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On March 17, 1945, in the midst of World War II, a new ministry opened its doors in Mobile at the corner of Conti and South Claiborne streets.

Recently, the diary of a young North Korean soldier killed in Ukraine came to light. What attracted most commentary was the revelation that he and his unfortunate colleagues were being used, essentially, as bait for the deadly drones that hover over the battlefields of that beleaguered country. What I found even more desperately sad, however, was a more personal truth that was laid bare in the pages of that diary.

We all know that we have a new president and with that comes an entirely new approach to many issues. I would like to discuss one of the hot-button issues our nation is experiencing—immigration. I encourage everyone to read Archbishop Rodi’s column in this issue of The Catholic Week. I find it exceptional.

The first chief of police for the Mobile City Police now has proper memorialization at Catholic Cemetery of Mobile.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. As we begin the season of Lent, please allow me to share some thoughts with you.

"I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 14:34). Love is the foundation of all acts of stewardship. Jesus showed us how to be good stewards by His actions. He fed the poor, visited the imprisoned, healed the sick and so much more. Jesus taught us how to love by living the seven Corporal Works of Mercy. We are called to imitate these charitable actions in our lives.

You may be aware that a Holy Year began on Christmas Eve, but for those of us who were/are not aware, we may be asking ourselves what a Holy Year is, and what does it mean for us?

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi announced on Feb. 20 that Gia S. Long has been appointed as the Executive Director for Financial Services for the Archdiocese of Mobile, beginning March 24.

MOBILE – The 94th annual Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday was Jan. 26. As of Friday, Feb. 28, a total of 6,457 generous donors helped us exceed our $4.7 million goal with pledges totaling $4,843,917. Thank you to everyone who made a pledge to help our neighbors in need.

I am always grateful to God for our wonderful priests. They are truly blessings to all of us as they minister to us. On Thursday, February 21, I was particularly proud of our priests. On their own initiative, and without encouragement from me, some of our priests banded together to celebrate Masses where they would pray together with our immigrant brothers and sisters during these times which are fraught with fear and anxiety for our immigrant neighbors. Masses were celebrated in Baldwin, Houston, Lee, Mobile, Montgomery, and Russell Counties. I joined in celebrating the Mass in Baldwin.

MOBILE — McGill-Toolen Catholic High School announced on Feb. 18 that Blake Stein will serve as the school’s next principal, beginning with the 2025-26 school year. Stein will succeed Principal Michelle Haas, who previously announced her retirement effective at the end of the school year. Stein has served as assistant principal at McGill-Toolen since 2009.

I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Gia S. Long has been appointed as the Executive Director for Financial Services for the Archdiocese of Mobile. This appointment will begin on Monday, March 24, 2025.

I am the odd man out in a family of medical folk. My maternal grandfather was a physician; his daughter, my mother, was a medical technologist; my mother-in-law, a nurse. My brother is a physician; so is one of my daughters, and so is her husband. An aunt was a registered nurse, and my niece is a hospital nutritionist. Beyond the family circle, I have many friends practicing the medical arts, including America’s most distinguished psychiatrist, Paul McHugh. I’ve also been blessed by the work of great physicians, whose skills and dedication have gotten me beyond the biblical allotment of “three score and ten” (Psalm 90:10).

A week ago, we were in the midst of a historic snowstorm. The snow hit on Tuesday and remained around freezing Wednesday and Thursday. Most of us hunkered down and did not wander far from our houses and by the time the weekend arrived, most of the evidence of the snowstorm was gone.

St. Pius X Catholic School in Mobile announced that Emily Dolan will serve as the school’s new principal beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

The Daughters of Charity began serving Alabama before the Civil War, ministered through epidemics, hurricanes, fires and through the beginning of two new centuries. They also served in various ministries, especially in education and health care.

As Bishops of the Province of Mobile, encompassing Alabama and Mississippi, we feel called to speak to the pressing issue of immigration in our nation and in our province. Our faith compels us to view each human being as a child of God, endowed with dignity and worth, and our nation’s history reminds us of the transformative power of hope and opportunity.