June 2018

BACK TO BEGINNINGS:
All our parish liturgical services are now being celebrated in the original church space of the parish, now the parish hall. The parish hall was the original church space of the parish for 27 years. The current church space which has been in service for worship for 33 years is undergoing remodeling. Thanks to all of our parishioners for your patience and understanding during this relocation to the parish hall for all our liturgical functions. What remains consistent during this time of transition is our coming together in God’s presence in the Mass, in Word, community, and Sacrament, calling us and leading us to loving service. Whenever God’s people come together in His name, Jesus assures us “there I am in your midst”.

It is our hope that the remodel within the church space will be concluded by the middle of August. The initial phase of the remodel is progressing according to plan. Let’s pray that it will continue to progress favorably on the time schedule that has been set forth.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS (MID-MAY THROUGH MID-AUGUST):
Because of the extensive renewal projects taking place in the church space during the summer months, the weekly exposition is relocated from the Cenacle Chapel to its own special designated room at the northwest corner of the parish hall...currently the Choir Room. The door to the space has a handicap ramp and will be secured at all times by a keypad on the door. The combination to the keypad is available to Eucharist Adorers at the parish office.

All of our weekday and weekend Masses are now in the hall space (our original church) through mid-August. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament follows the regular weekly schedule in its new designated space during the approximate three-month period of time.

I am hopeful that the relocation of the exposition space during this period of time will not change the adorer’s weekly practice of adoration and prayer in the present of the exposed Sacrament.

60TH ANNIVERSARY INTERESTING STATISTICS:
Since the beginning of the parish, there have been 8,813 baptisms; 10,750 first communions; 6,068 confirmations; 3,253 marriages; and 2,830 funerals celebrated here at Our Mother of Sorrows parish.

COMMEMORATIVE 60TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKMARKERS NOW AVAILABLE:
These remind us of our primary purpose with our Parish Mission Statement on one side of the bookmarker and the 60th Anniversary theme …Remember, Renew and Rediscover Jesus Christ on the other side.
 
Remember, Renew & Rediscover

Our parish community gathers in thanks,
As a pilgrim people of faith.
Called by the Lord,
To remember, renew and rediscover.
We pause to remember
The abiding presence of the Lord
On the journey of sixty years.
Yes, and for more than 2,000 years.
We pause to renew our relationship
With this abiding, healing and merciful Presence,
And with our patroness – Our Mother of Sorrows
Bequeathed to us from the Cross.
We pause to rediscover
This sacred and abiding companionship,
As we journey on with Jesus and Mary
On our pilgrim way home.

THREE R’S RENEWAL PROJECTS WELL-PLANNED:
Our deepest thanks and gratitude to all our Building & Maintenance commission members for pre-planning so well for the church building renewal projects during the next three-month period. The commission is now becoming a construction management group. The construction management committee plans to meet on a weekly basis to oversee and monitor the development of these renewal projects within the church. The following parishioners are members of our Building & Maintenance/construction management group: Hank Krzysik (construction manager), Steve Contreras (parish business manager), Jose Reyes (parish facilities manager), Jay Alexander, Rodney Langer, Andy McGovern, Oscar Esquerra, and Randy Samuel.

FLASHBACK TO 3RD WEEKLY BULLETIN . . .JUNE 29, 1958:
Encouraging
The number of parishioners in attendance at the three Masses last Sunday totaled 502. This figure was very encouraging insofar as it was the first Sunday, June 22nd, that Mass was offered at the new parish and the distance to the Seminary was considerable. It is hoped that all parishioners of Our Mother of Sorrows will attend Mass at the Seminary in the very near future.

Additional Masses
Due to the large attendance at the last Mass on Sunday, two additional Masses will be scheduled at 11 and 12 o’clock, beginning next Sunday, July 6th. Five Masses will be celebrated each Sunday, on the hour, beginning at 8:00 o’clock.

Twenty-Second Street
The County Office of Public Highways has been contacted and assurance was given that 22nd Street from Wilmot Rd. to the Seminary shall be watered down each Friday afternoon in preparation for the traffic on Sunday morning.

OUR MISSION AND OUR PURPOSE AS A PARISH:
As we enter into our 60th Anniversary year, we need to ask ourselves the question “Who are we as a parish?” and “What is our purpose?” The verse before the Gospel in the Mass of the Ascension of Christ into heaven gives us clear purpose and mission in the words of Jesus….Go and teach all nations, says the Lord. I am with you always until the end of the world.

