People of God, December 2019

The Nativity is depicted in this 16th-century painting by Italian artist Lorenzo Lotto. The feast of the Nativity of Christ, a holy day of obligation, is celebrated Dec. 25.

(CNS/Bridgeman Images)

Wishing you a blessed Advent and Christmas season

December 2019 Vol. 37, No. 11

Serving the multicultural people of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe www.archdiosf.org

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On Friday, November 22, 2019, Archbishop John C. Wester presented Mrs. Mary Frances Reza the Archdiocese’s Lifetime of Service Recognition Award.

The celebration took place at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Parish in Albuquerque on the Feast of St. Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians. Mrs. Reza, a native New Mexican, was recognized for her numerous U. S. and international contributions to liturgical music. Also pictured, Damaris Thillet, ASF Director of Worship. Please see page 14.

Celine/ASF

Mary Frances Reza Receives Lifetime of Service Recognition Award

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Prayer Intentions DECEMBER/DICIEMBRE The Future of the Very Young That every country take the measures necessary to prioritize the future of the very young, especially those who are suffering.

El futuro de los más jóvenes Para que todos los países decidan tomar las medidas necesarias para hacer que el futuro de los más jóvenes sea una prioridad, especialmente de aquellos que están sufriendo.

Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 4, 2019.

During his general audience, Pope Francis spoke about the duty of church leaders to keep watch over their faithful.

(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Together We Can Reach Our Goal!

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Your donation will remain confidential, and is protected within the Annual Catholic Appeal Foundation of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, a New Mexico Non-Profit Corporation, as a separate organization. Your donation does not fund legal claims. Visit our new ACA Website at: www.acaarchdiosf.org to donate to ACA 2019, watch Archbishop Wester’s ACA video, and much more!

Annual Catholic Appeal Recipient Spotlight OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION The Office of Religious Education operates in the context of the ongoing evangelization and conversion process that is the goal of the Church for every Christian. They provide for pastors, homeschooling parents and pastoral teams, Catechetical Leaders, Catechists and leaders of Adult Faith Formation, leadership, enablement, support and coordination through which they may effectively grow in and find success in catechetical ministry. They strive to provide the encouragement, and challenge for continuing growth in vision, purpose and commitment for the catechetical ministry of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. To learn more, visit our website at: www.acaarchdiosf.org Click on the ‘Ministries and Programs We Support’ icon on the right, then select ‘Pastoral Ministries Division’. From there, select the ’Religious Education’ icon. From here you may also access their website directly using the link on the bottom of this page.

ACA contributions help the

OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DID Our newest section, ACA Recipient Spotlight, will regularly YOU highlight ministries and organizations supported by donations KNOW? to the ACA. Donations to the ACA Foundation remain a major funding source to our ministries and services during and beyond the Archdiocesan Chapter 11 Reorganization. ACA is not part of the bankruptcy filing. All donations remain confidential and do not fund legal claims.

Las donaciones a la Fundación ACA siguen siendo una fuente importante de financiamiento para nuestros ministerios y servicios durante este tiempo y más allá de la reorganización del Capítulo 11 de la Arquidiócesis. ACA no es parte de la declaración de bancarrota. Las donaciones recibidas por ACA son confidenciales y no financian demandas legales.

Inside This Month’s Issue 2 Pope Francis Celebrates 50 Years of Priesthood 4 Archbishop’s Letter: Hope & Joy 8 Vicar General’s Corner 10 Very Rev. Michael Demkovich, O.P.: The Gift of God’s Nearness 12 Las Posadas 13 Advent & Christmas Celebrations/Customs Around the World 14 Mary Frances Reza Receives Lifetime of Service Recognition Award 16 Very Rev. Glenn Jones: Reason for Hope 18 Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Mass & Celebration 19 Catholic Extension: Tragedy in El Paso, Hope in Shreveport:

God is With Us 20 Social Justice 22 Vocations 23 Very Reverend Jack Clark Robinson, OFM:

Franciscan Friars – Coast to Coast 24 Catholic Schools 26 Catholic Charities 28 Mass of Healing from Effects of Addiction 32 Healing Pilgrimages: Tomé & Chimayó 33 Safe Environment 34 Archbishop Wester’s Calendar 35 First-ever Lay Minister’s Convocation 36 Sanctity of Life Awareness & Unity Day

People of God Official Magazine of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Publisher: Most Rev. John C. Wester Editor/Photography/Design: Celine Baca Radigan cradigan@archdiosf.org

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.

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Hope and Joy

“O

Come, Divine Messiah!” This line from a well-loved Advent hymn is the song that should be in all our hearts, but especially at this time of year. It is our cry for the Lord that echoes throughout time. The hymn goes on, “The world in silence waits the day / When hope shall sing its triumph / And sadness flee away.”

Here we find the great moment we Christians return to time and time again, that moment when God, out of an abundance of love, chose to become one of us. The 1995 song written by Eric Bazilian

and sung by Joan Osborne has a haunting chorus that is bard-like and well worth our pondering: “What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us, just a stranger on the bus trying to make His way home?” I wonder if we, as Catholics, take this question seriously, if we really ponder God’s great plan to take on our human flesh. Perhaps if we did, we would better realize the hope and joy our lives in Christ bring into our world?

I have been reflecting these past few months on the lessons of life our Catholic faith teaches – its mystery, its sanctity and its meaning. Now as we sing the Advent hope, we discover a supreme truth that we may overlook out of fear, or we may deny out of doubt, that is the divinity of life! Yes, you read correctly, the divine life given to us by grace. We seem too eager to overlook this wonder that faith discloses, that by God entering into our human condition we are the big winners.

This mystery has been the heart-beat of Christianity and the Catechism of the Catholic Church captures

generations of witnesses to the boldness of this belief.

It declares: The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”: [2 Peter 1:4] “For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.”[St. Irenaeus] “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.”[St. Athanasius] “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.”[St. Thomas Aquinas] (#460) This is perhaps the greatest hope and joy given to all humankind that has echoed from the angel’s

greeting to fearful shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). There is so much more unfolding in the birth of this one child than we can fully comprehend.

Think about it for a moment. We believe we have been created and made in the image of God, but in this mystery, God takes on our image, our humanity.

The impact of this St. Peter alerts us to when he wrote: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). God is just “one of us” and this means we have become so much more, but we must become. As my good friend, Father Gene Konkel, S.S. used to say, “Advent is a time of waiting, but who is waiting for whom? In fact, God is waiting for us to open our hearts to His coming this Christmas.”

I think that this Christmas, it is important to se-

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riously glimpse the divine life we share and to work toward that in how we relate to one another. How might we truly relate to the reality of a person, not to the externals, the accidentals and the superficial.

This means we must be able to see that divine life in them as well as in our own self. You know Jesus revealed to us the very nature of God as a unity of relations, the Blessed Trinity, and that is the key to divine life, the inner life of the Godhead. Relations, real human relations, what St. John Cardinal Newman called “heart to heart” relations. It is these relations that bring us true joy: a right relationship with God and one another.

It strikes me that we are all very busy in our society, in our jobs, our families and even in our Church.

There is always something to do, somewhere to go, someone to contact. Such busyness can squeeze the joy out of our lives and deprive us of those quiet, peaceful moments when we can just sit back and enjoy the present moment.

I don’t think anyone on their deathbed said they wished they spent more time at work! Work is important and fulfilling, but it is not everything. We need to take time to enjoy life, to enjoy our loved ones, to enjoy nature, to enjoy time with the Lord. I pray that this Advent affords us

all time to be joyful, time to reflect and time to pray.

The coming of Jesus Christ is the most joyful event in all of human history. I pray that we will experience the joy of Christmas fully as we spend these days of quiet preparation during Advent.

Like Mary, we ponder deeply the coming of the Christ-child and we smile with great joy.

This Christmas and New Year, let us cherish the glad tidings of joy and hope, the divine life that God has bestowed on us in Christ and discover ways to better communicate with one another, to meet the stranger, the outcast, those at the fringes of life and wandering lost just outside our parish doors. I would also like to encourage us all to consider making a personal pilgrimage of healing in the coming months for the kind of healing our world needs and may the divine life draw us close to one another and to our God. “Oh Come Divine Messiah/ The world in silence waits the day / When hope shall sing its triumph / And sadness flee away.”

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord,

Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe

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Esperanza y alegría

Arzobispo John C. Wester

“¡O

h, ven, Mesías Divino!”

Este verso de un atesorado himno de Adviento es el canto que debe estar siempre en nuestros corazones, pero especialmente en esta época del año. Es nuestro clamor por el Señor que resuena a través del tiempo.

El himno continúa así: “El mundo en silencio espera el día / Cuando la esperanza cantará su triunfo / Y la tristeza se aleja.” Es aquí donde encontramos el gran momento al cual los cristianos volvemos una y otra vez, ese momento en el que Dios, debido a su abundante amor, eligió convertirse en uno de nosotros. La canción, escrita por Eric Bazilian en 1995 y cantada por Joan Osborne, tiene un coro inquietante que con un matiz poético

nos invita a reflexionar: “¿Y si Dios fuera uno de nosotros, sólo un extraño en el autobús tratando de volver a casa?”. Me pregunto si nosotros, como católicos, nos tomamos en serio esta cuestión, si realmente reflexionamos sobre el gran plan de Dios para asumir nuestra naturaleza humana.

Tal vez si lo hiciéramos, ¿comprenderíamos mejor la esperanza y el gozo que nuestra vida en Cristo le trae a nuestro mundo?.

En estos últimos meses he estado reflexionando sobre las lecciones de la vida que nuestra fe católica nos enseña: su misterio, su santidad y su significado. Ahora, al cantar la esperanza del Adviento, descubrimos una verdad suprema que podríamos pasar por alto por miedo o podríamos negar porque dudamos. ¡Esa es la divinidad de la vida! Sí, usted ha leído bien, la vida divina que se nos ha dado mediante la gracia.

Parecemos demasiado ansiosos por pasar por alto esta maravilla que nos revela la fe: que por Dios haber entrado en nuestra condición humana hemos ganado muchísimo. Este misterio ha sido el latido del corazón del cristianismo y en el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica aparece registrado el testimonio de

generaciones de testigos acerca de la audacia que conlleva esta creencia. Al respecto, en el Catecismo aparece lo siguiente: “El Verbo se encarnó para hacernos “partícipes de la naturaleza divina” [2 P 1,4]. “Porque tal es la razón por la que el Verbo se hizo hombre, y el Hijo de Dios, Hijo del hombre: para que el hombre, al entrar en comunión con el Verbo al recibir así la filiación divina, se convirtiera en hijo de Dios” [San Ireneo].

