Gulf Pine Catholic VOLUME 34 / NUMBER 8 www.biloxidiocese.com DECEMBER 16, 2016

Christmas 2016The Advent Season provides us with a gift of time to plan

on how we will celebrate the great feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Christmas. The single word “Christmas” has become, in common parlance, another word for an annual holiday that is observed with decorations, lights, and singing seasonal songs.

The decorations, lights, and songs are prevalent and almost overwhelming, even though they are the trimmings used to denote a holiday. But they don’t adequately proclaim the wonder of God’s love revealed to us in the birth of our Savior, the Messiah. Almost overcome by the “trimmings” of a holiday season, we run the risk of overlooking the spiritual richness of a feast held to honor freely-given love and mercy that are marvelous divine blessings, gifts from God, incessantly showered upon each one of us. The gifts brought to us by Jesus are given as energy to overcome obstacles and to dispel any darkness of sinfulness that might obscure the light of God’s love. Celebration of God’s love made visible is Christmas. And, yes, while Jesus is the reason for the season, He is the light of love for all our days from here to eternity.

Don’t talk about how to make merry days but tell about the blessings that are cause for joy. My prayer is for a celebration of blessings of love and mercy made visible through the Nativity of Jesus, the ‘Lord of lords and King of kings’ who reigns forever and ever.

?Roger P. MorinBishop of Biloxi

Bishop Roger Morin

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The Catholic Diocese ofBiloxi’s Pastoral Center

will be closed Thurs., Dec. 22 through Mon., Dec. 26, in

observance of Christmas.

Biloxi, Our Lady of Fatima: Monday, December 19, 7 pm in Church. Multiple priests available for individual confessions.Columbia, Holy Trinity Parish: Thursday, December 22, 6 pmLong Beach, St. Thomas Parish: Wednesday, December 21, 7 pm Tylertown, St. Paul the Apostle Mission: Wednesday, December 21,6 pm

OCEAN SPRINGS -- An Anointing of the Sick within Mass will take place on Saturday, December 17, during the 8:15 am Mass at St. Alphonsus Church, 502 Jackson Avenue. This is for all elder-ly parishioners, anyone with an illness, or parishioners with elderly or home-bound family members that may wish to receive this Sacrament.

Anointing of the Sick atSt. Alphonsus Parish

Nativity BVM CathedralBILOXI -- The University of South-

ern Mississippi Civic Choral will per-form on Sunday, December 18, at 3 pm at Nativity BVM Cathedral, 870 Howard Avenue.

PASCAGOULA -- The annual Mass for Deceased Irish Priests will take place on January 10 at 6 pm at Sacred Heart Church, 3702 Quinn Drive. Father Enda McKenna, of San Antonio, Texas, will be the homilist. A reception will follow in the parish activities center.

Mass for DeceasedIrish Priests

Notre Dame Hospice, a ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is look-ing for volunteers. Volunteers can pro-vide caregiver relief, run errands, or help in the office…. If you are interested or you would like more information please contact Janine Bonner, Volunteer Coor-dinator at (504) 418-1049. Volunteers are needed to serve in all parishes. Our Mississippi office is in Diamondhead. We serve the MS counties of: Forrest, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry and Stone. Volunteers are needed in the Pica-yune area.

Notre Dame HospiceSeeking Volunteers

GULFPORT -- Having issues with spending and saving? Did you over-spend (or go into debt) for Christmas? Do you wish you gave more?

Need help developing a budget, or saving for retirement? Are you tired of all the monthly debt payments? Need to save for your kids’ college?

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) class addresses these concerns and much more. The class will be offered at St. Joseph’s Church (Or-ange Grove) in Depew Hall on Monday nights at 6:30 pm starting on January 16 and lasting 9 weeks. Cost is about $100 per family. Contact Ed Brennan at (228) 234-7601 for details. Former students are welcome back!

Financial PeaceIs Coming!

BILOXI -- St. Michael Parish will hold a parish mission Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at 10 am and 6 pm each day. Father Larry Gillick, S.J. and Sister Bernadette will be the presenters.

St. Michael Parish Mission

PICAYUNE -- The Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus Council 6872 will hold its 4th Annual Marketplace of crafts, collectibles and art with food and a parade of prizes on March 10-11 from 9 am to 5 pm. The Ladies Auxil-

Picayune KCLadies Auxiliary

MarketplaceBILOXI -- Blessed Francis Xavier

Seelos Parish is hosting a Pro-Life Youth Rally Jan. 22, the 45th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, with Mass at 1 pm fol-lowed by a procession to the Biloxi Lighthouse for a brief prayer service. According to pastor Father Stephen Ben-

Biloxi Pro-LifeYouth Rally

Ted Longo of Dia-mondhead has been ap-pointed to The Board of the Brothers of The Sacred Heart Foundation. Longo will serve a three-year

term on the eight-person board that will help advise the brothers on the affairs of the corporation. The foundation is a non-profit corporation registered in Loui-siana and is formed to advance the life and works of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

Longo is also chairman of the board of directors for the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Biloxi. Longo and his wife, Amy, are parishioners of St. Clare Parish in Waveland.

Longo appointed toBoard of Brothers of

Sacred Heart Foundation

Longo

HATTIESBURG -- The Southern Miss Catholic Student Association of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish invites everyone to experience the Holy Spirit who opens us to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and the love of the Father at a Charismatic Renewal Retreat which will be held at the parish on January 27, 28, and 29, 2017. There is no cost to at-tend the event. The theme of the event is “Game changer: the role of the Holy Spirit in the New Evangelization”. Join Pete Burack, Sean Breeden and Rachel Herbeck of Renewal Ministries, as they lead the church in a weekend full of in-spirational praise and worship to our Lord.

St. Thomas CSACharismatic Renewal

Retreat

OCEAN SPRINGS -- Family and Youth Ministry invites everyone to at-tend the Youth Adoration Hour on the third Thursday of each month in the church from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. During the adoration the youth are invited to lead the rosary, sing praises and silent pray time with our Lord and Savior. Families and friends are welcome to participate.

Family and Youth ministry will pro-vide a bus to Slidell, LA, on March 12 for the presentation of “Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose” with Mat-thew Kelly. Only 25 seats are available at $25 a seat. To reserve your seat on the bus, contact Jane Sema at janesema84@gmail.com or (228) 217-1392. Individu-als are responsible for purchasing their own tickets to the Matthew Kelly pre-sentation at www.DynamicCathlic.com/Slidell or calling (859) 980-7900.

St. Alphonsus Familyand Youth Ministry

den, CSsR, the purpose of the event is to provide an opportunity for those who are unable to travel to Washington D.C. later that week for the March for Life to stand in solidarity with those who will make the trip. Father Benden said, although the event is mainly for youth, people of all ages are invited.

iary is searching for anyone interested in selling their crafts, collectible goods and art work on these dates. For more infor-mation please contact Marion Hebbler at (601) 749-8317 or via email at mheb-bler@bellsouth.net.

