The Wednesday Update

Archives Boletín de los Miércoles Bishop Edward Weisenburger's Facebook

Vol. 2, No. 13 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Wednesday Update

Please note: The Diocese of Tucson offices, now located just north of St. Augustine Cathedral at 192 S. Stone Ave., Building 2, will be closed in observance of Good Friday, April 19 and on Monday, April 22.

Chrism Mass

On Monday we celebrated the Chrism Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral. At this beautiful liturgy, I blessed the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and sacred chrism to be used at our parishes throughout the year.

There were priests from nearly all of our parishes across the Diocese, and it always is good to celebrate Mass alongside them. Following Mass, the priests or their parish representatives picked up the oils for their parishes. It also is heart-warming to see so many Catholics at the Mass.This year, the Cathedral was nearly filled.

These days of Holy Week are most important and I encourage all Catholics to participate as fully as possible in the Triduum, the summit of our Liturgical Year. The Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and continues through to the evening of Easter Sunday. The liturgies taking place on these days are the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord on Holy Saturday.

Each parish offers these liturgies. Please check with your parish, or the parish nearest you for its specific schedule. I will be at the Veneration of the Cross at St. Augustine Cathedral on Good Friday. The veneration begins at noon. I also will be the celebrant for the Easter Vigil, also at the Cathedral, at 7 p.m. on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

If you would like to learn more detailed information about the Triduum, visit https://www.thetorchbc.com/2017/04/25/praying-through-the-paschal-triduum/

How is your Lent going?

Check out Bishop Weisenburger’s Lenten Minutes on our diocesan homepage at www.diocesetucson.org. Each week, Bishop suggests ideas for meditation or different ideas to ponder. Look for the icon above to locate the video at the diocese homepage or view the video on Bishop Weisenburger’s Facebook page.

The last video in the series, a reflection on the Triduum, has been posted on the diocese homepage at www.diocesetucson.org.

Downloadable photos for John Paul II Awards

As I reported in the Update last week, we held our Tucson area John Paul II Awards Mass and ceremony on April 13. Photographs taken of the award winners now are available for download on our diocesan webpage at diocesetucson.org. Look for the information in the upper right hand column of the homepage, or visit the photos page directly at https://diocesetucson.org/youth-adult-family/St-John-Paul-II-Awards-Gallery.html

Please pray for

- For the soul of Kathy Bent, mother of Katheryn Hutchinson, program manager for Grants at the Catholic Foundation, who passed awayApril 10. A memorial Mass was held April 16 at St. Odilia Parish.

- The soul of Thomas Branson, father of Father Dale Branson, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in San Tan Valley. Mr. Branson passed away April 13. Funeral services in Vancouver, Washington, are pending.

- For the full recovery of Msgr. Richard O’Keeffein Yuma, who continues to recover from health issues.

Upcoming

Living Stations of the Cross - Via Cruces
A live re-enactment of Christ's path toward crucifixion.

3 p.m. April 19

Begins at San Cosme Chapel

460 W. Simpson St. (about 3 blocks south and west of St. Augustine Cathedral)

Mass and Grand Opening celebration for the Conference, Educational & Pastoral Center
at Cathedral Square

Noon Mass, Sunday, April 28

Ribbon cutting and blessing of building follows Mass.

Vol. 2, No. 12 Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Wednesday Update

The Rite of Candidacy

Last Sunday, 27 men were received in the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders.

These men are attending instruction to become Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Tucson. Their intention to become Deacons and receive Holy Orders is done publicly and the Bishop accepts their intention.

The ceremony is a simple one, but it is the first official step as these men continue on their journey toward Ordination. Pray that they may continue to persevere in this call to service in our parish communities.

Photo by Ofelia James

How is your Lent going?

Check out Bishop Weisenburger’s Lenten Minutes on our diocesan homepage at www.diocesetucson.org. Each week, Bishop suggests ideas for meditation or different ideas to ponder. Look for the icon above to locate the video at the diocese homepage or view the video on Bishop Weisenburger’s Facebook page.

The video for the Fifth of Lent was posted last Friday.

My Palm Sunday reflection will be posted on Friday, April 12 and the reflection for the Triduum will be posted on Monday, April 15.

A great end of Lent tool

Daily meditations can be a very good way to continue our journeys as we approach Palm Sunday with its recitation of Christ’s Passion and as we begin walking through Holy Week.

I encourage you to visit http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/index.cfm There you will find a calendar, where with a simple click on each day of the week, you will find a meditation.

Each meditation includes a reflection, or rather words to reflect on for that day, a prayer, then a call to action based on the Gospel reading of the day.

These are not long or difficult readings or tasks, and the meditations may be just what is needed to bring Christ closer.

P.S. The interactive calendar begins with Ash Wednesday. To use meditations for this week or next, scroll down a bit and you will see April’s days of the week.

Chrism Mass: Monday, April 15

2 p.m., St. Augustine Cathedral Parish

This Mass includes the blessing of the holy oils used throughout the year by parishes. It is a beautiful liturgy and will take place at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. Representatives from each parish will be there, and many pastors also will attend to collect the oils for their parishes. The sacramental oils I will bless during the liturgy are the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and sacred chrism.

Sacred or holy chrism is olive oil-based and is mixed with small amounts of balm or balsam. It is used during the sacraments of confirmation, baptism, the ordination of priests and the consecration of churches and bishops.

Welcome!

Congratulations to Salvatorian Brother Silas Henderson who has been appointed Executive Director of Jordan Ministry Team in Tucson, effective April 8.

Sister Jane Eschweiler, SDS, who has been serving as interim director, will remain on the JMT Board of Directors. Other personnel changes will include adding more Salvatorians to the team. Please check out the ministry Jordan Ministry Team is providing, including the new Lüthen Lecture Series, Faith Exploration Discussion Group, and Busy-People's Retreats, at www.jordanministry.org.