October 2005
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July 3, 2019
Vol. 3, No. 25
Oct. 3, 2005
As we all remain very concerned about the loss of life and great suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, I want to keep you informed about the response of the Church nationally.
Last week in Atlanta, I attended the first meeting of the task force that was formed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to coordinate the Catholic response. The members of the task force include bishops and the leadership of Catholic organizations that are responding on site and that are providing significant financial resources for the relief of communities and the dioceses that have been affected.
We all were very moved when we heard Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans and Bishop Thomas Rodi of Biloxi describe their experiences during and since Hurricane Katrina: the tears they each have shed; the agony they feel with their clergy and people; and the vast devastation of communities and destruction of parishes and schools. Each spoke of the hope and the inspiration they have received from the firm faith and perseverance of the people. They spoke of the untiring efforts of their priests, deacons, religious and laity to respond. It was very painful for them to realize that diocesan and parish jobs would be lost. Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge and Bishop William Friend of Shreveport spoke of the welcome their communities have given to the many evacuees. Bishop Friend told how his secretary opened her home to evacuees. They both informed us that enrollment in their Catholic schools has doubled due to the admission, at no charge, of children whose families were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and that consequently schools have had to extend their school days far beyond the normal hours of operation.
The dollar estimates of damage to the infrastructure of the Church in each of the Gulf Coast dioceses affected by the hurricanes are in the hundreds of millions. Each of the Catholic funding agencies participating in the relief efforts is doing whatever can be done to meet the challenges to rebuild the Church in the dioceses that have suffered such unprecedented loss.
Even with opposition by some in the U.S. Senate, it is hoped that some FEMA money might be available to help Catholic schools recover and that some funding might be available for the Catholic Charities agencies involved in relief efforts.
1. Parish Incorporation Meetings -- The series of informational meetings about the process to individually incorporate parishes in our Diocese begins tonight with the gathering of the Pinal West Vicariate at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Florence.
The focus of the meetings will be on the incorporation of parishes, not on the process of the Chapter 11 that was concluded on Sept. 20.
The meetings, one in each vicariate, are meant to acquaint the clergy, religious and laity with the reorganization of the Diocese and the incorporation of parishes that is called for in the Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. I hope to be able to attend several of the meetings.
The meetings will include a presentation that will make clear that the individual incorporation of parishes does not change the polity (the form of governance of a religious organization) of the Catholic Church. It will make clear that incorporation will not result in autonomous parishes in a "congregational" model, but instead will be signifying under civil law the status of a parish in canon law. All 74 individually incorporated parishes will remain unified, under the Bishop, in the faith and values that we hold and that come to us from Scripture and tradition.
It will be noted that the Vatican, as far back as the early 1900s, has encouraged individual incorporation of parishes for dioceses in the U.S. The presentation also will provide specific information on the incorporation model that is being used in our Diocese.
A reminder that all pastors and all priests, deacons and religious who are associated with a parish are expected to attend. Parish staff are expected to attend. Parishioners are strongly encouraged to attend. If you can't make the meeting in your vicariate, please attend a meeting in a nearby vicariate.
My thanks to Father Al Schifano, Moderator of the Curia, and Bob Scala, a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Parish Incorporation Committee, for all their hard work in preparing the presentation on incorporation that they will be giving at all the meetings.
As we begin this historic reorganization of the structure of the Diocese, I thank all those who have served on the Parish Incorporation Committee since its establishment last November: Father Al Schifano, Bob Scala (representing the Diocesan Pastoral Council), Father Dale Branson, Father Joe Lombardo and Father Dominic Pinti (representing the Presbyteral Council), Jerry Davies, former chairperson of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Father John Lyons, Judicial Vicar and canonical consultant to the committee, Nancy Stephan (representing the Diocesan Finance Council), Tom Clancy, former member of the Diocesan Finance Council, Sister Rosa Maria Ruiz, C.F.M.M., Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Gerry O'Meara, diocesan attorney. The committee conducted research on parish incorporation in other dioceses and developed the model of incorporation for parishes in our Diocese.
Here is the schedule of this week's meetings:
Pinal-West Vicariate
Tonight, 7 p.m., Parish Hall, Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 177 E. 8th St., Florence
Parishes: St. George, Apache Junction; St. Anthony of Padua, Casa Grande; St. Helen, Eloy; Assumption of Blessed Virgin, Florence
Santa Cruz Vicariate
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m., Room 213, Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 505 N. La Canada, Green Valley
Parishes: Our Lady of the Valley, Green Valley; Sacred Heart, Nogales; San Felipe de Jesus, Nogales; St. Theresa, Patagonia; Nativity of Our Lord Jesus, Rio Rico; San Martin de Porres, Sahuarita; St. Ann, Tubac
Yuma-LaPaz Vicariate
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m., Parish Hall, Immaculate Conception Parish, 505 Avenue B, Yuma
Parishes: Sacred Heart, Parker; St. Jude Thaddeus, San Luis; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Somerton; St. Joseph the Worker Mission, Wellton; Immaculate Conception, Yuma; St. Francis, Yuma; St. John Neumann, Yuma
Pima-Central Vicariate
Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m., Grammer Hall, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, 1946 E. Lee, Tucson
Parishes: Most Holy Trinity, Sacred Heart, Our Lady of La Vang, St. Ambrose, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Thomas More Newman Center, Sts. Peter and Paul
Pima-South Vicariate
Friday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m., Cathedral Hall, St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., Tucson
Parishes: Holy Family, Santa Cruz, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady Queen of All Saints, St. Augustine, St. John the Evangelist, St. Margaret, St. Monica
Important: If your parish is affected by the announcements below, please make every effort to ensure that all in your parish are informed.
The date of the Cochise Vicariate meeting is now Monday, Oct. 24. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Sierra Vista for all parishes in the Cochise Vicariate.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish will not be attending the Pima North Vicariate meeting and instead will be attending the Pima East meeting at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
2. Implementation of "Justice for Immigrants" -- Our meeting last Monday at Catholic Community Services headquarters of representatives from the major consultative bodies within the Diocese, Catholic institutions and agencies and diocesan staff featured some very informative presentations about the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, "Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope." I appreciated very much the presence of Leo Anchondo, coordinator of the campaign for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There also were some lively discussions in response to how we might best implement the campaign in our Diocese. Participants acknowledged the need to do more in our parishes and schools to share the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching. There was acknowledgement as well of the challenge that our parishes face at this time as they enter the process of individual incorporation.
I announced the formation of a task force that will keep that challenge in mind by emphasizing achievable goals for implementation that would begin in November and conclude in June. Members of the task force are Mike Berger of the Office of Catechesis, Joanne Welter of the Catholic Social Mission Office, Erica Dahl-Bredine of Catholic Relief Services Mexico Project, Deacon Ken Moreland of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Tucson, Father Raul Trevizo, vicar general for Hispanic Affairs, and several volunteers.
3. Feast of St. Francis -- Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, and we will remember with prayers of gratitude the magnificent service of the Franciscans in our Diocese.
The major observances of this feast day in our Diocese and in neighboring Sonora incorporate the spirituality and culture of the Tohono o'Odahm and the Mexican People, including a pilgrimage of thousands of people to Magdalena, Sonora. This pilgrimage is thought to have started in the mid-1800s, and it combines the image of St. Francis Xavier, founder of the Jesuits, with the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
I will be celebrating Mass tomorrow with the community of St. Ignatius Mission in North Komchk Village on the Tohono o'Odahm Nation.
On Saturday at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish in Tucson, Brother Michael Graf, O.F.M. Cap., conducted a traditional "blessing of the animals" in the spirit of St. Francis' love for all creation. Parishioners and neighbors brought their pets, including a desert tortoise, to the ceremony. Brother Michael is a pastoral minister at Our Lady Queen of All Saints.
4. Synod on the Eucharist -- Pope Benedict XVI opened the first major Church gathering of his papacy yesterday at St. Peter's Basilica, welcoming more than 250 bishops from 118 countries to the Synod on the Eucharist. The delegation from the U.S. includes Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishops Skystad, Gregory and Wuerl. The Holy Father's homily during the opening Mass had a strong focus on the need to allow God to be present in public life. The Synod will continue over the next three weeks and will end with the formal conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist. After the Synod, the Holy Father will issue his first post synodal document. We look forward to that.
5. Conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist -- I ask your assistance in inviting and encouraging parish and school communities to participate in the special Mass for our Diocese's observance of the conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist at noon on Sunday, Oct. 30, at St. Augustine Cathedral.
