Brothers and Sisters in Christ –
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s devoid of the stress that comes with purchasing presents. You’re not accosted with decorated stores months in advance luring you into buying everything imaginable.
For me, Thanksgiving is about gratitude, warm memories, and good food. As a child, I always went to morning Mass with my grandfather. The Mass was always for the living and deceased members of the Holy Name Society, and he was a member. We’d sit in the pew, pray together, and then head back home where my grandmother was putting together the feast that would fill the table. It was time with my grandfather that I looked forward to every year. I spent special time with the man I was named after. I loved my grandfather. I cherished our Thanksgiving Day routine.
It's very easy, and all too common, for us to rattle off our disappointments, complaints, and the like. However, it’s important to take the time each day to acknowledge our blessings. I do it every night as my last prayer of the day. I hope that your families pray together before you partake of the Thanksgiving meal. And I hope that part of that prayer is sharing what you're grateful for and thanking God for those blessings. If not, that’s a wonderful practice to begin.
We have much to thank God for as a parish. From the ministries that take place at St. A’s, to the blessing of each other and all that we bring to the community, God is alive in this place. As I celebrate Mass on Thanksgiving Day, I will pray for all of you. I thank God for being a part of this parish family and the ways that you’ve touched my life in the few months that I’ve been here.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember that:
“Thanksgiving is
a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider,
whose guidance and care go before us...
and whose love is with us forever.
Thanksgiving is
a time to reflect on the changes,
to remember that we, too, grow and change
from one season of life to another.
Thanksgiving is
a time of changing seasons when leaves turn golden
in Autumn's wake and apples are crisp
in the first chill breezes of fall.
Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
As we see the beauty of Autumn,
let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours...
let us think of our families and friends...
and let us give thanks in our hearts.” (Anonymous)
A few announcements:
This Weekend … The Catholic Campaign for Human Development National Collection will be our second collection.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. You are essential to its success. Mark this World Day of the Poor (Nov. 19) with your generous donations that will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes.
Together, we can make a difference in families and communities across the United States. Please donate prayerfully and generously to our second collection. Thank you.
Thanksgiving … We gather in prayer on Thursday, November 23 at 9:30 a.m. for our parish Mass thanking God for the blessings of this year, our family, friends, parish community, and our country.
Safe travels to all who will be hitting the roads, rail, and air in the days ahead!
Looking Ahead …
On Thursday, December 7 we celebrate the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation, Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m.
On Sunday, December 24 we will only have one Mass at 10:30 a.m. for the 4th Sunday of Advent.
Our Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The 4:00 Mass will have the Children’s Pageant and the Gospel Choir will sing at the 9:00 Mass.
On Christmas Day, Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m.
Parish Pastoral Council Nominees … a short introduction. You will be asked to select FOUR before Mass this weekend. A big THANK YOU to each parishioner who has put their name up for consideration.
Tina Jones is a married (Nick) mother of two (Jonathon & Gabriell). She has attended St. Augustine’s for 28 years and has been a member for 26 years. Tina’s a soloist in the gospel choir and a member of the Tolton Ambassadors of Indiana. She’s a "coffee &" volunteer and is willing to help wherever needed. Tina works at Flagstar Bank on Western Ave as a Relationship Banker. She’s been in banking for 19 years. Prior to that Tina managed a retail store for 13 years. She has no extended family in the area, so considers St. A's members as her family.
Jillian Snyder has been a member of St. Augustine's since 2013. She is a regular attendee at the 8:15am Mass where she serves as a lector. Jillian has also volunteered at the Friday soup kitchen since 2016. Outside of St. Augustine's, she is the Assistant Director of Notre Dame's Glynn Family Honors Program where she is also a teaching professor. Jillian is married to Micah Towery. Together, they have two sons: Jem (3 years) and Francis (6 months) along with a dog named Meatball.
John Houk is an 85-year-old retired civil engineer, who worked for 50 years in the transportation world of roads, bridges, airports, and pipelines. In retirement he worked on small building projects and building maintenance for the Catholic Church. John enjoys living by a pond, walking in the woods, and writing stories with his wife, Joan. A member of St. Augustine Church for 7 years, he is especially attracted to St. Augustine’s welcoming atmosphere.
Jessie Johnson has been a member at St Augustine’s for 28 years. She worked in the Soup Kitchen early Mondays during COVID for over 18 months. Jessie is retired.
Sally Dunn grew up in South Bend and attended Christ the King School and St. Joseph High School. She continued her education at Indiana University. Sally was married to an Air Force pilot, had a son, Lee and daughter, Jennifer. After moving 11 times, the last assignment was 4 years in Hawaii, Sally moved back to South Bend in 1989. She discovered St. Augustine’s and joined the parish. Sally, along with her sister, Mary Ann Powell, volunteered at the Monday morning Soup Kitchen. They worked with Jesse Johnson and have become good friends. Sally served on the Parish Council at the Catholic Church on Charleston Air Force Base. She was a substitute teacher at St. Joseph High School for nine years and then sold Villa homes for six years before retiring.
Denisa Lynk is a long-time St. Augustine parishioner. Her family joined St. A’s when she was 8 years old. Denisa was baptized here and remembers when the altar was in front of the choir and there was a choir loft in, what was then, the back of the church.
Denisa grew up in this neighborhood. She went to Linden and St. Stanislaus grade schools, St. Joseph High School and graduated from St. Mary’s College.
She is an “8:15er” but is often here after the 10:30ish Mass to help with various parish organizations and events. Some of which include: The Tolton Society and St. Vincent DePaul; "Coffee, and…"; funerals; our Mardi Gras celebration; the Christmas Party; and the parish picnic.
St. Augustine, pray for us!
Fr. John, C.S.C.
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