Church guide

HAHAHA! Come on, let's go to Mass! We all need it!

All volunteers wanting to assist our visiting immigrants. You must take this course TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW July 7th. Come me to the office early to register. Or you can register online virtus.org

So sad when the name of Christ is used only to make millions for your own pocket, and even worse when ignorant people are obligated to give even what they do not have. At the end, the idea is that you "pay for God's blessings" and that is totally false. Benefits of being catholic: 1. You give what you can. 2. You know that what you give is not for the priest. 3. You see that what you give works its way back to the congregation and the needy of the community. 4. Priests live in the church rectory which is lent by the local church. 5. You can be at peace your priest wears $19.99 clerical shirts from "autom.com" 4. In the name of Christ and in the name of Pope Francis, you know you can confront any priest that's living too luxuriously. 5. And you know the pope flies on a commercial airline and has no pocket money for himself -and if he did- where could you probably see him spending it? 6. If your priest is a religious missionary priest (like at St. Anthony's), did you know he doesn't even own a car? He used the one he finds already at the church and leaves it for the next priest when he leaves. 7. Another thing religious missionary priests do is that whatever their salary totals, they only get to keep $100 bucks a month for their own very personal use like watching a movie or buy some DORITOS (love'm!), the rest is sent to a common account for the missions, seminarians, retired brother friars, and common needs of the religious Order. 8. Did you know that what you give as a donation for any special mass such as a wedding or a quinceañera, it's really not at all for the priest but for the parish's basic service bills? 9. Did you know that a priest cannot have access to the parish account for any church minor or major repairs without consulting the parish council and having the approval of the local finance council and the diocese finance offices? 10. No priest can demand money from the congregation for himself, nor to buy a Mercedes Benz or his own plane... not even in the name of God. And how stupid could a catholic be to give a priest money for that? 11. And remember the Church is not rich. It has what it needs to function as an institution and enough savings for any need. Yes, a lot of money circulates through its accounts (billions), but does the pope carry that check book? No, it's all part of the largest and biggest charity organization in the world and famous for not imposing it's faith nor being boastful when and where it helps http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/february-17th-2017/a-worldwide-force-for-good/. The pope has no right to sell things belonging to the Vatican Museums... as a matter of fact, no one does. And don't forget that your local parish buildings are included in the billions of dollars studies show the Church has... and we all use those facilities, even lent for local non-religious activities. If your parish church is beautiful, it's what the local congregation was able to build to congregate. 12. Is the Church perfect? Are you? And don't forget that any terrible mistake the Church makes (and boy does it have it in its 2000 year history), it will surely go big on the media because it has been as presenting itself as being perfect... only and idiot could think this. It's an institution that is composed of real every day human beings that call themselves "SINNERS". Will there continue being scandals in the future of the church? As much as we don't desire anymore, and as much as EVERYTHING possible is being done to avoid any wrongdoing, it's sad to say that there will always be negative content for great ratings for the news media because as long as there are human beings inside the Church, there will continue being sinners being part of the Church. Accusations MUST continue when clear obvious evidence of any type of abuse appears in anyone belonging to the Church, legal processes must be taken, and healing must be promoted for the good of any human being hurt by anyone within the Church.

Is our community a beautiful one or not? Of course it is! We’re in our final preparation meeting to learn what we have to do when we receive our first migrant visitors this coming Monday afternoon.

A message from bishop inviting all especially young adults to this year’s Eucharistic Congress in Las Cruces https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p7WGotl61HUka2pyuLSbKUZ1FSqp7rpE/view

For all those interested in being part of this new ministry in our parish. You're more than welcome to attend this very important meeting.

We’ve been learning so much about Jesus and his teachings; time to put it all to work. http://kfoxtv.com/news/local/local-church-prepares-to-house-asylum-seekers

As many of you already know, I have been assigned a new mission in Oxnard, California. There will be many things to do in our monastery: I will be superior of our community of 15 friars, part of the seminary formation team, councilor to the newly elected superior of all the Augustinian Recollects in the U.S., and I will also be in charge of the retired brothers’ residence. Obviously I dreamed of staying longer in St. Anthony’s but my superiors have seen I am more needed somewhere else. Gossip has already come to me that I am leaving because “people don’t like me”, and I guess it’s an Anthony “thing” because the same thing I have heard about other priests that served here in St. Anthony’s. Even though it’s true no one is a golden coin to be appreciated by everyone, but it is false that I am being “chased out” and no priest in the history of St. Anthony has been voted out; you guys are too good to do that and you have shown you truly appreciate all your priests no matter where they come from, how young or old they are, or if you click or not with them. Priests come and go because life is ever changing. Yes I am saddened not to stay more time with you but I am also enthused with my new assignment and all it’s challenges it will bring. I am so thankful for all of you, especially with those of you I have been blessed to work with in bringing into action God’s Word. Changing from one assignment to another is part of the religious missionary life, especially when you are young; it’s all part of a big and definite YES I gave to God when I entered the seminary in 1988. So the idea of collecting signatures to keep a friar longer doesn’t work with us, and for me to approve of this would be contradicting my willingness to obey God through the obedience I’ve offered to my superiors. So hopefully you will be able to make it to the farewell Holy Mass and potluck gathering on Sunday July 8th at 12. Hopefully it will also be a welcoming celebration for our new pastor which I will tell you more about in the near future as soon as we get the official recognition form our Bishop. As you know, my family lives in El Paso so it won’t be a “forever farewell”, I will do my best to come by and say hi. May God give us all the wisdom and strength as we remember that it is Christ whom we follow. Whoever the priest is serving at our parish, Christ will always be the center of our lives: He will continue speaking to us through His Word, and feeding our body and soul with His Body and Blood in each Holy Mass we participate in. Amen.

https://www.facebook.com/GodSciencesite/videos/2275182045827015/

Happy Father's Day! Remember dads, that you are the pastors of your home; may God inspire you with wisdom to be a true example to your children, not only buying them stuff but being there for them, affectionate, open to dialogue, and -above all- being a living example of the husband you wish for your daughters, and a husband desired to be imitated by your sons. Congrats on this your day!, may our Good Heavenly Father bless you now and always.

This year the diocesan Eucharistic Congress will be in Las Cruces on Saturday 4th of August. We present the day’s program here. If you’re interested, please register at the parish office. Catechists register with REP coordinators.