Posted on 04/21/2004 10:16:21 AM PDT by Phx_RC
I think that Phoenix is off to a good enough start toward orthodoxy to be able to mention the names of some of the good priests that we have. In doing so we can give them a bit (or a lot) of public praise that they would never ask for but certainly well deserve.
Please save any comments on bad or marginal priests for some other thread, for they are still a work in progress. And indeed, work is in progress on the worst of them.
A partial list of Good orthodox Phoenix Diocese Priests:
Rev. Chris Fraser. He gives good solid homilies (sermons). When he was an assistant at the cathedral he gave a Very Strong homily against child abuse Especially when its committed by a priest. He has not been ordained very long but he seems very mature in his vocation. What parish is he at now? How is he doing there?
Rev. Nick Floridi. He is the assistant at St. Theresa's Parish. I talked to him once after a Sunday afternoon teen Mass and he indicated that Fr Chris Fraser was going to speak to the youth group that evening. He keeps good company. Anyone know more?
Rev. Alonso Saenz. He is pastor at St Augustine Parish (71st Ave south of Indian School). He is very orthodox. A friend goes there each morning for Mass and the preliminary rosary which Fr. Saenz leads.
Rev. R. Clement. He is pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Chandler and a recent diocesan vocations director. He is one of the very best priests, a fine example to his peers.
Rev. David Kelash. He is pastor of Santa Teresita Parish in El Mirage. A very good priest. He was in a group of six that was ordained aprox. 1994/1995. Three of the six had the first name David. All were believed to be orthodox at that time, except one. One of the six has since left (he got married). Six ordained in one year is the most at any one time in my memory of Phoenix.
Rev. Frank Fernandez. He is pastor of Saint Joseph Parish. When he arrived at St Joseph's he found a church building the interior of which was baren and looked like anything but a church. Now it is one of the finest parishes in the diocese. I believe he used to be a dentist.
Fr. Fernandez has been blessed to have two fine ladies in his parish who helped in his catechetical program. They worked together for the Phoenix newspaper (Republic or Gazette at the time) until the columns they co-authored started becoming too theological. Imagine that. The newspaper's loss, Fr Frank's gain. The story of one of them was written about in the book "Prodical Daughters".
Rev. Albert Hoorman. He is pastor of Corpus Christi Parish. Very good. Ahead of his time in a good orthodox way. There is something especially good, but it is still a bit early in time for print instead of word of mouth.
Rev. Bud Pelletier. He is pastor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood. O'Brien liked to put good orthodox priests out away from the Phoenix area whenever possible.
Rev. Douglas Lorig. He is pastor of St. Anne's Parish in Gilbert. I understand the day (or day after) that O'Brien resigned the tabernacle went directly back to its proper place, the center of focus, in the sanctuary of the church. He is a good orthodox priest and a married convert.
Rev. Fred Adamson. He is the pastor of Resurrection Parish in Tempe. He is so good that our holy Bishop Olmsted has made him a Vicar General and Moderator of the Diocesan Curia.
Rev. David Sanfilippo. He is the pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. He is so good that our holy Bishop Olmsted has made him a Vicar General. He is one of the three, in the group of six, named David.
I probably left out some good priests. Perhaps someone can add to the info or add other names to the list of good orthodox priests.
I was with my daughter at the hospital Easter Sunday, but it wouldn't surprise me. St. Mary's (Chandler, St. Anne's is Gilbert) has had Latin Mass on holy days in the past.
Yup, you bettchum Red Rider! . . . a work in progress.
Sweep, sweep, sweep. . . . . till whenever, often, for however long it may take, with vigor, utilizing the tools and opportunities that God may inspire us to use.
Sending good priests to distant, rural areas has been standard operating procedure in my diocese.
Actually, that is Fr. Bud's home parish, exactly where he wanted to be.
YES!
Flood them with mass cards and letters of support!
You may also want to ask them to pray with you for those catholics who have been lead astray by misguided, liberal, complicit bishops. May God have mercy on their souls.
In Philadelphia, our Catholic Standard and Times had always been headed up by a priest. My wife and I had actually stopped getting the paper because its thrust was Jesus was a socialist, so healthcare should be free, vote Democrat. Well, the new paper is so vastly improved, that we've not only reupped our own subscription, we have bought subscriptions as gifts for others.
