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A Word from Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman
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Dear Friends in Christ,
As I reflect on the challenges of last year for our diocese, I turn to the model of St. Martin de Porres, our patron. He knew well what it was like to experience obstacles in life. Throughout his lifetime in Peru, St. Martin de Porres faced incredible poverty and other hardships. Still, he never missed an opportunity to serve those in need around him. Whatever he was facing in life, he gave everything he could to help others.
St. Martin de Porres is a perfect example of what it means to live Witnessing the Eucharist within Us. As we recognize Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are in turn called to follow His example of sacrifice for the benefit of others. We give thanks for what Christ has offered to us by living sacrificially as intentional disciples.
Our 2021 Catholic Sharing Appeal offers us the opportunity to be a witness to the Eucharist in the world today. Each year, the campaign raises critical funds that support Catholic Charities, Seminarian Formation, Care of our Retired Clergy, and Faith Formation that serve adults and youth, as well as those men in the Diaconate discernment and formation process.
As we celebrate this Year of the Eucharist, we can give thanks for what Christ has done for us by sharing our gifts with those in need.
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Distribution of your generosity
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Supporting Our Clergy - $297,162
With your support of the Catholic Sharing Appeal, we care for our clergy in every stage of their life. We were able to provide for the education and formation for our eight seminarians who have been called to serve our diocese, as well as ensure that our current clergy receive ongoing formation and education to better serve our people. Finally we were able to provide care for our beloved clergy who have retired after a lifetime of service to our parishes and our people.
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Creating Faith-Centered Communities - $156,834
Our diocese is abundantly blessed with many ministries and programs that serve people of all ages and in various stages of their faith formation. Your support of the Catholic Sharing Appeal ensured that we were able to continue providing support for the Offices of Youth Ministry, Marriage and Family Life, Evangelization, Scouting, and the Cursillo Center. These faith-filled programs provide the vital spiritual growth of the people within our diocese.
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Providing Hope for Those Most in Need - $439,333
Many individuals and families rely on our charitable programs to meet their physical and spiritual needs. Your support of the Catholic Sharing Appeal provides critical funds to Catholic Charities of South Mississippi and de l'Epee Deaf Center. These programs serve thousands of people each year and are some of the strongest witnesses to hope, faith, and charity in our diocese.
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Sustaining Our Diocese - $145,815
Our diocese is blessed with 53 parishes, missions, and chapels in 17 counties. To be able to provide them resources for their ministries, programs, and services, our diocese depends on funds from the Catholic Sharing Appeal. Your support of the Catholic Sharing Appeal directly supports the offices of Communication, Stewardship & Development, and other diocesan projects that work toward the sustainability and growth within our diocese.
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Serving All of God’s People - $28,270
Each year, our diocese is blessed to welcome new families who have recently settled in southern Mississippi. Your support of the Catholic Sharing Appeal enables us to provide diverse programs to help meet their needs. This is an important way that we answer the call of Christ to embrace all people as our brothers and sisters that attend our 53 parishes, missions, and chapels.
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Voices of Your Generosity to the Catholic Sharing Appeal
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our Seminarians
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Chris Collins
As a second-year seminarian, Chris Collins looks forward to the day when he can be fully present to his parishioners as a Catholic priest, and to accompany them on their journey of faith during the most important times in their lives.
"I felt God’s calling during my time at St. Patrick Catholic High School and that call was made stronger by the examples of service by holy priests at school, in my parish and across our diocese. I knew that God was calling me to serve Him by serving His people in South Mississippi."
Growing up as a parishioner of St. James parish in Gulfport, Chris was inspired by the clergy whose lives gave active witness to the joys of their priestly vocations. The witness of these priests also helped Chris to more clearly discern his call to be a shepherd to a future flock. Studying at St. Joseph Seminary in Covington, Louisiana, gives Chris the opportunity to stay connected to our diocese throughout the year which greatly helps him to remain focused on his call to the priesthood and those he is called to serve.
"Solid seminary formation is crucial in forming good and holy priests for our diocese. Your support of this appeal is a direct investment in us as seminarians, as well as in the future of the Church in South Mississippi. It is this conviction that continues to drive me to be the man, and priest, that God calls me, and my brother seminarians to be in the world today."
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Faith Formation
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Shelby Martin
As a graduate of St. Patrick High School and Franciscan University, Shelby Martin is no stranger to ministry and the joy of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Her passion for evangelizing, especially to teens and young adults, led her back to our diocese where she continues to serve the Lord through His call to her in Youth Ministry.
