NEWS

MADRID (CNS) -- In a highly anticipated and historic speech to Spain's parliament, Pope Leo XIV urged modern-day leaders to be guided by ancient and Catholic principles that gave birth to universal human rights based on the inalienable dignity of the human person. While Church and state legitimately remain separate, many virtues and aims of good governance and just laws are rooted in values profoundly marked and inspired by the Christian tradition, he told hundreds of lawmakers and leaders of judiciary branches June 6 in Spain's Congress of Deputies.

The Diocese of Phoenix, one of the nation’s fastest growing, has four new priests. Fr. Nathan Blanchard, Fr. Paul Graupmann, F.H.S., Fr. Simon Ortiz, and Fr. Jeff Pooley were formally added to the fraternity of clergy during a Mass of Ordination celebrated by Bishop John Dolan at St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Avondale, Ariz., Saturday. Family and friends of the new priests made up the congregation of more than 1,800 worshippers, which also included priests, women religious, deacons, laity and seminarians who are part of the largest formation wave in diocesan history.

Father Eusebio Kino had a vocation that has impacted generations. As a Jesuit priest, he founded 20 missions in Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico in the late 1600s, riding on horseback while spreading God’s love.  The Kino Catechetical Institute in the Diocese of Phoenix, named after this horse-riding priest, helps students experience a deeper sense of their vocation. Founded in 1972 by Father Ernest Larkin, the Kino Institute offers faith formation programs for Catholic school teachers, aspiring deacons, parish catechists and any Catholic adult seeking to deepen their faith. 

Br. Damien Van Amerongen, F.H.S., made final vows on Saturday (May 30) with the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit, a community founded in the Diocese of Phoenix with the mission to tend to the pastoral and spiritual needs of Native American communities. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui presided over the liturgy. Below is a letter from the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit describing what final vows are, sharing significant details of the liturgy and explaining what this step means for Br. Damien and the community. If you haven't heard the exciting news, Br. Damien made his final promises to the community this past Saturday, and we couldn't be more thrilled for him! We get a lot of questions about the different stages of the formation process, one of the questions being, what is final promises?

Bishop John Dolan celebrated the annual Mass of Thanksgiving for Priests and Seminarians on Wednesday (June 3) in the Virginia G. Piper Chapel at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) in downtown Phoenix. The standing-room-only celebration included DPC staff, 12 priests who support the bishop in a variety of capacities at the diocesan level and 36 of the Diocese of Phoenix’s current 52 seminarians including Dcn. Nathan Blanchard, Dcn. Paul Graupmann, F.H.S., Dcn. Simon Ortiz and Dcn. Jeff Pooley, who will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 6. Bishop Emeritus Thomas Olmsted, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui were concelebrants of the Mass.

The call to the priesthood came during a junior high retreat for Dcn. Nathan Blanchard. After receiving communion he felt the Lord say clearly, “Nathan, I want you to be a priest.” But the journey wasn’t always easy — and he almost walked away. Tune in to hear Dcn. Nathan’s story of perseverance, deep faith and the providential journey that led him to priestly ordination.

Bishop John Dolan reflects on his recent visit to Vatican City and his meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Last week I had the privilege of participating in a gathering that took place in Vatican City where ministers of education, representatives from nations across South America and leaders from the Holy See came together to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our world today: the intersection of education, mental health and rapidly advancing digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. The meeting, which took place on May 29, was entitled, “Maps of Hope for a Regional Educational Agenda: Mental Health, Digital Technologies and Education,” and was held at Villa Pia, the home of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Fruits not commonly found in Arizona — bananas, guavas, mangoes and passion fruit — grow behind the youth center at Annunciation Catholic School in Cave Creek, Ariz. Berries and herbs blossom in the shade of the fruit trees, and vegetables flourish in planter boxes nearby. This thriving food forest and vegetable garden is known as The Angelus. Annunciation is the only Catholic school in the state with a food forest — a sustainable agricultural system of edible plants that replicates patterns found in nature. Dr. Sharon Pristash, the founding principal when the school opened in 2009, was inspired to start the garden so students could learn where their food comes from.

On June 6, four men in the Diocese of Phoenix will be ordained to the priesthood. Get to know them by reading their stories below — from a vocation planted in the heart of a toddler to a St. Paul-like conversion through the power of the rosary. The ordination Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Ariz., at 10 a.m. Join the livestream event on the Diocese of Phoenix Facebook and YouTube channels.

For Dcn. Paul Graupmann, F.H.S., his conversion was a bit like that of St. Paul — sudden, swift and sure. And from there, his certainty that God had a purpose for his life led him to discern the priesthood with the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit. Hit play to hear how an invitation to confession and a penance of five rosaries led this fallen-away U.S. Navy veteran to say “yes” to God’s unexpected and deeply fulfilling call for his life. Dcn. Paul will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Ariz., on Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m., and will be joined by Dcn. Simon Ortiz, Dcn. Jeff Pooley and Dcn. Nathan Blanchard.