ENGLEWOOD, N.J.––Over four tons of water, food, hygienic products, batteries, first aid supplies, baby food and diapers are on their way to Puerto Rico, thanks to St. Cecilia’s Church on Demarest Avenue in Englewood.
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Rev. Thomas Jordan, O. Carm. (“Father Tom”) has been working with many of his parishioners and other Englewood residents collecting donations to help victims of Hurricane Maria who are in life threatening situations.
Spearheading the drive are Magalye Matos, Bob Iacullo and Marco Antonio Estrada. They arranged for donations to be dropped off at St. Cecilia’s Church, the Englewood Library and the Janis E. Dismus Middle School, after which they brought them to the church for packing and transport.
A huge outpouring of individuals and companies came together for the cause. Englewood community advocate Nellie Bobe and her co-workers at Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings and MacKay Shields in New York, had donations brought to the church by Riviera Produce.
“We pray that they are delivered to the people in need in Puerto Rico and that they are put to good use,” Bobe wrote in a letter to the clergy. “Thank you for organizing this drive and May the Lord bless the people of Puerto Rico.”
On Saturday morning, Oct. 7, parishioners and volunteers picked up dozens of cartons from St. Cecilia’s, loaded them onto their trucks, and drove them to Park Avenue Styles in Union City. From there, they took them to Newark Airport, where they were flown to Puerto Rico.
This is St. Cecila’s third disaster relief effort. The church previously shipped 4 tons of supplies to Mexico in the aftermath of last month’s massive earthquake, and also sent another multi-ton shipment of donations to Puerto Rico two weeks ago. Even as the trucks laden with cartons left the church on Oct. 7, efforts were already underway for yet another donation drive for Puerto Rico.
Father Tom, who has served as associate pastor at St. Cecilia’s for the past four years, is pleased with the community’s compassion and generosity.
“I’m very proud of our parishioners and of this collaborative effort to meet the needs of victims in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. When we first heard about the effects of Hurricane Maria, I visualized the devastation. One day you have your home, and the next day you have nothing. It’s heartbreaking!”
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Another shipment of emergency supplies to Puerto Rico will take place this month. Donations of non-perishable items can be brought to St. Cecilia’s church on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Cecilia’s Church, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the area, is the home of worship for 1,200 families. It has its roots in the development of Englewood as a city and the migration of the Irish during the decade from 1840 to 1850. St. Cecilia’s was dedicated on November 11, 1866. It was named after St. Cecilia, one of the Catholic Church’s early martyrs who was executed in the Fourth Century because of her firm profession of faith.
Throughout its history, St. Cecilia’s has been a beacon for steadfast faith, Carmelite mission and diversity. It is known for its good works and compassion for the needy within the community. For many years, they housed the homeless in the basement of their high school, and they operate one of the largest food pantries in northern New Jersey, distributing some 5 tons of food per week.
Rev. Hilary Milton, head pastor of St. Cecila’s Church, speaks with pride about the church’s Office of Concern Food Pantry, a 501C3 non-profit organization, which has been in operation since 1980.
“The Office of Concern Food Pantry is dedicated to serving the invisible poor in our area. They supplement their food and other basic needs of daily life. They give to all regardless of religion, race or culture. Our families include the working poor, retired seniors and those struggling to feed babies and small children.”
Charitable initiatives of St. Cecilia’s Office of Concern Food Pantry include a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. Each fall the church conducts a Thanksgiving dinner drive (turkeys and fixings). Last Thanksgiving over 700 turkeys were donated and distributed to needy families.
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