Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 15, 2024 3 Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) March 15, 2024 Volume 41, Issue 15 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 M c Cusker —BILLING — Aimee M c Lendon —CIRCULATION— Robin Peeler —PHOTOGRAPHY— Juliana Skelton —OFFICEHOURS— 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— Editor: 228-702-2126 Production/Advertising: 228-702-2109 Billing: 228-702-2127 Circulation: 228-702-2100 Photography: 228-201-2132 —EMAIL— News: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org Production / Advertising: smccusker@biloxidiocese.org Billing: amclendon@biloxidiocese.org Circulation: rpeeler@biloxidiocese.org Photography: jskelton@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 MARCH 29— News copy and photos: Due M,ARCH 21, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due MARCH 21, 10 a.m. March 16 Notre Dame Seminary Gala, Notre Dame Seminary, 6 p.m. March 17 Mass -- Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference (DFMC) Regional Meeting, St. Michael Parish, Biloxi, 5 p.m. March 17 Reception, Golden Nugget Biloxi & Casino, Biloxi, 6:30 p.m. March 19 Mass & School Visit, St. Stanislaus School, Bay St. Louis, 8:30 a.m. March 20 Confirmation, St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, White Cypress, 6 p.m. March 21 Vocation Discernment Dinner, Pastoral Center, 5 p.m. March 22 Saint Joseph Seminary College March 24 Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 11 a.m. March 26 Chrism Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 10:30 a.m. March 27 Mass with Altar Dedication, St. Therese Chapel, Sacred Heart Parish, D’Iberville, 11 a.m. March 27 Finance Council, Pastoral Center, Biloxi, 2 p.m. March 28 Mass of Lord’s Supper, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 6 p.m. March 29 Stations of Cross, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 12 p.m. March 29 Veneration of Cross, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 3 p.m. March 30 Easter Vigil, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 8 p.m. April 1-5 Bishop’s Retreat, San Antonio BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of Biloxi But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began (Luke 15: 22-24). I love the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of St. Luke. It is special to us as a Church and, thank God, the community of St. Luke preserved it for us. Many of the parables need a deep dive to bring to light the hidden meaning or strike a chord, and indeed the parable of the Prodigal Son does have deep meaning, but we can understand the joy found when a son or daughter that has been lost to the world returns home, even if we have not experienced that situation ourselves. The Father’s love for us is boundless. He is waiting for us, just as the father of the prodigal son was waiting, praying for his return. When we recognize our sinfulness and are contrite, our Father is there for us, waiting for us to return to Him. The image is very powerful, God the Father waiting for every single one of us out of love for us. Even though we may have sinned, even though we may have strayed from Him, we are still welcome. It is a welcome of deep love. In Luke’s Gospel, the father did not even listen to the son’s full speech. As soon as he heard his contrition, he ordered his servants to, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ God the Father wants His children back home, and it is through God the Son that this happens for us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I have to admit that when I hear confessions, it is probably the most humbling Bishop Kihneman God the Father is waiting for us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation moment of my priesthood because, in that moment, I must get out of the way and let God work and forgiveness happen. It truly is an amazing moment. It is the love of Jesus Christ made present to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is what we hear in the Book of Revelation, 7:14: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.” Another piece of the parable of the Prodigal Son that we need to pay attention to is the older son. We are more likely to find ourselves in the shoes of the older son. The call to humility can get lost in our pride. The call to receive someone that has hurt us, and especially if they have hurt someone we love is a big hurdle, but not impossible when we surrender it to God. The older son was feeling very hurt by the younger son, for himself, and for the hole he would have left in his father’s heart when he left, not to mention the struggle it would have been for the family financially. He left, he hurt him and his father. I can imagine the unanswered questions the older son had. Why did he leave the family? How could he do this to us? The father’s response at the end of the gospel is one we should burn into our souls: “My son, you are here with me always. Everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:31-32). SEE BISHOP’S COLUMN, PAGE 9