I set up a tour of St Mary’s Basilica today with our some of our teens. Gordon the Choir Director a wonderfully knowledgeable young man who hails from Scotland, presented the history of the Basilica with such passion and  joy it was hard not to be interested. The majestic stained glass windows and sound of the organ enraptured us in the mystery of faith.

We were invited to the choir to glimpse the great organ and back window of the Immaculate Conception, and then Gordon took us up the stairs to the balcony where Blessed JPII addressed Phoenix over 20 years ago. I felt as if I was walking on sacred ground and imagined what it was like in his presence.

Gordon spoke of the early missionaries that set the foundations of faith and ultimately the Basilica in Phoenix. Imagine the hardships they endured in the desert hundreds of years ago. We are so blessed for their sacrifices.

May we thank God for all of them. May we imitate their determination and great love so that generations from now others will be grateful that we did our part to add to the solid foundation already built by these.