The Catholic Sun

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Only by shedding feelings of personal greatness and regaining a sense of wonder in God's love can people welcome Jesus into their hearts and lives, Pope Francis said. With some 15,000 visitors gathered to pray the Angelus in St. Peter's Square July 9, the pope reflected on the day's Gospel reading from St. Matthew in which Jesus praises God the Father for hiding "things" from the wise and revealing them to the childlike.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals, including U.S.-born Archbishop Robert F. Prevost, who took the helm at the Dicastery for Bishops in April, and French Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholics who celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly July 23 can receive a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one's sins, the Vatican said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians are called to be modern-day prophets who guide others to see the Holy Spirit at work in everyday life and not to be superstitious people who try to predict or control the future, Pope Francis said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Like every saint, St. Peter was not a superhero, he was just a real, imperfect person who generously said, "yes" to Jesus, Pope Francis said. "It appears that it is God who makes Peter strong with his grace, who unites us with his love, and forgives us with his mercy," the pope said June 29.

A priest whose ministry has been deeply impactful to untold thousands in the Diocese of Phoenix has passed away.   Msgr. Richard Moyer, former vicar general, died June 27. He was 91. Following his death, his closest friends described him as a “huge inspiration,” a “man of vision” and a priest with a heart for the poor and for justice.  

This Saturday marks the final goodbye of the Franciscan Friars at Saint Mary’s Basilica. The Saturday Mass celebration of the Franciscan Friars’ legacy included a procession through the stations of several milestones in the parish’s history. The Assembly was invited to follow the liturgical procession through the various stations which have been focal points of the Franciscan community life throughout the past 127 years. 

It’s Game On! The St. John Paul II (JPII) Classic, an annual basketball game between priests and seminarians from the Diocese of Phoenix, has moved to a bigger location to accommodate larger crowds due to growing popularity.

Bishop John Dolan was a guest on ABC-15 on Tuesday to talk about an annual water drive that benefits The Society of St. Vincent DePaul. With the increase in homelessness in our community, more lives are at risk. In 2022, Maricopa County saw 425 heat-associated deaths—a significant number of whom were people experiencing homelessness. This represents a 25-percent increase from the previous year. In the summer months, St. Vincent de Paul will give out more than 7,000 bottles of water a day to people in need who seek services and refuge at SVdP during Arizona’s most grueling season, with about 6,500 gallons disbursed weekly.

“Bittersweet.” That was the overwhelming consensus to describe the celebration of the Franciscan Friars’ legacy as they said goodbye to the people they’ve pastored at St. Mary’s Basilica for 127 years.