St. Patrick’s to celebrate the Feast of St. Dymphna with mental health fair

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Apr 16, 2024

To celebrate the Feast of St. Dymphna, the patron of mental health, St. Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, Ariz., is hosting a mental health fair, May 18-19, at the parish.

St. Patrick’s has long been concerned with addressing issues around mental health and promoting awareness.

“Through our behavioral health initiative ministry, we seek to serve as an avenue to provide literacy in mental health, to reduce the stigma of mental illness, encourage conversations around mental illness, and create a safe environment for individuals to share and seek help surrounding their mental illness,” said Eric Tamayo, pastoral associate at St. Patrick Catholic Community.

At each of the weekend Masses speakers will discuss mental health awareness. Following each Mass, parishioners will find a variety of mental health information, ministries and agencies including grief support, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Parkinsons and Alzheimer, Catholic Charities Counseling, Hope Exist, Mental Health First Aid, Next Chapter and addiction resources.

With the feast day of St. Dymphna on May 15, they will also have a display for parishioners to learn more about her life along with prayer cards to assist in praying for those suffering with mental illness.

St. Patrick Catholic Community is working in conjunction with the Diocese of Phoenix’s Office of Mental Health Ministry, who will be present at the fair, to help reduce the stigma around mental health while also educating and promoting advocacy.

Part of the Diocese’s vision for Mental Health Ministry in parishes is the establishment of “The Well”, a designated space or room at the parish that is a safe space, a place of encounter for those experiencing challenges to gather and share their experiences and grow their relationship with God.

During the mental health fair, St. Patrick Catholic Community will be presented with their own Woman of the Well painting by Glenda Stevens, which will be blessed and put on display. This picture will ultimately be placed in their House of Mercy building to serve as “The Well” for groups to come and gather in a safe space.

“St Patrick’s seeks to accompany those with mental health needs in the parish and the larger community in both a welcoming and meaningful way,” said Tamayo

‘We are here’: Bishop welcomes abuse survivors, families to Healing Mass

By

Jeff Grant

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Apr 16, 2024

PHOENIX — The Church’s efforts to help abuse victims heal has been steadfast since shortly after the first incidents came to light more than two decades ago.

But the need for love and compassion likely will never end.

“Abuse really hurts a person in the depth of their soul that they don’t forget,” said one survivor, who remains anonymous at her request following Sunday’s semiannual Mass of Healing and Reconciliation for Survivors of Abuse and Their Families; her voice lowering as a tear ran down her face in the courtyard of Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix.

Yet, she said her faith has remained strong.

“I know that I brought that pain to the LORD, and he healed me in my pain,” she explained, grateful that the Diocese and the Church are committed to acknowledge the suffering.

“That helps. We (survivors) feel that we’re seen.”

Worshippers with no links to abuse agreed.

“I can’t imagine (the suffering) being one of those victims,” said Ss. Simon and Jude parishioner Mary Petroff, who was at the 9 a.m. Mass with her husband, Dave.

Mary Petroff also commended the Church’s efforts.

“(The Church is) trying its best to resolve the issues, so they don’t happen again,” she said.

“We want survivors of clergy abuse and families to know that we are here. We have never left them,” said Dr. Ann Vargas-Leveriza, director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection and Safe Environment Training. “We continue to do our outreach through the Mass of Healing and Reconciliation, but at the same time we also want (survivors and families) to know that we continue to pray for their healing.”

Because abuse can occur anywhere throughout society, the Mass remains open to any survivor victimized outside the Church, as well as their family.

SPECIAL MONTH

Sunday’s rite marked the first live TV stream by the Diocese since it began holding them in 2006, as well as the latest celebrated by Bishop John P. Dolan since his 2022 installation.

Held twice annually, the Mass usually takes place during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent, each at a different parish.

The spring Mass also comes during April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to raise awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children.

Similar Masses are held throughout the United States.

A majority of the 196 U.S. dioceses and eparchies take part, according to Dcn. Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection, an agency formed in response to the abuse crisis.

NEW VATICAN DOCUMENT

The USCCB also wrote a landmark document in 2002 to address abuse and the Church’s response.

Named for the city where the bishops met, the “Dallas Charter” established procedures to address allegations of abuse of minors by clergy as well as a comprehensive prevention strategy, reconciliation and healing.

The Diocese of Phoenix’s Office of Child and Youth Protection assists individuals and families who have been directly affected by sexual abuse, whether in the Diocese or that of their childhood. Counseling referrals, spiritual direction, healing Masses, community services, and meetings with Bishop Dolan are all offered.

