“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint. The Lord never lets us down. -Pope Francis Wishing you a blessed Advent & holy Christmas season. See Archbishop John C. Wester’s letter, page 4
December 2017 Vol. 35, No. 11
Serving the multicultural people of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe www.archdiosf.org
Photo by Leslie M. Radigan
“If the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the heart of Santa Fe, then this Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the soul of Santa Fe”, Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan announced at the dedication of this magnificent statue on December 12, 2008. Devotion to Our Lady is evident from the numerous and varied images of her seen throughout New Mexico’s Capitol. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 417 Agua Fria St. Santa Fe, NM 87501. Parishes throughout the archdiocese will be celebrating Our Lady’s special day. Please contact them directly for more information.
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Table of Contents
2 Our Lady of Guadalupe 4 Archbishop’s Letter: Prepare Ye… 8 Duties of the Dean 10 Seminarians 11 Cowboy Turns Shepherd 12 Tucson’s New Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger 14 Tepeyac in Peña Blanca: Dedication of the
Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve Las Posadas Miraculous Intervention by Servant of God Sr. Blandina Segale, SC 20 Catholic Schools 22 Social Justice 24 Emergency Winter Shelter 26 Anniversaries 27 Circle of Grace: Safe Environment 28 National and World News 30 Making Sense of Bioethics 32 Rest in Peace 34 Archbishop Wester’s Schedule 35 Sanctity of Life Awareness and Unity Day
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Assistant Editor/Photojournalist: Leslie M. Radigan lradigan@archdiosf.org Production: Christine Carter
Published monthly with the exception of July. The Editor reserves the right to reject, omit, or edit any article or advertising copy submitted for publication. All items submitted for consideration must be received by the 10th of the previous month. Check out Media Kit online @ www.archdiosf.org Advertising listings do not imply Archdiocesan endorsement. Friend us on Facebook: Archdiocese of Santa Fe Official twitter.com/ASFOfficial
4000 St. Joseph Pl. NWAlbuquerque NM, 87120 • (505) 831-8162
Together We Can Reach Our Goal!
The Elderly. That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations. Por los ancianos. Por los ancianos, para que sostenidos por las familias y las comunidades cristianas, colaboren con su sabiduría y experiencia en la transmisión de la fe y la educación de las nuevas generaciones.
The following parishes have sent in excess Mass stipends and other contributions collected at the Archdiocesan Finance Office for seminarian education. These receipts are for November 2017. Excess Mass stipends are from multiple Mass intentions celebrated at parishes. The archdiocesan policy is for excess Mass stipends to be used for seminarian education. Parish Name/City
Anonymous in Memory of Msgr. Sipio Salas Our Lady of Sorrows – Bernalillo Our Lady of the Annunciation – Albuquerque Sacred Heart of Jesus – Española St. Anne’s – Santa Fe St. Joseph on the Rio Grande – Albuquerque
Amount Received
25.00 1,000.00 1,470.50 1,200.00 10,000.00 620.00 Total $ 14,315.50
100% 90%
96%
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
Visit our new ACA Website at: www.archdiocesesantafegiving.org/ aca to donate to ACA 2017 watch Archbishop Wester’s ACA video, and much more!
Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for December/Diciembre
Seminary Burse
Official Magazine of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Publisher: Most Rev. John C. Wester Editor/Photography/Design: Celine Baca Radigan cradigan@archdiosf.org
Pope Francis waves during his Angelus in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 3. Advent is a time to be watchful and alert to the ways one strays from God’s path, but also to signs of his presence in other people and in the beauty of the world, Pope Francis said. (CNS photo/ Tony Gentile, Reuters)
10% 3% 0%
Our Goal $ 3,000,000
Special Collection: Annual Appeal for Retired Religious December 10, 2017 The Retirement Fund for Retired Religious distributes basic, supplemental and special assistance retirement grants from the fund to religious institutes based on a formula and criteria approved by the conferences of major superiors and bishops. As designated in 2012, the December retirement collection will be allocated 50/50 between the Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) and the Archdiocesan Priest Retirement Fund (APRF). Cover photo: Children reenact New Mexico’s traditional Las Posadas at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town, Albuquerque.
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“Prepare Ye. . . . ”
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s we enter into this holy season of Advent, we are reminded that waiting is an essential part of life: a married couple waits for nine months for their child to be born; an athlete waits for an important game to take place; a student waits to take a final examination. Notice that in these examples as in so many others instances in life, waiting is not simply sitting back in an easy chair until the big event happens. Rather, we are actively involved in watchful waiting, attentive waiting, and active waiting so that we will be ready when the big moment happens. For me, this is what Advent is all about. The Church calls us together to actively wait, to prepare ourselves so that we will be ready to receive the Christ child this Christmas. Unfortunately, we are losing our ability to wait productively with our attention fixed on our goal. We usually see waiting as a waste of time, a lost opportunity. That’s why we check our cell phones while
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waiting in a grocery line or read a magazine when waiting for a doctor’s appointment or work on our laptops while waiting for a plane. There is nothing wrong with any of these multitasking activities but they certainly can prevent me from being attentive to the now moment – the gift of the present. God is speaking to us during our time of expectation as I am sure any expectant mother would agree. By listening more attentively, without distractions and with mind and heart attuned to the coming event, I may find that watchful waiting makes life more interesting, less complicated and lived more fully. It is in this spirit, then, that I invite you all, my brothers and sisters, to enter fully into this season of watchful waiting. As a community of faith, I pray that our local Church in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe may adopt the posture of Mary as we await the coming of our Savior this Christmas. Like Mary, I pray that we will be attentive to the “now” moment, a moment of grace. Quieting ourselves, externally and internally, let us take a collective deep breath and allow the Holy Spirit to take root in our lives, anchoring all our fears, worries, anxieties, concerns and problems to the life-giving and deeply
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refreshing breath of God. Instead of rushing to conclusions or finding quick, facile solutions, let us attempt to simply be in God’s presence and allow God to speak to us deeply within the recesses of our hearts. As my dear friend, Archbishop John Quinn often said, “God knows all we want and he has all we need.” Let that truth sit still in our hearts for a while and see where God leads us. It led Mary to the birth of our Savior and it will lead us to new life as well. Our world has seen many tragedies this past year: hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, mass shootings, religious persecution, genocide, an increase of refugee flows, and so much more. On a personal level, so many of our brothers and sisters are carrying heavy crosses. We are waiting for new life, for peace, for freedom, for consolation, for answers and for whatever will lift us from all that weighs us down. God will not disappoint us for he is always faithful. The incarnation we celebrate this coming Christmas is living testimony to that fidelity. For now, for this moment, during this Advent, we await the new-born savior who will change our darkness to light, our sadness to joy. At the same time, I
have always found it helpful to ask the question, “Who is waiting for whom?” Could it be that God is also waiting for us to open our hearts to the now moment, to his presence in our midst, to Emmanuel, to God with us? As the old bumper sticker said, “If God seems far away, guess who moved?” Now is the time to open our hearts to the God of the now moment, the “God of more.” I join you in praying that God will bless this graced time of waiting for the coming of the Lord this Christmas. And I pray with you that God will reveal himself to us in the here and now so that the journey of Advent will itself be our destination, the beginning of Christmas where we find Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. May this same Christ raise his hands of benediction over all of us in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, granting us every grace and blessing that emanates from the crib of the newborn savior. Sincerely yours in the Lord,
Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe
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Espera… ¡Ya viene!
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l entrar en este tiempo sagrado de Adviento, se nos recuerda que la espera es una parte esencial de la vida: una pareja casada espera nueve meses para que su hijo nazca; un atleta espera a que tenga lugar un juego importante; un estudiante espera para tomar un examen final. Noten que, en estos ejemplos, como en tantos otros casos en la vida, esperar no es simplemente sentarse en un sillón hasta que ocurra el gran evento. Más bien, estamos activamente involucrados en la espera vigilante, la espera atenta y la espera activa para estar listos cuando ocurra el gran momento. Para mí, de esto se trata el Adviento. La Iglesia nos invita a juntos esperar activamente, a prepararnos para estar listos para recibir al Niño Jesús esta Navidad.
Desafortunadamente, estamos perdiendo nuestra capacidad de esperar productivamente con nuestra atención fija en nuestro objetivo. Por lo general, vemos la espera como una pérdida de tiempo, una oportunidad perdida. Es por eso que revisamos nuestros
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teléfonos celulares mientras esperamos en una línea de supermercado o leemos una revista cuando esperamos una cita con un médico o trabajamos en nuestras computadoras portátiles mientras esperamos un avión. No hay nada de malo en realizar varias tareas al mismo tiempo, pero ciertamente esta práctica puede evitar que uno esté atento al momento presente: el regalo del presente. Dios nos está hablando durante nuestro tiempo de espera, estoy seguro de que cualquier futura madre estaría de acuerdo. Al escuchar más atentamente, sin distracciones y con la mente y el corazón en sintonía con el próximo evento, puedo encontrar que la espera vigilante hace la vida más interesante, menos complicada y más completa. Es en este espíritu, entonces, que los invito a todos, mis hermanos y hermanas, a entrar completamente en esta temporada de espera vigilante. Como comunidad de fe, oro para que nuestra Iglesia local en la Arquidiócesis de Santa Fe adopte la postura de María mientras esperamos la venida de nuestro Salvador esta Navidad. Como María, ruego que estemos atentos al momento “presente”, un momento de gracia. Calmándonos
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a nosotros mismos, externa e internamente, tomemos una respiración profunda colectiva y permitamos que el Espíritu Santo se arraigue en nuestras vidas, anclando todos nuestros miedos, preocupaciones, ansiedades, inquietudes y problemas al aliento vivificante y profundamente refrescante de Dios. En lugar de precipitarnos a conclusiones o encontrar soluciones rápidas y fáciles, intentemos simplemente estar en la presencia de Dios y permitir que Dios nos hable profundamente en lo más recóndito de nuestros corazones. Como decía mi querido amigo, el arzobispo John Quinn, “Dios sabe todo lo que queremos y tiene todo lo que necesitamos”. Dejemos que esa verdad permanezca quieta en nuestros corazones por un tiempo y veamos a dónde nos lleva Dios. Condujo a María al nacimiento de nuestro Salvador y también nos llevará a una nueva vida. Nuestro mundo ha visto muchas tragedias en este año: huracanes, terremotos, ataques terroristas, tiroteos masivos, persecución religiosa, genocidio, un aumento de los flujos de refugiados y mucho más. A nivel personal, muchos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas cargan pesadas cruces. Estamos en espera de una nueva vida, paz, libertad, consuelo, respuestas y lo que sea que nos levante de todo lo que nos agobia. Dios no nos decepcionará porque él es siempre fiel. La encarnación que celebramos esta próxima Navidad es testimonio vivo de esa fidelidad.
