This November 23rd we celebrate “Thanksgiving Day”, a very significant event in the United States. Let's remember some history: The celebration dates back to 1621, according to historians, after a painful winter where many English colonists lost their lives, it seems that the miracle of life became a reality. Thanks to a “Good Harvest” the inhabitants of Plymouth in the company of the Wampanoag natives were able to share food. Over time the celebration was forgotten and was later recovered during the time of President George Washington, likewise Lincoln gave it great importance.

Today the celebration takes on a lot of relevance for North American society. I think it is convenient to highlight the VALUES and Richness of said commemoration:

As the current liturgical year approaches its end this month, it is timely and salutary that we learn the correct answer to the inevitable question confronting every human person on earth ‘where do human persons go after death?’

What is your answer to this question?

In general, how do human persons of various categories grapple with this inevitable question that catches up with them day after day?

In today's gospel, Sunday XXXII of Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us the story of 10 young people who went out to meet the husband and carried their lamps; 5 carried spared oil for their lamps and 5 of them did not.

The husband arrived and the doors were opened for the party, those who went to buy more oil for their lamps when they returned to meet the husband they found that the party had started, and the door was closed, they could not enter the banquet.

Venerable Mother Henriette DeLille was a woman of faith, perseverance, and service who dedicated her life to the people of New Orleans. Her courage, compassion, and dedication to the oppressed was a shining example of what it means to live a life of service and love.

Biography: Henriette DeLille was born on March 11, 1813, in New Orleans. She was the daughter of a French father and a Creole mother who was of African descent. As a free person of color, Henriette grew up in the French Quarter, an area that was deeply divided by race and social class.

My Dear People of God,

Each October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month and acknowledges the first Sunday of October as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end and at every point in between.

During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life; and it offers an opportunity to financially support the efforts of the Diocesan Office of Family and Respect Life Ministry by means of the Respect Life Sunday Collection. The proceeds from the annual collection provides the following for your parish:

Greetings to my St. Stanislaus family!

Even though this weekend is the 29^th Sunday in ordinary time, October 22^nd is also the day we remember St. John Paul II, pope. He was the pope before I was born and throughout the majority of my life. He was the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years and how he changed the world in how he lived and how he loved the Catholic faith and Jesus. I was fortunate enough to attend world youth day in Rome, Italy in the Jubilee year 2000.

Calling all alumni!!! St. Stanislaus Catholic School is incredibly blessed by the many alumni that support and advocate for us. Many of our parents are alumni of St. Stanislaus who strive to build upon the tenants of faith, excellence and tradition learned from their years at our school. Without these alumni, our school could not succeed.

The word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him “to go forth”. Abraham received the call to set out for a new land. Moses heard God’s call: “Go, I send you” and led the people towards the promised land. To Jeremiah God says: “To all whom I send you, you shall go”.

A few weeks ago we heard the following in the gospel of Saint Matthew: “Peter approached Jesus and asked him: "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy– seven times." (Mt 18, 21 ff.) What is deeply striking is the position of Jesus Christ: YOU MUST ALWAYS FORGIVE.

There is a great need in our day and age to address the dark spiritual forces afflicting the minds and hearts of people. It was Pope St. John Paul II who challenged the bishops throughout the world to establish, within each of their dioceses, an outreach ministry to help the faithful who are spiritually afflicted by the influence of evil. The Pope stressed the importance that each diocesan bishop appoint an exorcist for his diocese.

When we have experienced the mercy of God in our lives we understand and it is easy for us to understand the story that the gospel presents to us this (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time), the image of the servant who owed a lot of money to the King is ours, The debt that each of us owes to God is enormous, and we cannot pay it (we cannot erase or pay for a single sin).

God loves us very much and that is why he sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the debt that no one could, nor can we, pay.

Today more than ever, we believers should listen to Jesus' call to correct ourselves and help each other to be better. Jesus invites us to act patiently and without haste, getting closer in a personal and friendly way to whom is acting in a  wrong way “if your brother sins, rebuke him alone; between the two of you, if he listens to you, you will have saved your brother ”.

Greetings to you, St. Stanislaus!

The readings this weekend, especially the second reading from a letter of St. Paul to the Romans, are wonderful to help us better reflect on what we truly prioritize in our lives and the life of our family:

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”