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Saturdays from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM (except Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020). Fridays in Lent from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM (except Good Friday, April 10, 2020).

Every Friday, February 28, 2020 through April 3, 2020 - 5:30 PM. Simple Soup Supper consisting of soup, bread and butter, and beverage in gym of Fatima-Gallagher Hall. Soup Supper Hosts: 02/28/20—Parish Council, 03/06/20—Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors, 03/13/20—Women’s Guild, 03/20/20—Holy Name Society, 03/27/20—Coffee and Donuts, 04/03/20—Choir.

Today’s First Reading comes from the Book of Sirach in the Old Testament (Sirach 15:15-20), and it offers the Jewish people advice on how to live their lives in a manner worthy of God, and make the choice between good and evil. This same principal would later be stated multiple times by Saint Paul when he would encourage the early Christian communities to live in a manner worthy of the call (Baptism) they have received.

This weekend is the beginning of our Annual Catholic Appeal campaign for 2020 and we will have the opportunity to complete pledge cards. The theme for this year’s campaign is “His Mercy Endures Forever… Proclaim the Gospel!” Parishioners recently received a letter, pamphlet, and pledge card from Archbishop John Wester regarding the importance of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Unlike the tithing renewal that we do each November in which we commit ourselves to a weekly tithe to the support of our local parish, the Annual Catholic Appeal is our opportunity to consider the needs not just of our own parish, but of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 26, 2020. There will be four Masses with distribution of Ashes that day at 6:30 AM, 8:15 AM, 12:10 PM, and 5:30 PM. The distribution of ashes will take place after the homily.

​​​​​​​On Friday, January 24th, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe mailed out a letter from Archbishop Wester and a pledge form for the 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) Campaign. This mail-out went to every family in a parish in the Archdiocese who has made an ACA pledge in the past three years. If you have received the pledge form by mail, you may fill it out and return it in the envelope provided. If you did not receive a pledge form by mail, additional copies are located at the doors of the church.

The Parish Office and Fatima School will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2020, in observance of the President’s Day holiday. Daily Mass will still be held at 6:30 AM and 8:15 AM.

At first glance, today’s celebration (The Presentation of the Lord; Luke 2:22-40) may seem rather strange and out of sequence. The Christmas decorations came down a few weeks ago and three Sundays of Ordinary Time have passed during which the adult Jesus has been baptized, begun his public ministry, and called his first disciples. But the Law of Moses called for a 40-day period of purification after the birth of a male child – and today is 40 days, inclusive, after Christmas.

The Adult Faith-Sharing Group that meets on Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM in Fatima-Gallagher Hall, Room 1 is continuing to study the Book of Revelation as it related to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The classes began on January 23. Study guides are available for FREE in the classroom.

Individuals who are interested in serving in a Parish Ministry will be required to complete the Virtus Training. Policy requires that employees and ministry volunteers of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe need to take the instruction every five years. This includes an updated criminal background check. You will receive a letter if it has been more than five years since your last received the training. Call the parish office at (505) 265-5868, or the Archdiocesan coordinator at (505) 831-8144 for questions.

Zebulun and Naphtali, mentioned in both our First Reading (Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3) and the Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) today, were sons of Jacob and the leaders of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The lands settled by their descendants were in the most northern part of Israel. Of all the Israelites, they were the furthest from the summer sun, giving rise to Isaiah’s description of the people there as those “who walked in darkness” and “in the land of gloom.” Their darkness wasn’t just a matter of geography, however. These were also the first lands to be invaded by the Assyrians, and the Israelites were oppressed by their pagan conquerors who practiced false worship of many gods. Isaiah prophesies of a time when a great light will shine upon these people, freeing them from darkness and bringing them “abundant joy” and “great rejoicing.” He prophesies what we know to be the coming of the Christ, who will free them from the yokes that burden them.

As we begin our post-Christmas observance of Ordinary Time, which will lead us into the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, February 26th), the Church invites us to look more closely at the public life of Jesus. While this year we will hear from the Gospel of Matthew on most Sundays, today we hear from John’s Gospel, telling us about John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God. It is primarily from this Gospel passage that we speak of Jesus as the Lamb of God in our liturgy. Why the word lamb? After all, a lamb is a young sheep, and the term could be used to indicate an unsophisticated, immature person.

Join us for the Fatima School open house on Thursday, January 30, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Any parents interested in learning more about Our Lady of Fatima School are invited to attend the Open House and meet our principal, Ms. Melinda Mader, and our teaching staff. Call (505)255-6391 for information.

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2020, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and the official end to the Church’s observance of the Christmas season. Three of the four Gospels recall the Baptism of the Lord, each in its own way. The version we heard today, from the Gospel of Matthew, is unique in recalling that when Jesus came to the Jordan River, John the Baptist at first tried to “prevent him” from receiving baptism, saying that he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus replies, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

The Adult Faith-Sharing Group will resume weekly meetings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesdays starting January 15, 2020. Sessions are held in Room #1 of Fatima-Gallagher Hall. We will begin the new year with an 8-part series entitled “Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues,” by Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Ministries. Each session will include a small amount of reading, a video presentation, and group discussions responding to Questions for Understanding and Questions for Application. Study guides will be available at the first session for $5 each, or may be purchased in advance at the Parish Office.

The Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Fatima invites the men of our parish to attend the 7th Annual Holy Name Society Men’s Spiritual Retreat. Our theme this year is “Embracing the Mystery of the Holy Spirit” led by Father Chris Hallada. This will be a day of reflection, interaction and prayer where we can all experience God’s presence in our souls. Join us on Saturday, February 29, 2020, 9 AM to 3 PM, at The Madonna Retreat Center behind St. Pius X High School. Cost is $25.00. Registration forms are available in the Parish Office.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish has an immediate opening for a part-time position available in the Parish Office. The position involves serving as a receptionist and performing clerical responsibilities including data entry, composing and editing the weekly bulletin, composing messages for the LED sign, and various other duties. Must be comfortable with Publisher, Excel and data base entry. Hours can be flexible but would normally be four hours a day, Monday through Friday. Good pay and benefits. ​​​​​​​Application forms are available in the Parish Office.

Fr. Chris and I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the many acts of kindness that we have received in the past few weeks. I am humbled by the thoughtfulness of so many people who sent cards, or brought over home-made cookies and other gifts. A special “thank-you” also to all those who donated baby diapers and baby clothing to our “Giving Tree” to support Birthright in their mission to provide for mothers who are in need of assistance. May the Lord’s blessing be upon you throughout the new year.

Year-end contribution statements will automatically be sent to all registered parishioners who donated $50 or more in the year 2019. ​​​​​​​If your donations were less than $50 for the year and you would like a copy of your contribution statement, it may be requested from the parish office.