A parish's romantic dinner

By DALIA S. VELOZA-QUINTERO- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Amid the daily routine, work and home occupations, it's easy to lose sight of romance, but an event like the recent one held at Albany's Shrine Church of the Americas reminds couples that the well-being of a society lies in the family unit, and that the couple is the foundation of each family.

The couples' ministry of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, a mission of Blessed Sacrament parish in Albany, held its second romantic dinner for couples Feb. 9. The purpose of this event was to offer the men and women of the community an opportunity to share a pleasant evening in the company of their significant other in honor of the month of love.

Thanks to the efforts of several parishioners, in just a few hours the church's community hall was transformed into a luxurious restaurant with the perfect setting to evoke romance: live music, soft lighting, candles and an exquisite dinner prepared with care by volunteers.

Youth ministry members acted as waiters and waitresses. The organizing committee also made sure to provide child care for couples with children.

After dessert, the couples partook in games such as "the couple that knows each other best;" some lucky ones won restaurant gift certificates from Salsa Latina and Mr. Pio-Pio and movie tickets to the Madison Theater in Albany.

The funds raised during the romantic dinner are used to continue promoting retreats and activities which focus on improving couples' relationships. The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas also holds events to help the larger community: immigration workshops, health fairs, an annual family night, gift giveaways for children and retreats for adults and youth.

(Learn more at www.ourladyoftheamericas.org or call 465-3685. Sunday Masses at the church at 273 Central Ave. are at 9:30 a.m. in English and noon in Spanish; there's a 7 p.m. healing Mass on the last Friday of the month and a prayer circle Fridays at 7 p.m.)[[In-content Ad]]