Kino Catechetical Institute Staff

Luz Lobato
Luz Lobato
Manager of Kino Catechetical Institute
Vanessa Romero
Vanessa Romero
Bilingual Administrative Assistant

What We Do

Kino Catechetical Institute provides courses of study in catechetical formation intended to deepen each student’s knowledge of the faith, and love for Jesus. In so doing, Kino serves Catholics who wish to grow in their understanding of Christ’s Church, and prepares its graduates to effectively articulate and defend their faith. In addition, Kino Catechetical Institute is in charge of the catechist certification process for all those employed by diocesan institutions.

Kino courses can be delivered live to outlying parishes via the Internet. Interested parishes can contact Kino for more information.

Our Mission

Kino Catechetical Institute exists to provide foundational formation in Catholic doctrine, equipping the laity to respond to Christ’s call to discipleship. Kino Catechetical Institute fulfills its mission by:

  • Deepening the human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation for service.
  • Providing dynamic, orthodox catechetical formation.
  • Embracing the mission of the Church to evangelize the culture with the love of Christ.
  • Forming students to bear joyful witness to the Gospel by charitably articulating and defending the Faith.

Our History

Kino Catechetical Institute was founded in 1972 by Fr. Ernest Larkin, O.Carm. and was named in honor of Padre Eusebio Kino (1645 -1711), an Italian Jesuit who pioneered missions for Spain in Sonora and Arizona. In the years since its founding, Kino has served the adult faith formation needs of the diocese in a variety of ways, and continues to provide the diocese with Catholic lay people educated in their faith and prepared to serve under the mission of the Church. Formerly located in its own building in central Phoenix, Kino Catechetical Institute is now housed downtown at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.