Shepherd&#039;s Slant

January 27, 2026

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

This week, January 25-31, 2026, is Catholic Schools Week during which our 24 Catholic Schools of the Diocese highlight the value and importance of Catholic education. Currently we have 6,672 students enrolled in our Catholic Schools in the city of Tucson, in Casa Grande, in Oro Valley, in Yuma, in Douglas, in Sierra Vista, in Nogales, in San Carlos and our newest school in Safford.

During the week each day we celebrate one of the communities that make up our Catholic Schools: Sunday: The parish, Monday: the community, Tuesday: the students, Wednesday: the Nation, Thursday: Vocations, Friday: the Faculty, Saturday: Staff and volunteers, Sunday: the families. All work together to form young people for college and for heaven.

I look forward to celebrating the School Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on Friday, January 30 at 8:15 am. St. Charles Apache Mission School held its kickoff Mass this past Sunday as did a number of our schools.

Many fun, creative ideas will be happening in our schools from dress down days, to special lunches, to field activities.
Enjoy!

On Thursday, January 29, Catholic Foundation will host a lunch for their stakeholders who are annuitants or endowment holders. They will hear a presentation from US Bank on how their investments performed in 2025 and what is anticipated in 2026. Currently, there are about 100 endowments and nearly 20 annuities held by the Catholic Foundation.

If anyone would want to establish an endowment to create a family legacy, or underwrite any Catholic organization or ministry in the Diocese, or if they want to establish an annuity, they should contact Elizabeth Bollinger at 520-838-2506 or [email protected].

Following that lunch, the Catholic Foundation Board of Directors will hold its meeting to hear more in-depth and detail from US Bank on market performance. They will also discuss activities for the upcoming ordination of our eighth Bishop, as well as meet the new board members:Candace Carrillo, Bryan Hannley, Kieran Roche, Jeff Fantazia, and Dr. Catherine Cosentino. At this meeting, Natalie Fernandez will begin her two-year term as Chair of the Foundation Board. Denis Fitzgibbons will stay on as Past Chair. I am deeply grateful for the time and wisdom of Catholic Foundation’s Board of Directors.

In February the Catholic Foundation will host a seminar on End of Life Planning. Though it is in Cochise County all are invited to attend.

The Priest Assurance Corporation (PAC) will meet on Friday, January 30 at 1:00 pm. Fr. Pat Crino serves as the Chair of the PAC Board. PAC assists with the health insurance issues for active and retired priests as well as provide the pension for retired priests and our international priests. They will review the six months investment performance of the pension plan which is handled by Morgan Stanley.

Currently the members of the PAC are Msgr. Domenico Pinti, Rev. Edward Lucero, Rev. Marcos Velasquez, and the bishop.

Our Lady of the Valley will host its fourth annual Legacy Gala, dinner and dance at the Crystal Ballroom at the Madera Clubhouse. At the gala they present Joanne Forester with the legacy award. Alexa Harby and Eliana Romero are the two youth scholarship recipients who will be receiving assistance from the parish for their education.

They are expecting a great turnout. Kudos to Fr. Michael Martinez and the committee who worked so hard to plan this parish event.

Fr. Manu Franco, O Carm. and I will be traveling to Yuma on Saturday morning to participate in the annual Yuma Vicariate Youth Awards being presented to young people recognized by their parish for their contribution to the mission of the parish. The award night will begin with Mass at 5:00 pm at Immaculate Conception Parish followed by the award celebration and dinner.

The Awards cover three categories:
Missionary Disciples: St. Augustine Award for teens who serve as catechists, leaders or mentors.
Missionaries of Mercy: St. Katherine Drexel Award for those teens who engage in acts of service exemplifying the Church’s Social Teachings.
Liturgical Leaders: St. Carlo Acutis Award for teens who serve as altar servers, cantors, lectors, sacristans or in other liturgical awards.

There are young people from Yuma Catholic High School, St. John Neumann, St. Francis of Assisi, Immaculate Conception Parishes in Yuma as well as Immaculate Conception Parish in Somerton, St. Joseph the Worker in Wellton, St. Jude Thaddeus in San Luis, and Sacred Heart Parish in Parker.

