Lay Organizations

These are organizations which are independent entities in that they are not under the
administration of the Diocese of Biloxi. They are, however, recognized as Catholic organizations
by the Bishop as Shepherd of the Diocese of Biloxi. (NOTE: The Diocesan Liaison for Lay
Organizations is Deacon Gayden R. Harper, Office of Pastoral Services, (228) 702-2107.)


ALHAMBRA, ORDER OF
Contact: Grand Commander Dionne Coulter............................................. (228) 238-0134
The local Caravan is Oran Caravan #67 and covers the entire Biloxi Diocese.
E-mail: OranCaravan67@cableone.net
The International Order of Alhambra was founded in New York City in 1905. The
organization has three primary purposes -- first, to provide assistance, education and
housing for those developmentally disabled by mental retardation; second, to preserve
and commemorate Catholic historical places, events and persons of importance; and
third, the primary purpose of the organization is to provide a social forum for members
and their families.

ALTAR SOCIETY    (Please contact individual parishes for information)
Altar societies are often organized in Catholic parish churches for the upkeep of
ceremonial vessels. The duties of members vary according to circumstances, in some
instances including those which ordinarily fall within the sacristan’s province, such as the
vestments and altar vessels and making ready for the Mass. They would either organize
a fund for the maintenance and repair of Church vessels or work to maintain the
vessels.

CURSILLO MOVEMENT..............................................................(228) 255-7560
c/o Sacred Heart Parish, 14595 Vidalia Rd., Pass Christian, MS 39571
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7450, D’Iberville, MS 39540
email: holygroundeagle@aol.com or mpo@catholic.org

Cursillo was founded in Majorca, Spain, by a group of laymen in 1944 while they were
refining a technique to train pilgrimage Christian leaders. It is a movement which focuses on
showing Christian lay people how to become effective Christian leaders over the course of a
three-day weekend. The weekend includes fifteen talks, some given by priests and some by
lay people, those talks are called “rollos”. The major emphasis of the weekend is to ask
participants to take what they have learned back into the world, on what they call the “fourth
day”. The method stresses personal spiritual development, as accelerated by weekly group
reunion (after the weekend).

ENDOW
Angela Styczenski.............................................................................. (228) 243-8019
www.endowgroups.org

ENDOW is an educational organization that provides women with a forum through which to
explore and understand what it means to be a feminine person crated in God’s image. As a
basis for discovery, ENDOW promotes the New Feminism, which was defined by Pope John
Paul II. The New Feminism recognizes and affirms the “true genius of women” and responds
to our culture’s desperate need for an authentic feminine presence in every aspect of life and
society.
ENDOW educates and inspires women through small study groups and engages the
intellect of the “woman in the pew”. By providing knowledge and fellowship in an intimate
group setting, ENDOW also fosters a sense of belonging and gives women an opportunity to
deeply understand and personalize the faith that draws us together and the fellowship that
keeps us together. Both faith and fellowship are integral to the formation of women.
ENDOW attracts women from all walks of life and helps women realize that, no matter what
they “do” in life, they all share a common desire for love and respect. Although society paces
a high priority on a person’s skill, appearance and usefulness, ENDOW teaches women that
their dignity originates from their personhood.


KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS     (Please contact individual parishes for information)
The Knights of Columbus is the largest organization of Catholic men in the world with
headquarters in New Haven, Conn. The Knights’ major projects in the state are the
Priest Education Fund and an aid program for the mentally handicapped.

KNIGHTS OF PETER CLAVER  (Please contact individual parishes for information)
The Knights of Peter Claver organization was founded in Mobile, Alabama in 1909 at
Most Pure Heart of Mary Church and is the largest  and oldest continually existent predominantly African-American Catholic fraternal organization . From there it spread to different parts of the United States. The Rev. Charles Hanks, SSJ, Grand Assembly #20 of the Knights of Peter Claver was organized in Biloxi and named after a former pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Church. This assembly is the oldest in Mississippi. Biloxi also has a Third
Degree Assembly and a Ladies’ Auxiliary. Other assemblies in the Diocese of Biloxi are
found in Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula and Hattiesburg.

LAY CARMELITES
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church ...............................................................(228) 875-5419
Lay Carmelites commit themselves to developing their spirituality according to their
charism of prayer, community, and ministry. They are a part of the greater world-wide
Carmelite Order. Carmelites often attend Mass and receive Holy Communion as a
group. They also meet monthly. Contact your local parish to inquire about Lay
Carmelites.


