Spirited applause filled SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral Saturday when Bishop Thomas Olmsted said he was deeply grateful “to you families who today have committed your sons to be ordained priests.”

A veritable stranger to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix arrived to be its new bishop Tuesday, saying “because of the love of Christ, I come as a servant of hope.”

Recognizing local pastoral needs, the Vatican has announced that Pope Benedict has appointed the first Hispanic bishop of the Phoenix Catholic Diocese.

Calling Christ "the source of hope" and saying the "future of the church in Phoenix depends on Jesus Christ," Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted humbly took charge of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Saturday in colorful pageantry at Sts. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix.

Sultana Klatt made certain that former Bishop Thomas O’Brien was comfortable and well-fed during the dozen years she was his housekeeper. But for 24 hours in September 1987, her mission was to provide all the comforts of home to Pope John Paul II.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and his Kansas family will arrive late this afternoon at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for his formal installation Saturday as the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix since its formation in 1969.

The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix today will ordain its largest class of new priests in 14 years. It ties the six ordained in 1994.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix will be the principal celebrant for the 10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass at the Church of the Resurrection, 3210 S. Evergreen Road, Tempe. Masses celebrating the resurrection of Jesus will take place across the diocese.

January 14, 2005

The Catholic bishop of Wichita said he "just got rid of a very heavy coat as I got off the plane" when he arrived Thursday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan on Saturday sounded out the themes of his plan to heal and rejuvenate the Catholic community in his first Mass as acting bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.

Temple Emanuel of Tempe, part of the Union of Reform Judaism in the East Valley, has announced that its Judaica Shop has undergone several renovations.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix now almost routinely puts me way up in the balcony when I cover special ticketed events at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix, even when they know, in advance, I am coming.

We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

For the new Catholic bishop, there was no better place to start the new year than at downtown Mesa's Queen of Peace Church.

Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien on Saturday apologized in a letter to Valley Catholics for the "hurt and sorrow" inflicted by the sexual misconduct of priests under his supervision.

Moments after Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted received a phone call Saturday afternoon that Pope John Paul II had died, he went into his chapel at Sts. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix and wept openly.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix will continue to provide a place in which Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien can carry out work in the church despite his felony conviction and pending sentence, the bishop’s successor pledged Tuesday.

January 26, 2005

More than 480,000 Catholics in Arizona get their new bishop today, ending a tumultuous year for an embattled diocese.

We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

February 11, 2005

Far into the night, people patiently waited their chance to come physically close to Jesus Christ. Fragments from the days of Christ’s life were there before their eyes. Some kneeled, some chanted intense prayers, some picked up the small reliquaries containing pieces of Christian history and looked with awe and curiosity.