LOCAL NEWS

Standing at the corner of 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix, Barb Small scans the sidewalks and passing traffic for anyone responding to the 2-by-3-foot sign she holds, asking in large letters, “Can I pray for you?” Several other women and men, each wearing a white shirt or blouse with dark trousers or blue jeans, stand nearby with similar signs, smiling and waving at the passing vehicles.

On the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, an Italian who founded the religious order of the Franciscans and was known for his patronage of animals, Bishop John Dolan visited St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix to bless residents’ animals and the new Marion and Bob Auray Companion Animal Clinic. Housed at St. Vincent de Paul's newest interim housing communities, Rosalie’s Place and De Paul Manor, the clinic will provide care for the pets of guests and neighbors in need.

Adults in the Diocese of Phoenix looking to learn more about the faith, now have more options with a promising new agreement between Loyola University New Orleans’ Institute for Ministry (LIM) and the Diocese of Phoenix. Tracey Lamont, director of LIM, is a professor of religious education and young adult ministry. She visited the Phoenix Diocese recently to discuss the program with diocesan leaders. The program developed, Lamont said, as a response to Vatican II.  

On October 7, 2024, Bishop John Dolan released his first pastoral letter as the shepherd of the Diocese of Phoenix. Watch here as he shares his letter, entitled “TILMA," inspired by the acronym Testifica, oh Iglesia, a la Luz del Misterio del Amor (Testify, o Church, to the Light of the Mystery of Love). Looking to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Diocese of Phoenix, Bishop John has created a seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization, leading up to December 2031, the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe appearing to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in modern day Mexico City.

Nearly 3,500 Catholics enjoyed the 2nd annual “Catholic Night” at Chase Field this past Friday, as the Arizona Diamondbacks wrapped up their final regular season weekend against the San Diego Padres. It was a night of fellowship and fun, as Catholics from across the Diocese of Phoenix gathered in record numbers. In addition, $5.00 from every ticket sold was donated to support Catholic School Support 365.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix continues to show growth and vibrance with historic and record-setting numbers.  Tuesday morning the 54-year-old diocese, one of the fastest growing Catholic dioceses in the country, officially opened its third seminary house located next to the historic St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix. The diocese also announced plans for a significant development project that will positively impact people of all faiths in downtown Phoenix. 

The circumstances have changed. The message of 40 Days for Life has not.  Two years after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling and on the doorstep of Arizonans possibly deciding to permanently allow unlimited access to abortion, 40 Days’ mission remains the same – prayer, fasting, speaking the truth with the love of Christ and reliance on the Holy Spirit - to move hearts and save one life at a time.  

Earlier this month, a bus full of 53 students, two religious sisters and a priest headed to the Grand Canyon for Mass and a holy hour, praising the Lord with the breathtaking backdrop of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This was Holy Spirit Newman Center’s second trip to the Canyon, which has come to serve as a rite of passage of sorts for freshman students, visiting the marvel that their college, Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, is named after. The first trip was inspired by an eagerness to visit the Grand Canyon and to immerse new students into the community. The Newman Center team decided to turn it into a meaningful, shared experience centered on God.

Fifteen men throughout the Diocese of Phoenix are spending their final days as laypeople. Beginning with their Nov. 9th ordination at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, in Scottsdale, Ariz., they will forever be known as “deacon.” John Bering, Jason Bourne, David Bramer, Fernando Camou, Gerard Glab, Sergio Hermosillo, Jason Kelly, Salvador Madrís, Herald Morazán, Matthew Murphy, Mike Quinlivan, Antonio Reynoso, Doug Small, Robert Solis, and John Thornton, along with their wives, will also celebrate solemn vespers with the community on Nov. 8th at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix. Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares will lead that prayer service. 

By Rose DeFer, courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School Students at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (SVdP) have hopes and dreams and...