Bishop Dolan Blesses Joseph of Arimathea Fund
A consecration Mass in Phoenix dedicated the fund that helps families cover funeral and burial expenses.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Catholicism
Bishop John Dolan celebrated a consecration Mass for the Joseph of Arimathea Fund on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in the Virginia G. Piper Chapel at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix. The fund provides financial assistance to families for funeral and burial expenses.
Why it matters
Funeral and burial costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars, and the fund aims to ease that financial strain on grieving families in the Phoenix area. The fund was established through a partnership between James Peck and the Catholic Community Foundation.
The Catholic Community Foundation has served Arizona since 1983, partnering with individuals, families, organizations and parishes to steward charitable gifts. The report does not state how much money the fund holds or how many families it has aided so far.
The players
John Dolan
Bishop John Dolan is the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, who celebrated the consecration Mass for the fund.
James Peck
James Peck is a former funeral coordinator at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix who established the Joseph of Arimathea Fund.
Catholic Community Foundation
The Catholic Community Foundation is a charitable organization that has served Arizona since 1983 and partners with parishes and families to steward charitable gifts.
The details
James Peck, who worked as a funeral coordinator at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix, established the fund with the Catholic Community Foundation after seeing the financial challenges families face while grieving. The fund is named after Joseph of Arimathea, who provided a tomb for Jesus.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Consecration Mass for the Joseph of Arimathea Fund held in Phoenix.
Season Trajectory
The fund extends the Catholic tradition of burial charity, which traces to the Gospel account of Joseph of Arimathea providing a tomb for Jesus. Its creation through the Catholic Community Foundation places it within the diocese's established network of charitable stewardship in Arizona.
Families in the Phoenix area facing funeral and burial expenses may be able to seek help from the fund. The program offers a concrete source of financial relief during a difficult time.
The takeaway
Families facing funeral costs can look to community and parish-based resources for financial help. The fund shows how faith communities can respond practically to grief-related hardship.
Further reading
Explore more on Catholicism to see how the Church shapes charitable practices in communities like Phoenix.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Catholic Sun.
