Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

October 12, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s gospel addresses two essential elements of our faith: healing and gratitude. The first part of the gospel tells the story of ten lepers being healed. The second half of the gospel tells of how one returned to thank Jesus. I would like to address these two themes in relationship to our parish.

HEALING MASSES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 27

Earlier this year during Lent we celebrated two Masses for Healing on Monday, March 31. Both at noon and 7:00PM the parish came together for a beautiful experience of community, prayer, and sacrament. Both Masses drew more than 200 persons. Our prayer at these Masses was an expression of deep and strong faith. Many had the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Parishioners came to pray for various kinds of healing; from illness; from emotional and mental struggle; from chronic pain; from broken relationships. Some prayed in gratitude for healing; many came and prayed for healing for others, family members, relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Many parishioners deeply appreciated this day when we pray at Mass for healing. So, before the holidays begin and the winter settles in, we will have a day for two Masses for healing. We will offer these Masses on Monday, October 27, again at noon and 7:00PM. A daytime Mass and an evening Mass offers the opportunity to choose a time that is appropriate for your own schedule. We invite all parishioners and hope that many will respond to this opportunity to pray for your own healing and for the healing of others that you know and love.

GRATITUDE

Ever since my August retreat, I have been focusing on the experience of gratitude. I have shared at various Masses that I now keep a daily gratitude journal, and I find it very helpful as I begin each morning writing my gratitude, often reflecting my experience of the previous day. I highly recommend a daily gratitude journal for those who wish to begin their day on a positive note in a positive way. I literally mean “note” as I think it most important to write your gratitude, and not simply mentally reflect on them. Writing them on your own requires a level of commitment and helps to develop a habit and routine of gratitude.

Recently we just had Spirit Day, our parish school resumed classes, our faith formation classes began again, and CYO sports have started a new year. In addition, youth ministries like Youth Group, scouting, Respite, and other activities bring young people to St. Anne’s. When you add up all these activities and ministries, rosters for all of these surpasses 2000 participants, many sharing in more than one activity. In addition, our faith formation program involves more than 70 high school students from our own parish and others who will assist with faith formation. These include students from Kellenberg, Chamiande, Sacred Heart, and our local public high school students.

How grateful I am that St. Anne’s Parish is a place where students of all ages come and find St. Anne’s a church of welcome, inclusion, and community. Many parents and boys and girls remark of the good cheer, welcome, and spirit that they find here in our parish school and faith formation program. Our CYO has sports that extend through fall, winter, and spring for hundreds of kids and provides a connection to their Catholic faith that may not be too strong in other ways.

All of these require adult leadership. We have wonderful leaders who care about their faith, know the importance of family and seek to involves children in Catholic life. I am very grateful to these parishioners who lead our Youth Ministries.

I am very grateful too for the presence of our parish youth in all sorts of ways all during the week. The young people bring life, excitement, and challenge. Without their presence and the presence of their moms and dads, especially at Sunday Mass, we would be a less vibrant, prayerful and community minded parish. All involved give us great reason to be grateful!

Enjoy a peace filled week!

Fr. Tom

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