Bishop John Dolan visited the Perryville state prison complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday night (Sept. 3), to celebrate Mass and administer the sacrament of confirmation for female inmates. Three women were confirmed in the Catholic Church and several women also went to confession. Bishop Dolan was accompanied by Fr. Estevan Wetzel, the director of Prison Ministry for the Diocese of Phoenix, who heard confessions, and Ted Ebner, the coordinator of Prison Ministry for the diocese. The pos...| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan continues to elevate the importance of mental health outreach. Earlier this week he toured Valleywise Health’s 192-bed behavioral health hospital in Maryvale, Ariz. Valleywise Health is one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in Arizona, Ariz. Valleywise Health’s Maryvale facility is one of the organization’s three behavioral health hospitals, with a combined licensed capacity of 412 inpatient beds — the only provider of court ordered evaluation in...| The Catholic Sun
The Diocese of Phoenix has a record number of 55 seminarians this year and many more men are in active conversation about stepping into discernment. The post Diocese of Phoenix has record number of seminarians. What’s the secret? appeared first on The Catholic Sun.| The Catholic Sun
ROME (CNS) -- Twelve years after ending two terms as prior general of the Augustinian order, Pope Leo XIV encouraged his confreres in the order to pray to the Holy Spirit for the gifts of listening, being humble and promoting unity. Presiding at a Mass of the Holy Spirit Sept. 1 to open the order's general chapter meeting, the pope had a prepared homily in Italian but chose to speak first in English." For those of you who understand English but don't understand Italian," he said, "pray for a ...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Participating in the ecumenical Season of Creation, Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for the month of September is "for our relationship with all of creation."In his monthly video, distributed Sept. 2 by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, Pope Leo prays to God: "Help us to discover your presence in all creation, so that, in fully recognizing it, we may feel and know ourselves to be responsible for this common home where you invite us to care for, respect and protect lif...| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan held a Mass in celebration of the opening of the seminary year on Thursday (Aug. 28) evening at the Virginia G. Piper Chapel at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix. Nazareth Seminary, the Diocese of Phoenix's local seminary formation program, has a record 55 seminarians beginning study this month, and nearly 40 men were in attendance. Nazareth Seminary incorporates an innovative home-style model of formation where seminarians live in community with one another a...| The Catholic Sun
As the world mourns the mass shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Domonic Salce, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Phoenix, offers comfort along with the U.S. Conference […]| The Catholic Sun
As faith formation staff and volunteers from across the Diocese of Phoenix gear up for the new catechetical year, Bishop John Dolan thanked and blessed them for their work on behalf of the Church. “Thank you for your yes to the Gospel,” Bishop Dolan told the crowd gathered at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix for the annual Mass for catechists. “As leaders of faith formation, you are not simply passing on information, you are helping people encounter Christ to be transformed.”...| The Catholic Sun
As David and Laurie Schwartzner were updating their will, they had a plan. The Chandler, Ariz., couple and St. Juan Diego Church members already had made sure in their original document that their three adult children and five grandchildren were provided for. But they also wanted to leave something to the causes close to their hearts. “We thought, ‘What do we do for charity?’” David recalled. The post Making a will, diocese offers free tool to help appeared first on The Catholic Sun.| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Jesus described the path to salvation as a "narrow gate," he was not placing limits on God's mercy but was challenging people who were convinced they had done enough to be saved, Pope Leo XIV said. "The Lord does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters," the pope told visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square Aug. 24 for the recitation of th...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even as Christians continue the dialogue aimed at restoring their unity, they are called to work together to bring peace and reconciliation to a deeply divided world, Pope Leo XIV said. "We believe that the unity Christ wills for his Church must be visible, and that such unity grows through theological dialogue, common worship where possible and shared witness in the face of humanity's suffering," the pope wrote in a message to church leaders meeting in Stockholm. The po...| The Catholic Sun