LEGION OF MARY (Please contact individual parishes for local Legion of Mary information.)
The Legion of Mary is the largest organization in the Catholic Church, with well over a
million active members in every country. It strives to make its members better Christians
by a balanced program of prayer and action. The first praesidium, as the local groups
are called, was established in Nativity BVM Parish in 1952.


MAGNIFICAT
Yvette Livaccari (Biloxi area)................................................................ (228) 392-0697
Cindy Burnett (Diamondhead area).........................................................(228) 363-0618
The Magnificat (Latin: [My soul] magnifies) -- also known as the Song of Mary or the
Canticle of Mary -- is a canticle frequently sung (or spoken) liturgically in Christian
church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the
earliest Marian hymn. Its name comes from the first word of the Latin version of the canticle’s
text, which is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55) where it is
spoken by the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In
the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future John the
Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth’s womb. When Elizabeth praises Mary for her
faith, Mary sings what is now known as the Magnificat in response. The Magnificat is
most frequently recited within the Liturgy of the Hours. In Western Christianity, the
Magnificat is most often sung or recited during the main evening prayer service, Vespers
within Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism.


MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
Marriage Encounter is a religiously-based weekend program designed to help married
couples by reason of discovering or re-discovering the need for God in their lives, to
improve their marriage, grow closer to each other and improve commitment to each
other. The weekend programs usually begin on a Friday evening and conclude Sunday
afternoon. Over the course of the weekend, attending couples are encouraged to
communicate with one another with mutual respect, but always based upon the essential
premise of inviting God into their lives.


MISSION FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WORLDWIDE
Albert & Angela Styczenski..................................................................... (228) 243-8016
Website: www.missionfortheloveof godworldwide.org
The fastest growing Catholic lay organization in the world.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
Creighton Model Fertillity Care™ System
Claire Massery.......................................................................................(985) 788-2059
clairemassery@yahoo.com
Natural family planning (NFP) comprises the family planning methods approved by the
Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the Church’s teachings regarding sexual
behavior in keeping with its philosophy of the dignity of the human person, NFP
excludes the use of other methods of birth control, which it refers to as “artificial
contraception.” Periodic abstinence is the only method deemed moral by the Church for
avoiding pregnancy.


SCOUTING
Boy Scouts
Chaplain: Rev. Michael P. O’Connor...........................................................(228) 467-0509
Chair: Cindy Burnett...............................................................................(228) 363-0618
Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi
CEO Becky Traweek................................................................................(228) 864-7215
Religious Awards: 1610 25 Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501....................................(228) 864-7215
Scouting has the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and
spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society. During the first half
of the 20th century, the movement grew to encompass three major age groups each for
boys (Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Rover Scout) and, in 1910, a new organization, Girl Guides,
was created for girls (Brownie Guide, Girl Guide and Girl Scout, Ranger Guide). It is one
of several worldwide youth organizations. The movement employs the Scout method, a
program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including
camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports. Another widely recognized
movement characteristic is the Scout uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social
standing in a country and making for equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or
comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the
fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as badges and other patches.


Secular Order Discalced Carmelites
Beverly Courtenay (Gulfport area)........................................................(228) 896-3102
Discalced Carmelites are practicing members of the Catholic Church who are called to a
deeper spiritual life. Under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and inspired by
St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross the Secular Carmelite makes a
commitment to the Order to seek God for the sake of the church and the world.


ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
Diocesan Council:     President: Bill Migley
Websites: svdpbiloxi.org ............................................................SVDP USA: svdpusa.org

SVDP Pharmacy
715 Division St., Biloxi, MS 39530
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1228, Biloxi, MS 39533
The Pharmacy is a Special Work of the Biloxi Infant of Prague Conference.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest lay Catholic charity in the world. The
Society was founded in 1833 and has been operating on the northern Gulf Coast since
the late 1800’s. SVDP currently serves the poor via Conferences in 149 countries
around the world with over 700,000 active members.
There are currently 18 Conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul operating
within the area of the Diocese of Biloxi, with 24 parishes affiliated with those
Conferences. There are 264 active Vincentians in the Diocese.
SVDP also has parish and school youth groups nationwide. There is one SVDP parish
youth group in the Diocese of Biloxi – at Long Beach St. Thomas the Apostle.