LOCAL NEWS

“Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” These words from Jesus are the foundation of The Matthew 19:14 Project (TMP), a non-profit organization in Phoenix that supports Arizona Catholic schools in accommodating children with special needs.   Founded in 2020 by Dr. Lisa Fischer — inspired by her own experiences as a deaf student — and Dr. Colleen McCoy-Cejka — a parent of a child with autism and then-superintendent of Catholic schools, TMP provides “mini grants” to local Catholic schools, typically ranging from $300-$5,000. This support is designed to provide specialized tools, materials and furniture, or to pay for one-time training webinars to address needs within an individual classroom.  

Fr. Estevan Wetzel, director of The Office of Prison Ministry and Restorative Justice, celebrated the first annual Silver Mass in honor of correctional and detention officers on Wednesday (May 6) at Sacred Heart Parish in Phoenix.   “The daily work of the men and women who serve as correctional and detention officers requires strength, integrity and sacrifice, often carried without recognition,” said Fr. Wetzel. “We hope this time allows those present not only to be spiritually refreshed, but also to enjoy community and appreciation.” Refreshments and an opportunity for fellowship followed the Mass. 

I write to you as a pastor and as a fellow disciple of Jesus Christ, one who shares your concern for the moral challenges of our time. As Archbishop of Santa Fe, I have prayed deeply about the continued existence of nuclear weapons and what our faith requires of us in response. I am convinced that this issue is not peripheral to our Catholic life—it goes to the very heart of who we are as a people committed to the Gospel of peace. The Church teaches, and has always taught, that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1700). From this foundational truth flows the absolute dignity of human life. Nuclear weapons, by their very nature, stand in direct contradiction to this dignity. Their destructive force is indiscriminate, incapable of distinguishing between combatant and noncombatant. As the Catechism reminds us, “every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities… is a crime against God and man” (CCC, 2314). Nuclear weapons represent the extreme embodiment of this moral disorder.

This week hundreds of Catholic faithful from across the country — including bishops, diocesan leadership and those directly involved in child and youth protection — are gathered in downtown Phoenix for the Child & Youth Protection Catholic Leadership Conference 2026. Running from May 10-13, the annual gathering serves as a platform for networking and sharing best practices on safe environment ministry across the country. This is the first time the Diocese of Phoenix has organized and hosted the event, which was first held in 2006.

Dcn. Simon Ortiz never thought he was going to be a priest when he grew up — he had his eye on becoming a sports reporter. But a retreat during his sophomore year of high school changed everything. Press play to hear Dcn. Simon’s journey to the priesthood, and ultimately how he can’t wait to serve the people of God, sharing in their joys and sorrows of life.

Pope Leo XIV shared his first encyclical on May 15, 2026, entitled Magnifica Humanitas (The Magnificence of the Human Person). Bishop Peter Dai Bui helps us understand how this letter fits into the writings of previous popes — Pope Leo XIII, Pope St. John XXIII, Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II — each of whom responded to the challenges of his times with one or more encyclicals. Today, Pope Leo XIV does the same for us.

As a pilot, Dcn. Jeff Pooley used to soar through the clouds. Now as a priest, he’ll guide others toward heaven. Receiving his call to...

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.

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.

As the United States prepares for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the Diocese of Phoenix joins the broader Church in turning toward the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In preparation for the Semiquincentennial, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will join countries such as Portugal, Spain and Poland in consecrating their nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In anticipation of the U.S. consecration, which will take place on June 11 at the Summer 2026 General Assembly in Orlando, the bishops have created prayer resources guided by Pope Francis’ encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), and Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic exhortation Delexi Te (I Have Loved You). Included in the resources is a special novena — a nine-day preparatory prayer — to the Sacred Heart. Each day inspires reflection on a different aspect of Jesus’ Heart, such as “aflame with love for us,” “patient and full of mercy” and “source of all consolation.”