It’s tough to mess with a tradition. But the Knights of Columbus did it successfully last Saturday. They were hosting their annual Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church.
The meal was scheduled for 12 o’clock, and almost everyone arrived early. This is not an occasion where people tend to come fashionably late. As the guests entered the building, a group of teenagers greeted them and pointed them toward the gymnasium, where the free meal was about to be served.
By noon, the rows of long tables were filled. Grand Knight Jerry Gilman, conspicuous in a tuxedo, welcomed the guests and passed the microphone to Father Bob for the invocation. The priest said that there is reason to be grateful every day, and not just on Thanksgiving. He joked that the guests could be thankful that his prayer wasn’t long enough to delay their meal.
After the grace, the change in procedure was introduced. In past years, the teens went into the kitchen, filled plates, and brought them out for the seniors. This year the meal was served buffet style. And no one objected to the break with tradition.
It was festive to see the holiday treats positioned side by side in the front of the room. There were the usual staples – turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, rolls and vegetables. (The desserts, including ice cream, came out later.) The adult servers were smiling as they filled every plate.
The teens still kept busy. They took special orders, and brought food to the people who weren’t able to stand on line. After their work was done, the kids sat in the lobby, balanced plates on their laps, and enjoyed the same meal as everyone else.
Reservations weren’t necessary. The Knights prepared for 150 guests, and (according to Joe Hanley, one of the organizers) that’s the exact number they had.
