Sacred music sparks children’s spiritual journey

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May 14, 2024

Nearly 20 chairs and music stands surround a wooden piano and a whiteboard with music intervals written on it. Hanley Hall at Holy Spirit in Tempe, Ariz., is the home base for the Choristers of St. Florian, a children’s Gregorian Chant choir directed by Giorgio Navarini. Navarini is also the founder and director of a well-known men’s vocal ensemble, Floriani.

What led to the creation of the Chorister’s of St. Florian was the desire of several families to have their children learn Gregorian Chant and about the sacred music of the Catholic Church. Navarini said he complied since he had learned how to teach it in his years as a musician.

“The Choristers spend almost all their time learning the ancient art of Gregorian Chant and singing sacred music and not only how to do sacred music but how to be musicians,” said Navarini. This entails learning how to sight read, learning how to sing and have vocally healthy voices, but also how to share the gift with people around them.

As Christians, any gift the Lord gives us is meant to be shared and that is something that the Choristers of St. Florian understand very well. Although they practice at Holy Spirit Parish, they travel from parish to parish to share their musical gift.

The chorister’s ages range from nine to 16 years.

A love for sacred music

“I joined because I love to sing and I’ve always wanted to be in a choir, and I love being Catholic,” said Arianna Falconburg. “It’s a beautiful religion and with the Choristers of St. Florian I get to do both.”

Today, it is difficult to imagine that young people, much less children, would know and have a love for Gregorian chant. However, for the nearly 20 children in the choir, it could not be farther from their reality.

“It’s a beautiful way of singing, all the notes and the words blend together and they’re just so beautiful,” added Arianna Falconburg.

Annie Faulk, another chorister, also joined because she loved to sing. Even though she’s been singing from a younger age, she said that being part of the choir has opened her up to more songs.

“My favorite thing about choir is probably that we get to learn new songs and old chant that people don’t even remember, like chant that is thousands of years old,” Faulk shared.

Unexpected

Something unexpected about the Choristers of St. Florian, Navarini said, is “the level of professionality from such young musicians.” He added that they’re able to do things that professional musicians can do, and the choristers have done it within just a short time span. He’s been working with most of them for about two years.

“They can recognize key signatures, they can sing the neums of Gregorian chant, things that really are unheard of in most of the world and most music programs.”

A deepening faith life

Navarini added that the children have a strong family culture and have a strong Catholic identity.

Becky Greene, mother of a chorister says that being part of the choir has enhanced her daughter’s faith life. Navarini has taught them to understand music and its greater purpose, which is to point us to God.

Another mother, Adriana Carbajal, says that her daughter’s faith life has been impacted, particularly during the Mass. “I just see that her heart is there, during Mass,” said Carbajal. Being part of the choir has helped her focus.

Her daughter has always liked Gregorian chant since her father always listens to it, so it was not a new thing for her. When she heard about the children’s choir, she was eager to join.

Jen Steineke, mother of two choristers, commented that children naturally have a short attention span.

So, it may seem like singing something like Gregorian chant may be challenging for them to concentrate on. However, she highlights Navarini’s ability to cultivate their talents and inspire focus.

She has witnessed this ability in her own children.

“[The way it has affected their life] is that it has piqued their interest in understanding the liturgy and the music in Mass at a deeper level,” said Steineke.

Jean Falconburg, aunt of a chorister, says that even though her niece grew up listening to it, being part of the choir has brought her to a new fondness for sacred music.

“I think it’s brought her to maybe even a vocation. She talks about perhaps becoming a nun, entering a convent… but she’s also talking about becoming a music teacher like her teacher and really focusing on sacred music,” says Falconburg.

Sacred music on mission

Greene said that the children see their involvement in the choir as mission work.

Aside from having the opportunity to sing in different parishes around the valley, the children are taking their mission work on a sacred music tour in Rome from August 22-27, which includes the Vatican. Fourteen of the participants will be going, along with their families, some families as big as 13 people.

The children are looking forward to sharing the beauty of sacred music during their tour in Rome and in true child-like spirit, they are also excited for the gelato!

