With sincere gratitude
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope you have a very blessed and safe day. As we have this day where we pause nationally to take stock of our lives and give thanks for our blessings, may you feel the warmth of God’s love, and thank you for the gift you are to me! I feel very blessed. You are very generous, thoughtful and hospitable. You are people of deep faith and you are so down to earth. Plus, you put up with my goofy sense of humor. Let’s keep in our prayers today families going through this day and the holiday season for the first time without a loved one. Also, let’s keep in prayer those in isolation due to COVID-19. These days are meant to be with family and dear friends, but the restrictions have led to scaled-down celebrations. I think that during these trying times, we do recognize that we are blessed and we are sincerely grateful to God.
In other news, some have asked me about the vaccines for COVID-19 that are coming out, and what’s in them. In response to some of these questions, I received an email from Fr. Joe Koopman. Fr. Koopman is a brilliant moral theologian and teaches at Saint Mary Seminary. This is what he said:
“At this point, it appears as if the vaccine created by Pfizer/Biontech, along with the vaccine created by Moderna, have not been created using material of illicit origin (i.e., embryonic stem cells and/or the tissue of aborted children.)
For Catholics, this is great news. Theologically speaking, there are no moral or religious grounds that would restrict the consciences of Catholics from receiving these vaccines.”
Please know the Diocese will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they are available relative to this important issue. So, if I receive any additional information from the Diocese, I will make the material available to you. Enjoy the day! Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal. Take a nice nap and stay safe! God bless!
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Breck
Pastor, St. Mary Magdalene
