Local Priests Shaken by Attacks in Homeland
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Sacerdotes nigerianos de Tucson afligidos por violantos ataques y asesinatos JUNE 2018 VOL. XI NO. XI diocesetucson.org — ver pagina 18 DEATH in Nigeria Local priests shaken by attacks in homeland CNS photo by Afolabi Sotunde, Reuters In January, Fulani herdsmen in the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, killed 80 in an attack on a remote village. The picture here shows a woman weeping Jan. 11 as a truck carries the coffins of some of the people killed then. On April 24, two priests and more than a dozen parishioners were killed in a similar attack. Those deaths shook members of the Nigerian community here. For stories on this and other signs of growing unrest in Africa, see stories beginning on page 3. Spring Bridal: ASU professor addresses God’s vision for marriage — See page 12 2 CATHOLIC OUTLOOK JUNE 2018 Msgr. Fuller celebrates 62 years of ministry and service in the Diocese By MICHAEL BROWN Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Tucson, seminary in Los Angeles, but about when the Tribunal appointment Managing Editor would later become Bishop Francis a month after enrolling, the vice expired, Msgr. Fuller was named J. Green, the Fourth Bishop rector stopped him in the hall, Chancellor. It was 1962, and that fall Msgr. Robert D. of Tucson. he recalled. Bishop Gercke had was the first session of the Second Fuller, 87 - pastor at St. “I said, ‘Father, this is sent a letter to the administration Vatican Council. Frances Cabrini Parish Bob Fuller,’” he recalled. It instructing them to send home any “That was a very interesting time,” in Tucson, known for quickly became clear that student who was deficient in Latin. he said. his brief but poignant Father Green had no idea To this day, Msgr. Fuller said, he has Bishop Green was “very much homilies, his embrace who the young man was on no idea why he wasn’t dismissed. in favor of the council. His biggest of lay leadership and the other end of the phone, “Maybe they negotiated something problem was getting pastors back the changes of Vatican Msgr. Fuller said. However, with the bishop.” here to become interested.” II - is retiring. when the caller indicated His Latin skills improved quickly, Bishop Green attended all the He will be feted at a MSGR. ROBERT that he was interested in the and eventually, his knowledge of sessions of Vatican II, so he spent parish celebration June D. FULLER priesthood, the pastor warmed church rituals. Initially, “I didn’t long periods away from the Diocese. 3 in the church hall, up to him right away. The know how to serve Mass,” he said. Msgr. O’Dougherty was then vicar honoring his 31years caller was told to come right “I couldn’t give the 15 decades of general, but was not often in the there as pastor. Father Jay Jensen down to discuss it. the rosary.” office, so much of the daily duties takes over as the first new pastor Minutes later, he was at the Of the 40 students in his minor of running the Diocese became his at St. Frances since Ronald Reagan rectory, talking to Father Green. seminary class, 25 went on to responsibility, Msgr. Fuller said. was president. “He says, ‘Bob, there’s something major seminary and only 10 were In 1963, Msgr. Fuller was named Msgr. Fuller looked back last about you that I always thought you ordained. “That’s why I believe that director of the diocesan Bureau month at 62 years in ministry, all might be a priest. … I think it may vocations really come from your of Information, which included but five of which were spent in the be the way you walk,’” Msgr. Fuller heart,” he said. oversight of the diocesan newspaper, Diocese of Tucson. recalled, adding that the pastor’s Years later, he learned about then called the Arizona Register. Msgr. Fuller was born in Iowa, but newfound recollection of him was another hurdle he had to overcome. The Bureau, a precursor to the his father died when he was young, “very imaginative.” In documents he obtained from Communications Office, issued and his mother moved the family to Bishop Daniel J. Gercke needed the seminary, he received a special press releases to media outlets Tucson in 1941. Although he went to approve anyone entering the dispensation from the Vatican. It throughout the state at a time to Catholic elementary schools, he seminary from the Diocese, so the turned out that his father was a when the relationship between attended and graduated from Tucson two went to visit the bishop. “Bishop Shriner, a member of the Masons, so television, newspapers and the High School in 1948. Msgr. Fuller Gercke was a linguist. He