Leaving the Net: St. Mary Parish in Gautier bids farewell to Father Doss
By Kimberly C. Rasmussen
On January 13, St. Mary Parish in Gautier said goodbye to pastor, Father Arockia Doss,
Father Doss has served in the Diocese of Biloxi since 2019, when he arrived in the United States from his home in India.
He served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victories Parish in Pascagoula, during which time he also assisted Father George Kitchin at St. Mary Parish. Father Doss was appointed parochial administrator of St. Mary’s in January 2021 and was appointed pastor in January 2022. Just four years after joining St. Mary’s, Father Doss must leave his parish and the United States.
In 2023, the State Department announced a monumental backlog in the processing of green cards for a number of groups and, as a result, green card processing for clergy became disproportionately affected. Foreign-born priests and other clergy throughout the US lie in waiting to see if their green cards will be processed before their work visas expire. Father Doss is the first priest from the Diocese of Biloxi who is afflicted by this backlog. He will have to leave the US for one year with the hopes of returning to the Biloxi Diocese before his assignment changes.
Father Doss and 16 priests from the Diocese of Biloxi, Diocese of Jackson and Archdiocese of Mobile concelebrated the Mass. The St. Mary choir, guided by music director, Elaine Cox, along with guest instrumentalists from St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs, led the parish in song.
Father Adam Urbaniak, Vicar-General and pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish, was homilist.
As Father Urbaniak recalled, Father Doss arrived on the Coast in the winter months, armed with a small suitcase of shorts and sandals. Father Urbaniak joked that he took Father Doss shopping for a few new clothes and found him perusing the children’s section because, as it turns out, the clothes fit better and cost less.
Then, invoking Mark’s Gospel, specifically the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, Father Urbaniak challenged everyone not to be afraid when “leaving the net.” As Jesus passes the Sea of Galilee, he invites Simon, Andrew, James and John to join His ministry. All four were tending to their boats and nets. Mark 1:18 says, “They abandoned their nets and followed him.” Father Urbaniak proclaimed that we often forget about what the disciples left behind to follow Jesus – their jobs, their friends, their family, their familiarity. He explained that, by leaving their nets, they gave up everything to do the will of God. Likewise, Father Doss must leave his parish, his friends, his familiarity, his net, but for the will of God.
Furthermore, Father Urbaniak stressed that even Jesus needed help fulfilling His mission. His call to the disciples to join Him as advocates of faith demonstrates His need for others to help Him advance God’s mission. He stressed the importance for parishioners to support their parish priests and, by doing so, God’s will continues to be fulfilled.
Lastly, Father Urbaniak challenged everyone to allow the Apostles’ examples to be a guide in their own lives when faced with individual challenges of leaving the net. Through parish support, priests like Father Doss, who must temporarily, but sometimes permanently, leave their home churches, will leave their net with a little more comfort, a little more encouragement and much more faith.
At the end of Mass, Father Doss thanked St. Mary’s for taking him in and providing him with wonderful memories. He referenced Saint Hilary, a doctor of the Church, who was also forced to leave his home and whose feast day was celebrated the same day as Father Doss’ farewell Mass. The hospitality shown by his parishioners was a perfect illustration of their love for not only him and for one another, but also for God.
Following Mass, over 200 guests from St. Mary’s, OLV, Sacred Heart Pascagoula and other neighboring parishes joined Father Doss and the guest priests in the St. Mary’s Activity Center for a dinner buffet prepared by the Saint Mary’s Kitchen Angels.
Stories were shared of Father Doss’ time at St. Mary’s while guests dined on both Southern and Indian cuisines. Deacon Joe McIntyre said he was proud to have served with Father Doss. “He has been a true advocate for Deacon Robert Illanne and me and for all deacons,” explained McIntyre. “Father Doss’ energy throughout the past several years has helped rejuvenate the faith community at St. Mary’s.”
The entire parish of St. Mary’s Gautier wishes Father Doss safe and wonderful travels to his future destination. Leaving the net is never easy, but the prayers and support from the St. Mary’s community is unwavering and it is their hope that their faith in God’s plan will help direct Father Doss along his journey.
