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May 14, 2024Each year, Bishop Edward Weisenburger honors priests who are celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, and 60th jubilee years. A jubilarian is a priest or religious who is celebrating a milestone anniversary since being ordained a priest or taking vows.
Bishop Weisenburger bestowed papal blessings upon nine priests who have served the Catholic Church with a combined 300 years of priesthood. In order to receive a papal blessing, the requesting party must have celebrated a 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60th anniversary of priestly ordination, religious profession, or marriage.
This year’s nine jubilarians concelebrated a special Mass with Bishop Weisenburger at St. Augustine Cathedral and were joined by their brother priests from across the Diocese of Tucson.
The Diocese of Tucson congratulates:
50th Anniversaries, ordained in 1974:
Rev. Martin Barnum at Our Lady of the Valley in Green Valley
Rev. Harry Ledwith, retired from St. Pius X in Tucson
Rev. Joseph Saba at St. Patrick in Bisbee
25th Anniversaries, ordained in 1999:
Rev. Richard Awange, C.S.Sp., at St. Mary Margaret Alacoque Parish in Tucson
Rev. James Mascarenhas, M.S.F.S., at Immaculate Conception Parish in Yuma
Rev. Rudolf Ofori
Rev. Alexander Tigga, M.S.F.S., at St. James the Apostle Parish in Coolidge
Rev. Alfonso “Ponchie” Vasquez, O.F.M., at San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson
Rev. Justin Whittington, S.J., at the Vatican Observatory in Tucson