Fr. Mike's Message - 11/22/2020

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, as different as it might be this year, I hope and pray that we enjoy this opportunity to give thanks for all the ways that God blesses us as individuals, as families, as a parish family, and as a community.  We are blessed to live in this area and to be a part of St. Francis Borgia Parish.  As we offer our prayers of thanks, let us pray for each other and especially those for whom this Thanksgiving will pose challenges because of missing a loved one, isolation, or illness.

We are excited to welcome Archbishop Rozanski next Sunday, November 29th at the 11:00 a.m. Mass as he visits our parish for the first time.  Along with paying us a visit, Archbishop Rozanski will formally install me as Pastor during Mass.  You are more than welcome to attend if possible.  We will also livestream the Mass on our FaceBook page so you can join us from home if you prefer, and we will have a video feed into the Choir Room and/or 3rd floor of Jesuit Hall as needs dictate.  Due to the pandemic, there will be no reception.  I know we share the same sentiment around this, but I can’t wait for the day when we will be able to resume social activities in person!  I’m excited to show Archbishop Rozanski what a great parish family we have here at SFB!

Our Christmas Outreach Program is starting this weekend.  The Giving Trees with the giving ornaments will be set up in the gathering space of Jesuit Hall and in the front of Church near the Children’s Chapel.  As we all know, this year has presented financial challenges for many people.  If you are able to donate, please take an ornament from one of the trees, purchase the item listed on the ornament, and return the unwrapped gift with the ornament attached by 11:00 a.m. on December 13th.  You can place the donated gifts in the bins located in the back of Church or leave them under one of the Giving Trees.  Once again, the gifts will go to help parish families who are in need, along with the Pregnancy Assistance Center, Loving Hearts and our SFB Food Pantry.  More details are in this bulletin. Thanks for any assistance you can give to help make someone’s Christmas special and possible! And thank you to Kathy Meyer for organizing the Giving Tree program for us!

I hope you have a great week ahead as we give thanks for the nation in which we live and for the many other ways that God blesses us.  Please consider joining together for Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:00 a.m.  Note, there will be no 7:00 a.m. Mass on Thanksgiving Day. Know of my gratitude for being called to serve as Pastor of this wonderful parish family.