Our Clergy
Serving & Sharing
Serving & Sharing
Our "Clergy" Starts in Rome Italy and is expanded down to our little Church in Moulton, Alabama.
The Hierarchy of Command, so to speak, is from:
1.) Pope Francis - The Bishop of Rome & THE COUNTRY OF "THE VATICAN".
2.) Bishop Steven J. Raica- Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.
3.) Father Charles Merrill - Pastor of Annunciation of The Lord Parish, Decatur, Al.
4.) Deacon Rick Chenault - Administrator of Resurrection Chapel, Moulton, Al.
Within each "Branch", the Administrative Authorities assign subordinates as in any business, to perform the duties needed make the Church work to Proclaim "The Word of Jesus Christ" both locally and worldwide.
The "Catholic" (meaning Universal), Church was started by Jesus Christ and assigned to
the First Pope, or "Bishop of Rome", Peter, which is documented in the Gospels.
So this is where we come from and how we are guided in our journey though life and into Heaven.
Our Ultimate Destination.
We invite all of you to join in with us, that we may unite in The Worship Of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Savior, and attain our objective together in Love.
You don't have to be "Catholic" to come to our Church, just believe in Jesus Christ and be willing to abide by His Word.
Come and let us show you "The Way"!
The Hierarchy of Command, so to speak, is from:
1.) Pope Francis - The Bishop of Rome & THE COUNTRY OF "THE VATICAN".
2.) Bishop Steven J. Raica- Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.
3.) Father Charles Merrill - Pastor of Annunciation of The Lord Parish, Decatur, Al.
4.) Deacon Rick Chenault - Administrator of Resurrection Chapel, Moulton, Al.
Within each "Branch", the Administrative Authorities assign subordinates as in any business, to perform the duties needed make the Church work to Proclaim "The Word of Jesus Christ" both locally and worldwide.
The "Catholic" (meaning Universal), Church was started by Jesus Christ and assigned to
the First Pope, or "Bishop of Rome", Peter, which is documented in the Gospels.
So this is where we come from and how we are guided in our journey though life and into Heaven.
Our Ultimate Destination.
We invite all of you to join in with us, that we may unite in The Worship Of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Savior, and attain our objective together in Love.
You don't have to be "Catholic" to come to our Church, just believe in Jesus Christ and be willing to abide by His Word.
Come and let us show you "The Way"!
Pope Francis is the Leader of the Catholic Faith Worldwide.
He is the Leader of the Country of
"THE VATICAN".
He is also referred to as "The Bishop of Rome".
All Catholics worldwide abide by his administration and are required to follow and abide by the "Canon Law" of The Vatican which is available for review on the Vatican Website in multiple Languages.
He was elected Supreme Pontiff on 13 March 2013.
www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/biography/documents/papa-francesco-biografia-bergoglio.html
Pope Francis Bio (Click Above)
Bishop Steven J. Raica
was installed as the:
Bishop of Birmingham, June 23 2020
Bishop Raica succeeds Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Baker, who served the Diocese of Birmingham since October of 2007.
Bishop Raica was born Nov. 8, 1952, ordained a priest Oct. 14, 1978, named as an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998, ordained and installed as Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan Aug. 28, 2014, and appointed Bishop of Birmingham March 25, 2020.
Bishop Steven's website for Diocesan Information.
Fr. Charles Merrill, PHD, (Author)
Pastor, Annunciation of the Lord Church in Decatur.
Fr. Merrill was ordained a Priest in 2013 by Bishop Robert Baker in Birmingham. Al.
Fr. Merrill (Padre Carlos) is the Pastor of Annunciation of The Lord Church in Decatur.
He is fluent in Spanish, Latin and Portuguese.
(Professor) Fr. Charles Merrill has an extensive history in Education:
Teaching Spanish, Literature & Latin.
As such, Fr. Merrill Administers Annunciation of The Lord
church in Decatur and Resurrection Chapel in Moulton.
Pastor, Father Charles Merrill's website
Father Merrill studied at Dartmouth College, the University of Salamanca in Spain, the University of Kiel in Germany, and Duke University.
He was received into the Catholic Church in 1972. From 1978-1999 he taught Spanish language and literature in Maryland;
from 2000-2009 he taught Spanish and Latin at Mt St Mary’s Seminary.
He translated into Spanish Fulfillment in Christ by Germain Grisez.
Father Merrill was a seminarian in the Pontificio Collegio Beda in Rome from 2009 to 2013, the year of his ordination in Birmingham, Alabama.
He is now the Pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church in Decatur, Alabama, and in charge of Annunciation of The Lord Parish and it's Missionary Church, Resurrection Chapel in Moulton, AL.
He was received into the Catholic Church in 1972. From 1978-1999 he taught Spanish language and literature in Maryland;
from 2000-2009 he taught Spanish and Latin at Mt St Mary’s Seminary.
He translated into Spanish Fulfillment in Christ by Germain Grisez.
Father Merrill was a seminarian in the Pontificio Collegio Beda in Rome from 2009 to 2013, the year of his ordination in Birmingham, Alabama.
He is now the Pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church in Decatur, Alabama, and in charge of Annunciation of The Lord Parish and it's Missionary Church, Resurrection Chapel in Moulton, AL.
Deacon Rick Chenault Sr.
Administrator of Resurrection Chapel
(Diocese of Birmingham Alabama.)
Deacon Rick was ordained a Permanent Deacon on December 7, 2013.
As the Church Administrator, Deacon Rick maintains the business aspects
for Resurrection Chapel under the direction of Fr. Merrill.
As a Missionary church under the direction of Annunciation of The Lord Parish in Decatur, Al.
Resurrection Chapel provides an outreach to other communities that Annunciation of The Lord cannot provide.
Deacon Rick also works closely with Fr. Charles Merrill at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur, Al. serving in several capacities as needed.
Deacon Bob Catanach
Director of Evangelization
Deacon Bob was ordained a Permanent Deacon on December 1, 2018.
Deacon Bob takes on the responsibilities of all the Hispanic religious ministries for Resurrection Chapel. He is fluent in Spanish which provides a substantial asset to Resurrection Chapel.
Resurrection Chapel has acquired a large Hispanic membership within the last few years that gives Deacon Bob a large community to provide for.
Deacon Bob provides the Sacraments to all of our Hispanic members in Spanish, which is much easier for our non english speaking members to understand.
Deacon Bob also works closely with Fr. Charles Merrill at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur, Al. serving in several capacities as needed.
Our Clergy works tirelessly for both Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur and Resurrection Chapel in Moulton.
We thank the Lord that we are given men of Faith that give their lives for the service of others.
The Church needs more men like these to help with proclaiming His Word and providing the Sacraments to others.
If you find that you are called to do this work, please reach out to either of our Deacons for more information.