BRIEFS

Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui was ordained at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Ariz., on Tuesday (Feb. 17). Click below to hear Bishop John Dolan’s homily, the remarks of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, and the first public remarks of Auxiliary Bishop Bui, which took place at the Mass.

From the patient artistry of crafting intricate model ships and finding the best pho spots in town, to sharing the role his fisherman father and the Blessed Virgin Mary played in the choosing of his new episcopal coat of arms — tune in to discover some of Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui’s favorite things. In “Building Ships and Shooting Hoops,” the final video of a four-part series on getting to know Bishop-elect Bui, get the inside look on how he spends his free time and what moves the heart of the soon-to-be new auxiliary bishop.

In “Globetrotting the Gospel,” the third video of a four-part series on getting to know Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui, we learn about the bishop-elect’s frequent flyer and jeep driving journey to the Diocese of Phoenix, becoming a diocesan priest and his time serving at the Vatican. You’ll hear about his six years of service in the Pontifical Council Cor Unum where he received the title “Monsignor” from Pope Francis, a role in which he traveled to multiple countries, and the humble conversation with Bishop Olmsted that started it all.

Each year, the Charity and Development Appeal (CDA) raises funds to support more than 70 ministries, charities and organizations throughout the Diocese of Phoenix. The multi-million-dollar appeal, which impacts thousands of lives annually, launched in most parishes throughout the diocese the weekend of Feb. 7-8. This year’s CDA theme is “Faith Lights the Way,” inspired by John 5:16: “So, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

AllThrive 365, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and their caregivers age safely, independently and with peace of mind, received a $100,000 grant award from The Wellik Foundation to expand and sustain essential food, transportation and basic-needs services for Wickenburg, Ariz., residents. Operating out of the George & Vi Wellik Senior Center in Wickenburg as one of their locations of service, AllThrive 365 has long served as a critical lifeline in the rural area for older adults and low‑income households seeking connection, nutrition and stability. This grant strengthens their legacy of support, ensuring that vital, year‑round services remain accessible to every resident who needs them.

The first-ever Spanish-language cohort of students in the Diocese of Phoenix of those pursuing a certificate in theology and ministry through Loyola University New Orleans is set to begin studies Feb. 23.   LIMEX, Loyola’s Institute for Ministry Extension, is offering the program for adult learners interested in studying graduate-level theology. The courses feature Ignatian spiritual formation as students deepen their Catholic faith and explore the call to holiness in everyday life. 

In “From Atari to the altar,” the second video of a four-part series on getting to know Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui, the bishop-elect shares how a video game console played an integral role in his vocation to the priesthood.  Growing up in New Orleans, he and two of his brothers would often go to a friend’s house to play Atari video games after school. That’s when Bishop-elect Bui made a pact with God: he would sneak out every morning before school to attend daily Mass if God gave him and his brothers an Atari gaming console for Christmas. 

More than 800 Catholic school students, teachers, staff members and chaperones gathered Wednesday (Jan. 28) in downtown Phoenix for the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass and rally. The celebration coincides with National Catholic Schools Week, the annual, nationwide celebration of Catholic education in the United States. 

In “Boat of No Smiles,” the first video of a four-part series on getting to know Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui, the bishop-elect shares his family’s personal story of fleeing Vietnam in 1975 in his father’s fishing boat. After Vietnam was divided in 1957, there was a significant refugee movement of nearly 1 million people due to the communist rule and fear of political and religious persecution. Escaping in the middle of the night amid darkness, the family — Bishop-elect Bui, his parents and his nine siblings at the time — took a five-day boat trip to Bangkok where they stayed in a refugee camp before eventually flying to Houston, Texas, and finally landing in New Orleans where they made their home. Bishop-elect Bui was 5 years old. The boat journey included an encounter with pirates and the birth of a child on the boat.

Camaraderie and the sound of wood being sanded and drilled into headboards filled the air Saturday morning (Jan. 10) as over 100 Knights of Columbus volunteers and Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) team leaders gathered to build 150 beds for children in need. Before the event, Bishop John Dolan visited the workshop near Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix for a tour and blessed the facility and those gathered. He also tried his hand at branding multiple headboards with the SHP logo.