Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 1, 2024 17 Collection March 9 & 10 A small portion of collection pays for this advertisement. Thank You The brothers and sisters and the extended fam- ily in Ireland of the late Msgr. Micheál Thornton would like to thank most sincerely all those with whom he worked during his 54 years in Missis- sippi. We would like to thank Bishop Kihneman and the bishops who preceeded him with whom Micheál served, the clergy of the diocese, and the parishioners with whom he worked, for your friendship, kindness and generosity to him. You were his family for those 54 years and he was happy living and working with you. We would especially like to thank the parish- ioners with whom he worked during his ministry there for your great kindness, friendship and good- will to him. Thank you to the parishioners of the Cathe- dral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Biloxi and St. Louis Parish in Biloxi. We would like to say muchas gracias to the parishioners of San Miguel and Perpetuo Socorro in Saltillo, Mexico. We thank the parishioners of Sacred Heart Par- ish in Pascagoula, the parishioners of Immaculate Conception parish in Laurel, St Bernadette’s in Waynesboro, and Holy Trinity in Leakesville. We also thank the parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima parish who knew him when he retired there. A special thanks to all his neighbours on Tara Lane and to Father McInerney and all those at the Parish House for all your care. Thanks to all those who helped organise and attended Micheál’s funeral Mass, the choir, the Guard of Honour and those who looked after the reception afterwards. We would like to thank all of you for your hos- pitality, care and welcome whenever we came to visit and especially during the last few months of Micheál’s life. There were offers of cars, houses, food… We are forever grateful. In the words of the Irish “ Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.” Msgr. Michael Thornton 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