[Mother saw her seven sons perish in a single day because of their steadfast faith in God. During this horrific trial, she leaned over close to her youngest child with these words: ]"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence. Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them." (2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31)

The mother of seven sons not only witnesses their martyrdom but even urges them to die out of loyalty to God and to the covenant. Wow! What an act of faith. The King offers them rich and happy, high office and many possessions, but they refused to trade their faith in for worldly treasure. Their relationship with God is everything, even at the cost of their life. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

Have I ever traded in my faith, my family, my soul for worldly gain?

What's going to happen at the end of your life?

“Seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides.” (Luke 12:31)

Jesus, I Trust in You!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I will remember all of you at Thanksgiving Mass and pray that God would fill your heart with His grace, courage, and peace.

Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

(The family and guests stand or sit around the table upon which there is an unlighted candle.)

(All) We come to our table to welcome this feast of Thanksgiving with joy and with gladness. We have prepared this feast with good food and drink. We have gathered together and come around this table to feast and to celebrate the many things for which we are grateful.

(Each person is asked to state one thing that he or she is thankful for this Thanksgiving.)

“I am thankful for ______________________.”

(The final prayer is read by family members -- each reading one paragraph until the prayer is completed.)

Lord of all blessings, from you has come a full harvest of gifts to us.
With our uplifted hearts, we come today around this table to give thanks to you.

We are grateful for the gifts of our lives.
We are grateful for the family and friends you have given us.
We remember and give thanks for all of them today.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank you for showing us how to return thanks
by lives of service, by acts of hospitality, by kindness to others, and by concern for each other.

We are most grateful, today, for the way you, our loving God, have become visible to us -- in one another, in our families, in our friends, and in the marvels of creation itself.

Come, Lord of Gifts. Bless our table and all the food of this feast.
Let us thank the Lord today and all days.

Leader: Let us pray the Lord prayer together

Our Father....
3 Hail Mary...

Leader: Now let us take a moment to remember our loved ones who have died, call out their name if you wish.

All: May the souls of all the faithful departed, especially those of our loved ones, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Leader: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.