“Porque el Hijo de Dios se hizo hombre para hacernos Dios” [San Atanasio]. (“El Hijo Unigénito de Dios, queriendo hacernos partícipes de su divinidad, asumió nuestra naturaleza, para que, habiéndose hecho hombre, hiciera dioses a los hombres”). [Santo Tomas de Aquino] (#460) Esta quizás sea la mayor esperanza y alegría que se le ha dado a toda la humanidad, la cual ha resonado desde el saludo del ángel a los temerosos pastores: “No teman, porque yo vengo a comunicarles una buena nueva que será motivo de mucha alegría para todo el pueblo. Hoy ha nacido para ustedes en la ciudad de David un Salvador que es Cristo Señor” (Lc 2, 10-11). Del nacimiento de este niño ha brotado mucho más de lo que podemos

comprender plenamente.

Reflexionemos un poco sobre esto. Creemos que hemos sido creados y hechos a imagen de Dios, pero en este misterio, Dios asume nuestra imagen, nuestra humanidad. San Pedro nos alerta sobre el impacto que esto tiene cuando escribe: “Él mismo subiendo a la cruz cargó con nuestros pecados para que, muertos a nuestros pecados, empecemos una vida santa. Y por sus llagas fueron ustedes sanados” (1 Pe 2,24). Dios es sólo “uno de nosotros” y eso significa que hemos llegado a ser mucho más, pero que todavía nos falta. Como decía mi buen amigo, el Padre Gene Konkel, S.S.: “El Adviento es un tiempo de espera, pero ¿quién espera a quién? De hecho, Dios está esperando que en la Navidad le abramos nuestro corazón a su venida”.

Pienso que en esta Navidad es importante que examinemos profundamente la vida divina que compartimos y que procuremos apegarnos a ella en la forma en que nos relacionamos unos con otros. ¿Cómo podemos relacionarnos verdaderamente con la realidad de una persona y no con lo externo, lo accidental y lo superficial?

Esto significa que debemos

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ser capaces de ver esa vida divina tanto en ellos como en nosotros mismos.

Ustedes saben que Jesús nos reveló la naturaleza misma de Dios como una unidad de relaciones, la Santísima Trinidad, y esa es la clave de la vida divina, la vida interior de la Divinidad. Nos referimos a las relaciones, las relaciones humanas auténticas, las que el Cardenal Newman llamó relaciones “de corazón a corazón”. Son las relaciones de esa índole las que nos traen la verdadera alegría: una relación correcta con Dios y con los demás.

Me sorprende que todos estemos muy ocupados en nuestra sociedad: en nuestro trabajo, en nuestra familia e incluso en nuestra parroquia. Siempre hay algo que hacer, un lugar adónde ir, alguien con quien ponerse en contacto. Tanta actividad puede exprimir y sacar de nuestra vida la alegría y privarnos de esos momentos tranquilos y pacíficos en los que podemos simplemente detenernos y disfrutar del momento presente. No creo que nadie en su lecho de muerte se pusiera a pensar que ¡desearía haber pasado más tiempo en el trabajo! El trabajo es importante y gratificante, pero no lo es todo.

Necesitamos dedicarle tiempo a disfrutar de la vida, a disfrutar de nuestros seres queridos, a disfrutar de la naturaleza y a disfrutar de momentos con el Señor. Rezo para que este Adviento nos dé a todos

PEOPLE of GOD tiempo para estar alegres, tiempo para reflexionar y tiempo para orar. La venida de Jesucristo es el acontecimiento más gozoso de toda la historia de la humanidad. Ruego a Dios que logremos experimentar plenamente la alegría de la Navidad mientras pasamos los días de Adviento preparándonos con calma.

Como María, reflexionamos profundamente sobre la venida del Niño Dios y sonreímos con gran júbilo.

En Navidad y Año Nuevo, valoremos las buenas nuevas de alegría y esperanza, la vida divina que Dios nos ha dado en Cristo y descubramos maneras de comunicarnos mejor unos con otros, de llegar a conocer al forastero, a los extranjeros, a los rechazados, a los que están al margen de la vida y a los que vagan perdidos a un paso de la puerta de nuestras parroquias.

También me gustaría animarnos a todos a que consideremos hacer en los próximos meses una peregrinación personal de sanación para lograr el tipo de sanación que nuestro mundo necesita y que la vida divina nos acerque unos a otros y a nuestro Dios. “Oh Ven Divino Mesías/ El mundo en silencio espera el día / Cuando la esperanza cantará su triunfo / Y la tristeza se aleja.”

a i d r o e c r i p r iem e s i s m a u S a par r u d r e p

Sinceramento suyo en el Señor, Arzobispo John C. Wester

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Traducción por Annelle Lobos y Rocío González

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¡H Very Reverend Glenn Jones

H

ola, y’all! (whoops… my Texan roots are showing!)

Welcome to the second installment of the Vicar General’s Corner; I hope you find it helpful in getting little snippets of the news of our archdiocese.

By the way…Happy New Year! No, ol’ Father Glenn hasn’t lost his marbles (though some might disagree ;) ), but with the beginning of Advent (Dec. 1 this year), we enter the new liturgical/Church year. Remember: purple/violet vestments = no Gloria at Mass…neither in Advent nor in Lent. But in Advent, we still have the Alleluia and its verse before the Gospel.

Well, a main concern of many is, of course, the current Archdiocesan Chapter 11 (“bankruptcy”) proceeding and where we are with that. I’ll echo last month’s column so you’ll know what I’m talking about: We had the first “mediation” in mid-November—a negotiation in which the attorneys for those who have claims present their requested settlement, and attorneys for the archdiocese present what we believe we can try to provide and yet continue to serve you, the people of God. The whole Chapter 11 procedure is an attempt to provide relief as best we are able for the victims, while maintaining the capability to aid parishes/staff to teach the faith and provide the sacraments. The mediation may be for days, for months or, in worst case, for years (like Gallup’s); we certainly hope it doesn’t last that long, but we just don’t know. Because of the holidays, the next mediation isn’t scheduled until early February sometime. As I mentioned last month, we’ll keep you informed of progress. Please pray for a solution acceptable to all, and for healing and solace for all victims of abuse.

Changing subjects: Many of our foreign-born priests return to their home countries during January and early February. This is very important to them because: 1) it is a customary time in their cultures to reconnect with family from all over the world, and, 2) it is the dry season, which allows much easier access and travel within their home countries. And, because January is a very quiet time of the Church year, some native-born priests also may desire vacation during that time.

However, this temporary large exodus leaves many parishes uncovered for Masses, confession, anointing, etc., every January, and often there are insufficient retired/ available priests to cover the normal Mass schedules.

Therefore, we are asking pastors who may be vacationing Continued on page 31

ola a todos! Bienvenidos a la segunda edición del Rincón del Vicario General; espero que esta columna les sea útil para obtener pequeños fragmentos de las noticias de nuestra arquidiócesis.

Por cierto... ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! No, el viejo Padre Glenn no ha perdido los estribos (aunque algunos no estén de acuerdo), pero con el comienzo del Adviento (1 de diciembre de este año), entramos en el nuevo año litúrgico/eclesiástico. Recuerden: vestiduras púrpura/violeta = no se reza ni se canta la Gloria en la Misa... ni en Adviento ni en Cuaresma. Pero en Adviento, si tenemos el Aleluya y su versículo antes del Evangelio.

Pues bien, una de las principales preocupaciones de muchos es, por supuesto, el actual procedimiento del Capítulo 11 (“bancarrota”) de la Arquidiócesis y dónde estamos con eso.

Repasaré parte de la columna del mes pasado para que sepan de qué estoy hablando: A mediados de noviembre tuvimos la primera “mediación” - una negociación en la que los abogados de los que tienen reclamaciones presentan su solicitud de común acuerdo, y los abogados de la arquidiócesis presentan lo que creemos que podemos tratar de proporcionar y, al mismo tiempo, continuar sirviéndoles a ustedes, el pueblo de Dios. Todo el procedimiento del Capítulo 11 es un intento de ofrecer el mejor alivio que podamos a las víctimas, mientras mantenemos la capacidad de ayudar a las parroquias y al personal a enseñar la fe y ofrecer los sacramentos. La mediación en este proceso puede tomar días, meses o, en el peor de los casos, años (como ha sido el caso de Gallup); ciertamente esperamos que no tome mucho tiempo, pero eso no podemos saberlo. Debido a los días festivos, la próxima mediación no está programada sino hasta principios de febrero.

Como mencioné el mes pasado, los mantendremos informados del progreso. Por favor oren por una pronta solución aceptable para todos, y por la sanación y el consuelo para todas las víctimas de abuso.

Cambiando de tema: Muchos de nuestros sacerdotes nacidos en el extranjero regresan a sus países de origen durante enero y principios de febrero. Esto es muy importante para ellos porque: 1) es el tiempo habitual en sus culturas para reconectar con sus familias de todo el mundo, y, 2) en este tiempo, para muchos, es la estación seca, la cual permite un acceso y viaje mucho más fácil dentro de sus países de origen. Además, debido a que enero es un tiempo relativamente tranquilo del año de la Iglesia, algunos sacerdotes locales también pudieran querer tomar vacaciones durante ese tiempo.

Sin embargo, este gran éxodo temporal deja cada mes de enero a muchas parroquias sin cobertura para misas, confesiones, unciones, etc., y a menudo no hay suficientes sacerdotes jubilados/disponibles para cubrir los horarios normales de las misas. Por lo tanto, pedimos a los párrocos que estén contemplando tomar sus vacaciones durante el período de enero/ febrero, que capaciten a los diáconos y laicos en su comunidad para llevar a cabo la “Celebración Dominical sin Sacerdote” aprobada, según sea necesario, en caso de que no haya un sacerdote disponible para los fines de semana. Aunque no es óptimo, esto proveerá una reunión/Eucaristía semanal para el pueblo de Dios durante la ausencia del párroco.

Continued on page 31

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The Sacraments Anointing of the Sick

Los Sacramentos La unción de los enfermos

Where do we see the sacrament of anointing the sick in scripture? Jesus was always particularly concerned with the sick: “...they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.” (Matthew 4:24) He sent out His disciples to heal the sick: “These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them…Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10:5-8) And the apostles healed the sick after Pentecost: ...[the people] even carried out the sick into the streets… that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed…” (Acts 5:15-16) For the bases of the sacrament of anointing of the sick: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15) And in the Gospel: “…[the apostles] cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them…”

(Mark 6:13) Anointing of the sick is not a sacrament for only those who are at the point of death; it is for any of the faithful who begins to be in danger of death from serious sickness or old age. Anointing of the sick includes sacramental confession if it is needed and if the person is conscious, as well as the Eucharist if the person is able. If the anointed recovers his health, he can, in the case of another grave illness or a worsening of his condition, again receive the sacrament. It is also fitting to receive anointing of the sick just prior to a serious operation…even any operation in which one receives a general anesthetic.

Only priests and bishops are able to give anointing of the sick, using oil blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass just before Easter each year. However, in an emergency, priests may also use/bless any plant-based oil.

However, anointing of the sick is NOT “last rites.” Last rites does include anointing the sick, but also adds the Apostolic pardon for the remission of temporal punishment due to sin which would otherwise have to be cleansed in Purgatory—essentially a plenary indulgence—as well as viaticum, which is the final reception of the Eucharist as “food for the journey,” which is what “viaticum” means.