Father Miguel Mariano, who is coordinating the planning for the Liturgy, including the Eucharistic Procession after Mass, will be keeping all of us informed in the coming weeks about the many efforts to make this a truly special occasion that will enable us to demonstrate our love for the Eucharist.
6. Appointment of Chief Financial Officer -- I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Arnold as chief financial officer of the Diocese of Tucson. Under canon law, the bishop is to name a finance officer who is to be truly skilled in financial affairs and absolutely distinguished for honesty.
Tom has been serving as controller for the Diocese, and I am very grateful that he has accepted the appointment, which is for five years and is renewable.
The role of finance officer is to administer the goods of a diocese under the authority of the bishop in accordance with the budget determined by the finance council. From the income of the diocese, the finance officer is to meet the expenditures that the bishop or others deputized by him have legitimately authorized. At the end of the year, the finance officer must give to the finance council a report of receipts and expenditures. In our diocese as in many others, the day-to-day responsibilities of the chief financial officer extend far beyond the canonical requirements.
7. Annual Pima County Detention Ministry Appreciation Dinner -- Volunteers and chaplaincy staff who minister at the Pima County Adult Detention Center will gather this Friday evening at El Camino Baptist Church for their annual appreciation dinner. I will be attending with 20 volunteers from our Detention Ministry Program.
Each year, the dinner recognizes volunteers from the different faiths and denominations for their contributions and assistance to detention ministry at the Pima County Adult Detention Center.
This year, Senior Chaplain Dan Burgoyne and Assistant Chaplain Steve Martinez have invited the "Gate Keepers" to share their inspirational music at the dinner. This group began many years ago as a family Christian music group and has grown to include others who visit area detention facilities, including the Catalina Mountain School.
8. New Employee Orientation and Welcome -- The annual orientation and welcome for new (within the past year) employees of parishes is this Wednesday here at the Pastoral Center. This event allows me to communicate my personal welcome to staff who are new at parishes. Some 20 new employees will learn about the priorities we have as a Diocese, and they will be able to meet many of the persons at the Pastoral Center with whom they will be interacting. I thank Richard Serrano and the staff of Human Resources for arranging this event.
9. Our Lady of LaSallette Celebration -- I will be participating this Saturday with Father Roland Bedard, M.S., Father Henry Dabuphinais, M.S., and Father Andrews Kollannoor, M.S., and the community of the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Double Adobe in the pilgrimage, Mass and celebration in honor of the 159th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Mother as Our Lady of La Salette.
The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette are a community of priests and brothers in North America who serve in various ministries of reconciliation, and I am grateful for the presence and ministry of Father Roland, Father Henry and Father Andrews in our Diocese.
For more information about the celebration, call 520-797-8838. For more information on Our Lady of La Salette and the Missionaries, visit www.lasalette.org.
10. Debut of "Visión Católica"-- A new Catholic radio program in Spanish that is produced here in the Diocese of Tucson debuts this afternoon on KQTL, Radio Visión, 1210 AM.
The station's signal covers Tucson and reaches Nogales, Sierra Vista, Ajo and Casa Grande. "Visión Católica" will be on the air Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. The program will include music, interviews with local Catholics and information from parishes around the Diocese. I will be recording a weekly message for the program.
"Visión Católica" is part of the newly launched Spanish Media Project, which includes the Spanish section in The New Catholic Vision/La Nueva Visión and the soon-to-appear Spanish pages of the diocesan Web site.
If you would like to place an ad, suggest special topics, share new ideas, place announcements of events in your parish or announce job opportunities please send a fax to "Programa Visión Católica" at St. Cyril, 520- 795-1639, or call Luis Gonzalez at St, Cyril, 795-1633.
Radio ministry in our Diocese goes back many decades to the programs that the late Msgr. Don Hughes produced on KVOA Radio. Msgr. Arsenio Carrillo also participated in radio ministry for many years on KXEW.
11. Domestic Violence Awareness Month -- "Violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form -- physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal -- is sinful; often, it is a crime as well." -- U.S. Catholic Bishops, When I Call for Help, 2002
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and our awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence is very important if we are to respond appropriately when we encounter it in pastoral situations.
I emphasize the excellent resources that are available for priests, deacons, religious and parish staff from U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, including the pastoral letter, "When I Call for Help."
The resources include suggestions for preaching about family violence, sample homilies on domestic violence, addressing domestic violence in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and, importantly, some of the things we can say that will communicate our sensitivity and encouragement when a woman reveals that she is a victim of domestic violence.
The resources are available at www.usccb.org/laity/women/violence.shtml.
On our diocesan Web site, under "Responding to Domestic Violence," there is a comprehensive list, county by county within our Diocese, of the services that are available for responding to domestic violence: crisis counseling, shelters and safe houses, legal resources and advocacy services, orders of protection and injunctions against harassment and adult protective services.
I encourage all of our parishes to have this list printed out and available.
12. Retrouvaille International -- "Retrouvaille" is French for "rediscovery." Since its beginnings in 1977 in Quebec, Retrouvaille International has helped thousands of couples living in troubled marriages to rediscover a supportive and loving relationship. In our Diocese, Kathie and Kevin Stogsdill lead the Retrouvaille ministry of reconciliation and healing. This past weekend, Father Francisco Maldonado was in San Francisco to give a series of talks to the 2005 Retrouvaille International Council Meeting. I am sure his reflections were very helpful and enlightening.
13. St. Theresa Parish 50th Anniversary -- Foclorico dancers from Lourdes Catholic High School, Mariachis and lots of food made the 50th anniversary celebration at St. Theresa in Patagonia on Saturday a real special event.
I was pleased to celebrate the Eucharist with many priests, including Father Gerardo De La Torre, S.X., the pastor, Father Joseph Lombardo, Vicar of Santa Cruz Vicariate, Father Paul Laroque, Father Ed Carscallen, Father Charles Maloney and Father Ed Pietrucha, C.S.P. The church was filled.
History tells us that when Bishop Gercke consecrated the new church in October of 1955 they celebrated with a two steer barbecue. I guess Bishop Gercke wasn't a vegetarian. For the anniversary celebration, Father Gerardo added grass and carrots to the menu for the present bishop!
We had a great celebration. The community's hospitality could not have been more gracious. I was pleased that so many of the Minim Sisters attended, as well as the brothers from the Monastery of Erlac in Sonoita.
14. The Beauty of Music -- I attended last week's opening concert of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. We are blessed to have such a fine orchestra in our community. George Hanson, the conductor, does a marvelous job. If you have never attended you are missing out on a treat.
Music and art are vehicles for meeting God. They lift our minds and hearts. Beauty was one of the ways St. Thomas felt we encounter God and know that God exists.
There are plans to have the Tucson Symphony play as part of a concert being planned by the committee raising funds for the Cathedral Placita and Hall that will recognize the contributions of Msgr. Arsenio Carrillo to St. Augustine Cathedral Parish.
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Michael Sarda and Rick Romero who several years ago had commissioned "An American Requiem" to commemorate the tragic events of Sept 11. They are now planning a "Sornoran Requiem" that would be performed in a joint concert in the U.S. and in Mexico. They are seeking support and funding for the development and performance of the Requiem. They have a daunting task, and I am encouraging this initiative because music is such a powerful medium by which to touch hearts.
Music is a great vehicle that allows us to reach beyond our differences, as demonstrated by conductor Daniel Barenboim of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who has sought through music to bring healing and build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians.
15. Sunday Visit to Blessed Sacrament Parish, Mammoth -- Blessed Sacrament Parish has been working hard to beautify their liturgy. Recently, parishioners have donated a presidential chair, vestments, chalices and ciboria. I was delighted to bless these new items at a celebration there this yesterday. I am grateful to Father Dale Branson, who is Vicar Forane of Gila-Pinal East and now pastor of three parishes, and to his parochial vicar, Father Richard Kusugh, V.C. They are well liked by their people. I was pleased to hear from many people who went out of their way to thank me for the pastoral work these priests are doing in their community.
16. Gathering for Young Catholic Adults -- Thirty young Catholic adults visited my home last evening for a reception. It is so encouraging to meet these young people who are so talented and who want to be more involved in the Church.
Father Miguel Mariano arranged for a delicious array of foods and music, with performances that included Mary Ann Luini on keyboard and the Mariachi group from Our Lady of Fatima Parish. I thank all the donors and volunteers who helped make this a beautiful evening. Miki Hunt, who coordinates ministry to young adults, now has a Yahoo group by which to keep the young adults informed about upcoming events.
