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April 2001

Bishop O'Brien to Celebrate Several Masses Marking Holy Week

(Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix) -- The Most Reverend Thomas J. O'Brien, Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, will celebrate several Masses during Holy Week, April 8-15, 2001, at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, 6351 North 27th Avenue in Phoenix.

On Palm Sunday, April 8, 2001, Bishop O'Brien will celebrate the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Palms will be blessed and distributed to those attending. Keeping with a tradition, established in fourth century Jerusalem, the congregation will gather outside the church and process, with palms, inside to begin Mass.

On Monday, April 9, 2001, at 7:30 p.m. Bishop O'Brien will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass. At this Mass, the holy oils to be used throughout the Diocese of Phoenix for the upcoming year are blessed. The oils include the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of Chrism.

The Oil of Catechumens, which is blessed olive oil, is used several times during the preparation period for initiation into the Catholic Church. Catechumens are people who have not yet been baptized and are seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.

The Oil of the Sick, also blessed olive oil, is used to anoint those who are seriously ill. The practice of anointing the sick with oil signifies healing, strengthening, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Oil of Chrism, which is a mixture of olive oil and balm, is used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

On Thursday, April 12, 2001 at 7:00 p.m., Bishop O'Brien will preside at the Holy Thursday Mass. Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of the sacraments of Eucharist and Holy Orders, and the washing of the feet of the Apostles by Jesus at the Last Supper. The Mass on Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum.

On Friday, April 13, 2001, Bishop O’Brien will preside at the Good Friday service at 3:00 p.m. The service includes the veneration of the cross, special prayers for the Church and a Communion Service. It is ended in silence to signify the solemness of Jesus’ death.Bishop O’ Brien will celebrate the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 14, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The focus of this Mass will be brining new life into the Church as the candidates and catechumens who have been preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. This year it is expected that over 1800 candidates and catechumens, who took part in the Rite of Election ceremonies throughout the Diocese in March, will enter the Church during this time at various parishes in the Diocese.

On Easter Sunday, April 15, 2001, Bishop O'Brien will be the celebrant at the 9:00 a.m. Mass. The Easter Feast, also known as the Feast of Jesus’ Resurrection, is the oldest and most important Christian celebration. It is a period of renewal and celebration for the Catholic Church.For fifty days after Easter, the Church will celebrate the hope and joy that comes from Jesus rising from the dead. The Easter season will conclude with the feast of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, June 3, 2001.

Catholic Home Missions Appeal Encourages
Local Catholics to help U.S. Home Missions

(April 18 Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix) - Parishes within the Diocese of Phoenix will take part in a nationwide collection on April 29, 2001. The collection, Catholic Home Missions Appeal (CHMA), supports the mission work in dioceses throughout the United States.

This is the third year for the appeal coordinated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Home missions.The CHMA extends and strengthens the Catholic Church by helping to provide basic pastoral services to areas that would be unable to minister without outside help. This help is essential to dioceses where few Catholics are scattered across tens of thousands of square miles or dioceses that struggle with overwhelming numbers in concentrated areas. The Catholic Home Mission Appeal provides funds for priests to travel to minister and celebrate Mass in remote parishes as regularly as possible, helps to fund diocesan evangelization efforts, seminarian education, and parish religious educational programs to ensure the Catholic faith will be handed down to future generations. It supports lay ministry training and the pastoral care of the growing ethnic and migrant communities.

"The poorest areas of the United States and its territories share in the benefit of this collection,” said Sr. Jean Steffes, CSA, Director of the Office of Religious. “It truly helps our next door neighbors and those who are struggling here in our country.”The Diocese of Phoenix is grateful for the outpouring of care and concern shown through the generosity of its parishioners to help those in need in the past. Last year, the people of the Diocese of Phoenix contributed $95,000 to the Appeal, and it is our hope that this year the people of the Diocese will be able to make a similar contribution.