St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, Chino Valley, Arizona

09/02/2026

Our Lady of Sorrows

Men's Rosary Crusade - 6pm
25th of September

St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Chino Valley

09/02/2026

NAZ SCHOOL OF LEADERS MEETING

You are cordially invited to our inaugural Northern Arizona School of Leaders meeting.

Every Cursillista is welcome to School of Leaders. Each meeting begins with Group Reunion and a chance to be inspired with the sharing of the great things that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. Learning in the traditional sense comes from the Technique and Doctrinal talks. Technique focuses on the ins and outs of the Cursillo; doctrine focuses on our spiritual connectedness to the church. The work of the committees which follows is about “doing” the things that must be done and the planning that must precede the doing. The meeting ends with committee reports and a final blessing. If you are someone who wants to give back to Cursillo because the Movement has been such a blessing to you, the School of Leaders is a place for you to get involved. If you are seeking to get your Cursillo flame relit by waiting for a phone call to work the next team, you have another option: come to the School of Leaders and participate in a continual team formation.

Open to all Cursillistas interested of learning about the School of Leaders and the Movement.

Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Sacred Heart Church, 150 Fleury St., Prescott, AZ 86301
Reunite, learn, share, pray, reflect, eat and sing.
Bring a dish or beverage to share.

Questions? Contact: Amy Wright – [email protected]

09/01/2026

THIS WEEK’S READING

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus begins to reveal something to His disciples that they did not expect to hear: He would have to go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise again on the third day. Peter, trying to protect Jesus, resists this idea. But Jesus reminds him that God’s path is not always the path we imagine. Jesus then speaks words that remain a challenge for every Christian:

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Being a disciple of Jesus means more than just believing in Him or attending Mass. It means following Him with our lives, even when doing so requires sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, and self-giving. Taking up our cross means accepting the difficulties of each day with faith and living them in union with Christ, without allowing suffering to distance us from God.

Sometimes we want a Christianity without sacrifice, without difficulties, and without renunciation. We want to follow Jesus only when the path is easy. Yet, Jesus teaches us that true love requires self-giving. The cross is not the end of the story; it is the path that leads to the Resurrection.

He also invites us to ask ourselves: What are we placing above God? We can gain many things in this world—success, money, recognition, or possessions—and yet lose what matters most: our relationship with God and our salvation. Jesus reminds us: “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

This Gospel invites us to examine our hearts. Are we following Jesus only when things are going well? Are we willing to forgive when we have been hurt? To serve when no one acknowledges us? To remain faithful when our faith is put to the test?

Taking up our cross does not mean seeking out suffering, but rather remaining faithful to Christ amidst life's difficulties. We have opportunities to do this every day: in our families, at work, in our parishes, with our neighbors, and especially with those who need our help.

Jesus calls us to stop being mere admirers and to become true disciples. A disciple listens, learns, serves, forgives, and, above all, follows their Master.

May this Gospel help us ask ourselves: Am I willing to take up my cross and follow Jesus—not just with my words, but with my entire life? For in the end, true gain lies not in having everything, but in losing our life for the sake of Christ, so as to find true life in Him. (ZG)

LECTURA DE ESTA SEMANA

En el Evangelio de Mateo, Jesús comienza a revelar a sus discípulos algo que ellos no esperaban escuchar: Él tendría que ir a Jerusalén, sufrir, morir y resucitar al tercer día. Pedro, tratando de proteger a Jesús, se resiste a esta idea. Pero Jesús le recuerda que el camino de Dios no siempre es el camino que nosotros imaginamos. Jesús entonces pronuncia unas palabras que siguen siendo un desafío para cada cristiano:

“El que quiera venir conmigo, que renuncie a sí mismo, que tome su cruz y me siga.”

Ser discípulo de Jesús no significa solamente creer en Él o asistir a Misa. Significa seguirlo con nuestra vida, incluso cuando hacerlo requiere sacrificio, paciencia, perdón y entrega. Tomar nuestra cruz significa aceptar con fe las dificultades de cada día y vivirlas unidos a Cristo, sin permitir que el sufrimiento nos aleje de Dios.

A veces queremos un cristianismo sin sacrificio, sin dificultades y sin renuncias. Queremos seguir a Jesús siempre que el camino sea fácil. Sin embargo, Jesús nos enseña que el verdadero amor requiere entrega. La cruz no es el final de la historia; es el camino que conduce a la Resurrección.

