MOSS POINT—It’s Christmastime, but just like in 1984 when musicians came together for Band Aid to perform “Let Them Know It’s Christmastime” to fight world hunger, in 2025 there are children around the world who know no joy this season.
The Knights of Columbus Msgr. P. J. Carey Council 1605 in the Pascagoula and Moss Point areas have adopted the Box of Joy as one of its service projects as an avenue for the local population to give back to a global initiative. The Box of Joy is a program through Cross Catholic Outreach that serves children in developing countries like Haiti, Malawi and the Dominican Republic.
Knight Jerry Bishop has been overseeing the program for five years. Each year parishioners from local Catholic churches and Resurrection High School request boxes and then return them with toys, clothing, school supplies, a rosary and The Story of Jesus, as a way to represent Christ’s love. The boxes are shipped to an area where a child may have never before received a Christmas gift.
“We were invited by Cross Catholic Outreach to participate in Boxes of Joy,” Bishop said. “This is a great opportunity to give to God’s Children.”
The Knights began distributing boxes in September for box return by the end of October. The boxes were packed and shipped for distribution around the globe. The number of boxes donated through the local efforts changes each year. The first year they were able to donate 175 boxes and last year the number jumped to 257.
“We donated 198 boxes this year,” Bishop said. “That wasn’t bad but it was our second lowest amount.”
Once boxes are returned, each box must be inspected for unsafe items. Bishop adds a handmade rosary, prayer card and book mark in each box before crating them 18 per box to be shipped.
“We ship these to Cross Catholic Outreach along with all shipping costs and donations we have collected,” Bishop said. “The Knights makes up the difference for shipping costs.”
Whereas this is Bishop’s final year to serve as Grand Knight, he believes the project will continue into the future.
“This is a great way to spread God’s Word to the children of God that have nothing,” he added. “I thank God and Cross Catholic Outreach for this opportunity.”
