Before the sun rose on New Orleans the day before Thanksgiving, the Blue Jay community gathered at Robért Fresh Market on Allen Toussaint Boulevard. Students, faculty, and alumni began arriving around 5 a.m. to purchase perishable food items for Jesuit’s annual Thanksgiving Drive, a service tradition that has supported families across the region for nearly a century.

In the weeks leading up to the event, homerooms, clubs, honor societies, athletic teams, and other student groups collected non-perishable food items on campus. These donations were combined with turkeys, once again provided by the Class of 1983, ensuring that each family received a complete Thanksgiving meal.

“I love seeing how students rise to the challenge of the Thanksgiving Drive,” said Paul Hatty, a history teacher and wrestling coach at Jesuit. “It’s a great opportunity for them to step into leadership roles and work collaboratively to shape the drive each year. I’ve been part of it for eight years, and no Thanksgiving Drive is ever the same. It’s truly student-driven, and they’re free to make it their own.”

After completing their early-morning shopping, students returned to campus to assemble the baskets for student groups to deliver. Once packing was complete, the school community gathered in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs for a prayer service and time of reflection.

This year’s prayer service incorporated the leadership and talents of many students and faculty. The procession to the front of the chapel was led by senior Patrick Talbot, carrying the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam banner, followed by senior Austin Indest with the Men for Others banner and juniors Owen Truxillo and Evan Morgan, who carried the Thanksgiving Baskets. Senior James Holmes proclaimed a reading from the Letter of James, and the choir—elevated by the direction of Patrick Cragin ’06 and Mark Duggan ’04—offered gracious hymns to guide the community in prayer, while senior Alex Siguenza led the Prayers of the Faithful. The service also featured a student and faculty reflection from senior Anderson Casebonne and coach Chris Jennings ’78, respectively.

“I pray that you take the call to serve others seriously throughout your lives. I pray today you see the joy of giving. May we never forget God’s blessings, God who blesses us abundantly in our family, in our friendships, in our faith, in education here at Jesuit. – Scott Delatte ’06

Casebonne shared insights from his summer at Krewe de Kamp, where he served as an attendant to a young camper named Kendrix who lives with Down syndrome and autism. Casebonne spoke about the challenges and joys of the week and how the experience deepened his understanding of what it means to serve with empathy.

“I had never felt the joy of service quite like I did at Krewe de Kamp,” Casebonne said. “We do service not because we have to, but because it is the right thing to do. The essential part of this whole process is empathy.” He encouraged his classmates to keep the needs of others at the forefront not only during the Thanksgiving Drive, but throughout their lives, reminding them of the call from Galatians to “serve one another through love.”

In his address, Jennings reflected on the significance of the Thanksgiving Drive, reminding students that more than 600 families will share a holiday meal because of Jesuit’s generosity. He spoke about the value of giving without seeking reward, lifting lines from the Prayer for Generosity to highlight the spirit behind the day’s work.

Jennings shared conversations from his sociology class about why Jesuit continues this tradition when other schools have the week off. He emphasized that the joy given to families in need—and the reminder that they are cared for—is what sets Jesuit apart. “Harbor no doubt about how good you are and can be,” he echoed from a beloved Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J., ’76 quote, urging students to recognize their capacity for goodness as “men for others.”

He also underscored the concrete impact of each class’s contributions, from the pre-freshmen to the seniors, noting moments of extraordinary giving within the student body. Jennings encouraged students to remember that their service offers families a sense of dignity and belonging, concluding with a call to live their faith through generosity, “all for the greater glory of God.”

The prayer service was celebrated by Fr. John Brown, S.J., with special guest Most Reverend James Checchio, Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans, whose presence added special significance to this year’s gathering. His participation underscored the deep connection between Jesuit High School and the Archdiocese and highlighted the spiritual foundation of the Thanksgiving Drive.

Archbishop Checchio, newly arrived in New Orleans from New Jersey, shared his gratitude for being welcomed into the Jesuit community and for witnessing the students’ service firsthand. Drawing on his years as a bishop and former rector of the American Seminary in Rome, he spoke warmly about his connection to Louisiana and the strong tradition of faith he has long seen in young people from the South.

He reminded students that Christ’s command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength” becomes tangible through service to others. Citing Jesus’s teaching that whatever we do for the least among us is done for Him, Checchio encouraged the students to see Jesus in those they assist, whether feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, or offering hope to those who suffer.

Acknowledging the brokenness of the world, he affirmed that acts of love and kindness are how Christians help “renew the face of the earth.” By serving with compassion, he told them, they make God present in a world in deep need of hope. Checchio closed by urging students to stay close to Christ in prayer and to continue making a difference in their community, assuring them of his prayers and asking them to keep him in theirs as he begins his ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Numerous co-curricular groups contributed to this year’s effort, including the Blue Jay Band, Cheerleaders, Jayettes, Sodality, Pro-Life Club, National Honor Society, Robotics Team, Philelectic Society, swim team, student council, and members of the administration and advancement teams. Their work ensured the efficient packing and organization of baskets on campus.

Alumni also played a vital role. Under the leadership of Service Project Coordinator Scott Delatte ’06, groups representing the classes of 1979, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2025 assisted with packing, logistics, and deliveries. These classes are collectively doing 172 baskets. A significant contribution from the alumni community, helped provide Thanksgiving meals to more than 230 families through alumni-supported efforts alone.

In total, the Jesuit community delivered 680 Thanksgiving baskets to households throughout the New Orleans area.

Jesuit’s Thanksgiving Drive remains one of the clearest expressions of the school’s mission to form men for others. Each year, the project invites students to step outside themselves, to recognize the dignity of those they serve, and to act with generosity rooted in faith.

This year’s drive continued that tradition, reminding the community that the joy found in service is both lasting and transformative.