This Thursday, as I am sure you all are aware, is Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful feast and always appropriate because we have much for which to be thankful. Gratitude is always in style!
Among the many things for which I am grateful are our parish and school. We have a long and venerable history, but we do not rest on our laurels. We live in an exciting, dynamic, growing and changing city. Our neighborhood in particular is changing right before our very eyes. What was is no longer. What is coming is only hazily visible in outline. We live in the midst of dramatic change, and the best we can do is hang on for the ride! It is both exhilarating and scary.
Through it all, I see our school and our parish remain focused on mission. More and bigger changes are coming, as the letter last week in the bulletin, from myself and parish/school leaders, indicated. Even this willingness to look forward with creativity, energy, and hope is a great reason to be thankful. The number of people working on the development project from our school and parish community, the depth of talent that has volunteered on this project, and the enormous number of hours spent working on making this happen is a bona fide reason for all in our parish and school to be grateful!
It will be sad to eventually say farewell to buildings and places that hold so many precious memories. There will be tears. Genuine gratitude does not let the fond memories of the past become chains to hold us back but rather sources of inspiration to achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.
I think the best way to spur us onward is to remain focused on mission. Let us be thankful for the mission we as a Catholic parish and school have received. Ultimately, this mission comes not from the Parish Council nor the School Board nor the Diocese nor any such body but directly from the Lord Jesus.
“Go therefore and make disciples all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28: 19-20
Happy Thanksgiving!
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