At Thanksgiving we make every effort to gather with family and friends and to thank God “from whom all blessings flow.” We renew our awareness of our blessings and rediscover the blessing we are for one another. We do this when we gather around the Lord’s table, as well as around the family table on Thanksgiving. At Mass, we join Jesus in his “thank you” — his “Eucharist” — to the Father on our behalf and for all humanity. This then echoes deeply in the family circle.

We have so much to be grateful for: life and health; the marvels of creation; our daily work and communities; our relative prosperity and civil liberties in the United States. We give thanks for the people in our lives, for our family and friends — and for God, who has made us his friends through Jesus, our Savior and Brother; who graces us constantly as sons and daughters, destined to enter his glory. We give thanks for all the good times. We are grateful, as well, for God’s grace and the support of people in times of stress and difficulty. We acknowledge the good things born out of trial and adversity — including growth in holiness and discovery of deeper realities.

Thanksgiving this year is especially awesome for us as a Diocese. We celebrated the 150th anniversary of the presence and ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in the Diocese. We had nine young priests ordained for the Diocese. Our good friend, Bishop Richard Garcia, was installed as the Diocesan Bishop of Monterey. Our beloved Bishop Emeritus, Francis Quinn, is once again living in Sacramento. We begin Thanksgiving week by formally and liturgically welcoming Bishop Jaime Soto into our midst as Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento. Let us thank Pope Benedict XVI for sending Bishop Soto to us. I have known Bishop Soto for enough years and observed his good work to know that we are very blessed, indeed.

Bishop Soto is extraordinarily prepared to help pastor our large and growing diocese of 20 counties. He is young, bright, wise, vigorous, zealous, and creative – just what we need! He is a man of many talents and gifts, of broad experience, with a deep faith in the Lord and great love for the Church. I look forward to his working with me in the pastoral care of the People of God of this Local Church and in forging the future.

Another blessing is that provision has already been made for who will succeed me when the time comes. There is much wisdom in the Church’s appointment of a Coadjutor Bishop with the right of succession. It is transparent this way, no mystery about the future (only about the when!)

On behalf of the Diocese of Sacramento, I extend to Bishop Soto our heartfelt welcome and assure him of our prayers and support. Leaving home and confronting our vast territory and considerable ethnic diversity, as well as many other differences from Orange, may not be easy for Bishop Soto, but we will all help him. Our people are warm and welcoming and Bishop Soto will soon feel right at home. So, please join me in prayerful thanksgiving to God.

Bishop Soto will quickly discover that we have wonderful people in the Diocese of Sacramento: generous, talented, dedicated, faith-filled, strong in conviction, culturally diverse. There is no lack of leadership among our people. We are blessed with dedicated, hard-working priests. We have outstanding religious, both women and men. We have a large community of gifted and generous deacons. We have numerous talented people who give generously of their time and expertise to serve on boards, councils, committees, and advisory groups. We have a competent and dedicated diocesan staff, as well as parish staffs and volunteers that we are rightly proud of. All are reasons for rejoicing at Thanksgiving.

Bishop Soto joins us at a time of great promise and extraordinary opportunity. Yet, we can only do so much; the rest depends on the Lord Jesus, in whose service we minister. Bishop Soto will help lead this growing diocese in ongoing implementation of the Third Diocesan Synod, including in developing a real passion for Jesus, and a hunger for the Word of God. He will help us reach out ever more to the poor, the vulnerable, and the immigrant; help foment a missionary zeal for those who do not know Christ, an enthusiasm for a new evangelization.

So, let us celebrate Thanksgiving with thankful hearts, knowing that blessings, both material and spiritual, are meant to be shared. The opportunities to do so are plentiful. Let us be generous to those who need help. God bless you and your loved ones at Thanksgiving. And, God bless America!

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