Catholic Outlook

Bishop Emeritus Gerald F. Kicanas and I inside St. John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome.

Photos from the ad limina visit of Bishops Weisenburger and Kicanas to the Vatican

Bishop Weisenburger meets Pope Francis

Here I am with Pope Francis.

Funeral services for Father Raúl Alberto Valencia Garcia, who died in an auto accident on Feb. 7 will follow the schedule below:

Viewing: Monday, Feb. 10, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Funeraria Martinez in Nogales, Arizona.

Nogales Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Feb.11, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 272 N. Rodriguez St., in Nogales, Arizona; Bishop José Leopoldo González González, Bishop the Diocese of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, will be the Mass celebrant.

Tucson Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave. in Tucson.

Burial: Tuesday, Feb. 11, at approximately 3 p.m. at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson.

Father Valencia Garcia was 6o. He had been pastor at St. Monica Parish since July 1, 2011. It was his second assignment to the parish. St. Monica’s had been his first assignment as a newly-ordained priest in July 2003. That lasted until Oct. 14, 2004 when he was assigned to St. Jude Thaddeus in San Luis, Arizona. He ministered at St. Jude from November 2004 until he was assigned to St. Monica Parish in 2011.

Father Valencia Garcia, a native of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was born on July 28, 1959. He attended school at Colegio Fray Pedro de Gante School in Nogales, Sonora and went on to attend the Instituto Technologico de Nogales, (Sonora) from 1976 to 1979. He then attended the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and studied there from 1980 to 1985.

He also received his Doctor of Dental Surgery, (DDS) from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and operated his own general dentistry practice for 11 years in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, from 1986 to 1997.

From September 1997 to July 1998 he attended the Seminario Juan Navarrete y Guerrero, also referred to as the Seminario de Hermosillo. In 1998, he began attending Assumption Seminary in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, and completed his studies there in 2002. He served an internship through Assumption and the Oblate School of Theology and under the supervision of the Diocese of Tucson Vocations Office.

Father Valencia Garcia was ordained to the priesthood for ministry in the Diocese of Tucson on June 7, 2003.

Then Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas appointed Father Valencia as liaison with the Encuentros Matrimoniales for a three-year term beginning in April 2007.

Father Valencia Garcia is survived by his mother, Norma Garcia. He also is survived by five siblings: Lourdes Reyna; Edmundo Valencia Garcia; Denisse Mogollon, Yemille Garza and Maritza Mayer.

A dozen jubilarians joined Bishop Weisenburger at the annual Celebration of Jubilees for Professed Religious.They attended Mass at St. Augustine's and followed with lunch at the Pastoral Center at Cathedral Square. Several other members of the group were not able to attend, but combined, the 15 honored jubilarians have served a collective 825 years in the Church. Thank you for your dedication and service!

In an annual Catholic Schools Week tradition, the staff at the diocesan Pastoral Center was serenaded by the students from St. Ambrose Catholic School in Tucson. Thank you, and thanks to all who help support the mission and staff at the Pastoral Center, as we endeavor to support you!
Happy Catholic Schools Week, one and all!

Just a reminder that the Pastoral Center will close for the Christmas holiday at 11 a.m. on Dec. 23, and reopen Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. It will close again on Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m. and reopen on Jan. 2 at 8 a.m.
May you all have a joyous Christmas and happy New Year.

Knights of Columbus Assembly #2392