Gulf Pine Catholic • April 10, 2026 7 228-539-9800 www.RiemannFamily.com Gulfport Pass Christian West Jackson County Biloxi Long Beach Hancock County “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you -- guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:14 There is a sacredness found within the traditions of a family that’s difficult to define. It contains a foundation strong enough to hold both divinity and darkness without breaking. It’s learning to see the people who witness our beginnings, stand beside us in our storms, and keep our legacy alive long after we are gone. These are the people who learn our earliest fears and share our first joys. They see our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and imperfections long before we learn how to hide them. “Let us consider how we may guide one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -- and even more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 Family is where we first learn the importance of forgiveness and gratitude in personal growth, along with the factor of time in healing wounds. It’s about recognizing that love is more than an exchanging of words. It’s being expected to show up over and over, through the holidays, celebrations, and seasons of change. When everything in life feels uncertain, a family’s bond allows grace to shine through the darkest of times. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 It is where milestones are remembered, how strength is found during grief, and when wisdom takes form in lives. It is the love in meals that take hours to prepare, the laughter heard at every gathering, and the lessons passed from parent to child. Family is where faith is born in the hearts of those who loved, endured, and believed enough to plant seeds in their lifetime with an understanding that they may not live to see the fruits of their labor. This is where we find the sacredness and wisdom of grandparents that live on long after they are gone. And it’s where we find hope to keep pushing on, even when the world tells us to give up. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 It’s important to remember those in our family that keep tradition alive. They don’t carry the family legacy for glory, but instead because they heard the call. And they said yes, without hesitation or second thoughts. In the upcoming weeks, I challenge you to set aside time to honor those who paved the road for your family. Find ways to give thanks in an intentional way to those who are given the grace to maintain the path in each generation, and for doing it without asking for anything in return. Thank you to all those who are the heartbeat at each family. You not only keep the hope and love alive in your family, but also in the world. Ashley Bonney is a member of Most Holy Trinity Parish, Pass Christian. Family Tradition Bonney Guest Columnist During the end of Lent, many look forward to the beautiful celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But, brothers and sisters, Easter Sunday is not an ending, but a beginning and for our families, based on prayer, fasting, alms giving and penance, it should provide for us a NEW NORMAL for our spiritual lives. Easter is a significant family holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ through faith-based traditions, festive meals and bonding activities. ALL families should attend church services, read the Resurrection story, (e.g. from Luke 24), and maybe create Resurrection rolls (a roll with an empty center to represent the empty tomb.) This is also a great time to celebrate relationships and create lasting memories with extended family. The new normal we should experience at Easter centers around what it is we did to prepare to celebrate the day. What did you do during the forty days before Easter, that made your life worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for you? Our new normal should center around the example we set for our families by walking away from the things that put us at odds with God. I remember a time when I first got diagnosed with hypertension. I was in my late 20’s. So I went to my doctor, and he prescribed me anti-hypertensive medicine. After I took the medicine. I felt AWFUL. So, I called the doctor and told him the medicine wasn’t working. He asked me to come in, and I did, and he looked at the medicine and smiled at me and said, “There is nothing wrong with the medicine, the problem you have is that you have felt bad for so long, you felt that your bad condition was how you were supposed to feel. Your NEW NORMAL is how you feel now, which is best for you! And so, it is with sin. In our lives, we get used to a certain type of sin, and we convince ourselves that it’s ok, until we go to reconciliation, and get the awakening necessary to get away from our sinful state, to reach our spiritual NEW NORMAL, so that we not only can be good for ourselves, but out families. And that is what the Lenten preparation is all about. For our families, Easter is celebrated for 50 days leading us to Pentecost. Easter is not just a historical event, but a present reality that allows for new life, with the energy of the resurrection empowering Christians to overcome sin. For our families, Easter is the central feast of Christianity, celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which destroyed the power of death and sin. The resurrection is a real physical event, not merely a spiritual concept, confirmed by the empty tomb. Deacon Justin Mitchell is the Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Biloxi. Marriage & Family Life Mitchell Easter, a New Normal
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