17. Congratulations to Sister Adele O'Sullivan, C.S.J., M.D. -- We join in the happiness of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at the news that the American Academy of Family Physicians has named Sister Adele O'Sullivan, C.S.J., M.D., the 2006 Family Physician of the Year.
The Family Physician of the Year award honors an outstanding American family physician who provides patients with compassionate and comprehensive care while serving as a role model professionally and personally to his or her community, other health professionals, medical residents and medical students.
The Academy recognized Sister Adele for her commitment to providing medical care to the underserved populations in Arizona, especially the homeless. She has spent the last nine years as the medical director of the Maricopa County Health Care for the Homeless Program, providing primary health care to homeless individuals and families in Maricopa County.
In addition to her clinical practice, O'Sullivan is a mentor and teacher, serving as a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and providing a unique rotation for medical residents and students on the health care needs of the homeless and underserved.
Sister Adele is well known in our Diocese, having ministered among us here in years past, and her accomplishments as a religious woman and physician in serving the poor are indeed inspiring.Father Clarke W. Moore, a retired priest of the Diocese of Tucson, died Sunday after a long illness. Father Clarke had given 41 years of faithful priestly service in our Diocese. His assignments included St. Bartholomew Parish in San Manuel, Holy Cross Parish in Morenci, Immaculate Conception Parish in Ajo, Sacred Heart Parish in Nogales, St. Cyril and St. Ambrose Parishes in Tucson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Yuma and Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Kearny. Before retiring in 2002, he served for nine years as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Tubac.
As of this morning, funeral plans were still pending. Chancellor June Kellen will send out a notice when arrangements are complete.
Father Clarke is survived by his sister, Ann McDougall, and a number of nieces and nephews.
1. Parish Incorporation Information Meetings -- I am very grateful for the tremendous attendance last week at the first five Parish Incorporation Information Meetings. Pastors, parish staff and parishioners have made great efforts to participate. All but two pastors have been present so far, and those two pastors have assured me they will attend meetings in other vicariates.
The presenters at the meetings, Father Al Schifano, Moderator of the Curia, and Bob Scala of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, are doing a terrific job. Jerry Davies of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Gerard O'Meara, diocesan attorney, Tom Arnold, Chief Financial Officer, Father John Lyons, canonical counsel, and Nancy Stephan of the Finance Council have been very helpful in answering questions posed by pastors, staff and parishioners.
The presentation is clear and helpful, and we have had some challenging and insightful questions that have helped us to clarify issues. We anticipate compiling all the questions and answers and presenting them in The New Vision/La Nueva Visión and on the diocesan Web site.
The meetings have demonstrated to me what good things happen when we come together for a common purpose. I was so impressed to see our priests huddled with their people, working together and collaborating. What wonders we can work when we pull in the same direction and work together!
Because of the annual Priests' Retreats (see below), there is only one information meeting scheduled for the next two weeks, and that is the 10:30 a.m. meeting tomorrow of the Pima North Vicariate at Santa Catalina Parish. Parishes that will be attending this meeting are St. Mark the Evangelist, St. Odilia, St. Thomas the Apostle, Santa Catalina and St. Christopher, Marana. Staff and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish will be attending the meeting of the Pima East Vicariate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish.
2. Annual Priests' Retreats -- Due to fire damage (see below) early last Friday morning at the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks, this year's Priests' Retreats will now be taking place at the Smuggler's Inn on East Speedway in Tucson. Chancellor June Kellen sent out notice of the change in location on Friday immediately after arrangements were made. My thanks to Bert Lopez and John Cousins, Joyce Boyd and Gayle Venner, the management of Smuggler's Inn, for accommodating us on such short notice.
Bishop Roger Kaffer, retired auxiliary Bishop of Joliet, is the retreat master for this week.
Father Thomas Zurcher, C.S.C., Vicar for the Office of Priest Personnel in the Diocese of Phoenix, is the retreat master for next week.
I will be celebrating Mass with the priests on Wednesday of this week and on Tuesday of next week. In addition to celebrating Mass with our priests, I look forward to being with them tonight and next Monday night as we share with each other our lives as priests in the Diocese of Tucson. Please keep our priests in your prayers over these next two weeks as they step away from the demands of ministry to be with the Lord.
3. Fire at Picture Rocks -- The Web site of the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks displays the sad headline: "Disaster Strikes."
Fire destroyed the Center's main building, which houses the kitchen, dining room, the Oasis and Saguaro Rooms, early last Friday morning. A passer-by first spotted the blaze and made a report, but by the time the fire trucks arrived the building was completely engulfed. Firefighters acted quickly to prevent the flames from spreading to the nearby St. Gerard Chapel. The building had been under renovation construction to enlarge and enhance the dining and kitchen facilities and was nearing completion, and dedication ceremonies (now cancelled) were scheduled for early November. Additional information and photos of the fire are available at www.desertrenewal.org.
"We are struggling," Father Tom Santa, C.Ss.R., told me Friday, "but we have some solutions that will permit us to reopen perhaps by the end of the year, switching to different buildings."
Knowing the great faith and spirit of the Redemptorist Community at Picture Rocks, they will rebound from this setback with energy and renewed commitment to their ministry. While we all are saddened by their loss, we also are grateful that there were no injuries to staff or firefighters.
4. Diaconate Directory Reunion -- I am very happy to welcome to Tucson this week Deacon Bill Ditewig, Executive Director of the Secretariat for the Diaconate of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and six of his brother deacons. The occasion of their visit is a reunion of those who worked to develop the "National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons." I was privileged to serve as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on the Diaconate during several of the formative years of the directory, which was promulgated late last year after seven years of hard work.
The directory addresses the formation of deacons and the model standards for the formation, ministry and life of deacons in the U.S. It is a primary resource for preparing or updating a diaconate program's policies for the ministry and life of deacons.
5. Management Workshops -- In our ongoing efforts to promote accountability and to implement sound management principles, the Diocese's Human Resources Office is offering two workshops for managers in parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations. The first of the one-and-one-half day workshops is this Wednesday here at the Pastoral Center.
The workshops are intended for pastors, parish administrators, business managers, office managers and others who have the responsibility of managing employees. Topics include: the role of a manager; a legal perspective of management's obligations (to be presented by Gerard O'Meara, our diocesan attorney); the employment process; recruiting and interviewing; labor standards; performance management; and employee relations and team building.
The need for proper management is becoming even more critical as we being the process of individually incorporating parishes, so I strongly encourage those in our parishes and schools who have management responsibilities to attend the workshops. A memo from Richard Serrano, director of Human Resources, explaining the purpose of the workshops and inviting attendance went out on Sept. 29. Please contact Richard at 520-792-3410 for more information.
6. Welcome Back, Father Bob Gonzales! -- We are happy to welcome Father Bob Gonzales back to ministry in the Diocese. Father Bob has recently completed many years of service at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, as a professor of philosophy and as vice rector of the College of Liberal Arts.
Father Bob is assigned as parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Tucson.
7. Meeting of Sexual Misconduct Review Board -- Our diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board will hold its monthly meeting this Friday at the Pastoral Center. The Board is instrumental in our efforts to fulfill the mandates of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth People of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In its guidance and oversight capacities, the Board also ensures that our parishes and schools are fulfilling their responsibilities for creating safe environments for children.
The efforts of our Diocese to ensure the safety of children through many different mandatory programs were recognized last year through the identification of Dr. Paul Duckro, director of our Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection, as a model of "best practices" in his important ministry.
Our "Dr. Duckro" is held in high regard by many, including the leadership of the Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute who have selected Paul to give the Robert G. Wilke, Ph.D., Memorial Lecture later this month in St. Louis at the Institute's 10th anniversary observances.
8. Focus on Border Issues and Concerns -- Two Catholic gatherings this week in Tucson will focus on issues and concerns related to borders -- our border with Mexico and borders in the global context.
First, up to 400 representatives of national Catholic organizations are expected to participate in Mission Congress 2005, which begins on Thursday at the Radisson City Center. I am honored to be giving the welcoming address to this important gathering.
Participants will include representatives from mission-sending organizations, lay and religious missioners, parish twinning groups, Mission Office and Society for the Propagation of the Faith personnel, bishops and younger missioners.
