VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus calls believers not only to be servants of his kingdom, as the prophets and Mary were, but also to be his friends, Pope Francis said.
“Friendship is not the fruit of calculation, nor of compulsion, it is born spontaneously when we recognize something of ourselves in the other,” he said May 5. “Jesus, in the Bible, tells us that for him we are precisely this: friends, people beloved beyond all merit and expectation, to whom he extends his hand and offers his love, his grace, his word.”
Before leading the “Regina Coeli” prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from St. John in which Jesus tells the apostles, “I do not call you servants any longer, but friends.”
Jesus does not only want to entrust humanity with his mission of salvation, the pope said, “he wants more, something greater that goes beyond goods and plans themselves; it takes friendship.”
The pope asked people to think about the beauty of friendship that they experience throughout the course of their lives, from sharing toys as children and confiding secrets to one another as teenagers to exchanging joys and worries as adults and recounting memories together as seniors.
“Let us think a moment of our friends and thank the Lord for them,” he said.
In friendship, Jesus “shares what is dearest to him” with humanity, the pope said: “All that he has learned from the Father.”
Jesus is invested in his friendship with humanity “even to the point of making himself fragile for us, of placing himself in our hands, without defense or pretense, because he loves us,” he said. “The Lord loves us; as a friend he wants our good and he wants us to share in his.”
If a friendship is true, it is “so strong that is does not fail even in the face of betrayal,” he said, noting that Jesus calls Judas “friend” even after he had been betrayed.
“A true friend does not abandon you, even when you make mistakes: he corrects you, perhaps he reproaches you, but he forgives you and does not abandon you,” he said.
After reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer, the pope asked Christians to pray for Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, “that there may be peace, that dialogue may be strengthened and bear good fruit. No to war, yes to dialogue!”
PHOENIX — For the second year in a row, the Diocese of Phoenix used the liturgy and the Eucharist to honor and pray for the professionals, caregivers and clergy who serve those with mental health concerns, part of a growing effort to spotlight the once-misunderstood area of care.
The Office of Mental Health Ministry invited professionals, social workers, counselor, pastoral caregivers and mental health ministers to Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, where Mass was celebrated Sunday in their honor.
May is also National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time set aside by the advocacy group Mental Health America for recognizing the millions of Americans dealing with some type of condition as raising awareness of resources and advocating for improved public policy.
During Sunday’s Mass, green ribbons were handed out, along with prayer cards of St. Dymphna.
Green signifies new life, new growth and new beginnings, and reminds people they need not suffer from the stigma over mental illness.
St. Dymphna is the patroness of those suffering nervous or mental afflictions. Her Feast Day is May 15.
Those unable to attend can view the Mass online via YouTube and Facebook.
It also was broadcast for the first time on CW7.
Fr. Matthew Henry, rector of Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral was the celebrant.
‘TO BE LIKE CHRIST’
Although Catholic mental health practitioners provide clinical care, their role differs in at least one respect from others in the field. These individuals are responsible for bearing witness to God’s unique love.
“(It is) striving to be like Christ,” noted Office of Mental Health Ministry Program Manager Maricela Campa. “He loved and cared for the sick. That includes souls who are mentally ill.”
No data for the number of Catholic mental health professionals in Arizona was available, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates more than 1.2 million individuals overall worked nationally in the field during 2020. The number of Catholic professionals would be a fraction of that figure.
Counselors, therapists, psychologists and others need the Church’s prayers, say Catholic ministers and professionals.
Office of Mental Health Ministry Director Mary Permoda said practitioners must open their heart to the people they serve and hold what they encounter without that heart breaking.
“A lot of people think it’s an easy job; it’s not. This is a ministry of love. Sometimes there’s compassion fatigue (or) burnout. So, I pray for their hearts,” Permoda explained.
She also asks God to provide these individuals a “decent wage.”
Caregivers and mental health ministers are aided by prayer, said Campa.
“(They need) continued wisdom and understanding, as well as compassion for those (they) minister to,” she said.
Others cite the mental health field’s growing demand for quality, God-centered personnel.
Terry Braciszewski, a neuropsychologist and official with a nationwide organization for Catholic mental health professionals, said spiritual decay is driving more people today into some type of mental suffering.
