Memo from Msgr - Easter Sunday
My dear family in the Lord,
The Lord is risen. ALLELUIA !
On this most holy day, our meditation is from the most famous Easter sermon ever preached:
excerpts from the Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.
If any have worked from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If any have waited even until the eleventh hour, the Lord will accept the last even as the first.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted during Lent and you who have disregarded the fast.
Enjoy the feast of faith; receive all the riches of loving-kindness.
Enter you all into the joy of your Lord.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival.
You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his sins, for pardon has shone forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. Christ who was held a prisoner of death has destroyed it.
O Death, where is your sting?
O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and Death is overthrown.
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns.
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
BACK TO NORMAL (so to speak) : Now that Holy Week is over, we will go back to our "normal" quarantine schedule on Monday :
9 am - Holy Mass on-line
5:30 pm Confessions in the Adoration Chapel (Monday through Saturday)
6 pm Holy Hour on-line
THE DIVINE MERCY NOVENA will be part of the 6 pm Holy Hour each day this week.
NO MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY this week. We are taking an Easter break. In a few days we will announce our new Bible Study.
BLESSED EASTER WATER is available in the church.
YOU HAVE REASON TO BE PROUD : Dear friends, I wish I could show you how hard all of our parish staff have been working during the quarantine, and especially during Holy Week. They have all put in time far beyond what they are paid for, given great personal self-sacrifice and showed great creativity in the midst of the most unusual and unexpected of circumstances. And beyond them is a great army of volunteers who have enabled us to create new ministries to reach out to the people of this parish and care for those in need. As their pastor I am very proud of them, and you should be proud of them also. We are going to come through this epidemic more united and more holy. Trust Jesus Christ!
TITHING : It's Easter Sunday - you know I had to mention this! Thank you for the great generosity so many of you have shown to the parish. With so many people having lost income, it's so important that those of us who have employment support our parish at this time. Just go to the website (stanm.org) and click on the "Give" button to give on-line, or mail or bring your contribution to the parish office. God bless you!
SHARE US ON-LINE on your social media. Download the parish app onto your smart phone or tablet. It the easiest way to receive everything the parish has to enrich your life.
HOLINESS TIP: Listen to sacred or praise music, inspirational podcasts, or turn on Catholic radio to lift your thoughts and keep out negative thinking. (I do hope that today everybody will find a way to listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" from George Fredrick Handel's "Messiah". If you don't own a recording, try YouTube.
OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY:
O Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia;
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia;
Is risen again as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ didst deign to give joy to the world: grant we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
I send you my fatherly blessing, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen !
Msgr. Doug Raun
The Lord is risen. ALLELUIA !
On this most holy day, our meditation is from the most famous Easter sermon ever preached:
excerpts from the Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.
If any have worked from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If any have waited even until the eleventh hour, the Lord will accept the last even as the first.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted during Lent and you who have disregarded the fast.
Enjoy the feast of faith; receive all the riches of loving-kindness.
Enter you all into the joy of your Lord.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival.
You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his sins, for pardon has shone forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. Christ who was held a prisoner of death has destroyed it.
O Death, where is your sting?
O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and Death is overthrown.
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns.
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
BACK TO NORMAL (so to speak) : Now that Holy Week is over, we will go back to our "normal" quarantine schedule on Monday :
9 am - Holy Mass on-line
5:30 pm Confessions in the Adoration Chapel (Monday through Saturday)
6 pm Holy Hour on-line
THE DIVINE MERCY NOVENA will be part of the 6 pm Holy Hour each day this week.
NO MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY this week. We are taking an Easter break. In a few days we will announce our new Bible Study.
BLESSED EASTER WATER is available in the church.
YOU HAVE REASON TO BE PROUD : Dear friends, I wish I could show you how hard all of our parish staff have been working during the quarantine, and especially during Holy Week. They have all put in time far beyond what they are paid for, given great personal self-sacrifice and showed great creativity in the midst of the most unusual and unexpected of circumstances. And beyond them is a great army of volunteers who have enabled us to create new ministries to reach out to the people of this parish and care for those in need. As their pastor I am very proud of them, and you should be proud of them also. We are going to come through this epidemic more united and more holy. Trust Jesus Christ!
TITHING : It's Easter Sunday - you know I had to mention this! Thank you for the great generosity so many of you have shown to the parish. With so many people having lost income, it's so important that those of us who have employment support our parish at this time. Just go to the website (stanm.org) and click on the "Give" button to give on-line, or mail or bring your contribution to the parish office. God bless you!
SHARE US ON-LINE on your social media. Download the parish app onto your smart phone or tablet. It the easiest way to receive everything the parish has to enrich your life.
HOLINESS TIP: Listen to sacred or praise music, inspirational podcasts, or turn on Catholic radio to lift your thoughts and keep out negative thinking. (I do hope that today everybody will find a way to listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" from George Fredrick Handel's "Messiah". If you don't own a recording, try YouTube.
OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY:
O Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia;
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia;
Is risen again as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ didst deign to give joy to the world: grant we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
I send you my fatherly blessing, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen !
Msgr. Doug Raun
Posted in Daily Memo from Msgr. Raun
4 Comments
Blessed Easter!
Thank you for all STA is doing during this strange time.
WE ARE THE CHURCH!
Thank You! It is important that during this time we carry the mission of the Church to everyone. Thank you for sharing our posts on social media and becoming an "E-Evangelist".
Msgr. Raun, we want to say thank you for your "Yes". We met you at the Cookies & Coffee at Christmas time 2019. We are living in California for the next two years until retirement. Our future home is there in Rio Rancho, about 2 miles from St.Thomas. We are grateful and thankful for all you have been doing to keep everyone connected during these times. A big thank you to the staff and volunteers that are assisting you with ideas and tech support. We truly appreciate them and what your leadership shows to all of us. Thank you for feeding us, your flock! We have shared your app to other family members here in California as we have found that STANM.org to be the most simplified. It is informational as well as spiritual. We also appreciate the schedules and personal notes from you. It allows us to stay connected to our Catholic Faith. May God continue to bless you all and may His Kingdom continue to grow through everything that you are doing there at St. Thomas Aguinas, Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Can't wait until the day comes to join in service with you all. Love and prayers from Ron and I to all of you. Happy Easter Season! Alleluia, Alleluia!!
We are looking forward to having you in the local area. You are in our thoughts and prayers!