Mission Congress 2005 will challenge participants to keep a truly global worldview as they reflect on the various "borders" experienced in culture and in Church. Discussion will focus on globalization and its implications for the Christian community's call for solidarity. The Congress is an event of the Catholic Mission Forum.
Second, on Sunday, immediately after Mission Congress 2005, a gathering under the title of "Making the Link Between Trade and Migration: Building a Network of Solidarity with Migrants" will address the connections between trade and migration, building networks of solidarity with migrants and advocating for justice on the border. Archbishop Ulises Macias Salcedo, Archbishop of Hermosillo, and I will give the keynote presentation on Sunday.
9. Common Formation Program -- The 79 women and men participating in the Diocesan Common Formation Program will be gathering this Friday night, all day Saturday and on Sunday morning. They are the men who are aspiring to the permanent diaconate and their wives and women and men who are aspiring to lay ecclesial ministry. They have begun the second year of the four-year common formation program. The topics for the year are Theology of Ministry, New Testament, Church History and the Creed. The program is presented in Spanish and English. Members of the program represent 29 parishes in the Diocese. The weekend, hosted by St. Francis de Sales Parish in Tucson, will include prayer, study, faith-sharing, fun and food.
10. Conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist -- Planning continues for the special Mass at noon on Sunday, Oct. 30, at St. Augustine Cathedral that will mark our Diocese's observance of the conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist.
Father Miguel Mariano informs me that we will have a special combined choir of our Diocesan Chorale and children who have received their First Communion this year. Many of the spiritual and fraternal groups within the Diocese will be represented, including the Knights of Columbus and the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchure.
The Eucharistic Procession that will begin immediately after the Prayer after Communion is a beautiful and centuries old liturgical tradition. In doing a little research on the Internet, I discovered a reflection on the Eucharistic Procession by Archbishop Denis J. Hart of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia.
Archbishop Hart posed two questions: "What is the purpose of such a procession? And why have our Popes so fervently encouraged the Church to continue this ancient custom?"
Answering the questions, the Archbishop wrote, "There are two reasons: Pilgrimage and Witness. First of all, the Eucharistic Procession reminds us that the Church is a 'pilgrim people' -- a people on a journey. But that journey is not undertaken alone, nor is it an endless journey that has no goal. Secondly, the Eucharistic Procession is a witness to the world. By bearing the Eucharist in solemn procession, the Church publicly proclaims the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of the whole world."
You can read Archbishop Hart's entire reflection at www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/archbishop/reflections/archvol16i09.htm.
The "old timers" here at the Pastoral Center can't remember the last time there was a Eucharistic Procession as part of a diocesan liturgy, so this will be an historic occasion.
11. Second Annual Asia Day Mass and Celebration -- I am very pleased to announce that Bishop Ignatius Wang, Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco, will be the homilist for our Second Annual Asia Day Mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, at St. Augustine Cathedral. Bishop Wang, a native of Beijing, China, was the first Chinese and first Asian bishop to be ordained for a diocese in the U.S.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Called to Share Gifts and Promote Harmony." Asia Day allows us to acknowledge the presence and gifts of Catholics of Asian and Pacific cultures within our Diocese, and everyone is invited!
We had a beautiful Mass and a really joyous celebration (with wonderful food!) last year at St. Augustine Cathedral of the first diocesan Asia Day.
12. African American Catholics -- While they have been relatively few in number in our Diocese, African American Catholics have made significant contributions to the vitality of our parishes for many years, so last week I was very happy to meet with Michael Butler, a Tucson Catholic who has felt very strongly the call to initiate a spiritual organization for Black Catholics in the Diocese of Tucson.
As a result of our meeting, I have asked Sister Jean Olmstead, S.B.S., Vicar for Religious, to work with Mike and other Black Catholics. Also, we will plan a Mass and a celebration to be held on Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Diocese of Phoenix has had a ministry to Black Catholics for some time. We hope that Black Catholics from the Phoenix Diocese will join us on that day.
13. Beatification of Cardinal Clemens August von Galen -- Our Diocese has a very personal connection to yesterday's beatification of Cardinal Clemens August von Galen (1878-1946) at St. Peter's Basilica. Count Ferdinand von Galen, who is a parishioner of St. Theresa Parish in Patagonia, is a nephew of Blessed Clemens, and the Count and his family were present for the beatification at which Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, presided. At the end of the ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI arrived at the Basilica in order to venerate the relics of the new blessed, to greet those present and to impart his apostolic blessing.
Cardinal von Galen is best known for his outspoken stand, as Bishop of Munster, against Hitler and his fierce opposition to the Nazi program of euthanasia of the mentally and physically disabled. Historians say his sermon of Aug. 3, 1941, which publicly exposed the program, forced the Nazis to cease the euthanasia campaign.
You can learn more about Blessed Clemens at www.cst-phl.com/050505/prayer.html.
14. Faithful Citizenship -- Today is the final day to register for the upcoming city elections in many of the communities within our Diocese. Faithful Citizenship, a document of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urges Catholics to register and vote. This is a right we have in a free society. Catholics have a responsibility as disciples of Christ to work to build a just society.
In all the communities of the Diocese, there are many issues that draw our attention, including education, the well being of families and children, the movement of peoples, poverty, addictions and the beautification of our neighborhoods.
Faith moves us to act in our community to make it a place where all people can live a dignified way of life. If you have not registered, do so today. Urge others to register.
15. Please Remember in Your Prayers -- Father John Friel, O.S.F.S., pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma, will undergo surgery this week related to stomach cancer. In talking with Chancellor June Kellen last week, Father John expressed how much he has felt supported by our prayers since he shared the news of his condition with us several months ago.
We received an announcement last week from the School Sisters of Notre Dame that Sister Ruth Speh (formerly Sister M. Edward Paul), S.S.N.D., died Sept. 22 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 78. Sister Ruth served in our Diocese from 1972 to 1984 at San Solano Missions Parish. The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 26 in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Motherhouse Chapel in Lemay, Missouri.
Also, please remember in your prayers Ruben Davalos, director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization, who is recovering from minor surgery, and Sister Jean Olmstead, Vicar for Religious, who was hospitalized briefly last week.A new program announced last Friday in Washington by the Committee on Vocations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be a great resource for addressing two of our diocesan priorities: reenergizing the priesthood and recruiting more vocations.
The Priestly Life and Vocation Summit: Fishers of Men program is designed to get priests to step back from their daily lives and reflect on the many positive reasons they pursued their vocations, to discuss those reasons with their brother priests and ultimately to share those reasons with other men with an invitation to the priesthood.
"At the basis of the Fishers of Men program is the conviction that there is a close connection between priests regenerating their appreciation of their own priestly vocation and the creation of an environment in which men are actively invited to respond to God's call to the priesthood," said Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, the chairman of the Committee on Vocations.
Research conducted for the Vocations Committee indicates that an invitation from a priest is one of the most effective ways of having a man consider the priesthood. Of seminarians ordained in 2003, 78% said that a priest had invited them to consider the priesthood. A 2001 USCCB survey, however, indicated that only 30 percent of priests actively invite men to consider the priesthood.
The program is envisioned as taking place in four phases.
Phase one involves agreement to conduct the program and preparing for a convocation -- or summit -- of the diocese's priests.
Phase two includes interviews with a broad sampling of the priests in a diocese, the results of which will be presented at the summit. Interview questions are intended to elicit responses that will reveal things like: what prompted the priest to consider a vocation; his hopes and excitement in pursing his vocation; those moments or experiences that nurture his relationship with God; moments or experiences when he profoundly felt he was serving in the person of Jesus; what about his vocation does he value most.
Phase three is the Summit, during which the assembled priests will reflect further on the questions asked in the interview phase, share with one another their responses, and discuss ways to share their renewed sense of contentment with other men who might be thinking about a vocation to the priesthood.
Phase four of the program is the ongoing follow up to the Summit and involves the development of a strategy for keeping priests actively engaged in inviting men to consider a vocation to the priesthood.
Last week, I saw Father Miguel Mariano, our Vocations Director, wearing a fish hook pin on his shirt. I asked him what it meant. He said it was the symbol of the new program. Just as Christ called Peter, James, and John, we are called to be fishers. Someone called me and each of our priests to serve. That could have been a priest, a teacher, someone important to us. Now it is our responsibility to call others. I will be discussing with Father Miguel and our Presbyteral Council and Diocesan Pastoral Council how we might best implement this new program for priestly vocations.
1. Annual Catholic Schools In-Service -- I am with our Catholic School teachers and administrators this morning at Salpointe Catholic High School for the annual In-Service event.