“We are in a culture that has lost its moral compass. For example, we have totally lost the male-female identities (in) God’s order,” explained Braciszewski, the regional representatives chair who serves on the executive board of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association. “There is (also) a tremendous amount of oppression by the Evil One. That manifests itself in anxiety, fear, depression, lack of hope.”
The Irving, Texas-based CPA supports practitioners with professional and spiritual community as well as connecting them to professional development and educational opportunities.
Dr. Anne Vargas-Leveriza, director of the Diocese of Phoenix’s Office of Child and Youth Protection and Safe Environment Training and a licensed mental health therapist, is one of the agency’s representatives for Region 13, which includes Arizona.
‘OFFER A ‘BIG ARK’”
Across the U.S., many live with a form of mental illness.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reports that 57.8 million adults have a condition, from those able to perform daily tasks to the more severe illnesses that may qualify a person for government disability aid.
The problem is particularly acute among teens.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its biannual survey of U.S. high school students, found that in the year 2021, 42 percent of those students “experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” —- up from 28 percent in 2011.
For practitioners, the mission is clear, Braciszewski said.
“We (as mental health professionals) have to offer a ‘big Ark;’ (a) safe haven for people who want to know the truth and not have the Band-Aid.”
He encouraged Catholics to pray the rosary for mental health providers, caregivers and patients.
“The power of the Rosary — it’s simple. Most of us raised in the Church have been raised with it. We know it,” he said. “It’s beautiful; absolutely beautiful.”
Sunday’s Mass was also the latest in a series of steps taken by Bishop John P. Dolan to raise awareness about mental health.
His own family’s experience with suicide having been well-chronicled, Bishop Dolan in December 2022 launched the Office of Mental Health Ministry to establish a Diocesan center for prayer and referral to resources.
In nearly a year and a half, the Diocese has established “satellite” offices in each of its 15 deaneries – or parish clusters – and has trained ministers, both laity and clergy, in use of the “mental health toolkit,” a guide for initial response and referral.
On Jan. 5, the Diocese hosted the first-ever Interfaith Mental Health Meeting at Creighton University School of Medicine. The gathering produced an interfaith task force to increase advocacy and education around mental health issues in Arizona.
The Diocese’s efforts appear to be bearing fruit.
“We know there are a greater number of people who feel they can reach out,” said Permoda. “You don’t have to live with (mental illness). You don’t have to walk alone. What greater place than the Church to come in and feel like you are loved?”
CASHION, Ariz — If there is a phrase the faithful live by concerning their physical worship spaces, it is that the Church is the body of Christ – its people.
So, when parishioners of St. William in Cashion lost their building to fire last week, including religious education classrooms, their food pantry and parish hall, they knew they could lean on their pastor, Fr. Andres Arango, as well as one another.
A close-knit, largely Spanish-speaking community of predominantly blue-collar families, St. William has anchored the Catholic population of the east Avondale area since the 1960s, when it was built as a mission to serve immigrant farmers. Growth eventually forced St. William to seek a larger building, and in 1981, it bought a former Southern Baptist church at 111th Ave. and 3rd Street, renovated it, and dedicated it the following year.
On Sunday, worshippers attended Mass at the parish’s other church, Santa Maria de Guadalupe Mission in Phoenix — their first since the fire — and were still in shock.
“It’s my whole life,” said Rosa Bravo, a catechist and parishioner for 50 years. “My children, my grandchildren were baptized here. We celebrated all the sacraments here. I can’t even describe the pain,” she said tearfully.
“It’s overwhelming; unbelievable, thinking about all the memories – the Masses, my family; their burials, funerals, everything else,” said Alice Samarippa, 61, who began going to the St. William Mission church as a 7-year-old with her four aunts, mother and brother.
“The church was next to my house as I grew up, and my mom was involved in everything, so as a little girl, I was always involved,” she recalled.
“It is painful. It is not only the building but the efforts of many people years ago, all the suffering, the sacrifices to get that (original) church,” said Fr. Arango prior to Sunday’s 8 a.m. Mass. “But we know the Church is not only the building, it is the people of God. We can see sadness because the building is down, but we can see the hope in everybody, which is giving us unity.”