If you meet the conditions above, you may request anointing of the sick in/after confession or at the end of any Mass. If unable to come to the church, simply call the parish office and schedule a time for the anointing. May God heal and bless you.

¿Dónde vemos el sacramento de la unción de los enfermos en las Escrituras? Jesús siempre se preocupó particularmente por los enfermos: “...le trajeron a todos los enfermos, a los afligidos por diversas enfermedades y dolores, a los endemoniados, a los lunáticos y a los paralíticos, y los curó.” (Mateo 4:24) Envió a sus discípulos a curar a los enfermos: “A estos doce Jesús los envió....a sanar a los enfermos, resucitar a los muertos, limpiar a los leprosos, expulsar a los demonios.” (Mateo 10:5-8) Y los apóstoles sanaron a los enfermos después de Pentecostés: ... [el pueblo] incluso llevó a los enfermos a las calles... para que al pasar Pedro, al menos su sombra cayera sobre algunos de ellos. La gente también se reunió de las ciudades alrededor de Jerusalén, trayendo a los enfermos y a los afligidos con espíritus inmundos, y todos fueron sanados....”. (Hechos 5:15-16) Para las bases del sacramento de la unción de los enfermos: “¿Alguno de ustedes está enfermo? Que llame a los ancianos de la iglesia, y que oren por él, ungiéndolo con aceite en el nombre del Señor; y la oración de fe salvará al enfermo, y el Señor lo levantará; y si ha cometido pecados, será perdonado”. (Santiago 5:14-15) Y en el Evangelio: “... [los apóstoles] echaron fuera muchos demonios, y ungieron con aceite a muchos enfermos y los sanaron...” (Marcos 6:13) La unción de los enfermos no es un sacramento sólo para los que están a punto de morir; es para cualquiera de los fieles que empiece a estar en peligro de muerte a causa de una enfermedad grave o de la vejez. La unción de los enfermos incluye la confesión sacramental si es necesaria y si la persona está consciente, así como la Eucaristía si la persona es capaz. Si el ungido recupera su salud, puede, en el caso de otra enfermedad grave o de un empeoramiento de su condición, recibir de nuevo el sacramento. También es apropiado recibir la unción de los enfermos justo antes de una operación seria... incluso cualquier operación en la que uno recibe un anestésico general.

Sólo los sacerdotes y los obispos pueden dar la unción de los enfermos, usando el aceite bendecido por el obispo en la Misa Crismal justo antes de la Pascua cada año. Sin embargo, en una emergencia, los sacerdotes también pueden usar/bendecir cualquier aceite vegetal.

Sin embargo, la unción de los enfermos NO es lo mismo que “los ritos finales”. Los ritos finales incluyen la unción de los enfermos, pero también añaden el perdón apostólico para la remisión del castigo temporal debido al pecado que de otra manera tendría que ser purificado en el purgatorio -esencialmente una indulgencia plenaria- así como el viático, que es la recepción final de la Eucaristía como “alimento para el viaje”, que es lo que significa “viático”.

Si usted cumple con las condiciones anteriores, puede solicitar la unción de los enfermos durante/después de la confesión o al final de cualquier Misa. Si no puede ir a la iglesia, simplemente llame a la oficina parroquial y programe un tiempo para la unción. Que Dios los sane y los bendiga.

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s we journey through Advent in preparation for Christmas and beyond, as we join the Magi and the Lord’s Epiphany, it is important we each discover Christmas in our life, the birth of the Lord in each of our hearts, in every single soul created

by God. For you see, the birth of our Lord is not just a moment in history, some long ago time in far off Bethlehem. No. The mystery of the Incarnation takes place constantly and mysteriously, for the Word of the Triune God was made flesh and dwelt among us. This was a lesson the early Church struggled to fully understand. How could Jesus Christ be True God and True Man? This mystery is the real joy of Christmas, for it reveals to us that Jesus took on to Himself the fullness of our

By Very Reverend Michael Demkovich, OP, Episcopal Vicar for Doctrine & Life

human nature. This is an important reality we do not ponder enough! To what extent did God become human? In the fourth century St. Athanasius linked this Incarnate Mystery to each one of us and our potential for the best of human nature, he said: “What has not been assumed, has not been redeemed.” At the same time St. Gregory of Nazianzus declared: “What has not been assumed has not been healed.” Both saints were testifying to the Incarnation’s impact on us, our sharing in the mystery of the Word made flesh.

We need to let this sink into our minds for a moment. Imagine! In the birth of Jesus, His taking flesh from the Virgin’s womb, Jesus shares in the humanity common to us all. To the degree that God has entered into our existence, to that same degree we are called to participate in the mystery of the Incarnation. To the degree we strive to live the fullness of what is true humanity, we discover the fullness of humanity and so too we see the divinity of Christ. Challenging and almost heretical when we first hear it, but it is true. Christmas is about the greatest gift in all of history, God’s amazing nearness to each one of us! So why does it seem that people don’t see this? What is it the socalled “unaffiliated” have un “filiated” from?

You may have heard the old saying, “The eye is the window to the soul.” This made me wonder why some people see the soul and others don’t. Why do we see some things and not others? For example, I can see all sorts of objects big and small, and even on some days I might see dust or pollen in the air. But, even though I know

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PEOPLE of GOD we are all constantly surrounded by radio waves, we never see them. I asked a good friend who is an eye surgeon, “why do we see what we see but not everything?” I got a pretty extensive lesson, but what I took away helped me understand why some people fail to see the gift of God’s nearness.

Most of us, given our biology, see the world in “living color” (to borrow from the 1960’s NBC boast for broadcasting in color). But about 8% of all men and 0.5% of all women do not see colors in the way we commonly think. So given my amateur understanding with the main types of color-blindness, some people can be totally colorblind, that is they see no color, only black and white. Some people have a blue-yellow type, called blue monochromic. Others, the more common form, have a red-green deficiency. Fact of the matter is that all of us see colors differently, but color-blindness is a kind of absence of all or parts of color. Many of us have seen emotional videos of people who are color-blind given EnChroma glasses and their tearful amazement at seeing the world of color for the first time. They are able to see something they had understood in one way, but now their vision was changed. This made me think that perhaps, spiritually speaking, people who do not believe, who self-describe as atheist, or as “nones,” or as “spiritual but not religious” are not seeing something, they are “God-blind.” Sadly, some people may not be able to see God’s nearness or even deny God exist. I once heard a conversation that stopped me, and set my mind spinning because it made so much sense. One person said, “I don’t believe in God.” The other person, without judgment, simply replied, “Well that doesn’t matter.” To me it was like the person said, “Well I don’t believe in oxygen.” Or, “Well I don’t believe in love.” My not believing in God doesn’t matter to God. God is God, just as oxygen or love are what they are no matter my belief. In the end, reality is what it is.

So returning to what we might call

“God-blindness,” or one’s inability to see the nearness of God, that is “Emmanuel” which means “God with us” – how do we see more than meets the eye?

I also learned from my friend that there is a tool which indicates if a person’s vision is failing, even if they don’t realize it. It is called the Amsler grid, a pattern of crossing lines that indicate vision deficiency. Sounds strange but sometimes a person may not even be aware that they are becoming blind and need a test to discover it. One eye may mask the scotoma or blindness, or the brain corrects for it by filling in the gap due to our fixed expectations, so we go on with life not knowing. So is it possible that some of us can be God-blind without even realizing it?

I asked if patients, when told about their failing vision, if they deny it or refuse to admit it. Surprisingly, his answer was strangely familiar.

For some people, they do so out of a sense of resignation or denial, for others they refuse to accept the reality, for others it’s a sense of apathy, or others just are unaware, while others blame anyone they can.

Oddly this echoed those who have abandoned their faith. I now realize many people today can be “Godblind” and their vision distorted so that they do not see the great gift of God’s nearness. Religion, liturgy, our worship, our going to Church, are in fact tools or aids like the Amsler grid, to help us realize whether our Godvision is growing weak. So why go to Church? Never go out of a sense of punishment, but rather go because it is our being called together by God’s love, calling to glimpse the fullness of humanity we share with Christ. I find that “Going to Church” is like looking in the mirror, it helps us honestly see the real me, to see what seems out of place with me and what needs attention, in short the real me. This Christmas, take a good look and check out your “God-vision” because the great gift of the Incarnation ought not to be missed or overlooked. Go to Church and take a good look at yourself and you’ll start to see things in “living color” – Emmanuel, God with us!

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Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501 and Cristo Rey, 1147 Cristo Rey Street, Santa Fe NM 87501, will be hosting Las Posadas December 16 –24 at 6:30 p.m. in parishioners’ homes and at the Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe on Sunday, December 22 following the noon Mass.

Please reference the Cathedral’s bulletin, or contact the Cathedral directly for locations and information 505.982.5619.

Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 S. McCurdy Rd, Santa Cruz, NM87567 begins Posadas at La Plaza de Santa Fe December 8, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. with singing and music. The Posadas then continue each evening with a host family or ministry providing food at their home or at Marian Hall as follows: Dec 15 - Catholic Daughters; Marian Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 16 - Jose and Piedad Chavez; Fairview at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 17 - Jr. Roybal “Gramps”; El Guage at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 18 - Los Padres de Santa Cruz; Marian Hall with Christmas raffle at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 19 - La Capilla de San Isidro en Las Mesilla beginning with Mass at 6 p.m.

Dec 20 - La Santisima Trinidad in Santa Cruz at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 21 - La Plaza de Española Mission Convento at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 22 - La Morado de Nuestro Padre Jesus de Nazareno en el Llano at 6:30 p.m.

Dec 23 - Santa Cruz Youth Group; Marian Hall at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Sylvia Garcia 505.670.5800 Norbertine Community of Santa María de la Vid Abbey, 5825 Coors Blvd. SW, Alb., 87121 December 23 at 7:00 p.m. 505.873.4399 Our Lady of Belen 101-A North 10th St. Belen NM 87002 Posadas will begin December 16-22 beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Cristo Rey in Bosque. We will then continue onto San Francisco Xavier in Jarales, then San Isidro in Pueblitos, then to Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in Los Chavez, and finally to Our Lady of Belen.

Refreshments will be provided in the parish center at the conclusion of the Posadas at Our Lady of Belen. Contact: 505.864.8043.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, 108 North Davis St. Clovis, NM 88101 begins December 16-24 Las Posadas will be at 6 p.m. at the church with a rosary each evening and refreshments to follow in the gym. On December 22 there will be piñatas for the children. Contact: 575.763.4445 Our Lady of Sorrows in Bernalillo 301 S. Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004, December 15-23, each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. as follows: Dec 15 - Daniel & Theresa Montoya, Bernalillo Dec 16 - San Antonio Mission/Parishioners, Paseo de San Antonio (Hwy 165), Placitas

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Dec 17 - Anne Baldonado-Gonzales and Family, Bernalillo Dec 18 - John & Jessica Arnett and Family, El Bosque Dec 19 - Jane Mujica & Family, Bernalillo Dec 20 - Joe & Amanda Garcia and Family, Bernalillo Dec 21 - Paul & Roberta Gabaldon and Family, Plactias Dec 22 - Eddie & Viola Torres and Family, El Bosque Dec 23 - Pete & Roberta Padilla and Family, El Bosque Contact the parish at 505.720.4630 for addresses.

