Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger | Diocese of Tucson website

Bishop Edward Weisenburger annually honors priests marking their 25th, 40th, 50th, and 60th jubilee years. A jubilarian is a priest or religious figure who is celebrating a significant anniversary since their ordination or vow-taking.

This year, Bishop Weisenburger bestowed papal blessings upon nine priests who have collectively served the Catholic Church for 300 years. To receive a papal blessing, one must be celebrating a 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60th anniversary of priestly ordination, religious profession, or marriage.

The nine jubilarians of this year concelebrated a special Mass with Bishop Weisenburger at St. Augustine Cathedral. They were joined by fellow priests from across the Diocese of Tucson.

The Diocese of Tucson extends its congratulations to the following:

Celebrating their 50th anniversaries and ordained in 1974 are Rev. Martin Barnum at Our Lady of the Valley in Green Valley; Rev. Harry Ledwith, retired from St. Pius X in Tucson; and Rev. Joseph Saba at St. Patrick in Bisbee.

Marking their 25th anniversaries and ordained in 1999 are Rev. Richard Awange, C.S.Sp., at St. Mary Margaret Alacoque Parish in Tucson; Rev. James Mascarenhas, M.S.F.S., at Immaculate Conception Parish in Yuma; Rev. Rudolf Ofori; Rev. Alexander Tigga, M.S.F.S., at St. James the Apostle Parish in Coolidge; Rev. Alfonso “Ponchie” Vasquez, O.F.M., at San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson; and Rev. Justin Whittington, S.J., at the Vatican Observatory in Tucson.