About Miles Jesu - Miles Jesu Center for the Laity · Phoenix, Arizona
Miles Jesu Center for the Laity in Phoenix, Arizona, is the U.S. formation house of Miles Jesu, an international institute of consecrated life dedicated to the sanctification of the laity through community life and secular professions. Founded on January 12, 1964, by Claretian priest Father Alphonsus Maria Durán, the community grew out of the Cursillo movement and now welcomes thousands of Catholics each year to its 17-acre citrus-grove campus in South Phoenix for daily Mass, an extensive confession schedule, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, youth evangelization, and discernment programs. The current chapel is a converted room; construction of the new Chapel of Our Lady of the Epiphany broke ground on the institute's 61st birthday in January 2025.
- Established
- 1964
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
Miles Jesu Center for the Laity is an unusually accessible spiritual hub in the Diocese of Phoenix: alongside daily Mass and one of the Valley's most generous confession schedules (four days a week, morning and afternoon), it hosts perpetual-style adoration, monthly three-day Challenge retreats for teens, street evangelization at the Phoenix Art Walk, mental-health ministry, retreats for discernment, and the House of Christian Formation for young men exploring vocations. Pilgrims and parishioners find here a lay-driven, bilingual (English/Spanish) community that intentionally merges work, prayer, and witness—grounded in a four-decade track record of welcoming Catholics from parishes across the Valley.
Mass times at Miles Jesu - Miles Jesu Center for the Laity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (call ahead to confirm priest availability)
Adoration times
- Friday beginning at 7:00 AM
- Sunday beginning at 9:00 AM
History of Miles Jesu
Miles Jesu was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 12, 1964, by Claretian priest Father Alphonsus Maria Durán as a fruit of the Cursillo movement. A handful of Phoenix men who had made a Cursillo retreat felt called to dedicate their secular careers to Christ, forming a community of fraternal life and prayer that gradually took on the form of an institute of consecrated life with vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In 1970, membership was opened to widows, and a few years later to young unmarried women, with separate men's and women's branches. Following Vatican II's emphasis on the universal call to holiness, Miles Jesu extended some form of membership to all Catholics regardless of state of life. Domus communities (houses of celibate members) spread internationally from 1984 onward, and the General House was relocated to Rome.
- 1964 — Founded in Phoenix by Fr. Alphonsus María Durán from the Cursillo movement
- 1970 — Membership opened to widows
- Mid-1970s — Membership opened to unmarried women
- 1984 India; 1985 Spain; 1987 Nigeria; 1988 Italy; 1990 Ukraine; 1991 Poland; 2004 Slovakia — international domus foundations
- May 2007 — Fr. Durán removed by the Vicariate of Rome; investigation led by Fr. Anthony McSweeney, SSS
- May 25, 2009 — Fr. Barry Fischer, CPPS, appointed commissary to revise the institute's practices and constitutions
- December 8, 2012 — Revised constitutions approved by the Vicariate of Rome
- May 2013 — New governing structure installed at a General Electoral Assembly
- December 2013 — Current formation program approved
- January 12, 2025 — Epiphany Chapel groundbreaking on the institute's 61st birthday
- July 13, 2025 — Bishop Nevares blesses the 650-lb chapel bell
The Epiphany Chapel Project
After 25 years of active service in the Diocese of Phoenix and thousands of welcomees in cramped, makeshift facilities, the Miles Jesu community launched a three-phase, $6 million capital project to expand and modernize its South Phoenix Formation Center. Phase 1 removes structures beyond repair and builds a new free-standing Mission-style chapel (capacity 100) with the community's signature-style confessional and a sanctuary for the Blessed Sacrament. Phase 2 adds a 4,000-square-foot multi-use community center and an interior courtyard with a fountain. Phase 3 constructs a new residence for the men's community with a wing for the House of Christian Formation, and converts the 2016 temporary residence into a retreat house with private chapel, dining room, kitchen, conference rooms, and overnight rooms. The new chapel is dedicated in memory of Fr. Paul Mary Vota, MJ, a Miles Jesu priest who died of cancer in 2009.
- Phase 1 — New Mission-style chapel of Our Lady of the Epiphany, capacity 100, signature confessional, 650-lb bronze bell
- Phase 2 — 4,000 sq ft multi-use community center and courtyard with fountain and trees
- Phase 3 — New men's residence with House of Christian Formation wing; conversion of 2016 temporary residence into retreat house
- Donor bricks ($1,000) engraved around the St. Joseph monument, prayed for at every Mass
- Construction manager: 3R Construction Group LLC
Formation Center & Chapel
The Miles Jesu Center for the Laity occupies a 17-acre active citrus grove at Baseline Road and 20th Street in South Phoenix. The current chapel is a converted dorm room of roughly 200 square feet seating about 40; an attached confessional was added in 2002 to handle the thousands of penitents who visit each year, with a covered porch/walkway serving as a waiting area in summer and winter. Other original 1970s-era buildings house the men's and women's communities, the House of Christian Formation, classrooms, and limited overnight lodging, while the larger portion of the property remains an active citrus grove. The new Chapel of Our Lady of the Epiphany will replace the makeshift space and serve as the spiritual heart of the campus.