Prince of Peace, 12500 Carmel Ave., NE Albuquerque, 87122. Posadas will be held on December 12 at 6-9 p.m. beginning with a Mass. There will be light refreshments and everyone is invited. 505.856.7657.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 309 Stover Ave. SE, Albuquerque and the Barelas Neighborhood Association presents the 74th Annual Las Posadas de Barelas on December 21, 2019 at 6 p.m. Join the procession and reenact with us the journey of Maria and Jose as they travel through the streets of Barelas, in search of shelter and a place for Jesus to be born. There will be angels, shepherds, kings, and choirs of heavenly voices so bring a flashlight or candle lantern and join in the singing. Following the Posadas all are welcomed back to the Barelas Community Center for the Fiesta de Navidad with free biscochitos and hot cocoa. There will be entertainment and a special visit from Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. See you there!

Barelas Community Center, 801 Barelas Rd. SW, Alb., 87102. Contact: 505.242.0561 San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church in Old Town, 2005 North Plaza NW, Albuquerque NM 87104 will be hosting Las Posadas December 16-24. The last Posada will take place at San Jose de los Duranes, 2110 Los Luceros Road Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Please reference San Felipe’s bulletin or contact the parish office 505.243.4628 for locations and information.

San Ysidro in Corrales 5015 Corrales Rd Corrales NM 87048 begins December 16 -24 with parish families or parish ministries hosting in their home or at the parish hall. There will be a Mass, Communion service or a prayer service by a priest or deacon. The parish Spanish choir will provide music each evening and there will be an abundance of fantastic refreshments following each event. All are welcome.

Contact: 505.410.8278 St. Anthony in Questa 10 Church Plaza Questa, NM 87556 December 16 – 24 with parish families or parish ministries hosting in their home or at the parish center.

There will be a Mass with a celebration each evening with lots of food and goodies.

Everyone is welcome. Contact: 575.586.0470.

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PEOPLE of GOD

Advent and Christmas Celebrations and Customs around the World

By Norma Montenegro Flynn, former USCCB assistant director of Media Relations hristmas is one of the biggest celebration around the world, as Christians from different cultures come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. God and King, yet so humble, he was destined to be born in a manger.

With shopping, gifts lists, sales and specials that lure people to spend more money, it is difficult to remain focused on the true meaning of Advent and Christmas and the opportunity it brings us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, to show kindness to others, to give to those in need, and to share time and memories with family and friends. A fun way to enjoy the Advent season is to learn about how countries around the world have unique customs and celebrations for the Advent season.

Here are some: The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6.

Children leave their shoes outside their bedroom door the night before and awaken that day to find a surprise treat in their shoes.

Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop in Lycia, a province in Turkey. He became well known for his generosity. He is also considered the patron saint of brides and children and the precursor to Santa Claus.

Saint Lucy: The feast of Saint Lucy (Lucia) is celebrated on December 13, in Italy, Sweden, Scandinavia and Croatia. Her name means light. In Italy, children leave bowls of milk and carrots to attract the hungry donkey she travels on and make sure she stops by their house and leaves presents for them. In Sweden, the feast day is called Luciadagen. The oldest girl in the family wears a white dress, a red sash as a sign of martyrdom, and a wreath crown with lighted white candles. Other girls also dressed as Lucy walk in procession singing traditional songs and carrying rolls and cookies that later on are shared with all those present.

Fiesta de la Guadalupana : December 12 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This Mexican tradition has also been adopted by many people from Central and South America living in the United States. This is one of the most popular religious

feasts among Hispanics in the United States. Many parishes throughout the country celebrate this feast day by doing reenactments of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, praying a morning rosary dedicated to her, and bringing her the traditional “Mañanitas” with mariachi bands singing songs to praise her. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also considered the patroness of the unborn.

Posadas are celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and other Latin American countries. Usually neighborhoods get together to reenact the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus as a way to prepare their hearts for the nativity of our Lord. They go from house to house singing traditional Advent and Christmas carols or villancicos, knocking on every door, but everyone turns them down until they find one house that gives them shelter. Some parishes in the United States also celebrate this tradition as a way to pass on this tradition to young children. They are celebrated starting December 16.

Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo: It is a novena of Masses celebrated in the Philippines at dawn starting on December 16 until Christmas Eve. Filipino communities throughout the United States also celebrate this tradition, from December 15 to December 23. It is considered a way to prepare for the coming of Jesus with fervor, joy and thanksgiving which are expressed in their faithfulness to attend the full novena Masses. After each Mass, families share traditional holiday sweets and desserts.

The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 5, in many countries around the world, like Mexico, Spain, Peru and in the island of Puerto Rico, where it’s called the Feast of the Three Kings. In Puerto Rico for example, the town’s mayor will visit impoverished neighborhoods and bring toys to kids. The kids receive the gifts from people dressed as the Reyes Magos. The night before the Feast of the Epiphany, children fill out a box or leave treats for the Wise Men (and their camels,) and the next day they find gifts or candy delivered to them while they were sleeping.

These feasts may be diverse in their celebrations and customs, but the center remains the same: they remind us of the beautiful miracle that Jesus was born unto us.

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Mary Frances Reza Receives Lifetime of Service Recognition Award

By Damaris Thillet, Director, Office of Worship/Liturgy/RCIA

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n Friday, November 22, 2019, Archbishop John C. Wester presented Mrs. Mary Frances Reza with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s Lifetime of Service Recognition Award. The celebration took place at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Parish in Albuquerque on the Feast of St. Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians.

Mary Frances, a native New Mexican, was recognized for her numerous U. S. and international contributions to liturgical music.

The special celebration brought together musicians from archdiocesan parishes as well many renowned composers from outside New Mexico. These musicians and composers celebrated the recognition of the music and lasting influence that has formed the legacy of Mary Frances by sharing a selection of her music compositions.

Attendees had the opportunity to witness her songs being brought to life by music ministers

while worshiping together as one body in Christ. Mary Frances, while being a liturgist, created music to enhance prayer and the word of God. Her effort in doing so was reflected in this celebration, in the enthusiasm of the Archbishop Wester acknowledged her lifetime of service with profound gratitude, “The grace note embellishes, it enhances, it magnifies the note – clearly to us as people of faith, Jesus is our song, Jesus is our note, and you Mary Frances are His grace note.”

musicians, and the people joining in worship.

As a way of sharing gratitude for her compositions, composers from Oregon Catholic Press (OCP), World Library Publications (WLP), and the Gregorian Institute of America Publications (GIA), traveled to Albuquerque to give her recognition and provide a reflection on how her mentorship

has helped shape their journeys as pastoral musicians. East Coast musicians from the Hispanic Pastoral Music Association joined the choir alongside their colleagues. Also in attendance were members of the Board of Southwest Liturgical Conference, in which Mary Frances participated and served for many years.

Moments of reflection during the event told stories of Mary Frances, of her joyful wisdom and dedication. These stories reflected the sense of hospitality and inclusivity that helped shape the community of musicians in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and influenced her colleagues around the United States.

Mary Frances’ work has traveled beyond the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, brightening liturgical celebrations around the world. Further cementing her legacy, an OCP representative announced a new scholarship for musicians in honor of Mary Frances.

Towards the end of the night, Mary Frances reciprocated her gratitude for her community and spoke about her own personal influences

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Stewardship Corner

What does Stewardship Mean to You? Damaris Thillet

Director, Office of Worship As a child, I had the great opportunity to study in the Catholic School. My parents and my grandmother were Catholics, but my mother's stepfather and my aunts were Protestants and occasionally they took me to Pentecostal church services. It was there that for the first time I constantly heard the words of stewardship and hospitality. I never understood it well until I came to the United States and I started to participate actively in church ministry and became more ecumenical in my religious practices.

As a Catholic I grew up in a poor and simple community, we gave to the church regularly but only what we had left in our wallets-it usually was a dollar or two. We would stuff that into our envelopes and felt like we were doing a good job of supporting the church. To be a successful steward means that I want to care for, provide for and contribute to something because I find value in it.

that passed down traditions of the Catholic faith to her.

“I am most thankful for my grandmother – her and I would walk down the hill every Sunday to attend Mass,” she said. Mary Frances believes it is essential to honor our shared traditions and help new generations continue their preservation. Throughout her career and faith journey, Mary Frances worked to carry on traditions of the Catholic faith, rooted in her heritage and culture. Music serves as

a way to express feelings and thoughts words alone cannot.

Mary Frances has created such music for her community of faith and has given it a gift that can surpass distances and generations. Archbishop Wester acknowledged her lifetime of service with profound gratitude, “The grace note embellishes, it enhances, it magnifies the note – clearly to us as people of faith, Jesus is our song, Jesus is our note, and you Mary Frances are His grace note.”

From my individual perspective, stewardship implies that the money we give to the church, spend on coffee, groceries or pay in rent is not ours; it has been entrusted to us by God. We are stewards of the gifts God gave us or we earned for our talents God gave us. This is part of the work that God wants us to do with these gifts to support the church and community of faith. We are all stewards of our church and it is our responsibility together to manage and care for the church. We may not have that much money, but God blessed us with many talents that we can put at the service of our church and the community that we have been called to serve.

Office of Stewardship 505-831-8173 www.stewardshiparchdiosf.org

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By Very Reverend Glennon Jones, Vicar General, Vicar for Clergy, Vicar for Religious

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hhh …

December.

The crisper air … the quiet beauty of snowfall … the anticipation of Christmas and holidays with family and friends just around the corner.

It’s a time when those who love to go shopping revel in the quest for those perfect gifts … and when we who hate to go shopping rejoice in Amazon.com and the choices and brevity afforded by the vast internet marketplace.

And, most of all for Christians, there is the very “reason for the season”: the celebration of the birth of Jesus 2000-ish years ago … “For a child is born

to us, a son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests. They name Him WonderCounselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5) We all need hope in our lives. A news story just the other day remarked at how the suicide rate is at

improvement IN that future, we can easily despair and, in worst case, contemplate selfdestruction as a false “escape”. Sadly, such an wrong “escape” will be a lifetime of agony and sorrow for family and friends left behind.

Of course, many such persons have difficulties

And, most of all for Christians, there is the very “reason for the season”: the celebration of the birth of Jesus 2000-ish years ago … “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5) a historic high—a fact which itself points to a tragic and unnecessary loss of hope. For animals the survival instinct is itself enough, but not for we humans.

With the ability for abstract thought of the future, if we do not immediately perceive

such as depression, great sorrows in their lives, etc., which may become exacerbated in a season naturally filled with joy, but a joy which they feel they cannot “tap into”. But, my dear such friends … know that time really DOES heal all wounds, and

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we are not only blessed with diminishing memory of past sorrows, but we never know what amazing and exciting opportunities the future holds.

But a key to that diminishing memory is to not keep ripping open the wound!

