The Catholic Sun

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christmas carols in every language and culture are expressions of how music can convey "feelings and emotions, even the deepest movements of the soul," Pope Leo XIV said after listening, clapping and singing along at the Vatican Christmas concert with the poor. "As the melodies touched our hearts, we felt the inestimable value of music: not a luxury for the few, but a divine gift accessible to everyone, rich and poor, learned and simple," the pope said Dec. 6 as he thanked Canadian singer Michael Bublé, Italian singer Serena Autieri and the choir of the Diocese of Rome.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV asked Canadian singer Michael Bublé and other artists to do their very best when performing a Christmas concert for the poor. The annual concert at the Vatican "is not merely a performance by talented artists or simply a musical event, beautiful as it may be, nor even a moment of solidarity to ease our conscience in the face of society's injustices," the pope told Bublé and the other artists Dec. 5.

The 10-member Synod Preparatory Commission, comprised of Diocesan Pastoral Center staff, religious and parish leaders, met Thursday and Friday (Dec. 4-5) at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., to begin the assessment stage of the Synod of Young Adults in the Diocese of Phoenix. They gathered to assemble and summarize the responses of more than 1,000 young adults from across Arizona who participated in the synod. Under the leadership of Fr. Chuck Kieffer, diocesan vicar of Synodality and Planning, the commission has also spent the last four months coordinating 84 in-person listening sessions and an online survey for participants, ages 18–39. 

Bishop John Dolan sat down with Fr. John Muir, vicar general and vice-moderator of the Curia, to share his heart on year two of TILMA, the bishop’s seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization. Below are some highlights from the interview, edited for length and clarity.

Bishop John Dolan made his first visit to Andre House on Tuesday evening (Dec. 2) in downtown Phoenix, touring the facility and serving food to guests. Founded in November of 1984 by two Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame University, Andre House of Arizona responds to the basic needs of the poor while encouraging others to do the same.

An estimated 10,000 Filipino Catholics make their home in the Diocese of Phoenix. Many hold culturally rooted faith traditions close to their heart, perhaps none stronger than Simbang Gabi, a novena leading up to Christmas that recalls the nine months the Virgin Mary carried the Christ child before giving birth. Pronounced “sihm–BAHNG gah-BEE,” the celebration has been a staple of the season for Filipino Catholics across the world for hundreds of years and is part of the December calendar for a half dozen parishes in the diocese with Filipino populations. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A "sickness" that is widespread in the world is not believing in the meaning and beauty of life, and, consequently, lacking the courage to live and to generate life, Pope Leo XIV said. To generate life "means to trust in the God of life and to promote humanity in all its expressions: first and foremost, in the wonderful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood," the pope said Nov. 26 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. And to generate life is also "to be committed to an economy based on solidarity, striving for a common good equally enjoyed by all, respecting and caring for creation, offering comfort through listening, presence and concrete and selfless help," he said in his main catechesis.

On a sleepless night in Nairobi, Kenya, Lazmhy Gallo Hernandez suddenly had an idea about what she could do when she returned to her home parish, St. Charles Borromeo in Peoria, Ariz.  Gallo Hernandez decided to develop programming called “Glimpses of Heaven” for her parish’s teen group. “When we were in Kenya, oftentimes participants were saying this is what heaven would look like,” she shared. “It came to me randomly. I was being woken up by the sheep outside and it came to me.” 

For over 30 years, St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix has been providing much needed food to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul during the Thanksgiving holiday. Over 500 St. Mary’s students took part in a three-mile walk-a-thon on Tuesday morning (Nov. 25) from the high school to St. Mary’s Basilica downtown, delivering over 13,000 canned goods for St. Vincent de Paul, continuing to integrate community service into its curriculum as a core principle. 

In anticipation of the 20th annual Honor Your Mother, the diocesan celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe taking place on Dec. 6, and in tandem with TILMA, Bishop John Dolan’s seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization, the Diocese of Phoenix held a musical competition to compose a bilingual, TILMA-themed choral arrangement to engage musicians across Arizona. Domonic Smith, musician, writer and music director at St. Bridget in Mesa, Ariz., was selected as the winner and recently appeared on the monthly TILMA podcast with guest host Fr. John Muir to share the inspiration behind his piece.