A diocese rooted in Thanksgiving, drawn near to Christ in hope

As this edition of The Catholic Sun arrives in your homes, we are just days away from our national feast of Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, which coincides this year with the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Syracuse. Our praise and thanks on this occasion will be followed quickly by the start of the holy season of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. Our Diocesan theme for Advent is, “Draw Near to Christ in Hope.” 

In the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2006), the question is posed: “When is thanksgiving given to God?” (#555) The answer given is: “The Church gives thanks to God unceasingly, above all, in celebrating the Eucharist in which Christ allows her to participate in His own thanksgiving to the Father. For the Christian, every event becomes a reason for giving thanks.”

I know there are many things in the course of my life that I am grateful for: my parents, my family and friends, my vocation, my Catholic faith, prayer, the sacraments, the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Penance, the rich experiences and wonderful encounters of my 30 years as a priest and now my seven years as a bishop, the Diocese of Ogdensburg, the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, the Diocese of Syracuse, my travels, my retreat time, persons I have met along the way, Lourdes (France), the beauty of nature and its inhabitants, and the list could go on!

However, what I would like to do using the word, THANKSGIVING, is focus on things I am especially grateful for about the Diocese of Syracuse in this special moment of anniversary:

T = Those who are my predecessors as Bishop of Syracuse, on whose shoulders I stand: Patrick Ludden, John Grimes, Daniel Curley, John Duffy, Walter Foery, David Cunningham, Frank Harrison, Joseph O’Keefe, James Moynihan, and Robert Cunningham

H = Hospitals and Health care system founded by Mother (St.) Marianne Cope, providing medical care to all regardless of race or creed 

A = Areas formed throughout the diocese, focusing on pastoral care

N = Nutrition given through parish food pantries to families in need 

K = Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher, Knights and Dames of Malta, Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. John, as well as the Catholic Daughters of America who support Vocations and other Church ministries in the diocese

S = Schools run by the diocese and its parishes to continue the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ and to form new disciples for the Church and her mission

G = Giving hearts who each year help us to continue our diocesan apostolates and ministries through the Hope Appeal

I = Individuals who step up as lay ministers, Liturgical ministers, and volunteers in our parishes

V = Voices who cry out for respect for life, for justice and peace, for the dignity of every man, woman, and child, and who find direction through our diocesan Catholic Charities offices

I = “In persona Christi…” Those men and women who have laid down their lives in service of the Church as priests, deacons, and in the consecrated life and tirelessly serve the people of God in Central New York

N = Numerous men and women who are collaborators in my episcopal ministry as diocesan employees and volunteers who do so with a generous spirit

G = God, who is the source of all blessings, of all that we have and are — to Him be highest glory and praise forever! Amen.

As Maria would sing in The Sound of Music, “These are a few of my favorite things.” I tried to make the list representative of our diverse diocese, but I am sure I missed a few things. Nonetheless, our coming gatherings in thanksgiving, both as a diocesan family and in our own families, serve as a precursor to drawing nearer to Christ in the hope heralded by the upcoming Advent season.

Know that I continually give thanks to God for the gift the Diocese of Syracuse family is to me; and for the rich blessing of having such fine pilgrims and companions as we continue to await the coming of the Kingdom! It is my constant desire to make our parishes places where all are welcome and wherein all can find their home in God.

Happy Anniversary and Thanksgiving to our diocesan family and to all our neighbors! May these days be blessed ones!