November 23, 2025
Thanksgiving is here. We will soon smell the turkey roasting and hear the laughter of family and friends gathered around the table. I hope your day will be filled with gratitude, prayer, and a good appetite!
Each year at this time, I think of my parents. My dad worked two jobs. My mom was always busy with the parish Ladies of St. Anne. They didn’t have much, but they gave thanks for everything. They had a deep faith that God would provide — and He always did.
Gratitude is a powerful thing. It helps us remember where our blessings come from. Even the challenges in life can bring grace, if we see them through the eyes of faith. Saint Paul reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This year, I have much to be thankful for. Earlier in the year, I faced an illness that reminded me how fragile and precious life is. Through your prayers, encouragement, and God’s mercy, I have regained my strength. I am deeply grateful for each new day the Lord gives.
I am especially thankful for the Oblates with whom I minister here at the Shrine. Their dedication, selflessness, and quiet faith have inspired me deeply. While I was in the hospital, they continued to minister to everyone with such care — celebrating Masses, hearing confessions, anointing the sick, and welcoming all who came through our doors. Their example of service and fraternity is a true gift, and I thank God for them every day.
I am also grateful for this Jubilee Year of the Church, and all of the “Pilgrims of Hope” who came to the Shrine. What a blessing it has been for the Shrine to serve as a pilgrimage site during this holy year, welcoming so many who came seeking renewal and peace. Each pilgrim brought a story, a prayer, a moment of grace — and we were privileged to walk with them, even for a short time, on their journey of faith.
At the Shrine, we have so much to be thankful for — your presence, your prayers, your generosity. Every candle lit, every confession heard, every quiet moment of prayer reminds me of how blessed we are as a community. You make this Shrine what it is — a place of peace and hope in the heart of Lowell.
May this Thanksgiving be a time of rest, joy, and renewal for you and your loved ones. And may we never tire of saying together: Thanks be to God!
I remember you at Mass!