Our first purpose as parish is to proclaim and live the Good News. This is a priority and over and above the Three R’s renewal projects within the church space over the next three months. It is easy for us to get sidetracked from our mission onto maintenance. Our Three R’s theme for our 60th Anniversary is at the very heart of the mission of our parish. It is at the core of our faith as Catholics. We are called to: Remember God’s abiding presence with us in Jesus Christ in the community of the Church; Renew our relationship with Jesus Christ again and again through Word, community, Sacrament and loving service; Rediscover Jesus Christ in the joy of the Gospel through ongoing encounter and missionary conversion.

WE ARE STRIVING TO BE A MISSION-DRIVEN PARISH by helping all people encounter Jesus and experience conversion through their involvement at the parish and outside; forming individuals to discern our chrisms on God’s given vocations; answering the outward call of the parish by providing formation for individuals to both take part in parish ministries and transform the secular world. Pope Francis’ definition of a parish featured on the front page of the bulletin each week gives us another perspective on who we are as a parish.

MCS: Our parish is about proclaiming the Message, forming Community, leading to loving Service.

PRIESTS’ TRANSITIONS:
Fr. Richard Awange will be taking up his new assignment in pastoral ministry at St. Margaret’s parish in Tucson on August 1st. The parish is most grateful to Fr. Richard for his very generous spirit of service and ministry during these past two years. He has been very available for a wide range of priestly ministries during this period of time. The parish will host a bon voyage reception for Fr. Richard after the 9am Mass on July 29th. Deacon Thomas Quirk will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral at 10am on June 2nd. Parishioners who have never experienced the beautiful ritual of an Ordination Mass and who may have a desire to participate are encouraged to do so. Fr. Quirk will be taking up his first priestly assignment with us here at Our Mother of Sorrows on the first week of July.

A MESSAGE FROM FR. RICHARD — MY TIME AT OMOS:
Living and ministering among the people of OMOS was a sweet delight. The challenge was a commitment of faith to missionary discipleship. It was a period of creative fidelity to the Joy of proclaiming the Gospel. Initially, it made real demands of my persistence, perseverance and emotional fortitude. But soon the payback was measured in better understanding of the people of OMOS and the culture of ministry that has been maintained in her traditions. I picked up the competency of expression and achieved the reflexes to freely flow with the currents and faith of the people of OMOS — an environment of collaborative ministry. More enriching was the quality of personal friendship and generous hospitality of her people. I found particular satisfaction in my ministry with the children of OMOS School and Life Teens who I will dearly miss so much. Such a worthy time well spent only makes me feel ready to now move on: a Missionary Disciple to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque here in the Diocese of Tucson.
Fr. Richard Awange 
 
INTRODUCTION FROM DEACON TOM QUIRK
Hello, Our Mother of Sorrows Parish! My name is Deacon Tom Quirk. Just a couple of weeks ago, I received a wonderful letter from Bishop Weisenburger telling me that he has assigned me to OMOS this July. He will ordain me a priest this coming June 2nd at St. Augustine Cathedral. (By the way, all are welcome to attend this 10am Mass.) I can’t wait to become a priest, and I’m very excited to begin my priestly ministry with you all.

Our Bishop has placed me with you because he understands that Our Mother of Sorrows parish is an excellent community for a brand new associate pastor. I can’t wait to learn many things, from Msgr. Tom and from you, as I serve as your new priest. Please pray for me and know that you are already in my prayers as I prepare to take on this new role. May our Lord and his Mother, models of faithful service and self-gift, make their presence known to us as we journey together. And may God richly bless you all!
Yours sincerely,
(Almost) Father Tom

KNOW YOUR STAFF — Laura Stehle:
It has been a great blessing for me to be the Director of Religious Education and the Christian Life and Social Concerns Coordinator here at Our Mother of Sorrows. I started working at the parish part-time almost 25 years ago assisting the director with the Religious Education Program. I feel the Holy Spirit guided me in a way I never expected and over the years I took over as the Religious Education Coordinator. In 2004, after completing the diocesan Living Stones program, I started full time as the Director of Religious Ed. It is wonderful to be able to walk with families and assist them in their child’s faith journey. Sacrament preparation and celebrations are a real joy for me as I see the church filled with families celebrating Sacraments.

I have always been involved in social outreach and cared deeply about those living in the margins. In 2012, I became the coordinator for Christian Life and it has been such a joy for me to oversee ministries such as TIHAN, Haiti, Blessed Nuno Society, Care for Creation, Primavera, and Consistent Ethic of Life. Some of my favorite outreach projects include our Thanksgiving Dinner Outreach, Christmas Angel Tree, Lenten Change Haiti Outreach, and pilgrimages to the Blessed Nuno Queen of Angels Orphanage in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

I’ve been blessed with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren that live here in Tucson and all of which have made some of their Sacraments here at the parish. It has been a great blessing to be part of such a wonderful staff and parish and to do something I feel so passionate about.

