Kirsten Bublitz

catholic sun

Flagstaff, Arizona – – This may have been a record number of co-priests gathered around the altar at the Holy Trinity Newman Center in Flagstaff, near Northern Arizona University. On June 9, more than 20 priests celebrated a special Mass with Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.

The mass was to commemorate the inauguration of the priest. Matthew Laurie will play Phoenix Parish’s first Northern Episcopalian minister. On the other hand, Fr. Father Lowry’s brother priests supported him at the altar. Lowry’s family, staff, parishioners and NAU Newman Center students supported him in the congregation.

Reverend John Muir was one of many priests who attended the liturgy. Him and Fr. Lowry grew up together in St. Teresa Parish “under the watchful eye of a priest.” According to Father Kiefer, Muir. Kiefer, pastor of Father Synodality and Planning, was also present to congratulate Fr. Lowry’s installation.

Father Muir recalled the early days of his friendship with the Father. Lowry.

“When I first met Fr. Matt I thought, ‘He’s a fun guy and has a great sense of humor,’ but I was really annoyed because of the way he played basketball.” No matter what you do, he was Mr. Hustle. ’ Muir laughed.

“[Fr. Matt]think about the drive and effort you’ve spent years and years in preaching the gospel and reaching out to people. [the people] Influenced in the last 15 years [and who] Father Matt brought the love and mercy of Jesus. ”

Fr. Lowry will continue in this additional role as pastor of the Holy Trinity Newman Center, visiting dioceses in Coconino, Mojave and Yavapi Counties to support their priests and dioceses.

Bishop Dolan used the opportunity to preach to explain the role of all baptized Christians as vicars of Christ.

“What does it mean to be Christ’s vicar? We must follow Christ, and we are Christ’s mirror image, His face. We are everywhere we go, especially in the Eucharist. I am asked to bring the Lord with me when I receive the

“We are not walking before God. We are not walking behind God. We walk with Him. [A vicar] It reflects Christ. ”

Angela Vargas has worked with Fr. Mr. Lowry has been with the Holy Trinity Newman Center for the past 12 years and has served as Chief Operating Officer for the past four years. Father Lowry served as a pastor for just over a year before becoming a pastor of the NAU Newman Center. Vargas had a front row seat to watch him grow into the priest he is today. Priests, she said, reflect Christ most notably through their ability to be present to the person in front of them. With tears in her eyes, Vargas explained the mass of the installation.

“It was a great honor to see such a holy man blessed by an even greater flock than before. I know he will call their names and guide them well,” Vargas said.

“He met someone and knew his name. Until she says she doesn’t know who it is. We all want our names to be called. Matt is good at it. ”

Father Vargas noted the vastness of the parish, and Alfredo Valdes-Molina of La Santisima Trinidad Catholic Mission in Scenic, Arizona, drove five hours to attend. He was a visual representation of the size of a 44,000-square-mile parish and why a role like Fr. Lowry’s was established as the spokesperson for the Northern Diocese.

Vargas meets Fr. Lowry’s time at the Newman Center was formative to prepare him for this additional role.

“Newman Center has a very diverse student and parishioner population. Every day we have opportunities to encounter human wounds as well as God’s love. Father Matt developed a deep love and empathy for everyone he met, which enabled him to serve others more deeply. ”

Bishop Doran also recognized a priest. Lowry had a formative time at the Holy Trinity Newman Center. with the priest. Lowry’s current tenure at the Newman Center has lasted and will continue for 14 years, but he has knowledge of the north of the parish that many priests don’t.

Father Laurie’s time at the Newman Center also helped teach his students how to fulfill their mission, how to move beyond the boundaries of the center and go out onto campus and meet God’s people there. Fr. Lowry frequently travels around campus on a longboard, picks up his basketball at his center for recreation, and has lunch with students at Hot He Spot, an on-campus food and beverage establishment. I eat and model what it’s like. Well, Fr. Lowry will be on an even bigger mission.

“I asked the Anglican ministers in the north to see the Christian community, together with the deans of their respective regions, and to read Jesus’ gospel proclamation in Matthew 28, ‘Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, and with the Father. Baptize in the name of the Son of the Holy Spirit,” said Bishop Doran.

“How do we perceive our mission to go and make disciples? Let us know and we will move forward from there.”

Bishop Doran, in step with the Lord, dreams of what will happen in the Diocese with the Father. Lowry’s new role. One of the dreams, he added, is to further encourage vocations to the priesthood from the North and to fill the future seminary with men not just from Mojave County, but from every county that is part of the diocese. . Another dream is to make Diaconteto more accessible to men in the North by creating another track of programs that men can establish without going to the Diocesan Center in Phoenix.

Father Lowry recognized that many of Bishop Doran’s dreams came from his close attention to the needs of the North.

“[Bishop Dolan]Thank you for listening to the voices of the many people in North Korea who are feeling a little alienated as I get to know them. [from the diocese]. My appointment was in response. [Bishop Dolan] He’s listening, he cares a lot, and he wants to connect with people in the north,” the priest said. Lowry said.

“After all, I want to do the will of the Lord. Many years ago, when I lay down as a deacon, I said yes to the Lord and it was like, ‘Okay.’ I was like, ‘Lord,’ I will do my best wherever you send me. I want you to do your best through me. ”