This coming Thursday we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is my prayer that all of us in our parish family will offer a continual prayer of gratitude to our loving and gracious God for all the blessings received throughout the year. The reasons for having grateful hearts should make up a long list: the gift of life; faith in a God who loves us and is very near to us; good health; loving family; caring friends; opportunities to serve our neighbor; food on our tables; clothes on our backs; roofs over our heads and many, many more… But gratitude is not something we are called to express only once a year, but every single day as we share generously our time, talent, and treasure. I hope that we will never tire of finding new reasons to thank God especially during our fervent celebration of the Eucharist. 

Yes, we have our times of doubt, our aches and pains, our family conflicts, our economic struggles, the loss of a loved one, problems of addiction and substance abuse, the pain of damaged or broken relationships, all the pandemic hardships… Yet, we can still find many reasons to be grateful to God. Saint Paul wrote: “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” (Philippians 4: 6) Truly, in all circumstances we can express our gratitude to our provident God who blesses us with many gifts and who gives us strength and bears us up amid any affliction. 

I myself, thank God for each and every one of you. I pray for you so that the Good Lord will bless you and your family this Thanksgiving. I pray that Jesus will be present in your hearts and your homes and that He will reward your faith and loyalty to Him and your abundant generosity to our parish. May you have safe journeys in your comings and your goings this holiday week! 

I invite you all to attend our Thanksgiving Day Mass on Thursday, November 28th at 9:00 a.m., to express our gratitude for the many gifts received from our God. 

God bless, 
Fr. Gregg