Memo from Msgr. Raun- Wednesday November 25th, 2020
| My dear family, A good morning to you all ! Today, just a quick memo as we get ready for Thanksgiving: THANKSGIVING DAY: Holy Mass : 9 am this Mass will be live-streamed and broadcast to the church parking lot at 106.5 FM. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament : after 9 am Mass until 6 pm No confessions or 6 pm Mass. The parish office will be closed Thursday and Friday. No doubt, this will be one of the strangest Thanksgivings most of us have lived through. It could also be the most meaningful. With all our other Thanksgiving customs cut back or eliminated, I think we can rediscover what Thanksgiving really is : a national day of prayer to give thanks to God. As we know, the Holy Mass is the ultimate prayer of thanks. (The word "Eucharist" means "thanksgiving".) How wonderful it would be - what a witness to the people of Rio Rancho ! - if our parking lot was full of people tomorrow hearing Mass and then receiving Holy Communion. To publicly show that even in the year 2020 we know to give thanks to our Heavenly Father. What else do you have to do Thanksgiving morning? This year, you don't have to cook for 25 people, and the Macy's parade on TV is going to be a pretty humble affair! Remember that how we are doing it, hearing Mass and receiving Holy Communion is about as Covid-safe as you can get! If you can't come, be sure to watch Mass online and join in spirit with your parish family. And remember those who will be alone this Thanksgiving, starting with family members but extending out to your friends and neighbors. Give them a phone call. Let them know that you care for them and are praying for them. PRAISE REPORT: the final numbers on our Thanksgiving food drive: "I know everyone is wondering how this year's Thanksgiving distribution went since we changed the whole process this year to drive through style and gave gift cards instead of a bag of nonperishable food. Well, in my opinion, it went great! God blessed us with enough food for all that showed up until noon. Just over 50 turkeys were picked up by St. Felix Pantry. This is what the breakdown looks like. 702- turkeys 701- pies 14- hams 649 families for drive through distribution, Saturday, Nov. 21st 14 homebound deliveries, Friday, Nov. 20th for a total of 663 families and 2825 people served Most people came from Rio Rancho and Albuquerque but we had folks from Corrales, Los Ranchos, Belen, Bernalillo, Algodones, Santa Fe and even Espanola. There were over 550 volunteer hours for collection and distribution. As always, THANK YOU for your volunteer time and caring hearts. As Joe told me today, "Another one in the books" with a big smile on his face (I think- he was wearing a mask) Even though this was a challenging year, WE DID IT! Be proud that we touched so many families. Have a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Debby Estvanko Thanksgiving Coordinator" And I might add, over $17,000 was given in cash donations, which allowed us to buy the gift cards. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated to the food drive, and to our wonderful St. Vincent de Paul Society. I am so proud of you all! ANOTHER PRAISE REPORT: I received this note: "Msgr. Raun, Thank you, Msgr. for the opportunity to help others. Please accept our donation for food for those in need. In unity and peace, may God bless us all. In Christ, Jon and Marguerite Gilmor" "Thank you for the opportunity to serve others" ! What a beautiful and Christ-like thought for Thanksgiving Day. EXPECT ANOTHER MEMO ON SATURDAY talking about our plans for Advent and Christmas! YOU CAN RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION EVERY SUNDAY - IN FACT YOU CAN RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION EVERY DAY ! HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION DURING THIS TIME: 1. The normal schedule of Masses - weekday and weekend - are being celebrated in the church. These will be private Masses. 2. BUT - every Mass is being broadcast on our low-wattage FM transmitter at 106.5 FM. You can listen to the Mass anywhere in our parish parking lot. Just sit in your car and listen to the Mass. 3. THEN - after each Mass, Eucharistic Ministers go out of the doors of the church with the Blessed Sacrament. Just go line up at the doors and receive Holy Communion. Please remember to wear your mask and to keep socially distanced while lining up to receive Communion. And - be very considerate and careful of your fellow parishioners in the parking lot as you drive away! 4. The 9 am Mass will continue to be live-streamed daily, and can be seen on our parish app and website (stanm.org). Also, remember the following: We are opening the church building every day at 9:30 am until 6:00 pm. ( On Saturdays, 9:30 am to 5 pm. On Sundays from 2 pm to 6 pm.) We have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during these times. We are hearing Confessions Monday through Friday at 9:30 am and 5:00 pm. Saturday confessions will be at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. Please call the parish office to arrange funerals, marriages and baptisms. There are to be no more than 10 persons present, and are to be celebrated without Mass. Your priests are happy to make sick calls. Every precaution will be taken to protect the health of the sick person and the priest. Just call the parish office. PLEASE SHARE ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET! Laughing is the best medicine: Thanksgiving humor.... "What did the turkey say to the turkey hunter on Thanksgiving Day?" "Quack, Quack!" "Why did the farmer have to separate the chicken and the turkey?" "He sensed fowl play." "What key has legs and can't open a door?" "A turkey." "Why did they let the turkey join the band?" "Because he had his own drumsticks." "What happened to the turkey that got in a fight?" "He got the stuffing knocked out of him!" Quotes From the Saints to give peace and encouragement in difficult times.... “Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. “Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.'” – Saint Francis de Sales 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 | | |
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