St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501

Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: stjohnthee@cableone.net Website: stjohngulfport.org

Staff: Rev. Ryan McCoy, Pastor Deacon David Allen, Pastoral Associate Deacon Rick Conason, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 2:00p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Before and after every Mass; and anytime on request

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ November 6, 2016 CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION The possibility or certitude of life after the death of our earthly bodies has fascinated religions throughout the world and across the centuries. It certainly is the topic uppermost on the minds of the Sadducees today. They did not be-lieve in a life after this life or a world where angels or other bodiless spirits dwelled. This constricted their ability, then, to imagine such a world or such a life, and made them imagine or construct it according to the life they knew as mortal crea-tures. Indeed, such a tendency can be seen--even among Christians--today, when we speak of being rejoined or reunited with the faithful departed in a continued, if improved, version of the relationship we had with them. But God is a living God, Jesus points out, and those who believe in this God are made children of the resurrection to life everlasting. This is important, as today's Gospel dispute concludes Jesus' journey to Jerusalem to face his ultimate confrontation, culminating in his resurrection. His forthrightness foretells what the apostle Paul will write to the Thessalonians: "[T]he Lord is faith-ful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). EQUAL IN DIGNITY TO THE ANGELS Television, greeting cards, and some church ornamentation have done a disservice to the biblical notion of angels. Popular imagination perceives them as gentle, safe, and fluffy. Their job description is cast mostly in human, egocentric terms: to keep danger from us, to console us, to restore a sense of wonder or the miraculous to our narrow-mindedness. Some of this has its basis in the biblical traditions. But, above all else, the biblical angels were direct messengers of God. Their voice was God's voice, their presence was the presence of the celestial throne of the Almighty. People were often startled or outright scared at their arrival, and had to be told not to fear; their messages were often difficult to hear, leading mortals into thorny situations. The children of the Resurrection--all of us, born of the living God--are equal in dignity to these angels. But in Christ we already have the power of resurrected life to be strong herald messengers of God. This is the call of all Christian disciples. For this, Paul tells us, we are made strong in God who is not only a living God, but a faithful and loving God as well. Through God we will be given the endurance in Christ necessary to live out the vocation of our baptism. Copyright (c) 2006, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 6, 2016 My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God. — Psalm 17:5‑6a

LIFE EVERLASTING The second book of Maccabees tells a powerful story, and a rather gruesome one at that. But central to it, beyond the horrible deaths inflicted upon the brothers and their mother, is their belief in the promise of resurrection and life everlasting in God. Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him as he spreads Christ’s message of love, so that he might be de-livered from other nonbelievers anxious to do him harm. The apostle is confident in such prayer, just as he is con-fident in the everlasting support of Jesus and God the Fa-ther. And there’s that “everlasting” word again. The Sadducees, not buying the idea, ask Jesus an interest-ing—albeit meaningless—question about the status of married life at the Resurrection. He tells the non-believers that marriage isn’t an issue for the risen chil-dren of God. More importantly, he assures them that their ancestors do live on in God, even as evidenced by the Father’s words to Moses. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Welcome to St. John the Evangelist Parish!

If you are new to the parish and have not yet registered, please fill out one of the registration forms on the back table or go to our website,

stjohngulfport.org and click on the “New Parishioner” tab.

C.C.D. (Grades K-12) ................ Sundays, 9:00-10:15 A.M. Knights of Columbus...... 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. K C Ladies Auxiliary..................... 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 P.M. R.C.I.A. ................................................ Mondays, 6:30 P.M. St. Vincent de Paul................... 2nd Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. Young At Heart............................... 4th Thursday, 12 Noon

Happy birthday wishes to: Shannon McNair celebrates Nov. 5; Oren Haddock, Chastity Massengill & Eileen Perez cele-brate Nov. 6; Florence Keppner celebrates Nov. 7; Dominic DiNicola celebrates Nov. 11.

May God Bless them with many more Happy Birthdays!

