The Catholic Sun

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The powerful and violent cannot control, suppress or commodify God's grace, friendship and will to usher in a new dawn,...

St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, canonized on Sept. 7, 2025, is known for using technology to glorify God. St. Carlo seems to be a guiding force behind the growing young adult community in the Diocese of Phoenix, particularly through a WhatsApp group chat with over 1,300 members.   With vast numbers of Catholic young adults being transplants to the Phoenix area, a way to connect was needed. Giorgio Navarini, founder and director of Floriani, a sacred music men’s vocal ensemble, recognized this need and desired a Catholic online community that would bring people together in person. Young adults in the diocese used to connect via the Signal App. When it was becoming apparent that the app didn’t have the features needed for such a large group, Navarini suggested a switch to WhatsApp, which would provide a space to share upcoming events and also have other subgroups where young adults could connect based on shared interests.   

According to the data recently released in the 2025 edition of The Official Catholic Directory, the Diocese of Phoenix is now the second largest Catholic diocese in the United States, passing the Archdiocese of New York and the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Official Catholic Directory is published annually by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  Per the 2025 publication, the nation’s five largest U.S. dioceses are the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (3.79 million), Diocese of Phoenix (2.01 million), Archdiocese of Chicago (1.95 million), Archdiocese of Boston (1.79 million) and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (1.70 million). 

As the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close, its culmination is anything but the end of the hope that defined the...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At a time when so much pressure and so many demands are placed on priests, they should find support, freedom and relief in recognizing the gifts of laypeople and collaborating with them, Pope Leo XIV said. "The ministry of the priest must move beyond the model of exclusive leadership, which leads to the centralization of pastoral activities and the burden of all responsibilities entrusted to him alone," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter titled, "A Fidelity that Generates the Future."

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV asked children to pray in front of their Nativity scenes this Christmas and, especially, to pray "that all the world's children may live in peace. "Clutching their creche figurines of the baby Jesus, thousands of children gathered in St. Peter's Square Dec. 21 to have Pope Leo bless the little statues after the midday recitation of the Angelus prayer.

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend James A. Misko, a priest of the Diocese of Austin, as the Bishop of Tucson. Father Misko currently serves as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Austin. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 20, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Misko was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Adding a manager to its Catholic schools pilot program, expanding its signature parish-level spaces and launching outreach to those in prison are among the latest developments within the Diocese of Phoenix’s groundbreaking Mental Health Ministry as it enters its fourth year. The developments were discussed in a wide-ranging interview with Mental Health Ministry Director Mary Permoda and Accompaniment Program Manager Richard DiCarlo during a recent edition of “The Bishop’s Hour,” a weekly radio program airing Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. on Relevant Radio 1310 AM, presenting Church news and theological reflections, and discussing contemporary issues facing today’s Catholics in Arizona.  

Fr. Julius Kayiwa was installed as pastor of two parishes this weekend by Bishop John Dolan in the Northern region of the Diocese of Phoenix. This first pastor installation Mass took place at Good Shepherd of the Desert Catholic Church in Congress, Ariz., on Dec. 20, and the second took place the following morning at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bagdad, Ariz. The two parish communities near Wickenburg, Ariz., are about 50 miles apart.

Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) staff had a special surprise when Bishop John Dolan announced the appointment of Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui by Pope Leo XIV at their annual Advent retreat today (Dec. 19) at Mount Claret Retreat Center in Phoenix. Vicar for Clergy at the DPC since 2022, the bishop-elect received a standing ovation from his fellow staff members including laypeople, priests and religious. Bishop Dolan presented Bishop-elect Bui with his pectoral cross and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares presented him with his fuchsia zucchetto — two unique symbols that represent the office and authority of Catholic bishops. During his upcoming installation Mass, the bishop-elect will also receive his miter, crozier and ring.