When I turned 87 years of age on June 9, I figured that it was
time for a little reflection!

I thank God for my parents and for the gift of life which God gave me through them!
I thank God the Father for the gift of the Faith in Jesus Christ, his Son, and the
Holy Spirit
and the privilege of being a member of his Church.
I thank God for giving me the great privilege of being  born a citizen of this great Country
and of serving in its defense in the Second World War.
I thank God for the gift of sharing in the priesthood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ
and of being a successor of the apostles!
I thank God for the privilege of serving as a shepherd to his flock in
Miami, Pensacola-Tallahassee and Corpus Christi.
I thank God for all those who collaborated with me in my ministry,
priests, religious and laity!
I thank God for you and all my friends, like you, that I have come to know and love
over the past 86 years.
I thank you for all that you, my friends and readers, have given to me over the years, especially
your friendship, your love, your affection and understanding.
I ask God to bless you abundantly and to protect and shelter you
from all harm!
I do not ask God to enable me to celebrate my 88th birthday next year,
but only that he enable me to live each of my remaining days here on earth,
however many they may be,
in loving obedience to his divine will!
+Rene Henry Gracida
Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi