Memo from Msgr. Raun- Tuesday March 2nd, 2021
My dear family,
We continue to thank God for the fall in the new number of COVID cases. May it be the beginning of the end! In the meantime, I'm so happy at the large numbers we are seeing of people returning to public worship. And yesterday we had 130 joining in Zoom small groups after the Lenten Scripture teaching... And my tulips are poking their heads above the ground. Spring must be coming!
WHERE MAY I GO TO MASS? I'm really sad to bring this up, but I'm getting reports of some people for one reason or another going off to churches for Mass that are not in full communion with the Pope. Catholics ought not receive the sacraments from them.
To one degree or another, this applies to churches staffed by the Society of St. Pius X, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the "Liberal Catholic Church", the Episcopal Church, etc. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, they are very nice people, they have beautiful worship, and I'm sure they love the Lord, but they have bishops whose authority is not recognized by our Holy Father the Pope. (Of course this does not apply to any Eastern Catholic Church, like Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque, who are as fully in communion with the Pope as we are, and whose bishops are recognized by Rome.)
Lord Acton was an English Catholic nobleman of the 19th Century. He did not like Pope Pius IX, and really disliked the decrees of the First Vatican Council. But he did not leave the Church. When asked why, he said "I hold communion with Rome dearer than life itself." Thus believes every true Catholic.
Again, let us recall the wise words given us last summer by Cardinal Robert Sarah : "A sure principle in order not to err is obedience. Obedience to the norms of the Church, obedience to the Bishops. In times of difficulty (e.g. wars, pandemics), Bishops and Episcopal Conferences can give provisional norms which must be obeyed. Obedience safeguards the treasure entrusted to the Church. The measures given by the Bishops and Episcopal Conferences expire when the situation returns to normal."
2021 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE: Based on the latest news, we are going to plan on it.
WHEN: October 11-22, 2021
COST: $4,250
Israel (which has the best vaccination program in the world) is opening up to pilgrimages on April 25. Of course if it proves to be not yet safe to travel, we will not go. If we need to postpone the pilgrimage for any reason, you will receive all of your money back (minus a $100 service fee), or, you can roll the whole amount into a 2022 pilgrimage at the same price.
You can get a brochure and registration form from the parish office. Friends, if you ever want to go on a pilgrimage, the Holy Land is the most important and meaningful of all of them.
THIS FRIDAY, AND EVERY FRIDAY OF LENT:
ABSTINENCE: Every Friday during Lent is a day of abstinence from eating meat.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND BENEDICTION will be every Friday of Lent at 3 pm and 7 pm. They will also be lived-streamed on our website each Friday.
EXTRA LENTEN CONFESSIONS:
In addition to the usual times, there will be a priest in church every Friday at 7 pm to hear confessions during the Stations.
FISH FRY:
The Knights of Columbus are having Lenten Curbside Delivery Pickup fish or shrimp Dinner this Friday 4:00 PM – 7:00 pm. See Parish website for call-in number. All Covid safety rules will be followed.
EVERY MONDAY OF LENT, 7 PM, LENTEN BIBLE STUDY 2021 - FORTY DAYS OF LOVE:
Our first Lenten Bible study went wonderfully, with many people listening, and over 100 people in small groups afterwards! Praise God.
You can still join in. Just go to the parish website or the app next Monday at 7 pm.
PLEASE SHARE ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET!
QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS to give you peace, hope, and strength...
“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”
-St. John of the Cross
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
We continue to thank God for the fall in the new number of COVID cases. May it be the beginning of the end! In the meantime, I'm so happy at the large numbers we are seeing of people returning to public worship. And yesterday we had 130 joining in Zoom small groups after the Lenten Scripture teaching... And my tulips are poking their heads above the ground. Spring must be coming!
WHERE MAY I GO TO MASS? I'm really sad to bring this up, but I'm getting reports of some people for one reason or another going off to churches for Mass that are not in full communion with the Pope. Catholics ought not receive the sacraments from them.
To one degree or another, this applies to churches staffed by the Society of St. Pius X, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the "Liberal Catholic Church", the Episcopal Church, etc. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, they are very nice people, they have beautiful worship, and I'm sure they love the Lord, but they have bishops whose authority is not recognized by our Holy Father the Pope. (Of course this does not apply to any Eastern Catholic Church, like Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque, who are as fully in communion with the Pope as we are, and whose bishops are recognized by Rome.)
Lord Acton was an English Catholic nobleman of the 19th Century. He did not like Pope Pius IX, and really disliked the decrees of the First Vatican Council. But he did not leave the Church. When asked why, he said "I hold communion with Rome dearer than life itself." Thus believes every true Catholic.
Again, let us recall the wise words given us last summer by Cardinal Robert Sarah : "A sure principle in order not to err is obedience. Obedience to the norms of the Church, obedience to the Bishops. In times of difficulty (e.g. wars, pandemics), Bishops and Episcopal Conferences can give provisional norms which must be obeyed. Obedience safeguards the treasure entrusted to the Church. The measures given by the Bishops and Episcopal Conferences expire when the situation returns to normal."
2021 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE: Based on the latest news, we are going to plan on it.
WHEN: October 11-22, 2021
COST: $4,250
Israel (which has the best vaccination program in the world) is opening up to pilgrimages on April 25. Of course if it proves to be not yet safe to travel, we will not go. If we need to postpone the pilgrimage for any reason, you will receive all of your money back (minus a $100 service fee), or, you can roll the whole amount into a 2022 pilgrimage at the same price.
You can get a brochure and registration form from the parish office. Friends, if you ever want to go on a pilgrimage, the Holy Land is the most important and meaningful of all of them.
THIS FRIDAY, AND EVERY FRIDAY OF LENT:
ABSTINENCE: Every Friday during Lent is a day of abstinence from eating meat.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND BENEDICTION will be every Friday of Lent at 3 pm and 7 pm. They will also be lived-streamed on our website each Friday.
EXTRA LENTEN CONFESSIONS:
In addition to the usual times, there will be a priest in church every Friday at 7 pm to hear confessions during the Stations.
FISH FRY:
The Knights of Columbus are having Lenten Curbside Delivery Pickup fish or shrimp Dinner this Friday 4:00 PM – 7:00 pm. See Parish website for call-in number. All Covid safety rules will be followed.
EVERY MONDAY OF LENT, 7 PM, LENTEN BIBLE STUDY 2021 - FORTY DAYS OF LOVE:
Our first Lenten Bible study went wonderfully, with many people listening, and over 100 people in small groups afterwards! Praise God.
You can still join in. Just go to the parish website or the app next Monday at 7 pm.
PLEASE SHARE ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET!
QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS to give you peace, hope, and strength...
“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”
-St. John of the Cross
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
1 Comment
Appreciate the updates and the love of God that radiates from you every mass. I sense the Holy Spirit and your commitment. God richly bless you and give you his wisdom always.
One suggestion or question: are we going to go back to paper Sunday bulletins or stay with the online? We appreciate the paper ones best! I notice the current bulletins don’t show up on the website. Thanks!!