Gulf Pine Catholic

14 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 5, 2024 Eucharistic pilgrimage participants join in prayer during inaugural Blessing of the Sea Clergy and altar servers gather on the shore of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Long Beach for the Blessing of the Sea, which took place on June 12 as part of the St Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Father Vincent Ajayi, parochial vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Long Beach, led the blessing. Photo/Terry Dickson BY TERRY DICKSON LONG BEACH -- No strangers to hurricanes, resi- dents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast know all too well the damage and destruction that can be inflicted by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As the St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage wound its ways through the streets of this waterfront town, approxi- mately 300 pilgrims, many of whom are used to dealing with hurricane-related insur- ance hassles, sought protec- tion from a higher power, call- ing upon God to calm the waters of the sea during the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. After an evening of praise, worship and adoration inside St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Father Vincent Ajayi, parochial vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, carried the Blessed Sacrament across Hwy 90 to the beach for the formal Rite of Blessing. “The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of Glory thunders, the Lord over vast waters,” said Father Ajayi, holding the monstrance contain- ing the Blessed Sacrament over the placid gulf waters. Dave Gauthier, one of the organizers of the bless- ing, said he wanted to do something unique for this particular portion of the pilgrimage. “All these other parishes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast were holding special events in conjunc- tion with the pilgrimage, so I thought about what we have here at St. Thomas that is unique and that is the ability to walk right across the highway to the beach,” he said. “What makes that special is that we have a unique vantage point during the sunrise and the sunset. That’s something that a lot of these churches along the route can’t offer. So, I did a little research and came up with a service for the Blessing of the Sea.” Although he’s happy that the blessing and, in fact the entire pilgrimage have been a huge success, Gauthier does have one regret. “I am disappointed that I can’t enjoy because I have been running around so much,” he said. “I’m thrilled by seeing all the things that are happening and the level of excitement in the air, and I’m not just throwing that word excitement out there. St. Thomas was the perfect setting for such a blessing because the parish has seen its share of hur- ricanes. The hurricane of 1947 brought widespread dam- age to the area with waves carrying debris up to the steps of the church -- but St. Thomas was spared. However, during the early morning hours of August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille ravaged the church beyond repair. Millions of people saw the devasta- tion when national television captured Father Francis O’Malley and a number of parishioners celebrating Mass next to the rubble of what once stood as the “Church of the Thirteen Altars.’’ The nation responded with supportive cards, letters and contributions (including a tele- gram from President Richard Nixon). For the next three years, Mass was celebrated in the school gym while the new church was being built. On August 20, 1972, Bishop Joseph B. Brunini dedicated the new church. The pyramid shape of the church became a beacon to small boats and fishermen in the Mississippi Sound as well as a well-known landmark on the Gulf Coast. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared ashore bringing tidal waves of over twenty-five feet. The church, school, rectory, and the community hall were totally destroyed. All that remained were the steel beams of the new building, the upper portion of the church and the stained glass windows. Longtime St. Thomas parishioner Phyllis Seal, who lived through Camille and Katrina, is thankful she was able to witness the blessing. “I have just been so awestruck by today’s events,” said Seal. “I’m just so glad that God let me live to see this. This is a lifetime experience for me. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s just absolutely amazing. Watching the pilgrimage come down the beach this morning, I just cried. Again, I’m just so thrilled to see this and that it’s at my church. I’m just praying that this blessing reaches out to all the world. To know that this sea touches people all over the world is an amazing thing.” Seal said four generations of her family repre- sented at the blessing. “I hope they get out of it what I got out of it,” she said. “That’s something you can’t pass along to them. They have to experience it for themselves.” Prayer for Protection against Storms and Hurricanes Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during this Hurricane season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.