The Catholic Sun

As Pope Francis’ theme “Hope Does Not Disappoint” guides the Church this Jubilee Year, its principle can be heard and felt as pro-life advocates in Arizona conduct their latest semiannual campaign with 40 Days for Life. The worldwide pro-life organization’s local groups in the Diocese of Phoenix began their spring campaign with a Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix Wednesday, Feb. 26. Activities will continue with rosaries, addresses by former abortion doctors and the state’s annual March for Life in the month of March. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The morning after suffering two acute episodes of respiratory crisis, Pope Francis no longer needed oxygen through a breathing mask, the Vatican said. The crises March 3 led doctors to again put the pope on "noninvasive mechanical ventilation" -- a treatment that delivers air with added oxygen through a tightly fitted face mask and using positive pressure to assist breathing. But early March 4, the Vatican press office said, the pope was taken off the treatment and was instead receiving high-flow oxygen through a nasal cannula.

ROME (CNS) -- As he continues to receive treatment in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis sent written thanks for people's prayers, but he did not go to his hospital window as some people had hoped. Young people and members of the House of Mary, both groups associated with the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception, led the recitation of the Angelus prayer March 2 around a statue of St. John Paul II below the pope's hospital window.

Phoenix resident John Yu is an example of who Pope Francis referred to in his 2025 Jubilee Year message when he appealed to believers to care for “the sick, at home or in the hospital, and to care for the elderly who so ‘often feel lonely and abandoned.’” Mired in deepening financial problems over a series of self-described bad decisions, Yu was bicycling to an Arizona Department of Economic Security office to seek help when he was struck and seriously hurt by a vehicle driven by an uninsured motorist.  

When our New Year’s resolutions fail, do we give them another go at Lent? Is Lent just a Catholic self-improvement program or is there more to it than that? As we prepare to enter this Lenten season, let’s re-examine what Lent is all about.   During the liturgical season of Lent — this year beginning on Ash Wednesday (Mar. 5)  — Catholics are invited into the spiritual desert to remain with Jesus during his temptation by Satan. Quadragesima, the Latin word for Lent, which translated means “fortieth,” signifies the 40 days in which Jesus endured the accusations of Satan in the Judean wilderness. During these days of preparation leading up to Easter, we are reinvited to “build our house upon the rock” of Jesus Christ, “for no other foundation can anyone lay… than that which is Jesus Christ” (Matthew 7:24, 1 Corinthians 3:11). Upon this firm foundation, the Church proposes the building of three spiritual pillars: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  

“I can't be quiet for more than 35 seconds at a time.” These are the words of Sr. Mary Fidelis of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, who along with Sr. John Mark Maria, joined The Bishop’s Hour hosts Jennifer Ellis and Joyce Coronel to share tips for a deeper prayer life this Lent. And it all starts with silence. “Part of it is the humility with which we approach silence,” shared Sr. Mary Fidelis. “That has so much spiritual potency... It’s essentially the Lord's work. But, you know, we put forth our little effort and then He causes the growth."

“Pope Francis has been a tireless shepherd, leading the Church with compassion and humility. In this time of illness, we lift him up in prayer, asking the Lord to grant him strength and healing. May the Blessed Mother, whom he so deeply loves, intercede for his swift recovery. As a global family of faith, we stand united in hope and trust in God’s providence.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' "clinical condition remains critical but stable" and the "prognosis remains guarded," the Vatican's evening bulletin said Feb. 25. The 88-year-old pope, who has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14, has had no recurrence of "acute respiratory episodes," the Vatican said. The "hemodynamic parameters" that measure heart health "continue to be stable," the bulletin said.

The faithful throughout the Diocese of Phoenix continue to join their brethren across the globe in praying for the recovery of Pope Francis from severe respiratory health problems. “We’re all praying,” said Dcn. Roy Drapeau of Ss. Simon and Jude parish in Phoenix. The Vatican Monday night reported the pope’s condition had improved slightly, with “no new episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress.” Vatican News also stated doctors at Gemelli Hospital in Rome had slightly reduced the pope’s oxygen flow and levels and that his test results had improved. The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized Feb. 14. He was treated for bronchitis and later pneumonia in both lungs. 

One at a time, Bishop John Dolan called out categories of marriage by length: Couples in their first year, their first five years, 25-40 years and 50 years or more. When he got to those wedded more than a half century, Jay and Mary Sue Krakora got up. Together 55 years, the couple from Mesa, where they are parishioners of St. Timothy, had planned to celebrate their 50th anniversary at a similar event but it was cancelled by the COVID 19 pandemic. Marking their latest milestone during the Diocese of Phoenix’s Honoring Marriage Mass Sunday was the icing on the Krakoras’ cake, as they enjoyed their delayed celebration and were recognized with hundreds of other Catholic spouses.