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Sister Mary Ann Wilhelm, RSM who served for decades in health care ministry, including as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Mercy Medical, passed away Sept. 29 at the age of 85 after an extended illness.

The Archdiocese of Mobile is once again participating in “Box of Joy,” a Cross Catholic Outreach ministry that sends small tokens of love and hope to some of the world’s poorest children.

Mercy Medical and the Sisters of Mercy’s legacy in Daphne is being recognized. The first installment of a display for the Daphne History Museum honoring the Sisters of Mercy and their history in Daphne was unveiled during a ceremony Sept. 19. The display includes Mercy Medical’s history, newspaper clippings and other historical documents.

As I compose these words, I am preparing to depart for Rome for the second session of the Synod on Synodality. I was elected by my brother bishops two years ago as a delegate to this gathering, and I participated in the first round last October. As I shared with you a year ago, the synod is a lot of work! It lasts four full weeks, and we meet Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Today I would like to reflect on our consciences. Most people who are from roughly the same era as I, have powerful images from Walt Disney that are not particularly helpful. We may recall that in the film “Pinocchio,” a benevolent figure gives Jiminy Cricket to be the “conscience” of Pinocchio. Jiminy Cricket then is set in the role of rule enforcer and guide to keep Pinocchio out of trouble. The story unfolds with Jiminy Cricket trying to get Pinocchio to do the right thing. Pinocchio knows right from wrong but is weak in character and often chooses to do the wrong or bad thing. Jiminy Cricket tries to stop him from doing wrong or at least to make amends.

It is not uncommon to hear people make statements such as: “I must follow my conscience.” “I must vote as my conscience tells me.” “I can’t do what you’re telling me because it is against my conscience.”

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi will celebrate the annual All Souls Day Mass on Saturday, Nov. 2 at The Catholic Cemetery of Mobile, 1700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. behind the mausoleum. In the event of inclement weather, Mass will be held in the mausoleum chapel.

SPANISH FORT — Jim and Cele Fibbe’s first date back in 1958 included a game of miniature golf. Cele’s certain she won, Jim isn’t as convinced.

Deacon Robert Kirby faithfully served the Lord and served others until the very end. The longtime deacon at St. Dominic Parish in Mobile had just completed leading a Eucharistic Adoration service for schoolchildren on Oct. 4 when he collapsed and passed away soon after. Deacon Kirby was 89.

While on the plane returning to the Vatican after a demanding 12-day trip to Asia, Pope Francis answered questions from reporters traveling on the plane with him. When asked about the presidential election in the U.S., the Pope answered, “One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it. To send migrants away, to leave them wherever you want, to leave them … it’s something terrible, there is evil there. To send away a child from the womb of the mother is an assassination, because there is life. We must speak about these things clearly.”

I think we have all had the experience of being bitten by a mosquito. In fact, we normally don’t even notice the bite in the first place, but later realize that we have been bitten. We don’t feel the bite because the mosquito numbs the area before the bite.

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker ... Just like the Parable of the Talents, we are all blessed with unique gifts and talents. To fulfill God’s plan in our lives, we are called to work together using our gifts and talents to the best of our ability. How would we function as a society if we all had the same gifts? Think of all the career paths each of us have taken, this is because we are all blessed with unique gifts.

MONTGOMERY — As Sarah Rose Burden began her first year as an elementary teacher with Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, she was not overly nervous as most brand new educators might be about embarking on a brand new career. Miss Burden grew up learning from her mother and her grandfather, who are both teachers and former administrators at the school, and she always dreamed of one day joining the teaching profession.

Three Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sisters Teresa Cusack, Mary Chabanel Finnegan, and Mary Zoe Keller who together represent 215 years of service to and with God’s people—celebrated their entrance into Religious Life during a celebration on Sept. 7 at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile. The liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Tommy Conway of the Diocese of Biloxi.

St. Jeanne Jugan, foundress of my community of Little Sisters of the Poor, was a woman of few words. She left behind no letters or other writings but she did impart little bits of advice to the young Little Sisters among whom she spent her final years.

Congratulations to Sr. Mary Michael Di Palma of the Incarnate Word SsEW, who made her perpetual profession of vows for the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word on Sept. 7 during Mass at the Casa Maria Convent and Retreat House in Irondale. Bishop Steven J. Raica, bishop of Birmingham celebrated the Mass.

Elections are rapidly approaching. Our bishops have provided a document to help Catholics form our consciences so we can be faithful citizens and help to make the Kingdom of God more present in our culture.

Growing up on the Gulf Coast has many blessings. We have a wonderful sense of “place.” Since my family has lived for generations in the Gulf Coast areas of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, I praise God for the roots this has given me and for the ties to our beautiful area. However, growing up in this area has also given me an acquaintance with hurricanes. When I was a child, hurricanes were exciting. It was an adventure to bring everything in from the yard, board up windows and get time off from school during the recovery. In those days, we did not watch television for days as hurricanes formed. When a hurricane was about to hit, people went home or found shelter and “hunkered down.”

A new concept to serve teenagers at historically African-American parishes in the Mobile area is set to kick off this fall. Led by Gabrielle Smith, a city-wide youth group will be geared toward high-school age students from Prince of Peace, St. Francis Xavier, St. James Major, Our Mother of Mercy, Most Pure Heart of Mary and St. Joseph parishes.

The Seminarian Summer Gala was a beautiful display of all aspects of stewardship in action! The evening opened and closed with everyone’s gift of time in prayer. Before dinner, Mass was celebrated for all attendees by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi with Fr. Patrick Gilbreath giving the homily and seminarians serving. The talented Mr. and Mrs. Trey Krause shared their gift of music at Mass. At the end of the evening, everyone prayed the seminarian prayer together.