In Praise of What God Has Done

This Mission Has Had God’s Constant Blessing

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I’ve had Bing Crosby’s performance of “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For” from the movie Holiday Inn stuck in my head:

With the song and the Thanksgiving season, I’ve been reflecting on the abundance of blessings that I’m thankful for over the history of St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission.

There have been many rough storms that the mission has weathered over the years – maelstroms that should have sunk us. But Jesus keeps showing up, walking us across the water, asking us to trust Him just a little bit more. Then he calms the storm, and we rejoice…so I’m firstly thankful for God’s faithfulness and providence. Some particular examples of “storms” include:

• Surviving three deficit years during our startup – unpaid bills racking up while our missionary staff members waited up to three months for paychecks;
• Navigating a sudden 9000% increase in our property tax bill in 2008. The $147,000 bill was reduced to 18% of that amount and finally to 4% through negotiations and many prayers and novenas;
• Recovering from a steam boiler explosion October in 2012 and the success of an associated $100,000 fundraising campaign;
• Re-roofing the entire facility – a 9-year project (2016-2025) accomplished through multiple campaigns that funded about $250,000 in total costs;
• Surviving the COVID shutdown of our program in March of 2020 and navigating a facility-wide outbreak the following year.

In each case, God showed His faithful heart for this mission, providing the real-world graces that each challenge required.

Secondly, I am thankful for our partners in mission – all of you readers – for your dedication to prayer, volunteerism, and generous financial support. You are the hands and hearts that God uses when St. Therese Institute is in need. In times of clear sailing, your prayers and support of funding and personal talents are the winds that propels us forward to new horizons of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, I’m thankful for the 408 young women and men who have said “Yes!” to the call to make God first in their lives by journeying for one year (or more) at St. Therese Institute. It is a huge and humbling blessing to have known each of these receptive souls; to see God at work in their lives. Six have gone on to become monks or priests; 2 are in seminary; 11 have taken vows or are living in discernment with female religious communities. Many more have married and are striving to raise holy families. All impact the world through their faith and joy.

Fourthly, I am thankful for the mission crew – both present and past. These colleagues inspire me with their committed love for God, their dedication to prayer and the Sacraments, their wisdom and knowledge in theological matters, and their open heart for everyone around them. From directors and administrators to cleaners and cooks, teachers and formators, support roles and volunteers: St. Therese would not be what it is today without the unique contributions brought by each missionary staff member over the 19 years since our 2006 founding.

Fifthly (and finally), I’m thankful for our local community:

• the people of Bruno;
• our parish of St. Bruno; and
• our Saskatoon diocese.

The people of Bruno always say “hi” to each other. They wave as they pass by in their vehicles and are truly willing to help when someone is in need. At St. Bruno Parish, St. Therese Institute community members assist with music, altar serving, reading, and ushering at Mass. We take part in a variety of parish events, and I’m grateful for Fr. Pius’s visits to St. Therese Institute to say Mass in our chapel and hear confessions, too. We are also members of the local diocese, and I value the bishop’s support of our lay apostolate. We love having Bishop Mark visit throughout the year to say Mass…and to join sports in the gym!

Thanks be to God for all these blessings; for the love and support of our families and for all His plans which are yet to be revealed to us. I pray that God bless each of you, too, through the ongoing mission and work of St. Therese Institute…in ways large and small.

James Riley has been on the St.Therese Institute mission staff since our first program year in AD2007. He currently serves as STIFM Deputy of Operations.