On this 33 ^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, I would like to begin by glancing backward for a moment.  I regret that I needed to step away from the parish and my responsibilities here and at Milford Regional Medical Center without much warning.  I now have experienced, albeit in a fairly mild version, having “shingles.”  It wasn’t the degree of pain or overall illness that caused me to bow out, but the physician’s concern about my posing a serious risk to others whose health might already be compromised in some other way.  Thank you for your expressions of concern and prayers.  The time now elapsed and the healing already taking place make it possible to be with you once again!  I am most grateful to the priests who were with you on short notice for the celebrations of Eucharist on Sunday.  It also falls to me to convey the sincerest apologies of the individual who confirmed for us the commitment of a priest to be here Saturday afternoon for Confessions at 3:30 and the Mass at 4:30pm …. When we were able to speak after I had returned to St. Peter’s this week, he realized that in the confirmation process he had NOT completed what should have been done concerning the priest he had recruited. 
 
            Looking to the moment at hand, and the week that stretches ahead of us, Thank You, God!  As you are picking up this bulletin, wonderful volunteers are making final preparations for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner.  I have no doubt that the tables and plates will be well and pleasingly set!  Even more important, there will be reunions and conversations of parishioners and guests whose spirits will be lifted by our own gratitude given shape in acts of generosity and kindness.
 
            This week, the Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Whitinsville, Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7:00pm.  I plan to be there!  And, on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day we will celebrate Mass here at St. Peter’s at 9:00am, and then, wherever the day finds us, we will give thanks, eat heartily, enjoy each other’s company, and hopefully know God’s grace in being renewed in mind, body and spirit!