Certainly, it is admirable to remember the love and virtues of a person we’ve lost—and even their faults if it helps us to improve ourselves— but to continually linger upon that which cannot return is self-defeating at very best … selfdestructive in its worst.

A person who loved you would certainly not want his loved ones left behind to be constantly wasting away at his/her loss, but would rather encourage him/her: go out and LIVE! Carpe Diem!...Seize the day!

Find joy in all the

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wonders and God-given things around us: friends and family, a bracing cold snowy morning, the beauty of that mountain snowfall. As the hero Gus said in the miniseries “Lonesome Dove” to young Lorie, who was lamenting her life and disappointments: “Lorie darlin’, life in San Francisco is still just life. If you want any one thing too badly, it’s likely to turn out to be a disappointment. The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself!”

I often urge those who are down and depressed: Don’t take the problems of life personally! Inevitable rain falls, and “rolling with the punches” of life leads to a much greater happiness than demanding that fate always give us our own way. If a desired path is blocked, well…climb over!...or go another way! And regarding life’s difficulties and trials as challenges to be overcome rather than “unfair” tragedies gives us confidence, strength and purpose. With those, even the non-Christian, the non-religious can find hope—in conquering that next challenge coming down the pike. This isn’t just a hackneyed

PEOPLE of GOD platitude; it’s something I have both witnessed and experienced many times.

Will there be failures?

Well ... yeah!! Failures are inevitable … but each is a learning experience for overcoming the next challenge … and gives each of us opportunity to pass on the knowledge we gain to help someone else get over the same obstacle just a little bit easier … a little bit quicker. That boosting of others is the joy of teachers, professors and mentors everywhere.

For example, have you ever watched a nature show on young animals learning to hunt? Early attempts are clumsy and repeated failures.

But with each failure they learn a little bit more … get a little bit better … until they soon are master huntresses teaching their own little ones. This teaching of the next generation is a very duty of our existence.

And, of course, we Christians look always to Jesus Christ as guide, hope, the fulfillment of life. Yes, God longs for us to live in virtue and according to what He has taught through scripture and, we Catholics believe, through the Church.

Yet some persons erroneously despair at their past, feeling unworthy to come to Him. But we need only read the Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15 to know absolutely that God

waits longingly for us to come back down the road to home … to Him ... by living the life He has taught us: loving Him, and loving neighbor. This is the pinnacle of joy of both Him and us … with our ultimate joy being to serve Him and each other until HE—in HIS perfect time—calls us home to Himself.

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“For thou lovest all things that exist, and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made, for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it. How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by thee have been preserved?

Thou sparest all things, for they are thine, O Lord, who lovest the living.” (Wisdom 11:24-26 RSV)

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Holy Faith Society 2019 Year End Giving

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As the end of the year approaches, we ask for your financial assistance in the 2019 Year End Giving effort. Offering your support to Christ’s ministry will help it remain strong and vibrant among us.

From a heart of gratitude, I will be gifting to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Giving opportunities this year include: Seminarian Education Diaconate Formation

ASF 40th Anniversary Youth Conference Archbishop John C. Wester Discretionary Fund

Your donations can be securely made online using a credit/debit card through December 31, 2019. https://archdiocesesantafegiving.org/2019-year-end-giving

Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Stewardship 505.831.8173

stewardshiparchdiosf.org

stewardship@archdiosf.org

@stewardshiparchdiosf

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Tragedy in El Paso, Hope in Shreveport: God is With Us

By Dr. Tim Muldoon, Catholic Extension

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here is a subtle yet insistent refrain that echoes through the Mass readings during this Advent season: hope is coming. In a time when we have seen a great deal of bad news, it is important to remember the good news of the gospel. To use one example, many people felt the terror this past August of the mass shooting in El Paso, mourning with the families of the victims. Still, in the midst of that tragedy, Fr. Fabian Marquez was a ray of light, praying with families and attending funerals for 17 victims. Fr. Fabian, a 2019 finalist for Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award, reminds families lacerated by a racially motivated attack that they are beloved by God, and that they are precious in God’s eyes.

In the wake of the tragedy, Bishop Mark Seitz penned a pastoral letter calling on Catholics to train their eyes on the difficult history of anti-Hispanic racism that bubbled up in the violence of the matanza, the massacre. He wrote, “Together we are called to discern the new paths of justice and mercy required of us and to rediscover our reasons for hope (cf. 1 Peter 3, 5).” He takes a hard but loving look at the history of racism, but then turns to our constant source of hope, the reassurance that the love of God is stronger than acts of violence. Pointing to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast we celebrate on December 12, he writes, “She shows us that our deepest identity is not given to us by empire, or politics or the economy or the colonist, but is a gift of God.” Mary, the God-bearer, is the one whose pregnancy we hold in our hearts as we walk toward the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25. In her appearance at Guadalupe as an indigenous woman, we remind ourselves that Emmanuel, “God with us,” is not simply a 2,000 year-old memory, but a reality that surprises us anew in each age, calling us to the solidarity that is fit for all God’s children.

The four weeks of Advent invite us to recall the story of God’s inbreaking into human history, connecting us to the ancient longings of Israel, the breathless anticipation of the witnesses to Christ’s birth, and to the resolute faith of the early Church. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and

their spears into pruning hooks, says the prophet Isaiah, describing the coming of the Messiah. When he comes, sorrow and mourning shall flee. The author of the psalms paints a picture of a new world: justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. And again: The LORD God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed.

Where acts of violence tear communities apart, acts of generosity and compassion knit communities together. This year, Catholic Extension bestowed its highest honor, the Lumen Christi award, on someone whose story illustrates this truth.

Mack McCarter of the Diocese of Shreveport began with a conviction that God calls people to purposeful friendship—that is, a willingness to reach across racial and economic boundaries in order to develop friendships rooted in mutual trust and shared goals.

In striking contrast to the festering racial resentments that Bishop Seitz illuminated in his pastoral letter, Mack’s approach began with the conviction that purposeful friendship can transform society and build a just order. Twenty five years ago, he began going door-to-door in a poor community, seeking to make friends. That willingness to go to an uncomfortable, unfamiliar place was the cornerstone of what has become Community Renewal International (CRI), an organization that has transformed Shreveport into a community of communities with shared purpose—and thereby leading to a 52% drop in the crime rate.

The engine of CRI is purposeful friendship, which moves people from disinterest or distrust to active engagement with people unlike themselves. “The greatest joy,” Mack observes, “is to watch people come alive when they are reconnected in purposeful friendship.” It is the beginning of the healing of the world.

For Mack, a former pastor, friendship between people is a mirror of God’s extension of friendship to us. In Emmanuel, God is with us, and says to us what he says to his disciples: I call you friends (John 15:15).

In the face of so much news to the contrary, it is good not to lose sight of this invitation.

Most Reverend Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso

Reverend Fabian Marquez of the Diocese of El Paso, is a 2019 finalist for Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award

Mack McCarter of the Diocese of Shreveport was awarded the 2019 Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award

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december 2019

Advent: A Journey Toward Joy

By Carol Feeney, Project Rachel Coordinator And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Luke 2:19 Advent is a season of hopeful expectation and joyful waiting. During Advent we are reminded that Mary said “yes”, and she turned to God in trust with the mystery of her motherhood. Mary waited and reflected on the impending birth of her son.

O come, o come Emmanuel, to free your captive Israel But for the woman who has said “no” to motherhood out of fear and mistrust; for the woman who has said “yes” to abortion, believing there was no time to wait, no time to reflect on the real meaning of her choice, until it was too late, Advent can be a season of sorrow. Knowing that Advent culminates in the birth of our Savior, for the one who feels unforgivable, watching and waiting can emphasize her perception that she has been excluded from God’s mercy. …that mourns in lonely exile here…

If we look at Advent from a perspective of authenticity, it is in reality a season of hope. For the heartsick who yearn for the merciful balm of God’s healing forgiveness, Advent is meant to be a season of joy. As the world awaits the birth of a savior, the grief-stricken can embrace the truth that Advent is for everyone. Jesus is for everyone and no one is excluded from His mercy. …Until the Son of God appear Mary’s child was born on Christmas Eve, and by this act, the birth of Mercy Himself, our salvation began.

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel If Advent reminds you of your sin and sorrow, remember instead that it is the very same season that culminates in the birth of Mercy Himself: Jesus. We can say “yes.” We can accept God’s invitation to cooperate with His plan of love for each of us.

Love and joy come to you.

God can grow new life from your broken heart.

All is calm. All is bright.

For help after abortion, call the Project Rachel confidential message line: 505-831-8235. …and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. (From the Canticle of Mary. Luke 1: 47-48)

december 2019

Advent: The Call to Humbly Welcome Christ in the Most Vulnerable

By Cynthia Perez Roberson, CCHD Intern

C

hristmas, marking the birth of Christ, is one of the greatest events of salvation history, as it calls the Church to participate in the long planning of the ancient Jewish hope for the coming of the Messiah. The Advent season is a time for the Church to celebrate the Nativity of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Every Advent season is a significant time for the faithful, because it calls every Christian to renew our passionate desire for the birth of Christ in our lives. Another significant feature that makes Christmas a mystery is the reality of humility manifested from the inception of Jesus’s life. Jesus being born in a humble stable and into a poor family is a realization of God’s love for the virtue of humility and those who live in poverty. This simple realization of Jesus being born into poverty reminds us, the faithful, how the mystery of Christmas is to be “born from above” with Christ in our lives, for the sharing of His divinity “who humbled himself to share our humanity” (526, CCC).

Therefore, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) works to educate Catholics on the pervasiveness of the pain and sufferings of our times lived by those “who are the poor.” CCHD is an anti-poverty program inspired by the Second Vatican Council and developed by the U.S. Catholic Bishops as a plan of action to understand and educate others about the root causes of poverty.

CCHD helps to provide understandings to Catholics about what are some root causes here in the United States. For example, according to the 2017 U.S. Census data about 39 million individuals or 12.3 percent of U.S. population are targeted by poverty, because they do not have access to social services and basic life necessities that could help them overcome poverty.

In this Advent season, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) calls us to reflect on how we could learn more about the root causes of poverty and help those in poverty gain an understanding of their human worth and dignity.

God’s humility manifested in the Nativity of Jesus calls the faithful to practice the virtue of humility, to carry the crosses that come with our humanity, and to allow Jesus to be born in our hearts.

If you are interested in your high school youth, young adults or adult faith formation Catholic groups to learn more and discuss solutions needed to overcome poverty please contact me, CCHD Intern Cynthia Roberson at croberson@archdiosf.org or 505.831.8232 to provide an interactive presentation (in English or Spanish) to your Catholic Community on how our faith calls us to respond to poverty.

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Preparing for the US Census 2020 The 2020 Census is quickly approaching, and we want to make sure you’re ready! The U.S. Census Bureau measures the nation’s people, places and economy.

Your safe and confidential response gives you and your community a voice in government. Census information also helps identify needs within the community and can help get the funding needed to address them. Full community participation is necessary in order to get everyone counted, only once and in the correct place. For more information on how the archdiocese is partnering with the Census to “get out the count,” contact the office at 505.831.8205.

