Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger | Diocese of Tucson website

Staff of the Catholic Foundation and the Diocese of Tucson came together for Thankful Thursday, a day dedicated to giving back and supporting ministries that serve those in need in the community. This particular Thankful Thursday event focused on benefiting two ministries of Catholic Community Services (CCS): St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders and St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry.

At the event, Bishop Edward Weisenburger led the assembly line to create 300 Lent prayer bags and 300 Easter prayer baskets for the St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders. Patsy Klein, program coordinator of the ministry, noted that Bishop Weisenburger worked alongside the staff until the task was completed. These liturgical resources will be distributed to the elderly residing in nursing homes. The St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders collaborates with parishes and priests to provide spiritual support to older adults who are unable to physically attend Mass. They ensure that these individuals have access to the Sacraments, prayer, and a sense of connection with the Catholic Church. Additionally, the ministry offers free training workshops on becoming an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and on advanced care planning within Catholic Social Teaching.

In the previous year, St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry hosted the first diocesan Convocation for 158 Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist from 32 parishes across the Diocese of Tucson. This event demonstrated the dedication and commitment of the ministry to serving the elderly in the community.

The Catholic Foundation also collected men's clothing to be donated to CCS' St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry, which serves all the prisons, jails, and detention centers across the Diocese of Tucson. Deacon Mike Gutierrez, the program coordinator, trains chaplains and volunteers to visit incarcerated individuals and provide them with Mass or a Communion Service, pastoral counseling, evangelization, Bible study, religious education, fellowship, sacramental preparation, and time with the Lord. These faith-based programs are well-received by prisoners who choose to participate.

Furthermore, the St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry supports individuals upon their release from incarceration, assisting them in finding housing, employment, identification, and clothing. Deacon Mike emphasized the difficulty of finding housing after being released from prison and expressed gratitude for the clothing donations, stating, "The men are in such need."

The Thankful Thursday event provided an opportunity for the Catholic community in Tucson to come together and support these vital ministries. Through their efforts, the elderly in nursing homes and the formerly incarcerated received spiritual support, essential resources, and a sense of hope for a better future. The dedication of Bishop Weisenburger, the staff, and the volunteers involved in these ministries is commendable and showcases the compassionate spirit of the Catholic community in Tucson.