LOCAL NEWS

It wasn’t four in the morning, the food wasn’t being sold at tables outside the church, and no one was heading off to work in a farm field last Sunday. But for hundreds of Filipino Catholics, the first-ever diocesan-wide celebration of their native Christmastime tradition, Simbang Gabi, was just like “tahanan.” “It feels so good, like we’re back home. It feels like you are in the Philippines,” beamed Ferlyn Junge, her eyes lighting up, as a broad smile grew even wider across her face. 

Saturday, Dec. 28 will be an exciting day for the Diocese of Phoenix, as Bishop John Dolan celebrates the first of six opening Masses to kick-off his seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization throughout the diocese and officially open the 2025 Jubilee Year. The inaugural Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix in tandem with Pope Francis’ decree for every diocesan bishop to “celebrate Holy Mass as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year” in every cathedral and co-cathedral throughout the world that same weekend, which he announced in his encyclical Spes non confundit. 

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just a few weeks away. Advent is a wondrous gift of our Church. We sit waiting with anticipation the birth of Christ anew in our lives. Thousands of years ago the Holy Family made a pilgrimage, a journey, to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph went with faith and trust where they were called. I remind myself often that this faith and trust doesn’t mean they weren’t afraid, concerned or anxious. Nevertheless, they journeyed forward along the path that brought them to the unassuming town of Bethlehem and a humble shelter shared by animals.

Last week, Students at St. Mary Basha Catholic School (SMB) spread Christmas cheer at the annual SMB Santa Shop, a unique experience that shifts the focus from receiving gifts to the joy of giving for our students. During the school day, students shop with their homeroom classes, selecting thoughtful gifts for their loved ones. This allows them to surprise their families on Christmas morning with presents they've chosen themselves. The shop, transformed into a winter wonderland, offers a wide variety of affordable, high-quality items, including toys, candles, mugs and ornaments. 

Jesús Cabrera took a bus with 49 other parishioners from St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona, Ariz., to participate in this year’s Honor Your Mother Celebration Dec. 7. The Grupo Guadalupano Juan Diego danced for the fourth time this year in the annual procession honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cabrera’s group joined thousands of others at the event, which included a Mass, celebrated by Bishop John Dolan and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares, and a procession that showcased music and colorful costumes representing cultures from Latin America, Asia and Africa. 

Jesus’ earthly life was all about encounter. We see it in every verse of the Gospels—from the personal invitation of each apostle to follow Him and the countless meals shared with Pharisees and outcasts alike, to the laying on of hands and the numerous accounts of personal and intentional healing. Jesus lived his days meeting people exactly where they were along the journey, entering into their very realities and inviting each soul into a deep and abiding relationship. He accompanied others, and the impact was deeply personal, wildly abundant and ultimately, life changing. This month the Diocese of Phoenix’s Office of Mission Advancement released the 2024 Impact Report, which is filled with the stories of countless individuals and families who have experienced this very love of Christ through the services of numerous wide-reaching ministries, charities and organizations in the diocese.

There is a Hebrew term “shalom” which is often translated as “peace” and is spoken as a phrase of greeting and blessing. But it holds a much more profound meaning at its core – it portrays a concept that means “wholeness,” “restoration to fullness” and “completeness.” In Biblical times, if someone stole a loaf of bread from their neighbor, shalom was not simply making things right by replacing one loaf of bread with another. Rather, after taking this step, there would be an active effort on the part of both parties to restore right-relationship and to work together so that everyone had enough bread to go around.  

If you have attended a university, received care in a hospital, grew up going to a Catholic school or have been moved deeply by literature, art or beautiful architecture, it is likely that your life has been impacted by someone with a religious vocation. Priests, nuns, religious sisters, brothers, monks—all share the unique call to give their lives totally to Christ, impacting the Church in a myriad of ways through their unique charisms, or gifts, and wide variety of ministries, apostolates and mission fields. This Sunday, December 8, you will have the opportunity to give back to these men and women who have given so much. The Retirement Fund for Religious, a second collection which has been crucial in supporting religious communities for 38 years, will take place in parishes across the U.S.  

St. Mary's Catholic High School freshman Ava Gonzales kicked the game-winning field goal, a 19-yarder with 46.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Knights a 10-7 victory over Prescott High School in the Arizona Interscholastic Association's 4A flag football state championship on Saturday.  Held at Chandler High School, the win completed a perfect season for No. 1 seeded St. Mary’s at 14-0 under Head Coach Chris Horn.

The pink and violet candles are nestled in their base, ready to be lit on their special Sunday during Advent—hope, peace, joy and love. Each week, we focus on a new theme for the heart, starting with the candle of hope. It’s fitting, as peace and joy aren’t always present in our homes. That’s a reality of living with others and navigating our fallen nature. Yet, we can always strive to remain hopeful.