We’re So Grateful for You!

By John Graveline, Director of Parish Life

October 19, 2025

“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”
–Ephesians 1:15-16

In last week’s Gospel, we heard of Jesus’ healing of ten lepers, and the gratitude of one of those healed, a Samaritan. This passage highlights the supreme importance of having a grateful heart. Working in churches as I have for years, I have seen a lot of funerals. You notice the people who lived their lives the right way. Their funerals feel different. For sure, there are tears and grief, but there is also a sense of blessedness and joy. Some of their funerals feel more like a party!

I can come to see that the key to a happy life in this world (and the next!) is to be grateful and generous. Some people have relatively more money or worldly possessions, others have fewer of these things. Regardless, those who are grateful and generous with whatever they have are full of joy and are a blessing to everyone with whom they interact. Those who are not satisfied with what they have, always worried about there not being enough or looking around to see what everyone else has, tend to inspire few people and often leave a legacy of contention.

As I consider the blessings in our parish over the past several months, my heart is full of gratitude. Our staff and numerous volunteers have performed their service, in roles that are quite large or quite simple. The enthusiasm and community spirit that I have seen in our Neighboring Night, Youth Ministry fund-raiser with Elvis, Polish Fest, Awakened Series, Good Shepherd program and Youth Ministry, Big Raffle, etc. has been truly inspiring! All I can say is “Thank you!” You believe in what the Holy Spirit is doing at Assumption Parish, and you have generously shared your gifts with each other and with the entire community. It may be a cliché to say that I wish I could express my gratitude by name, but the list would truly be too long, and I would be liable to miss someone. Please know that I keep you continually in my prayers of gratitude.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
–1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

In this week’s Gospel highlights the necessity of “praying always without becoming weary.” With all the activity in and around our parish over the past few months, I have been so pleased that all of it has begun and been sustained in prayer. It is easy to substitute truly listening to the Holy Spirit and discerning God’s plan with what theologian Romano Guardini calls “superficial eventfulness.” I firmly believe that our parish’s vitality is truly Spirit-led. Has there been weariness and occasional tensions? Sure, but the only body that lacks tension or doesn’t get tired is a dead body. Have we been called from time to time to take an uncertain step forward in faith? Absolutely, but each step in faith has widened our vision of God’s dream for our parish and for each one of us personally. Thank you to all of you praying “behind the scenes” for the fruitfulness of our parish initiatives. Without you, everything else is merely “banging gongs and clanging cymbals.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) For my part, I will strive to keep my hands lifted in prayer for our parish, following the example of Moses in today’s First Reading.

“If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor . . . In vain is your earlier rising, your going later to rest, you who toil for the bread you eat: when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.”
–Psalm 127:1, 2

Finally, I would like to ask for your assistance in meeting our goal for the Big Raffle fundraiser. We have one month until our drawing, with a grand prize of $10,000. We have currently sold about 30% of our 1000 tickets.

At this point, we have reached the “break even” point. Every ticket that we sell from now until the drawing on November 22 will raise the funds that we need to meet the current needs of the parish and allow us to continue to grow. If every parish family could sell 5 tickets through sharing our website or QR code link with friends, family, and neighbors, we would reach our goal. People who reside in most states can buy a ticket. Let people know the great things that we are doing at Assumption Parish and give them a chance to support our ministries (and have good odds at the big prizes, since we will only sell at most 1000 tickets and every ticket sold will be in the drawing for the Grand Prize!). If we each do our part, we will reach our goal of 1000 tickets sold in no time.

This is an exciting time to be part of what God is doing at Assumption Parish. Thank you once again for your support through your volunteer gifts and financial gifts! Thank you for spreading the word and inviting people to our community outreach events. “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” I wholeheartedly believe that he will at Assumption Parish!

John