NEWS

Warmer weather than in recent years sent nearly 1,000 students from across Arizona to a lunchtime rally at the state Capitol Jan. 30. The gathering was in celebration of National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools, which is a standard part of Catholic Schools Week festivities for local students. It draws largely student council leaders, teachers, parents, legislators, and this year all four bishops serving dioceses in Arizona eager to celebrate Catholic education and school choice. This also marked the first time that donors and supporters had a catered VIP lunch on site and special seating.

Two parents were happy to help students with a last-minute cram session last week. Maggie Gillespie and Tim Burns, members of the Catholic Parents Advocacy Network, hosted a whirlwind meeting for 60 student council members from five area Catholic high schools Jan. 30. They filled a room at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral on National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools to prepare students for a visit with local legislators later that day.

Theologian and foremost papal biographer George Weigel drew a crowd of more than 400 people to the Virginia G. Piper Center for the Performing Arts at Xavier College Preparatory Jan. 26 for a lecture about the life of Blessed John Paul II.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will "no longer have any administrative or public duties" as retired archbishop of Los Angeles.

Exemptions from certain requirements for contraceptive coverage in the HHS Mandate will be broadened to include many more types of religious institutions.

National Bank of Arizona will offer $250,000 in corporate matching gifts to leverage an additional quarter million in individual tax credit gifts to benefit low-income Catholic school students.

As the six-month mark approaches in an administration program to defer deportation for some young undocumented immigrants, the pace of applications has slowed, but more than 150,000 people have been approved for the status that comes with a work permit and a Social Security number.

Arizona served as the kickoff venue for National School Choice Week Jan. 25.

A lack of faith in God can damage marriage, even to the point of affecting its validity, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, Janice Bohn, who followed her heart and calling to Arizona where she served in ministry for nearly 40...