We will celebrate Mass and I will have the opportunity to communicate my great appreciation and respect for all that they do to pass on the Faith in our schools. We can't say often enough to them our appreciation for the tremendously important mission they carry out, especially in the face of a culture and society that often diminish the values we hold as important.
I look forward to recognizing the "Teachers of the Year" at each of the 28 Catholic Schools within our Diocese and acknowledging those teachers and principals who are marking significant anniversaries in their service to Catholic education. Sister Luisa Maria Valdez, C.F.M.M., from Nogales, will add another year to her countless years of service in our Diocese. No one can catch up to her!
2. Annual Priests' Retreats -- This is the second week of the annual Priests' Retreats, being held this year at the Smuggler's Inn in Tucson.
I enjoyed very much to opportunity to celebrate Mass with last week's participants, and I found our discussion session to be very positive and illuminating. I will have dinner and discussion with this week's participants tonight, and I will celebrate Mass with them tomorrow morning. I will share some of the highlights of the discussions from both weeks of the retreats in next week's memo.
Last week's retreat master, Bishop Roger Kaffer, retired auxiliary Bishop of Joliet, was very well received. Father Thomas Zurcher, C.S.C., Vicar for the Office of Priest Personnel in the Diocese of Phoenix, is this week's retreat master.
3. Update on Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks -- Due to the devastating fire on Oct. 7, all retreats through Dec. 31 have been cancelled. The fire destroyed the building that housed the kitchen, dining room and two meeting rooms. An electrical problem in the attic was determined to be the cause of the blaze.
According to the Center's Web site, the Redemptorist Community is hoping to reopen the Center sometime in January with an abbreviated calendar.
4. Preservation of Immaculate Mary Chapel -- Tomorrow will be a very important day in our efforts to preserve the historic buildings of Cathedral Square as volunteers enlisted by the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) begin the preliminary work that will advance the restoration of the Immaculate Mary Chapel.
Popularly known as "Our Lady Chapel," the building was constructed in 1916 by master builder Manuel Flores from plans drawn by Bishop Henry Granjon. Over the years, the building served religious, educational and administrative needs of St. Augustine Cathedral and the Diocese before it was closed in 2002 when diocesan administration moved to the Pastoral Center.
I am grateful to SABA for including this beautiful building with its striking interior in its community service projects in response to an invitation from Rosie Garcia of the Friends of Historic Tucson. SAHBA represents building industry professionals ranging from builders, developers, land planners, architects, engineers, environmental consultants, trade contractors, banking and mortgage, real estate and the many supporting disciplines necessary to create, sell, furnish and maintain new homes and communities throughout Southern Arizona.
It is our hope that the building will be preserved and restored so that it eventually may serve as a downtown chapel or as a museum dedicated to the religious and cultural legacies of our community.
You may enjoy reading a very perceptive commentary by Ken Scoville on the history of the buildings in Cathedral Square at: www.downtowntucson.org/downtowntucsonan/feb04/historic.html.
5. Meeting on Border Issues -- I will be participating tomorrow in a meeting that is part of the on-going series of discussions with Border Patrol officials and representatives of faith communities in Arizona about humanitarian issues involving the border and migration. Rev. Jan Flaaten of the Arizona Ecumenical Council also will be participating. I am grateful to Chief Michael Nicley of the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector for his support of these important dialogues. Tomorrow's agenda includes a review of this past summer's activity in the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors (apprehensions, removals, deportations, rescues, deaths and civilian "patrols").
6. Documentary on Immigration -- A Catholic News Service review by Harry Forbes highly recommends viewing of the four-part "Destination America" documentary on immigration that will begin this week on KUAT-TV and KAET-TV, public television within the Diocese.
Part one and two will be broadcast on Wednesday (beginning at 10 p.m. on KUAT-TV and at 9 p.m. on KAET-TV), with parts three and four to be broadcast at the same times on Wednesday of next week.
The first hour of the documentary tells the story of Manuel, who for the 15th time leaves his family in Mexico to make the dangerous journey into the U.S. across the Arizona border in search of work. Successive installments of the documentary put Manuel's story into historical perspective by looking at the sweep of immigration across more than 350 years of American history, focusing on the early history of Mexican immigration, the Norwegian immigrants to the Midwest and the Irish famine.
According to Harry's review, "This is no dry history lesson. If you take a hard-line stance on illegal immigration in theory, your views may change when you see a sympathetic character like Manuel leaving his supportive and loving family for no other reason than sheer economic necessity. The series frequently reminds us that this country was, after all, built by immigrants."
7. "Journey to Hope in the Company of Saints" -- I am grateful to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Benson, Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Sierra Vista, Immaculate Conception Parish in Douglas and Corpus Christi, St. John the Evangelist and Most Holy Trinity Parishes in Tucson for serving as "pilot" parishes for the implementation of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform.
For the first three weekends in November, these parish communities will reflect on Catholic Social Teaching and its application to the challenges posed by immigration into our nation from Mexico and other nations. The experience of these parishes will be very helpful as we consider how best to implement the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform throughout the parishes of the Diocese beginning in January.
8. Celebration of Annual White Mass -- All professionals and volunteers in health care are invited to tomorrow's celebration of the annual White Mass at 6 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. This Mass is an opportunity to reflect on the commitment and dedication of those in the health care professions and those who minister in the hospitals and health care facilities throughout the communities within the Diocese.
This year's Mass, sponsored by Carondelet Health Systems, also is a celebration of the 125th anniversary of health care ministry in Arizona by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, whose legacy of service lives on today through Carondelet Health Systems.
9. Sacred Heart School of Theology -- I will be participating in the seminary's Board of Directors meeting this week in Hales Corner, Wisconsin. One of our agenda items will be the upcoming Apostolic Visitation of U.S. seminaries and houses of formation by the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See.
The Congregation has indicated the goals of the visitation are: to examine the criteria for admission of candidates and the programs of human formation and spiritual formation aimed at ensuring that they can faithfully live chastely for the Kingdom; to examine other aspects of priestly formation in the U.S., with particular attention to the intellectual formation of seminarians; and to examine fidelity to the Magisterium, especially in the field of moral theology, in the light of Veritatis Splendor (the 1993 encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II, "The Splendor of the Truth").
While at Sacred Heart, I look forward to visiting our seminarian there, Robert "Bobby" Rodriquez, and I also plan to make a stop at Mundelein Seminary for a visit with our seminarians there -- Emilio Chapa, Geovany Espinoza, Mark Long, Edward Lucero, Ricky Ordonez and Jeffrey Zimmerman.
10. Seminar for Managers -- Last week's first seminar for managers in our parishes and schools went very well, and I am grateful to the Human Resources staff of Richard Serrano, Alicia Corti and Barbara Tenpenny for their work in preparing and presenting the seminar.
After I welcomed the participants, I was very encouraged to hear their testimony about how helpful they have found the staff of Human Resources and other offices and departments in responding to their needs. As you know, the purpose of the Pastoral Center is to be of support to our parishes, schools and Catholic institutions, so it was very encouraging to hear this affirmation.
The management seminars are part of our overall effort, working together, to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the "business" of our various ministries.
11. Junior High Day -- Young Catholics of junior high age from across the Diocese will be gathering this Saturday at St. Augustine Catholic High School in Tucson for this day of prayer, music and fun.
The energy and enthusiasm of our young teens are blessings, and I look forward to celebrating Mass with them and in joining in on all the fun that happens at this annual event. I will have an opportunity to meet in small groups with the young people to hear their concerns and suggestions for our Church and Diocese. St. Benedict always insisted that the Abbot listen to even the youngest monk because God might be speaking to him through that young monk.
12. Dinner for Four -- I am delighted to be hosting Mr. and Mrs. Tony Carrillo and two guests at the Bishop's Residence this Saturday evening. Not only will I be enjoying their company, I also will have the pleasure of preparing for them a "Bishop Kicanas Special," as Tony was the "lucky" high bidder for "Dinner with and prepared by the Bishop" silent auction item as part of St. Augustine Cathedral's Family Fun Festival. The dinner was advertised as "You are what you eat, so let's veg out!"
13. Anniversary Celebration for Father Paul Larocque -- I will participate this Sunday in the celebration of Father Paul's 60th anniversary of ordination. The celebration will begin with the 11 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Green Valley.
Father Paul is a most energetic octogenarian whose tireless dedication to his vocation inspires me and his brother priests. It will be a great joy for me to tell Father Paul how much we love and appreciate him!
