Thanksgiving: A Time for Serving and Sharing in Gratitude

This month, amid a time of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrate a day focused on gratitude. The national holiday of Thanksgiving is a day where religious and non-religious individuals all come together to be thankful.

Fr. Don Buhrman says, as Catholics, we celebrate thanksgiving each time we celebrate the Eucharist. In fact, “Eucharist” is the Greek word for “thank you.” Fr. Don urges us to carry our “attitude of gratitude” with us all year, constantly thanking God for all the gifts He has given us. We also can take the time to thank our family and friends for the ways they bless us.

“Much of the time, society and religion clash,” Fr. Don says. “Thanksgiving is a chance for religion and society to come together.”

Fr. Don urges parishioners, especially in these uncertain times, to lean into our faith and find ways to give back and get involved.

“There are a lot of ways to get involved like contributing to our parish, looking for ways to get involved as a good steward, and looking for what the needs of other people are and responding to those needs,” he says.

As Catholics, we are urged to give 10 percent of our treasure back to the Lord out of gratitude. Fr. Don also reminds parishioners that five percent of the weekly collection is given to the Outreach Department at our parish. Checks can also be added to the collection indicating on the memo they are meant for the Outreach Department. The Outreach Department works with social service organizations across Grand Island. There are also many ways to get involved with the Outreach Department.

“Sometimes we have people that we help directly,” Fr. Don says. “We might provide a bus ticket, glasses or clothes. We also help get them get connected with a social service organization that can help them.”

And, right now, something as simple as writing a “thank you” note is another way to spread love and gratitude.

“You can use that old tradition of gratitude to make a phone call, write a note or send a text,” Fr. Don says. “Just a little bit of humility can go a long way.”

As Fr. Don reminds us, through all the uncertainty in our world right now, and as much as society may tell us to live in fear, we can always trust and hope in the Lord.

“John Paul II said, ‘Be not afraid,’” Fr. Don says. “Let’s follow that and walk with our Lord.”

Please be sure to refer to the church bulletin for ways to get involved this Thanksgiving and Advent.