How do we teach our children to face challenges — and where is God in it all? Somehow, I ended up on the Struggle Bus, a season of hardship, this year. As the days melted into months, I kept looking for my stop — my chance to hop off and step into a season free of stress or conflict. But that stop never came. So, I settled in for the long ride and wondered how to bring my family along. Years ago, during a time of grief, I asked a priest how to shield my children from the pain my husba...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: How have these readings cha...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Does your parish have an ou...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: How does the Cross challeng...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Do you trust in Jes...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Is your heart patt...| The Catholic Sun
When Jeannie Buggle walks through the door, it’s the highlight of Marilyn Grimaldi’s week. Marilyn, 89, is bedridden and unable to attend Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) in Tempe, Ariz., where she’s been a faithful parishioner since the early 1960s. She watches the weekly TV Mass broadcast from Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral on CW 7, but it’s just not the same as being at her beloved parish. That’s where a soft-spoken, cheerful Buggle comes in. She’s been leading the Minis...| The Catholic Sun
Walk through the doors of Nazareth Seminary’s houses, and you’ll find a brotherhood unlike any other. The men discerning the priesthood in the Diocese of Phoenix come from all walks of life: fresh out of high school, seasoned professionals, former teachers, even an astrophysicist who once worked for NASA. Some have worked as lawyers, others as bartenders, listening to life’s stories unfold across a countertop. They come from different cultures, speak different languages and have tak...| The Catholic Sun
Fr. Fernando Camou was installed by Bishop John Dolan as the rector and pastor of the historic St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix on Sunday morning. Fr. Nathaniel Glenn and Fr. Jesus Martinez, who will be supporting him in his new role, concelebrated the Mass alongside Bishop Dolan and Fr. Camou. Dcn. Fernando Camou Sr., Fr. Camou’s father, also served at the Mass.| The Catholic Sun
Monthly Archives: August 2025| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Stories about "the first 100 days" are standard fare at the beginning of a U.S. president's four-year term; the articles usually focus on how much the new president was able to accomplish and how quickly. But a pope is elected for life and without having promised voters anything or having presented a platform. Pope Leo XIV was elected May 8, making Aug. 16 the 100th day since he stepped out on to the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica as the new pope. He will celebrate his ...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While enjoying a summer break from school or work, Catholics should not neglect "the Lord's invitation to prepare our hearts by actively participating in the Eucharistic sacrifice and by doing generous acts of charity," Pope Leo XIV said. Speaking in English at his weekly general audience Aug. 6, the pope summarized his main talk, which focused on how Christ prepared to sacrifice himself out of love for humanity and how Christians, in response, must prepare space in thei...| The Catholic Sun
For Fr. Joseph Nguyen, his first year as a priest has been a journey filled with grace, growth and unexpected blessings. Ordained on June 1, 2024, he was soon assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Ariz. — a vibrant community of more than 8,000 families. Though surprised at first, he quickly realized that God had prepared him for this mission.“A few days before I got the call, I prayed about where I would be sent,” Fr. Nguyen recalls. “St. Thomas Aquinas appeared in my pra...| The Catholic Sun
I’ll never forget the day I yelled at God. I was in seminary, and I had recently lost my sister, Therese, and my brother-in-law, Joe, to death by suicide on the same day. This came years after my brother, Tom, had died by suicide when I was in eighth grade. I was hurting, I was angry and I had no idea why God let all of this suffering take place. At the time, I was studying at the University of San Diego. I went for a walk in my unrest and found myself at a large, empty field that overlooks...| The Catholic Sun
Thanks to a grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix announced the creation of a new position — Catholic Schools Major Gifts Officer — which will focus on strengthening enrollment and building long-term capacity through professional development and strategic outreach. The diocese is accepting applicants for the position with a target of Sept. 15 to be filled.“This is not a short-term solution; it’s a visionary step forward,” said Debbie Di...| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan announced the first edition of the Nazareth News Magazine — an inside look at the Diocese of Phoenix’s local and thriving Nazareth Seminary. “Through prayers and support for our seminarians, you play an integral role in the inspiring stories of faith, formation and fostering vocations that fill these pages,” said Bishop Dolan, who extended an invitation to all faithful to read through a digital copy of this new, annual periodical produced by the diocesan Office of...| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan took part in a special commissioning of Dr. Douglas Ross, the new president of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, this past Thursday (July 31) at the hospital’s Marian Chapel in downtown Phoenix.Named the hospital’s new president this past fall, Dr. Ross joined St. Joseph’s from CHI St. Vincent System in Arkansas, where he served as chief medical officer for the market and as president of St. Vincent Hot Springs Hospital. He earned his Bachelor of Science in c...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a message of solidarity and peace, Pope Leo XIV said the Catholic Church stands with young people suffering in war-torn areas, including Gaza and Ukraine. Before praying the Angelus with more than 1 million young people attending the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Youth Aug. 3, the pope said the church was "closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings."| The Catholic Sun