Later, in his Homily, Fr. Arango recalled Jesus’ words to His disciples during the Last Supper, recorded by St. John in the day’s Gospel reading.
“This is the time to remain strong in love. That love is expressed by supporting one another. Love should be real in our actions, our prayers, our donations, and our activities,” he said.
“Today means (being) family, community, brothers, and sisters. It doesn’t matter what happens, God is with us. God’s love never dies.”
GRACES
There were small but powerful graces; reminders of that love.
Parishioners, including Samarippa, shared a photograph of the charred but intact St. William tabernacle.
Embedded within a stone wall, the slightly more than 1-inch-thick, fire-retardant metal container bore the consecrated host, untouched by flames.
“It’s incredible; unbelievable,” said Samarippa.
“That was very touching, knowing that God is in our presence,” echoed Elaina Lopez, 31, who has attended St. William for two years.
“We trust in the promise of Jesus: ‘I am with you all days,’” said Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares prior to vesting for the 9:30 a.m. Mass, one of three Spanish-language services celebrated by Nevares and fellow Diocesan clergy. “In the good times and bad, Jesus Christ is with us, and we really trust in the fulfillment of that promise.”
Joining Bishop Nevares were Msgr. Peter Bui, the Diocese’s vicar for clergy, for the 11:30 a.m. Mass, and Fr. John Muir, vicar general and moderator of the curia, who celebrated the 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass.
Bishop John P. Dolan is on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, with the malades served by the Sovereign Order of Malta and is due to return May 8.
Reported around 1 a.m. Wednesday, the fire was burning throughout St. William when first responders from the City of Avondale and surrounding communities rolled up.
Though firefighters were unable to save the building, there were no casualties.
A cause is under investigation.
The parish was fully insured and plans to rebuild.
Funds are being raised to aid staff and the community’s additional expenses.
Plans for relocating catechism classes are still being worked out.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Other graces emerged as well, helping the food bank, which serves about 25 needy families on a weekly basis.
Samarippa, also president of St. William’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference, which operates the food bank, produced a series of photos she took hours after the fire, showing dozens of untouched cans and boxes of donated food. The section of structure housing the food bank suffered only smoke and some water damage, she explained.
“We’ve checked everything. I opened a warped can of peaches. It was fine. I ate some.”
Hours later, there was more good news.
St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix announced that the pantry will operate locally at a site near St. William.
Mercy House Community Center, 1249 S. 111th Ave. in Cashion, has agreed to serve as donation and pickup site.
“SVdP Vincentians will be on-site at Mercy House from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays to serve neighbors in need, and Mercy House is also open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays,” said St. Vincent de Paul Associate Chief Mission Engagement Officer John Junker. “The St. William Conference will be supported by our Diocesan and District Councils and other Conferences. Food donations are welcome and can be dropped off during the hours listed,” he added.
Recently added space to meet Santa Maria de Guadalupe Mission church’s own demand will serve the Masses for St. William parishioners, too.
External chapels, consisting of roof extensions above open-air patio seating for several hundred, are equipped with television monitors and speakers for those who cannot fit into the sanctuary.
While their building is gone, their faith is intact, said parishioners
“I know God will give me the strength and get me through (this),” said Bravo, who was due to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary in two weeks at St. William. “It’s very hard and painful. I know God is going to take care of us and send me the answers I’m seeking. In His time, always, not my time.”
“I’m (learning) every day is a blessing,” said Santiago Canales, 24, parishioner, and Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Santo Toribio Romo Council 14804. “My faith is stronger. It hurt to see our church go down. I’ve been going since I was 7 or 8 years old. There are a lot of memories made in that church. I’m grateful all the people we made the memories with are still around, and hopefully (here) to create many more.”
“This (fire) has taught us a real lesson that we are the Church,” Bishop Nevares said. “We are the ‘living stones’ upon which Jesus Christ builds His Church.”
Members of the 2024 graduating class at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, were recently awarded more than $20 million in scholarships from universities, nonprofits, family foundations, and private companies.
