Thanksgiving Feast

Like the Pilgrims and the Indians, the kindergarten students at St. Columbkille Catholic School gathered to give thanks and enjoy a feast together.

Harvest Litany

Once you begin to do something a certain way once, it becomes a tradition for a child. "We ALWAYS put up the Christmas tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving!" or "We ALWAYS have hot chocolate after midnight Mass." These ALWAYS traditions might have only been started last year, but for a child, we always do it this way.

Thanksgiving as a national holiday is similar. Began as a way to give thanks for the previous year's harvest, today we might not have that practice since most of us are not cutting harvest from the field.

What other "harvests" can we give thanks for? Perhaps this thanksgiving litany will assist you in always giving thanks!

Harvest Litany of Thanks

For human life, both those given and those received, We Thank you Lord.

For the opportunity to labor for you, We Thank you Lord.

For loved ones both near and far, We Thank you Lord.

For the young who teach us wonder, We Thank you Lord.

For the old who teach us wisdom, We Thank you Lord.

For times of joy to balance times of sorrow, We Thank you Lord.

For You, We Thank you Lord.

Thanksgiving Reader's Theater

Yesterday, before the break, the Second Grade students at St. Columbkille Catholic School put on the Thanksgiving Reader's Theater as they demonstrated their skills to some fellow students and parents.

Delivering Thanksgiving

Working with various groups 350 families from Bellevue to Gretna and La Vist to Springfield were identified that might not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving without a little help this year. Boxes were prepared so the family would have everything they needed to celebrate including a turkey, a loaf of bread, and even cereal for breakfast.

When our families arrived, they found an envelope containing the addresses of those receiving the meas. Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, each family also received a $5 gift certificate.

So the items were all loaded up and sent out.

Unadulterated Joy - Happy Thanksgiving!

I received an early Christmas gift this week – one moment of pure, unadulterated joy.

I was slowing down for a stoplight Tuesday afternoon and caught a commotion out the corner of my eye. A kid was waving from a school bus window, trying to get my attention. And to be honest, I thought he was going to be rude.

Instead, he wished me a happy Thanksgiving. With a great big smile.

I waved back and wished him the same, but I doubt he heard me through my closed window. Then he went on to other drivers and pedestrians at the intersection, spreading his joy everywhere. I suppose he was thrilled to be heading home for Thanksgiving break. Maybe he’s just usually that happy.

That exchange happened at the perfect moment for me, after a long, stressful week. It was indeed a gift.

But after I reflected on it, it became even more of a gift. It made me realize how much I longed for and needed joy in my life. Children have a natural sense of joy, but somehow I’d lost mine and become cynical and depressed.

In a way, God showed me Charles Dickens-like ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in one moment. Yes, God gave me – Scrooge – a vision of sorts.

The joyful boy reminded me that I hadn’t always been so down, how happy I should be despite any present difficulties, and an image of the happiness He has destined for me.

I still can envision that child’s happy face, and it makes me long for lasting joy.

So I think I found my inspiration for Advent. I need to pray for God’s help in ending my doom-and-gloom attitude, which poisons the people around me, get back to a childlike joy and become the person He meant me to be.

The Fullness of Joy is awaiting at Christmas.

Let us begin now to make room for Him – and await Him with expectant hope.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Thanksgiving Feast

Because of much help from parents, the Kindergarten students at St. Columbkille Catholic School were able to enjoy a Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday. They all dressed as Pilgrims or Indians to help them think about the First Thanksgiving..