Pausing for Thanksgiving

​Dear Newman Community,
 
This coming week our NMSU community takes time to pause for Thanksgiving Break. In this pause, students, faculty, staff and our local community, have a decision to make– how to use this break. Do we fill this time with even more feverish activity of studying, cooking, and shopping (hello, tempting Black Friday deals!)? Or do we take time to pause from our busyness for silence and prayer, family and connection, rest and rejuvenation?
 
Most likely it will be both/and. This is appropriate as our Catholic faith is often so much a faith of both/and. There are elements of good in our busyness! But I pray that we, that I, remember to intentionally make these decisions, this Thanksgiving and throughout the rest of the year. In a recent homily Bishop Emeritus Ramirez shared that the kingdom of God is not a spectator sport but a decision to be made.
 
Soon we begin a new liturgical year, may it be an opportunity to remember the abundant goodness of God and renew our hearts in hope as look forward to the coming of Jesus at Christmas.
 
Peace,
Mona
 
P.S. A BIG thanks to all who supported our pie sale! Campus Ministry is continually blessed by your generosity.

Thanksgiving Prayer
 
We praise God for the abundant gifts
he has bestowed upon us.
We celebrate this abundance,
and we call all to the table to eat
and to be renewed.
In brotherhood and sisterhood
may we enjoy God’s gifts
and share them in joy.
May we be grateful each morning
for the gift of a new day,
and grateful each evening
for the good we have received
during the day,
and for the good we have been able to do.
May we praise God through
our giving thanks for his abundant love. May we praise God for
offering such love to one another.
Amen.
 
-From Education for Justice, a project of
​Center of Concern