Dear Parishioners and Friends, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, may our hearts overflow with gratitude for God’s abundant blessings. In the gift of faith, family, and community, may we recognize His loving presence in our midst. Thank you for the joy, generosity, and kindness you bring to our parish family. May the Lord fill your homes with peace and your hearts with hope.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turning Back to Say Thank You

Luke 17:11-19 – Thanksgiving Day

Imagine a dusty road under the burning sun. Ten people walk slowly, their bodies scarred and weak, their hearts heavy with suffering. Their voices rise in desperation: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Their steps are painful, but their faith pushes them forward. And then—everything changes. Their pain lifts, their bodies strengthen, and joy fills their hearts as God’s healing touches their lives.

But almost immediately, nine of them move on, swept up by excitement, relief, and the pull of the crowd. Only one stops... Only one looks around and realizes what has happened. Then slowly, deliberately, he turns back. Kneeling before Jesus, he whispers, “Thank you.” And in that simple act, something deeper happens—he receives not only healing, but wholeness. The others got a gift; he entered a relationship. The others were cured; he was changed.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we are invited to become like that one who returned. Look around—not only here in church, but also in the homes where families will gather in these days. Some faces are familiar and comforting; others are new, joining loved ones they haven’t seen in months or years. Children move with excitement, elders smile quietly, and cousins, neighbors, and friends-who-feel-like-family fill the rooms with laughter that bridges the miles and the memories.

Every shared meal, every embrace, every moment of welcome is a reminder: God’s grace is alive among us. Yet how often do we rush past these blessings without turning back to say, “Thank you, Lord… and thank you, one another”?

Our parish family—the Incarnation Family—is part of this story too. Whether you have worshiped here for decades or are sitting with a relative for the first time, you are a living thread in the tapestry of this community. Our shared prayers, our service, our joys and sorrows—together they weave a beautiful pattern of God’s love. And like the one who returned, gratitude is what keeps this family alive. When we notice each other’s gifts, when we show kindness, when we celebrate and support one another, we become witnesses to God’s mercy in our midst. This community is a daily miracle—waiting to be acknowledged, cherished, and embraced.

As your Co-Traveler on this journey of faith, I want to pause and turn back as well. I want to say thank you. Thank you for your faith, your generosity, your encouragement, and your patience. Thank you for welcoming me—with my own imperfections, limitations, and differences—into your lives. Your prayers, your support, and your care make this parish a true home where God’s grace is visible every single day. I am deeply blessed to walk this path with you.

Thanksgiving is more than a feast. It is an invitation to pause, to turn back, to recognize God’s gifts, and to express gratitude—to God and to one another. Let us kneel, even just in spirit, and speak our thank yous through our words, our presence, and our acts of love. Let us treasure the people who shape us, the moments we share, and the blessings that surround us. And may we, like the one who returned, walk into tomorrow with hearts turned back toward God—grateful, humble, and renewed.  

With Love and Prayers

Your

Co-Traveler

Fr. Leo Payyappilly