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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.

Happy New Year! Well, not exactly the way we think about it. This is a new school year. For teachers and students, the beginning of a new school year provides an opportunity to start fresh. This is especially true if you have changed schools.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:19-20 The Gospel of Matthew ends with this Great Commission. The salvation of souls is the purpose of the Church. It is duty of each Christian. We are called to strive after our own salvation and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others so that they may seek their own salvation.

Congratulations to Phillip Sylvester – now Brother Phillip, MIC – who took his first profession of vows with the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fr. John L. Holleman, who most recently served as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Semmes, passed away on Aug. 18 at the age of 83. A Mass of Christian Burial was scheduled for Aug. 22 at Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Gulf Shores. Fr. Holleman retired to Gulf Shores in 2016 following his assignment at Holy Name of Jesus.

Penny’s Pantry and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Ozark continue taking God’s call to service to heart.

The Archdiocese of Mobile will celebrate the annual Blue Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the 12:10 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

MOBILE — With a beaming smile and an innocent swagger, Carolyn Francis speculated on how her life would be different had she continued to study acting in college. “Maybe I would have gotten an Emmy. Or maybe I would’ve had my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Ms. Francis joked.

We just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime event. Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered in Indianapolis for a five-day Eucharistic Congress. People came from across the world. The event was extremely well done. The logistics of having about 60,000 pilgrims in town for five days was enormous. Hotels, restaurants, transportation, signage, programs with details, means to break the huge group into smaller groups, vendors and I am sure many other details had to be arranged.

MOBILE — The Archdiocese of Mobile will once again celebrate milestone wedding anniversaries this September with Masses throughout the archdiocese.

In the previous edition of “The Catholic Week,” I wrote about the National Eucharistic Congress, a grace-filled event of the American Catholic Church held in mid-July in Indianapolis. People from across the country gathered to give thanks to God for the priceless gift of the Eucharist, which our Lord gave to us at the Last Supper. In that Upper Room with His disciples, the Lord gave us His own Body and Blood, truly present in the bread and wine once consecrated, as His visible testimony that He is with us until the end of time.

As part of a recent Day of Service associated with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, volunteers assisted with pre-packing approximately 200 bags of items that are brought to seafarers by Stella Maris when visiting ships.

MOBILE – St. Tarcisius may not be well-known to many Catholics, but his heroic story is spreading thanks to Caroline McDonald.