- 1925 E Baseline Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85042
- Existing 200 sq ft chapel, 40-seat
- Confessional added 2002
- Old 1970s residence used for House of Christian Formation
- Active 17-acre citrus grove
Retreats & Discernment
Miles Jesu offers three types of retreats—a Vocation Orientation Retreat, an evangelical Community Retreat, and a Consecration Retreat—all conducted in Phoenix, Rome, Lviv, India, and Nigeria. The Phoenix Center also houses the House of Christian Formation (HCF), a separate men's and women's apostolate in Phoenix, Lublin, and Rome, where young adults live in community while discerning a call to consecrated life or priesthood.
- Vocation Orientation Retreat
- Community/evangelization retreat
- Consecration retreat
- House of Christian Formation (men's and women's houses)
Youth Ministry — Challenge Retreat
The Challenge Youth Retreat is a three-day retreat for teenagers led by Joe Sullivan, MJ, and members of the Miles Jesu men's community. Retreatants encounter the sacrament of Confession, daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, Marian devotion, faith study, and how to be an apostle in the modern world. Many graduates return for monthly Challenge Reunions, and the older teens in turn mentor a Saturday-morning pre-teen group. One 19-year-old alumnus entered the Diocese of Phoenix seminary in July 2025, citing the retreat's lasting impact.
- Three-day Challenge retreat for teens
- Monthly Challenge Reunions at the Center
- Saturday-morning pre-teen group
- Led by Joe Sullivan, MJ
Street Evangelization
On the first Friday of every month, the Miles Jesu men and teens take to Roosevelt Row during the Phoenix Art Walk for street evangelization. The team sets up a large poster of Jesus with signs reading 'Catholic Truth,' 'Free Catholic Information,' and 'We answer any question,' and distributes rosaries, miraculous medals, crucifixes, and pamphlets. After three hours on the street the group returns to the Center to share stories over pizza. Fr. Robert Nicoletti, MJ, has given the team a special blessing before particularly challenging evenings of outreach.
- Monthly First Friday evangelization on Roosevelt Row
- Distribution of rosaries, miraculous medals, crucifixes, pamphlets
- Post-event pizza and witness-sharing at the Center
Mental Health & Visiting the Sick Ministries
Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ, writes and speaks for the Center on two complementary pastoral works: a Mental Health Ministry aligned with the Diocese of Phoenix's Office of Mental Health Ministry (established by Bishop Dolan after the loss of three of his siblings to suicide), and a Visiting the Sick ministry that emphasizes prayerful presence, the Rosary, the blessing of St. Blaise, and accompaniment of the elderly and dying. Both initiatives draw on the Church's tradition of caring for body and soul together.
- Mental Health Ministry (in coordination with the Diocese of Phoenix Office of Mental Health Ministry)
- Visiting the Sick — Rosary, prayers of the saints, blessing of the sick
- February focus: seasonal affective disorder / mental health awareness
Leadership & Staff
The Phoenix Center is staffed by members of the Miles Jesu men's community, with Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ, as chaplain and local priest; Joe Sullivan, MJ, leading the youth and evangelization works; Bob Delogu as the men's contact; and Sondra Reed as the women's contact. The international Miles Jesu government includes Fr. Thomas Cahill, MJ, as General Director; Fr. Robert Nicoletti, MJ, as General Councilor for the Men's Branch; and Olha Semeruk, MJ, as Councilor from the Women's Branch (Lviv, Ukraine). Miss Geraldine Maldonado, MJ, of Puerto Rico is the Women's Branch Directress.
- Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ — Phoenix chaplain
- Joe Sullivan, MJ — Challenge Youth Retreat and evangelization
- Bob Delogu — men's community contact
- Sondra Reed — women's community contact
- Fr. Thomas Cahill, MJ — General Director (ordained 1988)
- Fr. Robert Nicoletti, MJ — General Councilor, Men's Branch
- Miss Geraldine Maldonado, MJ — Women's Branch Directress
- Olha Semeruk, MJ — General Councilor, Women's Branch
Our Spirituality
Miles Jesu is described by the institute itself as an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life whose lay charism sanctifies members through secular occupations, witnessing Christ in the world in a spirit of availability. The community includes members of both Latin and Eastern rites, and three branches (celibate with vows, married, single/diocesan clergy) united under one General Director. Faithful adherence to the Magisterium and the Roman Rite, loyalty to the Holy Father, and devotions such as the Rosary and Marian consecration form the daily spiritual rhythm of the Phoenix Center.
- Consecration: poverty, chastity, obedience
- Three branches (celibate, married, single/clergy)
- Lay charism of sanctification in the workplace
- Latin and Eastern rite members
- Magisterial loyalty and devotional Marian life
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alphonsus Maria (Alfonso María) Durán1964–2007
Claretian founder of Miles Jesu and first superior general; removed by the Vicariate of Rome in May 2007 for serious mental and physical health concerns.
- Fr. Anthony McSweeney, SSS2007
Conducted the official investigation into Miles Jesu at the request of thirteen members.
- Fr. Barry Fischer, CPPS2009 onward
Appointed commissary on 25 May 2009 to revise practices, customs and constitutions of the institute.
- Fr. Thomas Cahill, MJ
Current General Director of Miles Jesu; joined the institute in 1976, ordained priest in 1988; previously Men’s Branch Formation Director 2013–2017.