(12/17/09)  On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Phoenix Diocese issued a pastoral letter titled “Serving Truth in the University.”  The letter outlines Bishop Olmsted’s vision for the role of the Catholic Church in university life, and specifically on how the two Newman Centers in the diocese are key to Catholic evangelization efforts.  Both Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University are located in the Phoenix Diocese and have Newman Centers.  The letter identifies three elements essential to Catholic outreach at universities: to be a visible witness for Christ and the teachings of the Church, to preach and spread the Gospel, and to provide the sacraments and ongoing faith formation.  “Serving Truth” also mandates chastity education and mentions the duty of the priest chaplain to guard the “dignity and beauty of the liturgy.”  The diocesan vocations director, Fr. Paul Sullivan, was appointed as the bishop’s liaison to the two Newman Centers and will work with the diocesan priests there to aid in “collaboration and unity” as envisioned in the pastoral letter.  According to the article in The Catholic Sun summarizing the pastoral letter, it “comes nearly six months following the appointment of a full-time priest as chaplain of the Holy Trinity Newman Center in Flagstaff.  It also marks the halfway point since it was announced that the Order of Preachers would be turning over administration of the All Saints Catholic Newman Center in Tempe to diocesan priests next July.”  The article reported that Fr. Matt Lowry, associate director of vocations, said that by appointing full-time diocesan personnel to the Newman Centers this year and releasing “Serving Truth,” it is evident that youth evangelization is a top priority for the Diocese of Phoenix..  Read the full text of “Serving Truth in the University” here.  Source: The Catholic Sun