News - January 2022 RSS Feed

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different varieties of gifts. (1 Cor 12:4)

MOBILE – Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and the Executive Director of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile, Mrs. Shannon D. Roh, have announced that the 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal goal is $4,500,000. The basic pledge is $600 per year, which is $50 per month for 12 months. The 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal theme remains in all things Charity. St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians has been inspiring each of our ministries funded by the Catholic Charities Appeal as they show the love of Christ to those in need throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile.

World Day for Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the universal Church on Wednesday, Feb. 2 and in parishes over the weekend of Feb. 5-6. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life and thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior Angeles Gonzalez-Ansaldi and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School graduate Grace Greenwood participated in the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama Program Jan. 21-22 in Montgomery.

Throughout the centuries that have passed since Columbus came to the Americas, there have been many courageous voices who have opposed the violent exploitation of native inhabitants and enslaved Africans brought to the new world: From Antonio de Montesinos, the Spanish Dominican Friar who was the first to publicly denounce the enslavement and treatment of the indigenous peoples of Hispaniola; to Bartolome De Las Casas, another Dominican Friar and priest, who wrote in “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” and “Historia de Las Indias,” about the first decades of colonization of the West Indies and the atrocities committed by the colonizers against the indigenous people; to St. Louis Bertrant, who with the encouragement of De Las Casas, defended the rights of the indigenous people in Colombia and Panama; to Jesuit missionary St. Peter Claver, who dedicated his life to the aid of enslaved Africans in Colombia.

"Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.” — Pope Francis, Day for Life Greeting

I recently contracted COVID-19, and thankfully it was a mild illness.  I am grateful that it was mild for me, but it made me start thinking about how many people had their lives upended by losing someone they love.  I dedicate these thoughts to them.

50 Years Receiving Eagle Scout Awards at St. Bede Parish were Barney Azar, Greg Walker, Norman Azar and Tom Azar. 

MOBILE, Ala. — The Archdiocese of Mobile was informed that Heart of Mary Catholic School in downtown Mobile will close in May and will not reopen for the 2022-23 school year.

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi installed 17 Archdiocese of Mobile permanent diaconate candidates in the Ministry of Acolyte on Jan. 8 during Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The Ministry of Acolyte is the final ministry received prior to ordination as a deacon.

Notice three men dressed as the Magi roaming throughout Montgomery?  That was just Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President Justin Castanza, Holy Spirit Parish Parochial Vicar Fr. Patrick Gilbreath and St. Bede the Venerable Parish Parochial Vicar Fr. Connor Plessala following the star to find the baby Jesus.

A new year is a great time to evaluate how we are doing as good Christian stewards. Many people make New Year’s Resolutions. Most New Year’s resolutions include diet, exercise, budgeting or reduced screen time because we see each of these as ways to better ourselves. While each of these things are good, there is no better way to better ourselves than to devote the time, talent and treasures our God so generously gave us to love and worship Him to accomplish His will in our lives. 

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and that you are refreshed and renewed as we enter 2022.

Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.