Advent PenanceServices

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(ISSN No. 0746-3804)

December 16, 2016Volume 34, Issue 8

The GULF PINE CATHOLIC,published every other week, is an

official publication ofthe Catholic Diocese of Biloxi.Editorial offices are located at

1790 Popps Ferry Rd.,Biloxi, MS 39532.

Periodical postage paid atGulfport, MS.

— POSTMASTER —Send address changes to:

The GULF PINE CATHOLIC1790 Popps Ferry Rd.

Biloxi, MS 39532

— PUBLISHER —Most Rev. Roger P. Morin

— EDITOR —Terry Dickson

— PRODUCTION /ADVERTISING —

Shirley McCusker

— CIRCULATION —Debbie Mowrey

— OFFICE HOURS —8:30 am to 5:00 pmMonday - Friday

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Production / Advertising:228-702-2109

Circulation: 228-702-2127FAX: 228-702-2128

— EMAIL —News:

tdickson@biloxidiocese.orgProduction / Advertising:

smccusker@biloxidiocese.orgCirculation:

dmowrey@biloxidiocese.or

— OFFICE ANDMAILING ADDRESS —1790 Popps Ferry Road

Biloxi, MS 39532

— WEBSITE —www.gulfpinecatholic.com

— SUBSCRIPTIONS —Subscription rate is $18.00 per year. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about asubscription, customer should

include a recent address label with old address and new address. Allow three weeks for changes of address.

— DEADLINES forDECEMBER 30 EDITION —News copy and photos: Due

DECEMBER 20, 4 pmAdvertising: Completed Ad

and/or ad copy dueDECEMBER 20, 10 am

Bishop Morin’s Calendar

Dec. 25 Christmas Mass, Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral Parish,

10 am

Pope recognizes martyrdom of Oklahoma priest killed in GuatemalaBY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Fran-cis has recognized the martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother of the Archdiocese of Okla-homa City, making him the first martyr born in the United States.

The Vatican made the announcement Dec. 2. The recognition of his martyrdom clears the way for his beatification.

Father Rother, born March 27, 1935, on his family’s farm near Okarche, Oklahoma, was brutally murdered July 28, 1981, in a Guatemalan village where he ministered to the poor.

He went to Santiago Atitlan in 1968 on assignment from the Archdiocese of Okla-homa City. He helped the people there build a small hospital, school and its first Catholic radio station. He was beloved by the locals, who called him “Padre Francisco.”

Many priests and religious in Guatemala became targets during the country’s 1960-1996 civil war as government forces cracked down on leftist rebels supported by the rural poor.

The bodies of some of Father Rother’s deacons and parishioners were left in front of his church and soon he received numerous death threats over his opposition to the pres-ence of the Guatemalan military in the area.

Though he returned to Oklahoma for a brief period, he returned to the Guatemalan village to remain with the people he had grown to love during the more than dozen years he lived there.

He was gunned down at the age 46 in the rectory of his church in Santiago Atitlan. Government officials there put the blame on the Catholic Church for the unrest in the country that they said led to his death. On the day he died, troops also killed 13 towns-people and wounded 24 others in Santiago Atitlan, an isolated village 50 miles west of Guatemala City.

Many priests and religious lost their lives and thousands of civilians were kidnapped and killed during the years of state-sponsored

Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, making him the first martyr born in the United States. Father Rother is pictured in an undated file photo. CNS photo/Charlene Scott

oppression in the country.While his body was returned to Oklaho-

ma, his family gave permission for his heart and some of his blood to be enshrined in the church of the people he loved and served. A memorial plaque marks the place.

Father Rother was considered a martyr by the church in Guatemala and his name was included on a list of 78 martyrs for the faith killed during Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war. The list of names to be considered for canonization was submitted by Guatemala’s bishops to St. John Paul II during a pastoral visit to Guatemala in 1996.

Because Father Rother was killed in Gua-temala, his cause should have been under-taken there. But the local church lacked the resources for such an effort. The Guatemalan bishops’ conference agreed to a transfer of jurisdiction to the Oklahoma City Archdio-cese.

News of the recognition was welcomed in Oklahoma.

“This comes as a great joy to all of us here not only in Oklahoma, but I think it’s a great blessing to the church in the United States,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City told Catholic News Service Dec. 2.

He also called the recognition of the priest’s martyrdom a gift to the Catholic Church in Guatemala.

Archbishop Coakley recalled how both he and Father Rother are alumni of Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He remembered a ceremony at the school a few months after the priest’s death in which a plaque was erected in his honor.

“His witness has marked me from my earliest days in priestly formation,” the arch-bishop said. “It’s a blessing to be the arch-bishop now who has the opportunity to bring to fruition the work on my predecessor Arch-bishop (Eusebius J.) Beltran.”

Now-retired Archbishop Beltran was head of the archdiocese when the sainthood cause for Father Rother was officially opened in 2007.

Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, author of a 2015 biography of the priest, “The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Martyr from

Oklahoma,” wrote in an email that the mar-tyrdom recognition was “an incredible gift not only to the United States, but to the uni-versal church.”

“I am delighted and grateful that more people will come to know and be changed by his beautiful story,” Scaperlanda said. “Not only because of his death as a martyr. But even more significantly, because his life and his priestly service remain a testament to the difference that one person can, and does, make.”

Scaperlanda described Father Rother’s martyrdom as a “reminder that we are all called to holiness in our ordinary lives, and that holy men and women come from ordi-nary places like Okarche, Oklahoma.”

Describing the priest as a faithful man, Scaperlanda said he was called to serve in the fields of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, alongside his Tz’utujil Mayan parishioners. “This is what his community remembers -- that he was one of them,” she wrote. “And when their village suffered oppression and killings from a violent and brutal civil war, he remained one with them. He was truly the shepherd who didn’t run.”

Jesus is the Reason

for the Season!

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Father Charles McMahon, SSJ

BY TERRY DICKSON

PASCAGOULA -- Father Charles McMahon, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, was looking forward to joining his parishioners for the ground-breaking of their new church Dec. 11. However, the Lord had other plans and called Father McMahon home Dec. 2. He was 87.

At the time of his death, Father McMahon, was the oldest active pastor in the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, better known as the Josephites. Bishop Roger Morin, principal celebrant of the Dec. 9 funeral Mass, which was held at Sacred Heart Church to accommodate the large crowd, recalled his first conversation with Father McMahon seven years ago, shortly after he was named bishop of Biloxi.

“He told me then that they would build a church,” said Bishop Morin. “He told me that they were already in the process of raising funds and, just a few months back, he was able to come before the diocesan finance council and make the formal proposal for the building of a new church at St. Peter the Apostle Parish, along with the good news that they were ready to break ground because they had raised all of the money neces-sary.

