COLORADO SPRINGS. The Office of Stewardship and Development announced that an anonymous donor will match every dollar given to the Vocations Appeal from Nov. 17-30, up to $25,000. The matching grant is being offered in honor of Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28.

“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In a few days, our country will celebrate the annual Thanksgiving holiday.  This event happens every November, and for one day each year we are called to count our many blessings, to give thanks.

Den gracias a Dios en toda ocasión: esto es lo que Dios quiere de todos ustedes, en Cristo Jesús”. — 1 Tesalonicenses 5, 18

Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,

Dentro de unos días, nuestro país celebrará la fiesta anual de Acción de Gracias.  Este acontecimiento tiene lugar cada mes de noviembre, y durante un día al año estamos llamados a contar nuestras muchas bendiciones, a dar gracias.

For gardeners, this is a melancholy time. We are already missing the splash of color from our favorite perennial flower, the scent of fresh soil, and the highly gratifying feeling of slicing our own garden-grown vegetables. Alas, another growing season has passed. What are we gardeners to do?

Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien (the initials stand for John Ronald Reuel) influenced millions through his popular writings of  fictional tales of a world called Middle-earth. His introduction to this world, “The Hobbit” (published in 1937), was later greatly expanded into an epic tale of war, courage, beauty, grace, and friendship called “The Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) trilogy, which consists of “The Fellowship of the Ring” (1953), “The Two Towers” (1954), and “The Return of the King” (1955). Many have read these works growing up; still more have been pleased by the cinematic rendition of these works by Peter Jackson.