If you were in the Community of Sant’Egidio’s dinning room in Trastevere, Rome on the evening of Thanksgiving this year, you would have found the Honorable Amato Berardi, a member of the Italian Parliament, and his staff Dr. Alma Laias, Pasquale Gatti, Antonella Picariello, Susan Evans and Enzo Ardovino, happily carving turkey and serving dinner to over 100 guests.

On the last Thursday in November, it is traditional for America to celebrate the day of Thanksgiving, the most important day in the American calendar.  Thanksgiving means something different to everyone.  Essentially, it is a time when each of us remember that nothing is certain and that nothing can be taken for granted.  It is a time that we proclaim our gratitude for the blessings we have received in order that we can pass them on.  In the words of Abraham Lincoln in 1863, Thanksgiving is a day “ .... to heal the wounds of the nation.”

It was therefore fitting that Amato Berardi should choose the Community of Sant’Egidio to host a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner on the evening of the 24th November.

Cecilia Pani, Don Angelo Romano, Senatore Basilio Giordano, Dr-ssa Alma Laias, Onorevole Amato Berardi	Dr-ssa Alma Laias, On. Amato Berardi, Enzo Ardovini, Saverio Ciccazio, Sig. Silvestro Sabatini

The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic peace advocacy movement founded in 1968 by Andrea Riccardi, the newly appointed Italian minister of international and domestic co-operation, who also helped write the Sant’Egidio book of prayer.  Now headed by Ms Maite Bulgari, Sant’Egidio’s  have opened their doors and dedicated their services, to anyone finding themselves in difficulty in more than 70 countries worldwide. Each man, woman and child, poor, elderly or immigrant who passes through, regardless of their circumstance, creed or colour, can expect to be treated with  respect and dignity at Sant’Egidio.

In Rome, the dinning room and cafeteria of Sant’Egidio can be found on Trastevere’s via Dandolo where guests are welcomed to enjoy a free warm meal served by volunteers who tirelessly give of their time to help every day.

Amato Berardi’s special evening of Thanksgiving, the first of its kind held in Rome, began with thanks to everyone who participated to make the event possible. Amato Berardi, thanked his staff and all those who organised the American-style turkey dinner which was prepared with the help of Sig. Silvestro Sabatini, Saverio Ciccazio and Alessio Musante of the Sabatini Restaurant in Trastevere, which had generously made their kitchen and chef available throughout the entire day. As well as preparing 7 turkeys each weighing up to 14 kilograms, the Thanksgiving menu also included pasta and a selection of vegetables.  Sabatini’s also donated a wide choice of ‘dolci’.

Thanks were given to Massimiliano Faranda and Valentina Poesini of Gruppo Tuo who donated enough food to feed over 100 guests including fresh fruit, drinks and a host of supplies necessary for the evening. In fact there was enough to enable Sant’Egidio’s to provide another dinner the next day for those who were unable to attend the evening. Many thanks also went to Cecilia Pani, for her continued work in the School of Italian Language and Culture at the Community of Sant’Egidio and to Francesca Zuccari and Gabriella Nucci. People from all over the world were gathered for Thanksgiving dinner that evening.  People in many differing circumstances hoping to make a new life for themselves, just as the Pilgrims who landed in the America’s did so many years ago.

Before prayers and blessings were offered by Don Angelo Romano, Rector of the Basilica of San Bartolomeo on the island Tiberina in Rome, and in the spirit of hope and future, the Honourable Amato Berardi, who knows a thing or two about being away from home, gave thanks for being able to give, and for being able to express his thanks for community, family and friends.

One lady asked “What does the day of Thanksgiving mean, is it to give thanks to La Signor?”

“It is a day in which we give thanks for you, for me, for everyone ... and ‘La Signor”

Amato Berardi went on to explain ‘This is not our last Thanksgiving at Sant’Egidio’s, we will be back to share our thanks with you every year.”