Nov. 22, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ,

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ, the universal King.  We contemplate the one whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion,” the one who is, "the Alpha and the Omega," 
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty,” the one who is the ruler of all the kings of the earth.” May we acknowledge his reign in our hearts and in our lives so that we may have a place in his eternal kingdom.

 As we end the liturgical year this weekend with the celebration of Christ the King, I want to express my profound gratitude to God for the graces of this past year and most of all for the grace and blessing you are, the parishioners of our parish family of St. Anthony, Holy Innocents and St. Jude. On Thursday, we will celebrate our National Day of Thanksgiving and thank God for our material and familial blessings.  Please join us for Thanksgiving Day Masses at 9 AM at St. Jude and Holy Innocents. What a wonderful way to begin this day offering together our great prayer of thanksgiving to God, the Mass!

 I am convinced that we hardly realize all the other not so tangible blessings God is working in us.  I see this daily in so many unsung acts of sacrificial love!

So thank you for you prayer…..

You can never imagine how many people you have helped by your prayers but the fruit of your prayer is obvious in the testimonials I receive daily of prayers answered.

Thank you for your time….

So many of you go way above and beyond helping our churches go.  We couldn’t survive as a parish without all your hard work. Your efforts help so many.

Thank you for your talents…

I feel so blessed as a pastor because I have parishioners who not only can do anything but are willing to share those gifts and do it with excellence.

Thank you for your generosity…

Your faithful stewardship and willingness to share your resources with the Church and those in need continues to amaze me. 

I keep coming back to the words of St. Paul which I make my own in gratitude for you and God’s grace working in you:

“I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,  praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace…”

Blessings and many thanks,

Fr. Jim Johnson

P. S. Soon we will enter the holy season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord and a time when we remember especially those in need. Please be sure to check out the giving trees and giving garlands at our parishes. They are wonderful ways to brighten the Christmas and holidays of those less fortunate. Please take a tag (or two or three!) and bring back the gift by the due date. The needs are particularly great this year. You will bring joy to many people in this season.  

I also want to encourage us to donate food and funds to the Holy Innocents Food Pantry.  We are currently overwhelmed by the number of clients.  The need for food is really great out there. We are also in need of volunteers to help. Thank you!