Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy’s nephew Brian keeps his uncle’s memory—and his stewardship message—alive this Thanksgiving.
As many of you know, my uncle served the Catholic Church as a priest for just shy of 40 years. He was ordained in Chicago. His vocation brought him to serve as the Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, MT. At the time of his death in 1997, he served as the Archbishop of Seattle.
He truly loved his vocation. One of his greatest skills was communication. His use of the written word enabled him to make meaningful connections with all the members of his flock - young and old, rich and poor, liberal or conservative.
Throughout his almost 19 years as a bishop, he wrote a weekly column for the diocesan newspaper. All told he published more than 650 columns. For whatever reason, some of his most meaningful written works were penned during Thanksgiving time.
The attached column was published on November 20, 1983. With Thanksgiving taking place tomorrow and the craziness of the Christmas season just around the corner, I wanted to share this column with you.
I wish you and all of your families a happy and healthy Thanksgiving filled with many blessings.
Brian J. Murphy
November is a unique time for many people. It seems to give out mixed messages of life and death, hope and fear. Maybe the grey skies and the first signs of winter create that environment which make us aware of our human fragility. But that is interrupted by the encroaching announcement of holiday sales and Christmas songs. For those of us who remember well the sudden death of a young president, November is always a reminder of the uncertainty of life itself and the futility of living for the future if we forget the gift of the present moment.
November begins in the aftermath of ghosts and goblins who usher in this month of mixed messages. As Christians, we greet all the saints of heaven, but the Church immediately calls our attention to those who died and who wait for their entrance into heaven. Next week, the secular world asks us to pause and to celebrate Thanksgiving, a reality which is ours as Catholics each day in the Eucharist. November usually ends, as it does this year, with the beginning of Advent and the opportunity to relive the whole mystery of salvation in a new liturgical year.
So much is crammed into such a short period of time. In so many ways, November is a
reflection of life itself. It marks the beginning and the end of time; it celebrates life and death, thanksgiving and hope. A brief glance at the endless miles of land in Eastern Montana could well prompt the initial observer to remark that the land is devoid of life. But we know full well the teeming forces of nature are preparing to burst forth into new life and energy in but a short time.
I come to this month with all the human awareness of the messages which November offers. But hopefully I come as a person of faith who recognizes the need for the Lord, the importance of the Church, the great gift of the Eucharist, and the importance of people. I come with a sense of hope that as individuals and a community of faith that we are open to renewal and reconciliation, that we are able to deepen our relationship to the Lord and grow as disciples of Jesus.
For some, November is a dreary month. For me, it is a graced time as any time is when we open ourselves to the presence of God. Happy Thanksgiving!
Montana Catholic Register November 20, 1983
Reflections
by the
Most Reverend Thomas J. Murphy
Some November Thoughts
November is a unique time for many people. It seems to give out mixed messages of life and death, hope and fear. Maybe the grey skies and the first signs of winter create that environment which make us aware of our human fragility. But that is interrupted by the encroaching announcement of holiday sales and Christmas songs. For those of us who remember well the sudden death of a young president, November is always a reminder of the uncertainty of life itself and the futility of living for the future if we forget the gift of the present moment.
November begins in the aftermath of ghosts and goblins who usher in this month of mixed messages. As Christians, we greet all the saints of heaven, but the Church immediately calls our attention to those who died and who wait for their entrance into heaven. Next week, the secular world asks us to pause and to celebrate Thanksgiving, a reality which is ours as Catholics each day in the Eucharist. November usually ends, as it does this year, with the beginning of Advent and the opportunity to relive the whole mystery of salvation in a new liturgical year.
So much is crammed into such a short period of time. In so many ways, November is a
reflection of life itself. It marks the beginning and the end of time; it celebrates life and death, thanksgiving and hope. A brief glance at the endless miles of land in Eastern Montana could well prompt the initial observer to remark that the land is devoid of life. But we know full well the teeming forces of nature are preparing to burst forth into new life and energy in but a short time.
I come to this month with all the human awareness of the messages which November offers. But hopefully I come as a person of faith who recognizes the need for the Lord, the importance of the Church, the great gift of the Eucharist, and the importance of people. I come with a sense of hope that as individuals and a community of faith that we are open to renewal and reconciliation, that we are able to deepen our relationship to the Lord and grow as disciples of Jesus.
For some, November is a dreary month. For me, it is a graced time as any time is when we open ourselves to the presence of God. Happy Thanksgiving!
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