June 2008

Vol. 6, No. 11
June 2, 2008

It was my joy and delight on Saturday morning at St. Augustine Cathedral to ordain 22 new deacons for service in our Diocese. Their wives seemed especially thrilled to see their husbands taking on the challenges and responsibilities of ordained ministry in the Church.

Our new deacons come from many different backgrounds: a chef; landscaping; law enforcement; corrections; flying; mining; the U.S. Postal Service; engineering; consulting; tailoring.

Some are converts. Some completed a Cursillo and felt it was a life-changing experience.

Even with all their diversity, they have in common a desire to serve the Church in parishes, hospitals, nursing homes and prisons.

They will bring many gifts to their responsibilities to evangelize and teach, to sanctify and to witness and guide. Their ministry of the Word, their ministry of the Eucharist and their ministry of charity and justice will influence and affect many people throughout our Diocese.

For me, one of the moving parts of the Rite of Ordination was the welcoming of the new deacons into the Order of the Diaconate by their brother deacons. I observed the friendship and fraternity present as each of the new deacons was welcomed by their brother deacons from all around our Diocese. Deacon Jim Burns, our Vicar for Deacons, must have been pleased to see such a wonderful turnout of deacons.
 
The music at the Mass was exceptional, beautifully adding to the praise of the celebration.
 
I am grateful to Sister Lois Paha, O.P., director of our diocesan Office of Formation, the Jordan Ministry Team and the priests, deacons, religious and laity who worked with our new deacons during their four years of formation. It was a momentous task well done!
 
Our new deacons, their wives and their parishes are:

Felix Aguirre, Manuelita, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Tucson; Joseph Bogushefsky, Janet, St. Christopher, Marana; Kennard Brusoe, Jr., Maria, Holy Angels, Globe; James Burke, Mary, Our Lady of the Mountains, Sierra Vista; Thomas Campbell, Cindy, Sts. Peter and Paul, Tucson; Charles Chajewski, Mary, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Oscar Chavez, Norma, Immaculate Conception, Yuma; Charles Corder, Donna, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson; Rick Douglas, Maria, St. John Neumann, Yuma; Anthony Geonnotti Jr., Rosamaria, Our Lady of Fatima, Tucson; Antonio Gomez, Susana, Immaculate Conception, Yuma; Edward Gomez, Linda, St. Luke, Douglas; Kenneth Hilliard, Helen, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Rodney Kulpa, Colleen, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson; John Martin, Marie, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson; Teodoro Perez, Juanita, St. Joseph, Tucson; John Pickett, Nicole, St. Mark the Evangelist, Tucson; Reynaldo Romo, Elvia, Our Lady of the Mountains, Sierra Vista; Scott Thrall, Susie, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Ernest Trujillo, Elizabeth, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Florence; Thomas Willis, Delia, St. Luke, Douglas; Guadalupe Yanez, Ana Laura, St. Luke, Douglas.

1. Ordination to the Priesthood – It will be my joy this Saturday to ordain three new priests for our Diocese.

The Eucharistic Liturgy with Rite of Ordination for Emilio Chapa, Edward Lucero and Robert Rodriguez will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. (Last week's memo inadvertently stated the time as 9 a.m.)

Deacons Emilio, Edward and Robert, along with Father Mario "Ricky" Ordoñez, whom I ordained May 24 in the Philippines, are among the nearly 400 ordinands in the U.S. who were invited to participate in "The Class of 2008: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood," conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). This annual survey was prepared for the U.S. Bishops' Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. I encourage you to read the survey report at www.usccb.org/vocations/classof2008.

Highlights of that report include:

• Many men in their 30s and many foreign-born are among the U.S. priests slated for ordination this year. This continues the trend of recent years. The average age is 36 for newly ordained diocesan priests and 39 for newly ordained men in religious orders. About 30 percent of new priests are between 25 and 29 years of age. About 39 percent are in their 30s.

• One-third of this year's new priests were born outside the U.S., with the largest numbers coming from Mexico, Vietnam, Poland and the Philippines. The percentage of foreign-born is nearly the same in 2008 as in 2007 (32 percent compared to 31 percent), but has increased from the 22 percent reported in 1999.

• On average, ordinands reported that they were about 18 when they first considered a vocation to the priesthood. Eight in ten (80 percent) were encouraged to consider the priesthood by a priest. Close to half report that friends, parishioners and their mothers also encouraged them to consider priesthood.

This last bullet point emphasizes for us the critical role that each of us has in helping a person – a family member, friend, co-worker or even the person sitting next to us in the pew – to respond to God's call to a life of service in the Church.

This July, we will begin a new direction in our efforts to promote, invite and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I am confident that Father Mike Bucciarelli and Father Vili Valderama, our new co-directors of Vocations, will carry on this important ministry with new ideas and directions. They will be working closely with our Vicariate Associate Vocation Directors to realize my hope that we would have 10 new seminarians each year.

As Father Miguel Mariano completes his work of the past eight years as our diocesan Vocations Director, I am grateful for his dedicated service. Many priests now serving in the Diocese came into ministry through his efforts.

2. Eucharistic Liturgy and Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers – This Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral we will celebrate a Eucharistic Liturgy that will include the certification of the 22 women and men who are the graduates of our Diocese's first program for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.

This liturgy and the certification are the realization of my hopes for our Diocese that we might benefit from the talents and skills of lay persons in the ways articulated and envisioned by two foundational documents from the Bishops of the U.S., "Called and Gifted" and "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord."

To set the scene for this Sunday's historic occasion, let me share these reflections on Lay Ecclesial Ministry," drawing from the resources at www.usccb.org/laity/laymin/index.shtml.

The term "lay ecclesial ministry" reflects certain key realities. Lay ecclesial ministry is:

• Lay because it is service done by lay persons. The sacramental basis is the Sacraments of Initiation, not the Sacrament of Ordination.

• Ecclesial because it has a place within the community of the Church, whose communion and mission it serves, and because it is submitted to the discernment, authorization and supervision of the hierarchy.

• Ministry because it is the work by which Christians participate in the threefold ministry of Christ, who is priest, prophet and king and continue His mission and ministry in the world.

Lay ecclesial ministers are women and men whose ecclesial service (lay ecclesial ministry) is characterized by:

• Authorization of the hierarchy to serve publicly in the local Church.

