This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving evokes warm memories of family dinners, turkey and stuffing, apple pies and bread baking in the oven. I remember as a child walking into my grandparents’ home and being assaulted by the aroma of great food cooking and baking.

At our Thanksgiving dinner, before my grandfather would lead the prayer before the meal, he reminded us that we were blessed, that we had reason for gratitude to God. Then we prayed and then we ate. Yes, we do have reasons for gratitude. The entire world just passed through a plague, Covid. People died and people were sick. Covid is not over, but with the vaccines and other immunity, things are better. We learned
how fragile life and health can be.

We are grateful for life and health and we should not take these blessings for granted. I am grateful that Saint John Church is open, vibrant and serving Center City Philadelphia.

Plan on attending Mass at Saint John’s on Thanksgiving Day. There will be one Mass on Thanksgiving Day at 9 AM.

Young Adult Outreach. Our Jack’s Yacs group is planning several events focused on Advent and Christmas:

• Wednesday, November 30, 6:30 PM: Prayer and reflection on “Come, Lord Jesus, Come: Themes of the Advent liturgy”. The program will be in the lower church, followed by a social in the parish center. Father John McCloskey, OFM Cap will be the speaker.
• Wednesday, December 14, 6:30 PM: Prayer and Reflection: Topic and details to follow Sunday, January 8: Join us for the Feast of the Epiphany Mas at 6 PM, followed by dinner and drinks in the parish center.

Christmas Gifts for ProMedica patients: For many years on Christmas Eve, Holy Redeemer children have gone to the nursing home/rehab facility at 16th and Lombard Streets. The name of the facility has changed over the years and it is now called ProMedica. The children will sing Christmas carols and give each resident a wrapped Christmas gift. Simple gifts are appreciated: word puzzle books, adult coloring books, decks of cards, stuffed animals, 2023 calendars with pictures, socks, warm scarfs or lap blankets. Please consider buying a few gifts, wrapping them and mark them M, F or E (male, female or either). Please do not give food or candy. Gifts will be collected in boxes in the upper and lower churches

Advent Meditation, December 4, after the 10:30 AM Mass: Brother Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap, will offer a meditation on “Marian Devotion: A Look at Mary through the Franciscan Lens”. This is an excellent Advent way to honor and think about the Blessed Mother.

Christmas Concert, December 11, 2 PM: The annual Saint John’s Christmas concert will be in the upper church and will feature our own Saint John’s Choir and students of the University of the Arts. A free will offering will be collected. Please join us for refreshments following the concert.