The U.S. Census Bureau is also recruiting people for various temporary jobs in preparation of the upcoming 2020 Census. Available jobs will include census takers, recruiting assistants, office clerks and supervisory staff. Positions are based throughout the state and local employees will earn between $13.50-$15.50 per hour. For more information, please visit the 2020 Census Jobs page at 2020census. gov/jobs. Applicants may also call 1.855.JOB.2020 or the Federal Relay Service at 1.800.877.8339.

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. Did you know that according to the US Census data,on average, 2.5 million children experience homelessness in a year and MORE THAN 40 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE IN POVERTY? New Mexico has the 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, much less the election-year rhetoric. 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. 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. 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 be part of the solution.

53rd Annual World Day of Peace, January 1, 2020 Plan a prayer service for your parish. Join Pope Francis’ effort to promote world peace by planning a prayer service for World Peace Day. 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 https://bit.ly/34XjHyX 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: https://bit.ly/351H7TG and plan a prayer service for your parish.

PEOPLE of GOD

1. What are your favorite Advent and Christmas Traditions?

2. What is the best gift you have ever given?

3. What would you like the people of the archdiocese to pray for on your behalf?

december 2019

Cameron Degani Installed as Acolyte

Timothy Dang 1. My favorite family Christmas tradition is when all my cousins gather at my grandma’s house to decorate her living room.

2. The best gift I have ever given was a beautiful blue rosary chaplet for my mom and I’m so grateful to Mary for my mom’s increased devotion to her.

3. Please pray that we may continue to deepen our friendship with Christ and grow in awareness of him in everyone we meet.

Cameron Degani 1. My favorite family Christmas tradition is going to Mass on Christmas Eve, then going home to exchange gifts while listening to traditional Christmas songs and conversing with one another. There have been many great Christmases spent by the fireplace in good conversation and the joy of the season.

2. I think the best gift I have ever given was a French butter crock I gave to my mother. It allows you to store butter at room temperature to keep it soft and spreadable, while still keeping it fresh.

My mother likes to cook and uses butter often, so I think it has helped immensely in a practical way.

3. I would like to ask the faithful of the archdiocese to pray for me to be continually open to God’s will in my life, and that as a priest, I may be an effective preacher and witness of God and His Church in our diocese.

Peter Stetson

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Seminarians in their first and second years of study in the School of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum were installed as lectors or acolytes, respectively, on November 1, 2019, the Solemnity of All Saints. Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell, Bishop Emeritus of Columbus, was the principal celebrant of the Mass held in Saint Turibius Chapel. The newly installed lectors are commissioned to proclaim the Word of God in the liturgical assembly and to catechize the faithful. Acolytes 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. Pictured here are seminarian, Cameron Degani (acolyte) with Very Reverend Steven Beseau (rector) and Most Reverend Frederick Campbell (Bishop Emeritus of Columbus).

Seminary Burse The following parishes have sent in excess Mass stipends and other contributions Jacob Romero collected at the Archdiocesan Finance Office for seminarian education. These receipts are 1: One of my greatest memories during the Advent and for the month of November 2019.

Excess Mass stipends are from multiple Mass intentions celebrated at parishes. The Christmas seasons is making archdiocesan policy is for excess Mass stipends to be used for seminarian education. tamales with my family at my Parish Name/City Amount Received grandma’s house.

Immaculate Conception – Albuquerque.......................................................................................... 265.00 2: The best gift I have ever Immaculate Heart of Mary – Los Alamos..................................................................................... 1,515.00 given was a set of books to a Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Albuquerque..................................................................500.00 brother seminarian.

3: Please pray for us Our Lady of Lavang – Albuquerque..............................................................................................12,000.00 seminarians as we continue Our Lady of the Annunciation – Albuquerque........................................................................... 1,677.50 formation and that Christ will Risen Savior Catholic Community – Albuquerque.................................................................. 7,000.00 enter into the hearts of many St. Joseph on the Rio Grande – Albuquerque............................................................................... 280.00 people in the archdiocese during St. Patrick - St. Joseph – Raton..........................................................................................................1,720.00 the Advent and Christmas Total $ 24,957.50 season.

december 2019

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Franciscan Friars: Coast to Coast

By Jack Clark Robinson Images of America Series ISBN: 978-1-4671-0419-7 $23.99 | 128 pages | paperback Discover the Dedication of Franciscan Friars • Read the collective story of more than five thousand Franciscan friars who gave their lives in service across

the United States for more than 150 years • Learn about these men of passionate commitment to the service of others and involvement in their communities Very Reverend Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, has studied and taught the history of his brothers for a quarter of a century and currently serves as minister provincial of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province in the Southwest United States. Six Franciscan provincial archives preserving records and the collective memories of hundreds of Franciscan friars across the country have contributed to this work.

Franciscan friars entered the religious landscape of the United States in 1539 and remained part of colonial history in Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, California, and Louisiana until they were no longer colonies. A Franciscan mission revival

began in the 1840s when groups of Franciscan friars arrived with Irish, German, Polish, Italian, and eastern European immigrants. In the 20th century, the friars began to accompany Latin American and Vietnamese immigrants. The number of Franciscan friars peaked in the United States in the 1960s. In the midst of that boom, they engaged in such issues as civil rights and the changes that came to the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council. Despite aging and declining numbers in the last 50 years, the Franciscan friars remain active.

Franciscans were—and still are—woven deep into the fabric of US history, and their archives have the pictures to prove it. Images of work with Native Americans, in soup kitchens, with social service agencies, and in parishes, schools, and universities provide a compelling look at this little-known part of US history. www.arcadiapublishing.com|historypress.net

Norbertine Formation Process

When I began my formation as a Norbertine three years ago, it seemed to be a long and tedious process, but it quickly became a beautifully challenging journey!

While formation programs vary from community to community – based on the founder’s vision and rule of life being followed – the focus of each community is the same: ongoing conversion through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. I would like to share my experience of formation in the Norbertine Community of New Mexico.

The initial stage, inquirer, is an opportunity for the community and an individual to get to know each other in formal and informal contexts. During this stage, I would join the community for prayer, dinner, and participate in discernment retreats. As I continued to participate in Norbertine life, I began to find myself drawn to this particular expression of consecrated life in community. Eventually, I was invited to become a postulant in the community, furthering the

experience of living the community’s rhythm of life, including joining in ministries. The period of postulancy can last anywhere from three months to two years.

As I progressed in formation, the community and I mutually discerned the desire to further our relationship with God through each other, and I was invited to apply for the novitiate, a two-year discernment period.

As a novice, I began to learn what it means to be a Norbertine, and really, a community member! I found it an exciting time as I received the Norbertine habit. For me, the habit is an outward expression of embracing the identity to which God has called me. But wearing it also signaled the beginning of an internal change, namely, learning to embrace the identity God created me with, by exploring the deepest facets of myself through this community.

Upon completing the novitiate, after the community’s acceptance of my request to make simple vows, I began preparing to make a simple profession of the vows.

At simple profession, I committed

Patricio Chacon, O. Praem myself to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for three years. I will begin studying theology during this time, discerning priesthood, and solemn profession.

As significant as solemn profession is, however, it is not the end of the formation process. In speaking with some of my brother Norbertines, I learned we are always being formed.

Formation doesn’t end until “you are carried out to the cemetery.”

In the meantime, I will be called to a daily conversion of heart, while journeying with other Norbertines as “one heart and mind into God.”

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december 2019

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PEOPLE of GOD

december 2019

HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC SCHOOL: THE FUTURE IS NOW Doug Wine, Principal Holy Ghost Catholic School Holy Ghost Catholic School is the first school in New Mexico to earn the National Certificate for STEM Excellence from the National Institute for STEM Education, and the first Catholic School in the state to earn the United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award. The curriculum at Holy Ghost prepares students for the 21st century, providing opportunities for critical thinking, creating, communicating, and collaborating. Through academic achievement, physical development, artistic expression, and the demonstration of Catholic values through service, Holy Ghost exemplifies the value of Catholic education in the modern day.

Holy Ghost Catholic education challenges students and their families to live the mission of the Church. Even though education and life have changed with technology, students begin and end the day in prayer, study their Catholic faith daily, and serve at home, in school, and throughout the community.

Holy Ghost is eligible to earn the Blue Ribbon Award once again as they are becoming a model 21st century, STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) school, and embarking on "The Future Is Now" campaign. Through this campaign, the school is updating its technology infrastructure, looking to improve access to curriculum and provide additional support and enrichment for each student.

Visit our website at www.hgcsabq.com to learn more and join us as we ensure the success of each of our students.

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION IS FORMING SAINTS Marc Nestorick, Principal Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School "We are family!" To OLA, this is more than just a slogan; it describes the life and community at the school. There is no better example of this sense of unity than All Saints Day. Our community of parents, educators, and clergy came together, looking to saints for guidance in living as followers of Christ.

Earlier this year, each classroom selected a saint whom they could look to for intercession and inspiration. Inspired by the charisms of their saints, teachers invited their students to live the life of a Christian steward. The parent community then adopted each classroom by purchasing statues of each class saint. After Father Domme blessed the statues during Mass and presented them to students, a procession of the school community delivered the statues back to their respective classrooms.

As an end-of-day celebration, parents provided saint cupcakes to students, each with a prayer card and picture of saint on top! These patron saints will continue reminding students to embrace Christ-like behavior and find their place in the mission of the Church.

Catholic Schools provide a strong academic foundation in a Catholic community. Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School is a family forming saints who strive to know, love, and serve the Lord.

Visit our website at www.olacs.org/school to learn more about our school!

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PEOPLE of GOD

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from all of us at Catholic Charities! Our offices will be closed from December 24, 2019 through New Year’s Day. We will return on January 2, 2020.

december 2019

Thank you, volunteers! You are the heart and soul of what we do!

On a beautiful autumn day at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, we celebrated our volunteers by sharing food, fun and laughter at our annual volunteer appreciation luncheon. We recognized all who give many, many hours of their time and talents to assist our Centers of Excellence. Catholic Charities salutes the marvelous work of its awesome volunteers.

Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude for their generous gift of time!

A November to Remember

We appreciate and enjoy celebrating our employees! With the demanding work culture of the 21st century, Catholic Charities’ employees are focused on those we serve, always connected to our mission. It’s nice to let staff know how much their hard work is appreciated. At our annual employee training and appreciation day, we provided our employees with trainings, administrative updates, personal development, team building exercises, and an employee award ceremony. We ended the day with dinner and a movie. We thank our staff for an amazing year!

