Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger | Diocese of Tucson website

The Diocese of Tucson bids farewell to Chancellor Anne Morales, who has served the diocese for the past five years. The Diocese of Tucson recently hired Samantha Ansinelli as its new chancellor.

While tasks vary slightly in each diocese, Ansinelli described her new role as “assisting the bishop, acting as his notary, and caring for records and record-keeping. I also review various matters as they arise and consider legal implications of items that may need some additional consideration. In that latter regard, I often work closely with bishop, our diocesan lawyer, and our Judicial Vicar, in addition to a number of different departments and leaders at the Pastoral Center.” Both the former and the new chancellors are licensed attorneys in Arizona.

Responsibilities of the Chancellor’s Office include collecting annual statistics and data about the diocese, keeping records, managing archives, processing letters of suitability for clergy and visiting speakers, maintaining the diocesan directory, and supporting deacons and women religious. “Each day in the Chancellor's Office is very different from one day to the next, and the scope of tasks sometimes varies greatly,” said Ansinelli.

Although a Tucson native herself, Ansinelli’s family hails from the far borders of the diocese. Ansinelli attended Saint Ambrose Catholic School, Salpointe Catholic High School, and the University of Arizona for her undergraduate and law degrees. “After law school, I worked for the senior-most judge in the Pima County Superior Court, and most recently worked for a local private civil law firm where I primarily practiced in business and commercial disputes, contract, appellate, and real property litigation.”

Ansinelli made what might seem to be an unconventional move from a successful law career to work for the Catholic Church. “I was very fortunate to have known Anne while I attended high school at Salpointe! She was my theology teacher at that time,” Ansinelli explained. “There was something about this opportunity that felt like I was already home, in a sense, and I felt very grateful to be able to support the Church in this way.”

Chancellor Emeritus Morales thanked Bishop Weisenburger, the priests and religious across the diocese, and her coworkers in the diocesan chancery. “It truly has been an honor,” said Morales. “It was the best job I ever had because it wasn’t a job. Being the Chancellor is a calling.”