También nos invita a preguntarnos: ¿Qué estamos poniendo por encima de Dios? Podemos ganar muchas cosas en este mundo —éxito, dinero, reconocimiento o posesiones— y, sin embargo, perder lo más importante: nuestra relación con Dios y nuestra salvación. Jesús nos recuerda: “¿De qué le sirve al hombre ganar el mundo entero, si pierde su vida?”

Este Evangelio nos invita a revisar nuestro corazón. ¿Estamos siguiendo a Jesús solamente cuando las cosas van bien? ¿Estamos dispuestos a perdonar cuando nos han herido? ¿A servir cuando nadie nos reconoce? ¿A permanecer fieles cuando nuestra fe es puesta a prueba?

Tomar nuestra cruz no significa buscar el sufrimiento, sino permanecer fieles a Cristo en medio de las dificultades de la vida. Cada día tenemos oportunidades para hacerlo: en nuestra familia, en el trabajo, en nuestra parroquia, con nuestros vecinos y especialmente con quienes necesitan nuestra ayuda.

Jesús nos llama a dejar de ser solamente admiradores y convertirnos en verdaderos discípulos. Un discípulo escucha, aprende, sirve, perdona y, sobre todo, sigue a su Maestro.

Que este Evangelio nos ayude a preguntarnos: ¿Estoy dispuesto a tomar mi cruz y seguir a Jesús, no solamente con mis palabras, sino con toda mi vida? Porque al final, la verdadera ganancia no está en tenerlo todo, sino en perder nuestra vida por amor a Cristo para encontrar en Él la vida verdadera. (ZG)

09/01/2026

Pastor’s Corner, August 30th 2026

Get Behind Me, Satan

Peter continues to demonstrate his limitations. Just when we thought he was actually getting it, Jesus rebukes him and says, “Get behind me, Satan.” Much of the Christian life is this dynamic, isn’t it? We take three steps forward and two steps back. Jesus reminds us to hang in there, to pick up our cross, and move forward. The mantra “Get behind me, Satan” may be necessary at times so that we may stay on track. Let us not be quick to move in the ways and mindset of the world, but rather be steady and purposeful in the mind of Christ.

Peace,
Fr. Michael

El rincón del Párroco

¡Apártate de mí, Satanás!

Pedro sigue mostrando sus limitaciones. Justo cuando pensábamos que por fin lo había entendido, Jesús lo reprende y le dice: «¡Apártate de mí, Satanás!». Gran parte de la vida cristiana se desarrolla bajo esta dinámica, ¿verdad? Damos tres pasos hacia adelante y dos hacia atrás. Jesús nos recuerda que debemos perseverar, cargar con nuestra cruz y seguir avanzando. La consigna de decirle a Satanás que se aparte puede ser necesaria a veces para mantenernos en el camino correcto. No nos apresuremos a adoptar los caminos y la mentalidad del mundo; más bien, mantengámonos firmes y decididos en la mente de Cristo.

La paz sea con ustedes,
Padre Michael

08/25/2026

Kino Catechetical Institute

Catechist Formation/Essentials of The Faith Training
Instructor: Laura Gallant, Ma, MTS, St. Joan Of Arc, Phoenix, AZ

We are excited to announce that Laura Gallant from St. Joan of Arc, Phoenix, has offered to come up to Chino Valley to do the training for the Kino Catechetical Institute here at St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church, Chino Valley. Courses will be held on our parish campus to deepen your understanding of your faith and how to share it with others.

The training consists of 10 courses completed over 9 sessions (per the Diocese of Phoenix), which will be offered throughout this upcoming school year. Courses will be held once a month at St Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church in Chino Valley, AZ. The session will consist of one session per month on Saturdays for 7.5 hours, which includes a ½ hour for lunch and Chapel prayer time. A couple of courses will be combined and will run on Friday and Saturday. The cost is $200 per participant. The cost covers the purchase of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (White Cover) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Blue Cover), for each participant, which will be needed for all the sessions. Lunch will be provided. Tentative dates are as follows: September 26, 2026; October 17, 2026; January 23, 2027; February 20, 2027; March 20, 2027; April 2 & 3, 2027, and May 21 & 22, 2027.

Payments are to be made out and mailed to: St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church, 2062N. Hwy 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. Please write Kino Catechetical Institute training in the memo line.

More information will follow.

Please get in touch with Cathi Early to request the registration form if you would like to sign up for this course.

With Joy in Christ,
Cathi Early
1-714-837-7153
Email: [email protected]

08/24/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to James and his entire team for their wonderful support during this past weekend’s events.