How proud we are of the involvement of these young people in their parishes.
A second Youth Award evening will take place in Tucson on February 13 at 5:00 Mass in St. Augustine Cathedral again followed by the award ceremony and dinner. All are welcome. Meal tickets will be available.

The Diocese will celebrate our annual Mass for those in consecrated life who are celebrating special anniversaries. Mass is at Noon on Sunday, February 1 followed by a luncheon honoring the jubilarians.

Those celebrating special anniversaries are:

Sr. Dolores Cameron, FMJC 10 years

Sr. Manju Mathew, DST 15 years

Sr. Veronica Loya, IHM 25 years

Sr. Pam Fletcher, OCSO 35 years

Br. Guy Consolmagno SJ 35 years

Br. Jack Henderson, FSC 45 years

Sr. Alice Martinez, IHM 45 years

Sr. Rachel Sena, OP 50 years

Sr. Judy Bourg, SSND 55 years

Sr. Rosalyn Muraski, OSF 60 years

Sr. Lois Paha OP 65 years

Sr. Luisa Sanchez IHM 65 years

Wow! Just think of all the years represented by these religious women and men. Their service has rendered great glory to God and service to God’s people. Our heartiest congratulations not only to these special jubilarians but to all the devoted women and men religious who are still serving in our Diocese. If you know them, give them a call in gratitude for all they are doing.

Last week’s statewide Prayer for Christian Unity which was held in Phoenix at the Historic Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church was a marvelous celebration. There is nothing like Gospel music sung with passion and fervor.

Everyone in the congregation was moving with the Gospel hymns, “We are One” “Lord, We Give You Glory” “Trust in God” and “I Need You to Survive”.

Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas has been the pastor of Tanner since 1991 and welcomed everyone to the gathering. Rev. Dr. Warren Stewart gave the sermon a rousing reflection on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the call for Christians to be one and to join together to get Christ’s message to our society. Present among the religious leaders were several judicatory representatives who serve in Phoenix including Bishop John Dolan, Bishop Carlo Rapanut from the Desert Southwest United Methodist Church, Bishop Jennifer A. Reddall, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona along with other clergy from several other Christian denominations.
Our own Fr. Miguel Mariano who is the bishop’s representative for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue helped organize the service.

Plans continue in preparation for the Ordination and Installation of our eighth bishop. As has been made clear in multiple communications, Vespers on Thursday, February 19 at 5:30 pm in St. Augustine Cathedral is open to anyone in the Diocese. The Vespers at which Bishop-elect will make his profession of faith and oath of fidelity will be followed by a light reception and an opportunity to welcome Bishop-elect Misko to our community. The Ordination on Friday is by ticket only because of limited space. We plan to live stream at diocesetucson.org. Let us all pray for Bishop-elect Misko as he will soon make his private retreat in preparation for his Ordination.

There are more and more concerns being raised in our community about immigration enforcement operations. Recently there was an apprehension by ICE in the vicinity of a public school in Tucson. While law enforcement has the responsibility to ensure safety in our community, it is concerning that some apprehensions are being done against citizens and others legally in our country, or those who have not been engaged in any criminal activity. Our nation needs to decide if it is in its best interest to have mass deportations, at times, without due process. I urge our civic leaders to engage in respectful dialogue that fosters meaningful action about who we want to be as a nation. Most critical is that our nation establish just and respectful immigration policy which has eluded our country for decades. My prayer is that everyone, regardless of their citizenship or political beliefs, be treated with dignity and as children of God.

This will be the final publication of my Shepherd’s Slant. I am deeply appreciative to all who have found this weekly newsletter helpful in knowing significant events and happenings occurring in our Diocese as well as my perspective on issues and concerns happening in the life of the larger Church and in our community.

I am grateful to Fr. Ed Lucero for his wise counsel and advice over the last nine months as well as the hard work of our Pastoral Center staff especially Clara Heslinga who continue to serve our Diocese with much zeal. Finally, I am so proud of the great service rendered day after day of our priests, deacons, religious, and laity of the Diocese. It has been a joy to serve as the Apostolic Administrator reminding me again of the blessings we share as co-workers in the vineyard.

As always, I thank you for your support and prayers.

Yours in Christ,
Most. Rev. Gerald Kicanas