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Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi will celebrate the annual All Souls Day Mass on Saturday, Nov. 2 at The Catholic Cemetery of Mobile, 1700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. behind the mausoleum. In the event of inclement weather, Mass will be held in the mausoleum chapel.

SPANISH FORT — Jim and Cele Fibbe’s first date back in 1958 included a game of miniature golf. Cele’s certain she won, Jim isn’t as convinced.

Deacon Robert Kirby faithfully served the Lord and served others until the very end. The longtime deacon at St. Dominic Parish in Mobile had just completed leading a Eucharistic Adoration service for schoolchildren on Oct. 4 when he collapsed and passed away soon after. Deacon Kirby was 89.

While on the plane returning to the Vatican after a demanding 12-day trip to Asia, Pope Francis answered questions from reporters traveling on the plane with him. When asked about the presidential election in the U.S., the Pope answered, “One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it. To send migrants away, to leave them wherever you want, to leave them … it’s something terrible, there is evil there. To send away a child from the womb of the mother is an assassination, because there is life. We must speak about these things clearly.”

I think we have all had the experience of being bitten by a mosquito. In fact, we normally don’t even notice the bite in the first place, but later realize that we have been bitten. We don’t feel the bite because the mosquito numbs the area before the bite.

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker ... Just like the Parable of the Talents, we are all blessed with unique gifts and talents. To fulfill God’s plan in our lives, we are called to work together using our gifts and talents to the best of our ability. How would we function as a society if we all had the same gifts? Think of all the career paths each of us have taken, this is because we are all blessed with unique gifts.

MONTGOMERY — As Sarah Rose Burden began her first year as an elementary teacher with Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, she was not overly nervous as most brand new educators might be about embarking on a brand new career. Miss Burden grew up learning from her mother and her grandfather, who are both teachers and former administrators at the school, and she always dreamed of one day joining the teaching profession.

Three Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sisters Teresa Cusack, Mary Chabanel Finnegan, and Mary Zoe Keller who together represent 215 years of service to and with God’s people—celebrated their entrance into Religious Life during a celebration on Sept. 7 at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile. The liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Tommy Conway of the Diocese of Biloxi.

St. Jeanne Jugan, foundress of my community of Little Sisters of the Poor, was a woman of few words. She left behind no letters or other writings but she did impart little bits of advice to the young Little Sisters among whom she spent her final years.

Congratulations to Sr. Mary Michael Di Palma of the Incarnate Word SsEW, who made her perpetual profession of vows for the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word on Sept. 7 during Mass at the Casa Maria Convent and Retreat House in Irondale. Bishop Steven J. Raica, bishop of Birmingham celebrated the Mass.

Elections are rapidly approaching. Our bishops have provided a document to help Catholics form our consciences so we can be faithful citizens and help to make the Kingdom of God more present in our culture.

Growing up on the Gulf Coast has many blessings. We have a wonderful sense of “place.” Since my family has lived for generations in the Gulf Coast areas of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, I praise God for the roots this has given me and for the ties to our beautiful area. However, growing up in this area has also given me an acquaintance with hurricanes. When I was a child, hurricanes were exciting. It was an adventure to bring everything in from the yard, board up windows and get time off from school during the recovery. In those days, we did not watch television for days as hurricanes formed. When a hurricane was about to hit, people went home or found shelter and “hunkered down.”

A new concept to serve teenagers at historically African-American parishes in the Mobile area is set to kick off this fall. Led by Gabrielle Smith, a city-wide youth group will be geared toward high-school age students from Prince of Peace, St. Francis Xavier, St. James Major, Our Mother of Mercy, Most Pure Heart of Mary and St. Joseph parishes.

The Seminarian Summer Gala was a beautiful display of all aspects of stewardship in action! The evening opened and closed with everyone’s gift of time in prayer. Before dinner, Mass was celebrated for all attendees by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi with Fr. Patrick Gilbreath giving the homily and seminarians serving. The talented Mr. and Mrs. Trey Krause shared their gift of music at Mass. At the end of the evening, everyone prayed the seminarian prayer together.

Happy New Year! Well, not exactly the way we think about it. This is a new school year. For teachers and students, the beginning of a new school year provides an opportunity to start fresh. This is especially true if you have changed schools.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:19-20 The Gospel of Matthew ends with this Great Commission. The salvation of souls is the purpose of the Church. It is duty of each Christian. We are called to strive after our own salvation and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others so that they may seek their own salvation.

Congratulations to Phillip Sylvester – now Brother Phillip, MIC – who took his first profession of vows with the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fr. John L. Holleman, who most recently served as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Semmes, passed away on Aug. 18 at the age of 83. A Mass of Christian Burial was scheduled for Aug. 22 at Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Gulf Shores. Fr. Holleman retired to Gulf Shores in 2016 following his assignment at Holy Name of Jesus.

Penny’s Pantry and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Ozark continue taking God’s call to service to heart.

The Archdiocese of Mobile will celebrate the annual Blue Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the 12:10 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.