14. Una Noche de Alegria -- I am very humbled to have been selected as the honoree for this Sunday evening's benefit gala event at the Radisson City Center for Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, and I look forward to being with friends who are participating in this evening as a way to further the mission of CCS.
15. Mission Congress 2005 -- Last week, more than 350 people from all parts of the country and from elsewhere attended Mission Congress 2005 held at the Hotel Arizona in downtown Tucson. Many of those present have participated in the missions throughout the world. They also included people who have come as missionaries from countries to help here in our country. This "reverse mission," through which we give and receive, is what missionary work is all about.There will be three very special Eucharistic Liturgies over the next seven days, each rich in significance and beautiful traditions, and each to be celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral.
The Red Mass
This special Eucharistic Celebration of the Holy Spirit will be at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow. All are invited, with a special invitation extended to judges, lawmakers, public officials and attorneys.
The liturgy is one of praise to the Holy Spirit. It invokes the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord) upon judges, lawyers, lawmakers and public officials. The Red Mass dates to Europe in the 13th century and derives its names from the red vestments of the celebrant and the brilliant scarlet robes worn by the justices of the court. The Red Mass is sponsored annually in our Diocese by the St. Thomas More Society of Southern Arizona and the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson.
The mission of the St. Thomas More Society of Southern Arizona is to provide a structure for lawyers, judicial officers and law students of Southern Arizona to foster fellowship and continued ethical formation in the spirit of St. Thomas More in support of the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Tucson.
Second Annual Asia Day Mass and Celebration
Bishop Ignatius Wang, Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco, will be the homilist for the celebration of our Second Annual Asia Day Mass at 10 a.m. this Saturday. Bishop Wang, a native of Beijing, China, was the first Chinese and first Asian bishop to be ordained for a diocese in the U.S. I look forward to welcoming him to our Diocese.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Called to Share Gifts and Promote Harmony." Asia Day allows us to acknowledge and celebrate the presence and gifts of Catholics of Asian and Pacific cultures within our Diocese, and everyone is invited to share in the music and liturgical traditions that reflect the spirituality of Asian and Pacific Catholicism. After Mass, there will be a reception with delicious cuisine and entertainment that reflect Asian and Pacific cultures.
Mass for the Closing of Eucharistic Year, with Eucharistic Procession
Our Diocese will unite in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord this Sunday at noon for the celebration of the Mass for the Closing of Eucharistic Year and a Eucharistic Procession.
I again invite representation from every parish, Catholic School, Catholic institution and spiritual movements and fraternities as we reflect upon the importance of the Eucharist in our lives as individuals and as a diocesan family.
The Mass will have a special combined choir of our Diocesan Chorale and children who have received their First Communion this year.
Have you ever seen a "baldachin?" That is the traditional name for the ornately embroidered canopy that provides shade for the Host that is placed in the monstrance that I will carry in the Eucharistic Procession that will begin immediately after the Prayer after Communion from the Cathedral to nearby Armory Park, where Benediction will take place.
While the Eucharistic Procession dates liturgically to the institution of the Feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his thoughts on the origin of the Eucharistic Procession when he celebrated the feast of the Blessed Virgin's visitation to Elizabeth earlier this year:
"Carrying the recently conceived Jesus in her womb, Mary goes to visit her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, whom everyone considered sterile, and yet she had reached the sixth month of a gestation gifted by God," he said.
"Mary is a young maiden, but she is not afraid, because God is with her, within her. In a certain sense, we can say that her trip was -- we like to underline it in this Year of the Eucharist -- the first Eucharistic Procession in history."
When he declared the Year of the Eucharist in October of 2004, Pope John Paul II called us to embrace Our Lord in the Eucharist with renewed fervor and respect. Our celebration this Sunday, walking with Jesus present in the Eucharist in downtown Tucson, will be a wonderful exclamation point to this past year and an inspiration to us to live our lives in communion with Him and to reflect His love to others.
1. Parish Incorporation Information Meetings -- The final meetings in the series of informational presentations on the individual incorporation of parishes will be held this week. Meetings are scheduled for five vicariates, beginning tonight in the Cochise Vicariate and concluding Friday in the Pima West Vicariate.
Attendance of parishioners, priests, deacons, religious and lay staff at the first six meetings was very encouraging, and the questions that have come forward have helped Father Al Schifano, Moderator of the Curia, and Bob Scala of the Diocesan Pastoral Council refine their presentation.
The November issue of The New Vision/La Nueva Visión will present some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers. All relevant questions asked at the meetings or that have been communicated to the Diocese in other ways will be presented on the diocesan Web site.
Here is the schedule for this week's meetings:
Cochise Vicariate, tonight, 7 p.m., St. Andrew Parish, Sierra Vista
Parishes: Our Lady of Lourdes, Benson; St. Patrick, Bisbee; Immaculate Conception, Douglas; St. Luke, Douglas; St. Jude, Pearce-Sunsites; St. Bernard, Pirtleville; St. Andrew the Apostle, Sierra Vista; Our Lady of the Mountains, Sierra Vista; Sacred Heart, Tombstone
Pima East Vicariate, tomorrow, 7 p.m., Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Tucson
Parishes: Corpus Christi, Our Mother of Sorrows, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Francis de Sales, St. Joseph, St. Pius X; St. Rita in the Desert, Vail
Gila/Pinal East Vicariate, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Miami
Parishes: Holy Angels, Globe; St. Joseph, Hayden; Infant of Prague, Kearny; Blessed Sacrament, Mammoth; Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament, Miami; St. Helen, Oracle; St. Philip, Payson; San Carlos Mission, San Carlos; St. Bartholomew, San Manuel; St. Francis, Superior; St. James, Coolidge
Graham-Greenlee Vicariate, Thursday, 6 p.m., Parish Hall, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Safford
Parishes: Sacred Heart, Clifton; Holy Cross, Morenci; St. Rose of Lima, Safford; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Solomon; Sacred Heart, Willcox
Pima West Vicariate, Friday, 10 a.m., San Xavier Mission, Tucson
Parishes: Immaculate Conception, Ajo; San Solano Missions, Topawa; Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Tucson; Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson
2. Presbyteral Council and Diocesan Finance Council Meetings -- The Presbyteral Council meets this morning at the Pastoral Center. Included on the agenda are a discussion of parish incorporation and a review of the annual Priests' Retreats. The Diocesan Finance Council meets tomorrow at the Pastoral Center. It will be Tom Arnold's first meeting with the Council in his new capacity as diocesan Chief Financial Officer. I administered the canonical oath of office to Tom at our Pastoral Center staff meeting on Oct. 13.
3. Pima South Vicariate Meeting -- On Wednesday, I will be attending the meeting at San Miguel Catholic High School of the Pima South Vicariate. The 11 vicariates (geographic regions) within the diocese) hold either monthly or quarterly meetings under the leadership of the vicar forane, who is a priest elected by the other priests in a region to represent them and their parishes on the Presbyteral Council. Father Gonzalo Villegas of Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish is the vicar forane of Pima South. The vicariate meetings provide an opportunity for priests (and, on occasion, others in ministry) to gather for discussions of shared concerns, to become informed by the vicar forane of issues and topics of diocesan-wide importance and to share the news and activities of each of their parishes.
4. Preservation of Immaculate Mary Chapel -- The young persons from the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps who wielded hammers and crowbars last Monday and Tuesday at the Immaculate Mary Chapel next to St. Augustine Cathedral did a wonderful job of clearing the building's interior of walls that had been constructed for offices and stripping away old carpeting.
I am grateful to the Southern Arizona Homebuilders Association (SABA) for volunteering to do the preliminary work on the building that is necessary to gauge the extent of restoration that will be necessary. SABA leaders were on hand to supervise the young workers who were able to gain on-the-job experience. News media coverage emphasized the historic importance of the Immaculate Mary Chapel to downtown Tucson.
I also am grateful to the continued leadership of Rosie Garcia of the Friends of St. Augustine and John Shaheen, diocesan Property Manager, in bringing community attention to the need to preserve the Chapel and the adjacent Marist College and Cathedral Hall.
5. Confirmation at Holy Family Parish, Tucson -- I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation this Wednesday evening to candidates at Holy Family Parish. In the past in our Diocese, Confirmation "season" has been in late winter and in spring, but with the geographic size of our Diocese and the continued growth of parishes and our Catholic population, limiting Confirmation to just one time of year has proved very challenging to parishes and to my schedule, even with the assistance of Bishop Moreno and Bishop Quinn, who have been so generous in their retirement by visiting parishes to administer the sacrament.
