There is a woman in Concho, Arizona claiming to be a Benedictine Sister with a community of Sisters.  This is not so!  Jackie Schwiekart has been attempting to pass herself and her companion(s) as bona fide Benedictine Sisters.  They claim to have Bishop Pelotte's permission.  Sister Mary Matthias Ward, OSU, the Bishop's Delegate for Women Religious has recently been in contact with Jackie Schwiekart over this issue. 

Jackie Schwiekart does not enjoy any canonical status as a group of Religious Women of any sort in the Diocese of Gallup.  They have no permission from Bishop Pelotte or any other Bishop or Benedictine Abbot, Prior, Abbess or Prioress or director of associates to present themselves as connected to the Order of St. Benedict in any way.

The diocese is fortunate to have several groups of volunteers come and do mission work and youth outreach work from places throughout the country.

All volunteers that work with Children and Youth must have verifiable Juvenile Sexual Abuse Training on record with the Chancellor's Office.  This includes those who are visiting only for a short period of time.  A statement from the authority from which any given group has come must provide this documentation a minimum of two weeks prior to the arrival of the volunteers.  These may be faxed to the Chancellor at 505-722-9131 or mailed to P.O. Box 1338, Gallup, NM 87305 or .pdf e-mailed to officeofbishop@cnetco.com

Who does this include?  Anyone conducting ministry to, with or for those 18 years of age or younger in any program that is done under the auspices of the Catholic Church.

The Three Bishops of Arizona, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix and Bishop Pelotte, SSS of Gallup have declared March, 2007 as Knights of Columbus Month in the State of Arizona.

See the official proclamation at www.dioceseofgallup.org

Diocese of Gallup seminarian Patrick Norris Johnson has been given permission by Bishop Pelotte to be accepted into the Ministry of Reader.

This advancement is one of several canonical steps taken as a man prepares for ordination as a priest.  In former times, these were known as "minor orders" and now are known as "ministries." 

Mr. Johnson will participate in the liturgical rite of advancement to Reader on March 12, 2007 at Mount Angel Seminary in Mount Angel, Oregon by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S - Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle.

Please keep Patrick and all our seminarians in your prayers.  Also, please pray and work for vocations to the priesthood.

Deacons are required to make a retreat each year.  The diocesan bishop is responsible to see that all deacons are attending an annual retreat.   The Diocese of Gallup provides an annual retreat for deacons.  This year the retreat is March 23-25 at Sacred Heart Retreat Center.

Occasionally, deacons may request to be exused from this retreat due to personal reasons.  However, those who have missed one annual diaconate retreat should endeavor not to miss two in a row.  This is important in order to maintain fraternaty among the Order.

April 24, 2007 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cost = $20.00 and includes Lunch

Presenter:  Sister Mary Matthias Ward, OSU

Theme:  Encountering Christ in your place of work...

We will develop: How to make a friend, How to be a friend and how to indroduce that friend to Christ.

We will discuss: What makes working for Christ so special?

We will learn:  How to keep that friendship alive

Please register by calling 505-722-6755 before April 17, 2007

• The April Ministry Formation Weekend is April 13-15, but not also April 27-29.
• The Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend is scheduled for July 20-22, 2007, not July 27-29.

Please make these notations on your copy of the March Chancery Bulletin.  Thank you.

Each year an orientation day is conducted for those new to diocesan ministry.   This training is required of:

• New religious men and women assigned within the diocese.
• New lay employees in parishes, missions, schools, and Catholic Charities.
• New Catholic school principals, teachers, aids & employees.

For 2007, this orientation is scheduled for Friday, August 17, 2007.

More information will be available later.