Por ahora, por este momento, durante este Adviento, esperamos al salvador recién nacido que cambiará nuestra oscuridad en luz, nuestra tristeza en alegría. Al mismo tiempo, siempre me ha resultado útil hacer la pregunta: “¿Quién está esperando a quién?”. ¿Pudiera ser que Dios también esté esperando que abramos nuestros corazones al momento presente, a su presencia en medio de nosotros, a Emmanuel, a Dios con nosotros? Como decía una vieja calcomanía en un vehículo, “Si Dios parece estar muy lejos, ¿adivina quién se movió?” Ahora es el momento de abrir nuestros corazones al Dios del momento presente, el “Dios de abundancia”. Me uno a ustedes en oración para que Dios bendiga este tiempo de gracia de esperar la venida del Señor esta Navidad. Y rezo con ustedes para que Dios se nos revele en el aquí y ahora, de modo que la jornada del Adviento sea nuestro destino, el comienzo de la Navidad donde encontramos a Cristo, que es el camino, la verdad y la vida. Que este mismo Cristo levante sus manos de bendición sobre todos nosotros en la Arquidiócesis de Santa Fe, otorgándonos toda la gracia y bendición que emana de la cuna del Salvador recién nacido. Sinceramente suyo en el Señor,
Reverendísimo John C. Wester Arzobispo de Santa Fe
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Duties of the Dean
By Very Rev. Glennon Jones, pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Dean, NW Deanery
December 2017
Santa Fe Deanery Cerrillos, St. Joseph Pecos, St. Anthony of Padua Peña Blanca, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Santa Fe, The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis Santa Fe, Cristo Rey
You may be hearing soon about some changes in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe (“ASF”) concerning deans and deaneries. What are deaneries? They are essentially subgroups of parishes within a diocese and overseen by a priest appointed by the Archbishop—the dean (a.k.a. “vicar forane” or “archpriest”, but those terms are very rarely used). This priest is almost always a pastor of one of the parishes of the deanery. A dean has no real authority per se over the parishes/pastors in his deanery; his function tends to be primarily advisory and pastoral, but informs Archdiocesan officials of problems when necessary. Because of the size of ASF, we have eight deaneries—Albuquerque A, B and C (going from north to south—from Jemez Springs down to Isleta), Santa Fe (which includes Cerillos, Pecos and Peña Blanca), and four rural deaneries—Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. Deans’ duties are outlined/limited in canon law (paragraphs 553-555, if you’re curious), and Wikipedia actually describes deans’ duties quite succinctly: • promotion and coordination of the common pastoral activity within the deanery; • seeing that the clerics of the deanery lead a life in harmony with their state in life and perform their duties with diligence; • seeing that religious functions follow Church norms; • seeing that the good appearance of churches and sacred furnishings are maintained; • seeing that parish [sacramental] books are correctly managed; • seeing that the parish rectory is well maintained; • seeing that clerics, following the norms of the diocese and the norms of Canon 272, attend theological lectures, meetings, or conferences; • making sure that the priests of the deanery have access to spiritual helps and aid in difficult pastoral circumstances; and • making sure that pastors in his deanery are well cared for when they are sick or dying.
Santa Fe, San Isidro
Much of the dean’s work is not seen “in the pews” by parishioners, as he deals primarily with clergy and staff of the deanery. His term of office is six years, renewable for another six depending upon decision of the Archbishop; a dean’s term may also be terminated by the Archbishop for any reason. The dean meets with the priests, deacons and lay leaders of the deanery (usually at least quarterly) to discuss and statuses and concerns of their parishes. The Archbishop may delegate the dean to confer the sacrament of Confirmation at a parish or generally within the deanery, as well as to install newly-assigned pastors when the Archbishop is not available. Deans may also be given authority to provide dispensations for canonical form and mixed marriages (Catholic to other Christian) in his deanery, though this will likely entail some training of the deans by the marriage tribunal prior to being actually instituted. The dean also helps determine parish goals in his deanery for the Annual Catholic Appeal. The dean also is to hear complaints against priests and staff of his deanery if they cannot be resolved at the parish level, and to forward those complaints/criticisms to the Archdiocese if they cannot be resolved satisfactorily at the deanery level. The archbishop has decided to give deans the title “Very Reverend” rather than just the normal “Reverend” for a parish priest due to their supervisory role. For more info about deans and deaneries, just ask your pastor.
Rio Rancho, Church of the Incarnation
Similar to deans/deaneries are metropolitans/provinces. A province is a group of dioceses of a geographic area under the leadership of the “metropolitan”, himself an archbishop of an archdiocese, as our Archbishop is the metropolitan of the Province of Santa Fe. Our province includes also the dioceses of Gallup, Las Cruces, Tucson and Phoenix; these are called the “suffragan” dioceses and bishops (“suffragan” from Latin “to assist”). The cloth band with pins that the Archbishop wears around his neck during major liturgies is the “pallium”, indicating his position as a metropolitan. By canon law, however, the metropolitan has little authority over his suffragan dioceses except under very specific conditions, being rather more of a “first among equals” and operating in group leadership capacity. So the dean is to the deanery much like the metropolitan is to the province— mostly advisory and pastoral, with very limited authority.
Albuquerque, Risen Savior Catholic Community
Santa Fe, Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Community Santa Fe, Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Santa Fe, St. Anne’s Santa Fe, St. John the Baptist
Albuquerque A Deanery Albuquerque, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Albuquerque, Our Lady of Guadalupe Albuquerque, Shrine of the Little Flower/ St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Albuquerque, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Albuquerque, St. Jude Thaddeus Bernalillo, Our Lady of Sorrows Corrales, San Ysidro Jemez Pueblo, San Diego Mission Jemez Springs, Our Lady of the Assumption Rio Rancho, St. John Vianney Church Rio Rancho, St. Thomas Aquinas
Albuquerque B Deanery Albuquerque, Holy Ghost Albuquerque, Our Lady of Fatima Albuquerque, Our Lady of Lavang Albuquerque, Our Lady of the Annunciation Albuquerque, Our Lady of the Assumption Albuquerque, Prince of Peace Catholic Community Albuquerque, Queen of Heaven Albuquerque, Saint John XXIII Catholic Community Albuquerque, Sangre de Cristo Albuquerque, Shrine of St. Bernadette Albuquerque, St. Charles Borromeo Albuquerque, St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish Moriarty, Estancia Valley Catholic Parish Tijeras, Holy Child
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Albuquerque C Deanery
Taos, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Albuquerque, Church of the Ascension
Southeast Deanery
Albuquerque, Holy Family Albuquerque, Immaculate Conception Albuquerque, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Albuquerque, Sacred Heart Albuquerque, San Felipe de Neri Albuquerque, San Ignacio Albuquerque, San Jose Albuquerque, Santuario de San Martin de Porres Albuquerque, St. Anne Albuquerque, St. Edwin Albuquerque, St. Francis Xavier Isleta Pueblo, St. Augustine
Northeast Deanery Cimarron, Immaculate Conception Church Clayton, St. Francis Xavier Las Vegas, Immaculate Conception Las Vegas, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Mora, St. Gertrude the Great Raton, St. Patrick-St. Joseph Ribera, San Miguel del Vado Roy, Holy Family-St. Joseph Springer, St. Joseph Villanueva, Our Lady of Guadalupe Wagon Mound, Santa Clara
Northwest Deanery Abiquiu, St. Thomas Apostle Arroyo Seco, La Santisima Trinidad Chama, St. Patrick Chimayo, Holy Family Dixon, St. Anthony El Rito, San Juan Nepomuceno Española, Sacred Heart Los Alamos, Immaculate Heart of Mary Los Ojos, San Jose San Juan Pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh, San Juan Bautista Peñasco, San Antonio de Padua Pojoaque, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque Questa, St. Anthony Ranchos de Taos, San Francisco de Asis Santa Cruz, Holy Cross
Tierra Amarilla, Santo Niño
Anton Chico, San Jose Clovis, Our Lady of Guadalupe Clovis, Sacred Heart Fort Sumner, St. Anthony of Padua Portales, St. Helen Santa Rosa, St. Rose of Lima Tucumcari, St. Anne Vaughn, St. Mary
Southwest Deanery Belen, Our Lady of Belen La Joya, Our Lady of Sorrows Los Lunas, San Clemente Mountainair, St. Alice Peralta, Our Lady of Guadalupe Socorro, San Miguel Tome, Immaculate Conception
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S E M I N A R I A N S
What Do You Like the Most About the Advent and Christmas Season? Cameron Degani Aquinas Newman Center, Albuquerque 2nd Year Pre Theology
Nathan Lopez Santa Maria de la Paz, Santa Fe 3rd Year Theology
My favorite thing about the Advent and Christmas season is the special amount and quality of time that can be set aside to focus on the importance of family. It has always been a time for reunion and fellowship of families that is especially marked by the hopeful anticipation of Christ’s coming, both in the world, and in each one of us personally. It is especially a time in which we have the opportunity to reflect upon the poverty of Jesus in the Nativity scene, a poverty which has ultimately enriched all mankind.
What I like the most about these seasons is the joy they bring to people. I love the gathering of families and the sharing of gifts that come about from these seasons. I also love the preparation and the expectation of welcoming Christ into the world and especially in a new way into their hearts.These two seasons are fundamentally about Christ’s gift to us and us receiving this gift in joy. This joy is one of the hallmarks of being a Christian and this is what I like the most about these seasons.
Daniel Dupre St. Jude Thaddeus, Albuquerque 1st Year Theology
Darrell Segura St. Patrick’s-St. Joseph’s, Raton 1st Year Theology
Advent has always been my favorite liturgical season because it is all about preparing us for the joyous coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Not only does it help us prepare for Christmas through prayer and reflection, but it also reminds us to be faithful to Christ in our day to day lives and to be ready for His Second Coming as well.
What I like most about Advent is the theme of anticipating the Lord’s coming. It reminds us and focuses our attention on the fact that God became man and that the God-man, Jesus Christ will come again. May we always be ready to welcome the Bridegroom into our lives.
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Seminarians pray during Mass in early May at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, N.Y. Men and women contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage should not be afraid because God wants only for them to experience the joy that comes from serving others, Pope Francis said. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
Don’t wait to be perfect to answer vocational call, pope says By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Men and women contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage should not be afraid because God wants only for them to experience the joy that comes from serving others, Pope Francis said. “Our slowness and our sloth” should not delay a response and Christians need not be “fearful of our limitations and sins, but instead open our hearts to the voice of the Lord,” the pope said in his message for the 2018 World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “It will not fill our hearts if we keep standing by the window with the excuse of waiting for the right time, without accepting this very day the risk of making a decision,” the pope wrote. “Vocation is today! The Christian mission is now!” The papal message for the day of prayer, which will be observed April 22, was released Dec. 4 at the Vatican. The 2018 theme is “Listening, discerning and living the Lord’s call.” In his message, Pope Francis said God’s call “is not as clear-cut as any of those things we can hear, see or touch in our daily experiences” because God “comes silently and discreetly, without imposing on our freedom.” Christians, he said, must learn to listen carefully and “view things with the eyes of faith” in order to listen to
his voice which is “drowned out by the many worries and concerns that fill our minds and hearts.” “We will never discover the special, personal calling that God has in mind for us if we remain enclosed in ourselves, in our usual way of doing things, in the apathy of those who fritter away their lives in their own little w Listening is increasingly difficult in today’s society, which is “overstimulated and bombarded by information” and “prevents us from pausing and enjoying the taste of contemplation” and discerning God’s plan, he said. Often stifled by “the temptations of ideology and negativity,” he said, Christians need spiritual discernment which allows them to “discover the places, the means and situations through which” God’s calls them. “Every Christian ought to grow in the ability to ‘read within’ his or her life and to understand where and to what he or she is being called by the Lord, in order to carry on his mission,” Pope Francis said. He also urged men and women to live out their calling once it is discovered and “become a witness of the Lord here and now,” whether in marriage or priesthood or consecrated life. “If (God) lets us realize that he is calling us to consecrate ourselves totally to his kingdom, then we should have no fear!” Pope Francis said. “It is beautiful -- and a great grace,” he said, “to be completely and forever consecrated to God and the service of our brothers and sisters.”
