Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we pray for peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Holy Father is preparing for the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Today, at the Papal Audience, Pope Francis shared the following message:

“We ask the Lord of life to deliver us from this death of war. With war everything is lost, everything. There is no victory in a war: everything is defeated.” He invoked the Lord “to send His Spirit to make us understand that war is a defeat for humanity, which we need to defeat, all of us. May the Spirit make us understand that waging war is a need that destroys us,” and he prayed that we be delivered “from this need for self-destruction. I would like to take a minute to remember the victims of the war. The news of displaced persons, of people fleeing, of people killed, people wounded, of so many soldiers fallen on both sides, is news of death. We pray, too, for leaders to understand that buying weapons and making weapons is not the solution to the problem. The solution is to work together for peace and, as the Bible says, to turn weapons into instruments for peace,” and he asked those present to join him in prayer to Our Lady.

Let us turn to some wonderful news about Religious Life in the Diocese of Phoenix:

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Here’s news from the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary:

Sr. Esther Pilar teaches theology at Bourgade Catholic High School. Here she is decorating her classroom with a student and making it a home where many young people can discover their vocation to be the saints of the new millenium!

Sr. Clare Marie, SCTJM leads Newman Night Bible Study at the Holy Spirit Newman Center. Students come every week to enjoy dinner together, learn about the faith, and share in men’s and women’s small groups.

Sr. Clare Marie, SCTJM and Sr. Kelly Grace, SCTJM lead the students in a prayer as they conclude an afternoon on GCU campus where they go every week to pray the Rosary and play games.

May 12-19, 2021, the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary led young people from three different Newman Centers on a Pilgrimage “In the Footsteps of St. John Paul II.” The pilgrimage was spent hiking the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, growing together as a family, and, most of all, encountering the Lord in His Eucharistic presence.

June 3, 2021, Sr. Esther Pilar, Sr. Clare Marie, and Sr. Kelly Grace of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, participated in the Eucharistic Procession held by Bishop Olmsted on the Solemnity of Corpus Cristi.

June 11-12, 2021, the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary hosted the first Vigil in Honor of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the Diocese of Phoenix! Mass was celebrated by Bishop Olmsted for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was held all night until midnight Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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Here’s news from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, BVM Sisters:

December 14, 2021, Sr. Lynn Winsor, BVM was named as the first non-retired Athletic Director on the Hall of Fame of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association at the 52nd National Athletic Directors Conference in Denver, CO. What an honor! Congratulations, Sr. Lynn! We are proud of you.

From Xavier College Preparatory School’s The Gator Byte: Sister Lynn Winsor, BVM, Vice Principal for Activities and Athletic Director, was inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Hall of Fame on December 14, 2021. The installation took place at its recent annual conference in Denver, Colorado in front of more than 1,000 attendees. For the last 45 years, Sister Lynn has served as Xavier’s Athletic Director. She has brought national recognition to our many sports programs, as well as attracted millions in athletic scholarship opportunities for Xavier’s student-athletes. Just last fall, Sister Lynn was honored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) with the 2021 NFHS Title IX  Woman Trailblazer of the Year, Arizona celebrating her work promoting Title IX and advancing equity in athletics. The Hall of Fame award was a complete surprise to Sister Lynn because it is reserved for retired Athletic Directors. The NIAAA made an exception for Sister Lynn, who has no intention of retiring anytime soon! Also, it is the first time a Hall of Fame award was given to a religious sister.Six sisters from her convent in Phoenix, including Sr. Joan and Sr. Joanie, as well as three BVM sisters from the Midwest, attended making the occasion even more memorable. A special reception in Sr. Lynn’s honor was held the night before the official award. Twenty-five alumnae from Xavier who live in the Denver area also attended! About the award, Sister Lynn said,“I wouldn’t be here without the support of Sister Joan, Sister Joanie, our administration, athletic staff and coaches, parents, and our wonderful students. This award is both humbling and thrilling, and I am most fortunate to work in a field where I can advance high school athletics and activities — especially in the area of girls sports.”

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Here’s news from the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah:

On February 11, 2022, The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sr. Mary Brigid of the Good Shepherd, PCPA made her First Profession of Vows at Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah, AZ. Enjoy these photos:

Blessed Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord!

May your heart on this Solemnity be filled with joy and gratitude for your “Yes” to Jesus Christ Our Lord.

God bless you!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Sr. Anthony Mary Diago, RSM, Director of the Office of Consecrated Life of the Diocese of Phoenix