Dear Parishioners and Friends:

In the midst of this difficult year I find so many blessings to give thanks for.  This Thanksgiving I give thanks for the wonderful men and women who make up the parish of Blessed Sacrament.  Something happened a few weeks ago that I think really sums up the generosity of the people of Blessed Sacrament.  A long-time parishioner (I will call her Parishioner X)  called to see if we were giving out turkeys for Thanksgiving.  She said it was something her family had always been part of when she was young.  I said I thought it was a great idea but our food pantry is relatively small and we would only be able to distribute a few turkeys. I asked Parishioner X if she would be open it providing turkeys for St. Joseph’s food pantry in Harlem.  It has the oldest food pantry in the country and is having a tough time with money this year. As a result, this would be the first year in many years it would not be able to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys.  Parishioner X spoke with a number of her friends and raised enough money for more than 200 turkeys and pies.  The people at the pantry were told that the turkeys would be given out beginning 4:00 in the afternoon.  People, eager for the turkeys began lining up at 8:00 a.m.! What a powerful example of Sunday’s Gospel “What you did for the least of these you did for me”.

At Blessed Sacrament people are always asking “how can I help?”.  This Thanksgiving as I come before our Lord in prayer I thank God for the Trustees of the parish, Pia and Brendan, for their patience, guidance and support.  I thank God for Msgr. Crimmins, Father Luke, Deacon  Scott and the amazing staff:  William, Holden, Meg, Martha, Jose, Francis, Raul, Francisco, Marisol, and Appolonio.  I thank God for all who work to make the liturgies so inspiring: Jason and our incredible music programs, our Mass captains, cantors, lectors, EMs, and altar servers and ushers.  I thank God for Tina Sylvestro and all who help with our CCD program. I thank God for Matt Collins and all our volunteers for a physically, spiritually and emotionally nourishing Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.  I give thanks for Susan Campochiaro Confrey and the team who produce and film the Mass each Sunday.  I thank God for James Palazza for his enthusiasm and for our Sunday Hospitalities.  I thank God for Chris Williams for Advent simple suppers.  I thank God for our St. Vincent de Paul Society, our Gay fellowship, our ministry to the homebound, our buildings and grounds committee, our finance Council, our different rosary groups, Terry Michaud for the Social Action committee, Michele Marotta for the Joy-J initiative, John Gasdaska for Spirit Sundays, our Parish Council, Jackie Baligian for the Women’s Group and for any Parish group I may have missed.

I thank God for all who continue to support the parish when Mass attendance is not possible or is reduced, all those who dropped off or mailed in envelopes, all of those who contribute through WeShare.  I am grateful to all those who helped us to meet our goal of more than 150 contributors to the Cardinal’s Appeal and all those who are helping us to try and meet our $400,000 goal for the Parish Annual Appeal.  (We are currently at $150.000.) I thank God for the blessing of being your Pastor. Happy Thanksgiving!

Father David Nolan