In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving day this year on Monday, October 8th. Most people plan get-togethers on this week-end with family and friends. It is important to thank people who care for us, assist us and support us. Speaking words of gratitude to each other and showing it by our actions deepens and strengthens our relationships.
On the spiritual level, being grateful and thankful to God is very important.
Psalm 92 says “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, always and for everything.” St. Vincent de Paul often said “The grateful heart doesn’t want for anything because you cannot be both grateful and unhappy at the same time.”
On this Thanksgiving weekend, let us rightly give thanks to God for the blessings He gives us: family, material goods, our Catholic faith and parish, health, our citizenship, the forgiveness of sins and other graces from God. The Eucharist is the greatest prayer of thanksgiving – we give thanks to the Lord at Mass for all He has done for us especially His saving death and resurrection.
May we also resolve to be even more committed to show our gratitude to God by sharing our blessings with other people. The 2018 Project Advance appeal is an excellent way for us as members of the Archdiocese to share God’s gifts to us with others who have real needs. Our Cathedral parish benefits as well through the rebate program which returns offerings to Holy Rosary once our share of the Archdiocesan program is covered.
If you have participated already this year in the Project Advance appeal – thank you! If you have not so far, we plan to send you a letter soon inviting you to make a sacrificial offering to Project Advance. When you receive it please prayerfully consider your participation.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving weekend …
Fr. Galvon
A Thanksgiving Day Prayer
Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings. You have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.
Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessings throughout the coming year.
This we ask in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.
