Vol. 1, No. 18. Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Congratulations Bishop Emeritus Kicanas
Bishop Emeritus Kicanas will receive the Ohtli Award also called the Reconocimiento Ohtli, during a ceremony Friday at the Mexican Consulate Office in Tucson. The award is given in recognition of an individual’s significant contributions to the well-being and development of the Mexican community in the United States, or other countries and who have given assistance to Mexican citizens or promoted their culture. 

Bishop’s work with people on both sides of the International Border, and with people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds is well known and well beloved by those who have worked with him. 

Congratulations Bishop on this recognition and on the way you have shown others how to collaborate, cooperate and work to improve understanding.

 

For your information

You may have watched a recent broadcast on one of our local news station about what is effectively the last piece of our diocesan bankruptcy settlement resulting from past cases of abuse in our diocese.

Among other considerations the bankruptcy settlement set in 2004 made possible payment to victims and included the creation of a fund to attend to the needs of any future, but unknown victims that may have come forward following the original settlements paid to known victims.  This came to be known as the “Unknown Claimants Fund.” This fund was turned over to a group of paid victims to decide future disbursements. The settlement allowed for this group of victims to decide who would receive payments and when the fund could be dissolved.  That request was made by the victims and was granted.  

 

Statement on Dissolving of the Unknown Claimants Fund

In 2004 the Diocese of Tucson declared bankruptcy in order to provide an equitable settlement with all the victims of sexual abuse for which the Diocese was found liable.  A part of reorganization of the Diocese approved by the Bankruptcy Court in August 2005, was the creation of a fund (titled the “Unknown Claims Reserve” and afterwards referred to by the Court and counsel as the “Unknown Claimants Fund”) of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) which would serve as a financial reserve for payment of compensatory damages to unknown victims of past abuse who might come forward after the bankruptcy Plan of Reorganization had been approved.  The Court likewise approved of the establishment of the “Tort Claimants Committee” made up of individuals who had established credible claims of having been abused in the past and who had settled their claims.  This group would oversee determining the legality and credibility of future unknown claims for the payment of compensatory damages from the Unknown Claimants Fund.  It also was determined that at a certain point in the future, to be determined by the Court, the Fund would be dissolved.  At that time eighty percent of the monies remaining on deposit in the Fund would be distributed to those victims who had already received compensation, and the remaining twenty percent of the Fund would be paid to the Diocese subject to stated restrictions.  The portion returning to the Diocese was restricted and must be kept in trust to pay for professional counseling for victims, funding of awareness programs, and other endeavors directly related to the prevention of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Diocese of Tucson supported this plan and cooperated fully.  

In recent months the Tort Claimants Committee which oversaw the Unknown Claimants Fund filed motions with the Bankruptcy Court seeking the dissolution of the Fund. While Diocesan leadership had some reservations about its dissolution, due to our concern for the potential of more unknown victims from the past coming forward and seeking compensation, we cooperated with the request of the Tort Claimants Committee.  The Bankruptcy Court in fact did order the dissolution of the Fund, and the Diocese recently received a disbursement of $134,360.00 which is now held in trust as required and as outlined above.

The response of the Diocese of Tucson in the intervening years has included the establishment of a highly effective Safe Environment Program for its parishes, schools, and ministries.  It is audited annually by third party professionals in accord with the National Charter established by the U.S. Bishops in response to the abuse of minors crisis.  The Diocese of Tucson’s Office of Child, Adolescent, and Adult Protection is staffed with degreed professionals and continues to respond to victims who come forward seeking help.  That office continues to minister to victims without any charge following the dissolution of the Unknown Claimants Fund.  As always, anyone who suspects harm caused by church personnel or others is strongly encouraged to contact law enforcement as well as our Office of Child, Adolescent, and Adult Protection for assistance.

 

Pastor and priest assignments
We typically make priest and pastor assignments about this time every year.  In most cases, these assignments will take effect July 1, but there are some cases that will take place later.

Assignments involve a much thought and I am thankful to the members of our Priest Personnel Board that assisted in identifying candidates for each opening.  

 

PASTORS

Father Edward Lucero                                       

To:         St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish - Tucson – pastor

From:    St. Philip Parish – Payson – pastor

Term: six (6) years

Father Jay Jensen                                                

To:         St. Frances Cabrini Parish - Tucson – pastor

From:    St. Thomas the Apostle Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

Term: six (6) years

 

Father Robert Rodriguez                                 

To:         St. Joseph Parish - Tucson – pastor

From:    St. Rose of Lima Parish – Safford – pastor

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – Solomon - pastor

Term: six (6) years

 

Father Mohana Bathineni                                

To:         St. Jude Thaddeus Parish – Pearce/Sunsites – pastor

From:    St. Joseph the Worker Parish – Wellton – administrator

Term: six (6) years

 

Father Manolo Padilla                                      

To:         San Felipe de Jesus Parish - Nogales – pastor

From:    Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish – Tucson – pastor

Term: six (6) years

 

ADMINISTRATORS

Father Bardo Antunez                                      

To:         Blessed Sacrament Parish – Mammoth – administrator

From:    San Felipe de Jesus Parish – Nogales – pastor

Term:  one (1) years

 

Father Alan Valencia                                        

To:         Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish - Tucson – administrator

From:    St. Anthony of Padua Parish – Casa Grande – parochial vicar

Term: one (1) year

 

Father Ricky Ordonez                                        

To:         St. Philip Parish - Payson – administrator

From:    St. Joseph Parish – Tucson – pastor

Term: one (1) years

 

Father Nicodemus Shaghel, VC                     

To:         St. Rose of Lima Parish – Safford – administrator

               Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – Solomon - administrator

From:    Immaculate Conception Church - Yuma – parochial vicar 

Term: one (1) year

 

