Catholic is honored for ecumenical work

Deborah Riitano's sons came home recently and found a stranger in their house -- but neither was concerned.

One son told his mother calmly, "I think you should know there's a Muslim in the dining room -- and she's praying." The other remarked, "I think we're the only kids on the block who could come home to this!"

It's not unusual for guests of many faiths to drop in on the Riitanos. In fact, Mrs. Riitano's interfaith efforts are so extensive that she just received the Carlyle Adams Ecumenical Award from the Capital Area Council of Churches.

The Carlyle Adams Ecumenical Award is named for the late Presbyterian minister Rev. Dr. Carlyle Adams, a pioneer in ecumenical relations in the 1960s. At one time, he wrote a regular column for The Evangelist.

Unifying people

"I was so stunned," said the parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany. "It means a tremendous amount, because I have worked hard in trying to be some kind of instrument in bringing people together."

Mrs. Riitano called it coincidental that she owns Mount Pleasant Bakery in Schenectady, a kosher bakery whose products are all produced in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.

The award recipient would rather talk about her work with the Interfaith Alliance of New York State, and the Sidney and Beatrice Albert Interfaith Lectureship Board at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, which sponsors events like the fifth annual "Stop the Hate" prayer vigil held this month.

On Oct. 13, CSR will hold a conference on "cultivating a culture of peace," an event Mrs. Riitano urges all to attend.

"So much work needs to be done in every facet" of ecumenical relations, she explained.

Scripture study

The Jewish-Catholic dialogue, and the Albany diocesan Peace and Justice Commission also count Mrs. Riitano as a member, and she has begun a women's interfaith Scripture study group on her own.

The Catholic, Jewish and Muslim women meet whenever they can coordinate their schedules. For each meeting, they decide on a subject and talk about it, using the Scriptures of their various faiths.

One recent topic was "names of God." Mrs. Riitano learned that Muslims have nearly 100 names for God, describing God's different aspects. On another night, the group chose "women from Scripture" as a topic. Mrs. Riitano recalled being surprised that a Muslim woman chose Mary to study.

Receiving the ecumenical award made the honoree pause to think about the many leaders of different faiths who have influenced her, from the "wonderful priests and nuns" of her childhood to two former Carlyle Adams award winners: Rabbi Martin Silverman of Albany and Presbyterian minister Rev. Robert Lamar.

"I never think about what I'm doing as really significant," Mrs. Riitano stated. "But it's all those small steps you take in concert with the people around you that makes a difference."

(For information on the women's interfaith Scripture study group, call Deborah Riitano at 356-5810 or 688-0242. To read The Evangelist's April 26, 2001 article about her kosher bakery, visit www.evangelist.org and type her last name into the search engine.)

(10/2/03) [[In-content Ad]]