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Seminarians Installed as Lectors, Acolytes
Ken Snow
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(l-r) Seminarian Mark McDaniel (lector); Bishop Terry LaValley (Ogdensburg); Seminarians Daniel Dupre (lector); Kevin Obiesie (acolyte) and Msgr. Christopher Schreck, Rector/President. By Carrie Burson, CFRE, Director of Advancement, Senior Advancement Officer, Pontifical College Josephinum Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe were among the 18 students of the Pontifical College Josephinum who were installed as lectors or acolytes on Tuesday, November 1, 2017, the Solemnity of All Saints. Most Rev. Terry LaValley, Bishop of Columbus, was the principal celebrant of the Mass held in Saint
Turibius Chapel. Seminarians installed as lectors typically are firstyear theologians and are commissioned to proclaim the Word of God in the liturgical assembly and to catechize the faithful. Acolytes, traditionally secondyear theologians, are entrusted with the duties of attending to the altar, assisting the deacon and priest at Mass, and distributing Holy Communion as an extraordinary minister.
Cowboy Turns Shepherd Jason Pettigrew, a seminarian at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon, shares his journey from a cattle ranch to the seminary. Tell us about your faith journey. I didn’t become Catholic until my 30s. I grew up on a cattle ranch and went all over the Southwest gathering wild cattle and catching boars and donkeys. I had a nice string of horses, money in the bank and everything that was supposed to make me happy, including a fiancée. I asked God, “Please show me what You want from me.” A few days later a thought kept popping in my head: “Rosary, rosary, rosary.” I had never prayed the rosary, but I bought one and learned how to pray it. I attended my first Mass at a Catholic church in Carlsbad, New Mexico. I felt I was home. When I worked for the Ute Indians in the Four Corners area, I spent half the year on the reservation and the other half in the high country with the cattle, so I was unable to attend RCIA classes. But when I met Father Steve Murray in Gunnison, Colorado, he told me, “Jason, you come into town once a week for groceries. That’ll be the time for your RCIA.” We did RCIA for six months. The best day of my life was when I was baptized, confirmed and received Communion.
How did you decide to pursue the priesthood? As my faith and knowledge grew, Father Steve said, “Jason, you may be called.” I said, “I don’t want to be. I’m happy where I am.” He replied, “You might not have much say in it.” I was up at 9,000 feet on a beautiful ranch in the Rockies by myself, praying the rosary and talking with God. The desire kept growing. Eventually I quit the ranch and sold my horses, trucks and trailers and went to the seminary. How has seminary been for you? Having grown up around rugged men and riding a horse for a living, I don’t find many guys like me in the seminary. That’s been difficult. Sitting in the classroom rather than being outside isn’t easy. But there are also many graces like going to prison ministry, going to the nursing home and taking Communion to the elderly — truly serving the people. Tell us more about the Santa Fe archdiocese. New Mexico has four or five different cultures that intermingle. Our archdiocese is unique. We have the oldest Continued on page 13
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‘Let the friendship begin,’ says Tucson’s new bishop at installation Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., and Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger greet women religious following a morning gathering of staff and the well-wishers in St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson Oct. 3. That day Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Kicanas and named as his successor Bishop Weisenburger, who has headed the Diocese of Salina, Kan., since 2012. (CNS photo/Catholic Outlook, Diocese of Tucson) TUCSON, Ariz. (CNS) -- Using his installation Mass homily to launch his episcopacy as the seventh bishop of Tucson, Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger laid out as a blueprint for ministry the day’s Gospel reading about Jesus’ call to the disciples as friends, not slaves. “Let us be in friendship with all, for surely that is the way love grows, the kingdom is built and the great Diocese of Tucson will step into its next age. Brothers and sisters, let the friendship begin,” the bishop said. The Nov. 29 installation was the last step in the transfer of leadership that began Oct. 3 with the announcement by Pope Francis that he had accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, who served the diocese for 16 years, first as coadjutor bishop under Bishop Manuel Moreno and then as Tucson’s sixth bishop of Tucson. COWBOY Continued from page 12
Catholic church still standing — San Miguel in Santa Fe — and the Shrine of Chimayó, the “Lourdes of the Southwest.” It’s rich in Catholic tradition and faith. How do you see yourself as a missionary? I embrace it. Pope Francis said that priests should smell like their sheep — I spent my whole life with livestock. A rancher’s life is in service and sacrifice for the flock. That’s exactly what a priest should do. A priest, just like a rancher, gets that call in the middle of the night — you get up and serve 24/7. We’ve got to smell like the sheep — or in my case, like the cows. Why is Catholic Extension’s support for seminarians in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe important? We’ve had a flood of vocations in the last few years. Right now we have more than 30 seminarians. But New Mexico is a very poor state. Without the help of Catholic.
When he was named Bishop Kicanas’ successor, Bishop Weisenburger was bishop of Salina, Kansas. He had headed that diocese since 2012. During his tenure in Tucson, Bishop Kicanas became known for his advocacy on behalf of the poor, immigrants and cooperation with religious and civic leaders, and was beloved by Catholics throughout southern Arizona. That love was evident in St. Augustine Cathedral as Bishop Kicanas was repeatedly applauded, including a minute-long standing ovation during Bishop Weisenburger’s homily.
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Tepeyac in Peña Blanca The Dedication of The Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Rev. 12:1
Our Lady appears to Juan Diego in 1531. Directs him to build a temple and inform Juan de Zumarraga, the Bishop of Mexico.
Juan Diego visits the Bishop who does not believe his story and dismisses him.
In 1531 Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego at Tepeyac. Since then many Catholics look to our Merciful Mother for love, compassion, intercession and protection. Thee and Dorothy Keros were parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Peña Blanca, New Mexico from 1955 to 2005. They had a positive and long lasting impact on the community. Dorothy attended Loretto Academy and attended church daily. She was involved with the church, loved to read novels and loved Peña Blanca. She visited Tent Rocks often and watched as Cochiti lake and the dam were built. Thee was raised in a farm in Colorado. He was educated in Santa Fe and worked in the banking business. After Thee retired as Vice President from the First National Bank in Santa Fe, he was drawn and desired to get back to the dirt. They moved to Peña Blanca where they owned a home and a twelve acre ranch, and became a cornerstone of the community. Thee served on the water board, was a volunteer fireman, and assisted many families in the pueblos. He would jokingly refer to his life as a rancher as ‘money in the bank Blanca and cattle on the ranch’ that included ‘two horses and one steer’. He planted alfalfa, helped cut alfalfa and went on community round-ups to help other families bring in their cattle for the winter. Thee loved to garden and had the most beautiful and fragrant flowers and lilac bushes that graced the Keros’ home. Summers were filled with children and later with grandchildren working in the garden, riding the horses, enjoying candy that Thee always had handy. Thee and Dorothy were deeply connected to the community and were revered by everyone they met. Dorothy passed away in 1996. Thee continued to live in Peña Blanca until 2005. At his 90th birthday party, community members from Santo Domingo Pueblo spoke about his kindness, his trust and belief in them and his willingness to help them. On May 22, 2014 Thee passed away peacefully in Santa Fe at the age of 101 years. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy and his two daughters, Barbara Patterson and Katherine Hertz. He is survived by his “other daughter” Pat Assimakis, his grandsons Jeffrey and wife Lisa, Mark and wife Heather, Ken and wife Monica, and his great-grandchildren.
Thee Keros
Our Lady heals Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego’s uncle while he returns to the Bishop.
Thee and Dorothy Keros left a legacy that is fondly remembered by many members of the parish community to this day. The Keros family continues to give to the community. Our Lady of Guadalupe Tepeyac Prayer Garden has been created in memory of Thee and Dorothy Keros by the Keros Family. The dedication of the garden will be held on December 11, 2017 at 7:00pm just before the Vespers of Our Lady of Guadalupe located at 816 Hwy 22 in Peña Blanca just north of Keros Road.
Our Lady provides a sign to Juan Diego to take to the Bishop as he requested.
The temple is built in Tepeyac honoring our Holy Mother. Keros family information as told by Pat Assimakis to Rachel Sandoval, author. Tile art by Jeanette Oliver. Construction of garden by Kenny & DeeAnn Quintana, Mayordomos Rev. Michael R. Garcia, Pastor-Our Lady of GuadalupePeña Blanca, NM
Our Lady of Guadalupe By Vita Saavedra, Ph.D., Parishioner, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary In a joyous ceremony, the Norbertine Community and friends dedicated a bulto (statue/image) of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a celebration honoring Mary, the Mother of God. The bulto graces the entrance tower of the Guadalupe Commons building at Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey. Felix López, one of New Mexico’s Master Santeros, created this bulto of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He indicated he prepared to create the bulto by re-reading her story and by studying many traditional images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Felix then developed his concept for this New Mexican image. The bulto is carved in bass wood. The crown is carved in aspen; the crescent moon and base are ponderosa pine, and the backing with the rays of the sun is also pine. The altar table which was constructed of sugar pine was designed and carved in the Spanish colonial style. Felix is considered to be a Master Santero by his peers. His artwork has been exhibited widely, and collected by numerous museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, places of worship and private collections. He is a truly a gifted New Mexican artist. Felix is the sixth of 11 children born to Jose Inez and Eva López from Las Truchas, NM. Both were descendants of families who had deep roots in the small villages of northern New Mexico. During his career, Felix has worked as a teacher and as an artist. He spent one year as curator at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, where he had the opportunity to study the museum’s santo collection.
These words were inscribed by Felix López beneath the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Esta imagen y mesa se hizo para la comunidad Norbertina en Albuquerque, por la mano de Felix López de La Mesilla (Española) Nuevo Mexico, USA. Se terminó en Marzo de 2017. (This image and table were made for the Norbertine Community of Albuquerque, by the hands of Felix López of La Mesilla (Española,) New Mexico, USA. It was completed in March 2017.)
Felix López has won numerous awards for his artwork. He was a recipient of a Visual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2007, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Spanish Colonial Arts Society and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2016. Camilla Trujillo, an exceptional northern New Mexico potter, created two mica-based vases for this devotional piece. The remarkable bulto of Our Lady of Guadalupe was donated in loving memory of Joe and Rose Saavedra, life-long New Mexicans, by their family.
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December 2017
4 Sunday of Advent and Christmas th
By Fabian Yanez, Director of the Office of Worship
P
eople of good conscience are wanting to know what their obligations are for this year on the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve, since Christmas Day falls on a Monday. In our Western culture, we are used to recognizing that a day runs from midnight to midnight, but it is important to know how the Church celebrates Sundays and Solemnities. These special days are based on the Hebrew calendar, which is evening to evening. For those who celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours, the celebration of the day begins with Evening Prayer I on the “day before” and ends with Evening Prayer II on the “day of.” For an
example, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary begins on the evening of August 14 and ends on the evening of August 15. This is why we are able to “anticipate” Sunday on Saturday evening, but no earlier than 4:00 pm. The obligation to attend Mass on Sunday is to be observed and the obligation to attend Mass on Christmas is also to be observed. Attendance at Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent (anticipated Mass or Mass during the day) on Saturday evening or Sunday and attendance at Mass for Christmas (Eve, Midnight, Dawn or Day) on Sunday or Monday are both obligatory. There is no allowance for “double-dipping,” as it were. To put it succinctly, Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday, December 24 does not meet the obligation for Sunday.
