Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. This celebration is a significant feast in the Catholic liturgical calendar. This solemnity is always celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the week before we begin the season of Advent. We celebrate Jesus Christ as the Lord of lords and the King of kings, Alpha and Omega, All Powerful and Almighty One, the Lord of our lives and the universe. But Our Lord is not an ordinary king.

Pope Francis once said: “The Christ of God, the Chosen One, the King appears without power or glory: he is on the cross, where he seems more to be conquered than conqueror…. his throne is the cross; his crown is made of thorns; he has no scepter, but a reed is put into his hand; he does not have luxurious clothing but is stripped of his tunic; he wears no shiny rings on his fingers, but his hands are pierced with nails; he has no treasure but is sold for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus’ reign is truly not of this world...”

Today and always and forever, we give thanks to Christ the King who, by His sacrifice, has opened for us the way to an intimate relationship with God. Through Him, with Him and in Him, we have become true adopted children who share in His kingship over the world. Our relationship to Our Lord invites us to have a deep gratitude. Thanksgiving Day most certainly includes giving thanks to God for His countless blessings in our life. We will have two morning Masses (6:30am and 8:30am) on Thanksgiving Day. There is no better way to give thanks to God who has given us everything.

I have so many reasons to be thankful to God for the wonderful people of St. Bernadette parish and St. John XXIII school. People continue to register as a parishioner and new parishioners are becoming more active members of our parish. Our school continues to flourish. More and more folks are realizing that we are all part of God’s family and we are called to be stewards of God’s many gifts. A few weeks ago, many of our parishioners came together to provide food for needy families through our St. Vincent de Paul Society. Our school Turkey Drive brings in hundreds of turkeys and canned food and Thanksgiving fixings for hundreds of families who would otherwise not have a Thanksgiving meal. It is so inspiring to see. Your generosity and thoughtfulness will make a beautiful difference to so many families. I am grateful for our incredible ministries that serve so many week after week. You make this parish a wonderful place to be. I am grateful to God for our loving and energetic staff who serve this parish so faithfully, often behind the scenes without ever complaining. They are truly a blessing. So, yes, we have so many reasons to be grateful to God who provides for all our needs. I offer this prayer for you to pray on Thanksgiving Day.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer
Father, all of Creation rightly owes you thanks and praise. Your justice, love and mercy abound. We thank you this day for all that you have given us: For the Passion and Death of your Divine Son, we thank you Father, through the Cross, He redeemed the world. For the Church, we thank you Father, it is our beacon for salvation. For the martyrs and saints who give testimony to your Son, we thank you Father, their witness to your Son is our inheritance. For our loved ones and friends who have died and gone before us, we thank you Father, their love remains with us forever. For loving spouses, we thank you Father, together we seek you. For the gift of children, we thank you Father, they are your precious gifts to us and to the world. For the gift of our families, loved ones and good friends, we thank you Father, for through them we see the reflection of your Son. For jobs, our homes and all that we have, we thank you Father, give us only that which we need, as we seek Your Kingdom. For the bounty we are about to eat, we thank you through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

If you are traveling for Thanksgiving, I pray for a safe journey and peaceful time with your loved ones.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline

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