“I’m sure that, when this building that will be called the Church of St. Peter the Apostle is built, there will be a place marked in a significant way in memory of its beloved pastor, Father Charles McMahon, whose dream it was to have a new church building,” Bishop Morin added. “But, on the other hand, in his view of parish ministry as a priest, he already had ‘Church.’ That was his attitude and disposition. The people are the Church. But the building is a very significant honor and tribute

to the glory of God. “ Bishop Morin, who visited Father McMahon in

the hospital shortly before his death, said that in his more lucid moments, the priest would talk about “going home.”

“Some people on the medical staff thought at first that he was talking about going home to the rectory at St. Peter the Apostle,” Bishop Morin said. “He was saying he was ready to go home to the completion of his pilgrim journey, which was sig-nificant in terms of being a priest of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was ready to go home to that place where there are no more physical difficul-ties or infirmities but, rather, where he is able to celebrate joyously around God’s throne.”

Teacher, preacher, pastorFather McMahon, a native of Detroit, was born May

11, 1929, the son of William and Margaret Rosener McMahon. He attended Visitation elementary and high school. Following graduation in 1947, he entered the Josephite minor seminary (Epiphany College) in Newburgh, NY.

SEE FATHER MCMAHON, PAGE 13

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Thank you

We began Advent, four weeks ago, with Jesus’ admonition, “Stay Awake …be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” So, on

this last Sunday in Advent we recap what this preparation looks like and how we can live it out daily.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, explains that Advent is a season where we look forward to, long for with expectation, and prepare for Jesus’ coming, not just in one way but in three ways: Jesus comes in History, he comes in Mystery and he comes in Majesty. In history because he has already come -- foretold by the prophets of old, announced by John the Baptist, and born of the Virgin

Mary. With softened hearts and a focus on giving to others we share in the gift of Jesus’ presence as Emmanuel (God with us) by celebrating that coming every year on December 25.

Jesus comes in mystery, every time we celebrate the Eucharistic (Mass). When the celebrant extends his hands over what is visibly bread and wine, calls down the power of the Holy Spirit, and (mysteriously) transforms those common elements into the true body and blood of Jesus Christ for the faithful to receive. We, therefore, strive to prepare ourselves to worthily receive Jesus in communion (see 1 Corinthians 11:27ff and CCC 1385-87).

And Jesus comes in majesty, at the end of time, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to judge the living and the dead. If we desire to spend our eternity with the

Lord, our preparation should be a lifelong pursuit of personal holiness. And we do so by living from communion to communion -- by living the sacramental life.

Right Choices:In our first reading, Ahaz, King of Judah, was

threatened by an enemy attack that would have surely wiped out his kingdom. Isaiah, God’s prophet, counseled Ahaz to trust in the Lord for victory in the impending battle. But Ahaz refused and consequently Judah was defeated. We ignore history at our own peril and we ignore God out of foolishness and pride. The Lord wants to break through our stubbornness and guide us in right choices for his glory and honor, and for our salvation. Set Apart:

“Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called and set apart for the gospel of God promised through the prophets” (Romans 1:1-2). Paul’s mission awakened an “obedience of faith” in many who heard his words and witnessed his firm commitment to Christ. We make right choices when obedience to Christ is a high priority in our lives. But, when we lack the faith to believe that nothing is impossible for God, obedience can easily be rejected.

Faith, added to obedience, enhances the sustainability of our life committed to Christ regardless of the obstacles. Pope Benedict wrote, in his encyclical “Spe Salvi,” “faith in Christ brings well-founded hope that can sustain people through the trials of this world.” It is this strong faith that we need daily to hold fast to the

Mystery of Christ truly present for us in the Eucharist. Righteousness:

Today’s Gospel fulfills Isaiah’s prophetic promise from the first reading. The promised Lord of History, Mystery and Majesty (Jesus) has come to his people and nothing will ever be the same. But how Jesus comes is of great importance. It took the willingness, faith and cooperation of a young Jewish girl, named Mary, and her betrothed, Joseph, to fulfill God’s plan that the second person of the most holy Trinity would have both a human and divine nature. Today’s gospel focuses on Joseph, an ordinary man on whom God relied to do extraordinary things -- he may not have understood the mystery of how his ‘wife’ could be with child but at God’s leading embraced it fully. Joseph is called a ‘righteous’ (just) man who loves God and proves his love by keeping God’s commands and directing his whole life in obedience to God’s will. There is no higher accolade that could be said about a person. Closing Comments and Questions:

With the birth of this child, Emmanuel, which means “God is with us,” everything is changed. Time is marked as before and after his birth, the Church he founded, which makes it a divine, not human institution, is born and will prevail in good times and in turmoil, hearts of men and women are transformed to love one another and work for justice and peace, visions are widened to look with hope beyond an earthly existence to a new heaven and new earth where death is conquered, and we look forward to another promise fulfilled -- the Lord’s coming in Majesty to judge the living and dead. What have you been called and set apart by God to do? What is your mission for Christ?

Christmas decorations, wrappings and carols may disappear after December 25 but the Lord of History, Mystery and Majesty never goes away -- worship him always!

Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his web-site: www.homilypearls.com.

1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14Responsorial Psalm: 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-62nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24

4th Sunday of Advent

History, mystery and majesty

Deacon Torrelli

Sunday ScriptureCommentaries

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The Official 2017 Directory of the Diocese of Biloxi

$10LAST CHANCE TO ORDER!

To receive your copies, you mustpre-order by Dec. 30 , 2016

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parishes, Mass schedules, schools, priests, deacons, sisters, and brothers.

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THANKSGIVING NOVENA TO ST. JUDEO Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and

rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail.I have had my request granted. Publication promised. RFG

Lord, Christmas is here again. It just seems like such a short year since I took down the decorations and threw out the Christmas tree. Obviously, this isn’t a leap year, so I must be getting a lot older because time seems to pass much faster.

Here we are again and, of course, I’m not ready for Christmas. Believe it or not, I got plenty of warnings that it was approaching. In fact, they began count-ing down the days before Halloween. Now, that’s really crazy! Who wants to be reminded of the Christmas rush -- I

would call it ‘push.’After all, we haven’t even gone through Black Friday be-

fore the canned Christmas music starts blasting in the stores. By the time Christmas comes, we don’t want to hear another Christmas song.

Then, there are all the expectations that surround Christ-mas. Everyone wants something you can’t afford. Expecta-tions are high! Money is in short supply! Guilt is multiplied! Parties are never ending! The latest and greatest gifts are ex-pected! Deadlines are set and expected to be met! Suggestions for the perfect gifts come with assurance that they will bring happiness. So the stores tell us as they cajole us into parting with our hard earned cash! Tensions are high! So is depression! Loneliness can raise its ugly head. The in-laws are expecting to be invited, fed, entertained and rewarded! The children, fu-elled by peer pressure, think we have a pot of gold that, magi-cally, never runs dry

Look, Lord, this is all too much. Everyone wants to control my life. The advertisements remind me of the need to hurry as the days are counted down. Even like poor Santa, I am expect-ed to make my list and check it several times to make sure that everyone -- whether they deserve to be included or not -- are included. Otherwise, I may end up having more enemies than friends. After, all, we may have enough of enemies already because we have struck them off from our Christmas list.

