Sunday Mass should be summit of week

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, in the "Herald of Hope" column in "our" Milwaukee Catholic Herald, chose the Mass as his theme in light of the then-upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

The very word Eucharist means, as you probably know, thanksgiving. Simply put, the Mass, the Eucharist, is the most sacred, effective, powerful way we creatures can praise our astoundingly gracious Lord, our Father who lavishes countless gifts upon us.

Perhaps resulting in our associating Thanksgiving Day with the hymn We Gather Together, even if we gather, not at church, but at a relative's house. I've heard it suggested that Thanksgiving Day be made a holy day of obligation, but it might better serve as a day for a return to some customary religious observance in the home.

While leading a pilgrimage to Ireland, Archbishop Dolan struck up a conversation with an innkeeper over drinks. (Surely there must be some evangelization potential in "The Religion with a Cocktail Hour".) The Irish in Ireland have become somewhat estranged from the Church. Ireland's booming economy has drawn many recent migrants from Poland. Apparently Poles work in many of the same jobs in Ireland that we often see Mexicans working at here, like hotel housekeeping. The innkeeper contrasted the Poles more fervent faith with that of the native Irish.

"Their example got me back to church. I owe them not only my earthly prosperity, but, now, the health of my soul."

I have to wonder, though, if some of the Poles aren't drawn away from the Church by their lapsed Catholic surroundings.