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Introduction
Welcome to the web page for St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mobile, Alabama
We are a small yet vibrant Catholic community; a diverse congregation formed by members from varying socio-economic levels and age groups. We are centered upon the Eucharistic celebration, solidly based upon Catholic Doctrine and Tradition.
We appreciate the gift of your participation in the life of our parish, and hope that you will become members of our family.
Classes between the Masses (Adult Religious Education)
Details
Meeting Details:
(This is an English language, Adult Education Reading/Study/Prayer Class, held on Sunday Mornings, from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., usually held in the Del Barco Room of the Parish Hall, unless otherwise noted. Note bene: Classes will meet on Sundays in sync with class schedule of Children’s Education Classes (English language) held on each Sunday Morning (i.e., CCD) - See page 2 of 2. Please remember that, as with all things ‘human,’ schedules might be subject to some alteration, etc. It is estimated that we will have a total of 29 classes (This study group is English language.).
Theme:
The Year of Mercy: A jubilee year called by Pope Francis, declared to the world on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2015. The Year of Mercy will initiate on December 8, 2015, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and conclude on November 20, 2016, Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King. The classes will involve personal reading at home, followed by guided study together each Sunday morning, utilizing the following texts which have been chosen to help us increase in our awareness of God’s mercy. A total of four (4) works will be utilized, estimated in the order as given below, given by name of author and name of the publication:
Pope Francis: The Face of Mercy (Misericordiae Vultus)
The papal bull issued to institute the Year of Mercy
Will be handed out to members of the class in printed form, as PDF document from the Vatican web page.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.: Winning the Battle Against Sin-Hope Filled Lessons from the Bible
Total of 10 chapters in the book.
Five (5) paperback copies are with us to start. Can order more.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.: Mercy: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics
Requires reading of pertinent scripture passages cited for each of the lessons. This text is written specifically as a prayer/study guide for the Year of Mercy.
Total of 6 sessions in the book.
Five (5) paperback copies are with us to start. Can order more.
Pope Francis: The Church of Mercy: A Vision for the Church
Collection of various teachings of Pope Francis in public, addressing the subject of God’s mercy.
Total of 39 topics (143 pages total) in the book.
Five (5) paperback copies are with us to start. Can order more.
Our meeting dates are given below.
Daily Mass at St. Catherine changed
Details
St. Catherine of Siena Parish - a change in daily Mass and location of same. Starting August 1, 2017 the daily Mass of 8:10 a.m., Monday through Friday will discontinue. Instead, there will be daily Mass at 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday, this held at the Visitation Monastery on Spring Hill Avenue. This will be the daily Mass for the community of Sisters, as well as open to the public, especially parishioners of St. Catherine's. The monastery is in our parish boundaries, and only a few minutes away by car.
This will create a Mass for parishioners not offered now in the parish church - i.e., that being Saturday morning - 7 a.m. at the Visitation. And the parish's regular Sunday morning Mass at 7 a.m. continues, but will be celebrated at the Visitation Monastery, thereby securing Mass every day for the community of Sisters. On some days I will need a substitute and will have the assistance of one or more priests to offer the daily Mass in lieu of me. The Tuesday night Blessed Seelos Prayer Group and Mass will continue in the parish church proper, and the remaining Saturday night Vigil Mass (5 p.m.) and Sunday morning Masses of 10 a.m. and 12 Noon (in Spanish) will continue in the parish Church proper.
Some of the daily Mass attendees remain after the 8:10 a.m. Mass to pray the Rosary. This devotion can well continue: either after the daily Mass at 7 a.m. at the Visitation, or at the currently practiced time of 9 a.m., though at the Visitation chapel which remains open daily for visitors to pray in lieu of the parish Church site. In essence, I will continue to serve as Pastor of St.Catherine of Siena, but also be serving as chaplain for the Sisters of the Visitation. I have long been devoted to them and their cause, and having them in my parish boundaries has been a blessing, and will continue more so in this arrangement as a blessing for both me and all of our parishioners. The Sisters do, as neighbors, remember us daily in their prayers. They will continue to pray for our parish even more devotedly.
About St. Catherine Siena Parish Mobile, AL
Details
Many years before the present St. Catherine of Siena Church was erected, Bishop Edward P. Allen and Msgr. Thomas J. Eaton, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, saw the need of a church for the Catholic population living in the western section of the city of Mobile, known as Crichton. Previously the area had been called Napoleanville as there was at one time a plan to resettle refugees of the late Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France in this area.
Early in this century Bishop Allen purchased property on the southwest corner of Spring Hill Avenue and Item Avenue. This property, part of a large tract of land granted by the Spanish Government to John Murrell for service and loyalty to that government. Descendants of Murrell lived on this granted property for almost 150 years.
Ground was broken here by Bishop Allen on November 21, 1913, for the erection of a church under the title of St. Catherine of Siena, in memory of Kate Long, who bequeathed a substantial sum of money for such a church. This groundbreaking ceremony was witnessed by a goodly number of laity and following members of the clergy: Father D.A. Brady, pastor of St. Vincent’s Church, Mobile, Father E.J. Hackett, Rector of the Cathedral, Mobile, and Msgr. T.J. Eaton, Pastor of St. Mary’s Mobile.
On February 1, 1914, the church was dedicated by Bishop Allen. On May 25, 1915, Father Emmett B. Kennedy was appointed first resident pastor by Bishop Allen. He served St. Catherine for 12 years, when in 1927 he was succeeded by Father James Rogers. In 1934, Father Michael Daly became the fourth Pastor of St. Catherine. During these pastorates the parish grew steadily and a rectory and gymnasium-parish hall were added to the complex of buildings taking shape on Spring Hill Avenue.
Meeting Details:
St. Catherine of Siena Parish - a change in daily Mass and location of same. Starting August 1, 2017 the daily Mass of 8:10 a.m., Monday through Friday will discontinue. Instead, there will be daily Mass at 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday, this held at the Visitation Monastery on Spring Hill Avenue. This will be the daily Mass for the community of Sisters, as well as open to the public, especially parishioners of St. Catherine's. The monastery is in our parish boundaries,