• Leadership in a particular area of ministry.

• Close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.

• Preparation and formation appropriate to the level of responsibilities that are assigned to them.

The following understandings should be kept in mind:

• The term "lay ecclesial minister" is generic.

• "Lay ecclesial minister" is not itself a specific position title. It is not used in order to establish a new rank or order among the laity.

• It is the responsibility of the bishop, or his delegate, in accord with the norms of canon law, to identify the roles that most clearly exemplify lay ecclesial ministry. Application of the term may vary from diocese to diocese.

I will reflect in next week's memo on this last point and share with you more about my hopes for Lay Ecclesial Ministry in our Diocese. I also will introduce our new Lay Ecclesial Ministers.

3. On the Confirmation Trail – I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation this evening at St. Augustine Cathedral for the candidates of St. Monica Parish in Tucson and on Friday evening at Holy Family Parish in Tucson.

4. Pastor Installation – I will be returning to Holy Family Parish this Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. to preside at the installation of Father Alonzo Garcia as the 17th pastor of this historic parish.

4. Meeting of Committee on Communications – I will be in Washington tomorrow through Thursday for the spring meeting of the Committee on Communications of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

This committee, that I was honored to chair for five years and that is now ably chaired by Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, assists the Bishops of the U.S. by promoting and guiding a comprehensive approach to the communications media that includes media relations, media production and programming, policy, reviews of entertainment media, publishing and distribution of print, video and audio productions.

5. Presentation, Blessing and Dedication of "A City and a Church Arise Together" – Last Friday's presentation, blessing and dedication of downtown Tucson's newest work of public art, the tile mural "A City and a Church Arise Together," was well received and reported.

I was grateful for the presence of Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup and his wife Beth, both of whom have a deep interest in enhancing the arts in our community, and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias. We were honored to hear from Michael Chiago, the renowned Tohono O'odham artist whose painting the mural is based on, and Jim Griffith, historian and folklorist. Both shared thoughtful reflections on this new piece of public art that is displayed on the corner of the Pastoral Center at the intersection of Church and Broadway.

6. 2008 Convention of Arizona Knights of Columbus – The 101st Annual Meeting of the Arizona Knights of Columbus, held last Thursday through Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel in Tucson, was a great success. I am grateful to George Hanna, Vice-President of Fraternal Service, and Supreme Warden Lawrence Costanzo for their presence at the Convention.
 
State Deputy Stanley Schroeder was reelected. Herb Maddock was elected Secretary and Pat Schuller was elected Treasurer. Joe Rostowsky remains State Warden. It was great to see a Southern Arizonan added to the State Officers, as Bryant Sayers of St. Andrew Parish in Sierra Vista was elected State Advocate. Bryant also was named District Deputy of the Year, and Joe Gulotta from St. Pius X Parish was named Grand Knight of the Year. We are proud of these Knights from the Diocese of Tucson!

Council 10762 at St. Pius X Parish in Tucson was the host council for the Convention. They did a great job, and everyone pitched in to help make it such a success. Council 1200 of Tucson will be next year's host. I look forward to being a part of that significant gathering in Phoenix.

The Knights in the State of Arizona do fabulous work on our behalf. An example of their assistance to the Church in our Diocese is the generous contribution they made toward the cost of the tile mural here at the Pastoral Center.

7. Gathering with Women Religious – This past weekend, I hosted another gathering at the Bishop's Residence for Women Religious in our Diocese. I thank Sister Rina Cappellazzo, O.P, our Vicar for Religious, for facilitating a series of these gatherings. I marvel at the great work the Women Religious have done and continue to do in our Diocese.

This gathering included the Sisters of Santa Marta who have served in our Diocese for 41 years. They are leaving our Diocese soon to begin a new ministry at the Diocese of San Bernardino's Seminary. Their ministry and charism is to operate the households of bishops, priests and seminarians. I am deeply grateful for their ministry among us. This past week, we held an evening of thanks for their ministry among us. Their service, their prayers and their beautiful spirits have been a real blessing and gift to our Diocese. While we will miss Sister Francisca, Sister Margarita and Sister Carmela, we know they will continue their good work on behalf of the Church.

8. Thank You, Father Angelo! – A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Parish in Tucson at 10 a.m. this Sunday by Father Angelo Mastria, O.Carm., who marked his 50th anniversary of ordination last week. After the Mass, Father Angelo will be happy to welcome friends at a reception in the Parish Hall.

Father Angelo was ordained in Middletown, N.Y., on May 26, 1958, and served in Santiago, Chile, for six years and for two years at St. Theresa's Chapel in Peabody, Mass., before being assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Tucson where he ministered for 17 years. He served at St. Agnes in Phoenix for two years and then returned to Tucson to be chaplain for 27 long-term care facilities in the Pastoral Care Program of Catholic Community Services.

Vol. 6, No. 12
June 9, 2008

These past eight days have been a glorious and special time for our Diocese!

A week ago Saturday, I ordained 22 deacons for service to the Church in our Diocese.

This past Saturday, I ordained three new priests -- Father Emilio Chapa, Father Ed Lucero and Father Robert Rodriguez (who join Father Ricky Ordoñez, whom I ordained May 24 in the Philippines).

And just yesterday at St. Augustine Cathedral, I authorized and certified 22 lay ecclesial ministers for service in our Diocese. They are the first to have completed our Common Formation Program (preparation along with deacon candidates and their wives) to serve in that capacity in our Diocese.

The Church, like God, is a unity in diversity. Each of us is called to a certain ministry, and together as co-workers we share in bringing to fulfillment the one mission of Christ.

I hope these celebrations will encourage many other women and men to consider service in the Church. We need priests -- generous and dedicated -- to pastor our parish communities. We need deacons to continue to remind us of the preeminence of service in our Church. We need women and men religious to help us focus on what truly matters in life. We need lay people to transform our world and to use their gifts to build up the Church.

These past few days are an encouragement to all of us in the Church to act as co-workers -- respecting each other's call and affirming one another's contributions to God's work.

My heartfelt congratulations to those ordained and those certified for answering God's invitation and call. We look forward to their contributions and service in our local Church.

