Speaker 1: Welcome to Saint Patrick Catholic Community Podcast. We're glad you're with us.
Speaker 2: My mother is from Lordsburg, New Mexico in the Southwestern part of the state. And right across the state line is Duncan, Arizona where my father is from. And when my dad was serving in the army and served in Korea, the guys in uniform would go by bus, and they would stop at the bus station in Lordsburg. And that's where my mom met my dad. That's probably why I'm here today.
Lourdesburg is on I 10, and in those days, the interstate or the freeway would run right through town. And Lordsburg had many motels, many restaurants, many businesses. In fact, their main drag was called Motel Avenue. And in that, there are lights in Lordsburg that were everywhere. When we lived in Duncan, my mom and dad would drive my brother and I to go see grandpa and grandma, and we might even spend a few days there.
So between Duncan and Lordsburg, it's dark, pitch dark. And then all of a sudden, my brother and I would see in the horizon a glow. And then from the horizon, from left to right, were the lights of Lordsburg, New Mexico. I got excited because one, we were getting close to light because I'm afraid of the dark. And I knew that I would be loved and protected and cared for because of grandpa and grandma.
And so when we would get there, we did a lot of things of driving on Motel Avenue. We would go for hamburgers at the Dairy Queen. And my grandpa would drive by the liquor store drive through and get his fall staff beer. And we'd go to the market in different places, but we would drive and see all the lights of Lordsburg. I felt safe.
I felt loved. I felt Lordsburg was a special place for me. My grandparents lived behind a convenience store called Circle H. I don't think Lordsburg could could afford Circle K, so it's called Circle H. But it had a rotating light, And my grandparents house was only one bedroom, so my brother and I had to sleep in the living room.
And the window was the turning light of the circle h going round and round. I felt safe. I felt that the light made me feel loved and protected. That's why Jesus uses the image for every disciple. That's you and I.
To be salt and light to the world. He talks about discipleship being solely about serving others. Discipleship isn't just about ourselves, but that when we are sent into the world, our primary value, our primary role of learning comes from the values and principles of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven that Matthew talks about. That's our first priority, and that's what Jesus says in being a light.
In his time, a city could be on top of a hill. And those who traveled in dangerous ways even at night found great comfort because the city was lit at night. And that meant for them safety. It meant for them a place to go. And so Jesus is reminding us then, being salt and light means we provide that for others.
Every Christian community, including our Catholic faith, is called to live that way. And so I wanna share with you two main things that I love about being Catholic. When we understand what being a Catholic is, and we do this well, and I think many times we do, we live exactly the way God wants us to do. The first thing is the way that Catholics treat everyone. In Canon law, that means church law.
Church law was developed rooted in Scriptures and the way we treat one another. So when you have an organization, an institution everywhere in the world, people need to be protected. They need to know how to live their faith. Protection for the laity, protection for clergy, protection for all who are part of the church, and how we treat others. In Canon Law, it says that a parish community like Saint Patrick's is responsible for every soul within our parish boundaries, not just Catholics, everyone.
So from Via Ventura all the way to Pinnacle Peak Road, from 96th Street to Scottsdale Road, the parish serves and cares for everyone who lives within that boundary whether Catholic or not. I learned from probably the two best canon lawyers in the entire country in the nineteen eighties at Mount Angel. One was father Tom Brokus, a Benedictine who lived at the monastery. He was well known for study and implementing Canon law and teaching us. Another one was father Bert Griffin.
He was well known in writing and did a lot in our country and was one of the leaders in canon law. And here's what they taught us. Unfortunately, for some of you, I didn't fall asleep at that time at that class. And this is what they taught us. Canon law, church law is always in favor of the faithful.
Canon law, church law is always in favor of the faithful. Now that doesn't mean you get everything you want, but it means that you are valued above institution. You are valued above anything else, and that that's how we were taught. Sometimes people who interpret the law canon law and Catholics, we do a good job with it. Other times we stink at it, because institution sometimes is placed before people.
But both those men who were leaders of canon law said, no one's excluded. Everyone matters. And even canon law says in our community, everyone matters in our parish boundaries no matter who they are. The second thing I love is when I looked up these statistics. These were from a couple of years ago.
Here's what Catholics do well, not just for Catholics, but for everyone. Right now around the world is 5,420 hospitals. Catholic hospitals. There are 14,205 clinics. 15,476 home for the age and for those in special needs.
Right now, 8,800 Catholic orphanages around the world. 10,589 nurseries for babies and children. 3,141 rehabilitation centers, and 33,000 plus other kinds of institutions. All that isn't just for Catholics. It isn't just for Christians.
We don't have the saying Catholics first. We're first. That's not what Jesus said. God created all people and when we live our Catholic faith well, we do it great because no one's excluded. Some of us have a hard time making an understanding to the parking lot and yet that's who we're called and that's why I'm a Catholic.
That's why I love because when we get it, do it well. We do it well through our diocese of Phoenix. In 1969, the diocese of Phoenix was established. I was around for that. It used to be the diocese of Tucson, U of A area.
We made it through, And we started our own diocese in 1969. Our bishop Edward McCarthy was the first bishop. Now we knew Phoenix was growing, and in fact, even today, we are the fastest growing diocese in the entire country. And so Bishop McCarthy started in the early nineteen seventies, the Charity and Development Appeal, CDA. And what that did did not only help with development, but served everyone who lived in our diocese.