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December 2017
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LAS POSADAS Takes us on a journey in search of a birthplace for Jesus, singing carols as we travel through the community and experience closeness with the Holy Family.
Holy Cross Catholic Church beginning at Santa Fe Plaza Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 4:30 pm with a procession to Marian Hall
with singing, music and the novena of the Posadas and Mass at 6:00 pm Each evening is the same schedule and a Host Family or Ministry will provide food at their home or at Marian Hall as follows: Friday, Dec. 15th Oasis of Peace Youth Group; Marian Hall Saturday, Dec. 16th Ruben & Sylvia Garcia Sunday, Dec. 17th Hermanos de Santisima Trinidad; Marian Hall Monday, Dec. 18th Hermanos de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno; Marian Hall Tuesday, Dec. 19th Espanola Plaza Wednesday, Dec. 20th Acolytes; Marian Hall Thursday, Dec. 21st San Isidore Capilla Las Mesilla Friday, Dec. 22nd Joe & Tania Sanchez Saturday, Dec. 23rd Catholic Daughters; Marian Hall For more information please contact Sylvia Garcia 505.670.5800
Cross of Hope Lutheran Church, Albuquerque Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 6 pm – 9 pm
Las Posadas takes us on a journey in search of a birthplace for Jesus. We follow a live donkey and live mariachis, and sing carols and worship as we travel and experience this outreach through the Taylor Ranch neighborhood that also brings us closer to Christ. Conclusion at the church with a great meal of posole, enchiladas, mac and cheese, hot chocolate, live mariachi music, and great fun and fellowship. This is a wonderful way to prepare your heart and mind for the coming of our Savior at Christmas time. All are welcome! Invite your friends to 6104 Taylor Ranch Road, NW, Alb., 897.0047
72nd Annual Las Posadas de Barelas Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 6 pm – 9 pm
Procession begins at Barelas Community Center and continues through the community of Barelas ending at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Alb. Immediately following, you are invited to Barelas Community Center for hot chocolate and a visit from Santa. 242.0561
Las Posadas in the community of Peralta Las Posadas in the community of Peralta for nine days will begin on Saturday, December 16th with a Mass at 5:00 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Peralta and continues week days with Mass at 6:30 pm at Sangre de Cristo Church-Valencia, Saturday Mass will again be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Peralta at 5:00 pm, and Sunday Mass will be at Sangre de Cristo Church-Valencia at 9:30 am. Before the conclusion of the Mass, they will announce the family who will be hosting with their address. Everyone is invited, for more information call 505.869.2189 Continued on page 25
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december 2017
Testimony of Miraculous Intervention
by the Servant of God Sister Blandina Segale, S.C. The following testimony was submitted to the Roman Postulator and the Petitioner of the Sainthood Cause of Servant of God, Sister Blandina Segale S.C. It is with their permission and the author’s (who requests anonymity at this time) that People of God has published the following. Please note this is only one of many alleged miracles attested to during the 2015-2017 timeframe.
I
am writing to testify to a miracle received from Sister Blandina Segale, candidate for sainthood. I recognize that most reports of miracles relate to the healing of physical maladies which can readily be certified as facts. As my miracle pertains to an emotional healing, it may be more difficult for me to express and demonstrate the beautiful thing that occurred. May the Holy Spirit guide my words so that I may make myself clear. When I became a mother in 1985, my joyful heart opened to and connected to God in a whole new way. I was age 23, and since that time I have enjoyed reading spiritual literature of all sorts and pondering the nature of God continuously. I was not raised in the Catholic faith, nor was my ongoing study specifically Catholic, but I delighted in a number of Catholic authors, Theresa of Avila and Julian of Norwich being two particular favorites. Julian’s “Showings” is possibly my most reread book; I love it so much that there have been times when I finished it, and started it all over again immediately. So this son of mine (joined in due course by a brother) was raised in a spiritually rich and reflective home, but without any particular profession of faith or structure whatsoever. Several years ago, this son estranged himself from me, and in the spring of 2015 I learned – not from him, but from his brother – that he was going to be a father and I was going to be a grandmother.
I was overjoyed! I felt all the wonderful things that first-time grandmas feel, with the certainty that surely this blessed event would heal the rift he had placed between us. But that didn’t happen. I was blessed that the beautiful and dear mother of my granddaughter “kept me in the loop” with news and precious pictures when this sweet baby entered the world, but my son would not speak one word to me. When my granddaughter was nine months old I traveled to Albuquerque, where this little family is living, and let them know that I was in town and would love to visit. I was sadly – well, to be perfectly honest, cruelly – given the brushoff. On the fifth and final day of my visit, I was walking around Old Town Albuquerque, and I was attracted by the scrollwork inscription on a building next to the church which read “Sister Blandina Convent”. I lit up when I saw it. Was this a convent? How sweet! My own love of pondering God’s nature always gave me a particular love for women who devoted their lives to it; I have a great warmth and
love for nuns and other female religious. So I wandered over to the Sister Blandina Convent and I discovered that, while it was no longer a convent, it was a Catholic gift shop, and I went in to browse. I will say here that the very space had a gracious, harmonious, loving tone to it. I was attracted to a little, low-cost booklet titled “How to Pray the Rosary”. While I of course had heard of “praying the Rosary”, I honestly knew none of the details, and I bought this little booklet for one dollar even, no tax. I went back out into Old Town Plaza, took a seat facing the church and the Sister Blandina Convent, and started to thumb through my booklet. As I flipped, my phone went off and I saw I had a text from my granddaughter’s mother: would I like to meet for lunch? I sat on that bench with tears pouring down my face, “How to Pray the Rosary” in hand. I spent the most delightful afternoon with my adorable granddaughter, my heart all thanks, before returning to my home in California the next morning. My son, however, did not join us, and I still knew very little about Sister Blandina at that point. I learned to pray the Rosary, using the little booklet I bought at the Sister Blandina Convent, and it would be impossible to describe the solid comfort and help I have experienced through learning this prayer. I have prayed it daily, without exception, since I had this experience more than a year ago, and the more I know it, the more I love it. It truly opened up a whole new world to me. I returned to Albuquerque less than two months later, and this time there was no doubt about me getting to spend time with my granddaughter. And this is when I began to truly learn about dear Sister Blandina! It felt so clear to me that she had been directing and inspiring this healing – both in connecting me with the treasures of the Rosary (a gift beyond
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price!) and in helping the motions toward a much-desired reunion with my estranged son. I felt this even more so upon reading Sister Blandina’s book – for there I found, on her journey west, before she had even arrived at her destination, she was encouraging a young man who had neglected to stay in touch with his mother to do so immediately. I recognized that helping to reconnect wayward children to their mother was “nothing new” to this dear lady – why, I saw an example of it right there, at the beginning of her story! And perhaps you will perceive as well that “learning to pray the Rosary” is an
PEOPLE of GOD
expression of this very same idea – a way to reconnect wayward children with their mother! For it’s true that once I learned to pray the Rosary I clearly saw that what was missing from my spiritual life (however rich and interesting) was my Blessed Mother. For me, all of this led to a greater exploration of the Catholic faith, attending mass and, at present, enrollment in an RCIA program. For my son, we’ll be meeting at Disneyland next week to enjoy some wonderful family time. For Sister Blandina – I love her, I honor her, I credit her plucky activity in these miraculous events, and if I haven’t
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been able to describe my happiness and gratitude for these experiences adequately, I’ll just say: She’s “Saint Blandina” to me! Respectfully submitted, October 23, 2017 NOTICE - All inquiries regarding the Sainthood Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Sr. Blandina Segale, SC (aka Maria Rosa Segale) should be sent to the Roman Postulator of the Cause, c/o the Petitioner of the Cause, Mr. Allen Sánchez, 1516 5th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 | 505.319.3334 or allensanchez@ stjosephnm.org
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PEOPLE of GOD
December 2017
Santo Niño Regional Catholic School (SNRCS) Pillow Service Project On Saturday, October 28, 2017, the SNRCS sixth grade class was fortunate to participate in a service project that would change the way they look at service projects forever. This service project hit especially near and dear to their hearts. It involved a fellow Santo Niño student, Johnny, who was diagnosed with leukemia while attending Pre-K at Santo Niño. Johnny is now a second grader at SNRCS and has just completed his treatment for leukemia. While undergoing chemotherapy at the UNM Cancer Center, Johnny befriended a boy name Jordyn. Jordyn and Johnny talked about how the pillows they were provided at the hospital were cold, and not very comfortable. Their wish was to have pillows available for the patients and family members. Having pillows that were fun to look at and comfortable would be great for enduring those long hours of chemo. The sixth grade class began collecting materials and thanks to the help of several parents, community leaders and staff, they were able to participate in a sewing day project. This project involved purchasing, washing, ironing and sewing pillow cases for the UNM cancer patients. The sixth grade class was especially touched when Johnny and his family came to talk to them about how the pillows would impact the patients. They were also touched to learn
that Jordyn had passed away and his wish was to have comfortable pillows available for cancer patients. Jordyn’s mother came and tearfully thanked the sixth grade class and told them how much it meant to her son and their family. It was visibly touching for both the students and families. SNRCS students regularly participate in service projects. The sixth grade students are required to complete five hours of service every month.
In November, St. Mary’s School and Immaculate Conception Albuquerque hosted their annual Veterans Mass. They hosted family and friends from the school and the parish and offered a special blessing over each of the veteran community members. The 8th grade students showcased their singing skills with a beautiful rendition of “You Lift Me Up.” Thank you to all of our Veterans!
December 2017
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Holy Ghost Celebrates Sr. Josephine Wafula By Donna Jo Doporto, Parish Secretary, Holy Ghost Church
Donna Doporto
Holy Ghost Parish is blessed to have Sr. Josephine Wafula as our new English Director of Religious Education. In less than three months, she has taken over our English Religious Education program adding a new curriculum, a registration of 40 students, 52 confirmation candidates, 13 RCIA students and five attending adult RCIA. Although we are barely in December, Sister is already preparing and planning next summer’s Vacation Bible School program. She wastes no time! When parishioner and local school teacher, Amanda Lara learned that Sr. Josie speaks fluent Swahili, she knew her Kenyan refugee students at Emerson Elementary would enjoy a story in their language. What a success it was! Sister took Kenyan wraps for every child to wear, they learned about the Maasai Bush People, about the Big 5 African animals, and they danced and sang in Swahili and heard a story in Swahili. The children and teachers were educated, entertained and are begging for her quick return. Fr. Thomas Paickattu and his parish staff are proud to work with Sr. Josephine as she serves her parish and her community, especially because she includes the staff in her adventures.
The Jared Box Project Emerson 3rd Graders with Sr. Josephine
Catholic Schools
Start your Child’s Journey of Faith & Learning
By Janice Martinez, principal, Holy Child
Physically Spiritually
The Jared Box project was started in 2001 by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in State College, PA to honor their classmate and friend, Jared. He was a brave little boy who battled cancer with courage and faith that continues to inspire us all. In response, Holy Child Preschool started the first Jared Project in New Mexico four years ago as a way of performing a service during the Advent season. Each student personalizes and decorates a box and fills it will small gifts and activities that will comfort chronically ill children as they receive chemotherapy. The boxes symbolize the importance of play and well-wishes during times of struggle. Over 200,000 Jared Boxes have been made and delivered across the country. Holy Child’s boxes will be delivered to UNM Children’s Hospital the week of December 11.