Father Arnold Aurillo                                        

Additional Appointment as:  San Carlos Apache Community - pastor

Currently: Holy Angel Parish – Globe – pastor

 

Father Greg Okafor                                             Effective: Oct. 1, 2018

To:          St. Joseph the Worker Parish – Wellton – administrator

From:    St. Luke Church - Douglas – administrator 

From:    St. Bernard Church - Pirtleville – administrator 

From:    Immaculate Conception Church - Douglas – administrator 

Term:    one (1) year

 

Father James Hobert                                          Effective: Oct. 1, 2018

To:         St. Luke Church – Douglas – administrator

To:         St. Bernard Church – Pirtleville – administrator

To:         Douglas Consortium. Until Oct. 1 assisting at and in residence at St. Thomas the Apostle

From:    St. Thomas the Apostle Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

Term:    one (1) year

 

Father Richard Awange                                     Effective: Aug. 1, 2018

To:         St. Margaret Mary Parish – Tucson – administrator

From:    Our Mother of Sorrows Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

Term:  one (1) year

 

PAROCHIAL VICARS

 

Dcn. Thomas Quirk                                      

To:         Our Mother of Sorrows Parish - Tucson – parochial vicar

From:    Mundelein Seminary – Newly Ordained

 

Father Cayetano Cabrera                                

To:         Most Holy Nativity Parish – Rio Rico – parochial vicar (full-time)

              San Felipe de Jesus Parish – Nogales – Sacramental Assistance (part-time)

From: Most Holy Nativity Parish – Rio Rico – parochial vicar (part-time)

 

Dcn. John Gonzalez                                     Effective:July 1, 2018 

To:         St. Thomas the Apostle Parish - Tucson – parochial vicar

From:     Sacred Heart Seminary – Newly Ordained

 

Father John Ikponko                                          Effective:Aug. 1, 2018

To:           Our Lady of Grace Parish – Maricopa – parochial vicar

From:     St. Pius X Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

 

Father Martin Bosco Ormin, VC                   Effective:July 1, 2018

To:          St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

From:    Douglas /Pirtleville – parochial vicar

 

 

Father Robert Kose                                           

To:          St. Margaret Mary Parish – Tucson – sacramental assistance

From:    Rio Rico/Green Valley – sacramental assistance

 

Father Jesus Cordova                                       

To:          St. Anthony of Padua Parish – Casa Grande – parochial vicar

From:    St. Augustine Cathedral Parish – Tucson – sacramental assistance

 

Father John Paul Shea                                     

To:          Holy Angel Parish – Globe – parochial vicar (in residence in San Carlos)

From:    St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

 

Father Edson Elizarraras                                 

Return To:  Our Lady of Fatima Parish – Tucson – parochial vicar

                                                                      

 

RETIREMENT

Father Joseph Lombardo – retirement: some clergy support

Msgr. Robert Fuller - retirement

Father Wally Balduck – retirement: some clergy support

Father Kishore Singh – return to home diocese

Father Thomas Maruthoor – return to home religious order 

Father Ignatius DeGroot – retirement to home religious order

In remembrance

I will be in Nogales, Ariz., on Saturday morning for the funeral of Officer Jesus Cordova, killed April 27 during a carjacking. A viewing will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Nogales High School, 1905 N. Apache Blvd.  The funeral Mass will take place the next day at 10 a.m., also at the high school.

I read that Cordova was the first Nogales police officer to be shot and killed in 130 years.  

Join me in praying for Jesus, who was the father of three children with another baby on the way.  We also pray for his family, and for the safety of all those in law enforcement working to protect others.

Please pray for Paul McCarthy, youngest brother of Msgr. Jeremiah McCarthy, our Moderator of the Curia. Paul passed away suddenly April 30. Please also pray for the members of his family during this difficult time.

We also remember Carmen, mother of Miguel and Martin Camacho who passed away May You may know Miguel, who has been a long-time volunteer at our diocesan archives who also assisted with the move to the Pastoral Center, and Martin, who was a past director of the Catholic Foundation years ago. 

Confirmations
This week and into next week, I will be conferring the sacrament of Confirmation at Most Holy Trinity Parish, Tucson; Santa Cruz Religious Education Program at Santa Cruz Parish, Tucson; St. Philip Parish in Payson; and at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish for the students of the school; at St. John the Evangelist for the students of the school; and at St. Monica Parish, all in Tucson. 

Mass for Consecrated Brothers

Front row, from left are De La Salle Christian Brothers Jesus Lara and Martin Vu, Capuchin Father Walter Balduck, Bishop Weisenburger, Capuchin Father Robert Kose, Brother Andres Rivera  pf the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity and Franciscan Brother Sam Nasada. Second row, from left are De La Salle Christian Brother Jack Henderson, Franciscan Brother David Paz, Capuchin Father John Francis Samsa, Redemptorist Brother Bill Cloughley, Salvatorian Brother Jeffrey St. George, Franciscan Brother Peter Boegel and Carmelite Brother Kevin Keller. Rear row, from left are Franciscan Brother David Buer, Carmelite Brother Mike Joyce and Franciscan Father Ponchie Vasquez.

 

I celebrated Mass for several brothers from religious orders yesterday evening at Most Holy Trinity Parish. Our brothers assist in education and other areas and provide important support for our diocese.

This is the Second Annual Mass marking Religious Brothers’ Day on May 1. In addition to the brothers, dozens more religious attended the Mass, which was followed by dinner in the church hall

Upcoming
Catholic Foundation Annual Cornerstone Gala. This year, the event recognizes Humberto and Czarina Lopez.  The Gala will take place Friday, May 11 at the Tucson Hilton El Conquistador.

This event is sold out.