Our new lay ecclesial ministers and their parishes are:
 
Peter Adamcin, Most Holy Trinity, Tucson; Janet Ann Bogushefsky, St. Christopher, Marana; Joe Bonaparte, St. Pius X, Tucson; Mary Rose Chajewski, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Teresa Ann Ciapusci, Corpus Christi, Tucson; Nancy Jean Coker, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Frances Daniel, Immaculate Conception, Yuma; Juliana Louise Espinoza, St. Odilia, Tucson; Susana Gomez, Immaculate Conception, Yuma; Jose Luis Gonzalez, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Tucson; Jorge Gramajo, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Tucson; Melissa Machuca, St. Augustine Cathedral, Tucson; Denise Marshall, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson; Janice Moore, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson; Maria Morales, Immaculate Conception, Yuma; Ramona Ortiz, Holy Angels, Globe; Carol Padilla, Santa Catalina, Tucson; Maricela Reynaert, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson; Helen Schafer, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson; Rita Thompson, St. Andrew the Apostle, Sierra Vista; Elizabeth Trujillo, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Florence; Evelia Villegas, St. Francis Assisi, Yuma.

The assignments of our new priests are: Father Emilio to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Yuma, Father Ed to Immaculate Conception Parish in Yuma, Father Ricky to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Tucson and Father Robert to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Tucson.
 

I am grateful to all who helped with these special celebrations of ministries in our Diocese: Sister Lois Paha, O.P., director of our Office of Formation; Father Miguel Mariano, who has served these past eight years as Vocation Director; their assistants Pegi Dodd, Marty Hammond and Grace Lohr; and all others who helped form these new priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers. My gratitude as well to Father Pat Crino, Rector of St. Augustine Cathedral, and his staff for hosting these great celebrations and to our Diocesan Choir for such a marvelous job that demanded a lot of very hard work.

1. This Month's New Vision -- This month's issue of The New Vision is going to press later than usual so that we can bring you the stories and photos of the ordinations and certifications. The issue is going to press this morning, and it will be distributed this weekend at our parishes.

I ask our parishes to make every effort to see that our newspaper is put into the hands of parishioners. Giving out The NewVision with the parish bulletin or having the ushers hand it out separately makes a big difference. Your efforts to distribute The New Vision are much appreciated. Managing Editor Bern Zovistoski is doing a great job, and I am confident that if parishioners receive our newspaper they will enjoy reading it.

2. On the Confirmation Trail -- I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation this evening at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ajo. I look forward to staying overnight in Ajo and to the opportunity to spend some time visiting in the community.

3. Mass at New Pascua Senior Center -- I will celebrate Mass tomorrow morning with the Catholic Community of the New Pascua Yaqui Pueblo near Tucson. The Mass will take place at the Liogue Senior Center. The Center provides congregate meals, homebound meals, ombudsman services and other supportive services to older Native Americans living on the Pascua Reservation and in the Yoeme Community.

4. June General Meeting of U.S. Catholic Bishops -- I will be in Orlando from Wednesday through Saturday of this week for the annual spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The major item on our agenda is the final phase of the process for the approval of the Roman Missal for use in our country. We will vote on a new translation of the proper prayers for each Sunday and feast day during the Liturgical Year. The agenda also includes:

-- Consideration of a policy statement from the Committee on Pro-Life Activities on embryonic stem-cell research.
-- A request from the Committee on Doctrine to begin revising passages in the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services" that relate to medically assisted nutrition and hydration. The directives guide Catholic health care facilities in addressing a wide range of ethical questions.
-- A presentation by researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York on their study of the causes and context of clergy sex abuse in this country. The study is set for completion in 2009. We will consider a recommended structure for dialogue between priests and bishops about how the Church has handled sex abuse allegations against clergy and how the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted in Dallas in June 2002, has been implemented.
-- Presentations on the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) survey "Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice Among U.S. Catholics" and the Pew U.S. Religious Landscape Survey that were released this year.
-- Voting on a recommendation by the Committee on Budget and Finance that the 2009 assessment on dioceses remain at the same level as 2008, resulting in a total assessment of just over $10 million to fund the USCCB.
-- Voting on a proposal to declare Sept. 26, 2010, as National Catholic Charities Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of the Catholic Charities network.

Also, the newly formed task forces whose responsibility it will be to develop a pastoral plan for each of the five priorities identified by the bishops (Faith Formation and Pastoral Practice, Strengthening Married Life, Cultural Diversity with an Emphasis on Hispanic Ministry, Life and Dignity of the Human Person, and Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life) will meet for the first time. These task forces will develop their plans to be presented to the entire body of bishops in November of 2009 for approval. From November of 2009 until 2011, the Conference Committees will implement the plans.

5. "Theology on Tap" in New York City -- I am looking forward this weekend to being with Father Gil Martinez, C.S.P., who was the last Paulist pastor of St. Cyril Parish in Tucson and who is now pastor of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City.

Father Gil had invited me, whenever my schedule might allow, to give a presentation on Pope Benedict's second encyclical, "Spe Salvi" (Saved by Hope), to his parish's young adult group.

As I will be in New York this weekend for a meeting on Monday at the National Pastoral Life Center, I will give the presentation this Sunday afternoon as part of the parish's "Theology on Tap" series of gatherings for young Catholic adults.

6. Visit by Sister Angela Ryan, C.S.B. -- I had the pleasure last week to welcome Sister Angela, who is the Protection and Prevention Officer of the National Committee for Professional Standards, a collaborative effort of the Australian Catholic Bishops and the Australian Leaders of Religious Institutes. The Committee supports the efforts of dioceses in Australia to create safe environments for children and vulnerable adults. Its ministry is comparable to the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Sister Angela spent three days with members of our Pastoral Center team most involved in our Safe Environment Program. We had been recommended to Sister as one of three safe environment "best practice" dioceses in the U.S.

It was a productive time for sharing experiences and trading notes regarding effective practices across continents. I am grateful to Dr. Paul Duckro and Julieta Gonzalez of our Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection for facilitating Sister Angela's visit.

Sister Angela had conferences with Father Al Schifano, Sister Rosa Maria Ruiz, C.F.M.M., Sister Ruthmary Powers, H.M., and Sister Rina Cappellazzo, O.P. She had a lunch meeting with Sister Lois Paha, O.P., Katherine Preble, Dr. Duckro, Fred Allison and Richard Serrano.

7. Welcome to Sister Ruthmary Powers, H.M. -- I am very pleased to announce that Sister Ruthmary will become our Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools beginning in August.

Many of you will remember Sister Ruthmary from her service as diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools from 1994 to 1997. Sister Ruthmary has considerable experience in Catholic education, including teaching, administration, development and fundraising. She recently served as major superior of her community.

Sister Ruthmary replaces Jean McKenzie as assistant superintendent. Jean is beginning her new position as principal of Sts. Peter and Paul School in Tucson.

8. Inauguration of New Border Ministry Initiative -- On Friday May 30, Father Vili Valderrama, pastor of San Felipe De Jesus Parish in Nogales, and Joanne Welter of our diocesan Catholic Social Mission Office joined with Kino Border Initiative Partners to inaugurate the Centro de Atencion al Migrante Deportatdo (Center of Attention to Deported Migrants) in Nogales, Sonora.

Archbishop Jose Ulises Macias Salcedo of the Archdiocese of Hermosillo blessed the center, the new Office of Pastoral Ministry of Migrants and the Albergue, a safehouse for abused deported women. 

This inauguration is a major step in the Bi-National Kino Border Initiative that has been developing over the past two years. The Initiative is led by the Jesuits of the California Province in partnership with our Diocese, the Archdiocese of Hermosillo, the Jesuits in Mexico, the Jesuit Refugee Service USA and the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist. The Initiative also includes ministries to migrants in Nogales, Arizona.

9. Renovation of Cathedral Placita -- It was my honor last evening to join Laurel Wilkening, Martin Camacho of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson and Father Pat Crino at the Bishop's Residence to welcome a number of people from the Tucson community who are interested in the arts and in the enhancement of Tucson's downtown. I asked for their help and support in completing the renovation the placita at St. Augustine Cathedral that will serve the Tucson community and the Diocese.

One feature of the renovation is a band shell that we hope will be an excellent outdoor performance venue. I was able to share with my guests an example of the beautiful metalwork that will cover the band shell.

The cost of the renovation project has continued to rise, and we are in need of additional funding to complete the work. I hope that local businesses and individuals who support downtown enhancement might come forward to support our effort to beautify Tucson.

Please contact my office at 838-2523 if you know of anyone who might be willing to assist. I would be delighted to speak with them about this project and to introduce them to the work that is planned.

10. Well-Deserved Recognition -- I learned something yesterday about Elena D'Autremont, a wonderful friend of our Diocese.

In his column in yesterday's Arizona Daily Star, Ernesto Portillo told how Elena "has quietly collected money and bought and distributed" nearly 79,000 books for children in Tucson schools that have large enrollments of Pascua Yaqui students.

Ernesto wrote that on June 17, Elena, along with Rebecca Tapia, the director of the Pascua Neighborhood Center, will be honored for commitment and service to children when the books and reading program they participate in will be one of 25 in the U.S. to receive an award of excellence from Reading is Fundamental.

Elena's service to our Diocese has included membership on the board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson.

11. Please Remember in Your Prayers -- Please pray for the recovery of Father Bill Gyure, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Payson, who underwent a liver transplant last week.

Please pray for the healing of Ruben Davalos, director of our diocesan Office of Evangelization and Hispanic Ministry, as he begins a brief medical leave of absence next week.

12. Happy Father's Day! -- This Sunday, we thank God for our fathers.

"For our fathers, who have given us life and love, that we may show them respect and love, we pray to the Lord. For fathers who have died, that God may bring them into the joy of his kingdom, we pray to the Lord."

"God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord."

From the Book of Blessings by Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989.

Vol. 6, No. 13
June 16, 2008

Here is a capsule report on our agenda items at last week's meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Orlando:

-- We dealt with translations of the Proper of the Season, but did not get the two-thirds affirmative votes necessary to pass the proposal. It will now be sent to those bishops who did not attend to get their votes. If the document does not pass, the Conference will again review the translations of the prayers and make recommendations for changes that will be reviewed by the Committee on Divine Worship and then returned to the Conference for vote.

The concern raised by Bishop Vic Galeone of the Diocese of St. Augustine was very persuasive, leading to an extended discussion of whether the translations being proposed were understandable to the people and able to be proclaimed well by the celebrant. Some bishops are concerned that some of the literal translations used words that are no longer in common usage in the U.S. They felt these words would only be confusing to the people and that some of the prayer texts were rambling and would be hard to sing and communicate. Others indicated that while the texts are not all exactly as one would want, many were good translations and we ought to pass the translations without further delay. If the translation is rejected, it may be another year or two before this could be sent to Rome for recognitio. We will have to wait to see how the vote turns out.

Liturgy is so central to our faith that we need to do this well, even if it means further delay.

-- The Conference approved the use of "ustedes" rather than "vosotros" in the celebration of the Mass in Spanish. "Vosotros" is a word no longer used in ordinary conversation in Spanish.

-- The bishops passed a document from the Pro Life Committee on embryonic stem cell research. This succinct document articulates well the Church's teaching. While the Church clearly supports the efforts of science to address health concerns, this cannot be done by the destruction of human embryos.

-- The five priority task forces of the USCCB met for the first time. Each task force is expected to develop, in conversation with Conference committees, a pastoral plan to address each of the significant pastoral issues identified by the bishops for the planning cycle 2008-2011. The five priorities are: Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice; Strengthening Marriage; the Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Cultural Diversity in the Church: and Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.

These pastoral plans will be submitted to the full Conference in November of 2009 for approval.

As I discuss in my column in this month's issue of The New Vision, our Pastoral Center offices and departments that support our parishes in their pastoral ministries have selected Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice as the priority we will focus on for 2008-2009. I welcome suggestions you may have on how we can make progress in handing on the faith to adults and young people.

-- We heard a progress report from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice on the causes and context of the priest sexual abuse crisis. While the researchers have not yet drawn any conclusions, they are focusing on what happened, analyzing seminary formation, decisions bishops made, advice given bishops by professionals in the social science fields, and a profile of the priests who abused.

This research will be most helpful in understanding what happened.

