St. Mary Magdalene Parish celebrates patroness, displays first-class relic
St. Mary Magdalene parishioners gathered Tuesday (July 21) evening to celebrate the solemnity of their patroness with a vigil Mass anticipating her feast day on July 22. Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares presided over the liturgy at the Gilbert, Ariz., parish, accompanied by a 40-piece choir and orchestral ensemble.
Following the Mass, parishioners gathered for the unveiling of the newly established prayer area in the narthex of the church, created as a permanent place of devotion in honor of St. Mary Magdelane. The parish’s first-class relic, a piece of St. Mary Magdelene’s body, will remain on display and will be available for public veneration.
Bishop Nevares blessed the prayer area as well as a new, dedicated statue of St. Mary Magdalene and an image of the Resurrection by local artist, Joe Borik, which will be displayed in the sanctuary. The painting was inspired by the Gospel account of John 20:11-18, in which St. Mary Magdalene, traditionally known as the “apostle to the apostles,” became the first witness to the Risen Lord and was entrusted with proclaiming the good news of His Resurrection.
Bishop John Dolan to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City
Be part of history as Bishop John Dolan celebrates Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Tuesday, July 28 at 1 p.m. Phoenix time by joining the liturgy via livestream on the Diocese of Phoenix YouTube and Facebook channels. The basilica is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, welcoming over 20 million pilgrims annually. It is also where the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Phoenix diocese, resides.
In 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared several times to St. Juan Diego, a humble 57-year-old indigenous peasant, commissioning him to have the local bishop build a basilica in her honor. As a sign to the bishop that she truly was the Mother of God, her miraculous image appeared on Juan Diego’s tilma, or outer garment. A church was soon built on Tepeyac Hill where Our Lady originally appeared to Juan Diego, and later the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was constructed nearby.
Natural family planning transforms marriages
Catholics across the United States are observing Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week during July 19-26. The annual initiative promotes the education of fertility awareness-based methods and the Church’s teachings on marital love and responsible parenthood. The occasion coincides with the publication of Humanae Vitae, the 1968 encyclical by Pope Paul VI, addressing morality on the same topics through the lens of divine revelation and natural law.
The Diocese of Phoenix’s Office of Natural Family Planning recently took part in a national survey that reflects the benefits many couples experience when incorporating NFP into their marriage. Greater religiosity was reported in couples practicing NFP, in addition to higher numbers of Mass attendance and experiences of a personal relationship with God. “Openness to life” was reported in at least 53-percent of couples incorporating NFP compared to 25-percent of partners who use some form of birth control.
There is also a benefit seen in relationships as partners understand each other’s fertility patterns, noted Armida Escarcega, coordinator of Natural Family Planning for the Diocese of Phoenix. The survey indicates that at least 77-percent of couples who practice NFP report better communication compared to 49-percent for couples who use contraception.
The percentage of effectiveness alone is reflective of the impact of NFP.
Upcoming Mass to honor grandparents and the elderly
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:31
The Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop John Dolan are inviting the public to celebrate grandparents during a Mass this year to commemorate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
The Mass will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral on 27th Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue in Phoenix.
“It’s a day to reflect on the legacy of those who have come before us and how they have enriched our lives,” said Tami Bohanon, president and CEO of AllThrive 365, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to support Arizonans aging independently with dignity by connecting them and their caregivers to resources, programs and assistance, including housing.
New perpetual adoration chapel in Surprise invites worshippers to encounter Christ
St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Surprise, Ariz., began welcoming faithful to their new adoration chapel in May. The high ceilings, stained glass windows and alcoves brushed with gold leaf accent the focal point of the chapel: the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The consecrated host is displayed in a golden monstrance with a sunburst design, inviting each visitor into meditative silence and prayer.
The parish began in July 2000, with Fr. John Coleman celebrating Mass in a rented space supported by two modular buildings. By 2008, construction of a permanent church was completed, made up of a simple structure with concrete floors. As the community continued to grow, new improvements were made including permanent pews with kneelers, adding enough seating for nearly 1,800 worshipers. By the time Fr. Tahddeus McGuire arrived at the parish in 2021, additional construction was in progress for a new 44,000-square-foot parish center.
Included in the original plans was a dedicated perpetual adoration chapel.
Seeking God’s will for our kids
One of my standard mama prayers in these past two decades of parenting has been: “Make Your will clear, Lord!” I have prayed this for myself, and on behalf of my husband, friends, parents and, of course, my children. When it comes to my children’s vocations, the prayer has been the same desperate plea with a slight edit: “Make Your will clear to them, Lord!”
A few years ago, I found myself playing the role of chauffeur for a visiting priest. Captive in my car, I asked him how I could best support my sons as they discerned their vocations. I assured him we had a 15-minute drive, so he could take his time responding.
Diocese of Phoenix establishes new territorial parish in Laveen
For the first time since 2021, the Diocese of Phoenix has established a new territorial parish on the corner of 43rd Avenue and Dobbins Road in Laveen, Ariz. Divine Word Parish will serve one of the fastest-growing communities in the diocese. Effective July 1, 2026, Rev. Bonaface Issaka, SVD, has been appointed Parochial Administrator of the new parish, which became part of the South Mountain Deanery, with its territory taken from St. Martin de Porres Parish.
Diocese of Phoenix partners with Vatican Media to support communication of Pope Leo’s monthly prayer intentions
The Diocese of Phoenix has signed an official partnership with the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to deliver Pope Leo XIV’s monthly prayer intentions across all diocesan platforms in both English and Spanish, from The Catholic Sun online and social media to the Sunday TV Mass broadcast on local CW7. In collaboration with Vatican Media, the historic initiative debuts today (July 2), featuring Pope Leo XIV’s July prayer video alongside a personal reflection from Bishop John Dolan. In addition, the diocese will collaborate and help support production for the October edition of The Pope Video, which places an emphasis on mental health awareness.
University of Mary launches Graduate School of Theology in Phoenix to form Catholic leaders
The University of Mary is expanding its mission of Catholic higher education with the launch of its Graduate School of Theology in downtown Phoenix this fall, establishing a new center for graduate theological formation that will prepare future priests, lay leaders, educators and ministry professionals to serve the Church.
Bishop Dolan joins brother bishops in border Mass, rosary and procession in solidarity with migrants
Five Catholic bishops from the United States-Mexico border region led a day of pastoral accompaniment in Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico, Friday (June 26) as the United States approaches its 250th birthday as a nation on July 4.
“We are here as shepherds of the Church,” said Bishop James Misko of the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., prior to celebrating Mass inside Nogales, Ariz.’s historic Sacred Heart Parish, less than a half mile from the international border.
