Bishop Dolan

These are the words God the Father spoke over Jesus during His baptism in the Jordan River. But it isn’t just a nice phrase or a happy sentiment that was shared during a historical event 2,000 years ago. These words hold immense significance in each and every one of our lives, pointing toward our deepest identity as beloved sons and daughters. The Lord loves to reveal Himself and deeper realities through images and stories, and when we take a closer look at the account of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17, there are three wonderful details that help us understand the magnificence of what took place during our own baptism.

Fr. Julius Kayiwa was installed as pastor of two parishes this weekend by Bishop John Dolan in the Northern region of the Diocese of Phoenix. This first pastor installation Mass took place at Good Shepherd of the Desert Catholic Church in Congress, Ariz., on Dec. 20, and the second took place the following morning at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bagdad, Ariz. The two parish communities near Wickenburg, Ariz., are about 50 miles apart.

Susan Brown never intended to drift away from her Catholic roots. The Strawberry, Ark., resident, whose maiden name is Volpe, grew up in a Catholic home, first in semirural northwestern New Jersey, and then in Phoenix, where the family moved when she and her sister, Gina, her only sibling, were under 10 years old. The girls and their parents attended Our Lady of the Valley Church in Phoenix near 35th Avenue and Greenway Road, where they were very active as teenagers. 

The second annual diocesan Simbang Gabi drew an overflow crowd Sunday evening (Dec. 14) at St. Paul Catholic Church in Phoenix, as Bishop John Dolan celebrated the Mass that kicks off a nine-day series of novena Masses at six different parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix. Established in the 1600s, Simbang Gabi is a cherished Filipino Catholic Christmas tradition, consisting of a nine-day series of dawn Masses leading up to Christmas. It is one of the most vibrant and beloved expressions of Filipino faith and culture.

Life is often filled with uncertainty, challenges and moments that test our faith. Yet, in the midst of it all, we hold to the promise of our Catholic faith: Jesus is the Way. He is the One Who walks with us in every season — whether joyful or difficult — reminding us that we are never alone. I experienced this truth profoundly in 2001, when I traveled to Peru. At the time, I was still carrying the weight of my own son’s life-threatening health scare. The fear, the sleepless nights and the prayers for his healing had left a lasting imprint on my heart. And then, in Peru, I encountered families who walked for days — sometimes hundreds of miles — just to receive basic medical care for their children. 

Bishop John Dolan released his pastoral plan today (Dec. 12), the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The plan, entitled “El Camino Real; Year Two of a Seven-Year Pastoral Plan,” delves into the bishop’s heart and themes for 2026 of his plan on evangelization leading up to the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 2031. Click below to access the plan in English and Spanish. 

Thousands turned out on Saturday morning (Dec. 6) for the 20th annual Honor Your Mother event, the Diocese of Phoenix’s celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day began with a rosary, followed by an outdoor Mass and procession through the streets of downtown Phoenix. Several priests joined Bishop John Dolan, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares and Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, OFM, of Trujillo, Peru, for the Mass.

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 released a pastoral letter today (Nov. 21) entitled El Camino Real, delving into year two of TILMA, his seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization leading up to the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadlupe’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 2031.