Thoth: A hand out for a hand up

By Peter Finney  Jr.

You can look no further than the “Pro Bono Publico” motto of Rex, whose foundation last year contributed $1.057 million in grants to those serving in public schools.
 

Other krewes, such as Thoth, have a rich history of public service.
 

Numerous care facilities on route
 

Thoth was formed 73 years ago as an Uptown parade, and on its Magazine Street route, it at one time passed by 17 nursing homes, senior residences and hospitals, said 1995 king Alden Hagardorn, a parishioner of St. Henry Church in Good Shepherd Parish. 
 

“In fact, there was a Thoth doubloon that depicted a masked lieutenant holding the hand of a boy on crutches,” Hagardorn said. “The doubloon was done in conjunction with a raffle that raised money for these homes.”
 

A week or so before Thoth parades (this year Thoth Sunday is Feb. 23), krewe members walk to the various homes in costume, handing out  trinkets to the residents and patients. The krewe also holds an annual golf tournament to raise charity funds. The Poor Clare nuns on Henry Clay Avenue, who normally remain cloistered, view the parade each year. 
 

On Thoth Sunday, a Mass for the krewe is celebrated by Father Peter Finney III, pastor of St. Rita Church in New Orleans.
 

In a preview of his Thoth Sunday homily, he says: “As always, we throw to the people, not at the people – even if those people are some of the fine folks we think have caused us to travel far this year. Throw to them because we’re better than that, we’re different than that, we’re Thoth. …

 

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Be different than the expectation today. Be better than that. Be Thoth. For that grace, for the grace to be different this day, we pray this Mass.”