was very special approval was needed. bishop was frayed. said he wasn’t heavily involved in much into classical languages – Latin In 1956, Bishop Green, as an Msgr. Fuller cited one example: church, although he attended Mass and Greek. He insisted that every auxiliary bishop, was allowed to Sentiment had been growing to start weekly. “During my high school student know Latin before he can go ordain Msgr. Fuller to the priesthood a diocese in northern Arizona as years, I had no association with my to the seminary.” at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. His the Phoenix area developed. While parish at all.” Msgr. Fuller had never been an first assignment was at Queen of Bishop Green was attending Vatican “It was June of 1948 and I had altar server and with only one year Peace Parish in Mesa, which was still II, Msgr. Fuller said, a call came this idea that maybe I wanted to be a of Latin in high school, he flunked part of the Tucson Diocese before in from a reporter at the Arizona priest. You are never sure, you know. Bishop Gercke’s oral exam, he said. the Diocese of Phoenix was formed. Republic to discuss a few questions, That’s what seminaries are for,” he “Father Green started pleading for One day, he received a call from including whether or not Phoenix said, adding, “I pick up the phone me, ‘Please just give him a chance.’” the head of the Tribunal, saying that would have its own diocese. Given its and called Father Green.” Bishop Gerke agreed. Bishop Gercke was thinking about size and growth, it would make sense “Father” Green, then pastor of Msgr. Fuller was at the minor appointing him to the Tribunal. “I for Phoenix to have its own diocese said, ‘I don’t want to go. I am very “someday,” Msgr. Fuller said. “The happy with what I am doing here,’” next Sunday’s newspaper on page No Catholic Outlook in July Msgr. Fuller said. one (the headline) all the way across Later, he consulted with his the page said, ‘Church official says Editor’s note: The Catholic site identified as “Tucson Bishop pastor, Msgr. Loyola O’Dougherty, Phoenix to be diocese.’” Outlook does not publish in the Edward Weisenburger”. who encouraged him to call back The bureau succeeded in helping month of July. The August issue Finally, we have discontinued and apologize. “‘What I said to you daily newspapers pay attention to will be in parishes by Aug. 4-5. sending out alerts when the new remains true. I am just sorry if I important stories, including the Deadline for information to be Catholic Outlook is available didn’t say it the right way,’” he said. Bishop’s Charity and Development published in that issue must be online. The good news is that The following week, Msgr. Fuller Fund, precursor to the Annual submitted no later than July 10. readers no longer need to sign received notice of the appointment Catholic Appeal. The bureau The Outlook office will be open in to see the online version of typed on a notecard. “After one year, also began a partnership with during the summer at the Diocesan the paper. A link appears on the I was down at the Chancery office.” radio stations with large listening Pastoral Center, 64 E. Broadway homepage; sometimes, a story will “Why he did that, I don’t audiences, reading the news of the Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701. appear there before it appears know,” Msgr. Fuller added. “The Arizona Register over the air. Meanwhile, to stay up to in print. When the print version bishop and I ended up being good By the late 1960s, he was ready to day with the news of the is available online, a notice is friends, actually.” step away from full-time diocesan “He was not a guy you would take leadership, Msgr. Fuller said. Bishop Diocese, check out the web site posted on the “Catholic Outlook” to really quickly,” he said. “He was an Green, however, had one more task diocesetucson.org. For up-to- Facebook page. interesting person. … He gave a very for him: the creation of the Phoenix the-minute news, follow or friend If you have a question, please gruff impression, but underneath it Diocese and the reallocation of “Catholic Outlook” on Facebook, email [email protected]. all, it wasn’t true.” resources. It was established on and to keep up with the bishop, Thank you. In 1960, Bishop Green succeeded June 28, 1969, and the first ordinary follow or friend the Facebook Bishop Gercke and two years later, See FULLER on page 16 JUNE 2018 CATHOLIC OUTLOOK 3 Tucson’s Nigerian priests haunted by violent attacks, murders back home By MICHAEL BROWN slit his throat. The boy Father Jandeh. Managing Editor was also killed,” Father Father Kusugh said that the conflict Jandeh said.