BRIEFS

More than 170 priests from all over the Diocese of Phoenix gathered in Flagstaff this week for four days of prayer, fellowship and formation during the annual 2024 Priest Convocation titled “Ite Ad Joseph,” St. Joseph Model for Priests. The four-day gathering provides the opportunity for priests to learn together, share experiences, be renewed in prayer and come back to their parish communities more equipped. Morning and evening prayer, Eucharistic adoration, Mass, communal meals and small groups are all part of the agenda.

This past Saturday, Bishop John Dolan officially installed Fr. Kilian McCaffrey as the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Scottsdale, Ariz. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Fr. McCaffrey has served as a priest in the Diocese of Phoenix for the past 17 years. He described his installation as pastor of Blessed Sacrament as a “full circle” moment, which began upon his arrival in Arizona in 1998. “I moved from the Detroit area back in 1998 and the first Sunday after I moved here, I was looking for a local Catholic Church to attend Sunday Mass,” shared Fr. McCaffrey. “I opened the Yellow Pages and found the Roman Catholic churches listings. The closest address I recognized was Blessed Sacrament Parish.”

On Friday, Bishop John Dolan joined leaders, donors, volunteers and residents for the official opening of De Paul Manor and Rosalie’s Place, St. Vincent...

70 years is a long time. Since its humble beginnings in 1954, Seton Catholic Preparatory (SCP) in Chandler, Ariz., has been dedicated to providing students...

As a show of Christian unity and a plea for peace during this election season, seven Christian denominations in Arizona are teaming up for a series of prayer services over the next two months.   Themed “Faith over Fear,” the first prayer vigil will take place on Sept. 9 at 4:45 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Church at The Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale.  The second vigil, “Harden Not Our Hearts,” will take place on Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Tuscon. The final prayer service, “Loving Our Neighbor,” will take place on Nov. 4 at 12:00 p.m. at Sun City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Sun City.  All are invited and encouraged to attend these services.

St. Mary-Basha Catholic School, which provides Catholic education for preschool-8th grade students in Chandler, Ariz., was recently designated as an Apple Distinguished School for...

This morning Bishop Dolan celebrated a special Mass with a two-fold significance at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix. August 22, which is the feast of the Queenship of Mary, also marks the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the Loreto Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Diocese of Phoenix.

Chandler, Ariz. – St. Mary-Basha Catholic School successfully wrapped up its second annual #SMBFlatJesus project this summer. Inspired by the children’s book “Flat Stanley,” the project brought the school community together through shared faith-filled adventures. At the end of the 2023-24 school year, each St. Mary-Basha student received a Flat Jesus cutout to decorate and accompany on their summer travels. Families captured and shared photos of SMB Flat Jesus’ journeys at various locations, both near and far.

This fall, 15 new seminarians were accepted to Nazareth Seminary bringing the total number of men discerning the priesthood to 50, an all-time record for the Diocese of Phoenix. “This milestone is a testament to the foundation set before us by Bishops Olmsted and Nevares and Fr. Paul Sullivan and Fr. Matt Lowry, ongoing efforts in seminary formation, outreach opportunities and the collaboration with the laity who support our seminarians through their prayers and outreach,” said Fr. Kurt Perera, vocations director for the Diocese of Phoenix. 

The U.S. Crosier Fathers and Brothers have elected Fr. Alex Juguilon, osc, as their new conventual prior for a four-year term. The election was...