Vol. 2, No. 44 Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019

                          
Please note: The Diocese of Tucson offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving, and also will be closed on Friday, Nov. 29.  The offices will reopen as usual on Monday, Dec. 2
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope all of us are planning a grand Thanksgiving filled with the love and laughter with our family and friends.  I also hope you will consider attending Mass on this day that we gather to remember the goodness God has provided us with throughout the year.
Thankfulness is a key component of recognizing how  compassionate, giving and loving our Lord has been for us, as well as for those around us. Think about the time between last Thanksgiving and this year’s feast.  How many times were you grateful for the presence of God in your life?  How many times did you find yourself receiving friendship and care from someone you know without having to ask for that care?  I hope that realization came to you many times.
How blessed we are as children of God.
This year, I encourage everyone to keep God close to your heart.  Not just on Thanksgiving, but all the time. Remember to look for His blessings in the actions of others and try also to have your actions be seen as blessings by others. We are communal.  We need each other.  We always should feel called to help others to put an end to hunger, poverty and loneliness.
I pray that all will have safe travels, happy moments and serenity this Thanksgiving. I will prayer for all of you and for peace and compassion in our world.
Here is a prayer that you may find useful to say before your meal:
 
Father in Heaven, Creator of all,
and source of all goodness and love,
please look kindly upon us
and receive our heartfelt gratitude
in this time of giving thanks.
 
Thank you for all the graces and blessings
You have bestowed upon us,
spiritual and temporal:
our faith and religious heritage,
our food and shelter, our health,
the love we have for one another,
our family and friends.
 
Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity,
please grant us continued graces
and blessing throughout the coming year.
 
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Taken from https://www.getfed.com/prayer-thanksgiving-gratitude-5934
 
Advent begins
Sunday, Dec. 1 is the first Sunday of Advent.  At our Pastoral Center, we will begin Advent on Monday, setting up the Advent wreath.  We also will be using the book, “Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas,” with scriptural interpretations, meditations and prayers by Daniel G. Groody.  His reflection for Sunday is based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, and Matthew 24: 37-44. The scripture phrase to ponder is “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain,” and he adds that the spiritual journey is like an ascent of the Lord’s mountain.
In his reflection he writes, “Advent calls us to step away from the business of the world, to repattern the way we think about our lives in order to attain new heights in our walk with the Lord . . . The kingdom is not about war, violence, or hatred, but a way of faith, love, hope, trust and peacemaking.”
Many of our parishes provide Advent guides with similar reflections and meditations.  It is good reading, and surely will bring Christ closer to you.
 
 
 
Upcoming
Another reminder to consider attending the upcoming Christmas at the Cathedral concert.  The details are in the flyer below. Tickets are available online or at the Pastoral Center at Cathedral Square, 192 S. Stone Ave., Building #2.

 
Southwest Liturgical Conference
Study Week
Registration now open for the 58th Annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week.
Our diocese is privileged to co-host the Study Week with the SWLC Board of Directors. The theme of the week is ”Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”
Study Week 2020 takes place Jan. 15-18 at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park, Tucson.
There will be six general session speakers and more than 30 workshop sessions over the three days. Bilingual workshops, workshops for RCIA Teams, and presentations on liturgical ministry, liturgical arts, music showcases and many more will be presented.
The cost is $150 (before Dec. 31) or $100/day. Diocesan certification (Level I in English and Spanish) will be available. Go to  www.swlc.org to register online. For more information, contact our Office of Formation, 520-838-2545 or [email protected].
You can see a video from our diocese inviting people to the Liturgical Conference on our diocesan YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6Dq0tT69rY&t=104s