To fundraise for this tour in Rome, the children have been selling an album they recorded. Holy Smoke Comedy offered to have an Improv & Sketch Comedy Night to help fundraise and FiAt Productions has also contributed to their efforts.

A couple of weeks ago, the children sang in downtown Gilbert. They found a two-story building with an open space with beautiful acoustics. Nereida Luna, mother of a chorister, who heads the fundraising efforts, shared about that experience.

“A lady came up to me and she gave them a donation and she said, ‘That was my daughter 20 years ago’. Another lady went and dropped a donation and as she was walking past me to leave, she was crying at hearing them sing,” said Luna.

They also walked along the pavement passing the restaurants. Although there was music inside the restaurants, Luna noted that people turned toward the children.

Another parent noticed a little boy, around seven or eight years of age, standing and just marveling at the choristers. He dropped a couple of dollars into their collection two times.

At such tender ages, it is beautiful to see how the Holy Spirit has moved and is moving in these children’s lives. Not only is it evident that He is moving in their lives, but also in the lives of the people that see them and hear them.

If you feel called to help them in their sacred music tour in Rome, you can email choristersofstflorian@gmail.com for additional information.

Finding healing through the Fifth Vital Sign

By

Kirsten Bublitz

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May 13, 2024

Part four in a series of Kirsten Bublitz’ experience taking the Fifth Vital Sign classes through the Diocese of Phoenix Office of Natural Family Planning. Catch up on earlier articles.

The other day I got excited after taking my temperature and noticing it had dropped from the previous day. It probably indicated that there’d been a drop of progesterone and that I’d be starting my cycle soon. I couldn’t help but smile, realizing that my body is becoming less of a mystery to me, thanks to the Fifth Vital Sign class I’ve been taking. This class is hitting me so hard because for so long, I didn’t understand my body.

At the end of class four, we learned about signs of irregularities in the typical menstrual cycle. I related to so much: the painful periods, heavy bleeding, abnormally long cycles. During this section, Armida Escarcega, coordinator for the Office of Natural Family Planning, talked about how cycle irregularities affect other parts of our body. What really struck my heart was the relation between menstrual cycles and thyroid function. “Healthy weight and healthy menstrual cycles are dependent on thyroid function,” Escarcega said.

For years I had a feeling that my under-active thyroid and my wacky menstrual cycle were related. Hearing this confirmation from Escarcega was the missing puzzle piece I didn’t know I needed.

I have a love-hate relationship with my thyroid. It started in eighth grade when I suddenly gained an unusual amount of weight, even though my diet and exercise hadn’t changed. In the coming years, I visited multiple doctors, trying to figure out what was going on and wondering why no diet or exercise plan worked. I was eventually diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disorder and since then, have been on a journey to regulating my thyroid while also trying to find solutions to my abnormal periods, wondering if there was a connection. My thyroid and menstrual cycle have been in a good place the last year and a half, but that doesn’t magically wipe away all difficult years of trying to understand my body and feeling like it was failing me and it especially doesn’t wipe away the emotional turmoil of gaining weight when I was fourteen and struggling with loving my body ever since then.

One thing I know for sure, is that the Lord has a plan for healing and restoration and taking the Fifth Vital Sign is a part of my healing journey. What I once thought was just a class to learn about Natural Family Planning has turned into something so much greater. It has turned into a place of encounter with the Lord’s goodness, where He’s shown me the beautiful signs my body gives me each day. All those years when I was frustratedly trying to understand my body, has made this class all the more powerful, because I know what it’s like to not know my body and to feel confused and hopeless. These classes have brought light into those dark places that still reside in my heart, where the Lord continues to heal.

On this journey of healing, the Lord has recently invited me to envision fourteen-year-old Kirsten, the Kirsten who was heavier and confused and the Kirsten I often try to forget because of the shame I felt for how I looked back then. With taking this class, I have new language to tell old Kirsten when I visit her in prayer. Now, I can say to her, “Your body isn’t against you and although it appears broken, it’s trying to tell you something. For now, just know that your body is good even if you don’t understand it. Kirsten, one day you will start to learn the language of your body and that will be a glorious day.”