What’s the rush!Acrossthe Pond

Fr. Tracey

And what about that Christmas card list anyway, God. I am expected to send Christmas cards to people who suddenly become friends at Christmas but for the rest of the year, they are total strangers as far as communication is concerned.

And what about the Christmas gift list as well. How am I to know to whom I gave what gift last year. At least, I know that I did not give anyone a plum pudding gift last Christmas. Hopefully, I won’t get someone else’s rejected plum pudding this Christmas.

Lord, it’s all so crazy, rushed, guilt-ridden and commer-cialized. And somehow, I am sucked into it because it is the expected thing to do. I often feel like the salmon trying to swim upstream only to be met by marauding bares along the way ready to gobble up my good intentions.

Where did we go wrong? What has happened to Christ-mas? We talk about keeping Christ in Christmas but we have taken him out and replaced him with gods of consumption, expectation, chaos and depression. Obviously, Christ does not belong among such gods.

Instead, give me a quiet place to contemplate the real meaning of the season; to realize that all the rushing around and busyness will not fill my heart with peace; that I must empty myself of pressures and expectation thereby, creating a vacuum that can be filled with only You.

Will we ever learn the real secret of the season? Will we ever discover that things don’t bring happiness? Will we ever realize that distractions and busyness leave no room in the heart for a Visitor? Will we ever understand that the reason for the season is a Gift that no money can buy, no friendship deserve, no human can own; a gift that is given with no strings attached because it is given freely, lovingly, and all-encompassing to anyone who opens their heart to re-ceive it.

There is no need to max out our credit cards to buy it;

or worry if it’s the right gift or not for someone. There is no need to wrap it up in expensive paper; it already comes in swaddling wrapping clothes. There is no need to panic and rush to the store and find that last minute gift for the person you almost forgot. Instead, go inside your heart and you will find the perfect gift there, already unwrapped and ready to be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Now, God, after all that, I am ready to accept, enjoy and appreciate the Greatest Christmas Gift of all -- You!

Father Michael Tracey is retired and lives in Ireland. He can be contacted by email at mtracey1@bellsouth.net. His website is www.michaeltracey.net

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St. Joseph the Worker Parish,Moss Point, Food Pantry

The CYO of St. Joseph in Moss Point asked parishioners to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Pascagoula for their annual Thanksgiving dinner baskets. The CYO collected the non-perishable food items and monetary donations for delivery to St. Vincent. The CYO was also on hand while the Thanksgiving baskets were being distributed to the local families.

Las Misas Celebradas enEspañol / Masses Celebrated

in Spanish

Sábado/SaturdayPascagoula: Sacred Heart Parish, 6 pm

Domingo/SundayLaurel: Immaculate Conception Parish, 4 pm Hattiesburg: Sacred Heart Parish, 1:30 pm Picayune: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 7 pm Gulfport: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 2 pm Ocean Springs: St. Alphonsus Parish, 2 pm

Lunes/MondayBiloxi: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 6 pm

Christmas Mass Schedules 20168

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BASSFIELD - St. Peter Parish4135 Hwy. 42Christmas Vigil: 4 pm & MidnightChristmas Day: 9 am

BAY ST. LOUIS - Our Lady of the Gulf Parish228 South Beach BoulevardChristmas Vigil: 5 pm, 7 pm & 11 pmChristmas Day: 8 am & 10:30 am

BAY ST. LOUIS - St. Augustine Chapel199 Seminary DriveChristmas Day: 9 am

BAY ST. LOUIS - St. Rose de Lima Parish301 South Necaise AvenueChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 11:00 pm -- Caroling begins at10:30 pmChristmas Day: 7 am & 9 am

BILOXI- Cathedral of the Nativity of theBlessed Virgin Mary870 Howard AvenueChristmas Vigil: 4 pm Cathedral Children’s Mass;4 pm Chapel Adult Mass; 7 pm Vigil Cathedral; 11 pm in Cathedral with a 10:30 pm Christmas Concert by the Cathedral ChoirChristmas Day: 10 am

BILOXI - Blessed Francis Seelos Parish356 Lameuse StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

BILOXI - Our Lady of Fatima2090 Pass RoadChristmas Vigil: In Parish Hall - 4 pm; in the Church - 4 pm; 5:30 pm Children’s Choir Mass; 7 pm; 8:30 pm Hispanic,11 pm ending at MidnightChristmas Day: 8:30 am, 10 am & 8 pm

BILOXI - Our Mother of Sorrows Parish803 Division StreetChristmas Vigil: MidnightChristmas Day: 10:30 am

BILOXI - St. Mary Parish (Woolmarket)8343 Woolmarket RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 6 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

BILOXI - St. Michael Parish177 First StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 8 pmChristmas Day: 10 am

BILOXI - Vietnamese Martyrs Parish171 Oak StreetChristmas Vigil: 6 pm & 9 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

CLERMONT HARBOR - St. Ann Parish5858 Lower Bay RoadChristmas Vigil: 5:15 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

COLUMBIA - Holy Trinity Parish1429 N. Park AvenueChristmas Vigil: 4 pmChristmas Day: 11 am

DEDEAUX - Sacred Heart Parish14595 Vidalia RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6:30 pm & 11:30 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

D’IBERVILLE - Sacred Heart Parish10446 LeMoyne BoulevardChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 10 pmChristmas Day: 11 am

GAUTIER - St. Mary Parish809 De La Pointe DriveChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 6 pm Christmas Day: 8:30 am & 11 am

GULFPORT - St. James Parish366 Cowan RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm Children’s Mass; 6 pm & Midnight Christmas Day: 10 am

GULFPORT - St. John the Evangelist Parish2414 17th StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 12 am Midnight MassChristmas Day: 8 am, 10:30 am & 5 pm

GULFPORT - St. Joseph Parish12290 DePew RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 7 pm; Children’s ChristmasPageant 3:30 pm; Adult Choir Concert 6:30 pmChristmas Day: 7:30 am

GULFPORT - St. Therese of Lisieux Parish3521 19th StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 6 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

HATTIESBURG - Holy Rosary Parish900 Dabbs StreetChristmas Day: 9 am

HATTIESBURG - Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish313 Walnut StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 7 pm, 12 am Midnight BilingualChristmas Day: 8 am, 9 am Holy Rosary, 11 am Bilingual, no 4 pm Mass

HATTIESBURG - St. Fabian Parish5266 Old Highway 11, Suite 70Christmas Vigil: 4 pm, Oak Grove High School(Performing Arts Center)Christmas Day: 10 am at Benedict Day School

HATTIESBURG - St. Thomas Aquinas Parish3117 W. 4th StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm Vietnamese,12:00 MidnightChristmas Day: 8 am & 10:15 am

