In pursuit of God’s greater glory, Jesuit is committed to forming Blue Jays as men for others. This mission is vividly demonstrated through Jesuit’s annual Thanksgiving Drive, a nearly 100-year-old tradition of service that continues to make a difference for hundreds families in the New Orleans area each year.

In the early hours of the morning, the Jesuit community gathered at Robért Fresh Market on Allen Toussaint Boulevard to shop for perishable food items, a key component of Jesuit’s longstanding initiative. In the weeks leading up to this day, alumni, faculty, staff, homerooms, clubs, honor societies, and other student organizations collected non-perishable goods. These items were combined into baskets with turkeys generously donated by the Class of 1983.

After completing their shopping at Robért’s and returning to campus, students and faculty assembled the groceries into deliverable boxes. The community then gathered for the first time this school year in the newly renovated Chapel of the North American Martyrs for time of prayer and adoration, led by Fr. Roy Joseph, S.J.

During the prayer service, senior Christian Thomas shared the depth of his experience working at the US-Mexico border, where he served as a language interpreter for his group. Alongside 11 other students, Thomas collaborated with several charitable organizations, gaining a deeper understanding of the complex issues facing migrants.

Reflecting on his service, Thomas said, “Foreign languages have always been a passion of mine, and I was really happy to put my skills to use.” He continued, “I learned that politics must always take a back seat to faith, not the other way around.”

He connected this to the Thanksgiving Drive, noting, “We step up where others have failed. Generosity not only through material goods, but also through our volunteer time.” He emphasized, “Do we see the inherent dignity in those whom we’re serving?” Thomas concluded, “Service in general is really moving and can change your perspective on everything.”

Guidance counselor Mary Favalora also addressed the school community, recounting her personal story of resilience and the transformative generosity of Jesuit during a challenging time in her life.She shared how, in her teenage years, her family faced financial hardship, and Jesuit offered them a home when they had nowhere else to turn. Reflecting on this experience, she emphasized the deeper meaning of service, stating, “Never ever judge a book by its cover. You just don’t know what people are truly going through.”

Favalora concluded with a heartfelt reminder: “Remember, it is in giving that we receive. What do we receive? We receive joy. Joy is the antidote for despair, disconnectedness, emptiness, and loneliness. And joy is highly contagious. Today and every day, gentlemen, go out and spread it.” Her words underscored the lasting impact of compassion and the importance of being instruments of God’s love in the lives of others.

Service Project Coordinator Scott Delatte ’06 concluded the service by expressing gratitude to the student body for their dedication and hard work. He extended thanks to the alumni who participated, highlighting the efforts of individual classes—1983, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022—and the substantial contribution from Mike Prados ’83 and the general alumni base, who collectively supported over 370 families. Alumni groups played a vital role in packaging boxes and managing logistics at Carrollton & Banks throughout the morning.

The Thanksgiving Drive received enthusiastic participation from various co-curricular and school groups, including the Blue Jay Band, Cheerleaders, Jayettes, Sodality, Pro-Life Club, National Honor Society, Mentoring Group, Robotics Team, Philelectic Society, swim team, student council, administrative team, and advancement team. Once the baskets were assembled on campus, homerooms, alumni, and other groups distributed 640 baskets to homes in the New Orleans area.

Richard Williams ’14, a Spanish teacher and Jesuit alumnus, reflected, “It takes a village to raise a child, as the old adage goes. As a Jesuit alumnus and now teacher, I would just add that it takes a village to teach a Blue Jay; and I believe that that is a key component of what the Thanksgiving Drive is all about. I have come to realize that the Drive is not just a unilateral charitable enterprise in which Blue Jays reach out to and serve their community (though that is certainly a central part). The Drive is just as much about the community, by giving the Blue Jays this opportunity to serve, educating and showing these young men how to serve Christ in their neighbors. In the well-known gospel passage Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus told the blessed that, by serving those in need, they had actually been serving Him all along. Likewise, hopefully, Blue Jays will find, just as I have found, that Christ, through the recipients of Thanksgiving baskets, was the one teaching them all along about how to serve Him and thereby become saints. In this sense, hopefully, Blue Jays discover in the Thanksgiving Drive that they have a whole ‘village’ forming them: both their teachers on campus and their ‘teachers’ off campus who taught them to find and serve Christ. For this reason, I am so honored to have now been able to participate in the Drive both as a student and now as a Jesuit alumnus and faculty member; and the opportunity to serve, in my opinion, is something all Blue Jays should give thanks for.”