BRIEFS

In light of the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday, upholding Arizona’s pre-Roe abortion ban in the state of Arizona, the Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) released a statement. The Arizona Catholic Conference is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson. Bishops from each of these dioceses comprise the Board of Directors of the ACC.

On Tuesday at morning,  Sr.Raphael Quinn, I.B.V.M. was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal in recognition for her faithful service to the Church in Catholic Education. The presentation took place at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix following Mass that was celebrated by Bishop John Dolan. She has more than 60 years in education, 51 years as the principal of St. Simon and Jude Catholic School.  

Bookended with opening and closing Masses, St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix will be the site of an all-night eucharistic adoration event April 6-7. Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix will kick off “The Road to Emmaus: A Eucharistic Encounter” with Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

PHOENIX – We at Brophy College Preparatory are proud to have spent the past two weeks exploring the impact of debt on the dignity of people and communities through the keynotes, workshops, prayer service, and other events of our annual Summit on Human Dignity. Halfway through our two-week Summit, we were especially thrilled to learn of Gov. Hobbs’ partnership with RIP Medical Debt to use $30 million of COVID-19 relief funds to forgive $2 billion of medical debt for 1 million Arizonans.

The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix welcomes two new directors to the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix, as Mary Permoda has been named the director of mental health awareness in the Office of Mental Health Ministry and Diane Saunders has been appointed the director of evangelization, discipleship and spirituality.

Hosted by "All In," a new parish ministry for people with special needs, Bishop John Dolan participated in a Easter Retreat at Our Lady...

Bishop John Dolan began the Feast of St. Joseph on Tuesday as a speaker at the annual Hope in Motion Breakfast for Foundation for Senior Living (FSL). Held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, he also led the 400-plus attendees in the opening prayer. The event raises money for FSL, who served nearly 42,000 Arizonans in 2023 and makes Arizona a safe place to age.

College students and visitors to downtown Phoenix will have the opportunity to have their feet washed outside St. Mary’s Basilica March 28. Among the many rich traditions of the Paschal Triduum, the washing of the feet at the Holy Thursday liturgy, which this year falls on March 28, can be particularly meaningful, demonstrating the humility and compassionate heart of Jesus Christ. Beyond the liturgy, the washing of the feet also has the capacity to inspire, particularly when it’s tied to serving those experiencing hardship.

More than 3,000 gathered in downtown Phoenix on March 1 for the Arizona March for Life. Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted opened the rally, held at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, and was joined by the Sisters of Life in praying the Rosary. Olivia Escobedo from the It Goes Too Far Campaign, reminded attendees of the importance of fighting the Arizona Abortion Access Act: “What we need to do is fight this, because the legislature, if this passes, will have no power to overturn it. We have to talk to every single voter.”

Seminarians Michael Salemi, Max Rich and Ryan Wiensch were admitted into Candidacy on March 2 at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. This marks the next step on their journey toward ordination. Candidacy is the first, formal recognition by the Church that the seminarians are considered potential priests.