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July 2001

New Vicar Appointed for the Office of Tribunal for the Diocese of Phoenix

(July 25 Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix) --The Most Reverend Thomas J. O'Brien, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, has announced the appointment of Rev. Timothy Davern J.C.L., as Judicial Vicar for the Office of Tribunal for the Diocese. The appointment was effective July 1, 2001. In addition to his new role as Judicial Vicar, Fr. Davern will continue to serve as associate pastor at Resurrection Parish in Tempe. He will be succeeding the retiring Fr. Aloysius (Alan) Malone who served as Judicial Vicar in the Tribunal since 1973.

" Father Malone has served with great distinction and dedication for many years,” said Bishop O’Brien. “I am deeply appreciative for his commitment and service to the Diocese of Phoenix. He will be greatly missed.”As for Fr. Davern, Bishop O’Brien stated “he demonstrated inspiring energy and creativity throughout his years of ministry. In the position of Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal, he will have further opportunities to greatly serve the people of the Diocese of Phoenix.”Fr. Davern, originally from Yuma, Arizona, was born on February 20, 1952. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame. He obtained his Mdiv (Master of Divinity) from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and his Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) was received from The Catholic University of America.

Fr. Davern was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Phoenix on May 13, 1978. Among other positions, Fr. Davern has served as associate pastor for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Camel Parish in Tempe, and has served as Adjutant Judicial Vicar and both Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for the Diocese of Phoenix.

Church law under the direction of the Bishop establishes the Office of Tribunal. Members of the Tribunal include a Judicial Vicar, judges, auditors, notaries, advocates, defenders of the bond, and other support staff. The Tribunal’s primary purpose is to review petitions for marriage annulment to determine if those petitions can be approved according to Church law.

Native American Community on Gila River Indian Reservation to Celebrate the Feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

(July 3 Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix) -- The Most Reverend Thomas J. O'Brien, Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix and the Native American Community on the Gila River Indian Reservation will come together for a special Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2001 at St. Anne’s Church in Santan. The church is located on the Gila River Indian Reservation on Highway 87 about 10 miles south of Riggs Road. The Mass will celebrate the life and Christian baptism of Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th Century Mohawk woman who was beatified over 20 years ago. Beatification is the first step toward canonization or being declared a saint.At four years old, Kateri Tekakwitha survived her parents, a Christian Algonquin mother, a Mohawk Chief father, and her baby brother during a smallpox epidemic, which left her scarred and her eyesight impaired. She grew up with an uncle and aunt in the Turtle Clan Village of Gandauague in what is now New York State.

When Tekakwitha was 14 years old, Fr. DeLamberville came from the nearby St. Peter’s Mission to visit her home. It was then that she told him about her desire to become a Christian. Shortly after, she began to take religious instruction, and on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1676 she was baptized and given the name Kateri or Katherine. A year later she fled her village and traveled to St. Francis Xavier Mission near Montreal, Canada. Her two hundred mile journey took two months to complete. Shortly after arriving in Canada, Kateri received her first Holy Communion on Christmas Day. In 1678, Kateri was enrolled in the pious society call The Holy Family because of her extraordinary practices of all virtues. A little over a year later, Kateri vowed perpetual virginity. Kateri spent her entire life devoted to children, the sick, and the aged. Kateri performed extraordinary penance and practice of all virtues until hardships damaged her health and illness claimed her life on April 17, 1680.

Kateri was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII on January 3, 1943. Pope John Paul II beatified Kateri Tekakwitha on June 22, 1980 after the Roman Catholic Church recognized the heroic virtue and authentic miracles attributed to her. In order for Kateri to be canonized a saint, further miracles ascribed to her must be examined and their authenticity verified.