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October 1 is the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.” She is one of the saints most commonly chosen as a Confirmation patron. The Little Flower teaches us about “the little way.” This way is not only for the short of stature — like me — but for every disciple of Jesus, whatever our height. Jesus proclaims that he is “the Way.” I have found in St. Thérèse’s “little way” a means of following him and living as he taught. Jesus calls us to become like children: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3).

Today I have planned to write about artificial intelligence and family life. I have a gripping story to start. I have citations from Pope Leo's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas." I have perspectives from Scripture, prayerful reflections and practical ways to engage the questions I'll raise.

Someone asked me recently if there was a defining characteristic I would highlight about the experience of being Hispanic Catholic in the United States. So many came to mind: resilience, communality, generosity, openness, religiousness, among others. I chose joy.

El 1 de octubre es la fiesta de Santa Teresa de Lisieux, «la Pequeña Flor». Es una de las santas que con mayor frecuencia se eligen como patrona de la Confirmación. La Pequeña Flor nos enseña sobre «el pequeño camino». Este camino no es solo para quienes son de baja estatura —como yo—, sino para todos los discípulos de Jesús, sin importar nuestra altura. Jesús proclama que él es «el Camino». He encontrado en el «pequeño camino» de Santa Teresa un medio para seguirlo y vivir según sus enseñanzas. Jesús nos llama a ser como niños: «Si no se convierten y se hacen como niños, no entrarán en el reino de los cielos» (Mt 18, 3).

For Ethan Green, discerning God’s call has not always meant knowing exactly where the path will lead. Sometimes, he said, it means being willing to take the next step.

On Tuesday evening of Holy Week, I stopped by Cathedral Square to express my gratitude to those serving dinner to people experiencing homelessness. On this particular Tuesday, volunteers were there from St. Mary and St. Pius X parishes. These two parishes have committed to serving on months in which there is a fifth Tuesday. A family from St. Ignatius Parish was also helping to serve the meal.

Long before Fr. Thomas LaPointe traveled to St. Louis for the beatification of Fulton J. Sheen, he encountered the archbishop’s preaching as a college student discovering his Catholic faith.

When we read the Gospel, it is tempting to think of ourselves as gathering information. We want to know what happened, what Jesus said, what it means.

El martes por la noche de la Semana Santa, pasé por la Plaza de la Catedral para expresar mi gratitud a quienes servían la cena a las personas sin hogar. Ese martes en particular, había voluntarios de las parroquias de Santa María y San Pío X. Estas dos parroquias se han comprometido a colaborar en los meses en los que hay un quinto martes. Una familia de la parroquia de San Ignacio también estaba ayudando a servir la comida.

When Mildred Blount became interested in the Catholic faith, there was no priest serving Tallassee and no Catholic church in the community.

For Ethan Green, discerning God’s call has not always meant knowing exactly where the path will lead. Sometimes, he said, it means being willing to take the next step.

Every morning, we should ask God to help us use the day in a way that honors Him with our time, our talents and even our treasure. That is true stewardship—not a once-a-year pledge card, but a daily attitude of gratitude. We didn’t earn the gift of life—the people who love us or the faith that carries us through hard times. All of it is a gift from God, our Creator. Stewardship is simply our grateful response.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. As an archdiocese, we are blessed by the multicultural heritages represented in our parishes and parish missions. In particular, the Church recognizes our Hispanic Catholic brothers and sisters who, by their heritage of faith, witness and loving service, enrich the Archdiocese of Mobile.

On a warm Sunday afternoon, I boarded the MV OMIROS with Deacon John Archer, maritime deacon of Stella Maris Mobile, to meet 19 seafarers experiencing a difficult and uncertain time far from home. Their ship arrived at Mobile Anchorage on July 10, expecting to load coal at the McDuffie Terminal before continuing to Mexico. After several delays, the vessel was scheduled to berth Aug. 1. However, on July 30, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the ship and served a warrant of arrest connected to a legal dispute between the Greek shipowner and a creditor bank in Greece.

Earlier this year, I was invited at Little Flower Catholic School to participate in preparing Easter baskets for the elderly residents at the Little Sisters of the Poor Residence. I thought to myself, would the lower grades understand the word "elderly"? The teachers were using the phrase "old people."

When Mildred Blount became interested in the Catholic faith, there was no priest serving Tallassee and no Catholic church in the community. So she wrote to a priest whose voice she had heard on the radio: Fulton J. Sheen. Sheen, then a professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington, invited Blount to visit him. She traveled to Washington, received an intensive course of instruction from him and returned to Alabama, where she was baptized at St. Peter Catholic Church in Montgomery.

Our family has a beautiful vegetable garden, one that I spend a great deal of time in during the summer months. Our raised beds are bursting with life and flavor. My mother has a green thumb, and I learned early on in life that gardens are the work of years, not months, and that gardening is work to be done in all seasons.

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana se celebra del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. Como arquidiócesis, tenemos la bendición de contar con las herencias multiculturales representadas en nuestras parroquias y misiones parroquiales. En particular, la Iglesia reconoce a nuestros hermanos y hermanas católicos hispanos quienes, con su herencia de fe, testimonio y servicio amoroso, enriquecen a la Arquidiócesis de Mobile.

A principios de este año, me invitaron a la Escuela Católica Little Flower a participar en la preparación de canastas de Pascua para los residentes de la tercera edad de la Residencia de las Hermanitas de los Pobres. Me pregunté: ¿entenderían los alumnos de los grados más bajos la palabra «tercera edad»? Los maestros estaban usando la expresión «personas mayores».

On August 14, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of St. Maximilian Kolbe. This priest and martyr was a prisoner in the concentration camp of Auschwitz. A group of 10 prisoners were condemned to death as punishment for the escape of a prisoner. With heroic virtue, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered his life in exchange for the father of a family.