The Catholic Sun

It’s been a winding road, at times even international in scope. On June 1, transitional Deacons Elijah Delello, Jesús Martinez and Joseph Nguyen will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix. Configured to Christ, each of the three young men has had a unique path to priesthood. What follows is a peek into their vocation journey. 

St. Gerard’s Outreach Ministry, a new initiative of the Office of Natural Family Planning at the Diocese of Phoenix, which serves couples in the season of infertility, welcomed 13 couples to their inaugural “Cherished” retreat at Mt. Claret Retreat Center in Phoenix on May 11.  It was a “total success,” said Ana Luisa Martinez de Carillo, facilitator of Spanish Programs for Natural Family Planning, “Couples were grateful that the Church is acknowledging them. The evaluation comments were very meaningful to us, often expressing the couple’s thankfulness at not feeling alone in their struggles”. 

PHOENIX -- In the mid-1970s, when Phoenix was a much smaller city, the area near 7th Street and Dunlap Avenue west of the current Route 51 freeway was a mix of single-family houses and small businesses. Area Catholics attended Most Holy Trinity Parish and sent their children to its elementary school. English was the majority language, but by the mid 80’s, the demographic was shifting, and Spanish became the dominant dialect.  

Always pray, and pray especially for an end to all wars, Pope Francis told children during Mass concluding the first World Children's Day. "We are here to pray, to pray together and to pray to God," the father, who created the world, to his son, Jesus, who saved humanity, and to the Holy Spirit, "who accompanies us in life," he said in his homily May 26, the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. About 50,000 children and adults gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Mass wrapping up the two-day event which began in Rome's Olympic Stadium May 25. Pope Francis established the world day as a "movement of boys and girls who want to build a world of peace, where we are all brothers and sisters, a world that has a future because we want to take care of the environment around us," he said at the stadium.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Entrusting to God's mercy all of their comrades-in-arms who have died serving their countries and defending peace, Pope Francis urged Catholic members of the military to let their faith inform their service. "The world needs you, especially at this dark moment in our history. We need men and women of faith capable of putting weapons at the service of peace and brotherhood," said the papal message to thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and cadets making a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.

Bishop John Dolan ordained Jacob Chavez and Connor Companik to the transitional diaconate during a special Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix on Sunday, May 26. The Mass was televised live across the Diocese of Phoenix on CW7. 

One of the most successful softball coaches in Arizona high school history, Jerry Mullin, announced his coaching retirement today after 38 years of leading theSeton Catholic Preparatory softball program. Mullin arrived at Seton Catholic, located in Chandler, Ariz., in 1985 and took over the softball program for the 1986-87 school year, transforming it into a small-school powerhouse by the mid-1990s. He won 10 AIA State Championships over a 15-year span from 1996 to 2010, including two periods of four consecutive state titles (1996 to 1999 in Class 2A and 2002 to 2005 in Class 3A). Mullin was a perfect 10-0 in state championship games.

Be sure to check out our brand-new podcast, “Prep Rally,” featuring amazing stories on individuals from the seven Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Phoenix. Produced by The Catholic Sun, the monthly podcast will celebrate the talents of students, teachers and administrators from across the diocese. Each episode will focus on a different topic but will highlight one of four pillars, including faith, service, academics and arts, and athletics. Hosted by Abigail Standish, the Coordinator of Catholic Social Teaching for the Diocese of Phoenix, “Prep Rally” can be found on the diocese’s Facebook or YouTube pages and in The Catholic Sun online.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although a normal beatification process was not followed, Pope Francis has declared as "blessed" Guy de Montpellier, a 12th-century French knight and founder of the Hospitaller Order of the Holy Spirit."By Our Apostolic authority, We inscribe in the catalogue of the blesseds Guy de Montpellier," and decree that his feast day will be celebrated Feb. 7 by the religious orders and institutes of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, the pope wrote in a document dated May 18, the vigil of Pentecost.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican is expecting some 70,000 children between the ages of 5 and 12 and their chaperones to fill Rome's Olympic Stadium for the opening events of the first World Children's Day May 25 and to join Pope Francis for Mass in St. Peter's Square the next morning. Franciscan Father Enzo Fortunato, coordinator of the event, told reporters May 16 that, given school schedules and travel logistics, only about 10% of the participants will be children from outside of Italy. But, he said, 101 nations will be represented.