Hello friends!

Welcome to Advent! There are a few things that we should know about Advent. It is the beginning of the church year; our new liturgical calendar begins this Sunday and only lasts four short weeks, which leads us into the Christmas season. We will begin reading from Luke's Gospel, which will take us through the entire liturgical season: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary time, Easter / Pentecost.

Today we light the first of the four Advent candles; starting with one of the three purple colored candles. You'll notice that the church is relatively bare and the liturgical color is also purple; a color of anticipation. The church invites us to journey through this season with a certain kind of hope; a hope in Him, in Emmanuel: God with us, as we make our way through the joys and sorrows, to the promise of new life.

Advent is a time to prepare, to make ready, our homes and our hearts to receive Jesus and his message of Good news. One good way to prepare is by participating in the upcoming Advent reconciliation service, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, starting at 7 p.m. 
 

​Fr. Ray

Hello friends!

As we come to the end of another liturgical year, the church concludes this year 2015 with the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast takes place in the thirty-four Sunday in Ordinary Time. What a way to conclude another year, proclaiming and celebrating Christ as the King of the Universe, as the King of our lives. As we come to celebrate Thanksgiving during this week, remember to give thanks to God for his glory and power. Remember that Jesus is the one enthroned at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things, the unique Savior of all human being to whom he brings grace and peace, heavenly gifts. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and "Viva Cristo Rey"

​Fr. Alex

Hello friends!

Canon 276.2 & 4 stipluates that every priest must make an annual retreat to renew his interior life. With this being said, the diocesan priests of the Diocese of Las Cruces had the opportunity to go on our annual spiritual retreat the week of November 2-6. This time of prayer and fellowship took place at the Redemptorist Renewal Center of Picture Rocks in Tucson, AZ. It was such a wonderful experience to see most of our brother priests together. During the retreat we listened to Msgr. Chester Borski, a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. We also shared in different ways with other priests. It was truly a time to pray, rest, and renew ourselves. One of the things caught my attention was the celenbration of daily Mass with all the priests, the practice of the sacraments: reconciliation and anointing, the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and many other activities in which we all participated. 

Now it is time to get ready for a busy and exciting end of the year with Advent coming soon, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. Blessings on your busy-ness!

Fr. Alex

Hello, friends:

Last weekend’s vocation discernment retreat was a huge success! We had 12 men, from around the Diocese, attend the retreat, 4 of whom are from our very own parish community. Bishop Cantu, Fr. Ricardo and I were very pleased with the engagement, enthusiasm and energy that these young men brought and we will continue to journey with them as they discern their vocation. Please pray for these men; your prayers are efficacious – God hears the voices of His people, as they respond to his invitation of discipleship.

If you have a chance, take a look at the new Diocesan seminarian poster, which is hung on the bulletin board near the north entrance to the church. Seminarian Ivan Torres was instrumental in getting this done over the summer as he worked in the Vocation office. It looks really nice!

Seminarians Jeff, Francis and Ivan would like to me to express their gratitude to our parish community for the care package that was sent to them last week. They appreciate the treats, but more importantly they appreciate the prayers, support and care!

Fr. Ray 

Dear Friends, 

This month of November the Church celebrates some special days. Starting with November 1st, All Saints, and November 2nd, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). The first, All Saints' Day, is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church. When I think of All Saints, it brings to mind the Litany of Saints that we hear at a deacon or priestly ordination and at Easter Vigil during baptisms. We often think of the saints as holy people who are far beyond our own experience and people out of this world. The reality is that this solemnity reminds us that at one time they were ordinary people just like us, living ordinary lives. 

The second, All Souls Day, is a holy day set aside for honoring the dead. This day we celebrate the hope we have for our faithful departed, because of God's gracious will for each of us that we all be saved. As we celebrate and remember our loved ones who have gone before us, let us pray for them with the hope and assurance that they are enjoying the presence of God in His kingdom. 

Fr. Alex