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This year, 2021, has a special significance for our Archdiocese and for three Religious Orders whose members serve here. In 1911, 110 years ago, the Vincentian Order, officially known as the Congregation for the Mission, arrived in the Archdiocese of Mobile at the invitation of Bishop Allen. In 1921, 100 years ago, the Trinitarian Fathers and Brothers, officially known as the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, was established with the approval of Bishop Allen. In 1931, 90 years ago, the Trinitarian Sisters, officially known as the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Holy Trinity, submitted their request to the Vatican for official recognition as a Religious Order. (It would be granted in February 1932). The histories of these three Religious Orders are interwoven.

DOTHAN — When the Knights of Columbus Council 6727 at St. Columba Parish in Dothan initiated the first Seminarian Dinner in 2010, no one could have known that the annual event would be interrupted by COVID-19. 

Am I doing something wrong?  I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I have given my heart, my life, my everything over to Him on many occasions, and yet I sin.  I still get angry in traffic.  I still struggle to be more selfless in my relationships.  I still desire things that are sinful and that are bad for me.  Why?  

Hace casi dos años que con tristeza dijimos hasta luego al reverendo padre Jose Luis Mesa, S.J., al momento de ser transferido a El Paso, TX para servir en la labor misionera de acoger a los refugiados e inmigrantes hispanos que estaban llegando a territorio Estadounidense a través de esa ciudad.

Thirteen years ago this month I started on a journey when I accepted my first full-time position at St. Joseph in Macon, Ga. Up until that time I had lived my entire life in Texas, and all but three years in Dallas. I felt that God was calling me to ministry but I was very unsure about leaving my home, my family and my friends. 

July 2021

MOBILE — Their ministry at Corpus Christi Parish is over after more than 33 years of faithful service, but Fr. James Zoghby and Fr. John Boudreaux will still proclaim the Good News.

MOBILE — Hospitality and service run in new Mercy LIFE of Alabama executive director David Grimes’ blood.

Parishioners at St. Columba Catholic Parish in Dothan will bid farewell this month to Sister Miriam Fiduccia, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity (commonly known as a Trinitarian Sister). Sister Miriam has served this faith community for nearly 17 years as a pastoral associate. The specific mission of Trinitarians is the preservation of the Faith among those who may be spiritually neglected due to locale and opportunities to grow and be nourished by their Catholic Faith. And the chief effort is to develop a missionary spirit within the laity, with the goal being that every Catholic will be an apostle spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. St. Columba is the only parish in Houston County and often Sister Miriam is the only Catholic or only Catholic Sister that people have met. She says she has been blessed to participate in a number of ecumenical activities locally and it has been particularly enriching to have been invited to participate in the local women’s clergy group. “We have been supportive to one another in our ministries and one of our most meaningful tasks is to plan the annual Inter-Faith Thanksgiving Prayer Service in Dothan.” With an educational background in social work and a Master's in Theology, along with varied ministry experiences throughout the U.S., Sister Miriam has had an opportunity to be the missionary of which she is called by her vocation, helping others to live and spread their Catholic Faith. Sister Miriam says that a quote from the Acts of the Apostles (10:38) that speaks of Jesus says, “ … He went about doing good …” She said, “This passage continues to be a motivating force for me. Whether I am teaching an RCIA class, meeting a new family, doing spiritual direction, visiting the sick and dying, ministering to the bereaved, or just chatting with a member of the parish staff, I believe I am doing what I was called to do.” In August Sister Miriam will begin a sabbatical program entitled Ministry to Ministers in San Antonio. Upon completing that program, Sister will probably engage in some future studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. After which, in the missionary spirit of her Community, Sister Miriam will go wherever there is most a need, as she continues to be inspired to serve the people of God. In closing, Sister Miriam said, “I accepted an invitation from God to serve and God’s graces have been so abundant. In the words attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola, ‘God will not be outdone in generosity!’ ” It goes without saying, that Sister will be greatly missed by those at St. Columba, as well as others she has collaborated with in the local community. We, in the Archdiocese, bid Sister Miriam farewell with deep gratitude and appreciation for her many years of service and commitment in our area.

To quote my alma mater’s creed, “I believe in work, hard work.” Although the Auburn Creed is not scripture based, it sure could be. 

Editor's note: The below column was originally posted on the Catholic Educator blog at CatholicEducator.blogspot.com. It is being reprinted with permission.

July 2021

I have been asked what is my reaction to the controversy over the recent vote of the US bishops to draft a document on the Eucharist. My first reaction is that a long deep breath would be helpful.

Thank you, Alex, for your openness to the call of God to ordained ministry. Trusting in God, you said yes to God’s call and here at this Mass the Church confirms your decision by calling you to be ordained.

About 100 people in Mobile took part in a one-mile Eucharistic procession for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on June 6. 

My name is Tex Phelps and I am the new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In my position one of my favorite parts of the job is visiting different parish communities and the beautiful churches across the diocese. In my previous positions in Beaumont, Savannah, Maryland and Washington DC, I have been very blessed to visit many parishes and be a part of parish celebrations of the Liturgy and other special occasions. It is always an honor and a privilege to worship alongside different communities with the same faith. It brings us together as ONE.

Después de 9 años de servir como párroco en Santa Maria de la Misión en Opelika, nuestro querido amigo y mentor, el padre Bruce Krause, C.M. ha sido transferido a Long Island, Nueva York, donde continuará la misión de trabajar con la comunidad Hispana de esa localidad.

Happy Fathers’ Day!  What does it mean to be “the father?”  Well often it means always being the one who ends up with the heels of every loaf of bread.  

MONTGOMERY — Montgomery Catholic was proud to celebrate a third-grader at the Holy Spirit Campus awards assembly on Thursday, May 27. Justin Lee set a national point record for Renaissance Accelerated Reader during the 2020-21 school year. 

June 2021