Vol. 3, No. 4 Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020

Catholic Schools Day
About 150  students and parents from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tucson attended the annual day at the state Capitol.  Members of the Arizona Catholic Conference were meeting yesterday and today, and we bishops all were able to celebrate morning Mass at SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix in support of our students and teachers and all those who volunteer or work closely with the schools, including pastors with parishes that also have schools.
 
After Mass, we bishops returned to the Diocese of Phoenix Pastoral Center until the festivities began on the campus surrounding the state Capitol in an area known as Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.  St. Augustine Catholic High School sent its mariachi group to perform onstage, and the Yuma Catholic High School Shamrocks were well represented by their choir.  We also heard a wonderful presentation from Benjamin Henderson, a student at St. Augustine’s. Benjamin is a son of Deacon Gregory Henderson, our diocesan chief financial officer.
 
Our diocese was represented by Sacred Heart School, St. Augustine High School, SS. Peter and Paul School, St. Ambrose School, St. John School, Yuma Catholic High School and St. Cyril School.
 
Lest I forget, we had a group of students  from St. Ambrose Catholic School in Tucson for a visit to the Pastoral Center to celebrate Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26 – Feb. 1).  They came bearing music and fruit baskets to thank various departments and offices for supporting Catholic schools.  It was a lovely visit, and made our workspace feel alive and bright.  Thanks for your visit!
  
Convocation for Compliance Officers
Saturday, Feb. 1
Pastoral Center at Cathedral Square
192 S. Stone Ave., #2
Each year those who serve our parishes and schools gather for their annual meeting and training. This year, the meeting includes Monica Applewhite, PhD, who will be facilitating the convocation.  Rachel Guzman, program manager for Safe Environment in our Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection (OCAAP), reports that Monica “is a dynamic, encouraging and rejuvenating presenter, who has worked in this field for over 20 years. Her passion and commitment is a true testimony to how this work is done.”
Rachel also reminded all of us that we in ministry or service to others also are called to protect those we serve. “The afternoon session (at the convocation) titled, ‘Healthy Relationships in Ministry,’ will be opened for you to invite all parish leaders,” she said.  This is a great opportunity for you, as coworkers who share in our responsibilities of cultivating safe spaces for all, whether you are a DRE, DYM, deacons, priests, catechists, homebound eucharistic ministers, -- all who help ensure safe environment protocols, are invited to this afternoon session.” 
The convocation also offers our Compliance Officers the chance to ask questions about their work and to share information that can be discussed or sorted out to allow everyone to follow best practices in protecting all those ministered, educated or trained by our parishes.
 
The work of the Compliance officer is critical to helping our diocese ensure safety for all attending our schools, churches and ministries.  My great thanks to all Compliance workers for their dedication and professionalism.
 
If you would like to attend but have not registered. Please call Rachel immediately.  She can be reached through the Pastoral Center at (520) 838-2500.
 
Consecrated Religious Jubilee Mass
Sunday, Feb. 2
St. Augustine Cathedral, 10 a.m.
This beautiful Mass takes place each year to celebrate the jubilees of the many Sisters and Fathers and Brothers working in our diocese. Their contributions are many and their devotion to service is a wonderful example to all of us. This year’s jubilarians are listed below.  Please take a moment to view the list, as I am sure there are many names there you may recognize. I encourage all of us to pray for these hard workers and the wonders they achieve through their good works.
Here are the jubilarians:
65 years
Franciscan Sister Alexandra Bettinardi
60 years
Sister of Charity Sister Jerry Brady
Franciscan Sister Ann Mary Hart
Franciscan Sister of Peace Sister Carolyn Nicolai

St. Joseph Sister Noelle O’Shea

Salvatorian Father Bill Remmel

 
55 years
Sister of Charity Sister Jeanne Bartholomeaux
Dominican Sister Esther Calderon
St. Agnes Sister Eileen Mahony
Franciscan Sister Carla Riach
 
50 years
St. Agnes Sister Nancy Chow
Franciscan Sister Mary Karen Oudeans
Dominican Sister Gabriela Williams
Franciscan Brother Robert Brady
 
40 years
Franciscan Sister Mary Ann Spanjers
 
 
Mentoring Program for the Newly Ordained
These sessions are held multiple times during the year to provide targeted training to priests in our diocese who have been ordained five years or less.
 
These priests will be having three days of instruction in various areas of law. So much of the work that our priests are involved with these days requires understanding of pertinent law. For example, it is important they understand labor laws because priests often hire and supervise employees.  When a parish is hoping to purchase property, priests and pastors would be better prepared to ask questions if they knew more about real estate law.
 
In addition to the specific law-related sessions, there also will be a pastors’ panel on “Practical Legal Considerations.” The panel will include of Fathers John Lyons, a lawyer before entering priesthood, and Pat Crino, from SS. Peter and Paul Parish. It will be facilitated by our Chancellor Anne Morales, who is also a lawyer. Father John Arnold, who practiced law before entering priesthood and now is our Moderator of the Curia, may also attend.
 
Thanks to Gerard O’Meara, who often is the lawyer for the Diocese of Tucson, for assisting with this session as well.
 
 
 
 
 
Please pray
For the soul of Sylvia Tenn, sister of Ernie Nedder, past Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation. Ms. Tenn passed away in Massachusetts Wednesday, Jan. 29, surrounded by family members.
 
 
Upcoming
 
Jordan Ministry Team Pastoral Spanish (Level 1)
Jordan Ministry Team’s Level I Pastoral Spanish program introduces non-Spanish-speaking ministers to the Spanish language in a functional and situational context. The series was developed by Jordan Ministry Team member and certified lay ecclesial minister Jeanette Apaez-Gutierrez, M.Ed. Classes will be taught primarily in Spanish and will emphasize the language skills of listening and reading. The series will include 40 hours of instruction.

Because of its focus on pastoral applications, the series is intended for deacons, parish and Catholic school staff members, and other ministers. The spring session is limited to 15 participants; to help cover the cost of the series, a donation of $100 is requested (scholarships are available). Because of the structure of the program, attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged. To see the full schedule, visit www.JordanMinistry.org/upcoming-events/Spanish.

To register for the series, please contact Jordan Ministry Team at (520) 623-2563 or [email protected]; to register online, visit jordanministryteam.org/contact.