Deacon Matt & Olivia Murphy have been happily married for 19 years and are blessed with 9 wonderful (most of the time) children, ages 18 down to 2 years old. They live in Phoenix, Arizona and belong to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish. They are passionate about marriage and family life and have been involved in Marriage Enrichment Ministries for more than 10 years. Matt was ordained a permanent Deacon of the Diocese of Phoenix in November of 2024. For his day job, he works in the Solar Industry, but he also serves at St. Thomas in Liturgy, Marriage Prep, Baptismal Prep, and Men’s Ministries. Olivia is an incredible, very appreciated, but underpaid, professional Homemaker. In their free time, they enjoy basking in the miracle that they have a few minutes of free time, or sleeping…

I was born in Mexico. I grew up in a Catholic family as the youngest of seven children. As a child, I remember pretending to be a priest and setting up a table like an altar to celebrate Mass. I believe that God began to call me to the priesthood early in my childhood. My parents brought me to the United States in January 2000, right after I turned twelve.  The Blessed Virgin Mary led me to my first personal encounter with Our Lord Jesus Christ. In December 2008, I had a powerful experience that began my conversion at age 21. I will always be grateful to Our Lady of Guadalupe for blessing me and guiding me on my path to becoming a man of God. The Blessed Mother also helped me discern my vocation to the priesthood. After a four-year discernment, I applied to the Diocese of Phoenix as a seminarian in 2013. I entered the seminary in August of 2014. I studied philosophy at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, for four years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in May 2018. I also studied theology for five years at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and I graduated with a Master of Divinity in May 2023. I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ by Most Reverend John P. Dolan on June 3 rd , 2023. In conclusion, I believe God prepared me for the priesthood from the moment of my conception and has opened doors for me up to now. Furthermore, God has plans for me in this life; therefore, I will always try to do His will, such as accepting my new role as parochial vicar at Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral. I am a blessed and joyful person who will contribute to the Holy Catholic Church.

Born in New York, N.Y. where she attended elementary school and two years of high school. Her family then moved to Isabela, Puerto Rico where she completed high school and college. Lily’s educational preparation includes degrees in Elementary Education (BA), Educational Leadership and Supervision (MA and PHD), all from the University of Southern Mississippi and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico. Her experiences are varied and include serving as a teacher, elementary principal, middle school dean of students, assistant superintendent, adjunct university professor, English as a Second Language Instructor, director of religious education at a military base, business owner, motivational speaker, co-founder of Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life, and community volunteer. Lily owned a technology company for six years before returning to her true love: education. Dr. DeBlieux was appointed as the first bi-lingual, Latina Superintendent of the Pendergast Elementary School District in May 2014. She feels privileged to have worked in an environment with dedicated individuals and a Governing Board that supports “Empowering Excellence and Success. ”Seeing a need to reduce the startling statistics of preventable deaths of children in Arizona, Lily co-founded the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Conference first held in January 2017. This conference is the first of its kind in the state, attended by over 4,500 people. The conference has now become a movement that has now helped over 380,000 youth reduce bullying and teen suicide. Conferences are held yearly. Lily has been honored as the Non-profit Leader of the Year, West Valley Woman of the Year, AZ Association of Latino and Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS) Superintendent of the Year. Additionally, she has been chosen as the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) National Latina Superintendent of the Year and the Phoenix Business Journal’s Most Admired Leader Award, among other accolades. Lily has two children, Joel, a network engineer, and Dr. Linda, a pharmacist, both living in Tucson, AZ. She is also the proud Abuela of Evangeline. Her loyal companion, a Goldendoodle, Niky, has become the love of her life. After seven years of widowhood, Lily met and married her love, Tony.