From the Archbishop

The other day I was speaking with an elementary school classmate. We were speaking about our Catholic grade school days. Except for the spelling bee when he missed the first word of the bee and had to make the “long walk” back to his desk, having misspelled the first word of the bee, our memories were mostly good memories.

Last month, during the final week before seminary classes resumed, I had the blessing of joining our Mobile seminarians for their annual summer retreat. It was a time of prayer, talks and fraternity.

On Friday, August 11, I have the privilege to preach at the Mass honoring the life and legacy of Fr. James E. Coyle. The Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral in Birmingham, where Fr. Coyle was murdered on the porch of the church rectory on August 11, 1921.

July is now at a close and as August begins the thoughts of many turn toward the reopening of school. Families will prepare for the resumption of the academic education of their children. In addition to all the necessary preparations for a new school year, I urge families to also prepare for the religious education of their children.