Academically
Educating
Emotionally
The Whole Child
Now enrolling Pre-K thru High School! Call for information: 505-831-8172 • www.asfcatholicschools.org
0001348784-04
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PEOPLE of GOD
December 2017
Join Pope Francis and Plan a Prayer Service for the 51st Annual World Peace Day on January 1! Join Pope Francis’ effort to promote world peace by planning a prayer service for World Peace Day on January 1. The theme of Pope Francis’ message for the 2018 World Day of Peace will be announced soon. Stay tuned! USCCB will have a two-page handout that can be shared with parishes, families, and schools, to encourage them to celebrate the World Day of Peace with Pope Francis. Go to http://www.usccb.org/ issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/war-and-peace/world-dayof-peace.cfm
for resources, including the annual messages from all the popes back to 1968! The World Day of Peace, initiated by Pope Paul VI 50 years ago, is celebrated each year on the first day of January. The Holy Father’s Message is sent to all Foreign Ministers of the world, and also indicates the Holy See’s diplomatic line during the coming year. Read about other World Day of Peace messages here: http://www.vatican. va/holy_father/francesco/messages/peace/index_en.htm and plan a prayer service for your parish on this date!
CRS Rice Bowls for Lent—still time to place your order!
New materials for CRS Rice Bowl 2018 are available now. We want YOU to be part of the journey—order FREE faith-formation resources today! Materials will arrive in January. Countries/Projects featured for Lent 2018: Iraq, Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Malawi and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Call the office 505.831.8167 to order.
Plan for National Migration Week January 7-14, 2018: Many Journeys, One Family For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. The theme for National Migration Week 2018, Many Journeys, One Family draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another. Unfortunately, in our contemporary culture we often fail to encounter migrants as persons, and instead look at them as unknown others, if we even notice them at all. We do not take the time to engage migrants in a meaningful way, as fellow children of God, but remain aloof to their presence and suspicious or fearful of them. During this National Migration Week, let us all take the opportunity to engage migrants as community members, neighbors, and friends.
December 2017
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Give better, live better – starting now: Put ethically produced gifts on your list Put Christmas back in your shopping, with ethically produced gifts that uplift a world of people. Every partner is vetted for fair wages, safer working conditions and environmentally sustainable practices. Items certified as Fair Trade add meaning to Christmas gifts by supporting the human life and dignity of workers around the world. With every purchase, a donation goes to CRS – for twice the impact! You can shop on line by visiting the CRS/SERVV Fair Trade website and purchase items on line at http://ethicaltrade.crs.org/crafts/
January is Poverty in America Awareness Month—Plan Activities Now! Take up Pope Francis’ challenge to go to the peripheries by participating in Poverty Awareness Month in January. An online and print calendar (also en Español) includes daily ways to learn about poverty, get inspired by how communities are responding, and take action with others. In addition to the calendar are longer daily reflections (also en Español). You can also sign up to receive the daily reflections by email. Share these materials with Catholics in your diocese and follow the action on Facebook and Twitter. Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans and 1 in 5 children live in poverty, and 1 in 7 households in America do not know where their next meal will come from? According to the US Census data, that means that 46.2 million people live at or below the poverty line. And New Mexico has the second highest rate of poverty in the US. The people of “Poverty USA” are family members, neighbors, colleagues – young and old, healthy and sick, rural and urban. They are not making the headlines. Many families are struggling but you can help magnify the voice of people who are poor or vulnerable. What can you do? Start exploring Poverty USA and help awaken others to the struggles of people living in poverty and the inspiring ways in which they are spreading hope. As Catholics, we are called to respond to this immense human suffering! Learn how you can help at www.povertyusa.org. Download a daily reflection calendar for the month of January that has links to stories and prayers of how you can help! http://www.usccb.org/ about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/povertyusa/upload/ poverty-awareness-month-calendar.pdf (tip: Our very own Rev. Graham Golden, O.Praem. is featured in one of the stories of action and hope!) It is available in Spanish: http://www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaignfor-human-development/poverty-education/upload/poverty-awarenesscalendar-esp.pdf Get more resources http://www.povertyusa.org/ poverty-resources/ and be part of the solution!
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where he was fed a small meal every day, funded by CRS Rice Bowl. He survived, studied, and eventually won scholarships to attend college and later earned a master’s degree from California State University. Today, Thomas works with Catholic Relief Services as a consultant and integral part in bringing global solidarity. He lives in Ghana with his wife and four children. His story of initiative and his joyful presence has brought inspiration to thousands of people in the U.S. Don’t miss meeting Thomas! For more info, contact the office at 505.831.8167.
African American Catholic Community Fr. Rollins Lambert Scholarship Announcement Applications for School Year 2018-2019 The African American Catholic Community (AACC) is proud to announce that the seventh annual Fr. Rollins Lambert Scholarship application packets will be available in all Archdiocese of Santa Fe (ASF) Catholic elementary schools after January 12, 2018. Applicants must be African American, Catholic or non-Catholic, in grades kindergarten to eight; enrolled or will be enrolled in one of the ASF Catholic elementary schools for the 2018-2019 academic school year. Parents must describe a verified level of need and unique circumstances through the Grant & Aid Assessment in FACTS at each Catholic school. Application packets must be completed and postmarked before or on Friday, March 16, 2018. For more information on the Fr. Rollins Lambert Scholarship please contact Anne Avellone, ASF Office of Social Justice and Respect Life, or Gerry Harge, 505.831.0800.
Catholic Charities Hosts Columbian Mayors On November 7, Catholic Charities provided a tour and overview of agency services for seven Colombian Mayors as part of the globaltiesabq.org International Visitor Leadership Program. The group was looking for examples of US municipal government and non-government organizations working together to empower minority and disenfranchised, and marginalized groups, including displaced persons and/or immigrant communities through civic and education programs. Staff shared their backgrounds, knowledge, and experiences. The mayors and the students in in our Adult Learning programs exchanged questions and thoughts about the importance of education.
Save the Dates for January 2018 Events! Sun Jan 14: Noon—African American Catholic Community Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass & Celebration, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande, Albuquerque. Info: Brenda at 836-6327. Wed Jan 17: Annual Sanctity of Life Unity and Awareness Day Mass, with the 3 Bishops of New Mexico, Noon, St. Francis Cathedral Basilica, Santa Fe followed by a Prayer March to the Roundhouse and Rally. January 29-31: CRS Speaker Thomas Awiapo in Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Watch for more info! Thomas Awiapo tells a truly inspiring story of survival and success. Growing up in a small African village in Ghana, Thomas was orphaned before the age of ten and left on his own to struggle for survival. His search for food led him to an elementary school,
Columbian Mayors at the Children’s Learning Center with Jim Gannon, CEO of Catholic Charities (second left), and Paola Castillo, Director of Children’s Learning Center (third right)
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December 2017
Seniors in the South Valley Need Your Help Catholic Charities’ Senior Transportation Service provides seniors in our community the ability to enjoy independence and stay connected to the community. Dedicated and caring volunteer drivers provide rides to seniors in central New Mexico to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping, business appointments, and other daily activities many of us take for granted. As our senior population grows, so does the need for volunteer drivers. There is especially an increasing need for transportation within the South Valley. If you are interested in volunteering to drive within the South Valley or anywhere else within central New Mexico, please contact Cathy Aragon-Marquez at 505-724-4634. This program is free and open to everyone ambulatory over the age of 60, regardless of income level. Any seniors in need of transportation can call (505) 724-4659 to schedule a ride.
EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER NOVEMBER 15TH TO MARCH 15TH
Shelter Address: 7440 Jim McDowell Land line: (505) 288-6518 Personal Transportation Welcome
Reaching Our Global and Local Neighbors Matunda Ya Yesu African Youth Choir Sunday, December 10, 2017 2:30p-3:30p Holy Rosary Catholic Community- Rosario Hall Sponsored by Family Faith in Collaboration with Social Justice and Outreach Ministries Free admission, but donations are appreciated The youth members are from refugee camps in several African countries including Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Rwanda and Burundi. They will sing in their native languages. Nkazi and Lingile Sinandile, sponsors of the choir, perform with the group and hope people will come to support this event.
Disaster Relief Continues
Everyone Welcome (men/women/families) COME AS YOU ARE No Person Left Outside!
Catholic Charities, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, accepted donations from our local community to benefit disaster relief efforts associated with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Jose as well as the earthquake that struck central Mexico. So far we have raised nearly $65,000 in disaster relief funds that we have directed to Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas, Catholic Charities of San Juan, and Catholic Relief Services. We would like to thank all the generous donors who sent in gifts. We continue to collect money on behalf of disaster victims in Puerto Rico and earthquake victims in Mexico. Visit our website to learn more. (www.ccasfnm.org). Thank you again to all who have generously answered the call to help our brothers and sisters in need!
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LAS POSADAS Continued from page 17
Holy Child Parish~Carnuel Mission Church in Tijeras
All Posadas begin at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting Saturday, December 16 San Antonio Mission Church ~ Mayordomos Sunday, December 17 Old Santo Niño Church next to the Library in Tijeras Monday, December 18 Jempson home-41 Kramer Drive, Sandia Park 281-7538 Tuesday, December 19 Sedillo Mission Church ~ Mayordomos Wednesday, December 20 T.J. & Reina Davis home 14304 Encantado Rd NE, Alb. Thursday, December 21 Eddie & Geri Herrera home 172 C Hwy 66E, Carnuel Friday, December 22 Canóncito Mission Church ~ Mayordomos Saturday, December 23 San Antonio Mission Church ~ Mayordomos Sunday, December 24 Carnuel Mission Church ~ Mayordomos Potluck after Posadas, songs and prayers, contact Eddie or Geri Herrera @ 298-8439
Our Lady of Sorrows in Las Vegas
All Posadas include a Mass Saturday, December 16 at 7 pm Youth Confirmation - Parish Hall Sunday, December 17 at 7 pm Mollie Armijo–Upper Room Prayer Group-Parish Hall Monday, December 18 at 7 pm OLOS - Tecolote, NM Tuesday, December 19 at 7 pm Marty Sweeney -Altar Society - Parish Hall Wednesday, December 20 at 7 pm Youth Confirmation - Parish Hall Thursday, December 21 at 7 pm Tom & Theresa Archuleta Parish Hall Friday, December 22 at 7 pm Benny & Lillian Garcia 1307 New Mexico Ave. Saturday, December 23 at 7 pm Mayordomos Parish Hall Sunday, December 24 at 5:30 pm Religious Ed/Children’s Mass (OLOS Church) 505.454.1469
4333 Pan American Fwy. NE ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87107 PHONE: (505)
247-0444 FAX: (505) 243-1505
Las Posadas in Santa Fe on
Sunday, December 17th at 1:30 pm Procession begins downtown from the Cathedral Basilica to the First Presbyterian Church and continues to Church of the Holy Faith Episcopal in Santa Fe, 505.982.5619
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Brito, Padilla
Mr. Benjamin Padilla and Miss Mela Brito celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 18, 2017. They were married in Las Vegas, NM at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church by Rev. James T. Burke. They have two beautiful daughters, April Robin and Judy Ann; Also, three grand-children; Miranda Nicole, Mateo and Jayden. They are active parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows and help with the San Rafael Mission in Trementina, NM. Benjamin is retired from the State of New Mexico as a psych tech with 27 years of service. He is also retired from the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant. Mela is a licensed practical nurse with 40 years of service and is still active in her profession. To celebrate this anniversary, a family gathering took place with a dinner in November.
