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.
**********
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!
**********
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!
**********
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,
Msgr. Doug Raun