I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP: 2023 AnnualCatholic Appeal
Parish goal for 2023 $45,500.00 Our Archbishop has reduced the goal for all parishes. If you need a pledge card or would like more information about this important fundraiser for the ministries of the Archdiocese, please contact the parish office. The pledge cards will go out soon!
T’is the time of the year again, for the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal campaign to start. All those who are registered at Queen of Heaven will receive an appeal letter in the mail shortly. This year’s motto is:
Rebuild my Church: A Future of Hope and Healing.
Yes, I suppose, there is a need to rebuild the church – after COVID, after the abuse and cover-up scandal, after, God willing, the settlement in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case has brought and will bring some healing and peace to survivors of abuse in the church. There indeed is a need for hope and healing…
There is first and foremost the need to ask the Lord to increase, to deepen, to strengthen our very own faith, our hope, and our love. There is also the need for us Catholics to realize that we ought to support our church: our parish and our archdiocese, that is.
Someone mentioned to me not too long ago that some of my predecessors as pastors here at Queen of Heaven parish had told parishioners they should not give any money to the church, because the church had enough money. May their souls rest in peace! I don’t want to begin to speculate how someone could make such claim – which would strangely echo what you can hear at times from people outside the Catholic church, that it was “filthy rich”. At least for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and for Queen of Heaven parish, this is at best bogus phantasy talk, bare any claim to the truth.
Here at Queen of Heaven, we can barely make it. Weekley collections to not really cover expenses... Certainly, we could perhaps try to safe some expenses here and there, but all in all, what we are spending right now in our regular budget, is what the parish needs… People have been generous in supporting the roof replacement and repair fund. Now we are raising more funds through the raffle. Please keep in mind that we had a lot of extraordinary expenses in recent years…
I would like to thank all those who have been supporting the parish and the 2022 ACA campaign. The parish received a refund check in the about of about $15,000 – a much needed relief for our parish’s budget. Some parishioners have been making sizeable donations. For some, even small amounts are a huge sacrifice. Whatever you can give before God is greatly appreciated. I believe that God sees our efforts. May the Lord God bless you and your generosity! I am at times tempted to say: May God bless you according to your generosity... But one ought to fight temptations, right? :)
May God bless you and keep you, your families and loved ones, upon the intercession of the Queen of Heaven!
Fr. Simeon
Thank you, and may God bless you, your families and loved ones for sharing of your time, talent & treasure!
The Angelus (“The Angel”)-prayer traditionally is said 3 times a day: morning, midday, and evening.
THE ANGELUS PRAYER V - The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R - And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Together: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V - Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. R - Be it done unto me according to thy word. Together: -Hail Mary... V - And the Word was made Flesh. (All bow/make the since of the cross...) R - And dwelt among us. Together: - Hail Mary... V - Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. R - That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: (Prayer leader, or: together) Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.