Perhaps I should avoid the cliché “I can’t believe that it’s Thanksgiving” already but …
This Sunday Paul Remick, who is in his second year of the five–year permanent diaconate program, will receive the Rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders from Bishop O’Connell. The Mass (which I will be attending) is at St. Joseph Church in Toms River at 10:30 a.m. Many of the older parishioners will remember when seminarians received what were called the Minor Orders in preparation for priesthood ordination. Those orders were suppressed in the revisions after Vatican II but were replaced with the Order of Lector and Acolyte. Effectively the former rite of Tonsure was replaced with Candidacy. It is the formal and public statement by the bishop and the candidate that he is prepared to move forward with his formation towards Holy Orders. In our permanent diaconate formation program this is conferred in the middle of the second year. For seminarians this occurs during the first year of Theology (although this is changed, and both Father JM and I received Candidacy six months before ordination as deacons). In fact, when the bishop comes to celebrate Mass with the seminarians here on December 16th one of the seminarians will receive Candidacy that evening. While we pray for vocations to the priesthood and for our seminarians, we want to also remember Paul and his fellow candidates for diaconate in our prayers.
Also this weekend we are installing our newest group of Altar Servers. It is a great testimony to both our families and our school that so many of our youth continue to desire to serve the parish community as altar servers. Of course, we are always open to new individuals from sixth grade to the sixties (and beyond) who would want to serve as a Lector or as a screen operator. Just make contact with Eileen in the parish office to set a time for training and scheduling.
In spite of the various hardships, struggles, pain, tragedies, and challenges that come into our lives we all have much to be grateful for each and every day. As Catholics we celebrate Thanksgiving every day in the Eucharist (which as we all know means thanksgiving). Yet, this Thursday we will all gather with families and friends to celebrate the national day of Thanksgiving. Allow that time to be one of more than feasting, frivolity, and football. Please allow time for prayer and real thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father. Consider attending one of our Thanksgiving Masses. We will celebrate a Mass on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m., and the regular Thursday morning Mass at 9:00 a.m. We ask that each person bring one canned or boxed good for the offering. The food will be given to the food pantry.
This time of the year we are especially sensitive to the needs of the poor and those who are struggling. The annual coat drive sponsored by the youth group last weekend was very successful. Thank you again for your support of that project. In the next few weeks the narthex of the church will be filled with opportunities for giving to specific needs and projects. We are a very generous parish and I hope that this season will again demonstrate our commitment to exercising the charity and the corporal works of mercy.
On behalf of Father JM and our deacons and parish staff, allow me to extend best wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving to you and your families wherever they may be.