A Thanksgiving message from Bishop James P. Powers

As I begin writing this letter on the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, I pray that Mary may intercede on behalf of all of us and that we might more fully open our hearts and minds to the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit given to us anew on the Feast of Pentecost. Once again during this time of COVID, we are reminded of the infinite love of our God.

I am writing to you today in an effort to clear up some confusion that has developed since the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the statewide mask mandate.

As we find ourselves about halfway through our Lenten journey, my prayer for each of you is that it truly is one of prayer and discipline, drawing you ever closer to the loving, merciful embrace of our Lord and Savior.

I pray this letter finds you healthy and safe. May the Lenten journey we are on be one of growing ever closer to the love of our Lord and ever deeper in our relationship to him.

If anyone contacts you claiming to be me, someone from the diocese (chancery office personnel), a priest, parish employee or anyone else honestly affiliated with the Catholic of the Diocese of Superior calls, texts, emails or contacts you by any other form of communication asking you to send money or get gift cards of any kind, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THEIR REQUEST. IT IS A SCAM.

As another Advent is rapidly coming to an end, I hope and pray that you are in a better place to truly celebrate the birthday of the Messiah than you were back on Nov. 29 when we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent.

I want to start by wishing everyone a very happy belated Thanksgiving. I hope and pray that, in spite of how very different it was for most, your Thanksgiving was truly a time of giving thanks to God for all his many gifts and blessings.

Heavenly Father, in this time of Thanksgiving, in a year filled with so much turmoil, confusion, violence, angst, and COVID-19, let us pause in your presence truly knowing and feeling your loving embrace.