With the recent increase of in-person Mass attendance, and the significant decline in the number of viewers of the online Mass on our parish website, Our Lady of Fatima Parish is discontinuing its online Mass after April 25, 2021. We would like to express our thanks to the parish volunteers who have been recording and posting the Mass since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe will continue to broadcast the Mass on local television stations, and the Mass may be seen on EWTN and other internet resources.
All four of the canonical Gospels use the metaphor of Jesus as shepherd. Indeed, the image is deeply woven into the language of the Old Testament, where God is often described as a shepherd and Israel as his chosen flock. Originally, the people of Israel saw their kings as having been appointed by God to lead the people, as a shepherd would lead his flock. But some of the kings of Israel were so unfaithful to God that they were actually leading the people away from God by their bad example. By the time of the Babylonian Exile in 587 BC, the image of the shepherd was no longer applied to earthly kings, but to God himself. The language of the image continues to give us some of our most beloved spiritual images. We need only recall the opening words of Psalm 23 - “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
Today’s Gospel (Luke 24:35-48) follows the encounter the two disciples had with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus, where they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Now, these same two disciples have returned to Jerusalem to share news of this encounter with the Apostles who had gathered in the Upper Room where the Last Supper had taken place. The Apostles are hidden there, staying out of sight for fear that those who killed Jesus would soon be coming for them.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish adult faith formation study group presents, God: What Every Catholic Should Know, by Elizabeth Klein. Join us starting on April 27, 2021 and ending May 27, 2021 for a five-session study of this book. In-person and Zoom meeting available. Call the Parish Office to sign up.
Healing plays a huge role in our society. As a nation, we spend billions of dollars annually on healthcare. Like our physical health, our spiritual health also needs attention. Throughout the Gospels, physical and spiritual healing are major characteristics of the ministry of Jesus. Some healings are recalled in great detail, while others are simply mentioned in passing. Yet, all of these healings are signs of the Kingdom of God.
Our Lady of Fatima School has begun accepting registrations for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have considered the benefits of giving your child or grandchild a Catholic education in a safe, nurturing environment, that encourages academic excellence, please contact our principal, Ms. Melinda Mader, for more information about Our Lady of Fatima School and to arrange for a personalized visit. The school office may be reached at 255-6391. We are pleased to announce that there will be no tuition increase for the 2021-2022 school year.
One year ago, we were still in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, and yet so much had already changed. Public Masses were not allowed, so as to reduce the potential exposure to the virus. The Sacred Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday - were celebrated in an empty church with only the priests and a couple of people in attendance to provide music and other assistance. It was the most unusual Holy Week I have ever experienced, and Easter seemed to lack the unbridled joy that we associate with our celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. Today, we are more than a year into the pandemic, and though public health orders still limit social gatherings, we are able to celebrate Mass in our church once again, and advances in vaccines and health care hold the promise of brighter days ahead for a world that has suffered greatly because of the coronavirus. So today, let us again rejoice!