The next series of Fifth Vital Sign classes will be 09/16, 09/30, 10/21, 11/18 and 12/02

https://dphx.jotform.com/223476776088168

Ascension shows that no one is left behind en route to heaven, pope says

By

Catholic News Service

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May 13, 2024

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus’ ascension shows that, despite the difficulties in peoples’ lives, they are all made for heaven, Pope Francis said.

Reflecting May 12 on the Gospel reading from St. Mark, which recounts how Jesus “was taken up into heaven,” the pope said that Jesus’ ascension into heaven does not represent a detachment from humanity but rather precedes its ultimate destination: heaven.

Pope Francis compared Jesus’ resurrection to the point when, during a difficult climb, one turns a corner and sees the destination in the distance, giving the body the energy and encouragement needed to reach the peak.

“We, the church, are precisely that body that Jesus, having ascended to heaven, pulls along with him,” he said. “It is he who awakens us and communicates to us, with his word and with the grace of the sacraments, the beauty of the homeland toward which we are headed.”

Members of the church, who are members Jesus’s body, he said, “ascend with joy together with him, our leader, knowing that the step of one is a step for all, and that no one must be lost or left behind because we are but one body.”

Pope Francis said that to take steps toward Jesus one must perform “the works of love: to give life, bring hope, steer away from any form of wickedness and meanness, respond to evil with good, be close to those who suffer.”

“The more we do this, the more we let ourselves be transformed by the Spirit,” he said, ” the more we follow his example, as in the mountains, we feel in the air around us become light and clean, the horizon broad and the destination near, words and gestures become good, the mind and heart expand and breathe.”

The pope encouraged Christians to reflect on whether they have a strong desire for God and eternal life, or if they are “a bit dulled and anchored to passing things or money or success or pleasure.”

“Does my desire for heaven isolate me, does it seal me off, or does it lead me to love my brothers and sisters with a big and selfless heart, to feel that they are my companions on the journey toward paradise?” he asked.

Jubilee countdown: Preparations for 2025 Holy Year move into high gear

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Catholic News Service

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May 13, 2024

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For more than 700 years, the Catholic Church has celebrated “jubilee” or “holy” years as special times to renew people’s faith and experience God’s forgiveness, particularly by going on pilgrimage.

The official Vatican website for the Holy Year 2025 — www.iubilaeum2025.va — says, “In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a ‘Holy Year,’ since it is a time in which God’s holiness transforms us.”

Popes typically announce a jubilee every 25 years, although extraordinary holy years have been proclaimed for special anniversaries and occasions — for example, the Holy Year 1983 marked the 1,950th anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the 2015-2106 Jubilee of Mercy called all Catholics to reflect on God’s mercy and compassion.

While the main purpose and some of the key features of a holy year have remained unchanged over the centuries, each pope who called a jubilee has put his own spin on it, usually in response to changes he sees in the church or the world.

The preparations for the Holy Year 2025 officially began in February 2022 when Pope Francis announced the jubilee’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” and said the focus would be on “restoring a climate of hope and trust” after the coronavirus pandemic and on helping people repair their relationships with God, with each other and with the Earth.

But the formal kickoff for a holy year is the publication of a papal “bull of indiction,” and the pope’s formal delivery of the document to the archpriests of the papal basilicas of St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major and other church representatives.

The document is named for the round seal — a “bulla” in Latin — which used to be made of metal and is now simply an ink stamp. The bull officially announces the opening and closing dates of the holy year and outlines the aims of the celebrations.

Excerpts of the bull are read in front of the bricked-up Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the presence of the pope.

The removal of the bricks, the opening of the Holy Door by the pope and pilgrims passing through the doorway are central symbols of a jubilee celebration and have been since the Holy Year 1500 during the papacy of Pope Alexander VI.

The current Holy Door, with its 16 bronze panels made by Vico Consorti, were consecrated and the door first opened Dec. 24, 1949, by Pope Pius XII in proclamation of the 1950 Jubilee, a scene represented in the bottom right panel.

For centuries, the doors were opened with a silver hammer, not a key, “because the doors of justice and mercy give way only to the force of prayer and penance,” according to “Mondo Vaticano,” a mini encyclopedia published by the Vatican.