The Diocese conducts rigorous screening of clergy and anyone else who works with children. This includes religious, seminarians, employees and volunteers.

The Diocese has been audited annually — including an on-site inspection in 2017 – and maintains full compliance with the Charter.

Bishop Dolan hailed the office’s work Sunday.

He also used his message to reference a new Vatican document addressing abuse as it relates to human dignity.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith released the statement April 8. The dicastry is the Roman Curia department charged with the Church’s religious discipline.

“Dignitas Infinita” renewed the Church’s conviction that all human beings—created by God and redeemed by Christ—must be recognized and treated with respect and love.

The document discusses the violation of that dignity through not only child abuse but abortion, euthanasia, violence against women, human trafficking and other areas.

Bishop Dolan said that child abuse, as well as slavery and human trafficking, violate
the God-given – or inalienable right of human dignity, as conveyed in the first chapter of the Bible’s Book of Genesis.

“We are made in God’s image and likeness. That inalienable – or innate – human dignity can never be annulled,” he said.

Still, as others pointed out, the scars of abuse are daunting.

“Some of the survivors I’ve worked with; it was their faith in the Church that sustained them,” said Dcn. Nojadera. “There are others who have said they don’t want to have anything to do with the Church.”

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In his Homily, Bishop Dolan pointed to God’s unwavering commitment to his created beings, even in the midst of such suffering, and urged survivors and families to lean on the triune God for healing and comfort, bearing in mind the suffering and resurrection of His only Son.

“Our God does not abandon us. He does not nullify our human dignity,” he said.

“Jesus is the only answer, and we need to listen to His voice.”

A PRAYER FOR HEALING VICTIMS OF ABUSE

“God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just:

You gave your only Son to save us by the blood of his cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear our cries as we agonize over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.

Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith.

Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility, and grace, so that we may act with justice and find peace in you.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

WEBLINKS
Dicastery Declaration for the Doctrine of Faith on Human Dignity
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html

Diocese of Phoenix Office of Child and Youth Protection
https://dphx.org/youth-protection/

NEWS BRIEF: Local priest sworn in for Army National Guard

By

The Catholic Sun

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Apr 16, 2024

On Friday, Fr. Estevan Wetzel was sworn in as a chaplain for the Army National Guard at St. John Paul II High School in Avondale, Ariz., where he currently serves as chaplain at the school. As the school year draws to a close, Fr. Wetzel will head to Fort Jackson, S.C., for three months of basic training.

Moved by the suffering of a serviceman who was dealing with the loss of two fellow soldiers to suicide, Fr. Wetzel wondered who would minister to those serving in the military. “It requires a priest that is up to the task and has the requirements,” he said.

A desire began to grow as he pondered his ministry and accompanied police and fire departments on ride-a-longs.

When sharing these thoughts with Msgr. Peter Bui, vicar for priests, he was informed that the current chaplain, Fr. Craig Friedley, for the Army National Guard was retiring. Fr. Friedley administered the oath at the event.

“It was a door that unexpectedly opened and corresponded to my desires,” said Fr. Wetzel.

After basic training this summer, Fr. Wetzel will serve for a few days every two months.

“It’s an exciting adventure I feel called to, but really have no idea what it will look like yet.”

Share, listen to people’s encounter with Jesus, pope says

By

Catholic News Service

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Apr 15, 2024

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians must share their faith in the risen Jesus, Pope Francis said.

They also should “talk about the good inspirations that have guided us in life, the good thoughts and feelings that help us so much to go forward, and also about our efforts and labors to understand and to progress in the life of faith, perhaps even to repent and retrace our steps,” the pope said April 14 before leading the midday recitation of the “Regina Coeli” prayer.

Greeting visitors in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said it is good and important to share one’s faith in Jesus.

“Every day we are bombarded with a thousand messages. Many of them are superficial and useless, others reveal an indiscreet curiosity or, worse still, arise from gossip and malice,” he said.

“But there is also good news, positive and constructive, and we all know how good it is for us to hear good things, and how much better we are when this happens,” he said.

“It is also good to share the realities that, for better or worse, have touched our lives, so as to help others,” he said, including “the most beautiful thing we have to tell: our encounter with Jesus.”

“Each one of us could say so much about this: seeing how the Lord has touched us, and sharing this, not by being a lecturer to others, but by sharing the unique moments in which we perceived the Lord alive and close,” he said.