Some of the more notable scholarships and awards to students were:
LinkedIn Possibilities in Tech Scholarship — a $40k scholarship to senior M.J. Martinez from the employment focused tech platform, LinkedIn. It is LinkedIn’s second year of their program, and M.J. is the only student in Arizona to receive it. M.J. will attend Arizona State University (ASU) and major in engineering.
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship — a $40k scholarship from Amazon to senior M.J. Martinez, to inspire and propel the next generation of innovators. Amazon also offered Martinez a paid internship at Amazon after her first year at ASU. Martinez is the first generation in her family to attend college.
Dorrance Family Foundation — a scholarship valued at $100k to senior Ashley Vadivia Ruvalcaba to attend ASU. Ruvalcaba will attend a special summer program and experience a study abroad program through the Dorrance Foundation. Ruvalcaba is the first generation in her family to attend college. She plans to major in biological sciences to become a Physician’s Assistant.
Obama Scholar — ASU Advantage Program – a $40k scholarship to attend ASU for four years from the Obama Scholars Program to senior Angel Moreno Martin. Martin is the first in her family to attend college where she plans to major in civil engineering.
Coca-Cola Scholar Program – $20k each scholarship to seniors Sonya Colattur and Monica Nitu. This achievement-based scholarship is awarded to only 150 students nationally out of more than 100,000 who apply. Colattur will attend University of Pennsylvania to obtain dual degrees in Statistics or Behavioral Economics through the Wharton School of Business and International Studies. Nitu is attending Columbia University and majoring in history on a pre med track.
U.S. Presidential Scholars – established by Executive Order of the President to honor and recognize some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars. In 2024, three Xavier seniors were nominated: Sonya Colattur, Monica Nitu, and Annabel Ohman.
National Merit Scholar Finalists – the nationwide pool of National Merit Scholars represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Seven Xavier seniors were awarded this distinction, and each received $2,500: Chloe Chun, Sonya Colattur, Harper Hipps, Mackenzie Lopez, Abigail Pearson, Cara Schillinger, and Ava Silvernail.
The College Board National Achievement Scholarship Program – The Scholarship Program was created to increase educational opportunities for academically accomplished Black American students and encourage colleges to broaden their recruiting efforts. Six Xavier seniors were named National African American Scholars: Joslyn Jenkins, Lourdes Lauterborn, Savana McKinley, Khaydie Ramos, Ava Sharett, and Bethlehem Tejeji.
The College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program – recognizes outstanding Latino and Hispanic high school students. The Program recognized nine Xavier seniors: Carla Bueno, Julyza Guerrero-Torres, Annamaria La Sota, Mackenzie Lopez, Maryel Rivera, Anna Santos, Madison Schenk, Megan Wubker, and Morgan Wubker.
The College Board National Indigenous Recognition Program – recognized outstanding Indigenous high school students. The Program recognized one Xavier senior: Katherine Lum Lung.
Xavier College Preparatory president, Sr. Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, said, “As educators, we are immensely proud of our students’ achievements, for the prestigious scholarships they’ve earned and for the dedication, determination, and excellence they’ve consistently demonstrated. Their success is a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering support of our school community. We celebrate not just the dollars awarded, but the boundless potential and bright futures these scholarships represent.”
Xavier College Preparatory is an all-girls Catholic high school in Phoenix that prepares young women of faith with knowledge, skills, and integrity to meet the challenges of a changing global society. Xavier’s academic, arts, and sports programs are nationally recognized. Educating the whole person — intellectually, spiritually, artistically, and physically — is o
The Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) released a statement on Thursday in response of the repeal of Arizona’s pre-Roe law. 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.
Brophy College Preparatory recently honored 16 seniors from the Class of 2024 as spring Distinguished Students at a recent ceremony held at the school’s Harper Great Hall. Brophy’s Distinguished Students, also recognized in the fall, are selected by Brophy Prep faculty, coaching staff and counselors based not only on their exceptional academic and service achievements, but also for having grown to be model representatives of the enduring qualities of Brophy Prep’s Jesuit-educated graduate at graduation: intellectually competent, open to growth, loving, religious and committed to doing justice.
