Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It is a day when our secular world does for one day what we do every day around the Altar as Catholics – give thanks to God! Please join us for Mass on Thanksgiving at 9:00 a.m.

We often count all the things that we don’t have, comparing our lives to those around us who may seem to have more. As Christians and stewards of all that God has given to us, we are called to practice being grateful on a daily basis. This is why you hear me preach often about ‘stewardship’ in the parish, since a life of stewardship is rooted in being grateful…and then giving back to God and others… out of gratitude!

My deepest prayer of gratitude is for the privilege it is to serve you as a priest and pastor. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. My greatest joy of every week is to be with you around the Altar at the Eucharist. I am so very grateful for all the ways you show your support of our parish and me.

Since Thanksgiving makes us aware of the abundance in our life, we also remember in our prayers all who live with so little. Thanks to those of you who donate or help out at our local outreach services for those in need.

Each year at this time there is a special envelope in the monthly packet for the very important organization called Catholic Campaign for Human Development. While we are asked to donate for a lot of things, this collection is so critical for many areas that our Catholic Church, on a national level, directly offers programs that help the poor. Right here in our diocese we receive a good part of that collection to aid the needy in our own area. I trust you will do what you can to contribute to this very important cause in the envelope provided.

With sincere gratitude, Fr. Jim Deiters