On November 23rd, Catholic Charities hosted the Saint Nicholas Ball; an enchanted evening at Sandia Resort that included fine dining, dancing and auctions to welcome the holiday spirit of giving. Each year this occasion helps Catholic Charities raise funds to support our mission of continuing to help those in need. We would like to send a special thank you to Covenant Presbyterian Church and Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish, this year’s presenting sponsors and Risen Savior Catholic Community, this year’s gold sponsor. We would also like to thank our myrrh and Advent sponsors, guests, silent and live auction donors, contributors, volunteers, board members and staff who worked so hard to help put this year’s gala together; this gala could not be successful without all of your support. Thank you for believing in our mission. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Saint Nicholas Ball on November 21, 2020. Save the date!

december 2019

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The Tree That Keeps On Giving

Christmas blessings flowed in support of our Annual Catholic Charities’ Giving Tree. We collected over 400 presents for children being supported through our housing, refugee, and preschool programs plus extra gifts for their entire families to enjoy. We would like to send a big thank you to the following parishes and schools for their generous Christmas donations: Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish and the Social Concerns Committee, Shrine of St. Bernadette, St. John XXIII, St. John Vianney, the 7th grade classes at Annunciation Catholic School, and St. Pius X High School.

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Pilgrimage to EWTN and the Ark Encounter March 30 to April 4, 2020

Project Give Visit EWTN and Mother Angelica’s tomb in Hanceville, Al. Attend a live show of “Scripture and Tradition” with Fr. Mitch Pacwa. Visit the Ark Encounter and enjoy a dinner train ride through the Kentucky countryside.

Price of $1,800.00 includes RT airfare, charter bus, tours, hotels, tips, all breakfasts and dinners, some lunches, based on double occupancy.

Deadline for applications is January 15, 2020.

Contact: Cathy Smythe 505.384.2460 or 505.705.5130 • bemyfriend@centurylink.net

NOBODY DELIVERS FASTER

We are grateful to Annunciation Catholic School for all they do to support our Children’s Learning Center. This year the 7th grade class from Annunciation buddied up with children in our Children’s Learning Center for an ongoing reading program. Our children light up every time they see their buddy walk into the room! The students from Annunciation shopped for and hand-delivered a warm outfit to every child in our Children’s Learning Center. They organized bake sales to help fund this project. This year, our numbers doubled in our Children’s Learning Center, so the 7th graders had to double their efforts to accomplish their mission of giving every single child in our learning center a warm outfit. Thank you to Annunciation Catholic School and to the parents of these 7th graders who supported and helped their children in every way possible. These are our “Hope Brokers” of our future!

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december 2019

Path to Peace Dealing with a Loved One’s Addiction

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WORLD NEWS In 2019, high court’s docket runs gamut of high-profile issues

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- 2019 was a busy year for the U.S. Supreme Court.

In its new term, which began in October, the justices examined the status of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gun ownership restrictions and, as it does most terms, the death penalty.

The court also agreed this term to next year review a Louisiana abortion law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals and a school choice program in Montana that excludes religious schools.

In rulings issued in June, at the end of its previous term, the court permitted a religious symbol on public property, blocked the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census and overturned an inmate’s death sentence, citing racial bias in the prosecutor’s jury selection.

In the religious symbol case, the justices in a 7-2 vote favored preserving a historic crossshaped memorial in Maryland, saying it did not endorse religion.

The majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, said the memorial, which pays tribute to soldiers who died in World War I, should be seen in the same “historical context” as the white crosses marking the overseas graves of soldiers who lost their lives in that war. He also said removing the memorial “would be seen by many not as a neutral act but as the manifestation of a hostility toward religion that has no place in our Establishment Clause traditions.”

As they wrapped up their term in June, the justices also blocked an added citizenship question to the census, a move that the U.S. bishops and other Catholic leaders praised and the Trump administration initially disputed.

The 5-4 ruling -- written by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined in part by the other justices -- sent the case back to a lower court saying the administration’s reason for adding the citizenship question “seems to have been contrived.”

In briefs objecting to the added question, immigrant advocacy group, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens in New York said it would prevent noncitizens from filling out the census and would cause a reduction in

funding and impact social service agencies.

A statement issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the day of oral arguments stressed the importance of an accurate count, noting that the Catholic Church and other service providers rely on the national census to provide an accurate count to effectively serve those in need.

In July and September, before the new term began, the court issued unsigned orders backing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

In late July, it said the Trump administration could use $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds to pay for construction and repairs of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In mid-September, it allowed the Trump administration to enforce its new rule preventing many Central Americans and other migrants seeking asylum in the United States to apply for asylum at the border, while the legal battle over the issue continues to work its way through the courts.

This rule basically bars asylum-seekers from applying for protection at the U.S. southern border if they went through another country en route to the United States without first applying for asylum in that country.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her five-page dissent, said the administration’s ban on asylum-seekers “topples decades of settled asylum practices and affects some of the most vulnerable people in the Western Hemisphere” and comes at a time when the stakes for asylum-seekers “could not be higher.”

The nonprofit group Hope Border Institute, based in El Paso, Texas, said the court’s decision reflects “a disturbing pattern that emerges when the Supreme Court starts using its power, however temporarily, to greenlight Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.” It also said the “human impact of this decision will be devastating to thousands of refugees who see the possibility of safety, security and freedom at our nation’s border.”

The administration’s rule: “Asylum Eligibility and Procedural Modifications” was published July 15. In a public comment filed Aug. 15 with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a group of more than 250 faith leaders and organizations, including several Catholic groups, called the rule a “a backdoor asylum ban” and urged the administration to end it.

This fall, all eyes were on the court for how it would respond in the high-stakes immigration case on DACA. On Nov. 12, the court heard oral arguments

on three separate appellate court rulings that have blocked Trump’s 2017 order to end DACA, established in 2012 by President Barack Obama through an executive order.

The program has enabled about 700,000 qualifying young adults, who arrived in the U.S. as children without legal documentation, to work, get health insurance, a driver’s license and above all, not face deportation.

At issue before the court -- while DACA supporters including Catholic activists rallied outside -- was how the Trump administration went about trying to end DACA. Catholic leaders joined more than 35 other groups in filing friend-of-the-court briefs urging the court to uphold DACA. This view was reiterated in a Nov. 12 statement

by Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, then chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration.

“Ending DACA,” he said, “would disrupt DACA recipients’ continued contributions and integration to our country and could needlessly separate them from their families.

Not allowing these young people to continue to utilize DACA to reach their God-given potential is against the common good and our nation’s history of welcoming the immigrant.”

A decision is expected next June.

At the end of its last term and as the new term began, the court once again examined death penalty cases.

In a June decision, the court overturned the death sentence of a Mississippi African American man who had been tried six times for a quadruple murder charge.

Sister Helen Prejean, a Sister of St. Joseph of Medaille, who is a longtime opponent of the death penalty, said the case “pulled the curtain back on racism that persists in jury selection in Mississippi and across the country. This form of discrimination costs people their freedom and, in capital cases, their lives.”

On Dec. 6, the court issued an order which left in place a preliminary injunction prohibiting the government from carrying out the first federal executions in 16 years.

A federal judge in November temporarily blocked upcoming executions of four federal death-row inmates, who had challenged the constitutionality of the lethal injection protocol to be used in their executions.

The day before the court’s order, Catholic Mobilizing Network, the national Catholic organization working to end the death penalty, Continued on page 30

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WORLD NEWS Continued from page 29 delivered a petition to President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr opposing the planned restart of federal executions.

The petition was signed by nearly 3,000 Catholics including retired Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice of San Francisco and Sister Helen Prejean.

The court was to hear another death penalty case Dec. 11: the appeal of an Arizona death-row inmate who claims the state courts failed to give him a new sentencing hearing

based on current law.

On Dec. 9, the court declined to take up a challenge to a Kentucky ultrasound law that requires a physician or qualified technician to perform an ultrasound on a woman seeking an abortion and show the screen images to her.

The Kentucky Ultrasound Informed Consent Act law can take effect immediately.

In early December, the court heard its first gun rights case in almost a decade, brought

by New York City licensed gun owners challenging a regulation that puts limits the ability to transport firearms outside the home.

The suit was first filed in 2013 and the New York state has since made some modifications to the regulation.

Gun rights advocates hoped the court was prepared to extend its previous rulings on gun laws to further strengthen gun rights for selfdefense use at home.

Catholic leaders did not weigh in on this, but the USCCB has supported measures addressing gun violence that include regulations and limitations on the purchase of handguns.

Continued on page 31

CDA Court Sacred Heart Catholic Daughters from Court Sacred Heart in Ranchos de Taos celebrate Catholic Daughters of the Americas Day with a pilgrimage to the Santuario de Chimayó. It was a day of prayer and fellowship.

Pictured left to right are Sara Le-Doux, Sharon Bautistio, Debbie Maestas, Very Reverend Julio González, SF, Dr. Catherine Collins, and Maria Luisa Duran.

St Joseph’s 2019 Christmas Basket Ministry

By Elizabeth Slimak, parishioner, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Parish held its annual Christmas Basket program in December 2019. In this, our 36th year, they served 230 families with food and gifts for 629 children in the families.

In October, they started identifying the families they would be helping by contacting counselors at five westside schools, their St Vincent de Paul Society chapter, Pajarito Mesa community, and their sister parish, San Jose, and nominations from parishioners.

They collected donations of nonperishable food and money from parishioners. They also raised funds by

selling Christmas greenery and holding a bake sale to fund the purchase of the pantry items as well as perishable items such as milk, butter, eggs, and turkeys.

Many thanks to Albertson’s Market on Coors who sold the food at a discount and provided several hundred dollars’ worth of gift cards. Lowes and Home Depot donated the many cardboard boxes for the baskets for the food.

Wonderful parishioners responded to the Angel Tree and provided gifts to 629 children. The Knights of Columbus donated new coats for adults and childrenand the prayer shawl ministry donated hand knit scarfs and hats.

On December 20th, many volunteers will move all the donated food, gifts

and supplies from the church building and new Nazareth center to the St Pius Aux gym. The next day, many more will help assemble the food boxes, sort and bag the gifts by family, and distribute the donated food. Parishioners will then help with the delivery of food boxes and gifts. In total, about 350 people will help prepare and deliver to the families in need.

Thank you to St. Pius X High School for the space where all these items could be sorted and assembled and dispatched to the families.

All of the things were done to fulfill our parish’s mission of making Jesus know in our community and to respond to Christ’s call to feed His lambs.

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WORLD NEWS Continued from page 30 On the second day of the court’s new term, the justices heard oral arguments from three cases concerning protections for gay, lesbian and transgender employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts.

The federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion. At issue in the case is whether the section barring discrimination based on sex applies to sexual orientation.

A number of religious groups, including the USCCB, weighed in with friend-of-the court

briefs in favor of the employers. The USCCB brief said the added employee protection could impact faith-based schools, health care providers and homeless shelters that operate by “religious and moral convictions.” Dozens of companies and advocacy groups filed briefs in support of the employees.

Currently, more than 20 states and the District of Columbia have laws in place to protect against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity with exceptions for religious employers.

Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior

VICAR GENERAL’S CORNER Continued from page 8 during the January/February timeframe to train deacons and laypersons to conduct the approved “Sunday Celebration Without a Priest” as necessary should a priest for weekends not be available. While not optimum, this will provide for a weekly gathering/Eucharist for the people of God during the pastor’s absence.

