JULY 19, 2024
mississippicatholic.com
Traversing the U.S., eucharistic pilgrimage plants seeds of mission on Gulf Coast BY TERRY DICKSON, GULF PINE CATHOLIC
all three days of the route as the pinnacle of his experience, spanning from Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay St. Louis to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi. “I was privileged to walk all 22 miles,” he said. It was tough. It wasn’t easy. We baked a lot in the hot sun, but having the opportunity to walk with our Lord was something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.” Deacon William Stentz, who a part of the committee, agreed with Molsbee’s sentiments.“Our church is alive,” he said. “Beyond the beauty of the people who attended all the special Masses and especially those who processed – some were with walkers and canes, some were children, some were parents, some were single people, some were from religious orders, and some were clergy – what was most surprising was the numBILOXI – The St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage traveled ber of passersby who would just through the Mississippi Gulf Coast between June 10-14. A group of parishioners and fall to their knees when they got
BILOXI – After more than two years of prayer, planning and anticipation, pilgrims on the St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage recently made their way across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For organizers and participants, it was truly a week to remember. “This has been an amazing week. I think the Holy Spirit has had a humongous hand in it,” said seminarian Ricky Molsbee, a member of the Eucharistic Revival Committee for the Diocese of Biloxi. “Listening to the pilgrims’ testimonies has been one of the biggest gifts. To see the youth of our church mixed in with members of the religious communities and how they are filled with the Holy Spirit and how they want to share and evangelize with everybody has been an incredible thing to witness. You can just feel their love for the Eucharist.” Knights of Columbus from St. Francis of Assisi in Madison traveled down to participate Molsbee highlighted walking
in the event on Thursday, June 13. (Photo by Michael Barrett Photography)
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Pro-life advocates mark 2 years since Dobbs: ‘We have a challenge on our hands’ BY KATE SCANLON
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Prior to the second anniversary of a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its prior abortion precedent, pro-life activists said much of their work remains to be done. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, told OSV News in a June 10 interview “we realized quickly we have a challenge
on our hands,” pointing to losses at the ballot box after the Dobbs ruling, with more such contests on the horizon. “So after two years, there is still reason to celebrate because we know God’s grace is more powerful than all this, but also, we have to embrace the challenge that faces us,” he said. The Supreme Court issued its historic decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization June 24, 2022, a little over a month after Politico published a leaked draft of Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in the case. The leak caused a public firestorm before the court issued its official ruling and is seen as the most
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INSIDE THIS WEEK FOLLOW US
@jacksondiocese DIGITAL EDITION Sister jubilees 9 Sisters celebrate significant jubilees
Around the diocese 11 Blessings, celebrations and more
Sacraments View sacrament photos from around the diocese
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