2024-03-22-eEdition

MARCH 22, 2024 THE CATHOLIC WEEK PAGE 9 commitment to his priest- hood just shines forth and the number of people here out of a sign of affection, respect and admiration is a reflection of how much good he's done.” Msgr. Hay has been a fixture in Foley and at St.Margaret of Scotland Parish for the past 20 years. He came out of retire- ment and served as administra- tor of the parish in 2002 at the young age of 79 and served in that role until 2003. Msgr. Hay, whose actual birthday is March 12, now lives at an assisted living facility in Foley and his mind is as sharp as ever. Only his hearing is not what it used to be. “He’s the most intelligent, wise, humorous, well-read priest I’ve ever met,” said Fr. Paul Zoghby, who now serves as pas- tor of St.Margaret of Scotland Parish. “I don't know any priest like him. He’s just a real joy.” Many from the parish came to show their love, but so did some of his former students at McGill Institute in Mobile. “He turned boys into men by teaching us to think, to discern, to know,” said retired Dr. C. Adrien Bodet III. Msgr. Hay also had teach- ing stops at St.Margaret High School in Bayou La Batre and John Carroll High School in Birmingham. Teaching turned out to be Msgr. Hay’s favorite assignment. “Being a teacher - that is what Jesus was,”Msgr. Hay said. “He came to teach. He came to give us knowledge.” It was Msgr. Hay’s favorite assignment out of a wide variety of ministries. Msgr. Hay played a vital role for mental health patients. He served as chaplain at Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon, a state psychiatric facility, as well as the Emmett Poundstone Mental Health Facility in Daphne. He also ministered to military veterans, having served as chaplain at a VA Medical Center in Iowa. There were also several parish ministries throughout Alabama. He first served at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Birming- ham and also served at St.Mar- garet Parish in Bayou La Batre, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Atmore, St. John the Baptist Parish in Magnolia Springs, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Mobile and St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Vernon. Through it all,Msgr. Hay was – and remains – a man of great faith and a prayerful priest. “He does not miss an hour of the Breviary,” Fr. Zoghby said. “He’s a man of prayer. I’ve walked with him through some serious things over the last couple of years and his spiritual growth continues.” Msgr. Hay was born March 12, 1924, in Miami. He was raised in Miami, graduated from Gesu High School, a Catholic school run by the Society of Jesus.Msgr. Hay later attended Spring Hill College before entering St.Mary’s University Seminary and University in Baltimore. Msgr. Hay’s first love was actually music. He is an ac- complished pianist and studied at the Miami Conservatory of Music, but he was called to be a priest. “(You) spend a lifetime trying to fathom that you are a priest (and wonder) ‘God, how did this happen’ when you consider what a priest is,”Msgr. Hay said. “He did say He chose us, we didn’t choose Him. I’m dependent on that.” After the two-year ramp up, the income threshold will be re- moved, but priority acceptance will go to those with higher economic need. Q:When can families be- gin to participate and is there anything they need to do? A: We are working on marketing materials to explain the program at the same time that the rules are being written for enacting the law.We are watching for these guidelines to be crafted by the Department of Revenue soon.We have all next school year to spread the word and to prepare, but we are prayerful that our families will find the process easy. Q:Will all Catholic schools in the archdiocese be partici- pants? A: All of our schools fit the definition of a participating school in that we offer na- tionally normed tests and are accredited by a national group. Thus, we are excited that all of our schools will participate. Q:What are the specific impacts this will have on our Catholic schools? A:The CHOOSE Act should not add many new protocols or mechanisms for our schools. Once an award is ap- proved to a family, it is a matter of the Department of Revenue applying the ESA to a par- ticipating school.The new law doesn't change our admissions policies or the values that make us a Catholic school. It really is a solid law providing parents with the ability to select a school that fits their child's needs. Q: Along with our Catholic schools, discuss the impact the CHOOSE Act has on homeschool families in our archdiocese. A: Homeschool families also benefit from the CHOOSE Act in that families can be reimbursed for $2,000 of ap- proved educational expenses per child, up to $4,000. It should be a boost to most school types. Incidentally, it also allows transfer from public to public. Let's say a parent believes a city school is a better option for their child, they could use part of the ESA grant to pay for "out of city" tuition many schools charge for transfer stu- dents, often around $1,500. Q: One criticism by some is a perceived negative impact on public schools. How would you respond to that criticism? A: I would say that the funds providing these opportunities are separately held and do not affect the funding or calcula- tion for funding public schools. The CHOOSE Act provides a philosophical shift that seeks to free parents from being locked to a school because of their zip code. The thought is with increased competition, students and schools will both benefit and improve. Bill From page 1 Photo courtesy of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Montgomery Catholic President Justin Castanza was among those in attendance as Gov. Kay Ivey signed the CHOOSE Act on March 7 In Montgomery. 100th From page 1