Dear St. Agnes Parish Family,
Blessings!
As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, I invite you to pause and reflect with profound gratitude on the men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and an extraordinary spirit of sacrifice.
Freedom is a gift we often take for granted, but it has never come without a cost.
Behind every uniform is a person who accepted the possibility of risking his or her own life so that others might live in freedom and security. Behind every deployment is a family that has also paid a price, often silently.
Think of the birthdays missed, the wedding anniversaries celebrated apart, the empty chairs at Thanksgiving dinner, the Christmas mornings when children opened presents without Mom or Dad, and the countless family gatherings where someone they loved was thousands of miles away.
These sacrifices rarely make headlines, but they deserve our deepest gratitude.
Our veterans have given us more than their service. They have given us precious moments of their lives that can never be recovered. Some returned home carrying physical wounds; others continue to struggle with memories and emotional burdens that remain invisible. And some never returned at all, leaving behind families whose lives were forever changed.
To all our veterans and their families, we owe more than a simple "thank you." We owe you our respect, our prayers, and our commitment never to forget.
The Catholic Church recognizes the dignity of honorable military service. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that those who faithfully fulfill their duties in the Armed Forces contribute to the common good and the maintenance of peace (CCC 2310).
There is also a beautiful Gospel connection worth remembering.
In Matthew's Gospel, a Roman centurion, a military officer, approaches Jesus seeking healing for his servant. Despite his authority, he humbly declares, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."
Jesus praises his extraordinary faith.
This soldier reminds us that true greatness is found not merely in strength or authority, but in humility, compassion, and service to others.
This weekend, our second collection supports the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, helping provide spiritual care to military personnel and their families. I encourage you to respond generously as another expression of our gratitude.
As Veterans Day approaches, may we remember especially those who never came home, those still carrying the wounds of service, and the families who have shared their sacrifices.
May God bless our veterans, comfort their families, heal their wounds, and reward their sacrifices.
And may we honor their service not only with words, but by becoming instruments of the peace they have worked so courageously to protect.
With heartfelt gratitude and prayers,
Fr. jc