COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School conducted its annual Thanksgiving liturgy Nov. 16. The Rev. Alfred Sceski, chaplain, was celebrant for the special liturgy, and the Rev. Andrew Stahmer was concelebrant.
Members of the boys service club and girls action league were in charge of arrangements, under the direction of Violette Feudale.
Participants included Michael Sowash, cross bearer; Tristen Riegel and Tyler Holleran, altar servers; Christina Jones, Caitlyn Persing and Felicia Bartello, lectors; Brianna Barwick, Christopher Feudale, Nathaniel Long and Kaitlyn Sandri, offertory gifts; Rachel Davis and Tristen Riegel, distribution of programs, and Michael Feudale, Grier Melick, Tyler Wolfe and John Fitzpatrick, flag bearers.
Christian service is a long-standing tradition at Lourdes. The annual Manna drive, which is coordinated in association with the Thanksgiving liturgy, receives enthusiastic response from the entire Lourdes community. The spirit of Christian charity was clearly evident during the liturgy as administration, faculty, staff and the entire student body presented non-perishable food donations to fill baskets. In addition, monetary donations were received to provide gift certificates with each basket.
The Pre-K and kindergarten boys and girls were dressed as Pilgrims and Indians and in patriotic clothes to help students recall the first Thanksgiving. The students, under the direction of Joyce Sickora, Anne Marie Tehansky and Mary Bias, performed the song "God Bless America."
Following the liturgy, members of the boys service club and girls action league delivered baskets to 31 needy families in in time for Thanksgiving dinner.