"I wanted to graduate and go off to a new mission field to explore and bring Christ to different parts of the world. As my graduation date approached I felt the Lord calling me home to do His work in the mission field of my home diocese. I was so glad to answer His call to return home and to serve Him, and the people in South Mississippi. The work of teaching, forming and handing on our Catholic faith is so needed in our world today. Your support of the appeal does so much to help us continue this good work that Jesus calls each one of us to perform."
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Catholic Charities
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Magda Leleaux
As a long time member of the Catholic Charities team of South Mississippi, Magda works closely with people and families at their most vulnerable times. Whether transitioning from homelessness, or settling into a new community or way of life, or in need of food and the basic necessities of human life, Magda, and the team at Catholic Charities moves the mission of the Church forward and brings the healing hand of Jesus to our brothers and sisters in the time of most need.
"When I accepted this position, I knew so little about the suffering of people in our own communities, or the incredible joy that would come from helping them. Catholic Charities is one of the most visible ministries of the Church that really brings Christ's message of hope to those who need to see it and hear it the most. Our team at Catholic Charities does a lot of great work, but we couldn't accomplish any of it without the support of the people in our diocese. It really does take everyone, working together, to be the Body of Christ to the world."
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Care of Retired Clergy
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Rev. Louie Lohan
After dedicating their lives to serving the Lord and His Church, retired priests, like Fr. Louie, are supported in
their retirement years with living expenses as well as having their health care needs met.
"I am so appreciative of the love and support that I, and my brother priests, receive in our retirement. This support is expressed in many, many ways, but I am especially grateful that it provides us with a comfortable living that still gives us the ability to continue to minister and help people in our communities. Although we are retired from active ministry, our ministry as priests of Jesus Christ continues, and your support of this appeal is such a great help to that ministry. I give thanks to God each day for your love that is expressed in your support of me and all our retired priests."
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Leadership Gift SocietiesThe Leadership Gift Societies were created to both recognize and celebrate those individuals who sustain theministries and programs of the Diocese of Biloxi through significant gifts to the Catholic Sharing Appeal.
This support ensures the ministries and programs of the Diocese of Biloxi continue to provide for the pastoralneeds of families, children and countless others who seek our help and assistance. These gifts, received withdeepest gratitude, make a profound difference, and are gratefully recognized by Bishop Kihneman. -
St. Joseph Society
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As Co-Patron of our diocese and husband of Mary, St. Joseph serves as a model to us in trusting God. When you become a member of the St. Joseph Society, your generous gift to the Catholic Sharing Appeal provides essential support to our programs, ministries, and services that allow us to do God’s work in South Mississippi.
St. Joseph inspires us to trust in God’s plan for us, no matter what circumstances we face. As the husband of Mary, St. Joseph answered God’s call to support her and Jesus. His humility, love, and faithfulness were important anchors for the Holy Family. Today, St. Joseph models for us what it means to do God’s work with humility, love, and faithfulness. Our ministries and programs follow St. Joseph’s example as they do God’s work throughout the 17 southern counties of Mississippi. Each year, the Catholic Sharing Appeal raises funds to support this critical work.
The Society of St. Joseph includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $25,000 or more.
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St. Martin de Porres Society
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As Co-Patron of our Diocese, St. Martin de Porres gives witness to what it means to truly use all of what we have been given to share God’s love with others. When you join the St. Martin de Porres Society, your generous gift to the Catholic Sharing Appeal helps us to meet the many needs of our parish and our diocesan faith community.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of the powerful miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude with just five barley loves and two fish. Not only were all given food, but the Gospel tells us that they were all satisfied and there were leftovers. This story of abundance connects well with the life of St. Martin de Porres. From the outside, he did not have many resources. And yet, he always used what he had to serve the needs of his community. Today, our diocese is blessed with many individuals and families who have supported
our work. Taking our resources together, we are able to create an abundance of programs that nourish our parishes and our entire diocese. Each year, the CSA is a vital opportunity to share our gifts so that we can
feed the multitudes in a variety of programs and services.
The Society of St. Martin De Porres includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $10,000-$24,999.
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St. Charles Borromeo Society
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Recognized as the Patron of Seminarians, St. Charles Borromeo served the Church in countless ways, especially through his work to ensure the proper education and formation of seminarians. When you become a member of the St. Charles Borromeo Society, your incredible commitment to the Catholic Sharing Appeal supports many ministries and programs of our parishes and diocese, including supporting our seminarians.
