Vol. 2, No. 13 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Please note: The Diocese of Tucson offices, now located just north of St. Augustine Cathedral at 192 S. Stone Ave., Building 2, will be closed in observance of Good Friday, April 19 and on Monday, April 22.

Chrism Mass

On Monday we celebrated the Chrism Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral.  At this beautiful liturgy, I blessed the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and sacred chrism to be used at our parishes throughout the year.

There were priests from nearly all of our parishes across the Diocese, and it always is good to celebrate Mass alongside them.  Following Mass, the priests or their parish representatives picked up the oils for their parishes.  It also is heart-warming to see so many Catholics at the Mass.This year, the Cathedral was nearly filled.

These days of Holy Week are most important and I encourage all Catholics to participate as fully as possible in the Triduum, the summit of our Liturgical Year.  The Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and continues through to the evening of Easter Sunday. The liturgies taking place on these days are the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord on Holy Saturday.

Each parish offers these liturgies. Please check with your parish, or the parish nearest you for its specific schedule.  I will be at the Veneration of the Cross at St. Augustine Cathedral on Good Friday. The veneration begins at noon. I also will be the celebrant for the Easter Vigil, also at the Cathedral, at 7 p.m. on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

If you would like to learn more detailed information about the Triduum, visit https://www.thetorchbc.com/2017/04/25/praying-through-the-paschal-triduum/

How is your Lent going?

Check out Bishop Weisenburger’s Lenten Minutes on our diocesan homepage at www.diocesetucson.org. Each week, Bishop  suggests ideas for meditation or different ideas to ponder. Look for the icon above to locate the video at the diocese homepage or view the video on Bishop Weisenburger’s Facebook page.

The last video in the series, a reflection on the Triduum, has been posted on the diocese homepage at www.diocesetucson.org.

Downloadable photos for John Paul II Awards

As I reported in the Update last week, we held our Tucson area John Paul II Awards Mass and ceremony on April 13. Photographs taken of the award winners now are available for download on our diocesan webpage at diocesetucson.org. Look for the information in the upper right hand column of the homepage, or visit the photos page directly .

Please pray for

- For the soul of Kathy Bent, mother of Katheryn Hutchinson, program manager for Grants at the Catholic Foundation, who passed awayApril 10.  A memorial Mass was held April 16 at St. Odilia Parish.

- The soul of Thomas Branson, father of Father Dale Branson, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in San Tan Valley. Mr. Branson passed away April 13. Funeral services in Vancouver, Washington, are pending.

- For the full recovery of Msgr. Richard O’Keeffein Yuma, who continues to recover from health issues.

Upcoming

Living Stations of the Cross  - Via Cruces
A live re-enactment of Christ's path toward crucifixion.

3 p.m.  April 19

Begins at San Cosme Chapel

460 W. Simpson St. (about 3 blocks south and west of St. Augustine Cathedral)

Mass and Grand Opening celebration for the Conference, Educational & Pastoral Center 
at Cathedral Square

Noon Mass, Sunday, April 28

Ribbon cutting and blessing of building follows Mass.