News - January 2023 RSS Feed

All ministry volunteers are required by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to have a current VIRTUS certificate of training on file in the Parish Office before they begin serving in their chosen ministry. We will be hosting an in-person training session on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Fatima-Gallagher Hall for those parishioners who do not have access to a computer. The class begins at 9:45 AM and you must arrive early to fill out the information and attendance sheet. The doors will be closed promptly at the beginning of the class and you will not be allowed entrance if you are late. If you wish to attend the in-person class, please call the Parish Office to place your name on the roster by Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Join us on Saturday, February 25, 2023. We will begin with Mass at 7:30 AM in the Church and then gather in Fatima-Gallagher Hall. $25.00 lunch, provided. Retreat Speaker: Deacon Timoteo Lujan on the topic of “The Church as Servant”, the mission of all the baptized to serve as Christ came to serve. Make checks payable to: Our Lady of Fatima Holy Name Society. Contact Joseph Tapia or Marcus Garcia Or call the Parish Office at 505-265-5868.

Schools as communities of faith, knowledge, and service. Within our own parish, Our Lady of Fatima School has been fulfilling this role for 73 years. Thousands of students have benefited from the  education and spiritual formation they received at Our Lady of Fatima School over the years, and today’s students continue to do so.  

Zebulun and Naphtali, mentioned in both our First Reading (Isaiah 8:23 -9:3) and the Gospel (Matthew 4:12- 23) today, were sons of Jacob and the leaders of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The lands settled by their descendants were in the most northern part of Israel. Of all the Israelites, they were the furthest from the summer sun, giving rise to Isaiah’s description of the people there as those “who walked in darkness” and “in the land of gloom.” Their darkness wasn’t just a matter of geography, however. These were also the first lands to be invaded by the Assyrians, and the Israelites were oppressed by their pagan conquerors who practiced false worship of many gods. Isaiah prophesies of a time when a great light will shine upon these people, freeing them from darkness and bringing them “abundant joy” and “great rejoicing.” He prophesies what we know to be the coming of the Christ, who will free them from the yokes that burden them.

God gave many of us the gift of music-making. Are you one of those fortunate people? And are you willing to share your gift in making our liturgies more meaningful and joyful? We are currently looking to expand the music program and need volunteers to help. Mark Adrian, our Director of Music, is seeking to implement some changes to Our Lady of Fatima’s liturgical music. Let’s see how we can include your talent in our liturgies. Call Mark Adrian at the church office: 505-265-5868.

As we begin our post-Christmas observance of Ordinary Time, which will lead us into the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, February 22nd), the Church invites us to look more closely at the public life of Jesus. While this year we will hear from the Gospel of Matthew on most Sundays, today we hear from John’s Gospel, telling us about John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God. It is primarily from this Gospel passage that we speak of Jesus as the Lamb of God in our liturgy. Why the word lamb? After all, a lamb is a young sheep, and the term could be used to indicate an unsophisticated, immature person.

Fr. Edward, Fr. John, and I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the many acts of kindness that we have received in the past few weeks. I am humbled by the thoughtfulness of so many people who sent cards, or brought over home-made cookies and other gifts. I am also very grateful for your patience and understanding the past couple of months as I have been recovering from my medical episode. The recovery continues but I am pleased to have returned to work. A special “thank-you” also to all those who donated baby diapers and baby clothing to our “Giving Tree” to support Birthright in their mission to provide for mothers who are in need of assistance. May the Lord’s blessing be upon you throughout the new year.

All are invited to join together in prayer for a Memorial Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Thursday, January 5, 2023, beginning with a rosary at 5:30 PM, and Mass following at 6:00 PM at Our Lady of Fatima Church.

Classes at Our Lady of Fatima School will resume on Monday, January 9th, 2023. During the week, the main parking lot will be closed after the morning Mass for the safety of our students. Thank you for your cooperation.

This New Year’s Gift will be available in the Church beginning December 31st. The book "The Wisdom of the Saints" is offered to our parishioners free of charge, however, we request that you limit yourself to one book per household so that each family has a opportunity to have a copy.

The feast day that we celebrate today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, yet it is as much about understanding who Jesus is as it is about understanding the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the time of the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 AD, there were theologians led by Nestorious who claimed that Mary was the Christotokos (Greek for “Christ Bearer”) or, mother of Christ, but not the Theotokos (Greek for “God Bearer”) or, mother of God. This could be seen as denying the divinity of Christ!