-- We received a statistical report from the Pew Foundation and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) on how people identify themselves religiously, changes in religious affiliation that have taken place and the sacramental practice of Catholics. It was very helpful data, and I will be sharing the findings with Sister Lois Paha, O.P., director of our diocesan Office of Formation, for reflections by our Pastoral Center staff as they develop a plan on how we will strengthen faith formation in our Diocese.

-- Our meeting also included an afternoon of reflection. Bishops have asked that some time be set aside during our annual meetings for prayer, reflection and an opportunity for bishops to receive the Sacrament of Penance. Bishop Art Serratelli of the Diocese of Patterson gave a reflection on the Word of God, after which we spent an hour in silent prayer and adoration. We visited the beautiful National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe that has a unique ministry to the millions of tourists who come to Orlando each year. The church features many works of religious art. One of the most striking pieces is an image of St. Joseph.

1. In the Big Apple -- I am in New York City today for a quarterly meeting of the board of directors of the National Pastoral Life Center.

I appreciated the opportunity yesterday to be with Father Gil Martinez, C.P, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in New York City. Father Gil, who was the last Paulist pastor of St. Cyril Parish in Tucson, had invited me to make a presentation to his parish's young adult group on Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI's second encylical. There is much interest in Pope Benedict's writings, especially after his recent visit to New York and the marvelous talks and homilies he gave. Although it was Father's Day, there was a good attendance for my presentation to the parish's young adult group.

St. Paul's, like so many of our parishes, is a multicultural community striving to serve people from different backgrounds speaking different languages. They work hard at reaching out and inviting people to become active in the church. The Paulists are very interested in evangelization and in welcoming people back home to the Church. They also have a great interest in reaching out to young adults.

2. Archbishop Michael Sheehan's 25th Episcopal Anniversary -- The Archdiocese of Santa Fe this week is celebrating Archbishop Sheehan's silver jubilee of episcopal ordination. Archbishop Sheehan was consecrated and installed as the first Bishop of Lubbock on June 17, 1983. I am happy to be joining in the celebration, as tomorrow the people of the Archdiocese will gather with the Archbishop, his family and friends and brother bishops from all over the country for a Mass of Thanksgiving at the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

This September, Archbishop Sheehan will observe the 15th anniversary of his installation as the eleventh Archbishop of Santa Fe.

Our Diocese has a historic relationship with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. In 1859, the legendary Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, the first Archbishop of Santa Fe, recruited a young priest in France, Father John Baptiste Salpointe, to come to Santa Fe. It was Archbishop Lamy who sent the young Father Salpointe to Tucson in 1866. Father Salpointe was made a bishop and the Vicar Apostolic of Arizona 1868. He succeeded Arbishop Lamy as Archbishop of Santa Fe in 1885. Our relationship with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe continues through today, as our Diocese is in the Province of Santa Fe, for which Archbishop Sheehan has responsibility.

Archbishop Sheehan, our Metropolitan, is a highly respected bishop in our Conference and a good friend to me and to our Diocese. I was grateful to Archbishop Sheehan for being present at my installation when I first arrived in Tucson. Beginning then and consistently through these past seven years, he has taken an interest in our Diocese and its struggles. He reached out to us during the Chapter 11 and provided his support and counsel. He calls regularly to see how everything is going and always offers a word of encouragement and support. He has been looking forward to this celebration. He himself has had to deal with many challenges in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, but he did so with pastoral sensitivity.

3. Visit to Chicago -- I am stopping in Chicago this Friday on my way to Adrian, Michigan (see below), in order to see my mom. I did not get to see her on Mother's Day this year since it was on the Feast of Pentecost and we had several confirmations. My mom had a fall after Mother's Day (she fell two years ago after Mother's Day, which led to her having to leave her home and move in to the Home for the Elderly of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Palatine, Illinois). In this recent fall, she broke four ribs and injured her back. Happily, no surgery was necessary, but she has been in a lot of pain. I know many are praying for her, and she and I appreciate those prayers very much.

4. A Very Joyful 50th Anniversary Celebration -- It will be my great joy this Saturday to join with the Adrian Dominican Sisters at their motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan, to celebrate Sister Charlotte Anne Swift's 50-year anniversary in religious life. I am delighted to be attending her anniversary Mass as a small way of demonstrating the respect and regard I have for her.

Sister Charlotte, one of three Adrain Dominicans serving at the Pastoral Center (along with Sister Lois, Director of Formation, and Sister Rina Cappellazzo, Vicar for Religious) was one of the first people I met after arriving in the Diocese of Tucson. Bishop Manuel Moreno had suggested that I hire an administrative assistant, and I was impressed by Sister Charlotte's loyalty to the Diocese (she had served as teacher and principal at Holy Angels in Globe and Santa Cruz in Tucson, among other places) and her competence and eagerness to help (she had served as director of Project Yes in Tucson). She was well respected and seemed to know everyone in Tucson.

I made the right choice. She has done a fabulous job. Sister Charlotte tries to keep me organized and busy. She is the welcoming voice for those calling for an appointment or just with a question. She receives my mail, keeps my calendar in order and gives people time and attention.

I am so blessed by the service of both Sister Charlotte and Sonya Guitierrez in the Office of the Bishop. Their support is immensely helpful.

5. On the Confirmation Trail -- I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation this Sunday evening at Santa Catalina Parish, north of Tucson, where Sister Carole Ruland, M.H.S.H., is completing her service as Pastoral Administrator. Her ministry has helped to guide this small mission into a vibrant parish community. Sister Carole soon will begin a well-deserved sabbatical.

I received word recently from Father Thomas Pincton of the Redemptorists that they are very hopeful they will be able to send a good pastor to continue what Sister Carole has begun. We should receive confirmation of this in the near future. We continue to pray. The Redemptorists have served Santa Catalina as sacramental ministers for some time. Their commitment to lay leadership will continue to encourage lay involvement at Santa Catalina, which has been characteristic of the parish.

6. Diocesan Web Site -- Our diocesan Web site was down three days last week as we encountered some difficulties while installing new software on our servers. Our e-mail capability also was affected for a brief time.

7. Please Remember in Your Prayers -- We continue to pray for Father Bill Gyure, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Payson, who is recovering from a liver transplant. I had an opportunity to visit him last week at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. He was very weak, but alert. His doctors are very hopeful.

