Our Readings at Mass today go straight to the heart of our Catholic faith. They speak of death, and new life in Christ. In the First Reading, from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:12-14), we heard: “Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel.” In the Gospel (John 11:1-45), the stone has been rolled back from the tomb of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus. Jesus commanded that he come forth from the tomb and be released from all the wrappings that bound him up, and then set him free.
This coming Saturday, March 25th, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord –nine months to the day of his birth in Bethlehem. The Gospel for that day is Luke 1:26-38, and it describes the event of the Annunciation, and encourages us to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary by placing our trust in God.
In our Second Reading today (Romans 5:1-2, 5-8) what does Saint Paul mean when he writes: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”? It helps to remember and understand that faith and salvation are not something we can achieve on our own, because they are God’s freely given gift. This does not mean that we are merely puppets in a cosmic salvation show, or passive recipients of God’s actions. The truth is, that with free will, our actions and choices – our commitment to Gospel living – does matter before God.
Fr. Jojireddy (Joe) Konkala, has been named as Fr. Edward’s replacement as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Fr. Joe was born on April 10, 1981 in Nusikattala Village, Andhra Pradesh, India, where his mother still lives. His father passed away in January, 2021. He has two brothers and one sister. Fr. Joe joined the seminary and studied theology before he was ordained a priest on April 19, 2010 by the Most Reverend Anthony Poola, the Present Cardinal for the Diocese of Kurnool in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Fr. Joe has served various roles in five parishes since his ordination, including parishes in India as well as at St. Patrick’s Church in Shamrock, Texas, in the Diocese of Amarillo. Let us welcome Fr. Joe to our parish, and we look forward to his ministry.
Join us at St. Pius X High School for a night of dinner and entertainment! Friday, March 17, 2023 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Now Accepting Sponsorships and Donations. All proceeds benefit the Good Shepherd Center, a St. John of God ministry. For more information visit www.gscnm.org, or call 505-249-6416.
Archbishop Wester has decreed that all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, who are 14 years and older, are dispensed from the obligation to abstain from eating meat ONLY on Friday, March 17th, 2023 in observance of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. It is not required that anyone make use of this dispensation. Those who do wish to make use of it are encouraged to abstain from meat on some other day as part of their penitential practices. Click to Read More
Lent is a season of change; a season of transforming our spiritual lives. There seems a natural correlation since the very word “Lent” is rooted in a word that meant “spring” and we are all familiar with the changes that take place in springtime as the earth bursts forth with new life that has been dormant during the winter season. Unfortunately, while nature seems quite incapable of resisting the changes common to springtime, we human beings seem all too capable and willing to resist changes in our lives. Transformation requires energetic effort. It challenges and disturbs our comfortable patterns of behavior, even when those patterns may be harmful to us, either physically or spiritually.