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Know that in our Office we are grateful for all God’s gifts, especially those of Life, our Catholic Faith and our beloved families, but also for the opportunity to walk with you as we promote and defend the sanctity of all human life. In the example of the early settlers, might we begin this Thanksgiving Day and every day in the Eucharist (at Mass or in a spiritual Communion), fill the day with joyful gratitude and praise for His gracious gifts and mercy, and continue to toil, arduous as it may be sometimes, giving Him glory in the lives we lead—for Life is sacred and precious, and meant for Eternity in Heaven. Happy Thanksgiving and may God bless you and your families!

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we should consider that the very first Thanksgiving, was not a harvest festival of the Pilgrims of Plymouth but a feast of thanksgiving by the Spanish colonists for a safe arrival in the New World. On September 8, 1565 (the Blessed Virgin’s nativity), the first act of these Catholic settlers was the celebration of Mass, the Eucharist (“to give thanks”)! Following Mass, they, too, shared a communal meal with the natives in gratitude to God for their many blessings, but it did not become a regular event.

This year, we mark the 400^th anniversary of the Pilgrim’s famous Thanksgiving harvest festival in 1621 which followed an arduous first year in the new land. As Puritans, this event would not have been festive in giving honor to God for the bounty they enjoyed were it not for the Native American, Squanto. He had been abducted into slavery as a youth, freed by Spanish friars, and eventually was baptized into the Catholic faith. He later returned to his native land where, having cross-cultural and language skills, he acted as an intermediary to the settlers, teaching them how to survive. But, in friendship, he also influenced their first Thanksgiving with a Catholic spirituality of giving thanks with joy. These Thanksgiving festivals had more staying power, but still they were celebrated intermittently and on days that varied regionally.

It was during the Civil War, on October 3, 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation was intended to bring some degree of unity to a nation deeply divided, with all regions of the country recognizing “the gracious gifts” of a merciful God on the same day. Seven years later, it was declared a national holiday which we will celebrate this week as a nation perhaps not much less divided, but before an immutable God infinitely munificent and merciful.

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We as Christians are called to be a people of gratitude. This isn't always easy but Saint Paul, in his first letter to the Thessalonians (5:18) says, “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This month we celebrate Thanksgiving Day where we all stop what we are doing and get together with families and friends and say Thank You to God for all that He has given us. It is a very special holiday. We as Catholics actually do this every time we gather together for the Eucharist. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for thanksgiving. We gather as a family to thank God for the gift of His Son who feeds us the Bread of Life. Truly we give thanks to God for the food for our journey leading us into eternal life.  Read more

In 2018 Mississippi passed a law protecting unborn children after 15 weeks of gestation. The law was challenged and the case, known as Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is being heard by the Supreme Court. This is truly a landmark case that could potentially overturn the decision of Roe v Wade. The possibility for future laws protecting the unborn hangs in the balance. The oral arguments will be heard on Dec 1, 2021 but the decision is expected in June 2022.

For the past 49 years, the infamous date of January 22 has been one of solemn prayer and remembrance for the tragedy of legalized abortion in this country.

 In these next crucial 9 months

 let us make the

a special day of prayer and fasting for the Dobbs case

in the hopes that on its 50th anniversary (Jan 22, 2023)

Roe v Wade will have been finally overturned!

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The Gianna Center is a medical practice dedicated to empowering women with a restorative, scientifically based method for treating, monitoring, and maintaining their health.

Do you know someone who is suffering after an abortion experience?

Project Rachel is a ministry about finding hope and healing after abortion.

It’s normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one’s heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness.

COME BACK TO LOVE AND MERCY! JESUS AWAITS YOU!

Lisa A. Honkanen, M.D. – Director

lhonkanen@drvc.org, 516-678-5800 Ext. 381

Donna Crean – Assistant Director/Project Rachel Coordinator

dcrean@drvc.org, 516 678 5800 Ext. 626

Jamey Hutchinson BSN CFCP CFCE Educational Liaison to

Gianna Center for Women's Health & Fertility

jamey.hutchinson@chsli.org, 631-376-3232