The Catholic Sun

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Long moments of silence and listening to God's Word are some of the many lessons contemplative women can give other Catholics, Pope Francis said. "In this world that is always full -- of things, words, news, a whole industry of external communication -- interior communication, in silence, is so necessary," he said during an audience at the Vatican Nov. 16. He spoke to people taking part in an international conference sponsored by the Pontifical International Marian Academy on the Venerable María de Jesús de Ágreda.

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The 18th Annual Bill Folz Memorial Golf for Vocations Tournament, held Thursday morning at Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix, set a record for dollars raised to support vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Catholics from around the Diocese of Phoenix packed into the downtown Diocesan Pastoral Center Friday, Nov. 10, for Movie Night with Christ in Our Neighborhood. Bishop Dolan, who designed the weekly Scripture study program for small groups, was on hand to encourage the faithful to further communion around the Word of God. Sebastian Gomes, America Media documentarian, showed a 20-minute clip about Catholic parish life that featured St. Mary and St. Juan Diego Parish in Chandler. From live music to folkloric dancing, group discussion and a demonstration of how to use the Christ in Our Neighborhood website, the bilingual event was well-received and helped participants gear up for the Dec. 2 Honor Your Mother Mass and procession.

PHOENIX --- In the darkness of their lives, Mary Magdalene and Ss. Peter and Matthew received the light of Christ: Mary Magdalene delivered from demons, Peter restored to his leadership after denying Christ, and Matthew called from his life as a hated Jewish tax collector for Rome.

No seat was left empty as nearly 200 students came to hear international chastity speaker, Jason Evert at the Newman Center at Grand Canyon University (GCU) on Nov. 9. Evert discussed Catholic dating in college and shared the importance of chastity in the single life as well as continuing into marriage.

Hundreds of teens and young adults from all over the diocese gathered at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday, Nov.11 for a youth conference hosted by the Spanish Charismatic Renewal Youth and Young Adult Ministry (Fuego Santo). 

Dr. Christina McShane accompanies men discerning priesthood. A perfect example of how God’s divine providence works in the lives of His faithful can be seen in the life of Catholic psychologist, Dr. Christina McShane, who serves the Office of Vocations. A native of the Diocese of Phoenix, she accompanies seminarians of the diocese as they discern their vocation during their time of formation at Nazareth Seminary. McShane has traveled a providential route of joy, sadness, and self-discovery to arrive at her current destination as she guides men along the path to the priesthood.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- By supporting the preservation, restoration and exhibition of art, especially religious art, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums share beauty that can touch all people and build bridges between them, Pope Francis said. The pope met Nov. 9 with about 300 members of the patrons' group -- which started in the United States and continues to have a majority of its members in North America -- as they celebrated the organization's 40th anniversary.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis joined leaders of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in praying for peace in Israel and Palestine, "sharing the great sorrow of the mother church of Jerusalem." "We are sadly witnessing a tragedy unfolding in the very places where the Lord lived, where he taught us through his humanity to love, to forgive and to do good to all," the pope said Nov. 9. "And, instead, we see them torn apart by tremendous suffering that is striking the innocent most of all, so many innocent people dead."