2024-03-22-eEdition

Volume 90, Number 06 Official Publication of the Archdiocese of Mobile March 22, 2024 C ൺඍඁඈඅංർ W ൾൾ඄ Tඁൾ CATHOLIC SCHOOLS I NSIDE T HIS W EEK @mobilearchdiocese Follow: Visit: mobarch.org A CENTURY OF LIVING Community displays admiration, affection toward Msgr. Hay, who celebrated his 100th bir thday By ROBHERBST The Catholic Week FOLEY —Msgr.Theodore Hay can vividly recall his ordination to the priesthood like it was yesterday. “I was thoroughly and totally ordained,” he said. “Archbishop (Thomas J.) Toolen was a very large person and I knelt before him. He put his hands on my head and put all his weight on my head. I thought my knees would go through the marble. “I knew I was ordained.That memory does not fade.” The truth is, that ordination was a few yesterdays ago. Family and friends filled St.Margaret of Scotland’s parish hall on Saturday,March 9 to celebrate Msgr. Hay’s 100th birthday.Those 100 years have included 69 years as an inspiring priest and teacher throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. “He is an inspiration,” said Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, who was in attendance for the evening. “His Photos by Rob Herbst/The Catholic Week Many came out to celebrate Msgr. Theodore Hay's 100th birthday during a party March 9 at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Foley, including St. Margaret of Scotland Parish Pastor Fr. Paul Zoghby (above left) and Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi. By ROB HERBST The Catholic Week Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the CHOOSE Act into law on March 7, making Alabama the 14th state in the nation to provide families with an education savings account option. The school choice legislation will provide funds for those seeking to send children to a school of their choice, regardless whether private or public. ArchbishopThomas J. Rodi and Bishop Steven J. Raica of Birmingham recently penned a letter supporting the CHOOSE Act and the Archdiocese of Mobile Office of Catholic Schools also expressed support for the legislation. Below is an interview with Arch- diocese of Mobile Superintendent of Catholic Schools Chad Barwick aimed at providing insight into the CHOOSE Act. Q: Explain what the CHOOSE Act does. How does it work? A:The CHOOSE Act is now a law on the books and beginning with the 2025-26 school year, parents will have the ability to send their kids to a participating school of their choice with the help of $7,000 allocated to an educational spending account. At its start, the funds to provide this ESA will be no less than $100 million Q:Who is eligible? A: For the first two years of the program, students meeting an income threshold will be eligible to attend their school of choice.At the beginning of the program, that is defined as a family of four making just under $95,000 a year. There is a preference given for the first 500 seats to students with special needs. See 100TH, Page 9 See BILL, Page 9 CHOOSE ACT Q&Aregarding recently passed school choice legislation 'The Pillar' co-founder leads retreat at St. PiusX Page 2 Friendly Sons of St. Patrick celebrate holiday. Page 13