthood. “I remember a story he told me about when he first became a priest,” Elly said. “His first assignment was in Natchez, MS. He spoke out in favor of the African American community, and he had to leave in the middle of the night because he was afraid someone -- like the Klan -- might harm him.” Elly said Father Norvel served as a role model for many. “I think he’s a role model,” he said. “While we only had one other person go into the priesthood -- Bishop Fisher -- he was still a role model. He also inspired several nuns. Wherever he went, people felt the Spirit. That’s what he gave to this parish -- the Spirit.” He also remembered Father Norvel’s determination in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “I remember after Hurricane Katrina, when he came back,” Elly said. “I was one of the first people to see him. A cousin of mine and I were looking at the damage to the church when he arrived, looked around, and said, ‘Jackie, we’ve got to get this ready for church Sunday.’ “We took chairs out of the rectory and set them up between the destroyed church and the rectory, and we had Mass outside,” Elly said. “He was determined not to miss a beat, and we never missed a Sunday. After that, we moved to the east side of the church under a big tent, because more people came than you could imagine. When people heard we were having Mass, they came.” In a statement, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III said Father Norvel’s ministry left a lasting impact on the Church. “Father William Norvel served the Church with deep faith, dedication, and pastoral care,” Bishop Kihneman said. “A native son of Pascagoula, he was a source of great pride for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and for the many communities he served throughout his priesthood.” Bishop Kihneman also noted Father Norvel’s role in mentoring future clergy. “Father Norvel also played an important role in the formation and mentoring of priests, including assisting in the formation of priests from Nigeria who would go on to serve the Church in the United States and beyond,” the bishop said. “His leadership, commitment to uplifting African American Catholic spirituality, and dedication to forming future priests will continue to inspire the faithful for generations to come.” Father Norvel’s funeral Mass was held on March 26 at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, with burial following at the parish cemetery. Josephite Father William L. Norvel, pictured in an undated photo, was the first African-American to lead the Baltimorebased St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart. Father Norvel, a forceful voice for Black Catholic identity who spent more than six decades challenging the institutional church to live up to its claim of being universal, died at age 90 March. OSV News file photo DEADLINE NOTICE News deadline for the April 10 issue is 4 p.m., Tues., March 31; ads are due by 10 a.m., Tues, March 31. Email news items & photos to tdickson@biloxidiocese.org. Please include a daytime phone number on all submissions. Questions? Call 228-702-2109 or 228-702-2127.
Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 9 Confirmation 2026 St. Michael Parish, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish, Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III confirmed the following Confirmandi from St. Michael Parish, Blessed Seelos, Our Mother of Sorrows and Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, on March 7: Grace Baker, Macy Birch, Kingston Davis, Layton Davis, Lilliana Deroche, Nicholas Gruich Jr., Alexandra Illing, Arabella Jackson, Channing Lechner, Valentina Leon, Ramon Mitchell-Fisher, Caleb Mowat, Baileigh Tarrant, and Brayden Williams. Photo/Terry Dickson Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula Bishop Kihneman confirmed 22 young people from Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, and St. Mary Parish in Gautier. The Sacred Heart Confirmandi are: Alexander Andrade, Bayley Barlow, Sebastian Cardenas, Valentina Abramo, Claire Higdon, Damian Garcia, Micah Jackson, Mirralee Klasky, Brenda Ramirez,AyleenMendoza, Compton Naquin, Camille O’Brien, Abigail Panter, June Perkins, Cooper Pulley, Anel Moncada, Adrian Zayas, Edwin Zayas, and Emily Zapata Elizondo. Photo/Terry Dickson St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Pascagoula Bishop Kihneman confirmed 22 young people from Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, and St. Mary Parish in Gautier. The St. Peter Confirmandi are: Karah Mack and Caris Houser. Photo/Terry Dickson St. Mary Parish, Gautier Bishop Kihneman confirmed 22 young people from Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, and St. Mary Parish in Gautier. The St. Maryr Confirmandi are: Kennedy Prettyman and Zachery Prettyman. Photo/Terry Dickson
10 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 11 Office of Youth Ministry presents awards during annual celebration Ann Rivera -- Faith Through Service Award -- Seeks to recognize someone who is a quiet servant of Christ, who shares their faith through kindness and service to others, and who believes that service to others is our Christian responsibility. This award is sponsored by the staff of Catholic Charities. Bragg Moore Award -- Named in memoriam of our first Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry, this award is presented to a male youth for being a backbone to his parish and youth group; in the trenches accomplishing what needs to be done with a servant’s heart and willing spirit. His hard work and dedication continues to serve as an example to his peers and his parish. Brenda Sargent Award -- Named in memoriam to Brenda D. Sargent who worked tirelessly in the youth office as an advocate for our youth. This award is presented to a female youth for being a backbone to her parish and youth group; in the trenches accomplishing what needs to be done with a servant’s heart and willing spirit. Her hard work and dedication continues to serve as an example to