6. Annual Mass with Catholic Home Educators -- I will be celebrating the noon Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral this Friday with the children and parents who participate in Catholic home-schooling, many of whom are affiliated with the Holy Family Home Educators in Tucson.
Holy Family Home Educators is an organization of Catholic families who home-school or who support the principles of home-schooling. The families have a strong commitment to the primary role of parents in their children's education and spiritual formation.
There is more information about Holy Family Home Educators at http://homepage.mac.com/federoff/hfhe.
7. Altar Server Holy Hour at St. John the Evangelist Parish -- St. John the Evangelist Parish in Tucson has had an exemplary altar server program for many years. One of the traditions of the program is a monthly Holy Hour.
I will be joining the parish's altar servers and their leaders this Friday for the Holy Hour. I thank altar server leader Manny Chavez for the invitation to be with the young people.
8. Sunday Visit to St. Helen Mission, Oracle -- I will be celebrating Mass with this Sunday at 5 p.m. with the community of St. Helen Mission in Oracle. After Mass, I will dedicate the Mission's new office building, of which Father Joseph Nietlong, pastor, and the entire St. Helen Mission community are very proud.
9. Newman Center Foundation Dinner -- I look forward to attending the St. Thomas More Newman Center Foundation Dinner this Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel. The dinner will honor the four most recent presidents of the University of Arizona. Father Bob Burns, O.P., will moderate a discussion about the University with current president Peter Likins and former presidents Manuel Pacheco, Henry Koffler and John Schaefer. It should be a fascinating evening!
The Foundation was established more than a decade ago to encourage endowments for the on-going viability of the Newman Center.
10. Junior High Day -- St. Augustine Catholic High School hosted this year's Junior High Day on Saturday. More than 300 young people and their chaperones attended. Students from as far away as Immaculate Conception Parish in Yuma, St. Andrew and Our Lady of the Mountains Parishes in Sierra Vista, Holy Angels Parish in Globe, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Elfrida and Infant Jesus Parish in Kearney participated, as well as junior high youth from many parishes in Tucson and surrounding areas. Sister Dawn Mills, O.S.B., who served here in the Diocese for 14 years, directed the day.
The theme of the day was prayer, and I was impressed by how invested the young people were throughout the day. I was encouraged to hear so many say what a great day it was for them.
Thanks to all who made the day possible, especially Velma Casteneda-Titone, St. Augustine principal, and the faculty, staff and students of the high school who were great hosts. Joe Perdreauville, youth minister at Corpus Christi Parish in Tucson, who was instrumental in organizing the day, was not able to attend because of the funeral of his grandfather. Please remember Joe and his family in your prayers.
A jumping, growling, sparkling and multi-colored lion was waiting outside St. Augustine Cathedral on Saturday to lead those who attended the second Asia Day Mass over to Cathedral Hall for a delicious array of Asian foods with dishes from Korea, Viet Nam, the Philippines, China, Sri Lanka -- a real feast. We also were treated to an array of music and dance from the various traditions.
The celebration of the Eucharist that preceded the gathering in Cathedral Hall was made even more special by the presence of Bishop Ignatius Wang, auxiliary bishop of San Francisco, who gave the homily at the Mass. Bishop Wang was born in Beijing and went to seminary in Hong Kong. He served in the missions for a while after being ordained a diocesan priest. He is now incardinated in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He encouraged the community to make all people welcome and to treat every person as a child of God.
I am grateful to Father Seung-Wook Kim, pastor of our Korean Community, Father Francis Dang Phuoc Hoa, C.Ss.R., pastor of Our Lady of La Vang Vietnamese Community, Father Miguel Mariano and Joanne Welter and all who helped organize our second annual Asia Day. Father Alex Mills, O.S.B., crafted the beautiful altar decorations both at Asia Day and for the Closing of the Eucharistic Year, adding much to the celebrations.
Yesterday, an estimated crowd of 1,400 people jammed into St. Augustine Cathedral for the closing of the Year of the Eucharist. Twenty parishes were represented by banners that led the procession into the Cathedral. The Knights of Columbus, the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas were there in distinctive regalia. Members of the Serra Club and of many parish sodalities and spiritual movements also were present. There was an excellent representation of First Communicants from last spring, as well as altar servers and children from Sts. Peter and Paul Parish who sang along with Grace Lohr and the Diocesan Chorale. Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Office, a number of deacons and religious women participated in the Liturgy as well.
This impressive gathering of our people from many parts of the Diocese reflected the vibrancy of our local church and the pride we all feel in being Catholic.
After Mass, a Eucharistic procession, the first such diocesan procession in decades, worked its way around the Cathedral Square and over to Armory Park where, under perfectly blue skies and not a wisp of wind, we prayed and sang before Benediction.
Father Miguel Mariano and his committee did an outstanding job. It was impressive to see so many people from every corner of our Diocese taking part. It was a living expression of stewardship, each person adding her and his gift to make the celebration special.
1. All Saints, All Souls -- It is our great joy and privilege to live our lives in the company of the Saints, those women and men who are exemplars of holiness and who inspire us to persevere, in the face of life's many challenges, to respond to the call to holiness. The Saints not only inspire us, they comfort us: their lives were not always full of grace and peace, and, like us, they experienced sin, doubt and suffering. Yet, trusting in God's love, they persevered.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. On Wednesday, we commemorate all the Faithful Departed, especially our deceased family and friends, who reside in the Communion of Saints.
I pray especially this week for our deceased bishops, the shepherds of the Diocese since its establishment in 1868 as a vicariate apostolic, and for all priests, religious, deacons and laity who have served in our parishes, schools and Catholic institutions throughout the history of the Diocese.
On All Souls Day, I will preside at Mass for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed at 8 a.m. at Holy Hope Cemetery. Bishop Moreno will preside at Mass at the same time at Our Lady of the Desert.
I acknowledge with great appreciation those who minister at the Diocese of Tucson Catholic Cemeteries. Maintaining our cemeteries as special places of prayer and remembrance is a sacred responsibility, and the special effort that the staff makes this week to ensure that the grounds look their best is a great consolation for families who come to visit.
2. Diocese of Tucson Catholic Cemeteries -- The Diocese of Tucson Catholic Cemeteries Board of Directors will meet this Thursday. The agenda includes our welcome to Patrick Farrell as the board's newest member. A member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Patrick is a trust attorney with Farrell & Bromiel, PC. His expertise and business knowledge will be a great addition to the board.
Also at the board meeting, we will receive an update on the Cemeteries' Outreach Program, which promotes the Cemeteries' mission of corporal and spiritual Works of Mercy in the community, specifically with the parishes. As part of this program, the Cemeteries will have representatives at the Masses at St. Joseph Parish in Tucson on Sunday, Nov. 13. This is to communicate the Cemeteries' connection with the parishes and to demonstrate support for the parishes in their ministry of caring for those who have died and their families.
Deacon George Rodriguez is moving into the position of "Pastoral Coordinator" for the Cemeteries. Deacon George, of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, has been serving as the manager of All Faiths Cemeteries.
The Cemeteries have extended their information and education efforts to the Internet at www.dotcc.org. It is an excellent resource on the mission and ministry of the Cemeteries.
3. Halloween -- In her article on the American Catholic Website, "How Halloween Can Be Redeemed," Page McKean Zyromski offers this thoughtful reflection:
"Halloween has grown into a major secular holiday in American culture. But for those who don't value devotion to the saints, the Eve has become 'hollow' instead of 'hallow.' The purpose behind it has been lost."
Indeed, it does seem the true meaning of "All Hallow's Eve" has all but disappeared, but what the St. Augustine Cathedral Youth Group did for this Halloween is evidence to the contrary.
They held a traditional El Día de Los Muertos Celebration last night at Cathedral Hall, remembering the deceased family members of the Youth Group's families. They also held a memorial for immigrants who have died crossing the border, a memorial for Las Mujeres de Juarez and a memorial for children who have been aborted and women who have died because of abortions.
As part of the memorial for immigrants, they researched and found, with the help of the Los Derechos Humanos Website, the names and dates of death for the 257 people who died crossing the desert in Arizona from October of last year to September of this year. Each name was written down and attached on two rows of string that spanned the width of the hall.
