St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

New Translation of the Mass!

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"And with your spirit?!?" But we've been saying "And also with you," forever!

"Consubstantial with the father?!?" Where did that fancy word come from?

Confused about the changes at Mass? You are certainly not the only one.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled!" November 27th marked the beginning of the new liturgical year and the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal. Fortunately, there are booklets in the pews to assist you at Mass! And we understand that it will be a LONG time before we don't hear at least a few people replying "And also with you!" at Mass. But you may have questions and we are here to help:

Learn More Here

WELCOME HOME!

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Have a relative or friend who is inactive in the Faith? Bring them to Discovering Christ, a seven-week, small group experience focusing on the Person of Jesus Christ, the founder of Catholic Christianity. Discovering Christ begins on Thursday, 1/12/12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Religious Education Center.

Please contact Jeannette at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 892-1511, x104, to pre-register!

Looking to increase your biblical knowledge?

GA_logo Four new Great Adventure Bible Study Groups are forming soon! Click below for a class details and registration information!

Pastor's Corner - 1/22/2012

msgr3 My dear family,

Today is the anniversary of the infamous Supreme Court decision known as "Roe v. Wade". It is a day for us to pray for the protection of all human life from conception until natural death, and to recommit ourselves to working for the culture of life to prevail in our time.

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Next Sunday we keep the feast of our beloved patron, Saint Thomas Aquinas, in our parish. As is our custom, the children from our school will be participating at all the Masses.

Also, as we do every year on our feast, our beloved Sisters will make an appeal for the financial support of the Religious Teachers Filippini. We all know how much our parish owes to the work of our sisters among us - I hope we will respond generously to the collection at the end of next Sunday's Mass.

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As you may have read about, our former vicar, Fr. Jeffery Steenson, the former Episcopal Bishop who was ordained a Catholic priest at our parish, has been appointed by our Holy Father the Pope as the first Ordinary for the former Episcopalians who have become Catholic in the United States.

What is this all about? In the past few years a number of Episcopal ministers, and even entire Episcopal parishes, have become Catholic. It is the wish of the Holy Father that these former Episcopalians be allowed to keep a special identity, especially in the various liturgical customs that are unique to Anglicism. Of course this will be done in conformity with the Catholic Faith, which they have accepted in full. To this end, the Holy Father has created an "Ordinariate", which is kind of like a diocese for these communities of formerly Anglican Catholics. Fr. Steenson has been appointed the "Ordinary", which means he will have the authority that a bishop would have over these communities, but remaining a priest himself. This is a gracious act of the Holy Father in welcoming these Episcopalians who are entering the Catholic Church, and of course a great responsibility for Fr. Steenson.

Please keep him in your prayers.

A blessed week to you all!

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Msgr. Doug Raun

Pastor's Corner - 1/1/2012

msgr3 My dear family,

A blessed New Year to you all! By the prayers of the Holy Mother of God, may the year 2012 AD be filled with peace, joy, and holiness for all.

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We start the year with joyful news: I am very happy to announce that our Holy Father the Pope has created our beloved former pastor, the Rev. Anthony Bolman, a Monsignor.

We all know Msgr. Bolman's deep piety, priestly example, and spirit of service, and we rejoice that the Vicar of Christ has so honored this noble priest of God.

Now is a good time for a little lesson on just what is a "Monsignor". There are three honorary positions that the Pope can appoint a diocesan priest to (religious order priests are never appointed to them): a Chaplain to His Holiness; a Prelate of Honor; and a Prononotery Apostolic. All three make a priest a member of the Pope's "household" and grant noble status to a priest, giving them the right to the title "Monsignor" ( from the Italian words "mon signor" - "My lord" , i.e. the form of address to nobility), and the right to wear the purple cassock. Msgr. Bolman has been made a Prelate of Honor.

The Rev. Bennett J. Voorhies, the pastor of Annunciation Parish in Albuquerque, has also been created a Monsignor. It is a strictly honorary title: it carries no power, no authority - you don't even get a pay raise! :-) But being a title granted by the Pope himself, it is a great honor.

It is the Holy Father who grants the title, but he always acts on the recommendation of the local bishop, who nominates the priest for the honor. It is a way that bishops can recognize priests for exceptional service to the Church.

Msgr. Bolman received the honor the moment the Pope signed the decree, but there will be a formal installation of Msgr. Bolman here at St. Thomas on Wednesday, January 18th, at a 7:00 pm Mass, followed by a reception. I want to encourage all of our parishioners to make every effort to attend this Mass and honor our dear former pastor.

Congratulations, Msgr. Bolman!

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Countless thanks to everyone for your many Christmas greetings and gifts that came to the rectory. We really try to send thank-you notes to everyone for their gifts, but sometimes in the Christmas chaos names and addresses get lost, so please know we are deeply grateful for all these signs of your affection for your priests. May God bless and reward you!

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Your unworthy servant the pastor is going for a few days of vacation, and so I will not be here next weekend. I will return on the 13th.

Again, a blessed New Year,

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Msgr. Doug Raun

Adult Ministries Updates

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

(RCIA)

The second stage of adult Christian initiation in our parish, RCIA, will begin on Wednesday, 1/4/12, 7:00-9:00 p.m. If you are preparing to receive any of the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Eucharist) in the Catholic Church and have completed Alpha or its equivalent, or, in some cases, are currently participating in it, please contact Jeannette at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (preferred) OR 892-1511, x104, to register for RCIA.

RCIA will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas School, 1100 Hood Road, SE. We will meet in the cafeteria. Please bring your Bible and something to write with; all other necessary materials will be provided.

NEW 2012 ADULT STUDY GROUPS FORMING!

Great Adventure: Adventures in Acts, 20 sessions, Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., beginning 1/4/12, St. John Vianney Mission (1000 26th Avenue, NE, Rio Rancho). Facilitator: Brenda Vogsland. Study kit: $20.
Great Adventure: A Quick Journey Through the Bible, 8 sessions, Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., beginning 1/10/12, St. John Vianney Mission (1000 26th Avenue, NE, Rio Rancho). Facilitator: Brenda Vogsland. Study kit: $14.
Catholicism, 12 sessions, Fridays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., beginning 1/13/12, in the St. Lucy Filippini meeting room (Panorama Plaza, 1594 Sara Road, SE, Suite J, Rio Rancho). Facilitator: Jeannette Schlicher. Study kit: $24.
Great Adventure: Revelation, 11 sessions, Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., beginning 1/5/12, St. Thomas Aquinas Religious Education Center, room 10. Facilitator: Natalie Cimarron. Study kit: $15.25.

Each Great Adventure study participant will need a Catholic Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in addition to the recommended study kit. Please contact Jeannette, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (preferred) or 892-1511, x104 for more information!

WELCOME HOME!

All of us have Catholic relatives and friends who are inactive (or only occasionally active) in the Faith. Invite and accompany them to Discovering Christ, a seven-week, small group experience focusing on the Person of Jesus Christ, the Founder—and Foundation—of Catholic Christianity. Discovering Christ will begin on Thursday, 1/12/12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Religious Education Center. Please contact Jeannette at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (preferred) or 892-1511, x104, to pre-register so we will have enough materials and refreshments prepared to welcome them home.