HURLEY - St. Ann Mission21400 Hwy. 613Christmas Vigil: 6 pmChristmas Day: 8 am

KILN - Annunciation Parish5370 Kiln-Delisle RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 6 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

LATIMER - Christ the King Mission10601 Daisy Vestry RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

LAUREL - Immaculate Conception Parish833 West Sixth StreetChristmas Vigil: 5 pm & 10 pm bilingualChristmas Day: 9 am & 4 pm Spanish

LEAKESVILLE - Holy Trinity Mission911 Jackson AvenueChristmas Day: 11:30 am

LONG BEACH - St. Thomas the Apostle Parish720 East Beach BoulevardChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6 pm, & 12 amChristmas Day: 7:30 am, 9 am, & 11:30 am

LUMBERTON - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish379 West Seneca RoadChristmas Vigil: 9 pmChristmas Day: 9:30 am

MOSS POINT - St. Joseph the Worker Parish4114 First StreetChristmas Vigil: 4 pmChristmas Day: 10 am

OCEAN SPRINGS - St. Alphonsus Parish502 Jackson AvenueChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6 pm & 11 pm Christmas Day: 9 am & 5:30 pm; 2 pm Hispanic

OCEAN SPRINGS - St. Elizabeth Seton Parish4900 Riley RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm Children’s Mass & 7 pm Christmas Day: 8:30 am & 11 am

PASCAGOULA - Our Lady of Victories Parish503 Convent AvenueChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 6 pmChristmas Day: 10 am

PASCAGOULA - Sacred Heart Parish3702 Quinn DriveChristmas Vigil: 5 pm & 10 pmChristmas Day: 8 am &10:30 am, No Evening Mass

PASCAGOULA - St. Peter the Apostle Parish1715 Telephone RoadChristmas Vigil: 6 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

PASS CHRISTIAN - Holy Family Parish22342 Evangeline RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm Vietnamese Mass, 12 am Midnight MassChristmas Day: 10 am

PASS CHRISTIAN - Most Holy Trinity Parish9062 Kiln Delisle RoadChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 6 pm & 8 pm, MidnightChristmas Day: 11 am, 7 pm

PASS CHRISTIAN - Our Mother of Mercy Parish222 East Railroad AvenueChristmas Vigil: 6 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

PEARLINGTON - St. Joseph Chapel5383 Highway 604Christmas Vigil: 4 pm

PICAYUNE - St. Charles Borromeo Parish1000 Goodyear BoulevardChristmas Vigil: 4 pm & 7 pmChristmas Day: 9 am & 1 pm Hispanic Mass

POPLARVILLE - St. Joseph Mission17 Bilbo Hill DriveChristmas Vigil: 5 pm (followed by Christmas Social in Parish Hall)Christmas Day: 8 am

TYLERTOWN - St. Paul the Apostle Mission702 Union RoadChristmas Vigil: 6:30 pmChristmas Day: 8 am

VANCLEAVE - Holy Spirit Parish6705 Jim Ramsay RoadChristmas Vigil: 6 pm and MidnightChristmas Day: 11 am

WAVELAND - St. Clare Parish236 South Beach BoulevardChristmas Vigil: 6 pmChristmas Day: Midnight &10 am

WAYNESBORO - St. Bernadette Parish401 Mississippi DriveChristmas Vigil: 6 pmChristmas Day: 10 am

WHITE CYPRESS - St. Matthew the Apostle Parish27074 St. Matthews Church Road, PerkinstonChristmas Vigil: 4 pm, 7 pm & 11:30 pmChristmas Day: 9 am

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016 Partnership enlivens parish, school, gives

seminarians pastoral insightsBY PETER FINNEY JR.Catholic News Service

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- It was 10:10 am on Sunday, Aug. 28 -- 20 minutes before the regular 10:30 am Mass at St. Rita Church in New Orleans -- normally a time when the church is pin-drop quiet except for the sacristan, the organist and a few early arrivers reciting the rosary.

But as parishioners began filing into the church for Mass that day, they witnessed something they had not seen in years -- their church half-filled with people.

Men, some dressed in coats and ties, some in black suits with Roman collars, were spread out in the pews, reading their morning prayers or praying silently.

“I thought it was a funeral or a wedding,” one parishioner said with a laugh, astonished by the sight of more than 100 seminarians from Notre Dame Seminary sitting or kneeling in the pews.

That Sunday was the first manifestation of a bold initiative launched by Father James Wehner, rector of Notre Dame Seminary, and New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond to have the 136-member seminary community partner with nearby St. Rita Parish.

The idea is simple but bold.On most Sundays, the Notre Dame Seminary com-

munity will join the parishioners of St. Rita for the parish-seminary Mass at 10:30 am. A group of seminar-ians opens the church each weekday at 6 am for morn-ing prayer and eucharistic adoration, which lasts until the 7 am weekday Mass.

About 20 third-year seminarians also serve during the week as mentors to the students at St. Rita School, sitting in on classes, answering questions the students might have or just playing with them on the play-ground.

Father Wehner is the canonical pastor of St. Rita, and Father Peter Finney is the administrator, handling the day-to-day operations of the church and school and overseeing the seminarians in their new apostolic work.

While the partnership is a work in progress, one thing clear is: The church is more alive than ever.

“We were a smaller parish before, and now, with all these seminarians, it’s brought life to the parish,” said Dr. Thomas Ryan, secretary of the St. Rita parish coun-cil.

Father Wehner and Father Finney wanted to assure parishioners from the outset that the seminary was not going to be taking control of the parish. They met with parishioners in July and told them they were there to listen and to see what the parish’s needs were.

“We’re starting off very slowly,” Father Wehner told the Clarion Herald, the archdiocesan newspaper.

There is a two-pronged approach for the seminari-ans. The first is the liturgical experience, bringing the entire seminary community together at St. Rita for

Sunday Mass where “seminarians will simply attend and worship side-by-side with the lay faithful.”

“The idea is that after four to six years -- the length of their time at Notre Dame Seminary -- they will have cultivated friendships with parishioners during the school year, consistent with their seminary formation, which we see as a benefit,” Father Wehner said. “At the end of the day, priestly ministry is dedicated to the lay faithful. These seminarians will be praying for St. Rita Parish and its neighborhood and the school children and for their intentions. There will be a parochial foun-dation for their spirituality.”

Two seminarians have been assigned to each grade level for the entire year.

“Those seminarians will know the children’s names and their families and their background,” Father Wehner said. “That pastoral ministry will contribute to an understanding of the whole reason of why they are in the seminary to begin with.”

Beyond that, another six to eight seminarians will help Father Wehner and Father Finney by sitting in on the parish council and finance council meetings and by helping out with adult education. Pastoral outreach has started with two seminarians, equipped with iPads, inputting and updating parishioners’ information in the parish record-keeping software.

