Thursday, November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving Day
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
On this Thanksgiving, a day traditionally rooted in our belief to gather with family and friends in sincere gratitude for God’s abundant blessings in our lives, we recommit ourselves to living each day with gratitude in our hearts.
What am I thankful for this year, and always? You! You, who are part of the family of God. Each of you is a gift to our local Church – the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. I am truly grateful to see God blessing our Diocese through each of you, our faithful laity, clergy and religious. Your support, cooperation, generosity, and steadfast devotion to the Church and its mission have all certainly been edifying.
I have a lot to be thankful this year! I would like to express my gratitude to those who helped in one way or another that made all our Diocesan events for our Eucharistic Revival and 40th Anniversary celebrations so overwhelmingly successful. I am humbled by the many parishioners, community members, and volunteers who actively participated from our opening Eucharistic Revival Mass last January, our monthly first Friday adoration of the Blessed Sacrament hosted by different parishes, our island-wide Corpus Christi procession, our high grosser golf tournament, our simultaneous Mass celebration, adoration and fellowship on November 8, our parish night of worship, music and joy, our parish clean-up, our 40 years of faithful 5K walkathon, our beautiful and informative exhibit, our Eucharistic Revival talk and our closing Mass with His Eminence, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
As we give thanks for our blessings, we must remember the One who blesses us. Don’t just thank Him for what he’s given you; thank Him for who He is. The purpose of all these earthly blessings is not that we become infatuated with the gift as an end to itself, but rather, to draw our eyes up to the Giver. I encourage you to spend time with our Lord in prayer and especially at Mass. Thank Him for the many blessings that you have received and also for the gift of the Eucharist. The word Eucharist means thanksgiving and we have no more perfect way to thank the Father than to join ourselves to Christ’s perfect act of praise and thanksgiving.
It is my joy and appreciation that I wish you and your families a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. And know that I am thankful for each and every one of you and will keep you in my prayers of gratitude to God.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
/s/ Very Reverend Charlie A. Borja
Apostolic Administrator
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa
