Thanksgiving around the diocese

Catholics across the Diocese of Phoenix supported food drives and other Thanksgiving traditions. The results were impressive:

• Food drives — Junior Vincentians and junior high students at St. Rose in Anthem restocked the parish pantry in time for Thanksgiving. The shelves were reportedly getting empty.
  Some parishioners, such as those at Blessed Sacrament in Tolleson, filled up a paper grocery bag with nonperishables and returned them to church in recent weeks.
  *Parishioners at St. Andrew the Apostle in Chandler and Blessed Sacrament in Scottsdale filled up grocery bags too with food stocking their own St. Vincent de Paul pantry and that of two poorer parishes in the diocese.

  

  *Clients at the Foundation for Senior Living’s Adult Day Health Center in Tempe also shared from their limited incomes during a food drive benefiting St. Vincent de Paul. This picture, likely of someone’s grandson, is precious.

• Turkey Tuesday — Volunteers were out at every Bashas’ and Food City grocery store Nov. 26 accepting turkeys and other Thanksgiving food items as well as monetary donations to benefit clients through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Highlights from some of the efforts:
  • Members of the St. Daniel the Prophet Conference spent 12 hours in front of a north Tempe Food City location.
  • Fifth-graders at Blessed Pope John XXIII School in Scottsdale led the campus-wide food drive that will help feed 90 families. Photo album.
  • St. Benedict’s conference staffed the turkey drop station at the Bashas’ at Dobson Road and Chandler Blvd.
  • Bourgade Catholic High School was also a donation dropoff point.

• A “visit” from the Mayflower — Elizabeth Warren traveled through time to teach students at several diocesan elementary schools about life on the Mayflower and in the early colonial days (photo). The annual effort is part of the diocesan Katzin Classical Music program which teaches students at underprivileged schools about the classics and other holiday traditions.

• Students — St. Francis Xavier students could return their grocery bag with a grocery gift card or with food inside. They also decorated the bag with symbols and words of what they’re thankful for. The food decorated the altar during Mass Nov. 20.
  *Sacred Heart students in Prescott moved 1,644 cans in less than 80 minutes during its annual canned food brigade. See the photo album.

  

  *Every student from St. Mary’s High School trekked two miles on foot to the Diocesan Pastoral Center today carrying 3,066 cans of food and other non-perishables with them. St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Truck picked them up.
  *Ss. Simon and Jude students filled up paper grocery bags for the parish’s food pantry. Volunteers expect to help more than 100 needy neighborhood families with their holiday meal.
  *Students at San Francisco de Asís School in Flagstaff will collect food, hygiene items and baby items through mid December in its first “Stuff the bus” effort.
  *Notre Dame Preparatory students raised $2,400 and a truckload of food for St. Vincent de Paul.
  *St. Timothy students collected items for Mesa’s Paz de Cristo Outreach Center.