Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix to celebrate healing mass Saturday at St. Joseph's Church

All members of the community are welcome to take part in a healing mass Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 900 W. Grant Ave.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix, Eduardo Nevares, will be in town for the healing mass and the First Friday Mass at 5 p.m., with a community dinner after at 5:30 p.m.

A period of praise and worship and the liturgy of the day will precede the healing mass, said St. Joseph's Pastor Kilian McCaffrey.

"But the feel of the mass is much more upbeat, very energetic and very beautiful," he said.

McCaffrey called healing masses wonderful events and hopes to start having them on a more regular basis.

"It's just for any special healing that needs to happen in people's lives," he said. "It can be from a relationship, from a physical illness, it can be for family."

After the mass, groups of prayer teams, several of which are bilingual, will be available to pray over people.

"This is an extremely powerful experience," McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey said he is expecting a full house for the healing mass, and encouraged people to arrive early.

Bishop Nevares was last at St. Joseph's in May for the confirmations and first communions. Bishops typically come to a parish like St. Joseph's about two to three times per year, McCaffrey said.

"It's a real privilege for us to have him come up for a healing mass," McCaffrey said. "This is very, very special."