ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — When Bishop Thomas J. Rodi of Biloxi is elevated to Archbishop of Mobile the afternoon of June 6 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on South Claiborne Street in Mobile, there will be at least one Robertsdale resident avidly watching the ceremony.

Sister Margaret Harte, PBVM, a member of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary order, will be one of the representatives of St. Patrick Parish at the ceremony. Sister Margaret, who is from Cork, Ireland, is the principal of Robertsdale’s St. Patrick School.

This will be the second installation ceremony for a new archbishop Sister Margaret will attend.

“I think I was in this country for a week before I went to the installation of (Archbishop) Oscar Lipscomb,” said Sister Margaret. “When I saw that ceremony, I was one of thousands. I was way back in the back, but I remember it as a very moving and beautiful ceremony. I am looking forward to just being a part of that congregation.”

Because space is tight at the Cathedral, each parish or mission in the archdiocese (a term that is given to a bishop’s territory that includes more than one diocese) have been given two tickets to the installation ceremony.

Others who wish to attend the ceremony will be accommodated at the Saenger Theater on South Joachim Street, where a simulcast of the ceremony will be displayed. No ticket will be required. Members of the clergy will bring communion from the cathedral to the theater. A reception for the new archbishop will take place immediately after the Mass at Cathedral Square. The ceremony will also be streamed live over the Internet. Go to the Archdiocese of Mobile’s Web site, mobilearchdiocese.org for more information.

Sister Margaret will get her chance to meet Archbishop-designate Rodi June 5.

“The clergy and the religious have all been invited to celebrate Vespers on June 5,” said Sister Margaret. “I am looking forward to that.”

A changing of the guard after about 28 years could be jarring to some, but Sister Margaret is looking ahead.

“I am looking forward to working with this new archbishop,” said Sister Margaret.

Sister Margaret came to Robertsdale in 1980, about 13 years after taking her final vows as a nun. The Presentation order has a strong tradition of teaching. Their founder, Nano Nagle, educated poor children in Ireland when the English Penal Laws made it illegal to do so.

“That mission has evolved,” said Sister Margaret.

“There was a school opening here, and (the late) Father James Kirwin (pastor of St. Partick) came to ireland looking for nuns and teachers for the school,” said Sister Margaret.

Looking for new challenges, Sister Margaret accepted. She returns to Ireland every summer to catch up with her sisters and their growing families.

One of the things Sister Margaret is looking forward is seeing the new archbishop’s “involvement with Catholic schools.”

“I will be interested to see what new ideas he has,” said Sister Margaret.

One of the needs Sister Margaret sees in the area is a Catholic high school. Currently, most of her students go onto local public high schools, where “the majority do very well.” A few make the trip to Mobile or Pensacola to continue at Catholic high schools there.

Will there be a high school here?

“The spirit is strong,” said Sister Margaret, “but we are in the right economic situation?” She estimates that it will take about $20 million to build such a facility, mostly because students (and their parents) want a high school with every possible amenity.

Part of her job, Sister Margaret believes, is encouraging young people to consider religious life.

“The number of sisters and brothers are dwindling,” said Sister Margaret.

”You have an aging clergy and fewer religious.” She cites the lack of vocations among young people as one of the “biggest challenges” the church faces.

“The lay people do a superior job,” said Sister Margaret, “but society and the way we live makes it very difficult.”

“I will be praying for the Church,” said Sister Margaret. “We are in some very challenging times.”

Still, Sister Margaret sees hope for the future.

“I feel very hopeful,” said Sister Margaret. “We have had a great friend in Archbishop Lipscomb, He has been very supportive. I feel Archbishop Rodi has inherited a strong church.”