Issue: June 2009 — Junio 2009

.:: VIEWPOINTS ::.

Reflexiones

Jordan Ministry Team

Ni Tanto que Queme al Santo

Living in a World of 'Yes'!

Rincon Espiritual

Letters to the Editor

Editor's Note

.::BISHOP'S MONTHLY QUOTE ::.

I am convinced that Catholic schools make significant contributions to our communities and to the Church.

Yo estoy convencido
de que las escuelas
católicas contribuyen de manera significativa a nuestras comunidades y a la Iglesia.

"Pope Benedict's Four Invitations to Young People" — Podcast from Bishop Jerry Kicanas
"Cuatro Invitaciónes de Papa Benedicto a Jóvenes" — Podcast de Obispo Jerry Kicanas

ON THE COVER

Placita ‘a gift’ to city

By BERN ZOVISTOSKI
bernz@diocesetucson.org
The New Vision
See more photos

With its stage accentuated by brightly colored flowers, vines and butterflies, the new placita next to St. Augustine Cathedral has been blessed and dedicated as a special place for Cathedral Parish and for community events in downtown Tucson.
The Msgr. Arsenio S. Carrillo Placita honors the nearly 40 years that Msgr. Carrillo, now retired, ministered at the Cathedral as parochial vicar and as rector.
“The placita is really a gift to the renewal of downtown Tucson,” said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, who presided at the dedication ceremony on Sunday, May 31. Among the crowd of nearly 1,000 was Msgr. Carrillo.
“It is my hope and the hope of Father Pat Crino, rector, and the community of St. Augustine Cathedral Parish that the placita will be used frequently by the community to bring people together for fiestas, for performances and for spiritual events,” the Bishop said.
In his remarks at the conclusion of the Mass that preceded the blessing and dedication, Msgr. Carrillo said that he hoped the dedication of the placita in his name would include honor to all the priests in the Diocese, especially those who have served at the Cathedral.
As part of the placita project, the historic Cathedral Hall’s front has been remodeled and will now be known as the Msgr. Arsenio S. Carrillo Cathedral Hall.

APPEAL

Appeal climax: ‘Amen!’

ACA By BERN ZOVISTOSKI
bernz@diocesetucson.org
The New Vision

The finish line is looming –June 14 is “Amen!” Sunday.
That day traditionally marks the end of the parish solicitation phase of the Diocese of Tucson’s Annual Catholic Appeal, which funds the operation of 26 charities and ministries throughout southern Arizona.
And the thousands of people who depend on that funding are praying for a happy ending.
The charities and ministries supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal receive 93 cents of every dollar contributed, and some 200,000 lives are affected by those donations. they include families, children, victims of domestic violence, elderly and poor and disabled; people in nursing homes, hospices and assisted-living centers, and people in prison or jail.
Others who benefit are children, teens and adults in parish religious education and religious formation programs, and teachers and others in the diocese’s 22 Catholic elementary and six Catholic high schools.
With a goal of $3.4 million for 2009, most parishes were at more than 80 percent of their goal, while 24 parishes had met or exceeded their goal by the end of May.
“I am prayerfully optimistic that with a final effort they will make their goal and we will make our appeal goal,” Bishop Kicanas said.
All parishes received a special mailing in preparation for “Amen!” Sunday, a CD message from the Bishop asking pastors and administrators to share with their people that weekend.
“In the message, I thank those who have given so generously and I encourage those who have not yet given to give whatever they can so that we can reach our goal and fully fund the 26 charities and ministries that depend upon the Appeal,” the Bishop said.
As of Monday, June 1, the Appeal had received pledges totaling $2,908,997, which is 85 percent of the overall goal.
“I know we have many generous people who have given to both annual and capital campaigns already,” said Margie Puerta Edson, executive director of the Diocese’s Charity and Ministry Fund. “We are deeply appreciative of their support.
“I understand that it may seem like a lot to ask, but the ministries that are supported by the ACA are so critical to the whole Diocese,” she said. “This is why we are asking for this final united effort by everyone.”
Many parishioners plan their annual giving to include a certain percentage of household earnings - a one-percent pledge of a household income of $100,000 would be $1,000, and a similar pledge from a household earning $20,000 would be $200. Pledges can be paid in 10 monthly installments - which would be $200 in the former case, $20 in the latter.
Describing donations to the Appeal as “critically important,” Puerta Edson added:
“I too share the Bishop’s prayerful optimism and I am hopeful that each person will consider making a donation that will bring the ACA to a final and triumphant AMEN!”

REMAINS

‘Their lives mattered’
19th century remains blessed, then reburied

By BERN ZOVISTOSKI
bernz@diocesetucson.org
The New Vision

Remains Exhumed to make space for 21st century development, the remains of soldiers and family members who had been buried in Tucson’s “National Cemetery” in the late 19th century were honored and blessed by Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas last month before being transported to their final resting place in Sierra Vista.
The remains were discovered in 2006 at the downtown site of the proposed Joint Courts Complex. Bishop Kicanas said “Pima County undertook an expensive and complex archeological project to assure that the remains...would be removed and treated with dignity and the respect due them.”
On May 15, Bishop Kicanas presided at a prayer service and blessing for the remains of 58 soldiers and several children of military families that were recovered from the military section of the abandoned cemetery. Each of the coffins was draped with a 35-star American flag, the national banner of that time.
As the hot sun streamed down, more than 50 members of various veterans organizations turned out to take part in the transfer of the remains to the Southern Arizona Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista.
As he blessed the remains of each of the dead, Bishop Kicanas said those attending the service “prayed and sang, calling upon God to grant eternal rest to these individuals who served their country bravely.”
Then the veterans gently carried the boxes to two military trucks for the trip to Sierra Vista, where, with Gov. Jan Brewer looking on, they were buried on May 16 with military honors.
None of the remains can be identified by name, but “they lived in our area,” Bishop said. “They walked the same ground on which we walk. They experienced joy and sorrow, success and disappointment. Our community’s respect for their remains recognizes that their lives mattered.”
The National Cemetery in Tucson was used from 1862 to 1881, part of it for the U.S. Army post in Tucson and most of it for Tucson residents. The civilian portion was closed in 1875 and the Army stopped using the military cemetery in 1881.
In 1882 the city published notices asking that families remove the remains of those buried there and rebury them in other cemeteries, but very few did so. Many of the remains of soldiers buried there were moved in 1884 to a military cemetery in San Francisco.
Gradually, over time, the National Cemetery simply disappeared, until in 2006 construction plans for the site surfaced and were placed on hold until final disposition of the remaining bodies could occur.
Later this year, the remains of nearly 1,700 others recovered from the National Cemetery, near the intersection of Stone Avenue and Alameda Street, will be taken to their place of rest at All Faith Cemeteries.