About Annunciation · Kiln, Mississippi
Annunciation Catholic Church is a small but historically rich parish in the unincorporated community of Kiln in Hancock County, Mississippi, on the state's Gulf Coast. Founded in 1869 as the 'Three River Mission' of Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Bay St. Louis, it today ministers to the faithful of a rural swath of south Mississippi under the Diocese of Biloxi. The current pastor, Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N., leads a community that worships in a former parish school building (converted after Hurricane Katrina in 2005) and uses the original sanctuary as a chapel for daily Mass and adoration. Annunciation celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019 with Bishop Louis F. Kihneman.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Annunciation is a small, close-knit Gulf Coast parish with deep local roots going back to 1869 and a clear focus on the Eucharist and devotion to the Sacred Heart. Daily Mass and Friday adoration are available in the historic original chapel, weekend Masses are celebrated in the renovated worship space, and the parish welcomes new faces through its CCD religious-education program, RCIA/OCIA for adults, and a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). The current pastor emphasizes a self-reliant Eucharistic community, making this a place where a Catholic family or inquirer can worship, learn the faith, and be known by name.
Mass times at Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm (before Sunday Masses and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Every Friday, Adoration 8:30 am with Devotion to the Sacred Heart
- Friday Adoration 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (per parish bulletin)
Parish Overview
Annunciation Catholic Church is a small, mission-rooted parish serving the rural community of Kiln in Hancock County, Mississippi, on the Gulf Coast. Established in 1869 as the 'Three River Mission' of Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis, it now belongs to the Diocese of Biloxi. The parish is pastored by Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N., and is centered on a self-reliant Eucharistic community. Its worship space is a converted former Catholic school, with the original 1886 sanctuary preserved as a daily-Mass chapel. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019.
- Founded 1869
- Diocese of Biloxi
- Current Pastor: Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N.
- 150th anniversary celebrated June 23, 2019
History & Heritage
The parish began in 1869 as a mission of Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis, then known as the 'Three River Mission' because its territory adjoined the Wolf, Jourdan, and Pearl Rivers. A second church was built in 1886 and dedicated by Bishop Janssens, giving the parish its lasting name 'Church of Annunciation.' Long-serving Belgian pastor Fr. Alexander C. Denis (1919–1945) shaped the community for over a quarter-century, and is still remembered for his frugal dedication; he is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery (Rotten Bayou) outside Diamondhead. The Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians) ran the parish from 1945 until 1988, when it returned to diocesan care.
- 1869: Founded as a mission of Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis ('Three River Mission')
- 1886: New church dedicated by Bishop Janssens
- 1919–1945: Fr. Alexander C. Denis, a Belgian, pastors for 26 years
- 1945: Trinitarian order assumes responsibility; Fr. Francis Xavier Toner first Trinitarian pastor
- 1950: Trinitarian Sisters arrive to teach religious education
- 1960: Catholic school opens (up to 8th grade) with Trinitarian and R.J.M. sisters
- 1984: Side wings added; pews from St. Joseph mission reused
- 1985: Rededicated by Bishop Joseph Howze; Catholic school closes
- 1988: Reverts to Diocese of Biloxi; Fr. Henry McInerney named pastor
The 2005 Hurricane Katrina Chapter
Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, and as repairs were being made the parish discovered the church had sustained far more damage than first thought. With diocesan approval, then-pastor Fr. John Noone renovated the parish gym into the new worship space, while the older church was repurposed as a chapel for daily Mass and adoration. The renovation gave Annunciation the opportunity to bring decommissioned artifacts from older churches to life in the new sanctuary.
- August 2005: Hurricane Katrina damages Annunciation
- Fr. John Noone leads post-storm renovation of gym into new church
- Original 1886 church becomes the daily-Mass and adoration chapel
The 150th Anniversary (2019)
On June 23, 2019, Annunciation celebrated 150 years as a parish community. Bishop Louis F. Kihneman celebrated Mass, joined by then-pastor Fr. Bob Higginbotham, with a reception in the Parish Hall. The milestone was a tribute to a parish whose roots reach back to the early Catholic settlements of the Three Rivers region and the missionaries of Bay St. Louis.