One major difficulty during this time are anointings of the sick and last rites (BTW, last rites includes the anointing, but not vice versa). Pastors try to make arrangements with nearby priests should an emergency situation arise, but sometimes— especially in remote areas—that’s just not feasible. If not, the seriously ill and/or dying may be comforted in learning that, if a person near death is free from mortal sin and a priest can’t be present for the apostolic blessing, a plenary indulgence is otherwise granted by the Church…provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. (Manual of Indulgences, grant #12).

Fortunately, we have a number of foreign-born priests inquiring with us even as I write this. Some ask about recruiting more native-born priests; where are they? Well…they’re in your sons and grandsons!...so encourage them to at least explore the possibility of a priestly vocation. After all, polls consistently show that priests have one of the highest “job satisfaction” rates of any profession. As Jesus came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45), so will he who has a vocation never be satisfied until he walks in Christ’s steps and fulfills that vocation of service. As an older vocation myself (ordained at age 45, with other professions in my past), I can attest to that by personal experience.

And…finally: Parents! Have you checked out your local Catholic school yet? Now is the perfect time as we look forward to a new year. Just the other day, an 83-year-old was telling me that her Catholic school education was one of the greatest of gifts of her life. Imagine that: at 83, she STILL treasures it! There is no greater gift to give your children than to cultivate their faith—a gift that lasts (literally!) forever.

Schools are good at assisting with cost if they are able, so at least give it a look.

Uh oh…bumping up against the word count again. Editor will blow a gasket if I run on TOO long. ;) Everybody have a blessed Advent season and, of course…Christmas! Be safe!!

Fr. Glenn

counsel of Becket, a nonprofit religious liberty law firm, told reporters that if the court views these employee cases as discrimination, there will likely be new lawsuits and “massive liabilities with churches, schools and religious organizations” that expect their employees to follow certain standards.

He said there are exceptions for those in ministerial roles with a religious function, but he noted that no matter how these exemptions are interpreted, there is likely to be a lot of confusion.

A ruling on that case also is expected in June.

Una dificultad significativa durante este tiempo son las unciones de los enfermos y los últimos ritos (Por cierto, los últimos ritos incluyen la unción, pero no viceversa). Los párrocos, antes de ausentarse, tratan de hacer arreglos con los sacerdotes cercanos en caso de que surja una situación de emergencia, pero a veces -especialmente en áreas remotas- eso no es factible. Si eso llega a suceder, los enfermos graves y/o moribundos pueden recibir consuelo al saber que, si una persona cercana a la muerte está libre de pecado mortal y un sacerdote no puede estar presente para la bendición apostólica, la Iglesia les concede una indulgencia plenaria... siempre y cuando oren regularmente de alguna manera durante su vida. (Manual de Indulgencias, subvención #12).

Afortunadamente, tenemos un buen número de sacerdotes nacidos en el extranjero solicitando venir a la Arquidiócesis, incluso mientras escribo esto. Algunas personas nos preguntan por qué no reclutamos a más sacerdotes nacidos en el país; ¿y dónde están ellos? Pues... ¡están en los hijos y nietos de ustedes!... así que anímenlos a que al menos exploren la posibilidad de una vocación sacerdotal. Después de todo, las encuestas muestran consistentemente que los sacerdotes tienen una de las tasas de “satisfacción laboral” más altas de todas las profesiones. Así como Jesús vino a servir y no a ser servido (Marcos 10:45), así el que tiene una vocación nunca estará satisfecho hasta que camine en los pasos de Cristo y cumpla esa vocación de servicio.

Habiendo descubierto mi vocación a una edad más avanzada (fui ordenado a los 45 años, con otras profesiones en mi pasado), puedo dar fe de ello por mi propia experiencia.

Y... finalmente: ¡Padres! ¿Ya han revisado o visitado su escuela católica local? Ahora es el momento perfecto para indagar sobre la escuela a la que asistirán sus hijos el próximo año. Justo el otro día, una mujer de 83 años me dijo que su educación en la escuela católica fue uno de los mayores regalos de su vida. Imagínense: ¡a los 83 años, ella todavía lo atesora! No hay mejor regalo para sus hijos que cultivar su fe, un regalo que dura (¡literalmente!) para siempre. Cuando es posible, nuestras escuelas son buenas para ayudar con los costos, así que al menos échenles un vistazo.

Uh oh oh.... otra vez he llegado a mi límite de palabras. La editora se pondrá furiosa si me paso POR MUCHO. ;) Que todos ustedes tengan un bendecido tiempo de Adviento y, por supuesto.... ¡Navidad! ¡¡Cuidense!!

P. Glenn

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december 2019

Healing Pilgrimage September 14, 2019 - April 10, 2020 El Cerro de Tomé

El Santuario de Chimayó It is a time for us to reach out to one another in our homes, families and communities to heal the divisions that keep us apart from one another. To read Archbishop Wester’s Pastoral Letter Hope and Healing Among Peoples (September 3, 2019), visit www.archdiosf.org.

Celine

Pilgrimages are a special time of journey for personal prayer, reflection and sacrifice to implore God’s graces with each step taken. The designated destinations for pilgrims are either Tomé Hill, between Los Lunas and Belen, and El Santuario de Chimayó, north of Santa Fe. Archbishop Wester invites all people, as individuals or groups, “to pray for healing among people, for greater love for one another and for reconciliation among those who are alienated from one another.”

Archbishop John C. Wester calls for a Healing Among Peoples and cautions about a crisis of compassion in his recent pastoral letter promulgated September 7-8, 2019 in all archdiocesan parishes. Acknowledging the “crisis of compassion”, he invites all people of faith to live the Lord’s command to “love one another”. He has designated the period between September 14, 2019 (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) to April 10, 2020 (Good Friday) as a time for all people “to undertake this pilgrimage of conversion.”

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2020 Abuse Awareness Training for Adults Creating a Safe Environment for Our Children Sponsored by the ASF Attendance at the workshop is MANDATORY for all clergy, employees, and volunteers in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Pre-registration is necessary - contact: Annette, Victim Assistance Coordinator or Rose Garcia at 505.831.8144 for trainings that are hosted at the Catholic Center or contact the parish that is hosting the training (see below schedule).

Note: Please do not bring children - no one under the age of 18 is allowed in the training. If you are late you will not be allowed to enter and interrupt the training.

Please contact Annette, Victim Assistance Coordinator 505.831.8144 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.

January 11, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon St. Francis Xavier Saturday 820 Broadway Blvd., SE, Albuquerque, 87102

call to register - 243.5201 Ext. 1 February 22, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Church of the Incarnation Saturday 2309 Monterrey Road, NE, Rio Rancho, 87144

call to register 771.8331 March 14, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Holy Family Saturday 562 Atrisco Drive, SW, Albuquerque, 87105

call Fr. Patrick to register 842.5426 April 11, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Saturday

Shrine of the Little Flower / St. Therese of the Infant Jesus 3434 Fourth Street, NW, Albuquerque, 87107 call Rosa to register 702.1259

May 14, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Thursday 3674 Highway 47, Peralta, 87042

call Annette to register 869.6993 June 6, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Church of the Ascension Saturday 2150 Raymac Road, SW, Albuquerque, 87105

call Roberta to register 877.8550 July 11, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saturday 9502 Fourth Street, NW, Albuquerque, 87114

call to register 340.0421 August 22, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Noon Our Lady of Fatima Saturday 4020 Lomas Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, 87110

call to register 265.5868 September 12, 2020 9:00 a.m. – Noon Our Lady of the Annunciation Saturday 2621 Vermont Street, NE, Albuquerque, 87110

call Melanie to register 298.7553 October 17, 2020 9:00 a.m. – Noon Saturday

San Clemente 244 Luna NE, Los Lunas, 87031

November 5, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sacred Heart Thursday 309 Stover Ave., SW, Albuquerque, 87102

call to register 242.0561

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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 KASY-My50TVCable or satellite providers on KRQE TV-13, KBIM TV-10, KREZ TV-6, FOX 2 American Sign Language (ASL) InterpretedTV 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

Archbishop’s Schedule

DECEMBER 14 Sat 7:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

15 Sun 11:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

18 Wed 6:00 p.m.

19 Thu 1:00 p.m.

20 Fri 10:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

22 Sun 10:30 a.m.

23 Mon 11:30 a.m.

24 Tue 5:00 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

25 Wed 9:00 a.m.

JANUARY 2-4 ====

5-10 ==== 11 Sat 10:00 a.m.

Annual Los Lunas Prison Christmas Masses Annual Native American Advent Calendar Mass (English), Santuario de San Martin, Alb. Mass (Spanish), Santuario de San Martin, Alb. Catholic Charities Board Meeting, Albuquerque Pueblo pastors and deacons, Catholic Center, Alb. Diaconate Ordination of Anthony Ezeaputa, St. Charles Borromeo, Alb. Seminarian Advent Mass and Dinner, Catholic Center, Alb. Filipino Simbang Gabi Mass & Lunch, Prince of Peace, Albu.

Employee Advent Mass and Lunch, Catholic Center, Alb. Taos Pueblo Vespers Midnight Christmas Mass, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe Christmas Mass, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe “To Serve the People of God: Renewing the Conversation on Priesthood and Ministry,” Boston College Region XIII Bishops’ Retreat, Picture Rocks, AZ Keynote & Mass for Lay Ministry Convocation, Saint John XXIII, Albuquerque

december 2019

Upcoming Classes for 2020 (held at Holy Cross in Santa Cruz)

Class: Introduction to Church of Vatican II Dates: Saturday, January 18th & 25th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm February 8th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Instructor: Dr. Jason Rodarte

Cost: $10.00

Location: Holy Cross, Santa Cruz To register please contact Janice Valdez at 505.470.5906 or ccdholycross@gmail.com Class: Introduction to Scripture Dates: Saturdays, February 22nd & March 7th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm March 14th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Instructor: Connie Smith

Cost: $10.00

Location: Holy Cross, Santa Cruz To register please contact Janice Valdez at 505.470.5906 or ccdholycross@gmail.com Class: Introduction to Jesus Dates: March 21st & April 18th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm April 25th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Instructor: Deacon Mike Wesley

Cost: $10.00 Location: Holy Cross, Santa Cruz To register please contact Janice Valdez at 505.470.5906 or ccdholycross@gmail.com

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Lay Ministry: Baptized for Service and Mission

Ministerio laico: bautizados para el servicio y la misión

Saturday, January 11, 2020 Enero 11, 2020 10:00am – 5:00pm

Keynote: Archbishop John C. Wester

St. John XXIII Catholic Community 4831 Tramway Ridge Dr. NE Albuquerque, NM 87111

Registration Fee: $20.00

Cuota de inscripción: $20.00

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Register by December 16 and save $10.

DESCUENTO: Pague solamente $10 si se inscribe a más tardar el 16 de diciembre

To Register on-line/ Para registrarse en línea:

https://form.jotform.com/kdavis5430/2020-LEM-Convocation More Information/más información: Corey Lucero: 505-831-8179