FROM PASTOR’S COLUMN: FR. JUSTUS ALAETO 

Thanksgiving Blessings to you and all families!

We have many things to thank God for. No doubt sometimes life seems challenging and at other times it appears good, they are all part of life. Our forefathers and mothers who founded this nation struggled as well, but through faith and perseverance in God, it turned out as freedom and thanksgiving. We are now continuing to keep the pace of that tradition of thanksgiving which reminds us the need not just to ask but to give thanks to God and keep trusting in Him. The official motto of this Blessed Country, the United States of America, is: “In God We Trust.”

Whenever we reflect on those words, “In God We Trust”, our spirit is immediately lifted high towards hope and trust in the Lord, no matter the challenges of life. There is no doubt such might be the spirituality that kept our forefathers and mothers moving, especially in difficult times, until their spiritual perseverance bore fruit and joy eventually. They celebrated thanksgiving as a precious family and it was a practical way of expressing deep gratitude to God. Remembering to give thanks to the Lord is a remarkable way of regaining trust and confidence in the love and power of God who will never neglect those who trusted in Him till the end. Most of all, thanksgiving is calling us to be in communion with God and families.

We thank Him for the gifts of the Most Holy Eucharist which is the gift of Jesus the Savior in our midst, the God with us (Emmanuel), whom we are preparing to celebrate at Christmas.

Just as it was announced last weekend, our devoted and loving family of Star of the Sea Brookings and St. Charles Gold Beach are setting aside every “First Friday" and "First Saturday" of each Month” to deepen our relationship with Jesus the Savior in prayer of Adoration, asking Him to continue to purify us, presenting our needs and petitions to Him, and receiving His Blessings in the sprinkling of Holy Water, and the Healing Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our start date is from first Friday and Saturday of December (December 7^th and 8^th). We are blessed to know that our concluding morning Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for that program at this beginning falls on “Immaculate Conception Day”, a Holy Day of Obligation. How Blessed are we!