Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative Honored For Service To Lynn Food Pantry

The Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative -- comprised of St. Maria Goretti and Our Lady of the Assumption parishes -- received an award from My Brother's Table for its years of support and service to the food pantry in Lynn. Father Paul Ritt, pastor, accepted the award on the Collaborative’s behalf at the 5^th Annual MBT Founder’s Celebration April 5.

The parishes of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative have a long history supporting the mission of My Brother’s Table. Shortly after MBT’s establishment, both Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Maria Goretti parishes began providing food donations. Both parishes, individually as well as a part of the Collaborative, intensified its efforts and strengthened its connection with MBT in the last 10 years. St. Maria Goretti volunteers, led by Nadine Ritchie and Dennis Rogers, plan menus, and purchase, prepare, and serve dinner four times a year. Volunteers from Our Lady of the Assumption, in conjunction with Mike Kwiatek and St. Vincent de Paul, serve meals on the last Thursday of every month, as well as on New Year’s Eve. They also pursue individual initiatives such as providing toiletry “care bags” for the homeless which are distributed through MBT’s health clinic, purchasing new coats with money collected in the church poor boxes, and organizing food drives. OLA School has also conducted food drives and donated a meal from a local restaurant.

The Lynnfield Catholic community looks forward to continuing its support of My Brother’s Table. Their Youth Ministry is taking leadership roles in this effort, ensuring that a new generation of faithful will continue this good work.

Photo by Rich Mazzola: Left to right front row: Jim Fagan, Janine Saldanha, Rich Mazzola; back row standing: Cynthia Fagan, Monica and John Lozada, Fr. Paul Ritt, Donna Delahanty, Victor Lozada, Alicia and Larry Guinee.