About Resurrection · Tempe, Arizona
Resurrection Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix located at 3201 South Evergreen Road in Tempe, Arizona. Founded in 1970 as the very first parish established by the newly created Diocese of Phoenix under founding Bishop Edward A. McCarthy, the community began with Masses celebrated at nearby Mesa Community College before moving to its present site. Today Resurrection serves a diverse, multicultural flock — including active Igbo (Nigerian) and Tongan Catholic communities that celebrate Mass in their own languages — and offers a full range of faith formation, youth ministry, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), music, and outreach ministries. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and three times on Sunday, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord
- Rector
- Rev. Simon Osuchukwu (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
Resurrection is the historic first parish of the Diocese of Phoenix and remains a welcoming, multicultural Catholic home in south Tempe. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily Mass, three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, weekly Confession, First Friday adoration, and a Healing Mass — alongside strong programs for every age: Religious Education for PreK-3, Spirit (grades 4-5), Edge middle school and Life Teen high school programs, and OCIA for adults and youth entering the Church. Its outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul conference and its embrace of Igbo and Tongan community Masses make it a genuinely diverse place to belong.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
- First Fridays 5:15 PM – 5:45 PM
- Wednesdays 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Weekdays after the Daily Mass
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered (see parish schedule for current hours)
About Resurrection Catholic Parish
Resurrection Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix located at 3201 South Evergreen Road in Tempe, Arizona. Founded in 1970 as the very first parish created under the newly established diocese, Resurrection has grown into a diverse, multicultural community serving south Tempe. The parish welcomes visitors to register as parishioners and offers an active schedule of Masses, faith formation, youth ministry, outreach, and devotional life for every age and stage.
- Founded 1970 — first parish of the Diocese of Phoenix
- Located at 3201 S. Evergreen Rd, Tempe, AZ 85282
- Main phone: (480) 838-0207
- Parish email: [email protected]
History of the Parish
Resurrection was established in 1970 as the founding parish of what was then a brand-new diocese. Pope Paul VI had created the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on December 2, 1969, and its first bishop, Edward A. McCarthy, chose Resurrection as the very first parish to be opened. Early Masses were celebrated at nearby Mesa Community College while the community organized itself. In the decades since, Resurrection has grown into a stable south Tempe parish with deep Christian formation programs, dynamic youth ministry, and a multicultural character — including worshipping communities of Igbo (Nigerian) and Tongan Catholics.
- 1970: First parish of the new Diocese of Phoenix, under Bishop Edward A. McCarthy
- Original Masses held at Mesa Community College
- Grew to host Igbo (Nigerian) and Tongan Catholic communities
- Fr. Steve Kunkel (ordained 2001) served here as pastor before moving to St. Thomas the Apostle, Phoenix
Parish Clergy and Staff
Resurrection is currently led by a parochial administrator and a parochial vicar, supported by two deacons, religious sisters, and a lay staff team responsible for liturgy, music, youth ministry, faith formation, sacraments, communications, and business operations. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM–1:00 PM.
- Rev. Simon Osuchukwu — Parochial Administrator ([email protected], ext. 8117)
- Rev. Kilian McCaffrey — Parochial Vicar, Ministry of Care ([email protected])
- Rev. Thomas Kagumisa — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Bill Malatin — Annulment & Marriage Preparation
- Deacon Bill Finnegan — Adult Education
- Sr. Anne Marie Smith, O.S.F. — Business Manager ([email protected], ext. 8112)
- Katherine Boisvert — Liturgy Coordinator & Funeral Ministry (ext. 8113)
- Phil Hylton — Music Director ([email protected], ext. 8116)
- Tracey Siedinski-Seyler — Youth Ministry Grades 6-12 (Edge & Life Teen) ([email protected], ext. 8122)
- Dee Tamminen — Religious Education PreK-5 ([email protected], ext. 8123/8125)
- Rob Kubasko — Sacraments Coordinator (OCIA, Baptism, 2nd/3rd Grade, Teen & Adult Sacraments) ([email protected], (480) 205-0800)
- Agnes Umuligirwa — Front Office Receptionist (ext. 8110)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Resurrection runs a complete Christian formation pathway for children from preschool through 12th grade. Younger children meet on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM Mass, while older elementary and middle schoolers meet Monday evenings, and high school youth gather Sunday evenings — all in coordination with the parish's sacramental preparation track.
