The Catholic Sun

NOTE: Christ in Our Neighborhood is a parish-based program consisting of small groups that gather in the home weekly to discuss and pray through the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. Find out more at Christ in Our Neighborhood - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (dphx.org) This coming Sunday, we celebrate the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question the Christ in Our Neighborhood reflection asks us is: Are you a person who likes to be noticed or receive accolades?

Nearly 3,500 Catholics enjoyed the 2nd annual “Catholic Night” at Chase Field this past Friday, as the Arizona Diamondbacks wrapped up their final regular season weekend against the San Diego Padres. It was a night of fellowship and fun, as Catholics from across the Diocese of Phoenix gathered in record numbers. In addition, $5.00 from every ticket sold was donated to support Catholic School Support 365.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican dicastery charged with overseeing and assisting religious orders confirmed that it plans to conduct an apostolic visitation of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, which was founded in 1988 by traditionalist priests wanting to maintain the old liturgical rites while remaining in full communion with the pope. In a statement released by the Vatican press office Sept. 30, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life said the purpose of the visitation is "to deepen understanding of this society of apostolic life of pontifical right and to offer it the most appropriate support in its journey of following Christ."

LUXEMBOURG (CNS) -- Humanity needs to be motivated by spiritual values if it is to avoid being thrown into dangerous exploits and useless massacres, Pope Francis said. The world, even in Europe, is seeing a return of "rifts and enmities that, instead of being resolved on the basis of mutual goodwill, negotiation and diplomatic efforts, are resulting in open hostilities, leading to destruction and death," the pope said in Luxembourg during a meeting with authorities, members of the diplomatic corps and local representatives. It was the first day of a four-day trip Sept. 26-29 to the small nation and nearby Belgium.

The circumstances have changed. The message of 40 Days for Life has not.  Two years after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling and on the doorstep of Arizonans possibly deciding to permanently allow unlimited access to abortion, 40 Days’ mission remains the same – prayer, fasting, speaking the truth with the love of Christ and reliance on the Holy Spirit - to move hearts and save one life at a time.  

Earlier this month, a bus full of 53 students, two religious sisters and a priest headed to the Grand Canyon for Mass and a holy hour, praising the Lord with the breathtaking backdrop of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This was Holy Spirit Newman Center’s second trip to the Canyon, which has come to serve as a rite of passage of sorts for freshman students, visiting the marvel that their college, Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, is named after. The first trip was inspired by an eagerness to visit the Grand Canyon and to immerse new students into the community. The Newman Center team decided to turn it into a meaningful, shared experience centered on God.

Fifteen men throughout the Diocese of Phoenix are spending their final days as laypeople. Beginning with their Nov. 9th ordination at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, in Scottsdale, Ariz., they will forever be known as “deacon.” John Bering, Jason Bourne, David Bramer, Fernando Camou, Gerard Glab, Sergio Hermosillo, Jason Kelly, Salvador Madrís, Herald Morazán, Matthew Murphy, Mike Quinlivan, Antonio Reynoso, Doug Small, Robert Solis, and John Thornton, along with their wives, will also celebrate solemn vespers with the community on Nov. 8th at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix. Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares will lead that prayer service. 

For an unprecedented fourth time, Xavier College Preparatory, an all-girls Catholic high school, in Phoenix, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Blue Ribbon School this...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While people can get caught up in the pursuit of power and greatness, Jesus teaches that true power is found in the humility of being a servant to the most vulnerable, Pope Francis said. Before praying the Angelus Sept. 22, the pope reflected on the day's Gospel reading from St. Mark in which the disciples are discussing who among them is the greatest, a conversation they were reluctant to share with Jesus.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Saying Pope Francis had "a mild flu-like condition," the Vatican press office announced he had canceled his scheduled audiences Sept. 23. The 87-year-old pope, the press office said, would be resting as "a precautionary measure" in view of his scheduled trip Sept. 26-29 to Luxembourg and Belgium. The pope had returned to the Vatican late Sept. 13 after a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific; early the next morning he met members of a pilgrimage in St. Peter's Basilica and had a full slate of appointments for the next 10 days.