Hendricken Thanksgiving lunch a joyful gathering

It’s beginning to look like a lot like a Thanksgiving tradition at Bishop Hendricken High School, where faculty members hosted a charitable community turkey luncheon for the second straight year to praise the gift of life, raise the cup of salvation as thanksgiving to God and rejoice in a mirthful milieu among likeminded townsfolk. 

Volunteers helped serve food to friends attending the holiday meal – some of whom have fallen on hard times and others who don’t have a family. The Hendricken jazz band provided seasonal selections and tables were colorfully decorated.

“This is a way to help them out,” said Peter Thomas, director of advancement at Bishop Hendricken. “Our community is extremely strong and extremely giving.”

Thomas is the brainchild of the Thanksgiving community meal and worked hard to organize catering provided complimentary of World Dining and coordinate transportation for seniors through Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.

“For us to do this – now our second year – we are thrilled,” he said.  

Mayor Scott Avedisian said the event was targeted for seniors, the less fortunate and those who were alone and wanted to celebrate but had nowhere to go.

“We started last year,” said Mayor Avedisian. “It was a little slow, but it almost doubled in size this year. We’ve seen good growth potential.”

Bishop Thomas Tobin delivered Holy Mass to the group of volunteers prior to the meal, speaking about the gift of life.

John Jackson, president at Bishop Hendricken, said he was appreciative for the bishop’s visit.

 “We’re certainly thankful for his presence here today, not only at Mass but to say a few words and give his blessing to this wonderful event,” said Jackson.

Volunteers served traditional hearty Thanksgiving fare and handed out free gloves, hats and socks donated by Ocean State Job Lot. 

“People are anxious to help,” said Jackson. “It’s one of the hallmarks of our community, that we stand in solidarity with our neighbors.” 

Michael Curran is the theology department chair at Hendricken and called the event a success.

 “The Mass was fantastic,” said Curran. “It’s always great when the bishop can come to school.”

As many may already know, Bishop Hendricken was the first bishop of the Diocese.

“Whenever the current bishop comes it’s really nice, especially for us institutionally,” he said.

And for those attending the event, it is a good way of meeting people. Two women met last year at the event and have stayed in touch ever since, both thankful for the chance encounter.

“I was home and I had nobody to spend Thanksgiving with so I came here,” says Patricia Antonelli, who was sitting next to Paula Thibault.

They both expressed how happy they were to discover the event.

“Especially when you’re alone, and you don’t have any place to go, it’s really nice to come – and everybody treats you nice,” says Antonelli.

Vice president for Mission Integration Vincent Mancuso said the Thanksgiving event was a long time in the planning and that last year they finally were able to “pull it all together and bring in enough partners to make it happen.”

“This is what we hope to be, the beginning of many of these kinds of community events,” said Mancuso. “We want to get Bishop Hendricken out into the community and we want to serve all of the larger community anytime we can. And this is how we decided to start.”