We pray also for Gracie Quiroz's daughter, Elizabeth, who last week delivered her child prematurely. The infant weighed less than two pounds. We pray and hope for the best.

Vol. 6, No. 14                                                                                                           
June 23, 2008

Summer has arrived!

The pace of activity at our parishes and here at the Pastoral Center slows somewhat over the next few weeks, leaving time for doing things we have not had time to do during the rush of the year.

One of those things is to get away for relaxation. While no time ever seems exactly right to take a concentrated period of time away, it is important to have "downtime" and to take a break. Before you know it, school will be back in session, parish religious education programs will be gearing up and the whirlwind of parish and diocesan ministries will begin again in earnest. Find some time to relax this summer. You all deserve it!
 
I am planning to be away on vacation two weeks in July. Part of that time will be spent in Chicago, visiting family and friends. Also, Father Gus Belauskas, my good friend and vice-rector of Mundelein Seminary, and I are planning a trip to Montreal and Quebec.
 
Looking ahead to after the summer break, we are anticipating a new direction for the pastoral services that we provide from the Pastoral Center. I have asked Sister Lois Paha, O.P., to direct our new Department of Pastoral Services. In addition to her responsibilities as director of the Office of Formation, Sister Lois will coordinate, facilitate and support the work of Mike Berger in the Office of Catechesis for Children, Youth and Families, Ruben Davalos in the Office of Evangelization and Hispanic Ministry, Joanne Welter in the Catholic Social Mission Office and Father Miguel Mariano in the Office of Liturgy.

As I have mentioned here in the memo and as I write about in my column for this month's issue of The New Vision, the focus of our pastoral services will be Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice. We are beginning to concretize a program to help us enhance our efforts in this area, both in the Diocese and for each of our parishes.

While school is out for summer, this is busy time for these new principals at our Catholic Schools in the Diocese: Kevin Kiefer, St. Augustine High School, Tucson; Joseph Parzych, St. Anthony, Casa Grande; Jean McKenzie, Sts. Peter and Paul, Tucson; Judeth Badgley, Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma; Sister Mary Aloysius Marquez, O.C.D., Loretto School, Douglas; and Jim Gordon, Our Lady of the Mountains School, Sierra Vista.

Please join me in welcoming them!

1. Celebrating Service to Church and God's People – My visit over the weekend to Adrian, Michigan, to participate in the Jubilee Celebrations of the Adrian Dominicans was wonderful!

Eleven sisters were celebrating their 70th anniversary in religious life, 36 their 60th, 27 their 50th (one of whom is Sister Charlotte Anne Swift, executive assistant in the Office of the Bishop) and one her 25th anniversary. That is 3,630 years of religious life. Fantastic!

Just from my experience of working with our three Adrians at the Pastoral Center – Sister Charlotte, Sister Lois Paha and Sister Rina Cappellazzo –  I could only imagine the number of people these sisters have served in those years of ministry. Our three do so much for our community of faith, and, clearly, so do all the women religious who serve in our Diocese.
 
Adrian is a beautiful place filled with the history of this religious community of women. Their mission states: "We are women who come together to share faith and life with one another. We are sent to the world to be with others, bearers and recipients of God's love and co-workers of His justice and peace."

I could sense that mission being lived in the lives of these Sister jubilarians.

Sister Mary Ann Rawson, S.N.J.M., is another exemplar to us of living the mission of Christ. Sister Mary Ann, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, is retiring from her hospital chaplaincy ministry for the Caronodelt Health Network in Tucson. It was great to read about the impact of her caring and compassion for the ill and their families in a story last week in The Arizona Daily Star.
 
Sisters have been involved in health ministry from the earliest beginnings of our country, and Sister Mary Ann represents countless women religious who have dedicated their time and talent to care for the sick. There are hundreds and hundreds of stories of the dedication and commitment of our women religious that never get told, but through this acknowledgment of Sister Mary Ann's ministry we can appreciate even more the service of our women religious to Church and to God's people. Thank you, Sister Mary Ann, for your generous service.
 
2. Safe Environment Program – At today's meeting of the diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board, I will share with the members the results to date of the annual audit of parishes and schools.

Each year, we undertake a general collection of data that indicate how well each parish and school is maintaining its local Safe Environment Program. A review like this, looking at the steps taken in each aspect of a complex program, takes a lot of work, but it is absolutely essential. Without audits, mistakes can go unnoticed and create bigger problems later.

I am very pleased to hear that our parishes and schools are tackling this project with positive attitudes. Julieta Gonzalez, executive assistant to Dr. Paul Duckro in the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection, is going through her first audit experience. She has been calling all the parishes and schools. The resulting conversations, on successes and on problems, give both encouragement and constructive suggestions for improvement. I am happy to say that the audit reports have begun coming in earlier than in the past.

Production of the annual educational video is nearly complete. The focus of this year's video is personal safety education for children and youth. Our Personal Safety Education Curriculum, developed two years ago, has been very well received in the Diocese and it has been recognized for its many strengths by other dioceses in the U.S. and even in Australia!

I thank Jean McKenzie, who chaired the group that put the curriculum together, and those who served so ably on the committee: Mike Berger, Sister Elise Calmus, C.PP.S. (now deceased), Dr. Duckro, Mary Ann Hendrickson and Laura Stehle. Their hard work gave our parishes and schools a valuable instrument for teaching our children how to play a role in their own safety.

3. On the Confirmation Trail – I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation this evening at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Elfrida.

4. Meeting of Diocesan Finance Council – The Finance Council meets tomorrow here at the Pastoral Center. The agenda includes a review of the 2008-09 fiscal year budget for the Administrative Offices of the Diocese.

5. Arizona Catholic Conference – Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix and I will meet tomorrow as the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC). Our meeting will include an update on the nearly finished legislative session and a preview of the upcoming elections. We also will review measures that may be on the ballot in November and discuss future projects for the ACC.

We continue to prod Gov. Janet Napolitano to sign the ban on partial birth abortion that has again made its way to her desk. She vetoed similar legislation earlier this year. Legislators have amended the legislation to address her concerns. We hope that she will come to understand that this particularly gruesome abortion method has no place in a civil society.
 
The Church and our Arizona Catholic Conference continue to educate on the evil of abortion in all forms and to advocate for an end to permissive abortion laws that permit the taking of life. We continue to strive to work with women to find alternatives to abortion.

