Oct. 5-7. Tons of options for Catholics of all ages. Plus, the diocesan opening of the Year of Faith.
Special Masses (Year of Faith kickoff)— 9 a.m. Oct. 7 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral with Bishop Olmsted. Also carried live on AZTV-7 and online.

  • 9 a.m. Oct. 7 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood with Fr. David Kelash.
  • 11 a.m. Oct. 7 (Spanish) at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood with Fr. David Kelash.

Blood drives (before/after Mass). Book your appointment online.

Friends of the Orphans Fiesta— 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Scottsdale. Outdoor fiesta celebrates Friends of the Orphans and its support of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a series of orphanages in Central and South America. Ten local Catholic elementary and high schools sponsor at least one orphan year-round.  Tickets: Children 8 and under are free. Others are $15 each. Details: (480) 967-9449 or Christa (602) 750-3649.
If you miss this one, there are others:

  • Oct. 12 at Chaparral Suites and Resort in Scottsdale
  • Oct. 13 at St. Patrick Parish in Scottsdale

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Spiritline Mini Camp — 3 p.m. Oct. 5 til halftime of football game at Bourgade Catholic High School. For ages 3 to eighth-grade. Learn cheers and stunts and perform with the Bourgade Spiritline at the football game. Cost: $30 including dinner and shirt or $25 without shirt. Details/Register: bourgade.spiritline@gmail.com.

Excellence in Athletics — in addition to regular Friday night game coverage, local media will also highlight some recent achievements:

  • Sr. Lynn’s 400th win — 11:35 p.m. on Channel 12 News. Part of “Friday Night Fever” on the news will highlight the 400th career victory that Sr. Lynn Winsor reached as Xavier’s golf coach earlier this week.
  • Notre Dame’s pom coach — 9 p.m. Oct. 7 on Channel 12 news. Haley Frances was at the 10-year-old Scottsdale high school this week getting interviews for the station’s latest “Off the Field with your Cardinals Cheerleaders” series. She chronicled the “day job” of Liz Quinal, a physical education/health teacher and pom coach for the Saints. View the latest segment.

Concert series — 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Steven Parish in Sun Lakes (Dobson Road north or Riggs Road). Thomas Porter & Cooper River Band present blue grass music (preview video). Family fun also includes apple pie and ice cream. Tickets: $10 at parish office (480) 895-9266.

Boy Scout Rummage Sale — 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 6-7 at Frontier Town in downtown Cave Creek. Proceeds support Troop 15 based at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Cave Creek.

Craft fair — 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 6 at Holy Cross Parish in Mesa. Annual holiday craft fair features handmade greeting cards, floral arrangements, scarves, scrubbies and much, much more. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. Proceeds benefit local charities.

Mock Trial Expo — noon-3 p.m. Oct. 6 at Xavier College Preparatory. Xavier will host the state’s first expo for students, teacher and parents statewide who do not currently have mock trial programs at their schools. Mock trial programs, “the intellectual contact sport,” teaches students about law, team work and trial advocacy. They compete in Maricopa County’s Superior Court House and the federal district court house. Free information, food, fun. Event flyer.

 

Plus, from our Sunbeams daily event calendar:

  • Reasons and Season of the Heart Oct. 5-7 at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale

And from the Diocese of Phoenix Events page on Facebook:

  • Marriage Mini-Conference Oct. 6 at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert.
  • Saturday Night aLive with Catholic Charities Oct. 6 at Steele Indian School Park