“When my parents got married, they wanted a lot of kids. My dad jokes that he wanted his own personal sports team, but my mom's body didn't work right, and the doctors told her that she couldn't have any children.” Twelve-year-old Benjamin “Bubba” Mark Taylor, Jr., of Prescott Valley, Ariz., drew in the crowd as he shared his story during the annual Life Connections banquet at the Espire Events Center in Prescott, Ariz., earlier this month. The sixth grader was invited to speak at the...| The Catholic Sun
Housing for Hope, an affiliate of Catholic Charities Community Services, unveiled Joshua Tree Apartments on Friday (Oct. 17), the organization’s first-ever Kingman affordable housing development. In late 2023, Housing for Hope began renovations to convert the vacant Motel 66 on Andy Devine Avenue into a 20-unit apartment building. Construction is now complete, and due to high demand, Joshua Tree is nearly fully leased. The post Housing for Hope celebrates grand opening of Kingman Joshua Tre...| The Catholic Sun
More than 90 men and women religious gathered for an Evening of Gratitude and Jubilee on Saturday (Oct. 18) at Mt. Claret Retreat Center in Phoenix. The annual event which celebrates the gift of Religious Life and honors religious who serve in the Diocese of Phoenix is sponsored by the Serra Club and organized by the diocesan Office of Religious Life. This year had the highest attendance in the event’s history. The post An evening of gratitude for men and women religious appeared first on T...| The Catholic Sun
For those with disabilities and their families, attending a regular Mass can be more than a little challenging. In that vein, the Office of Evangelization, Discipleship and Spirituality and the Office of Worship and Liturgy responded to the need expressed by a diocesan committee known as the Committee for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities and their Families. The two diocesan offices worked together to organize and hold what’s known as a sensory-friendly Mass at St. Mary’s B...| The Catholic Sun
In remembrance of those individuals served by Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in September 2025 The post In remembrance of those individuals served by Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in the month of September appeared first on The Catholic Sun.| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Holiness flourishes in those who serve the weakest, and Christians should defend the truths of the faith, no matter the cost, Pope Leo XIV said, highlighting key traits of the new saints he proclaimed. Meeting with visitors from different countries who were in Rome for the Oct. 19 canonization of seven new saints, Pope Leo said, "the men and women we proclaimed saints yesterday are shining signs of hope for all of us, because they offered their lives in love for Christ a...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV traveled 23 miles by car to board the "Bel Espoir" sailboat and speak to the crew about peacemaking. The boat, whose name means "beautiful hope," had spent the previous eight months sailing to 30 Mediterranean ports where rotating crews of 25 young adults met their peers and talked about their faith and the challenges to peace. Meeting the last crew Oct. 17 at the marina in Ostia, outside of Rome, Pope Leo told them the world needs "signs, witness, impressio...| The Catholic Sun
Everyone needs a grandparent. When my son started college in a distant state, he prioritized finding “his people.” He found them, or maybe I should say her, at the church. She was a kind older woman, sitting in the pew, who smiled at him with quiet encouragement. Over the coming year, she became a surrogate grandmother, and when I visited at the end of the year, she was one of the people he was most excited for me to meet. My children have the rare blessing of knowing all of their grandpa...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Modern hermits seek solitude not to escape the world but to learn how to listen more closely to God, to their neighbors and to creation, Pope Leo XIV said as he met about 50 Italian hermits who came to the Vatican for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life. The hermits, both men and women, include members of religious orders, diocesan priests and diocesan hermits who have chosen to live mostly alone in prayer, study and manual labor. For a short period each day, many of them al...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians must avoid using their faith to label those who are different -- often the poor -- as enemies to be avoided and rejected, Pope Leo XIV said. "Some forms of worship do not foster communion with others and can numb our hearts," he said in his homily during Mass in St. Peter's Square Oct. 12 for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality. "Mary's path follows that of Jesus, which leads us to encounter every human being, especially the poor, the wounded and sinners," Pope...| The Catholic Sun
For Fr. Jesús Zamarripa, SVD, St. Augustine of Hippo serves as a model. And not only because the saint is renown for his theology as a doctor of the Church […]| The Catholic Sun