“The involvement of the seminarians will increase,” Father Wehner said. “This is the first year, and we feel that the liturgical dimensions and the pastoral dimen-sions are a good way to go.”

Father Finney said the experience thus far has exceeded expectations. Recently, the parish picnic that drew about 50 people last year attracted more than 200. While children played on inflatables, seminarian Matthew Hoffpauir, studying for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, set up an easel to draw caricatures: “I can

draw (almost) anything in 45 seconds,” he wrote, piquing the interest of kids.

“It’s really been great for the school kids,” Father Finney said. “They don’t really know how to make heads or tails of all these guys coming into their classes, but it’s been good to give them some practical, real and ongoing relationships. This isn’t something where we’re parachuting in and out.”

The idea for the seminarians is to encourage them to “think with the mind of a parochial vicar” and to think more “long-term,” Father Finney said.

As the initiative progresses, Father Wehner and Father Finney, who took over in July, want to find out more about what the parish’s needs are. The parish currently has 343 registered families but has added families in recent weeks.

“You want to bring people in, but what are you offering them?” Father Finney said. “We can offer them liturgy and prayer at this point, but we still need to get to know our people a little bit and develop what we have here before engaging in that.”

Karen Henderson, principal of St. Rita School, said she has been amazed by the benefits of the interaction between the seminarians and her students.

“We’re extremely excited about just having their presence,” Henderson said. “We’ve had seminarians teaching religion or assisting the teachers with religion. We’ve had them serve as mentors, for our young boys, in particular. To have so many men of faith is wonder-ful.”

In Stefanie Cronin’s fourth-grade class recently, seminarian Cletus Orji of New Orleans helped students by holding their handmade projects as they described the significance of them. After each child finished, Orji gave the students a high-five.

Orji said he’s gained an appreciation for the teach-ers’ deep well of patience, something he can make use of when he becomes a priest.

Ryan, the parish council secretary, said the semi-nary-parish partnership is like “learning to dance together.”

“This is unique around the country, and there’s no instruction booklet on how this should work,” Ryan said. “Something we need to watch out for is that the seminarians would come and take over, not out of spite or anything like that but because of their love of the parish and their love of ministry. The challenge is for the seminarians to empower the laity to work in minis-try and live out their baptismal vocation.”

He likened it to a teaching hospital.“Medical schools do that. They want their medical

students to learn on the job, so that’s what the seminar-ians are doing here,” he explained. “I think it’s great they want to learn from us. I think other dioceses can learn from this.”

Blake Dubroc, studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette, La., plays soccer in New Orleans with a child at the St. Rita Parish picnic Oct. 9. CNS photo/Peter Finney Jr., Clarion Herald

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First #iGiveCatholic campaign nets over $44k in giftsBY TERRY DICKSON

DIOCESE OF BILOXI -- On November 29, the Diocese of Biloxi participated in #iGiveCatholic and, thanks to the generosity of so many, our dioce-san parishes, schools, ministries, organizations and entities received 451 gifts for a grand total of $44,595.

In addition, 24 hourly prizes in the amount of $1,000 were awarded at random to four participating entities from each of the six dioceses that took part in #igiveCatholic. We’re pleased to announce the winners of $1,000 prizes from our diocese were:

Catholic Charities Biloxi; Bishop’s Memorial Garden Trust Fund; Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Biloxi; Sisters Community of Charity and Social Services, Gulfport; and St. Charles Catholic School, Picayune.

Also, a $1,000 prize was awarded to the partici-

pant from each diocese that received the most advanced gifts. We are pleased to announce that, in the Diocese of Biloxi, there was a two-way tie between St. Mary Catholic Church in Woolmarket and Our Lady of Victories Church in Pascagoula.

This year, #iGiveCatholic is being celebrated by six Catholic arch/dioceses in the southeast region: The Archdiocese of New Orleans, Diocese of Austin, Diocese of Baton Rouge, Diocese of Biloxi, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, and Diocese of Jackson.

Together, each of the participating dioceses raised over $1.8 million.

On behalf of Bishop Roger Morin, thanks to all participants and the generous donors who contributed on this special day.

Last, but certainly not least, we’d like to thank our friends at Hancock Bank for their sponsorship of #iGiveCatholic.

Organizations Total Total Gifts DollarsNativity BVM School, Biloxi 47 $1,730St. Mary Catholic Church, Biloxi - Woolmarket 42 $4,835Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School, Biloxi 33 $2,080Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Pascagoula 27 $2,075Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School, D’Iberville 27 $1,163St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi 20 $3,083Blessed Francis Seelos Church, Biloxi 19 $1,550Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Pass Christian 18 $1,590St. Vincent dePaul Community Pharmacy, Biloxi 18 $1,189Holy Family Parish, Pass Christian 16 $1,115Our Lady of the Gulf Parish Youth Group 15 $825 Program, Bay St. LouisCatholic Diocese of Biloxi Office of Youth 14 $705 Ministry, BiloxiHoly Trinity Catholic School, Bay St. Louis 14 $850Our Mother Of Mercy Parish, Pass Christian 13 $1,445The Priest Retirement Trust Fund, Catholic Foundation 13 $1,225 of the Diocese of BiloxiSeminarian Education Trust Fund, Catholic Foundation 11 $5,565 of the Diocese, BiloxiSt. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Long Beach 11 $315St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg 10 $680

Organizations Total Total Gifts Dollars Sacred Heart (Dedeaux) CCD Program, Pass Christian 9 $500Bishop’s Memorial Garden Trust Fund, Catholic 7 $1,875 Foundation of the Diocese of BiloxiCatholic Charities, Biloxi 7 $1,325Morning Star Pregnancy Care Center, Biloxi 7 $2,150St. Thomas the Apostle, Long Beach 7 $275St. Charles Catholic School, Picayune 6 $1,875St. Joseph Catholic Church, Gulfport 6 $425de l’Epee Deaf Center, Inc., Biloxi 5 $175Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, Biloxi 6 $575Resurrection Catholic School, Pascagoula 5 $250Society of St Vincent de Paul, St Thomas the Apostle Conference, Long Beach 4 $250Sisters Community of Charity and Social 3 $1,150 Services, GulfportSt. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune 3 $1,125St. Michael Parish, Biloxi 3 $425Migration & Refugee Resettlement, Biloxi 2 $50Twelve Baskets Food Bank, Biloxi 2 $125St. Michael St. Vincent dePaul Society, Biloxi 1 $25Disaster Relief & Recovery, Gulfport 0 $0

Diocese of Biloxi Leader Board

From the staff of the Gulf Pine Catholic,have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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016 Resurrection Elementary students

decorate pastoral center Christmas tree

Third grade students, above, from Resurrection Elementary Catholic School, Pascagoula, decorated the

Christmas Tree at the Diocesan Pastoral Center on Nov. 29. Before they began decorating the tree

with the ornaments they made, the students sang Christmas songs and listened to The

Christmas Story read by Diocesan Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Rhonda Clark, at right, dressed as “Mrs. Santa

Claus.” At left, the complete tree welcomes all visitors to the Pastoral

Center.

