Text Box: On April 2nd, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Holy Father’s ambassador to the United States announced that Archbishop Lipscomb’s resignation was accepted and that Bishop Thomas J. Rodi of Biloxi would succeed him as the second Archbishop of Mobile. At the same time it was announced that the installation of Archbishop-designate Rodi would take place in the Cathedral on June 6th. Since he is already a bishop, there will be no ordination, rather he will take possession of the diocese and become what is known as the ‘ordinary.’ According to Canon Law, the Church’s law, the ordinary is the one who has the responsibility and authority over a diocese or religious congregation. This is a strange time for us in the diocese because we do not have an ordinary at the moment. Archbishop Lipscomb is the administrator of the Archdiocese, which means that no major new projects can be started or transfers of clergy undertaken. He is only able to process the ordinary day-to-day business of the diocese. When Archbishop-designate Rodi is Text Box: installed and becomes our ordinary in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, there will be two important moments; the reading of the Holy Father’s letter appointing Rodi as Archbishop of Mobile and taking possession of the chair. The bishop’s chair or cathedra in Latin is symbolic of the bishop as chief shepherd and teacher of his flock. As a matter of fact the word cathedral comes from this Latin word; the cathedral is simply the church where the bishop has his chair. Teachers in the classic and medieval period used to sit in a chair while students sat on the floor or on benches. The chair is an ancient symbol of the office of teacher. The next most recognizable symbol specific to the office of archbishop is the pallium which is a white strip of cloth made from lambs’ wool with three black crosses on it. It is given to archbishops by the Holy Father on June 29th -the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Archbishop Rodi will travel to Rome and concelebrate Mass with Pope Benedict in St. Peter’s Basilica at which he will be given his pallium which is a sign of the union of the Archbishop with the Holy Father in Rome. Interestingly though not all archbishops receive a pallium, only the archbishops who are ordinaries, that is, only archbishops who have authority over dioceses. There are some archbishops who work in Rome or are ambassadors for the Holy See, and they do not have an Text Box: actual existing diocese but only a titular or honorary diocese. Another piece of trivia to note is that Archbishop Rodi is only allowed to wear his pallium within the province of Mobile which includes the dioceses of Birmingham, Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi. We have a lot to look forward to with our new archbishop, but thanks be to God we also have much to be grateful for in the ministry of Archbishop-emeritus Lipscomb. May God bless them and us in this period of transition. Text Box: Pastor’s Corner— Awaiting Archbishop Rodi

May 2008
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Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam  

Please join us in congratulating our new Parish Council members:

Trey Hutchisson

Al Keaton

Monty Jones

Mike McAleer

Brennan Myers

Danielle Nicholas

Robert Pfeffle

Robin Robinson

Jill Schock

Sam Slaton

We are also pleased to announce that Erin Cooper has agreed to serve as the Chairman of the Parish Council.  We are grateful to all of our Parish Council members who are committed to making St. Ignatius a terrific parish.  For a full listing of Parish Council Members and their committees please visit our website:

www.stignatiusmobile.com
Text Box: Remember Mom with From Thy Bounty Our Lady’s Guild Cookbook Only $14.25 Available in the rectory