Parish's senior efforts saluted

Many volunteers in ministry at St. Patrick's parish in Ravena are senior citizens. Some help run the parish thrift shop and food pantry. Others serve as altar servers, choir members, greeters, Eucharistic ministers and lectors.

Recently, the parish was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Center for Excellence in Aging Services, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Healthy Choices New York program.

The certificate recognized parishioners for their "dedication and commitment in enhancing the lives of older adults by providing volunteer service opportunities" for seniors.

Hands up

"RSVP brings seniors together with community organizations through volunteer jobs," explained Diane Louis, coordinator of St. Patrick's thrift shop.

"We have about 30 seniors out of our staff of 40 volunteers at the shop," she noted. "We also have young people, and they work together with the seniors. It's nice to see how they blend and how easily they learn from each other.

"All of our seniors are hard workers, and, of course, many have the time available to spend at the shop. When they get with the young people, there's lots of energy."

Villagers

Rev. Stuart Gullan-Steel, parish administrator, said that the level of giving and volunteering has always been high at St. Patrick's.

"There really is a sense of family at St. Patrick's," he said. "It boils down to our great sense of family and community.

"This is a village, and people have a tradition of helping out whenever they are called upon and for whatever reason they are needed. People tend to hang together here quite a bit."

(04/03/08) [[In-content Ad]]