Search
-
November 25, 2025My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
A blessed Thanksgiving to all in the community of the Diocese of Tucson. I am deeply grateful for the privilege to serve in this Diocese where I have met some very dedicated priests, marvelous women and men religious, generous deacons and so many women and men who take seriously their baptismal call to use their gifts in the service of others. You make me proud. I have received so many blessings serving in this community.
I am blest to visit with my family in Chicago from today until Saturday this week. My niece Teresa is hosting Thanksgiving. She recently lost her husband to cancer but lovingly she has opened her house to my sisters and all of Teresa’s family as well as her siblings and their families. Being in Chicago will be a chance also to visit some of my priest friends whom I have known for almost 70 years. We were in high school together, were ordained together and have stayed friends these many years.
I pray you enjoy time with your family this Thanksgiving. I am so pleased to know our Cathedral Parish is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for those who are unhoused and many other parishes including the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be providing food baskets for families in need. Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, remembering how blest we are and giving back for all the ways we are gifted by God.
The recent gathering of rabbis and imams at the Diocesan Pastoral Center was a blest occasion. Rabbi Avi Albert, Rabbi Yosef Lopez, Rabbi Malcolm Cohen along with Mrs. Fran Braverman and Robert Wardy joined us along with Sheik Watheq Alobaidi and Imam Hassan Syed Ali as well as Rev. Miguel Mariano.
Each of us had a chance to share some of our history, where we were from and how we came to be in Tucson. There was a real engagement in getting to know one another and to a person, everyone agreed we need to continue our getting to know and value one another. Fr. Miguel reflected on the Church’s call for Interfaith Dialogue and the need to respect and value on another’s faith traditions. Everyone shared their contact information, and each person expressed an interest in getting together informally before we gather again after the holidays.
Last Friday it was my honor to welcome Consul Allan Daniel Perez
from the Guatemalan Consulate. He is relatively new to our community. I had the joy of meeting him and his wife at the Hispanic Chamber Gala which was held recently at the Casino Del Sol. We are blest to have him in our community, and I look forward to serving together for the well being of the Guatemalan community and all in Tucson.
Last Sunday was the Feast of Christ the King and the ending of the Liturgical Year. It was an honor to take part in the Eucharistic procession at St. Augustin Cathedral which began at 11:00 am and concluded with the 12:00 noon Mass. Processions continue to be wonderful opportunities to celebrate our faith and to walk together with Christ present in the Eucharist. Christ has gifted us with his presence body and blood, soul and divinity under the appearance of bread and wine. Christ models for us what it means to love. Leviticus told us to love on another as ourselves, but Christ gave a new commandment, love another as I have loved you. Christ loved us unconditionally and calls us to do the same. The example Christ gave us was demonstrated when he washed the feet of Peter who would deny him and Judas who would betray him. He showed his love when he forgave those who crucified him and felt compassion for all who were suffering. To love as Christ loved is not easy but it is the call He gives us.
Yesterday I celebrated Confirmation at St. Cyril Parish for eighth graders at St. Cyril School as well as high school students in the Religious Education Program and a few adults. We receive Confirmation only once in our lives, so it is a very special celebration. I am sure Fr. Francisco Maldonado, pastor of St. Cyril, was delighted to see so many of his people being signed with the Sacred Chrism and receiving all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I pray they will stay active and involved in the Church.
We enter the season of Advent this Sunday, a time of waiting and longing for the Lord to enter more fully into our lives, that we might love as He loved. Christ was born humbly in a manger, lowly and without any of the privileges due a king. During Advent many of our parishes will hold one of the most beautiful devotions, the Posada. It is the journey of Mary with child and Joseph seeking shelter who were turned away, no room in the Inn. During Advent we remember especially those who come to our community seeking a safe and dignified way of life.
This year during Advent in our parish bulletins we will hear a few stories of migrants in our midst and the struggles they face. The church does not condone in any way criminal or violent behavior or drug or human trafficking. But we are called to see in those struggling the face of the poor, vulnerable Christ. Like the Holy Family many today are fleeing dangerous and desperate situations seeking a dignified way of life. We are called to welcome, promote, protect and integrate the migrants and refugees in our midst. Take time during Advent, to spend some time in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord or take up the Bible and read one of the Gospels, reflecting on Jesus’ life or seek some time of quiet to contemplate the incredible love our God has for us in sending His Only Begotten Son to be born among us, who knew our joys and sufferings, who experienced death and who was the first to rise from the dead, the promise that we, too, will rise again.
Sunday I will be at St. Joseph Parish in Hayden to bless their newly renovated Church and altar. I am grateful to Father Ukeyima Emmanuel Adams for his leadership in helping the community enhanced their place of worship.
Regretfully Fr. Adams and Fr. Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen, both members of the Via Cristi Community need to leave their assignments at Infant Jesus of Prague in Kearney/St. Joseph in Hayden as well as St. John Neumann in Yuma because of the government’s requirements for priests who have their R-I Visas expiring before they were accepted for their green card. They may need to be away for at least a year. We will miss them very much. I pray our government will modify its present policy that makes it necessary to return to their own country before being able to receive more permanent status in our country.
Next Monday through Wednesday I will be meeting with our recently ordained priests, five years or less. We meet three times a year for two nights and three days. This session I will make a presentation on Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, which was written partly by Pope Francis and completed by Pope Leo. Father Lester Mendonsa, our Judicial Vicar and Zach Ferell who works in the Tribunal will update the recently ordained priests on marriage law as well as other canonical questions our recently ordained priests will encounter.
It is also a time for these recently ordained priests to get to know one another better and develop closer relationships as brother priests. There is time to pray together, to learn together, to enjoy time together. I am grateful to Fr. Mike Bucciarelli for organizing these gatherings.
As always thank you for your support and prayers. I hope you all have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.
Yours in Christ,
Most. Rev. Gerald Kicanas