Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The Catholic Church has consistently taught from Apostolic times that during a valid celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the bread and wine are truly changed into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is what is meant by the “True Presence” or “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. Although the elements still have the appearance of bread and wine, they have – through the power of the Holy Spirit – actually changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood, just as they did at the Last Supper.
Today we celebrate one of the most fundamental beliefs of Christianity: the Most Holy Trinity – three distinct, coequal Persons in one God. For the Church, the Trinity is considered a mystery. There are aspects of the Trinity that we will never fully grasp while we are this side of Heaven. But it is something we hold as revealed truth. We experience the presence and reality of the Most Holy Trinity as what has been described as “a divine communion of love.”
From the Gospel of John 20:19-23. Even though Pentecost is rightly celebrated in late spring, the robust experience of a New England fall can provide a profound metaphor for reflection. A full expression of fall colors is beautiful to behold. But, with all of its majesty and beauty, the observer knows the experience of death is soon to come. Creation will be dark and barren for a while. Pentecost cannot be separated from the cross. Before God’s transformative, life-giving power can bear fruit, we must first die.
Our Lady of Fatima is accepting applications for Director of Music Ministry and also for a full-time Janitor position for the Parish. Please call the Parish Office for more information.
You are cordially invited to participate in a Joyful Senior Day Celebration on Wednesday, June 22. The celebration begins with Mass and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at 11:00 AM in Fatima-Gallagher Hall followed by Lunch and then Bingo with prizes! All activities are free. Please call 505-265-5868 to RSVP so we can get an idea of how many to prepare for. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity for fellowship and prayer.
From the Gospel of Luke 24:51. We have the ability to walk with joyful hope! Jesus, during his earthly ministry, pointed the way to God’s kingdom. What is finally understood about God’s kingdom is that it is filled with the glory of Christ! We are all in the process of being emptied into and becoming one with Christ. We are new creations, clothed in Christ, made in God’s very image and likeness, and on this incredible journey of glory. The Ascension allows us to see this truth about ourselves and it enlightens our hearts. Christ who was most perfectly, vividly, and brilliantly transfigured before the very eyes of the disciples will be our destiny. Seeing only imperfectly now, we will see perfectly then. We will bask in the brilliance of understanding and truth. Christ is our destiny and our hope. Alleluia!
We are adjusting the Parish Office hours for the months of June and July ONLY. Regular office hours will resume the first week of August. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Thursday: CLOSED, Friday: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM.
From the Gospel of John 13:31-35 “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Many folks really work very hard to circumvent difficult situations. We prefer the easier way around something, rather than risk inconvenience, hurt or prolonged suffering. It’s no wonder euthanasia is rapidly becoming acceptable around the world. Through purely human eyes, there is no issue bypassing the inevitable, taking control and bringing things more swiftly to a place of peace. If this is the way God sees things, then why does Jesus make such a big deal helping us understand the experience of suffering and embrace it? God’s wisdom clearly takes us in another direction.
From the Gospel of John 10:27-30 “Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.” (Pope Francis) We have a difficult time figuring out what is true and best for us. There are many voices talking and so many trying to get our attention. We wrongly convince ourselves that the true voice is the voice of progress, the one that speaks of contemporary wants and desires, enticing us with the latest trends and causes. We are taught, by listening to the voices around us, that truth is found in feelings and thought, and ideals must match current and popular human wants. Because we feel a particular way it must be true.
I would imagine that most of us have had at least one experience in which we were deeply hurt by another person - perhaps by someone we cared for very much. Our emotions can be very powerful at such a time and we can be consumed with feelings of hostility and resentment. If the hurt is deep enough, we may be tempted to give up on the relationship and avoid that person altogether, stubbornly refusing even the slightest move toward reconciliation, and speaking badly about the person to anyone else who will listen.
We will hold a Mass on May 13, 2022 at 5:30 PM to mark the first day in 1917 that the Blessed Mother appeared to the three shepherd children of Fatima in Portugal.
We will be having Eucharistic Adoration from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon in the church on First Fridays starting May 6, 2022. You are invited to come and spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Sharon Mussmann is re-activating her Adult Bible Study group. The group will meet from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Thursdays in Conference Room #2 at the parish office starting Thursday, May 12, 2022. Seating is limited so interested persons should call the parish office to register for the study group.
After a two-year absence because of the pandemic, Coffee and Donuts will return on Sunday, May 15th after the 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM Masses in Fatima-Gallagher Hall. Thereafter, Coffee and Donuts will take place on the first Sunday of the month starting June 5th. Click to read more.
From the Gospel of John 20:19-31 Even Thomas struggles to remove his boulder! Being very pragmatic and determined, he wants to see the risen Christ for himself! Thomas’s boulder is heavy with mistrust. Many of ours are too. A certain amount of skepticism is good, as it can save us from being duped or misled. But we can become so skeptical of things that it erodes our ability to trust anything we see or hear. Skepticism can actually be a well-disguised defense mechanism that we use to prevent us from being hurt or perceived as a fool. Having too much ego protection is a real risk. Thomas, because of the boulder blocking his vision, could not even trust the word of his friends.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen! This proclamation, spoken since the first Easter, reminds us of what this day – the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord – is truly all about. In our modern world, Easter is often seen as a one-day event of bunnies, candy, pastel-colored eggs, and a sumptuous family meal. But these things alone really miss the significance that this day truly holds.
From the Gospel of Luke 23:1-49. God’s love comes with an intimate and equal bond with love of neighbor. This moves the believer outward to truly see their brothers and sisters as equals and compels them to work for a world that mirrors God’s kingdom: a world based on justice, peace, mercy, and forgiveness. Sometimes, people want to keep God’s love to themselves and use it solely for their own benefit. When they only want to use God’s love to justify their own intentions and for their own projects, problems occur.