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This fall, 15 new seminarians were accepted to Nazareth Seminary bringing the total number of men discerning the priesthood to 50, an all-time record for the Diocese of Phoenix. “This milestone is a testament to the foundation set before us by Bishops Olmsted and Nevares and Fr. Paul Sullivan and Fr. Matt Lowry, ongoing efforts in seminary formation, outreach opportunities and the collaboration with the laity who support our seminarians through their prayers and outreach,” said Fr. Kurt Perera, vocations director for the Diocese of Phoenix. 

A dark figure sits on the ground at the bottom of the page. Next to him is a golden moth. He faces away from the reader and looks ahead at a circle of light, in which stands a smaller figure – a feature to add depth and distance between them. Illuminated in gold, the figure inside the circle beckons the darker figure to come towards him. This is how Donald Jackson and his team of scribes and illuminators illustrated the Raising of Lazarus for the Saint John’s Bible. An official replica of the Bible, known as the Heritage edition, has now been at the Franciscan Renewal Center for 10 years, inspiring many – including the docents that give tours to visitors.

They say the Lord works in mysterious ways, but can an Instagram post about a bike bring someone into the Catholic Church? And help a fallen-away Catholic find his way home? In Kirby and Justine Wisdom’s case, the answer is a resounding yes. Or more appropriately, “I do.” The couple, who tied the knot at All Saints Parish in Mesa in May, said they met over Instagram, a social networking app for sharing photos and videos.

The U.S. Crosier Fathers and Brothers have elected Fr. Alex Juguilon, osc, as their new conventual prior for a four-year term. The election was...

Phoenix, — Catholic Charities Community Services of Arizona is joining with the Catholic Charities network around the country to participate in We Are There,...

Tempe, Ariz.—The Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) held its annual Scholarship Awards ceremony on August 3 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tempe, Ariz....

As a new school year begins, parishes around the Diocese of Phoenix are also welcoming religious education students plus those who might be interested in becoming Catholic. In a video message directed to the millions of those who live within the diocese’s boundaries, Bishop John Dolan noted that the Catholic Church is the “biggest family on Earth” and issued an invitation: “If you’re interested in becoming Catholic, or if you were baptized but never confirmed, I want to personally invite you to visit our website, dphx.org. That's where you'll find out what you need to know about OCIA, the process by which people are brought into the Catholic Church,” Bishop Dolan said.

There’s nothing like a summer afternoon on the beaches of California. Body surfing in the warm waves of the Pacific, breathing in the salty air while you’re covered in sand, and probably wishing you had put on more sunscreen. Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to take a large group of our seminarians to San Diego for a time of retreat. It was our second annual summer trip, and I was able to share this ocean experience with the guys, pray the Liturgy of the Hours together, celebrate Mass and show them around my old stomping grounds.

Story courtesy of the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit Kathie Stine says it was Divine Providence that coordinated for her to go on a Holy Land pilgrimage in early 2020 with the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit. Stine said it was also Divine Providence that led her to the friars. They were hosting a healing Mass at St. Bernard of Clairvaux where Stine works as the Liturgy Coordinator.  The Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit were established in the Diocese of Phoenix in 2016 and they are the only religious community who’s sole mission is to minister to Native Americans on reservations. They currently oversee 11 mission churches on four reservations. 

Back-to-back three pointers by Justin Sand and Sam Fowler broke up a tight game and propelled the Phoenix Sons to their fifth straight victory in the annual JPII Basketball Classic, as the seminarians defeated the priests 33-25 on Friday night at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. The game featured a record crowd of over 1,500 energetic fans and a first-ever appearance by the Gorilla, the official mascot of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.