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE TO ROME AND ASSISI - MARCH 10 - 18, 2018.
Y
With spiritual director, Deacon David Little from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Rio Rancho, NM.
ou will attend daily Mass, visit the Vatican, the Papal Audience, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Wall in Lateran, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, a tour of the Roman Colosseum, the Forum, the Trevi Fountain. In Assisi, you will attend Mass at the Beautiful Bassilica of St. Francis and more. The cost of $2998.00 for double occupancy includes R/T from Albuquerque/Rome/Albuquerque, hotel with breakfast and dinner daily, deluxe motor coach to places on the itinerary, one suitcase per person. Transfers from airport/ hotel/airport, entrance fees to places on the itinerary, English speaking guide. For a brochure call Julio J. Garcia, group coordinator at (505)994-9188 or Nick Gjeca at 1-800-228-4654. Ext. 216 at Regina Catholic Pilgrimages.
December 2017
Dominguez, Roybal
Mr. Gilbert V. Roybal and Miss Rita Dominguez met at a dance. They dated for one year after Gilbert returned from four years of service in the United States Marine Corps. They were married on November 11, 1967 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Bernalillo, N.M. They have four children, Celeste and husband John, Gabriel and wife Raquel, Christopher and wife Kara, Regina and husband Glen. They have eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. Gilbert retired from the Albuquerque Fire Department and Rita retired from Albuquerque Public Schools, while at the same time raising a family. They presently belong to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Albuquerque. Gilbert currently volunteers at the VA Hospital and is an usher at the church. Rita is a member of the Bereavement Committee and Senior group and Hermana de Nuestro Padre Jesus. Their children may be grown, but they still encourage and teach them to keep God in the center of their families. The family that prays together, stays together.
Medina, Rael
Mr. Antonio Benito (Ben) Rael and Evangeline Medina Rael are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. They exchanged vows at St. Anthony Church in Questa, NM on November 6, 1947. They were blessed with six children: Antonio Ben Jr. (Rose), Lillian, James (deceased), Daniel (Pat), Ann and Joseph, 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. The Raels are active members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, NM. Ben is a member of the Holy Name Society and was active with the Peregrinos, having made the 100 mile pilgrimage to Chimayo numerous times. Evangeline was a member of the church choir for 23 years. They served as mayordomos three times and were instrumental in rebuilding the new Our Lady of Guadalupe Church after the old one burned down in 1967. Ben is a WWII Navy Veteran and a car mechanic who built a successful service and repair business with the Exxon Service Station in Taos from 1962 to 1977. Evangeline raised the family and helped run the family business. The Rael family is proud to recognize this remarkable 70 year commitment to marriage and they serve as prime examples of love, faith, and devotion to each other.
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December 2017
PEOPLE of GOD
Circle of Grace: Safe Environment Program By The Enduring Mercy AdHoc Committee The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has adopted a new Safe Environment program for children in parish Faith Formation/Religious Education programs and Catholic Schools for the upcoming Catechetical Year (2018). Circle of Grace (COG) is a Christian safe environment program for children and youth , preschool through grade 12. The COG program was developed in 2004 by the Archdiocese of Omaha so that it would not only be a program that is clinically sound, but one that was rooted in our Christian faith. Unlike DVD programs, the Circle of Grace is relational and includes interactive lessons. It is also well known that moral development and discernment matures with real face-to-face relationships rather than technological relationships.
Panel Discussions on Clergy Abuse Having begun in November 2017 and continuing into January 2018, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe will conduct panel discussions on clergy sexual abuse. The panel discussions will be held at parishes throughout the Archdiocese. The panel discussions are being provided for those who have been victims of abuse, relatives of victims or parishioners who have concerns. Our goal in hosting these discussions is to listen, answer questions, address concerns, and provide information to promote further transparency and healing. Please note, these gatherings will not be open to the media. Contact: Annette M. Klimka, Victim Assistance and Safe Environment Coordinator | 505.831.8144 | aklimka@archdiosf.org
December 14 2017, Thursday – Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Taos, in the parish hall located at 205 Don Fernando, Taos from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. January 16, 2018, Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Clovis, in the parish hall located at 921 N. Merriwether St., Clovis from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. January 31, 2018, Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Las Vegas, in the parish hall located at 811 – 6th St., Las Vegas from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m
Through Circle of Grace, children and youth will: • Understand they are created by God and live in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. • Be able to describe the Circle of Grace that God gives each of us. • Be able to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries. • Identify all types of boundary violations. • Demonstrate how to take action if any boundary is threatened or violated. All children and youth should experience a welcoming, secure and protected environment allowing them to embrace all aspects of their Christian faith and engage in healthy relationships. As Christians, we are called to provide faith environments that are free from the threat of abuse, neglect, bullying and harassment. Children and youth should feel secure in these environments to share their concerns and when they are feeling unsafe.
Archdiocese of Santa Fe 2017 Abuse Awareness Training for Adults: Creating a Safe Environment for Our Children
(formerly known as the Sexual Abuse Misconduct Prevention Workshop) Rev. 10/13/2017
Attendance at the workshop is MANDATORY for all clergy, employees, and volunteers in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Pre-registration is necessary. These workshops are sponsored by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Contact: Annette the Victims Assistance Coordinator or Rose Garcia, at 505.831.8144. Note: Do not bring children. No one under age 18 is allowed in the workshop. If you are late you will not be allowed to enter the training. Please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator to report any abuse that has occurred by Clergy, Employee or Volunteer in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER – CALL 505-831-8144 FOR A RECORDING ADVISING IF THE TRAINING IS CANCELLED December 7, 2017 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Catholic Center Thursday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 January 13, 2018 9:00 a.m. – Noon Catholic Center Saturday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 February 15, 2018 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Catholic Center Thursday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 March 3, 2018 9:00 a.m. – Noon Catholic Center Saturday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 April 12, 2018 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Catholic Center Thursday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 May 5, 2018 9:00 a.m. – Noon Catholic Center Saturday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120 June 7, 2018 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Catholic Center Thursday 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW Albuquerque, 87120
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December 2017
W O R L D A N D N AT I O N A L N E W S
Pope Francis rides in a rickshaw as he arrives for an interreligious and ecumenical meeting for peace in the garden of the archbishop’s residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Church leaders emphasize need for repentance, atonement for Korean peace PAJU CITY, South Korea (CNS) -- Church leaders seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula emphasized the need for “repentance and atonement” between North Korea and South Korea. Clergy and laypeople from South Korea, the United States, Japan and other parts of the world also called for fewer military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. at the first-ever conference on the role of Catholics in building peace on the Korean Peninsula and more broadly in northeast Asia. The call came just before the U.S. and South Korea opened a massive joint military air exercise Dec. 4. North Korea and South Korea never signed a peace treaty at the end of the Korean War in 1953 and constant tensions have existed since between the democratic government in the south and the communist regime in the North. In the past year, North Korea, which takes the position that U.S.-South Korea military exercises pose a threat, tested missiles multiple times. The most recent occurred Nov. 28 and involved an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew higher and farther than others, raising grave concern among North Korea’s neighbors and the U.S.
Congress urged to ‘fix fundamental flaws’ in final tax reform bill WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Congress must “fix the fundamental flaws” in both the Senate and House versions of the tax reform proposal as lawmakers try to reach an agreement on a final bill, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, the chairman, issued a statement Dec. 2 in response to Senate passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in a 51-49 vote at 1:50 a.m. Washington time. Both chambers must meet in conference to reconcile differences in the two measures to bring a final bill to a vote. “Congress must act now to fix the fundamental flaws found in both bills, and choose the policy approaches that help individuals and families struggling within our society,” said Bishop Dewane. “We are reviewing the final Senate bill and will soon provide analysis about key improvements that are necessary before a final agreement should be reached and moved forward,” he said. “For the sake of all people -- but especially those we
Pope Francis wears a garland as he arrives to celebrate Mass and the ordination of priests in Suhrawardy Udyan park in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) ought, in justice, to prioritize -- Congress should advance a final tax reform bill only if it meets the key moral considerations outlined in our previous letters,” Bishop Dewane said.
Don’t wait to be perfect to answer vocational call, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Men and women contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage should not be afraid because God wants only for them to experience the joy that comes from serving others, Pope Francis said. “Our slowness and our sloth” should not delay a response and Christians need not be “fearful of our limitations and sins, but instead open our hearts to the voice of the Lord,” the pope said in his message for the 2018 World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “It will not fill our hearts if we keep standing by the window with the excuse of waiting for the right time, without accepting this very day the risk of making a decision,” the pope wrote. “Vocation is today! The Christian mission is now!” The papal message for the day of prayer, which will be observed April 22, was released Dec. 4 at the Vatican. The 2018 theme is “Listening, discerning and living the Lord’s call.”
Advent is time to identify sin, help the poor, see beauty, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Advent is a time to be watchful and alert to the ways one strays from God’s path, but also to signs of his presence in other people and in the beauty of the world, Pope Francis said. Reciting the Angelus prayer Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, “Being watchful and alert are the prerequisites for not continuing ‘to wander far from the Lord’s path,’ lost in our sins and infidelities; being watchful and alert are the conditions for allowing God to break into our existence, to give it meaning and value with his presence full of goodness and tenderness.” Like the ancient Israelites who wandered in the desert, the pope said, “we, too, often find ourselves in a situation of infidelity to the Lord’s call; he indicates the right path, the path of faith, the path of love, but we look for happiness elsewhere.” Advent gives people time to review the paths they have taken and to turn back to the ways of God, he said.
December 2017
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W O R L D A N D N AT I O N A L N E W S
Pope Francis prays with religious leaders and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar during an interreligious and ecumenical meeting for peace in the garden of the archbishop’s residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope says world has reached moral limit on nuclear deterrence ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BANGLADESH (CNS) -- The Cold War policy of nuclear deterrence appears morally unacceptable today, Pope Francis said. St. John Paul II, in a 1982 message to the U.N. General Assembly, said deterrence “may still be judged morally acceptable” as a stage in the process of ridding the world of nuclear weapons. But Pope Francis, in a message in early November to a Vatican conference, said “the very possession” of nuclear weapons “is to be firmly condemned.” During a news conference Dec. 2 on his flight back to Rome from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Pope Francis was asked what had changed since St. John Paul wrote to the United Nations and whether the war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un influenced his position. “What has changed?” the pope responded. “The irrationality has changed.” Pope Francis said his position is open to debate, but “I’m convinced that we are at the limit of licitly having and using nuclear weapons.”