Thank you for cooking and helping make the Tea Party a success, and for generously giving your time and energy to support our Ice Cream Social as well. Your dedication, teamwork, and willingness to serve our parish community are truly appreciated. We are blessed to have people like you who are always willing to step forward and help. Thank you, James, and to your entire team, for sharing your talents, time, and joy with our community! May God bless you abundantly for all that you do for our parish.

Un agradecimiento sincero

Queremos expresar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a James y a todo su equipo por su maravilloso apoyo durante los eventos del fin de semana pasado. Gracias por cocinar y contribuir al éxito de la fiesta del té, así como por dedicar generosamente su tiempo y energía a apoyar nuestra convivencia con helados. Valoramos profundamente su dedicación, trabajo en equipo y disposición para servir a nuestra comunidad parroquial. Nos sentimos bendecidos de contar con personas como ustedes, siempre dispuestas a dar un paso al frente y ayudar. ¡Gracias, James, y a todo tu equipo, por compartir sus talentos, su tiempo y su alegría con nuestra comunidad! Que Dios los bendiga abundantemente por todo lo que hacen por nuestra parroquia.

08/24/2026

THIS WEEK’S READING: Jesus asks His disciples one of the most important questions in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” This question is not only directed to Peter and the other disciples. Jesus asks it of each one of us today. The disciples had heard many opinions about Jesus. Some people thought He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. They recognized that Jesus was a special man sent by God, but they did not fully understand who He truly was. Jesus then makes the question personal: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers with courage and faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, the One sent by God to save His people. His answer is more than a statement of belief; it is a profession of faith and the beginning of a deeper commitment to follow Christ.

A True Disciple Knows Jesus. Being a true disciple begins with knowing who Jesus is. We cannot truly follow someone whom we do not know. A disciple takes time to pray, to listen to God's Word, to participate in the Sacraments, and to grow in a personal relationship with Christ. It is easy to say that we believe in Jesus, but discipleship asks for more than words. Jesus calls us to allow our faith to transform our lives. Knowing Christ means learning to think as He thinks, love as He loves, forgive as He forgives, and serve as He serves. A true disciple does not follow Jesus only when life is easy. A true disciple remains faithful during difficult moments, trusting that God is present even when we cannot understand His plan. A true disciple is willing to follow...

Peter's profession of faith was only the beginning. Jesus was preparing him for a mission. Peter would become a leader among the apostles and would help guide the early Church. This reminds us that every disciple has a mission. God has given each of us gifts, responsibilities, and opportunities to serve. We do not have to be famous or have an important position to be disciples. We can serve Christ through our families, our parish, our workplace, our friendships, and our daily acts of kindness. Sometimes discipleship means volunteering. Sometimes it means encouraging someone who is struggling. Sometimes it means forgiving someone who has hurt us. Sometimes it means having the courage to defend our faith or simply living our Catholic faith faithfully when others may not understand.

A True Disciple Puts Christ First Jesus' question, “Who do you say that I am?”, also challenges us to look at our priorities. If Jesus is truly the center of our lives, our decisions should reflect our faith. We should ask ourselves: Does the way I speak reflect Christ? Does the way I treat others reflect Christ? Do my choices show that I trust God? Am I willing to put God before my own comfort and desires? Being a disciple does not mean being perfect. Peter himself would make mistakes and even deny Jesus during His Passion. Yet Jesus continued to call Peter, forgive him, and use him for His mission. This gives us hope. Being a true disciple does not mean that we will never fall. It means that when we fall, we return to Christ. We allow Him to forgive us, strengthen us, and help us begin again. (ZG)

LECTURA DE ESTA SEMANA: Jesús hace a sus discípulos una de las preguntas más importantes del Evangelio: «¿Quién dicen ustedes que soy yo?». Esta pregunta no va dirigida únicamente a Pedro y a los demás discípulos; Jesús se la plantea hoy a cada uno de nosotros. Los discípulos habían escuchado muchas opiniones sobre Jesús. Algunos pensaban que era Juan el Bautista, Elías, Jeremías o uno de los profetas. Reconocían que Jesús era un hombre especial enviado por Dios, pero no comprendían plenamente quién era en realidad. Entonces, Jesús personaliza la pregunta: «Pero ustedes, ¿quién dicen que soy yo?». Pedro responde con valentía y fe: «Tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo del Dios vivo». Pedro reconoce a Jesús como el Mesías, el enviado de Dios para salvar a su pueblo. Su respuesta es más que una declaración de creencias; es una profesión de fe y el comienzo de un compromiso más profundo de seguir a Cristo.

