Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • April 12, 2024 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) April 12, 2024 Volume 41, Issue 17 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 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 forAPRIL26— News copy and photos: Due APRIL 18, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due APRIL 18, 10 a.m. Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule April 12 Confirmation, Holy Family Parish, Pass Christian, 6:30 p.m. April 13 Mass with Rite of Installation of Acolyte for Diaconate Candidates, Nativity BVM Cathedral Parish, Biloxi, 4 p.m. April 14 Confirmation, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ocean Springs, 4 p.m. April 16 Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Gulfport, 6 p.m. April 17 Confirmation, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Long Beach, 6 p.m. April 18 Presbyteral Council, Pastoral Center, Biloxi, 10:30 a.m. April 20 Confirmation, Our Lady of Victories Parish, Pascagoula, 4 p.m. April 21 Holy Infant of Good Health Feast Day Mass & Celebration, St. Ann Parish, Clermont Harbor, 2 p.m. April 23 Confirmation, St. Fabian Parish, Hattiesburg, 6 p.m. April 25 Holy Hour for Vocations, Nativity BVM Cathedral Parish, Biloxi, 6 p.m. April 26 Equestrian Order of the Holy -28 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Annual Meeting, Biloxi April 26 Knights of Columbus State – 28 Conference, Biloxi BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi Each year at the Chrism Mass cele- brated at Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral on the Tuesday of Holy Week, there are two parts that are unique to the Mass ~ the oils that are used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick, by me and our priests throughout the year are conse- crated (Oil of Chrism) or blessed (Oil of the Sick and Oil of Catechumens), and the priests renew publicly their priestly promises that they made when they were anointed and ordained to the priesthood. This beautiful celebration is part of the holiest of weeks and is described in the Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism as: “… among the principal manifesta- tions of the fullness of the Bishop’s Priesthood and is considered to be a sign of the close bond of the Priests with him.” “… sacred Chrism shows that through Baptism, Christians have been incor- porated into the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Having died, been buried and risen with Him, [we] are sharers in His kingly and prophetic Priesthood. Through Confirmation [we] are given the spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Oil of Catechumens … Bishop Kihneman The Chrism Mass and the Oil of Gladness strengthens the candidate with the power to renounce the devil and sin before they go to the font of life for rebirth. [The Oil of the Sick] offers the sick a remedy for infirmity of body and soul, so that they can bravely endure and fight against evils and obtain pardon for sins.” During the Liturgy of the Word at the Chrism Mass, we listen to the Gospel of St. Luke, as the people of Jesus’ home- town of Nazareth did. They were both amazed at His words, and they also ques- tioned His authority as He proclaims himself the Messiah. This is the first moment in Luke’s Gospel that Jesus pro- claims that He is the Messiah, and He speaks the words of the prophet Isaiah to all of us, especially those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus. He tells each of us that the Spirit of God is upon us as we are anointed: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18- 21). And we have been anointed, many of us multiple times -- in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and in Holy Orders. The holy oils are signs of the grace and power of God coming to us and touching us. The prophet Isaiah refers to our anointing with the “oil of glad- ness.” (61:3b) SEE BISHOP’S COLUMN, PAGE 7