Archbishop Sheehan's
Pastoral Letters & Messages

 

In the Risen Lord - Letters Published in People of God

  • 12.04.10 The Problem of Out of Wedlock Births The decline of marriage in our American society is our most ignored national crisis.  Recent studies have shown that more than half of births to mothers under age 30 now occur out of wedlock.  It seems as though we are casting aside the institution of marriage and with it the notion that children should be raised in stable two-parent families.  This is a social catastrophe. (from Time Magazine, March 5, 2012, article by Rich Lowry, page 13) More> En Español
  • Lenten Message from Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan: 40 Days and 40 Nights Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, and Easter Sunday is on April 8.  There are 40 days (and 40 nights) in Lent not counting the Sundays.  Lent is, for us Catholics, a very important period in which we prepare by abstaining from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent, fasting which is required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, special prayer and alms giving for the Resurrection of Jesus which we call to mind on Easter. More> En Español>
  • 11.12.09 Give the Gift of Life - Organ Transplants Life is the greatest gift of all and today it is a gift that can be shared through organ and tissue donations, people have the potential to reach out and do good in this world.  They can save the lives of those who would die without help.  They can give new hope to their families.  They can transform and improve lives like restoring sight, health and wholeness. More> En Español>
  • 11.11 A New Translation for Mass Beginning the First Sunday of Advent by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan: Some people wonder why we have a new translation. Was the translation that we have used since the 1960s flawed? And if so, why? The answer is that the English translation we have been using was indeed done rather quickly and the translation was in some ways loose and not literal enough for the Holy See. The decision was made by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome to have the new translation which would conform more to the original Latin version. More> En Español>
  • 11.10 November: It's Not Just for Eating Turkey! The month of November is usually associated with Thanksgiving Day in the United States and for most it means a meal with turkey.  It is always good for us to be thankful to God for the many blessings he gives us.  And it is always an appropriate holiday to spend with family.  English> Español>
  • 11.09 Parents You Promised (A letter on Confirmation) Every year, around this time I receive a few letters inquiring as to why, in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, children have to wait until they are in high school to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation while some neighboring dioceses grant the Sacrament in elementary years or younger. I am asked if I would consider changing the Confirmation age because it would be easier on the parents to ensure their children are confirmed. More> En Español >
  • 11.06 Solemnity of Corpus Christi This year the Solemnity of Corpus Christi will be celebrated on Sunday, June 26. This is often called Corpus Christi Sunday. It is the Feast to honor the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist – that is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Pope John XXII confirmed this feast by law and Pope Urban IV extended to the Universal Church. Tradition is that St. Thomas Aquinas is the author of the Office of this Feast although it cannot be confirmed. English> Español>

Letters

  • 12.02.23 Archbishop asks faithful to read and respond to Cardinal Timothy Dolan's letter regarding the HHS MAndate. More>
  • 12.02.18 Archbishop Sheehan responds to the accommodation to the original HHS Mandate. "It is not acceptable," says Archbishop. More>
  • 12.01.30 An alarming message from Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan regarding the Department of Health and Human Services and every employer being forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception...More>
  • 11.12.09 Pastoring a Multicultural Church - Keynote address presented to Creighton University, Omaha NE by Archbishop MIchael J. Sheehan More>
  • 11.10.14 Homily from the Red Mass by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza. More>
  • 11.08.15 Licenses for all Drivers (A letter from the NMCCB): We strongly support the positive impact that mmigrants have made in our state and nation while, at the same time, we recognize the right of our country to regulate its own borders and to control international immigration. Those controls, however, should be influenced by a sense of justice and mercy in light of the God-given right of people to migrate when faced with grave social or economic dangers. More> En Español>
  • 11.04.03 Cohabitation: We have three groups of people who are living contrary to the Gospel teaching on marriage: those who cohabit; those who have a merely civil union; and those who have a civil union who were married before. More>Cohabitation En Español>
  • 11.01.24 Death Penalty - A Bad Idea: Governor Susana Martinez has expressed her desire that the death penalty be reintroduced in the State of New Mexico for certain crimes. I believe that repealing the repeal of the death penalty would be a step backwards for our State. More>Death Penalty
  • 11.01.11 Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan's letter welcoming in the New Year
    English> Español>