The Annual Parish Drawdown and Silent Auction Is next Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

in Presentation Hall. If you have not purchased your ticket yet please see someone after Mass or come by the parish office Mon-Fri from 10am—5pm. If you not turned in sold tickets that you are selling, please turn them in after Mass. We also need any unsold tickets to try and sell them this week. The doors will open at 6pm and the drawdown will start at 6:30pm. There will be delicious food and drink avail-able for everyone. The tickets are $100 and will admit 4 people. This drawdown is to assist our parish with the rising cost of insurance and maintenance of our buildings and other parish projects. The success of the drawdown and silent auction depends on everyone’s participation. Tickets are $100 for a chance to win $10,000. If you are unable to purchase a whole ticket, you may share with someone for $50 or three people for $25. We encourage every adult parishioner to actively participate by purchasing a drawdown ticket and donating items for the silent auc-tion. Silent auction items can be dropped off at the parish office. Tickets are available in the Parish office Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm or after Mass.

The Altar Society Christmas Lunch is scheduled for Monday, December 5th at 11:30 at White Cap. Please RSVP to Carolyn at 206-5649 by November 25th. Altar Society dues are due in December. Dues are used for Masses for deceased members, cleaning Altar linens and purchasing oasis for the flowers.

Congratulations to Billy and Carol Camp-bell on the anniversary of their wedding! Billy and Carol celebrate their 55th anniver-sary on November 5. May God bless them with many more happy years together!

St. Patrick Catholic High School cordially invites you to our Fall Open House on Sunday, November 13, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. Our campus will be open for prospective families to learn more about our school, to hear what God is doing in the lives of our students, and to ask questions about how the school operates. A few highlights of the afternoon will include the opportunity to: -Meet and talk with our principal and vice principal. -Interact with teachers, coaches, club sponsors, and other school staff members. -Learn about tuition rates and opportunities for tuition assistance. -Take a tour of our campus and enjoy refreshments. -Talk with current students about their St. Patrick experi-ence. Upon arriving, be sure to register for door prizes. Prizes such as Fighting Irish fan wear and t-shirts will be given away throughout the afternoon. A drawing will also be held for a registration fee waiver (a $450 value). For questions or more information, please call 228-702-0500 or visit us online at www.stpatrickhighschool.net.

The St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy has an immediate need for volunteers in every aspect of the Pharmacy’s operation. The last quarter of the calendar year is traditionally the busiest time of year for the Phar-macy, and we will likely once again fill more prescrip-tions than ever before. We are only able to help those most in need of in our community through the efforts of our Volunteers. Our Main Location in Biloxi currently has the following volunteer opportunities: Licensed Pharmacists, Client Screening, Pharmacy Technicians, Data Entry, and Cleri-cal. We also have needs for Client Screeners at our Extension Sites in Bay St. Louis, Moss Point, and Hattiesburg. Cli-ents Screeners are trained by our Case Manager to sit with perspective clients to determine program eligibility. While every position has an important role, Client Screen-ers are the frontline staff who interact closely with those looking for help. If you are interested in becoming a part of our Mission to Provide Prescription Medication and Wellness Education to Those in Need please email Director@svdprx.org or call 228-374-9097 for more information.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In the seventeenth century, English Catholics, many of them wealthy and well educated, looked to the American colonies as a place to regain a measure of reli-gious freedom. In Ireland, the so-called penal laws were even harsher than in England, as a minority Parliament tried to force the conversion of the population by denying the majority political and economic power. Beginning in 1691, laws were passed that punished dissenters, princi-pally Catholics, but also causing hardship for Jews, Quak-ers, and others. There were acts forbidding “mixed mar-riage” or sending children “beyond the seas” for school-ing. Catholics were taxed at double the common rate, barred from the legal professions and from university, and not allowed to build churches or own a decent horse. In 1793 the situation began to change, as it be-came clear that the economic persecution would not drive the majority away from Catholicism. Gradually, laws were repealed until by 1829 freedom was won, although Catholics at university were ineligible for honors, and until the 1920s and the Republic, the Church of Ireland was the state church, funded by the taxes of all citizens.

—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

“Mark’s Gospel Live” Our Lady of Fatima is presenting a performance of Marks Gospel by Rev. Joseph Morris. Rev. Morris is a priest of the Atlanta Diocese. The performance is in two acts, Act 1 “The Sea”, 55 minutes; (intermission of 10 minutes); Act 2, “The Road”, 50 minutes. Admission: Free-will offering

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country No-vember 6-12, 2016. National Voca-tion Awareness Week is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated

to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are consid-ering one of these particular vocations.

Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith commu-nity, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.

Prayer for Vocations God our Father, we thank you for

calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and

consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously

and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of

sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. Amen.

If you or anyone in your family is ill at home or in the hospital and would like us to visit you-please call the parish office at 864-2272.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for November Universal: Countries Receiving Refugees That the countries which take in a great number of dis-placed persons and refugees may find support for their efforts which show solidarity. Evangelization: Collaboration of Priests and Laity That within parishes, priests and lay people may collabo-rate in service to the community without giving in to the temptation of discouragement.

Jubilee Year of Mercy November 6, 2016

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jubilee for Prisoners One of the most moving images of Pope Francis’ ministry comes from Holy Thursday. Slowly, deliber-ately, Francis kneels down before prisoners—men, women, young, old, Christian, Muslim—and washes their feet, recalling Jesus admonition to Peter: “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). On today’s Ju-bilee for Prisoners, whose rights the Church bids us advo-cate, Jesus declares in the Gospel, “to [God] all are alive” (Luke 20:38). Have we “imprisoned” anyone figu-ratively, but no less painfully, passing harsh judgment, then refusing our respect, acceptance, even affection? This month of All Saints and All Souls bids us reflect on our eternal destiny and prepare for it. Respect for our-selves and others, souls and bodies, practical care for neighbors and strangers: such witness affirms that we view our present in light of our future, and believe that, even now, in our midst, stands the Lord of life, the living

Reflecting on God's Word We have many hungers in life, and sometimes we can overindulge in response to them. Still, one that never goes away is our hunger to be connected. We desperately shun living in isolation. For many it is marriage that feeds that hunger, but so do family or friendships or the simple attention one finds in a community of faith or a collection of back yards. They all seem to feed our yearning for deep life, even when we are inattentive or preoccupied. A person of faith might even say that these communities are God being faithful to us. This week's Gospel is one that turns the tables on us. It snares us in our own curiosity about what heaven will be like, and whether we will know the ones we love and be with our spouses, and what if we've been married seven times? And that's just where Jesus turns the tables and says it's about relationships and not about bodies to be with; it's about our deepest hungers to be united, even beyond marriage and friends and neighbors and communities of any sort. That's what resurrection is about, Jesus replies, and then reminds us one more time (as if we'd been deaf all the other times) that God has promised it and God is faithful. God "is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive," is how Luke has Jesus saying it (Luke 20:38). In other words, all of our relationships of loving and caring, especially those of marriage, are but hints of real and full life, and the best is yet to come. So what you've found in marriage, even if you've been married seven times, is just the beginning. --Rev. Joseph J. Juknialis Living God's Word As we go through life we'd like to know just whom we are going to spend eternity with and what it's going to be like. The truth is that none of us knows. Maybe the best we can do at this time is love those around us now, and let God take care of our future.

Copyright (c) 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

We are in need of additional Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Lectors! We are deeply grateful to the many wonderful men and women who serve in our Parish Ministries, but we are always in need of more help. We invite all those parish-ioners who are interested in serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or as a Lector to sign up. There is a sign up sheet on the center table. We will schedule classes soon!

Bereavement Ministry~ A Ministry of Care! “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be com-forted.” We are in need of new members to help in one of the most important ministries in our parish. Members of the Beareavement Ministry offer care and support to to those who experience the death of a family member. We encourage both men and women to join this ministry. For more information or to sign up call the parish office.

The beautiful flowers on the altar were donated by the

Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary in loving memory of their deceased members.

Thank you!

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday: Novena Sunday: Novena Monday: Novena Tuesday: Novena Wednesday: Novena Thursday Novena Friday +Pearl & Blackie Dartez

Gil Bailey Katherine E. Bailey David Bell Jr. Mary Ann Bishop Melissa Bowles Carol Campbell Nunzio Caranna Nanette Carpenter Buddy Cospelich Kendall Dedeaux James Doles Gerald Ellis Betty Ferguson JonViolet Flickinger Mary Kay Gaspard Dan & Lorraine Goad Gee Gee Grandis Oren Haddock

Ardeth Hessell Jordan Hoang Loyce & Nick Hire Roy Jones Margaret Jowers Mary Kealy Florence Keppner Norbert Keppner Les Knighton Gary Lacy Tommy LeTard Joann Liner S J Marengo Jace Mathews Celeste McInnis Cherie Mennis Msgr Mercier

