Tortuga hosts Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner to end the year

Whatever you bring will be served and enjoyed because potluck banquets are communal meals where attendees bring a dish to share, fostering fellowship and community spirit.

Tortuga Parish is a ‘mother’ with ‘seven’ children who represents communities that rarely get an opportunity to spend time with each other in one specified event. Having to prepare a dish to share with their brothers and sisters brought pleasure to the communities. This sentiment was expressed with eagerness leading up to the grand night, December 27, 2025. Therefore, we knew the meals will have a soul-satisfying vibe with that melt-in-your-mouth flavour.

The night started with Holy Mass at Sacred Heart RC Church, Gasparillo, which set the tone for the Potluck Thanksgiving dinner that commenced immediately after in the carpark. Stunningly outfitted parishioners of both genders, who understood the dress code, were led by the ushers. The wheelchair-bound, those using walking sticks or crutches, all were welcomed into a space created with inclusivity in mind.

Christmas colours of red, green, white and gold were seen in all corners of the gorgeously decorated space. Who would have imagined an area for parked vehicles could be transformed into glamour and glitz.

The flickering of the Christmas light, and the sound of Christmas music welcomed parishioners who scurried into the carpark to locate seats at the elegantly decorated tables. There we were, all seven parish communities in one location with one common goal of merriment and togetherness. The committee felt accomplished hearing the giggles of one and all who attended. It meant mission accomplished and congratulations are in order on a job well done.

What is Christmas without sweet Parang music and the thrill of singing the words with members of your tables when your table name is called. Words forgotten, melodies mixed up, there was no groundwork, but all were fed and choirs were formed on the spot.

Master of Ceremonies, Kiegan ‘Kiegs’ Bharat was equipped with all the Christmas intonations to get the dinner guests ready to partake in a mouthwatering array of dishes, mingle, and be entertained by our very own local artistes.

Parish priest Fr Shijo Abraham MSFS spoke about all the milestones completed by the Tortuga parish and the outlook for 2026. A heartfelt expression of gratitude was articulated and the night continued with entertainment, dancing and catching up, bringing the anticipated, efficacious Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner 2025 to a close. —Michelle Johnson