May the joy that was announced to the Shepherds by the Angel of the Lord fill our hearts and our lives, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Virgin of the Sweet Expectation, help us to keep our faith firm, and help us to overcome distractions, which we face day by day, following her beloved son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

That during this New Year we can remain with hope, that nothing takes away our interior peace and that nothing makes us deny the saving presence of Christ.

Thank you for your cards, good wishes, taco and tequila money, and for sharing the blessings you receive from God. Thank you for the expressions of affection and for making me feel part of your family. May God bless each one of you. Thank you Sacred Heart Family!

Happy New Year!




Que la alegría que fue anunciada a los Pastores por el Ángel del Señor llene nuestros corazones y nuestra vida, y que la Santísima Virgen María, la Virgen de la Dulce Espera, nos ayude a mantener firme nuestra fe, y nos ayuda a vencer las distracciones a las cuales nos enfrentamos día con día, siguiendo a su amado hijo Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. 

Que durante este año nuevo nos podamos mantener con esperanza, que nada nos quite la paz interior y que nada nos haga negar de la presencia salvadora de Cristo.

Gracias por sus tarjetas, buenos deseos, y por compartir de las bendiciones que reciben de Dios. Gracias por las muestras de afecto y cariño, y por hacerme sentir parte de su familia. Dios derrame bendiciones sobre todos y cada uno de ustedes. Gracias Familia del Sagrado Corazón.

Feliz Año Nuevo!



 

Shepherd Letter
Parish Directory 2022

The beginnings of the Holy Catholic Church remind me of the beginnings of Sacred Heart Parish, in the sense that both have a very humble origin.
For example, the Holy Catholic Church has its beginnings with twelve simple Apostles, who in human eyes have nothing special or anything that would make them better or superior to others. For many centuries it is still questioned why Jesus chose these twelve and did not choose someone better prepared, someone better than them, someone with a better social status, a better family, with better preparation. In the end Christ chose those whom He wanted, since He saw what was in the heart of each one of them.

Sacred Heart Parish also began in a very humble way, since it dates back to 1940, where they say that the community gathered to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist in a Delmas family home. A priest from Our Lady of Victories came to celebrate the Eucharist each Sunday. Later a small Church was built and  some people called it the Hunt, others the Church in the Corner. It was located on the corner of Martin Street and Ingalls Avenue. Later the construction of the Parish began where it is currently located on Quinn Street.

According to the parishioners, the wood of that small Church was donated for the construction of another Church, the Diocese of Biloxi.

Later on, with much effort, the first building of what would be Sacred HeartParish was built and later would become Sacred Heart School, now RCS (Elementary Campus).

Many people have photos and beautiful memories of when the first sacraments were celebrated in that building. Who would have thought that years later all this could be built in this parish. We currently have a beautiful campus, which we must take care of and preserve.

A few days ago, a parishioner brought a Drone, which he flew over all the buildings that make up Sacred Heart Parish. Later when I saw the video I was surprised, moved and my heart was glad. We are part of a beautiful story that has not yet has finished, that continues to be built, and that it continues to flourish and be counted.

How beautiful it is to see that after sixty years the community is still standing. After many economic vicissitudes and after recovering from Hurricane Katrina, Sacred Heart Parish continues to bear fruit and continues to spread the Good News. We continue with the beautiful dream of the first parishioners to see a united community, a community who wants to continue advancing, who wants to continue growing and who will continue to grow.

It is a true honor and a great blessing for me to be part of this beautiful history and community. Being part of the great family of Sacred Heart, I never imagined that upon being appointed as the Seventh Pastor of this community I would have the blessing of being part of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of this Parish.

Every time I look at the photos of all the great priests, the previous pastors, who have been a fundamental part of the growth of this parish, I have no choice but to say a prayer for them, for those who rest in the hope of the Resurrection, for those who continue serving the Lord with their ministries and continue to bear witness in their old age, and thank them for all their effort, their great love for the community, their great love for the Church and their great love for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

This Parish Directory wants to show all these families that have joined in being part of this story, these families that have said "Yes" to the Lord. It is beautiful to see that our community is made up of wonderful families, families who, day by day, continue to support their parish, and who want to grow and advance as Intentional Disciples of Christ and to be part of the great Mission of the Church, of the great mission entrusted to them by Christ.

I want to think that their great-grandparents, grandparents, their parents and all those people who have been part of this community since its inception, recognizing that everything they have done through these sixty years may be surprised, and obviously they will say that much remains to be done, and to move forward.

Some priests who have been part of this community over the years, every time they see me, they urge me and invite me to continue working day by day because according to them and to those who lived in this Parish, Sacred Heart was the Parish to which all of Pascagoula wanted to belong. Much remains to be done, but with the support of all of you, with your commitment as Baptized and your love for Christ, we will continue to advance day by day, despite having a Pastor with Broken English.

Thank you for continuing to build this dream, thank you for continuing to spread the Good News and thank you for being part of this great Family of Sacred Heart which after sixty years continues to be an instrument of evangelization for the Community of Pascagoula.
Let us continue serving the Lord, building and growing for many more years. Thank you, brothers and sisters of Sacred Heart Parish.
With sincere love in Christ, your humble servant Father Everardo “ Lalo” Mora-Torres, “ The Big Chihuahua”.
 

Dear Sacred Heart Parishioners, it is a privilege and honor to serve all of you. I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for this new ministry that He has entrusted to me.

I am very happy to be here with you, serving the people of God, and ministering with the formal Pastor Fr. Mike Kelleher.

We are on the same journey, and we have received the same call from our Lord Jesus Christ to become a holy community, a Church where everybody is welcome, a Church where we live as true brothers and sisters. Part of my mission is to help all of you to continue your journey in the right path, doing God’s Will, loving your neighbor and growing in your Faith, Hope and Love.

I feel very happy because I believe that I am doing the Will of God.  I entrust myself to your prayers and be assured of my prayers for you all, always.
 
May God bless you!

Queridos feligreses de la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón, es un verdadero privilegio y un honor servirles. Le doy gracias a nuestro Padre Celestial por este nuevo ministerio que se me ha encomendado.

Me siento muy feliz de estar con todos ustedes, sirviendo al pueblo de Dios, al lado de nuestro párroco retirado el Padre Mike Kelleher.

Nos encontramos en el mismo peregrinar, y hemos recibido el mismo llamado a convertirnos en una comunidad santa, en una Iglesia donde todos son bienvenidos, en una Iglesia donde vivimos como verdaderos hermanos y hermanas. Parte de mi misión es ayudarles a que ustedes continúen por el camino recto, haciendo la voluntad de Dios, amando a nuestro prójimo y creciendo más en la Fe, Esperanza y el Amor. 

Me siento muy feliz porque yo creo y sé que estoy haciendo la voluntad de Dios. Me encomiendo a sus oraciones y estén seguros de mis oraciones para todos ustedes.

¡Dios los bendiga!