'We're a family. We're unified': St. Pius X supporters rally around parish, school

By Carol Mcphail
AL.com
May 31, 2015

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/05/were_a_family_were_unified_st.html

Rev. Johnny Savoie, pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Parish, leaders parishioners in a walk around the church located in midtown Mobile, Ala., on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

Parishioners from around the Archdiocese of Mobile attend an event following mass to show their support for St. Pius X Catholic parish and school on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

Hundreds of parishioners processed around the property of St. Pius X Catholic Church on Sunday and prayed for their parish and school in the midst of accusations over bullying, school mismanagement and allegations involving the priest.

"We're Catholic. We're a family. We're unified," said John Bruemmer following mass. "We're going through some dark times, and we'll come out of it."

An estimated 500 people, more than twice the usual number at St. Pius X, attended the 10:30 a.m. mass at the Midtown parish. Parishioners said they organized the event to fight back against what they said are unfounded accusations playing out in court and in the media.

"We want everyone to know we're not going to stand for this anymore," said Summer Jacobs, a St. Pius parishioner with two children enrolled in the PK4-8th-grade school.

Earlier in May, lawyers for a group of former St. Pius students combined four separate complaints into a 41-page lawsuit that alleges, among other things, that a student brought a gun to school, a teacher was intoxicated on the job, and that school officials failed to stop bullying and covered it up. The lawsuit also contends that St. Pius Pastor Johnny Savoie refused to disclose information related to an accusation that he had a sexual relationship with a minor while serving in Baldwin County almost a decade ago.

After mass, Savoie and members of the Knights of Columbus led parishioners in a procession around the exterior of the circular church sanctuary, concluding with prayer.On Sunday, parishioners defended their school and their priest.  "Father is a holy man," said Doug Thorn of Mobile. "He's definitely a man of God."

 "It's beautiful the outpouring of support for our parish family. This parish is so dear to us," said Valerie Heinl of Mobile. Two of Heinl's four children attend St. Pius School, she said.

 "I converted to Catholicism largely because of (Principal) Lauren (Alvarez) and Fr. (Johnny) Savoie," she said. "Through their example, I've seen what parish life is supposed to be about and what God's love is all about. They care for our children like their own."