Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Phoenix, signed on June 9, 2022, the historic decree creating St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish for the pastoral care of African Americans and Black Catholics in the Diocese of Phoenix. May this date be known as “Founder’s Day.” May we celebrate this blessed and historic event ever year until the Lord comes again.

Our first celebration of Founder’s Day will be on Sunday, June 11, the Sunday closest to June 9. In order to prepare for Founder’s Day, a planning committee will be established. This planning committee will consist of two representatives from every ministry in our parish mission. I cordially invite the chairperson of each Parish ministry to submit the names of these two volunteers along with their contact information to our parish office by Friday, March 31.

To prepare spiritually for Founder’s Day, we will pray The Litany of St. Josephine Bakhita five minutes before our Sunday Gospel Mass and before our weekly Wednesday Mass. Moreover, the Litany of St. Josephine Bakhita will be prayed online every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. To participate in the online Litany of St. Josephine Bakhita, please contact me here.

The Litany of St. Josephine Bakhita is posted on our parish website for personal meditation. In addition to this, the final blessing at Mass, will be imparted with the Most Sacred First Class Relic of St. Josephine Bakhita. Finally, on the eve of Founder’s Day, Saturday, June 10, there will be a Holy Hour of prayer before Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of our parish mission.

How blessed and how fortunate we are to celebrate our first Founder’s Day. As a faith community, we celebrate God’s love for us and His mighty action in our history with the gift of St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish. St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish is born from the Heart of the One Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving now and forever. Amen! St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us!

With my most humble prayers,

Fr. Andrew McNair, Pastor

St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Mission