NEW YORK — Jerome Massimino, OFM, pastor and guardian of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan, hosted a Christmas buffet on Dec. 11 for members of the RENEW Younger Retiree Program.
Ninety members enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings in the San Damiano Hall. A raffle from the St. Francis bookstore was also held. One member, Tony LaGattuta, won a plaque with a prayer for retirees, and shared that he had officially retired that morning.
As a Christmas Service project, RENEW members donated to help St. Francis Friends of the Poor purchase coats for people living in the St. Francis Residences, and to buy gifts for patients of a local Veteran’s Hospital. Renew members donated $3,600.
In addition, RENEW also was treated to an Advent reflection program by Anthony LoGalbo, OFM, and Sr. Mary Petrosky, FMM. “Musings at a Manger” included a series of reflections on elements of the nativity scene. As a tribute to St. Nicholas, there was a blessing and distribution of candy canes.
RENEW, organized at St. Francis of Assisi by Marie Harrington, director of Outreach Programs, provides social, spiritual, cultural and educational activities to Catholic retirees, age 55 and over. The popular program has 215 members and is maxed out on membership. Marie is shown in photo above with Jerome.
Upcoming events for 2008 include tours of the Hispanic Society of America, Greek and Roman exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Radio City Music Hall, Metropolitan Opera House, the Cloisters, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and a tour of Spring Lake, N.J.