LOCAL NEWS

It was welcome news when Pope Francis declared 2025 a Jubilee Year. In his Bull of Indiction, “Spes non confundit: Hope does not disappoint,” which announced the Jubilee Year and its themes, the pope wrote, “every effort should be made to enable the People of God to participate fully in its proclamation of hope in God’s grace and in the signs that attest to their efficacy.”  That grace and proclamation of hope can be experienced through the many programs and individuals the Charity and Development Appeal (CDA) supports, including the 50 young men who are part of the groundbreaking new and fully local Nazareth Seminary in the Diocese of Phoenix. 

“They get to experience the excitement... and they get to hear about what’s awaiting them as Christians.”   Becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church is a beautiful process marked by formation as well as special liturgical celebrations, including the Rite of Election. Those who will be receiving sacraments at the Easter Vigil anticipate this rite, which will be taking place next month. More than 2,000 catechumens are expected to attend. 

One at a time, Bishop John Dolan called out categories of marriage by length: Couples in their first year, their first five years, 25-40 years and 50 years or more. When he got to those wedded more than a half century, Jay and Mary Sue Krakora got up. Together 55 years, the couple from Mesa, where they are parishioners of St. Timothy, had planned to celebrate their 50th anniversary at a similar event but it was cancelled by the COVID 19 pandemic. Marking their latest milestone during the Diocese of Phoenix’s Honoring Marriage Mass Sunday was the icing on the Krakoras’ cake, as they enjoyed their delayed celebration and were recognized with hundreds of other Catholic spouses. 

The faithful throughout the Diocese of Phoenix continue to join their brethren across the globe in praying for the recovery of Pope Francis from severe respiratory health problems. “We’re all praying,” said Dcn. Roy Drapeau of Ss. Simon and Jude parish in Phoenix. The Vatican Monday night reported the pope’s condition had improved slightly, with “no new episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress.” Vatican News also stated doctors at Gemelli Hospital in Rome had slightly reduced the pope’s oxygen flow and levels and that his test results had improved. The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized Feb. 14. He was treated for bronchitis and later pneumonia in both lungs. 

“Pope Francis has been a tireless shepherd, leading the Church with compassion and humility. In this time of illness, we lift him up in prayer, asking the Lord to grant him strength and healing. May the Blessed Mother, whom he so deeply loves, intercede for his swift recovery. As a global family of faith, we stand united in hope and trust in God’s providence.”

Bishop John Dolan joined dozens of community members supporting the work to build a new Newman Center at Northern Arizona University Thursday morning at the Catholic Jacks Breakfast held at Paradise Valley Country Club. The current building, built in 1967, was outgrown years ago, Fr. Matt Lowry, Chaplain at Holy Trinity Catholic Newman Center in Flagstaff, Ariz., said. Currently, so many students are growing in their faith, attending Mass and programing that Fr. Lowry said they have had to retrofit four spaces to serve as overflow sections to watch Mass on TV screens. 

“I can't be quiet for more than 35 seconds at a time.” These are the words of Sr. Mary Fidelis of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, who along with Sr. John Mark Maria, joined The Bishop’s Hour hosts Jennifer Ellis and Joyce Coronel to share tips for a deeper prayer life this Lent. And it all starts with silence. “Part of it is the humility with which we approach silence,” shared Sr. Mary Fidelis. “That has so much spiritual potency... It’s essentially the Lord's work. But, you know, we put forth our little effort and then He causes the growth."

When our New Year’s resolutions fail, do we give them another go at Lent? Is Lent just a Catholic self-improvement program or is there more to it than that? As we prepare to enter this Lenten season, let’s re-examine what Lent is all about.   During the liturgical season of Lent — this year beginning on Ash Wednesday (Mar. 5)  — Catholics are invited into the spiritual desert to remain with Jesus during his temptation by Satan. Quadragesima, the Latin word for Lent, which translated means “fortieth,” signifies the 40 days in which Jesus endured the accusations of Satan in the Judean wilderness. During these days of preparation leading up to Easter, we are reinvited to “build our house upon the rock” of Jesus Christ, “for no other foundation can anyone lay… than that which is Jesus Christ” (Matthew 7:24, 1 Corinthians 3:11). Upon this firm foundation, the Church proposes the building of three spiritual pillars: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  

Phoenix resident John Yu is an example of who Pope Francis referred to in his 2025 Jubilee Year message when he appealed to believers to care for “the sick, at home or in the hospital, and to care for the elderly who so ‘often feel lonely and abandoned.’” Mired in deepening financial problems over a series of self-described bad decisions, Yu was bicycling to an Arizona Department of Economic Security office to seek help when he was struck and seriously hurt by a vehicle driven by an uninsured motorist.  

As Pope Francis’ theme “Hope Does Not Disappoint” guides the Church this Jubilee Year, its principle can be heard and felt as pro-life advocates in Arizona conduct their latest semiannual campaign with 40 Days for Life. The worldwide pro-life organization’s local groups in the Diocese of Phoenix began their spring campaign with a Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix Wednesday, Feb. 26. Activities will continue with rosaries, addresses by former abortion doctors and the state’s annual March for Life in the month of March.