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Few people like to be awaken by an alarm clock from a sound sleep. Some people will turn the alarm off and go back to sleep. Others will repeatedly hit the snooze button trying to get some additional sleep. Others will get up and get going.

Thank you for reading this letter. As we begin this Season of Lent, I urge each of us to take to heart the message of Jesus as He began His public ministry: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1:15) If we believe the Gospel message, that God so loves us that He took flesh in order to die for our sins, we would want to repent, confess our sins, and accept the gift of eternal life He offers us.

Something struck me about New Year’s Eve 2020. Maybe it was just me, and this observation is not based upon any scientific survey, but it seemed I heard a lot fewer people saying “Happy New Year” this year.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to His disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (Mt 26:26)

A letter from Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi

This year has brought much suffering into the lives of many. The COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes are but two ways in which people have experienced pain and sorrow in their lives.

There is a traditional Irish song, “The Last Rose of Summer.” The words, describing the last flower in a Fall garden, are poetry set to beautifully plaintive music:

The Catholic Church in the U.S. designated each October as Respect Life Month. Since the appalling 1973 Roe v Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the killing of the baby in the womb is legal in this country.

Hurricane Sally inflicted damage upon much of our archdiocese. Its effects were felt as far north as Montgomery and Auburn. The worst of its winds were endured by the people in the southern half of Baldwin and Mobile Counties.

Hurricane Sally inflicted damage upon much of our archdiocese. Its effects were felt as far north as Montgomery and Auburn. The worst of its winds were endured by the people in the southern half of Baldwin and Mobile counties.

Wisdom is ageless. The Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church which clergy, religious and many lay people pray each day, recently contained a writing by St. John Chrysostom, a fourth century Archbishop of Constantinople.

The C-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of several events which I miss. One of the events I will miss the most is the annual Blue Mass. For many years the Archdiocese of Mobile has celebrated the Blue Mass at which we honor our First Responders and pray for them.

As we begin a new school year, I wish to thank the parents and families who entrust their sons and daughters to our Catholic schools, whether through in-person or distance learning.

Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI are among the great popes of the past 100 years. Both saw their native countries controlled by the fascists and then by the communists. Pope Benedict saw the fascists control his German homeland followed by the communists controlling much of Germany.

I wish to thank the clergy, religious and laity who serve in our ministries. They have been outstanding in serving all of us during this pandemic.

I imagine that many of you who are reading this article remember 9/11. I also imagine that a number of you remember the day that President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. And I imagine there may be a few of you who remember Pearl Harbor in 1941.

On Friday, May 1, Catholics of our country re-consecrated our nation to Mary, the Mother of the Church. At 2 p.m. CDT in cathedrals across the U.S., bishops prayed the prayer of consecration of our land to Mary, our Mother.

Many people across our archdiocese, Catholics, Christians of other denominations, members of other faiths, and people of good will are praying for God’s protection from COVID-19 and for an end to this pandemic. This is natural, this is understandable, this is good, and this is undoubtedly pleasing to God.

In all that we have been experiencing these past several weeks as a world, a nation, a church, and individually, a story I read as a young priest, about 40 years ago, keeps coming to mind. I remember reading an article by a writer named Leonard Mann.

There are a few days between the time I write an article for “The Catholic Week” and the time when you receive it in the mail. This does not normally cause me concern, but these are not normal times. The circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are evolving so quickly that it is impossible to know how the situation will change in the next few days.