Pope expresses satisfaction with meetings on Rohingya crisis ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BANGLADESH (CNS) -- Well aware he was disappointing some people by not using the word “Rohingya” publicly in Myanmar, Pope Francis said his chief concern had been to get a point across, and he did. “If I would have used the word, the door would have closed,” he told reporters Dec. 2 during his flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Rome. He spent almost an hour answering reporters’ questions after his six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh, but insisted that most of the questions be about the trip. In his speeches in Myanmar, Pope Francis repeatedly referred to the obligation to defend the lives and human rights of all people. But he did not specifically mention the Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Rakhine state. The Myanmar military, claiming it is cracking down on militants, has been accused of a massive persecution of the Rohingya to the point that some describe it as “ethnic cleansing.” More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled across the Bangladeshi border just since August, joining hundreds of thousands already living in refugee camps there. For the government of Myanmar, the Rohingya do not exist; instead they are considered undocumented immigrants.
Blessed Solanus Casey, who was beautified during a Mass Nov. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit, records a note from a woman who visited him at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit in 1941. The Capuchin Franciscan friar kept dozens of notebooks filled with prayer requests and favors from the thousands who visited him each year. (CNS photo/Archdiocese of Detroit)
Harmony must begin within church, pope says in Bangladesh DHAKA, Bangladesh (CNS) -- Devoting his last day in Bangladesh to the nation’s tiny Catholic community, Pope Francis told clergy and religious that there was no way they could promote interreligious harmony in the country if their communities were marked by gossip, division and bitterness. “There are many enemies of harmony,” the pope told priests, religious, seminarians and bishops Dec. 2. One of the deadliest, and most common, enemies is gossip. “You might want to criticize the Holy Father for being repetitive, but this is important to me,” he told the church workers gathered in Dhaka’s Holy Rosary Church. Speaking badly of someone behind his or her back creates distrust, he said. “It’s a kind of terrorism,” destroying everything. When the temptation to gossip arises, the pope said, “bite your tongue. You might harm your tongue, but you won’t harm your brother or sister.”
Archbishop urges funding for HIV, AIDS programs at peril in budget WASHINGTON -- Saying that any reduction in funding of programs to prevent HIV and AIDS could have “catastrophic life-threatening implications,” Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, asked the Office of Management and Budget, in a letter, to maintain its full funding. The letter, signed also by Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, was issued Dec. 1, observed as World AIDS Day. “At a moment when we are finally witnessing great success in turning back a disease that shocked the world only a generation ago, any cuts in funding would directly result in a reduction in the number of people living with HIV who are added to treatment each year, and could trigger a resurgence in the global epidemic,” the letter said. They specifically ask that the government continue to fund the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, and the Global Fund to at least current levels. President George W. Bush launched PEPFAR in 2003 as a way to deal with the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a Geneva-based organization aimed at fighting the diseases throughout the world.
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December 2017
Destroying My Freedom — in the Name of Freedom? In an August 2015 column in The Washington Post, George F. Will argued in favor of physician-assisted suicide, summing up his perspective this way: “There is nobility in …affirming at the end the distinctive human dignity of autonomous choice.” His conclusion, however, raises several important questions: Shouldn’t death-dealing actions directed against ourselves be seen as a deep repudiation of our autonomy, insofar as suicide eliminates our personal freedom once and for all? If our ability to freely make choices is among the highest of our human faculties, isn’t it a radical contradiction to mount an attack on that autonomy through suicidal acts? Isn’t there a certain absurdity to marshaling our freedom to obliterate our freedom? Autonomy is often described as being able to do what we want, being “self-governing” and “self-directing.” Authentic freedom, though, doesn’t actually mean the ability to do whatever we want; it means the ability to do what we ought, in accord with who we are. To grow in freedom and autonomy means acting in such a way that we attend to, and respect the designs written into our nature. Otherwise, autonomy collapses into a caricature of its real meaning, or worse, into raw violence and forcefulness against ourselves or others. We can consider a simple example: exercising autonomy with respect to our car doesn’t mean doing whatever we want with it, like pouring milk in the gas tank, and orange juice in the oil reservoir. If we intentionally sideswipe other vehicles as we drive along, and strike pedestrians on the sidewalk, these would be acts of violence, not acts of “autonomy” or “free choice.” Authentic freedom with an automobile implies using it in an ordered way to get from A to B, driving safely and legally, and even doing the right maintenance and upkeep on it, maintaining respect for the way the vehicle was designed and intended to be used. Freedom and autonomy regarding what we eat and drink, to consider another example, doesn’t mean we can consume anything at all. We can legitimately choose between apples and oranges, but not between milk and drain cleaner. If, in the name of autonomy, we were to declare that we’re free to do whatever we want with our bodies, and we ingested drain cleaner on purpose to make ourselves ill, we would actually undermine and surrender our personal autonomy. We would no longer be able to do
what we might wish to do, as our body rebelled and constrained us to a stretcher on our way to the emergency room or poison control center. Looking at a misguided choice of this kind reminds us how our autonomy is never absolute. This kind of choice would also raise doubts in the minds of those who cared about us regarding our mental and moral sanity. To deem self-inflicted sickness to be desirable would itself be a sickness, a kind of lie, spoken in the name of a perverted sense of being free to do whatever I want, even to the point of self-harm or selfannihilation. The decision to intentionally end our own life by an act of suicide (whether alone or with the assistance of others) pivots our uniquely human power to make sound choices into a seditious power directed against our own good. To self-inflict death in collusion with a physician would constitute a profoundly disordered decision, and a radically corrosive attack on our autonomy. Rather than something dignified, this abuse of freedom is ethically indefensible. If sane people can recognize that drinking poison to get ourselves sick is wrong, how can we feign that ingesting drugs or using other means to kill ourselves is somehow right and noble? Abusing our own freedom or autonomy isn’t free or autonomous; instead, it enslaves and diminishes us. When medical professionals pivot in their role of healing and curing, and instead become accomplices in terminating the sick and vulnerable, they, too, undermine their own autonomy and corrupt their own professional freedom to genuinely care and “first do no harm.” True autonomy is not limitless or absolute, but is necessarily conditioned by the truth of who we are and the way we function. Properly exercised, our personal freedom manifests a genuine nobility, and a real dignity. We should never will that our final “autonomous choice” be directed against that noble dignity. Rather, we must flee the tyranny of false autonomy if our lives are to be authentically marked by human freedom in its full splendor. Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org
Reticence and Secrecy as Virtue By Rev. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI In all healthy people there’s a natural reticence about revealing too much of themselves and a concomitant need to keep certain things secret. Too often we judge this as an unhealthy shyness or, worse, as hiding something bad. But reticence and secrecy can be as much virtue as fault because, as James Hillman puts it, when we’re healthy we will normally “show the piety of shame before the mystery of life.” When are secrets healthy and when are they not? When is it healthy to “cast our pearl” before others and when is it not? This is often answered too simplistically on both sides. No doubt secrets can be dangerous. From scripture, from spirituality in every tradition, from what’s best in psychology, and, not least, from the various “12-Step Programs” that today help so many people back to health, we learn that keeping secrets can be dangerous, that what’s dark, obsessive, and hidden within us has to be brought to light, confessed, shared with someone, and owned in openness or we can never be healthy. Scripture tells us that the truth will set us
free, that we will be healthy only if we confess our sins, and that our dark secrets will fester in us and ultimately corrupt us if we keep them hidden. Alcoholics Anonymous submits that we are as sick as our sickest secret. Psychology tells us that our psychic health depends upon our capacity to share our thoughts, feelings, and failings openly with others and that it’s dangerous to keep things bottled up inside ourselves. That’s right. That’s wise. There are secrets that are wrongly kept, like the dark secrets we keep when we betray or the secrets a young child clutches to as an exercise in power. Such secrets fester in the soul and keep us wrongly apart. What’s hidden must be brought into the light. We should be wary of secrets. But, as is the case with most everything else, there’s another side to this, a delicate balance that needs to be struck. Just as it can be bad to keep secrets, we can also be too loose in sharing ourselves. We can lack proper reticence. We can trivialize what’s precious inside us. We Continued on page 31
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Bridges Over Troubled Borders By Dr. Tim Muldoon, Catholic Extension’s Director of Mission Education Recently I visited St. Mark Parish in El Paso, Texas, and had the opportunity to talk with volunteers who staff the parish’s RICO ministry, which serves unaccompanied minors under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). RICO is an acronym for Refugio Infantil Comunidad (Community Child Shelter), but it is also named after the pastor’s nephew Rico, who was killed in Mexico. The pastor is Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas, who knows too many stories of violence like the one that befell his nephew. His face turns to a grimace as he recounts one of them: Ana, a Salvadoran woman whose husband and baby were killed, leaving her and her other two children to flee for dear life north into Mexico and eventually the United States. Along the twomonth journey, she scavenged for food and tried desperately to protect her children from attackers. She was arrested when she made it to the U.S. border, but while in ICE custody she was allowed to visit St. Mark, where she was welcomed and experienced the first real human contact for many weeks. By that time, her children could barely tolerate solid food. Volunteers at the constantly busy parish recount similar stories. A husband and wife team hold back tears as they remember the two-month window of time when ICE allowed them to shelter thousands of migrants who streamed across the border fleeing violence. For eight weeks, Adrianna and Antonio Posada lived and slept in the parish hall, taking care of men and women who had no other place to go. Men and women were raped along the journey; one man was left entirely naked after being attacked; one woman broke both legs after scaling the wall separating Mexico and the United States. Stories such as these are part of the daily reality of life on the border. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso has written movingly of this reality in his recent pastoral letter “Sorrow and Mourning Flee Away,” in which he recounts several similar stories. There is a pattern among them: families are torn asunder by uncontrolled violence in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador or Mexico; they make heart-wrenching decisions to leave home, often at a moment’s notice and with nearly nothing for the dangerous journey. They travel through the valley of the shadow of death, often RETICENCE Continued from page 30
can open ourselves in ways that takes away our mystery and makes us inept subjects for romance. We can lose our depth in ways that makes it difficult for us to be creative or to pray. We can lack “the piety of shame before the mystery of life.” We all need to keep some secrets. Etymologically to keep a secret means to keep something apart from others. And we need to do that in healthy ways because a certain amount of honest privacy is necessary for us to nurture our individuality, for us to come to know our own souls. All of us need to keep some secrets, healthy secrets. What this does, apart from helping us know more deeply our individuality, is that secrets protect our mystery and depth by shielding them under a certain mystique, from which we can more richly offer our individuality to others. We derive both the words mystery and mystic from the Greek word myein which is a word that’s used to describe what we are left looking at when a flower closes its petals or a person closes his or her eyelids. Something’s hidden then, something of beauty, of intelligence, of wit, of love. Its depths are partially closed off and so that individual flower or person takes on a certain mystique which triggers a desire within us to want to uncover those depths. Romance has its origins here,
suffering further violence; and they arrive at the United States border. There they are treated like criminals, often having to wear an ankle bracelet so they can be tracked, or living in detention until they can be sent back over the border to a hopeless future. Bishop Seitz puts his finger on the way that political realities have shaped the lives of countless numbers of people. He writes, “I am bishop of a flock frightened by the flashing lights of police cars in the rearview mirror, who wonder if this family outing or that drive home from work will be the last. I am spiritual father to thousands of Border Patrol and ICE agents, who put their lives on the line to stem the flow of weapons and drugs and those who carry them.” He understands the way that policy changes impact both migrants and members of law enforcement, all of whom are children of God. He knows something about the ways that changing laws and policies can throw generations of families into turmoil—whether it’s because of parents arrested and deported while their children are in school, or whether it’s because of adult siblings unable to visit each other because they live on opposite sides of the El Paso/Juárez border. Yet he also knows that many ICE agents work hard to provide for their families and subject themselves to danger on a daily basis because of the perfect storm of unjust economic conditions, the illegal drug trade, and broken immigration laws. During my visit, I participated in the annual Border Mass, a cooperative effort of the dioceses of El Paso, Texas; Juárez, Mexico; and Las Cruces, New Mexico. The altar for the Mass was set upon an ad hoc platform right over the Rio Grande, which in El Paso is little more than a concrete storm canal that marks the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Bishop Seitz, the celebrant this year, stepped off the platform and waded across the shin-deep water to offer communion to a priest from Juárez, who then shared it with the several hundred congregants on his side of the water. The bishop’s action reminded me of the way someone described refugee volunteers as gente puente—bridge people. The Church, as the living body of Christ who bridges the human and the divine, also provides a bridge for suffering people to experience healing. Let us pray for the graces to provide such bridges in our troubled world. as does creativity, prayer, and contemplation. It’s no accident that when artists paint persons at prayer normally they are depicted with their eyelids closed. Our souls need to be protected from over-exposure. Just as our eyes need to be closed at times for sleep, so too our souls. They need time away from the maddening crowd, time alone with themselves, time to healthily deepen their individuality so as to make them richer for romance. Some years ago in an American television sitcom, a mother issued this warning to her teenage daughter just as this young person was leaving for a party with friends: “Now remember your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit – not a public amusement park!” Inside that wit, there’s wisdom. The mother’s warning is about properly guarding one’s body, but the body is connected to the soul and, like the body, the soul too shouldn’t be trivialized and become fodder for recreation. Jesus warns us to not give to the dogs what’s sacred or throw pearls to swine. That’s strong talk, but what he’s warning us about merits strong language. Soul is a precious commodity that needs to be properly cherished and guarded. Soul is also a sacred commodity that needs to be accorded its proper reverence. We protect that preciousness and sacredness when we confess openly are sick secrets and then properly guard our healthy ones.
