Gulf Pine Catholic

16 Gulf Pine Catholic • August 30, 2024 Installation of officers for Council 1522 at Our Lady of the Gulf was held on July 28. Our Lady of the Gulf Council #1522 K nights of C olumbus Camp D.E.A.F. is a week-long day camp held each July for youth whose first language is American sign language. The name is an acronym for Deaf Enabled to Associate for Fun and Fellowship . This year’s camp, hosted by the de l’Epee Deaf Center, had over 45 campers and volunteers participating in many events. Field trips included Buccaneer State Park wave pool, Hattiesburg Zoo, Infinity Science Center and Big Play Bowling. Throughout the week, there were crafts, Bible stories, games, movies and many other educational opportunities. The camp serves deaf, siblings or children of deaf, and children with special needs. For more information on de l’Epee Deaf Center or Tabitha Project or to see all the photos from the week, visit deafcenter.org . Camp D.E.A.F. 2024 de l ’E pee D eaf C enter , G ulfport S t . V incent de P aul Aid in time of need Your St. Vincent de Paul conferences here in the Diocese of Biloxi truly live the Society’s core belief that “there is no work foreign to the society.” A recent need brought to the attention of the St. Thomas SVdP in Long Beach is just one example of how it sometimes “takes a village” to help our neighbors in need. St. Thomas SVdP was contacted by a local EMT in search of a solution to a very serious need. They had been sent on an emergency call to help a woman who, as a result of a car accident, is a paraplegic. It was determined that they would need to transport her to the hospital, and in the course of bringing her out of her home, an EMT was injured. The porch and steps were rotten in several places and gave way during the evacuation of the patient. We are so blessed to have caring, compassionate people serving in our medical community. It would have been easy for the EMTs to end their involve- ment once they transported their patient; however, concerned for the dilemma that this woman now faced, they elected to act. Our local firemen and EMTs decided to work on their day off and build a new ramp. One problem, however, needed to be addressed. They needed funding to buy the materi- als. When St. Thomas SVdP was contacted, there was no hesitation in deciding to help. Immediate calls went out to several of our other conferences and funds to cover the total amount were committed to by Sacred Heart, D’Iberville; Our Lady of Fatima, Biloxi; and St. Thomas, Long Beach. What joy in seeing everyone come together, provide the neces- sary resources, and create a safe environment for our neighbor in need! Little known stories such as this bring our com- munity closer together, and help us as Vincentians to respond to God’s call to help the poor, the suffering, and the isolated. We receive so much more than we give when we meet our brothers and sisters face to face, as it is in these encounters that we see the face of God. Won’t you join us at St Vincent de Paul today, and experience first hand why God so loves the poor.