Photos/Shirley McCusker

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Father McMahonFrom page 4

After his novitiate year, he continued his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washing-ton and was ordained in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception June 7, 1958. He returned to his home parish church of the Visitation for his First Solemn Mass.

Father McMahon was back at Epiphany College for his first assignment as teacher of seminarians in Latin and librarian. Two years later, he was sent to St. Joseph Seminary as dean of students, vice-rector, and teach-er of psychology. In 1968, he was assigned rector of Epiphany College and teacher of Latin.

His first venture into pastoral work was as Newman Chaplain at Prairie View University and pastor of St. Martin de Porres church in Prairie View, Texas, where he served until sent to Epiphany parish in New Orleans two years later. He remained a year until assigned to Incarnation parish in Washington, D.C., for a four-year stay until retuning to St. Joseph’s Seminary as rector. When he was assigned pastor of St. Luke’s church in D.C. in 1991, Father McMahon had completed 26 years in the forma-tion of Josephite seminarians.

Two years later, he was appointed director of nov-ices at Mary Immaculate Novitiate, newly located in Houston. For the next ten years the novitiate moved twice more-from Houston to Mobile, Ala., and to Baltimore. When there were no novices for the year, Father McMahon assumed parochial duties in nearby parishes.

In 2006, he assumed pastorate of Katrina-damaged St. Peter the Apostle parish in Pascagoula, Miss., which had lost its church and school. He oversaw the building of a parish hall to provide space for Masses and teach-ing and for social events. At the time of his death, plans and fundraising for building a separate church were underway.

A Good Shepherd“He was a man who loved doing his job,” said hom-

ilist, Josephite Father Joseph Benjamin, who was a novice under Father McMahon in Baltimore.

“He probably spent half of his priesthood forming students to become priests. But, every time he got into a parish, he loved being a pastor, doing whatever he could to be a true shepherd to his people. He loved his parish and I’m sure that everyone at St. Peter knew that. Even on his death bed, he was still giving instructions on what needed to be done in the parish.”

Indeed, said parishioner Violet Lett, who worked closely with Father McMahon, he was a faithful pastor who took charge of parish matters up until his death.

“Father McMahon was a true blessing to all with whom he came in contact. “He had a heart of gold,” she said. “Father McMahon was a faith-filled, priestly ser-vant until the very end. “He was still running the parish from his hospital bed, and even after he was admitted to hospice.”

Parishioner Billy Knight tried to no avail to con-vince Father McMahon to scale back his duties.

“Father loved his work. He loved being a priest. He loved the people of St. Peter,” said Knight. “I tried many times to get Father to cut back his Mass schedule. He would always agree that he needed to do it. But then he would say, ‘Billy, what will I do? This is all I know

to do. This is what I enjoy doing. If I can’t celebrate Mass and take care of my peo-ple, I won’t have any-thing to live for.”

Jackie Elly said Father McMahon had a special place in his heart for the youth and was proud of his mem-bership in the Knights of Peter Claver.

“He will be missed but the positive leader-ship he left will con-tinue to inspire the people of St. Peter to accomplish their mis-sion,” said Elly, a past Supreme Knight.

Priest of the PeopleIn 2008, on the

occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to priest-hood, Father McMahon told the Gulf Pine Catholic the greatest reward of his priestly ministry was the many people he

met along the way.“I thought for a long time that teaching was wonder-

ful and it was wonderful -- no question about it -- to watch minds grow, to watch people mature, to watch people grow and watch what they do afterwards,” he said. “I taught in high school, college and seminary, so I saw young men become priests and I saw young men who became businessmen and so forth and so on.

“But, to watch families grow and to know that you’re trying to help them in some mysterious way and to listen and help them listen to the Lord is also very rewarding. My priesthood has been very rewarding in the best sense of that word. It’s fulfilling.”

Father Benjamin recounted how, on multiple occa-sions, Father McMahon would say to him, “Joseph, when I close my eyes, all I want to hear is, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

“He was a good and faithful servant, a holy priest who did everything he could to bring his flock to Jesus,” Father Benjamin said. “He didn’t want to be the center of attraction. He brought people to Christ. He shepherded people to Christ. I’m pretty sure, when he took his last breath, he said, ‘Lord, I have done my best. Now it’s your turn to crown me with a crown of glory.’”

Father Michael Kelleher, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, incenses the casket of Josephite Father Charles McMahon, during a Mass of Christian Burial, Dec. 7 at Sacred Heart Church. Father McMahon, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, died on December 2. Bishop Roger Morin celebrated the Mass of Christian burial. In the background, l-r, are Father Roderick Coates, SSJ, vicar general for the Josephites, altar server Julian Glaude, Deacon Ronnie Hawthorne, Bishop Morin, Father William Norvel, SSJ, former Josephite Superior General and Pascagoula native and Deacon Bill Vrazel. Burial took place in St. Peter the Apostle cemetery.

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016 Knights of Peter Claver Council #25, Ladies Auxiliary

Little Flower Court #25

Members of the Knights of Peter Claver Council #25 and the Ladies Auxiliary Little Flower Court #25 participated in their annual service project -- serving Thanksgiving lunch at Loaves and Fishes in Biloxi during the Thanksgiving season. The Knights and Ladies donated the turkeys prepared by the staff for this luncheon. This year, on November 18, the following members, left, served over 200 lunches: front row: Grand Knight Michael Griffin, Lady Kathleen Burton, Grand Lady Beverly Duffy, Lady Kathryn Wilkerson and Buck O’Gea, permanent volunteer of Loaves and Fishes; back row: Lady Mamie Hardy, Knight Franklin Parker, Sir Knight Joe Koonce, Knights Gerald Duffy and Fred Koonce. Right, working in the kitchen were Lady Kathryn Wilkerson and Lady Kathleen Burton.

Sacred Heart Parish, D’Iberville

Sacred Heart Parish’s CCD program has been abuzz with activity. At left, Jaida Le, Aleah Dang, Dean Luu and Izzy Speegle are shown prior to the Saint Walk. At right, Miley Le, Sarah Schiefelbein and Samantha Schiefelbein lead prayer to start CCD classes.

BY MADELINE HANSENSVDP Student Reporter

St. Vindent de Paul School celebrated Veteran’s Day at Prayer and Pledge. This special day is a holiday to remember all veterans, living or dead. On that day, we reflect on how grateful we are to these brave men and women who have served our country. On Thursday, parents and grandparents of students who have served in the military were invited to join us for the presenta-tion. The choir sang of war, peace, and remembrance. That day was a wonderful reminder that we should cherish the men and women that keep us safe.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Long Beach

St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis

The Saint Stanislaus Swim Team won the school’s first Class I State Championship during the MHSAA Class I State Swim Championships in Tupelo.

