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December 9, 2025My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
Thanks to all who participated in the Farmworkers’ Mass on December 4 in San Luis last week, especially Fr. Manuel Fragoso, Fr. Emilio Chapa, Fr. Peter Pedrasa, Fr. Jijo Thomas, Teresita Kontos, Coordinator of the Pastoral Campesina and many others from the Yuma/La Paz Vicariate. Regretfully I was not able to attend this year because of our Catholic Extension Board meeting in Chicago.
The Mass is held very early in the morning to accommodate the farmworkers who begin their labor on our behalf very early in order to avoid the heat of the day. Before and after the Mass, farmworkers enjoy some refreshments and opportunities to learn about services available to them. The Yuma area is known as the winter lettuce capital of the world and many farmworkers come legally into our country to help bring in the crops that benefit us at our tables.
Some years ago, when I was the Ordinary in our Diocese, I had the joy of participating in the Mass but also working in the fields. I learned many farmworkers are not young but under strenuous situations have been working in the fields for many years. The work is not easy but what they do benefits us all. The former Bishop of Mexicali, Bishop Isidro and I issued a pastoral letter on farmworkers, their protection and rights.
You can read more about the Mass Before Dawn: Mass for the Farmworkers
Today, on the fea
st of Juan Diego, our Pastoral Center staff is having a morning day of reflection during this Advent season. We begin with Mass at 8:30 am in Our Lady’s Chapel and then will gather for a talk by Fr. Manu Franco, O. Carm. on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego. It is a blessing to step away from the busyness of our work to pray and reflect together as co-workers who are not just doing a job but sharing in a ministry of pastoral care for all in our Diocese. I am grateful to Sr. Lois Paha, OP and Ofelia James for their work in arranging for this day of prayer. We will all benefit. 
Tomorrow I will be getting my electronic fingerprints as part of our Safe Environment Program protocols to renew my Diocesan clearance to minister. While it is arduous and sometimes frustrating to watch all the necessary videos and fill out the forms to schedule the background check and digital fingerprinting it is critically important for all of our employees and volunteers to undergo this process every three years. I realize the importance of these efforts to make sure people are safe in the household of faith. It is especially hard for us senior citizens not comfortable in navigating the technological world, but help is available from your parish compliance officer.I know it is not easy to go through this process and so I am deeply grateful to all of our priests, deacons, religious and laity who keep up their safe environment protocols. We need to keep our eye on the goal which is that all will be respected and treated appropriately by all those ministering throughout our Diocese. Next week in the New Outlook our team will feature a more in-depth story about the process.
Our Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board will be meeting this week. Captain John Leavitt, retired Tucson Police Officer, serves as the Chair of the Board which involves competent and experienced professionals from many disciplines, who help the bishop in responding to allegations of misconduct. Their wisdom, counsel and advice is immensely helpful in dealing with complex situations that sometimes need the wisdom of Solomon to discern.When allegations arise involving someone ministering in the Diocese, we investigate the allegation, unless and until the matter goes to the police. At that time, the Diocese steps away from investigating until the police investigation is completed, lest we interfere with their investigation.
When allegations are deemed credible, the board suggests what would be an appropriate response that might include prohibition from doing ministry or some mediation which might be necessary and helpful.
I am grateful to our Diocesan Office of Child and Adult Protection that bears the difficult responsibility of investigating allegations.
Christmas parties begin. I will be attending the Catholic Community Services Board Christmas celebration that will be held at the Ginny Clements’ Ballroom on the second floor of the Pastoral Center on December 10 beginning at 5:30 pm.
Elena Dwyer, Executive Director, and the staff of Catholic Community Services along with their board accomplish much good in our community. As Pope Leo XIV reminded us in his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, care for the poor is at the heart of what the Church is and does. From the Old Testament throughout the New Testament as well as the Fathers and Mothers of the Church and recent magisterial teaching have all emphasized God’s love of the poor and that we are to love as God loves, freely, broadly and unpossesively. God cares for the poor and those in need which is the very mission of Catholic Community Services.
The following day, December 11 our Catholic Foundation Board will gather for its Christmas gathering at the Westin La Paloma beginning at 5:00 pm. I am deeply grateful to Elizabeth Bollinger, Executive Director of the Foundation and her staff who do so much to help support the various ministries in the Diocese and whose grants to our parishes and schools assist them in their needs. The Board’s leadership, under its outgoing chair, Mr. Denis Fitzgibbons, do so much to provide direction and long-range plans for the Foundation. They are immensely helpful as we continue to explore even more opportunities to support the various ministries of the Diocese. We welcome Natalie Fernandez who will begin as Chair moving forward.
