Members of the refugee community were served traditional Thanksgiving fare during Catholic Charities of Louisville’s annual Thanksgiving Celebration lunch Nov. 27 at St. Anthony’s campus on West Market Street.
By Ruby Thomas
A day before most Americans gather for Thanksgiving dinner, some newly resettled refugee families had their first taste of turkey during Catholic Charities of Louisville’s annual Thanksgiving Celebration lunch Nov. 27 at the Migration and Refugee Services campus, on West Market St.
The event was opened with prayer. Deacon Lucio Caruso, director of mission at Catholic Charities, shared with those gathered St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer “Sermon to Birds.”
“My sweet little sisters, birds of the sky you are bound to heaven, to God, your Creator. In every beat of your wings and every note of your songs, praise him.
He has given you the greatest of gifts, the freedom of the air. You neither sow, nor reap, yet God provides for you the most delicious food, rivers, and lakes to quench your thirst, mountains, and valleys for your home, tall trees to build your nests, and the most beautiful clothing: a change of feathers with every season. You and your kind were preserved in Noah’s Ark.
Clearly, our Creator loves you dearly, since he gives you gifts so abundantly. So please beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and always sing praise to God.”
Before the event kicked off, children and families created colorful Thanksgiving art with the help of student volunteers from St. Francis of Assisi School.
The families along with individuals from the community feasted on a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner, complete with pumpkin pie, prepared by students from the Charities’ Common Table culinary program.
Families were served traditional Thanksgiving foods during the annual Thanksgiving Celebration lunch.
A family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, above, took part in the festivities. Below, another family sat down together for a meal.
Students from St. Francis of Assisi helped a little girl make a Thanksgiving craft.
