NEW YORK — St. Francis of Assisi Church here celebrated National Volunteer Week with a luncheon on April 28. More than 75 volunteers attended the Saturday event in the friars recreation room of the 31st Street Church which was decorated with fresh flowers and multicolored balloons.
All participating volunteers were presented with a gift of appreciation for their time and talent, according to Ed Trochimczuk, director of the volunteer ministry program at St. Francis Church.
Friars, staff and volunteers all agreed the luncheon was a success, Ed said.
Attendees were heard saying that “they not only felt appreciated but that they felt very motivated to continue helping the church,“ said Ed, who joined the staff in September 2006.
Pastor Jerome Massimino said, “I believe we should take every opportunity as church to celebrate the great gifts that we received at Baptism to serve our brothers and sisters as ministers of the word and sacrament. It is important to thank them for generously giving their precious time and good efforts to build up the kingdom of God at our church.”
Among the friars participating in the event were Michael Carnivale, director of gay outreach ministry at St. Francis Church, Patrick Fitzgerald, director of senior services, at left in photo, and Timothy Shreenan, director of liturgy, at right in photo.