The Catholic Sun

PHOENIX -- It was early 1975, the War in Vietnam was approaching its end. Eddie Ngo hadn’t been born yet. But a series of events already was shaping the life of the future Jesuit priest, who now serves as associate pastor, manager of Ignatian Faith Formation and Enrichment, and vicar for Hispanic Ministries at St. Francis Xavier in Phoenix, the Diocese of Phoenix’s only parish run by the Society of Jesus.

PHOENIX ---The celebrant’s greeting at the 9 a.m. Mass came with a light departure in advance of the Penitential Act. Bishop John P. Dolan joked that as he arrived, “Stepping out of my car, I found this gaggle of Jesuits. ”Laughter rippled across the congregation of 700 plus worshippers inside Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral. Oxford’s Learner Dictionary, defines “gaggle” informally as “a disorderly or noisy group of people.” But the noise here reflected joyfulness, one of the traits associated with Jesuits.

As temperatures soared this summer, Cam Benson (13) and Robert Berry (14) delivered water, food and umbrellas along with prayers to those out in...

Nearly 70 adults of various ages and stages of life dove head first into St. John Paul II's "Masterwork" by exploring the burning questions...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While vocations to the Catholic priesthood and religious life are declining in developed countries around the world, prayers for vocations should not try to "convince" God to send more workers for the church but seek to better understand the needs of its people, Pope Francis said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis told a group of U.S. community organizers that their work was "atomic," Jorge Montiel said, "I thought, 'Oh, you mean we blow things up?' "But instead, the pope spoke about how the groups associated with the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation in the United States take issues patiently, "atom by atom," and end up building something that "penetrates" and changes entire communities, said Montiel, an IAF organizer in Colorado and New Mexico.

The Office of Natural Family Planning (NFP) of the Diocese of Phoenix kicked off a year-long celebration of 50 years of NFP with Mass...

Fr. Ed was a priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit. He visited St. Paul parish annually to escape the cold weather and my whole family always eagerly awaited his visits! He radiated joy and fun, and when he presided at Mass he reflected God’s Presence, God’s love, and God’s grace. To this day, my sons still remember the “chopstick priest” who referenced utensils during his homily about God’s feast.

PHOENIX -- Nearly six and a half years ago, Paula Cooper’s husband left for work --- just as he had on so many previous occasions. But on this day, he never returned. Paula and Robert Cooper had been married 25 years when he took his life, also leaving behind two children. A master sergeant in the Marines, Robert was a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis prayed that Catholics and members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church would recognize the wounds of division they have inflicted on Christ's body, the church, and come to celebrate the faith together.