Thanksgiving Afternoon!

This afternoon we had over 200 guests join us in celebrating Thanksgiving here at the North American College, they joined us for a pull-out-all-of-the-stops Eucharistic Celebration which was led by Alum and big-time advocate and supporter of our College, Edmund Casmir Cardinal Szoka. His Thanksgiving homily recalled the history of Thanksgiving and how this American Cultural Celebration of giving thanks to God for our many blessings has grown to be a celebration which is not only recognized in the States but in every country of the world where Americans live. He made mention to those of us, the +400, gathered at the NAC observing the Thanksgiving celebration in Italy was proof positive of this global cultural observance. Cardinal Szoka concluded with the call to maintain the divine origin of our thankfulness to remain faithful to those founding roots of hearth and home which bring us together this day. And it is on this day of thanks that our hearts and minds are elevated as we thank the Lord for our many blessings within our families as we enjoy each other's company this day.
After the mass we gathered in the Refectory, fancy seminary talk for cafeteria, to partake in our traditional American feast. Not to our surprise, we were greeted with a first course of ravioli, and it is only here, in Italy, where the chefs could get away with such an abomination on Thanksgiving Day. What was to follow surely made up for such an Itailan dietary introduction to our coma-inducing feast. We were served turkey, green beans, the famous canned cranberry sauce [with the can ripples], and wonderfully seasoned and prepared mashed potatoes. You are right gravy was not mentioned, another oversight which was overlooked in the kitchen but not noticed by many as the preperation did not call for such a sauce.
After our main meal 2 of our 5th year priests gave an exquisitely hilarious presentation on the origins and manifestations of Pumpkin Pie at the feast of Thanksgiving. This comedic prelude was brilliantly concluded with a lyrical adaptation of that Rock and Roll favorite by Don McLean, 'American Pie' into a more fitting presbyteral rendition now popularly known as 'Pumpkin Pie'! During this sacerdotal serenade of succulent side-dishes, pumpkin pie was delivered to each table donned in a generous and aesthetically pleasing adornment of whipped topping. This was the cherry which topped our gluttonous feast of culinary goodness!
For those of you back home, you can be rest assured that we at the North American College tasted a little bit of home this day as we gathered at table to share in the aforementioned feast while recalling our own falimies' traditions and much anticipated dishes [i.e. cheesy potatoes] which make each one of our familial experiences unique under roof of holiday gatherings.
To all of you I hope that your Thanksgiving experiences will be as wonderful as mine!
Thanks be to God for all of our great gifts but most of all for our gift of life wherein we can enjoy this day, and, at the Eucharistic Table, where we are invited to commune with those heavenly resdients with whom we have been invited through our greatest gift Jesus Christ!
Thank you and God Bless,
Jeremy Trowbridge