THREE-YEAR CATHOLIC BIBLE INSTITUTE:
Parishioners interested in learning more about the three-year Catholic Bible Institute may pick up a brochure with registration information at the Parish Office. The three-year Catholic Bible Institute sponsored by the diocese will be hosted again here at Our Mother of Sorrows parish. The Institute usually meets on the third Saturday of each month (8:30am to 4pm), beginning in August. Many of our parishioners who participated in the first three-year series feel very gratified and enriched through the in-depth study of the Bible.

STANDUP FOR KIDS TUCSON:
Kim Sisson, our Parish Youth Minister, is currently Executive Director and has been volunteering with SUFK for ten years. StandUp For Kids Tucson is a small grass roots and 100% volunteer non-profit organization with the goal of recognizing and meeting the needs of our local homeless youth. This includes fundraising, creating awareness and developing programs.

SUFK volunteers go into the streets Sunday and Wednesday evenings with trained volunteers. They reach out to our homeless and at-risk youth and young adults. Carrying food, hygienic products, service information, and other basic supplies, they encounter those kids where they are...living on the streets. Even though homeless kids need these items, the real goal is building trust relationships by being compassionate and loving. Often SUFK volunteers are their only example of a healthy relationship.

OMOS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL STARTING SOON:
VBS snacks are a big part of the Bible-learning experience and your help is greatly needed to help feed our VBS crews. Graham Crackers, Fruit Roll-Ups by the Foot, Capri-Sun, Goldfish Crackers, Vanilla Pudding Cups and Vanilla Wafers are needed. Donations of cash and Fry’s cards help to purchase items in short supply. For additional information about VBS, contact Laura Stehle, 747-1321.

‘PRAYING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS’ BY FR. JAMES MARTIN:
A few years ago, a Jesuit friend remarked in a homily that every time we enter a church we are reminded of our baptismal promises. Sitting in the pews, I thought, “We are?”.

My friend meant that when we dip our fingers into the holy water font and trace the Sign of the Cross on our forehead, shoulders and chest, we are reminded of the waters of baptism and of being baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This “Trinitarian” formula reflects the Christian belief that God has been revealed to us as “one in three persons.” Now, even those who have had just a smattering of theology know that almost anything you say about the Trinity will be inadequate — because the Trinity is a great mystery! It’s hard to say something that won’t deny either the individuality of the Father, Son and Spirit or the unity of three in one.

One of the best insights I’ve heard is that the Trinity is a “community of love”. And as community, the Trinity shows us that our life is lived not only in common with God but in common with one another. God is, to sum up, relational. God’s own nature is relational, and this offers us an insight into our own lives, patterned as they are after the Trinity.

So the next time you make the Sign of the Cross, either as you enter a church, begin a prayer, or even during a moment of fear, you might remember God’s “relational” nature. And you might be reminded that God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — desperately longs to be in relationship with you.

James Martin is a Jesuit priest and author of many books, including Jesus: A Pilgrimage and In All Seasons, For All Reasons, a collection of essays drawn from his column in Give Us This Day.

PARISH BUDGET NEWS FROM STEVE CONTRERAS, PARISH BUSINESS MANAGER:
As we approach the end of May 2018, our stewardship is almost 10% ahead of our budget for this time of the year. Even with the Three R’s Capital Campaign, our stewardship has been maintained, though we have fallen behind where we were last year at this time. As we come to the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, our stewardship typically declines. However, our current surplus will help carry us through the “lean summer”. Our new FY18/19 Budget has been approved by the Finance Committee and OMOS Board of Directors. Due to rising costs and our stewardship plateau, we will need to tighten our belts for next year just like every family does with their household budget. The new stewardship budget will continue with the weekly stewardship goal of $19,000 per week. We are so grateful to you, our parishioners, who make all the 70 to 80 ministries possible with your support.

June 2018 Update

Priest Ordination
June 2nd - 10 a.m.
St. Augustine Cathedral

Feast Days
June 8th & June 9th
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Immaculate Heart of Mary
 
Parish Mission Statement
As missionary disciples filled with the joy of the Gospel, our parish proclaims an ongoing encounter with Jesus Christ through Word, community , Sacrament and loving service.
 
Anniversary Highlights
Sunday, September 16, 2019
Rededication of Church Space
Special Mass at 1:00pm
Concelebrated by Bishop Weisenburger, Bishop Emeritus Kicanas and former OMOS associate clergy. Mass will honor charter members, alumni, religious and former associates.
Refreshments will follow in the Parish Hall.
 
