All About the Turkey

Greetings!

Salutations to you! How are you doing? I hope that you are well. Next week here in the United States we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. Because of the unusual circumstances of this year of 2020 it promises to be unlike previous years in terms of overall festivities and potentially not getting together with family and friends in person. Be that as it may we can nonetheless take some time today and reflect upon the noble creature that is practically synonymous with the national holiday - the turkey. For years and years I was under the impression that one of the Founding Fathers had suggested that the turkey should be our national bird. Apparently this was not necessarily the case. Benjamin Franklin thought that compared to the bald eagle it was, “a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America...He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage” (fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/franklin-national-bird). However, he did not go so far as to claim that it should have been the symbol of our fledgling nation. In doing a bit of research I was pleasantly surprised to find out the following about the turkey:   Birds of a Feather - There are six subspecies of wild turkey, all native to North America. The pilgrims hunted and ate the eastern wild turkey, M. gallopavo silvestris, which today has a range that covers the eastern half of the United States and extends into Canada. These birds, sometimes called the forest turkey, are the most numerous of all the turkey subspecies, numbering more than five million. Gobble Gobble - Male turkeys are called “gobblers,” after the “gobble” call they make to announce themselves to females (which are called “hens”) and compete with other males. Other turkey sounds include “purrs,” “yelps” and “kee-kees.” Need for Speed - Turkeys can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and fly as fast as 55 miles per hour. Quite the Diet - Baby turkeys, called poults, eat berries, seeds and insects, while adults have a more varied diet that can include acorns and even small reptiles. Some History - In the 1940s, farmers and manufacturers began to send birds to the White House as a means of promoting the poultry industry. President George H. W. Bush was the first to formally grant the bird a Presidential pardon, taking a cue from the animal rights activists picketing nearby. Some More History - The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a time-honored American tradition with the first ceremony taking place in 1947. (Sources: smithsonianmag.com and whitehouse.gov) May God bless you and your loved ones as you prepare to gobble up another delicious Thanksgiving meal next week Thursday! 😊

Peace in Christ, Fr. James

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Trivia Question of the Week In the Gospel for Daily Mass today what does Jesus do when he saw the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)?  A. Laughed B. Danced C. Shrugged D. Wept See the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.

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Holy Land Pilgrimage

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Archdiocesan Consecration to St. Joseph

Archbishop Hebda will consecrate the Archdiocese to Saint Joseph on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, at 7:00 pm at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. COVID-19 protocols will be observed for those in attendance, and the event will be livestreamed.   The lay faithful are invited to join Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens in preparing for our Archdiocesan Year of St. Joseph, by making personal consecrations to St. Joseph through a 33-day preparation period during the year of St. Joseph. Learn how at the link below: Year of Saint Joseph

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Answer to the Trivia Question of the Week:

D. Wept

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