The paper manages to focus on traditional Catholic spirituality while ticking off liberals at the same time. There is at least one pro-life article in every issue. I believe, in the years to come, the Standard will have a terrific impact upon the faithful in Philly. I'll pray that you will be similarly blessed in your diocese.
Correct, except for the use of the word "practically." Univ of Dayton is an anti-Catholic disaster. Don't bring that to your diocese just when things seem to be turning around and looking up.
So often there is concise and cogent information available but no one is aware of it when they need it. Just hoping you might know of something.
Bishop pushing for Catholic college
By: Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic -- Apr. 21, 2004 08:20 PM [Excerpted]
Sporadic efforts to start a Catholic college in the Valley could be jump-started by the new bishop of Phoenix.
Bishop Thomas Olmsted on Tuesday appointed Monsignor Dale Fushek, who has handled several special projects for the diocese, to oversee the effort. As vicar general of the diocese since 2000, Fushek supervised planning and construction of the new diocesan offices in downtown Phoenix.
He will join a project that has been discussed in the Valley for at least 10 years and began to take shape in 2000.
In August 2002, leaders of the effort announced that fundraising would begin in January 2003 for a Catholic university for as many as 5,000 students. It would be built on 125 donated acres at the Verrado master-planned community near the White Tank Mountains in the far West Valley.
At the time, the plan was that school would be operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, a 300-year-old international teaching order that operates Lewis University in Illinois and St. Mary's College in California.
Fushek said Tuesday the offer of land from Verrado's developer, DMB Associates, remains on the table.
. . . [snip]
Monsignor Edward Ryle, who has taken part in planning the school, called the bishop's interest "encouraging."
The Phoenix area is "by far" the largest in the country without a Catholic institution of higher learning, Ryle has said. The nearest Catholic schools are in Santa Fe, San Diego and Los Angeles.
I am extremely happy to say he is at St. Andrew the Apostle in Chandler. In fact, he is perhaps the ONLY reason I keep one foot in the door there, in order to support him 100%. He is much needed in an otherwise "liberal" parish, and he is doing well holding it up, always bringing back tradition in his homilies.
I can personally say, that he has helped me tremendously in my spiritual devotion (esp.through Mary) in the last several months, and in my personal life. He is awesome. I only pray that when the senior pastor retires in a couple of years, he will "get" the parish. Only then, I will put my other foot in the door and perhaps stay there.
I am an alumni of Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. An all women's college (in most programs, not their nursing, physical therapy or music programs). They are from the Sisters of Carondelet, but they are pathetic.
Sadly, they have slanted so (more) far left since I graduated in '88, they are practically skidding down the hills of Brentwood. They get not one red cent from me in donations. Loretta Sanchez, D-CA, spoke there last May. Pro abortionist, and the one who led the Democratic "party" at the Playboy Mansion. Real good "role model" for a Catholic college (gag).
Loyola Marymount, on the other hand, I believe have their act more together in that regard. Heck, even Mel Gibson's only daughter went there...he even spoke to one of the graduating classes last May (lucky them!)
An old boyfriend attended St. Mary's (in Northern Cal) back in '84. Lasted one semester, got too expensive then. Wasn't there a high profile case of a (lesbian) coach from St. Mary's mauled by a dog in the Bay Area a few years ago? And her "partner" was suing the dog owners?
If the La Salle "gang" are hiring lesbian and gay employees to work in these Catholic institutions, our work is not done here in Phoenix. Yes, one step at a time, to clean out the cancer that infects us.
Fr.Frazer gave a series of classes on the Cathechism at my church when he was a seminarian and we knew he was bright,Catholic and holy. I prayed that he wouldn't change his mind. It was right at the beginning of the unfolding of the "scandal" and I remember being relieved when I read in the Sun,that he was being ordained. Knowing a little about St. Andrew's,I imagine he has some row to hoe,I am glad you are there. Your brightness and enthusiasm can counter balance twenty of the oh,so trendy,but getting pretty old,"progressives".
What was the aftermath of the Fragimeni esperience?
Sad day in Arizona,we really lost a hero in our world,which has far too few these days.
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