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Parishioner & School Alumni Celebration
(in conjunction with National Catholic Schools Week)
Join us in celebrating 60 years of Catholic education at
OMOS with fellowship, tours and food.

Sunday, March 10, 2019
Festival of Families
Pope Francis will be visiting Ireland this year to celebrate Mass for the World Meeting on Families. Here at OMOS we also want to focus on the importance of families. Come and join us as we celebrate our 60th Anniversary with food, fun and games.
 
60th Anniversary Observances

• May 12-13, 2018 – Thanksgiving Masses. Bring baptismal registers forward at each Mass and highlight Baptism and its ongoing call to repentance, reform and renewal. There have been 8,813 baptisms since 1958. Charter members/families of the parish will be recognized at Mass on May 13.
• June 9-10, 2018 - Celebration of Mass/Eucharist as leading us to reflect on the Mass as the source and summit of living as missionary disciples
• July 14-15, 2018 – Confirmation registers, listing 6,068 Confirmations since 1958, brought forward showing our commitment to living as missionary disciples
• August 11-12, 2018 – First Communion registers brought forward at offertory time and the Mass/Eucharist as leading us to reflect on the Mass as the source and summit of living as missionary disciples. There have been 10,750 First Communions since 1958.
• September 16, 2018 – OMOS Feast Day Celebration and Rededication of the church
• October 5-7, 2018 – Fiesta 40!
• November 3-4, 2018 – Bring funeral/death registers forward at each Mass. There have been 2,830 funerals since 1958. Blessed Mother, saints, shrines and statues in our Catholic heritage
• December 1-2, 2018 – First Sunday of Advent and the Advent Season. Leading to 60th Anniversary Jubilee Year Christmas.
• January 26, 2019 - Begins National Catholic Schools Week at OMOS School. Alumni celebration to commemorate school’s 60th. February 14, 2019 – Valentine’s Day – Bring marriage registers, containing 3,253 marriages since 1958, forward at each Mass. Highlight love, friendship & marriage
• March 6, 2019 – Ash Wednesday; Parish Mission 3R’s – Repentance, Reform & Renewal
• April 21, 2019 – Easter Sunday – Remember, Renew & Rediscover Jesus Christ as Risen Lord
• May 10-12, 2019 - Conclusion of Jubilee Year

 
Mercy Outlets and Pilgrimages
 
Blessed Nuno Society
Join a pilgrimage to the Queen of All Angels Orphanage and
neighborhood outreach in Agua Prieta, Mexico.
Pilgrimages: June 2, Aug. 25, Dec.1
Valid passport required
 
Casa Maria
Mass at Casa Maria on the 2nd Tuesday Mass starts at 10:00am
Sandwich making on the 3rd Thursday
PAC Dining Room 8:30—10:30am

Primavera Men’s Shelter
Cook dinner on the 4th Wednesday
Parish Hall kitchen at 2:00pm
Serve dinner at the shelter
Leave OMOS at 5:00pm

Sr. Jose Women’s Center
Cook Dinner at the Center
Individuals or Groups
Schedule with Madeleine, 747-1321
Day or Night Volunteer
Contact Laura Lynn, 909-3905

St. Vincent de Paul Outreach
Minister here at OMOS to those in need of food and services
Mon - Sat 9:00am - 12:00pm

Stand Up for Kids
Find, stabilize and help homeless teens improve their lives.
Contact Kim Sisson, 747-1321.

TIHAN
Reach out to those living with HIV/Aids.
Help OMOS serve lunch at the Poz Café on the 3rd Monday in January.
Attend volunteer training to help in the office or become a care partner.
 
Kino Mission Pilgrimage
February 26 - 28, 2019
Travel by motor coach during this three-day Tuesday--Thursday pilgrimage, where you will visit some of the missions in Sonora, Mexico established by Fr. Eusebio Francisco Kino. Fr. Kino brought with him ideas and material culture—chiefly the Christian faith, the Spanish language, cattle, and crops that would deeply change the region forever. Join us in retracing the steps of Fr. Kino and the missionaries who followed him. A valid passport is required for this pilgrimage. The $575 fee includes all meals, transportation, and lodging (double occupancy).
 
Additional Pilgrimages During the Year

• Kino Border Initiative
• San Xavier Mission
• St. Augustine Cathedral
• Santa Rita Abbey

 
The Three R’s theme for our 60th anniversary is at the core of our faith as Catholics.
We are called to:

Remember God’s abiding presence with us in Jesus Christ

Renew our relationship with Jesus Christ again and again through Word, community, Sacrament, and loving Service

Rediscover Jesus Christ and the joy of the Gospel through ongoing encounter
and missionary conversion
​
www.omosparish.org