Happy Thanksgiving!
Today's Mass is at 10am
Our Eucharistic Vocation
Although Thanksgiving is a national holiday, its celebration can certainly be enhanced because it echoes the basic orientation of our Christian faith. As St. Paul so eloquently reminded the bickering Corinthian community, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?" (1 Cor 4:7). We might say then that this attitude of gratitude is deeply rooted in our Christian DNA and consequently is naturally expressed in our central defining ritual as Christians - the eucharist, which is the Greek word for Thanksgiving.
Every time we celebrate the eucharist, we remind ourselves that all we have and all we are comes from God. As the priest prays at Mass, "It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ...". So as we celebrate this Thanksgiving day, we not only thank God for the abundance of goods and freedoms we share as citizens, but also for the gift of God's abiding presence in our lives through the risen Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify our world.
The Roots of our Thanksgiving Holiday
The United States celebrates the agricultural harvest and other blessings of our life with an annual fall holiday, which is not only a festive celebration, but a time to recall our responsibilities as stewards as well. George Washington declared the first national day of Thanksgiving in 1789. In 1939 Congress fixed the date of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in Novem
ber.
Thanksgiving was the first holiday celebrated by the Puritan settlers of Massachusetts. The winter of 1620 had devastated the Puritans' colony with famine and disease. Help from the Native Americans and a good growing season resulted in a generous harvest in 1621, an event the colony celebrated by proclaiming a public day of thanksgiving. The three-day celebration, held after the harvest, combined two aspects of similar celebrations from England and Europe, a harvest festival and a public thanksgiving for a specific occasion of deliverance. Their celebration included common harvest festival traditions such as prayer, feasting and games. Even our contemporary celebration of Thanksgiving includes these traditions, though the games are now more watched rather than played!
Thanksgiving Proclamation, Nov. 5, 1963
"Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together, and for the faith which united them with their God."
- President John F. Kennedy
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Important Upcoming Dates!
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Dec 01 - Youth Group, 6p
Dec 01 - Advent Wreath Making, 6p
Dec 02 - PPC Meeting, 7p
Dec 03 - Religious Ed, 6p
Dec 03 - SPRED, 6:30p
Dec 03 - Nativity Nights, 7p
Dec 05 - Alpha, 6:30p
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Our Christmas Tree Lot opens in the Community Park tomorrow, Friday, Nov 29th
Lot hours are:
M-F 11a-8p
Sa-Su 9a-8p
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You can still sign up to make your family's Advent Wreath with us on Sunday, Dec 1st at 6pm in the gym.
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Nominate a worthy Catholic organization that serves the poor or under served members of our community. Deadline is Sunday, Dec 1st.
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As you prepare for the coming of Jesus, please consider joining us for Nativity Nights: Eucharistic Adoration between 7 and 9 pm in the church on Tuesdays, December 3rd, 10th and 17th. Candlelight and music will accompany, and reconciliation will be available.
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Sunday, Dec 8th from 8:30am-12:30p.
Purchase tickets and sponsorships
Here.
Santa is also looking for a few more elves, so please consider volunteering for a few hours to help spread the joy!
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Brighten someone's holiday - the Christmas Giving Tree goes up tomorrow in the back of the church. Donations accepted through
Tuesday, Dec 10th.
Interested in being part of the Giving Tree Committee? If you would like to be a part of this ministry, contact Kelly Smith
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Our next gathering is this
Saturday, Dec 14th
9a-11:30a in the Red Door Room for book discussion
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Tot's Playgroup
on Hiatus
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Our Tot's Playgroup is currently on hiatus and in need of a child-loving mom or dad to lead this group of infants, preschoolers and their caregivers for an hour of fun on Tuesday mornings. Do you love little ones? Contact the parish office!
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Saturday, Feb 22nd, 2020
7pm-midnight
Rockwell on the River
3057 N. Rockwell
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Minted
Greeting Cards & Photo Gifts
It's time to order those holiday cards! From Nov 1-Dec 31, SAVE 20%, PLUS minted will donate 15% to SJS. Go to minted.com and type in promo code: FUNDRAISEJOSAPHAT at checkout!
Mabel's Labels
Address Labels & Stamps
Purchase Holiday return address labels or stamps, gift tags, stocking stuffers, and more!
Plus 20% of all proceeds will go back to SJS.
and type in St Josaphat School (Chicago)
Ashland Addison
Recycle your floral vases - bring them to
Ashland Addison Florist Co.
for a donation to St. Josaphat!
Amazon
Shop smile.amazon.com and select St. Josaphat Parish as your charitable organization, and St. Josaphat gets
5% on eligible items!
Shutterfly
Shop and St. Josaphat gets 13%!
Thank you for your support!
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