AUBURN - Thanksgiving Day is a uniquely American holiday, Rev. Frank Lioi told a full St. Mary's Church Thursday morning.

It is also, in many ways, the country's most religious, he said.

While most democracies celebrate a day of independence, like our Fourth of July, Lioi said there are not as many that hold a national holiday to recognize their blessings. But the act of giving thanks is important to a society's health, he continued.

“It's not about turkeys, it's about giving thanks.” Lioi said. “If we have an ungrateful people, it really poisons our entire system.”

Lioi was one of a group of local priests who led the Auburn Catholic community during a joint, Thanksgiving Day Mass. The service featured prayers and songs of thanksgiving, as well as a collection of Bible scriptures that stressed the importance of remembering one's blessings.

The donations gathered at the annual Mass were given to St. Alphonsus Food Pantry and the Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes Emergency Assistance Program.

Before communion, Lioi gave a message about the importance of thanks, even during a time when people face issues like a bad economy and international terrorism. When a farmer harvests his crop in the fall, Lioi said, he can't forget that God had a hand in the process.

“This can be easily forgotten in a high-tech society, ...in a world where we call the shots,” he said. “It is more evident during harvest time. We can plant the seed, but we can't grow the leaf.”

Lioi ended his sermon with a list of things he said people don't always look at with thanksgiving, but perhaps should.

Give thanks for the mess to clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.

Give thanks for having to pay taxes, because it means you are employed.

Give thanks for your clothes fitting more snug than they used to, because it means you have enough to eat, Lioi said.

Joan and Steve Kehoskie, of Auburn, said after the Mass that they attend every year. They do so to remind themselves of all the blessings they have received over the years, Joan said.

And afterwards, they head to the Springside Inn to celebrate with a big, family meal.

“That way everyone can be together and no one has to be in the kitchen,” Joan Kehoskie said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.