Happy belated Thanksgiving! Full disclosure, I’m still getting used to how time works when it comes to early bulletin deadlines—I wrote this one before the holiday, but realized that you will be reading it at a post-food coma date!
 
Thanksgiving might just be my favorite day of the year. Believe it or not, even as a priest (if we momentarily set aside theological significance) there’s just no holiday I look forward to more than Thanksgiving. I grew up with such rich memories of this day: a crackling fire in the fireplace, watching the Detroit Lions doing what they do best (heroically losing), backyard football with the cousins, turkey, pie, stuffing (the GOAT of side dishes), and of course, the non-negotiable post-meal nap. Plus—just being honest—it’s the rare major holiday that doesn’t require more work for us priests! So, yes, Thanksgiving has held the #1 ranking for quite some time in my book.
 
But beneath the mashed potatoes and Macy’s parade balloons lies something profoundly Christian: gratitude. It is not just good manners, nor is it Hallmark-card positivity. Gratitude is one of the most foundational practices of the spiritual life. How easy it is for us to mentally orbit around the things that are wrong with the world: stress, problems, disappointments, unanswered prayers, unrealized hopes—and as a result, we can too easily forget how blessed we actually are…every single day!
 
Here’s the simple truth: the grateful person is the joyful person. Not the person with the easiest life. Not the wealthiest or most successful. Gratitude is not a personality type — it’s a chosen lens.
And our gratitude isn’t generic or vague. It’s not optimism floating in the universe. Gratitude has a recipient: God, the giver of all that is good.
 
Fun fact: Did you know that the word Eucharist literally comes from the Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”? Every time we come to Mass, every time we approach the altar, we are stepping into the deepest, truest act of thanksgiving on earth. Even if life feels heavy… even if we’re carrying grief, stress, uncertainty, or exhaustion… we receive Jesus — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — offered and given for us. And that alone is enough to ignite gratitude.
 
St. Paul tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:18). The saints understood this better than anyone — there are no ungrateful saints. Zero. The path to holiness is first paved with “Thank You, Lord.”
 
Here are a few saintly reminders worth taping to the fridge, setting as a phone wallpaper, or memorizing while the pumpkin pie is baking:

• St. Teresa of Avila: “In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.”
• St. Ambrose: “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”
• St. Teresa of Calcutta: “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”
• St. John Paul II: “Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.”
• St. Therese of Lisieux: “Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.”
• Blessed Solanus Casey: “Thank God ahead of time.”
• St. Augustine: “Ingratitude is the mother of all vices.”

 
So here’s my invitation: this holiday season, pick one quote that resonates, adopt it as your mantra, and let it shape your outlook. Let a moment at Mass, a laugh with family, a quiet drive home, or even that perfect bite of pecan pie become a holy moment of gratitude. Gratitude is not about having everything, but about recognizing that in Christ, we lack nothing that truly matters. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!

Fr. Mike
Parochial Administrator 

Our Wednesday Mass time has changed from 8:00 AM to 5:15 PM, with confessions offered in the Adoration Chapel starting at 4:45 PM. 

We have been considering offering an evening Mass for some time and are excited to offer an opportunity for people to come to a daily Mass who currently cannot make the morning option work. This will also allow for opportunities for our Faith Formation participants to attend Mass before programs begin on Wednesday nights.

Mass at 8:00 AM will continue to be offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, with confessions offered in the Adoration Chapel at 7:30 AM.

Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Sunday, December 7 from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
*Crafters are only here on Saturday.

Make SVDP Christmas Bazaar your holiday destination! 
Bring your family and friends and enjoy! 

Click Here for more information on the Bazaar. 

Volunteer for the Christmas Bazaar

Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 PM in Regan Hall starting Oct. 7

Register Here or contact Clare Catton at 763-762-7405 or [email protected].

OCIA, which stands for the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (previously called RCIA) is an extended period of evangelization (developing a relationship with Jesus Christ), catechesis (instruction in the faith), and spiritual formation (deepening in faith) in the Roman Catholic Church.

Although it is primarily the process by which people become full members in the Roman Catholic Church, OCIA welcomes serious inquirers at all levels of knowledge, faith, and intent—in other words, you do not need to feel like you're ready to become Catholic before you begin OCIA. Ultimately, though, the process culminates in the reception of one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, and full membership in the Catholic Church. The formal OCIA process begins in early October and ends a couple of weeks after Easter.

For instruction, we will be following two video series by the Augustine Institute, “The Search” with Chris Stefanick and “Symbolon: The Faith of the Church.” Our Tuesday night sessions are open to all parishioners to attend and deepen their faith as we are all in the lifelong process of conversion.

Please know that we welcome new adorers to take open hours! Click here to sign-up as an adorer or substitute adorer.

Adoration Sign-up