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MOBILE — The Archdiocese of Mobile's annual Red Mass for members of the legal profession will be at 12:10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

In the Fall of 2021, the 67 million Catholics in the US were invited to participate in the preparation of the worldwide Synod which will occur in 2023. In our country an estimated 700,000 participated. In the Archdiocese of Mobile, a synod questionnaire was sent to each pastor inviting his parishioners to participate. The synod questions were placed on the archdiocesan website and publicized in "The Catholic Week" so that anyone could participate. Our archdiocesan summary is now published on the archdiocesan website. I thank the people of our archdiocese who submitted their responses to this effort.

Letter from Gwen Byrd, Superintendent of Archdiocese of Mobile Catholic Schools

MOBILE – Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, Vagabond Missions’ Lauren Alley heard the usual criticism that those who are pro-life only care about the baby until birth.

Have you ever scheduled time or set an alarm for prayer? How does prayer fit into the time + talent + treasure = stewardship formula anyway?  Is volunteering or serving in a ministry considered stewardship of our time? No, actually, volunteering and serving in ministry is being a good steward of our talents. However, time in the stewardship formula refers to time in prayer. The stewardship formula could be simply stated, pray + serve + give = stewardship.

Last time I discussed the phrase, “God is Love.”  Today I want to discuss what Jesus says in Matthew 5:48. He says, "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  This line comes at the end of Our Lord teaching what is expected from His followers.  He makes it clear that He has come to fulfill and not to abolish the law.  Then He makes it clear that we must not just conform externally to His Law (of love) but that we must internally conform to His law.  He tells us we can’t grow angry with our brothers, not just refrain from murder.  He tells us we can’t lust, not just refrain from immoral sexual activity.  He tells us we have to love our enemies, not just love your friends.

50 Years Ago Rev. Paul Smallwood Tipton, S. J., was named president-elect of Spring Hill College.

On Sept. 8 there will be a new shrine in England honoring Mary. It will be dedicated under the title of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians. Fr. Kiely, the priest leading the effort to establish this new shrine, stated, “This is the first shrine in Europe specifically dedicated to prayer for the active persecution of Christians now all over the world. It’s certainly the first shrine in Europe dedicated to Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians.”

Fr. Philip McKenna initially had plans to be a missionary in a far-off land such as China. But Fr. McKenna followed God’s plan and instead impacted countless people as a diocesan priest in numerous ways throughout Bolivia, Peru and also Alabama.

MOBILE –  The Archdiocese of Mobile’s “Called to Love” women’s conference returns next month and it will celebrate all aspects of what it means to be a Catholic woman.

MOBILE — Deacon William Dolan, who served three parishes, established the Archdiocese of Mobile Office of Planned Giving and Stewardship and previously served as the president of the deacon community, died Aug. 28 at the age of 92.

The 86th annual ACCW Convention is Oct. 2-4 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Mobile and this year's theme will be "The Rosary is Our Spiritual Weapon for Peace."

MOBILE — Little Flower Catholic School in Mobile will receive funding for the development of their drama club through the Alliance for Catholic Education and the Chris Lary Awards program at The University of Notre Dame. 

DOTHAN — The Knights of Columbus Council 6727 of Dothan held an installation ceremony of their new officers on Aug. 17.

Parecería que fue ayer, en la era antes de la pandemia, que la idea de formar diáconos permanentes latinos en su lengua materna fue plantada en los corazones del Arzobispo Thomas Rodi y del Diácono Ronnie Hathorne, debido al crecimiento en el número de católicos hispanos en el Arquidiócesis de Mobile, y la escasez de ministros ordenados que pudieran conectarse con ellos en español.

The Lord does not keep his distance, but is near and real.  He is in our midst and he takes care of us.”   ~Pope Francis World Youth Day 2016  Czestechowa Mass homily 

A few weeks ago I wrote about some words or phrases that we use so often that they lose their impact.  For example, “I love you.”  

50 Years Ago Fr. Joseph Fumanek, C.R., was appointed pastor of Holy Ghost Parish, Marbury. 

The Archdiocese of Mobile is blessed to have three new Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teaching fellows serving at three schools, while they also earn their Master of Education degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Here's a closer look at our new ACE teachers. 

AUBURN — Aug. 22, 2022, was a significant day in archdiocesan history: the opening of St. Michael Catholic School in Auburn. Rev. Msgr. Michael L. Farmer presided over a ribbon cutting ceremony where parents, staff, and community stakeholders gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.   “What a blessing today (is) for St. Michael Parish and our future,” Msgr. Farmer shared. “The hallmark of the parish is always looking forward to advancing the Gospel. St. Michael Catholic School is yet another essential chapter of that story. I am so blessed to be part of this chapter.”