We go from here all the way up to Flag, all the way to the Colorado River. Anyone who needs assistance, who needs to know Christ, who needs any support, no matter who you are, are helped through the Charity Development Appeal. Think about the millions of dollars that have been given by Catholics in doing that. I am proud to preach every year on CDA. I tell my staff I am preaching at every mass, because first of all, I have benefited through CDA.
Thanks to you, my education was paid for. Some of you think I need to go back and get more education. I don't blame you. After forty years, I I've I've don't remember a lot, But you did that. But also every day as a priest in ministry with my staff and you who minister, I see the effects and goodness of the charity development appeal.
I proudly give every year, and I have for every year. And I invite you to listen to this and watch this five minute video. Our social media team at the diocese is pretty darn good. In the past many years ago, I wouldn't show the video because sometimes I was better than the video. But for the last few years, they've been outstanding and gives you a visual, and it helps you to really know the good things that charity development appeal does.
A light for the world, and no matter whether you're Catholic or not, you matter. Let's take a look at this five minute video on the charity development appeal.
Speaker 3: Faith lights the way. So let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. From the beginning of our journey of faith, we are given the light of Christ and we are called to share his light with others. That is the heart of this year's Charity and Development appeal. In a world that often feels uncertain, faith lights the way for us and for those we serve.
Each year, your faith and your generosity make that light visible to more than 70 ministries, parishes, schools, charities, and programs shining Christ's love where it is needed most.
Speaker 4: I'd retired from public education. I saw this position at Boergate Catholic High School. I was a little hesitant because I felt I was done being a principal. And my wife said, no, you need to apply. The Lord put that in front of you for a reason.
And of course, she's right as she is about most things. Starting my fourth year now, it's really a blessed community and a blessing to be a part of it.
Speaker 5: Everyone was so nice, like everybody.
Speaker 6: I feel like going to Catholic school is very important because you would involve God in
Speaker 4: like your daily life. What Borgade has to offer is a community that is super focused on our mission to assist our students discovering and developing their God given potential.
Speaker 5: I applied to as many scholarships as I could. I set up a lot of financial aid meetings, and this year I I got a full ride. So I feel like every single one of us feels supported and seen throughout the years that we're here.
Speaker 6: Being here at Borgueira has helped me surround myself, around people who wanna get the best out of me, which which is what I love.
Speaker 4: I want I wanna push my own limits. The help from CDA and the parishioners across the Diocese of Phoenix allows more kids to access a Catholic high school education.
Speaker 6: You're able to be who you are, and honestly, people who are here, you see God's light shining through them.
Speaker 7: As a kid, I always wanted to work in the trades. I was in rehab looking for work. When I came into the worker, they just were like, oh, you need a job? You need help? You know?
Here it is.
Speaker 8: Michael came in and he needed a little bit of guidance and support. We connected him to an opportunity at Wilson Electric. He grew through his apprenticeship, got his first truck, built a rapport in the community, and eventually launched his own business.
Speaker 7: And now I'm I'm even doing work for the work.
Speaker 8: Michael is just one tiny example of the tremendous work we do here at Saint Joseph The Worker. We are working with thousands of individuals that are experiencing some sort of barrier to employment or stability, and so we provide that opportunity for them. We are a Catholic foundation, and the support from the diocese has been tremendous.
Speaker 7: Being an electrician, it's definitely been a career I've been proud to have.
Speaker 9: When we're at seminary, we're studying. We're doing a lot of intellectual work. But for the summer, we get to be there day in and day out at the church among the people.
Speaker 10: We're able to have opportunities to work in various ministries, being able to serve people here, being able to grow and understand what it'll be like to be a priest.
Speaker 11: The more times the seminarians can be with the people, the
Speaker 9: more rich their understanding of the gospel lived out in our church will be. The summer assignment is part of our formation process where we get to live in a parish and experience parish life kind of how it is in reality. One of the
Speaker 11: blessings of having our own seminary in our own community is to allow our seminarians to experience the various settings of the community such as parishes, nursing homes, hospitals, jails.
Speaker 10: Phoenix is my home and being able to serve the people here, particularly being able to baptize has been a blessing.
Speaker 11: Without the CDA, we wouldn't be able to form the men who very well could become priests in our parishes. So it is an investment in the future of our diocese.
Speaker 10: This collection means a lot to me and my brothers. People are so generous, and it's because of their generosity that we're able to go to seminary, that we're able to become priests.
Speaker 3: Faith lights the way. Through your support of the CDA, you are shining Christ's light into the lives of thousands in our diocese. You help form seminarians and deacons. You care for the elderly and the vulnerable. You provide for pregnant mothers choosing life.
You guide students and families and you offer hope to college students deepening their faith and so much more. So will you join me in making a gift to the Charity and Development Appeal today? You can make your gift by visiting give.dphx.org. Together, let us walk the journey of faith, bringing the light of Christ into every home, every heart, and every corner of our diocese. Thank you for your witness of faith.
Thank you for shining his light. May God bless you.
Speaker 2: In your pews are cards. If you could just take your cards for a moment, Paul will play a little bit. Just ask you to pray and think about it. Lordsburg, New Mexico for me was a place of safety, a place of being loved. Jesus says, a city on the hill cannot be hidden, and that means discipleship of being a light to the world.
So whatever way you can give this week, next week we'll follow-up. Ask you to touch your card now and make your prayer as Paul plays a little something. Some of you have already given online or you've received in the mail, and you'll address it then. Today at the operatory time, you're welcome to come and bring your card and place it in the operatory basket this week or next week or anytime. If you need to take it home and pray, you're welcome to do so.
Speaker 1: This has been a Saint Patrick Catholic community podcast. For more of our shows, go to our website and click Saint Patrick's Studio.