Are we there yet? An aspect of growing up that can be often overlooked is the change in how we look at time. When we are children, we sit in the back seat of the car, asking our parents one too many times, “are we there yet?” But as we age, it turns into “Wow. Has it already been that long?” Advent having ended, we are nestled into the heart of the Christmas season! The time of preparation for the Savior’s birth has passed and in that, we should look back and see what that time of preparation did for us as Catholics.

Merry Christmas! I love this time of year. I ask all of our readers to pray for those who are alone and missing loved ones. Amidst our revelry and family time, let’s make sure that we reach out to those who are hurting.

Durante la temporada navideña, la Iglesia celebra la fiesta de la Sagrada Familia de Jesús, María y José. Una tradición en mi familia inmediata era tener en el nombre de cada uno el nombre de Jesús, María o José. Tuve una última oportunidad de hacerlo cuando recibí el sacramento de la Confirmación. Elegí a San José como mi santo patrón de confirmación y siempre aprecié esta tradición familiar de honrar a uno de los miembros de la Sagrada Familia como una hermosa conexión personal con ella.

During the Christmas season, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. A tradition in my immediate family was to have in one’s name, the name of Jesus, Mary or Joseph. I had one last chance to do this when I received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I chose St. Joseph as my Confirmation patron saint and always appreciated this family tradition of honoring one of the members of the Holy Family as a beautiful personal connection with the Holy Family.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the waiting room at the Archdiocese of Mobile Chancery located at 400 Government St. begins a quiet transformation.

Many of us like to watch sports, be that in person or on television. Humans have loved watching and participating in sports for as long as humanity has existed. When we watch sports or other competitions, we don’t usually reflect on how much time, sweat, tears, pain and sacrifice have paved the way for the competitors. We just see the “game day.”

Every year, as soon as Thanksgiving ends, the pace of life seems to accelerate overnight. Calendars fill with parties, programs, shopping lists, travel plans and year-end deadlines. The world tells us to rush toward Christmas as fast as possible. Yet, quietly and faithfully, the Church invites us to slow down. Week by week, as we light the Advent candles, we are reminded that this season is not about rushing, but about preparing.

Durante la temporada navideña, la Iglesia celebra la fiesta de la Sagrada Familia de Jesús, María y José. Una tradición en mi familia inmediata era tener en el nombre de cada uno el nombre de Jesús, María o José. Tuve una última oportunidad de hacerlo cuando recibí el sacramento de la Confirmación. Elegí a San José como mi santo patrón de confirmación y siempre aprecié esta tradición familiar de honrar a uno de los miembros de la Sagrada Familia como una hermosa conexión personal con ella.

Hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:5). This Word of God is proclaimed by St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans. We are called to reflect more fully upon living and practicing the Christian virtue of hope in this Jubilee Year of Hope. The late Pope Francis addressed the entire Church, “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ of our salvation, whom the Church is proclaimed always, everywhere and to all as ‘our hope.’”

Finding Christ amongst it all. The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones and eat too much food—but where is Christ in all of this?

We are so blessed to be the recipients of so many gifts from the Lord. We have so many gifts, we run the risk of not realizing how many blessings we have received.

Durante el mes de diciembre, celebramos la fiesta patronal de nuestra arquidiócesis, la Inmaculada Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María (8 de diciembre) y la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (12 de diciembre). Como Iglesia, celebramos a María como la madre de Jesús y nuestra madre, así como modelo de discípula del Señor.

During December, we celebrate our archdiocesan patronal feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8) and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12). As a Church, we celebrate Mary as the mother of Jesus and our mother, as well as a model disciple of the Lord.

All Catholics and most Protestants acknowledge the historical reality of the Resurrection of Jesus, but why does it matter?

Is November the month to give thanks? From the Feast of All Saints to the Feast of Christ the King and Thanksgiving Day, followed by #GivingTuesday, it would seem so. While November invites us to pause, reflect and give thanks to God for His many blessings, let’s remember that our faith is rooted in thanksgiving every day.

El primer domingo después de mi toma de posesión como arzobispo, celebré una misa de confirmación en la parroquia Prince of Peace, en Mobile. La Misa y la recepción fueron experiencias maravillosas en las que los confirmandos se sintieron arropados por el amor y la oración.

The first Sunday after I was installed as Archbishop, I celebrated a Confirmation Mass at Prince of Peace Parish in Mobile. The Mass and reception were beautiful experiences of those who were confirmed being lifted up in love and prayer.

Octubre fue el Mes del Respeto a la Vida. Este mes nos sensibilizó sobre la importancia de respetar el valor sagrado y la dignidad de toda vida humana, desde la concepción hasta la muerte natural, así como de defender la protección y salvaguardar la vida humana en todas sus etapas.

October was Respect Life Month. This month heightened our awareness to respect the sacred value and dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death, as well as to advocate for human life, at every stage, to be protected and safeguarded.

Are you praying to saints? Have you heard about Our Lady of La Leche? I had never heard of this title for the Blessed Mother until my husband and I recently found out that we are expecting!