Gulf Pine Catholic

12 Gulf Pine Catholic • February 16, 2024 Star Student Matthew Simpson has been chosen as the St. Stanislaus STAR student for the class of 2024. As part of this recognition, each STAR student selected a STAR teacher who has played a significant role in their academic success. Matthew has chosen Jordan Roy, who teaches AP Calculus and Honors Calculus. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program was established by the Mississippi Economic Council and the M.B. Swayze Foundation to promote scholastic excellence, foster greater academic efforts among Mississippi students, and recognize teachers for their valuable contributions. These betrayals of Christ undermine “the credibility of…Christian testimony…,” and not only in Eastern Europe. Amen. Ukraine’s Christian leaders go on to thank those who have stood in solidarity with suffering Ukraine, including “humanitarian organizations [which] provide assistance to the needy in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.” The names of those organizations constitute a moral honor roll. High on that roster of the righteous will be found the Knights of Columbus. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Knights have raised $22.3 million from more than 67,500 donors. Those donations have helped the Knights serve 1.6 million Ukrainians by distributing, in Ukraine and among Ukrainian refugees in Poland, 7.7 million pounds of food and medical supplies, reached (in some cases at considerable risk) by KofC Charity Convoys; 250,000 individual care packages; over 4,000 coats to warm Ukrainian children; and hundreds of wheelchairs, generators and other technical essentials. For months, the U.S. Congress has played games with Ukrainian military aid, holding it hostage to yet another mindless fracas between Democrats and Republicans over what every sane American citizen understands is a grave crisis of immigration policy. This is behavior unworthy of a great nation. It is past time for the citizenry to call those who represent us in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to stop their childish caterwauling, to cease debasing our politics with social media snark, to behave in a manner befitting adults who have taken oaths to legislate responsibly -- and to support a brave people who, against terrible odds and in the face of immense suffering, are defending our victory in the Cold War as well as their country. Those who do not are going to face a harsh judgment at the bar of history. George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Catholic Difference From page 8 S t . S tanislaus C ollege , B ay S t . L ouis S t . A lphonsus C atholic S chool , O cean S prings Heisman School Winner The Heisman High School Scholarship was created in 1994 through a partnership between Wendy’s and The Heisman Trophy Trust. The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. St. Stanislaus nominated senior Heith Shinn as our school recipient of this prestigious award. Pictured left: Heith Shinn Pictured right, l-r: Jordan Roy and Matthew Simpson Trip to museum St. Alphonsus’ third grade class took a trip to the historic Visitation Monastery in Mobile, AL, in honor of celebrating Catholic vocations during Catholic Schools Week. The students received a tour of the grounds and buildings, which includ- ed the main building, retreat area, and the chapel. They had an opportu- nity to speak with Sister Teresa, who was preparing to take her vows to become a nun the very next day! They also caught a glimpse of Mother Superior as she prayed her afternoon prayers in the chapel! The day ended with a visit to the beautiful gift shop on the grounds. This was definitely a trip they will talk about for years to come!