6. Catholic Common Ground Cardinal Bernardin Award – I will be receiving this award from the Catholic Common Ground Initiative this Friday in Washington.

The occasion for the presentation of the award will be the Initiative's annual Philip J. Murnion Lecture. At this year's lecture, Common Ground will honor the memory of Tim Russert, who was to have given the lecture on "Learning from the Political Process for Common Ground in the Catholic Church."

Just two week's after his colleague's death, Brian Williams of NBC News will give the lecture under this title: "Tim Russert, the Political Process, and the Common Ground for the Catholic Church."

I want to share with you, through the remarks I will give following the presentation, what this award means to me:

In his book "Big Russ and Me," Tim Russert wrote about his dad, who was his mentor and his friend. He described the respect, esteem and regard he had for this person he loved. His dad taught him, inspired him, and helped him to become the father Tim turned out to be.

Tim sought to love his son, Luke, as he had been loved by his dad, Russ. Life works that way. You learn from exemplars.

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin mentored me. As someone recently said, you learn ministry by looking over the shoulder of masters, watching their moves and learning by their example.

I first met the Cardinal soon after he arrived as Archbishop of Chicago. I welcomed him to Quigley Seminary South, our high school seminary, where I was rector.

He took time to meet each member of the faculty. They felt thrilled.

He took time to meet each of the 750 students. He even listened to each thirteen-year-old freshman, a group for whom many people have no time or interest. They do not matter to many, but they mattered to him. They felt that.

Taking that time for those meetings was nothing extraordinary for him, but for those he met his taking that time was an act of graciousness that people remembered and that I remember.

Cardinal Bernardin appointed me to be the rector of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He told me how important the seminary was to him. He wanted it to be the best. He wanted it to draw students from around the country and even to attract seminarians from other nations.

He wanted to form faith-filled, holy and creative priests who would renew and reinvigorate the Church. He came to visit regularly. He met the seminarians and engaged them in discussion about the Church. He wanted to know their thoughts, opinions, insights.

Although initially on these visits most of the seminarians were frightened and nervous to meet the Cardinal Archbishop the first time, he showed no airs, no pretenses. He was just himself, and he put them at ease.

He taught me and many others what it means to have "grace under pressure" after he was accused of misconduct with a minor.

He called me late at night soon after the allegation surfaced. He told me how concerned he was about the seminarians, what they might be thinking. He humbly asked if he might come out to Mundelein to talk with the seminarians, respond to their questions and concerns.

"What do you think, Jerry?" he said. "Of course," I said, "please come." And he did.

The seminarians were all gathered in the second floor lecture hall, a tiered room. The community numbered 175. When we came into the room, it was totally quiet. The seminarians felt the Cardinal's anxiousness and he theirs. I welcomed him and he gave a very brief comment and then asked them, "Do you have any questions?" He always wanted to know their thoughts.

Silence! No one uttered a word. Finally one of the seminarians tentatively raised his hand. He asked, "What has it been like for you?"

The Cardinal paused for an interminable time. You could cut the silence with a knife.

Finally, he said, "I was totally embarrassed, totally. Here I am the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, my name on the headline of every newspaper around the world, even in my hometown in Italy for my family to see. I was totally embarrassed.

"I went home that night all by myself. I entered my residence and climbed the darkened staircase to the second floor where my rooms are. I came into my room surrounded by all the honorary degrees, recognitions, gifts that I had received from so many.

"I prostrated myself on the floor," he said, "as if I were naked. But, do you know I became aware of the Lord present in my life in a deeper and fuller way than I had ever experienced before."

Throughout that ordeal, he never became bitter, resentful, self-pitying. He faced the news media, the public, his accuser. He knew he was innocent.

The man he truly was showed through his response. He moved all of us. His faith had been tested.

He showed the same courage when he received the terrifying news that he had pancreatic cancer.

He wanted to live, to carry on, to complete his work. He did not want to die.

At that time, he was aware of the sharp divisions that had grown up in the household of faith. That disturbed him. He wanted to get us talking, listening, healing, engaged in sacred conversation – civil, respectful conversation.

This became his parting gift to the Church he loved: bringing us together to resolve our disagreements, to seek common ground.

Some saw what he wanted to do as weakness: a failure of conviction, a lack of courage. It was anything but that.

Common Ground represents the legacy of a man who loved the Church, gave his life for the Church, showed the Church that differences do not necessarily divide but can lead to a deeper consensus, the heart of what we believe.

Joe Bernardin taught me a lot – taught us a lot. I am so honored to receive this Award that bears his name. I only hope I can imitate his attentiveness to others, his sincerity, his grace under pressure, his passion to engage people in dialogue.

Like some of you, I sat by his bed when he was dying in November of 1996, the manuscript of his book, "The Gift of Peace," resting on his bed. He could no longer talk or get out of bed, but he knew who was there.

I thanked him for all he taught me. I asked him to give me some of his courage, some of his gentleness, some of his ability to find harmony amid discord.

Luke Russert spoke eloquently of his dad in the eulogy he gave at the memorial service. His dad taught him a lot. He emulated his dad. His dad rubbed off on him.

I only pray that by receiving this award, holding it, some of Cardinal Bernardin's many gifts might take hold in me. I pray that each time this Award is given in his name, we might remember his gift to the Church – the gift of peace.

7. El Día de San Juan – Tomorrow's feast day of St. John the Baptist is the traditional beginning in the Tucson area of the monsoon season. Legend says that on June 24, 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez Coronado stood on the banks of the parched Santa Cruz River and prayed for rain. When the rains suddenly began, according to legend, Coronado deemed that from that day forward the summer rains would come on the 24th day of June.

The Tucson community will celebrate this tradition tomorrow with the 11th Annual El Día de San Juan Fiesta at 5 p.m. at the west bank of the Santa Cruz River and West Congress Street.

The Fiesta features a traditional processing and blessing, charros and escaramuzas, mariachis and folkloricos, and music and dance. There will be games and activities for children and families, booths and tables offering information on services available to area residents and food and refreshments for sale. The Fiesta is sponsored by a partnership of public, private, and neighborhood organizations.

