Harmony for Hope at St. Francis of Assisi ANCC in Glen Ridge.

Last night at St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church in Glen Ridge, NJ, the local community gathered for a warm and spirited evening of music in support of the parish’s outreach ministries. Parishioner and recording artist Ryan Hobler, joined by fellow musicians Kim Boyko and Leanne Korbel, offered their talents to benefit the parish’s ongoing support of the Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Abbey in Newark and the homeless youth served by Covenant House.

The church was filled with the sound of Ryan’s original music, enriched by the beautiful harmonies of Leanne and Kim. Their voices carried both the moving and the whimsical lyrics that define Ryan’s songwriting. A gifted performer, Ryan drew the large audience into the experience—inviting them to join in on refrains and even contribute sound effects during several songs.

The artists were introduced by Fr. Geety Reyes, associate pastor of St. Francis, and Deacon Mary Hurley provided a generous array of concessions for the many attendees who came out to support the cause.

Among the audience was Jim Low, a faithful parishioner and the Chief Development Officer for Covenant House New Jersey. Covenant House serves youth ages 18–21 experiencing homelessness and relies on community‑driven events like this one to sustain its mission. Jim shared his gratitude and enthusiasm for the evening, saying:

“I love this event. Ryan’s inspirational music is a perfect match for the way our young people inspire us with their courage and resilience. I’m so grateful for this community is such a strong part of the Covenant House Community.”

Also present were longtime parishioners Mary Scott and John Slavin. John serves as one of the parish’s ministers of music, and together the couple coordinates the weekly delivery of food donations contributed by parishioners. Speaking from the food pantry in Newark the following morning, Mary expressed her appreciation for the parish’s ongoing commitment:

“We are so grateful for the continued support of St. Francis who contribute so generously to the growing need of the food insecure.”

She added, “Given the rapid increase in food prices, and the decrease in support of our countries social support programs the support of St. Francis is truly an act which reflects the parish’s commitment to living out the meaning of Catholic Social Teaching.”

The evening concluded with a warm meet‑and‑greet between the artists and the audience, ending on an uplifting note of hope and shared purpose. The parish of St. Francis of Assisi ANCC (stfrancisnj.org) in Glen Ridge serves as the Cathedral parish of the American National Catholic Church (TheANCC.org), an expression of Catholicism outside of Rome committed to advancing the reforms of the Second Vatican Council—especially the call for the Church to be a healing presence in local communities.