ROME (CNS) -- Volunteers watching over the relics of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati gently placed items from the faithful on top of his casket to make a third-class relic for the visitors to the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, near Rome's Pantheon, one afternoon during the Jubilee of Youth.About 16 small dark burgundy pillows lined the marble steps before the simple wooden casket marked by a cross, four red wax seals and one of the blessed's favorite sayings, "Verso l'alto," ("To the to...| The Catholic Sun
This month Bishop John Dolan announced the launching of Nazareth News Magazine — an inside look at the Diocese of Phoenix’s local and thriving Nazareth Seminary. Below is a story from the first magazine edition. To access the full digital version of Nazareth News Magazine Volume No. 1, click here. For 10 seminarians from St. Mary’s House in downtown Phoenix, a springtime mission trip to a Maricopa reservation was an act of service and a powerful immersion into the heart of their future...| The Catholic Sun
Thank you for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the Catholic Church in Arizona, our Nation and the World.| The Catholic Sun
Creighton University has opened a new $100 million Health Sciences building in Phoenix that will send hundreds of new professionals into a work force whose need has been heightened by the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.| The Catholic Sun
Monthly Archives: May 2025| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan announced several new priest assignments on July 3, which will take place throughout the Diocese of Phoenix on August 1 and September 1, respectively. Fr. John Muir, current pastor of St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix, is one of nine priests who will be taking on new assignments in the coming months. As the current Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Phoenix, Fr. Muir will be shifting from his role as pastor to focus his full energy on his...| The Catholic Sun
Monthly Archives: April 2025| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Who is Jes...| The Catholic Sun
Monthly Archives: June 2025| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Scientific discovery and knowledge are meant to benefit all of humanity, Pope Leo XIV told young astronomers."Be generous in sharing what you learn and what you experience, as best you can and however you can," he told them during an audience at the Vatican June 16.The pope spoke to dozens of young astronomy students and scholars who were taking part in a monthlong summer school sponsored by the Vatican Observatory and held at the observatory's headquarters in Castel Gan...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As conflict in the Middle East escalated with Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran and retaliatory drone attacks on Israel, Pope Leo XIV appealed for restraint and renewed the church's calls for nuclear disarmament and peaceful dialogue.Speaking to pilgrims at the end of a special Jubilee audience June 14, the pope expressed deep concern over the "seriously deteriorating" situation in the Middle East, warning of the consequences of further escalation. "I want to s...| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small Christian communities that gather in the home weekly to prayerfully discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s easy to form a community and you can find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. The question the Christ in Our Neighborho...| The Catholic Sun
This week, something historic is unfolding for the Diocese of Phoenix. Eight young adults and four mentors have embarked on a two-week trip to Nairobi, Kenya, as the inaugural participants of Engage Your Equal (E.Y.E.), a new diocesan initiative created by Bishop John Dolan to foster global solidarity, faith-based leadership and cross-cultural dialogue — all along equipping young adults to embody the universality of the Catholic Church. Catch up on part one of the coverage here.| The Catholic Sun
Desmond found himself living outside in the summer heat and at the bottom of a spiral when SVdP gave him the tools to rebuild his life Video by Bruce Cooper […]| The Catholic Sun
In this Jubilee Year, one of Pope Francis’ 10 hopes is for youth and young adults to experience the joy and beauty of living the Gospel. Four young adults share the stories of their unique journeys to finding hope and fulfillment in God.| The Catholic Sun
In remembrance of those individuals served by Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in May 2025| The Catholic Sun
