-
September 2, 2025By Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,I was impressed by the great turnout for the groundbreaking for the new parish hall at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Oro Valley that took place last week. People were excited and delighted that in not too long they will have a gathering place for parish activities. Fr. John Arnold, the pastor of St. Mark’s, was obviously proud of his community and all they are doing to carry on the
mission of the Church. Msgr. Al Schifano and Fr. Jim Shea CSSR were also present at the Mass and blessing.It was encouraging to see a group of kids from the parish, shovel in hand, turn over some dirt as did some members of the parish community. The area around the parish is growing significantly. There are lots of new
homes being constructed. Growth is happening in several places within our Diocese especially in Pinal County and northern Pima County. As we look to the future there will be a need for additional parishes to be built. Currently there are several parishes including St. Christopher in Marana, San Martin de Porres in Sahuarita, St. Rita in the Desert in Vail, Most Holy Nativity in Rio Rico and San Luis who are exploring the possibility of building a new Church or a multi-purpose center. It is a challenge for many of our parishes to have the money necessary to build.
We were all saddened and shocked by the tragic death of two children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. A number of other children and adults were injured in this senseless act of violence. We join in prayer for those grieving and suffering. Coincidently, the day before that tragedy, all our pastors and principals gathered for an in-service program on school safety given by Gallagher, our diocesan property insurer. Since the tragedy occurred, our school office has sent out suggestions and recommendations so our schools are as prepared as possible in case something like this would happen here. God forbid.
Sheri Dahl, superintendent of our Catholic schools was feted at the end of the in-service as she now begins retirement. Sheri has done a marvelous job. Angelina Schmidt will serve as the interim superintendent. We all wish Sheri well and are grateful for Angelina stepping in to take on the leadership of our school office. Lupita Sandoval will assist her.
We also pray for the repose of the soul of Jim Flannery, a longtime coach at Salpointe Catholic High School. Jim died this week, he was 77. Join me in praying for his family and school community.
The Chancellor’s Office conducted a gathering for new priests to our Diocese, including two Trinitarian priests, some international priests from India and Nigeria and a Franciscan brother who is assisting at San Xavier awaiting his ordination to the transitional Diaconate in a year or so. The day consisted of an information session on the history of our Diocese given by Msgr. Greg Adolf. It was a marvelous presentation that acquainted them with the seven bishops who have served this Diocese. He also spoke of the contributions of our early missionaries, like Fr. Eusebio Kino, SJ, who worked with the native peoples, the Tohono O’odham, Pasqua Yaqui and Apache tribes. There was a session conducted by our Chief Financial Officer, Conan Bardwell, on financial matters, like paying taxes, starting a savings account and a session on health conducted by Donna Zazworsky, Chair of the Board of Catholic Community Services and a nurse helping with retired priests. The afternoon was devoted to helping our new international priests to understand our culture and some of the challenges they might encounter. Rev. Richard Kusugh, VC, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, did that presentation and it was very well received.
Orientation sessions like this are so important as new priests become familiar with our diocese.
This week from Tuesday to Thursday our recently ordained priests, five years or less, will meet at the Redemptorist Renewal Center for ongoing formation. They will have a chance to get to know one another better and to share their experiences beginning in ministry. There will also be a session on dealing with conflict and how to run a meeting. During seminary there is little time in the curriculum to talk about the practical things that priests will encounter in ministry.Most important, these gatherings that happen three times a year for two nights and three days give our newly ordained a chance to get to know brother priests and to build bonds of support. The first five years of priesthood like in marriage are critical years for sustaining in a lifetime commitment.
On Saturday I had a chance to celebrate Mass at Santa Rosa Mission on the Pasqua Yaqui Reservation. Fr. Rigoberto Chavez S.T. And Fr. Ray Riding S.T. joined me in offering the Mass. The community was celebrating 95 years as a mission which started on August 30, 1930.
The Yaqui have deep roots In the Catholic faith. We began with a procession to San Ignacio de Loyola mission where more statues were added as we returned to Santa Rosa for the Mass. Santa Rosa was built by the hands of the people and was beautifully decorated for the anniversary celebration.It was a joy to have with us the Vice Chair of the Pasqua Yaqui, Peter Yucupicio, who has had a long history of leadership in the community, and Mr. Touche Romero, the head
of Santa Rosa Mission along with Maestro David Dominquez who led the Latin prayers and hymns taught to the people by Fr. Eusebio Kino, SJ., many years ago. Food and celebration followed for the rest of the day including cultural dances and music.
I am always deeply moved by the faith of the people and the rich devotions that are part of their lives from very young. They pray and sing fervently.
On Friday, September 5, I will celebrate Mass for the children, parents, teachers and staff of Sts. Peter and Paul community after which I will have the joy of blessing their new improvements at the Parish and School. Fr. Ricky Ordoñez has been working very hard to enhance the facilities and make needed improvements. I always enjoy celebrating the school Masses seeing the children getting involved in the Liturgy.
On Saturday it will be my joy and delight to ordain Carlos Nagore to the transitional diaconate on his way to being ordained a priest next year. Carlos was born on July 2, 1998, in Tucson and went to Tucson High and Pima Community College where he studied History and Social Studies. I was blest to accept Carlos as a seminarian in 2017 and now to ordain him a deacon. Carlos went to Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon for college and now attends St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California. He will be a blessing for our Diocese. He and his family, dad, Luis and mom, Patricia, brother Vincent and sister Sofia are members of Our Lady of Fatima Parish and it is there that Carlos felt the call to serve as a priest. His involvement in the youth program there and the Steubenville Retreat drew him closer to the Lord and helped him discern to enter the seminary.
We are looking forward to welcoming some of Carlos’ classmates from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Orange, California who will be attending the ordination.
Carlos will return to the seminary after ordination and next year return to the Diocese where he will be assigned to a parish as a deacon and remain there after his priesthood ordination.
All the Diocese rejoices in his upcoming ordination. Consider joining us at 10:00 am at St. Augustine Cathedral on September 6, 2025.
Our Sexual Misconduct Review Board will meet on Monday, September 8 at 1:30 pm in the Pastoral Center. This board is immensely helpful in dealing with complex and sensitive situations that arise in our parishes and schools. John Leavitt, a retired Tucson Police captain is chair of the board. He and other members provide advice and counsel on how to respond to situations of concern.
John Alan who renovated our Cathedral and Our Lady’s Chapel in 2011, returned to design an image of Carlo Acutis, the young man from Italy who died of leukemia as a teenager but who influenced so many to draw closer to Christ in the Eucharist. He will be canonized a saint this week by Pope Leo XIV. Take a look in the vestibule to see the new image added to the saints and angels that welcome us into the Cathedral and remind us as we leave that we are to bring our faith out into the street in our care for others. John is also designing the organ pipes cabinet for the new organ that is being purchased by the Cathedral.
As always, I thank you for your support and prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas
Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Tucson