- Religious Education PreK through Grade 3 — Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM (2nd grade: First Reconciliation; 3rd grade: Confirmation and First Eucharist)
- Spirit (Grades 4-5) — scheduled Monday evenings at 6:30 PM
- Edge Middle School Ministry (Grades 6-8) — scheduled Monday evenings at 6:30 PM in Philip Hall
- Life Teen High School Ministry (Grades 9-12) — scheduled Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM in Philip Hall
- Optional weekend retreats for both Edge and Life Teen
OCIA — Christian Initiation for Adults and Youth
Resurrection offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults who are unbaptized, for baptized Catholic adults seeking Confirmation and Eucharist, and for Christians baptized in other denominations entering full communion with the Catholic Church. A separate OCIA / Youth Sacraments track serves school-age children in grades 4-12. There is no cost for the sacraments.
- Adult OCIA — open registration for 2026-27 (email [email protected])
- Youth OCIA / Youth Sacraments — Grades 4-12 (enrollment also requires regular religious education class)
- Baptism for children ages 8-18 — must enroll in both youth education and the sacrament prep program
- Sacraments Coordinator: Rob Kubasko ([email protected], (480) 205-0800)
Other Sacraments and Pastoral Care
Beyond the sacraments of initiation, Resurrection prepares couples for Marriage, assists with the Annulment process, accompanies families through Funeral Ministry, and provides Ministry of Care (including Anointing of the Sick) through the parochial vicar.
- Marriage Preparation — Deacon Bill Malatin ([email protected])
- Annulment assistance — Deacon Bill Malatin
- Funeral Ministry — Katherine Boisvert, Liturgy Coordinator (ext. 8113)
- Ministry of Care / Anointing of the Sick — Fr. Kilian McCaffrey
Music and Liturgy
The parish's Music Director, Phil Hylton, leads the liturgical music ministry that supports the daily Mass schedule and Sunday liturgies. The Liturgy Coordinator also oversees Funeral Ministry and other liturgical celebrations throughout the year.
- Music Director: Phil Hylton ([email protected], ext. 8116)
- Liturgy Coordinator / Funeral Ministry: Katherine Boisvert (ext. 8113)
Multicultural and Community Worship
Resurrection is home to several cultural Catholic communities that gather throughout the year for Mass celebrated in their own languages and fellowship. The Igbo (Nigerian) Catholic Community and the Tongan Catholic Community each celebrate a 12:00 PM Mass on selected Sundays, and the BLD Community hosts a Healing Mass on First Fridays at 8:00 PM. Many of these special Masses are live-streamed on the parish YouTube channel.
- Igbo (Nigerian) Community Mass — 12:00 PM on May 10 (Mother's Day), June 21 (Father's Day), August 9, October 11, and December 13 (Igbo Catholic Family Thanksgiving)
- Tongan Community Mass — 12:00 PM on selected Sundays
- BLD Community Healing Mass — 8:00 PM First Fridays
- Live-streamed on YouTube
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul
Resurrection operates a local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, providing emergency food-bag assistance to parishioners and neighbors in need. Because of ongoing operational limits, intake is conducted by phone and food bags are arranged for pickup by appointment only.
- St. Vincent de Paul conference at Resurrection
- Phone intake: (480) 329-0968, Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Food-bag distribution by appointment only
- Parishioners who struggle to pay for groceries are encouraged to contact the conference
Visiting, Registering, and Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed and invited to register as parishioners to make Resurrection their spiritual home. There is a downloadable PDF registration form on the parish website that can be completed digitally and either printed or emailed to [email protected]. Parishioners are encouraged to enroll their children in faith formation, participate in parish events and ministries, and support the parish preschool and Catholic school formation efforts.
- Parishioner Registration form available as a downloadable PDF
- Submit to the parish office or email to [email protected]
- Volunteer opportunities in faith formation at preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school levels
- Bulletin and parish website publish ongoing events and ministry openings
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Steve Kunkel
Former pastor of Resurrection Parish in Tempe (later assigned to St. Thomas the Apostle, Phoenix); ordained for the Diocese of Phoenix in 2001.