ORANGE BEACH — The Baldwin Escambia Deanery of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women hosted the 85th annual convention this year in Orange Beach (Oct. 31 — Nov. 2). In addition to the Baldwin Deanery, the ACCW also includes Mobile, Montgomery and Dothan deaneries. The theme for the event was “Hope Anchors the Soul” with emphasis on hope during these troubling times.
The weekend that this newspaper arrives is the weekend that we celebrate the final Sunday of the Liturgical Year. The Feast on that last weekend is the Feast of Christ the King. As Church feasts go, this one is relatively new, declared by Pope Pius XI in 1925.
Our turkey and all the fixings may cost a little more this year, but being together with family is priceless. Thanksgiving is an excellent time to reflect on the many blessings in our life. As many families did not gather for Thanksgiving last year due to the pandemic, we are thankful to be together in person this year.
Pope Francis has called for a synod. The word “synod” means to walk together on a road, and Popes will call synods to discuss how the Church is walking together as the Family of God. The Pope has called for a synod to be held in 2023, two years from now. Synods can address different topics. The people who are selected to attend the meeting depends on the topic. The synod may be about the Church in Europe or the Church in Africa or it may be about the youth of the Church, etc.
The Toy Bowl Classic celebration resumed after a one-year absence due to COVID-19. The 73rd edition was full of enthusiasm from CYO participants. Reigning over the 2021 Toy Bowl Classic were Queen Lila Jane Baggett and King Brayden Hicks of St. Mary Parish. The court consisted of 154 eighth-graders who raised more than $60,000 to ensure the success of the CYO programs.
Brother Alan Drain, S.C., a religious Brother of the Sacred Heart, died Oct. 5, 2021, at age 84 in Baton Rouge, La. Brother Alan was born in Mobile, received a degree from Spring Hill College and taught at McGill-Institute. Brother Alan entered the juniorate at Saint Joseph’s in Metuchen, N.J., in 1956. He professed his first vows in 1957 and his final vows in Mobile, AL, in 1963.
The inaugural Magi Market will be from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish gym in Mobile. Gifts of inspiration that reflect the meaning of Christmas will be available, including gift baskets and wreaths, homemade goodies, hand-crafted Christmas ornaments will be available.
Jesus tells us at the end of chapter 28 of the Gospel according to Matthew: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
As the summer turns to fall and many plants turn from green to brown, it seems a natural time to reflect on death. November has traditionally been a month when we think about and pray for our beloved dead.
50 Years A statewide conference for all Catholic Schools was held at Holy Trinity. New Junior High Cheerleaders for Catholic High Montgomery were Helen Schroll, Barbara Garrity, Sue Mugenast, Gale Kennedy, Liz Peterson, Laura Histon, Renee Lassonde and Mickey Edington.
There are those who accuse people of faith of being anti-scientific. Such people try to argue that people of science cannot be people of faith, as if the two are opposing forces. The opposite is true. People of faith delve into science knowing that the cosmos was created by an intelligent and rational God and, therefore, the cosmos must be capable of being known by intelligence since it must be rational. For Christians, the cosmos does not contain mysteries but only questions which have not yet been answered.
VATICAN CITY — A synod calls on everyone to become experts in "the art of encounter" in a way that is uplifting and transformative, Pope Francis said, formally opening the process leading up to the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2023.
Beginning Nov. 28, Words of Remembrance often delivered by loved ones of the deceased will now be given before, and not during, funeral Masses in the Archdiocese of Mobile.