her peers and her parish. St. Timothy Award -- Youth who are actively seeking to develop deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. These youth have given of their time, talents, and spiritual gifts in making their parish youth group strong in faith and their community. The Ann Rivera Faith Through Service Award Nicholas Arguelles Nativity BVM Biloxi Bragg Moore Award Cobie Martino Blessed Seelos Biloxi Brenda Sargent Award Khloe Logos Our Lady of Fatima Biloxi St. Timothy Award Ashlyn Johnson St. Thomas Long Beach St. Timothy Award Dale Smith Our Lady of Fatima Biloxi St. Timothy Award Laila Ladner Sacred Heart Dedeaux St. Timothy Award Joseph Morgan Holy Spirit Vancleave St. Timothy Award Vince Vorrath Our Lady of the Gulf Bay St. Louis St. Timothy Award Addison Ladner St. James Gulfport St. Timothy Award William Wright St. Peter Pascagoula Ananias: Companion on the Journey Award Adult(s) who have accompanied our youth on their path to discipleship. This annual diocesan award is given to select adults for their long term commitment to youth ministry in their parish or diocese. These adults have given more than their time. They have been consistent examples of their Catholic faith, as well as shown leadership and service both to and with young people they serve. Linda Hebert St. James, Gulfport
12 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 27, 2026 Pope Leo to receive Liberty Medal for promoting religious liberty, human dignity BY GINA CHRISTIAN OSV News PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) -- As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV will be honored in the nation’s former capital of Philadelphia for his efforts to promote religious liberty as well as freedom of expression and conscience. The National Constitution Center will bestow its Liberty Medal on Pope Leo July 3 during a public ceremony outside its location at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, part of Independence National Historical Park, home to several sites of historical significance in the nation’s founding. Following the ratification of the Constitution, Philadelphia was the nation’s capital from 1790 until 1800, when that designation was transferred to Washington. Established in 1988 to mark the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and hosted by the center since 2006, the Liberty Medal honors both individuals and organizations “who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe,” said the National Constitution Center in its press release. The center -- a private nonprofit that promotes constitutional education and civic debate -- announced its decision March 16, noting that the ceremony will take place amid the Independence Week events set to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The pope is set to deliver live acceptance remarks from the Vatican, which will be livestreamed to in-person attendees and online at the center’s website. Vince Stango, the center’s interim president and CEO, described Pope Leo as a “consistent advocate for religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and human dignity.” “In formal Vatican statements and public addresses, His Holiness has affirmed that peace cannot exist without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression, principles that closely align with constitutional protections guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Stango said in a statement. In its release, the center also noted that since his May 2025 election, the pope “has made interfaith and ecumenical dialogue a defining priority of his pontificate, engaging leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and other religious communities to promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.” “His outreach reflects a broader moral vision that frames religious liberty not as an abstract right, but as a lived expression of human dignity, particularly for marginalized communities, including religious minorities and those affected by conflict,” said the center. “As the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV brings a distinctive perspective shaped by democratic ideals and a lifelong commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue,” it added. Pope Leo is only the second religious leader to receive the award, preceded by 2015 recipient the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Other past recipients include Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Senator John McCain, U.S. Representative John Lewis and human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai. The Liberty Medal is typically accompanied by a prize sponsored by philanthropists Ira Lubert and Pamela Estadt, with contributions from corporations, foundations, and individuals. In a statement to OSV News, the center confirmed that the medal “traditionally includes a $100,000 prize,” adding that “the Holy See has not yet indicated how it may be used.” “Any decisions regarding the prize will be made by the Vatican, and we will share additional information when it becomes available,” the center told OSV News. A statement in the center’s press release attributed to the Holy See Press Office said Pope Leo was “deeply grateful” for the award during “such a meaningful anniversary for the American people, as they are called to reflect on the 250 years of their history holding the Constitution of the United States and Liberty as hallmarks of their heritage for future generations.” Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina. With a U.S. flag in the background, Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd from the popemobile as he rides around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience Aug. 6, 2025. As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, will receive the National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal for his promotion of religious liberty, as well as freedom of conscience and expression. CNS photo/ Vatican Media
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