All of the positive steps being made in diocesan schools are proof that in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, "Things have shifted."

As this jubilee comes to a close, may we all continue to foster hope in our hearts, living differently for each and every one of our brothers and sisters.

If we know Him, we know both His love and His hope for us. If we know His love and His hope for us, then we can’t help but share it.

Our Lord wants us to be with Him, basking in the light of His face. Let us all help one another reach our destination!

The publication of this issue chronologically coincides with the Church marking the halfway point on its Jubilee Year journey.

This Lent, in particular, can provide an ideal opportunity to truly become a pilgrim of hope.

As we begin 2025, the One Voice will, once again, take the opportunity to keep the jubilee and its theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” in sharp focus.

As this year winds down and we all tick off another year in the logbook of our lives, it is easy to have a sense of sadness or discontent.

We must strive to be like Peter and his companions and put our trust in Christ.

The Tribunal’s mission is to “provide justice for all persons who approach the Church’s court system, rendering judgements concerning people’s rights and obligations as well as their status in the Church.”

In short, we won’t be content with our path in life, our vocation, until we ask God to guide us, for He is the source of all joy.

With the distribution of this issue to the faithful of the Diocese of Birmingham, the Church is in the midst of the Lenten season.

As we begin a new year, we once again direct our focus on one of the Church’s many gifts, Catholic schools.

The idea for this issue originated from an experience I had with my children last year.

In early June, I had the pleasure of attending the Catholic Media Conference in Baltimore.

May we all strive to guide our youth and young adults to view our Catholic faith as the true treasure that it is.

I remember daydreaming as a youngster about being a housewife and stay-at-home mother.

Visiting and being present to the sick, elderly, and homebound represents the presence of Christ.

As we start the new year, our focus is again directed on the importance of Catholic education.

It’s hard to believe we are closing in on the end of 2022.

As a child, I remember thinking that life was progressing at a snail’s pace.

Before every issue of the One Voice magazine, I meet with Bishop Raica and Donald Carson, the director of communications, to discuss the theme of the upcoming issue.

I have been fortunate to have priests and religious present throughout my life, in good times and bad.

Beauty, no doubt, like God, is all around us, and nature is a ubiquitous source of beauty easily attributed to God.