Arizona fire rages as slain hotshot crew members are mourned
As the people of central Arizona mourned the deaths June 30 of 19 firefighters from the Granite Mountain Hotshots, hundreds of other firefighters battled the still-uncontrolled blaze that threatened the small towns of Yarnell and Peeples Valley.
Yarnell’s Catholic community, shrine in limbo as fire rages
As far as Fr. Raul Lopez can tell, the Yarnell Hill fire lines have not reached St. Mary Mediatrix Mission. Yet. The state of the Shrine of St. Joseph is unknown.
Arizona Catholic Conference 2013 Legislative Wrap-Up
On June 14, the Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die at 12:59 a.m. after spending 151 days in session, capped by an emotionally charged debate focused on Governor Brewer’s Medicaid expansion proposal.
Catholic leaders respond to Supreme Court ruling on marriage
A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 26 that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Catholic leaders both locally and around the country called the 5-4 ruling tragic.
Bishop Olmsted responds to Supreme Court marriage decision
The U.S. Supreme Court had the chance to uphold the importance of marriage and its fundamental role in providing for our children and the future of the United States. By striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and failing to uphold California’s Proposition 8, the Court has succumbed to our culture’s radical efforts to redefine marriage and, in a very real sense, is now engaged in the ongoing battle against families, society and people of faith.
Our Faith: Priestly Celibacy: Learning the Catholic discipline
In what continues to be a paradox in an immoral society, celibacy in the Roman Catholic priesthood is not a doctrine of the Church, but a discipline.
Family, friends supported newly ordained priests
Fr. Kurt Perera knows his hands were made to do the Lord’s work. That’s how the moment he put his hands in the bishop’s became a key part of his priestly ordination.
Cristofer Pereyra: Radio host shares story of conversion, call to holiness
By the world’s standards, Cristofer Pereyra was doing well. He’d emigrated from Peru at age 15, graduated from college and landed a good job, working as a reporter at Channel 33, the Phoenix affiliate of Univision, the Spanish-language television network.
CDA seeks to reach $8.1 mil by month’s end
As the fiscal year comes to an end, the 2013 Charity and Development Appeal is working hard to hit its $8.1 million goal by June 30.
Kino Institute honors 75 graduates of two-year faith formation program
The Kino Institute recognized 75 Catholics with certificates during a special graduation Mass May 30 at St. Mary’s Basilica.