Principal Jim Bopp and Dean of Student Support Services Austin Pidgeon were on hand at the ceremony to present the awards to the following students:
• Zeid Arekat
• Brandon Byrne
• Nicolas Carter
• Nathaniel Chavez
• Connor Furey
• Sean Kennedy
• Shaan Keole
• Minh Luu
• Edison Martinez Estrada
• Joshua Nunez Sandoval
• Connor Oldani
• Luke Roe
• Leo Roth
• Jacob Schoenhals
• Juan Pablo Suarez Woolcott
• Luis Villalpando
While speaking to the award recipients during the ceremony, Bopp thanked the students for advancing Brophy’s mission through their God-given talents and offered, “While your awards as distinguished students are a defining moment of your time here at Brophy, don’t allow this to be the end. Your awards mark the beginning and are inspired by the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, ‘Go forth and set the world on fire.’”
About Brophy College Preparatory
Brophy College Preparatory, a Jesuit, Catholic school for young men, was established in 1928 by Mrs. William Henry Brophy in honor of her late husband. Brophy Prep enrolls approximately 1,300 students in grades nine through 12 in addition to approximately 100 students who attend Loyola Academy, a tuition-free, on-campus middle school for underserved youth with academic promise. Brophy seeks to educate Men for Others who are intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving and committed to doing justice — qualities of the Jesuit-educated graduate at graduation. Brophy students work and compete AMDG — Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam — “For the greater glory of God.”
Chandler, Ariz. – St. Mary-Basha Catholic School recently announced a dynamic expansion of its elective course offerings for junior high students beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. This program equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in high school and navigate their future career paths and passions. Junior high elective courses were paused during the pandemic and were re-introduced in 2022-23 school year with much success. Based on student feedback and faculty input, the catalog of offerings continues to expand year after year.
“Our electives go beyond academics,” said Kathleen Lyon, principal of St. Mary-Basha Catholic School. “Our robust catalog of 58 courses offers a platform for students to explore their passions, develop critical skills and gain valuable insights into potential careers – all within a supportive, faith-based environment.” Over the two years of junior high, students will select 24 elective classes in addition to their core curriculum. This exploration helps them identify academic and career interests, setting the stage for informed course selection in high school.
Electives allow for more independent and project-based learning. Students hone essential skills like research, time management, and critical thinking – crucial for success in high school and beyond. Courses are taught by St. Mary-Basha faculty and specialists possessing advanced degrees and considered subject matter experts in their respective fields.
Electives encompass a variety of subject areas including:
Creative Arts: Crafts, Calligraphy, Drawing and Painting, Face Painting, Crochet, Loom Knitting, Sculpture, Sewing
Physical Education: PE classes, Martial Arts, Color Guard
Professional Development: Amazing Shake, Design with Canva, Creative Writing, Personal Finance, Public Speaking
Personal Development: Brain Training, Logic and Board Games, Study Skills
Language and Culture: Spanish I-IV, American Sign Language, Spanish Culture
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math): Anatomy & Physiology, Engineering, Forensic Science, Keyboarding, 3D Printing, Digital Video, Drones, Green Screen Production, Robotics, Coding & Programming, Student Technology Leadership
“The Faith, Service, and Citizenship electives are unique to St. Mary-Basha,” says Rindi Eubanks-Garcia, teacher and vice principal. “These courses will allow students to delve deeper into their Catholic faith while developing a strong sense of social responsibility and a commitment to serving others.” Community service and giving back are values instilled in our students starting in preschool. All students learn about social needs and see first hand through monthly service projects the positive impact they can have to address an unmet community need.
St. Mary-Basha is committed to providing a well-rounded education that fosters intellectual curiosity, spiritual growth, and a spirit of service. The elective program is a testament to this commitment, offering students the opportunity to explore their talents, discover their passions, and grow as individuals within a faith-based environment.
About St. Mary-Basha Catholic School
St. Mary-Basha Catholic School is a Preschool-8th grade private school located in Chandler, Ariz. St. Mary-Basha opened in 1944 and has an enrollment of over 400 students. For more information or to tour our school, visit www.stmarybashacatholic.org. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram: @stmarybasha.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Religious men and women need to be setting people’s faith on fire, not stamping it out, Pope Francis said.