The Rocks scored 105 points and they were fol-lowed by St. Andrews Episcopal -- 92 and Cleveland High School -- 89.

Individual medal winners were:Boyd Housey -- First place in 100 breast, third in

IMAlexander Fuller -- Second in 100 back (56.56, new

school record), second in 50 FreePeyton Cabell -- third in 200 free, third in 100 free Matthew Townsend -- second in 100 freeJohn Prikasky -- third in 100 fly, second in 200 free200 Medley Relay -- First place to Boyd Housey,

Alexander Fuller, John Prikasky and Matthew Townsend (1:48.08, new school record)

400 Free Relay -- Third Place to Jacob Kurka, Caden Peranich, Peyton Cabell, and Alden Macomber

Patrick Ingram also swam in the 400 Free Relay in the preliminaries.

OLA delegates attend the Youth Legislative Session in Jackson

JACKSON -- Our Lady Academy Youth Legislature delegation attended the Annual YMCA Youth Legislature in Jackson, Mississippi. Over 400 students from 17 high schools attended the conference held at the State Capital to experience the political process of

signing a bill into law. The Mississippi Youth Legislature conducts a mock

legislative session wherein the students present their bills in hopes of having it signed into law. As in the official Legislature process, the bill must be passed by both chambers of congress, before making it to the Youth Governor’s desk.

OLA officers, Kloe Lloyd, Candi Gordon, Madeline Samson and Alia Tayara and seven other OLA dele-gates wrote 4 bills to be debated and voted on. Of the 4, 3 made it to the Youth Governor’s desk, however, none of the bills were actually signed into law.

OLA delegate, Lydia Cates was awarded Most Outstanding Committee Chair. This award was given to the most prepared, organized and efficient committee chair of the conference.

The Junior Youth Legislature for seven-nine grade will begin having meetings in February and will travel to Jackson in April.

Group photo, back row: Leah Tuminello, Madeline Samson, Alia Tayara, Candi Gordon, Rachel Tuminello, Regan Connor and Kloe Lloyd; front row: Ashley Borzik, Madison Wypyski, Lydia Cates, Brooke Raziano, and Wallis Mortillero.

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Nativity BVM was well represented. Congratulations to all that participated and thank you to Kelly Pennell for instilling her love for books in our children!Diocesan Reading Fair participants were: top l-r: Landon Baxter, Sofia Carreon, Dakota Parker, and Dylan Mitchell; and bottom l-r: Ryleigh McNeal, Bryan Cavan Stoddard, Ava Stoddard, Ava Grace Simnicht, Caprie Wooden, and Ally Kuluz.Winners were: Individual Projects, Division C: second grade, Caprie Wooden - second place; Individual Projects,

Division E: Fourth/fifth grade, Landon Baxter - second place; and Individual Projects, Division F: grades six-eight, Sofia Carreon - second place.

Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary celebrated the 50th day of school by Cruisin’ into the 50th Day of School. The students enjoyed dressing in 50’s style costumes and dancing to 50’s music at an afternoon Sock Hop. Pictured, l-r, are Joshelin Sanchez, Taryn Casey, Natalie Stafford, 4th grade teacher Liz Kessler, Andrew Stevenson and Brayden Oates.

Sacred Heart Elementary School, D’Iberville

St. Patrick Catholic High School’s junior varsity (seventh-eighth grades) football team went undefeated this football season, winning the Principal’s Cup against Sacred Heart Catholic

School in Hattiesburg, giving them an 8-0 record. Team members are: Barron Johnson (2), Adam Ritter (5), Quinton Holter (6), Landon Stringer (7), Kaleb Chatman (8), Nick Crass (9), Landen Petersen (12), Ryan Schepens (15), Charlie Olsen (22), Blake Bratton (35), Jamerson Thriffiley (37), Justin Holder (40), SrDrick Taylor (42), Brylee Wilson (44), Blake Gollott (45), Johnathan Galle (47) Jadon Turner (50), Dawson Sandridge (51), Tristan Marchioni (55), Morgan Owen (56), Chris Guthrie (57), Dalton Blackwood (58), Keegan Cuevas (59), Hayden Mckay, (61), Anthony Mattina (65), Aidan Tarrant (71), Connor Sutton (74), Devin Murphy (75), and Jade Luzenburg. The coaches are Doug Petersen, Mike Odenwald and Dave Gaunce.

St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi

Olivia Myers not only captured the attention of the OLF Reading Fair judges, she also caught the attention of the actual author of The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelly. Olivia Myers won first prize in the fifth grade division for her story board display of The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelly. Kelly commented on Oliva’s work on her blog stating that she was proud that the book inspired Olivia. Olivia and the other division winners from OLF headed to St. Patrick’s High School for the Diocesan Reading Fair was held on December 1.

Sixth graders at OLF Elementary in Biloxi were excited about participating in #igiveCatholic.org. This was the first year to participate and the school raised over $2,500 to purchase percussion instruments for their music dept. Pictured are sixth graders Gia Alley, Austin Lee and Kate Massey.

Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School, Biloxi

Nativity BVM Elementary School, Biloxi

On Thursday, December 1, all first place winners from Nativity BVM Elementary School’s Reading Fair went on to participate in the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi Reading Fair at St. Patrick High School.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Long Beach

Pictured are fifth graders Bobby Creely, Tyson Warren, Ian Snyder and Austin Scarengos.

Each year, the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Holy Family Parish collects donations of food, including a turkey, for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in the community. Fifth grade students from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School participate in this effort by decorating boxes for the meals. The students then gather in the parish community hall to fill the boxes with the donated food. The assembled boxes are then taken to the Christian Concern Food Bank by Holy Family’s Msgr. Leech Knights of Columbus Council.

This effort to bring food to the Thanksgiving tables of struggling families is truly a community effort, span-ning generations, and SVS is proud to be a part of it. As one of the SVS students reporters put it in the school newspaper, “Feeding the hungry is a work of mercy.

Fifth grade is ending the Year of Mercy the right way!”

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Left top, Bishop Roger Morin visited St. Peter the Apostle Parish on Dec 11 to break ground for a new church.

Left bottom, pictured, l-r, are St. Peter parishioner and State Representative Jeramey Anderson, Pascagoula Mayor Jim Blevins, Deacon Richard Smith, Bishop Roger Morin, Josephite Vicar General Father Roderick Coates, parishioner Dorothy Gates and parish council president Billy Knight. The groundbreaking was held just four days after St. Peter’s beloved pastor, Father Charles McMahon, was laid to rest in St. Peter the Apostle. Father McMahon died on Dec. 2 after a long illness (see story on page 4).According to Knight, the project will go out for construction bids next month.

Bottom, after the groundbreaking, Bishop Morin celebrated Mass for St. Peter parishioners in the parish’s multipurpose center. From l-r are Father Coates, Bishop Morin and Deacon Smith, who is assigned to Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, which, at one time, fell under the administration of the Josephites.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish breaks ground on new church

Photos/Juliana Skelton