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — Hailing from other countries, the two newest priests at Sacred Heart Parish are true missionaries. Members of the missionary Society of the Divine Word [SVD], pastor Fr. Krzysztof Pipa comes from Bochnia, Poland, while parochial vicar Biju Thomas comes from the largely Catholic Kerala state in India. Bishop John Dolan visited the Prescott community this past Saturday to formally install Fr. Pipa as the pastor of the oldest parish in the diocese. At the same time, the comm...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV, the object of dozens of "deepfake" videos, has chosen "Preserving human voices and faces" as the theme for the Catholic Church's celebration of World Communications Day in 2026. The Dicastery for Communication announced the theme Sept. 29. Just two weeks after his election in May, the dicastery warned people about "deepfake" -- AI-generated -- videos of the pope as well as manipulated or wholly AI-generated photos and quotes.| The Catholic Sun
Sarah Morris loves her Catholic faith. She attends Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix and enjoys worship and the fellowship of the faithful. But she needed a spiritual connection to others like her: a vehicle that would bring the companionship of Christian women, particularly other Catholics. “I think [as a culture] we’re disconnected [and] the Internet is ‘no bueno,’” she said, sitting at a table with several other women last Saturday at St. Helen Parish in Glendale, Ariz.| The Catholic Sun
More than 180 priests from across the Diocese of Phoenix gathered in Flagstaff, Ariz., this week for the annual Priest Convocation, the largest number of priests to ever attend. The four days of prayer, fellowship and formation carried the theme “The Priesthood of Tomorrow; For the New Millennium” and featured several presentations on the Diocese of Phoenix’s historic and fully local Nazareth Seminary.| The Catholic Sun
As Arizona’s population has risen steadily, fueling growth in the Diocese of Phoenix, there has been an increase in need for new projects. It’s a busy time in the diocesan Office of Buildings and Properties, which serves the demographic of more than 2 million Catholics. “There is a lot of development going on all over the place,” noted Sr. Mary Pierre Jean Wilson, RSM, director of Buildings and Properties. “We have a list of almost 100 projects, large and small, that are in some ph...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pain must never give rise to violence, and every Catholic needs to learn to safeguard with tenderness those who are vulnerable, Pope Leo XIV said during a prayer vigil dedicated to people experiencing pain and affliction due to illness, bereavement, violence or abuse.Recognizing that some members of the church "have unfortunately hurt you," the pope said, the church "kneels with you today before our Mother (Mary). May we all learn from her to protect the most vulnerable ...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Crying out to God during moments of extreme trial does not mark a crisis of faith but can reflect an act of total surrender to and enduring trust in God, Pope Leo XIV said. "In the journey of life, there are moments in which keeping something inside can slowly consume us," the pope told thousands of people huddled under umbrellas or dressed in rain gear in St. Peter's Square Sept. 10 for his weekly general audience. "Jesus teaches us not to be afraid to cry out, as long ...| The Catholic Sun
When Bishop John Dolan needed to staff St. Augustine Parish in Phoenix almost three years ago, he knew where to turn. The author of the Diocese of Phoenix’s bold seven-year pastoral plan, whose broad themes are tied together through evangelization, contacted the Society of the Divine Word’s (SVD) Western USA Provincial Superior, Fr. Jon Kirby, SVD. Having become good friends with Fr. Kirby while serving in the Diocese of San Diego, where SVD serves a number of California parishes, Bisho...| 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 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Check out the question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection poses: In what way are you re...| 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 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Check out the question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection poses: Are you waiting for th...| The Catholic Sun
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a Jubilee year dedicated to hope, Pope Leo XIV and Christian leaders will commemorate "new martyrs and witnesses of the faith" -- people whose lives were signs of hope to the people around them and who died firm in the hope of being welcomed into God's presence, said the secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Archbishop Fabio Fabene, dicastery secretary, told reporters Sept. 8, "Pope Leo hopes the blood of these martyrs will be seeds of peace, re...| 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
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
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
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
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
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