St. Charles Borromeo served as a priest, bishop, and cardinal during a time of great need in the Church and in the world. Through his humble leadership, he worked tirelessly in the care of the Church and for God's people. One of his most important priorities was reforming how seminarians were formed and educated to serve as Catholic priests. This ensured that every young man preparing for ordination to the priesthood were be properly formed to offer a life of service to the Lord and His Church. Today, we are blessed as a diocese with young men interested in committing their life for ordained service to God’s people. Each year, the Catholic Sharing Appeal raises funds to make sure that they receive the proper training to be able to effectively serve all of God’s people. With these ministries and programs in place, we are able to ensure that our Church will be able to live out its mission for years to come.
The Society of St. Charles Borromeo includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $5,000-$9,999.
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St. Andrew Society
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As Patron of Fishermen, St. Andrew inspires us as a man who was called by Jesus to become one of his closest companions. When you become a member of the St. Andrew Society, your gift to the Catholic Sharing Appeal is used to help us to be more faithful witnesss to Christ to every member of our parish and our diocese through a variety of ministries and programs that serve the 17 southern counties of Mississippi.
St. Andrew is called by Jesus right where he is in life. Right at the shore, Jesus invites him to greater things by following Him. St. Andrew could not have known everything that God had in store for him at that moment, but he left his nets and followed him. That commitment led St. Andrew to experience God’s love in a profound way as he directly witnessed Jesus’ teachings and miracles. St. Andrew’s life reminds us that God calls each of
us to follow him wherever we are at in life. The many ministries and programs of the Catholic Sharing Appeal make this important calling possible. Each year, funds raised from the Catholic Sharing Appeal go to parish and diocesan ministries that meet people where they are at and bring the witness of Christ to them.
The Society of St. Andrew includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $2,500-$4,999.
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St. Therese of Lisieux Society
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St. Therese dedicated her spiritual life to supporting the Church in prayer, particularly the missions and eventually becoming the Patroness of Missions. When you become a member of the St. Therese of Lixieux Society, your commitment to the Catholic Sharing Appeal helps us to continue our mission as intentional disciples.
Know for her "Little Way," St. Therese of Lisieux lived her short life spiritually committed to the mission of the Church. With our roots as a mission diocese, we recognize the powerful intercession St. Therese provides us in our work of bringing Christ to all of those in need. She inspires us that we are each able to live as intentional disciples for others. We have been blessed with parish and diocesan programs that do everything they can with where they are to share Christ’s love with others, like St. Therese did. Each
year, the Catholic Sharing Appeal raises funds that provide critical operating support for our ministries and programs. These services impact thousands of lives each year.
The Society of St. Therese of Lisieux includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $1,500-$2,499.
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St. Vincent de Paul Society
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As Patron of Charities, St. Vincent de Paul reminds us of the impact each of our lives can have when we charitably give to others. When you become a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, your generous contribution to the Catholic Sharing Appeal benefits many ministries and programs, including Catholic Charities of South Mississippi.
St. Vincent de Paul lived his life in a way that was faithful to Jesus’ call in the Gospel to care for those in need. Indeed, Jesus tells us that when we give to those in most need, we give to Him. St. Vincent de Paul lived this message faithfully, providing for the physical and spiritual need of so many during his lifetime.
In our diocese today, we unite the work of Catholic Charities and your generosity to the Catholic Sharing Appeal into the call of Jesus "feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and clothe the naked." Your support is critical to this call of our Lord to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Society of St. Vincent De Paul includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $1,000-$1,499.
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St. John Vianney Society
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St. John Vianney served his vocation well as a parish priest, eventually becoming Patron of Parish Priests. When you become a member of the St. John Vianney Society, your Catholic Sharing Appeal gift supports vital programs and ministries of our diocese, including the work of our parish priests.
At the end of Jesus’ time on earth, He asks Peter if he loves Him, and then asks him to feed His lambs. Repeating this two more times, Jesus is telling Peter that he is called to care for God’s people. St. John Vianney powerfully witnessed to this call throughout his life. Serving a community in France after the revolution, he worked steadfastly to provide for the spiritual needs of his faith community. Today, we are blessed to have the witness of many priests in our diocese that serve like St. John Vianney. In each of their parishes and ministries, they witness to God's love in real and personal ways. They also work hard to provide for the spiritual care of every soul in our diocese. Each year, you have the opportunity to greatly help them in their vocation to serve the Lord by supporting the Catholic Sharing Appeal.
The Society of St. John Vianney includes Catholic Sharing Appeal gifts of $500-$999.
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Additional Documents
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Reports
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