On Thursday, many spent time reflecting upon the many blessings they are thankful for. St. John’s, located on Creighton’s Campus, also joined in this tradition as the parish celebrated its annual Thanksgiving Spirit mass at 9 a.m. Students, alumni, faculty members and community members came together to celebrate this Thanksgiving Day mass as a Creighton community.

According to David Scholl, the liturgist of St. John’s, this is a very appropriate Thanksgiving activity,.

“Thanksgiving is the very celebration of Eucharist,” Scholl said. “Eucharist means thanksgiving in Greek.  Every Eucharistic liturgy is an offering of thanks to God for the salvation brought by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.”

The Thanksgiving Sprit mass developed as an annual tradition for the alumni who attend as they come into town to spend time with family and friends for the holiday. The mass allows for former Bluejays to come back to campus on a special day and to reconnect with the values of Creighton University.

The mass also serves as reminder of all that Creighton University has to be thankful for.

“The opportunity to study and learn, teach and research, in the Catholic and Ignatian intellectual tradition [is what I’m most thankful for],” Scholl said. “Because we’re a Catholic institution, we see all pursuits of truth as related to the one who is truth. Many people throughout the world, and even in our own country, lack means and or opportunity to pursue higher education.”

Christine Gonderinger, an Arts & Sciences freshman and Omaha native, made the trip back to campus to attend the annual mass, both to commemorate what she is thankful for and also to hear the Rev. Timothy Lannon, S.J. deliver the homily. Gonderinger concurs that Creighton has a lot to be thankful for but also notes how thankful for Creighton she is.

“The things I am most thankful for; my friends, education, and happiness … they all stem from Creighton being the great school it is,” Gonderinger said.

written by: Claudia Brock