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Rest in Peace Sr. Mary Egan, SC Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Mary Egan died Oct. 3, 2017, at the age of 89 in Sonoma, CA, in the company of family. Sr. Mary was born Mary Josephine Egan on May 6, 1928, to Gaston and Pauline (Henry) Egan in Chattanooga, TN. She was the oldest of two children, living their early years in New York City. Sr. Mary was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 71 years. Sr. Mary attended Sacred Heart grade school in Dayton, OH, and graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in 1947. Sr. Mary was attracted to the Sisters of Charity for their kindness and compassion. She entered the congregation as an aspirant in September 1946. Sr. Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1962; she earned a master’s in education from Xavier University (Cincinnati) in 1976. Sr. Mary’s ministries brought her to the classroom for more than 40 years, beginning in 1948 at Holy Trinity, Trinidad, CO. From there Sister taught at Holy Name, Cleveland, OH (1953-’54); St. Francis, Albuquerque, NM (1954-’56, 1957-’58); San Felipe, Albuquerque (1956-’57); St. Mary, Rev. Frederick Michael Brand Rev. Frederick Michael Brand passed away at the age of 85, on Thursday, November 23, 2017 in Abiquiu, NM. Fr. Brand was ordained on May 27, 1967. He served at Our Lady of Fatima in Albuquerque, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Albuquerque, Organizer of Jesus Caritas Fraternity in Archdiocese of Santa Fe, St. John Nepomuceno in El Rito, St. Anthony in Pecos, St. Joseph in Springer, Director of Bethany House in Albuquerque, Chaplain in Albuquerque,
Albuquerque (1958-’62); St. Mary, Marion, OH (1962-’64); St. Jude, CN(1964-’67); St. Teresa, Springfield, OH(1967-’68); Corpus Christi, Dayton, OH (1968-’69); St. Albert, Kettering, OH(1969-’73); and Incarnation, Centerville, OH(1973-’75). It was in 1975 that Sr. Mary completed her master’s work from Xavier University and moved to California, teaching in the Diocese of Santa Rosa for the next 13 years, being near family. She taught Chinese, Southeast Asian and Central American children in both Catholic and public schools. In the 1990s Sr. Mary left the classroom; she perfected her use of Spanish and earned a paralegal certificate from the University of San Francisco. In 1996, she served as a paralegal in a cooperative restraining order clinic for battered women in San Francisco and was also a volunteer advocate for victims of elder abuse. In the 2000s she volunteered with the Central American Refugee Program of Catholic Social Services. At the time of her Diamond Jubilee, Sr. Mary stated, “Being close to those who lack basic human needs is a constant reminder to simplify my own life.” Sister Mary Egan is survived nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Thurston Lamar Egan. and Chaplain for Christian Brothers, St. Michael’s High School and College in Santa Fe. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Archbishop John C. Wester on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe. Interment will be at Monastery of Christ in the Desert Cemetery in Abiquiu at a later date. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Frederick Michael Brand, and for his family and friends.
Children’s Books for Christmas Giving
By Regina Lordan Catholic News Service The following books are suitable for Christmas giving:
“The Watcher” by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2017). 42 pp., $17. “The Watcher” is a rare treasure in the world of children’s books: The verse is poetic, the illustrations are a compelling blend of photographs and drawings, and the story is a gripping tale of bully and victim ... or is it? The narration unfolds and reveals that the instigator is really just a lonely child desperate for a friend. Influenced by Psalm 121, which attributes all help to God’s loving protection and care, it is written in “golden shovel” form, in which the last word of each verse is a word from the psalm. “The Watcher” is a story that holds onto you as it slowly reveals understanding, compassion and innocent faith in God’s love and protection. After it is read, its lyrical tale will not be soon forgotten. Ages 6-10. “Be Yourself: A Journal for Catholic Girls” by Amy Brooks. Gracewatch Media (Winona, Minnesota, 2017) 100 pp., $20. “Be Yourself” is a place for Catholic girls and young women to indeed learn how to be themselves, just the way God intended them to be. Colorful, interactive and brimming with saint spotlights, prayers and biblical quotes,
“Be Yourself” will encourage Catholic girls to, as author Amy Brooks writes, nourish their relationship with God to better know his will for them and to use the journal to “navigate that relationship -- on good days and bad days.” Ages 9 and up. “Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas” by Laura Alary, illustrated by Ann Boyajian. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Massachusetts, 2017) 32 pp., $16.99. Advent is a time of anticipation and waiting, but it can also be a time for reflection and mindfulness of today … if we take the time to look. Author Laura Alary welcomes children to be aware, appreciate and change during Advent within a biblical and present-day context. She tells the story of Jesus’ birth within the framework of children’s daily lives, and she encourages children to anticipate Christmas by preparing to say “yes” to God with simple, practical activities and works of service. Ages 5-10. “Anointed: Gifts of the Holy Spirit” by Pope Francis. Pauline Books and Media (Boston, 2017) 120 pp., $18.95. Intended for young men and women preparing to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation, but appropriate for all Continued on page 33
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teens, “Anointed” is a compilation of the teachings of Pope Francis brightly illustrated with graphics and photos, Bible verses and prayers. “Anointed” makes the pope’s teachings accessible and engaging, and invites readers to openly receive the gifts that God has given us. Ages 12-18. “That Baby in the Manger” by Anne E. Neuberger, illustrated by Chloe E. Pitkoff. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Massachusetts, 2017) 31 pp., $15.99. Father Prak was puzzled: A group of curious children, beautiful in their multicultural diversity, were preparing for Christmas Mass when they started asking questions about the statue of the baby Jesus. Why didn’t he look like many of them, and why didn’t he look like Jesus most likely did, with dark skin, hair and eyes? The priest turned to God for help while an innocent parishioner in the church overheard the discussion. Answering Father Prak’s prayers through the eavesdropper’s clever idea, the children discovered that through the gift of Christmas, Jesus has come to save each and every one
of them, no matter what they look like. A perfect Christmas gift for children, this book celebrates the truth of Christmas while highlighting the mystery of God’s interactions with us through prayer and each other. Ages 4-10. “Angel Stories from the Bible” by Charlotte Grossetete, illustrated by Madeleine Brunelet, Sibylle Delacroix and Eric Puybaret. Magnificat (New York, 2017) 47 pp., $15.99. Beginning with Jacob’s ladder and ending with the angel appearing at Jesus’ tomb, author Charlotte Grossetete adapts biblical passages of God’s celestial messengers into children’s short stories. Children will enjoy the illustrations of the five stories, created by three artists with varying styles, and the narratives of God intervening in human lives with his angels out of love and care. Particularly appropriate for Christmas, “Angels Stories from the Bible” includes St. Gabriel the Archangel visiting Mary to announce Jesus’ impending arrival. Ages 5 and up.
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Date
TV MASS SCHEDULE The Catholic Center St. Joseph/St. Francis Chapel Over the air television Sunday at 6:30 a.m. on KRQE TV-13-2, KBIM TV-10-2, KREZ TV-6-2 and KASYMy50TV Cable or satellite providers on KRQE TV-13, KBIM TV-10, KREZ TV-6, FOX 2 American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreted TV Mass donations may be sent online to www.archdiosf.org or mailed to: Vicar General’s Office/TV Mass 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 Check out Sunday and daily readings at www.usccb.org
Event
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Place Contact
ARCHBISHOP'S SCHEDULE DECEMBER 16 Sat 7:30am 18 Mon 11:30am 5:00pm 19 Tue 20 Wed 24 Sat 9:30pm 11:30pm JANUARY 7-13 Sun-Sat
Los Lunas Prison Masses Catholic Center Staff Advent Celebration Seminarian Advent Gathering, Catholic Center Santa Fe Province Meeting, Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ Santa Fe Province Meeting, Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ Christmas Eve Mass, Tesuque Pueblo Christmas Eve Mass, Cathedral Basilica Region XIII Bishops Retreat, Picture Rocks, AZ
To advertise in People of God, THE MAGAZINE contact Leslie M. Radigan at 505-831-8162 or email lradigan@archdiosf.org
December 2017
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Sponsored by the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops
SANCTITY OF LIFE AWARENESS AND UNITY DAY Wednesday, January 17, 2018 in Santa Fe Join us as the three Dioceses of New Mexico prayerfully mark the 45th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion with a Sanctity of Life Awareness and Unity Day on January 17, 2018. The day includes a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe, a prayer procession and rally at the Roundhouse and visiting legislators. Noon Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe: The three Bishops of New Mexico, Archbishop John C. Wester (Archdiocese of Santa Fe), Bishop Oscar CantĂş (Diocese of Las Cruces) and Bishop James S. Wall (Diocese of Gallup) will be concelebrating Mass at noon. ***Participants are asked to bring baby items like diapers, blankets, bottles, etc. and/or socks and toiletries for the elderly to be collected at the Mass and distributed to organizations that provide support to expectant mothers in need or nursing homes.
1:30pm 2:00pm
Procession to the Roundhouse Immediately following Mass, at approximately 1:30pm there will be a prayerful procession from the Basilica to the Roundhouse. Rally at the Roundhouse and Visiting Legislators The rally and visit with legislators will be led by Allen Sanchez, the Director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For more information, call the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Social Justice and Respect Life, 505-831-8167. Note: Other groups may be hosting events surrounding the Mass, march and rally.
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