The friars wish all of you a holy and blessed Thanksgiving, and safe travel for those of you who will be on the road. If you are spending Thanksgiving here, please join us on Thursday morning at 9:00 am for Mass. Weather permitting, I plan on visiting family, either in Indianapolis or South Bend.
A heartfelt thanks goes out to the many volunteers who donated to the Franciscan Outreach on behalf of our Thanksgiving Dinner program. Over 350 area families will be able to enjoy their holiday due to your generosity. A special appreciation for those who will help distribute this food on Monday and Tuesday, which is a monumental task in itself.
Next week is the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new cycle of worship. We will be hearing from the gospel of Matthew on most Sundays for the next twelve months. On December 8 we begin the Holy Year of Mercy. We are planning a special bulletin column which will feature reflections by parishioners on their experience of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. There will be more details in next week's bulletin.
Here is a listing of the works of mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy: Counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offenses, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and the dead.
Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead.