On October 28th, with the help of 30 volunteers, 13 staff members, and 5 Advisory Board Members, we created a wonderful Halloween trick or treat opportunity for our neighbors and their families in our parking lot on Florida Street.
359 participants walked through the array of decorated cars and trucks with themes ranging from Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, to NASA’s Astronauts, to collect candy or trinkets.
Thanks especially to Alabama Power, Connexus Clinic, St. Joseph's Catholic Church Maysville, students from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Student Center and United Way of Southwest Alabama for their participation in this year’s event.

To see more photos from the event visit the link here.

It’s Box of Joy Season!

Box of Joy provides schools, parishes, organizations and families with an inspiring opportunity to send gifts to children living in Haiti, Guatemala and other developing countries.  The boxes contain toys, clothing, school supplies and other treasured items. Box of Joy provides hope to children in need.  Each gift represents Christ’s love and may be the only Christmas gift they receive.

Drop off for the Cross Catholic Box of Joy will be on the following dates inside the Catholic Social Services Auditorium on 188 South Florida Street:
Tuesday November 7th to Friday November 10^th from 9 am to 4 pm.
Saturday November 11 and Sunday November 12^th from 8 am to 12 pm.






 

All Things Thrift Store joined the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and participated in a ribbon cutting/re-grand opening on June 14th.  
The event brought in representatives from the Chamber, Wiregrass United Way, Wiregrass 2-1-1, Tri-County RSVP, and Mrs. Super Senior Alabama. WTVY & WOOF 99.7 FM covered the event and the WOOF Wolf made a special appearance!

Griffin Wacker-2B Choices For Women Mobile
Ryan Arnoldy-To Be Options For Women Roberstdale
 

On Holy Ground

“I feel like I am on holy ground” were the words she used to describe her experience.  The words she spoke mirrored my own feelings as I stood recently on the same grounds.  I was talking to a fellow parishioner from Little Flower, my home parish for over three decades. The place of these rich experiences was The Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama.

My first trip was to attend a retreat with my granddaughter just a few months ago. I came away with a desire to experience once more this rare, hallowed vista.  Exactly one month later, I shared this with my wife Carol. And now for the third time in less than a year, it is my honor to help coordinate a pilgrimage on behalf of the Advisory Board of Catholic Social Services in Mobile, Alabama.

“Franciscan devotion is expressed in the art and spirituality of the Shrine – in particular in the architecture of the Main Church which resembles the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. Adjoining the Church is Our Lady of the Angels Monastery where the Poor Clare Nuns live a cloistered life of prayer, thanksgiving, and sacrifice according to the model of St. Clare. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, consecrated religious brothers and priests, provide the Sacraments here at the Shrine.”  This is a history about the Shrine from their website.
Shrine Tours and Eucharistic Center Tours are conducted Wednesday through Saturday. I found the Eucharistic Tour moving and inspiring. Every worshiper of the Catholic faith will take with them a deeper appreciation of our faith and the unbelievable gift of the Eucharist. 
The public daily prayer schedule includes Office of Readings and Rosary, occurring throughout the day. Confessions are available daily. There is something scheduled for every hour of the 12-hour day the Shrine receives visitors.
Be sure to save some time to visit the Gift Shop of El Nino where a wide variety of items, including statues, crucifixes, Rosaries, books, and videos, are available for purchase. Gifts for that special religious person in your life can be found in this unique gift shop.
Our pilgrimage is scheduled for March 29th–30^th.  The hotel room cost is $151.20 (this includes tax) and is available in a single king or two queens.  The travel cost which includes a chartered bus, and one catered meal is $100. Additional expense includes two meals on your own.  
To register for the pilgrimage, call Marilyn King at 1-251-434-1550 or Rob Hackbarth at 1-251-510-8031. You may also email Rob at [email protected].
For more information on The Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, visit the Shrine website at https://olamshrine.com/.
This may be a life-changing trip in your spiritual journey. I hope you will join us.
Rob Hackbarth is a member of Little Flower Parish and serves on the advisory board of Catholic Social Services.  [email protected] 


 

 Santa Claus made a quick stop to see 13 of our cutest clients at our pregnancy center 2B Choices for Women on December 14, 2022. Parents and their kids took photos with Santa and made beautiful picture frames which were perfect to place the photo in. To see more photos from this wonderful event please visit our Facebook page here.. 

We are grateful to Will Barrois and co-workers at Stirling Properties who donated both money and their time shopping for presents to sponsor a family of 5 children this Christmas. Thank you so much!

 

    2B Choices for Women will host two prenatal and postpartum exercise classes for their clients on Thursday, November 1, 2022 from 9 am to 10 am and on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 11 am to noon in the McAleer Auditorium inside Catholic Social Services of Mobile.
   Postural Restoration Certified physical therapist Samantha Anderson will teach the classes. Childcare will be provided. 
   If you're not a client of 2B, but would like to participate and enroll in our Earn While You Learn Program, please contact Ashley Thompson at 251-343-4636 or [email protected]. 
 

Disabilities Ministries group members enjoy activities and outings like this one – Adam Watkins, Craig Stokes and John Rabbeitt cheered on the USA Jags to a WIN last Saturday night along with program director Jeanie Still

  Our pregnancy center 2B Choices for Women is blessed once again to be partnered with Biking for Babies, a pro-life organization that raises awareness and funds for pregnancy resource centers across the country. The 2022 Biking for Babies Nationwide Ride started on July `11th  and ends on July 16th. Riding on behalf of 2B on the Mississippi Route is McGill-Toolen alumni, Griffin Wacker. The link below is where you can offer your prayers and any donation to help Griffin and the other missionaries reach their goals.
https://bikingforbabies.com/missionary/griffin-wacker-2/
For more information about Biking for Babies and to follow the missionaries, please visit Biking For Babies .com or visit their Facebook page here.

Catholic Social Services happily announces the hiring of Mrs. Jeanie Still to lead our Disability and Ministry Services in Mobile. She is available to work with parishioners or non-parishioners who have intellectual and developmental disabilities; persons with mental illness; persons blind or visually impaired, as well as persons who are facing other physical challenges. If those in need of services are unable to come to our office, Mrs. Still is available to make a home visit. Group activities will resume in March. 

Beginning March 2^nd, Mrs. Still will be in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.