Dear Friends,
November has always been one of my favorite months, and it evokes for me exclusively positive memories: raking and burning leaves (but first jumping in them with my sister) in our backyard when I was growing up; hosting my grandparents and some aunts and uncles for Thanksgiving Day each year (in addition to turkey, we also unfailingly had tourtière, a French-Canadian meat pie that is still very popular throughout Maine); and, as I got older, dozing off watching football in the afternoon; and I am especially grateful that in my first year of priesthood, back in November of 2014, my first funeral as a priest was for my own grandfather, who had returned to the Catholic faith after many years.
This month, may we all remain grateful to the Lord for his infinite goodness. Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts (Ps 103:2). I will recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, recall your wonders of old (Ps 77:12).
In Christ,
