December 2, 2011
Entertaining angels in Knox County
Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner in Vincennes sponsored by the Knox County Catholic Churches are Donna Lancaster, coordinator of the event, her grandson, Owen Lancaster, and Olivia Lankford. (Message photo courtesy Zoe Cannon) Click for a larger version.
By ZOE CANNON (Special to the Message)
An exhortation in chapter 13 of Hebrews is taken to heart by parishioners of churches in Knox County: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
A community Thanksgiving meal has been organized for several years in Vincennes for those in need of company and a hot meal for this day of blessings. Father Dave Fleck, pastor of St. John the Baptist and St. Philip Neri churches in Vincennes and coordinator, Donna Lancaster, certainly experienced this kind of generosity on Thanksgiving Day, as they organized the parishes of Knox County for the annual Thanksgiving Day meal.
Members from all Knox County Catholic Parishes: St. John the Baptist, St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart, St. Philip Neri, St. Thomas and Old Cathedral, where the meal was prepared and served, all participated in this day of giving.
All the traditional foods and trimmings were prepared, and nine turkeys were baked to serve over 150 meals, by more than 50 helpers. The meals were delivered by volunteers to homes of those not able to come to the Old Cathedral parish center at Third and Vigo Street. Free taxi service was donated by Knox County EMS to bring people to the center for the hot meal.
There were children as young as six years old, teens, grandmas and grandpas, all helping to cook, serve, clean tables and carry trays. The people arrived about 11 a.m. and a blessing was offered before the meal was served. The fellowship and hot meal were just a small portion of the joy received on this Thanksgiving Day in Vincennes. Reaching out in love to those in need with a meal, and sharing our blessings, is exactly what Jesus preached in the Gospels. The holiday season is a beautiful time to share our gifts with one another.
The Catholic Church begins a New Liturgical Year during this time of year. Catholics are practicing new words of prayer in the New Roman Missal, an opportunity to be attentive to the Celebration of Eucharist in the Holy and Living Sacrifice of the Mass.
This Advent season, Christians are once again called to prayerfully ask God to show them where he needs them to serve — where in their thoughtfulness and willingness to serve others, they too may come across angels in their company.