NEWS

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 made his first visit to Andre House on Tuesday evening (Dec. 2) in downtown Phoenix, touring the facility and serving food to guests. Founded in November of 1984 by two Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame University, Andre House of Arizona responds to the basic needs of the poor while encouraging others to do the same.

An estimated 10,000 Filipino Catholics make their home in the Diocese of Phoenix. Many hold culturally rooted faith traditions close to their heart, perhaps none stronger than Simbang Gabi, a novena leading up to Christmas that recalls the nine months the Virgin Mary carried the Christ child before giving birth. Pronounced “sihm–BAHNG gah-BEE,” the celebration has been a staple of the season for Filipino Catholics across the world for hundreds of years and is part of the December calendar for a half dozen parishes in the diocese with Filipino populations. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A "sickness" that is widespread in the world is not believing in the meaning and beauty of life, and, consequently, lacking the courage to live and to generate life, Pope Leo XIV said. To generate life "means to trust in the God of life and to promote humanity in all its expressions: first and foremost, in the wonderful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood," the pope said Nov. 26 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. And to generate life is also "to be committed to an economy based on solidarity, striving for a common good equally enjoyed by all, respecting and caring for creation, offering comfort through listening, presence and concrete and selfless help," he said in his main catechesis.

On a sleepless night in Nairobi, Kenya, Lazmhy Gallo Hernandez suddenly had an idea about what she could do when she returned to her home parish, St. Charles Borromeo in Peoria, Ariz.  Gallo Hernandez decided to develop programming called “Glimpses of Heaven” for her parish’s teen group. “When we were in Kenya, oftentimes participants were saying this is what heaven would look like,” she shared. “It came to me randomly. I was being woken up by the sheep outside and it came to me.” 

For over 30 years, St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix has been providing much needed food to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul during the Thanksgiving holiday. Over 500 St. Mary’s students took part in a three-mile walk-a-thon on Tuesday morning (Nov. 25) from the high school to St. Mary’s Basilica downtown, delivering over 13,000 canned goods for St. Vincent de Paul, continuing to integrate community service into its curriculum as a core principle. 

In anticipation of the 20th annual Honor Your Mother, the diocesan celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe taking place on Dec. 6, and in tandem with TILMA, Bishop John Dolan’s seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization, the Diocese of Phoenix held a musical competition to compose a bilingual, TILMA-themed choral arrangement to engage musicians across Arizona. Domonic Smith, musician, writer and music director at St. Bridget in Mesa, Ariz., was selected as the winner and recently appeared on the monthly TILMA podcast with guest host Fr. John Muir to share the inspiration behind his piece. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The foundation of sacramental marriage is the unity of the spouses, a bond so intense and grace-filled that it is exclusive and indissoluble, said a document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.The document, "'Una Caro' (One Flesh): In Praise of Monogamy. Doctrinal Note on the Value of Marriage as an Exclusive Union and Mutual Belonging," was released only in Italian by the Vatican Nov. 25. Pope Leo XIV approved its contents Nov. 21 and authorized its publication.

The ordination of Nathan Blanchard to the Order of the Diaconate was celebrated by Bishop John Dolan on Saturday (Nov. 22) at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Flagstaff, Ariz. Over a dozen priests from the Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop Gary Janak, JLC, from Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, were concelebrants at the special Mass. Also in attendance were Blanchard's parents, Dcn. Greg and Christina Blanchard, and his five siblings.