Shepherd's Slant: Message from Bishop Gerald Kicanas

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, 

  

Thank you for the warm welcome I have received since being named the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Tucson. Your well wishes are much appreciated as I temporarily ease out of retirement for the foreseeable future. Though my first full week was a busy one it was a blessed one. To ensure that you are up to speed on the happenings of our diocese we have launched Shepherd's Slant, insight into the inner workings of our Catholic community and my personal reflections. 

  

As I return to serving as Apostolic Administrator after seven and a half years of retirement, I am amazed at all the progress the Diocese has made under Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and delighted to see our priests, deacons, religious, and lay women and men continue to work so hard to make the Lord’s message heard and lived throughout the Diocese. There are so many good initiatives and activities happening all around the Diocese. Our next bishop will embrace a Diocese that is alive in the faith, engaged with those hurting and eager to tell others about the Lord. I pray in the time I have to serve we can embrace even more the call the Lord has given us to serve and not to be served. 

  

This week promises to be another rich with many blessings. Just yesterday I joined the Catholic Foundation as its members graciously awarded more than $1,091,494 in grants to parishes, schools, and service organizations in Southern Arizona. For the second time in its more than 40 years the Catholic Foundation eclipsed more than $1 million dollars in fund disbursement and it’s all thanks to you and your tremendous generosity to our Annual Catholic Appeal. Every year your dollars go right back into the diocese to support our Mission. We are so blest to have Elizabeth Bollinger, as Executive Director, Katheryn Hutchinson, Suzanne Hopkins, Carla Smith and Samuel Kiser on staff. They do such great work for all of us. Similarly, the Catholic Foundation Board under its Chair, Denis Fitzgibbons continue to enhance the work of the Foundation in service of others. 

  

Over the next weeks our Diocese will witness a number of Confirmation ceremonies mostly at St. Augustine Cathedral.  I am grateful to some of our former Vicars whom I have delegated to celebrate some of the Confirmations. Please pray for these young women and men as they receive this beautiful Sacrament and deepen their Catholic faith. 

  

We are in the process of looking for a Chancellor for the Tucson Diocese. We have had some resumes submitted but the process will take some time. I am delighted that Mr. Ernie Nedder who served as an Interim Chancellor some years ago, has agreed to step into that role again while we complete the selection of the new Chancellor. Many in the Diocese know and respect Ernie since he served as our Director of Development in the past and returned out of retirement several times to help in various capacities.  We are blest for his willingness to serve again. 

  

Congressman Raul Grijalva was laid to rest this past Wednesday. About 55 members of the US Congress attended from both the Democratic and Republican parties along with many Tribal Leaders, Governor Katie Hobbs and Mayor Regina Romero and a number of city, county, and other civic leaders attended as well. Members of the Capitol Police, Tucson Police and security people with the members of Congress assured that everything went smoothly.  

  

Ramona, Raul's wife, his daughters Adelita, Raquel and Marisa, his sisters Norma and Lydia along with a large group of family and friends were also present. They were most pleased with how everything was so well organized. Some might wonder and question why his Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral and why he was laid to rest in a Catholic Cemetery since they believe he did not fully embrace the Church’s teachings. I can only say no one can understand fully the conscience of another individual. Others might question why politicians were allowed to speak before the Mass. They spoke as co-workers with him in the Congress and spoke of his contributions to the improvement of our society and advocacy for the environment, tribal rights, care for the marginalized and people suffering and the improvement of our society, issues that are not in any way contrary to the Church’s teachings. We leave to the merciful Lord the judgement of his life. 

 

I am especially grateful to members of our Pastoral Center and Cathedral staff who worked very hard to make this a sacred and prayerful celebration. Among the staff who assisted were Angelica Lozier, Clara Heslinga, Daniel Miranda, Deacon Rick Valencia, Fr. Alan Valencia, Gilbert Luna, Jose Gastelum, Lorraine Rivera, Deacon Michael Gutierrez, Ofelia James, Sr. Charlotte Anne Swift, Sr. Lois Paha, Carlos Zapien, Albert Hinojoza and Miguel Moreno. They did a fabulous job and made us proud. I was grateful that Msgr. Domenico Pinti, pastor of St . George in Apache Junction and Father Peter Neely, SJ of the Kino Border Initiative were concelebrants at the Mass. Msgr. Raul Trevizo conducted the Rosary Service at St. John the Evangelist Church on Tuesday. 

  

Holy Week is fast approaching. On Monday of Holy Week, it has been our custom in the Diocese of Tucson to celebrate the Chrism Mass at which I bless and consecrate the oils that will be used through the year in all of our parishes when children are baptized, people are confirmed, the sick are anointed, a priest is ordained. It is also the occasion when all of our priests renew their commitment as priests in service to the people of the Diocese and our deacons, religious and all the laity join in prayer for our priests. 

 

Our theme this year for the Chrism Mass is Heroic Messengers of Hope. That is who we are as Catholics in a very troubled and divided world. When we gather as Catholics at the table of the Lord we are renewed and refreshed to go out and proclaim Christ’s message of hope. I want to invite you to join us for the Chrism Mass on Monday, April 14 beginning at 2:00 pm in St. Augustine Cathedral. If you have never attended, please consider coming to the celebration. It is a marvelous celebration of our oneness as the People of God. 

  

I’m attending the Installation of the new Archbishop of Cincinnati, Archbishop Elect Robert Casey, formerly the Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Archbishop Elect Casey was a student of mine when I served as rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake from 1985-1995. It is a joy to know that ten of my students have been ordained bishops and two Archbishops. All wonderful men with a great love of the Church and the desire to serve. I am delighted the Holy Father chose them to take up the joys and challenges of episcopal ministry.  

  

Thank you for your support and prayers. I also ask that you continue to pray for our Holy Father as he has returned to the Vatican. We pray that in good health the Holy Spirit will guide him in appointing our next shepherd.

 

Yours in Christ,