From the Desk of Father Jason - November 23, 2025

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

Turkey. Stuffing. Mashed Potatoes. For younger me, Thanksgiving Day was all about food. In fact, at that time, I more commonly called it Turkey Day.

Now, I appreciate Thanksgiving Day for what it is really all about, thanking God for what we have and who we are. God is very good.

I thank God as a human being. One of the important things we have to remember is that we do not have to be here. We did not make ourselves. Ultimately, it is through God that we have come into existence. Life is a gift given to us by God that must be guarded in ourselves and in others. Thank God for being created.

I thank God as a Christian. We all face death. Without faith, this is a dark and frightening future. But we have faith. We know that after sin and death captured us in Original Sin, God laid a plan to save us. Jesus Christ, God Himself, became a human being and died on the Cross. On the Cross, He defeated sin and death. Thank God for being rescued.

I thank God as an American. Many places in the world are difficult to live in. War, hunger, and other problems are more the rule than the exception. But we live in America. While it is not perfect, we tend to have more than we can reasonably expect. Thank God for His provision.

Each day we should be thanking God in our personal prayer. It is not only fitting to thank God daily, but really an act of justice toward Him.

The Holy Mass is the supreme act of thanksgiving. In it, Jesus is the true priest and sacrifice. I invite you and your families to take part in our Thanksgiving Day Mass on November 27 at 7:30 am. It would be a great way to show our thanks to God for this past year.

It is Thanksgiving Day, not Turkey Day!

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason