New Mexico History: The People of New Mexico Who Explored the Famous Shroud of Turin

What: "New Mexico History presentation: The People of New Mexico Who Explored the Famous Shroud of Turin" on the 35th Anniversary of their expedition. (The largest scientific expedition ever launched to study a single artifact, the mysterious Shroud of Turin. It launched from New Mexico in 1977!)

Who: Barrie Schwortz, world famous photographer, video producer, delightful speaker, and official documentarian of the "Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP)" scientific expedition in 1978.

When: Memorial Day Weekend 2012: Saturday May 26, 2012, 2 p.m. (mst), repeating at 7 p.m. (mst) and on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 2 p.m.. Additional venues and live video streaming events to be announced at www.ShroudNM.com.

Where: Shroud Exhibit And Museum, 3199 N White Sands Blvd, Suite D-l, Alamogordo, NM, Museum Phone: 575-446-2113. (Features the unique interactive 3D instrumentation used to discover the Shroud's 3D properties.)

Tickets: $5 each. Limited seating, first come first served. Buy tickets at the museum or on-line at www.ShroudNM.com.

US bishops offer prayers for workers, families on May 1 holiday

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) -- A group of U.S. bishops began their "ad limina" visits to Rome praying for workers and for families.

The bishops of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming concelebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Mary Major May 1, marking the beginning of the month traditionally devoted to Mary, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the Worker's Day public holiday in Italy and many other countries.

Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, N.M., the main celebrant and homilist at the Mass, said that on the holiday, "our thoughts turn to workers everywhere. We should pray for workers today, especially those who are having a difficult time in their job, for those who are not paid a just wage or a living wage, for those single moms who try to raise their children" by working both outside and inside the home.

The bishop also prayed for those who work "in sweatshops, who are paid just a pittance, who may be working standing, maybe for 18 hours a day."

In many parts of the world, he said, it is a terrible time when "people work so hard for so little and they suffer so many injustices. So we pray for them and their families."

Focusing first on Mary and Joseph, Bishop Ramirez praised their role as parents "who welcomed Jesus into the world and taught him good manners and taught him how to be a good Jewish boy."

The bishop said the virtue he admired most in Mary and Joseph is meekness.

"Meekness is not a weakness," he said. Rather, "it connotes strength and courage because it has to do with surrendering to the will of God."

Bishop Ramirez said he's sure there never has been a household as peaceful as the Holy Family's because "there is a serenity connected to surrendering to God's will."

The 10 bishops at the Mass were the 13th group of U.S. bishops to come to Rome since November to make their "ad limina" visits, which the heads of dioceses are required to make periodically to report on the status of their dioceses. The visits include celebrating Mass at St. Peter's and the major basilicas of Rome, meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and holding discussions with officials from Vatican congregations and councils.

Ah, spring! This is the time of year that, at least in the southwest, green shoots resurrect themselves from a dormant desert landscape and farmers prepare their fields for the planting of crops. These are signs of new life – but not just new biological life. For Christians, this post-Easter period is a time for each of us to “resurrect” from the routine of sometimes mind-numbing academic studies and other exercises that prepare us for tomorrow’s challenges. READ FULL TEXT...

YOUTH RALLY 2012!!

United in Ministry 2012
"Grateful Hearts"

United in Ministry 2012
"Grateful Hearts"

Interview with Bishop Ricardo Ramírez

AV: Welcome, Bishop. We thank you for this time with you. It is our hope that Agua Viva (AV) will ask you the questions that the people of the diocese would like to ask.

Bishop Ramírez: Thank you for this interview, which provides the opportunity to talk about the “Grateful Hearts” United in Ministry’s 2012 campaign.

READ FULL INTERVIEW