Un verdadero discípulo conoce a Jesús. Ser un verdadero discípulo comienza por saber quién es Jesús. No podemos seguir verdaderamente a alguien a quien no conocemos. Un discípulo dedica tiempo a la oración, a escuchar la Palabra de Dios, a participar en los Sacramentos y a cultivar una relación personal con Cristo. Es fácil decir que creemos en Jesús, pero el discipulado exige más que palabras. Jesús nos llama a permitir que nuestra fe transforme nuestras vidas. Conocer a Cristo significa aprender a pensar como Él piensa, amar como Él ama, perdonar como Él perdona y servir como Él sirve. Un verdadero discípulo no sigue a Jesús solo cuando la vida es fácil. Un verdadero discípulo permanece fiel en los momentos difíciles, confiando en que Dios está presente incluso cuando no podemos comprender su plan. Un verdadero discípulo está dispuesto a seguir...

La profesión de fe de Pedro fue solo el comienzo. Jesús lo estaba preparando para una misión. Pedro llegaría a ser un líder entre los apóstoles y ayudaría a guiar a la Iglesia primitiva. Esto nos recuerda que todo discípulo tiene una misión. Dios nos ha dado a cada uno dones, responsabilidades y oportunidades para servir. No necesitamos ser famosos ni ocupar un cargo importante para ser discípulos. Podemos servir a Cristo a través de nuestras familias, nuestra parroquia, nuestro lugar de trabajo, nuestras amistades y nuestros actos cotidianos de bondad. A veces, el discipulado implica hacer voluntariado. A veces significa animar a alguien que está pasando por dificultades. A veces significa perdonar a quien nos ha hecho daño. A veces significa tener la valentía de defender nuestra fe o, simplemente, vivir nuestra fe católica con fidelidad cuando otros tal vez no la comprendan.

Un verdadero discípulo pone a Cristo en primer lugar. La pregunta de Jesús: «¿Quién decís que soy yo?», también nos desafía a examinar nuestras prioridades. Si Jesús es verdaderamente el centro de nuestra vida, nuestras decisiones deben reflejar nuestra fe. Deberíamos preguntarnos: ¿Refleja a Cristo mi forma de hablar? ¿Refleja a Cristo mi manera de tratar a los demás? ¿Demuestran mis decisiones que confío en Dios? ¿Estoy dispuesto a anteponer a Dios a mi propia comodidad y a mis propios deseos? Ser discípulo no significa ser perfecto. El propio Pedro cometió errores e incluso negó a Jesús durante su Pasión. Sin embargo, Jesús siguió llamando a Pedro, perdonándolo y utilizándolo para su misión. Esto nos da esperanza. Ser un verdadero discípulo no significa que nunca caeremos; significa que, cuando caemos, volvemos a Cristo. Permitimos que Él nos perdone, nos fortalezca y nos ayude a empezar de nuevo. (ZG)

08/24/2026

Pastor’s Corner, August 23rd, 2026.

Ordinary Holiness Is What Gets Us To Heaven

One of the most prolific of Gospel readings is today when Jesus prompts his disciples to identify him.

The response is amazing as Simon Peter, son of Jonah, quips, you are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

It is at this point Jesus renames the disciple, saying you are Peter, from Greek Petra, Rock, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

This exchange from Jesus was a necessary part to him establishing the Church. It was part of Jesus solidifying the purpose for which he had come into the world to implement God’s plan of salvation.

For the Christian it means we must have some sort of vestiture, commitment, and skin in the game. We must have some sort of semblance of what it is to love the authentic Christian life. Jesus just does not choose anyone, he calls them to build relationship, he calls them into the fold, even though some did not remain. They could not walk the walk.

So many Christians profess Christ, but the question is are we actually willing to identify with him? To identify with Jesus means we seek authenticity in our lives. We seek it in ourselves. We embrace him with everything, and remove sin from our lives as much as possible.

People are numb to authenticity, because it’s not something fostered by our culture. You know the old saying birds of a feather flock together, it’s true because, one, we don’t have to be challenged to grow.

When we sit in an echo chamber we mimic what’s around us. If it’s the same annoying gossiper filling our ear, we have two choices, we either one, shut it down, or two, lower ourselves and get sucked in.

Jesus builds the faith upon Peter not because of his strength or endurance, but because of his ordinary holiness. He identified Jesus and his mission, and regretted deeply his shortcomings.

People are generally unaware of the effect of sin in their lives, especially if they are routinely presenting themselves for Holy Communion, yet not attending to the sacrament of confession.