Father Alonzo Garcia, parochial vicar at the Cathedral, led the youth in prayer. A large altar of remembrance, traditional to the practices of El Día de Los Muertos, was set up and will remain with the other three memorials until All Souls Day. I thank Tina Limon, Cathedral Youth Ministry leader, and all the members of the Youth Group for this very special and prayerful observance of Halloween.
4. Parish Incorporation Information Meetings -- The "road show" to all 11 vicariates in the Diocese to present information on the individual incorporation of parishes concluded last Friday with the meeting at San Xavier Mission of the Pima West Vicariate.
Once again, I express my great appreciation to the presentation team of Father Al Schifano, our Moderator of the Curia, Bob Scala, chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) and member of the Parish Incorporation Committee, Gerry Davies of the DPC, Tom Arnold, our Chief Financial Officer, Gerry O'Meara, diocesan attorney, Nancy Stephan, chair of the Diocesan Finance Council, and Father John Lyons, judicial vicar and canonical consultant to the Parish Incorporation Committee.
I was very impressed and encouraged by the tremendous turnout for the parish incorporation information meetings -- more than 1,000 people attended. At the meeting last Monday night of the Cochise Vicariate at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Sierra Vista, it was standing room only until 50 additional chairs were brought in. Nearly 200 people attended the meeting last Tuesday night at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish for the Pima East Vicariate.
And, Father Al shared with me this reflection on another of last week's meetings:
"While all of the gatherings of the faithful at the various vicariate meetings were living examples of Church coming together, our team experienced a special joy in visiting the mountain location of Miami for the meeting of the Gila-Pinal East Vicariate. That vicariate, led by its Vicar, Father Dale Branson, has the largest geographical spread of parishes -- as far south as Oracle and as far north as Payson.
"We had anticipated one of our smaller turn-outs because of travel distances for parishioners. What a great surprise it was when the meeting in the hall of Blessed Sacrament Parish, hosted by Father Jay Luczak, was filled to the brim by more than 100 people! What exhilaration our team experienced when we became engulfed in the exuberance and joy of those who came to the meeting! Their pastors and priests were clearly one with them and shared in that joy. One could not help but be buoyed by the spirit of the one Church that was demonstrated by the engaged attentiveness of the faithful at that meeting and at all vicariate meetings. We are One Body, the Body of Christ."
The question and answer portion of the meetings always was lively and very helpful to me and to the presentation team in understanding the concerns that parishioners have about incorporation.
One question asked at the Pima East Vicariate meeting was this: In the age of the laity, it seems confusing that out of the five members of the board of directors for a newly incorporated parish only two are lay persons. Why is this, and is this not a diminishing of the role of the laity?
I fielded this question, and this is how I responded:
The laity absolutely do have a major role in the life of our parishes, and the make up of the board of directors is not a true measure of how laity can and should be involved in the life of the Church.
While the board has an importance in dealing specifically with matters that pertain to the parish's civil identity and corporate responsibilities, the real influence on the parish's mission remains with bodies like the parish council and the parish finance council and the many other organizations and programs that are overwhelmingly comprised of laity, including those areas of parish life like the liturgy (Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors), catechesis (directors of religious education and catechists), Catholic Schools (administration, faculty and staff), parish administration (business and office managers, secretaries) parish social mission (the corps of volunteers who always can be called upon to get things done).
Reflecting further on the question, I think that one way to see the role of the board of directors is to think of a symphony orchestra. The board of directors is like a section of the orchestra -- maybe the woodwinds, responsible for the special tone and feeling that they add, but always playing together with the many other sections. While two of the five members of the board of directors' "section" are laity, laity predominate in the other sections. All together, the goal is to produce the beautiful music of a parish symphony that is in perfect harmony with the mission that Christ has given us.
It is important to remember that the same articles of incorporation that call for the establishment of the board of directors also mandate a parish council and a parish finance council, consultative bodies on which lay members predominate.
Father John Lyons, our Judicial Vicar, who was a consultant to the Parish Incorporation Committee, offered this perspective on the composition of the board of directors: the majority membership of clergy is required by canon law.
Bob Scala has written a "wrap-up" article on the incorporation information meetings for the November of issue of The New Vision/La Nueva Visión. The article includes a sample of the questions most frequently asked at the meetings. Also, all relevant questions (and their answers) will be presented on the diocesan Web site next week under "Reorganizing the Diocese."
I ask all pastors to encourage parishioners to read the November issue. As the Diocese has emerged from Chapter 11 and continues to implement the Plan of Reorganization, the newspaper is an essential communication tool that will assist pastors in providing information to parishioners about such important topics as parish incorporation.
I ask that the newspaper be handed out with the parish bulletin. The November issue will be delivered to parishes this week for distribution this coming weekend.
5. Our "Newest" Parishes -- I am pleased to announce that St. Thomas More Newman Center in Tucson and St. Joseph the Worker in Wellton are the newest "official" parishes in the Diocese of Tucson. Both had been identified for a number of years as "quasi-parishes," and for all intents and purposes they operated as parishes. With the individual incorporation of parishes, the time was opportune to erect them as parishes of canonical record, which was accomplished at the Presbyteral Council meeting of last Monday.
6. Diocesan Planning -- Emerging from the Chapter 11, it is clear that planning must be an essential element of our response to the critical needs that we face as a Diocese. To that end, I have asked Father Mike Bucciarelli, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Benson, to chair a task force on diocesan planning. An initial task will be to study how we can best respond to the significant growth occurring throughout the Diocese, especially in Pinal County, the Marana-Red Rock area, eastern Pima County and northern Pima County.
7. Arizona Catholic Conference -- The Arizona Catholic Conference will meet this Friday at the Diocese of Phoenix. Bishop Donald Pelotte, S.S.S., of the Diocese of Gallup, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix and I are the member bishops of the Conference.
A major agenda item is our discussion of a pastoral letter on the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The letter will reflect the experience of the Church in Arizona in responding to the moral dimensions of the continuing phenomenal immigration from Mexico.
Assisted and guided by executive director Ron Johnson, the conference serves as the public policy agency for the three Roman Catholic dioceses in Arizona. The Conference allows the Church to have a visible and effective presence at the State Legislature. The Conference also is a mechanism for the bishops to speak with once voice about issues that affect our dioceses.
8. "Jammin' for Jesus" -- The fifth annual "Jammin' for Jesus" event for all young persons in the Diocese who participate in liturgy and their parents is this Saturday at St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish in Tucson. Registration (with snacks) starts at 9 a.m. We will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m., with a schedule of games, live music, fun and food to follow. (I might have to try out the "Jumping Castle.")
This year's event is meant to recognize all our "young" liturgical ministers: altar servers, lectors, ushers and greeters and musicians. The deadline for registration is Wednesday. Call the Vocations Office at 520-792-3410.
9. Hurricane Relief -- The generosity of Catholics in the Diocese of Tucson to Catholic Charities USA for hurricane relief efforts has been overwhelming.
Through last Friday, parishioners had given more than $511,000 to support the immediate and long-term relief programs of Catholic Charities USA and its member agencies in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. I am very proud of and inspired by this generous response.
By mid-October, Catholic Charities USA had received more than $63 million to assist in what will be the network's largest disaster response effort in its history. Fifty Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic organizations each have received disaster relief grants from Catholic Charities USA ranging from $6,000 to $3.9 million.
Also by mid-October, Catholic Charities USA had distributed more than $9.6 million to 53 local Catholic Charities and other Catholic organizations responding to the needs of families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Across the nation, from the Gulf Coast to Maine to Washington State, local Catholic Charities are working to meet the immediate needs of victims and evacuees, as well as planning their long-term recovery efforts.
In all, more than 70 local Catholic Charities agencies nationwide are helping hurricane victims, including our Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona and its member agencies.
10. Thanks, Father Dom! -- On behalf of all here at the Pastoral Center, thanks to Father Dom Pinti for preparing such a wonderful lunch last week for our quarterly birthday celebration.
Father Dom's culinary skills are legendary, and I am convinced it is the "secret" ingredient he uses in preparing meals for his brother priests, for special occasions at St. George Parish in Apache Junction and for friends that makes him worthy of his own show on the Food Channel. The "secret" ingredient: love!
11. "Believe It!" -- That was the front page headline of last Wednesday's Chicago Tribune reporting the World Series championship of the White Sox. Thanks for the words of support from many during the team's postseason play. My dad, who was a die hard Sox fan, must be strutting about heaven these days. I wrote to congratulate Jerry Reinsdorf, and I told him we would give the Sox a real Tucson welcome when they come back next spring for training.