Members of the 2024 graduating class at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, were recently awarded more than $20 million in scholarships from universities, nonprofits, family foundations, and private companies. Some of the more notable scholarships and awards to students were: LinkedIn Possibilities in Tech Scholarship — a $40k scholarship to senior M.J. Martinez from the employment focused tech platform, LinkedIn. It is LinkedIn’s second year of their program, and M.J. is the only student in Arizona to receive it. M.J. will attend Arizona State University (ASU) and major in engineering. Ama ..read more

The Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) released a statement on Thursday in response of the repeal of Arizona’s pre-Roe law. The Arizona Catholic Conference is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson. Bishops from each of these dioceses comprise the Board of Directors of the ACC. CLICK HERE TO READ ACC STATEMENT: The post Statement on repeal of Arizona’s pre-Roe law appeared first on The Catholic Sun ..read more

Brophy College Preparatory recently honored 16 seniors from the Class of 2024 as spring Distinguished Students at a recent ceremony held at the school’s Harper Great Hall. Brophy’s Distinguished Students, also recognized in the fall, are selected by Brophy Prep faculty, coaching staff and counselors based not only on their exceptional academic and service achievements, but also for having grown to be model representatives of the enduring qualities of Brophy Prep’s Jesuit-educated graduate at graduation: intellectually competent, open to growth, loving, religious and committed to doing justice ..read more

Chandler, Ariz. – St. Mary-Basha Catholic School recently announced a dynamic expansion of its elective course offerings for junior high students beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. This program equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in high school and navigate their future career paths and passions. Junior high elective courses were paused during the pandemic and were re-introduced in 2022-23 school year with much success. Based on student feedback and faculty input, the catalog of offerings continues to expand year after year. “Our electives go beyond academics ..read more

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Religious men and women need to be setting people’s faith on fire, not stamping it out, Pope Francis said. “It makes me sad when I see religious who seem more like firefighters” than men and women who are ardently filled with the flame of faith and ready to share it with others, he told representatives of congregations founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa during an audience at the Vatican April 29. Members of the Canossian Sons of Charity, also known as the Canossian Fathers, and the Canossian Daughters of Charity were holding their gen ..read more

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The most important outcome of the current Synod of Bishops on synodality is the synodal process itself and not the hot-button topics discussed, Pope Francis said. With the second synod assembly scheduled for October, the pope said the synod process is approaching its “most challenging and important” stage — the point at which it must become “prophetic.” “Now it is a matter of translating the work of the previous stages into choices that will give impetus and new life to the mission of the church in our time,” he told members of the ..read more

“I called them at one of my darkest times,” Robert Salas admitted. Devastated by the shattering of a 17-year marriage and consumed by guilt and anxiety, Salas turned to the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. “I didn’t know where else to go. Trying to talk to family members — they did not want to hear what I needed to say.” When Salas reached out to the diocese, his call was routed to Maricela Campa, manager of the Mental Health Ministry. “She’s an awesome person. She’s the type of person who listens. She gave me good, concrete advice,” Salas said. His history of trauma as well as a previous suicide ..read more

Spring is here. The birds are singing, the pools are warming, and the kids are running in the sprinklers. We look forward with hope to the end of another school year and our summer fun ahead. The world is filled with awe-inspiring beauty, laughter and love. Until we have to pack up the family to go to Sunday Mass. As a mom of four, there were times when the only awe or wonder I experienced in Mass was my wondering how we were going to get through the service. Being in Mass should feel like an event outside of time as we are in the presence of the Lord, but often it can seem as though it is th ..read more

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” With those words, Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix will confer the sacrament of Confirmation on hundreds of the faithful in the coming weeks. He’s already done so at St. Louis the King in Glendale, St. Jerome in Phoenix, St. Elizabeth Seton in Sun City, and has several more parishes to visit during what’s commonly referred to as Confirmation season. “I always try to stress that the Spirit is not just sustaining us as Christians but animating us to be the vibrant Christians that we are meant to be,” Bishop Dolan said. With 94 parishes and ..read more

PHOENIX — In its effort to protect life inside the womb, the pro-life community faces not only abortion backers, but are working against a second foe, one veteran women’s health care provider told a conference on life at a Diocesan parish this past weekend. “There is so much misinformation out there,” said Dr. Ingrid Skop, an obstetrician and gynecologist who has spent more than 30 years in private practice. Dr. Ingrid Skop pauses while discussing the medical myths surrounding abortion prior to The Truth Set Us Free Conference at St. Gregory Parish in Phoenix Saturday, April 20, 2024. PHOTO by ..read more