Arizona chaplain fights battle for marriage

Fr. Jim Wall

Phoenix Chapter

Arizona isn’t exactly a battleground state, but Fr. Jim Wall is in the trenches this month trying to win ground as his state decides on a state constitutional amendment to protect marriage. The director of the Mount Claret Retreat Center and the diocesan vicar for priests, Fr. Wall has been the Phoenix Chapter’s chaplain since it was chartered in 2004. He just celebrated his 10th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, and he’s going all out to help Catholics understand the importance of preserving traditional marriage.

Tell me how you first got involved with Legatus.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted asked if I would serve as the group’s first chaplain in 2004. When he did that, I read up on Legatus as much as possible. I knew a few of the couples who were charter members, so that helped as well. The parishes I was involved in (two that were right next to each other) had quite a few Legatus members.

What do you try to bring to the members each month?

Primarily the sacraments. Offering the sacrament of Penance for the members prior to the Mass. This is the most important thing I can bring to them — spiritual nourishment so that they can go out into the world and be ambassadors for Christ. For me, that’s my whole goal — to strengthen their relationship with Christ and his Church so that in the public sector they can be people who are deeply rooted in their Catholic faith and make decisions according to their faith.

Tell me a little bit about the retreat center.

It’s in the middle of Phoenix at the base of Camelback Mountain. We have our monthly meetings there, including confession, rosary and Mass. We have a Serra House there — a place for men discerning the priesthood. The center also has the diocesan office for Cursillo and four private houses for retired priests. I live there as well.

I just had my 10th anniversary of ordination. I went on an eight-day Ignatian retreat in South Dakota with a buddy I was ordained with. Bishop Carlson started it when he was there. It’s a great retreat center; they have a family camp there as well.

In your opinion, what has been Legatus’ greatest contribution to our country and the Church?

In the business world, practices aren’t always virtuous. When members are deeply rooted in their Catholic faith and their consciences are properly formed, they bring the light of the Gospel into a lot of darkness — which our world needs. Just look at what our world is going through right now.

Your state, Arizona, has a marriage amendment on the ballot this year. How is your diocese educating voters on Church teaching about this issue?

On Sept. 14, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, Bishop Olmsted prepared a video statement to be played at all the Masses in the diocese. He talked about marriage, its sacredness, and that society can’t re-define it. He gave some beautiful quotes from the Holy Father and strongly encouraged Catholics to vote in favor of Proposition 102. So we’ve got a really big push on that in our state.

I was just listening to an inspiring talk by Dr. Peter Kreeft on what the Church stands for. He mentioned that the Church is the only institution that does not change its beliefs to fit its practice. There’s no bending on this issue.

For my part, I preach about the sanctity of life, that marriage should be between a man and a woman. I preach about these essentials, these truths, so that when Catholic voters go to the polls they are able to make good, informed decisions.