Dear Parishioners:
This weekend we mark Veterans Day a national holiday that originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. Here at OLM we mark Veterans Day with Holy Mass on Monday at 8:30am. This Mass is offered for all veterans, living and deceased, in thanksgiving for their sacrifice and service to our nation and our freedom. That includes, especially, the freedom to practice our faith. This freedom does not come without cost. So we pray with gratitude for all veterans and those men and women who put their lives on the line to preserve our freedom.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those killed in the line of duty, those still suffering from the effects of their wounds from serving the nation’s call, and, of course, all those who have retired from active duty. Let us remember those who have sacrificed so much to serve our nation in our prayers and with gratitude on Veterans Day and always. Please be sure to join us on Veterans Day for Mass. There is no better way to pray in thanksgiving for our veterans.
Following the Mass the Annual Veterans Day Parade commences in East Greenwich. I hope you get a chance to attend and thank the many veterans who march in it. Veterans Day is a special day to remember, to give thanks, to pray, and to salute those who serve and have served our nation. As we honor our noble veterans, recall the words of President Ronald W. Reagan: “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But veterans don't have that problem.”
This weekend at OLM along with parishes across the nation we have a unique opportunity to support Catholic ministry in the U.S. military and Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers by giving to a first-ever, special collection at Sunday Mass in support of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved this national special collection last year and it is to be taken up once every three years beginning this year. The collection is timed to coincide with Veterans Day each year.
The Archdiocese of Military Services was established by St. Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is serves millions of Catholics across the globe providing Catholic priests who serve as chaplains in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, the service academies and the VA. There are some 1.8 million American Catholics worldwide who depend on over 1,000 Military Service priests for their spiritual care, the celebration of the sacraments and their regular practice of the faith. The Military Archdiocese receives no funding from the government, and all weekly collections at U.S. military chapels must be distributed according to military funding rules, so private donations are the sole means of survival for the archdiocese. I know you will be generous in supporting our military chaplains and the many active duty Catholics who serve across the globe. There is no envelope for this collection, so simply mark your check AMS. In the name of our chaplains and they military personnel they serve, I offer my profound thanks for your support.
The Our Faith, Our Future Capital Campaign is off to a great start as over $400,000 has been pledged toward our $2 Million goal. This campaign is vital to advancing the good work of our parish and providing for the future of our faith here in East Greenwich. We recall the sacrifice of veterans this weekend, let us also recall the generations of faithful parishioners who sacrificed to make OLM the tremendous family of faith She is today. With this in mind, we ask every parishioner to pray for the campaign and consider what sacrifice they are willing to make for Our Faith and Our Future.
Happy Veterans Day! Be well. Do good. God Bless America! Oremus pro invicem!