I would like to share my prayer of Thanksgiving. My parents Alfons and Mary Jane Krzemecki were always praying for the intercession ofd St. Jude. Dad kept a copper type “coin” of St. Jude in his pocket at all times. Today, October 28 is the Feast Day of St. Jude. For our family we remember October 28, 1945 as the day that Dad and his identical twin brother Edward were rescued from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Phillipines. Their ship (U.S.S. Gambier Bay) was sunk during WWII in the largest Naval battle in history–the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Dad and Uncle Eddie were one of the last to abandon their aircraft carrier because they were part of the repair team of the ship. By the time that they jumped overboard there were no more life rafts. The two twin brothers saw a coil of rope on the flight deck of the ship just before jumping into the water. They tied themselves together with some rope between themselves. The twins attached themselves to a life raft by holding onto the side with their shoulder and arm. They took turns staying awake day and night to watch over the other brother. At their waist each had a homemade knife that they had welded aboard ship which they used to kill the sharks that approached them. Their time in the water lasted from the day the ship sank (Oct. 25) until early on October 28–the Feast of St. Jude. For days planes and a rescue ship were searching for survivors. In the darkness before dawn, they were discovered and rescued early in the morning of October 28. I am forever grateful for the intercession of St. Jude, apostle of Jesus and to Jesus Himself in saving my father and uncle by “providing visible and speedy help where help is most despaired of.” 80 years ago today (Oct. 28, 2025) , we remember the rescue and give thanks.