Vol. 2, No. 8 Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Lent begins

	Here are the links to the Ash Wednesday video and the Spanish language audio. Video: https://youtu.be/IEVA1Md2cw0 Audio: /documents/2019/7/Diocese%20of%20Tucson%202-1.m4a (en Espanol)

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. It always is gratifying to see so many people

In our churches, ready to receive the ashes that both visually and spiritually mark the start of our Lenten journeys.

This Lent, I have prepared a 7-part series of very brief messages that I hope will assist you on your own journey.  I have posted the link to today's video here, as well as the link to the audio segments done in Spanish.

May your Ash Wednesday be a step toward a wonderful journey of closeness to Jesus.  Look for ways to imitate Christ -- make amends, love your neighbor, assist with a community cause. Don't forget the power of prayer during this time; you may find peace and the love of Christ in a completely private moment of prayer.  Or you may find the answer to something troubling you, or you may see how you can help another in these quiet moments where it is just you and our God locked in the same space.  Listen to the quiet, the great voice of our Lord.

I distributed ashes at Cathedral today at the noon Mass.

Catholic Foundation Grant Awards for 2019

	Photo by Michael Brown Ernie Nedder, interim Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation, and Bishop Weisenburger, congratulate Sisters Mary Aloysius Marques, OCD, Loretto School Principal and Vice Principal Sister Caridad Sandoval, OCD, on their grant award.

My congratulations to the parishes and schools that were awarded a total of 52 grants worth about $500,000 through the annual award process of the Catholic Foundation in our diocese. The grants were issued yesterday. Awards also were made to the Patronato de San Xavier, Poverello House, Catholic Community Services (Kolbe Society Prison Ministry, Casa Alitas, Ministry with Elders, and the Safe House Shelter in Yuma) and Jordan Ministries.

The grants, paid for through the various funding sources of our Catholic Foundation, will assist the schools, parishes and ministries with everything from new roofs and classrooms to security cameras and other needs that could not be covered through regular parish or school budgets.

The awards, I am sure, offer relief to those operating our hard-working parish ministries and schools, and I think all of us who have contributed in one way or another to the Foundation are happy with the outcome of your sacrifices, your gifts to the Diocese to help its work in these areas.

Welcome!

to Roman Campuzano, as a Human Relations Administrator in our Pastoral Center.  Roman is a native Tucsonan who has  experience in corporate training, business management, insurance, Human Resources and most recently, Vice President of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has been a board member of numerous non-profit organizations including the Arizona Arthritis Foundation and Tucson Rillito Racetrack. His wife and he have three children and two dogs. Roman also enjoys the outdoors, traveling, walking and volunteering.

Lenten Mass with Catholic Community Services

Twice each year – Advent and Lent - it is my privilege to celebrate Mass with those working at Catholic Community Services.  The Mass this Friday reminds those in attendance that we are called to serve others and I hope the Mass also affirms their work to them. Catholic Community Services' employees work in social services, health care, dental care, shelters for women and refugees and in providing nutrition and other services to people in need.  It is good work. It is God's work and we are grateful to all those at CCS who diligently and carefully provide their talents to help others so well.

Movimiento Familiar Cristiano Regional assembly

Learn more here: (this page is in Spanish only)

On Saturday I will celebrate Mass at St. Joseph's Parish in Tucson for the more than 100 people and their families involved in the Movimiento. A brief description, taken from the site listed above, reveals that:

The USA Catholic Christian Family Movement is a secular Catholic Movement of the People of God that brings together Catholic families, supported with the assistance of Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Religious.

The Movement is a group of Catholic families that unite their efforts to promote the human and Christian values of the family, so that it may be in the community: the formation of people, educators in the faith, aware of their evangelizing mission and committed to development, integral to the community and the domestic church.

I have recently learned that there is increasing interest among our parishes for this group.  If you are interested in finding out more, or in joining the effort, please contact Sister Gladys Echenique, O.P. at [email protected]

Rite of Election - Tucson area

We will offer the Rite of Election to those seeking to join our Catholic faith at St. Augustine Cathedral on Sunday (March 10). 

This celebration at the beginning of Lent calls the Catechumens (those who have never been baptized) to be the Elect as they prepare for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The Candidates for full Communion have been baptized in another Christian communion and will continue their journey to receive Confirmation and Eucharist at that time.  On March 10, we will complete the second of two such rites in our diocese.  The first was held in Yuma last week.

I will have more information on the number of new Catholics in next week's Update.