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Do you remember being out a recess during school and teams being picked for baseball or dodgeball or some other game? It could be scary, thinking about how it would turn out. Will I be the last one picked? Will everybody laugh at me? Will I be good enough? Many of us may approach our faith and relationship with Jesus the same way, asking whether or not God will choose us; whether or not we are “good enough.” The Good News for each of us today is that God has already chosen us, and send us out on a mission that we can accomplish through his grace, power, and authority.

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:1-6) is quite revealing. Those who had gathered in the synagogue that was located in Jesus’ “native place” clearly were familiar with Jesus because they began to name his family – Mary, his mother; his brothers, James and Joses, Judas and Simon. They even mention his sisters. It is important to note that this identification as brothers and sisters must be taken within the context of the culture and language in which in which Jesus was living. These “brothers and sisters” would be more like extended family, perhaps cousins. This passage in no way contradicts the truth that Mary conceived Jesus by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and that she remained ever-virgin, having had no other children.

One important message that we hear in today’s Scripture Readings is that God created all things for good. Still, we cannot deny that there is evil in the world. Illness, poverty, injustice, and war are frequently in the news, but these things do not come from God. Pain, violence, and death came into the world as a result of sin – of man’s disobedience and belief in the lies of the devil.

A six-session study/group discussion lead by Fr. Schultz of the book, “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic” by Matthew Kelly, on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in Room #1 of Fatima Gallagher-Hall beginning on Wednesday, July 11 through Wednesday, August 15. Sessions will also be offered on Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM in Room #1 led by Sharon Mussman.

Today we celebrate the Nativity (Birth) of Saint John the Baptist. In all four Gospels, the descriptions of St. John the Baptist are of a man who understands that his task is to prepare, and then to fade away from the scene, careful at all times not to distract from Jesus, whom he describes as the Lamb of God.

The beginning of today’s Gospel (Mark 4:26-34) tells of Jesus beginning his public ministry by proclaiming that the reign of God is at hand, and calling all to repent and believe the Good News. Jesus invites us to repent and experience conversion of heart. He calls on us to actively participate in the kingdom.

As part of our continuing efforts to upgrade our parish grounds, the Parish Council has approved a project to replace the existing sign on Lomas Blvd. by the entrance/exit to our parking lot.

You are cordially invited to participate in a Joyful Senior Day Celebration on Wednesday, June 20. The celebration begins with Mass and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at 11:00 AM in Fatima-Gallagher Hall followed by Lunch and then Bingo with prizes! All activities are free. Please call 265-5868 to RSVP so we can get a head count! Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity for fellowship and prayer.

Fr. Stephen Schultz is pleased to announce that Ms. Melinda Mader has been hired as the new Principal at Our Lady of Fatima School. She is a graduate of St. Pius X High School and the University of New Mexico. She taught mid-school social studies in public school for one year and has taught at St. Mary’s School downtown for 14 years.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The Catholic Church has consistently taught from Apostolic times that during a valid celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the bread and wine are truly changed into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is what is meant by the “True Presence” or “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. Although the elements still have the appearance of bread and wine, they have – through the power of the Holy Spirit – actually changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood, just as they did at the Last Supper.

The Parish is in need of additional Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (“Eucharistic Ministers”) to assist with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist during Communion at the weekend Masses. Training will be provided. Please contact Veronica or Sylvia at the Parish Office for more information.

Classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and for Adult Confirmation will be starting soon. Class sessions will be offered on Sundays following the 7:30 AM Mass, and repeated on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM in Fatima-Gallagher Hall beginning June 13th. There is no cost to participate. Sacraments will be received at the Mass of the Easter Vigil in 2019. For more information, please call the Parish Office.

Today we celebrate one of the most fundamental beliefs of Christianity: the Most Holy Trinity – three distinct, coequal Persons in one God. For the Church, the Trinity is considered a mystery. There are aspects of the Trinity that we will never fully grasp while we are this side of Heaven. But it is something we hold as revealed truth. We may never comprehend its totality, but we experience its presence and accept its reality.

In the Scripture Readings for today’s Mass, we hear two accounts of the Pentecost. The more dramatic of the two occurs in our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) where the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles, empowering them to speak in different tongues so that the Jews from different lands who had gathered in Jerusalem could hear the message of Jesus proclaimed in their own language. The second, and perhaps less dramatic account is found in today’s Gospel (John 20:19-23) where the Risen Jesus, himself, appears to the Apostles, breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, and commissions them to go forth and continue the mission of announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God.

The annual Mass in which Our Lady of Fatima School 8th Graders are promoted to 9th Grade will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 23rd. All parishioners are invited to attend.

Hopefully, by the time you read this bulletin, we will have installed a “Fatima Shrine Stone” in the area of the Fatima Grotto East of the church. This stone was originally placed at the main entrance of St. Joseph Hospital (what is now Lovelace Hospital).

Birthright of Albuquerque will have their Annual Carnation Fundraiser on Mother's Day after all Masses. Saturday, May 12th at 5:30 PM and Sunday May 13th at all Masses. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please mail it to: Birthright of Albuquerque, P.O. Box 36749, Albuquerque, NM 87176-6749, or you can call 505-262-2235.

Spiritual Bouquet Cards for our Mother’s Day Masses have been placed in the pews, and are also available in the Parish Office. Remove the inner card so you can give it to the person you are honoring. Please fill out the outer envelope and put it in the collection basket, or you may bring it to the Parish Office. ​​​​​​​Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13.

May is the Month of Mary. Come and pray the rosary with us every Monday through Friday in May at 4:00 PM in the Church. Everyone is Welcome.

What gives us joy? The beauties of nature, surely! And children. How Jesus rejoiced when little children climbed onto his lap! “Let the little children come to me,” he said. And what joy he must have felt when he brought physical and spiritual healing to people. The deepest source of Jesus’ joy, however, was his loving relationship with his heavenly Father, his Abba. Jesus tells us that wherever he might go, whatever he might do, he remains in his Father’s loving embrace.