The Diocese of Phoenix, continuing as one of the nation’s fastest-growing in the U.S., welcomed two new men to the priesthood Saturday. Deacons Jacob Chavez and Connor Companik were ordained by Bishop John Dolan before an estimated 1,500 worshippers at All Saints Church in Mesa, Ariz., in a ceremony marked by Church tradition and an air of joy. Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares and Bishop Emeritus Thomas Olmsted concelebrated.| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world marked by wars and where people are disconnected and numb with indifference, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the Holy Spirit would "open borders, break down walls" and dissolve hatred so everyone can live as children of one human family."The Spirit breaks down barriers and tears down the walls of indifference and hatred" because he teaches and encourages "the commandment of love that the Lord has made the center and summit of everything," he said.| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV will formally begin his ministry as bishop of Rome with a liturgy steeped in tradition and rich in symbolism May 18.The "Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry," to be held in St. Peter's Square, will mark the visible and public start of his pontificate while grounding it in the Catholic Church's apostolic continuity.Although the pope's canonical authority began the moment he accepted his election in the Sistine Chapel May 8, the installation Mass...| The Catholic Sun
The doctors and other health care professionals who come out of Creighton University’s Phoenix campus will fill a slice of the provider shortage facing Arizona and the United States.But they will add to those numbers with something school officials believe is more significant.“We created a culture of a Jesuit Catholic institution in the West,” said Regional Dean of Students Dr. Randy Richardson.| The Catholic Sun
Black ribbons and half-roundels adorned the outside of St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix and its adjacent courtyard April 22 as a sign of mourning for Pope Francis. The Diocese of Phoenix celebrated the life of the Holy Father with a Remembrance Mass that evening, mourning the death of the pope. During his homily, diocesan Vicar General and basilica Rector Fr. John Muir recalled meeting Pope Francis a year and a half ago.| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Pope Francis continues his recovery at the Vatican, he is very slowly beginning to get back to his old routine of meeting with top Vatican officials, the Vatican press office said.In addition to working with his secretaries, he met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, April 7, the press office said in a briefing with reporters April 8.| The Catholic Sun
Deviating from the traditional music often heard during the weekly televised Mass from Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, in Phoenix, the Umoja Gospel Youth Choir from St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish led attendees and viewers in worship, singing music derived from African-American spirituals as part of the Diocese of Phoenix’s first-ever celebration Black History Month Mass celebrated on Feb. 9. “Enslaved people denied earthly freedom still found the liberation in the Gospel. Their spiri...| The Catholic Sun
Bishop John Dolan has established a new Office of Human Dignity within the Diocese of Phoenix. The action involves the restructuring of several existing offices that have operated under separate umbrellas. It also fulfills a core piece of Catholic Social Teaching that has been emphasized by Pope Francis during his papacy, and more prominently as the Church approached the 2025 Jubilee Year.| The Catholic Sun
The sun beats down unforgivingly on Andre House on a hot afternoon in downtown Phoenix. Inside, the working poor and those experiencing homelessness quietly congregate seeking relief from the soaring thermometer and the mean city streets. One man stands in line, holding a small cup of foamy shaving cream as he waits for a shower and a set of clean clothing. Others sit quietly at long tables. In the back corner of the room, Mark Poulin, a retired psychiatric nurse practitioner, sets up for a ...| The Catholic Sun
Gabriella, nearly 3 years old, sits quietly working in a corner of what’s known as the atrium. The learning environment features child-sized furniture and tiny liturgical items fashioned after the sacred vessels used in the Mass. Welcome to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for toddlers. Eighteen families at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Scottsdale bring their little ones each week to the Precious Pearl Atrium for two hours of reverent work.| The Catholic Sun
Arizona Catholic Bishops Statement Opposing Proposition 314 As Catholic Bishops of Arizona, we express our frustration about the current situation at the US-Mexico border. The lack of a federal solution […]| The Catholic Sun
Cornhole tournaments, coffee carts, ultimate frisbee, barbeques, free carne asada tacos and popsicles, group hikes and basketball dunking contests – these are some of the creative ways Newman Centers are engaging and welcome new and returning students during the first weeks of college. And the college students are loving it! Welcomed by the joyful faces of religious sisters, priests, volunteers, missionaries, fellow students and leadership teams – all of whom rallied to make sure thes...| The Catholic Sun
Arizona Catholic Bishops Statement Opposing Proposition 139 As Catholic Bishops of Arizona we want to express our strong opposition to Proposition 139. If passed, this initiative threatens to enshrine a […]| The Catholic Sun
NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small groups that gather in the home weekly to discuss and pray through the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. Find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Is the Eucharist the source and summit of your faith?| The Catholic Sun
