The Wednesday Update

US Bishops to reconsecrate our country to Mary, Mother of the Church I will be leading our diocese in a reconsecration liturgy on Friday, May 1 at 11 a.m. Please join me by watching the liturgy on our website at www.diocesetucson.org. Archbishop José Gomez, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and leader of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, will lead the USCCB’s liturgy immediately following ours, beginning at Noon on Friday 1. You can view the livestreaming of at http://www.usccb.org/consecration or at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ website at https://lacatholics.org/consecration . If you like, you can download a worship aid for the USCCB liturgy at http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/consecration.cfm .

A vandal used rocks to break treasured stained-glass windows at St. Augustine Cathedral Monday evening. The same person is suspected of also breaking windows at the nearby Marist College Apartments, located at the back of Cathedral Square, 192 S. Stone Ave. In addition, windows on three cars in the apartment building parking lot, and the Foundation for Senior Living (FSL) van also were broken Monday evening. FSL operates the apartments.

You may recall that circumstances created by the pandemic led to our diocese having to furlough, with reduced or no work hours, 23 of the 50 employees of our Pastoral Center staff. I am writing to share some very good news with you. Our filing for a small business forgivable loan, through the $2 trillion dollar CARES Act, has been granted for the Diocese of Tucson . . . as of Monday we are restoring all employees to their former salary levels.

At this time, we find ourselves poised to contemplate Holy Thursday, followed by the Triduum. These are the holiest of days in our faith; days that remind us of the sacrifices of Jesus that lead to His resurrection and the promise of victory over death.

Palm Sunday is April 5. There will be no palm distribution at parishes within the Diocese. Instead, please consider participating in Mass online with Bishop Weisenburger at diocesetucson.org, then reciting the prayer within this Update before a crucifix with your family.

“I invite all the Heads of Churches and the leaders of all the Christian Communities, together with all the Christians of the various Confessions, to invoke the Most High, Almighty God, reciting contemporaneously the prayer that Jesus Our Lord taught us. I invite all, therefore, to do so several times a day, but, all together, to recite the Our Father today, March 25, at midday – all together.” I am suggesting that we pray the prayer at noon, local time, but the prayer also can be said at noon Rome time, or at any other time of the day.”

Please note: Due to potential exposure of an employee at the Pastoral Center, the Diocese of Tucson and St. Augustine Cathedral Parish offices are closed until April 1. While our offices are closed, Pastoral Center employees are checking email messages and voice mail hourly. When you call a Pastoral Center employee, please leave a message with your phone number so your call can be returned. For the general delivery message box, dial 0.

An Act of Charity Follow diocesan Liturgical Protocols and common sense to help prevent spreading illnesses Last Thursday, I published our diocesan protocols to help prevent the spread of illnesses in our diocese. My hope is that by now you have read our protocols or have had the protocols read to you. As you may also know, many dioceses and archdioceses nationwide, and churches and governments in other countries have put similar guidelines into practice.

The following is a blog from Franciscan Media, posted by Diane M. Houdek , who is the Director of Content for the organization. Reprinted with permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved. We might think that the hope of Lent has to do with our hope that we will get through it, that we will come to the end of it. We see Lent as an obstacle course

The Wednesday Update took a short break. It will return Aug. 21. Please note that the Diocese of Tucson offices will be closed on Thursday, Aug. 15 in observance of the Feast Day of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.

Update: Transforming a juvenile facility On Monday (July 22), the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 3 - 2 in favor of allowing Catholic Community Services to move asylum-seekers temporarily housed at the former Benedictine Monastery in Tucson to vacant sections

Update: New home for asylum-seekers This afternoon, diocese and Catholic Community Services representatives met with officials from the city county, three consulates, religious leaders and leaders from other organizations working with migrants. The meeting was to discuss and bring greater understanding among the group members about the decisions made by CCS to continue efforts to move asylum seekers from the former Benedictine Monastery in Tucson  into an unused part of a county juvenile detention center.

Troubling allegations require thorough review   The media is reporting alarming allegations of sexual misconduct against minors, inhumane conditions, and improper retaliatory actions on the part of certain Customs and Border Patrol agents at the Yuma, Arizona holding facilities.  These deeply troubling allegations have been made public by Department of Health and Human Services workers.  

Prayer for the Fourth of July Below is a prayer written by George Washington, our nation’s first president.  See how the words of the past still resonate with us as they reflect on the need for justice, respect and the inclusion of God in our work.

U.S. Bishops decry horrific death of father and daughter at the border and the appalling conditions for children June 26, 2019 WASHINGTON—The cry of a father and his baby daughter who drowned crossing the Rio Grande reaches heaven itself. This unspeakable consequence of a failed immigration system, together with growing reports of inhumane conditions for children in the custody of the federal government at the border, shock the conscience and demand immediate action. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, joins Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, in calling on the federal government to hear the cry of the poor and vulnerable.

Great strides by US Bishops in Baltimore The USCCB meeting exceeded my expectations. We overwhelmingly approved three crucial documents which will guide the Church forward in relation to bishop accountability.