Our Diocesan Directors will participate in the 12:00 Sunday Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral on December 14 followed by a Christmas lunch at the Pastoral Center. I am personally grateful to our Department Directors and especially Fr. Ed Lucero, Moderator of the Curia, for their assistance during this time we have been waiting for news of our new Diocesan Bishop. Their counsel and advice along with their gifts and skills have made this time so much easier. I know I can count on them in the leadership they provide in the various ministries of the Diocese. I look forward to thank them individually for their leadership and support.
Our Diocesan Building Committee will be meeting on Thursday, December 11 beginning at 11:30 am. Mr. Michael Marum serves as the Chair of our Building Committee and Jose Gastellum and Liz Aguallo serve as staff. The Committee guides and oversees the various parish and diocesan building projects that are taking place all around the Diocese. We are a growing Dioceses and long-range planning on how we will meet the developing needs of the Diocese in the future is critical. There are a number of parishes engaged in building projects around the Diocese. Their plans are reviewed by the Committee as well as their potential to meet the costs of their planned projects.They will be looking at the new design for the Church of St. Anthony in Casa Grande and there will be a presentation on a new senior housing and assistant living project in Kearny by a company called Acanthus who have done some projects with the Diocese of Phoenix.
Over the last several years I have had the joy of participating in the Guadalupe Festivities at St. Joseph Parish in Tucson. Each year on the feast day, they host a procession including various groups from the parish and community. During the procession they carry images of Our Lady, recite the rosary, sing hymns and rejoice in the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego. The community reenacts the beautiful story during the Mass. It is a familiar story that each year renews our devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.I am especially grateful to Fr. Robert Rodriquez, pastor, along with Deacon Al Gallardo, Maria Ramos, Elva Moreno, and Olivia Durazo and to the many others at St. Joseph who helped plan the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration.Congratulations to Fr. Emilio Chapa on completing the course for the Pope Leo XIII Institute for the ministry of Deliverance and Exorcism rooted in the love of the Most Holy Trinity and entrusted to the care and protection of the Blessed Mother for the liberation of souls and the transformation of lives.
Yesterday, I enjoyed celebrating Mass at Salpointe Catholic High School for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mary in her Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the United States. During the Mass one of our Carmelite brothers, Br. Kevin Flores from El Salvador, renewed his vows before Fr. Manu Franco, O.Carm Superior of the House.
After Mass I had the opportunity to meet with Salpointe’s new President, Jennifer Harris as well as to visit some of the classes. I always find it interesting to hear what is on the students’ minds and to try and respond to their challenging questions about faith and the Church.
Later this week I will bless the new area funded by Mr. Jim Click at San Miguel High School. This unique form of Catholic Education places each of their students in a work setting on one day of the week. They are involved in entry level clerical work in many businesses in and around Tucson. In turn the businesses help fund the students Catholic Education. This model of Catholic Education began in Chicago and is part of the Cristo Rey Network of schools around the country. The new space really enhances the facility and adds to the environment.
I am grateful to Fr. Manu Franco, O.Carm, Director of the Office of Youth Ministry, Fr. Emilio Chapa, Spiritual Director of the Arcoíris Movement, Fr. Alan Valencia, Diocesan Vocation Director and Fr. Luis Pablo Ochoa-Escarrega who worked with the Arcoíris at Immaculate Conception in Yuma along with members of the lay council of Arcoíris for their effort last week to refresh and strengthen the Movement.Arcoíris is a youth program in our Diocese that has been so effective in engaging young people, their parents and in fostering vocations. Ten of our parishes engaged with Arcoíris including IHM in Somerton St. Francis of Assisi, Immaculate Conception, St. John Neumann, Sacred Heart in Parker, Santa Monica, St. John the Evangelist, Queen of All Saints, Our Mother of Sorrows in Tucson and San Felipe de Jesus in Nogales. The committee is striving to bring greater unity in the Movement. They are striving to refresh the Movement that originated in Heromosillo, Mexico and which has been influential in our Diocese for nearly 25 years. The Movement strives to have youth evangelize youth as well as to evangelize their families. They hope to host a gathering for youth and adult Arcoíris coordinators from each of the parishes involved sometime in the New Year in order to review the new handbook and strengthen the unity of the Movement.
As always, I thank you for your support and prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Most. Rev. Gerald Kicanas