Thanksgiving Reflections, COVID Caution, and The Great American Feast (Steve Allen)

Host Jack Socha presents a pre-Thanksgiving “Connecting the Diocese” episode built from past shows, contrasting 2019 with two COVID-era Thanksgivings and noting both ongoing loss and the joy of some military members returning home, as well as Afghan newcomers at Fort McCoy. Bishop William Patrick Callahan reflects on celebrating Thanksgiving in Rome at the North American College, including classes continuing in Italy, traditions like turkey, pies, and Wisconsin care packages for seminarians, and reassurance that the military prioritizes Thanksgiving meals even in difficult locations. Socha and the bishop encourage gratitude, outreach to loved ones, support for the diocesan annual appeal, and mindful planning to reduce COVID spread at family gatherings, citing breakthrough infections including the bishop’s. The program closes with excerpts from Steve Allen’s 1983 interfaith LP “The Great American Feast,” followed by samples of Zoom-era choral music.

00:31 Thanksgiving Time Capsule

01:44 COVID Era Reflections

03:46 2019 Thanksgiving Monologue

06:11 Bishop Joins Studio

06:59 Thanksgiving In Rome

08:47 Turkey Traditions Abroad

10:52 Military Holiday Meals

12:49 Food Memories And Safety

14:54 Modern Thanksgiving Shopping

17:00 Vintage Holiday Recordings

19:32 Holiday Music Debate

20:59 Movies And Musical Oddities

22:12 Diocese Highlights And Vocations

23:10 Pope Visit Banter

23:31 Annual Appeal Needs

25:09 Giving and Bequests

26:21 Gratitude and Advent

27:48 Thanksgiving COVID PSA

29:48 Steve Allen Feast Intro

30:44 Pilgrims and Survival

34:22 Hard Times Thankfulness

37:47 Refugees and Freedom

42:17 Helen Hayes Giving Tale

44:15 Prayer of Thanks

51:23 Nostalgia and Radio Roots

53:44 Zoom Choirs Sampler

57:44 Final Hymn Farewell