Growing up, the family of Bishop Joseph Williams always started Thanksgiving with Mass. And as a priest, he said he has loved Thanksgiving Day Masses.
“No one’s obliged to be there,” he said. “The people that come are so grateful. They understand what they’ve received. They understand what a blessing to be in this country and to have the faith we have and to share that as a community.”
During a recent interview with “Practicing Catholic” radio show producer Kayla Mayer about Thanksgiving, he also recalled the traditional Thanksgiving food his family made — all wonderful, he said — “and of course, football.”
Thanksgiving is “a beautiful day to be together” and to welcome those who may not have family nearby, Bishop Williams said, recalling he did that “a lot” while in the seminary. “I’d ask my parents if I could invite them to our table because you don’t want to be alone on a holiday like this.”
Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks but “gratitude is always in season,” Bishop Williams said, and should be a daily spiritual exercise. He said he learned that lesson “beautifully” from an elderly priest at a silent retreat, who seemed to carry “a light, a joy of peace” about himself, even after many years of priesthood.
Bishop Williams asked the priest for the secret to his joyful priesthood, and he replied, “attitude of gratitude, number one,” adding that after he wakes up each morning, the priest makes coffee, sits in a chair and writes a gratitude list. And Bishop Williams has done the same “almost every morning of his life” since then.
“And that peace enters,” Bishop Williams said. “You realize God is in control. He was there yesterday. He’s going to be here today. He’s going to act. I’m not alone. … It’s beautiful to see those little touches, those little answered prayers, the words that he speaks to us through others; they’re always there.”
Asked to name a favorite Thanksgiving tradition, Bishop Williams recalled the family sitting around the piano with his grandmother playing “Over the river and through the woods,” with the whole family singing it with her.
Mayer also asked the bishop about his favorite Thanksgiving food. To hear his response, and to hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Nov. 17 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 19.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with David Kruse, founder and chief executive officer of Orémoose, who discusses his faith and his handcrafted leather products; and Jeremy Stanbary, founder and executive artistic director of Open Window Theatre in Inver Grove Heights, who describes the upcoming performance of “Nicholas,” which opens in December.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at https://anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
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