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!

I love holidays and the celebrations that come with them. I love the origins of Halloween and I like most of the celebrations and how they bring people together. What I am not comfortable with is the fixation on the macabre and the dark.

The Catholic Maritime Ministry of Mobile, Stella Maris, celebrated its 80th anniversary Oct. 25. The celebration began with Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception celebrated by Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso and concelebrated by Bishop Frank Schuster, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and Bishop Promoter of Stella Maris in the United States.

After more than four decades at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School — including 36 years as president — Fr. Bry Shields said he feels “a great sense of relief but also peace,” knowing the time is right to step down as the school’s president.

St. Theresa Parish in West Mount Vernon displayed its devotion to its namesake. Parishioners came together on Oct. 1 to honor St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus—also known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower—on her feast day. The celebration included a Rosary in the parish hall, a procession to the church and evening Mass. The timing was perfect since the parish’s regular weekday Mass fell on Oct. 1, and parishioner and volunteer Loretta Sullivan wanted to ensure the saint was properly honored.

Many hands make light work! Nobody can accomplish everything alone and that is especially true in our lives of faith as good Christian stewards. Every time we gather for Mass, we see this truth in action. Look around the church this Sunday and take note of the greeters, ushers, lectors, altar servers, musicians and Eucharistic ministers. Everybody offers their time and talent to ensure a prayerful and beautiful Mass. For every person you see, there are many more serving quietly behind the scenes at other Masses or in other ministries that serve the needs of our neighbors.

I am getting older. The calendar and my joints attest to this—but as I grow in age, I wonder if I am growing in intimacy with God.

Recientemente estuve con mis hermanos sacerdotes en nuestra convocatoria anual. Nos reunimos cada año para poder dedicar tiempo a debatir cuestiones relevantes, fomentar el apoyo sacerdotal y colaborar en cómo podemos ser más eficaces en el ministerio al pueblo de la arquidiócesis de Mobile. Como he manifestado anteriormente, solo, no puedo pastorear esta arquidiócesis. Me siento bendecido por la ayuda de nuestros generosos y dedicados sacerdotes, ellos sirven con el corazón sacerdotal de Cristo y viven su cuidado pastoral de amor y compasión por aquellos a quienes sirven.

I recently was with my brother priests at our annual convocation. We meet yearly so we may have time together to discuss relevant issues and foster priestly support and collaborate on how we can be more effective in ministering to the people of the archdiocese of Mobile. As I stated previously, I cannot shepherd this archdiocese alone. I am blessed by the help of our generous and dedicated priests. They serve with Christ’s priestly heart and live His pastoral care of love and compassion for those they serve.

In his first apostolic exhortation, Pope Leo XIV has taken up the call of Pope Francis for Christians to see in the poor the very face of Christ -- and to be a church that "walks poor with the poor" in order to authentically live out the Gospel.

Many of us are all back into our routines. There is a certain sadness in not having the kids around. At the same time, there is comfort in re-entering our normal routines. As we begin a new academic year, we might consider adding to our routines and perhaps we may consider dropping some things.

It isn’t a competition. At times, especially from a woman’s perspective, life may feel like you are constantly in competition with someone or something with the hopes that your “performance” will come out on top. Do I have the best outfit? Do I have the best hair? Did I give a good handshake or make enough eye contact with the person I was talking to? The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, something that we can all use to bring ourselves back from secular and intrusive thoughts and closer to Christ.

Como su pastor, necesito estar presente y ser el cuidado de Jesús, nuestro Buen Pastor, para ustedes. He elaborado mi propio plan pastoral sobre cómo puedo estar presente y acompañarlos con el amor de Cristo. La Arquidiócesis de Mobile es extensa en territorio, abarca la mitad del estado de Alabama, con una superficie total de 22,969 millas cuadradas. Con un territorio tan vasto, necesito aprovechar y administrar mi tiempo al máximo de mi capacidad.

As your shepherd, I need to be present and be the care of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, for you. I have made my own pastoral plan on how I can be present and accompany you with Christ’s love. The Archdiocese of Mobile is extensive in territory—half the state of Alabama—all 22,969 square miles of it. With such a vast territory, I need to maximize and manage my time to the best of my ability. I do not want to spend more time driving back and forth and less time present with you.

We recently celebrated the installation of Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso. There are many similarities to the transition of authority in the Catholic Church and the transition of authority in the secular realm.

Catholic stewardship is more than the sharing of our time, talent and treasure today. It is a way of life that acknowledges that everything we have is a gift from God, entrusted to us to be used wisely for His glory and for the service of others. One of the most enduring ways Catholics can live this call is through planned giving, which allows our generosity to extend beyond our lifetime and bless our beloved parish, school or ministry for generations to come.

Siempre tengo presente el inicio de un nuevo año escolar: la administración, el profesorado y a las familias preparando a sus hijos para el año que comienza. Disfruto bendiciendo las mochilas de los estudiantes, así como el bendecir personalmente a nuestros estudiantes, sus familias, la administración, los educadores, los voluntarios, y a todos en la Iglesia que apoyan la misión de nuestras escuelas, porque es la misión misma de Jesús.

I am always mindful of the beginning of a new school year -­ school administration, faculties and families preparing their children for the year ahead. I enjoy blessing students' backpacks, as well as personally blessing our students, their families, administration, educators and volunteers—all in the Church who support the mission of our schools, for it is the very mission of Jesus.

With an aim to being of service to the community as well as provide audiences with something not often heard, the Southern Echo Chorale was formed.