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January 20, 2026My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
Yesterday was the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The holiday commemorates and honors the life and legacy of the Civil Right Movement leader who was assassinated on April 4,1968 at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. I was a newly ordained priest and was in a restaurant with a friend of mine when the television announced that Dr. King had been shot. The bartender cried out, "free drinks for everyone. They finally got him." We walked out. Several years ago, I had an opportunity to visit the memorial dedicated to Dr. King at the Lorraine Hotel. It was a very moving experience for me to stand at the very place where he was killed, his powerful voice silenced. His message, his witness continues to challenge us to be drum majors for justice, equality and peace. We are still far from Dr. King’s dream for a racially just America where people are judged by character, not skin color. We are still far from Dr. King’s dream that we would live together in freedom, equality, and brotherhood with an end to segregation and discrimination rooted in the American promise of liberty and justice for all. But we continue to build the just society he fought so hard to bring about.
We received great news last week that the Annual Catholic Appeal for 2025 concluded and raised $4,257,951.01. You will remember our goal was $4 million. The success results from the support of our parishioners from each of our parishes in the Diocese who have chosen to share their gifts to support the mission of our Diocese. Your gift is accomplishing much good. My gratitude to each of you.
I am grateful to our pastors who have encouraged people throughout the Diocese to make the sacrifices to reach and exceed our goal.
Congratulations as well to our Catholic Foundation (Elizabeth Bollinger, Suzanne Hopkins, Katheryn Hutchinson, Samuel Kiser, and Carla Smith) which directs our Annual Catholic Appeal. Their hard work benefits us all.
As you know your gifts help support vocations to the priesthood, assistance for our retired priests, support for the great work of Catholic Community Services with the poor, elderly, and people in need as well as the work of our Pastoral Center.
I would like to announce the appointment of Fr. Dominic Tarkigir. from the Archdiocese of Makurdi in Nigeria, as Parochial Vicar to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Tucson. He will be working with Fr. Richard Kusugh, pastor. Fr. Dominic was ordained in 2021 and comes to us as a missionary priest to help attend to the pastoral needs of our Diocese.Also Fr. Jesus Gomez is assigned as Parochial Vicar to Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson to assist Fr. George Holley, pastor and Fr. Justin Agbir, parochial vicar.
These assignments are effective immediately. I wish Fr. Dominic and Fr. Jesus choicest blessings in their new assignments.
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish community, Sierra VistaThe Right to Life celebration at St. Augustine Cathedral last Saturday was attended by many who came to pray together, to witness together and to commit together to the value of all human life from conception to natural death. The Cathedral was nearly full for the Mass and it was concelebrated by Msgr. Domenico Pinti, pastor of St. George in Apache Junction, Fr. Vili Vilderrama, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, Fr. Marcos Velasquez, pastor of Santa Cruz and Fr. Robert Rankin, recently retired pastor of St. Melany Byzantine Church, and Fr. Alan Valencia and Daniel Davis who served as emcees. Deacon Carlos Nagore was Deacon of the Word and Deacon Mike Gutierrez was Deacon of the Altar.
After Mass, many young and old assembled for the march to Holy Hope Cemetery led by the Knights of Columbus. I was inspired to witness the deep commitment people hold to end abortions and to provide needed support to help those contemplating an abortion in order to have an alternative. It is important that we walk with mothers who are confused what to do when learning of holding a child in their womb. They need our support and assistance.
Thanks to Mr. Kelly Copeland who has organized the March for Life for 35 years and Sr. Lois Paha, OP who planned the Liturgy.
As you may have heard, we are restoring the pipe organ in St. Augustine Cathedral. A year ago the Cathedral purchased a digital organ which will accompany the restored and renovated pipe organ which has been in the Cathedral from approximately the time of Bishop Green. The restoration is being done by Ruffatti, a famous organ company from Italy. Ruffatti is a prestigious company that has restored or built many pipe organs in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. Ruffatti staff have removed carefully all the pipes and will ship them to Italy for refurbishing, which will take approximately two years. The cost for both the digital and restored pipe organ is being covered by the sale of property, “Casa San Jose” owned by the Cathedral on 6th avenue.
When restored the pipes will be relocated from the chamber on the south side of the Cathedral to the balcony where John Alan, who renovated the Cathedral back in 2011, has designed a new façade for the pipes.
I am grateful to Fr. Alan Valencia, Rector, and Mr. Carlos Zapién, Cathedral Choir Director for their guidance in this important project for the future of our Cathedral Liturgical Program.
You will see an extensive article by Jeff Westlake on our communication staff about the new pipe organ in this edition of the New Outlook.
