The Catholic Sun

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.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians are called to be more like Mary: generous and loving servants of the Lord, Pope Francis said. "Sadly, if we look around us, we realize that the presumption that we can be 'like God,' which led to the first sin, continues to wound our human family," he said, celebrating Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis received a new, emission-free, all-electric popemobile from representatives of Mercedes-Benz, the German car manufacturer that has been supplying vehicles for the popes for nearly 100 years."We are overjoyed to be able to fulfill the Holy Father's wish for an electric popemobile and are particularly proud to be able to build the vehicle according to his requirements," Britta Seeger, head of sales and marketing and member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said in a press release Dec. 4.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world is in great need of hope, Pope Francis said. "Day by day, let us fill our lives with the gift of hope that God gives us, and through us, let us allow it to reach everyone who is looking for it," the pope said in a video explaining the intention he would like Catholics to pray for during the month of December. The pope's message encouraging prayers "for pilgrims of hope" was released by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network Dec. 3. The network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention each month, and members of the network pray for that intention each day.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Despite the problems and worries in the world, Jesus invites Christians to look toward heaven, trust in his saving love and make room for him in order to find hope again, Pope Francis said. "Sadness is awful," he told visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus Dec. 1, the first Sunday of Advent.

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.