Pope Francis asked Catholics to reflect on a “powerful moment of our life of faith” when they found the Lord and when they felt him near, and to also remember to listen to others when they share about their encounter with Jesus.

Parish priests are lifeline to church’s mission, cardinal says

By

Catholic News Service

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Apr 15, 2024

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) — The success of the Synod of Bishops on synodality will much depend on also including parish priests in the process, said Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington.

Of the more than 360 bishops, religious and laypeople who participated in the first assembly at the Vatican last October, the small number who were ordained priests “were scholars, missionaries (or) they were engaged in leadership in religious communities,” he said.

“Not that those other participants weren’t generous and insightful,” he said, but in his 40 years as a bishop, his experience has been that “a number of people may know who the bishop is, they all know who the pastor is.”

The parish priest is the church’s “point of contact and if we lose contact with our people through their priests, it disables the mission of the church,” he told Catholic News Service April 10 at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he was to receive the annual Rector’s Award April 11.

Cardinal Gregory had served as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago before leading the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and then the Archdiocese of Atlanta; he was named archbishop of Washington in 2019 and then elevated to the College of Cardinals the next year.

Pope Francis personally invited the 76-year-old native of Chicago to attend the synod on synodality in Rome.

“There was a lack of parish priests present” at the first assembly, Cardinal Gregory said, noting the importance of the upcoming gathering of 300 parish priests from all over the world to make their contribution to the ongoing synod process by sharing their experiences of parish life.

Parish priests are the ones who “serve the folks in the pew, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday,” he said. The gathering of parish priests, which will be held April 28-May 2 outside of Rome, was needed “because if the synod is going to be a success, it really needs to keep its roots in the Sunday pew.”

The priests, selected by bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic churches, also will have the chance to dialogue with Pope Francis as part of responding to the first assembly’s report requesting more active involvement of deacons, priests and bishops in the synodal process.

Because there will only be one to four priests representing each bishops’ conference and Eastern-rite Catholic church, Cardinal Gregory said it would be important for the priest delegates to “use media to pass on what they did, what they heard, what they said.”

“After all, 300 priests is a good delegation, but it’s a small representation of the total number of priests who are engaged directly in pastoral ministry,” he said.

Just as priests are being asked to “follow up more effectively with their parishioners and learn how to listen to and to learn from criticism and also support” as part of the synodal process, he said, bishops, too, should be showing their support of their priests, even in the simplest of ways.

“Long before the synod and in every diocese that I’ve served in,” he said, he has always shared messages and comments he receives complimenting one of his priests for something they did.

“I always send that complimentary letter to the priest himself, along with my letter of thanks to the individual who thought enough of a pastor to say something nice,” he said.

“That builds a relationship with the priest and the bishop that says, ‘you know, he contacts me not necessarily because I’ve done something wrong, but because I’ve done something right.’ And that’s very important. Our guys need to know that the bishop is grateful,” he said.

The success of the synod, Cardinal Gregory said, will be seen with “an increase in the contact that people, ordinary people, the faithful of God, have with their priests,” their bishop and with the pope. Success will be recognizing that the pope “is not an individual who governs the church simply from the desk of the papal apartment” and that the bishop and pastor are not leaders who simply manage or direct activities from afar.

“To have a successful synod outcome, it has to tighten the bonds that unite us, even going into those areas where most people had not been before. And unfortunately, sometimes where bishops haven’t been before, that is, in the midst of their flock,” he said.

“Isn’t that one of Pope Francis’ favorite early terms, the smell of the sheep?” the cardinal asked. “You’ve got to have the smell of the sheep.”

A calling to serve

By

The Catholic Sun

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Apr 11, 2024

Harry Antram, president and CEO, Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes in Phoenix has dedicated his life’s vocation to the funeral and cemetery industry.

His journey started at the age of 18 in his small hometown of Alamogordo, New Mexico when he took a job at the only funeral home in town and did everything from embalming to working services to typing up death certificates. After completing community college and his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona, Harry felt a calling to return to the funeral industry and went on to complete a mortuary science degree in Dallas, Texas.

“All along, I felt that my Catholic faith really guided me to find my passion to serve families at a difficult time in their lives,” explains Harry.

Joining the Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes Family
In 2007, after spending nearly 20 years at French Mortuary in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harry had the opportunity to join Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes and model a concept he felt strongly about – establishing a funeral home and cemetery in the same location. It was also the first diocesan-owned Catholic funeral home in the state of Arizona.

Harry and his family moved to Phoenix, and he has spent 17 years serving in a variety of roles in the organization including director of Funeral Services, director of Mission and Care, and vice president of Funeral Services before being appointed as the president and CEO in October 2023.

