Campuses Host Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

The Thomas Aquinas College community on both coasts sat down together to give thanks over good food at the College’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

New England

Students and faculty seated themselves in St. Frassati Student Center on Saturday evening, and the room grew loud with the buzz of cordiality and conversation. The night began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, sung by Isabella Caughron (NE’26). When everyone was seated, Dr. Daniel Gutschke read aloud George Washington’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation and Head Chaplain Rev. Greg Markey said grace.

The dinner was classic American Thanksgiving fare, and the College’s kitchen crew under Executive Chef Kevin Milligan outdid itself in preparation. One by one, each table went to the front of the room, returning shortly with plates piled high with turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce and Waldorf salad, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. 

Once all were seated and enjoying their meal together, New England Dean Dr. Steven Cain rose to make his Thanksgiving remarks. He began by expressing gratitude to both the United States of America and the College’s founders, emphasizing the country’s tradition of liberty, which makes it possible for the College even to operate.

“We should be grateful for this day,” observed Dr. Cain. “We should be grateful to our country for providing us with a society in which this college can exist in the world, and we should be grateful to the founders of this college, for beginning in the light of wisdom to provide for us.” Dr. Cain concluded his remarks with the Memorare prayer for the souls of the departed founders and resumed his seat amidst loud applause.

Afterward, Matthew Santos (NE’26) conducted a select student choir, finishing off by leading the assembly in singing “The Boar’s Head Carol.” As diners finished their pumpkin pie, the seniors awarded tutor Dr. Sean Cunningham the prize from the class’s fundraising raffle: a painting by Courtney Giovinazzi, TAC parent and artist who painted the portrait of St. Piergiorgio Frassati in the campus student center.

California

The next day, on the West Coast, students, faculty, and staff gathered in the beautifully decorated St. Joseph’s Commons in fine attire, ready for an evening of delicious food, delightful company, and, of course, gratitude. The clamor of conversation quieted as Head Chaplain Rev. Robert Marczewski opened the dinner with a prayer of thanksgiving and a blessing over the meal, after which Lucas Wozniak (CA’26) led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance, Maggie Lemmon (CA’26) sang the National Anthem, and Dr. Andreas Waldstein (’19) read George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation.

At last, dinner was served! Attendees enjoyed a classic Thanksgiving feast of turkey and gravy and various side-dishes, then watched, over an autumnal dessert of pumpkin cheesecake and coffee, as Dr. Michael Letteney, dean of the California campus, called Dr. Joseph Zepeda (’04) to the podium to congratulate him on his new role as assistant dean of student affairs.

Afterward, President Paul O’Reilly gave a Thanksgiving address, in which he expressed profound gratitude for two gifts “so woven into our daily lives that we might not notice them”: the gift of the TAC community, and the gift of priests, especially the College’s chaplains. Then, Dr. O’Reilly, alongside Dr. Letteney, presented each chaplain — Fr. Marczewski, Rev. Brendan Kelly, and Rev. Francisco Nahoe — with a token of gratitude.

In a glorious culmination of the evening, the student-led choral group Chrysostomos sang praises to God with several acapella renditions of classic hymns and folk songs. Fr. Francisco closed the dinner with a final blessing, marking the end of a lovely night, full of thankfulness to God.

More Thanksgiving Dinner photos from New England …

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… and California!