Vol. 1, No. 47. Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Our Advent Journey begins

I encourage you to read the content below. The text comes from catholicireland.net and holds a very good message with which to begin our Advent journey. The author, James Wallace, C.Ss.R., writes in the complete article that we have three companions during this journey – John the Baptist, Isaiah and the Virgin Mary – whose words and wisdom can guide us through our Advent. Here is just part of the text.

A world of peace

Advent always begins with the call to "Keep awake… don't be caught napping… be ready to welcome the Lord Jesus, who will come to judge."

This second coming of Jesus can seem so distant that we dismiss it or it can fill us with fear at the thought of the coming judgment. Isaiah reminds us that this period, called the "end time," is going to be a time of great joy. Even before Jesus was born, he had glimpses of what it was going to be like when God's rule came forth.

"You know what it's going to be like," Isaiah explodes, looking off into the distance. "Well, picture this terrific party, a huge party, and everyone is streaming into this mansion on a mountain. People from everywhere, all the peoples of the Americas and Asia and Africa and Australia and the most distant, forsaken spots – all those little islands that dot the globe – they're all coming. And those weapons that people need to protect themselves, from small pistols to the most deadly nuclear devices, all will be melted down into farm equipment for the garden. No more gang wars, no more senseless shootings, no more bloodbaths to protect national or multinational interests ever again."

Isaiah sings to us of a world in which there will be peace, in which the air will be clean, the flowers will bloom, the city streets will no longer be exploding with violence or drug killings, a place where the lamb and the wolf, the leopard and the kid, the calf and the lion, can partner one another. He speaks of a waiting that will give birth to a new age that exceeds our most exorbitant dreams. He is difficult to believe. Maybe that's why we hear him more often than anyone else during Advent, so his visions can gently sparkle like stars strewn across the night sky, giving us direction and comfort during the darkest hours.

In a world where there is so much violence and injustice of all kinds, we are called to remember Isaiah's image of dead stump sprouting a shoot that will bud and blossom into new life. Isaiah summons us to wait for joy."

To view the entire text, please visit

https://www.catholicireland.net/three-companions-for-the-advent-journey/

Published with permission

My own Advent began Sunday with Mass at Tumacacori Mission, concelebrated with Bishop Leopoldo Gonazalez Gonzalez from our neighboring diocese in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Tumacacori was one of the earliest places of worship for those of us in the terroritories that eventually became Tucson and Nogales. The festival on Sunday was a delightful celebration.

Mass at San Xavier

I went from Tumacacori Mission on Sunday, to San Xavier Mission on the southern side of Tucson. Mass was said in celebration of St. Francis Xavier, the mission's patron. My thanks to Father Stephen Barnufsky for his invitation to the Mission.

About vocations . . .

I was in Camarillo, Calif. at St. John's Seminary for the annual meeting of Bishops, Religious Superiors and Vocation Directors Monday and Tuesday. The time in California also gave me a chance to check up informally on our seminarians Abundio Colazo-Lopez, Luis Pablo Ochoa-Escárrega, and Robert E. Villablanca, all now studying Theology at St. John's.

Second Collection for Seminarian Education

A reminder that this very important collection takes place Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. We have 13 seminarians attending three different seminaries. The overall annual cost per student is approximately $40,000.

In the past, our diocese received funds from Catholic Extension to help in education costs, but those funds have diminished. This second collection provides greatly needed monies for our seminarians. Please consider making a donation.

Coming soon: Annual 5K walk for Vocations Awareness

Register at https://diocesetucson.org/vocations/ and scroll down to the image shown below.

We need priests in our parishes and you need a priest in your life! By participating in the 4th Annual 5K Walk for Vocations you help raise awareness as well as show support for discerners, seminarians, priests, and religious brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Tucson.

This family friendly event is open to all ages and fitness levels.

After the color walk/run there will be music, food, games, face painting, Mass, and prayer.

Youth groups and high school teams are encouraged to join at a discounted group rate.

Please note: Remember to have your ticket handy on the day of the event by either printing it beforehand or by downloading it to your mobile device.

Mass for Farmworkers – Yuma

This will be my second Mass for Farmworkers, held this year in the early morning – 4 a.m. – on Dec. 7 at 721 N. Main St. in San Luis. Farmworkers face severe cold and heat, exposure to chemicals and back-breaking labor to bring produce from farms to our tables. Their hard work often is overlooked as we feast. Please join me in prayer for all farmworkers. .

Mass for physicians

An annual tradition, I will be celebrating Mass for the physicians and other health care workers. This year Mass is at St. Joseph Hospital on Sunday, Dec. 9.

Please remember

John Lauer, member of the Diocesan Finance Council and active member of the St. Pius X community passed on Nov. 28. He was 64. John's funeral will be held at St. Pius Parish, 1800 N. Camino Pio Decimo, on Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming

Sat. Dec. 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a Holy Day of Obligation and does not fulfill the Sunday obligation.

Weds., Dec. 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mass and Dinner with the Bishop Weisenburger

Support seminarian education and retired priests

Jan. 20, 2019

Registration required

Information: Call 520-820-4206

Registration forms online at:

http://kofcknights.org/Assembly.asp?A=2392

Each year, the Donald H. Hughes Assembly of the Knights of Columbus to continues support of Tucson Diocese seminarian education and retired priests. Bishop Weisenburger and the Msgr. Donald H. Hughes Assembly 2392 would like to invite you to attend the 15th annual "Mass & Dinner with the Bishop" Jan 20, 2019. NEW VENUE: Mass will be held at St Thomas the Apostle at 3:30 p.m. No-host social hour and dinner will be at the Skyline Country Club beginning at 5:00 PM. The cost will remain at $150.00 per person. This year's honorees are Bishop Emeritus Gerald F. Kicanas and Father Robert Carney.

The Knights of Columbus Assembly 2392 has raised more than $670,000 over the past 14 years supporting the Retired Priest Fund and Tucson Diocese seminarian education.