Prayer of Thanksgiving for the First Year of TAC, New England

Note: The tutors and staff of Thomas Aquinas College, New England, celebrated the end of their campus’ first year on Wednesday with a small gathering at Wilson House, the home of Associate Dean Thomas Kaiser. “By that time all grades were in and recorded; report cards were made and in envelopes,” says Dr. Kaiser. “All students in Northfield passed. Deo Gratias!”

In honor of the occasion, Chaplain Rev. Greg Markey offered the following prayer, thanking God for the campus’ inaugural year, which —pandemic and early departure notwithstanding —marked an auspicious beginning for Thomas Aquinas College on the East Coast.

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the First Academic Year of
Thomas Aquinas College, New England

by Rev. Greg Markey, chaplain

 

Rev. Greg Markey Lord Jesus, the first Apostles were busy working, and You said to them, “‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed Him” (Mark 1:17). We thank You for having called to us to leave our jobs, to take our families and all that we hold dear, and to follow You to Northfield, so as to make new disciples for Your church.

Lord Jesus, You told Your disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). We thank You for the gift to be a teacher of Your sacred doctrine.

Lord, You created the heavens and the earth, and then looked upon Your creation and saw that it was good (Genesis 1:31). We thank You for the four seasons, for the wildlife, for the rich foliage, and the beauty of our campus.

Lord, You have said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28). We thank You for the gift of life, and the three new children who were born on our campus this year.

Lord, You have said, “It is not good for man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We thank You for the deepening of old friendships and the many new friendships that we formed this past year.

Lord Jesus, You told Your disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). We thank you for the crosses You have given each one us, which conforms us to Your Passion and becomes the leaven for the future of the College.

Lord, You have said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 135:1). We thank You for not punishing us as our sins deserve, but for continually showing us Your abundant mercy.

Lord, You have said, “O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 95:1). We thank You for the gift of sacred music whereby we sing Your praises, and which fills our hearts with joy.

Lord Jesus, You have told Your disciples, “I will not leave you orphans” (John 14:18). We thank You for the signal grace of favor You have given us during this coronavirus, that while the rest of the world experienced want and famine, we have had the daily Sacraments, the most precious of gifts, Your True Presence among us.

Lord Jesus, You have told us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should last” (John 15:16). We thank You for having chosen us to be part of the founding team of Thomas Aquinas College here in New England.