- June 23, 2019: Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Louis F. Kihneman
- Reception held in the Parish Hall
Sanctuary, Architecture & Devotion
The church is built to face east — the traditional orientation in which the priest and people together face the rising sun as a sign of expectation for the Lord's second coming. The high ceiling and high altar are designed to lift the worshipper's mind and heart to God. The site itself reads as a layered history: the 1886 sanctuary is preserved next door as a chapel, and the current main worship space — a former Catholic school — incorporates decommissioned liturgical artifacts from older churches that were brought to life again after Katrina.
- Church oriented to the east (ad orientem celebration)
- High ceiling and high altar designed to elevate the mind to God
- Original 1886 sanctuary now serves as the daily-Mass and adoration chapel
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish runs a CCD religious-education program for school-age children on Sunday mornings between the two weekend Masses, plus RCIA (now OCIA) for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. A Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) gives the parish's young people a way to grow in faith and community together. Contact information for each ministry is listed on the parish's 'Contact Us' page.
- CCD for children: Sundays 9:15–10:15 am — Director: Robin Griffith
- RCIA / OCIA for adults — Director: Kelly Swartz
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) — contact the parish office
Parish Staff & Contact
Annunciation is a small parish with a close-knit staff available by phone at (228) 255-1800. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Messages left for the CYO Director or for specific ministries are routed through the parish office.
- Pastor: Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N.
- Parish Secretary: Rachel Barnett
- CCD Director: Robin Griffith
- RCIA / OCIA Director: Kelly Swartz
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Parish Life, Fundraising & Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, the parish sustains a strong sense of community through regular special collections, Mass intentions for the living and deceased, sanctuary-candle memorials, and an ongoing $800 monthly 'Give Away Drawdown' ticket program that funds parish needs. Lenten offerings have included a four-week Bible study on 'The Power of the Eucharist' and Stations of the Cross each Friday, followed in some years by a parish Fish Fry. Online giving is supported through the Tithe.ly app.
- Mass Intentions for the living and deceased
- Sanctuary candle offerings 'In memory of' or 'In honor of' loved ones
- $800 monthly 'Give Away Drawdown' ticket fundraiser
- Special collections (e.g., Black & Indian Missions)
- Lenten Bible study, Stations of the Cross, parish Fish Fry
- Online giving via the Tithe.ly app
Planning Your Visit
First-time visitors and returning parishioners are warmly welcomed at Annunciation. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, and the pastor or staff can be reached at (228) 255-1800 or by email at [email protected]. Weekday Masses are celebrated in the original chapel, and weekend Masses in the main church. Confession is heard on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 pm and by appointment.
- Address: 5370 Kiln-DeLisle Road, Kiln, MS 39556
- Phone: (228) 255-1800
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Confession: Saturdays 3:00–3:45 pm and by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry Mortier1890
Served after the 1886 church was built and dedicated by Bishop Janssens.
- Fr. Henry Chauvin
Followed Fr. Mortier as pastor.
- Fr. Alexander C. Denis1919–1945
Belgian priest who served 26 years; remembered for his dedication and frugal lifestyle; died 1953, buried at St. Joseph Cemetery (Rotten Bayou).
- Fr. Francis Xavier Toner, S.T.from June 1945
First Trinitarian pastor after the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity assumed responsibility for the parish.
- Fr. Henry McInerneyfrom June 1988
First diocesan priest since 1945, appointed when the parish reverted to the Diocese of Biloxi.
- Fr. John Noonefrom 2002
Led the parish through Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the renovation of the gym into the current church; old church became the chapel.
- Fr. Richard LaCortefrom 2015
Joined the parish in 2015; listed as priest in residence around the 150th anniversary.
- Fr. Bob Higginbothamby 2019
Pastor at the time of the 150th anniversary Mass with Bishop Kihneman on June 23, 2019.
- Rev. Chinnappa R. Mark, H.G.N.current
Current pastor; focuses on building a self-reliant Eucharistic community.