The remedy is taking a look in the mirror, and asking ourselves, if I died today would I go to heaven? How much in life distracts us from this reality? As humans we find ourselves often caught up in things that do nothing for our spiritual growth nor our attempt to attain heaven. We’ve got to take a serious look at that, and make the adjustments necessary.

How far are we willing to go to for Jesus, if we recognize him for who he is? Do we understand as Peter did the purpose of his mission? You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Let us be like Peter and build the body of Christ in our ordinary way.

Father Michael

El rincón del párroco

La santidad ordinaria es lo que nos lleva al cielo. Una de las lecturas del Evangelio más significativas es la de hoy, cuando Jesús invita a sus discípulos a identificarlo. La respuesta es asombrosa: Simón Pedro, hijo de Jonás, exclama: «Tú eres el Mesías, el Cristo, el Hijo del Dios vivo». Es en ese momento cuando Jesús cambia el nombre del discípulo y le dice: «Tú eres Pedro»—del griego *Petra*, que significa «roca»—, «y sobre esta roca edificaré mi Iglesia, y las puertas del in****no no prevalecerán contra ella». Este intercambio fue necesario para que Jesús estableciera la Iglesia. Formaba parte de la consolidación del propósito por el cual había venido al mundo: llevar a cabo el plan de salvación de Dios. Para el cristiano, esto implica asumir un compromiso real y una entrega personal; debemos tener una idea clara de lo que significa amar la auténtica vida cristiana. Jesús no elige a cualquiera al azar; llama a las personas para construir una relación y las invita a formar parte de su rebaño, aunque algunas no permanecieron en él. No fueron capaces de vivir de acuerdo con su fe. Muchos cristianos profesan creer en Cristo, pero la pregunta es: ¿estamos realmente dispuestos a identificarnos con él? Identificarse con Jesús significa buscar la autenticidad en nuestras vidas; buscarla en nuestro propio interior. Significa abrazarlo con todo nuestro ser y apartar el pecado de nuestras vidas tanto como sea posible. La gente a menudo es insensible a la autenticidad porque nuestra cultura no la fomenta. Existe el dicho de que «los pájaros del mismo plumaje vuelan juntos», y es cierto: a veces evitamos los desafíos que nos harían crecer. Cuando nos encerramos en un entorno donde solo escuchamos lo que nos gusta (una «cámara de eco»), tendemos a imitar lo que nos rodea. Si tenemos cerca a la típica persona molesta que se la pasa chismeando, tenemos dos opciones: o bien cortamos la situación de raíz, o bien nos rebajamos y nos dejamos arrastrar por ella. Jesús edifica la fe sobre Pedro no por su fortaleza o resistencia, sino por su santidad ordinaria. Pedro supo reconocer a Jesús y su misión, y lamentó profundamente sus propias faltas. A menudo, las personas no son conscientes del efecto que el pecado tiene en sus vidas, especialmente si acuden habitualmente a recibir la Sagrada Comunión pero no se acercan al sacramento de la confesión. El remedio consiste en mirarnos al espejo y preguntarnos: si muriera hoy, ¿iría al cielo? ¿Cuánto nos distrae esta vida de tal realidad? Como seres humanos, a menudo nos dejamos absorber por cosas que no contribuyen en nada a Nuestro crecimiento espiritual ni a nuestro esfuerzo por alcanzar el cielo. Debemos reflexionar seriamente sobre esto y hacer los ajustes necesarios. ¿Hasta dónde estamos dispuestos a llegar por Jesús, si reconocemos quién es Él realmente? ¿Comprendemos, al igual que Pedro, el propósito de su misión? «Tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta piedra edificaré mi Iglesia, y las puertas del in****no no prevalecerán contra ella». Seamos como Pedro y edifiquemos el Cuerpo de Cristo en nuestra vida cotidiana.

Padre Michael

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

Cursillista’s Cursillo is Coming!!

Make a Friend, Be a Friend and Bring a Friend to Christ.

Do you have a friend that may be interested in attending the weekend?

Men’s English Weekend: Oct 1-4, 2026

Women’s English Weekend: Oct15-18, 2026

Location:
El Nathan Christian Retreat, 3910 E. El Paso Drive, Flagstaff, AZ

“Cursillo was my spiritual birthday!” Deacon Larry Whelan

“Cursillo has been a life changing experience for me and has brought me back in full compliance of my Catholic faith.” Carmela Gonzales

"During my Cursillo weekend I met Jesus and He changed my life." Alijca Kania

For more information contact Olivia & Art Obregon, 951-833-5584, [email protected]