“It makes me sad when I see religious who seem more like firefighters” than men and women who are ardently filled with the flame of faith and ready to share it with others, he told representatives of congregations founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa during an audience at the Vatican April 29.
Members of the Canossian Sons of Charity, also known as the Canossian Fathers, and the Canossian Daughters of Charity were holding their general chapters in Rome with the theme, “The one who does not burn does not set on fire!”
Reflecting on their theme, the pope encouraged them to set people’s faith ablaze and, “please, no firefighters! We already have too many.”
The pope encouraged the Canossian family’s collaboration with each other and with laypeople, “who are increasingly active and involved.”
“This is important: to have laypeople involved in the spirituality of an institute and who collaborate with its apostolic work,” the pope said.
Their legacy also brings about challenges, he said, “but St. Magdalene showed you how to overcome difficulties.”
He encouraged them to emulate her “when the path becomes difficult.” Look at the crucified Jesus and “look into the eyes and wounds of the poor, and you will see that slowly the answers will make their way into your hearts with ever greater clarity.”
During the same audience, the pope also greeted members of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, who were attending their general chapter in Rome April 3-May 1.
He praised their great international diversity, calling it a “richness” given to them by God.
This treasure “will do so much good for your growth and your apostolate if you know how to live by welcoming and constructively sharing diversity, among yourselves and with everyone,” the pope said.
“Uniformity in a religious institute, in a diocese, in a lay group, kills,” he said. “Diversity in harmony makes one grow.”
“This is an important message, especially in our world, often divided by selfishness” and divisive distinctions, he said.
Diversity is a precious gift to be shared, he said, encouraging them to “be prophets of this with your lives.”
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The most important outcome of the current Synod of Bishops on synodality is the synodal process itself and not the hot-button topics discussed, Pope Francis said.
With the second synod assembly scheduled for October, the pope said the synod process is approaching its “most challenging and important” stage — the point at which it must become “prophetic.”
“Now it is a matter of translating the work of the previous stages into choices that will give impetus and new life to the mission of the church in our time,” he told members of the Italian Catholic Action lay association in a packed St. Peter’s Square April 25.
But he noted that “the most important thing of this synod is synodality, the subjects and topics (discussed) are there to advance this expression of the church that is synodality.”
“For this, there is a need for people forged in the Spirit, for ‘pilgrims of hope,'” Pope Francis said, “men and women capable of charting and walking new and challenging paths.”
In March, Pope Francis decided that some of the most controversial issues raised at the first synod assembly “requiring in-depth study” will be examined by study groups; the groups are to issue preliminary reports to the synod assembly in October and give their final reports to the pope by June 2025.
The 10 themes to be explored by the study groups include the guidelines for priestly formation, the role of women in the church and their participation in community leadership, listening to the poor and the criteria for selecting bishops.
While some questions require deeper study, Pope Francis told the crowd to “be athletes and standard bearers of synodality in the dioceses and parishes of which you are part, for a full implementation of the (synodal) path taken so far.”
The Vatican said that 60,000 children, young people and adults were gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square for the association’s meeting with the pope.
Italian Catholic Action is a lay Catholic association with roots going back to 1867. In 2021, Vatican News reported that the group had more than 270,000 members.
Looking out into the crowd gathered within the arms of Bernini’s colonnade, the pope asked them to promote peace by being witnesses of the human embrace.
“At the origin of wars are often missed or rejected embraces, which are followed by prejudice, misunderstanding, suspicion, to the point of seeing the other as an enemy,” he said. “All this is unfortunately before our eyes these days in too many parts of the world.”
Pope Francis also encouraged them to let themselves be embraced by God’s love which is revealed in the Eucharist and in Christ on the cross.
“Brothers and sisters, let us be embraced by him, like children,” he said. “We each have something childlike in our hearts that needs a hug. Let us be embraced by the Lord, that way, in the embrace of the Lord we learn to embrace others.”
“I called them at one of my darkest times,” Robert Salas admitted.
Devastated by the shattering of a 17-year marriage and consumed by guilt and anxiety, Salas turned to the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
“I didn’t know where else to go. Trying to talk to family members — they did not want to hear what I needed to say.”
