December 2020

50 Years Ago
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Wirtzell celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with Mass at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Mobile.
Bill Menton was named chairman of Mobile’s Toy Bowl.
St. Catherine of Siena, Mobile, installed Student Government Officers: James Nolan, president; Pat McDonald, vice president; Terry Moore, secretary; Linda McDonough, treasurer; and Mark Zoghby, Chief Justice.
Eugene E. Ellis, vice president of International Paper Company, was named chairman of the Catholic Charities Drive. He was a member of St. Ignatius Parish.
McGill Institute’s basketball team won its sixth consecutive Basketball Invitational Tournament. Frank Kerns was coach and Tony Bivens was named Most Valuable Player.
The Scout’s Eagle Award was presented to Ricky Ferney, Grey Hughes and Bob Owen of St. Dominic’s Parish Troop 143 in Mobile.
Mrs. Marian Hartley, chairman of the Census, was appointed to organize a religious education program for the mentally handicap under the sponsorship of the D.C.C.W.
25 Years Ago
Theme for the Christ the King Celebration, started by Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen over 60 years ago, was “Jesus calls us to walk with Him.” The celebration was held at the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall and Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb was main celebrant.
Fr. Charles Moffat, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, was homilist for the annual All Souls Day Mass held at Catholic Cemetery.
Jim Forest, former secretary-general of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation in Holland and well-known speaker and peace advocate, spoke at St. Ignatius Parish on “Thomas Merton and World Peace.” Forest was a close friend and associate of Thomas Merton.
The Catholic High cheerleading squad raised more than $6,000 to compete in the National Cheerleading Competition in Texas during Christmas break against varsity squads from around the country.
McGill-Toolen freshmen girls' cross-country team captured first place at the Alabama State Cross Country Championships held in Birmingham. Team members were: Genevieve De Sanctis; Theresa McCarty, fifth place all-state; Catherine Baggett, second place all-state; Lauren Kane; Erin Williamson; Claire Hudson; Katie Jones, 12th place all-state; Ashley Johnson; and Courtney Leavell, 15th place all-state. The team was coached by Angelo Harris assisted by Sharon Peterson.
The team of Sellors Meador, Michael Green, Binu-John San Koorikal, David Kondris and team captain Kantonio Butler won eight straight matches to capture the first place trophy representing McGill-Toolen in the academic competition sponsored by Alabama Power Company.
New Frs. Johnny Shannon Savoie and Trung John Nguyen were ordained at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb. Fr. Savoie was assigned to serve St. Dominic Parish, Mobile and Fr. Nguyen was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Margaret Parish, Bayou La Batre.
—Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.