“To me, the biggest measure of success is hearing how grateful pastors are to have us as part of the community,” says Harry. “The pastors share they feel confident sending families to us and knowing the families will be directed in line with the teachings of the Church.”

During his time at Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes, Harry has witnessed the tremendous growth of the organization. Now, there are two funeral homes that serve approximately 1,100 families a year, while six cemeteries have approximately 3,000 burials each year.

“Our mission is to educate and advise on proper burial, in line with the Church’s teachings, and we want to be able to assist families who may have moved away from the Church and bring them back home including connecting them to grief counseling and resources,” adds Harry.

Areas of Focus in 2024 and Beyond

In his new role as President and CEO, Harry has laid out two critical goals to help keep the organization moving forward.

“First and foremost, we will continue to educate our staff on Catholic teachings that align to our ministry to help us serve our community,” explains Harry. “I also want to ensure that everyone on the team has growth opportunities within our organization and receives the development they need to achieve their goals.”

There is also a great potential to expand services as the Phoenix area and state continue to grow.

“Strategically, we are looking across the Diocese of Phoenix to understand our growth perspective and stay ahead of the curve,” says Harry. “We’ll make sure we’re growing in the right way and in the right places to ensure we can meet the needs of Catholic families across the Diocese now and into the future.

In remembrance of those individuals served by Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in the month of March

By

The Catholic Sun

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Apr 11, 2024

In remembrance of those individuals served by Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in March 2024

Statement on Arizona Supreme Court Ruling

By

The Catholic Sun

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Apr 9, 2024

In light of the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday, upholding Arizona’s pre-Roe abortion ban in the state of Arizona, the Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) released a statement. The Arizona Catholic Conference is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson. Bishops from each of these dioceses comprise the Board of Directors of the ACC.

CLICK HERE TO READ ACC STATEMENT:

Happiness does not come from chasing pleasure or power, pope says

By

Catholic News Service

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Apr 9, 2024

By Carol Glatz, OSV News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pursuing the path of pleasure and power does not lead to happiness, Pope Francis said.

“It is a road that at first sight seems pleasurable, but which does not satiate the heart. It is not in this way that one ‘has life,'” the pope said April 7 before leading the midday recitation of the “Regina Coeli” prayer.

Greeting some 15,000 visitors in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said, “We all want to have life, but there are various ways of having it.”

For example, he said, “there are those who reduce existence to a frenetic race to enjoy and possess many things: to eat and drink, to enjoy themselves, to accumulate money and objects, to feel strong and new emotions, and so on.”

At first, these pursuits seem to bring great pleasure, he said. However, “many aspects of existence remain unanswered, such as love (and) the inevitable experiences of pain, of limitations and of death. And then the dream we all have in common remains unfulfilled: the hope of living forever, of being loved without limit.”

The fullness of life, “to which every one of us is called, is realized in Jesus: it is he who gives us this fullness of life,” the pope said.

With Jesus, life always wins, and death and sin are defeated, he said. His gift of his Spirit gives his disciples new life, “imbued with joy, love and hope.”

Pope Francis asked the faithful to ask themselves: “Do I believe in the power of the resurrection of Jesus; do I believe that Jesus is risen?” and “Do I let myself be prompted by him to love my brothers and sisters, and to hope every day?”

The way to “have life” every day, he said, is to “fix one’s eyes on the crucified and risen Jesus, encountering him in the sacraments and in prayer, recognizing that he is present, believing in him, letting oneself be touched by his grace and guided by his example, experiencing the joy of loving like him.”

NEWS BRIEF: Sr. Raphael Quinn awarded Papal medal

By

The Catholic Sun

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Apr 9, 2024

On Tuesday morning, Sr. Raphael Quinn, I.B.V.M., was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal in recognition for her faithful service to the Church in Catholic Education. The presentation took place at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix following Mass that was celebrated by Bishop John Dolan. She has more than 60 years in education, 51 years as the principal of St. Simon and Jude Catholic School.

“She is a woman of incredible strength, generosity and impeccable character,” said Dr. Maria Chavira, chancellor and vice moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Phoenix.

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal is bestowed for distinguished service to the Church by the Holy Father. Sr. Quinn is the third recipient of this medal in the Diocese of Phoenix; the first was Mrs. MaryBeth Mueller, past Superintendent of Schools and the second was Sr. Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, president of Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix. Both joined Bishop Dolan to pin Sr. Quinn with the medal.