We had promised the sisters of the St. Maurice community (near the Kitchen) that we would have them over to the Centre for Thanksgiving dinner -- until Covid got in the way. This year we finally fulfilled our promise. France does not have a national holiday like Thanksgiving so the sisters learned the story of the Pilgrims and the Native People who got together for a three-day feast in 1621. Since the emphasis today is on the offerings and help of the Native People, our prayer of thanks recognized the Earth, sun, moon, stars, and the Great Spirit who is constantly looking out for all of us.
The Hostesses
We are all ready for our guests to arrive and donned in our orange outfits for the occasion. Olga did the cooking and Eluiza did everything else, including setting up the appetizers, table setting, and all of the pretty decorations.
The Table
We had fashioned our tables in orange and provided menus (in the French way). We all sat at one table while each course was served buffet-style at each of the other three tables in our dining room.
The sisters brought us gifts of special candied cherries and wine.
Let the celebration begin!
Stuffed mushrooms was the second course appetizer made Italian style with chopped mushrooms, onions, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic powder, and parsley.
Our main course turned out to be flavorful as well as colorful. Below, the sisters helped themselves to the turkey, squash (with butter and Herbs de Provence), broccoli, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. These foods were largely unfamiliar, but they loved them for their tastiness.
Dessert with French apple pie and champagne. Dessert was preceded by the cheese course of brie and comté and followed by espresso café. Cutting pies is Eluiza's favorite thing to do.
Below is the menu and the prayer that was furnished by the Leadership Team of the Congregation of St. Joseph. The team sent it to everyone so we used it at the Centre on this day to be in unity with them. It includes a brief explanation of the prayer's focus and significance.
Thanksgiving 2023
Drinks Amaretto
Appetizer Stuffed mushrooms Italian-style
Main course Roast turkey
Squash
with herbs de Provence
Broccoli
Cranberry sauce
Sweet potatoes
Cheese course Brie and comté
Dessert Apple pie with champagne
Coffee
As we celebrate the United States’ National Day of Thanksgiving, we might include in our prayer an acknowledgment to the indigenous people, who before us gathered upon this land and gave thanks to our Creator. We might also acknowledge the foods of the indigenous people that we use for our celebration, including The Three Sisters: corn, squash, and beans.
Iroquois Prayer (Adapted origin undocumented)
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.
We return thanks to the wind, moves the air.
We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness and who directs all things for our good.