There will be a performance of the Cathedral Concert Series this Wednesday, January 21 in Our Lady’s Chapel beginning at 6:30 pm. Vyacheslav Gryaznov, a Russian born classic pianist and arranger will give a piano concert. He has a diverse repertoire ranging from Baroque to Russian composers and more recent music. He was born in 1982. He was musically talented from an early age, his parents moved to Moscow for his music education. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory. He has taught piano and performed around the world.
Please check the Cathedral Concert Series website to secure tickets since they are limited in Our Lady’s Chapel.
This is Christian Unity Week, January 18-25, an annual event that invites Christians worldwide to come together in prayer for unity. There will be an ecumenical service in Phoenix on Thursday, January 22 at 6:30 pm. I will be attending along with Fr. Miguel Mariano who serves as our diocesan liaison for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs. Since Vatican II there have been increased efforts to recognize all that we have in common among the varied Christian denominations. Multiple dialogues continue to take place and we hold common prayer services as will take place this Thursday. The service in Phoenix will take place at the Tanner Chapel, a Methodist Church at 2020 S. 8th St. We will be using the Vatican’s format for ecumenical services for this week of Christian Unity. Judicatories heads of various Christian denominations and other members of various Christian Churches will participate it.Next year the Christian Unity prayer will take place at our Cathedral in Tucson on January 21, 2027.
August 2025
Our Sexual Misconduct Review Board and our Adult Ethics Board will be meeting this Friday, January 23 to review any allegations that have come forward since our last meetings. The Adult Ethics Board considers concerns nonsexual in nature that have surfaced within the Diocese. These relate to financial concerns or other matters of an ethical nature. The advice and counsel of these two Boards are immensely helpful to the bishop in deciding proper responses.As you know any issues of sexual misconduct are turned over to the police department first for them to determine if they want to pursue the matter. The Diocese steps back from any investigation until the police decide they will not move forward with the concern. At that point, the Diocese begins its own investigation and recommended action which is reviewed by the Sexual Misconduct Review Board.
Matters of fraud or theft are also reported to the police or FBI for investigation during which the Diocese refrains from any investigation until we receive their report.
I will be meeting with our deacon and lay ministry candidates this Friday evening to conduct a session on pastoral counseling. While deacons/lay ministry candidates are not licensed counselors, they do need to learn how to be present to and listen to people who come to them with concerns. Oftentimes they might refer the person for counseling but in many instances people approach them seeking someone who will listen to them and be empathic toward them. There are certain skills that they need to learn to be available to those who come seeking comfort and support in the struggles they face.
From January 20-22 our Catholic Cemeteries will be hosting the Catholic Cemeteries of the West Annual Conference that includes cemetery directors and staff from Catholic Cemeteries in the Western Region of the US and Canada. They are expecting about 100 cemeterians.There will be a tour of Holy Hope followed by a Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral which I will celebrate with the members. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our Cemetery Director, Mr. Ernie Duarte and his staff to show the good work they are doing and the progress being made to enhance our two Diocesan Cemeteries, Holy Hope and Our Lady of the Desert. You will notice the new entrance to Holy Hope Cemetery along Prince Rd an enhancement that makes Holy Hope more accessible and welcoming.
As you know burying the dead is one of the Church’s Corporal Works of Mercy. I am grateful to Mr. Duarte and his staff in their care for the burial of loved ones as well as attention to families at the loss of a family member.
The Catholic Newman Center at the University of Arizona is celebrating its 100th anniversary in service to the students, faculty and staff of the University. Over those 100 years countless members of our Diocese as throughout the country have attended the Newman Center, were married there or remained parishioners there. This anniversary year, the staff of the Newman Center is gathering updated contact information for alumni. This will allow them to share details about social gatherings and celebrations as part of this 100th year anniversary that will end on December 2026. If you want to share in these festivities contact the Newman Center by using the QR Code below or contact the Newman Center directly:
Newman Office 520-327-4665Sr. Mary Elizabeth, [email protected]website: https://www.uacatholic.org/
You can look forward to more information as the year unfolds.
On Saturday, January 31, 2026 the St. Thomas More Newman Center will host a Mass of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for Fr. Albert Felice Pace, OP at 11:00 in the morning. A simple informal potluck reception will follow at the Newman Center. Many knew Fr. Felice Pace from his long time serving as Pastor of the Newman Center. He accomplished much good. All are welcome to join in the Mass of Remembrance.
Please hold Fr. Peter Neeley SJ in your prayers. He is being treated at St. Joseph Hospital. Fr. Peter is among the founders of the Kino Border Initiative in Ambos Nogales.
And please remember in your prayers Deacon John Garcia who died at 83 years of age. He was ordained a deacon in 1974. Deacon Garcia served at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church and St. Monica Parish. Funeral arrangements are pending.
As always, I thank you for your support and prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Most. Rev. Gerald Kicanas