Gulf Pine Catholic

6 Gulf Pine Catholic • October 25, 2024 As a Catholic Deacon, I am challenged with my responsibilities as a responsible family man as well as a responsible member of Catholic clergy. It is an important position to be in, however, my matrimonial responsibilities make my responsibilities as a member of clergy work. And for support and inspiration, particularly as being a good family man is the example of the “foster” father of Jesus, Blessed St. Joseph. He is truly the example of Obedience and Strength as is illustrated in the CATHOLIC COUPLES BIBLE . The Gospel paints a beautiful portrait of the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster- father of Jesus. The Bible shows Joseph to be a righteous man. His life serves as a living testimony of his dedication to the vocation of marriage as husband and father. Joseph’s heart and soul was poured into making his vocation as husband and father the center of his life. He cared about the health, happiness and safety of Jesus and Mary. No other man in the Bible provides a clearer example of what being a husband and father means, even today. What truly sets Joseph apart is the depth of his faith and love demonstrated in his unquestioning obedience to God’s will in his life. Like Mary, Joseph freely accepted his role as a parent, often risking his own safety and security in the process. At every turn, instead of challenging God’s will, Joseph embraced it in his life. As a result, in his story, we are inspired by the obedience born out of humility and the strength born out of conviction and resolve. Joseph provided for Jesus as he grew in strength and faith. This responsibility in fatherhood also extended to responsibility as a husband and is evidenced in the loving care he also bestowed upon Mary. This simple taking responsibility for your family is a lesson too often lost in today’s culture. This exercise of responsibility is the ultimate expression of love husbands can give to their spouse and children. The reassurance and security children feel from a responsible father is as important as the acceptance and nurturing they feel from a loving mother. Pope John Paul ll tells us, “Man is called upon to live his gift and role as husband and father.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in #1642: …Our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony. Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow Him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another out of reverence for Christ, and to love on another with supernatural, tender and fruitful love…” May God Bless You and continue to support the Sacrament of Matrimony. Deacon Justin Mitchell Deacon Justin Mitchell is the Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Biloxi. Marriage & Family Life Mitchell The image of a “Real Man in a Marriage” Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the religious life, especially in the Diocese of Biloxi Las Misas Celebradas en Español Masses Celebrated in Spanish Sábado/Saturday Laurel: Immaculate Conception Parish, 8 p.m. Pascagoula: Sacred Heart Parish, 6 p.m. Domingo/Sunday Bay St. Louis: St. Rose de Lima Parish, 12 noon Biloxi: Blessed Seelos Parish, 11 a.m. Gulfport: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 2 p.m. Hattiesburg: Sacred Heart Parish, 1:30 p.m. Laurel: Immaculate Conception Parish, 4 p.m Ocean Springs: St. Alphonsus Parish, 2 p.m. Picayune: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 12:30 p.m. Lunes/Monday Biloxi: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 6 p.m. Jueves/Thursday Laurel: Immaculate Conception Parish, 7 p.m.