Sophia Nuchereno Jay & Sheila Poolson Roland Riel Gaynelle Saucier Wayne Saucier Ken Saxon Aimee Seichshnaydre Austin Seymour Harry Smith Jason Sneed Charlie Underwood Felecia Vann Rosemary White James Williams Ginger Worth Doan The Xinh

Please Remember in Your Prayers

Prayer is the door through which all God’s Graces comes to us -St. Theresa of Avila

The second collection at all Masses this weekend is for Church Maintenance. The second collection next weekend is for Church Hospital-ity.

Salute VIP Cards are back! We have the Salute 2 for 1 cards available in the parish office. With the card if you buy 1 entrée you get 1 entrée free, up to $15. The cards are $20.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The King of the world will raise us up to live again forever (2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14). Psalm — Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full (Psalm 17). Second Reading — May the Lord encourage and strengthen your hearts (2 Thessalonians 2:16 — 3:5). Gospel — Those who are deemed worthy of the coming age can no longer die (Luke 20:27-38 [27, 34-38]). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna-tional Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Ti 1:1-9; Ps 24:1b-4ab, 5-6; Lk 17:1-6 Tuesday: Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; Ps 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29; Lk 17:7-10 Wednesday: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22 Thursday: Phlm 7-20; Ps 146:7-10; Lk 17:20-25 Friday: 2 Jn 4-9; Ps 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18; Lk 17:26-37 Saturday: 3 Jn 5-8; Ps 112:1-6; Lk 18:1-8 Sunday: Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98:5-9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time; National Vocation Awareness Week Daylight Saving Time ends Tuesday: Election Day Wednesday: The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Thursday: St. Leo the Great Friday: St. Martin of Tours; Veterans Day; Remembrance Day (Canada) Saturday: St. Josaphat

Collections October 22-23 Identifiable: $2971 Unidentifiable: $1347ACH: $20 2nd Collection-Catholic School Support : $368 Children’s Collection: $25

Thank you for your generosity!

The 2017 Diocesan Directory will be available in late January. It includes information about our bishop, priests, deacons, religious men and women, as well as informa-tion about diocesan ministries, parishes and schools. Cost is $10 per directory. Please send order and payment to: Gulf Pine Catholic, 1790 Popps Ferry Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532

Registration forms for the Nativity Pageant are on the back table. The Nativity Pageant will be held at the 4:00 Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve, please do so this weekend. All parish children in grades K-6 (whether enrolled in a Catholic school or in our CCD Program) are invited to participate in the pageant and all parish children in grades K-12 are invited to participate in the Children’s Choir that will provide music for the Mass. Any ques-tions can be directed to Linda Hebert at 832-7551.

XLT Adoration Every Tuesday, at 7pm. Come enjoy some one-on-one time with Jesus for an hour He wants to hear your trou-bles, your needs, your joys, your prayers...come and ADORE Him! If you've never been, let this be your invitation. Adoration with live worship music. Confessions will be available. Everyone is welcome!!

Calendar of Events Nov 12 Drawdown, Presentation Hall 6pm 22 Anointing of the Sick, 11:15am 24 Thanksgiving Day, Mass 7am Dec 7 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Vigil Mass 6pm 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Mass 7am & 12 Noon 24 Christmas Eve, Masses 4pm and 9pm 25 Christmas Day, Masses 8am and 10:30am & 5pm 27 St. John the Evangelist Feast Day 31 New Years Eve Vigil 5pm Jan 1 New Years Day, Masses 8am & 10:30am & 5pm

We really appreciate those who donate toward the flowers for our church. If you would like to have flowers placed in church, please contact the parish office at 228 864-2272.

We have a prayer group that meets every Thursday af-ternoon from 5:15-6:15pm. Everyone is invited to join us. For more information call the Parish office, 864-2272.

Weekly prayer group Thursday’s at 10:00am. Call An-nette Seymour 326-0851.

Prayer Groups

Anointing of the Sick On Tuesday, November 22at 11:15 a.m. Mass, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. We encourage all who are sick to attend this Mass. We will anoint those who need this Sacrament. Please invite your neighbor and those you know that may benefit from this Sacrament to join us in the cele-bration.