The theme of human sin and God’s mercy is illustrated in the other 15 panels on the door, with episodes from both the Old and New Testament, including the Fall of Adam and Eve, the Annunciation, and the Prodigal Son.

Between the panels on the door at St. Peter’s are little shields with the coats of arms of all the popes that have opened it for a holy year.

Another key ingredient of a holy year — one that is much less tangible and often confusing — are the indulgences that pilgrims receive during a jubilee after making a pilgrimage or doing some sort of penance, going to confession, receiving Communion, making a profession of faith and praying for the intentions of the pope.

Perhaps as an indication of the confusion, Vatican News published a 3,200-word article about indulgences May 7.

The Code of Canon Law says, “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin, the guilt of which is already forgiven.”

With an indulgence, Vatican News said, “one can obtain more than simple forgiveness and, in fact, return to the state of grace one had with baptism. It is as if the slate were wiped clean, given a complete wash.”

“An indulgence is a mercy that, like abundant rain, falls on a person and transforms him or her, orienting the person to goodness, to love, to fraternity,” healing what sin had wounded, Bishop Antonio Staglianò, president of the Pontifical Theological Academy, told Vatican News.

In the modern era, a holy year is made up of dozens of specific jubilees. No matter how young or old, no matter what their vocation or profession, almost every Catholic will find a date set aside for him or her on the Vatican’s Holy Year 2025 calendar.

Journalists, artists, soldiers, grandparents, deacons, prisoners, government officials, missionaries and the poor all will have their day. The calendar is available on the Holy Year 2025 website.

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

By

The Catholic Sun

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May 9, 2024

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

Pope encourages Swiss Guard to foster friendships, avoid isolation

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Catholic News Service

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May 7, 2024

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Meeting members of the Swiss Guard, including 34 new recruits, Pope Francis thanked them for their dedication and generous service protecting the pope every day.

He told them they stand out for their professionalism and their “kind, attentive, indeed scrupulous style,” during an audience at the Vatican May 6, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the new guards later that day. Family members of the new recruits were also present at the audience.

The men have built “a positive and respectful atmosphere in the barracks,” the pope said, and they show great courtesy toward “superiors and guests, despite sometimes long periods of intense and strenuous service.”

Pope Francis encouraged them to continue to foster friendships and camaraderie.

Serving in the Swiss Guard, an enlistment that lasts at least two years, means it is “an important and formative time for you,” he said. “It is not just a period of work, but a time of living and relating, of intense fellowship in a diverse company.”

“I urge you to actively cultivate community life,” the pope said, asking them to reject the habit among many young people today of spending their free time online and alone.

“It is better to use your free time for activities with others, for getting to know Rome, for moments of fraternity in which you talk about yourselves and share, for sports,” he said.

“These experiences build you up from within and will accompany you throughout your life,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, celebrated Mass with the guards in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The colorful swearing-in ceremony of new recruits is held May 6 to mark the date in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards lost their lives defending Pope Clement VII in the Sack of Rome. Only 42 guards survived. Holding the ceremony on the anniversary is meant to remind new guards of the seriousness of their commitment.

New recruits pledge to “faithfully, loyally and honorably” serve and protect the pontiff and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives for him.

Today, the more than 130 Swiss soldiers are responsible for guarding all entrances into Vatican City State as well as keeping watch over the pope and his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. They also provide security and ceremonial services during liturgical events and visits of heads of state and other dignitaries to the Vatican.

Jesus asks for faithfulness, but also friendship, pope says

By

Catholic News Service

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May 7, 2024

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service

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!”

‘You don’t have to walk alone:’ Green Mass honors mental health professionals, caregivers

By

Jeff Grant

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May 6, 2024

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.

Read more about her life here: https://natlshrinestdymphna.org/site/?page_id=11

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?”

Their church gone, St. William parishioners move forward in love, faith

By

Jeff Grant

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May 6, 2024

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.

The Diocese of Phoenix has received scores of inquiries, and has set up a QR code and donor link at: https://dphx.org/support-st-williams/

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.”

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Xavier Students Earn Substantial Scholarships & Awards

By

The Catholic Sun

-

May 3, 2024

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