8. Pauline Year – The special year proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul begins this coming Sunday. The Holy Father will begin this special year during Vespers this Saturday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls* in Rome. He will light a votive lamp that will burn continually during the jubilee, which ends June 29, 2009.

This Pauline Year is an invitation to all of us to imitate St. Paul's zeal for the faith and his urgent desire to bring the message of Christ to all. In our Diocese, we will use St. Paul as the exemplar of what it means to teach the faith. As we embark on a diocesan plan for Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice, St. Paul's example will prod us to all become teachers and evangelizers of the faith. During Lent, we will focus on reconciliation, inviting people to return to the Church.

Last year, in Aparecida, Brazil, the bishops of Latin America approved a document calling for a continental mission to form missionary disciples among the people of God. St. Paul, the great missionary, serves as a model for all of us as we seek to introduce people to the Living Christ and to invite them to become disciples.

(*If you would like to take a virtual reality tour of this beautiful church, you can go to www.vrmag.org/projects/minainvaticano/FULLSCREEN/VR000002240.html. When the screen has fully loaded, just move your cursor left and right or up and down. Other navigation controls are on the lower left of the screen. There's a "hot spot" on the entrance to the church that will take you inside. There is an excellent resource on the Pauline Year at www.annopaolino.org.)

9. Good-byes and a Welcome – Next Monday will mark the completion of a total of almost five decades of commitment to the mission of the Diocese of Tucson when Margaret Lordon and Pegi Dodd both retire from their present positions in the Office of Formation.

In addition to her five years of ministry as the Assistant Director for Lay Ecclesial Ministry in the Office of Formation, Margaret has served as a religious education teacher and administrator for 32 years in parishes of our Diocese. Margaret's commitment to faith formation has been a tremendous gift to us, especially to the Common Formation Program. 

Pegi has been on the Diocese of Tucson support staff since 1996, serving in the Office of Formation, the former Department of Parish Life and Ministry and in the Catholic Schools Office. Her dedication and service will be missed. 
 
We welcome Ofelia James as the new executive assistant to Sister Lois. Ofelia is a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson.  She comes to us with a wide range of administrative experience, most recently at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic School. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and will be working under the direction of Sister Lois in the Department of Pastoral Services. 

10. Diocesan Directory – The Diocese of Tucson Directory for 2008-09 is just about ready to be printed. The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson sponsors our Directory, and Martin Camacho, executive director of the Foundation, tells me distribution to parishes and schools should begin in August.

11. Re-surfacing of Cathedral Parking Lot – From today to 4 p.m. on Saturday, crews will be resurfacing and striping the parking lot at St. Augustine Cathedral. The Cathedral already has announced the project to its parishioners. During the project, no parking will be available at the Cathedral. Visitors to the Cathedral and the Pastoral Center should park either on the streets or in paid lots. 

12. Sing to the Lord Book Coming Soon – Sing to the Lord, a statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the role of music in the liturgy, will be available for purchase as a book on July 8. The statement was approved by the bishops in November of 2007 and is available at
www.usccb.org/liturgy/SingToTheLord.pdf.

Paul Henderson, USCCB Publishing director, states the new book "has long been anticipated by American Catholic musicians" and will help parishes better understand the role of music in divine worship. Clergy and musicians have relied on downloading the statement from the Web site. "The book's availability will make it easier for music leaders to apply the bishops' norms and principles to their ministry," according to Paul.

Sing to the Lord covers several issues integral to Catholic worship. Musicians will find criteria for selecting a performance repertoire for various occasions. The statement also explains how participants are to engage music in liturgical celebrations according to the norms established by the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Liturgy. The instruction defines the singing role assigned to bishops, priests, deacons, the choir and the congregation. The bishops also encourage the cultivation and use of Gregorian chant due to its unifying role, especially when liturgical celebrations use Latin.

Sing to the Lord is available for $9.95 per copy and can be ordered at www.usccbpublishing.org.
 
13. Screening of New Movie – I am passing on to you an invitation from its promoters to attend a free screening tonight of the new movie "Fireproof." The screening will be at 7 p.m. at the Cinemark El Con 20 in Tucson. The film reportedly dramatizes, from a Christian perspective, the challenges that married couples face. The film, from the producers of "Facing the Giants," has received endorsements from several Catholic marriage support ministries (including the director of Family Life Ministries of the Archdiocese of Chicago). To attend the screening, you must register at www.maximusmg.com/fireproofevents under "Attend Pre-Release Screenings for Catholic Leaders."

14. World Youth Day – World Youth Day (WYD), the largest youth event in the world, will be held in Sydney, Australia, from July 15 through July 20. Through the WYD experience, young people from throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in faith to meet and share their faith and to experience God's love.
WYD will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted. It will attract more 125,000 international visitors – more than the 2000 Olympics. And, WYD will mark the first visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.
Our Diocese will be represented in Sydney by several dozen teens from at least four of our Tucson parishes: Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Cyril, Holy Family and St. John the Evangelist.

Begun by Pope John Paul II, WYD is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith around a particular theme. The theme selected for this, his second, WYD is, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." Acts 1:8

15. Remember in Your Prayers – Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Sheila Mortonson, O.S.F., who died June 7 at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls, Minnesota. In her 66 years of religious life, Sister Sheila served in Rome, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Belgium, Minnesota, Alabama and in our Diocese, most recently at St. Pius X Parish in Tucson. The Funeral Mass was celebrated June 11.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Richard O'Rielly, son of Buck and Bobbie O'Rielly, who died June 13. A Memorial Mass was celebrated on Saturday at Corpus Christi Parish in Tucson. A member of a family that has given so much to Church and to the Tucson community, Richard served on the O'Rielly Family Foundation. At the time of his death, he was development director of Teen Challenge of Arizona.

16. Volunteers needed for the Archives – Nancy Siner, our diocesan Archivist, is looking for volunteers who would be able to commit 10 to 15 hours a week to assist in the organization of the Archives in its new facility at St. Ambrose Parish. Nancy says that volunteers who love the Church and who have an appreciation for our Diocese's history would be a blessing to her as she makes a new home for our Archives. Because many of the materials are old and dusty, persons with respiratory problems should not try to take on the work that will be necessary.  For more information, please contact her at [email protected].

17. Summer Break for Monday Memo – The Memo will return on Monday, Aug. 4.