When Salas reached out to the diocese, his call was routed to Maricela Campa, manager of the Mental Health Ministry.
“She’s an awesome person. She’s the type of person who listens. She gave me good, concrete advice,” Salas said.
His history of trauma as well as a previous suicide attempt meant that the call was critical. Campa is well aware that answering calls such as Salas’ saves lives. She blinks back tears as she recalls the times callers have thanked her just for answering the phone in their darkest hour.
“That has been so meaningful to me and what the heart of the ministry is all about which is to be there and meet people where they are at,” Campa said.
Establishing a mental health ministry at a diocesan level was one of the top priorities of Bishop John P. Dolan when he was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix in August of 2022. Bishop Dolan has lost three siblings and a brother-in-law to suicide, so he knows the heartbreaking trials of those who struggle with mental health issues.
Ten years ago, in the throes of depression, Salas took a handful of sleeping pills. Police were called to the scene, and he was hospitalized. “They had me on suicide watch,” Salas said. Reflecting on his brush with death, he recalled that his life was also spared at age 10 after a harrowing near-drowning in a river. He still has flashbacks.
“I remember going under, coming up and going back under. I must have gone at least 50 yards downriver. I was down at the bottom and could see the trees glistening over the water.”
Salas never received counseling for the incident, nor for the time he witnessed gang violence and dashed across the street to hold the victim of the attack in his arms as he died. Salas was just 15 years old when his own father died.
His Catholic faith, however, was ever an anchor.
Growing up in California, Salas has fond recollections of grandparents who were deeply Catholic and schooled him in the practice of the faith. He remembers kneeling with his siblings as they prayed the rosary in Spanish as their grandparents led them.
Mounting troubles
Seventeen years ago, Salas and his wife were married civilly but he wanted his marriage to be valid in the Catholic Church. The couple eventually celebrated the sacrament of matrimony at Holy Cross Parish in Mesa. For a while, the relationship seemed to prosper.
But there were ominous cracks.
On her side, there was a history of drug abuse and having experienced domestic violence in a previous marriage, troubles continued to simmer.
“Many people would say, ‘Bob, why are you in this relationship?’ I told them, ‘Because I love her. You don’t just leave a relationship. You try to work it out.’”
Last fall, everything came to a head when Salas’ adult son was battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Salas’ marriage was crumbling, and the added stress of his son’s serious illness didn’t help. “I told her (his wife) I needed to be with my son, that he might die.”
Salas eventually moved out to live with his son battling cancer. Years of turmoil and bitter arguments had taken their toll on his marriage.
On his way home from church one day, he started having thoughts of suicide again.
“It was depression. It was anxiety, guilt. Why did I leave her the way I did?” Salas said.
In 2021, the latest year for which the CDC provides data, 1,475 people in Arizona died by suicide, the 10th leading cause of death in the state. Salas might have added to that statistic in 2023 if not for the call he made that fateful day last fall.
When Salas spoke with Campa of the Mental Health Ministry, he found the support he needed at a critical time. The ministry is focused on education, accompaniment, and advocacy, providing resources in a Catholic and meaningful way.
Resources and information are listed on the ministry’s homepage on the Diocese of Phoenix website. The first words visitors to the page encounter are soothingly reassuring: “You are not alone,” the page declares.
And that’s exactly what Salas discovered. The phone call he made brought light out of darkness.
“There was hope,” Salas said. “There’s people out there that are going to listen to your story. There’s people out there that can relate to what you’re going through because maybe one time they went through it, and they gave me hope.”
Although he’s still hurting, Salas said he’s slowly getting better. He continues to be very involved in his parish and the Knights of Columbus, serving food to the hungry at Paz de Cristo, praying in the adoration chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, and saying the rosary daily. Now, he consoles others who are reeling from broken lives.
His barber, he said, is going through a nasty divorce. “Every time I go to the shop, he’ll tell me about the breakup with his wife. He’s almost in tears and I embrace him. I tell him, “Hang in there. Things are going to get better.’” Salas has given him a rosary.
“The Blessed Mother is the one that embraces me now,” he said. “She’s my lady. And with her love, her intercessional prayers, and her beautiful face, I can make it.”
