Celebrating vocations from within the diocese

By New Outlook

Saturday, November 8 marked a special day at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tucson. A group of men and women whose vocation was inspired and nurtured here in the Diocese of Tucson was celebrated with a Liturgy of Thanksgiving for all Vocations to commemorate the culmination of Vocation Awareness Week. At the Mass the names of more than 30 priests, nearly 20 deacons, and more than a dozen religious brothers and sisters were especially recognized as all are considered vocations from within the diocese.

Sister Jeanne Bartholomeaux, the former Vicar for Religious in the diocese said, “We are grateful for their generous response to God’s call with their vocational dedication and service to the People of God.”  Coming together in thanksgiving she said was simply a way to connect as one, “It was a thrill to be with people that were in the congregation. The people that were there are the religious at large. It was a reminder that as a priests, sisters, brothers, or deacons we cannot do it alone. We are called to dig deeper by the cues that the people around us keeping giving us.” Reverend Richard Rivera, who is from Sierra Vista, and now pastor at St. Pius X Catholic Church served as the presider and homilist.

A Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, Bartholomeaux said, “The journey starts with baptism and just grows with intensity.” A native of Tucson she attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School and then graduated from Salpointe Catholic High School, “I have so much to be grateful for, it’s been 60 years. I’ve had wonderful experiences, challenges, but lots of growth and support along the way. We all have and that’s what we celebrated.” Bartholomeaux said she lived in the convent next to Saints Peter and Paul in midtown Tucson for 30 years. Her experience is unique in that the priest who baptized her at Saints Peter and Paul, then Father Francis Green eventually became the fourth bishop of the diocese, he was among those there when she professed perpetual vows, “God’s plan for me has sent me in so many directions to encounter grace in the people I served. The Charity of Christ continues to nudge me toward the next encounter of grace.” 
The liturgy of thanksgiving was especially meaningful for Bartholomeaux because it shined a light on the influence of the local parish and Catholic school communities, “These are all people who responded to God with their lives. It was a thrill to be together. It was truly a lovely day of grace.” 

Vocations from within the diocese are listed below. Also featured are those from Salpointe Catholic High School which recognizes its 75th anniversary this year.