Latino religious songs were performed by the group Sagrada Familia. PHOTO: Rebecca Willis
The 27th annual Thanksgiving Eve Service, a worship service of prayers, readings, and music from a variety of faith traditions, was held Wednesday November 21, 2012, at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Cathedral in downtown Reno with over four hundred persons in attendance.
Food items were donated to the Northern Nevada Food Bank, and monetary donations were given to Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet. Nearly $1500 was raised for the Clothes Closet, which included a $500 donation from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
This year’s service was unique in that it focused primarily on music and was meant to appeal specifically to the members of the Latino community who are among the primary supporters and congregants of St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral.
Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. delivers Benediction. PHOTO: Rebecca Willis
Gene Savoy Jr. chaired the organizing committee as president of the Nevada Clergy Association, which sponsors the event. He also gave the benediction, reading from the Thanksgiving Hymns of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Radheka Patel Savoy reads Gayatri Mantra in Hindi. PHOTO: Rebecca Willis
Radheka Patel Savoy, a Hindu by religious tradition, read from the Gayatri Mantra in English and Hindi as part of the program.
Present at the service were members of the Savoy family and several other members of the Second Advent Church Community.