St. Ann School will host the 33rd Annual Seafood Fiesta to be held on the campus of Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church on Spring Ave. in Decatur on Saturday, April 30, beginning at 9 a.m. Following last year’s “drive through” event due to COVID, we are excited to once again be “live and in person.” This year’s event will include great seafood along with authentic Mexican food, delicious homemade desserts, children’s games, hourly raffles, arts and craft vendors, live entertainment, and, by popular demand, the return of the Big Fish Car Show. This event is open to everyone. All proceeds will benefit St. Ann School.

This year will also be the inauguration of the St. Ann School Hall of Honor. Three former students from the school, who serve as inspirations and role models to the students of St. Ann's, will be inducted to the hall. Each have demonstrated exemplary leadership and character in their chosen field and have made laudable contributions to society. The three being honored this year are Kathy Wells, Admiral Charles A. Richard, and Father Kevin Bazzel.

Kathy Wells has spent the last 44 years working to make a difference in the lives of others, most significantly victims of domestic violence. She is a founding mother of HOPE Place, the domestic violence organization that is now Crisis Services of North Alabama, and the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Wells has held the position of executive director at Crisis Services of North Alabama in Huntsville and SafeHouse of Shelby County in Pelham, public policy director for the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and program manager for the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Wells retired in 2013 but returned to social services as Human Resources and grant writer for Crisis Services of North Alabama in 2018.

A cradle Catholic and an active member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Athens, Wells learned the importance of service to others through her Catholic education and the example of her parents, Mary and Gordon Gibbs.

Admiral Charles A. Richard is a native of Decatur and is the son of Charles and Patricia Richard. Richard graduated with honors from the University of Alabama in 1982 and earned master’s degrees with honors from the Catholic University of America and the Naval War College.

Among Richard’s many assignments are command of Submarine Group 10 in Kings Bay, Georgia, Director of Undersea Warfare at the Pentagon, Deputy Commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, and Deputy Commander at U.S. Strategic Command. His operational assignments include command of USS Parche as well as Submarine NR-1. He also served aboard USS Portsmouth, USS Asheville, and USS Scranton.

In November 2019, Richard assumed his current duties as Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), where he is responsible for one of 11 Unified Commands under the Department of Defense. USSTRATCOM provides a broad range of strategic capabilities and options for the President and Secretary of Defense.

Father Kevin Bazzel was born and raised in Decatur and is the son of Gene and Jean Marie Bazzel. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama on June 23, 2001. Following his ordination, Father Bazzel had various assignments, including as parochial vicar of St. Peter and Holy Spirit parishes. He also served as chaplain and taught theology at John Carroll Catholic and St. John Paul II Catholic High Schools. In 2006, Father Bazzel earned a Licentiate Degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum).
 
After returning to the diocese, Father Bazzel was appointed as full-time chaplain of St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Huntsville, and then as administrator of St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic University Chapel in Birmingham. Subsequently, he was appointed administrator and then rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul, where he served for almost 10 years, while holding various offices within the diocese, including adjutant judicial vicar, chancellor, and vicar general.
 
Father Bazzel was appointed as an official of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Holy See in April of 2016, where he served until February of 2022. During this time, he also held the position of adjunct spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College. Currently, Father Bazzel is moderator of the curia and vicar general of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.