Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Sunday, December 1, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Rite of Acceptance and First Sunday of Advent, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Wednesday, December 4, 2002 5:00 p.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, December 5, 2002 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 1:00 p.m. -- Attend Deans' Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Sunday, December 1, 2002 1:00 p.m. -- Participate at Communal Reconciliation Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison Tuesday, December 3, to Wednesday, December 4, 2002 Attend Annual Retreat of Wisconsin Religious Leaders, Wisconsin Council of Churches, American Baptist Center, Green Lake Wednesday, December 4, 2002 5:00 p.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, December 5, 2002 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 11:00 a.m. -- Chair Board Meeting for Office for Continuing Education of Priests, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Thanksgiving in the New Millennium

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

Since 1620, when the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, to 2002, when we have become a multicultural community shore-to-shore, the people of our country have given thanks to the Lord our God.

After many years of growth and change, years of peace and years of strife, we are still the land of the free, the home of the brave.

"We all know, down deep, that life was given to cherish, and we are to use our life to promote a way of life in the universe that leads not only to personal satisfaction, but also is given in loving service of those with less than ourselves."

Thanks and prayer

The traditional observance of Thanksgiving as a national day of thanks and prayer can be characterized in many positive ways.

Churches, schools, and families all re-enact some aspect of our national holiday by being grateful, saying a prayerful thanks, and truly acknowledging the basic goodness of our gift of human life.

So very many wonderful advances have come for us to enjoy, and indeed we express our thanks for the ongoing unfolding of the creative power of God.

Scientific advancements, medical research, continual exploration in outer space -all point to the inexhaustible riches of our created universe, giving us new reason to thank the Creator.

Working to improve life

"Is there life on other planets?" is a type of question that beckons us to ask others: how can we find out by observation and exploration, what new ways can we discover to harness and use energy to make life better, and how can we make human living less burdensome and, of course, safe?

The gift of life is at the heart of Thanksgiving. We all stand in prayer to the God who gives us life. We cower in fear when we look at what enemies to that life and goodness swirl around us, threatening peace, justice, and the well-being of people.

I refer to terrorism and the hate that accompanies its weaponry. I refer to the impending war in Iraq. I refer to the needless, senseless, fruitless buildup of biochemical and nuclear weapons, drawing us closer to war.

Enemies of peace, enemies of life

I refer also to the continued abortion issue in our country, when millions of children are thrown out, discarded from the womb as unwanted, and who will never be able to see the light of day and enjoy all the goodness of our true American freedoms.

I refer to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, nuclear war, capital punishment. These are active enemies to that which in our hearts we should cherish most - consistently, constantly, and clearly - namely the gift of human life, its dignity, and basic right.

Environmentalists continue to remind us about the threats of pollution to our land, air, and sea, and of the ongoing biological warfare from anthrax to weapons unleashed upon humanity, not to mention snipers.

Thanksgiving in America

At Thanksgiving, nonetheless, we come together to speak our sentiments of gratitude. We hug each other in love as a sign that we do care and are concerned for the well-being of all.

We all know, down deep, that life was given to cherish, and we are to use our life to promote a way of life in the universe that leads not only to personal satisfaction, but also is given in loving service of those with less than ourselves.

We also, with firm faith, know that life for us here on earth carries with it an eternal promise - life everlasting in the Kingdom of heaven. It will all come to be when Christ comes again and the fashion of this world fades in order to give way to the new.

That new world is described in this way: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the human heart the things God has prepared for those who love him."

Just passing through

This Thanksgiving 2002 finds us struggling on many levels of our human condition, but it also finds us in touch with the pilgrim aspect of our journey, that is: we are just passing through this vale of tears on our way to the Lord's mountain, where our true home is heaven.

In spite of it all we have so much for which to be thankful to our God. Equally so, we pledge more and more to be people of prayer, keeping God central in our life.

The word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving," so let us go to our parish churches on Thanksgiving to pray our thanks, and to receive Jesus, the Lord of Life, true God and true man, Savior of us all.

I give thanks to God for all of you and I am grateful to have the privilege of serving you as Bishop. I ask your prayers for me. This Thanksgiving and always, I wish you God's grace, mercy, and peace. Happy Thanksgiving!