Alleluia!  This Easter proclamation that we repeat over and over again during the joyful Easter Season has a powerful meaning, one that we should all know and embrace.  It is a combination of two Hebrew words: “hallelu” (the plural imperative of “hallel”) which means “praise” and “jah,” the first half of the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh.  So, it literally means “everyone praise God!”  We should praise God always because of all the good he does for us every moment of our lives.  But Easter is the time for us […]

“Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!  Hosanna in the highest.”  (Mk 11:9-10).  On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God – and comes to offer a new way of life.  This […]

“God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Last week, 78 of our parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  On Wednesday of this week, everyone in the parish is encouraged to attend our Lenten Penance Service, which begins at 7:00pm; several priests will be available to hear your confession.  During this Season of Lent, when we are all invited to recognize our sinfulness that put Jesus on the cross, we are also encouraged by Jesus’ clear teaching […]

I imagine you have learned that the Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that embryos are to be recognized as human beings.  As a result, several fertility clinics in the state have informed their clients that they will no longer be able to continue their in vitro treatments for fear of possible lawsuits.  This has caused an uproar in the media.   Allow me to offer you a summary of the Catholic Church’s very clear teaching in this regard; you will find it in our Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It begins […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa was founded on the basic principles of Saint John Paul II’s call to action in Ecclesia in Africa and the adoption of the statement A Call to Solidarity with Africa from the Bishops of the United States.

Nations throughout Africa continually face the economic and social hurdles of enormous debt, epidemics, severe poverty and political unrest.  Despite these harsh challenges, Catholicism is flourishing throughout Africa.

Your support of the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa assists in the […]

“See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you” (Gn 9:8).  As we begin again the Season of Lent, we hear today God’s reassuring words to Noah and his family after the devastating flood.  We are all familiar with this story in the Bible which provides a moral explanation for the end of the last Ice Age.  As this story ends, we hear God assuring humanity that he will care for us; all we need to do is turn away from our sinful ways and […]

It’s been a strange and unusually warm winter, hasn’t it?  With the exception of a few extraordinarily frigid days and one snow storm, it’s felt more like fall or spring than winter.  Now, spring is fast approaching.  Liturgically, Lent – which means “spring” – is almost here; it starts this week with Ash Wednesday.  Just as the natural world is reawakened and renewed every spring, each year, the Church, in her wisdom, offers us this liturgical Season of Lent, a season for reconciliation and renewal in preparation for Easter, when […]

National Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.  Now entering its 50^th anniversary year, it is an opportunity for us to recognize the importance of Catholic education and formation and to celebrate our school that has instructed and formed our children for over 100 years.  Our school has enjoyed a strong reputation as an outstanding Catholic elementary school ever since it opened in 1916.  It was originally founded to ensure that the Catholic children in this area would receive both an excellent education […]

REFLECTIONS ON RECENT VATICAN DECLARATION

Part 2

Last week, I provided you with a summary of the recent Vatican declaration entitled Fiducia Supplicans in response to questions that had been raised over the past several years regarding same-sex couples.  As you read this summary, you will recall that it ended with: “beyond the guidance provided above, no further responses should be expected about possible ways to regulate details or practicalities regarding blessings of this type.” It sounded as if the Vatican’s Office for the Doctrine of the Faith expected that it had […]