Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 24, 2024 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) May 24, 2024 Volume 41, Issue 20 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 for JUNE 7— News copy and photos: Due ,MAY 28, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due MAY 28, 10 a.m. Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule May 26 Confirmation, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Picayune, 5 p.m. May 28 Dedication of Mercy Cross Center, Biloxi, 10 a.m. May 28 Confirmation, St. Paul the Apostle Mission, Tylertown, includes Holy Trinity, Columbia, 6 p.m. May 29 Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition Annual Bishops’ Advisory Committee Meeting, 10:30 a.m. May 30 Confirmation, St. Rose de Lima Parish, Bay St. Louis, 6 p.m. June 1 Confirmation, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Gulfport, 12 p.m. June 2 Mass, Nativity BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, 11 a.m. June 5 Closing Mass for Altar Server Summer Camp, Sacred Heart Parish, D’Iberville, 11 a.m. June 5 Housing Board, Pastoral Center, 3 p.m. June 10 Mass and Eucharistic Revival Pilgrimage Program, Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis, 10 a.m. June 10 Eucharistic Revival Pilgrimage Holy Hour, Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Bay St. Louis, 5 p.m. Bishop Kihneman Mercy Cross Center -- a place for hope and healing BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III Bishop of the Diocese of Biloxi God has identified Himself with the hungry, the sick, the naked, the homeless; hunger not only for bread, but for love, for care, to be somebody to someone; naked- ness, not for clothing only, but nakedness of that compassion that very few people give to the unknown; homelessness, not only just for a shelter made from stone but for that homelessness that comes from hav- ing no one to call your own. -- St. Teresa of Calcutta (2001). “Mother Teresa: Essential Writings” On behalf of Catholic Charities of South Mississippi, I am pleased to announce the opening of Mercy Cross Center in Biloxi to serve those in our com- munity who are in great need. Mercy Cross Center is a day shelter designed to provide basic needs support such as showers, laun- dry, mail services, clothing, and respite while also being a centralized service cen- ter, providing space for all social service providers and other helping entities to serve this most vulnerable population. The need for the project has been an outstanding concern since I arrived in the Diocese of Biloxi as your bishop in 2017 because I could see a real need for such a ministry. However, the need for this center really hit home for me last summer when eight members of our community who have no homes died from heat exposure. That was the final motivation for me to get this project up and going so that we do not lose any more members of our community without homes due to excessive heat. The Mercy Cross Center is located on the former campus of Mercy Cross High School that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The gymnasium and field house survived the storm and are being refitted to serve those in our community who are in great need. We are close to dedicating and opening our facilities on May 28 to provide access to ministries and services to help those without homes to transition to a more sta- ble living situation.  The Mercy Cross Center will be the first multi-agency center in our area aimed at providing comprehensive services to our community members who need them. The Center strives to eliminate barriers for both those in need in our community and pro- viders by bringing community partners together to minister to the specific needs of this community. The Mercy Cross Center and its part- ners will offer a range of essential services to support individuals experiencing the need for a day shelter. Many needs will be met with our partners: Loaves and Fishes , to provide meals; Back Bay Mission , to provide portable temporary small room night shelters as needed; Open Doors , to help provide housing opportunities in the area; Memorial Hospital , to provide phy- sicians to address healthcare needs; St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy , to provide medicine as needed; Pine Belt Mental Health , to provide help to those in crisis or with mental health needs; Work Force , to provide job training, teach interview skills, complete an application for employment, and/or compose a résumé; City of Biloxi , to provide a helpful police presence and other support; A Team , to help our clients with legal concerns; advocacy, substance abuse support, and other partners and ser- vices. SEE BISHOP’S COLUMN, PAGE 6