The Catholic Week

There are seasons in life when it is easy to put stewardship on the backburner. Work responsibilities, family obligations, financial concerns and the constant demands of daily life can leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Our own health challenges or the pain and concern of watching a friend or loved one struggle can make it difficult to see how stewardship fits into the picture. Yet it is during these times that stewardship becomes most important.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With bishops leading the way, every Christian should help build unity in the Church and the world by putting Christ at the center and drawing others near while being attentive to their needs, Pope Leo XIV said.

A few months ago, I sat across from a young man who seemed to have everything going for him. He had a good job, plenty of social connections and a busy calendar. Yet after a few minutes of conversation, he looked at me and said something that has stayed with me ever since: "Nobody really knows me." His words surprised me, not because they were unusual, but because I hear them so often. Across the country, we are talking about the loneliness epidemic. Researchers study it.

In April, the Archdiocese of Mobile co-hosted—with the Diocese of Birmingham—the annual convention of the Equestrian Order of the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in Montgomery where 350 members were present. It was especially wonderful to connect with members of the order from our archdiocese and the region, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands.

June 21, 2026 You may have heard the phrase, “The Pilgrim Church on earth” when praying the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass or in other Mass texts. This phrase states the reality of who we are as Church and where we are going. We are pilgrims on earth and as pilgrims, we are on a journey to our true home—with God forever in heaven. I am especially aware of being a pilgrim when we pray the Our Father.

June 8, 2026 We celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the independence of our nation. We celebrate, as sung in our national anthem, being “the land of the free.” This is certainly a patriotic celebration, but also a religious celebration. Last November, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that on this milestone anniversary the nation should be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

June 8, 2026 Teachers and children alike rejoice as school is out for the summer. We all welcome a change in pace even if that just means lighter traffic for our morning commute. Graduation celebrations give way to summer schedules, family vacations begin filling the calendar and many of us look forward to a slower pace after a busy spring.

May 29, 2026 By Rob Herbst The Catholic Week MOBILE — Long before Deacon Gaten Armstrong was preparing for priesthood, two seminarians assigned to Montgomery parishes spent a summer beating him in basketball while talking trash and also talking discernment. “It was a moment that broke down barriers for me and helped me see seminarians and priests as just normal guys,” Deacon Armstrong recalled of his encounters with now-Frs. Connor and Peyton Plessala.

As you may have noticed in the priest assignments, Fr. Victor Ingalls has been assigned full-time pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mobile. He is also pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Mobile; St. Francis Xavier Parish, Mobile; Our Mother of Mercy Parish, Mobile; Our Lady of Sorrows Mission, Fairford; St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Chastang and St. Theresa Parish, West Mount Vernon.

May 26, 2026 Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.” This prayer calls upon the Holy Spirit to be present in the hearts of the faithful, kindle in them the fire of God’s love and to work through each disciple transformed to be God’s love for all. We celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, the conclusion of the Easter season on May 24. Though we conclude the Easter season, the Holy Spirit is dynamic and always at work.