Though I was raised in a suburb of Chicago and have always known city life, for ten years I served as the pastor of what some aptly called a semi-rural parish in Indiana. We were close enough to benefit from the amenities of city life, but we were far enough away to enjoy the peace, beauty, and quiet of farm life. Before our eyes each year was the cycle of the four seasons: there was the planting, growing, and finally the harvest -- hopefully, in time for winter to set in. Driving around my parish I often praised God for the beauty of creation. I enjoyed the good people and the talk about their families, farms, and faith. It was often said that the three things that mattered most were Faith, Family, and Farm. One goal of some farmers was to make sure that the bulk of the crops were in by Thanksgiving. That was not always possible, and, of course, some farms followed a different agenda, but for those who grew corn that was a reasonable expectation. Thanksgiving Day took on a great sense of satisfaction when a farm family could look at the benefits of another growing season, and then gather with their families to celebrate the Lord’s blessings. Though some years were not as good as others, I remember well the humble sense of gratitude as we would gather for Holy Mass on Thanksgiving Day. Despite trials, there was the consensus that God had blessed us as in ways far too numerous to count. His greatest blessing, we knew was the gift of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Holy Mother, the Church. Thanksgiving was established as a day to give thanks to almighty God for His many blessings. Without this profound sense of thanksgiving to God we are greatly impoverished and adrift. Our forefathers intended Thanksgiving Day to be a special day for all Americans to turn to God in prayerful gratitude. This religious sense along with the freedom of religion should always be treasured in America. We fervently pray that our freedom to fully practice our Catholic faith, as it has been handed down to us, will always be respected by our government and fellow citizens. Our country is best served by patriots who continue to have a Biblical fear of the Lord and serve Him and neighbor in love. An authentic renewal of our country depends on a significant and thorough revival of our religious heritage. There is no other way. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones!
On Thanksgiving Day, we will have Mass at 9:00 a.m., NOT at 8:15 a.m.
Yours in the Good and Loving Lord, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor